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]

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.

[leadinghome]

He is blushing, but smiling. "That was... very nice."

[aeons_crackshot]

He's not the only one who's blushing and smiling. "Yes, it was," Annabelle replies. It seems like a rather inadequate response, but it's the best she's got at the moment.

[leadinghome]

Well, that world is not so bad?

At least right now he knows: he's not alone.

Connor takes Annabelle's hand, smiling more relaxed now. "I was afraid you would slap me..."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Really?" Annabelle says with a surprised chuckle.

Not alone ever again, if Annabelle can prevent it.

[leadinghome]

"Yes... or shoot me?" And before she answers, kiss again.

Testing his luck, you see?

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle would never shoot anyone for kissing her, that would be overreacting.

His luck is very good, as it happens. For an empath, it should be quite clear that Annabelle is enjoying this kiss a great deal.

[leadinghome]

Oh, good, because he is enjoying himself very much too.

Nothing more natural than ending in each other's arms, right? A pair of teenagers, discovering romance and attraction, discovering a multitude of feelings.

[aeons_crackshot]

Nothing more natural at all.

Admittedly, most teenagers aren't carrying two guns and throwing knives on their person, or capable of making people's heads explode from the power of their mind alone.

[leadinghome]

Details.

Mere details of little importance, at least right now, don't you think? Just a boy a girl, a quiet morning at the park, and kissing.

Then of course, there should be cuddling, right? "Very nice indeed."

[aeons_crackshot]

Mere unimportant details. Except where they concern a certain caution when cuddling so that Connor doesn't end up with guns pressing somewhere painful and unpleasant.

"Very nice," Annabelle agrees.

Alas, at that point they are interrupted by the sound of giggling children. A gaggle of young boys, from the sound of it. They're singing a piece of an old playground taunt. "K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."

They're a bit stymied by not knowing both their names, you see.

[leadinghome]

And Connor is blushing.

Really, he never imagined himself at the receiving end of that chant. "Oh, bugger."

[aeons_crackshot]

He's not the only one blushing. Annabelle's response is more profane, but not in English.

She's actually glaring at the boys, and looks as if she's trying to place the faces. "Tommy Sullivan," she says at last, looking at the boy in the front.

Tommy makes a noise best described as eep.

[leadinghome]

"Oh, you know them?" Connor raises a brow, eying the boys too.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Just the miscreant at the front," Annabelle says dryly. "Although, I'm sure I can get my hands on the names of the rest of them."

The other boys were looking relieved. Now? Not so much.

Annabelle addresses Tommy. "Shouldn't you hooligans be in school at this hour?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.

Tommy shifts awkwardly from foot to foot. "Mayyybe," he says at last.

[leadinghome]

"Hm, maybe someone needs to learn about these rascals skipping school?" Oh, Connor picks up the clues fast.

[aeons_crackshot]

That's good, as it makes things much easier.

Tommy looks a bit like he's heard he's going to be hung in the morning. Mrs. Sullivan is a formidable woman and firm disciplinarian.

"Unless...." Annabelle says, pretending to ponder her offer.

Tommy can't take the pressure, "Pleasedon'ttellmymum" comes out in a rush as nearly a single word.

[leadinghome]

"What you think, Annabelle? He will get in trouble, but... telling his mom would be the right thing to do..." Oh, moral quandary.

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle pretends to ponder for another heartbeat or two. "They could be forgiven just this once..." The boys start to relax.

"If," there went the relaxation. "we agree that none of us saw each other here today, and that this skipping school is not repeated."

[leadinghome]

"Sounds like a good compromise to me." He looks at the boys. "What you think, fair deal?"

[aeons_crackshot]

There is a veritable chorus of "Yes sirs" and a lot of nodding from the boys.

"Well then," Annabelle says dryly. "Off with you, you rascals." Most of the boys scatter, but Tommy hangs back a moment, with a faintly hopeful expression.

Annabelle sighs. "Yes, the next one has dinosaurs in it. Assuming that mad Englishman keeps to his usual schedule."

Tommy beams his thanks and races off after the others.

[leadinghome]

That makes Connor puzzle. "Next what has dinosaurs?"

[aeons_crackshot]

"The next Tales of the Æon Society" Annabelle explains with a wry smile.

"It's a pulp magazine that most people think is fiction. That fellow I was shouting to Whitley about, Ellis? Well, he's the mad Englishman in question."

"Tommy is fascinated with dinosaurs, Heaven only knows why," she says with a shake of her head. "I suspect he'd feel differently about the beasts if he'd been nearly eaten by one."

Yes, that nearly happened to Annabelle. It was gross.