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Post by Kasey James on Jul 30, 2016 21:44:52 GMT -7
((This thread is pre-Giovanni's assassination.))
It had been some time after the attack. Many had healed, by their own methods or others, and though the buildings were rebuilt and people were going about their lives, there were signs of change if you looked. Even downtown sported some, windows that had yet to be replaced and less people than usually filled the streets and walkways. It hurt to look at, to know so many had died for something their families wouldn't be able to explain or understand. But that hadn't been exclusive to the dragon attack, either.
After taking care of her family for so long, Kasey was grateful for the chance to just walk and breathe, to be in this world and this city, hear the sounds of cars driving by and footsteps as people walked about, ducking in and out of shops and restaurants. There were even a few kids crying out in triumph as they caught little monsters on their phones, a sound that brought an amused smile to her face as she strolled, hands in her pockets and at ease with the small crowds that were scattered about.
She looked up at the sky, clear now and normal as it could be, then back around her as her shoulders relaxed. She wasn't looking for anything in particular so much as something that might catch her attention while she was out and away from home. Or someone.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Jul 31, 2016 17:32:19 GMT -7
Alex had just finished up his shift at the coffee shop and was making his way home out of the city. The bag slung over his shoulder wasn't needed tonight as he decided that he wasn't going to bother with the slums and docks tonight. He had bigger plans to prepare for and the city could churn and eat itself for a few nights without him cleaning it up for a few nights while he prepared himself. It was going to be big. And he'd finally get to honor a promise that he'd made to himself nearly a decade ago. He'd be able to put his past behind him and focus on the future and the man that he could be.
It was exciting to think that his whole life or preparation was about to pay off. Everything he had ever worked for and wanted from life was within his grasp. He was about to be free, and through his own hands. He would be able to sleep well at night and forgive himself for the weakness of his youth. He was going to correct a mistake that had been allowed to remain for far to long.
All things considered he was actually in a good mood, and for the first time in his life he felt optimistic about his future. Things were looking up, he was getting stronger, he had survived the Dragon, and soon his reason for being would be accomplished. It wasn't many people that could say they achieved their dreams before they hit twenty, but Alex prided himself on not being like many people.
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Post by Kasey James on Jul 31, 2016 18:27:07 GMT -7
Speaking of someone, there was a volunteer right there, even if he didn't realize it. Kasey perked at the sight of her friend, glad to see him up and about as he should be. He even seemed to be in a good mood, which was a plus. He'd been badly wrecked, and then nothing after he'd suddenly up and disappeared. The worry she'd felt was tangible even now as it pushed her forward. She'd checked the coffee shop, but there'd been nothing. She'd not known where else to look other than campus, and that was just as barren of results.
There were other things to consider, though, too. Like how he had jumped along cars fighting a dragon. Or, you know, that time he threatened her to get to Limen. The word 'friend' no longer applied, and the sight of him filled her with frustration as he walked along with a happy expression.
It also lead her to wonder how many others she knew were actually supers. Was she just that ignorant, like with everything else?
"Alex" He just showed up like he hadn't disappeared, hadn't done anything out of what she knew of him. Maybe that was the problem.
Maybe it was one worth solving.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 2, 2016 20:16:06 GMT -7
"Oh hey!"
He'd perk up hearing Kasey call out to him. Raising a hand in greeting he'd change direction to head on over to her. He had a character to keep up and relationships to maintain. Besides, she was pretty alright all things considered. He certainly didn't hate her like some people, so there was that. And he liked that she was open to going with his improv.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 2, 2016 21:35:19 GMT -7
"Hey." Alex seemed more enthusiastic to see than her than she did him, all smiles and good cheer. It was like nothing had happened at the radio station. She waits for him to catch up and falls in line beside him as they walked. Her hands stay in her pockets, bag slung over her shoulder away from him.
"So. How are you?"
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 11:54:30 GMT -7
"Pretty good, all things considered. Just one of those really good days, you know what I mean?"
He'd let out a wistful sight as the smile came again unbidden to his face. Things really were starting to look up for him, and it was getting easier to think that maybe, just maybe things weren't so bad. There were some hiccups along the way of course, but he was feeling optimistic. He'd even recovered a lot quicker than he'd have thought, he supposed he had that super to thank for that.
That sent a bit of bile into his throat from distaste, but it couldn't be helped. And he could at least acknowledge and appreciate that she HAD helped him. So there was that as well, though that wouldn't stop him from taking her out if she ever stood in his way. His gratitude didn't extend that far.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 3, 2016 18:59:48 GMT -7
"I can tell." She offered him a smile as the words flowed. It seemed for all they world like they were just catching up after spending several weeks apart, telling each other life was great and enjoying what it brought. She shifted the bag again as she stepped around someone else walking on the sidewalk past them, letting the conversation hit a lull until they had more space between them and some of the crowd. Once they were relatively out of earshot, she continued, glancing at him from teh orner of her eye to gauge his reaction as things took a less cheerful mien.
"Glad to hear it, too. You've been gone a while. I take it everything's okay now?"
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 21:15:15 GMT -7
"Why wouldn't it be?"
He was obviously fine. The Dragon was dead. He for the most part had been getting done what needed to get done. Cleaning up the slums and docks. Helping Limen to learn to stand up and fend for herself. Really stand up for herself. And soon he was about to clear a large emotional hurdle.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 3, 2016 21:43:26 GMT -7
Kasey shrugged at his question. She believed his happiness to be genuine; he had always been a cheerful person and fun to be around. But the last few times she'd met him, he hadn't exactly been himself. Or had he?
"Word has it you got pretty roughed up a while ago." Her words were precise as she spoke. She didn't want to reveal too much until they were significantly out of range of other people hearing. She'd done the same before when alone, and they both deserved that much respect. Plus, she had been genuinely worried about him. He'd...okay, she really wasn't sure how he hadn't been dead, but when one literally jumps into the belly of the beast, takes a beating and keeps going, that said something.
"So I'm glad you're okay." Definitely alone now, though her volume still drops to a murmur. Part of her tenses, as though expecting to be hit. Again. "Not everyone bounces back from falling out of the sky."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 21:47:22 GMT -7
"Well I think a lot of people had a rough time. Thankfully I wasn't hurt too bad in the commotion."
She was probably talking about the Dragon attack and all of the parts of the city that got wrecked. Though he hadn't been in those areas when the Dragon blasted them. Instead he'd been in ground zero with the Supers of the city actually doing something for a change. He kept his tone light as he brushed off the concern, flashing her a small smile. It was sweet that she was worried about him, it really was.
Then she mentioned him falling out of the sky. His smile didn't alter at all, but the air around them seemed to chill as hostility became almost palatable, despite the friendly external show.
"So you're one of them."
Lovely, just lovely. And I liked her too.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 3, 2016 21:56:49 GMT -7
Kasey didn't say anything to counter his claim about not being hurt too badly. She could recall how badly he'd been injured, how much blood he'd been covered in, both his and the dragon's, as though it happened yesterday. She could recall the entire fight that same way, the sounds, the sights and smells, the city being destroyed and her heart in her throat when she'd realized just how far the damage had extended.
'How many times am I going to have to do this?' The thought was saddening, popping in her mind not for the first time and wriggling further in. Invading the life she had, leaving her to guess which ones were unlike her, and which were not. She'd said it before, that you didn't need to be a super to be a threat, but add that to the list and it changed the game entirely.
Then he made the comment that she understood all too well, the underlying tone and shift that marked them clearly on two sides of the same line. Though his smile didn't shift, the conversation had, and she blinked in surprised before snorting and shaking her head.
"Nooooo. No no no." Her lips quirked as she suppressed a laugh. That was all she needed, to one day wake up and realize she had powers. "Nothing that fancy about me."
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 22:02:29 GMT -7
He'd stop and stare at her. There was little else one could call it as he just watched her unblinkingly. His eyes didn't scan or swoop over her body. He didn't need to examine her form, her height, muscle mass, or check her out. He already knew what she looked like. No, he was looking at her eyes, like he was looking at her for the first time. And in a way, he was. If she knew about him falling from the sky that meant she was there. And pretty much anyone there that wasn't a super was dead. And one of them had died too.
No real loss there.
The eyes though, he'd seen those eyes before. Those eyes belonged to a little bird with her little toys. The hair was wrong, but that was probably a cheap and easy fix with was out dye. Not like he'd never had to change his hair color for a role. But to do it that often, obviously this girl took it seriously.
"The Bird then."
She didn't call him out so he'd give her the same respect. It was more convenient that way. Besides they were in public and he'd rather not have one of his coworkers or class mates see him act out if it could be avoided. That would be far less than convenient for his life as Alex.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 3, 2016 22:18:39 GMT -7
Kasey felt the intensity of his stare as Alex considered her. It was strange, going through this again with such a different reaction. Restrained, probably because they were still in public. She could work with that. When he stared at her, she held his gaze, refusing to look away. She could see the gears turning in his head by the way the light in his eyes went from consideration to recognition, and when he named her, she nodded. Thankfully, they were both refraining from calling out actual names. Though his would be the one to gain more recognition, neither needed their night time activities tacked on to them now.
This was the guy who knew how to hit, and though she was spry, Kasey knew first hand how fast he could be. She was glad this wasn't turning into another fist fight. They both knew who would win if it did.
"You don't consider yourself one of them?" She tilted her head slightly, still waiting and somewhat on edge to see what would come of this. Last time, there was a lot of yelling on both ends. This just felt weird, a mix of relief andd suspicion that it could and possibly would still go south if given the opportunity.
"You've got the ability for it." He'd broken through a radio station wall for heaven's sake.
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Post by Alex Spencer on Aug 3, 2016 22:23:43 GMT -7
"I've worked my entire life for my abilities. Blood, sweat and tears."
His tone was certainly defensive, he didn't appreciate being lumped in with those slackers. Implied or otherwise. As if someone had to be a super powered meathead if they excelled at anything. Heaven forbid they actually work for it. But people were so used to the extraordinary that they were willing to lump in anything that was above average as Supernatural. It was infuriating.
"Besides I could say the same for you and that noggin of yours."
Most people weren't smart enough to make those kind of gadgets. Especially out of next to nothing. They'd already gone over how neither of them were exactly swimming in funds. So unless she had a secret fortune and was a hell of a good liar she was making her little toys from scraps. And that took something special. Though he wasn't the type to label someone a Super just because they were a genius. Doing so was a disservice to the best and brightest that Humanity had to offer, and had offered all throughout time.
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Post by Kasey James on Aug 3, 2016 22:42:02 GMT -7
She nodded, remembering the conversation they'd had when they first met. The talk of growing up with little and learning to rise to the challenges that came with opposition. It wasn't so difficult to imagine, when she thought of it.
"You just seemed really durable for all that. But I'm also not going to say I have a professional understanding of what it takes to reach you level."
'You should have died.' Then again, maybe she should have, too. The notion of her being an actual super due to her creations does take her by surprise, enough for Kasey to stop for a moment and stare at him in return. She hadn't thought about it that way, she'd just done what she needed to. She worked for it, and she enjoyed what she did to reach the skill level she was at. She looked forward to passing it, too, but that was a tangent for a different time.
"But I see what you mean." Not like he threw fireballs at people or grew fifty feet tall in a few moments' time. She eyed him again, somewhere between humor and put out.
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