Cait McIvor
She had, of course, agreed to being his breakfast date. It wasn't until the morning that she realized it was going to be odd reconnecting with Jameson and Maureen as her adult self. Of course, she hadn't been a normal kid, so maybe it wouldn't be that difficult for them to parse. Things would hopefully be less awkward as Cait could certainly understand why some of what they'd gone through was not for consumption by the average child.
In the back of her brain, the ever-present Fae whispered that Jameson would never approve. How could he? She was a hazard. An uncommon being. Mallaithe.
It was a good thing she'd been practising ignoring them for so long.
Cait took Marshal's hand, smiling up at him and leaning into his arm. Nothing silenced the Fae quite like the present. The what was definitely true. And Marshal was as honest and true as they came. He wasn't worried about what his brother would think. So neither was she. She held this confidence through Jameson's initial surprise and was pleased when he seemed okay with the situation. Pleased, even. The word he used to indicate that pleasure was answered with an impossibly crooked grin from Cait before she proceeded to stuff her face with tea cakes and dates.
She hadn't realized quite how hungry she was until she sat in front of the food. Clearly re-aging had required a lot of energy and she hadn't given it much sleep - so food she would provide. She sat close to Marshal and allowed her gaze to roam the table, taking in Maureen and Aidan and giving them a crumb-enhanced smirk of greeting, before her eyes landed on the story book. It seemed so out of place that she felt compelled to get up, walk over to it and inspect it for a moment before wiping a hand on her pants and picking it up. Cait wandered back to the table and seated herself close to Marshal, reaching for another cake with one hand as the other flipped the book open to the marked page. Instantly, her face lit up in delight.
"Oh, I love this story!I mean, I still think it sucks that the wyvern dies - but I always liked the potential of this one. The 'could have been'. What if the girl had more friends and had told people about the wyvern before it grew up? Maybe the town could have raised it together and supported the dragon with raising more sheep or something. It never would have eaten people it thought of as family. It could have gone so much better than this."
Cait flipped a few more pages then snorted, nearly choking on a raisin. She showed Marshal page upon which was drawn a black horse with red eyes running over the hills with a screaming man hanging onto its neck. The tale was titled Tommy and the Pookah.
"Oh, I can't believe this. In my dimension I totally started this story - that guy Tommy was such a prick. He deserved it." Cait cackled at the page as though Tommy were there, then looked up abruptly. "I mean, the story is embellished of course." She grinned a savage smile then set the book down on the table, still clearly amused.
"So, where did this little treasure come from? Not exactly Wakandan required school reading, I imagine."
The Golden City
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: The Golden City
Marshal Knox, Jameson Bryant, Maureen Finnegan
Marshal liked being with Cait. He liked the way she would sit close to him, how she would lean into him. She wanted to be near him... not because he was a super soldier, but because he was him. No romantic partner had ever really wanted that before - closeness because of who he was, not because of what he could provide, or what he represented, or how easily he would put out in the hopes of receiving glimmers of affection in return. Cait was giving him a lot more than glimmers already, and his heart felt like it was going to overflow with it. He wasn't quite sure how to put that into words, but she would be able to tell. She'd be able to tell by his smile. By his body language. By the way he was angling himself toward her too, so he was always within reach.
Jameson watched Cait move around the room, taking in everything she did. A little amused, perhaps, at the pookah story. But that wasn't at the forefront of Jameson's mind. What struck him was how much herself she was. How confident in who she was, and her refusal to conform to what anyone else might expect. Watching her, he thought he knew for sure: If she'd gotten that phone call from HYDRA instead of me, she wouldn't have sold him out either. And with that thought, Jameson relaxed. He didn't care about table manners or conventional behavior. He cared about his brother being safe and happy. It seemed like Marshal had a chance at that with Cait - who wasn't going to bend when Marshal needed her. I'm glad it's her, Jameson thought. I would have accepted anyone Marshal chose. But I'm glad it's her.
Marshal too was focused on Cait as she told her alternative wyvern story - and he found himself in awe. Again. Not only did she see the good and value in the creature others had maligned as a monster, as nothing but a menace to be put down, but she imagined the creature surrounded by a community. By a family. Enclosed in a circle of caring and protection.
I love her, he thought. He hadn't expected it to happen so soon, but he knew it was true. Marshal didn't tell her, though, of course. Surely it wouldn't be welcome, and he didn't want to make either of them hurt. But he felt it. Maybe someday he could earn her love in return. Maybe someday she would look at him the same way he knew he must be looking at her. It was a nice thing to imagine.
"I'm actually not sure where the book came from," Jameson said. "Someone sent it to me. A courier tracked me down. Not many people even knew I was coming to Wakanda. There was no return address. Maybe it was just a joke? Although if so, I don't get it. And there’s... one thing I’m especially concerned about with this mystery delivery. HYDRA is still out there, and they want Marshal back. Like, seriously want him back. They tried to get me to turn on him. To the tune of ten million dollars in my bank account…”
Marshal’s head snapped up. “What?”
“I told you they offered me money.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t say how much…”
That was a lot of money. Life changing money.
Jameson shrugged. “I didn’t think it was important. You aren’t for sale. It doesn’t matter what price they offer.”
Marshal glanced over at Maureen nervously. Would she be mad that Jameson had turned them down? Their lifestyle could have been quite different if Jameson had only been willing to be minus one brother…
Maureen’s expression didn’t change. Even when he looked carefully for subtle signs of disapproval.
She must have noticed the look he gave her, though, because she said, “I want to be clear about something with you, Marshal. You aren’t just Jameson’s family that I tolerate. You’re my family too. I want you here, just like he does. You know Jameson loves you. But he isn’t the only one. I love you too.”
This threw Marshal for a loop. He had accepted that his brother loved him. But there was something else Jameson had said that Marshal hadn’t been able to square with at the time. He had said Marshal deserved love. At the time, Marshal had dismissed it as Jameson just being… Jameson. But now two people had said they loved him. This was more than just some quirk of Jameson’s psychology, then. Maybe he was really…
Maybe really worthy.
Maybe.
“Thanks, Maureen,” he said. “I love you too.”
He gave her a hug.
“And truly, Marshal - anything you need. I may not be able to protect you from HYDRA physically like Jameson can, but if I can ever help you heal from them, body or mind…”
A lump rose in his throat. “Thank you,” he managed to croak out. And meant it.
Jameson smiled at them for a moment. Then said, "I have no real reason to think the book came from HYDRA. The timing may be just a coincidence. If it is a message of some kind from them, hell if I get what they're trying to say. Have you ever seen a book like this when you were with them, Marshal?"
Marshal shook his head. "I don't think. But that doesn't really mean anything. They didn't really tell me stuff. Nothing beyond what I needed to know for the mission at hand. They could all have been going back to their quarters and reading about wyverns after they sent me off, for all I know."
Aidan spoke up, for the first time all meal. "I've seen that book before."
Jameson was surprised. "You have?"
"Yeah, I'm not like... trying to make it all about me or anything," Aidan added self-consciously, rubbing his neck. "But uh... Thompson had a copy. If it's him, and he's reaching out to you, maybe I should... you know. Maybe I should be elsewhere."
The resignation Aidan's voice worried Jameson. As did the suggestion of the young man leaving. He wouldn't last long on his own, with Thompson out looking for him.
"Absolutely not," Jameson said. "Look, yeah, some people here have people after you. Thompson. HYDRA. Those cultists after Cait's family. But as long as we stay together, we have an advantage. We have strength in numbers. We have each other's backs. We're stronger as a united front. I promise. No one has to leave, okay? We'll handle all of this together. Everyone good with that?"
Marshal couldn't help but notice that when his brother was naming enemies, he hadn't named any of his own. Jameson was putting his neck out for the rest of them. He didn't need to ask if Jameson was sure, though. Marshal already knew the answer.
Marshal liked being with Cait. He liked the way she would sit close to him, how she would lean into him. She wanted to be near him... not because he was a super soldier, but because he was him. No romantic partner had ever really wanted that before - closeness because of who he was, not because of what he could provide, or what he represented, or how easily he would put out in the hopes of receiving glimmers of affection in return. Cait was giving him a lot more than glimmers already, and his heart felt like it was going to overflow with it. He wasn't quite sure how to put that into words, but she would be able to tell. She'd be able to tell by his smile. By his body language. By the way he was angling himself toward her too, so he was always within reach.
Jameson watched Cait move around the room, taking in everything she did. A little amused, perhaps, at the pookah story. But that wasn't at the forefront of Jameson's mind. What struck him was how much herself she was. How confident in who she was, and her refusal to conform to what anyone else might expect. Watching her, he thought he knew for sure: If she'd gotten that phone call from HYDRA instead of me, she wouldn't have sold him out either. And with that thought, Jameson relaxed. He didn't care about table manners or conventional behavior. He cared about his brother being safe and happy. It seemed like Marshal had a chance at that with Cait - who wasn't going to bend when Marshal needed her. I'm glad it's her, Jameson thought. I would have accepted anyone Marshal chose. But I'm glad it's her.
Marshal too was focused on Cait as she told her alternative wyvern story - and he found himself in awe. Again. Not only did she see the good and value in the creature others had maligned as a monster, as nothing but a menace to be put down, but she imagined the creature surrounded by a community. By a family. Enclosed in a circle of caring and protection.
I love her, he thought. He hadn't expected it to happen so soon, but he knew it was true. Marshal didn't tell her, though, of course. Surely it wouldn't be welcome, and he didn't want to make either of them hurt. But he felt it. Maybe someday he could earn her love in return. Maybe someday she would look at him the same way he knew he must be looking at her. It was a nice thing to imagine.
"I'm actually not sure where the book came from," Jameson said. "Someone sent it to me. A courier tracked me down. Not many people even knew I was coming to Wakanda. There was no return address. Maybe it was just a joke? Although if so, I don't get it. And there’s... one thing I’m especially concerned about with this mystery delivery. HYDRA is still out there, and they want Marshal back. Like, seriously want him back. They tried to get me to turn on him. To the tune of ten million dollars in my bank account…”
Marshal’s head snapped up. “What?”
“I told you they offered me money.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t say how much…”
That was a lot of money. Life changing money.
Jameson shrugged. “I didn’t think it was important. You aren’t for sale. It doesn’t matter what price they offer.”
Marshal glanced over at Maureen nervously. Would she be mad that Jameson had turned them down? Their lifestyle could have been quite different if Jameson had only been willing to be minus one brother…
Maureen’s expression didn’t change. Even when he looked carefully for subtle signs of disapproval.
She must have noticed the look he gave her, though, because she said, “I want to be clear about something with you, Marshal. You aren’t just Jameson’s family that I tolerate. You’re my family too. I want you here, just like he does. You know Jameson loves you. But he isn’t the only one. I love you too.”
This threw Marshal for a loop. He had accepted that his brother loved him. But there was something else Jameson had said that Marshal hadn’t been able to square with at the time. He had said Marshal deserved love. At the time, Marshal had dismissed it as Jameson just being… Jameson. But now two people had said they loved him. This was more than just some quirk of Jameson’s psychology, then. Maybe he was really…
Maybe really worthy.
Maybe.
“Thanks, Maureen,” he said. “I love you too.”
He gave her a hug.
“And truly, Marshal - anything you need. I may not be able to protect you from HYDRA physically like Jameson can, but if I can ever help you heal from them, body or mind…”
A lump rose in his throat. “Thank you,” he managed to croak out. And meant it.
Jameson smiled at them for a moment. Then said, "I have no real reason to think the book came from HYDRA. The timing may be just a coincidence. If it is a message of some kind from them, hell if I get what they're trying to say. Have you ever seen a book like this when you were with them, Marshal?"
Marshal shook his head. "I don't think. But that doesn't really mean anything. They didn't really tell me stuff. Nothing beyond what I needed to know for the mission at hand. They could all have been going back to their quarters and reading about wyverns after they sent me off, for all I know."
Aidan spoke up, for the first time all meal. "I've seen that book before."
Jameson was surprised. "You have?"
"Yeah, I'm not like... trying to make it all about me or anything," Aidan added self-consciously, rubbing his neck. "But uh... Thompson had a copy. If it's him, and he's reaching out to you, maybe I should... you know. Maybe I should be elsewhere."
The resignation Aidan's voice worried Jameson. As did the suggestion of the young man leaving. He wouldn't last long on his own, with Thompson out looking for him.
"Absolutely not," Jameson said. "Look, yeah, some people here have people after you. Thompson. HYDRA. Those cultists after Cait's family. But as long as we stay together, we have an advantage. We have strength in numbers. We have each other's backs. We're stronger as a united front. I promise. No one has to leave, okay? We'll handle all of this together. Everyone good with that?"
Marshal couldn't help but notice that when his brother was naming enemies, he hadn't named any of his own. Jameson was putting his neck out for the rest of them. He didn't need to ask if Jameson was sure, though. Marshal already knew the answer.
Re: The Golden City
Hooded people
The two figures stood on either side of Orla, facing the crystal ball, faces impassive. The woman's talent remained to be seen. Just because she used the Art did not mean she could ply it.
The first image was only interesting by the connection of the main character (so to speak) to their quarry. The addition of a so-called 'superhero' to the mix hadn't made plans to steal the banshees back any less complicated.
When the dragon appeared out of the swirling fog in the crystal, neither servant could keep the surprise off their face. They had a where, now if only they could discern the when...
"Indeed our Mistress will be very interested in a dragon. Can you divine the time of its appearance?"
If Orla could not, surely with the knowledge that a dragon was arriving, the Mistress herself could find the answers. A dragon. A being of such incredible power could be very useful indeed.
The two figures stood on either side of Orla, facing the crystal ball, faces impassive. The woman's talent remained to be seen. Just because she used the Art did not mean she could ply it.
The first image was only interesting by the connection of the main character (so to speak) to their quarry. The addition of a so-called 'superhero' to the mix hadn't made plans to steal the banshees back any less complicated.
When the dragon appeared out of the swirling fog in the crystal, neither servant could keep the surprise off their face. They had a where, now if only they could discern the when...
"Indeed our Mistress will be very interested in a dragon. Can you divine the time of its appearance?"
If Orla could not, surely with the knowledge that a dragon was arriving, the Mistress herself could find the answers. A dragon. A being of such incredible power could be very useful indeed.
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: The Golden City
Orla Knox
"Well, of course people still have free will," Orla said amiably, settling into her role. "People and dragons, that is. But this - the dragon landing - is a fixed point. It is... inevitable that it must occur. However it may come to pass. But let's back up and see if we can find out what circumstances may lead to that moment, shall we?"
She concentrated, moved her hands over the surface of the crystal ball.
"I don't understand why I have to leave," the boy said.
He was about ten, trailing after a woman with a clipboard toward a van with a logo of a leaping person and the letters O.D.H.S.
The woman was only half listening. "Come on, we have to go. Your things are already in the back." She gestured to a black plastic garbage bag, apparently holding his belongings. It wasn't very full.
"But I wasn't bad! I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything they told me to do."
"The Petersons are having a baby of their own, so they've decided not to be foster parents anymore. Isn't it nice that they're having a baby? Aren't you happy for them?"
"I guess..."
Too far back. Not relevant. She moved her hands again, a little impatiently.
A young man lay motionless, face down on a stone slab. He had been beaten, tortured - not relevant for Orla's purposes, and she ignored the conventional injuries to focus on the unusual ones. Runes, carved into the young man's back and arms, bleeding profusely onto the floor. That was a lot of blood. Surely too much to be survivable. Unless...
An older man stood over the motionless young one. He wiped his knife on a dark-colored handkerchief and set both aside, then produced a vial. Slowly, with infinite care, he used a pipette to place a single drop of dark scarlet ichor into each runic wound.
Dragon blood.
"Well," Orla said. "There's our dragon. But what triggers the transformation? And where is he now?"
The same mage, now looking harried. "If he fights, he will become the beast. There is no containing him. If he fights, all is lost for anyone in his way..."
She shifted the image again. Back in time again.
A suburban yard. A fight between two superheroes. (Orla ignored that, because in the background...)
The other guy didn't even notice Marshal coming up behind him until Marshal put him in a very precise sleeper hold, careful to block only blood flow and not compromise his airway - the intention being, of course, that the guy would in fact wake up again. "I'm sorry," Marshal said as the guy fought briefly and then went limp in his arms. "I have to take you off the board for right now, to keep everyone safe. 'Everyone' includes you. It's going to be okay, I promise."
In the present, Orla's brow furrowed. She had nearly forgotten her audience, intent as she now was on this mystery puzzle of her own.
"Why didn't he turn? He barely put up any fight at all! Marshal is a super soldier, but still... a dragon should have been a match for him. Why didn't he turn? I missed something..."
Rewind to something she'd already viewed.
"If he fights, he will become the beast. There is no containing him. If he fights, all is lost for anyone in his way..."
"I don't understand. Why did you turn him into this, knowing even you couldn't control him?"
"I didn't! Not like this, anyway. I only gave him a little of the dragon blood. Enough to make him strong, fast, sturdy. With the runes, he would have stayed under my control. He wouldn't have been able to change form. But they mixed the blood, amplified the effects...
Mixed the blood?
Further back, the night of the fight, after it was over.
Marshal and Jameson, sitting side by side on upright-angled hospital beds. (A hospital? Neither of them had been seriously hurt in the fight.) But no, this wasn't treatment. It was blood donation. As the blood filled the respective unit bags, Marshal said with careful casualness to Jameson, “So… you turned down the Avengers?”
Orla ignored the conversation. She wasn't particularly interested in Jameson's career moves. Instead she followed the nurse who unhooked the blood bags when they were full, transporting them to the lab for testing - fast forward, skip - and then...
"Well," Orla said. "That's how they made their dragon. By accident. The mage gave this man dragon blood. Then after his fight with my son and Artie's boy, they gave him their blood too, and it rather escalated the situation. I believe we'll see the dragon the next time he fights. As for where he is now, I would imagine he's somewhere near my son."
"Well, of course people still have free will," Orla said amiably, settling into her role. "People and dragons, that is. But this - the dragon landing - is a fixed point. It is... inevitable that it must occur. However it may come to pass. But let's back up and see if we can find out what circumstances may lead to that moment, shall we?"
She concentrated, moved her hands over the surface of the crystal ball.
"I don't understand why I have to leave," the boy said.
He was about ten, trailing after a woman with a clipboard toward a van with a logo of a leaping person and the letters O.D.H.S.
The woman was only half listening. "Come on, we have to go. Your things are already in the back." She gestured to a black plastic garbage bag, apparently holding his belongings. It wasn't very full.
"But I wasn't bad! I didn't do anything wrong. I did everything they told me to do."
"The Petersons are having a baby of their own, so they've decided not to be foster parents anymore. Isn't it nice that they're having a baby? Aren't you happy for them?"
"I guess..."
Too far back. Not relevant. She moved her hands again, a little impatiently.
A young man lay motionless, face down on a stone slab. He had been beaten, tortured - not relevant for Orla's purposes, and she ignored the conventional injuries to focus on the unusual ones. Runes, carved into the young man's back and arms, bleeding profusely onto the floor. That was a lot of blood. Surely too much to be survivable. Unless...
An older man stood over the motionless young one. He wiped his knife on a dark-colored handkerchief and set both aside, then produced a vial. Slowly, with infinite care, he used a pipette to place a single drop of dark scarlet ichor into each runic wound.
Dragon blood.
"Well," Orla said. "There's our dragon. But what triggers the transformation? And where is he now?"
The same mage, now looking harried. "If he fights, he will become the beast. There is no containing him. If he fights, all is lost for anyone in his way..."
She shifted the image again. Back in time again.
A suburban yard. A fight between two superheroes. (Orla ignored that, because in the background...)
The other guy didn't even notice Marshal coming up behind him until Marshal put him in a very precise sleeper hold, careful to block only blood flow and not compromise his airway - the intention being, of course, that the guy would in fact wake up again. "I'm sorry," Marshal said as the guy fought briefly and then went limp in his arms. "I have to take you off the board for right now, to keep everyone safe. 'Everyone' includes you. It's going to be okay, I promise."
In the present, Orla's brow furrowed. She had nearly forgotten her audience, intent as she now was on this mystery puzzle of her own.
"Why didn't he turn? He barely put up any fight at all! Marshal is a super soldier, but still... a dragon should have been a match for him. Why didn't he turn? I missed something..."
Rewind to something she'd already viewed.
"If he fights, he will become the beast. There is no containing him. If he fights, all is lost for anyone in his way..."
"I don't understand. Why did you turn him into this, knowing even you couldn't control him?"
"I didn't! Not like this, anyway. I only gave him a little of the dragon blood. Enough to make him strong, fast, sturdy. With the runes, he would have stayed under my control. He wouldn't have been able to change form. But they mixed the blood, amplified the effects...
Mixed the blood?
Further back, the night of the fight, after it was over.
Marshal and Jameson, sitting side by side on upright-angled hospital beds. (A hospital? Neither of them had been seriously hurt in the fight.) But no, this wasn't treatment. It was blood donation. As the blood filled the respective unit bags, Marshal said with careful casualness to Jameson, “So… you turned down the Avengers?”
Orla ignored the conversation. She wasn't particularly interested in Jameson's career moves. Instead she followed the nurse who unhooked the blood bags when they were full, transporting them to the lab for testing - fast forward, skip - and then...
"Well," Orla said. "That's how they made their dragon. By accident. The mage gave this man dragon blood. Then after his fight with my son and Artie's boy, they gave him their blood too, and it rather escalated the situation. I believe we'll see the dragon the next time he fights. As for where he is now, I would imagine he's somewhere near my son."
Re: The Golden City
Rhiannon, Ewan, Charis and 'Sully'
The twins had spent most of the van ride to the shelter explaining dogs and pets in general to Annie, who had a myriad of questions. They had never owned a pet either, so some things they had difficulty answering and Rhiannon could tell that at times they were referencing tv shows for some of the more difficult questions. As for the questions the twins had asked - well, she hadn't been able to answer them. Cait had only told her that there was a dog that would fit into their family who would be able to handle the weirdness and fulfill a protective role while also providing companionship. Her sister had not given her a physical description of said dog, which, of course, was the point of keen interest.
She could feel the collective nervousness as they all sat in a small room waiting to meet the dog Cait had recommended. Ewan and Charis had sat down on the floor, hoping that the dog would feel more welcomed if they were at his level. She leaned close to Imiel and squeezed Annie's hand in an attempt to offer reassurance. She was about to speak when the door to the room opened and the worker walked in - followed by a grey and white dog on a leash. The worker stepped to the side, closed the door and held the leash loosely while the dog sniffed the air and stared at the collection of people on the other side of the room.
At first glance, Rhiannon wasn't impressed. The dog wasn't particularly large. It did not have a strong jaw like the hounds she'd see on countless castle grounds. It didn't have great long legs to leap over fallen logs while on the hunt. It didn't...
The dog slowly approached Charis and Ewan, ducking his head as he sniffed. Receiving some instruction, the twins slowly put their hands out, palms up and held them out waiting for Sully to approach. He did, snuffling at outstretched fingers, then pushing past the hands to smell arms and approach faces. The dog looked intently into Charis' eyes and sat down, then turned his head to look at Ewan. Ewan had moved his hand as though to pet Sully, but misjudged where precisely the dog was and ended up gently laying a finger on the dog's leg. Sully looked down at the finger, then up at Ewan, turning his head to the side before leaning forward and poking Ewan's cheek with a wet nose. Ewan laughed and the dog wagged his tail briefly before returning his focus to Charis.Charis hadn't made a move to pet the dog, but seemed to be giving him the same intense once-over that the dog was giving her. Finally, Sully lay down between the twins and rolled over on his back.
"He's inviting you to give him a belly rub." explained the worker, sensing that this might be the family's first dog.
Charis helped guide Ewan's hand to a good spot on the dog's belly and the two of them gave Sully a good belly rub, causing the dog to thump his leg, which brought some giggles. The dog's tail began to wag again at the sound and he angled his head upward, looking behind him at the adults and the two remaining children. His nose was clearly working, but he didn't seem to register any need for alarm. Rhiannon thought that was a good sign. The dog then attempted to wiggle his way toward Annie while upside down, seeking to sniff her more closely.
The twins had spent most of the van ride to the shelter explaining dogs and pets in general to Annie, who had a myriad of questions. They had never owned a pet either, so some things they had difficulty answering and Rhiannon could tell that at times they were referencing tv shows for some of the more difficult questions. As for the questions the twins had asked - well, she hadn't been able to answer them. Cait had only told her that there was a dog that would fit into their family who would be able to handle the weirdness and fulfill a protective role while also providing companionship. Her sister had not given her a physical description of said dog, which, of course, was the point of keen interest.
She could feel the collective nervousness as they all sat in a small room waiting to meet the dog Cait had recommended. Ewan and Charis had sat down on the floor, hoping that the dog would feel more welcomed if they were at his level. She leaned close to Imiel and squeezed Annie's hand in an attempt to offer reassurance. She was about to speak when the door to the room opened and the worker walked in - followed by a grey and white dog on a leash. The worker stepped to the side, closed the door and held the leash loosely while the dog sniffed the air and stared at the collection of people on the other side of the room.
At first glance, Rhiannon wasn't impressed. The dog wasn't particularly large. It did not have a strong jaw like the hounds she'd see on countless castle grounds. It didn't have great long legs to leap over fallen logs while on the hunt. It didn't...
The dog slowly approached Charis and Ewan, ducking his head as he sniffed. Receiving some instruction, the twins slowly put their hands out, palms up and held them out waiting for Sully to approach. He did, snuffling at outstretched fingers, then pushing past the hands to smell arms and approach faces. The dog looked intently into Charis' eyes and sat down, then turned his head to look at Ewan. Ewan had moved his hand as though to pet Sully, but misjudged where precisely the dog was and ended up gently laying a finger on the dog's leg. Sully looked down at the finger, then up at Ewan, turning his head to the side before leaning forward and poking Ewan's cheek with a wet nose. Ewan laughed and the dog wagged his tail briefly before returning his focus to Charis.Charis hadn't made a move to pet the dog, but seemed to be giving him the same intense once-over that the dog was giving her. Finally, Sully lay down between the twins and rolled over on his back.
"He's inviting you to give him a belly rub." explained the worker, sensing that this might be the family's first dog.
Charis helped guide Ewan's hand to a good spot on the dog's belly and the two of them gave Sully a good belly rub, causing the dog to thump his leg, which brought some giggles. The dog's tail began to wag again at the sound and he angled his head upward, looking behind him at the adults and the two remaining children. His nose was clearly working, but he didn't seem to register any need for alarm. Rhiannon thought that was a good sign. The dog then attempted to wiggle his way toward Annie while upside down, seeking to sniff her more closely.
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Monkey Kitty
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:31 pm
Re: The Golden City
Imiel
When Rhiannon leaned toward him, Imiel couldn't tell if she was sensing his nervousness and was trying to reassure him - or if she was nervous too, and was trying to reassure herself. He gave her shoulder a comforting pat, figuring that would cover both bases.
I should talk to her about New Asgard, he thought. She's been doing this parenting thing a lot longer than I have. Surely she'll have some good advice. He wouldn't ask her to make the decision for him, of course. It was his responsibility. But maybe she could at least help him his head on straight about the whole thing.
"Daddy, look! He likes me!" Annie said with a grin.
"Yeah, of course he does, sweetie." Imiel smiled back, and tried not to let any worry show on his face. Tried not to imagine Annie's hand getting bitten off, or Mia becoming a meal. Dogs were a lot bigger up close than they looked on TV...
The dog showed no sign of aggression toward any of them, though, and Imiel relaxed. A little.
I wonder if Rhiannon is ever as lonely as I am. He didn't know where that thought had come from. And of course, he would never ask her that. It was far too personal. (Not to mention too embarrassing if her reaction was a blank stare, having never so much as passed through this emotional state he seemed stuck in.) It was a silly thing to speculate about, anyway.
Parenting advice, though - that was a good thing to ask. Her kids were a lot older, and she'd obviously been successful. He could learn a lot from the McIvors. Not just about dogs.
Will I ever fit in here? I have to figure something out for the girls. I can't have them grow up to be like me, feeling out of place everywhere. I have to figure something out...
Annie reached out a cautious hand to the dog. Imiel didn't intervene - this was what they were here for, after all - but he hovered a bit, ready to throw himself in front of snarling fangs if necessary.
When Rhiannon leaned toward him, Imiel couldn't tell if she was sensing his nervousness and was trying to reassure him - or if she was nervous too, and was trying to reassure herself. He gave her shoulder a comforting pat, figuring that would cover both bases.
I should talk to her about New Asgard, he thought. She's been doing this parenting thing a lot longer than I have. Surely she'll have some good advice. He wouldn't ask her to make the decision for him, of course. It was his responsibility. But maybe she could at least help him his head on straight about the whole thing.
"Daddy, look! He likes me!" Annie said with a grin.
"Yeah, of course he does, sweetie." Imiel smiled back, and tried not to let any worry show on his face. Tried not to imagine Annie's hand getting bitten off, or Mia becoming a meal. Dogs were a lot bigger up close than they looked on TV...
The dog showed no sign of aggression toward any of them, though, and Imiel relaxed. A little.
I wonder if Rhiannon is ever as lonely as I am. He didn't know where that thought had come from. And of course, he would never ask her that. It was far too personal. (Not to mention too embarrassing if her reaction was a blank stare, having never so much as passed through this emotional state he seemed stuck in.) It was a silly thing to speculate about, anyway.
Parenting advice, though - that was a good thing to ask. Her kids were a lot older, and she'd obviously been successful. He could learn a lot from the McIvors. Not just about dogs.
Will I ever fit in here? I have to figure something out for the girls. I can't have them grow up to be like me, feeling out of place everywhere. I have to figure something out...
Annie reached out a cautious hand to the dog. Imiel didn't intervene - this was what they were here for, after all - but he hovered a bit, ready to throw himself in front of snarling fangs if necessary.
Re: The Golden City
Cait McIvor
She'd given the book an intense sniff when Jameson suggested a more nefarious origin than she'd originally imagined. Jameson's scent was on it, but there was someone else, too. An older scent, but nothing remarkable about it. At least, not at the moment. She filed the information away in case she came across that smell again, but for now, there was little to be done about an errant book. Her eyes had narrowed when Jameson indicated that HYDRA had been in contact with him, and what exactly they'd offered for what they wanted.
Ten million dollars was nothing to sneeze at...except, apparently, for HYDRA. If she knew evil conglomerate demi-capitalist organizations - and she did - then ten million was a very small amount of money to these people. It was the pittance they were willing to pay for 'their' super soldier that would make them seem generous. And would have made a lesser man crack. Cait's respect for Jameson increased by several levels. For Maureen too, when it became apparent she knew exactly what had been offered and still felt the same way.
Cait watched Marshal as he interacted with Maureen. How his breath caught when she said he loved him. The warming of his skin when he realized he could believe her. And she realized just how far he had come in these last few days. More than just physical healing had occurred here and it was such a beautiful thing to see. She felt privileged to be here, sharing these moments with Marshal and his family.
Aidan's voice caught her by surprise. The man had been rather cagey around her and wasn't the talkative sort. In his defence, he'd been through significant trauma. She wasn't sure what it had to do with her, but she had a strange feeling that it did. Some strange, awful feeling that somehow she was partly to blame for what he'd been through. It didn't make sense to feel that way, of course, as she'd really only just arrived in this dimension and the trauma Aidan suffered from was not recent. But she also didn't argue with the feeling. She caught hold of it. Studied the parts of it that she could see. And waited for the rest to be made clear.
"Absolutely. I'm not planning on going anywhere. Though, I can only speak for myself at the moment. But while my sister may be more reluctant about staying in this dimension, I have a feeling that she'll be changing her tune soon enough. I'll posit the question when we get back - I'm sure she'll agree that staying together is the best course of action." she winked and grinned at Marshal and wiggled her eyebrows, assuming he knew that her sister had the hots for their alien neighbour and that she was being abundantly plain.
She'd given the book an intense sniff when Jameson suggested a more nefarious origin than she'd originally imagined. Jameson's scent was on it, but there was someone else, too. An older scent, but nothing remarkable about it. At least, not at the moment. She filed the information away in case she came across that smell again, but for now, there was little to be done about an errant book. Her eyes had narrowed when Jameson indicated that HYDRA had been in contact with him, and what exactly they'd offered for what they wanted.
Ten million dollars was nothing to sneeze at...except, apparently, for HYDRA. If she knew evil conglomerate demi-capitalist organizations - and she did - then ten million was a very small amount of money to these people. It was the pittance they were willing to pay for 'their' super soldier that would make them seem generous. And would have made a lesser man crack. Cait's respect for Jameson increased by several levels. For Maureen too, when it became apparent she knew exactly what had been offered and still felt the same way.
Cait watched Marshal as he interacted with Maureen. How his breath caught when she said he loved him. The warming of his skin when he realized he could believe her. And she realized just how far he had come in these last few days. More than just physical healing had occurred here and it was such a beautiful thing to see. She felt privileged to be here, sharing these moments with Marshal and his family.
Aidan's voice caught her by surprise. The man had been rather cagey around her and wasn't the talkative sort. In his defence, he'd been through significant trauma. She wasn't sure what it had to do with her, but she had a strange feeling that it did. Some strange, awful feeling that somehow she was partly to blame for what he'd been through. It didn't make sense to feel that way, of course, as she'd really only just arrived in this dimension and the trauma Aidan suffered from was not recent. But she also didn't argue with the feeling. She caught hold of it. Studied the parts of it that she could see. And waited for the rest to be made clear.
"Absolutely. I'm not planning on going anywhere. Though, I can only speak for myself at the moment. But while my sister may be more reluctant about staying in this dimension, I have a feeling that she'll be changing her tune soon enough. I'll posit the question when we get back - I'm sure she'll agree that staying together is the best course of action." she winked and grinned at Marshal and wiggled her eyebrows, assuming he knew that her sister had the hots for their alien neighbour and that she was being abundantly plain.
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Monkey Kitty
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:31 pm
Re: The Golden City
Marshal Knox, Aidan Millican, Jameson Bryant, and Maureen Finnegan
Marshal returned Cait's smile with a lopsided grin of his own. Yes, he had noticed too. Good for them.
Aidan, however, suddenly seemed to be a million miles away. Talking and thinking about Thompson had snapped his brain back to a time in the past, and his body wasn't quite sure now where he was. He wrapped his arms around himself, rocking silently back and forth.
Marshal knew a thing or two about what was apparently PTSD (and not just his moral failings, as Ginny had claimed) and his brow furrowed with worry. Then he remembered what Jameson had said about being a mentor to Aidan, and realized he could do a lot more than just worry.
"Hey," he said, getting up and walking to Aidan before dropping to his knees in front of his chair so they were at eye level. "Hey, it's okay."
Aidan glanced up at him, his face a mess of confusion. "Where am I?"
"You're in Wakanda. It's okay. This is a safe place. You're with safe people."
"Not with him anymore?"
"Nope. Not with him ever again. Here..." He reached out and took Aidan's hands in his - making sure this was touch Aidan was okay with. "Press your feet into the floor. Feel the ground? Yeah. Now breathe with me."
Aidan and Marshal took deep breaths together for a few minutes.
Then Aidan said, "I'm okay now. Thanks, Marshal."
Marshal smiled at him. "Yeah. Of course. Any time. That's what friends are for, right?"
***
With Marshal now safely healed by Wakandan medicine and everyone else relaxed and settled, Maureen and Jameson had planned a date upon returning to the city. They left Marshal and Cait to stay with Aidan, and headed toward downtown Birnin Zana.
While we’re here, Jameson had said. It’s not every day you get to go out on a date in Wakanda.
Very true, Maureen had thought. Little did he know she had another surprise planned.
They ate a delicious meal. Maureen wore a print dress she’d purchased at the market.
“You look beautiful,” Jameson said, taking in the sight appreciatively.
A band played folk music at a soft volume in the background. The candles in the tiny lanterns on the table flickered.
Maureen reached into her purse, and set a small box on the table. Jameson looked at her questioningly.
“Jameson, we’ve been together through thick and thin,” she said. “You already know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But let’s make it official. I love you so much. I don’t ever want to spend another day without you. So I’m asking… Jameson Bryant, will you marry me?”
Jameson beamed, utterly delighted. Yes, he’d been planning to ask her - but this was even better.
“Yes, of course I will,” he said. He drew her close for a kiss. “I can’t wait to be your husband. Thank you for doing me the honor. Let’s do this. Let’s get married.”
He gave her his hand, and let her slip a ring on his finger - an Irish claddagh ring. Very appropriate. He still owed her a ring too, though. He’d get her one when they got back, as he’d planned… even though they were already engaged.
Engaged!
The thought of the word made him smile again. He wrapped her in a hug.
“One more thing,” Maureen said as they were walking back to the guest house. “When you tell your brother, reassure him, okay? Don’t let him think this means we’re abandoning him. This doesn’t have to change anything for Marshal. Or Aidan. We’re still a family.”
Jameson grinned. “I will,” he promised.
He was marrying the love of his life, and he got to keep the family he loved close by as well. Life surely didn’t get any better than that.
Marshal returned Cait's smile with a lopsided grin of his own. Yes, he had noticed too. Good for them.
Aidan, however, suddenly seemed to be a million miles away. Talking and thinking about Thompson had snapped his brain back to a time in the past, and his body wasn't quite sure now where he was. He wrapped his arms around himself, rocking silently back and forth.
Marshal knew a thing or two about what was apparently PTSD (and not just his moral failings, as Ginny had claimed) and his brow furrowed with worry. Then he remembered what Jameson had said about being a mentor to Aidan, and realized he could do a lot more than just worry.
"Hey," he said, getting up and walking to Aidan before dropping to his knees in front of his chair so they were at eye level. "Hey, it's okay."
Aidan glanced up at him, his face a mess of confusion. "Where am I?"
"You're in Wakanda. It's okay. This is a safe place. You're with safe people."
"Not with him anymore?"
"Nope. Not with him ever again. Here..." He reached out and took Aidan's hands in his - making sure this was touch Aidan was okay with. "Press your feet into the floor. Feel the ground? Yeah. Now breathe with me."
Aidan and Marshal took deep breaths together for a few minutes.
Then Aidan said, "I'm okay now. Thanks, Marshal."
Marshal smiled at him. "Yeah. Of course. Any time. That's what friends are for, right?"
***
With Marshal now safely healed by Wakandan medicine and everyone else relaxed and settled, Maureen and Jameson had planned a date upon returning to the city. They left Marshal and Cait to stay with Aidan, and headed toward downtown Birnin Zana.
While we’re here, Jameson had said. It’s not every day you get to go out on a date in Wakanda.
Very true, Maureen had thought. Little did he know she had another surprise planned.
They ate a delicious meal. Maureen wore a print dress she’d purchased at the market.
“You look beautiful,” Jameson said, taking in the sight appreciatively.
A band played folk music at a soft volume in the background. The candles in the tiny lanterns on the table flickered.
Maureen reached into her purse, and set a small box on the table. Jameson looked at her questioningly.
“Jameson, we’ve been together through thick and thin,” she said. “You already know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But let’s make it official. I love you so much. I don’t ever want to spend another day without you. So I’m asking… Jameson Bryant, will you marry me?”
Jameson beamed, utterly delighted. Yes, he’d been planning to ask her - but this was even better.
“Yes, of course I will,” he said. He drew her close for a kiss. “I can’t wait to be your husband. Thank you for doing me the honor. Let’s do this. Let’s get married.”
He gave her his hand, and let her slip a ring on his finger - an Irish claddagh ring. Very appropriate. He still owed her a ring too, though. He’d get her one when they got back, as he’d planned… even though they were already engaged.
Engaged!
The thought of the word made him smile again. He wrapped her in a hug.
“One more thing,” Maureen said as they were walking back to the guest house. “When you tell your brother, reassure him, okay? Don’t let him think this means we’re abandoning him. This doesn’t have to change anything for Marshal. Or Aidan. We’re still a family.”
Jameson grinned. “I will,” he promised.
He was marrying the love of his life, and he got to keep the family he loved close by as well. Life surely didn’t get any better than that.
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Monkey Kitty
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 7:31 pm
Re: The Golden City
The Hammer of Justice
“New suit, Justice?” the suitably impressed S.H.I.E.L.D. field agent asked.
Kyle smiled magnanimously. “Yes. Thanks to a benefactor who chooses to remain anonymous. It’s state of the art.”
“Your eye is looking better, too!”
“I heal quickly.” No need to share that the healing had been helped along.
“Wow, you can hardly even tell Stalwart hit you!”
Kyle liked that less. He frowned. “Water under the bridge.”
“You two aren’t beefing anymore?”
“No. I’ve decided to be the bigger person,” Kyle said a little smugly.
Stalwart wasn’t important to him anymore. He was part of something greater now. The world wasn’t ready for that revelation - not yet - but they would be soon enough.
“New suit, Justice?” the suitably impressed S.H.I.E.L.D. field agent asked.
Kyle smiled magnanimously. “Yes. Thanks to a benefactor who chooses to remain anonymous. It’s state of the art.”
“Your eye is looking better, too!”
“I heal quickly.” No need to share that the healing had been helped along.
“Wow, you can hardly even tell Stalwart hit you!”
Kyle liked that less. He frowned. “Water under the bridge.”
“You two aren’t beefing anymore?”
“No. I’ve decided to be the bigger person,” Kyle said a little smugly.
Stalwart wasn’t important to him anymore. He was part of something greater now. The world wasn’t ready for that revelation - not yet - but they would be soon enough.
Re: The Golden City
Rhiannon, Ewan, Charis and 'Sully'
The dog sniffed Annie's hand, licked it, then sneezed. He flipped over onto his belly as though propelled by the sneeze itself, looking up at Annie, Charis and Ewan in turn, his tongue lolling out. The tongue was abruptly pulled in as he abruptly sat up in response to Rhiannon leaning forward slightly to extend her hand for him to sniff. This person was not nervous like the man and the toddler, nor excited like the children on the floor.
This person had eyes like the child he had met. And those eyes held the same power. This was the person he needed to impress.
He touched her hand with his nose, inhaling her scent, then lowered his head. The dog seemed to be briefly lost for ideas on what to do next, his eyes a little wide and his tail still as he looked around. He settled on the end of his leash, which he picked up in his mouth and thrust into Ewan's hand. He wagged his tail as though pleased with himself.
Ewan, once he realized what the cord was, was thrilled. "Can we take him for a walk outside?" The question was posited in no particular direction, though he expected his mother would have a say in whether they would. She didn't seem as excited about having a dog as he and Charis were. Maybe that was because she thought the dog was more for them. Ewan was certain that if they got to bring the dog home that their mother would love this dog as much as they already did.
Some brief words were exchanged and Ewan stood up, leash in his hand and Sully hurried to stand on his left. He began moving toward where he thought the door was and the dog gently nudged him a bit to the right as they approached it. Oh. Ewan moved his hand to hold the leash a little closer to Sully's body and found the dog was acting a bit like a living cane. If he held the line more taut, he could feel the way Sully was going to move next. Little did Ewan know, the dog was constantly glancing at Charis for guidance on where to go next.
Charis didn't mind that Ewan got to take the dog for a walk first. She was already imagining playing fetch and frisbee - maybe even soccer - things that Ewan would have a lot harder time with. So Charis held Annie's hand as they walked around on the lawn outside the animal shelter, stopping to let the little girl pick dandelions by the handful.
Rhiannon allowed that the dog was showing promise. He certainly hadn't been trained as a guide dog, that much was obvious, but it was also clear that he had picked up on Ewan's disability on his own and was making an effort to keep the boy safe. Perhaps with some training, he could be a passable aid for her son. Charis seemed taken with the dog, which was enough to put over her reservations. She hadn't seen her daughter this relaxed in months. If this dog could bring back the happy girl she used to know, then by all means Rhiannon would bring him into their home.
The added bonus of a walk was that she and Imiel were able to stroll side by side in relative privacy. The children were with the dog in the middle of the yard while the two of them walked in the shade of the building at its edge.
"So, what do you think? The dog doesn't seem to mind that we all smell a little 'different'. Would you be alright with having Annie and Mia around him? I'm sorry I didn't know that you don't traditionally keep pets - I hope...I hope you aren't offended by the idea?"
The dog sniffed Annie's hand, licked it, then sneezed. He flipped over onto his belly as though propelled by the sneeze itself, looking up at Annie, Charis and Ewan in turn, his tongue lolling out. The tongue was abruptly pulled in as he abruptly sat up in response to Rhiannon leaning forward slightly to extend her hand for him to sniff. This person was not nervous like the man and the toddler, nor excited like the children on the floor.
This person had eyes like the child he had met. And those eyes held the same power. This was the person he needed to impress.
He touched her hand with his nose, inhaling her scent, then lowered his head. The dog seemed to be briefly lost for ideas on what to do next, his eyes a little wide and his tail still as he looked around. He settled on the end of his leash, which he picked up in his mouth and thrust into Ewan's hand. He wagged his tail as though pleased with himself.
Ewan, once he realized what the cord was, was thrilled. "Can we take him for a walk outside?" The question was posited in no particular direction, though he expected his mother would have a say in whether they would. She didn't seem as excited about having a dog as he and Charis were. Maybe that was because she thought the dog was more for them. Ewan was certain that if they got to bring the dog home that their mother would love this dog as much as they already did.
Some brief words were exchanged and Ewan stood up, leash in his hand and Sully hurried to stand on his left. He began moving toward where he thought the door was and the dog gently nudged him a bit to the right as they approached it. Oh. Ewan moved his hand to hold the leash a little closer to Sully's body and found the dog was acting a bit like a living cane. If he held the line more taut, he could feel the way Sully was going to move next. Little did Ewan know, the dog was constantly glancing at Charis for guidance on where to go next.
Charis didn't mind that Ewan got to take the dog for a walk first. She was already imagining playing fetch and frisbee - maybe even soccer - things that Ewan would have a lot harder time with. So Charis held Annie's hand as they walked around on the lawn outside the animal shelter, stopping to let the little girl pick dandelions by the handful.
Rhiannon allowed that the dog was showing promise. He certainly hadn't been trained as a guide dog, that much was obvious, but it was also clear that he had picked up on Ewan's disability on his own and was making an effort to keep the boy safe. Perhaps with some training, he could be a passable aid for her son. Charis seemed taken with the dog, which was enough to put over her reservations. She hadn't seen her daughter this relaxed in months. If this dog could bring back the happy girl she used to know, then by all means Rhiannon would bring him into their home.
The added bonus of a walk was that she and Imiel were able to stroll side by side in relative privacy. The children were with the dog in the middle of the yard while the two of them walked in the shade of the building at its edge.
"So, what do you think? The dog doesn't seem to mind that we all smell a little 'different'. Would you be alright with having Annie and Mia around him? I'm sorry I didn't know that you don't traditionally keep pets - I hope...I hope you aren't offended by the idea?"