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Jul 17, 2016 16:03:58 GMT
Post by Absolute on Jul 17, 2016 16:03:58 GMT
Jesse was currently basking in the sunshine like a particularly content lizard, luxuriating in the gentle caress of the sun's warmth. Basking was a good word, in his opinion, It wasn't overused, it was usually attached to pleasant things and it always made him think of lizards. Which was great, because lizards were awesome. They're like tiny dinosaurs. Tinysaurs. A breathe of laughter escaped his lips as he uttered the word to himself quietly, thoroughly amused at the mental imagery that it brought to mind. Life was good.
He came here often enough in his free time, to sit back and appreciate the simple things in life, and to enjoy the benign atmosphere that permeated the park, courtesy of the various families, dog walkers and the elderly that came out to soak up the sun and relax. It seemed like everyone could be happy here. Or, well. Almost everyone. Jesse's smile faded as he glanced over to a more shaded area of the park, where a woman with hair of a rather unmistakable shade of pink sat upon a bench. Blonde brows shot up as his eyes widened with recognition and delight. That was Valkyrie, one of the most prominent heroes of the Initiative, and one of his idols!
His sharp intake of breath and the rising sense of excitement faltered, however, as he noted the less than joyous air that enveloped her. His smooth brow creased in a concerned frown, and he pushed himself to his feet, not hesitating before making his way towards her in an unhurried manner. He made sure his footfalls made enough noise to alert her to his approach and slowed, coming to a halt a respectful distance away. "Hi! I'm Jesse. Nice to meet you, Miss..?"
He did, of course, know exactly who she was, but he got the feeling that she had enough people gazing at her with adoration and clamouring for autographs in costume, so she deserved a break, in his book.
VALKYRIE
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Post by VALKYRIE on Jul 24, 2016 5:29:55 GMT
 Nothing had gone wrong. Nothing was amiss. She was only a little tired, and sometimes it caught up with her. Sometimes she sat down for a moment in the park on her way to class, her coffee on the bench next to her, and stopped to look at the people and remember why she did this, who she did this for, desperate, striving, to feel anything and instead--
a child's body going still in her arms and the hot spray of blood that came before comprehension
instead
Marisa jerking back from her hesitant touch, Marisa's fist slamming into her face
instead
a boy fighting against his restraints on a metal table and later, the argument she hadn't been able to win
Thalia closed her eyes, and opened them again a long moment later. Her coffee had gone cold. There was a boy standing in front of her, and for a moment he was two boys at once, neither of which she had saved, and then he resolved into only himself and she smiled at him.
"You can call me Thalia," she said, knowing that between the pink hair and the name that there were no secrets here. Still, he had the facsimile of politeness, at least. Maybe it was genuine. She didn't know. That was beyond her too. "Did you need something?"
Someone always needed something. She needed something. If there was something she could do, she could lose herself in it, put this moment miles behind her.
Absolute
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Jul 25, 2016 12:18:39 GMT
Post by Absolute on Jul 25, 2016 12:18:39 GMT
"That's a pretty name! It's really good to meet you, Miss Thalia." He gave her a broad, sunny smile, though it was short-lived, fading to give way to a more sober, thoughtful countenance. The knuckle of his forefinger pressed against his lips as he considered her question, a contemplative hum emanating from the young fellow as he wondered if he actually did need anything.
Placing his hands upon his hips, he exclaimed an enthusiastic, "Yes!", only to cock his head to one side and follow up with, "Well. No I don't really need anything, but I have something super important to do, and I think you're the only one that could help. If that's okay?"
Jesse didn't like to lie as a general rule, and he was definitely not going to lie to one of his rolemodels -he'd never be able to sleep again-, but he figured a little selective phrasing didn't really count. Right? After all, what he was aiming to do was extremely important, just...Probably not in the way she'd think. That, and he had no idea how else to get her to play along with his diabolical plan.
VALKYRIE |
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Jul 25, 2016 17:31:53 GMT
Post by VALKYRIE on Jul 25, 2016 17:31:53 GMT
She mirrors his smile for a moment, the natural reflex of a chameleon girl, and leans forward. "Something super important?" she asks, voice lilted and slightly teasing. She's not trying to be mean, but she is a little amused, despite her mood. "Well, let me know what it is. I might have to call for backup."
Absolute
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Jul 25, 2016 17:49:50 GMT
Post by Absolute on Jul 25, 2016 17:49:50 GMT
He takes the light teasing in his stride, nodding solemnly as he adopts a sober mien, though he can't quite keep the curve from his lips. "The most important, even." To her mention of backup, he glances about with theatrical exaggeration, then leans in conspirationally to speak in a stage whisper. "It's a secret mission. For your eyes only. Very hush-hush." He nods sagaciously, only for his facade to crack as a mischievous grin flares to life, and he can't help but give a soft laugh at himself. "It's just ice-cream. There's a place I know that does the best stuff, and you look like the kind of person that likes ice-cream, so I thought I'd recruit you to come help me tackle an extra-plus-deluxe bucket. My treat!"
His manner is light-hearted and jovial, but he can't help the faint worry that she might just laugh at this strange kid who wants to eat ice-cream with some lady in the park, and move on. He might be young, but he's perceptive, and he knows a sad soul when he sees it, and the thought of Valkyrie, of all people, being one of those sad souls, and him not being able to help at all? That was just about the worst thing. So he stands there, flaxen locks swaying in the faint breeze as the sun beats down upon his back and he waits with baited breath, trying not to fidget.
VALKYRIE |
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Post by VALKYRIE on Jul 28, 2016 5:58:24 GMT
Thalia rises to her feet and resists the urge to stretch like a cat, arms overhead. She feels cramped and small inside her body, and she wonders idly how long she was sitting there without realizing.
"Is there a kind of person who looks like they don't like ice-cream?" she asks. "Do you think you only assumed I like ice-cream because my hair looks strawberry flavored?"
Absolute
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Post by Absolute on Jul 28, 2016 9:57:31 GMT
She's getting to her feet. She's not wearing an apologetic smile, she's not walking away. It worked. It worked! He knew nobody could resist the sweet, frosty promise of ice-cream. He held back the urge to perform a victorious fist-pump, and instead settled for a more quiet, mental exultation. Inside fist-pump, Jesse. Inside fist-pump.
"Hmmm. I don't think so. Even extradimensional space monsters have to love ice-cream, I bet." He pauses, eyes widening as he bounces on his feet. "Oh, oh! Lactose intolerant people!" His elation holds for a moment before it fades to a more subdued, thoughtful air, better befitting a philosophical discussion than one about ice-cream. "But then...I'm sure they like it, it's just bad for them. Ah! And there's special lactose-free ice-cream, too!" He gives a delighted laugh, light and jubilant, turning to flash her a broad grin. Elation restored.
"Nope! My parents taught me not to judge too much by appearances." He regards her pink hair quietly for a beat, lips paused in thought. "Although...I guess it could have turned pink because you love strawberry ice-cream so much that it turned your hair pink." Suddenly his eyes are alight with mirth and merriment, and it is plain as day that the kid is almost bubbling over with his giddiness, hence the sudden deluge of chatter.
VALKYRIE |
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Post by VALKYRIE on Jul 30, 2016 3:19:23 GMT
Another smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, genuine this time.
"There's a cruel plot twist, unfortunately," she announces. "I love strawberries but I hate strawberry flavored ice-cream."
She almost offers her arm for him to take it, but catches herself at the last moment. There's no telling if someone will snag a photo of them, and she doesn't want to invite trouble down on his head. Or her own, for that matter. He looks young, and a sudden, wistful pain unfurls its thorns into her chest.
"But you can lead the way," she says solemnly. "I'm sure this shop of yours will have some flavor I like."
Absolute
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Post by Absolute on Aug 1, 2016 1:49:00 GMT
"Weee-eeeellll," he begins, drawing out the word so that is rises and falls like a wave, "To be fair, I don't blame you. Thing-flavoured stuff doesn't usually taste like the actual thing it's based on, so I can't hold that against you."
He's tempted to offer her his forearm to hold onto like people do in the movies his parents like, but then he remembers that's also how young people help the elderly walk, and thinks better of it. He didn't want her to think he was implying that she was an old lady or anything. Instead, he settles for beaming at her, sketching a vague approximation of a courtly bow, and saying, "Why, of course! I should be happy to, fairest lady. Forsooth!" This done, he springs back up and sets off at an easy pace in the general direction of the park's exist, humming contentedly to himself between the bouts of conversation. "Mr. Risetti has all the best flavours. I bet he's got some you've never tried before, too! He always gets me to test his experimental flavours, it's a blast!"
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