alderwitch

"Oh, Stesha, it's not about a secret club. You have more in common with Dark Star and the Scarab and the rest of the heroes of Freedom City than I ever will. You help because you want to. Because you're a good person and if you ever decide to stop, it will be because its what you think is best. I gave up my free will for things like that when I accepted the oath to become the Phantom, that's what I meant. I don't have a choice in what I am anymore. I'm okay with it, I accept it, but the last thing I want is that for any of the rest of you. Its not that I don't think you can understand it, its that I don't want you too see what I see. Its why I don't try harder to explain when accusations get thrown. There's an innocence that you have, that Dark Star has, that even Scarab has. It's so rare and so very precious. My heart breaks everytime I have to take one of you with me and I watch that idealism erode. We need more Centurions than we need Avengers." Taylor frowned, trying to find the words to explain it as her voice grew more halting and stumbling. She was so very bad at exposing herself emotionally but this was the second time that Stesha had mentioned a club and Taylor could tell that the idea of it pained Stesha, so she soldiered doggedly on in the effort to explain things she'd rather have not vocalized, "Its like I can come visit you there but I don't live there anymore. I can't and be able to do what I do. As much as I love that idealism and everything it represents, and as much as I need people in my life who can remind me what its like to believe wholeheartedly, I need someone who can understand the dark side too. I need someone who can accept me for what I am. I have a chance to be happy with Jack, I love him, and I may never have that chance again. I have to take it, even knowing the risks. No one knows better than I do the fall that Jack courts everyday with his existance, but I'd rather have my heart broken than continue to hide it away. That goes for my friends too, Stesha. I am trying to reach out but it is so very hard for me."

"Lynn?" Taylor questioned, stifling another yawn as she stretched back out on the couch with the phone held to her ear although slightly away so that the music wasn't pounding quite directly in. The song wasn't bad but it wasn't really something she was in the mood for when half awake. Or maybe a quarter awake, "Oh, Grim. I know Grim, we were teammates for a while." If she'd been less sleep addled, Taylor might have had a moment of trepidation at the idea of Moira and Lynn combining their forces on an outing.

"Oh, Jack, I love you too," Taylor replied softly, tipping her chin up to look at him. The bright smile she'd been responding to their guests softened to something quietly radiant and infinately more vulnerable as Jack swept her around the dance floor. For once, Taylor's reserved facade slipped away and there was little doubt that the love shining in her dark eyes was utterly genuine. Taylor's fingertips brushed against the stiff collar of his suit as she curled her hand over his shoulder, the other tucked safely in his. The shiny-new gold of the wedding band that had been slipped on her finger just that afternoon was still a startling sight to her when she caught sight of it. The steps weren't overly fancy, as Taylor was hardly an accomplished dancer nor had there been much time to practice but they flowed accross the dance floor to the throaty crooning. After Jack spun her one last time, Taylor returned to his arms, "It's been everything I could have hoped for."

"Its a good question. There's a certain amount of necessity involved at first but beyond that, I imagine charitable investments and civics projects. There's not that much we'll need but money is an extrodinarily useful tool." Alex shrugged and dismissed it with a wave of her hands. "As for the secret identity thing, while it is probable I'll find a way to decrease this glow, the fact of the matter is I really don't have anything to hide and a great deal to lose by being revealed at a problematic moment. Being 'out' with my powers will allow me to do things like work with the government to locate missing children as well as deal with any ethical concerns about the nature of my powers and my use of them."

Taylor squeaked as she was lifted off the toes of her strappy heels and into the air by Grim's sheer exuberance. She did her best to return the hug although her expression was slightly strained. It wasn't that she minded the hug at all, it was from the effort of focusing on not revealing her nature in front of everyone she knew. Taylor though even the combined story-spinning of Jack and Ace wouldn't be able to explain that away. Do not phase out in front of your entire family. Do not phase out in front of your entire family. Do not phase out in front of your entire family. She kicked her feet a little trying to make certain she landed back on the heels without spiking and twisting and ankle. Taylor retreated and neatly stepped into the saftey of Jack's arm, resting her hand against the small of his back. In a crowd, she trusted his senses better than hers and she was more confident at his side that he'd intercept anyone that might catch her by surprise. Who'd have thought being normal for an entire day would have taken such effort. After thanking both Grim and Ace and returning their affection with a ready warmth of her own, she held her hand out to Colt and gave him a smile that dimpled both of her cheeks, "Its a pleasure to meet you, Colt. We're so glad that you could both come today."

"Stesha, I left my brother in hell because I had to save the world first," Taylor said very softly, her dark eyes infinately sad in her pale face, "I argued against Moira coming back because that's what I am. Not what I do, what I am. The physical examples are just the outward manifestation of that. In my own way, I have no more choices on my behavior than Jack and they can be just as harsh and unforgivable a crime to mortal sensabilities." She spread her fingers out, palms up. The gold band of her engagment ring glinted in the light, "I can't look the other way if Moira starts to breach the Pact. It won't matter how she or anyone else feels. I will fight her just as hard as I fought the demons, and anyone that stands by her and I have no choice about it. I can't walk away, not ever. It isn't something I expect anyone else to understand or forgive. Jack may not agree with my stance but he can understand in a way that few others can how that sets me apart."

"I'm pretty sure that if my calculations are correct, I should be in the multimillions in a matter of months. It will take some delicate balancing to not throw off the stock market or end up accused of insider trading," Alex said with utter seriousness, "Admittedly, somewhat complicated by the fact that I'm under eighteen but I should be able to deal with that fact. I am certain that my parents will be happy to sign off on whatever I need. They've always been very supportive, thankfully. I'm a known parahuman so I have no concern over having my intellect revealed to the masses. I just need to make certain that everything's aboveboard since my psychic powers could be considered ethically problematic."

"The short answer is that I really do love him," Taylor said, leaning her hip back against the couch arm, "The longer answer is more complex but just as truthful. Jack isn't human. For the last few years he's been emersed in the vampire culture which enforces using humans as a means to survive at best. There is so much humanity that he's forgotten and needs to be reminded of. I don't mean that as an excuse, but as an explanation. Jack is always striving to be better than what he has become, he just has such a terribally long way to go." Taylor paused, choosing her next words carefully. Her gaze was fixed down on the coffee table and slightly unfocused as she looked inward to find the words to try and explain something so very complicated, "I get how much strength that takes, how rare that is, and I admire it. I'm not human anymore either, Stesha. I'm no vampire, but I don't eat. I forget to breathe. It scares the crap out of me. I've been Phantom for a handful of years, so I have to wonder how human I'll be in ten, or twenty or fifty. Or a thousand." She ducked her head up, her eyes very sad and oddly ageless in that young face as she admitted, "I am so very alone, Stesha. I don't fit with anyone. Not my family, not other super heroes, and certainly not my mortal friends. I don't feel alone with Jack."

Taylor shifted the boquet to one hand so she could return Stesha's hug and beamed at her as she agreed, "Don't worry. I've got you covered. Just be ready to catch it. I'll give it a little nudge in the right direction." No sooner had she released Stesha than she was quickly engulfed in a careful hug from Samael and then James. They just needed Deadhead and the team would be complete although most of the guests here would be both shocked and amazed if they realized the alter egos of the rest of the people surrounding Atlas. Perhaps also appalled. She stepped back to Jack's side and nodded her agreement with James, "We won't be gone from the city long. Between Jack's work and mine, it's a little hard to get away. I have a trick or two up my sleeve, though. We won't be far if something comes up however. At least, not for your skills."

Alex shook her head and touched his arm as she smiled up at him, "Nothing quite like that, although I do appreciate the offer. No matter what, Mike would be weird about any borrowed money. I need you to smooth getting my trust fund released before college into my hands and perhaps make certain that the money gets invested in the stocks I've selected. I've worked out a fiscal plan and feel very confident that I can turn the money set aside for college into a great deal more if I put my mind to it. In fact, I'm certain I can."

"I've never told anyone what Jack is. The mystical community tends to think of volunteering other peoples secrets as the ultimate taboo. I think I'm just so used to secrets at this point that it honestly and sincerely never occurred to me. I promise that it wasn't any sort of deliberate act of exclusion." Taylor apologized, lifting her shoulders in an unhappy shrug. "I didn't know that he bit you although it didn't surprise me since he did the same damn thing when we started dating. Once I found out, well, there were words. He hasn't done it since, to anyone. Which Elena confirmed," Taylor volunteered the last as she still wasn't certain how much weight Stesha gave her words.

"Ish." Taylor admitted honestly. She'd promised to answer all of Stesha's questions. And if this was what she wanted to talk about, Taylor would tell her. "After you left, Elena showed me what happened from Jack's memories and then Moira confessed that she still wanted Jack. Its left my self esteem a little battered honestly. I know I'm loved but I can't help drawing comparisons and coming up short."

"Hey, thanks," Taylor said, relieved not to have the door slammed in her face. She stepped in and smiled faintly at the flowers covering every surface. She left her hands tucked into her pockets as she turned around. "I won't keep you long but I wanted to come apologize about, well, the way everything unravveled. I'm not going to try and justify anything, but I wanted to come offer any answers to any questions you might have. Its the least I can do." Taylor glanced up, her dark eyes sad and a bit resigned, as she clarified, "About any of it."

It took Taylor some mental bracing. She rapidly punched in the numbers of Stesha's into the phone and cancelled the calls multiple times. Pressing one hand against her stomach like it would keep the nerves in place, she paced the living room with quick impatient strides, shaking her head indecisively before she tossed the phone down on the couch. Before she could changer her mind, Taylor teleported to the apartment and lightly wrapped her knuckles against the door, "Stesha? It's Taylor. I was hoping we could talk."

Derrick's senses found no others of the creatures here but there was some piece of tech at the base of the tree in the park, buried under a snow drift. It looked cobbled together using mostly earth based tech and components. It was burned out as if the one use had overloaded it, but further examination might yeild something like coordinates. Taylor hustled back at the angry banging on the door. Rather than trying to juggle babies, door, pizzas, she phased through and quickly dropped the boxes by Stesha while Bitey began to scale her leg, still keening his outrage. "Hey, now. I didn't go far." With a grunt of effort, she hauled the little caveman up before he reached her waist and plopped him on the lounge as she bent to start opening the pizza box. "Considering that the wood seemed to do you no harm, I can't see how grease will hurt." Leaving the dispensing of the pizza to Stesha, Taylor went to pull things out of Dark Star's cart, pausing to pat Clingy's head on her way. All three of the tots had started to sniff the air at the presence of food and soon Stesha was ringed by softly keening crys. "Eeeze? Eeeze? Eeeeeeze?" Although bat boy hadn't been there for the wafers as much, he was quick to pick on the chant as he scrabbled across Jack's lap, wings flapping comically in his wake. Only a quick hand from Jack kept him from careening back into the water in his sliding dash towards food.

Taylor beamed at her friends and family, quickly stepping forward to exchange hugs and happy words with their guests. She'd changed out of the white silk dress she'd worn for the ceremony itself for the gold thread embroidered scarlet qi-pao. With her thick black hair pulled back and braided up under a glittering ornament, it was easy to see Taylor smiling as she accepted the greetings and well wishes of their guests. "I didn't realize it was going to be quite this many people." Taylor said in undertone to Jack as she tilted her face to smile at him, her hand curving to rest on his arm. She had been nervous for the ceremony, but as the day had progressed as well as any bride could hope, Taylor had shoved the worries to the back of her mind. She had asked for one day where there was no catastrophe and thus far the universe had proved obliging. She examined her new husband thoughtfully, "You're looking philosophical again. Relax." Taylor turned and for the first time took in the decorations and her eyes widened. She turned first to her mother and then to Stesha as she approached, "It's breathtaking! Thank you so much!"

"Maybe, maybe not. There's more to debating than brain power but either way, you're smiling," Alex pointed out with a cheerful smile of her own as she let him changed the subject. When talking about her new power levels, she shrugged at him in a way that suggested she didn't think she was big leagues at all but agreed with his assessment for the rest, "Well, originally, I was going to go to college just to have the experience, but Zoe's going to be heading off to college the same time and not only do I want to be able to provide her tuition, but attending high school at the same time is enough of a strain. So, I've juggled my classes so that I can head straight into post graduate work once I turn eighteen. Psychology. As for the financial end of it all, unsurprisingly, I have a plan. One that I could use your help with."

I don't have a problem with you having two characters I this thread. As long as AA doesn't either, I think you're fine. If it only ends up being one character, it should probably be dark star as his date is waiting for him ;)

"Savvy? Have you been watching Pirates?" Taylor asked distractedly before she forced herself to focus on the question, "I didn't realize I was the top of the list. Yeah, tonight is fine, late enough that I can finish my nap sounds even better. Hey, how about dinner first?" She added that last as a sudden afterthought, not thinking at all about how unusal a suggestion it was for her. "We should just meet for dinner and go from there."

"Uhm, sure," Taylor agreed bemusedly after pausing to sit up and rub her eyes. She glanced down at the book that she'd fallen asleep on and hoped she didn't have ink smudges all over her face. Closing the heavy tomb with a thump, Taylor dropped it on the coffee table and padded around to try and find a clock, "Where and what time?"

Taylor picked up after a few rings and answered, sounding like she'd just woken up from a nap. Her voice was curious over the line as she didn't recognize the number and it clearly wasn't in her list of contacts. Stifling a yawn, she flipped the cell phone open and answered, "This is Taylor."

"But is that nature or nurture? Sure, your dad is a demon but your whole life you've been raised by people who expect you to go bad. They expect certain behavior and, in turn, you provide it," Alex pointed out reasonabally enough, "Everyone has a part of them that wants to strike out and hurt someone else. Its part of our hardwired scrabble for survival. And while I actually do believe some people are born just plain wrong, I don't think you're one of them. And I've had a pretty up close and personal look at your psyche, if you'll pardon the pun. By all means, do some soul searching, but realize you weren't raised in a vacuum. None of us are."

Also, December 15!

Jack and Taylor's wedding. Invites went out to characters who know both their alter-egos and mundane identies. Ask if you're not sure! Neither the bride or groom are there yet, but feel free to arrive and mingle.

Date: December 15th, 2009 Sunrise 7:11am, Sunset 4:35pm. Overcast, high 54, W wind ~5mph. In the end, after what accounted to the Battle Royale, Taylor got most of her way on the wedding with her mother. She did manage to win the 'small, intimate' ceremony that was not at their traditional church with the comprimise that they could invite everyone to a large party afterwards. Taylor claimed that she wanted to have the ceremony on break from school over the winter, which made it a very fast turn around time. That did raise a few eyebrows ("Are you sure there isn't anything you want to tell us? You know you can tell us anything, Taylor."), but after loud and somewhat fervant protests that that was frankly impossible, the questions subsided to only the occasional sharp-eyed glance from her mother. They settled on a smaller version of the tea ceremony with her parents in the morning, a private family only ceremony, and a party in the evening. Which also made the tradition three outfits easy to plan as well. Other than some mystical effort put in by Taylor so that Jack would actually show up on the photographers film, and a little help from Elena with the paperwork, the rest of it fell neatly into place. Not only would both of those be difficult to explain around, both were actually important to Taylor to have. She had been surprised to find herself near tears in the morning with her parents. It was not a day Taylor had ever expected to see and so the sentimentality that swamped her at certain moments caught her off guard. Still, the ceremony had gone almost surprisingly smoothly. Jack had found himself provided with a best man courtesy of Jackson who was in on the other half of their lives. Acting the wingman, Jackson had easily stepped into fill not only the neccessary good natured ribbing for the ceremony but also had quietly helped Jack cover for the facets of his nature that could not be worked around, like eating. It did mean that Jackson was listing a bit after drinking the double share of alcohol but he gravely informed Jack that it was his familial duty, before giving him a cheerful grin and downing another glass. The civil ceremony was both poignant and sweet and more importantly, uninterrupted by catastrophe. In contrast, the reception was a rather large affair that was filled with both friends of the family, and friends of the couple. After some debate, Taylor and Jack had decided to invite the friends that were aware of their mundane identies. That did mean there were some oddities on the guest list but between Jack's 'connections at work' and Taylor's 'friends from school' they managed to explain most of them to her parents' satisfaction. The reception itself was held in a large banquet hall not far from Taylor's parents house in the suburb of Kingston. Since Taylor's mother had been confined to a small wedding, she'd thrown herself into the reception as Taylor had quickly washed her hands of that aspect. The place was done up in a wintery theme with fat red ribbons serving as accents. There was room for both dinner and dancing, with a buffett style dinner set up to one side and waiters mingled carrying hors d'oeuvres and drinks as the guests arrived.