alderwitch

"No," she said without hesitation, shaking her head with a smile, "I used to think about it, but I wouldn't even know who that person was, anymore. I like being Phantom. I like making a difference. Even with everything bad - and there have been some very bad things - I wouldn't change who I am. Its true that choices were made for me, I can't change that, but it happens to everyone." Her thoughts turned to Jack and the others she knew who by fate or accident had found themselves with wonderful and terrible gifts, "Just about everyone has some weight they lug around with them. What matters is whether or not you let it drag you down. What happened to isn't what defines me. My reactions to those events, however, do. If that makes any sort of sense."

Taylor gave a shaky nod as she wound her arms up around his shoulders. She moistened her lips before she finally replied, knowing that this was not something to give lightly. This time, she knew what agreeing to stay meant. The choice had been hers to make, eyes open. Her voice was husky as she replied quietly, "Yes. Yes, I'll stay."

"Yes, actually," Alex said tightly, her eyes narrowing at him in warning. "Sex IS a big deal, Eddie. Not only are there any number of physical consequences, there are emotinal ramifications as well."

Alex took a seat, folding her legs up under her before she answered, "It's sort of about her parents, in the end. We'll get there. I know that you guys have had sex. Not from the rumors, but from what Zoe's said. What are your feelings for her?" She looked up at him with the full focus of her attention on his features. Alex wasn't the sort of person to read her friends minds. Even as agitated as she was right now, but she still saw emotions the way normal people saw colors and her eyes were very intent on Eddie's face.

"I didn't have a choice. I don't have a choice. You and I are alike in that as neither of us entirely belong to this plane of existance, but our places in the cosmic order are different. I'm not a part of this world anymore, or any other. I exist outside the worlds and just spend my time here. That means I have different rules than someone who belongs here. Someone who is fully mortal. Its the same sort of rules that allow you to be in either dimension without problem. The entire cosmic coil is bound by rules as firm and true as things like gravity. Much of magic study is about those rules, whether that's abiding by them, bending them, or breaking them." Taylor gestured with her fingertips to manipulate a pile of gravel with tendrils of energy, "In addition to more showy spells."

Alex shook her head even as Eddie answered his own question. Her shoulders were squared as they had been most of the day. Most kids assumed it was the rumors but Alex really wasn't phased by public opinion She knew just how easy that was to manipulate. Her tone had Alex's usual forthrightness but with the core of inner strength that wasn't usually seen outside of a crisis. Of course, Alex had been in crisis mode all day. "I want to talk to you about Zoe. Let's have a seat."

"It's only been shouting matches so far, never an actual battle." Taylor explained, reaching up to run her fingertips over the dark amulet at her throat in a nervous gesture, "Really, it's only a matter of time. It's not something I like to think about, as there's nothing I can do to change it. Despite vast cosmic power. It isn't fair, but what is?"

:P You and your rounds. Keeping me down.

Should be able too. I have tracking. AD?

"Well, it took me a long time to adjust to trying to pretend to be myself to my family and juggle the whole cosmic responsibilities. Now, its a little easier. I have people I care about now who know both sides. It makes balancing it all easier, for one. I have friends, a boyfriend. It's not a normal life by any stretch of the imagination but it's a life. I didn't have anyone who'd come fish me out when I got over my head before. My powers set me apart from other super heroes. My responsibilities mean sometimes I end up facing off with people who are my allies. It dosen't build friendships but I know I have people who'll go to the mat for me. It's amazing. It's humbling. It makes me fight even harder, though." Taylor admitted in a rare burst of self-introspection. She wasn't usually one to volunteer personal information.

Taylor shrugged a shoulder and swallowed once before she lifted her chin up, "Not knowing how long was passing here - that was hard. I have a big family, one I love very much. I kept picturing the worrying, the fretting. The resignation when days turned to months and then years." She shrugged again, turning her face up to the moonlight. "I was 'gone' less than twenty four hours but picking my regular life up again has been hard. I'm not the same person. So, it sucked but I survived it."

"Well, as Avenger mentioned, I go by Phantom. I spend most of my time dealing with interdimensionals that need to go back where they belong but I also help out in mystical matters in Freedom City. In addition to the insubstantial thing, I'm a more than decent magic user. Also in the heal most things and come back from death boat." Phantom frowned as she added the last as she didn't remember whether or not she'd actually ever mentioned that to Avenger. It didnt come up in conversation generally.

Taylor mad a noise of agreement, her smile lopsided. Her denim clad legs idly drummed the stone with her heels, "So you asked about all of what I am. Time gets a little hinky. On our calendar, I've been Phantom for around a year. I learned magic in another dimension where time worked a bit differently. I think it was somewhere between three and five years of study. Give or take."

Breakdown and Psyche chat.

It was easy for Alex to ignore the rumors on campus. So, she shrugged off the few kids who did approach her as she headed accross the quad to find Eddie once classes were over. "I need to talk to you," She greeted Eddie without preamble, her expression unusually tight.

After a brife jaunt through the void, they popped back into existance on one of the high rooftops over looking the city's skyline. The hand that released James was no longer covered with a glove and Taylor stuffed her hands into the beaten bomber jacket's pockets before she sat down on the building's ledge. "I didn't think you'd mind the heights"

Alex did not bring a costume, she's scruffy from running through the jungle but is in her shirt and jeans, no mask

The pulse in her throat leapt as Taylor was torn between being touched and a little frightened at the naked intensity in Jack's gaze. Taylor leaned up to brush her lips against his cooler ones, as she inclined her body trustingly against his. "You're a good person, Jack. I believe in you. I trust you." She slipped her arms around his waist, voice a little muffled against his shoulder as she admitted the last, "I love you. I'm not going anywhere."

"I knocked you into one wall today, what makes you think I can't manage it a second time." Taylor lifted one hand from the water and wiggled her fingertips at him. Eldritch light arced from fingertip to fingertip but it was nothing like her earlier explosion. "Why don't you tell me these demands and then I'll decide. You know I like to make this sorts of descisions as informed as possible."

Telling herself it was unheroic to snicker, Phantom did allow herself a very small but very satisfied grin as she hauled her hand back for a blast of energy that smashed right into that smug ape face. "I'm pretty sure that wasn't flattering at all." Phantom taunted, "Not so very invincible now, are you?"

Alex watched the tense expression cross his face and followed the Doctor over to the teleporter as she volunteered very quietly, "I'm not prying, but it's, uhm, pretty obvious that made you uncomfortable. I have a very light touch and I can send stuff without reading you at all. I know that's slim comfort, 'cause you only have my word that it's not more invasive than that. If not, I'm sure I can write down the notes longhand. I just thought you might prefer it in a quicker format. I'm not offended, or anything." She looked up at him very earnestly as she twisted the hem of her shirt.

Phantom gave Avenger a droll look under her hood. He knew perfectly well that unless she was teleporting in or sneaking through the ground, she was usually an obvious first target. Usually, that made an excellent distraction but these days, everyone had some sort of ability to affect ghosts. Personally, Phantom blamed Dark Star. "I'll go in with the big guy. Hopefully he's on par with my sneaking skills." She gave Atlas a faint smile, "I usually get to be the distraction."

"It's over, Mike, and Mark will forget all about me. We'll go back to friends. It's fine. I'm fine." Alex's small body relaxed into his side with a soft sigh. Mike could feel the tension leech out of her shoulders. Alex tended to act as if she carried all the weight of the world on her shoulders. Down the bond, he could feel her busy, brilliant mind at work. Re-arranging classes, planning out finances, formulating a plan to talk to Eddie, to talk to Mark. Most people couldn't point to a single moment where adulthood began but for Alex, it would always start with the soft whirr of a the printer in the school lab. She corrected the lie before Mike could protest it. "I'll be fine." She pressed a fond kiss against his cheek before she headed out of the lab, her shoulders squared with determination. I'll be just fine.

If it had been anyone but Stesha... Taylor restrained a sigh and with resigned cheer, "Sure, why not. As my mild mannered alter ego, I assume. Does this mean Dark Star and I get to be your entourage?"

"I'm not the best person to ask on college activities. I try and avoid anything with the word 'super hero' in the title as well." Taylor admitted before pausing to ask, "You have a webpage?"