AU: Chicago 1926

[aeons_crackshot]

Eventually, the jungle was left behind and the FreakAngels and the members of the Æon Society made their way to Æon's headquarters in Chicago.

The headquarters looks, to the casual observer, much like the home of someone who is very well to do. It is, of course. Maxwell Anderson Mercer is a very wealthy man, philanthropist or no, after all. It's only when you look deeper and realize how solidly built the place is and that certain extra security measures are in place that it begins to reveal itself for what it is.

Namely, the home base of people who, not to put too fine a point on it, quite a lot of dangerous people want dead.

There is an island of calm in the hustle and bustle, the Archives. Every piece of research, every note, every adventure of the Society's members is in here...somewhere.

Comments

[aeons_crackshot]

She relays this to the woman, who has thankfully let go. She can pick up from his body language that he's uncomfortable right now, so she decides that some crowd control is in order.

Annabelle, with the aid of hand gestures, manages to get across the idea that he's feeling a bit too overwhelmed to deal with all these people right now. The matronly woman nods, pats him on the hand, and strides back toward the crowd.

"I have a feeling we're going to be inundated with baked goods," Annabelle says with a smile. "We should probably skedaddle while Mrs. Marcoli runs interference with your admirers."

[leadinghome]

"It does not help the others yelling at me." Connor sighs, and replies so 'loud' Annabelle might even 'hear' it.

Stick it up your noses, you wankers, will you? The knee-jerk, semi-panic reaction seem to be intense. "Let's go." He takes Annabelle's hand and rushes away. Anywhere, just away from the crowd.

[aeons_crackshot]

She does hear it, as it happens. "They're giving you trouble?" she asks as they weave their way through back streets and alleys away from the crowd.

[leadinghome]

"Afraid of what might happen." He sighs, tugging Annabelle along until they get to somewhere less crowded.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle nods in understanding.

Thankfully, there are green and open places in Chicago.

There are no crowds here, and it's very peaceful.

[leadinghome]

Better, much better. With a bit of solitude, Connor is able to relax and focus on the conversation, muttering out some parts.

"...so you would prefer if I let those guys get squished...? ...so what should I have done... ...you can not have it both ways, you wankers, yes, you are scared of what might happen, but nothing happened... ...so pick one and stick to it, the policy is to do nothing then? ...Mark you tosser, if you are so worried why don't you ask the rest of the people? ...no, you catamite idiot, no, wake up, we are not freaks here!"

Connor finally shakes head and places hands over his temples, his power flaring out again; he stays that way, a torch of purple light, for almost a minute.

Then lets go. "Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Donkey."

[aeons_crackshot]

It's a lot like listening to one half of a telephone conversation, really.

"I hadn't intended to embroil you in that much drama," Annabelle says with a sigh.

"Would it help if you were out of range of the others for a while?" Some of Jake's friends in the Air Circus owe her a favor or two, so flying out of town is certainly a possibility.

[leadinghome]

"They stopped for now." Connor slumps down on the grass, letting out a sigh. "I let them have a direct look on what happened, and what people were feeling."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle sits down next to him on the grass. "You can do that?" she says, surprised. "It helped, I'm guessing?"

[leadinghome]

"Yeah, we can." He nods. "They shut up for now.'

[aeons_crackshot]

"That's good," Annabelle says with a nod. "That was good work you did back there," she says with a smile.

Her hand is within easy reach, if he wants to hold her hand again.

[leadinghome]

He does, and does. "Just... reflex."

"Now that we are not going to be hunted for it, I suppose I could exercise the basics of the Package."

[aeons_crackshot]

It's nice, holding hands like this. "It hasn't really sunk in yet, I imagine."

"You could," she says with a smile. "We don't care what you do or don't do with your abilities, so long as you don't use them to hurt people," she points out. "And we'll back you if you need us, whether you stay with us or go elsewhere."

Annabelle would like for them, or at least Connor, to stay, but she wants them to be happy.

[leadinghome]

"We do not have anywhere to go, really. This is another world." He looks up at the sky. "We do not have anywhere to go."

[aeons_crackshot]

"I'm sorry," Annabelle says quietly. Sorry that they were hunted, sorry that they were forced into a corner, sorry that they've ended up in a strange world.

"I never got attached to any particular place, growing up," she says, looking at the clouds. "We moved around all the time, you see."

She tries to put her feelings into words. She puts her other hand over her heart. "Home's in here, really. My friends, my...calling, are with me wherever I am."

"Maybe...if you figure out the what, the where will take care of itself?" she suggests with a small smile.

[leadinghome]

"It is not just a place, it is... so much. Music, clothes, games, internet, movies, people. It is almost like being in an alien planet. By the time the things we were used to come around, we will be all in our 80's..." He squeezes Annabelle's hand. "We have to learn a bunch of stuff all over again."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle as no idea what an internet is, but it doesn't really matter.

She squeezes his hand in return. "I, I mean we, we'll help you however we can," she says, blushing faintly.

[leadinghome]

Connor looks into her eyes, and barely realizes he 'speaks' to her not in words. Would you? He is lost, and unsure.

[aeons_crackshot]

Blue eyes meet violet without flinching or turning away. Yes. She may be answering more than one question here, whether she knows it or not.

Annabelle knows what it is to feel lost and unsure. One night 5 years ago with a bullet tearing into her arm taught her that.

A determination to not ever feel that way again blossomed into the desire to help and protect those in need of it. Iron will and fire carrying her through fear, pain, loss, and near death.

[leadinghome]

Funny how things happen: you can not hide much from an empathic. Connor's hand leaves Annabelle's and makes its way to cup her cheek, gently.

[aeons_crackshot]

She startles a little when his hand leaves hers, worried that she's upset him somehow. The touch on her cheek reassures her a bit.

Her own hand moves up oh so cautiously to mirror his, as if he were a wild creature of uncertain temperament. The touch is gentle, almost hesitant, as if she's afraid she'll hurt him.

This is relatively foreign territory for her, and territory that has always ended in pain before.

[leadinghome]

This Connor is less of a shut-in in some things.

Also, younger and naturally bolder?

He sits up and draws the blonde girl into a kiss.

[aeons_crackshot]

This Annabelle hasn't had her heart broken and trampled on quite so many times either.

She's a bit inexperienced, but the kiss is returned. The smell of grass, the faint sounds of birds and water all get tangled up with the feel of this kiss.

[leadinghome]

It is their first kiss.

It will last a while, perhaps? Connor is in no hurry to go anywhere else.

[aeons_crackshot]

It will last quite a while, until Annabelle, at least, has to draw a shaky breath.

She's not in a hurry to go anywhere else either.