More Meteor Showers Bring Even Stranger Powers. (O/A)

[PixelMuse]

Rikki Tikki Travi

"One. I'm not asking you to 'be okay' with it. That's actually not healthy in most cases. For example, Alec hides a darkness that he refuses to fully address. He is aware of it, and it frightens him on many degrees. He needs to acknowledge its presence within him, accept that it's a part of who he is, and then work through it. If Kerana were not present in his life, I doubt he would ever come to terms with it. That's not to say you need a significant other to achieve your own truth, but there is no shame in seeking the council of your friends and family. Found or otherwise."

"Two. Being afraid and being a coward are two different things."

"Three. I said nothing just now about getting back together with Theonis."

"And four... She paused for a moment and asked in a tone of fascination and interest with a hint of incredulity, "Truly, it happened every time with every man?"

Trinity stopped and sighed to herself. This was going to be one of those longer talks, isn’t it? She drops into her shadow and emerged in her room. She checked her emails, while pouring a glass of wine, nothing new. She swirled her glass and sighed, “Okay, it happened enough times that perhaps it felt that way, that it happened with every man. One way or another I felt like it I was taken advantage of. Sometimes it was legitimate sometimes it wasn’t and I was doing bullet time dodging before tragedy struck.”

“True, you didn’t bring him up. I can’t help but think it seems like lately every time I hear any love advice I can’t help but think it zeroes in on the relationship we had.”

“I know you and Freya hinted at this that I’m afraid of something. Maybe I just need it to be spelled out. What exactly am I afraid of?”  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

As Freya was guided to the toilet she insisted, "Wasn't a total waste. It was ********' delishush. Nooo *hurp* doubt 'bout that. 'Sides...I still see mo' piggy on 'dat plate."

She laughed with a little snort just as she was deposited in front of the toilet which, coincidentally, was just in time for her second round of praying to the porcelain god. "Ugh, Jesus ******** Christ." she spat.

In spite of herself, Freya actually enjoyed the comfort of the back rubs. What she did not enjoy was his assessment. She threw up once more and spat into the bowl. She turned her head toward him and groaned, "No s**t, Sherlock. This is called self destructive fer a reason. N' while yer up there pattin', hold my hair back."

She emptied her stomach for another minute before things finally started to calm down. She rested her head on her arm, which in turn rested across the toilet seat. "S'all your fault anyways. Bein' all nice, n' treatin' me to dinner n' s**t. 'Course then the wine made me all goofy. All happy. Too happy. Heart beatin'. Ears ringin'. Stomach-"

She slid her arm away and let it out one last time. She spit and then pulled the handle to flush the toilet.

"I've insulted you, hit you, yelled at you, n' now I've even puked the dinner you made onto your feet...but this wont stop you, will it? ********, I...this's too much. S'only been a day!"

Freya's body trembled as she began to breath rapidly. She did not cry, but there was the occasional squelch of a noise that escaped her throat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The doctor on staff who scanned her had just wrapped up when Rydia was mid rant. He walked up to Kerana just as she asked the question.

"I don't know anything about how you may have affected this, but it could certainly be much worse. We wont know anything for certain until our oncologist has had time to look at these results, but preliminary scans show that she is in stage two of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, This is considered intermediate risk, but it's better than stages three or four. It's also one of the less aggressive and more treatable forms of the disease. Once we've got a treatment plan for her, we can start right away. Again, we wont know for certain until we get it confirmed, but we can probably have this beat in four to six months."

There it was. The thing Alec knew but did not want to fully acknowledge at such a sensitive time. The odds of Deora being treated were good, but the treatment would leave her unable to be where she was needed if they were going to stop Eclipse.

Rydia sniffled and looked to the people around her to gauge their reactions. That's when she noticed that their group was one person short. Where had Ravan gone?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silhouette's tone changed to something more maternalistic as she responded. "Trinity, what you're afraid of is not something so nebulous a concept as 'getting hurt.' You have been hurt many a time, physically and emotionally. You're tenacity is one of your strengths. You can take being hurt. What you're truly afraid of is something that is universally understood through script and song. Something so ubiquitous, yet easily brushed off by those who have not experienced it. Something that is no so easily powered through"

"What you fear, Trinity, is a broken heart."  

[BeaMichelle]

Ravan had maintained a cool, if seething, head throughout the whole ordeal. She did not understand why that man fired his gun at Rydia. To her, the world she had been learning about had what seemed like more than enough resources for everyone. Yet the more she learned the more she saw that some of the people of this world were just as awful or worse than the ones that tried to eat her. They were desperate. These people were stupid. It made her angry. So when Deora went down, she let it all out on the gunman. She felt nothing when she killed him. It had become so common for her to destroy a threat that it did not even register in her conscience anymore.

She did not understand half of what the doctor was saying, but she understood "disease" and "treatment." She had not known Deora for long, but the plucky Latina had been kind and patient with her. That was enough for Ravan to be endeared to her. Thus she was relieved to know that Deora would be alright. She felt there was no reason for her to stay, and she had a promise to fulfill.

She exited the locker rooms of the pool area with her ring of floating carnival snacks still orbiting around her. She held her hand over the surface and let out a gentle pulse of gravitational force to send a quiet ripple through the water and let Sarah know that she had returned.  

[Nova Blancke]

Liam rubbed her back as she continued to empty her stomach, holding back her hair as she said. She knew it was self destructive but it didn't stop her. She drank to stop herself from feeling and yet she is so much more open when she drinks. Feels more when she does. She's more accepting of him. There were things he wanted to say but he wasn't sure if he should. His chest felt tight.

"I....don't know if I can Freya." He had told her the night before of his intentions. Despite her confusion and tantrum, she did not reject him. Even today she could have stayed away. Even if she needed to get drunk after feeling too comfortable. A way to run away in her mind, to not think.

Right now, all he wanted to do was to hold her, to comfort her. But he also didn't want to force it on her. Liam wasn't sure how she'd react. For now, he kept his hand on her back.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Freya huffed with a laugh, "Y'know what? It used to be so easy for me to say no. When that didn't work, I got mean and violent. I've only known you for a few days, I don't know if part of Fenris went with me, but I don't want to not see you. It's weird. From my pershp, porsp...point of view, and based on how long I can hold a grudge, I should at least still be pissed at you for getting in my way with Eclipse. But, I'm not. So much 'bout you baffles me."

She shifted positions until she was seated with her back against the tub. "Look at me." she muttered dismissively. "This ain't my lowest, but I ain't lookin' too hot. Help me understand somethin'. You described Fenris a little bit, that I wasn't too different from her. What was it about her, what is it about me, that makes the sad sack of s**t in front of you so appealing?"  

[Nova Blancke]

Liam looked at her, his hand fell by his side, no longer on her back. He didn't need to think about her question.

"You're strong, fierce. You want to appear strong but you've got a heart as big as your mouth. It's never dull with you. There is always something. I can't wrap my head around you. I love your eyes. I get lost in them. Your smile makes me want to see more of it. To become the source of it. Even your ears are....cute. I find my thoughts wandering to you whenever you are not around. It....hurts when I see you suffering." Liam spoke softly as he looked into her eyes with a gentle smile.

"I am...in love with you Freya and I do not think that will change."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Freya stood silent for a few seconds and blinked as she took in what he said. Her face turned beet red and her jaw dropped with the utterance of a single squeak. Her eyes went wide, and she began to sweat. He'd said them. The three words that she dreaded hearing. Once again she perceived an angel and a demon on her shoulder. The angel was just as flabbergasted as Freya, but the demon just enthusiastically chanted "******** his head" over and over again.

"L-l-lah-l-l-lo-" she stammered.

Sad Freya was gone. Tsundere Freya had returned. She balled her right fist next to her head and hissed, "Liam...you..." stressed Her fist glowed with the bright yellow of her burst aura. "...a*****e!"

She jumped from her seated position and launched her explosive fist directly at his face. She knew it probably would not hurt him, and that it would only result in collateral damage to his bathroom, but she did care. She then proceed to kick him over and over again while she shouted. "You can't just up and say that s**t to me! The ******** have I been sayin' all night! ******** idiot! It's too much too soon! Sephiroth lookin sonovabitch! a*****e! ******** class="smilies smilies_scream"> scream

[PixelMuse]

Rikki Tikki Travi

"What you fear, Trinity, is a broken heart."

“That… sounds about right.” She swirled her wine and took a sip.”If it is a universally understood fear how do I over come it so that I can go terminal when needed?” She faced away from the counter and leaned on it, arms folded and wine glass in hand.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec opened his mouth to answer, but he honestly did not know if it would be their place to make such an announcement over text.

The doctor turned for a moment to check in on Deora. He then returned his attention to Alec, Kerana, and Rydia. "She hasn't regained consciousness yet. When she does please keep what I just told you to yourselves for now. We'd prefer it if the specialist were here when she learns."

Rydia looked to Alec and Kerana. "The two of you can go deliver the message. I will let you know when she wakes up."

"I mean, that's all fine and well but...your clothes."

Rydia looked down and finally noticed that her hands and lap were stained with Deora's blood. "Ah! It...it would seem that I need a change in wardrobe. Please, do not speak with her until I have returned."

Rydia bowed her head and made haste for her room.

Alec sighed and commented, "Did you notice. She changed the way she spoke just now. More measured and regal. I think she's barely holding on."

He excused himself and Kerana from the doctor and took one of two seats in the waiting area. "I don't know if we should say anything yet, Kay. I don't think it would be fair for everyone to know before she does, but then we also have to think about the big picture. I hate saying this, but she wont be able to train for fight for months."

Kerana's phone rang to indicate a voice message. It was her mother, with her father shouting in the background.

"Si, I know I know, I saw him do it too!" Raina said to Leander

Leander then insisted, "With a scythe, Raina! Where did he even get that thing?!"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Kerana, it's your mother. It's crazy here! They said a purple haired girl got shot! Was that the Latina girl who came with us, Diedra or something? I know you and Alec left to help, but your father and I are worried sick! Please let us know that you kids are okay as soon as you get this!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It is not as simple as overcoming it, nor is it as complex as you think. The difficulty lies in accepting every aspect of yourself, flaws and all. You are afraid of having your heart broken. Accept that fear, and you accept yourself. Becoming terminal means pulling away the mask that hides yourself from others and unshackling your power with it. Your most repressed desires will be front and center. If you cannot accept that, then the mask will remain on. I would demonstrate, but you have a date to get ready for and I'm not certain if my terminal state would draw from you."  

[BeaMichelle]

Ravan smiled broadly when she heard Sarah's voice in her head. It reached her eyes when the mermaid's forehead met her hand. She loved the warm feeling that came with this interaction. As far as Ravan knew, she was the only one who was greeted by Sarah that way. It made her feel special and a way that she lacked the understanding to describe.

"Hi Sarah! I did like you said and went to the fair. You were right about it, especially the food! I brought some back for you since you said you missed it."

Ravan swiveled the ring into a small collection and hovered it in front of her. "Did you know that there are lots of kinds of funnel cakes? I was gonna bring one of each but Deo-"

Ravan felt her throat lock up when she mentioned Deora's name. It was weird. She usually only reacted that way when someone had just died, but Deora was still alive. Sick, but alive.

"Deora said you'd probably like this one most."  

[Nova Blancke]

Ah, he should have expected this. Her mother did warn him of this. His own experiences should have reminded him but failed to do so. Emotions truly get in the way of logical thinking. Her impact did nothing but the small detonations did damage his bathroom and continued to do so as she proceeded to kick him with that yellow aura. Tiles and ceramic shattered, pipes burst and water burst out. Liam knew what she had been saying before. But that did not mean that he should not say those words. Her punishment of herself was already too much in his opinion.

"Freya...calm down. You're destroying my-" He then stopped. Too soon?

He blocked her kick.

"What do you mean with...too soon?" he asked  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Freya yanked her foot back and held her hands out to her sides in frustration. "The ******** you mean what do I mean?! Are you ******** with me?!" She then rubbed her face wit her hands and huffed, "Ugh, of course not. You don't understand most s**t."

She put her hands back down and continued, "Those three words? I L-word you? They hold vastly deeper and more intense emotions than 'I want you.' It's not something you say just out of the blue! I get that you mean it, but it's been two days! I. Do. Not. Know. You! I'm not sure how the ******** I feel about you! And you drop that s**t on me?! It's like asking for a glass of water and you throw a goddamn swimming pool at me! No man has EVER said those three words to me! Not even-"

She grit her teeth, paced around the moist floor, and growled, "What the ******** am I supposed to do with that?! Goddamnit, I'm so worked up I got sober!"

She charged out of the bathroom, her clothes drenched, her hair wet and stringy, and her socks making a squelching sound with each step. She grabbed the bottle of red wine by it's neck and downed the rest of it. Once it was empty, she threw it at the wall and screamed, <********' Hell! I can't deal with this s**t!"  

[Nova Blancke]

Liam opened his mouth to speak but closed it right after. She was right. To him it was convenient that he saw both Freya and Fenris as the same but Freya hardly knew him. Walking out of the bathroom, he took off his shirt and wrung it the access water out. Though Anne's power would suffice he felt that normal tasks should be done by mundane means unless there was no other choice.

"I am....sorry. I mean those words, It's all very new to me. But I am sorry for not thinking ahead. Should I say it again after a few nights or weeks?." Liam said as he dodged the empty wine bottle. She really was making a mess of his apartment.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Freya tussled her hair and cried out, "Jesus ******** Christ! Is it really possible to be this angry at a literal man-child?!"

She turned around to face him and immediately drew her attention to his bare torso. She noticed two things. One, his musculature was mind numbing. Two, the massive scar that he had gotten the night before. She took a deep breath and threw her hands up. "Y'know what? Nope. Just nope. I'm NOPIN' the ******** out for today!"

She grabbed the platter that the ham had been served on in one hand, and then she rammed the remainder of her slice of cheesecake into her mouth. "Thang gyou fo da foo'! Fweya, oot!"

She gave Liam a single finger salute and left Liam's room to go to her own.

A few seconds later, Liam's phone pinged with a text message. It was Willa-Dean Nation, the cow woman who had helped him with Fenris.

"OMG! I could hear that racket from here! Sounds like you struck out something fierce. Need to talk?"