savetheearth | (no subject)

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Who: Kallie + whoever else who might be at St. John's Episcopal Church after the service is over.
What: Empty church things.
Where: The aforementioned church.
When: Sunday afternoon, June 16th.

[ Even though it's been on her mind, Kallie hadn't been to church in a while - at least since she had finally given up on the effort of taming her hair to look less punk and flowers and more of the chocolate brown she'd had the first two decades of her life. While the people here were understanding enough... it was the sort of Understanding that came complete with a Knowing Look; given she'd had absolutely nothing to do with the unnatural color, the comments and having to lie that she was responsible - to people at church - bothered her.

She came with her parents, but hadn't left with them. Now she's just sitting in the pews, frowning at her hands in her lap, frowning at the bibles, and intermittently deciding to frown at the front of the sanctuary, too.

She's not sure what she's hoping to accomplish here. Answers haven't really been a thing willing to come out and make themselves known recently, but... today she felt compelled to stay. She told herself she hadn't had plans anyway. ]

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[The hair was definitely new. Emmanuel couldn't help noticing, and it made him think of Julien a little. They were about the same age, weren't they? Maybe it was a trend. Or just a coincidence. The congregation was small enough that he'd noticed Kallie's absence, but he hadn't thought much of it; wasn't she still in school? Finals could be brutal.]

[either way, he also noticed she wasn't out in the main hall after the service, and figured she'd left early. He excused himself after a short time, doing his best to disguise his limp as he had been all morning. He was crossing the transept when he realized the pews weren't entirely empty, and stopped.]

[his first instinct was not to disturb her, but she didn't exactly look like she was praying. And it would be rude to ignore her, as much as he wanted to go find somewhere quiet to sit down after conducting a service with an injured arm and some nasty bruises.]

It's good to see you, Kallie.

[ Kallie hears him coming, and figures she knows who it is before she turns to look - as someone who's always been in-tune with others health and bearings (even if she doesn't always show an interest beyond that), as slight as it is, it's hard to miss the sound of his uneven gait.

Her brows draw together a bit as she looks up at him, lips pressing together slightly in a mild smile- not really shy, but certainly strained and just a touch embarrassed. ]

Hello.

[ ... But the tugged-on smile is quick to fade, nearly twitching back into a frown despite the attempted politeness- she wears an almost calculating look as she looks him over at this closer range... ]

You're finally done with school? [he asks because it's as good a conversation-starter as any, and he's still wondering if he should mention the hair or not. He's holding his left forearm loosely in his right hand to make sure it doesn't move too much, which wouldn't be an odd gesture if not for the fact that he's doing it so carefully.]

... I still have some summer classes. Electives. [ She glances away, but remains alert... and considers apologizing for not being around lately. ] And work, on campus.

[ This is not a woman who enjoys being idle - a few years back when she took a break between high school and college? It had just about driven her completely bonkers by the time she finally got accepted to LCU. ]

Just make sure you set aside some time for yourself. [he tries to deliver this with a little humor; she always seems so serious.] It is summer, after all.

[his curiosity is getting the better of him, though.]

I hope you don't mind me asking...is it a new trend? Someone came in a few weeks back with blue hair.

[ The comments just sort of slide off of her for the most part, particularly because-- well, there's the question she was sort of already dreading. The last thing she wants to do is start lying here, sitting in a church pew and talking to the minister himself. She shifts slightly, a bit awkward, before finally shooting back: ]

It fits, doesn't it?

[ Beside the... punkness of it, that is. She's hardly the first to have noticed that, initial shock aside, it looks oddly appropriate on her. Maybe she's not exactly the type you'd expect to hold a liking for pink, but...

She dodged the actual question, yes, though she hopes he doesn't notice. ]

[he laughs, but not unkindly. Any awkwardness he picks up on doesn't exactly register as unusual, so he doesn't think much of it.]

Actually, it looks almost natural. That's impressive.

[he holds out his right hand, for a shake. The other one stays awkwardly still against his chest, as if it's difficult to move it.]

Well, it's good to have you back.

Edited 2013-07-18 05:24 (UTC)

Thank you.

[ But her responding smile is a little strained and she knows it, in desperate acknowledgment that she's pretty much entirely inept at hiding when she feels unsettled. She takes his hand, but she's already casting about for a new topic... and what's easier than: ]

I... what happened to you?

[he pauses, just as loathe to lie as she is, especially considering his position. But there's not much of a choice. So...he settles for the closest thing to the truth.]

This? It's, uh...pretty embarrassing, really. I had a bad fall.

[not that he's very good at lying in the first place.]

[ She frowns a little deeper, worriedly; although she can't place why and doesn't entirely realize it herself, the explanation seems a touch off- like someone with a black-eye claiming they ran into a door instead of explaining they were struck by another person. Most people are more specific about the cause of their injuries.

There's a moment of thought, before her tone turns drier. ]

Couldn't wait until it's icy again?

[he laughs, though it's a little nervous.] You know me, I'm a thrill-seeker. I needed to shake things up a bit.

[to be fair, that statement is pretty funny in itself, since all he really does in his free time is read, watch old movies, and sometimes go hiking.]

Thankfully, it's not broken or anything. A few days and I'll be fine.

That's good.

[ Something's still sort of nagging at her, but her voice drops quieter again as her hands return to her lap, whatever well she was using for her ability to add a bit of creativity to her smalltalk apparently now starting to run dry.

She hesitates, just short of biting her lip- caught halfway between continuing to awkward her way through things or attempting to end the conversation, letting him go without having to deal with her any more... ]

I appreciate your concern, though. I'll try not to do anything exciting for a while.

[ooc: I admit I'm at a loss as for how to get either of them to bring up the network here, so are you okay with leaving it for another time?]

[ ... She chickens out. She could tell him- everything, really, because if there's anyone who (she thinks) isn't on the network that she could go to about the things happening to her, why wouldn't the reverend be a good choice? The weird powers, the memories, the feathers....

But it's just so crazy that, in the end, she can't gather up the courage. Not right now. Hiding the urge to frown, Kallie forces up another polite smile instead, pulling herself up by using the seat in front of her. ]

I'll get out of your hair here.

"He doesn't answer, you know." Adrian said from a distance; a pale man dressed plainly who stood out against the decor of the church. Strikingly beautiful but his looks were marred by the sadness that clung to his expression, that lived in his eyes.

Adrian was a regular church goer and as much as he might have loved God as a child the experiences as a young adult had caused his faith to wane and bend. This was more of a routine than an act of worship to him nowadays.

But he hadn't noticed this young woman in the church before, whoever she was.

Kallie didn't exactly jump, but the voice did surprise her slightly- annoyance colored her features as she turned to look at the... man? The less-than-sunlight-bright atmosphere of the room made for some confusion as the young woman looked him over.

"You would know?" she asked, darkly, a sense of wariness quick to fill in for the slight alarm that had been there a moment before. She didn't recognize him, at least not immediately... although to be fair, cataloging the people around her wasn't always at the top of her priorities.

"I've asked enough times." Adrian replied, his expression tender but filled with regret. "But maybe He just doesn't answer me, I don't know."

There was a moment of silence between the two of them that Adrian felt he had to fill with words "I've not seen you here before, who are you, if you don't mind me asking?"

There was probably a woeful story to be had there, Kallie was sure, but she was a little wound... and probably wouldn't have worried about it even under normal circumstances except to feel awkward anyway. Sympathy has never been one of her 'gifts,' as she'd heard it called before. It was unlikely anyone was ever going to assign her to the task of comforting the grieving.

She frowned at the question. "You first," she answered after a moment, a lot more evenly than she would have thought possible given the wariness behind it.

They were suited, it seems, because Adrian would rarely volunteer personal information. Especially something as unsettling as his relationship with religion. That said, his body language and expression often told more than his words ever would. He was reclusive, shy and deeply lacking in confidence.

A small nod at her response, he had no qualms with giving people his name, who was he anyway? No one of import.

"I'm Adrian Telby. I come to this church quite a bit, but I don't really stay after the service, today's an exception, I guess."

"I dyed my hair," she offered, relentless daily practice at it making the lie far easier to repeat now. "It used to be brown."

And yet she still didn't release her own identity entirely, aside from implying that she's not exactly a stranger to this place either. Kallie's own introversion manifested in stand-offishness rather than anything resembling 'shy' behavior. Funny what wariness being an attractive yet not that social girl could cause.

That, and the whole being hunted by apparent aliens who had the police on their side thing. At this point she didn't trust strangers any further than her ability to pick them up and throw them.

She wasn't the only one, Adrian was not naturally this ice-white blond colour. He bleached his hair religiously every two weeks, but if you caught him just before this ritual then you would be able to see his jet black roots. "It's a nice colour." He said pleasantly, adding "That may be why I hadn't spotted you before."

He did notice that she hadn't volunteered her name and there was a moment of awkwardness where he contemplated whether it was too rude to ask her for it.

"But your hair colour isn't who you are." He said, trying to be diplomatic.

"Thanks," she muttered in reply, following it with a half-shrug, still not feeling entirely up to playing the full 'yes this is definitely a dye-job and not a case of supernatural meddling' routine despite starting it in the first place.

Being pressed further didn't really endear him to her further. "Did you want something...?" she asked after a moment, pointedly straddling the line between polite and rude. This time the hint that she really didn't want to start sharing life details was laid on about as strong as she could, without outright blurting the sentiment out, of course.

She could be nicer sometimes - probably should have been given the current setting, but a poor mood proved pretty effective at making her not want to be. Her paranoia pretty much sealed it.

[Aaron's wandered in today, as well -- a good half hour after the service is over. He's not interested in hearing a sermon; he only wants to think.

Chosen by the Earth, he thinks. Their incredible amount of blind luck. Were they connected?

He believed in a Creator, yes. Aaron wasn't entirely sure the Christians had it right, but this church was as good a place of worship as any.

Aaron's not sure what he's looking for as he walks up one of the side aisles, gazing at the long windows and the candlelit centerpiece, so he glances around the church and spots a young lady with pink hair. His eyes widen for a moment -- Elizabeth? -- but no, it's someone else.]

[ Kallie's since pulled her feet up onto the seat with her, forgoing the sandals she hadn't wanted to wear this morning in the first place and disregarding the fact that she's in a skirt; nobody is really around to look up it, anyway. She's lost in thought, but not quite enough to distract her entirely from the soft sounds of someone else breaking the relative privacy- she turns her head just enough to see who it is, while she considers whether or not their presence is enough to make her want to change her positioning.

... And then she pauses, tilting her head as she stares, feeling mild recognition she can't quite place right away. He's not someone she knows from the long-regular crowd, she thinks, but that's about as far as it gets. ]

[He's meeting her stare, frowning. Then, looking away, he breaks eye contact and feels he owes her an explanation.]

I'm sorry. For a moment, I thought you were someone else.

[ Kallie continues staring a moment more, but then the tension seems to finally break, causing her to instinctively drop her gaze as well. All the same, it doesn't take long to return, flicking from him to around them in search of anyone else in the vicinity. ]

Who?

[ -- Which she realizes is kind of an odd question in the instant after she's said it, but.

She thinks she knows him now, even if wariness and the fact that she knows perfectly well she isn't always the best at retaining faces and names makes feeling 100% certain an impossibility. Either way, it makes her uncomfortable, and makes for an awkwardness that's all too apparent even as she attempts to hide it. ]

[...well, that was direct. It takes him aback, a little, but only for a moment. Aaron supposes he might as well explain. What harm could it do?]

Elizabeth Bishop.

[His tone is neutral, then turns wry.]

It was the hair.

[ Just as she thought, then, even if she was half-hoping she wouldn't recognize whatever name he thought to provide. Her jaw sets as the answer sets in, and again she glances towards the exits, jumpier than she'd like to give away.

Maybe she should just let it go, let him go on about his way and forget all about just happening to run into him, here of all...

... Of all places. Damn it all, maybe she shouldn't be ignoring coincidences in a church. ]

Right... [ Still a little wary, she finally gets her feet back on the floor; her voice is quiet, after a short, steadying breath. ] You're that doctor.

[Aaron notices the jumpiness, the glances at the exits. He tilts his head, a sharp look in his eye.]

May I ask where you know me from?

[His tone says clearly that he suspects the number-network.]

[ She considers him a beat or two, frowning as she weighs her options: simply referencing the network in some way... or revealing that they've already briefly spoken at least once and therefore tying her real life presence to the one she's managed to create there?

Eventually, she settles on the first. More can come later if necessary (or if he asks, probably). Lifting a hand, she briefly taps her fingertips against one temple. ]

The numbers.

[Ah.

Aaron walks closer, as naturally as he can, and casually sits down in her pew, several feet away -- hopefully not close enough to spook her.]

I don't believe I've seen you before.

[ Meeting kids and people she already knew beforehand is one thing, but an adult man who may or may not be already incredibly shady is another. That said, she's cautious, but not going to bolt quite yet, at least. She keeps an eye on him but holds her ground. ]

I don't do videos.

[ To the point where she keeps her devices' cameras stickered-over, oops. There's a beat or two, as she decides against showing him that, mentally weighing her words... ]

... Or go searching for trouble.

A policy I can't fault you for.

I've wondered more than once what it would be like to leave all this to others. Not to close my eyes to it, but to just watch.

Perhaps if I were in a different profession, I would.

[ ... Well, it's phrased like a compliment... sort of, but Kallie bristles at the comment and its implications sink in, her face rapidly heating in embarrassment. Standing back and just watching everything happen- that's her, alright, but... it's not helping, is it? Not really, and that bothers her even if she doesn't want to admit it.

People are getting hurt.

Never mind the fact that she didn't ask for all this. She opens her mouth furiously, but then closes it right back up, her hands clenching in her lap. Refusing to look at him, her tone turns defensively heated and low. ]

I'm just a college student.

[ And thus is the dilemma of a girl gaining superpowers but too wary of getting herself or, more importantly, someone around her killed to use them. ]

And I have a clinic, and access to medical supplies, and years of experience.

[Aaron isn't trying to guilt her, seriously. There's no judgment in his tone, only acceptance of her decision -- in fact, he would prefer she stayed out of it, if she wasn't completely able and willing to help.

Any defensiveness, any guilt, is hers.]

I'm not questioning your decision. I feel very strongly that as few people should be involved in this as possible, and the more who remain safe, the better. You know what's best for you, in your situation, right now more than anyone else.

[ She spends a few moments thinking on that, even though her agitation remains just as obviously in place, expression and body language tight. How nice it must be, to actually be in a position where he can do something and it's apparent that he should- a Yes or No choice. Meanwhile, if there's some sort of purpose she's supposed to be fulfilling in all of this, she has yet to even catch an idea of what it is. Being handed a sword and electricity powers and weird memories she doesn't understand isn't really all that helpful, either.

In a way, she understands his sentiments because they're so close to the ones she's been mostly acting on all this time. And yet... ]

The pulses aren't stopping, though. [ She makes a small frustrated gesture, in the general direction of her face. ] How long until it becomes worse than this?

...I wish I knew.

[His voice is heavy.]

Your pulses -- have they interfered at all with your ability to live a normal life?

You mean aside from the threat of my entire family being murdered?

[ For such a bold statement, it sure comes out of her quickly... and then promptly induces a rush of embarrassment, the thought that she's being really selfish here in a rather ridiculous way - at least for her. She turns her face away entirely this time, subconsciously hiding her mortification.

Honestly, she's not entirely sure why she seemed so eager to talk to him anyway, was so quick to dump the insecurities she's been nursing the last few months when she's been so careful to not even give her name to the network as a whole. When she amends her answer a moment later, her voice is definitely a bit stiffer. ]

Not really.

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/resists tardis joke

doctor who?

:F

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