exsilium; ic inbox

[controlledvariable]

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[controlledvariable]

Well, start by talking to him. You don't have to make a decision just yet, but if you get a feel for how he might handle the whole alternate universes deal, it'll be easier to decide what you wanna do.

[quackery]

Yeah, but how do I... I mean, if I bring that up out of nowhere, he'll think it's weird, won't he?

[A pause.]

And this is assuming I could even get the nerve to tell him if I thought it was the best thing.

[controlledvariable]

You'd be surprised what can come up in conversation; you don't have to push it, but just remember if there's a chance, you should mention it.

[At the rest of wat Ahiru says, Steph smiles warmly.]

You're one of the bravest people I've met, duckling, I'm sure you'd do fine.

[quackery]

Okay, I'll remember that. Um... Thank you for listening, Steph.

[And most nights, she'd just smile and thank her for the second comment, but something makes her pause. When she speaks, it's curious, not self deprecating.]

Why do you think that?

[controlledvariable]

No problem, I hope it helped a little.

[Even if she didn't have the perfect advice, she hopes that being a sounding board was helpful at least.]

Because you always believe the best in people, and you always have so much hope. That takes courage, especially when you've been through a lot.

[quackery]

It did. Really.

[Even if she doesn't know what she'll do, it was nice to have somebody listen.

She doesn't quite laugh at what Steph has, but she does smile, making a small noise of amusement.]

If I said I haven't really been through a lot, would you believe me?

[controlledvariable]

Probably not. I don't know what the other world you were in was like, but if it was anything like Exsilium, it can't have been easy.

[quackery]

Well, it was pretty much completely different, if that helps. [A light laugh.]

[controlledvariable]

Was it a good place?

[Most of the places like Exsilium don't seem to be.]

[quackery]

I think there are good things and bad things about every place... I'm happy I was there, though. It was tough, but I met a lot of really great people, and I think it made me a stronger person, too.

[A smile.]

You know, I don't think you've ever told me what your world is like!

[controlledvariable]

[She's always kind of amazed at how emotionally healthy Ahiru sseems to be.]

Sounds a lot like Exsilium, then. [but she smiles in return] And if that's a diversion tactic, I want it on record that I totally noticed it, but I'll tell you about my world if you really want.

[r u sure that's what you want, ahiru]

[quackery]

Sort of, I guess!

[She shakes her head, smiling.]

I'm not diverting anything, I'm just curious!

[controlledvariable]

[She gives Ahiru an I know your tricks sort of look, but it's probably ruined by her smile.]

My world's pretty interesting, I guess. I mean, at least compared to the history of this world, we have aliens and magic and metahumans, which are people with superpowers. It keeps us pretty busy, 'cause sometimes it's the bad guys who've got the fancy powers, or there's aliens that wanna invade, which is why we've got superheroes to help keep the world safe.

[She's thinking of the Justice League and Teen Titans, rather than the vigilantes in Gotham, since they're a little more small scale, generally.]

One of my best friends is an alien, and the last boy I kissed back home was a witch, I've fought alongside a girl who's got metal skin, and fought a man made of clay who can turn into copies of people. So...

[So. shit's weird, basically.]

[quackery]

[A pause, and in the end there's one thing she takes away from that:]

Wait, wouldn't he be a wizard instead of a witch?

[controlledvariable]

That's what he called himself. [she shrugs] He was also blue, so....

[you know]

[quackery]

Huh.

[A pause.]

I'd probably think it was weirder if my world was normal at all... What planet was your alien friend from?

[controlledvariable]

Krypton. She was here for a little while, actually, her name's Kara.

[Steph misses her.]

[quackery]

I've never heard of Krypton! I guess it must be unique to your world, or else nobody in other worlds has discovered it yet. That's cool.

[A small pause.]

Sorry she left, though.

[controlledvariable]

It was destroyed a long time ago, so even if I could check, it wouldn't be around.

[It's possible that Krypton existed and was destroyed, but that Clark and Kara never got away.]

It's okay, she's better off back at home.

[quackery]

Oh, jeez... That's horrible. [And it's said sincerely, if not with the same amount of shock it would've been several months ago.] Is she alright? I mean, I guess you can never really be okay with something like that, but still.

Still, it must be hard. I bet you'll see her when you go back, though!

[controlledvariable]

Yeah, it's... complicated. There were other Kryptonians still around, but they sort of got into a war with Earth and things were pretty bad for a while there, but Kara's tough.

[She's been through a lot and she still tries to see the best in the world, which is a trait Steph admires.]

I better, she owes me flowers.

[makes sense]

[quackery]

A war with Earth? Over what?

[She blinks.]

Er, flowers?

[controlledvariable]

Because a lot of humans were scared of them.

[There's more to it than that, but it's complicated and in the end, fear is what it boiled down to. Fear and xenophobia.]

Mmhm, that's what you do when someone's in hospital. [she holds up a hand to cut off the concern she knows is coming.] I was fine, I just needed a blood transfusion.

[quackery]

That's sad.

[And, predictably, a look of concern crosses her face, not fading completely even after Steph's amendment.]

You lost a lot of blood?

[controlledvariable]

Yeah.

[People suck.

But she shakes her head.]

Nah, I just inhaled something that could've been dangerous if it stayed in my system too long, so they flushed it out.