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Nick smiles to Tobias, eager to forget what had just happened. "Anything's fine with me. Whatever you guys want."
Nick takes a seat on the couch, giving ample room for Tobias to sit next to Grace, crossing his legs out in front of him.
Tobias nods to the assembled group, finally explaining,
"Okay, so we'll do one large Combo, one large Pepperoni Parm, one large Meatball and Peppers....and hell with it, we'll grab whatever that one was with the fig and prosciutto on it, too. I figure between the four of us, including Wren's monstrous appetite, we should get through all of it."
He moves to scoop up the phone, dialing the number for Ray's...
And then something curious happens.
He hadn't hit the 'dial' button, nor brought the phone to his ear, however inside his head, Tobias can hear the sound of the dial tone chiming. He flicks a startled, entirely bafffled glance to Nick and Grace, unbeknownst to him that a section of circuitry had lit up from his left ear along his jawline to his chin, it gently pulsing with viridian light. Confusion turns to startlement as apparently, someone had picked up on the other end of the line, a thoroughly one-sided conversation playing out in the entertainment room,
"Uh...hello? No, no I'm fine! I wanted to place a delivery order? Okay, cool. Yeah, I'm sure I'm okay. Just...getting the hang of this new cellphone...Yeah, they're a pain, right? Okay, so, I wanted a large Combination, a large Pepperoni Parm, a large Meatball and pepper...and what's that one with the prosciutto and fig? Yeah, that one. I'll take a large one of those as well. Alright, see you in twenty."
With that, Tobias blinks awkwardly, the luminescent section of his face dimming and returning to his usual complexion. He shook his head briskly, then glances to the others, blinking "Really wish someone would've wrote a 'your augmentations and you' instruction manual or something. Turns out my skull now gets pretty good cellphone reception..."
Grace had been starting to nod off a little on the couch, trying desperately to stay awake, but her head keeps sagging sideways toward Nick's shoulder for support...
But as Tobias picks up the phone to dial, she blinks one, lifts her head, and blinks slowly once again. She starts to smile as he apparently has a conversation with someone, his ear and jaw lighting up, and holds back a little bit of laughter. When he 'hangs up' and his skin goes back to normal, she lets the laugh come out, weak and quiet, but genuine.
"That's really cool. I only am just learning to use my own cellphone-- I got my first one like, a week or so ago... I can't imagine what it's like to have it stuck in my head all the time--" She's interrupted by a sudden yawn she didn't feel coming, and her mouth snaps shut just as suddenly, eyes blinking owlishly in surprise.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick slides over slightly, not wanting Grace to fall over, providing his shoulder to rest her head on. He had hoped to provide room for the two lovebirds to sit beside each other, and would, if asked, but he remained for the moment.
Nick watches with interest as Tobias called Ray's, and then grins at his last humorous statement. "I'm sure your dad can write you one of those. He helped make you that way, after all."
Tobias chuckles and nods in agreement, before blinking, his expression turning wonderfully wry,
"Though, let's hope the number for my brain case isn't publicly listed. Last thing I need is someone asking me if I want to save on long distance calls...at three in the morning."
He then peers out the window for a moment, then blinks, glancing between the two of them,
"So....anyone wanna watch a movie or something? I mean, there's a ridiculously big TV behind me and a good stash of Blu Rays. And we might as well do something until the pizza gets here. Alternatively, I'm open for rounds of 'twenty questions' if that's what we're all feeling. I mean, I could stand to know more about the person who's basically reason for me being alive and well right now."
He gestures to Grace pointedly, smiling warmly. Whether she considered it thus or not, she had, through her actions yesterday essentially saved his life.
Grace had continued to watch Tobias through lashed lowered to make it look like she was resting on Nick's shoulder. She opened her eyes fully again, though, with an obvious blush, rubbed her forearm bashfully at Tobias' pointed comment about her saving his life.
"Oh, I dunno... Wren did most of it, I didn't even have anything to protect myself with-- I was kinda just a burden..." She tries to demure, perhaps being a bit more honest than she otherwise would have been. She leans her head back to give Nick another apologetic look, before looking shyly back at Tobias.
"But, uhm... I'll answer any questions you want to ask me..." She offers a bit lamely.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick listens to their conversation quietly, observing with interest. After Grace's last comment, Nick shoulders Grace gently, "I'm sure you didn't do too bad."
Levi adds, "Miss Grace, you were not a burden until you were wounded."
Nick glares at him. "Not helping, Levi. Not helping."
Levi apologizes, "I am sorry, Miss Grace. I did not mean to...insult you."
Nick looks back to the others, "I'll join, for what it's worth. You two just try to keep your hands to yourself."
Tobias, at Nick's wry comment blinked, again erupted in waves of green light and finally got a hold of himself...though the pointed way he'd glanced at Grace was probably a little more telling that he would've probably wanted it to be. Finally he shook his head gently and retorted with,
"I wouldn't say you were a burden. Way I see it? You were the first responder. And to walk into a situation like that, with nothing to defend yourself with and still ask 'how can I help?', that's bravery right there. Plus, Wren wouldn't have known to go there if you hadn't have acted on my dad's message. You could've just as easily ignored it."
He then thumbs his chin, pondering what question he might ask, before speaking,
"Okay, I'll try not to be [i]too[/i] personal with my questions but I gotta know: Why? Why'd you choose to help?"
Grace blushed hard, and poked Nick between the ribs with her finger just as forcibly, hissing embarrassedly, "I'll show [i]you[/i] 'keeping my hands to myself..." She pokes him again, taking her head off his shoulder and giving him a dark look-- well, as dark a look as Grace is capable of, which really ends up just looking embarrassed.
Grace snuggles her shoulders gently against the back of the couch, very careful with her wings, and takes a slow breath-- then blinks widely at Tobias. "...Why would I have ignored it?" She sounds bewildered, staring up at Tobias with similar emotion. "There were going to be people getting hurt-- how could I NOT have gone to help?"
It's obvious Grace never even considered saying no.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick was obviously ticklish -- he had erupted into quiet laughter and writhed slightly after being poked. While laughing, he managed to utter, "Okayokayokay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
He felt bad for making Grace move her head from his shoulder, as he enjoyed actually being useful, but he let her be. He let Grace answer her question, remaining silent.
Tobias nods at that answer, suitably mollified,
"Okay, so clearly not the sort of person to say 'it's not my problem'. That's...well, if there were more people like that, I dare say the world would be a safer place. But I get you on that. Always felt like I had more to offer the world than enriching the soil at the local graveyard."
Clearly he sounds quite impressed, smiling before asking,
"Okay, so...I guess I should say that I probably would've remembered if you were a local....so where are you from, and why Titan City? Yeah, I know that's a two-parter."
Tobias comes to sit down next to Grace, in the empty spot between her and Nick, the whole action of standing for a long period of time actually straining his mind more than his legs.
Grace had been considering curling up against Nick and putting her head on his shoulder again, an 'olive branch' maneuver for teasing her... but Tobias takes that situation right out of her hands and plunks down next to her. His weight on the cushions makes the couch sink a bit, and she slides into his hip, buffetting him with her wing accidentally as she tries to get her balance under control.
"O-oh! S-sorry!" She says contritely, pink even through her recently-applied makeup. She manages to correct her balance enough to sit properly, and looks down at her lap, clearing her throat awkwardly, fingers toying with the hem of her shirt.
"E-erm... Uh... I'm from M-Massachusetts, and I didn't know where I was going at first, but when I heard about this City I thought this was probably the best place to see if I could find answers to these [i]quetions[/i] I've always had, since, you know, it sounded like there were other people-- like me, maybe..." Everything comes out in a rush, and she tucks her lips into her mouth, intently studying her fingertips.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick also slides toward Tobias, albeit less romanticly, a moment of humorous panic on his face as he crawls into a far corner of the couch, away from Tobias's sphere of gravity. He quickly regains his composure, listening again to Grace's response.
He continues his silence, merely listening, occaisionally making mental notes to tease them both with later.
Safe to say, Tobias was still getting used to the notion that he weighed as much he presently did, his impact on the couch forming a small crater in the cushions, causing Grace to slide against him, immediately the bashful sentiments flaring up between the two of them...for what might've been the umpteenth time today. Still, Tobi does his best to try and steer the conversation to something more innocent, at least avoiding the subject of the pair of them as actions seemed to already be making it more than obvious enough already,
"Massachusetts, huh? I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume then that it probably wasn't a major, urban center that you came from, either. Probably would've encountered more than few dozen meta-humans who could've answered any questions you might've had. Though, I can understand that, too. I mean, I've got a fair few of my own. Like, do I need to register now that I'm all augmented and stuff? Am I gonna find myself in trouble if I start trying to stop store robberies or whatever?"
It sounds like his motivations at this juncture are pretty-well thought out. After all, he had the ability, why wouldn't he try his hand at civilian law enforcement how he was as he was?
It seems like even when Nick isn't the one talking, his penchant for being long-winded is contagious. Grace stares at Tobi with semi-sleepy eyes, a half-smile touching her be-glossed lips.
"No... my community was, um... pretty... isolated," she finishes a bit weakly. "Everyone... well, everyone thought I was an Angel. I'm... I'm still not sure, but I don't really think so anymore..." Her voice sounds particularly small at this admission.
She seems a bit concerned by Tobias' line of questioning, asking those questions of herself for perhaps the first time. "Oh..." she says, a furrow between her brows. "I... I don't know--... I mean... I work at a hospital or two near Whitehold, helping out the trauma units-- Um, I heal people by touching them, in case you didn't know--" she adds shyly for his benefit, "--and I can shoot a bow, but I don't really want to do that if I can avoid it. Nobody ever said if I had to 'register' with anyone..."
Grace draws up her knees and wraps her arms around them, looking concernedly down at her lap.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias smiles and lifts what was once his injured forearm, waggling his fingers before shooting her a well-intentioned wink and adding,
"Kinda figured that much out myself. Though bearing in mind the white wings, the miraculous healing ability and your overall kindly, selfless demeanour, I don't think it'd be entirely out of the question for someone to suppose you were an angel. I mean, I had cause to wonder the same when you stepped out of the guest house earlier. No wonder I took an impromptu swim!"
He smiles mirthfully, obviously not bothered by his tumble in the least, now mostly dry. In fact, he dared to suggest that he was feeling mightily better with Grace sitting as close as she was. Something about her brought out the more adventurous side in him, and little did he know that the dopamine crashing through his brain thanks to her presence was also having an accelerated effect on strengthening the previously withered motor neurons associated with his legs.
Though, that was a minor detail, considering.
He finally nods to the TV, the expansive thing that it was and then glances between Nick and Grace "Okay, so any movie suggestions? Somehow, Nick, I get the feeling you're a 'Pacific Rim' kinda guy..." His luminous gaze swung to Levi for a moment, then back to the red-haired fellow, "Y'know....just a hunch."
Nick laughs, jokingly saying, "Shhh, Levi gets jealous of robots bigger than him." He looks over his shoulder at him, "Dontcha?"
"I am not familiar with that contraction, and I do not think it is correct grammar. It is 'don't you,' Master Ridley. Also, for the sake of humor, yes, I am jealous of robots larger than myself."
Nick waves off the grammar correction, looking back to Tobias and Grace, "Whatever you two want to watch. I'm not picky."
Grace looks... pretty adorably eager in her weakened state, her expression hopeful. She also demures, "I haven't seen anything but The Lion King-- I'll watch anything you think is good!"
She hesitates, "but... food should be getting here soon I think..."
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias nods in agreement with Grace's suggestion, pointing to her with emphatic agreement,
"See that? Good idea. Though I wonder how much-"
The sound of the doorbell catches Tobi's ear as he turns, grins and waggles his eyebrows to Nick and Grace "Ladies and Gents, it's lunchtime!"
He hefts himself up, momentarily wobbling on his feet before making determined strides toward his room to collect some cash, finally returning a moment or two later with a stack of pizza boxes, setting them down on the coffee table and flinging them open. He'd not had pizza since he'd been admitted to hospital nearly five months ago, and now with augmented senses, the [i]smells[/i] of such hit him three-fold stronger than it would a regular human being.
"Mother of God, I swear Heaven must smell like a Gourmet pizza..."
Nick makes an amused sound at this statement, going to get a few plates for the group. After rummaging the various cabinets he returns with a few disposable plates and some napkins. He hands Grace her plate, and after she takes he helps Tobias spread the pizzas on the table.
Grace blinks widely at the finger Tobias had pointed at her, then watched with similar fascination as pizzas and heavenly scents are fetched and brought within her reach.
She smiles up at nick, taking plate and napkins with a warm, "Thank you," before leaning in to draw out a few slices of the combination, trailing stringy cheese as she does. She caredully resettles herself against the couch.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias in the meantime moves to the cabinet under the TV, opening it up and crouching in front of it, a thoroughly comical sight to see someone as hefty as he was peering into a tiny space. He begins sifting through the myriad of blu-rays sitting before him muttering,
"WALL-E...Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels....No...no....no...Who the Hell bought Snakes on a Plane?...Tangled...that's clearly Sam's, though a good movie....Ah! Here we are."
He plucks from the pile of movies a copy of Pacific Rim, holding it up for everyone to observe, the image of an ENORMOUS robot on the cover, named 'Gipsy Danger' by the decal on it's collar,
"Now, it's not the most thought-provoking of movies, but very few things beat two hours worth of giant robots slugging it out with giant monsters. Levi probably has a fairly good idea about that."
He nods conspiratorially to the big, red robot standing in the corner, before loading the movie and setting it to play, grabbing half a pizza's worth of different slices, resuming his seat between Grace and Nick...not keep them apart, but because it looked the most comfortable. Thankfully this time he sits with decidedly less weight, controlling his descent so everyone doesn't end up taking an impromptu slide into him.
Levi nods, "I am intrigued by this cinematic's concept, I must admit. I enjoy punching large, aggresive creatures. It is satisfying."
When Tobias came back, he braced himself for the impact, but is pleasantly surprised at Tobias's consideration of the two. Well, probably more of Nick. He made a mental note to punch him if he got too handsy. Grace may not be his blood sibling, but he was still protective. But then, he'd probably break his hand if he did that. He made a mental note to have Levi punch him if he got too handsy.
Nick grabs a slice or two of pizza and sits back against the cushion, getting comfortable for the movie.
Grace pulls her feet up against herself again, the plate resting on her knees, and has taken a bite of the pizza...
In about three seconds of chewing, she transforms pretty much into Wren before she'd gone off for another sleep-- acting in a very un-Grace-like fashion. She takes as much of a mouthful as is possible, chewing vigorously and quickly, swallowing first before another monstrous bite. Her expression has become very intent, eyes only focused on the next bite, semi-desperate for nourishment, and she makes a small sound of pleasure-- as if the pizza was the best thing she'd ever eaten... Where she might otherwise have laughed at Levi's comment, this time it merely serves to remind her that there are other people around, and to bring her abruptly back to reality.
She swallows the bite she'd been chewing and blushes enough to turn her ears red, shrinking in on herself a little bit and clearing her throat. "...S-sorry..." she says meekly with a glance to include everyone in the room, and goes back to eating. This time, she seems far more 'herself', eating more slowly and carefully, her round, shy eyes now looking up at the screen with as much intent as they'd been looking at her food a moment ago.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias eats with just as much gusto as Grace, folding his pizza in half along the length to allow him to cram more in (this was especially useful with the Meatball pizza, as the principle topping liked to try and roll away). After a moment he pauses, observing as she demures, apologises and eats with more refinement, though Tobias thankfully cared very little. He gives her a gentle nudge with an elbow, thankfully restrained enough to to bowl her over, before offering,
"Relax. Not like anyone here's going to judge you for eating hearty. You're healing, remember?"
His eyes swing back to the screen, just in time to watch the four, massive robots defending Hong Kong from equally giant monsters, the sheer scale of the fight staggering to say the least. At one point Tobias sets his plate down, raising both hands into the air and exclaiming heartily as Gipsy Danger swings back for a punch, a collection of rockets activating in the machine's elbow to propel the strike forward.
"Dude. Rocket punch. Killer."
As Nick is about to take his first bite of pizza, his gaze wanders over to Grace, and he freezes, quite surprised by her actions. When she apologizes, he promptyly shakes himself out of his stunned state and takes a bite of pizza, eating with less gusto than the other two, but steadily munching on the italian delight.
Levi looks over at Nick as the rocket punch scene plays out, and he asks eagerly, "Master Ridley, may I have one of those?"
Nick smiles. "Maybe, Levi. We'll see when we go home."
Levi nods, looking back to the movie, "I would like one of those."
Grace had leaned back and peered around Tobias' muscled shoulders to give Nick his apologetic look, but had swung her gaze back to the TV with rapt interest. She makes several satisfying squeaks of alarm and gasps of shock at the appropriate moments.
She scrabbles out of the way a bit as Tobias puts his arms up in excited glee, and blinks several times at him, then back at the screen.
This time, at Levi's eager comment, Grace laughs in an easy sort of way, smiling broadly at Levi. She then says to Nick, "I bet you could do it. And any big robot ought to have them-- at least, that's what it looks like anyway."
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias grins, pointing to Nick and intoning with sagely advice,
"Has to be a detachable rocket punch though. Those are WAY more awesome. Nothing like being able to punch a guy in the face from fifty feet away."
He swings his gaze back to the TV, then to Grace to see if she's alright, watching her emphatic reactions to the cinematic playing out in front of them. It was wonderfully endearing to see her vehemence in every reaction, like she made no effort to censor or restrain how she felt about occurrences around her. In that respect, she was a terribly [i]real[/i] person, something of which struck a chord with him. There was no pretension, no false fronts with her. If she felt, she felt.
His eyes swing back to the movie, luminous iris and pupil affixed on the screen as the movie continues to play out before them all, Tobias admittedly somewhat distracted, smiling as he watches Grace's reactions, especially leading up to the penultimate fight of the movie.
Nick grins at Tobias's suggestion, nodding matter-of-factly, "Of course, of course."
Levi nods, "That suggestion pleases me."
Nick continues to watch the movie with a certain amount of interest. Levi is thoroughly engrossed in it, examining every small detail and making notes.
Through the course of the movie, Grace has unapologetically made her way through four slices of pizza in her slow, methodical way. Sometimes, she doesn't even seem to realize that she's still eating at all, simply chewing out of reflex, her eyes huge as she watches.
Her wings seem to take up the same rhythm as her deep breathing, moving very slightly with every inhale and exhale. The muscles of her back and shoulders-- even her arms-- are clearly defined in a feminine sort of way, having grown stronger over her practicing with Wren in the past weeks. Her clothing, by definition, usually leaves these muscle groups exposed to sunlight and onlookers from sheer necessity, and Grace-- perhaps an epitome of modesty-- has never considered this beyond that necessity. Which is probably a good thing, all told-- if she'd been aware of social implications, she might've had cause to be embarrassed about the way she was forced to dress.
As it is-- weak, but with her hunger sated and nutrition on its way to nourish her depleted body, Grace holds her wing near her, leaning on them, so absorbed in the movie she barely notices anyone else around her.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias is, unsurprisingly enough rather more distracted from the occurrences of the movie than he'd counted on. Grace seemed to have an effortless nature about her, as if the most simple of gestures, expressions, movements she made were remarkably fetching. Though that could also have something to do with the fact that the cut of her clothing also broadcasts a significant strength, likely the result of having wings to begin with and likely her more constant use of them.
Safe to say, it was all having quite an effect on Tobi, who, while supposing it strange to be so surprisingly drawn to someone so soon, couldn't ignore his initial feelings either. He turned his gaze back to the screen, not wanting to seem awkward or any stranger than he looked, with glowing eyes and case hardened steel plates jutting through his skin, watching as the final battle against the giant monsters plays out in spectacular glory. He'd find himself grazing on another three slices of pizza, nearly having demolished one in it's entirety by the time he was satiated. At one point he peers at his steel-forged knuckles, running a hand over them, detecting difference in pliability, texture and temperature, the musculature of his arms broadcasting already considerable strength as he does so. The moment hammers home that he was now no longer 'simply human', but whether he was now something more, or something less than such...
...Well, that remained to be seen.
Nick was still keeping a watchful eye on the two next him, but Grace was too enthralled in the movie to notice Tobias's admiration.
Nick blew a few strands of hair out of his eyes that had fallen into his view while watching the movie, only half paying attention. Brothers protected, right? Nick had nearly exhausted himself from working the night before, and it seemed it was all to little avail. He was glad Tobias had been there, and Wren as well, but he just felt...insufficient. If he had been there, would Grace and Wren had gotten hurt? Both outcomes were possible. But the chance of them getting hurt was less likely.
He sighed to himself. He knew it was unlikely, but the thought still raced around his mind occaisionally: what if Grace hadn't told him use needed help on -purpose?- Maybe she just thought he was dead weight? No, that wasn't Grace, she didn't think like that.
What about Wren, then? She was protective. She might've thought he would just get in the way and get hurt.
As Levi would tell him, the probability of them merely not having enough time to call was far more possible. But, all variabilties of a situation would still bother him, no matter hoe likely or unlikely.
Nick knew it was little use to regret or think about, and Grace already felt bad, so he shoved the thoughts into the back of his mind for a later date, attempting to enjoy the movie.
Grace is nothing if not innocent. What Levi would counsel Nick, is the truth-- she simply hadn't had time to call him. It was the first time anyone asked for her help specifically, and the rush of events was just too overwhelming for her to think straight, or it's very likely she would have called Nick, too. Part of her apparent weakness is also a touch of guilt along the lines of such thoughts, not wanting anyone in her little family to feel alienated... She knows what that's like, after all...
Though, she hasn't been thinking much at all since the movie had reached its crescendo. She's leaned forward a little, her knees slumping down sideways, plate forgotten in her lap as her right wing had stretched out a little, pushing into Tobias' arm unknowingly in her eager absorption with the movie.
As it finally comes to a close, she continues to stare at the rolling credits, obviously in deep thought, though she does settle back a little.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias seems to come out of his thoughtful moment as the credits start rolling, nodding to Nick and then flicking a glance to Levi,
"I think somebody's a fan."
He then regards Grace, her face intently set on the credits as they roll by, trying to gauge her thoughts on the movie they'd just watched. That said, he's also intrinsically aware of her wing tip pressed against his bicep, finding the feathers that adorned her remarkably soft. Again he's greeted by that 'living, but clean' scent from her wing, finally speaking,
"So....any thoughts? Probably a little more full-on than the Lion King. Not that I'm dissing the Lion King, however. That movie's a classic."
He smiles, then makes with an almost worried expression. Perhaps the intensity of what she'd watched was too much? He certainly didn't want to scare her by any stretch of the imagination, having opted for it due to it's lighter story.
Nick nods, Levi remaining quite, presumably organizing his notes from the movie. "I'll have to hear about for a month or two."
Nick is interested in what's Grace will say to Tobias's question. Her response to the Lion King had been quite positive, but then, that was a Disney movie. Pacific Rim was in a completely different league.
Grace jerks as if stuck with a pin, then hisses a little at the jolt it sends through her left wing. She pulls the right one self-consciously away from Tobias' arm, blushing lightly, and responds shyly, "...I like it. There was so much, um, [i]action[/i]? I mean, it's way more violent, but not like-- I don't-- I don't know how to explain it..." She feels like she's sounding lame and uncool, but can't help it if she isn't a film expert.
Sighing, she admits, "It's just about the complete opposite of the Lion King, but I liked it..."
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias nods in agreement, chuckling,
"You're right. Compared to a Disney flick, it's pretty much the polar opposite. But, I think it's got the same sorta theme. Good triumphing over evil, saving the world. All that jazz. And at least the ending's a happy one."
He then smiles and gestures to himself,
"And the only reason I know movies as well as I do is...well, you haven't really got much to do during a lengthy hospital stay save for eat, sleep and keep yourself from going crazy staring at four white walls. Hence, I watched a LOT of movies."
He watched Grace's demure reaction, then smiles and adds honestly,
"Seriously, though, it doesn't bother me if it's not your thing. It IS kind of a 'guy' movie." He finds himself frowning somewhat thoughtfully after that, thumbing his chin, "In hindsight, probably would've been better if I chose something that appealed to a wider audience."
There follows a gentle shrug of acceptance, before he asks,
"So, I guess the big question is: now what?"
Nick agreed with Tobias's statements. Pacific Rim was far from Cinderella or WALL-E.
He stood, holding hus disposable plate, and looks to the other two, "Is everyone done?"
If they reply in the affirmative, Nick takes their plates and any empty pizza boxes to the trash. These actions seemed kind or excessively polite, but most of it was due to his kind nature and his mother's scoldings.
Grace had smiled, her expression clearing, "Yes-- that's it. It got there a whole different way, but it had a similar theme that way!" She gulps a little, giving Tobias a shy, empathetic look that is nevertheless quite direct into his eyes. "I'm sorry life was so bad for you, then..."
She clears her throat a little, quickly looking away, and hands Nick her plate with a lingering, warm look and a "Thanks again, Nick..."
She then seems a bit startled at Tobias' question of 'now what?' She doesn't want to admit it, but even though it isn't that late in the afternoon, she's starting to feel the nutrition making her sleepy instead of energized, seeping into her muscles and bones and urging her to rest some more while it restores her. "I dunno..." she says instead, shifting a bit awkwardly.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
There comes a voice from the other side of the room, namely Alan Wishart's, looking now decidedly more rested for his few hours sleep.
"If it were me, I'd highly recommend some more rest, Grace. The body heals best when you're asleep."
He surveys the room with a wry smile, nodding,
"Pizza and a movie. Wish I'd stayed awake."
He was now dressed in a pair of khakis, a white, button-down shirt and his usual spectacles, snagging a slice of pizza before examining Tobias' bandaging work and nodding in approval, then gesturing to Grace,
"I'd like to change your dressings sooner rather than later, if I could, but you tell me when you're ready and we'll see to it, okay?"
Well-rested, clean and now no longer looking like he'd survived a fire fight, Alan was actually quite a handsome fellow for someone his age, conferring a wisdom that seemingly belied his years. It appeared that Tobias had taken sufficiently after his father in that regard, though a good deal of his present situation was owed to the augmentations he'd undergone recently.
Alan checked his watch, before shrugging and offering,
"Well, I'm going to get started on dinner in the meantime. Nick, you're more than welcome to stay for such if you like, as is Wren...wherever she is..."
Tobias nodded in the direction of the Guest House, explaining,
"She's sleeping off a food coma. Also, we're probably gonna have to restock the fridge before the week is out. Wren eats. Like, a [i]lot[/i]"
Alan nodded at that, honestly not surprised,
"Fairly typical trait for people with Avian Dimorphism. Fast metabolisms. That and flying burns quite a lot of calories. When she wakes up, feel free to tell her she's welcome to stay for dinner as well, hmm? Oh! And according to my messages, your sister is going to be joining us for dinner. Looks like we'll have a full house at the table tonight."
Tobias was surprised by this, blinking before intoning,
"Sam's coming home for dinner? Huh, guess dining on Ramen and coffee got old pretty quick."
Grace jumped a little as Alan reappeared, and rubs her neck sheepishly. Probably even he would notice that she looked clean and made-up, her hair and face made 'pretty'. She seems to feel weirdly guilty about this-- as well as feeling guilty about being sleepy again, to which she enlightens Alan,
"I'm sorry if we were very loud-- that movie was pretty, ahm... you know. A-anyway, Tobias put a new bandage on, but I haven't, erm... looked at it? I really, really don't want to, but... I think I'm going to have to take another nap, if we're going to have dinner later. I'm just so sleepy--" She paused, shy, then continued, "I think maybe it'd be better if you... did whatever it is you h-have to do to my w-wing..." She pauses again, trying to regain her courage, continues bravely, "...now, while I'm too sleepy to be very scared."
She's scared anyway, hearing that Tobias' sister will be home for dinner. She's as weak as a kitten and terribly uncertain about herself as it is-- having to make herself look good in front of yet one more person was not Grace's idea of a good time, exactly... Though, even less of a good time was waiting for her wing to heal. Not being able to fly is terrifying in and of itself...
She gulps, and gingerly eases herself off the couch, standing up. She looks a bit thoughtful, as if determining if she can walk okay, heavy-eyed as she is, but seems to determine that she'll make it. "So... I guess we should?..."
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Alan nods at that, again his expression understanding as he gestures to his 'office', smiling,
"Well, what's say we sort out your dressings now so I don't have to do it before you eat. Hate to have you lose your appetite over something like that. And that way you can rest easy knowing your wound dressings are clean."
He nods to his son, Tobias strangely knowing exactly what that meant, standing and letting his father past so he can begin helping Grace to her feet. Again, oddly it seems as though when nearby to her, his coordination, balance and dexterity all seem to function as if he was entirely normal. Alan, quietly making a note of this, guides the winged lass into his 'office'. Now more conscious, Grace could get a good look at just what sort of 'office' Alan had, the clean, white tiles, sealed floor and appropriate drainage indicating that this was clearly more than a simple 'Ow, I scuffed my knee' room. It was actually set up like a small operating theater. Alan gestures to the examination table, intoning kindly,
"Here, have a seat and we'll get a good look at that wing."
Alan first trundled an overhead lamp, switching it on before he sets about acquiring appropriate re-dressing materials: Gauze, bandage, antiseptic ointments and setting them down on the small, wheeled table beside him. He gingerly sets about freeing her injured wing, setting the bandage on the table beside him as he takes a pair of surgical scissors and begins cutting away at the remaining bandages wrapped around the wrist joint of her wing, speaking all the while he does so to distract her,
"I have to say, this is a [i]lot[/i] easier with you awake and responsive....not to mention no longer being totally exhausted having just survived a fire fight. Okay, let's have a look here..."
As the final shreds of gauze fall away from Grace's injured wing, revealing the sutured wound, Alan has reason to blink in surprise, thankfully not hesitating between "That's interesting..." and his explanation,
"I didn't expect to see a reduction in swelling this soon. I'm aware your wound was partially healed before we found you, but the rate at which I'm seeing a normalisation in granulation tissue indicates that, you, Ms Grace have an accelerated healing factor....and it looks like even your feathers are starting to grow back in. At this going rate, this wound should be little more than a memory by the end of the week. A little bit of physiotherapy to strengthen the joint and you should be back to soaring the Titan City skies in no time."
Alan looked utterly relieved to see that she'd return to full flight ability, initially worried about the nature of the wound. Often things like this were life-changing.
Doctor Wishart set about applying a fresh round of ointments, followed by gauze and bandages to protect the still-healing wound, then re-wrapped the wing back to her body, smiling before intoning,
"Now, this part is merely a recommendation, you can decline if you wish and we can make other arrangements. I'd like to keep you here at my home for the duration of your healing process, if only so that I can keep a proper eye on that wound. If you'd sustained any other sort of injury, I'd be happy to send you home tonight, however due to how close it is to your wrist joint, I'm going to need to properly monitor it for the time being. As I said, it's a recommendation, not an order. I'm certainly not placing anyone under house arrest, after all."
Every ounce of Alan's being, aura, field, what-have-you indicates that he's certainly not lying as his, recommendation a genuine one. Though if Tobias in the next room could have anything to say about it, he'd hope she'd stick around as long as she could.
As Doctor Wishart and Grace disappear from the entertainment room, Tobias folds his hefty arms, pursing his lips gently, left behind with Nick. He flicks him a momentary glance, uttering with amiable intention,
"I'm sure she'll be fine. I mean, she seems like a tough cookie. I don't think she'd let something like this keep her grounded. And hey, she's got my dad seeing to her. Guy's practically a rockstar in the field of general surgery."
Grace had brushed Tobias gently with her wing-- purely accidentally-- on the way past him, having trouble coordinating them as well in her weakened state, and her present state of anxiety, muted by her exhaustion.
The stark, clinical nature of Alan's "office" is terrifying, too, and Grace is trembling by the time she climbs miserably onto the examination table, looking a bit pale, but with a brave face.
She'd been mostly silent, sitting in a half-daze with her eyes closed under the light of the lamp, feeling as if it must be very important to remain still... Even so, she seems hyper sensitive to her injury, most likely out of anxiety, and chokes down two or three little sounds of distress as the bandages come off and her wing is gently manipulated. She certainly avoids looking at the wound, not wanting to see the visual evidence of the physical violence done to her...
She'd paled noticeably as Alan had spoken with interest, saying, "Wh-what's--", but the Doctor had gone on to explain.
Grace is a little stunned by the information that her healing applies to [i]herself[/i] in some fashion, and had quietly thanked God for mercies big and small. Knowing that she'd be alright, in a matter of days instead of weeks or months of recovery time, the winged girl is startled at Doctor Wishart's request, and considers it in shy silence. After a few long moments, lifting her arms to allow the wing to be secured against her body again, she finally says something.
"...I'm not the Doctor, Mister Wishart..." Her voice is quiet, both tired and shy. "I only have two or three friends, and--... and I live by myself in Nick's old place. I don't think I'd want to be alone for awhile... N-not that I don't totally trust Wren and Nick to stay with me and take care of me!" she adds quickly, "I just..."
Grace clears her throat, sighs a little, turning her head now to look at her bandaged-up wing. "...I-I'll stay here, for awhile, I think..." she says finally, in a very small, meek voice.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick stretches and gets off of the couch, nodding to Alan's suggestion. "If that's alright with you guys, I'd love to stay for dinner."
After Grace and Alan left the room, Nick commented to Tobias, a look of suspicion on his face, doing the 'I'm watching you' gesture. "Remember that I'm brother, Tobi. I'm watching."
When Wren enters, Nick's face changes back to his normal, placid state. He attempts to dodge the hair tousle, but isn't quick enough. "You missed Levi being jealous of robots larger than him."
Wren, having finally woken up enough to move, emerges from the guest house and simply stands by the pool for a while, letting her brain reboot.
She begins to stretch, her wings mimicking the motions of her arms as much as they're able to. She raises them up over her head, holding there for a few heartbeats, then arcs her body to the right, then left, each time holding the position for a few moments without tension. Every motion was smooth and gentle. She let her mind go as well, releasing all pent-up energy and emotion. For these blessed few minutes, she is as relaxed and contented as a cat lounging in the sun.
She begins to move her wings, gently flapping them, stretching them out behind her, and then curling them back in against her body.
Smiling, she wanders back into the house, and over to the boys. she tousles Nick's hair, and pokes Tobi's head with a finger.
"So. What'd I miss?" She seems very much more energetic than she had been earlier. More at ease and awake.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
As his father and Grace had departed the room to see to her injury, Tobias had remained behind...and in turn had gotten a glimpse of what was [i]really[/i] going on in Nick's head behind the polite veneer. His commentary, and the stern gesture that indicated he was being watched....
....And curiously enough, Tobias probably understood more than Nick knew.
Tobias' retort is actually quite civil, his arms still folded as his luminous gaze swings to Nick, matter-of-factly replying with,
"I'm sure you are, Nick...but if you think that fact alone is going to scare me off, you've got another thing coming."
At that moment, the air in the room turns so tense you could cut it with a knife...only to be shattered like glass the moment Wren enters, administering her round of hair mussings and prodding Tobias' forehead, causing him to blink in surprise, then chuckle,
"Weeell, looks like someone's doing better for a nap!" He utters with enthusiasm, "You missed Pizza and giant robots punching giant monsters. I'd say 'don't worry, we saved you some', but dad's gonna be starting something for dinner as soon as he's done changing Grace's dressings."
Elsewhere, in Alan's office, the doctor nodded with understanding, a gentle smile on his face,
"And your friends will be able to visit whenever they like. As I said, I'm not placing you under house arrest. Though for now, let's see about getting you some rest, hmm? I'll make sure someone is sent over to collect you when dinner's ready."
With that, he helps her off the examination table and back into the kitchen, nodding to his son and requesting to the group gathered in the entertainment room,
"Alright, if someone would be willing to escort Grace back to the guest house so she can rest, I'd be thankful. I really need to get dinner started."
Grace had given Alan a shy smile, slipping down off the examination table, bare feet on the tiles making her shiver a little with their coolness. She padded meekly enough behind him back to the group, freshly bandaged and oblivious to Nick's attempted chivalry.
She makes a happy sound to see Wren, and goes instinctively around or between everyone to get to her, hugging the girl gently. She then looks a bit shocked at Alan's request for someone to help her back to the Guest House.
"Oh, no, Alan-- It's okay, I can make it there on my own--" she starts to protest.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick had felt the tension after Tobias's statement - but was glad Wren had interrupted. Nick didn't want to scare him away, and he was doubtful he could, anyway. If he was good for Grace, he could stay, but otherwise...
Nick interrupted Grace, if kindly, "I'm sure you could, but it's just in case. You get to he treated like a patient. Patients rest. If you want, I'll help you over there."
Oh, so [i]now[/i] Nick was playing nice again? Well, this was an interesting turn of events. Tobias simply raised a hand, partially in protest, partially volunteering,
"Uh, if anyone should be helping her across the way, it should be someone who's physically able to help her if she's looking like her strength is going to fail. Yeah, hi there."
And truthfully, short of Levi, whom Tobi figured was probably a little too big and awkward to get through the guest house door, [i]he[/i] checked all the boxes. His luminous eyes flicked to Nick, a 'go ahead, try and say otherwise' look in his glowing gaze, while Alan, somewhat curiously flicked a glance between his son and Nick, before issuing Wren of all people an imploring gaze.
Wren slipped in behind the boys, gave Alan an amused grin, and wrapped an arm around Grace's waist. She smiles, and jerks her head toward the boys, clearly highly amused, and just walks Grace out toward the guest house. Vitality and strength practically pours off of her. Apparently her nap had done her some serious good in reviving her usual vigor.
"Boys are entirely too entertaining, don't you think?" she says to Grace, barely suppressing a laugh. She'd seen displays like this before, though at least with birds and some fish, you got a colorful show.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Grace had looked between Nick and Tobias with round, bewildered eyes, startled by the weird tones of voice, feeling that sense of 'uneasiness' in her thoughts. She had swung her gaze to Alan, who in turn had swung HIS gaze to Wren, both imploring, Grace totally overwhelmed and considering just sneaking off by herself after all...
Wren comes to her rescue by the simple expedient of wrapping her arm around Grace's waist, and guiding the girl out of the room while Nick and Tobi stare daggers at each other. Grace had leaned a little on Wren, desite the girl being shorter, and had shot a glance over her shoulder worriedly. "...I dunno if that's entertaining, exactly... What's [i]wrong[/i] with everybody all of a sudden?" she muses aloud, obviously a little distressed.
Grace sighs as they enter the Guest House and pulls the topmost blanket off the bed-- she'd slept on it dirty, after all-- and proceeds to sit down on the edge. Looking up at Wren, she thanks her warmly, and shimmies over a little, very carefully laying down on her back-- the most comfortable way she can think to, presently.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick had been facing away from Tobias when he spoke, and after hearing the start of his aggressive statement, he sighed. He'd hoped to keep that between them, not argue in front of the whole group. By the end of Tobias's suggestion, anger was writhing beneath Nick's surface.
He turned, looking Tobias square in the eye, his face mostly blank. To some people, the look would be...unnerving. His size didn't seem to match the air of determination he carried when he spoke, "I do not deny that I am not physically capable of lifting Grace off of the ground and carrying her. In that respect, you are superior to me. But if Grace fails to walk the entire distance, which I doubt, I -can- aid her to the guest house. Grace requires rest to heal, and being with people she knows and trusts well - which I am not stating that she does not trust you, as I'm sure she does, to a degree - can aid that process."
Nick does not notice the exit of the winged girls, as he is more focused on Tobias at the moment.
Nick's commentary about 'trust' hits home like a cruise missile, Tobias apparently not afraid to show his dissent, leaning forward, and slightly downward to level his eyes to Nick's, sharply prodding a finger into his chest. Thankfully its another moment where Tobi has control of his motor functions, otherwise he might've done considerably more damage,
"Oh, I see, so the fact that I face-tanked a goddamn mech yesterday so neither Grace or Wren would have to, despite having just woken up out of a six week, medically-induced coma apparently means approximately DICK in the means of trust because...hey, that's small stuff, right? Listen, I know I'm the new guy here, Nick, but it seems like you're making some pretty sweeping judgements about my character right off the bat that I'm not okay with. I case you haven't noticed, most of the jock douchebags you seem to be mistaking me for DON'T have case-hardened steel jutting through their skin...unless that became the 'in thing' while I was under, in which case your judgement is entirely reasonable."
He punctuated with a stern glare, his face still twisted into an expression of malcontent, though noticeably less imposing that it had been initially.
It wasn't so much that he was mad at Nick, merely the fact that somehow he'd become a threat of some description, something perhaps dangerous to Grace...and that, well that much was completely the opposite of the truth.
Alan in the meantime is absolutely stunned, gaze flicking between the pair of them, looking for a place where he could get an edge in.
Wren tucks Grace in with a spare blanket, sitting beside her for a bit and softly singing the lullaby her mother used to sing to her. She waits until Grace is dozing before leaving the guest house and quietly closing the door behind her. As she walks back to the main house, she hears raised male voices, sighs and shakes her head in exasperation. It was likely neither had noticed Grace's quiet removal from the situation.
Well. Time for 'Mama Wren' to step in and knock them back into sense. She'd been good enough at it in school to have earned the nickname from the younger, socially awkward kids. Hell, even some of the older, more popular students had begun to call her that when she'd broken up a 'nerd bashing' with some well-aimed sarcasm and several knocks to the head with her balled-up fist.
She walks in the back door, and instead of saying anything beforehand or bringing attention to herself, she simply walks up and slaps each of the boys upside the back of the head.
"Girls, girls.. you're both pretty, now go do something useful instead of flapping your mouth-holes."
Afterward, she wanders over to lean against a wall, arms crossed, a stern, disappointed look on her face.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Grace had put her hands on her stomach, stretched out her right wing a little, and closed her eyes, listening with a warm drowsiness to Wren's soft singing. She remembers how her own mother used to sing to her when she was little, before her wings...
Grace falls asleep peacefully, oblivious to the hostilities and back and forth, to dream about her mother...
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Nick did not move when Tobias neared, defiance evident in his eyes, the blank look on his face still there. He sensed the numbing of the harshness of his tone and look, and took note of it, "I am grateful that you 'face-tanked' a large mechanical walker for Grace and Wren, it is not that, it is that. I am sorry you took my words for irrational judgement, I did not mean it in that sense. However, I --"
Wren enters, and Nick seems to lose all sense of his previous anger. Her words scolded him more than she knew, and her look of disappointment absolutely killed him. He had been stupid. Idiot, he told himself. Moron, nitwit, stupid, slow...
He looks back to Tobias, his anger gone from his face. He clears his throat, "I'm--I'm sorry, Tobi..." He steps back a foot or so, and extends a shy hand, waiting for a handshake, "I've been...unfair..."
Little did anyone know that during the round of raised voices, the front door had clicked open, then shut seemingly without anyone noticing, the figure that had entered immediately hearing the quarrel and stealthily moving her way to sidle up against one of the entry way walls to listen to what was going on. An exasperated roll of baby blue eyes following a shake of the head, the figure moved to enter the entertainment room, a determined scowl set upon her otherwise pretty features...
[center]--------[/center]
Tobias had been just about to retort, his words readying to cut Nick off before he's suddenly stunned by a clip round the ears, it staggering him somewhat as Wren rather swiftly smacks some sense into him. He reels a little as her words strike like a viper, though not nearly as viciously as the gaze of pure disappointment that Wren shot across the room. Even Alan, entirely innocent to this fight couldn't help but feel a little prostrate. As sense came flooding back to him, Tobias realised that he'd been an idiot, gladly accepting Nick's offered hand with a solid handshake,
"It's cool. You're just looking out for your friends. Hell, if I had friends like Wren and Grace I'd probably do the...OW!"
Tobias suddenly staggered as another cuff upside the head greeted him, his hand slipping free from the handshake as he turned to glare indignantly at the origin on the blindsiding. He was immediately greeted by his sister's staunch, unrelenting scowl, causing his head to reel back as she spoke sharply,
"Quit being a dick, TJ. It's really doesn't look good on you."
Tobi tried to retort with some manner of rebuttal but instead glared at his younger sibling, sunglasses propped up on her head, securing the long waves of strawberry-blonde hair, her dark-wash jeans and grey tank-top with 'Screw Perfection' written upon it in jagged text.
"Nice to see you again, [i]Sam[/i]. How's college?" Tobias asked sharply, still maintaining his steely glare.
"Oh, it's fine, [i]Tobias[/i]. Though enough about me..." Her expression begins to soften, as a finger comes to prod Tobi just below the collarbone as her voice shifts from irate to amazed. "When the hell did you muscle up?" She asks with surprise, looking him over and nodding "I mean, I know the operation was supposed to help you but [i]damn[/i], TJ! And look! You're standing!" By now her expression has softened enough to be decidedly more amiable as she laughs gleefully, embracing her brother before flicking a glance around the room,
"Hi Daddy....and well, other people!"
She then clicks and points to Wren, arching a well-manicured brow "Didn't I see you on the news this morning? Something about an attack on a lab in Highpoint...though that wasn't [i]your[/i] lab, was it?" Her gaze wanders between Alan and Tobias, who both affix a sheepish gaze one one-another. How were they going to break this to her gently?
Wren laughs as Sam also takes it upon herself to do some well-timed chiding, and watches the interplay between the three family members with amused wistfulness. She maintains her vigil of holding up the wall which would [i]undoubtedly[/i] fall over without her help. When Sam directs a question toward her, she waits for the girl to wind down with the questions and smiles as she speaks up. Her wings are partially wrapped around her creating an oddly cape-like illusion. The tan almost blending in with her skin, the blue metallic-looking parts winking in the light.
"Yep. Short story: Your dad sent a general help call, my little sister answered and called me. She helped them inside the building, I held the outside with some assistance. Broke a wing almost off, fought through it with the aid of painkillers, passed out after mister 'Lookit me, I'm all manly now' crashed into the roof. He KO'd the giant suit. Little sister speed-healed me, got hit herself, we woke up here. Breakfast gorging, shower - and by the way, your clothes are comfy, sorry I had to alter this top - huge lunch (brunch? Who knows!), nap, pizza and movie, you showing up." she pauses from this rapid-fire recital of what's happened so far. She looks from Nick to Tobi to Alan, "Did I miss anything?"
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Nick thinks for a moment, and then shrugs, "I wasn't there, but I think you covered most of it."
Nick walks over to stand near Wren, and inbetween conversation he would mutter to her in a volume so no one near would hear, "It was my fault, I should've just let him take Grace. It won't happen again. Sorry."
Sam absorbs Wren's rapid-fire recount with surprising deftness, the only reaction to such a nod and a "Cool okay..." Before she turns around, to both her father and brother and yells, exasperated,
"AND NEITHER ONE OF YOU THOUGHT TO CALL AND TELL ME YOU GUYS NEARLY DIED?! Jesus...Talk about being out of the loop!"
Sam shakes her head and sighs, then glances to Wren,
"Don't worry about the clothes. I'm just glad you were able to stop those two from winding up riddled with holes."
Tobias and Alan in the meantime glance at one another, a quiet mutter of,
"Did you intend to call her?"
"Not if I could've avoided it."
"Yeah, because this went SO much better..."
"It's not like I could've gotten a call out in the middle of a fire fight..."
"True...and she would've spent longer being all hysterical..."
Tobias then clears his throat and nods to Wren, managing a well-intentioned smile "And yes, Wren, that sums up yesterday afternoon pretty-much perfectly."
Alan in the meantime quietly muttered something about 'getting dinner ready' and vacated the room, as Samantha in the meantime regarding those present. None of which looking like anything that would qualify as a 'little sister'...though perhaps the big, red robot standing in the corner might've had someone inside. Finally she speaks up again, asking,
"Wait, so there's someone [i]else[/i] here?"
Tobias finally nods at that,
"Yeah, she's having a nap in the Guest House. Name's Grace. Also has wings. Dad needed to stitch her up when we got home yesterday afternoon."
Samantha folded her arms, affixing her brother with a suspicious gaze before ambling over to take up a position next to Wren, noting the...curious glint in Tobi's eyes the moment he'd mentioned Grace by name.
"Is it just me or is the reason for the pre-pubescent screaming match starting to come to light here?"
She nods between Nick and her brother, then glances to Wren, lofting a brow.
Wren chuckles, nodding.
"Little sister Grace. Nick is our little brother, and was getting all protective, and Tobi... well... Tobi has seen the best piece of candy in the shop and wants to make sure no one else gets to it before he can." She laughs softly, clearly only teasing gently as is her usual way.
She wraps an arm around Nick's waist. "Don't worry about it, little brother. Just keep in mind that Wrennie has a mean backhand, and you'll be fine." She grins, and tousles his hair into his face again.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Nick grins, blowing the hair out of his face, but then looks genuinely worried at Wren, "He doesn't think -I'm- into Grace, does he?"
Sam makes with a deliberate nod of understanding, an "Aaaah" gesture crossing her face as the pieces fall into place. "So...the plot thickens! Though I have to say, it's a pretty impressive feat that he's noticed her at all. I wouldn't have expected Tobi to start chasing girls right off the bat. Though, give a guy a new lease on life and..."
She simply shrugs, Tobias on the other side of the room watching as the three of them examined him like a panel of psychologists...
"Guys, can we please stop talking about me like I'm not here? It's strange...and kinda creepy."
Samantha in return simply batted a hand at her brother, grinning,
"Quiet you."
She then regards Nick with a scrutinizing eye, before answering his question for him,
"Nick was it? I wouldn't put it past him to assume that might be the case. Man see pretty lady, man see another [i]man[/i] with pretty lady, man make assumptions that he's a potential rival for her affections. Trust me, you see it a lot at the grand, testosterone-laden pissing contest that people normally refer to as 'college'. Though from what I can ascertain, you're more brother material. Am I pretty close?"
Tobias in the meantime is starting to look a lot confused, and perhaps a little freaked out, his voice good-humored, but beginning to touch on the sounds of desperacy,
"Guys, please. I've been poked and prodded by enough medical and mental health professionals during the course of my existence. Last thing I need is you doing it as well..."
Wren chuckles, wandering over to Tobi, hands behind her back as she looks him over minutely. Without saying a word, she walks slowly around him poking here, prodding there. It ends with her standing in front of him again. She sloooowly reaches out to poke the tip of his nose with a high-ish pitched, "Boop!"
She turns back to Sam, "It helps that after her shower, I pimped Grace up a bit, preened those gorgeous white feathers, did her hair, make-upped her face -just- enough to showcase her best features..." She smirks, "Like tossing a stick of dynamite into a barrel of fish. I am smugly satisfied with his reaction of walking into the pool accidentally when he saw her." Smirkety smirk smirk.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Nick smiles at Wren's response to Tobias's complaint. It was just a Wren thing to do. He had to admit, he may have enjoyed it a liiiitle too much, revelling in the fact Tobias was getting harassed after their small argument.
With new information, Sam finds herself lofting a brow and intoning "Aaaah, so it wasn't entirely Tobi's fault after all! This is all turning out to be quite the intriguing tale!" She chuckles gently as Tobias is gently poked and prodded, looking thoroughly uncomfortable as Wren does so, finally rolling his luminous eyes as she boops him on the end of his nose,
"And I thought the verbal poking was bad..."
He shoots the winged young lady a well-intentioned droll gaze, Sam rather smugly adding on,
"And now you've got me interested to meet her. I mean, anyone who could make my brother so clumsy that he falls into a pool fully clothed has gotta be something special...though not saying you aren't either, Wren. I'm surprised that our jock retard neighbour hasn't come strutting into the yard like a peacock looking to try his luck....or has he?"
Sam visibly cringes and shakes her head. She'd been the victim of his advances ever since she'd turned eighteen, and while her father had been able to send him on his less than merry way. And thankfully she'd been able to escape to college before he'd managed to ramp up his efforts. Tobias in the meantime seems to hone in on his sister's wavelength, sighing and palming his face,
"Craaaap. I forgot that guy existed. He probably hasn't seen me since before the surgery."
"Nope, lucky for him..." She flicks a tiny bubble of energy at Sam, just as a tiny painless taste of the potential. "I'd rather not have to explain to a judge how it wasn't really my fault that the neighbor somehow has a hole through a particular body part..." She laughs and shrugs a shoulder. "I'll be going to get Gracie when dinner's ready. Speaking of which, I think I'm gonna go help Alan with dinner preparation."
She waves at the room in general, stopping to boop Tobi's nose again before heading into the kitchen.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Nick grins at the conversation, and is quite grateful for Wren's decisiveness. He -really- didn't want to have to argue with Tobias again. If he did that too much he'd get punched. And titanium knuckles to the face don't sound pleasant. Nick remains with the other two, staying quiet for the most part, listening to the sibling banter. He would speak, but only if spoken too. Levi had seemed to suddenly appear behind him, too, as if he realized the boy required another friend so he wouldn't seem -too- awkward.
Sam simply sauntered over to pat Tobi on the shoulder smiling,
"Relax, oh hot-headed brother of mine. This time? I think you'll be able to give the guy a run for his money. And I think you owe him. After all, what kind of morally deficient jackass makes fun of a guy in a wheelchair?"
She said with prior memory, frowning disdainfully as she shakes her head. Before smiling,
"I'm gonna go help Pops with dinner. You two play nice, okay?"
She flicks her gaze between Tobias and Nick, offering a little wave as she calls out into the kitchen "Okay! What can I do?"
Tobi in the meantime shook his head and sighed, fixing Nick with an apologetic gaze as he approaches, offering him the beginnings of a handshake,
"Lets try this again without my sister smacking me upside the head."
He takes a deep breath, sighing before intoning with level inflection,
"Listen, I get where you're coming from, and if I were in your position, I'd be protective of someone like Grace as well, especially from someone who just suddenly appeared and started showing signs he was interested. After all, I'm an older brother, I get it. You naturally want to weed out the guys you think aren't gonna be a good thing for 'em. Still I think she's smart enough to know what a walking problem looks like...and I'm sure as hell not one of those."
He nods stoutly to Nick, then intones,
"If you're cool, so am I."
Nick nods, attempting to shake Tobias's hand as best he could. "I didn't think you weren't gonna be good for her, man -- I barely know you -- I'm just keeping a watchful eye on you. I kind of overreacted earlier, so, sorry about that. I haven't slept much in a day or two, and I've had a little stress pent up. I guess it was bound to happen sometime."
Tobias chuckles, nodding in agreement, then offers, "And I'm a little on the stressed side trying to figure out where on the scale of 'man to machine' I fit right now. Safe to say I've got some pretty hefty learning curves ahead of me. But I still feel like I'm human, and to my mind, that makes the most difference."
He nods at that, then gestures to Levi and offers "And any guy who's got access to back up like Big Red there is clearly the sort of person I'd want looking out for Grace."
From in the kitchen, there comes a call from Samantha,
"You two better not be fighting in there or I swear me and this spatula are gonna have words...."
Tobias sighs, gesturing toward the kitchen, adding with a wry smile,
"We should probably help out, otherwise they'll probably bludgeon us both with kitchen utensils on principle..."
With now four people aiding and assisting with constructing the meal that Alan had in mind, a good deal actually comes together quite quickly. The meal itself, consisting of a white wine and parmesan cheese risotto, seared chicken breasts stuffed with basil pesto and breadcrumbs, as well as a simple, clean but ever-classic Napoli sauce, and green salad actually come together in record time...though thankfully not so quickly that Grace, still sleeping away in the Guest House doesn't have time for a proper rest. With everything assembled, Alan wipes off his hands, nodding to Wren and intoning,
"I'm all ready to serve. Would you mind going across the way to wake Grace up for us? I'm sure she'd appreciate a familiar face....and it'd be decidedly less awkward than one of the boys appearing beside her bed."
Tobias, frowns drolly, shooting a conspiratorial glance at Nick as he set the table. Alan had chosen this job for him deliberately, it requiring a good deal of fine motor control to execute properly,
"Yeah, I don't think she'd let either of us go anyway. We'll wait here."
"Of course I will. This all looks and smells delicious, and I know she needs the food badly." She actually blushes a bit at Alan, "I'm sorry for all the silence, stuffing my face and sleeping earlier. There was just -nothing- else existing for me at the moment. I'm much more sane now."
Looking at Tobi, she laughs, "Damn straight, lover boy." and wanders off to wake up Grace.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Nick shares the glance with Tobi, a small.grin on his face. He makes an amused sound at Wren's response to the statement as he helps around the dining room and kitchen, doing odd jobs here or there...the rooms were fairly full and he didn't want to run into anyone, so he did what was asked of him.
Grace would have been sleeping in the exact same position she'd been left in-- hands on her stomach, right wing stretched out a little. But... there's a faint look of worry around her face, her brows everso slightly drawn together.
She stirs as Wren enters, regardless of how quietly, coming awake with a yawn and a stretch-- that turns into a far more [i]careful[/i] stretch at a reminder from her wing. She hadn't been sleeping as deeply as she had the first time, her rest apparently a little disturbed by the hostile emotions across at the house toward the beginning of her nap. Still, as she pushes herself up gingerly and gives Wren a smile, it seems whatever was bothering her was confined to uncomfortable dreams, and she certainly looks far more rested. Some tendrils of hair have escaped the crown of braids on her head, but otherwise she remains intact from her earlier 'prettying up', courtesy of her 'sister' Wren.
"Time for dinner?" She says sleepily, but with a piteously hopeful expression.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
"Yep! Time to eat. Let me get this hair fixed up a bit. We -or, well, [i]I[/i] want to smack Tobi in the face with a brick again... because the look on his face the last time was [i]priceless[/i]."
She scootches her way onto the bed, and back between Grace's wings to begin fixing the small damage done to her hair. It really was rather fetching this way, and it keeps the hair out of the way while she's recuperating. She twists stray hair back into the main mass of the hair, and then moves off of the bed to kneel in front of Grace, twisting tendrils down to frame her face.
Satisfied with the hair, Wren nabs the makeup kit again, and touches up the ethereal, golden-hued lips and eyes. She takes the time to add some small stick-on sparkles around the outside of her eyes, and on the brow bone under her eyebrows. She rises once more, and steps back with a very satisfied expression.
"There. Beauty fit for a plinth." She offers Grace her hand, and once taken, she would lead Grace slowly and carefully back into the house.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Grace had rubbed her eyes sleepily, smudging the makeup slightly, having completely forgotten about it-- but at mention of Tobias, she blushes perceptibly. Blinking owlish at Wren, she had said, "You hit Tobias with a brick?!" in drowsy fashion, though quickly growing more alert. "Mmph... maybe that's why I didn't sleep well... Wren, why would you do that?..."
She had sat through another round of refreshing without protest, though there is a furrow between her brows. Standing, she took Wren's hand, and slowly, but with more confidence, began walking back across the pool deck toward the house, the one wing making constant, tiny adjustments for balance in lieu of having both for the purpose. "Wren-- is something wrong in there?"
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Back at the house proper, Tobias had just set about putting everyone's plates down in their appropriate spots, Wren having received a double helping of her dinner, Alan now entirely aware of her voracious appetite and happy to compensate for it. With everything set, plated and ready to go, it felt as though all that was left to do was await Grace and Wren's return, though Tobi couldn't help but feel as though they were awaiting the guest of honor....
[center]--------[/center]
[i]Elsewhere...[/i]
It had taken Veron far longer to emerge from the TCPD police precinct than he had counted on, a brief observation indicating that the sun had long-since set. Apparently, the usual paperwork associated with the release of a 'suspect' was woefully inadequate for dealing with entities such as himself. His feet gently clicked onto the sidewalk, his hood again drawn around his CPU cowling, often referred to most as a 'head', as Detective Ross appeared at his side, gesturing to a nearby vehicle, deliberately unmarked and nodded,
"So, where were you headed?"
A short time later, exactly thirty-four minutes and twelve seconds by Veron's internal clock, he had been dropped off on the exact, same corner that he'd been picked up from. With a cautionary parting speech from the Detective, he pulled the collar of his 'trench coat' closer around his face to further disguise himself and observed his surroundings. The suburban streets on which he'd intended to walk are basically empty now, and would likely be a great deal more empty when he arrived at his destination. It would take a further two hours for him to arrive.
He hoped that no-one would be against late visitors....
Wren just chuckles as they make their way into the house.
"Not [i]wrong[/i] exactly, just a bit of male testosterone flying around like panties on prom night."
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
They had just made it inside the house when Wren's comment hit's Grace's innocent ears. She coughs and stumbles a little, pausing to give Wren a very strange, startled look...
Only to notice the quiet. She whips her head back around, and her blood runs a little cold, wings tucking hard to her back-- though her face goes very hot as she notices just about everyone sat down around the dinner table. "Oh... Ahm..." She swallows thickly.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias was first to notice Grace's arrival, luminous eyes affixing on her, mouth hanging somewhat agape as it appeared that the winged lass he'd become rather taken to seemed to only get more pretty as the day progressed. Samantha on the other hand knew exactly what had been done, smiling wryly to Wren and flicking her gaze to Tobi, who has to snap himself out of his dumbstruck expression, a ripple of illumination crashing across his skin as he gazes intently at his meal.
Alan in the meantime gestures to the empty seat across the table from his son, the end seat closest to the guest house allocated to Wren, going by the size of the meal sitting in front of it,
"Well, I dare say you've got some immaculate timing, Grace. Here, take a seat. Figured with all that's happened we could [i]all[/i] use a hearty meal, and then some."
Taking a brief look around the table it appears that whatever animosity she might've felt in her sleep seems to have thoroughly dissipated, though the new addition, Samantha, offers a little wave and explains herself,
"Hey there. I'm Samantha, Tobias' sister. [i]Love[/i] your hair, by the way."
She hoped that the immediate compliment might ease any awkwardness associated with meeting yet another stranger, Sam smiling then affixing Wren a gaze that could've spoken an entire sentence, but in this regard totally understanding why only a few hours earlier, Tobias an Nick were in each other's faces.
Nick looks up at Grace when she enters, but not for long, realizing that quite everyone was doing the same. Levi also greets her soon after Sam, "Greetings, Miss Grace. It pleases me to see you well-rested. Master Ridley also extends his greetings."
Nick gives Levi a quick glare over his shoulder, then looks over at Grace, giving her a small nod and smile. He didn't want her to feel any more in the spotlight than she already did. He subconsciously scoots his chair over, providing extra room for Grace's injured wing if she needed it. He made a mental note to watch his elbows.
Levi stands behind Nick, having little else to do, watching and listening to the conversation below them, while Nick remains quiet, not quite comfortable speaking around all of these new people yet. And he didn't want to be hit by Wren for accidentally saying the wrong thing.
Wren takes in the look on Tobi's face and grins. Her grin widens when she catches Samantha's eyes. The smug self-satisfaction is almost palpable as she nods, her own look replying [i]'Yes I did, and no, I'm not sorry'[/i].
She walks Grace to her place, pulling out the chair for her to sit, ostensibly to simply help her wounded friend to sit more easily, but also further framing the 'Honored Guest' vibe. Once Grace is seated, she takes her own place, eyeing the heaped-up plate with gratitude.
"Alan, this is an amazing spread, and I have to thank you for piling it up for me. And I feel like I should be apologizing for eating your house." she smiles a grateful, merry smile, and tucks her napkin in at her lap.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Grace moves only by involuntary, instinctual motor function, and for the first few steps, she'd met Tobias' eyes across the room and the table-- until he'd 'blushed' in his fashion, and quickly looked away. Grace had looked away too, watching her bare feet demurely, then the chair's seat as it's pulled out for her.
Finally, settling shyly into the chair, she gives Nick a warm smile and touches his arm briefly with her fingertips, turning the smile up to include Levi. There's a quiet rustle as she makes sure to tuck her wings in close, before silently putting the napkin into her lap and-- inhaling slowly the aroma of cheesy risotto, pesto, chicken and tomato... Her color evens out a little just by the smell.
She picks up knife and fork and says shyly to Sam, "Th-thank you, Samantha-- Wren put it up for me... I'm Grace." She bods her head a little in embarrassed but genuine greeting, smiling a little, then shifts her gaze to Alan. "And yes-- thank you so much for cooking for us again... Sorry if I-- If I made anyone wait very long..."
Feeling absolutely absurd, Grace does her best to keep herself together, taking a slow breath and starting to cut into her food with delicate hands and careful motions. She pops a bite into her mouth and closes her eyes with an inadvertently blissful expression, chewing, and going for another.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias had, rather unfortunately, brought his eyes up [i]just[/i] in time to see Grace's blissful expression, a wistful sigh escaping him before his sister jabs him in the ribs. She shot him a knowing look, before leaning over to whisper,
"Tone it down, Lover Boy. You're about as subtle as a howitzer right now..."
In response, Tobi 'blushes' and grumbles indecipherably, his brow knitting gently as he cuts off a sizeable hunk of chicken and shoves it into his mouth, momentarily silencing himself while Alan smiles and nods,
"Not a problem, Grace. I certainly can't take all the credit, however. It was a mutual effort. Many hands make light work, after all!"
Tobias, finally sorted with his muffler of chicken breast, lifts his head to nod toward Levi and regard Nick,
"Okay, so I gotta ask: did you [i]build[/i] Levi? Or was he some sort of kit car-style arrangement you can buy from a late night infomercial? Because he's certainly an impressive piece of work one way or the other."
Truthfully, he'd not wanted to direct Grace any more attention than she was already dealing with presently, giving her some time out of the spotlight so she could at least finish her meal in peace. That, and he'd actually been quite curious about Levi's presence. The robot had spoken little for itself, mostly responding when addressed directly.
Nick smiles and nods, "I did. But his AI is my dad's design. Hit it, Levi. I mean, don't hit Tobais. Or anyone. Just -- talk about yourself."
Levi's polite, quiet rumble is heard as he speaks, "This unit's model is a Luminator 3 Version 1. This unit was first 'born' into a physical body after Master Ridley's father died of a terminal disease. Master Ridley's father also designed my first shell, as well as created my base programming. I was created to protect, guide, serve, and teach Master Ridley after his father could not. When my original shell was destroyed, Master Ridley attempted to recreate it 23 times, resulting in the body you see before you. After Master Ridley graduated college for the second time, my purpose shifted to becoming a bodygaurd for Master Ridley. I protect because it is my purpose. I serve because it is my choice."
Nick shrugs after he finishes, "Levi has two other siblings, currently. Grace and Wren have already met his little sister. Each one has different combat capabilities. Their fighting style is reflected in their personality. Levi goes for the most obvious solution that doesn't hurt anyone but the enemy, and he fights cleanly."
Wren simply begins to eat as she listens to the chatter at the table. She can, and will eat everything on her plate, possibly nabbing a bit more of one or two things, just to fill in the edges. this time, however, she isn't shoveling it in. Sure it's disappearing, but slowly and steadily... this time with manners. It's clear her hunger is still ogre-sized, but it's not as urgent this time.
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
Grace glows with a blush throughout the entire meal, and studiously avoids looking at Tobias across the table. She smiles sideways at Nick though, nudging him gently with an elbow, obvious affection and pride in her eyes-- she, at least, is very proud of what Nick can do. It's nice to hear Levi talk about Nick's achievements, and to hear Nick talk about his accomplishments, too, even if it's just in a matter-of-fact sort of way.
She resettled herself, and steadily ate her way through every last morsel on her plate, same as Wren-- though with much smaller bites, and hunched slightly over her plate, as if to avoid notice as long as possible. She has to admit that it probably isn't just hunger that makes the food taste this great... and makes a note to tell Alan so in a few minutes. It gives her some comfort to know that Nick and Tobias are getting along-- partially oblivious to the nature of their interaction before. Her fork makes a quiet series of clinks as she scrapes up every last bit of risotto on her plate.
*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
*Hematitan* - 50 Grav/FF Controller
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/allison-morris-hematitan]Backstory - Hematitan[/url]
Tobias nods at that, though he's surprised to hear that Nick's father had passed away from terminal illness, his expression softening somewhat, now feeling less like Nick were an obstacle and more a kindred spirit. He flicks a glance to his father, Alan seeming a little awkward at that moment, Tobi thankfully neglecting to speak any further on the subject short of his own experiences for the while,
"Well, that means you've got one-up on me in the 'brains' department, then. I mean, I can put a PC together on my own, but that's as far as I get. And here you've built not one, but three bots with your own, two hands. That's....well, that's pretty awesome, I'll admit." He nods, impressed, though delicately skirting the subject of deceased parents for now, not wanting to bring a somber mood to the table. He then blinks and asks,
"Okay, so what are the other two like? I mean, Levi seems like the level-headed, ever-dutiful protector type...but what about the others?"
Partially through his question, Samantha had poked her brother on the arm, then pointed to Wren as she made steady progress through a meal that no-one of her size should've been able to. Samantha had initially protested about serving Wren so much food, however, Tobias and Nick both had heartily assured her that the seeming excess wasn't at all misplaced. Somewhat stunned, Sam watches as Wren dutifully packs away about the same amount of food as a career body-builder. She continues to watch, stunned, then peers at her brother for an explanation,
"Oh, yeah. Forgot to mention: Wren eats a lot. Guarantee that she won't put on a pound for it, either. Lucky thing."
Nick blushes slightly at Tobias's compliment. "It's nothing, really..."
Nick thinks for a moment about the other two bots. "Maddie's a little bundle of joy - she's always moving and talking a mile a minute. Wren and Grace have met her." Nick stops and grins for a moment, "She has an electric personality. The other, on the other hand..." Nick thinks for a moment, trying to describe him, "Alex is...still learning. He can be difficult, and downright embarrassing. He's...you'd have to meet him."
"Maddie's fighting style is meant to be wild and erratic, ever-changing. Alex was made to fight a little dirtier than the other two." Nick says this as he takes a few bites of his meal, still not extremely hungry, but enjoying the meal now that his worries were more at ease.
Wren chuckles at Tobi's explanation, and offers more. "Grace healed me of what should have been a fatal wound... got my right wing ripped nearly off almost at the shoulder. Healing that fast uses a [i]lot[/i] of the body's resources. Be glad you weren't here for breakfast and afternoon mountain-sandwiches. I'm afraid I wasn't very good company." She simply smiles at that. "These guys were hella understanding, and pretty darned awesome about it." She goes back to eating, and finishes off the tremendous plate of food.
Wiping her mouth, and setting her silverware on the plate for easy removal later, she looks at Sam again, "So you're in college? What are you majoring in?"
[color=blue]You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, "Why not?"
[i]George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)[/i][/color]
[url=http://www.namesakeradio.com]Come and listen to NameSake Radio![/url]
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