Video; early morning of 01/19

[ceruleans]

[The woman who pops onto the screen? She doesn't look at all pleased. She's disheveled and incredibly sore, but at least she's been able to have a shower since things have returned to normal. She'd woken up in her own bed, having muddied up the sheets -- so, okay, she's still pretty annoyed.

Still, it had occurred to her that she'd done something a little bit irresponsible the night before. It had been motivated by anger, certainly, but it isn't as if she'd killed the man -- still, she needs to get it off her chest and just make sure that he's -- you know, still alive.

She clears her throat.]

Uh, all right -- this message is especially for Alistair, or for anyone from his world -- now that this thing is working again.

I was attacked in the forest last night by someone accusing me of being a demon, so I thought that you guys might know him. I knocked him out and left him tied up outside the tavern, so I don't know where he'd be now.

[She scowls.]

And just to clear it up for anyone who might be wondering ... I'm not a demon.

[She motions to her hair.]

I mean, do you see a set of pointy horns? I have no interest in your immortal soul, okay? So further attempts to end me? Not going to be dealt with so gently.

[It's a bit of posturing since she's never actually killed anyone, but...they don't need to know that.]

Comments

[accelero]

Definitely post 1972. A stem cell is basically a cell that can divide and turn into a specialized cell. Basically, it means that stem cells can turn into any sort of other cell and that your body is made of just them. Usually only embryos have them and adults do, too but only in certain tissue.

[ he'll stop and shake his head ]

I am - uber nerding you right now, aren't I?

[ceruleans]

...a little, but I was just planning on nodding and smiling until you were done.

[She smirks.]

Don't worry, I'm used to it.

[accelero]

sorry - I get a little carried away.

[ he shakes his head with a smile. ]

it's not even what I wanted to show you, though.

[ceruleans]

My brother's the same way. Like I said -- used to it.

[She raises an eyebrow again, though.]

Well, what did you want to show me?

[accelero]

Hey I got sidetracked -

[ but ok ok, watch him focus. ]

alright. I almost can't believe I'm doing this since it's - a really seriously big secret in my home world but I want you to know.

[ a little sigh as he points towards the rose garden a few miles away ]

see that garden there?

[ don't blink, you might miss it, he zooms there and back, seeming like a red blur. he'll be back in a blink, hand her one of the roses.

it's really cool except one of his shoes is on fire ]

that always happens -

[ kicking the ground until it stops. why are his moments always turn out like that? ]

[ceruleans]

[She's about to ask why he's bringing up a garden when he goes there and back in a quick streak.

She blinks, takes the flower, and then -- laughs, shaking her head.]

Super speed.

[She can put two and two together, though, and she looks at him with a slightly wary half-smile. He'd said before that something happened to people to make them mutants. She -- couldn't imagine it was good, not really. Maybe it was like Natasha had said.]

Thank you. For trusting me, I mean.

You told anyone here?

[So she knows exactly how close she needs to keep this to her chest.]

[accelero]

[ he shrugs easily, smiling all the while ]

I didn't want you to feel alone.

[ as for her question, he scratches the back of her head ]

Only one person except for you.

[ceruleans]

So I won't go volunteering your name if anyone asks if I've seen anyone faster than a speeding bullet.

[She half-shrugs a little herself, hesitant.]

I spent a long time feeling alone, but ... I appreciate the sentiment.

[accelero]

Me too.

[ it's an odd thing to be able to talk about, especially here. ]

I haven't always been like this but I've seen someone like this when I was young. someone who - hurt my family and for years no one would believe me.

[ceruleans]

That must have been terrible.

[Her mind goes immediately to Erik. The situation with Shaw might've been similar, but not identical. After all, people had believed in the Holocaust -- just not that it had happened to mutants, too.]

Feeling so powerless, I mean. I hope you found a way to deal with it.

[accelero]

It was - hard, most of the time. I was just a kid at first but then people thought it was all a reaction to trauma. it felt - lonely.

[ in a way. being the only one to believe in what he had seen and in his father's innocence. ]

but then when meta-humans started showing up, people - have changed their minds and things looked up. It was nice not being the post traumatic stress case anymore.

[ceruleans]

[She nods. She might not know exactly what he's been through, but childhood trauma -- she's got that in spades.]

Small miracles, I guess.