“Or tell him to stop calling you Mei when powered up?”
“Yeah… about that…” Mei rolled her eyes in an unamused fashion before blowing on the steam rising from her cup. “I haven’t seen him in like four or five years, whenever the last time we went to China to visit my grandma and grandpa.”
“I know he’s still getting use to this and it can be a pain in the a** to remember everyone's powered and civilian names, let alone keep them straight, but ugh…” she bit down on her lower lip to keep from commenting on the frustration she felt against her cousin then took a sip of her chrysanthemum tea.
“Give him time, he’s still new to all of this.” I just hope he watches it around Negaverse agents or I’ll be in deep trouble if they find out who I am. Mei thought back to the warnings she received when she henshined up for the first time and the importance on keeping your identity a secret. It seemed like a certain mauvian forgot that tid bit of information.
Delilah was chuckling as she took a seat on the couch next to Mei, brushing aside a few loose strands of white fur that had been left there. No matter how much she cleaned, Arthur’s hair always seemed to show up places.
Still, she didn’t mind so much. As crazy as he was, Arthur was the single Mauvian cat Delilah would let close to her. “Oh I could have guessed he was new. But he would have better luck going ‘you with the pink bow’ than screaming out our civi name.” Delilah extended out her arm and pretended to point at a person all confused like before smiling back at her friend.
“I just don’t want to see him get himself, you, or someone else in trouble. Last thing I need is to have to go after agents again to track down a friend. And without you around well…” she shrugged and sipped her tea.
“I know I know.” Mei waved her hand in a dismissive manner before leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees so she may rub her temples as if she were nursing a growing migraine. “Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him about it.”
She liked her cousin, she really did. But there was a bit of a cultural barrier that separated the two since Mei and her family grew up in the states where he was raised in China with her extended family. Unfortunately it presented its own set of problems when trying to communicate but for the sake of herself and safety of others, he really needed to learn one way or another that he really needed to be careful on what he said.
“I’ll be honest though. I thought I had it bad with the high heels. Did you see what he got stuck running in?” Mei winced thinking about his geta and how hard it would be to move around had she been forced to wear them. Very few things could compare to the pain of getting that piece of fabric slammed between your toes when someone stepped on the heel or you kissed gravel from losing your balance.
Delilah had to laugh as she brought up the shoes and nodded in agreement. “I know. I feel so bad about that. Someone who made up these outfits ages ago has a sick sense of humor. That or maybe in his past, he didn’t have to do much walking?” She added with a shrug. It wasn’t like she could say much about her own attire. The entire outfit was a fashion nightmare. At least she did have pants so when she did go flying...there was no flashing!
“You have to wonder how these things were created. Not to mention with how many of us there are...how no two are like.” Even she as a fashion designer knew you could only reinvent so many times! “I think someone is out there laughing at us.”
And then she smiled. “Speaking of crazy outfits. Have you happened to run into a senshi named Chaonis? Poor guy has caution tape all over him!”
“Serious?” Mei looked up with a quirked eyebrow in mock disbelief. “Is he the senshi of murder scenes or something? Oh God...” The smile on her face widened till she couldn’t contain her laughter any longer. Just imagining someone wrapped in caution tape brought to mind the song Uptown Funk. Oh man was she done for…
Shifting in her seat she seemed to dance in place while singing the lyrics of the well known Bruno Mars song that was way too overplayed on the radio now days.
[allign=center] ♪♫♪ I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money, break it down ♪♫♪[/allign]
“Hahaha… sorry I couldn’t help it. Don’t you ever tell him I just did that.” Mei shot her friend a warning look that was more amused than a firm demand.
Delilah reached over, grabbed Mei’s cup of tea and tasted it. “Well, that simple solution is out.” All the while she was fighting a smile on her face that was quickly spreading into a grin. “Seriously? You know all the words to that? Mei! I don’t know if I should be scared or impressed!”
But she too was laughing before throwing her hands up in defense. “I swear I won’t tell him.” She laughed, hands waving in front of her face. “I wouldn’t be able to do it justice that you just did! Now maybe if I recorded it…” She eyed Mei with a smirk.
“And you added in some more twerking.” Grabbing her friends hands, Delilah stood up and pulled on Mei as well. “Come on. Let me see you shake you behind.”
“Sorry my butt don’t bounce like that…” the creme haired woman turned to the side to prove her point. While she gave it a valiant twerking effort, she just couldn’t make it happen and looked more like a child mimicking a turkey in a Thanksgiving school play than any of those girls on the MTV music videos.
“See?”[/coloe] She pointed out then stood up and shot her friend a look. “Your turn,” she said waiting expectantly for Delilah to give it a go.
Both hands came to Delilah’s mouth as she bent over at the waist laughing her head off. “Mei, how can you fail…” She picked her head up and gazed back at the woman with a beaming grin “so hard at shaking your behind?”
Though she wasn’t one to talk as she turned sideways and started to do something strange that looked like a cross between sitting on a vibrating table and jumping up and down.
Looking down at her own a**, Delilah smacked it. “You fail me! How can my milkshake bring boys to the yard then?”
At this point Mei was laughing so hard tears were rolling down her eyes. “I’m sorry I just don’t have enough junk in the trunk to get my butt moving in that way. Plus I think your chest is bigger than mine.” She sobered up at that thought then looked at Delilah, then down at herself and back up at her friend mentally comparing sizes. “Actually I think they are. Huh…”
Again the wild grin spread across her face before the creme haired woman attempted again at dancing like Miley.
“But your dance moves put mine to shame!” Delilah retorted before gazing down at her boobs and then back at Mei. That smile became a sly grin. “Well my dear, there is one way to put that to rest…”
Making a point to attempt to dance from where she was standing over to the corner of the room where she kept her sewing things, Delilah quickly began digging for something. “There you are!” She laughed pulling out a rather long white tape measure.
“Oh Mei! Come here and let me find out!”
“You’re kidding right?.... You’re not kidding…” she looked at Delilah with nothing shy of amusement before shrugging and then holding her arms out to her side. “Yeah sure, why not. Just don’t go sharing my measurements with other people okay?” Not that anyone would be asking but still, better be on the safe side and remind her mum’s the word.
“Honey, why would I ever do that?” Delilah smirked as she slipped back over and slipped the tape measure around Mei’s chest. She did it in three places: above, around and below the breast.
After she looked at the third number, the girl had to bob her head once or twice. “Okay. Yep. I’m about half a size bigger than you.”
But she didn’t stop there as she started to take Mei’s waist and hip measurements as well. “But back to the sharing. Mei, half the fun is if you ever get a boyfriend, I can laugh when he buys you something the wrong size. Speaking of which…”
She pulled the tape measure and went to Mei’s back. “Did I ever tell you about the man I ran into in a fabric store who was buying silk to make his girlfriend a dress?”
Waiting a moment, she went over to her open notebook and wrote down the numbers she had gotten. “He was making it by eyeballing her and using it as a means to state his intentions to be serious and intimate.”
Avoiding the comment of finding a boyfriend Mei found interest in the new topic Delilah presented all the while watching her friend jot down the numbers as if she had plans to actually do something with them. “Oh? Any idea how that one turned out?” she asked in true intrigue. While in theory it is a cute gesture it could also be very insulting if he didn’t get it right the first time. The best thing he could have done was borrow a pair of her underwear when she wasn’t looking and a t-shirt or tank top for comparison; though if he were to get caught… yeah he’d be doomed.
“Not a clue.” Delilah admitted as she gazed down at the numbers before tapping the pencil to her mouth. Shrugging, she put it and the tape measure away.
“He wasn’t very friendly so I wasn’t going to ask for his number to find out later.” Frankly she hadn’t shopped at that place in a while after that moment.
“But I hope he had some luck. I at least talked him out of silk and into a stretch cotton. A bit more forgiving.”
“You may have single handedly saved him from landing himself in the dog house you know that right?”
Finally quite a bit more calmed down, Mei sat back down in her seat then leaned over and picked up her cup of tea. The luke warm drink was soothing as she took a drink after all the laughter they had just done. “I can see those gears turning Delilah. Whatever you’re thinking forget it I’m neither a model nor a doll to play dress up with.” While she had no doubt that the raven haired woman would undoubtedly design something beautiful; fancy attire just made Mei feel weird in her own skin. Not that she had time for such things anyway; maybe someday things would change… maybe.
Delilah’s eyebrow raised and she rolled her eyes. “One day I will win you over and you will model for me. But I know better than to push it...for now.”
She slipped back over over to the couch, taking her seat next to the woman and pulling her legs up around her. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun pretending to do a wardrobe for you. With your body, you can wear different things others I have designed for can’t...or won’t.”
“Besides, now that I have your measurements, you are in trouble.” Delilah was grinning as she grabbed her own cup of tea and sipped on it. “But I promise I won’t make you parade around on a runway.”
“I had a feeling that was your hidden agenda for inviting me over for tea.” Mei shook her head then sighed. “By the way, how are things going with you and that model of yours? Phedre or something like that…” That woman, if one could call her that, has been the bane of Delilah’s existence for well over a year now.
Mei set her now empty cup back down on the coffee table. She reached over her shoulder to grab ahold of the throw blanket and draped it over her lap then leaned back comfortably in the chair. “You’d think she’d get the hint and finally just call it quits.” Common sense really isn’t that common it seems.
“I finally got Hannah to agree to do it.” Delilah smiled, leaning back against the couch. She seemed much more relaxed now. “The professor has to tell Phedre, and I don’t know if she has or not but still, at least now I can try and finish some projects and not be murdered by professors for having a model who hated the assignment.”
“And for the record…” She grabbed one of her pillows and threw it towards Mei. “My hidden agenda was to chat about your cousin and all the mess going on. It just turned out to be a much better time.”
Now she stuck her tongue out. “So there.”
“Yeah yeah…” Mei waved her hand dismissively, though there was no ignoring the teasing smile on her face as she did so.
“I’m glad you got her to take over, I think it’ll help both of you reconnect again. I know things were rocky there for a bit.” A little less than a year ago Mei had been the one to finally take Delilah to the hospital to talk to her sister and since then life just seemed to keep getting in the way. “How is she doing? It’s been awhile since you brought her up.”
With everything going on at the meeting that took place only a few days prior it was hard for Mei to really pick anyone out of the rather large group of Order individuals. It would help if signatures were unique to a given person rather than growing in presence solely based on an individual's rank, but it is what it is and because of that she hadn’t a clue Acrucis had been amongst the Senshi and Knights.
Her dismissive hand made the raven haired woman roll her eyes. But that was Mei for her. It amazed Delilah how quickly the two of them had just become friends. She owed Mei a lot and frankly, was happy to have her around. She had yet to meet anyone else that she could talk like this too. Even Hannah she had to be careful now…
“She’s doing much better. Studying to become an RN which, I was both surprised and expecting. I just told her no running off to be the next Mother Teresa.” Delilah leaned back against the armrest. “Got a job recently at a local bookstore. Makes one heck of a coffee too. I’ve starting going there more and telling her to experiment. It’s been….interesting.” She chuckled.
“But it seems with every positive thing in her life comes something hard too. She just got her first real boyfriend but at the same time, her cousin just returned stateside from the war.” Her mouth formed a thin line and she looked away. “He’s in a coma and Hannah is really shaken up.”
“She just can’t seem to catch a break can she? Hopefully this new mystery man of hers will serve as a good distraction.” With the appearance of the cloaked figure Mei had a feeling things were about to get shaken up; at least in her experience unfamiliar visitors never boded well for anyone.
The mention of war actually hit Mei close to home. Thankfully her father had retired from the military about four months ago however her brother was only two years, almost three, into his eight year contract. Shen had been stationed in Texas for a few months before his unit was deployed to Kuwait and while the two siblings kept in contact as best they could, when too much time spanned between each Skype call there was no holding back the heart sinking pit in her stomach feeling of worry she got when her mind began to run wild.
However, this was no time to dwell on such things and so she redirected the conversation to lighter topics. “Have you had a chance to meet him yet?” Mei asked since Delilah herself was a bit more private about her own relationships, she couldn’t help but wonder if Hannah was the same way.
“I hope so as well. But it seems they are the type of people to take things at a snail's pace.” Delilah shook her head letting the military topic drop. She knew that area struck Mei hard.
So instead, she faked a pout. “I haven’t been given the pleasure yet. The bookstore Hannah works at is owned by his family and he helps out but magically, he hasn’t been there when I was.But she seems happy just holding his hand.”
Delilah opened an eye. “Quinn would never have gone for that. It makes me think about those old fashion movies when an adult was always in the room with them.”
“You me the one like… oh what’s it called… The Patriot? Where the actor Heath Ledger was sewed into a sack when he had to sleep over?” Oh man that would have been hysterical to see Quinn all bundled up and unable to do anything.
It truly was a shame to know where theirs was ultimately heading with those two; they seemed so happy back around her birthday, but now feelings had changed; at least for Delilah they had. As sad as it was to admit living a duel live as both a civilian, who goes to school and work and has a family to worry about, and a White Moon Senshi, who was obligated to be some sort of a superhero; it made relationships rather difficult to maintain.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much, I’m sure she’ll call so she can introduce the two of you to one another.” A bit of a bleeding heart who constantly seemed to strive to make others happy and cared for those closest to her with such ferocity; it would be out of character for Hannah to try and keep her sister out of the loop. If there was one thing Mei had learned about the two was the bond they shared was iron clad and Hannah would undoubtedly seek Delilah’s approval sooner or later.
“I’m not worried either. She has enough on her mind so I won’t push. Though I did get talked into play look out at the hospital so she can test her magic on her cousin…” Shaking her head, Delilah gave a sigh. “And here I had sworn off magical powers in a hospital again. At least I’m not trying to break someone out.”
Reaching over to her empty cup of tea, she grabbed Mei’s too and rose. “Would you like some more?” she offered, heading towards her little kitchen before waiting for an answer.
“Please” Mei answered with a nod of her head and watched as Delilah refilled her cup.
“But honestly, I know I’m a worry wort about her but she is such a bleeding heart I can’t help it. Like with you, I know if you are ever in trouble or stuck somewhere, you will call for help. Even if it isn’t me. Hannah…” She shook her head and brought out the fresh tea. “Would take it all on herself and disappear for days if she thought it would help someone. Heck, she would give up anything if someone else needed it. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a wonderful trait. I just worry she will have people use her.”
Sitting back on the couch, Delilah blew on the hot liquid. “I have been having thoughts lately about that General who helped us back last New Years...I have a gut feeling there was more to it.”
“That’s why she needs people like you in her life; to protect her when people like that do come around. But when you say more, what do you mean? More to it how?” Mei blew at the steam rising from her cup a few times before taking a tentative sip. She herself did not have the best rapport with that particular general and while over a year had spanned the first and most recent time they met, she still felt wary about his motives. Right now though was likely not the best time to bring up such concerns or events as there is a distinct possibility he may have changed but it didn’t negate the fact she’d be keeping her eyes out for him.
“I can’t be there all the time Mei. You know that as well as anymore. Besides, I think if Hannah has anyone else hovering over her like she’s about to drop dead, she would lose it mentally.” She took a sip and fell quiet. “I trust her not to be a fool but...I don’t trust others not to misuse her kindness.”
She was biting her lip before she began. “It doesn't sit well with me that a general would have gone above and beyond to see Hannah got the help she needed. I know they aren’t all blood thirsty but I have seen that general kill before in large gatherings. So what makes Hannah so different he would risk his neck for?”
“Do you want my honest thoughts?” While Mei already knew what Delilah’s answer would be it was best to ask if an opinion was wanted now or if her last question was more rhetorical than anything and it be best she save her thoughts for a later date.
“Would I have brought it up to you otherwise?” Delilah said with a smirk. It was weak but the meaning was clear: she trusted and valued Mei’s thoughts. Frankly there were very few others she trusted as much. Even Mercy still had a long way to go.
“Am I crazy to think this way or not? What is your option doctor?”
“Truthfully it’s something that has crossed my mind a few times over the last year. You yourself said she is a bit of a bleeding heart. There is a distinct possibility that she had helped him at one point and that he is just either paying it forward or repaying a debt.” It wasn’t that farfetched of a thought since honor seemed to play some sort of role in one person's perspective of another. “But you also have to consider that she is a strong healer, even if she might not believe it. He could be trying to recruit her; Lord knows he’s probably had several chances to just force her onto their side already.” It was a scary thought but one neither of them could truly deny.
“In all honestly though I’m hesitant to believe it is because he actually cares for her or that they have some sort of Beauty and the Beast thing going on. She seems too smart for something like that. But I don’t know I could always be wrong… Has she brought him up since you two reconnected?” Yes the two had spent some time apart but this was something that was out in the open, no need to keep a secret anymore since it was now common knowledge between the three of them that there was definitely something going on between the Senshi of Prayer and her dark clad knight.
Dellah just shook her head slowly. “Not a once.” With a long sigh, she gazed down into her tea. It was steaming up into her face but she didn’t seem to care as she inhaled the aroma. “I have never pushed it. We don’t talk much about New Years or her experience being held there. It shuts her down…”
“But trust me.” Her eyes lifted back up to gaze at Mei. “My mind has gone to everything you just put into words and more. Even farther honestly. I mean...what did she say to him that allowed him to find me in the first place? How much more about her life does he know?”
Looking away towards the wall, Delilah sighed. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to call him out to find out. I might be a new Super but there is no way I can take on a General and walk away not having met the point of his spear.”
“He’s been a general long enough I have no doubt in my mind that he knows how to use it effectively. To be honest I’m a bit surprised that he didn’t kill me on sight when he found us. What I can tell you is that he’s been at this for a lot longer than I’ve been a senshi.” It was a harrowing thought to consider especially since he couldn’t be much older than the two of them were.
“So what do you propose we do about it?” Mei flashed her friend a rueful smile since she had no real suggestion on how to move forward with regards to Delilah’s sister and her choice of friends.
That thought made Delilah shiver. She had only been a senshi a touch longer than Siduoer but both girls knew this war had been going on for quite a bit longer than they were aware. “Scary to think what he has been through then.”
But still she just shook her head. “Well, let’s be frank. There is no telling Hannah ‘I don’t want you hanging around Mr. Scary Bad Guy in Blue’ because I have a hunch. If she has made him a friend, she will have to have that trust broken. And no offence, I’m not about to try and making something like that happen on purpose. Hannah plays this war like Switzerland. She’s neutral to who she heals and doesn’t care about chaos or order if she can help it.”
Lifting a thumbnail to her teeth, she spoke while holding it. “Frankly, I’m going to have to call her out on it. And no telling how that will go.”
Mei drew in a deep breath then exhaled slowly. There was always a risk in confronting someone like that but sometimes there really was no other option to be had. “Good luck, just prepare yourself for how it might be taken. I think this one is on you though, if both of us approach her, she might feel like her back is against the wall.” That would only prove to be more counterproductive and could possibly push her away and into the waiting arms of the Negaverse if they weren’t careful.
“No it’s completely on me.” Delilah said as she felt her arm come up to prop her elbow on the armrest. Leaning her chin on it, she continued. “We run the risk no matter how many people do it. Truth it, I’m sure even if I say something she will go to him and give him a chance to explain. Who knows what he will say…”
Blowing air upward into her hair, Delilah shook her head slowly. “But the other option is to sit here on our hands and just pray we are wrong. Which, if anything I have learned in the past year, the time for sitting back and doing nothing is past us. Especially with this new offer we have. No...things are moving. Standing back nearly cost us her once. I won’t do it again.”
Her eyes looked over at Mei. Sometimes it surprised Delilah that this woman still took part in the battle after everything she had been through. A dear friend taken from her just at the start of her senshi time. Death a moment later. The honest truth was Delilah was surprised Mei got attached to anyone on this side now.
Or she was good at pretending. Nah...
Mei’s gaze fell to the cup in her hands as Delilah spoke all the while nodding her head in agreement; change was definitely on the horizon, there was no arguing that point. “Do what you need to do.” she finally said after a moment’s silence. “Things are already in motion. It’s best to get a handle on what you can before everything tailspins out of control.”
“Before?” Delilah commented raising a brow at her friend. “Mei, I hate to say it but I think everything already has. Now we just have to find how to put some of it back together.”
“One step at a time Delilah… one step at a time…”
Sirene Naiads
