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Recovery (Closed RP)

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Alpha0177
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Nick smiles with friendliness

Nick smiles with friendliness when Tobias answers the door, nodding at his suggestion, "Morning. Yes, I'd love to come in." Nick looks over his shoulder at Levi, "Careful of the doorframe."

"Yes, Master Ridley. Good morning, Mister Tobias." Levi slouched greatly to look at Tobias and nodding respectfully. He follows Nick inside, turning to enter the door. Nick walks with a directed saunter, looking about slightly for Grace. When he comes into her view, he smiles, glad to see she was up and about. "Hi, sis. It's good to see your feeling better."

Levi is also pleased to see her, "Greetings, Miss Grace. It is indeed nice to see you."

He walks over and places the case next to the arrangement of empty bottles on the counter, giving the latter a quick glance, have a guess as to what their use would be. He looks back up at her with a wry smile, "Target practice?"

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Grace smiles with relief,

Grace smiles with relief, perhaps some of it being Nick's reflected relief, and scampers over to hug him without hesitation, squeezing him lightly in a hug before stepping back and tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Y-yes... I'm feeling better. It's just a little bit itchy, but that's a good thing." Grace looks up at Levi with a smile, too, and responds to him directly as well, "And it's -always- nice to see -you-, Levi! Thank you both for bringing this for me..."

Grace blushes a little, scuffing a bare foot on the tiled floor with a nod. "Yeah... it'll help me keep my shoulders from locking up, I think, since I can't exercise one of my wings... and I'm gonna have to start practicing whether I like it or not." She pauses, then adds quickly, "But I hope I'll like it. Shooting at the bottles, anyway..."

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Tobias joins the group in the

Tobias joins the group in the kitchen, smiling and nodding in agreement "That and I figure it helps pass the time. Last thing anyone wants is for her wing to heal up all good and proper...only for there to be other complications."

Tobias certainly didn't want to see such a thing. From what she'd spoken of it, flight seemed like one of her real, true joys in life. Seeing that taken away from her? Well, he didn't even want to think about that. With a chuckle, he balls a fist, musculature in his arm momentarily locking in a thoroughly corded fashion, adding,

"I suppose I should see what sort of practice might be beneficial to me at some point, too. I mean, I'd see about improvising a target, too...but I don't think using the next door neighbor's face as a speed bag would go over all that well...at least not with law enforcement."

He chuckles a bit, his quip little more than a joke...mostly, before nodding to Nick and asking,

"So, what's on the cards for you, Nick? Anything exciting?"

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Nick smiles reassuringly when

Nick smiles reassuringly when Grace finishes speaking, touching her arm lightly, remembering how she had acted when Ron had rebuked her for even firing in my direction. His eyes were gentle, but the gesture only lasted a few seconds before he returned to his friendly demeanor. He glances over at Tobias, a small smile on his face, eyes showing a slight glimmer of mischief, "I've got just a few things up my sleeve. I'm going to start working on a power suit soon. And, Tobias, Levi might be able to help you practice. He's a good punching bag. Especially when you want a bit of a punch back."

Levi nods politely, giving a slight, butlerly bow, "Yes. Master Ridley is correct. This unit can withstand nearly anything you wish to practice, Mister Tobias, whenever you wish."

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Grace smiled softly at Nick's

Grace smiled softly at Nick's light touch, feeling his gentleness as much as she'd seen it in his eyes. Her heart swells up with happiness to have family here, a family that accepts and likes her just as she is, no strings attached...

She does, however, bite her lip with concern at the mention of Tobias using Levi as a punching bag. "Ahm... I dunno if that's such a good idea, unless you want to spend a lot of time fixing Levi..." Grace blushes, but gives Tobias a look, and an equally skeptical look at the huge Levi. "...I think they're probably almost as big as each other when Tobias has his armor on, and, well... It's no offense to you, Levi, but I get the weird feeling that Tobi could probably pull your arms off or something really bad like that, if you let him try..."

She takes a breath, then adds, "...And if Levi beats up Tobias enough-- Look, I'm not strong enough yet to heal anybody very much without-- without needing a LOT more sleep, and I might pass out again. I'd..." she swallowed nervously. "I'd really appreciate it if you guys didn't fight -each other-... I'm sure there's some... -other- way..."

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Tobias cringes for a moment

Tobias cringes for a moment at the thought of taking what was a thoroughly impressive piece of machinery like Levi and...well, sparring with it. With a gentle shake of the head, he regards Levi and sighs a little,

"Yeeeah, considering what I inflicted on an exo suit a couple of days ago, I really wouldn't want to do that to Levi. Besides, I'd feel bad about taking a swing at the guy! Not only would it be like taking a baseball bat to a Ferrari, he's so polite I'd feel horrible afterwards."

The augmented youth simply smiles and flicks a glance up at the hefty robot, adding,

"Don't worry, big guy. I'll figure something else out. You just concentrate on keeping Nick safe, alright?"

Suddenly he recalls Nick's prior statement about a power suit, blinking and remembering that Aban, the Lead Engineer from the project [i]he[/i] was associated with was currently in the building. A gentle pulse of viridian light emanates from his eyes, followed by a gentle click of his fingers,

"Actually, your timing's excellent, then. The guy who designed and built my power armor's currently reviewing research notes with my dad. I'm not sure he'll be able to speak to you today, but I could give the guy some contact details and he could get in touch with you later? He might be able to provide a few insights."

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Nick nodded at both Grace and

Nick nodded at both Grace and Tobias's reactions, not entirely surprised, a sly, mischievous grin appearing. Nick had made Levi to withstand nothing short of being ripped apart before he was deactivated, and even after that, both of his power cores -and- a data storage device must be destroyed for him to truly 'die'. And removing even one limb was a great effort in itself. A force equal to a tank's blast was barely enough to rip through his armor in itself. "The last people to underestimate Levi ended up being punched through -- how many walls was it, Levi?"

Levi intoned politely, "It was six, Master Ridley"

Nick nodded with obvious pride, "Thank you Levi. Six walls. And you only ripped apart that exo suit because he hadn't gotten there yet."

Levi intoned politely, "Also, Mister Tobias, I would not take any injury personally. A sparring session is used for practice. The upper limits of your abilities must be discovered at some point." He then looks to Grace, "And I would not harm Mister Tobias to the point of physical injury, Miss Grace."

Nick finally decided to address Tobias's statement about the colleague of Alan's, waving off the previous topic, "Anyway, that'd be great if you could give them my information. I'm eager to talk some engineering with them. You're suit is quite the impressive feat."

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Grace fidgets with tangibly

Grace fidgets with tangibly obvious discomfort, turning away from the boys and gazing out the window for a moment, before turning back and saying in a low voice, that is nevertheless direct to all parties, even gazing directly into Levi's 'eyes',

"...I care a lot about all of you, and it would suck-- a LOT-- for me to have to be there while you all punch each other stupid. So... You can go ahead and do your manly things, but just make sure I'm not around, because it'd probably kill me with worry for everyone, engineering and science and physics aside."

She stares between all three of them again before snatching up the DVD case from the counter and padding into the living area without a backward glance, flopping down on the couch with her back to them and tightly tucked wings. She brings up her legs to one side of herself to read the back of the case in an effort to distract herself and cool down. She wasn't exactly -warm-... Just upset that her family and her friends were still seriously considering hitting each other-- regardless of the emotion or motivation behind it was, be it good or bad.

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Tobias blinks in surprise as

Tobias blinks in surprise as Grace voices her opinion on the matter, strong as it was. Admittedly he'd said that the whole idea probably wasn't a good one...and Grace's reasoning highlights exactly why. With a sigh as she departs the room to likely cool off in the entertainment area, Tobi cringes and shakes his head, a hand coming to gently pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Don't worry, Levi. I know you wouldn't take it personally, but I certainly can't imagine any good coming from it...at least for emotional reasons."

He gestured behind him in Grace's direction, citing her reaction as a perfect example before adding,

"So, why don't we drop the 'My bot could totally beat you in a fight' argument before it starts up and just be glad that we're all on the same side, huh? Because even IF he can take the damage, as I said, it'd be like taking a baseball bat to a Ferrari, and that certainly isn't my M.O."

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Grace's reaction to Nick and

Grace's reaction to Nick and Tobias's conversation alarms him, and his face slips into one of slight worry. He hated making his friends upset, let alone his family. He watched her for a few moments, half listening to Tobias, but then shook himself from his stupor and looked to Tobias. "Sorry, it was childish of me...I didn't mean it that way. Levi's a big sortie anyway. Aren'tcha, big guy?" Nick looks at him over his shoulder, and Levi looks down from gazing with concern at Grace.

"It is properly pronounced 'aren't you,' Master Ridley. This unit is not composed of any soft materials, Master Ridley, unless you consider the thin layer of strengthened kevlar beneath my armor soft. I do not think it fits the definition of the word."

Nick sighs, waving Levi off, "It's a figure of speech, it means to look menacing but be kind. Anyway, I --"

Levi interrupts, "Then perhaps I do fit the criteria, Master Ridley. That should he filed under my title, Master Ridley." He looks up again, gazing with quiet concern at Grace, analyzingand cross-analyzing her body language.

Nick grumbles, "Yeah, sure Levi." He looks back to Tobias, "Sorry." He glances quickly down at his watch, "Oh, it looks like I have to go, actually. I really don't want to leave with Grace upset like this --" He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to come up with a solution. He then looks back to Tobias, slight skepticism in his eyes, "Of you could...please tell Grace I didn't mean anything by all of that? I don't want sis mad at me."

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Grace had finished reading

Grace had finished reading the back cover of the DVD, intrigued by the film's concept... and had been listening to the conversation behind her with a slight tilt of her head, as if to lift her ear to hear it better. She had felt more clearly than she had heard Nick's worry, and had swiveled herself off the couch.

She approaches Nick and embraces him without preface, wrapping her right wing carefully around him and saying, "I'm not mad. I just don't want the people I care about to hurt each other, or even -try- to hurt each other..." She steps back a little, tucks her wing behind her again, and squeezes both his shoulders, gazing into his eyes-- her own gaze clear now, and untroubled. "Thank you for bringing me my stuff, Nick--" she smiles briefly at Levi, "--and Levi. It's okay if you have to go. I'll be safe here, I promise. And I'll try not to get upset about anything, and to eat a lot, and to sleep some more."

Grace smiles very softly at Nick, and takes her hands away from his shoulders. "It's okay. I'll be fine-- I promise."

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Whether it was the result of

Whether it was the result of simply being a little older, or the fact that he had endured through what could only be described as incredible hardship during his formative years, it seems as though Tobias has matured well beyond his youthful appearance, smiling and nodding to Nick, before stepping aside so Grace could return and say her piece. Though as she moves to embrace her figurative 'brother', Tobias can't help but feel just the slightest pang of envy flare up within him, it causing his face to contort curiously, before he quietly folded his arms, turned to look out the window and wait until they were finished, losing himself in his thoughts.

It was moments like that which made him feel very much on the outside, and with unfortunately good reason. Grace, Wren and Nick were obviously very much a family, a close-knit trio...and despite his best efforts thus far, it seemed he had a good deal to prove before he'd be able to consider himself in the same light. He wasn't sure if there existed the concept of a fourth, 'third wheel', but he was certainly feeling like it right now.

Not to mention the fact that Grace seemed so much more comfortable with Nick than she seemed to with him. While it admittedly stung a little to consider, Tobi quietly resolves to continue to prove himself worthy of more than just caution. After all, he'd stared Death in the eyes and come out the victor in the end. What was to say honestly earning Grace's trust was to be any harder? As she does her best to reassure Nick that she'll be safe and secure, Tobias nods in hearty agreement, adding,

"If there's one thing that I can say, it's that I certainly won't let any ill-will come to her. You have my word on that, Nick....and my word is good."

At that comment, he levels a pointed gaze at Grace, his voice uttering not a word, but his glowing, viridian eyes saying much along the lines of an encouraging 'That goes for you, too.'

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Nick hugs Grace back gently

Nick hugs Grace back gently below her wings, and listens towhat she says quietly. When she looks him in the eyes he smiles slightly, he murmurs quietly to her before sue steps away, "I'll hold you to that, little dove."

Nick is not unaware of Tobias's anxiety over Nick and Grace's closeness, but it is more of a deduction than noticing any of his actions. He looks over at him when he speaks, having to gaze upward slightly because of their drastic difference in body type, "Tobi, if there's anyone I trust to protect her, it's you and Wren. She's in good hands. Figuratively speaking." His gaze turns slightly suggestive at the last addition, glancing from Tobias to Grace and then back again knowingly.

He soon returns to his normal, friendly demeanor, looking up at his tall, red friend, "Levi, are you ready to go?"

Levi looks down at him, head tilted curiously, "Is that a rhetorical question, Master Ridley? I am always ready to leave anywhere at any time."

Nick grins a bit, looking back to the other two, "We, unfortunately, have to go. Call me if you need anything, alright? And, Grace has my contact information in my phone, Tobias, so you can give the doctors and engineers that." He nods with his small grin at Grace as a goodbye, and as he walks by Tobias, he punches his arm lightly, muttering just loudly enough that Grace -might- hear, "I thought it was bad to go to the movies on your first date, huh?" His grin widened just a bit, a mischievous sheen in his eyes, and then walks to the door.

Levi nods respectfully to the both of them, his rumbling tone addressing each as he does so, "Miss Grace. Mister Tobias." After which he follows Nick, for whom he holds open the door with much care, as well as gently closing it behind him.

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Grace had listened to Nick

Grace had listened to Nick speak, and blinked owlishly at his glancing between them, and his comment about good hands. Good hands?... Why would-- Was that cheekiness in his eyes? Good hands--... And suddenly she remembers Tobias' hand on top of hers on the kitchen counter not so long ago, and she breaks into an obvious blush. Though, Grace blushes quite a lot anyway, maybe it's just coincidence?...

"See you soon, Nick," she said weakly as Nick turned to leave... but through her emotional sensitivity she picks up on the mischievous nature of Nick's words, and the word 'date' reaches her ears-- making Grace flush all over again with a rustle of feathers fluffing up behind her, her wings puffing a bit. Many things run through her head, but most thoughts are indignant denials and reassurances to herself that she was just here long enough to heal and get better-- She makes a stubborn expression, watching Nick leave.

She then looked up at Levi and her expression softened a little. "Goodbye, Levi..." she murmured, and waited until both were gone with a click of the front door.

Grace then has no idea what to do, since the word 'date' had been flung into the house to hover at large over her shoulder... She is fidgetting with little handfuls of her skirt, looking down at the floor and her bare feet as if they are exquisitely interesting.

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Tobias had admittedly taken

Tobias had admittedly taken Nick's comment rather well initially, however, the suggestive glint in his eyes causes Tobi to blink, his expression turning a subtle mixture of confused and slightly incredulous. He'd nod at Nick's request, adding,

"No problem. I'll see to it Aban gets your details one way or another."

As Nick says his goodbyes and moves to depart, however, his parting comment to Tobias causes the decidedly bigger fellow blink, arch a brow in his direction, a subtle flash of light rippling across his face as the word 'date' rattles around in Tobi's mind like a demented pinball. This wasn't a date! Grace was recovering! I mean, sure, they'd talked a little, and well...it wasn't a date if two people sat down and watched a movie, especially at home...right?

Whatever the case, Tobi certainly isn't ignorant to Grace's embarrassment, catching her out of the corner of his eye as she studiously examines her feet and gently wrings at the hem of her skirt, her cheeks nearly beet red. He'd nod to Levi in response...a curious sort of thoughtful smile crossing his face as Nick and Levi both left, waiting until the door clicked shut to make any sort of comment,

"Oooooh, the moment I find out that guy has a girlfriend? I'm getting me some payback. All the teasing."

He shakes his head, before softening his expression as he turns to Grace and inquires "You gonna be okay? Were you still interested in watching a movie or did you need a moment to plot some sweet, sweet vengeance?"

He chuckles somewhat wryly, smiling to her as he'd spoken. He certainly hadn't forgotten one part of what she'd said previously: 'I just don't want to see the people I care about hurt each other....' It appeared that [i]he[/i] was one among that number all of a sudden...and while he couldn't figure out when or why, it certainly does nothing toward making him feel bad in any way shape or form.

Outside, as Nick had departed with Levi, Tobias' 'charming' neighbor, Brian had been leaning over the front yard fence, watching as a smaller-framed kid in a lab coat had departed with a giant, red robot the size of a house.

Nerd alert.

Leaning an arm onto the fence, Brian grins wickedly and calls out as Nick vacates the Wishart's residence,

"Yo Nerd! Nice robot! Did you build it yourself? Because if you did, it's probably gonna be the closest thing to a girlfriend you ever see! FOREVER ALOOOOOOONE, BOI!"

Apparently, Brian hadn't thought through the concept that perhaps insulting someone in the company of a machine the size of Levi probably wasn't a good idea...though all truths be told, Brian also wasn't someone who did a great deal of [i]thinking[/i] either...

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When Nick exited the house,

When Nick exited the house, he was walking at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets, and Levi thudded along behind him. When Brian spoke and his first words, Nick froze, and Levi halted behind him. Levi was not very friendly to people who were rude to his maker. He was protective, as it was his reason to be alive. His eyes intensified, and he turned fully to stand facing the Wishart's neighbor.

His eyes become more intense, locked on Brain, and his rumbling voice seems targeted, sharpened, "Potential threat detected. Permission requested to enact Protocol Leviathan."

Nick smiled slightly, and turned to face Brian, taking a few steps toward him, sauntering slowly. He looks up at him, and a light sense of confidence is in his voice as he speaks, "Hello, sir. My friend here would like to speak with you, if you have a problem with me. He's my secretary. Any and all complaints go through him. C'mere, Levi, so he can speak to you without yelling."

Levi trods over, eyes locked on Brian, fists clenched, every bit of him tense. He speaks, but to Nick instead of Brian, "Is this distance acceptable?"

Nick looks over to Brian, speaking to Levi next to him, "I'm sure this is fine, Levi. Now, would you kindly repeat your complaints? He likes to take notes."

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Inside, Grace had still been

Inside, Grace had still been looking at her feet when Tobias said the word 'girlfriend', too. Now -both- words are hovering around in the air, and Grace could hardly be more uncomfortable! It takes her a moment to realize that Tobias had asked her a question, and she looks up, startled, like a hare stumbled upon in the grass.

"Wh-what?" She honestly isn't sure for a few awkward moments just -what- she wants to do, or not do. Except that-- "Vengeance?... N-no!" She cares very much about Nick, and would never want to do him any sort of harm-- physically or emotionally. Why would she plot vengeance on him for that?!

Grace takes a breath and closes her eyes, turning her head away. "Uhm... I... I think I'm okay with watching the m-movie, still... I mean, unless it's something that's too childish or silly for you, and you're only watching it because you think -I'll- like it..." Her voice is painfully soft and shy again. First Wren appeared to be pushing her at Tobias-- and now, after getting very upset with him, it seemed as if Nick might be trying to do the same thing? ...Why?

It bothered grace on a subconscious level-- why does everyone want her to be sweet on Tobias all of a sudden? Is she not good enough just as she is? Is there something about Tobias that she's missing? Why can't it be -her- decision to be friends with Tobias, and not EVERYONE else's?

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Perhaps it was due to the

Perhaps it was due to the fact that Tobias wasn't as well-acquainted with Wren and Nick that he was able to filter out their occasional meddling in regard to him and Grace. Perhaps it was simply due to the fact that he didn't need them to tell him something he already knew...Whatever the case, he's able to brush off their teasing without too much problem...however, he had to wonder if Grace herself was able to. The way she reacted so strongly to it all...Perhaps he'd have a gentle talk with Wren and Nick. After all, he certainly didn't want her to cosy up to him simply because of people pressuring her.

With a chuckle at her question...and her concern, Tobias shakes his head and admits,

"It's actually one of my favorites. I'm sure somebody, somewhere...probably the jackass next door would try and make me feel guilty for liking a 'kid's movie', but I came to realise a while back that people are always going to have opinions. In the end, you're the one who makes the decision."

He then smiles and offers to take the movie from her, adding,

"So, what's say we go watch something that's 'childish', 'silly' and stands to be thoroughly entertaining all the same, huh?"

Outside, Brian was fast realising the error of his ways the moment Levi had locked eyes on him and approached, the machine's mechanical voice almost a threatening growl of bowel-loosening implication. Clearly nervous body language worsened as Nick approached, asking Brian to repeat his pithy commentary...to which all he managed was a bit of a stammer, an uncertain mutter and a

"Nah....nah I'm cool, bro....I just...I'm gonna go now..."

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Tobias' comments make Grace

Tobias' comments make Grace feel... better. More relaxed, almost immediately. Her body language softens, and she sighs a little, but the smile starts coming back to her face.

"Okay..." she replies amiably, handing the DVD case over to him gingerly, as if it were precious. "...My first movie was The Lion King, so-- I wouldn't feel -too- bad liking kid's movies, if I were you..."

Grace walked unhurriedly back to the living area, climbing into her 'spot' on the couch, and getting her wings comfortably settled. She pulls up her legs and lays them daintily and modestly to one side of herself, her white skirt covering her legs to just past the knee still, in this position as she waits for Tobias to set up their movie.

*Brevity of Grace* - 50 Emp/Archery Defender
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/grace-just-grace]Backstory - Just Grace[/url]
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Nick grins, nodding to Brian

Nick grins, nodding to Brian as he leaves, and when the neighbor retreats from sight, Nick turns and elbows Levi as closely as he can to the bot's ribs as he passes him, muttering with obvious amusement, "C'mon, Levi. He's not worth the effort."

Levi relaxes, eyes becoming less intent and he turns and follows Nick. "Of course, Master Ridley. Do you wish to travel by...what did you call it, Master Ridley?"

"Super jump. And no, that won't be necessary, we can make it by foot. Let's stop by work and then we can go to Ray's afterwards. I need some pizza to relax after all this anxiety of the past few days."

"Super jump, yes. And that is acceptable, Master Ridley."

Nick sauntered and Levi strode down the sidewalk in near-silence. Their afternoon would be far more interesting than either of them anticipated, however, as Nick would meet someone...special...

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Tobias had been initially

Tobias had been initially worried that between all the subtle jabs, suggestions and blatant hints that the others had been dropping, Grace might more permanently shy away from him after this...and yet as her body language changed, relaxed and opened up again, her smile returning, so he too finds himself smiling back as she hands him the movie. Though at her admission, he actually finds himself nodding in approval, a clearly impressed expression upon his face,

"Aaah, good choice! Lion King's a classic. Though, here I am standing around sounding like a movie buff when we could be sitting and watching one instead!"

A jovial chuckle escapes him as they both head to the entertainment room, with it's ludicrously plush couch and crouches again to set up the movie. Safe to say, seeing someone of six foot two hunching over to load a blue ray disk was likely a thoroughly comical sight, the occasional muttering escaping him as he set the movie to play, turning around to plod back to the couch and take up a seat close...but not uncomfortably close to Grace, sighing contentedly as he'd settled his broad shoulders into the welcoming cushions, nodding to her and hitting 'play', regarding her with a warm smile as he adds,

"This'll most likely be a lot less intense than the last one we watched. But I think you'll like it a LOT more. The last one was a little more...well, it's more of a guy's movie."

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Grace, already comfortably

Grace, already comfortably seated, picks up a pillow from the edge of the couch near her feet and wraps her arms around it, sighing and trying to relax a little more. Though, admittedly it's quite a bit harder when someone as large and... -whatever- he is... as Tobias is sitting next to her. She swears she's aware of even his breath, flicking a glance out of the corner of her eyes curiously, noting the slightly raised protrusions of metal in places down his neck, back, the backs of the shoulders...

Grace flits her eyes back to the televison, squeezing the pillow in her arms a bit harder with anticipation and intent focus. The opening scene is a bit... bitter sweet for her, and she supposes it was designed that way. What appears to be a futuristic Earth is covered in garbage to an unfathomable extent, and there is almost nothing living anymore. Certainly no people! But, introduced to the main character-- although he isn't even human-- Grace becomes instantly attached to WALL-E, his 'personality' instantly adorable enough to make her heart squeeze. She bites her lip through a smile of enjoyment.

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It would be daft to think

It would be daft to think that Tobias wasn't paying attention to Grace as the movie unfolds, though he finds himself laughing gently as a hand lifts to palm as his face as WALL-E goes through his daily routine, at one point picking up an old bra...and wearing it over his eyes instead of the intended application. Also among the small montage is a rather unfortunate encounter with a still-primed fire extinguisher, finding an old set of car keys which de-activates a car alarm....somewhere and the eventual, slow realisation that the little robot was feeling rather lonely.

Enter EVE.

The incredible determination that little, outdated, completely petrified WALL-E shows in his initial introduction to the thoroughly more advanced and sophisticated EVE is nothing short of inspiring...not to mention the raw tenacity he shows in trying to win her over. It was this sort of juxtaposition that rather curiously matched the dynamic between him and Grace...save for the fact that Grace was much more evenly tempered and didn't have a plasma rifle mounted in one of her arms. However, as far as appearance went, Tobias with his heavy cybernetic modifications and Grace with her effortless, entirely unassuming appeal, it was almost a perfect analogue for the pair of them.

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Grace had giggled a little--

Grace had giggled a little-- very quietly at first, as if trying to contain herself... but with more ease as the opening scenes unfolded. Her tight grip on the pillow relaxed, and so did she, snuggling back into her wings comfortably. She actually laughed out loud at the fire extinguisher part, before clapping a hand to her mouth. It was -amazing- how just an image on a screen, and not even a human image, could make her -feel- something! Films were wonderful!

And then enters EVE.

With no dialog at all, Grace nevertheless is able to instantly grasp the significance of EVE and WALL-E, and the purpose of the story, the plot line begins to become more evident. And at one point, she has to wonder if Tobias hadn't chosen this movie on purpose, for this reason... She continues watching, with a bit of a pink blush on her cheeks as WALL-E tries so hard to get EVE's attention.

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Despite the fact that EVE had

Despite the fact that EVE had spent the vast majority of WALL-E's efforts rather bluntly ignoring him, it would take an emotionally sterile person not to find some sort of appeal in it all, the little, grubby, dirty yet entirely hard-working robot trying with incredible valiance to get EVE's attention. Then comes the moment that the two bots actually converse in a strange sort of way, the sandstorm and eventually retreating to WALL-E's curious home.

Its in this scene that Tobias actually draws a starkly new association with EVE, the incredible power housed in her frame mirroring his own in a strange sort of way. Without proper control and understanding, she seems almost ham-fisted when WALL-E shows her some of his treasures, causing him to realise that without proper control of his new modifications, he too could do significant damage.

His eyes come to his steel knuckles, a hand pawing gently over one of them before he watched Grace, who seemed utterly enthralled. He never seemed to have any control issues when she was around...and perhaps there was a reason for that...

Whatever the case, the scenes immediately following, after EVE is given the seedling and goes into standby mode are just as endearing, WALL-E not really understanding...or perhaps not bothered by the fact that EVE had gone into a standby mode of sorts. Again, it ellicits a gentle chuckle from Tobias, the grubby, little bot too smitten to abandon her simply because of a minor triviality. Again, he can't help but watch for Grace's reaction to all this, smiling gently as the movie rolls on.

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All the adorable little robot

All the adorable little robot romance is making Grace toy with a corner of the pillow in her arms, flushed a light pink, definitely suspecting Tobias of planning this on -some- level at this point...

Though, a flicked glance in his direction catches him watching EVE's hamfisted antics in WALL-E's home, and then looking down at his own knuckles thoughtfully, touching the protrusions of metal... And to that, at least, she feels she can relate somewhat-- getting used to something new in one's body. She fluffs her right wing a little, shyly, as if maybe to draw Tobias' attention to it, to help him understand that she herself understands what he might be going through, at least in a similar way...

Grace goes back to watching the film, brows drawing together a little at EVE's seeming deactivation.

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Tobias smiles gently as Grace

Tobias smiles gently as Grace shifts her right wing, deliberately drawing attention to the fact that she, too was coming to grips with new gifts...though Tobias was honestly glad that the gifts [i]she[/i] had been given weren't quite so...well, destructive. One wrong move and he could seriously hurt someone he cared about. One lapse of concentration and a hug could turn into a trip to the hospital. He'd chosen this movie as something light and entertaining, and yet even this was making him sit back and think rather intensely about his present situation.

He'd need to be careful.

That said, he can't ignore the gentle blush creeping across Grace's cheeks, it causing a shimmer of green light to occur in response. However, his attention is brought back to the movie the moment EVE is recovered, and again WALL-E is inadvertently dragged into space. It's here that the advancement in animation really gets to strut it's stuff, including star-fields, WALL-E tracing a manipulator through the icy rings of Saturn and then the spiralling galaxy that looms in his robotic eyes....and then, from behind a nebula looms the Axiom, it providing both an image of inspiration...and looming ominousness.

In the course of such, Tobias finds that he'd unconsciously shifted somewhat closer to Grace, resettling his shoulders into the couch again as his attention shifts between rapt interest...and equally rapt interest in the young, winged lady beside him.

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Grace hugged the pillow a

Grace hugged the pillow a little more tightly, her eyes widening at the sequence of events that takes WALL-E into space... And space itself seems new to her. Most of what she'd seen of it was from the ground, looking up at the stars. But to see it, even animated, is awe-inspiring and makes her heart squeeze. "...Is space really like that?" she finds herself whispering, even though she hadn't meant to speak at all, unable to take her eyes away from the screen as the shuttle WALL-E had taken comes into view of the Axiom. Which seems somehow ominous...

She had been so raptly attentive she didn't even notice Tobias shifting closer.

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Tobias' augmented hearing

Tobias' augmented hearing picks up on her question, a soft chuckle escaping him as he shrugs,

"Sorry, wouldn't know first-hand. No astronauts in my family. Though, if you look it up on the net, it's pretty crazy what's out there."

He smiles to her, keeping his commentary short so she can keep watching, the shuttle now boarding the Axiom. The recovery vessel WALL-E had clung to had been massive while on Earth, but now, as it enters the Axiom, it seems dwarfed by the scale of it's mother vessel. However, the moment the gravity is switched back on within the landing bay, typically enjoyable chaos ensues as WALL-E does his very best to stay with EVE, causing a robotic pileup in the transit halls as well as several rather stark paradigm shifts for two of the over-fed and under-exercised human population aboard the Axiom.

Tobi finds himself chuckling again as the droll-looking secretarial bot is introduced to the concept of 'waving', as EVE is escorted to the bridge for analysis, further mischief ensuing as the Captain is woken up, the square, orange bot doing his best to stay hidden...while still staying close to his paramour.

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Grace continues watching,

Grace continues watching, appalled, her dark blue eyes wide again. She had thought that the message was brought home in the opening scenes-- man's destructiveness, the population so high it had, perhaps, killed itself and left the planet in ruins. But... in fact, the population was alive, just so involved with technology and convenience brought by it, that they had become slovenly and sedentary. It was incredibly -shocking- to Grace, especially to see such a narrative play out in what was supposed to be a movie for -children-.

Although... perhaps it was good for children to see such things. There hadn't been much technology at all in Grace's life until she came to Titan City, and on occasion she still had doubts about the necessity of some advancements. Maybe it was good for children to see what kind of things could happen if complacency became the norm... Marveling at the cleverness of the film's creators, to put such a strong theme behind such adorable characters, Grace enjoys the movie maybe a bit more than she had before, completely relaxed on the Wisharts' couch.

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Tobias too is starkly

Tobias too is starkly reminded that even though the technology within him is now inseparable from him, he shouldn't allow it to make him complacent or instil feeling of superiority. It was his humanity that made him strong, in the end.

As EVE and WALL-E scamper about the ship, trying to save the plant specimen, there comes the heart-wrenching moment where, as WALL-E is ejected in an escape pod set to self-destruct, it seems that the plucky hero is a goner, EVE's distress utterly palpable despite the fact that there has been, between them absolutely no dialogue to speak of....

...That's until WALL-E returns, fire extinguisher in hand, using it for propulsion!

It also appears that he's managed to retrieve the plant in question, which elicits the robotic equivalent of a grateful peck on the cheek from EVE. Admittedly at this juncture, Tobias himself is starting to wonder if he didn't subliminally choose this movie for a reason as well, gently clearing his throat as the touching dance in space causes him to regard the winged beauty beside him, a more subtle glow rising into his cheeks before fading as best as he could stifle it.

He'd chosen this movie because he enjoyed it and thought Grace might too....he wasn't trying to allude to anything...well, not deliberately, anyway.

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Grace squeaks and gasps in

Grace squeaks and gasps in the appropriate places, probably one of the more satisfying people to sit and watch a movie beside, as her reactions are predictable and exactly what film makers would have hoped for. When WALL-E had been ejected, Grace had squeezed the pillow nearly in half around her stomach, holding her breath-- then exhaled it and slumped back against the couch with relief at the little bot's ingenuity.

The robotic equivalent of a peck on the cheek, though, makes her arms go a bit slack around the pillow. She doesn't have to look at Tobias to know he'd 'blushed' in his own luminous fashion. She'd heard him clear his throat a little, and had seen the brief green glow from the corner of her eyes without having to turn her head. She lowered her chin for a moment, looking down at her slack arms around the pillow in her lap... then quickly looked back up at the screen with a tiny pink blush of her own, not wanting to give away her thoughts.

She clears her own throat in delicate, dainty fashion, and keeps watching, though the blush never really goes away this time.

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It would seem though that EVE

It would seem though that EVE's conflict between her need to complete her directive and WALL-E is causing some stress on her part...and all the while, all WALL-E wants to do is hold hands.

However, the movie takes a slightly darker turn the moment EVE returns with specimen safely accounted for, the conspiracy to never return to Earth at all revealed.

It would appear that the Auto-pilot is simply following it's directive, too...but to much more desperate ends.

What IS inspiring is to see the Captain, previously portrayed as a bit of a layabout finally stepping up to his role, openly defying directive A113, forcing 'Auto's hand....and It's WALL-E who takes the brunt of it. The movie takes a tumble into the trash compactors, where EVE finally comes to grips with what is actually more important to her, namely the critically damaged WALL-E...who curiously is desperately trying to get EVE to see something:

Earth.

Repairs could be made on Earth!

It was strange to think that something seemingly simple as a movie could create such a strong reaction in someone, Tobias' gaze turning somewhat steely....Ooooh, the damage he could do if here were there right now...

Thankfully though, he manages to dredge himself out of his flicker of righteous indignation, wondering how Grace must feel at his moment in the movie.

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Grace's heart had squeezed

Grace's heart had squeezed painfully-- and in reflex, her hand had gripped the pillow tightly, then sighed gently open on her knee in sympathy to WALL-E's utterly innocent intentions... To her surprise, tears had come to her eyes for a brief moment, her eyes stinging with the need to hold them back at the sheer -unfairness- of it all, at WALL-E's critical injury, at EVE's obvious distress... It's actually probably quite endearing to see in Grace, that her empathy extended even to creatures and things that were fictional.

Grace lifts her hand from her knee to scrub the back of her wrist quickly across her eyes, feeling a bit silly, but hopeful again at WALL-E's bravery in getting across the more critical message-- that Earth was NOT a lost cause, and they needed to get back there to save it.

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Tobias blinks, admittedly not

Tobias blinks, admittedly not ready for such a vehement reaction, one of his hands gently reaching out to squeeze her hand after she'd wiped the tears from her eyes, it a gesture of thorough reassurance.

It would get better. It always did.

The movie continues to play out, both Captain and rogue robots working together to out-wit Auto, who seems to be throwing everything in it's power against the protagonists...Well, that is until the protagonists throw a malfunctioning massage bot at the enemy. The Captain manages to fool Auto, allowing him to raise the specimen pod for EVE and WALL-E, however things swing back and forth, the entire ship yawing wildly, creating further havoc.

A flicker of anxiousness flares in Tobias' mind as WALL-E battles to keep the pod raised, Auto in the meantime doing what it can to further add more power and lower it.. Eventually, as if WALL-E hadn't endured enough, the final act of deploying a taser against the button on the bridge crushes the poor bot, much to both EVE...and likely Grace's dismay.

However, as the Captain finds his metaphorical, and physical feet, scrapping it out with the wayward ship's wheel, it was hard not to feel a newfound pride for Humanity finally getting it's act together and doing what was right.

Auto is rather demeaningly removed from the situation with the flick of a switch, however WALL-E looks to be out of commission as the Axiom races back to Earth, EVE pleading for her Beau to hang on just a little longer.

Help, was barely ten seconds away.

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The touch of her hand had

The touch of her hand had been brief, but it seemed seared into Grace's brain. She could still see, even as she continued to watch the screen, his hand slipping into her field of view, could feel the massive strength curling about her hand, making it feel briefly insignificant, and the controlled way he squeezed it-- then let it go.

Her heart is beating maybe a bit too hard... but the movie draws her right back in, the action-y bits making her clutch her pillow and lean forward slightly, intent. After a few minutes she is back to her previous watching mode, gasping and squeaking occasionally as she internally roots for the protagonists, tensed all over, her wings puffed up with anticipation.

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The Axiom lands with

The Axiom lands with incredible fanfare, knocking over a spire of garbage, kicking up plumes of dust, the landing doors opening and the people aboard the Axiom likely taking their first steps on Earth, the planet in dire need of their help.

Speaking of dire need, EVE immediately blows past, heading for WALL-E's truck and the dire hope that she could fix him.

Swiftly entering and moving to repair her mangled Beau, she actually shoots a hole in the roof to immediately provide WALL-E solar energy to recharge from, waiting, and watching nervously...as WALL-E comes back online....

...but not as she'd hoped.

He seems devoid of personality, lost, as if not himself. Unresponsive.

As she tries various methods to make him remember, both her, and perhaps who he's supposed to be, it appears that WALL-E, as he was...is gone. The evidence in the fact that the circuit board she'd replaced the damaged on with seems to have nothing on it. No cheerful song. Nothing.

Tobias sighs with pathos for poor EVE, her best efforts apparently not enough to save those she cared for. For one, last time, she gently interlaces their hands, and offers him a parting 'kiss', moving to turn away...

...Which ends rather abruptly when she finds herself stuck. Looking down, she watches as WALL-E's manipulator slowly responds, clasping around her hand, the cameras of his face shifting, adjusting, focussing before going through what was apparently his trademark diagnostic movements.

Hope flares again, bringing a gentle smile to Tobi's face, as finally, WALL-E responds with a ponderous,

"Eeeva?"

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Grace is satisfyingly tense,

Grace is satisfyingly tense, on the 'edge of her seat, fixated on the screen with rapt intensity.

Her heart breaks inside as WALL-E is alive-- but not himself, just another drone... Her eyes burn, but no tears come, as something tells her just to keep watching, keep watching. She blushes at EVE's robot kiss, looking shy...

But then sucks in a gasp, leaning further forward-- and whoops cutely as WALL-E comes 'back to life'. She had flung the pillow upward a little when she'd uttered the happy sound, and her right wing had snapped out, puffed up with glee-- only to smack Tobias directly on the side and the back of the head as it had done so.

Grace then utters a little cry of dismay, tucking her wing back in and leaning toward the thoroughly buffeted Tobias with her hands hovering out before her worriedly, "Oh God-- I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

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Admittedly, Tobias had been

Admittedly, Tobias had been feeling just as gleeful to see the protagonist...until he'd been caught off-guard by a wing smacking him in the side, and ergo the back of the head. With a startled noise, he topples over in shock, but can't help himself, gently laughing at the realisation that Grace had been so caught up in the moment that she'd forgotten herself to some extent, thwapping him with a wing.

He manages to wave a dismissive hand in her direction, nodding as he rights himself, smiling all the while,

"I'm fine, I'm fine. My skull's made of titanium after all. You'd need to throw a bus at it to do any damage."

He then smiles to her, nodding to the movie as the credits roll, a curious take on modern hieroglyphics playing out as the new human civilisation learns to farm, take care of the planet and generally do a better job of staying healthy,

"So, I take it that movie was a little more fun?" He asks, his expression still entirely mirthful, as if him taking a wing to the side of the head had actually been the most delightful thing he'd ever experienced.

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Grace is breathing a bit more

Grace is breathing a bit more quickly with obvious embarrassment and concern-- but quickly looks away as Tobias laughs and sits himself back up, fidgetting with her skirt shamefully. It takes her a few moments to answer, looking up through her lashes at the admittedly interesting credit scroll.

"...I liked it." She says very softly, looking back down at her lap with a faint smile.

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With a gentle nod, he finds

With a gentle nod, he finds himself reclining again, almost feeling as though he'd managed to make up for the previous movie selection yesterday. At her faint smile, however, he can't help but smile in kind, adding "Glad to hear it."

Truthfully, he'd somewhat lost a good deal of his care for the movie at this stage, more concerned with the thoroughly fetching way she seemed to inadvertently advertise just how pretty she was. Not so much in a glamorous manner, but in a more down-to-earth, but equally stunning way. It was a more natural beauty that didn't need to be dressed up in order to shine...though, he had to admit, yesterday she'd taken more than a few of his breaths away. Gently diverting his eyes elsewhere lest he seem like a creep, he moves a hand to pause the movie, then returns his glowing gaze to her and inquires,

"So....now what? Did you want to try a bit of target practice?"

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Grace looks up, startled, as

Grace looks up, startled, as if she'd forgotten-- and then swings her gaze to the kitchen counter, where the slim black case with her bow sits patiently, the hip quiver just beside it.

"Oh!... Yes. Yes, I almost forgot..." She slips off the couch, replacing the pillow neatly and kindly, and pads over to the kitchen counter, stretching carefully. She rotates her left shoulder, feeling how it felt to straighten and strengthen her arm, inadvertently flexing shouldet and back muscles... then looking very thoughtful.

She opened the case on the counter, revealing the simple, but interesting design-- simply being relative, for a compound bow. It still seemed quite complicated to Grace, but she wanted to practice now. Maybe she could burn off some of the funny, strange energy that hovered between her and Tobias just then... She straps the quiver to her left hip with an easy motion, and takes the bow out of its case, testing the pull on the string, adjusting a little.

Looking up for Tobias, Grace asked shyly, "Can you maybe... bring the bottles and things? I don't have enough hands, and... I don't know where to set up. I could... I could shoot them off of things, or maybe out of a tree... Or /into/ a tree..."

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Tobi watches...again somewhat

Tobi watches...again somewhat bashfully as Grace rolls her shoulders, stretches and checks the movement of her left arm, it causing all manner of fetching movements and displays from her shoulder and back musculature which he had a hard time forgetting. God, it was like she didn't even know....

Collecting his composure again, Tobias follows, curious to see just what was in the big, black case, blinking in surprise as what emerges is actually quite a complicated-looking compound hunting bow. He lets fly with a soft whistle of clear approval,

"Wow, that's a nice bow! I mean, I can't say I know archery equipment all that well but...it certainly looks nice!"

As she hitches the quiver to her belt, there appears a curious juxtaposition between soft and feminine appearances thanks to her choice of dress that morning, and the decidedly more martial, disciplined nature of her holding what could be considered a lethal weapon with decided comfort. He rounds up the bottles, leading them outside and peers about, wondering just where they could set them up. On one side of the yard, there exists a retaining wall which sits at about chest height, perfect for a bit of target work, Tobi gesturing to it and asking,

"Will that do? GUARDIAN didn't really upload anything in regard to archery, so you're officially the expert here."

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Grace blushed bashfully, but

Grace blushed bashfully, but managed a smile. "One of my... I guess Rotten is a friend?... my friends got it for me. I'm very blessed..." she says, with a little bit of irony.

She follows Tobias out to the yard, and pads over on bare feet through the grass, seeming undisturbed by dirt of flora, and examines the wall... then pads back onto the pool deck, clear to the other side of the guest house, getting about twenty yards between herself and the potential line of targets, looking very thoughtful.

"Hmm..." She pads back over to Tobias, then nods. "I think I can get most of them from the other side of the pool deck. I mean, it's sort of narrow, between the guest house and -your- house, but if we put the bottles kinda close together, I should be able to get them. And don't worry, I won't put an arrow through your windows, I promise." She crosses her heart with her fingers.

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Tobias nods at that, moving

Tobias nods at that, moving to the retaining wall on the other side of the yard to set up the bottles in a fairly narrow profile, occasionally looking back to make sure that Grace had a clear line of sight from where she intended to stand, to the targets ranked up on the retaining wall. Satisfied with his efforts, he trudges his way back to Grace and nods, gesturing to the targets,

"Alright, that should probably do. If you need me to move anything, sing out. Though in the meantime? I'm gonna stand out of the way so I don't wind up in the firing line."

With that, he smiles, more than confident that even IF he were in the line of fire she wouldn't hit him, perhaps banking on the fact she had far greater skill than her demurity might suggest. He stands to one side and slightly behind her, but at an angle where he could watch her firing technique, GUARDIAN subliminally as interested as Tobias was. After all, this was combat information, and new information was always useful.

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Grace smiled gratefully at

Grace smiled gratefully at Tobias, then rolled her eyes a little at his comment about getting shot. "A couple weeks ago, I shot an apple off of Nick's head, William Tell style, and didn't hit him. I wouldn't shoot you, Tobi."

She doesn't realize she's shortened Tobias' name, intent on pulling out an arrow and nocking it-- but, Grace never uses a shortened name. For anyone, not even Nick or Wren, and she doesn't call Tobias' father Alan-- she calls him Doctor Wishart...

Grace lifts the bow, pulls the string, sets up her sight. It is a bit nerve-wracking to have an audience-- she didn't usually have one, at home-- but she's fired this bow a few times since she's received it, and already it feels fairly familiar in her hands. Still, she moves slowly out of the need to feel out her balance again, having her left wing stuck against her side. The right one extends a little to compensate, and Grace spreads her bare feet apart just a little, the bowstring nearly at her cheek...

She lets the arrow go, and there's a satisfying crunch at the other end of the yard as the two-litre bottle is speared clean through the middle, and thunks into the fence behind it-- though the rubber tip of the arrow causes it to bounce off without impaling the wood. Grace lowers the bow with a satisfied smile, and rotates her shoulder very carefully, before reaching for another arrow.

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If only she could see this

If only she could see this sort of thing the way Tobias did. While it was a matter-of-fact action for her, most likely, GUARDIAN had begun analysing body mechanics, ballistic trajectory, tracking and pathing everything from the moment she let fly with the arrow. It was an veritable orchestra, a ballet of skill to watch her draw back, shoulders and arms flexing with flattering strength, a moment's concentration where GUARDIAN automatically predicted firing arc and force loading, before she loosed, watching as the predicted arc is followed perfectly.

On the other side, the bottle is speared through perfectly, square in the middle...and for the life of him, Tobias has to raise his hands to applaud....though that's after he's finished feeling slightly warm and fuzzy inside thanks to Grace calling him by his nickname...before he shook himself out of it and blinked, recalling how WALL-E had reacted to EVE speaking his name.

He finally brings his hands up to applaud, smiling with vehement appreciation and utters,

"I really wish you could see that the way I did. It was poetry."

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Grace pushes a lock of hair

Grace pushes a lock of hair out of her face, her hair notorious for not wanting to stay where she puts it. She smiles bashfully at Tobias, but her body language is relatively confident. "...It's still poetry to me, Tobi. Just because I'm doing it and not watching myself do it, doesn't mean it isn't just as nice."

And it's true-- Grace looks as relaxed as she's ever been with the bow in her hands as she nocks another arrow, this time aiming for the second largest bottle at one end of the rank of targets. She changes her angle a little, and draws back the bowstring again, feeling every muscle stretch and flex-- before the fired arrow clips the bottle right at the bottom, sending it flipping rapidly end over end into the air, landing with a clatter back on the retaining wall before falling off into the grass. The arrow itself had thunked it's rubber tip partway into the fence, hung there oddly for a moment, then fell off into the grass, too.

The way Grace laughed, it seems as if that was her intention-- to make the bottle flip like that.

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Tobias, not ignorant to the

Tobias, not ignorant to the ways of the nature of ballistics to say the least watched as the arrow Grace had loosed flew in an elegant arc, something far more graceful than the motions of a javelin maestro. it sailed, through air and intention, vanishing amid the torrent of effort that was the release of Grace's arrow into the air, it singing with skill and effort toward it's target.

And with an accuracy that she might've not known beforehand, she strikes the target she'd been intending to hit, perfectly, no less. The shot she'd launched had struck home on the bottle she'd targeted with inhuman accuracy, it leaping into the air with a multitude of spins, before politely tumbling to the ground from it's perch with a gentle clatter, the sound an almost pathetic handshake of congratulations compared to the deployment of dexterity required to make the shot a reality.

Tobias in the meantime can only be further impressed, watching as what was once a wine bottle of Moet and Chandon topples into the grass just in front of the retaining wall, Tobias sighing before bringing his hands to clap with thoroughly honest inflection, nodding, and commenting with,

"I have a newfound respect for Nick, bearing in mind what he did...I mean, I know you'd never hit the guy....but Damn, that must've been a hell of a shot!"

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Grace is starting to feel

Grace is starting to feel MUCH more confident, as would be evident in her next statement, though she still speaks rather softly and with her usual timid inflection. "...I hardly knew Nick then, but it seemed fun, and he knew I wouldn't hurt him. Apples are actually pretty big, from what I've been used to shooting... I used to practice with unripe walnuts and stuff, at home..." She shrugs softly, very carefully, then looks a bit thoughtful, rolling her left shoulder a little bit again.

"...I can shoot something off -your- head, if you wanted me to?...The arrows -do- have rubber tips, and you said it'd be very hard to hurt you..." She sounds maybe a bit hopeful-- hopeful that this is something that would make Tobias happy. She has absolute faith in her ability to make the shot on any of the targets they'd picked out of the recycling bin, because as she said, she practices with much smaller things, usually.

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Tobias blinks in surprise at

Tobias blinks in surprise at her suggestion. It would be interesting to see...and for the most part, any injury he might sustain would be little more than a glancing graze. A smile slowly crosses his face as he glances back toward the house, then to Grace, before uttering,

"Gimme a sec. If we're going to the trouble of something like this, may as well go the whole way with it."

He quickly pads his way to the house, collecting an apple from the bowl in the kitchen before returning at the speed of a lazy jog, moving to stand where the bottles had been standing, before pointedly setting the apple on his head and placing his hands behind his back, standing still as he calls out

"Alright, Miss 'Tell'. Take the shot when you're ready."

With that, he takes a deep breath, and readies himself to ignore every single ounce of survival instinct he has which would presently scream that standing in the way of a drawn bow was a colossally bad idea and should be avoided at all costs.

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Grace waited feeling

Grace waited feeling surprisingly calm with the bow lowered in her hands. It really wasn't all that different from a regular bow she was used to using at home-- just different materials, and a little extra string. It still felt powerful in her hands, capable... And she had the responsibility and sense of honor to be able to use it with impunity. It's a light-bulb moment, for Grace-- that is isn't about the weapon and it's possible lethality, it's about her, Grace, and how she chose to use the weapon...

Tobias returned and set himself up in front of the targets. Without anybody but Tobias out here to judge her or reprimand her for doing it, like had happened last time... Grace feels miles better about taking this particular shot, though Tobias is a good deal taller than Nick. She nods with a small smile, takes an arrow from her quiver and nocks it, lifting the bow and drawing the string in the same fluid motion. Her eyes are focused and sure, and her body language remains just as much so...

It seems no time at all, at least to Grace, between letting go of the arrow and the juicy, wet 'FTHUNK!' of the apple being speared clean off Tobias' cranium, splattering his hair with bits of pulp. The head of the arrow was shaped as it should be, but was rubberized-- it caused as much of an impact to the fruit as a puncture, burying itself in the fruit's flesh but not punching through the other side. Nevertheless, it looks impressive, laying in the grass-- the fruit speared on the end of the barb.

Grace rubs the back of her neck shyly at the other end of the pool deck.

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As Grace nods, and then nocks

As Grace nods, and then nocks the arrow and readies to fire, Tobias felt strangely calm. Perhaps it was due to the fact his skull was now constructed from reinforced titanium alloy and any lethality associated with a maneuver like this was pretty-well null and void. Perhaps it was the fact her arrow was rubber-tipped, again removing the chance for him to be seriously injured...

...Or perhaps, it was a significant showing of trust in Grace's abilities as an archer. Whatever the case, the fact that he had willingly submitted to standing in harm's way says a lot about Tobi's confidence in her ability, a shining compliment if there ever was one. As she draws the bow string back, a series of warnings appear in Tobi's vision, indicating that the predicted trajectory of the loaded projectile staring him down had a significant chance of hitting him. Evasive action was highly recommended.

As the arrow is loosed, the world seems to drag into the depths of slow motion, his eyes actually able to follow the arrow's path through the air, watching as the shaft wobbles and flexes, the way the arrow spins through the air, drawing closer and closer to his face...

*FTHUNK*

The apple atop his head suddenly lifted from his scalp and thudded into the grass, partially impaled by Grace's arrow. Seeming as though he were coming back to reality, or in fact out of his hyper-focussed state, he reaches a hand up to wipe a few chunks of apple out of his hair and chuckles,

"Well, I can officially cross that off the bucket list. I'm sure you're probably used to hearing this by now, but: nice shot!"

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"Th-thanks..." she says shyly

"Th-thanks..." she says shyly. It had felt just as exhilirating for Grace to knock the target off of Tobias' head as it had for her to shoot it from Nick's-- but she'd immediately felt shy. She wanted to show Tobias what she could do, but at the same time didn't want to be applauded for her skills. It was a very strange conflict to have...

She had been totally oblivious to GUARDIAN's lack of faith, but would have been embarrassed if she knew. Instead, she seems a bit at a loss now. "Ahm... should I-- should I keep going? I mean, it isn't hurting me or anything, and there's still some targets left..." She manages a faint smile. "...I think you'd have to move though."

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Tobias crouches and picks up

Tobias crouches and picks up the impaled apple, chuckling gently as he spins it in his fingers via the arrow shaft, if looking like some soft of demented toffee apple. He plods his way back to her, nodding in gentle agreement, turning to observe the targets once he's at Grace's side.

"Yeeeeah, I can't see much productive target practice getting done if I'm standing in the way. And you may as well finish them off. I mean, we went to the trouble of setting them up, right?"

He smiles gently, folds his arms again, then gestures to girl and bow alike with the impaled apple,

"That, and it's actually quite fascinating to watch you shoot. I mean, I've watched archery competitions on TV, what with the Olympics and all, but to see it first-hand is really interesting...though not quite as interesting as being on the receiving end, mind you."

This admission of his causes him to smile gently, somewhat bashfully scrubbing the back of his neck, again his cheeks taking on a slightly luminous quality. His words weren't a idle compliment either. Seeing Grace come into her own as she did with a bow in hand was a thorough delight, her confidence as a person seeming to ebb through at just the right moments to make Tobias sit up and take notice. That and she'd shot an apple off his head. He had to admit, that was kinda hot.

However, what he was unaware of was the fact that Grace wouldn't be the only person being put through their paces today. Discussions between the three chief staff involved with Tobi's surgery now bounced back and forth the idea of seeing just how physically capable he could be. With Alan's suggestion of using the barbells in the garage as a starting point to test his strength, it seemed a sort of plan was starting to form....

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Grace giggled a little at his

Grace giggled a little at his comment about being on the receiving end. "...I dunno. I kinda feel like I should let you shoot something off -my- head now, as a sort of payback?" She rubs the back of her neck bashfully, then quickly picks out two more arrows, threading one into the bow haft to reach for at whim.

She lifts the bow, draws an arrow, and fires, quickly getting the second arrow out of the haft, adjusting, and firing a second time only one or two heartbeats later. Two tin cans on either end of the makeshift 'range' clank about as they are thrown off the retaining wall, and Grace looks quite satisfied.

Pondering the two remaining targets, Grace rolls her left shoulder carefully, and nocks -two- arrows at the same time, turning the bow -almost- completely sideways and lifting it up to shoulder height. She grips the string around the fletching of the two arrows, adjusts them a little with a guiding finger of her left hand, and draws back the string. Due to the fascinating angle she isn't able to get quite as much power into the shot, but her eyes are intensely focused--

She yelps a little as she lets the arrows fly, the distinct sound of bowstring meeting flesh occurring. However, both arrows are in flight, and after a breath of a moment, the two remaining soda cans crunch as they are impaled-- though one had nearly missed, scoring only on the upper left edge of the can on the right.

Grace is gingerly shaking her left arm out, the string having snapped against the inside of her left elbow, no doubt as a result of the strong, but unusual way she'd had to hold the bow. Her face is red with embarrassment as she gingerly presses on the red flesh around her inner elbow.

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Tobias watched with rapt

Tobias watched with rapt fascination as Grace unwound a bit, letting fly with two shots in rapid succession, her drawing action remarkably precise and effortless, before upping the ante with a 'trick shot' of two arrows let fly at once. He raises an eyebrow as she tilts the bow vaguely sideways, watching as she draws, then releases a shot admittedly he'd not pay much attention to.

The moment she'd let fly, the bow string had slapped against the inside of her forearm, Tobias instantly wincing at the sound of it, as well as her yelp of distress. He immediately turns to check to see if she's alright, peering at her as she reveals a rather painful-looking welt just below her inner elbow.

"Hold on a tic. Lemme grab some ice for that." He says gently, quickly jogging to the house to place some ice in a resealable bag, before returning with it and gesturing to take her hand for a moment. If she agrees, he'd turn her arm over, welt facing upwards to gently apply the ice, smiling as he nods over a shoulder,

"You still managed to tag both targets. Like to see those Olympic archers pull of a trick shot like [i]that[/i]." He'd lift the bag of ice after a moment, sighing as he examines the mottled welt on her forearm, smiling "We need to get you a guard for your forearm or something. Do they make anything like that for archers?"

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Grace stood there burning

Grace stood there burning with shame as Tobias went to fetch her a bag of ice. She hesitates, then embarrassedly holds out her hand for Tobias to turn over her arm and apply the ice.

"Y-yes, they make arm guards, but... I shouldn't need it! I was showing off-- that shot still doesn't feel perfect and I -deserve- to have snapped myself!" she sounds almost angry then, her face turned away, red with irritation at herself.

That grumbling of unease growls at the edges of her thoughts, and she forces herself to take a couple deep, slow breaths, closing her eyes on her anger and trying to let it go. "...Sorry..." she says quietly, maybe needlessly.

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As Grace rather briskly

As Grace rather briskly chides herself, Tobias can only find himself gently shaking his head, a statement of disagreement as he continued to apply the ice gingerly to her forearm,

"No, you were just trying something new. Thing about trying out new techniques is that often you make mistakes. But that's okay, because that's how you learn to improve. I mean, if it's a life and death situation, yes, making mistakes can cause problems...but you shouldn't be afraid of trying new things in a safe environment because you might make a mistake. That's what practice is [i]for[/i]."

He smiles, lifting the bag of ice to inspect the welt on her forearm, the skin now reddened thanks to the cold compress, but it appears that there's not broken skin, and the swelling has reduced rather considerably, much like that of Grace's momentary outburst of self-chiding.

Such a thing seemed entirely unlike her, Tobias for a moment wondering if perhaps she'd picked up this attitude from someone else. Still, he manages to peer over a shoulder, both cans now utterly ruined by the efforts of Grace's arrows,

"And hey, you DID get both targets. I'd call that a 'win'."

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"I shouldn't practice with

"I shouldn't practice with people then!" she says emotionally. "I could've hurt you!"

Grace is obviously distressed now, rather than angry at herself. The welt hurts, but... it isn't intolerable, she guesses, and she does feel like she deserved it. "...I don't want to hurt anyone... I don't want to practice like this, because I'm just practicing to shoot at -people-, to hurt them... Like somebody shot -me-. But if I don't shoot someone else, they'll shoot me first? God, help me... How did I ever get into a 'kill or be killed' place like this?..."

The winged girl is starting to become confused and depressive, her unbound right wing drooping lower and lower, until it is almost dragging against the ground. The left one would have been dragging as well, if it weren't still bound up to her body. "I don't want to hurt anyone..." she murmurs several times.

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Tobias gently shook his head

Tobias gently shook his head again, smiling to her and retorting with,

"You don't have to kill or hurt anyone if you don't want to. Sure, I could say that the people I presume you're training to shoot at have it coming, I could say that they've earned it for all the other people they've hurt, or will hurt.

The fact is, Grace, you always have a choice as to whether you take a life or not, and whether you use your skills to nurture or harm. I mean, take a look at this situation right now. My hands are essentially designed to hurt people. The augmentations I've been implanted with were originally designed for combat purposes...but in the end, I make the choice as to who gets a helping hand and who gets an ass-whooping. And I certainly make the decision as to whether or not I kill someone."

He smiles, his gaze flicking down to his hands ever so kindly helping her with her welt, then back to her eyes again,

"I know I haven't really done much of this 'hero' stuff, but I like to think that we're the ones in control. We make the choices."

He huffs a soft chuckle and smiles to her again, his expression turning somewhat wry,

"And that's my 'Captain America' moment for the day."

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Grace had listened with

Grace had listened with varying degrees of discomfort, had opened her mouth several times to interject-- but somehow never had.

He was right, of course, at least about himself. She should be grateful that her bow wasn't part of her arm, wasn't forcibly, inextricably attached to her body. She could just... put the thing down and never use it again. That was her choice. God did give man free will... But was she even still 'man', or something else? And if she continued to refuse to take her bow with her when she went out, she could be attacked and killed-- just like she could have died trying to save Tobias.

The ice water is starting to escape the bag and is dripping around her arm like the tears of frustration she wishes she could shed. It had been so easy, before-- to just pick up the bow, feel the joy of it's flexion in her hands, to hear the whistling of an arrow through the air and the thunk of it striking a target and feel exhilirated and alive. But... now... people want to hurt Grace, for absolutely no reason, and she MUST defend herself. The instrument of her relaxation and enjoyment has become something she MUST use for harm in order to maintain her safety and possibly to save her own life.

"...It doesn't feel like I have a choice," she says finally, completely glazing over the Captain America concept, having never heard of him before. "...I have to defend myself, or I could die. I have to hurt people, or I could die. It's just... it's really hard, Tobias. It used to be something I loved to do so much, but now, I feel the weight of that pain on me every-- every time I try to pick it up and practice. I can't stop thinking about it-- I -don't- have a choice!-- I carry it with me and shoot someone or that someone could kill me...

I'm sorry-- it's terribly selfish of me, I know, when you can't even put your 'weapon' down if you -wanted- to, and I can..." She swallows thickly, still unable to look up at him.

"Maybe... Maybe I'll get used to it... I... I'll either get used to it-- learn to do harm on purpose--... or go home, I guess..."

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Tobias, seeing the water

Tobias, seeing the water-filled bag starting to shed it's contents, gently removes it and nods, sighing gently. Here was someone who'd never had to defend themselves from another human being in their lives, thrown into the deep end of animosity and cruelty that the world beyond constantly harboured. Grace's favorite pass time was now as much a martial discipline as it was a hobby. To have the sheen of something taken away from something that was once so very enjoyable...well, Tobi couldn't even begin to fathom what that was like.

He finds himself sighing, setting the watery bag down and nodding gently,

"I know, and it sucks, because just now I saw how much you enjoy archery, how much joy it brings you. It's gotta be brutal to need to turn that toward hurting people, just because you have to in order to survive...And believe me, I know just how hard a lesson that can be. After all, the moment I woke up into a vaguely healthy state of being, someone tried to kill me, too. But..."

He glances over a shoulder, reminded of Wren and Nick, the larger than life personalities that only a day ago were filling the previously empty house, giving it life.

"I know it's hard...and I know it's difficult to watch your favorite hobby suddenly turn into a matter of life or death....but I know if you went home, a lot of people would be real sad that you did, me most certainly included in that number...and I've only really known you a couple of days."

Tobias, perhaps bravely moves to bring his arms gingerly around Grace's shoulders, embracing her before uttering,

"Though....though maybe we can sorta figure this out together, huh? I mean, I hate to think it's gotta be this way, but you're certainly not alone in it. I've gotta deal with the same problem...and as you said, I don't get to put my weapons away at the end of the day."

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Grace listened, her eyes

Grace listened, her eyes still lowered, the bow clutched lightly, a bit awkwardly in her right hand. Her arm is cold and a bit numb where she'd snapped it-- and she suddenly feels a bit silly for being so sensitive to pain. But, she supposes, it does make some kind of sense given her propensity to heal people.

She blushes at Tobias' reminder that somebody had tried to kill him, too, that day... and even a little more at his confession to missing her if she were to go back home. Her eyes spring wide open as Tobias wraps his big, corded arms around her shoulders, pulling her in close--... Unfortunately, the only thing she can see is his chest, the top of her head not even cresting the boy's shoulder, let alone her eyes.

His next words make the little hairs on Grace's arms prickle up-- and her sense of -empathy-, not just sympathy for Tobias grows in leaps and bounds. He -does- understand, in a way Nick-- and even Wren-- won't be able to. Both she and the augmented boy had gotten their 'special' bits and pieces after they were already mostly grown into people with personalities, hopes and dreams... Only to have them dramatically changed in one way or another.

Some wall comes down inside Grace's heart, and she slowly puts her arms around Tobias' middle, feeling like someone has turned her nerves up to eleven, her sense of touch extremely acute for a few moments-- the bow remains in her right hand, held vertically, arms crossed chastely at the small of the boy's back. Her gaze is more soft, looking at a plate on Tobias' collar bone, her wings fluffing up just a little bit behind her as she responds finally, quietly, "...You're not alone either, Tobi... I believe in you-- you'll be able to do whatever you want, now. You're still alive, after your illness, and after fighting... You can do it."

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Tobias nodded at that, their

Tobias nodded at that, their embrace lingering for a comfortable moment as he utters,

"Yeah, yeah I am. And so are you. We've both had our situations turned on their ear...but that doesn't mean we've gotta sacrifice who we are."

Eventually, he takes his arms back, though leaving a hand to rest on her shoulder for a moment longer, smiling at her, his luminous eyes lowering to meet hers. A mirthful flicker of mischief flashes across his face as his smile subtly changes to reflect such, adding,

"And I gotta say, you shooting that apple off my head...was probably the most exhilarating thing I've ever done. Just sayin'."

It would seem that their embrace had ended with fortuitous timing, as no sooner as he'd finished speaking, Dr. Wishart, Dr. Price and Aban all emerge into the kitchen, chatting with wildly excited tones in their voices, before halting at the pool deck, all of them abreast as they apparently were waiting for whatever Tobi and Grace were doing to finish so they could talk. With a blink and a curious glance at the trio, Tobias arches a brow and glances back to Grace

"This looks like it's gonna be interesting..."

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Grace had become quite...

Grace had become quite... -comfortable- with Tobias' admittedly heavy arms around her shoulders. His voice had been softer, quieter for a moment or two, and her eyes had sifted partway closed in the manner of perhaps a relaxed cat. When Tobias took his arms away, Grace's wings were slightly puffed with an unconcealed relaxation and mild enjoyment, and she smiled up at him, meeting his gaze without apprehension, seeming far more at ease again.

She huffs an amused sound. "Were you scared, then?"

She peers around Tobias, and notices the three Doctors-- Two Doctors and an Engineer-- looking out the doors expectantly. She blushes vividly, and gulps with nerves. Had they seen Tobias embrace her?... Grace grips the bow with both hands and tucks a lip nervously into her mouth. Then considers, and straightens up, firming her expression. "They aren't going to hurt you. I'll help you, if you need it," she says definitively.

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As Alan approaches first,

As Alan approaches first, smiling as disarmingly as he can, Tobias manages to smile a little, answering Grace's question with a conspiratorial mutter,

"Me? I was fine. I knew you had that shot in the bag. GUARDIAN was having a freaking conniption, though. Guess he's not really big on the whole 'fun' thing."

Dr. Wishart came to a halt at a reasonably friendly distance, smiling, but noting her stern grip on her bow,

"No need to be alarmed, Grace. We're not here to do any more work. Tobias has been through more than enough surgery to last him a lifetime."

Tobias, knowing he wasn't in any sort of danger simply smirked, arched a brow and added,

"Buuuuut?"

At that, Alan nodded, cleared his throat and made with a slightly nervous glance, as if what he was about to ask was...perhaps somewhat awkward of him? He flicked a gaze behind him, Catherine making a gesture for him to speak up, as Tobias' father nodded and spoke,

"We wanted to try and do a rough test of your strength to see just how effective your modifications had been. I can promise that it won't be invasive, it's just going to involve a bit of heavy lifting. You can more than gladly tell us 'no' if you want to, but from a medical standpoint it would be interesting to see..."

Tobias gently raised a hand to smile at his dad and chuckle,

"It's okay, dad. I kinda wanted to figure that out myself, in all honesty. Haven't really had a chance to be put through my paces since the attack."

His gaze swings to Grace, a bit of a smile crossing Tobi's face as he nods and asks,

"What do you say, Grace? Ready to take a break and watch [i]me[/i] practice for a little bit?"

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Grace had just said,

Grace had just said, "GUARDIAN?..." in a confused voice, when Doctor Wishart came close enough to be heard. She is just as confused by his words until she looks down at her hands, and notices how tightly they're gripping her bow.

"Oh!... Oh, no, I'm sorry!" She relaxes her hand by her side, the bow held vertically now in just the one hand, Grace blushing heatedly and offering an embarrassed, apologetic smile.

At Tobias forming the words into a request, Grace's eyes go quite wide again. She's glad that she is already blushing, else she might blush even harder-- watch Tobias flexing for awhile?-- "Oh, um, s-sure! Let me just go put my stuff down..."

She immediately started fumbling with the arrow quiver and its associated belt, scampering across the pool deck to the kitchen to put away bow and arrows. She's so intent she forgets the ones in the grass by the retaining wall altogether, and will probably have to come back for them later...

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Tobias blinks at Grace's

Tobias blinks at Grace's reaction to his mention of GUARDIAN, but immediately figures that she didn't know. Alan looked just as confused, thankfully Tobi clarifying by tapping the side of his head with a finger and adding,

"She doesn't know about GUARDIAN."

Alan simply made with an 'aaah' expression as she returned, Aban in the background having vanished in the meantime, was now returning with what looked to be a weightlifting bar and disk weights, setting them out on the deck as he and Catherine muttered, perhaps to the effect of wondering if all three hundred and thirty pounds worth of weights would be too much.

Tobi could only bring himself to grin, knowing full-well what he'd done the day of the attack. Three hundred and thirty pounds would be a drop in the bucket.

Alan and Tobi both watch as the weights are set up, Aban first adding about half the weights present, Tobias shaking his head in response and calling out,

"Tell you what, Aban: throw it all on there. I'm feeling brave."

Before returning to explain to Grace,

"GUARDIAN's a backup AI protocol installed on my brain. He's pretty basic, like a computer BIOS and about as interesting as watching paint dry, but if I get knocked unconscious, he takes over 'keeping Tobias alive' duties until I can be roused from my stupor. He's also responsible for probably the ninety-eight percent of the combat knowledge I have in my brain right now...the other two percent was the result of too much gaming."

He smiles wryly at Grace in that regard, as Aban finishes loading up ALL the weights onto the barbells, Tobias padding over to regard the lift thoughtfully. The Omani engineer raises both hands and offers,

"If it's too heavy, there's no need to stress yourself. I mean, I know you're big but that's a LOT of weight, Tobias...So...are you ready?"

Tobi gently arched down to set a single hand on the bar, lifting his gaze to Aban, a remarkably confident smile on his face as he retorted with,

"Are [i]you[/i]?"

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Grace had practically tossed

Grace had practically tossed her bow into the case and her arrows onto the counter in her enthusiasm, skittering back out the door with a swirl of her knee-length skirt. She was surprised to see Catherine and Aban shuttling barbell weights out to Tobias, and even more surprised to hear Tobias request all the weights be put on.

She listened to the explanation of GUARDIAN and grasped the basic concept but certainly not the finer mechanics, as is evident when she says slowly, "So... It's like a computer program in your head. Hmmmn..."

Admittedly, Grace had been unconscious for the majority of Tobias' fighting several days ago, and so was clinically almost as interested as the Doctors and the Engineer. Clinically, you know. Just for science's sake... Though, it seems weird to her for Tobias to be cocky like that.

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Tobias wasn't necessarily

Tobias wasn't necessarily being cocky, but he knew full-well that three hundred pounds wouldn't be enough to stress him. Far from it, in fact. However, he'd play the game for now, if only by his rules. Curiously, it appears that Brian, the slime-ball neighbor had also started paying attention, having heard the sound of familiar equipment being moved. He'd initially scoffed at Tobias' over-eagerness. Olympic weight lifters couldn't handle that much at the best of times. Sure, the previously wheelchair-bound, weedy kid next door was all buff now, but this? This would break him.

Glancing between Catherine and Aban, he pauses for effect, a single hand on the barbells before with all the effort it took for a regular person to pick up a half a gallon of milk from the floor, Tobi hefts the three hundred and thirty pound barbell up like it provided absolutely no stress on his muscles at all...and all of that on ONE hand. Safe to say, Aban and Catherine are dumbstruck, Tobias at one point flinging the weights into the air and catching them, a single brow lofting as he sets the barbell back onto the pool deck gently, not wanting to be so brash as to drop them...and potentially crack the concrete beneath his feet.

With stunned gazes, including that from Alan, Catherine blinks, gapes slightly and exclaims,

"We're going to need more weight..."

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Grace had been admittedly

Grace had been admittedly fascinated at first, watching as Tobias bent, reached for the barbell... then hefted it in just one hand, as if he were picking up something mundane-- like a gallon of milk, or a lunch box. She had gaped too, at first, then shut her mouth with a clack and a disapproving look as Tobias started showing off, -throwing- the weights into the the air and catching them.

SURELY that was unnecessary to prove the point!

Grace rolled her eyes -just- a little and looked away, though internally her heart is picking up its pace. That barbell weighed easily three times what she did... suggesting that Tobias could very likely break her in half. It was a shocking thought, and made Grace very thoughtful of all the times Tobias has touched her so far-- and how exquisitely -gentle- he'd been...

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At Catherine's dumbfounded

At Catherine's dumbfounded suggestion, Tobias raises a hand interjecting with,

"Guys, I'm aware we're all excited to see exactly what might be possible with my level of cybernetic augmentation, but pointing at random heavy stuff and telling me to lift it doesn't sound very scientific to me."

Alan had nodded in agreement, adding,

"He DOES have a good point. I mean, that demonstration is tantalizing evidence, but until we can appropriately and accurately measure his strength, anything we do here is entirely subjective. Besides, we're here to examine the results of the surgery and possible implications for medical use...and for that we have all the information we need."

Admittedly, Doctor Wishart's concern was not only for Tobias' safety, but also wondering as to just what would be the next subject of Tobias' man-handling. His car? The box truck still parked outside? Neither of them were what could be considered a 'safe' increment, though, he had to admit he was curious...

Tobias in the meantime starts to come to grips with exactly how strong he could potentially be, gazing at his hand with a wide-eyed expression. Sure, he'd basically thrown a giant robot several days before, but that had been done in a state of desperation. This was a controlled, concerted and conscious effort...and little effort at that. His gaze swings to Grace as he realises that without proper control, he could do her significant harm. And yet, every time he'd laid a hand on her, he'd been nothing if not kindly and incredibly gentle...

Maybe there was something to that.

As the two doctors and one engineer filter back into the house, the demonstration a tantalising snippet of potential, their conversation continues, though before she departs, Doctor Price furrows her brow thoughtfully, her eyes levelled on Grace, then swinging to Tobias before a gentle smile crosses her lips. She'd read reports about how increased dopamine levels could aid with motor neurone regeneration...Perhaps the young lady's presence was doing more for Tobias than she thought it was...thought that would also indicate some manner of connection between the two of them...

With a blink, she turns and follows her colleagues, leaving Tobias out on the pool deck, calling back with a,

"Yeah, no problem guys. I'll just put all these weights back..."

With a sigh, he shakes his head, his luminous eyes finding Grace's as he intones drolly,

"[i]Doctors[/i], am I right?"

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Tobias' interjection had

Tobias' interjection had brought up a very good point-- good enough to stifle the Doctors and Engineer. She hoped they'd leave -her- alone... after all, no one had asked to examine her, and the only person she'd offered to -let- examine her was Nick. After all, she trusts him as much as she trusts Wren-- but... the answer, THE answer she's been looking for might be hidden inside a more scientific evaluation. Something inside of Grace wasn't quite ready to let go of her past -entirely-...

Grace blinked in surprise as first Tobias looks between his hand, and then to her-- and then Doctor Price looks between the two of them with a speculative sort of glance that makes Grace blush by reflex. She gulps a little, and watches as the doctors disappear back into the recesses of the house. Yes... she REALLY hopes they'll leave her alone...

She startled a little as Tobias called after them, and looked down at the left-behind weights.

Grace is equally startled into a semi-confused smile at his emphasis on the word 'doctors'. It sound like yet another commonly used linguistic pattern of speech... that she simply doesn't understand from lack of exposure. She shrugs a little, very carefully.

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Tobias would watch as the

Tobias would watch as the group finally vanished from view, though not before Doctor Price paused to peer at them both with speculation written upon her face, before she followed suit, leaving the two, younger occupants of the house to their own devices once more. With a sigh, Tobi picked up the barbell again, casually hefting it onto a shoulder despite it's colossal weight, Brian next door having been watching, now utterly agog as Tobias now seemed entirely in the realms of super-human. The grating neighbor would finally slink away to do something more productive with his time...or something.

With the weight equipment still on his shoulder, Tobi turns to Grace and asks rather calmly

"Alright so...what did you want to do, now? I mean, we could watch another movie, hang out and talk a little while...." he pauses to glance back, into the house, then swings his gaze to her again, "Basically, anything that would involve the two of us would be worlds better than submitting to a scientific poking and prodding..."

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Grace blinked up at Tobias.

Grace blinked up at Tobias. Why was he always asking -her- what she wanted to do next? It wasn't as if she had any particular wants... As she neglects to think that it may be because of her injured wing, at least in some respects.

Curiously though, she -does- answer. "...Well, first I think you should put those down wherever it is they live," she says thoughtfully, then looks into the kitchen windows. "...Then, I think we need to eat. Well, -I- do, anyway. Maybe we can eat out here?" She raises a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. It felt nice, but she does worry about getting sunburned on top of her other injury. It would be adding insult, for sure. There is a large umbrella next to the pool though at the shallow end, and she points to it. "Maybe over there? I mean, I don't know if you can sunburn, too, but I wanna be outside for some reason. If you could help me open that..."

She starts to wander back toward the umbrella with a thoughtful expression.

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Tobias dutifully nodded, much

Tobias dutifully nodded, much as he always did, padding inside to put the weights away inside the garage, again setting them down as gently as he could as to not cause too much of a ruckus, before returning outside to assist Grace with the shade umbrella that sat at the far end of the pool. Currently folded downward, it takes all of a gesture for Grace to take a few steps back, before he crouches down and rather effortlessly opens the umbrella, restoring some much needed shade to the heat of the pool deck.

He adjusts it, raising the umbrella to the point where it allows for a greater deal of comfort, then checks the reclining pool chairs over for any sort of thing that may have made a home in them recently, thankfully finding nothing to worry about. He dusts off his hands, nodding to Grace and then offers,

"Sandwich for lunch, then? I can't say I'm really an expert chef bearing in mind that required a lot of standing back in the bad, old days...but I know how to make a good sandwich!" There's a jovial chuckle at his mention of such, smiling to her, his ease of character having returned the moment the air was no longer clouded by the influence of others looking to poke, prod, test and analyse.

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Grace had let Tobias open up

Grace had let Tobias open up the shade umbrella, maybe holding her breath for a second, watching to see if he snaps it-- but all turns out well, and she rubs the back of her neck beneath her ponytail, chagrinned at doubting him.

"Yes, that's fine... As long as you throw some type of vegetable matter on it too, for nutritional value, I'll eat it. And maybe bring out what's left of Wren's fruits and pastries-- maybe the tea will be good cold?-- Oh, and... thank you." She looks thoughtful, then appreciative... Then sits down at the edge of the pool in the shade. She rucks up her skirt a little to just above the knee and dangles her legs in up to mid-calf, unaware of the effect this may have on her erstwhile companion. She'd simply wanted the coolness of the water, and proceeds to kick her feet slowly, making little sloshes and ripples in the water while she waits.

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Tobias nods at that, smiling

Tobias nods at that, smiling before offering,

"Don't worry. I got this."

That statement may or may not inspire a good deal of confidence as he makes his way back to the kitchen, opening both doors of the fridge, peering into it...before going to work. Bread is laid out, meet and other foodstuffs added as lunch begins to take shape. Occasionally, Tobias would pause, watching as Grace gently came to drape her legs into the pool, a gentle smile crossing his face at the touching scene, her wings, even the one which had been bound for it to heal glimmered brightly in the midday sun. Not to mention the fact that again he was reminded of how unwittingly shapely she was. He as to shake his head to snap out of his reverie to continue making lunch, a gentle glow on his face as he continues to work.

After a little while, maybe ten or fifteen minutes, he returns with a basket looped over one arm, likely filled with pastries leftover from breakfast, as well as a flask of tea. Though this isn't the focus, all told.

In his hands are two very contrasting sandwiches, one clearly Grace's, the other clearly Tobias' in it's almost ham-fisted nature. Grace's sandwich seems to be a dainty contrast of ham, bacon, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, as well as mayo and good, old-fashioned American mustard. Tobias however has a gargantuan monstrosity of several different kinds of meats, multiple sauces, several pieces of bacon...and some lettuce and tomato as an afterthought. With a proud smile, he hands Grace her plate, intoning,

"Here we go. One catch-all ham and salad for the lady...and a Noah's Ark special for yours truly."

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Grace looks up... and blinks

Grace looks up... and blinks roundly at the sight of Tobias' sandwiches. She reaches up automatically to take her plate, setting it daintily in her lap-- it looks delicious, and she salivates almost immediately, picking it up and taking a bite with an appreciative hum. Swallowing, she cocked a brow at Tobias, repeating, "Noah's Ark--..."

And then it hits her, and she starts to laugh. Freely, one hand holding her plate tightly to keep her sandwich from sliding into the pool, her wings fluffed with amusement. "Noah's Ark! Two of every animal!" she exclaims, still giggling away her mirth. She gives Tobias an appraising look, her eyes atwinkle with a bit of cheek. "Yeah, you -look- like you could eat two of every animal..."

She shakes her head, her face a bit pink, and goes back to hoving into her own sandwich one bite at a time. After a few bites, she reaches into the basket for the flask, and finding no cups, simply tilts back the container and has several quenching gulps.

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Tobias chuckles and nods as

Tobias chuckles and nods as she'd figured out his jest, smiling as he comes to take a seat beside her at the pool's edge. For a moment he allows her time to let her laughter subside, which was good, as he also needed time to gather his composure as her mirthful giggling had admittedly done him quite a number. It were almost as if she had no idea how pretty she was even at the worst of times...a fascinating, and thoroughly endearing quality. He waits until the heat in his face subsides some, then gestures to his sandwich and then to himself,

"Well, I apparently HAVE to in order to keep this thing fed and running! And you can't fault me. It does have salad on it...somewhere..."

He peers at the contents of his sandwich, attempting to locate said salad, before nodding and taking a hefty bite, sighing contentedly, an almost stunned expression on his face, uttering,

"That sandwich, though...."

Before managing to heave back the mouthful of food he'd bitten off and sighing, the wondrous feeling of nourishment almost as good as the unseasonably warm day and the warmer company. He'd wait until she was done with the flask before having a swig himself, everything about this meal, above all others seeming to be entirely more nourishing than he'd banked on. Though he highly suspected that Grace's presence was the reason. How could it NOT be?

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In truth, Grace wasn't doing

In truth, Grace wasn't doing anything particularly special-- certainly not using her powers in any way that she could tell. She smiled at Tobias' obvious look of pleasure upon his first bite, it being rather endearing to see him enjoy something so much that he himself had made for the soul purpose of doing so.

She doesn't speak much, kicking her legs slowly in the water with a companionable sloshing, and allowing her wings to stay puffed up to catch the occasional breeze through her feathers, cooling them from time to time. She finishes her sandwich in a reasonable time, sucking crumbs off her fingertips before picking a cold donut out of the basket, left over from this morning. She sniffs it thoughtfully, then bites into it and closes her eyes on another appreciative hum, chewing and swallowing. "I swear, Wren makes the best pastry type things. Sweets, really... This was really nice of her!"

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There is a rapid knock at the

There is a rapid knock at the door, and a giggling behind it...

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Tobias had utterly

Tobias had utterly obliterated his sandwich in what seemed to only a few bites, occasionally nodding vehemently at his lunch, or at least pausing to take a breath before diving in again. Eventually, he'd set down an empty plate, smiling to Grace as she takes a bite out of a donut leftover from this morning, nodding in agreement at her compliment,

"Oh, definitely. And I think it was partly a nice gesture...and partly to say sorry for the kitchen floor. Which is doubly nice of her, all told."

He moves to ferret about in one of the baskets, securing another Old Fashioned donut, smiling delightedly as he has a bite himself, before shaking his head in almost disbelief and adding,

"There's this donut shop over in Daybreak Ridge that I used to visit on my way home from school...but I swear, Wren makes a better donut than they do...and that used to be my favorite shop when I was younger."

He has another bite, momentarily surprised at the fact that his appetite hadn't waned any despite the colossal sandwich he'd mowed through without thought for pause. It seemed that this now larger body required a good deal more food to keep it running at it's optimum ability...Oh well, looks like the household food budget was set to rise yet again.

With a gentle shake of the head, he comes back to reality, smiling to Grace and offering "I'm glad you ran into good people like Wren and Nick when you got here. There's a lotta creeps out there. And I know you'd be smart enough to see one coming from a mile away but...some people can be pretty insidious. Hate to think of what might happen if someone got the better of you."

For some reason he finds himself voicing his opinion not out of worry, but out of an honest care for her as a person. Tobias hadn't known Grace long, but she already seemed like the kind of person who deserved swathes of good fortune....and perhaps, somewhere within his being he wondered if perhaps he weren't something among that number. After all, a guy could hope, right?

Elsewhere in the house, Alan had been on his way to continue with the scholarly meeting that seemed to clutter up the air at one side of the house with it's intellectual vibrations, but had heard the knock at the front door. Gesturing for his colleagues that he'd meet them shortly, he turns and moves toward the front door. From outside, the sound of the deadbolt being drawn, followed by the handle turning would catch the ear, announcing the door swinging open to reveal the good doctor Wishart, who looked worlds apart from the battered, ragged, sleep-deprived fellow he'd been a couple of days ago, a smile greeting whomever happened to be standing at his front door...

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Wren was smiling merrily as

Wren was smiling merrily as Alan opened the door, bags and packages from her recent purchases hovering politely behind her.

"Hey Doc!" she exclaims, moving in before he has a chance to say anything to give him a hug. "I come bearing pretties!"

She slips in past the doctor, one package stopping and placing itself neatly in his hands. She makes her way into the house, and out the back door to the pool to reach Tobias and Grace, the packages behind her settling into two neat piles.

"So I decided you both needed some new clothes. Tobi, because all your old things are gonna be too small, and Grace because I saw some pretties I thought you'd like! Tobi, we've already had somewhat of a celebratory dinner for your awakening, just consider this a late present for same... just a little late!"

Grace's boxes held light, airy clothes and a beautifully-worked pair of sandals with a flower on the toes.

Tobi's were more functional, but comfy and filled with science-y puns.

"So, while you go through your goodie piles, do I have neeeews for you!" She stood there grinning for a few moments, drawing out the suspense before blurting with a very definitely girly squeal, "Nicky's got a giiiiiiirlfrieeeeeeend!!" and dissolving into giggles. "She's adorable, and has a good sense of humor. She works with metals and they were making googoo eyes at eachother!" She collapses onto the deck behind her friends in merry giggles.

[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]
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Alan smiles warmly as Wren

Alan smiles warmly as Wren appears at his front door again, however he only really has time to engage in that much, as a package neatly settles itself into his waiting hands. Admittedly, he's a little confused as she breezes by, more levitating packages following her, finally managing to call out,

"Th-thank you!"

Before moving to open the package and examine it's contents.

Outside, by the pool deck, Tobias had been thoroughly enthralled by his continuing conversation with Grace when a familiar voice cuts through the air. With a smile, he peers over a shoulder to spy Wren, merry as ever, with a collection of packages in tow, a brow arching as his eyes swing back to Grace, an expression of surprise, confusion and mirth written upon his features. As the packages formulate themselves into two, neat piles, Tobias rises to his feet, offering the white-winged young lady a hand to her feet as well, smiling and shaking his head, about to say something along the lines of "Wren, you didn't have to..."

...though that was until Wren dropped a bit of a social bomb.

At the mention of Nick and...whoever this mystery girl was, one of Tobias eyebrows snaps upward, a bit of a mischievous grin tugging at one corner of his lips. Tobi now figured that all the suggestions Nick had been making about him and Grace were in fact a clever ruse. A ruse designed to divert attention away from his [i]own[/i] social meanderings behind the scenes.

Or so he figured. Maybe Nick just hadn't made mention of it because he was shy.

Whatever the case, Tobias can't help but offer an intrigued,

"Oh, [i]reeeally?[/i]. Do go on, Wren. Surely there's much more to say."

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Grace had taken Tobias' hand

Grace had taken Tobias' hand with an ease that hadn't been there the day before, gripping it and pulling herself up from her seated position at the side of the pool. She kicks each dainty foot out over the surface to flick off extra water, but her feet and calves remain pleasantly damp, leaving dark puddles at her feet on the deck.

Her expression had at first been elated to see Wren, then surprised at her gifts. "Wren, you didn't have to get me anything... That's so nice of you! And thank you so much for the breakfast--..."

She then stares with suddenly round eyes at Wren practically rolling about on the pool deck in a fit of giggles. "What?" It doesn't make sense for a moment, but suddenly the word clicks into place in her brain. "Nick-- has a -girlfriend-?! Wren-- since when? Metals-- is she 'different' then, too? What is her name-- what is she like?" Grace is just as suddenly keenly interested to hear, forgetting about her packages in lieu of this stunning news.

*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]

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"Open presents and I'll tell

"Open presents and I'll tell you! Sit, sit, I refuse to break my neck looking up while I tell my tale of googly-eyes!"

She laughs, waiting for the two to sit back down before she continues.

"Well! I'd dropped off the breakfast - you're welcome, by the way, I though it'd make a nice gift for everyone! - and headed out to the Maul. Everything in those boxes is flame retardant and a little bit weatherproof." she makes herself a little bit more comfortable on the pool deck, the leading edges of her wings crossed behind her, the 'elbow' joints resting on her shoulders like a jacket or cape.

"So I was in the Maul and passing a shop when I saw them in there! Smiling and talking like you do when you're attracted to someone," and she didn't give Grace and Tobi an insinuating gloat for once, just continuing on with her gossip, "... and they were having some dessert and stuff, so I sat in the booth behind them and poked and smirked at them in the way I do. Her name is Allison, she's a sweetie, I think, a bit defensive about being blind - which I can understand - she's cute as hell. She works with metals.. like... she can alter their physical structure. It's pretty awesome, actually. I used to know a kid named Rat who could do that. Wasn't out in the open very often 'cause she was agoraphobic and almost blind above ground 'cause of the nictating membrane over her eyes to protect 'em."

She stops to breathe from her swift gabble.

"ANYWAY! So yeah. Real cute girl, Nick's gone on her, you can tell. So then I came right back here!" She looks at them both and frowns, "Now open your presents!" Here she folds her arms across her chest and looks sternly at them both.

[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]
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At the front of the house,

At the front of the house, Alan quietly closes the door, and begins gently unwrapping his package...only to smile, chuckle and shake his head with mirth. Sitting in his hands was a bright blue mug, white lettering proudly proclaiming,

"Trust me, I'm the Doctor."

He makes his way back to interject in the conversation for just a moment, adding,

"Thank you, Wren. I'll put this to good use. Immediately, actually. I was just about to grab myself another cup of coffee."

With that, he disappears, leaving the three youngsters to their conversation, as Tobias sits down as obliged, opening packages here and there, his reactions ranging from nods of approval, especially at the Converse All Stars emblazoned with the periodic table of elements, to outright laughter when he unwraps the "Go home, evolution. You're drunk" t-shirt with the image of a platypus between the text. He obligingly shows Grace exactly what was so funny, it likely more than a gentle jab at the deviated genetic structures that had caused him to fall ill. There's also a swathe of other shirts and pants that was direly needed...unless of course he [i]wanted[/i] to wear shirts that were about six sizes too small.

As Wren sets about explaining the situation in detail, Tobias nods, then frowns thoughtfully as she makes mention that the young lady was capable of altering the properties of metals.

"So...I should go easy on the friendly hazing unless I want to find my skeleton oozing out my toes, then..."

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Grace had sat down instead in

Grace had sat down instead in one of the shaded deck chairs and listened raptly, unknowingly extending her 'feelers' to glean emotionally from Wren how she felt about this new girl-- this 'Allison'. The winged girl is pink, but looks extremely thoughtful, having neglected her presents a bit longer as she listened. "Blind?" she says curiously, with some concern-- and wondering if maybe she could heal the girl, if that was what she wanted...

She laughs a little then, shaking her head at Tobias' comment. "You should go easy on -her- because she's obviously a good person with good intentions that Wren knows of, and doesn't deserve to be teased for -no reason-!" She gives Tobias a stern look, then picks up the first of her presents, having made appreciative noises and laughed once or twice as Tobias opened his.

Grace is gifted with a beautiful flowy skirt, some bike shorts to wear under her skirts so she can fly in them, about half a dozen new tank tops in varying colors and styles and textures, and an adorable pair of sandals-- which she is so delighted with she puts them on immediately, lacing the straps up her calves and admiring them with soft, dark-blue doe-eyes. She then turns this look to Wren and says softly, "Thank you..."

*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]

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