photonicfighter | Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

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Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

[A - Action, downtown, mid-morning/afternoon]

[It's important for a housewife to go grocery shopping. The household had to eat, didn't it? Even the nanoceran-plated member of the family wasn't exempt. Dakki's heart really wasn't into it today, though. You might find her staring off into space and leaning on her cart, can in hand, lost in thought.]

[B - Action, Rec Center, afternoon]

[With her shopping done and safely tossed in nano-storage, Dakki is off to take care of the next part of her plans for the day. She had to take a look at that "Rec Center" that Quinn had told her about! she wanted to assess the size of the facilities, equipment, and just how she'd go about getting use of a big room for a few hours each week.

Fitness and self-defense classes need to be held somewhere. Preferably somewhere indoors. Wasn't winter coming? Putting it in her backyard wouldn't do.]

[C - Action, Closed to 458 Stone Street, evening]

[Supper tonight at the Gatt household was... not really supper at all. Dakki had left out a loaf of fresh sliced bread and fillings for sandwiches, and had announced a weak "serve yourselves", before retreating to the backyard.

She had unfolded a lawn chair and sunk back into it, staring bleakly up at the sky. Tonight was as good a night as any to get her mope on. Aurica had become so distant. This body was only continuing to fail her. For the first time in a long time, she was not an expert and did not know the absolute best thing to do. She didn't even know the worst thing to do. She was utterly at a loss... but not ready to admit it and seek help.

Sunset was nice. Even a fake sunset in an alien sky was something pretty to watch. She'd do that. Watch the sunset and wait for this to pass.]

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[Dakki rounds the corner of a hallway in time to see Thor emerging from one of the rooms, and she stops short. Him! It's him! It's that guy.]

Y...you!

[Other than that exclamation, she's momentarily at a loss for words. But she's still advancing down the hall towards him, a wide-eyed and excited look on her face, as she tries to think of something proper to say.]

It's YOU! YOU!

[There is pointing! There's a slow grin forming on her face! It's probably kind of confusing!]

[Thor is startled out of his confusion by the appearance of... someone he's never seen before. He frowns, glances over his shoulder to make sure that she is not pointing behind him, and looks back at her, trying to put a name to her face.

This is unsuccessful. He stops in the middle of the hallway and regards her with suspicion.]

Seek you the son of Odin?

[The confusion on his face does not dissuade Dakki in the least. Not one tiny little bit. She had expected it. Finger still pointing, she came to a stop a few feet away from him.]

Yes! Yes I do!

[That pointing finger was jabbed towards him.]

YOU are the guy that PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE and broke THREE of my ribs!

[She's not angry. She's something closer to delighted.]

[....NOPE. THOR IS STILL MYSTIFIED.

He gives her a closer look, trying to force recognition - but he is quite sure he's never seen her before. And to break ribs? On a woman? It's not something he makes a habit of.

Anyway, he doesn't often forget someone he's fought. And people who fight him don't generally come away happy.]

Woman, we have never met in battle, nor would I fight such a one as you! You are mistaken.

[...oh, right. Riiiight, this guy was probably high as a kite when he came out of nowhere and beat her into submission. She withdraws the pointing finger, shakes her head, and holds in a laugh.]

It was during the week where everyone had to drink the milk. I'm suspecting that you wound up drinking a bottle of the stuff that makes people crazy.

A...and wait, what do you mean you wouldn't fight someone like me?! I was MADE FOR COMBAT! It's the reason I exist! You SHOULD fight someone like me!

[This is just irritating now. Thor scowls at her.]

I tell you, you are mistaken! I do not fight women!

[...well, unless they're trolls, but this person is definitely not a troll.]

[Darn right, this is getting irritating. Dakki's getting red in the face.]

You came at me shouting that I was a monster! Putting your sexism aside, I don't think you even knew what I was when you did it!

[She had come into this hoping to bond with the guy who was an awesome fighter. Now she'd settle leaving the argument having convinced him that they had fought at all.]

[It bothers Thor that he doesn't remember this. Either she's lying to him - and oh, he hates being lied to - or he is wrong. And he hates being wrong.

No matter which it is, this is a recipe for a bad mood.]

You are clearly no monster! Do you take me for blind, woman?

[And Dakki hates being disbelieved. She's telling the truth! How can she get him to possibly accept it?

And why are her eyes stinging, of all things?]

You were poisoned! You weren't thinking straight! I'm not a monster, but the poison must have made you think I was!

[She stops shouting. She swallows hard.]

It... it doesn't matter. If you don't even remember, and if you wouldn't fight me again anyway...

[This was not how she had wanted it to go at all.]

It doesn't matter.

[Thor's face goes from angry to bewildered in the space of a second. She's-- crying? Damn it all, he didn't mean to make her cry!

His voice is gruff when he replies, as though he's not sure how to sound comforting - patting crying women on the shoulder is not something he is much accustomed to doing.]

Look you-- I meant no offense!

[She's not crying! She's totally not crying! It isn't crying until the tears actually pool to the point that they trickle, damn it!

To prevent this, Dakki quickly turns away and wipes her eyes on her sleeve.]

Let's start again. Forget all of that. Never mind it.

[She can now manage a straight face. And that face isn't as red, anymore.]

My name is Dakki. I've seen you around town. You're an excellent fighter.

[These are all probably nice, happy statements that will not make the conversation get any worse.]

[...Well, at least she's not crying anymore. Thor's face stays suspicious, but he replies with something resembling courtesy.]

Well met, Dakki.

[A brief pause, and then, grudgingly--]

If I have done you injury, wittingly or otherwise, I ask your forgiveness.

Apology accepted.

[Okay. Okay, this was progress. And her temper was settling back downwards nicely.]

This wasn't really about an apology, besides...

[She exhales sharply, and raises her volume again.]

Do you have your own name, son of Odin?

I am Thor, indeed the son of Odin!

[He still hopes this will mean something to people. This is probably a pathetic hope at this point.]

Now, tell me again of what you say I have done in some moment of madness-- I remember nothing of it, but would know how you say I have done you injury.

[There is no light of recognition in her eyes when he gives his name. But it's a piece of information that she's happy to have, and she smiles.]

...well met, Thor.

[And... he wanted to know? Really? Maybe he'd listen if she wasn't shouting?]

It was back during the week where we were forced to drink the milk. I had just gotten here. I was on my way to the hospital, and you just... came running in from nowhere, and punched me. You broke my nose.

[This is the point where she can't keep an impish smile away from her face.]

I couldn't help myself, at that point. I fought back. We grappled, and then fell to the ground and wrestled, and I might have choked you out, if you hadn't broken my ribs, and then thrown me aside! ...that was good enough for you, I think. You'd defeated me, so you must have gone off to find another monster.

[...that's not even an impish smile anymore. That's the excitement of someone excitedly recalling a grand fight. There's no anger here. Just something approaching joy.]

[Thor's expression grows more and more confused. On the one hand, as one who knows and understands the joy of battle himself, the look on Dakki's face is unmistakable. On the other, the mere idea that he would fight her - and moreover that he would find it a challenge - is simply unthinkable.

Confusion gives way once more to suspicion.]

You say that I attacked you without cause?

Well... as far as you seemed to be concerned, you had cause for it.

[She gives a little shrug.]

I've had things done to me in the past that were much more unpleasant. I'm fine now. And it wasn't anyone's fault, right?

[She was proceeding carefully, here. Did he feel bad about having "hit a woman", more or less? Was there some other urge at play?]

I do not strike without cause! And I do not strike those who would not make a good fight.

[Implication: Dakki would not make a good fight.]

[...and now the conversation had come full circle, to the original problem that had so upset her in the first place. She wasn't a good fight.

She had to SHOW him that she was a good fight.

But she can't. Because she isn't. Because of this weak body.

But she was a good fight, she was, if she wasn't, if she couldn't be that machine built for war, then what was she?]

...Goodbye, Thor.

[That's it, she was done with this emotional torment. She turned sharply on one heel and rushed away, fighting to keep her expression even.]

[What did he say? Thor watches her go, utterly baffled.]

I meant no offense!

[If she makes no reply, he will shrug and turn to go, under the logic that there's nothing he could say to make her believe him anyway. Women.]

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Chapter 4 - Can I Still See The Light?

B (OMG OMG)

8DDD

YAY LJ IS UP

HOORAY

Re: HOORAY

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sorry for major late! ;A; mind if we finish up?

I do not mind! I am quite happy to! :D

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