aeons_crackshot | AU: Chicago 1926

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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..."

From:

aeons_crackshot

"Really?" Annabelle says with a surprised chuckle.

Not alone ever again, if Annabelle can prevent it.

From:

leadinghome

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

Testing his luck, you see?

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

And Connor is blushing.

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

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

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

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

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

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

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

From:

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."

From:

leadinghome

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

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

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

From:

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.

From:

leadinghome

He makes a face, shaking head and holding Annabelle closer. "Hopefully he will not have to learn the hard way." By being chomped or swallowed.

"So, you do have dinosaurs around still?"

From:

aeons_crackshot

"Not most places," Annabelle says with a shake of her head. "Some places went a bit...strange after the Incident 4 years ago."

"There are places that are....pocket worlds, I suppose you could say."

From:

leadinghome

"And you had to go into one of those, have a too-close encounter with something huge and hungry."

Connor shakes head. "I'm glad you were back alive and well."

From:

aeons_crackshot

"I did," Annabelle admits. "I'm glad I made it out too," she says with a smile. "I would have never met you if I'd bought the farm at 14," she teases.