muselist
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connections
person-to-person. the need for companionship and/or contact. truths; forced, coerced, or drawn out through work and trust. bonding, literal or metaphorical. soulmate aus.
corruption
manipulation. deliberately making another worse to suit one's goals. learning to love it. embracing your new self.
alternatively, redemption if the character has already been corrupted, and knowing you can never go home.
environment
weather events, e.g. rain, snow, fog. hunkering down during a natural disaster. stargazing; camping; being out in, observing, or participating with cityscape or nature.
imprisonment
locked away with only yourself, your thoughts, your body, your mind. another person. forced proximity, no escape. do you try to retain your humanity? gain it? do you try to form a bond? do you fight? fuck? or do you just give up?
loyalty
whether kink or not. co-dependency. dedicating oneself to another unquestioningly. being someone's protector, attack dog, devotee.
metaphysicality
dreamscapes, mindscapes. where the physical doesn't apply. where something is off. where you can shape your own world; where you are left with absolutely nothing, stripped down to your barest essentials. raw.
morality
what is it to be a good person? what is it to be good to one another? is it something to strive for? what if you've been hurt? what if it's more work than it's worth? is it enough to try, or do you need to actually do?
tattoos
deliberate marking, commitment, hidden meanings, permanency, pain.
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celluloids) wrote2024-06-21 01:43 am
vacation time?
Nobody could. That's the thing. When things get so bad that Cecil doesn't even have an outline of a plan on how to do with it, that's when you know shit has hit the fan. Enough shit that she can't even fathom where they're going to start trying to clean up after it all. People have probably already started gathering up information and making plans on how to tackle it all and that's where they should be. A voice in the back of her mind is telling her that this is awful of them. Selfish. Unfair. Wrong. All those nasty negative words.
Luckily an infinitely louder voice is shouting at her to just take the break while they have a chance. Cleanup will still be there in a few days and they deserve it to take some time away. No, it's not even as simple as deserve, it's more like they need it. They both nearly died. Getting really technical about it she could probably just say she did die. Rex died. Oliver nearly died. Countless other innocent people had their lives destroyed. That's all just more than anyone should be expected to take.
They need this and she reminds herself of that as she flies up to Mark. There's a pink suitcase in her hand (what other color would it be?) and a small smile on her face that's doing it's best to hide how tired she is.
Maybe it is selfish, but she needs this with him. Just a few days alone to sort through things with him by her side. A few days to feel safe with your amazing boyfriend after the world turned to complete suck. That's not too much to ask for, is it? ]
Ready for Caribbean adventures in Dominica? The internet tells me it's amazing and when has the internet lied?
vacation time!
A lot of people—
A lot of people. Sometimes by his own body. Sometimes on purpose.
... It's okay now. It has to be, because maybe the life of a superhero wasn't glamorous or easy, but it had to be something. There had to be something good from all of this, because if there wasn't— Mark can't think like that. There has to be something good.
He's in costume, because of course he is. Bulky casts gone, though if he's being honest with himself he should take things easy (which is kind of the whole point of all of this, isn't it?). Backpack on his back, because it's going to carry everything he needs. Small smile that grows brighter at the sight of Eve, resisting the urge to just hug her then and there, because they'll have plenty of time for that later, right? Where the weather is perfect and every day is a good one and he doesn't have to think about ]
Never. The internet has never lied. [ And he doesn't have to think about the myriad of bad in the world. He should be out there, they should be helping, but the last time he was he almost died, Eve almost died, and maybe he should be thinking about those who did die, but it's not like he can do anything about it right now so soaking up the sun with the one person he wants to be with it is. ] I have never been more ready.
[ Maybe he's less tired, less sore, just being around her. His smile is dopey, but who could blame him?
A beat. ]
Lead the way.
[ Because of course, he isn't, going to, ]
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[ Will that ever be let go? Not if she can help it. Besides, in a weird way it feels kind of nice to just tease some like that. Maybe it's a tiny bit forced, but it has to start somewhere, right? Where better than a little gentle teasing about something amusing the media did. Better than dwelling on the negative stories that were out there about...just about everything that happened. Another bonus of getting away for a bit: not having to get constant reminders of what happened.
That's definitely a tiny bit selfish of her but it's just nonstop at this point. Understandably, but having been one of the people living through a good portion of it? Well, it's just a lot. Teetering on the edge of way too much. ]
You sure you don't want to? I can give you a general idea of where it is and we could see how far off we end up.
[ She's grinning as she aligns herself in air to be next to him, bumping her shoulder up against him briefly. Almost unconsciously she reaches down to take his hand. Of course they'll have plenty of time to spend together when they get to their destination but that doesn't mean she doesn't want to feel him right now. Just...to reassure herself he's there and it's okay for right now. They both made it. ]
Let's get going! [ And with that she's off, pulling gently at his hand while knowing he'll pick his speed up to match hers. Sometimes it hits her how lucky they both are with this. Sure, a ton of superheroes end up together (Kate and Immortal for instance) but not all of them can match their powers like they can with each other. ]
Remember when you were first learning to fly? [ Because she sure does. ]
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That's— [ But he can't keep the small laugh out of his voice, so he pops back up, dopey smile rising back into place. ] Okay, I walked right into that one.
[ It's okay. It's good to walk right into the stupid stuff. It's... normal? It's so low stakes it's no stakes. It feels better to pretend like that's among the worst of his problems.
He has to laugh, again, at the idea of him leading. At making a game out of his horrendous sense of direction, because again, low stakes, and low stakes feels so good right now. Like a soothing balm. Sometimes his screw-ups aren't life or death, they're just screw-ups with easily reversible consequences. Mark sways at her bump before righting himself, feeling her hand in his, and he tightens his grip. Gives her a little squeeze of appreciation. Inclines his head slightly, like a little head movement will tell her how much he loves and admires her.
And then they're off, and he matches her speed instantly, like it's the most natural thing in the world. He could go faster, pull Eve along, (get horribly lost) — but Eve's pace is the right one to go at in life, not a Viltrumite's.
He isn't watching where they're going, just watching her. ]
Oh, god. [ A small exhale of a laugh. ] I told you I just jumped off my roof, right? Like I just... did that. I really lucked out that I actually could fly then, because it took me like, days to learn how to land.
[ A beat. Flying is nice. It's so much nicer to be able to do it with someone. And as nice as it had been to be able to carry Amber, this is just... more freeing. More natural. ]
I'm sure you were so much better at it than I was starting out.
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[ Gotta be the boy part. Nobody wants to be called a 'boy' right? Insult to injury of it all: getting referred to as that by your girlfriend. But the hand squeeze has to be encouraging, right? A little pick me up after she dropped the teasing bomb on him. For just a moment, with them flying there at a normal pace, side by side, it almost feels like old times. Like that first time they went flying and she left him behind.
Except this is even better than that because there's no pretenses between them anymore. No unspoken feelings lingering in the back of both of their minds that they can't voice for whatever reasons were out there. As she looks over at him admiring her there she can't help but practically light up. She also can't help but think about how crazy it is to her still that he'd liked her from the first moment they met. How different would things have been if they'd actually been able to be together sooner?
Well, that's neither here nor there and she wants to just be...here. Enjoying the flight and the way his hand feels in hers as she leads the way. Which is also a weirdly nice feeling: that he's willing to let her leave despite being who he is. More than just willing, he gladly accepts it.
Laughter bubbles out at his confession and she nods. ]
I want you to know I'm picturing it right now. Just you divebombing off and hoping for the best. Some things haven't changed, huh?
[ then again, it really hasn't been that long has it? In the grand scheme of things it's actually been a pretty short amount of time...okay no. She's turning her thoughts away from that real fast because if she really thinks about how many disasters have come up in a short amount of time she will ruin this and it's supposed to be fun. Relaxing. A vacation. ]
Wait have I never told you how I started out? Oh boy do I have a story for you then...if you want to hear it.
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It's just so... juvenile? I'm older now than I was when I picked "Invincible" and everything...
[ But he's smiling back at her, so it's all good. Better than good, because he thinks people have gotten it straight as to who he is... Or at least the news has. He thinks. Either way. Either way, because just flying alongside her and holding her hand is nice, to the point that it doesn't matter what he's called — he's just Mark, and he's with Eve, and life really can't get much better than that.
Maybe this is one of the reasons his sense of direction is so bad, because she lights up and she's just the most beautiful person in the world for it. Sure, there are clouds, or the pristine blue of the sky, or seeing the world's natural beauty or evidence of all that humanity can build underneath them, but it all pales in comparison. How is he supposed to pay attention to directions when he's got her right here with him?
It's just. So nice to see her happy, and whole. So nice to hear her laugh. So nice to just be, and despite everything, it's not lost on him how lucky he is.
He offers up a small laugh, almost sheepish in return. ]
Some things definitely haven't changed. [ But it's okay. It's okay, to just talk about it right now like it's nothing. They're in a nice moment, a lull, the storms passed and a calmer aftermath left behind. The wakes of them may still be visible, fresh scars born on the earth, but it's... They're okay, and that has to be enough for now.
He gives her hand a little squeeze. ] It's a little nuts to think about how quickly flying became as natural as walking, though. It's only been like three years for me... How long has it been for you? Please. I want to hear everything.
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[ She resists the urge to say continue the joke on and ask if he'd switch it to the 'boy' one. But she is kinda curious if he'd pick it still or if he might try for something else. Sometimes she's pretty convinced that there's absolutely no way to have a not at least vaguely lame superhero name. Maybe it's just the curse of having another identity.
At least for now they just got to be with each other as Mark and Eve. That's seemed like some sort of impossibility the last few weeks. Maybe longer? Like the world's been working against them to make it where they could only be Atom Eve and Invincible facing some horrible threat.
Well, in your face world! Because they're just Eve and Mark and it's going well right now. They're both happy, they're both laughing, and they're flying over a beautiful ocean on a nice day. They are winning this round of life. ]
At least you always look cute doing it. [ She squeezes his hand right back and looks over at him just for a few seconds. Sometimes she just...likes to take him. Remind herself how lucky she is that they're here together and that they're somehow making this all work. ]
Right? It's surprisingly easy to catch onto it. I was....[ she thinks about it for a second ] twelve when I first went flying and it was on a disc rather than like this. [ Which inspires her to form the disc below her feet, balancing on it so much better than she had that first night. ] I nearly fell off so many times.
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I... don't know. I actually got the idea from my dad, so maybe not, but... I don't know what I'd pick instead. It would be nice to not have villains throwing the name back in my face every time they get a hit on me, but with my track record they'd probably come up with something else anyway.
[ What even is the perfect superhero name? Maybe it's too big a question, even for now. Too nice a day to ponder over something that might not have an answer. Besides, it's nice to be with just Eve, no Atom in front of it. (Which is still very clever, in his esteemed opinion.)
Can't help the way his smile grows broader at her calling him cute, though. It's not like he doesn't know she thinks of him that way, more like positive reinforcement is a good thing. It's always nice to hear nice things. She continues to have his full attention, though it does shift to the disc when she makes it. ]
Oh man, it's almost like you were skateboarding, huh? Just on the air. It makes sense though. At least you had some way of catching yourself, and you could see what you were doing... I made so many craters in the ground. Like. So many craters.
[ A small, self-deprecating laugh, and then his gaze is right back on her, smile a little more muted but admiration slipping into his voice. It's all positive. Things right now are just... good. ]
You had to figure out everything you could do on your own, didn't you? You're really one of a kind.
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[ The real important questions to think about here. There's a mischievous, almost wicked, grin on her face with the question. It's probably a kind of childish question to ask, one that feels oddly high school even, but maybe they deserve to be childish sometimes. Especially given how often it feels like they have to act a thousand times older than their actual age. Nobody needs to know Atom Eve and Invincible went on a vacation and ranked superhero names. ]
Yup! Exactly like that actually and oh boy did I ever crash into everything until I got some altitude. I blamed all the knocked over trashcans on raccoons the next day.
[ And nobody could prove it wasn't! She continues to fly with the disc, just because it's kind of fun to be reminded of how she started out, and glances over at him with a wide grin. ]
If I hadn't been able to make myself slides I would have made so many craters too. Luckily I can just do this [ the disc shifts away and in it's place right there in the air she makes a long pink slide that dips down and back up and down again a few times. Throwing her hands up in the air she rides it like a rollercoaster, not even caring how ridiculous she looks. Today is just about fun. With a laugh she nods at the question. ]
Yeah, I mean the only person that maybe could have helped was killed. Honestly, I was lucky to get the information I did from him first. [ Lucky that he'd kept tabs and ended up being there. If he hadn't then she'd have never known anything about what exactly she was doing. ]
But it did mean that everything's just been trial and error. It feels like I'm still figuring new things out in each fight.
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Uh... Give me a second.
[ Just gonna focus on the disc beneath her feet instead. For one thing he's enjoying her joy, her versatility, the everything about her. Mark laughs as she switches to a slide, trying to match her bobbing up and down after the first dip. He can't quite get in sync — he wasn't expecting it, and it's over before he can really try to line up — but he switches over to glide on his side while watching her, beaming at her all the while again.
(And also still thinking.) ]
I wish I could have blamed raccoons, but I think I was a little too obvious. And I feel like a slide would have shot me back into space, which, pro tip, do not go into space if you aren't prepared for it. It's not a good idea.
[ It's easy to laugh at his own misfortunes; a little more difficult when Eve's talking about someone she lost. She may move on quick enough — and it makes sense, when he thinks about it. She's had years to come to terms, while Mark is kind of learning things all on the, well, fly — but it does give him a moment's pause, and not just because he's still thinking of how to answer her first question. ]
... Yeah, I don't think there are a lot of people who would fare as well as you do. I mean you've got to be really, really smart to control your powers, right? So...
[ So. Okay! Enough stalling! Mark switches from thinking (very, very hard, thank you very much) to flashing her a small grin as he resumes keeping pace with her. Still on his side, still facing her, wind whipping through his hair that he takes a second to futilely push back. ]
I gotta go with my name being lamer. I'm not just saying that! [ He is maybe a little just saying that. ] Because like, anyone could call themselves Invincible, right? I mean not anymore, but it's kind of a generic name? I mean Atom Eve, you can guess that you know science. And Seance Dog, [ who is not real, but that's not going to stop him, ] you know magic's going to be involved. But Invincible just... is? I don't know what else I'd call myself but it's kind of boring, and that makes it lamer.
[ Beaming. He put actual thought into her question! Did he need to put that much thought in, no, but when you've always been kind of a nerd about this stuff, it would be weird not to. ]
... At least I get to make supervillains lamer by proxy when they think they can insult me while I beat them though.
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[ Yet. Maybe someday they'll actually end up with a raccoon animal villain. There's the cat one from space, so really nobody could ever tell what might come their way. She hops back into the air for some more normal flying, bumping into him playfully with her hips as she does so with a grin on her face. ]
Still can't quite match me, huh?
[ He may be way faster than her at this point, but she likes to think she might have the fine control down a tiny bit better. Just a smidgen. Or maybe that's just her trying to hype herself up. An eyebrow raised as his comment about space, but she just ended up chuckling lightheartedly. ]
Thank you for the tip. I kinda have to prepare for space though, not all of us are lucky enough to just breath up there.
[ For a moment her smile falters, a few more dim thoughts come up to the forefront of her mind but she chooses to let those go. Now isn't the time for a opening a can of worms when they'd already basically been dealing with that for weeks. She drifts for a moment alongside him and then leans to her side to get a better look at him. ]
I'm a science prodigy mostly. [ Other subjects she did a little worse in. But science? She nailed that one. ]
Ah, yes, the very real superhero Seance Dog. You know, maybe not the best thing to say that you think your name is lamer than a fictional magical dog...guy? [ Wait. What is he even? Obviously a dob but he doesn't exactly look like a dog and Eve's eyebrows furrow up as she really thinks about this mystery. ] Is he like a furry? [ Is this sacrilegious to compare Seance Dog to a furry? Look in order to distract him from her calling Seance Dog a possible furry she's going to dip down and kiss him as he flies on his side. It's just a quick kiss before she's off again flying further ahead.
Operation distract from is Seance Dog a furry and would that make him a furry for being so into it? ]
For what it's worth I don't think it's that boring! I mean it's better than Robot at least!
[ Is being better than a robot called Robot really the best flex out there? Eve's smiling face says it is. Then she points ahead as an island starts to come more into view. ]
Hey! I think that's it not too much further now!
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I'm trying! [ Another little laugh. ] But yeah, you've gotta have a helmet, huh... I mean I've still got to make sure I have air in me, but, yeah, I hear you. The first time I went up there it was a total accident and I passed out. And then fell back to Earth... I'd rather that not be a thing you go through too, even if we can catch each other if it happens again.
[ No solo space flights in which they'll end up in trouble, surely. His good humour fades a touch as her smile does, but he ends up blushing a little when she calls him out on him holding Seance Dog's name over his own. Except he really is kind of right...? Either way, calling Seance Dog a furry activates the well, actually part of his brain. ]
Okay, so— [ has Eve experienced this yet. She's probably ended up stepping on some of his action figures in his room, there's the poster above his bed, but—
Oh she's kissing him. Mark shuts his mouth, blush intensifying. And, luckily for everybody not him it's enough to stop him entirely, more focused on catching back up with her, the word furry gone from his mind.
For now.
Probably. ]
Robot is a robot though! I mean he isn't, but—
[ But he's smiling back at her, so much broader. And turns his attention to the island she's pointing at, lighting up even further at the idea that they're here, this is real, they're really going to get the chance to just hang out on the beach together and do nothing (well, not nothing) else. ]
Awesome! [ He speeds up to catch up to her. There's the temptation to race her, but that wouldn't be fair (and might also freak out anyone who's on the island, considering recent world events), so Mark settles for taking the opportunity a slower pace affords him to really look at their surroundings. ]
It's beautiful... I never thought about the ocean being like. Those different shades of blue... Imagine getting to live there year-round.
[ Why not throw in a little relaxing fantasizing while he's at it, right? ]
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To keep from chuckling she presses her lips together, but there's still a little smile on her face. ] You did it on accident? [ How's this not entirely surprising? She shakes her head. ] I will definitely agree that I would rather not go up and then fall back down. Even if I think you'd probably somehow show up just in time to catch me.
[ Even if he's not there with her she's got some sort of weird faith that he'd find a way to be there. Maybe that's just her current good mood saying that though.
Just like it's the good mood that spurs her into kissing him (and maybe the desire to not get a 'well actually' about Seance Dog). She suspects it might still be coming when his brain fully catches back up to that insult towards his hero. But for now his mind seems blissfully on other things.
Which just makes her smile get a tiny bit smug. Just a tiny bit! Look, how can she not be just a bit pleased with herself over that? Or with how happy he looks when he smiles at her and then notices the island. They both seem to have the same idea about slowing down and she even veers a bit to the side, off to an area that has a mixture of cliffs and forest, and hopefully a lack of people. No need to immediately show up and freak people off on what's supposed to be a calm vacation. ]
It's so clear too. Like you can just see everything. [ She sighs wistfully as she looks down and then over at him with a calm sort of smile on her face. ] Not sure if I want to imagine it too hard, I might end up wanting to stay. [ Which feels...almost wrong to say. But...imagining a life as peaceful and beautiful as this? It's...alluring. ]
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Would it be so bad to just stay? [ His voice is quiet, like he knows it's definitely the wrong thing to say, but selfishly... would it really be so bad? ] I mean, I know it would be, but maybe when there isn't anything going on... if the world doesn't need saving and we don't have to work or anything...
[ But it would be bad. He lets his smile drop, giving his head a little shake before perking back up to look at Eve. The knowledge that it's just going to be the two of them is really starting to settle in, and it's just nice. Exciting. Kind of perfect. ]
We're just going to have to enjoy things while we're here. Oh! [ He snaps his fingers; an idea. ] If you can make yourself a helmet, what about scuba gear? I don't really need anything but we could go like, deep sea diving for a while.
[ A beat; a slight blush visible, because his mask doesn't cover his entire face. ]
On purpose, too. The first time I went flying I got caught in a plane's draft or something. Wasn't expecting it, and it kind of sent me into the stratosphere. That's... not a mistake I'm going to make again, and you know I'll always be there for you, but we should totally try exploring the ocean while we're here. I bet it's warmer and everything.
[ Still distracted from spreading the good word of Seance Dog's origin story... for now. ]
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[ Just ignore the fact that to get this break they basically had to dip and carve it out for themselves. Ignore that there's probably a billion other things they should be doing besides this. It stirs that feeling deep in her that they're kind of being horribly selfish. Which she's not excited to feel, so she just...looks up at him with something of a forced smile. ]
Right. We'll just make the most of our time while we're here. [ She puts a finger to her chin and taps it, thinking for a second before nodding. ] I bet I could manage one! I've got a pretty good idea how they work. I've kinda always wanted to see deep down. Not all of us get summoned to Atlantis. [ For weird Trials. She floats in front of him and grins as she catches that blush.
She'll be nice and not tease him. Generous. Even if her smirk is definitely giving away that she's noticed and thinks it's cute. ]
Ocean it is! We'll put that as the second thing to do. First should probably be to decide if we stay at the resort bungalows they have. I have the money if we want to! Or if I should just build us something here away from everyone else.
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First thing... Oh man. You know I love your treehouse, but I kind of... maybe want to stay where other people are? Don't get me wrong, I still want to spend my every waking moment with you, but after everything I think I want to be around other people too. It's like, they're who we do all of this for, and I don't think I want that to get lost...
[ His voice trails off, a little uncertain, head ducking down to look at the parts of the island where he can see more civilization than not. It sucks to have made such an exciting topic that much heavier, but judging by her earlier forced smile, maybe they're on the same page here. They are on the same page more often than not, it feels like.
Looking back up at her, trying to lighten the mood. ]
I mean, we can always make more money after, right? [ Except his method of making money is... being under contract to stop bad guys and save good ones. Which is also tough, when he thinks about it. Shit. Mark coughs, rubs the back of his head. ] I think I'm realizing just now how much I need a break.
[ Surely they can both be forgiven for that. Surely, after everything that's happened. Physically he's fine, but emotionally, the fumes might just be running out. He gives a little laugh, trying to lighten the mood this time for real. ]
I bet seeing the bottom of the ocean floor away from Atlantis will be way cooler anyway.
[ If they could not have to fight anything while on this vacation, that would also be great, ]