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

[Nova Blancke]

"I don't really fly at those heights because of those reasons. But if you want to take the slow way, okay." Theo responded.

"Aside from the fact that I am in charge of this place and not her? I'd also advice against it. Everything that I have done here was my own choice."

Legio looked over the new arrival.

"An interesting analogy. Sure you may sit down if you'd like."

"It was quite a scene, was it not? I assume that is why you are here?"  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

"Much obliged." she replied with a nod. She took her seat and placed her hands on the table. "Name's Willadene Nation, but most folks just call me Willa."

"Yes n' no. Most every woman here is wonderin' what you did or said ta' rile that wolf lady up, but I overheard enough of you and the kid chattin' to understand that you don't exactly know where you ******** up. I'm here offerin' to explain where you went wrong. Now, my boyfriend over there thinks I'm just bein' nosey, and maybe I am, but I think of this as doin' you a service. A service ta' you, and every person that you open yer pie hole at."

"So, if'n you'd like, I'd be happy to give you tips on not bein' a horses a**."

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

There was a moment of silence over the phone where Clara was processing what she'd just heard.

"You're in charge?" she asked with a sigh. "How that happened must be one Hell of a story. Well, that makes it easier for me at least, since you're overdo for a lecture from me anyway."

"Alright, Theo. I should be there in four or five hours. Can I count on you to pick me up from the airport? In a car."

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

"Play. Ground. How splendid." Ilex complimented. She turned to look toward the playground again and mused, "Such a thing did not exist in my time. Save for the swings. I remember when a boy I showed my garden swing to grew and constructed one for his children from a tree I gifted to his family. They caught on quickly after that. I think his name was Caleb."

She turned to Kerana and noticed that the fox girl was doing her best to keep a low profile. She huffed, "Do you still fret over your appearance? If it bothers you that much I can show you how to conceal yourself. It's called Inari's breath."

"First, you need a fresh leaf." Ilex waved at a tree. It slowly lowered it's closest limb to her. She plucked two leaves from the branch and bowed her head in respect and gratitude. The tree limb went back up as slowly as it came down. "Lokelonni taught you about visualization and actualization, yes? Visualize how you want to look and kiss the underside of the leaf. " She took one leaf, kissed it, and placed the wet side onto her forehead. "Place it against your forehead, like so, and nature will do the rest." The leaf disintegrated into swirling, but gentle, green particles that whirled and twisted around Ilex. The flowers in her hair vanished, her skin became pale, and her leotard shifted into an outfit she saw one of the other children wearing. A sleeveless dress with black leggings and sneakers. The particles blew into the wind, and left Ilex looking as normal as any other child her age.

She offered the other leaf to Kerana and explained, "A leaf this size should be enough to conceal your ears, tails, and unnatural hair color. There is just one thing to keep in mind. This will fool the eyes, but not the light. Your shadow will still reflect your true self. As a child of Inari, this should be simple for you."  

[Nova Blancke]

"You have a very colorful way of talking. I am called Legio."

"Advice and suggestions are always welcome. It is impossible to grow in an echo chamber after all."

"Yeah." Theo responded to her question.

"Looking forward to it." He sighed to her lecture.

He chuckled a bit."Good thing you mentioned car. I would have flown. But okay, we'll keep in touch."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

"Nothin' that colorful about it, slim. Just the kinda lingo you hear in my neck of the woods."

"Well alright then." Willa said with a smile. "But first things first. I'm gonna need ta know what your deal is. Nothin' fancy, just the basics."

A few minutes later Willa whistled in amazement and quipped, "Boy I tell you what, that story's crazier than the time my drunk uncle thought he'd float down from the roof if he held onto a yard bird's legs. You don't know nothin' about nothin', but you talk like a highfalutin know-it-all while bein' about as dense as a bag of rocks. No wonder she slapped the taste outta your mouth. Hell, I probably woulda smacked you too after all that s**t."

She sighed, crossed her arms beneath her breasts, and tilted her head thoughtfully. "But, I did say I'd help you out. And my mama didn't raise no liar. This is gonna be one helluva challenge."

"Alright, slim. Let's start with you. What do you think about what just happened? Don't gotta be solid, just whatever pops into your noggin'."

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

"Okay." She confirmed. She then sighed and said, "I miss you, Theonis. And you know I love you, right? No matter what you look like or how fast you can fly. You're my one and only child, and I'll always have your back. I'll see you soon. Bye bye."  

[BeaMichelle]

Ravan, Aqua, and Sarah talked a bit longer when the subject of swimming came up. It occurred to the two water bound people that Ravan didn't know how to swim. Sarah offered to teach her. Ravan was very adamantly hesitant at first, but she very much did want to go to a beach one day and actually enjoy the water. After an initial snafu of Ravan thinking it'd be okay for her to jump right into the pool with her clothes, and then with nothing on at all, she went to the changing room and came back with a black and gold one piece swim suit.

She floated over the water and lowered herself down. But because she didn't drop her gravity field, the water caught within it just sort of floated around her.

"I don't think I'm doing this right." she commented. "But if I drop my power, wont I sink right away?"

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

Theresa had quickly gotten bored of all the sciencey talk. So she thought she'd see what her awesome big brother was up to. Theresa came strutting down the hall toward him just as Clara wrapped up the call,

"Hey Theonis! Whatcha doing?" she inquired.  

[Nova Blancke]

Theo was silent for a bit." I love you too mom. See you soon. Bye" Theo said and hang up.

"Oh hey, I was just talking to my mom. It's been a while since I've seen her."

Legio's brow raised as the woman was talking. Language was....a fascinating thing.

"I am unsure, she wanted it to hurt. To....return the favor as they say? Perhaps, I somehow hurt her.

"Yeah we totally could." Liv responded.

She could hear Heather's response "Well someone is giddy"

It didn't take long before her side was done. There was no way Liv was parting with her long hair but a different style and color definitely wouldn't be bad. An more dark red/amber wavey hair styled cut

"Ready when you are babe."  

[BeaMichelle]

"Do you mean Mommy Clara? Daddy used to talk about her as much as he talked about you."

Her expression became pensive as she moved close to Theonis and leaned against the nearest wall. "I know that Miss Gidget is my real mom, and I like her a lot, but she doesn't feel like my mom when I'm with her. She thinks it's because I never knew or met her. I think she might be right. I knew right away that you were my brother because Daddy talked about you a lot. Do you...think that maybe Mommy Clara will like me right away like you did?"  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

"Perhaps? You didn't take a good look at her face after she hitcha, didja? She was chokin' back tears. I reckon you touched a big red button of hurt when you suggested she might love you. Yer right, she did want to hurt you, but not in the way I reckon yer used to. More of a 'we don't talk about that' way. A '******** you for even suggestin' that' way. At least, that's what I reckon. I don't know much about, what's her name...Fenris? I just know what I saw, is all. And I tell you what, these big brown eyes can see quite a bit."

Willa leaned in and folded her arms one atop the other on the table. "But let's circle back ta you. How did it feel when she hitcha that time? Not what you felt on yer face, but what you felt in yer heart. And I don't mean yer literal heart. I mean the one poets write about. You said yer a psychic, right? If you can't find the words, feel free ta borrow some of mine. I'll even put the educated ones at the front fer ya. Just keep yer brain hands outta my personal bits, and we'll be peachy keen."

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

Heather took her hands away from her eyes and almost immediately put them to her mouth in shock. "Liv! Your hair! The color! The style! It's so different, but still so you!"

Heather wanted to run her finger through Liv's locks so badly, but they were in public. She'd have to settle for later. "I love it!" she confirmed.  

[PixelMuse]

Nova Blancke

[ … ]

She chuckled "Mindfulness...my mind is full...all of the time. I don't think I'll ever be able to relax as I used to before it all happened."

"Hmm? Oh.. actually... I have no idea. For the first time I don't have anything to do. Nothing to kill, nothing to salvage or forage. I..... I... just.. don't know."

"Thaaat's not quite what I meant by mindfulness. But yea it would not be the same as before but more perhaps a new way in a sense. Kind of learning what can calm you now than then."

"Heh heh. All this freedom now and you don't know what to do with it, huh? If you'd like I could show you these meditation rooms we have at the gym. They are sound proof so you could have complete silence if you like or listen to a recording that walks you through it all, like focusing on your breath and so forth. Eh, it's up to you but from where I'm standing meditation could do you some good."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Fenris wasted no time and began with a mouthful of the drink. She did not know what it was the bartender gave her, but it left a burning sensation in her throat. She coughed a few times as the pain subsided. It did not take long for it to affect her. She figured the burning would be worth it if she could just get his voice out of her head.

Part of her wanted to see Lokelonni, but she did not want her mother to see her in such a state. Trinity? She'd seen Freya, and sometimes Okami, drunk on many an occasion. She never told her student, but he was the reason she started drinking. It was easier to divert her attention back then, since she had a new student to teach, so she did not feel the need to imbibe as much when with Trinity. Just occasionally when it got to be too much.

"Love? ******** that." she muttered to no one in particular.

She took another swig, and walked through the halls with no destination.

The bartender switched gears and realized that Trinity might be busy with everything that went on the day before. He sent a text to her work phone.



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

Ilex looked from Kerana to the playground and back again. Part of her wanted to seek the planet's truth immediately, but the newly awaked juvenile part of her really wanted to partake in the merriment of youth. She fidgeted for a second as she mulled it over. Finally she looked up to Kerana and said, "I would actually like that very much."

A few seconds later, Ilex jogged up to the play area and studied how the children interacted with the equipment. It did not take long for one of them, a girl no older than six or seven, to approach the new arrival. She hopped up to Ilex, her brown hair tied into a bouncing set of twin pony tails, and announced herself.

"Hi! Are you new? You look new. Whatsyername?" she blurted.

"Greetings, child. I am Ilex. and I am quite old. Nearly as old as the trees themselves."

The girl giggled and replied, "You're silly, and you talk weird. I like you. I'm Hailey, and you're it!"

She shot her arm out and tagged Ilex and then ran back into the play area.

Ilex looked down at where Hailey tagged her, aghast. She looked back up and chased after the girl. "It?! What is it? Come back here and tell me what it is!"

A girl about Kerana's age approached the disguised fox girl. "Hey, I've never seen you around here before. Are you stuck looking after your little sister too?" she asked dryly.  

[PixelMuse]

While Crystallion was considering her suggestion she could sense her phone go off. It was a text from one of the bartenders.

Text from Noah

Trinity, it's Noah from the bar. A large wolf lady just walked in and demanded I serve her. I gave her something that would hopefully knock her out, and she left. She was here last night. Said something about being your "badass aunt and badass pet all rolled into one" so I thought you might know her. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

OMW

She finished her tea and got up. “Sorry to cut this short. I’m afraid something has come up that requires my immediate attention. Thank you for your advice regarding Dawn and Leo. Remember, they as well as the rest of the kids are in safe hands, alright? I hope you’ll consider my suggestion I know my days here are not the same as what you’ve endured but it does help with the anxiousness that comes with the calm.” She headed out of the door as she spoke. “We’ll catch up another time. Laters.” She sank slowly at first to hear her response and disappeared into her shadow.

Trinity emerged at the back of the bar and thanked Noah for the tip. She could faintly sense where she was sitting and had a pretty good idea where she went. Her eyes glowed as she looked at the path her shadow took, yep, she’s definitely drunk. She dropped through her shadow and emerged behind Fenris. “Hey, what’s going on? Been looking for you.” She reached her hand to her shoulder to ensure her that she wasn’t just hearing things.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Fenris turned around in a drunken stupor and slurred, "Heeeey there Trinin *hic* ty. My faaaavorite person. Shorry about that. Me, some kid, and Lejo...leggy...leggo my eggo got poofed into the construct. Yah know...from the Matrix? A buncha morons made ush all peepol again. Ain't that swell?! No mer blobby peeps. Den I hadta give that lil' punkass, Alex, a piece a my mind. *Hic* Mua fugga made Ryjia cry."

She grasped the bottle by the neck and took a swig. She winced and asked, "Where my mannerz? You want somma dis...dis."

She removed the paper bag, put her nose to the bottle and squinted so she could read the large print on the label. "Everclear?!" she asked stunned. She stood silent for a moment and then burst into laughter. "Hah haaaaah! If I were human *snrk* I'd probly be dead *snrk* again!"

She tossed her head back in rowdy cackling. A moment later she tripped over her own paws and stumbled back against the wall. She slid down on her rear and kept laughing. She felt she had to keep laughing. She was desperate. As though if she stopped laughing she'd go to the other extreme.  

[PixelMuse]

Trinity tried to make sense of what Fenris was saying. Definitely something outlandish happened but wasn’t entirely sure who she was referencing was there. She took note of it and considered asking her about it when she was more sober. She wasn’t clear on what happened with Rydia and Alex? Alec? Probably Alexavier she presumed since Alec tends to be a people pleaser. Alexavier tended to not care.

“Everclear?!” This was something that was meant to be a subtle ingredient, not meant to be the drink. “Let’s just say you’ve had enough and it’s working its magic. Heh heh.” She looked at the bottle in the bag and wrapped it in shadow sending it back to the bar next to the cash register. She replaced it with a bottle of water. If it was anything else, like maybe her usual drinks from before, she probably wouldn’t take such measures. But in this case, she was literally drinking poison. She wasn’t too keen about the bar tender’s choosing to give her this. She would have a word with him later, Fenris is currently her priority.

What drove her here? “Alright let’s get you up, you goof.” She helped her up and steadied her to move to the nearest bench. “Do you remember what brought you to the bar? Was it something to do with Legio?” Not knowing fully the nature of the relationship, she asked because she mentioned him in her slurred speech.