Sorry guys, but I may not post for a while because I supposedly have swine flu, and my mom doesn't want me to germ stuff up;). I'll be okay, I just need to rest and not touch stuff.
I will review for you! PM about it if you need one!
I skipped out the way as a body came crashing through the ceiling, landing in a mass of broken floorboards and roaring flames. It was moving so I pulled it out the the flames quickly. There was a layer of bone over the body, Marrow. I was about to say something to him when he ripped off his smouldering hood and I got a view of his unprotected face. I knew it. My thoughts raced back to yesterday; I'd been walking into my first class when a guy had walked out - Conor. He was Marrow! Before he could say anything I cut him off, a burning building really wasn't the right place. "I'll talk to you later." I growled and ran away. I had to go and save those people.
((OK?))
"It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want."
She had heard the crash behind her as she reached the ground, but she didn't turn back. She couldn't. If Marrow had survived okay, he was strong enough to get out of there, and she had to deal with the family who were following her to safety. Her thoughts flickered back to Java, and she wondered if he was still inside. Cara turned, and Java was there, human again.
"Marrow?" she asked, wondering how he had managed to change without the other hero seeing his identity. Cara herself had been thankful that Marrow had only seen her as Death, even without her full mask.
But Java just shook his head and picked up the boy who was slipping in and out of consciousness, carrying him forward and beckoning to Cara to follow. She did so, in turn leading the mother and her little girl forward, until they reached the back door. All five of them gasped the fresh air.
"Go 'round the front," Java croaked through smoke-filled lungs, and Cara thought his voice sounded a little strained. "They'll help you there. We have to leave."
He motioned to Cara and they backed into the bushes, ready to make a run for it. Cara was about to ask Java what had happened to Marrow, but he had stopped and was glancing back towards the house and towards the gasps of astonishment as the women and her children appeared, safe.
"Some yoghurts and stuff," she said, frowning as a great plume of smoke rose out of the city. She blinked, turning to Nick for a moment.
"Looks like a fire in the city."
"I hope they're okay," Mel said a little absentmindedly, hoping that some other hero was at the scene. She couldn't think of an excuse to leave; Nick would definately notice something if she did.
“Poetry is old, ancient, goes back far. It is among the oldest of living things. So old it is that no man knows how and why the first poems came.”
"Yogurt, nice. You know that stuff's made out of live bacterial culture, right?" Nick grinned and opened one of the little cups, grabbing a spoon.
Mel frowned at something in the distance. He turned, brows raising.
"Looks like a fire in the city," he noted.
"I hope they're okay."
"I bet the firemen will get everything under control, don't worry." Nick frowned slightly as he ate his yogurt. "Are you okay? You seem a little distracted."
"Hmm? Oh, no, I'm fine."
"If you say so."
"Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-- the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." --The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Java looked down at his blackened clothes and groaned, Hannah was a pretty smart kid and he didn't know how he'd explain this one to her. They both walked through the small crowd that had gathered until her familiar head came into sight, her brown hair bobbing after the neighbour Java had left her with.
He ran up and grabbed her hand, muttering a quick thanks to the woman. Hannah yelled and hugged him hard round the waist, mumbling words into his stomach.
Cara pulled his arm. "Java, we've got to go."
Hannah looked up for the first time and noticed their smouldering clothes and sooty faces. Her mouth formed a perfect and and her eyes widened slightly.
"You guys went into the fire! Why?! What did you do?"
Several people looked round at the and Java grabbed her hand, dragging her out of the crowd and onto the street.
"Java, what're you doing?! What's happening!"
"Hannah, just wait 'till we get home. I'll explain then."
Cara hissed at his shoulder. "What! Java, you're going to tell her?"
He just shook his head and carried on walking. He couldn't lie to Hannah, he just couldn't.
((Sorry, I know it's bad but I'm ill. And a procrastinator))
"It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want."
xD Aqua. NP, I'll leave you to the "ZOMG!" thing though. Hope you feel better soon!
Cara/Death
"What! Java, you're going to tell her?"
Java just shook his head, but it wasn't a no. It was resigned, as if Java had decided that he couldn't go on like this any longer. His knuckles were white, and Hannah was moaning that he was gripping her hand too hard.
Cara followed in silence. What was running through his mind? She couldn't leave him to betray her identity to his little sister. If she thought about it, Cara could see that maybe Hannah had a right to know about Java's abilities, but there was no such bond to justify telling her about Justice and the other heroes. Java would have to play this one very smoothly if he wanted to keep his place on the team.
By the time they reached the house, both Cara and Hannah were dying to know what Java was going to say. Hannah was more vocal about it, moaning and trying to pull away from Java, but he held her fast and pushed her in the front door. He turned back to Cara.
"You can come in, if you want," he said. His tone was flat. "I think I might need some help."
Cara's expression was stony. "This had better be good, Java. And nothing about me. If she asks, I'll answer. You say nothing."
Java nodded, and as Cara entered the house, closed the door behind her.
"Hannah, look. There's something I need to tell you," Java began, and Cara rolled her eyes. He sounded like he was quoting Spiderman.
"Too right you -" Hannah began.
"No, you have to be quiet for this," Java interrupted, steering his sister towards the sofa. He faced her, Cara leaning against the wall behind him, and took a breath. "The reason I went into the fire is to save the family who were stuck in there. And the reason I did that is because I feel I have to."
"Why do you -" Cara glared at Hannah, and she shut up.
"I'm different from you, Hannah," Java said, and the words were coming with difficulty now. Hannah was looking blank, and Java turned helplessly to Cara. "Shall I show her?"
"Show me what?" Hannah asked innocently, and nobody silenced her this time.
"You can if you want, but be prepared. You know what effect that has, even on people who know," Cara reminded him. She knew what he was going to do now, and she wondered whether to act surprised when he did so. No, she decided. Hannah's going to be surprised enough for the both of us.
Java blinked a couple of times, and then turned back to Hannah. "Brace yourself," he muttered. "This is where it gets weird."
And by the way, I do know that "ZOMG" isn't technically a word but I'm putting it in there anyway. According to Urban dictionary, you just say "Zoh My God!". Also according to Urban Dictionary the "Z" was originally a typo when somebody hit the Z rather that the shift button. Just thought you'd like to know xD
Java/Flux
For a second he just stood there, wringing his hands like a child being questioned by his parents. I can run into a fire unarmed, and I can't even face my little sister, he thought ruefully.
He could hear Cara breathing impatiently through her nose. "Just do it!" she hissed from behind him.
Java took a deep, shaky breath and prepared himself. He would change into a hawk first, a wolf would scare Hannah a lot more that a bird would. He focused in and felt the rush of heat and his body changed shape, as it grew smaller and his arms shrunk into powerful wings. The first place he looked was Hannah, to see her reaction. Her mouth had dropped open slightly, a classic response when people saw his power. One hand was clenching the sofa fabric, and the other was rubbing her eyes disbelievingly. "J-Java?" she managed to choke out. For a second he wondered whether speaking would scare her more, but then decided he'd better answer her. "Yes," he replied from the air "it's still me." He could see her building up to say something else, her eyes were flickering back and forth. "Y-your -" Java flew slightly closer and landed on the armchair, he wanted to hear what she had to say. "ZOMG, YOU'RE A SHAPESHIFTER!" she finally shouted. Cara burst out laughing at this, and Java had to join in. Hannah really could pick her words. "Yeah, yeah I am." She leant forward now, pretty much all her shock gone. "Can you do anything else?" she asked excitedly. "I have one other form, but it's kinda scary." Hannah just rolled her eyes at him and he chuckled again. What could scare you more than finding out your brother can shapeshift. He transformed into a wolf quickly, sitting down so that he didn't seem too intimidating and resting his head on her knee. For a second she was still and he began to to stand up again, ready to turn back, but she knelt down and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his fur. "Thank you for telling me." Then, as though the thought had only just occured to her she turned to Cara. "Can you do that too?" Hannah demanded.
((XDD. Ok?))
"It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want."
"Can you do that too?" Hannah demanded, as Java shifted back to human form. He met Cara's gaze, but said nothing.
"No," Cara said, choking on her words, "I can't do that."
Hannah looked at little put out. "Did you know that he could do that?" she asked.
This time, Java shook his head, and Cara understood. He didn't want his little sister to think that he'd told someone else, outside the family, before he'd told his own sister.
"I knew, but not because he told me. I saw him one night, changing back, and I knew." Cara's lies tripped off her tongue, and Hannah shook her head.
"You should be more careful!" she scolded, shaking Java's arm. He flashed Cara a grateful look, and Cara suddenly began to feel awkward. Hannah was right to expect to have been told first. If she knew about Justice, maybe she would feel differently, but right now Cara knew that this wasn't her place.
"Look, I'm going to go," she muttered. "I'll bring back your mum's stuff at the - I mean, next time I see you."
Java detached himself from Hannah then, and stood in the doorway with Cara. They stared at each other for a few moments. Cara had no idea how to say goodbye, so she took the next best option - she didn't. She walked through the open door and left without saying a word.
((I'm not sure what to do here. Shall we skip to tonight, or are the others still posting? This appears to be dying a little...))
(( Yeah, skipping to the meeting would be good. And maybe people weren't posting too much because their characters didn't have too much to do on the weekend. Perhaps if people start getting into groups of friends (as such) it would be easier? Just a thought)
~Amy
"It is curious how often you humans manage to obtain that which you do not want."
((Yes, but that's what the discussion thread was for in the beginning, and people don't appear to be using it. Well, we'll give it a day and see if anyone wants to finish up on what they're doing, then I'll move it along.))
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