17287/=Tea and Lycanthropy

=Tea and Lycanthropy
Date of Scene:	26 February 2024
Location:	East Village
Synopsis:	Billy and Belinda play catch up!
Cast of Characters:	Belinda Gutierrez, Billy Batson

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Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Midafternoon, creeping towards that incessant, eternal evening. The season struggles with itself, caught between hot and cold and getting neither fully done with any completeness. Not too cool, not too hot, just a shade of the right amount of breezy-- perfect for those small tables outside, complete with umbrellas and farther from the traffic than one has any reason to expect in the city!

"...and so, that is how I am sure Lycaon had something to do with Fenrir from the Norse legends. North y South; Snowlands and Greek domains!" Belinda grins, toying with her teacup as she winks mischieviously. "Or, as it is more locally known, as 'Fanfiction Mythology'!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson has been doing his show, a fact certainly not lost on family and friends. They are watching, right? A change has been coming over him the last few episodes to those who've known him. They are watching yes? It's the eyes, all in the eye, a certain frustration and longing. Certainly his show is being watched by those who've known him.

In any case a certain perky, blonde werewolf on a certain Netflix show made him miss a real werewolf -Belinda. So he shows up after recording a few segments. In fact he shows up with Rosa's empanadas and tacos for Belinda's dinner. Assuming she hadn't eaten yet.

Lycaon was a very dark figure. Not at all what I think of when I think werewolves. How ya been Belinda?" He holds arms out for a hug, food bag help prominently. He wonders how good her nose is in human form?

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
*Very* good, and the amount of restraint from not tackling and snuffling food and digging right in is-- remarkable. Mostly.

Mostly!

"I know," she admits, hugging Billy tight. She sighs reverently, grimacing as she catches the evning light, reflecting from part of the skyline. "Just those odd moments when I should be sleeping and it doesn.t come. Thinking silly things. Besides-- there are not so many werewolf stories and legends in the world, I have found." She gestures towards the chosen table, carefully selected to be away from the potential of foot (and vehicle) traffic.

She reverses the usual roles, opulling out a chair helpfully for Billy as she continues. "So... the Podcasting! How is it going?" She teases gently, a warm sparkle in her eyes. "Have not yet put the Daily Bugle out of business yet I do see!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson sits down with a thank you. He opens the bag... ah heavenly. He begins removing food from it and setting it out before Belinda, including plastic utensils.

Slight frown. "I'm not putting the Daily Bugle out of business. I would rather become it's major sponsor to make them lighten up on Spidey. It is good to be my own boss. So... looking forward to graduating, voting, driving? I can teach you to drive by the way. Irie thought I was a good teacher."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda takes the seat opposite, a quiet giggle on her features as she sighs wistfully. "I am tempted," she admits, adding, "Though last time I took driving classes, a giant metal robot Nazi stepped on mi automobile. Wrecked my science project. How to explain THAT to the teacher! Caramba." She rolls her eyes, grinning with warm merriment as she breathes deep. Empanadas-- taste of home! She leans down on her arms, admiring the gathering foods in breathtaking joy, admiring the assemblage with the appreciation of a connisuer.

"You have been doing Titan things too?" she asks, head tilting in curiosity. "Or staying mostly... yourself, and not getting too involved into many things." She smiles, adding a wink. "Oh, and tell Irie I said, "Hola!"."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson looks at an un touched empanada. "Doing stuff myself about covers it. Irie as I have some things to work through. I can't go into those. Mary moved to Park Avenue. Freddy is doing his own thing, like the younger sibs so yeah -staying mostly to myself. I'll tell Irie you 'hola'd, when I see her. She's really busy since she started college. I suppose you're starting college too?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda shakes her head, comforting with a pat on the arm. "Come the fall," she says, "Just basic courses for right now, and likely for a year or two. The more interesting courses all require the basics first: history, Engles, matematicas..." She sighs in brief frustration, shaking it off with a chuckle. She listens carefully, curiosity roused as she listens attentively.

"Mi hermano, my brother did come back from Oxford the other day," she adds, setting out the paper plates for proper servings. "For love, of course. He thought I would do better, taking up his scholarship and going to OXford in his stead. I mean-- England! Or le Reino Unido, now? United Kingdom-- so many names, it is confusing. Anyway! Definitely have not mentioned that to Abuela!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson raises an eyebrow at the mention of the UK. "Well... at least I could fly out to see you. I'd still miss you and having a little /comida con tu./ Uhm... it's okay to use tu instead of Usted? Right? Living with the Vasquezes, I had to learn a little Spanish. Pedro... just messed with me. Said 'bendejo' meant 'buddy.' -that got me shoved in a locker. Rosa... was not happy with him. No baseball for a week."

"I feel like everything is falling away. Maybe it's part of being the lead Shazam. The others may drift away. I watch the Rock and perform the duties. Maybe it's my moirai -fate... though not exactly. Greek fate is more loose. There's just things you do not do because you will be bitten on the amphora."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda stifles a groan; shaking her head at the comment, she sighs, reaching out to offer another friendly touch to the hand. "Bendejo, I will not talk about," she replies, "But si, yes-- though 'usted' is a bit more formal than 'tu'. Means the same thing; one is what you use for, like, teachers and police officers and respected peoples and such. Like, different in referring to your brother, and then when speaking to El Presidente."

She listens in curiosity, head tilting with a curious expression. "People... They grow up. Grow apart. Sometimes they come back together, but it is not always certain." She bites her lip, thoughtful as she considers, food momentarily forgotten as she chews on the tip of a straw. "Mi familia is the only example I can think of," she continues after a time. "Older brothers. One did marry, moved away. Another, he decided to travel suddenly; I think he stowed away on a train of all things! Others stayed, but even in same house, began to grow distant. Not *completely* distant, but..." She shrugs helplessly, smiling with quiet thought. "Even me. I went to Nueva York. Call home when I can, but even Mama will tell me, thius is not the same as being there to hug and cry over and stuff with enchiladas."

She grins crookedly, look turning back to the empanadas. "Would not being, all 'Zamily, mean you would not these Fate-thing-issues?"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson shakes his head. "I think some Shazams are more part time. They do their own thing till needed. I really don't want to see a threat that requires all of udI think I may be different. The Rock is where I belong, and I am Shazam. Always, if that makes sense. When I'm Shazam, things make sense. Is it that way for you when you...?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda smiles quietly, drawing her fingers together as she considers her answer. "I do not think so, no," she says after a few second's thought, tugging the straw into her fingers, twisting it carefully, absently before beginning to tie it together. "With the.... Otherbeing, with the wolf, I have always been this person. It is tied up with me, part of who I am. Si, yes, I must focus and... change, to become it. But--" She chuffs, brow furrowed as she frowns quietly.

"For myself, it is not like being two different people," she begins again, striving to explain. "From one to another, I can look into a mirror, serr the differences. But it is always myself I am looking at. I do not see tall, handsome, rugged superhero. Do not see grave, wise, powerful Zeus. Do not see good person Billy." She smiles, bowing her head. "Just myself. And Mr. Stadler, my teacher, is very opinionated about my doing risky things!" She rolls her eyes again, giggling quietly. "He has very choice words about le Titans, when he thinks I cannot hear him. Powered or not, teenagers taking to the streets, the skies, fighting away crime-- so much disapproval. He is certain that such demands, such duties, are not for the young to bear."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson shakes his head. "Most of the Shazams were my age when they started. In the Bronze Age most of the heavy lifting was done by teenagers. Young people always bore responsibibities, hardship. Anyway, most of the titans are in their twenties now. Plenty of knowledge to pass on. It's like... you have someone like Bruce Wayne, he's a billionaire and he's always doing good work with his money. He invests millions in different projects. Well he's exceptionally wealthy. We're exceptionally powerful so we help in our way."

He head tilolts and eventually borrows a bit of Achilles' courage somehow.

"Belinda, if I had asked... would you have gone on a date with me? I mean we get on really good but we were always in the friend zone but, I do not forget you're a fun and smart girl."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
The sun's warm light gives everything a certain colour, enhancing some things, deepening others. Belinda turns the most abject and glorious shade of rose; she folds her arms on the table, leaning down with a quiver of breath. Quiet for a long, /long/ moment.

Paging Achilles, paging Achilles!!

"Si," she admits after a time, dark eyes warm as she casts he rgaze down to the table. "Young, in a new place, and all the world full of new, wonderful different things. And still is, to be fair!" Long breath, drawn in and deep; pursed lips, exhaled with a quiet, joyous whisper. "But, was never certain before of differences, similarities, and by the time I knew of--" She gestures vaguely, sweeping her hand through the air with a whoosh. "--I might not... be...." The blush returns in savage, full force.

"...interested," she ends lamely. "That way! There is....a.... ah..." She trails off, mumbling into her arms as she buries every single word.

".....chica."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson seems satisfied with the answer, He smiles and gives Belinda a pat on her bowed head. "I accept the answer. You know who my sister is dating. I appreciate that you'd consider Billy at one time. Especially the way you were checking out Shazam's behind that one time... sorry! But anyway this is a very confusing time in our lives. we're still finding out who we are, All that,"

"Whoever she is, she's very lucky."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda mumbles, still hiding her face. Not coming out, nope, no, never ever! "...doesn't know yet," she admits, sighing wistfuly. "Haven't even spoken to Abuela!"

She sighs again, more quietly, rising from the Fortress of S'awoolitude, shoving her arms under her chin with a grumped expression. "It was still is a very nice behind," she admits of Shazam, biting her lip with a sheepish grin. "But we are friends, and good friends, and if you ever hav eneed of someone to reach tall spaces or dust off the hard-to-reach places or visit with cornbread--" She unfolds her arm, offering a fist to bump cheerfully. "And no," she adds, eyes twinkling with sudden mirth. "Never, ever looked at anyone else that way. Still feeling out.... self. Everything. Such ways! So very muy complicada."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson gets up to come around the table and hug the sitting Belinda, tightly. He whispers in her ear, "I... usually become the other guy and he can fly and reach those places. He can't bake cornbread. Come over with that sometime. I'll fry it in butter for you like my mom does. Then you can meet my wizard, Mormoragan. He's a trip. Maybe he knows something Lycaon and Fenris. Bel... you're my bestie. There is nothing you have to be scared to tell me. And just you have my number on speed dial in case someone shows up with silver weapons. 'Cause the fuzzy girl is my friend too."

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda stifles a snerk and a sniffle and so many giggles as she nods! Grumps, grumbles, but can't possibly remain morose with such company!

"Bueno," she murmurs, smiling as she presses over, leans into Billy to return the hug. "And I promise not to trick you into saying his name either. Because, Scrabble is 'blech', and static electricity from you changing makes me look like a frazzle furball!" She squeezes again, brightening as she grins.

"...I will let you know how it goes," she adds in promise. "But if I have to ask advice-- is Aphrodite on that speed dial too, or only Zeus? Maybe should ask Solomon." She pauses, making an exagerrated pose of stroking her chin. "He had many wives, didn't he? Surely good dating ideas there!"

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson whispers, "I can charge your phone too. No wait. Uhm, Thunderbolt now has goddesses as her patrons, errr matrons? Not sure which picked her offhand, but yeah. I'll send sis over. As for Solomon, he says he's too wise to be caught giving advice on love. But... maybe I can help?"

Belinda Gutierrez has posed:
Belinda giggles quietly, nodding. "Wise enough to know better," she murmurs, eyes dancing. "But si. Thank you!"