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

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Lokelonni was shocked, but not entirely surprised, by the way Kerana took charge of the situation. It had not been her intention, but it had been a good opportunity for Kerana to assert herself and push through what she thought was the right thing to do. Memories of the girl's ancestor fluttered through the retired queen's mind. She couldn't help but smile with pride.

"My sincerest apologies. 'Tis the curse of foresight. So much excitement for what is to come that I sometimes forget the present."

The tree shuddered and groaned as it's small branches almost seemed to stretch like someone who was in the process of waking. The groaned was soon joined by cracking as the tree gradually grew in size. When it reached the size of child Kerana witnessed, it began to twist in it's soil and unravel it's own bark like a discarded blanket. From within it emerged a little girl with pale green skin and short, vibrant red hair that was styled in a pixie cut over elf like ears. The leaves of the tree fell and formed around her body into a leotard made from foliage. She stretched and yawned. When she reached the apex of her stretch, a few daisies popped through her hair in various places and bloomed brightly.

Ilex rubbed her eyes and muttered sleepily, "ic pro am âwreccan âcennicge"

"Common tunge, Ilex. That hrêam orgilde cwide has nâ been âgniden ætstandan ages." Lokelonni corrected.

Ilex paused in confusion and looked in the direction of Lokelonni, her eyes squinted as they adjusted to the light. "Who goes? Thou who I glean as my uncle yet speaks as a maiden."

"I am one who possesses the soul of your uncle, yet I am not him. Just as the young lady behind you possesses the boon of your mother, yet is not her." the woman replied.

Ilex turned to Kerana, blinked, rubbed her eyes, and blinked again. Her left eye was the shade of soil, and her right was a bright aquamarine. As her eyes came into focus, she gave Kerana a deeply incredulous look.

"'Twas thou who roused me from my slumber? Eh, mine voice? Why do I speak as a babe?"

She finally heard her voice and saw how much larger everything had become. Her head whipped furiously from side to side as she took in her surroundings. "What madness is this?"

"There is much to explain, Ilex, but it would be much quicker were you to calm down and reflect from Kerana's memory. No doubt your mother left you something."

Ilex apprehensively rubbed the thumb and forefinger of her right hand together as she considered Lokelonni's advice. She stood up, faced Kerana, and raised her open hand to the teenager palm out. "Place thy hand to mine, fox maiden. So that I may be privy to thy knowledge. 'Twould be a great kindness to myself."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Ilex closed her eyes and concentrated. Her brow creased as she came to realize exactly how long she'd been asleep and why she would be awaked then. It was then she found the final message Vivi had for Kerana. She dug a little deeper and found the message for herself. A single tear stained the cheek under her left eye, and then she withdrew her hand.

"I...see." she said with the heavy drip of melancholy. With an unsteady gate, she stepped away from the tree while she gracefully twisted her left hand like a ballerina. The tree that she had been comatose in repaired itself and returned to a healthy state.

"There. Now the children will not be sad."

She turned back toward, and up at, Kerana and curtsied. "You have my deepest gratitude, Kerana Carter. That moment of connection has not only allowed me to be brought up to current events, but has given me the linguistic skills necessary to effectively communicate with the people of this age. I am Ilex, daughter to Vale of Earth, and Vivi of Life."

"Thank you for showing so much kindness and compassion to the children under Matron's protection. In return, I wish to grant you any wish that is in my power. "  

[Nova Blancke]

Meanwhile Alexavier just laughed as she left. Didn't even need to prod her mind. So much more fun to nag people that wear their heart on their sleeves.

It was hard not to feel the tension and the anger in the air. Theo stepped in between his Leo and...Leonard with hands up a bit.

"Woah calm down Leo. He was involved, not the sole cause of it all. You're focusing on the wrong person. Stand down. What is this going to solve? You'd be going after the other scientists later? Maybe that's not enough, maybe their blood should pay as well. Slippery slope you're looking at right now."

"Don't do this.

"Is there any better time? Especially considering what just happened. Time for us is finite. I do not think I would like to have regrets. It won't take as long as you suggest. I tend to absorb knowledge rather fast. Of course I would keep in contact with Valhalla. I did make a promise to Fenris after all."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Lokelonni smiled mischievously and replied, "Now the two of you are going to spend some time with one another while I lay down for a nap. It has been a very eventful morning, and I need to rest."

"Unc- Aun- Lokelonni, you cannot be serious? You are supposed to be one teaching her, not me." Ilex protested.

"Who is to say this will not be a learning experience for the both of you?"

"But-"

Lokelonni dramatically put a hand to her forehead and sighed, "Oh my, I am feeling quite vertiginous. Kerana, a trip to the surface will do you both a world of good. Make sure Ilex holds your hand when crossing the street."

She gracefully turned to make her way back toward her dorm. It only took a few steps for her brow to become damp with sweat. She had been putting on heirs in front of her pupil so as to not worry her too much, but the royal truly did feel weak.

Ilex's face turned red and scrunched up, and then her cheeks puffed out a bit. "Why of all the...ugh."

She turned back to Kerana and let out a heavy exhale. "I suppose it is just you and I for now. She was not entirely wrong. I do desire to be among nature. This fortress of steel is quite unnerving. Do you know of a place where we could commune with the living world?"

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

"If I knew who they were, I would. The ones that had their bloodstained hands all over Legion's creation. So eager to achieve without considering what would happen if their creations went wild."

"That's not true!" Leonard protested. "We did everything we could to stay within the bounds of safety. If Shane hadn't-"

"Safety? Safety?! What about ethics?! You had to've known what you were doing was wrong! But what's the future to an old man?! Our future was taken from us by old men! Old, stupid, short...shoorrrryooror."

Leo's body went limp and slid to the floor in a heap. Behind him stood Dawn with a single finger outstretched.

"I'm sorry. There's no reasoning with him when he's like that. I had to knock him out."

"But, his shadow? Why didn't it-"

"It only reacts to threats." she explained while she sat her brother up against the wall. "I didn't want to hurt him, and it knew that. At least, I'd like to think that's how it works."

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

Heron was actually quite enthused by Legio's desire for experience. But he knew there was a proper way to do things.

"My father used to tell me that even masters have to start with a strong foundation. Might I suggest that we study the basics before we seek masters of the culinary arts?"

Heron had eaten just before Fenris called for him, and he soon reached his limit. What remained on his tray was a single slice of cheesecake. He slid the item toward Legio and said, "Try this. It's called cheesecake. It falls under desserts; a sweet food that ends a meal."  

[Nova Blancke]

Theo was ready to take Leo out if he had to. Shadows were fast but how could they stop wind or sheer force? Just as it seemed like Leo was about to boil over in his anger, he collapsed leaving only Dawn standing behind him.

"What did you do? Rattle his brain?"

"Naturally, we would need a strong foundation before even attempting to become an disciple. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, as they say."
Legio accepted the cheesecake. It was...sweet and spongy.

"I understand why people can grow a fondness of these things. It is very sweet. The name is interesting however. There is no actual cheese in it."

The day was going so well. Her 'upgrade', Heather, the car ride, being treated like a lady until they were stopped. Liv's own cheerful demeanor changed into something a lot colder.

"I see. So it's a race thing and not a sexual orientation thing. Not sure if that's better. Preaching acceptance for LGBT as long as they are strictly human huh? I guess gay couples still aren't accepted if they don't conform to your standards. How sad."

"I suppose she could wear sunglasses but the only people who wear sunglasses inside are blind people and assholes. She's neither."

With a sigh she turned around then half joked to Heather.

"You should buy this place and fire her."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Dawn rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly and said, "Sort of? I was just trying to nullify his power temporarily, but because my output is so random I just wanted to do it a little bit. It looks like I went right past his power and drained his energy. It's not the first time it's happened. He'll wake up in a little bit feeling...hung over? Am I using that right?"

Leonard sighed and settled back into his bed. He pat Theresa's head and motioned for her to go back to the rest of her "family." Once he was alone on his side of the room he grumbled, "He wasn't wrong. We tampered with forces beyond our comprehension We thought it came from the top, but now I know it was coming from the thing you call Eclipse. He put that thing in my head when he found out I gave Agatha Daedalus' black files."

He turned his attention to his son. "Theo, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but that things removal has resulted in severe muscle memory loss, and even a few long term ones. Could you please call your mother, and let her know that we're okay?"

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

Heron chuckled, "I actually said the same thing yesterday when I was eating with the human children. It's actually something called cream cheese. and that crumbly stuff at the bottom is called graham cracker. It pales in comparison to the deserts from home, but it's one of my favorite human foods so far."

The boy's ears picked up on hushed chatter that mentioned a 'beautiful man,' He smiled and said, "It appears you've caught the eyes of many a woman here...and a few men."

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

Heather held one finger up to Liv as she finished furiously typing into the company phone she'd been given. "Hold that thought. Aaaand send."

Diu crossed her arms and huffed, "Listen girls, you can get nasty with me all you like, but it's the policy of the owner. The owner who happens to be my husband. So the odds of two little-"

The woman was cut off by the ringing of her personal cell phone that sat atop the podium. She looked down at the display and saw that it was her husband.

"You'll want to answer that." Heather hissed.

Diu scoffed and picked up the phone. What followed was a furious back and forth between herself and her husband, who could be heard through the speaker, in frantic Vietnamese. The color left her face as she hung up and looked at Heather.

"I. Am. So. So sorry, Miss Ray. If I had known-"

"Reynolds." Heather interrupted with her eyes hardened and pupils contracted into slits.

"I'm-"

"Ray is my father's name. If it was a Ray that had just bought this restaurant, you and your husband would have your livelihoods eradicated. I am not my father. I just bought out your landlord, so I control the rent. I could run you both into poverty, but I'll allow you and your s**t husband to keep this place on three conditions."

"Anything."

"First, that policy about 'passing meta-humans,' that's done as of right now. Second, the name of this place is going to be changed to rồng đỏ."

"Why-"

"Third, you are personally going to serve my girlfriend and I from appetizers to deserts. At the end of which I'm going to pay and leave you a nice tip. Because I want you to remember how generous and forgiving this actual dragon lady is."

She turned to Liv and smiled sweetly. "That is, if you still want to eat here. We can go anywhere you want."  

[Nova Blancke]

"Hmmm I see. Guess that's another thing we need you to get under control."

"Not sure how to feel about that. Would have prefer it if you were always under control. Can't win em all I suppose."

"Blood transfusion from a regenerator would fix that real quick." He responded."Does....mom know I'm fine? Would be a hell of a bomb to drop on her. Hey mom, Dad is okay. 'Oh me? Yeah I'm fine. Not dead at all'.....ya know"

"Again...where is the cheese? Naming things can be....strange. Everything is made up if you truly thing about it." He replied while further analyzing the flavor of the cheesecake.

"I suppose this face is attractive to both genders. Androgynous I believe the term is. It matters very little to me."

Liv watched it all unfold. She had not expected this side of Heather. This...strong and dominant side. Was this her dragon side emerging or was this always a part of her? Liv was usually the one in charge with her teasing but this? She really like this side of her. There was just a surprised smile on her face and a slight blush.

"You have no idea how hot that was just now. Like holy s**t. I'd take you back to the room and I'd be eating something completely different. Wow.....But since I am...actually hungry, I'd like to get something to eat."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Leonard nodded and replied, "I told her you were alive and well after I ended my call with Agatha. She was...vexed, at first, but she came to understand why you had to do what you did. She's been waiting to hear from you. I'd say there's no more safe time than after the fall of Daedalus."

"You guys can go on ahead. I'm going to stay here with Leo until he wakes up. Plus I've got lots of questions for 'Grandpa.'"

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

Heron eavesdropped a bit longer until he heard something a bit more saucy than he expected. "Er, it seems as though some of them have taken interests in things beyond your face."

There was a commotion near the entrance when a six foot tall werewolf entered and frightened several people. Fenris sniffed the air until she found her goal. She growled and flounced to the table Legio and Heron sat at. Anyone near her gave a wide berth.

"Sir, it would appear the princess would like to have a word with you...or tear your throat out with her teeth. It's honestly hard to tell which." Heron cautioned.

Fenris slammed her hands on the table and snarled, "You! What did-"

Her anger was momentarily interrupted by the sight of Legio finishing a cheesecake. She craned her neck toward Heron and asked, "Didn't I tell you to make sure he ate actual food?"

"You did, your Highness. He sampled many a thing before he arrived at desert."

"Oh. Good. Well done, Heron." she complimented.

She turned her attention back to Legio and demanded, "Whatever you did to me, undo it!"

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

Heather blushed deeply at the mention of "eating" and playfully scolded, "Liiiiv, not in front of the tenants."

She cleared her throat and turned back to Diu. "We'll be eating here. Show us to our tables."

"Of course, Miss Ray-nolds. Right this way."

Once they were seated and had their drink orders in, Diu left to go personally tend to every portion of their meal after such an colossal blunder.

Heather decided it would be a good time to address what had just happened. "What you saw back there is a side of me I've been consciously trying to keep buried since I found out what a monster my dad was. Mom would tell me that it didn't have to be a bad thing, but I didn't want to be anything like him in the slightest."

"But then that woman said that bull about 'passing metahumans.' It made me think of Kerana, Sarah, and Lawrence. Something just bubbled up in me, and I remembered how Dad used to have what he called a 'buy then bye' button on his phone. I was so tempted to just ruin her family's life, but then she wouldn't have learned anything. She'd just hate us more, and I'd be just like Dad. I said I would use my money to do good, and I thought it was a good time to start"

Heather traced her index finger on the table thoughtfully and gazed to her with bedroom eyes. "I'm glad you thought it was hot, though. I was afraid it might've turned you off, but now I might just try and take charge a time or two."  

[Nova Blancke]

Theo was conflicted about...multiple things. Contacting his mom, which he did miss dearly and leaving these two with his dad. Leo wanted to kill the man he was named after.

He took a deep breath."Yeah.....yeah I guess you're right."

He looked at both Dawn and Leo."Can...he be trusted not to freak out when waking up?"

"I see,"Legio commented about both the spicier comments and Fenris.

"I am not quite sure what you mean. I have done nothing to you as of recently. But come sit down. Have you tried Cheesecake? It's quite good."

Liv gave a cheeky wink before being guided towards their table.

Listening to what her girlfriend said made sense considering her father.

"You know, I get that. And I'm proud of you for doing that. You have the means so why the hell not? You did good."

"Oh and....do try. I know I am a bit of a Switch when it comes to it but...I really wouldn't mind being the power bottom. Kind of fits me. Don't you think baby?"  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

"He wont feel like standing up, much less do anything stupid." Dawn assured Theonis. "I've got things here. From the sound of things it's been a while since you've talked to your Mom. Go on, get out of here."

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

Fenris looked down at the cheesecake on the table. With one motion, she snatched the remainder of the cheesecake and shoved it into her mouth. She chewed for a few seconds before she spoke again. "Shince yeshterday, I've been an overemotional mesh, even after taking into account everything that'sh happened" she grumbled while flecks of graham cracker occasionally flew from her mouth. She swallowed what was in her mouth and then continued. "I've been spilling my guts to people I dislike, or in your case loath. Freya was angry and vulgar most of the time, and Okami was bubbly and affectionate, Neither of those things equate to what I feel now. So whatever that has me this way must be your fault, because my thoughts keep going back to you."

"So whatever it was that you ******** up when you spat me back out yesterday, ******** it."

Heron looked confused by Fenris' last statement. He looked to Legio and asked, "What does she mean by 'spat back out?'"

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

Heather grinned as her face became warmer and redder. She reached out with her right foot and ran it up and along Liv's lower leg. "We'll have to find out tonight, firefly."

The rest of the meal went off without a hitch. Heather admitted that the skewers were as good as Liv had said the night before, but she was still adamant about chicken wings being better. True to her word, she left a $500 dollar tip at the end of the meal for Diu. Once they were outside Heather looked to Liv and asked, "Now that out bellies are full, what should we do next. Spa? Salon? Shopping spree? It's been years since I was able to purchase my own wardrobe, but I could definitely go for a mani pedi or a new do."  

[PixelMuse]

Nova Blancke

"Well...it's hard not to mention his...father. But I'll tr to omit what I can. Come, sit." Crystalion ushered. She herself got up to pour another cup of tea and got some cookies while she was at it.

Trinity prepped herself another cup of tea and sat with her having a cookie. She listened to her tale of the first time Leo was trapped in the shadow realm. She could imagine the look she and Theo would share as they come to realize what happened. It wasn’t the same picture as what Crystalion had observed for it was this timeline’s version of Theo and her. Yet none the less the look would be the same.

As she went on to talk about how scared Leo was, she couldn’t help but remember how freaked out she was when she first discovered that she could do that at 15. She remembered having to turn the first person that offered help which was Leviathan Cortez. Which was, little did she know, the wrong choice to go with. Teshoumaru was able to take her away from him and teach her how to use her power and fight along with Freya. She wanted to be his Teshoumaru to help him ease into the notion that the Shadow Realm was ok to encourage him to use it when he needed it.

As she finished she started to wonder If it’s not the trauma as she claimed… then what could it be? Guess it may be best to let him answer. Although I have to agree with Crystalion’s suspicions. Being stubborn not the best of either of qualities and neither Theonis’ but it was there.

“I think it might be better if I ease him into it or at least try to. I know Fenris, would plunge him into the deep end and if e he claims he’s not traumatized by it that would.” She sighed to herself. “Although I can’t blame him for not using it based on that experience… plus no one was there to guide him.“  

[Nova Blancke]

"Yeah...shallow waters and all that. It was always challenging because he can be....volatile. But who can blame him for that? I'm just glad they turned out alright despite everything. Still...it's not a childhood any parent would wish for their kids." She sighed.

"Of course, Theo tried to teach him, he always had a knack for teaching like that but.....time and energy wasted on anything other than survival could be disastrous. We sometimes took the kids to desolate mountains where all life was already devoured. The beasts didn't stick around places like that. No food for them. Any control the kids have was taught there. Personally...I'm more worried about Dawn. At least Leo has control over his fathers power. Dawn inherited everything I had at that point AND gained Theo's power. It's hard enough to control one ability, but being born with an entire host of them without a lot of time to practice?"

Crystalion realized she had been rambling.

"Ah sorry...didn't mean to go off like that. Still anxious, it's...too quiet here at times. Like it's about to burst and the chaos would start again." She said as she looked around a bit."It's nice to being able to try and relax but hard to actually do." Looking down she sighed again and noticed she had been bouncing her foot the entire time.

"Hey....if something happens to me....could you please look after him?"

"Sorry....that's..never mind."

Legio was surprised she actually did what he suggested her.

"I'll tell you later." He said to Heron.

"I did not '******** up' anything yesterday. You came to be as the same person you were at the end of the fight."

"Now I have been told I lack proper knowledge about emotions by a certain someone so perhaps you should talk to someone who has? Your mother seemed very wise. I may have an idea what it could be but that would most likely result in a destructive response from you."

Liv gave her a cheeky wink.

After they were done eating, she had to admit....she was right. Those skewers were the best.

"You know what....how about you take charge in this. And I will just follow along. I really don't mind any of these options. It's nice spending some time with you."Liv said and gave a quick kiss on the cheek.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Heron's eyes darted from Fenris to Legio with some alarm. He didn't quite understand what was happening before him, but he did know that the princess had an infamous temper. "Sir, I'm not sure if that's the best-"

Fenris held a hand in front of Heron as a signal to be silent. "It's okay, Heron. Concern for my reaction is a step in the right direction." she admitted. "But far be it from me to ignore his suggestion, no matter how much it might piss me off."

Heron was taken aback. He had never known the princess to show restraint. Then again, he'd never seen her wolf self out during daylight hours. Something was certainly different about her.

Fenris placed her palms on the table and leaned down until her snout was less than a foot away from his face. She narrowed her eyes at him and said with a quiet rumble in her throat, "Go ahead, Legio. What do you think is wrong with me?"

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

Heather smiled brightly and bit her bottom lip. "I know just where to go." she said excitedly.

A quick Limo ride and they were at Sapphire Springs Salon and Spa. Heather picked it for three reasons: word of mouth, reviews, and it contained a word that was close to Sapphic which amused her. She called ahead to avoid any mishaps like at the newly named "Red Dragon" restaurant. They were met at the door by employees who were more than happy to tend to their every whim. Heather really only had one request though.

"Can you guys make it so we're within earshot but unable to see each other until the end? That way there's a big reveal."

There was a folding privacy divider placed between them, and the team got to work on pampering Liv and Heather. It did not take long for the heiress to settle back into her old lifestyle.

"Ahhhh. I've missed this so much." she sighed. She turned toward the partition and asked Liv, "You know, it just occurred to me that we know very little about each other before a month ago? What were you doing before you came to Valhalla?"