416/Poetry

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Poetry
Date of Scene: 10 March 2020
Location: Exterior - Happy Harbor High School
Synopsis: Poetry is shared, tears are shed, laughs are had, no one is dead.
Cast of Characters: Alexander Aaron, Heidi Ingerdottir, Melissa Gold




Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Today it had actually reached seventy degrees and the students at Happy Harbor High had been delighted. So many people were wearing t-shirts and long shorts, so many people pleased to no longer having to carry around jackets and coats and gloves and hats. It was a lovely feeling for most of the people there. It showed when the doors opened at 3:30 and there was that rush of students heading out. There was laughter and amusement and joviality that filled the air as the students headed off to their afternoons.
    Even now some of them were left, a few buses remaining to depart. Yet it presented a lively scene that if anything let the people of the city know that the world, at least for now, was still turning and that life would go on.
    For Alexander Aaron, however. He seemed content to be there in his own company. Oh at times as someone walked by they'd greet him and he'd look up from his place on one of the rows of steps that leads to the large parking lot. He was just leaning there with his backpack at his side, back against the railing and a book in his lap, one leg drawn up to support the spine of it. He'd read, look up now and again to consider the world, the people, then look back down. He was enjoying the weather too, what with his jeans and black sneakers, and today his t-shirt was black as well though it had a greenish squid monster kitten hybrid with the caption being 'Cathulu'.
    All in all he seemed at his ease and sometimes... he'd even smile.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
With the warm weather, Heidi has also worn something a bit different. It's a simple shirt, scoop neck in a pale blue, and a long white skirt that sort of blows a bit whenever there's a breeze. Her braid, usually wound around her head, is free. It's a lot easier to tell how long her hair is once it's down, the braid reaching down all the way to her waist. She stands a little awkwardly, waiting, watching, searching.

At last she finds what she's looking for. She makes her way over towards steps, doing her best not to look too intimidating as she towers over his seated form. "Hail," she offers in a normal tone--she doesn't want to startle him too much. Or, perhaps, draw a ton of attention.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Hazel eyes lift, that pale blue with the subtle blur of jade green meets her gaze and when the smile slips onto his features it reaches those irises held up to look upon her. His lip twists a little wryly as he meets her gaze and says, "Hey, Heidi." Just a simple greeting but then accompanied with a friendly nod, "Let me guess, you've decided to sign up and teach here?"
    But he is only making light as he tilts his head the other way now, gazing at her curiously, quizzically. He pulls his backpack off the step beside him and sets it down on the grass that is just beyond that small cement barrier beside him that gives him a place to lean against while reading. "Have a seat?"
    Enough room has been cleared and there's little enough foot traffic that they won't be in the way of people traveling past, so perhaps this will give her a way to not draw too much attention.
    Then he smiles to her sidelong and adds, perhaps helping to dismiss any trepidation she might feel as he murmurs, "It's good to see you."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"You can sign up to teach here?" Heidi seems surprised at the idea. "What would I even teach?" She's not entirely sure what Midgardian schools are like... which is part of the reason she's snooping about. She's curious. When he offers her a seat, she accepts without a word, gracefully sinking down into a seated position.

"It is good to see you as well," she echoes the sentiment, but does her best not to dwell on it for too long. It's almost a little too fast. "Did you receive it?" She knows, of course, if he had received the poem she had slipped under his door that he'd understand exactly what she was asking. Otherwise, she'd be feeling pretty foolish right about now.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    At first he watches her for a time and one can perhaps excuse him the frivolity, the slight touch of mirth in his eyes as he looks to her and lifts his chin as he asks, "Receive what?"
    It's just a moment, a single instant of perhaps mild concern that he'll watch for but then he'll steal away whatever ill will she might be feeling in that instant by saying, "Yes." He bites his lower lip a little and then closes the book he had resting on his knee. He'll flip it open to the back and within she'll see that small slip of paper within with her handwriting upon it.
    "I thought I might see you again so I felt I should keep it with me. Since I value that you took your own time and spared such thoughts for me."
    A look away, then he looks back, "It was really nice, and very kind of you. I intend to share it with Mel when I see her next."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
There is no look of mild concern. Instead what Alexander receives is a look of someone completely mortified. Heidi looks momentarily destroyed. Like some kicked her puppy off a cliff. It's an extreme reaction to a piece of paper... which clearly means something to her. He does, however, pull her back from the depths of her despair by revealing that he did, indeed, receive the poem.

Slowly, she seems to get back her color and spirits, breathing deeply. At last, she seems her usual self again. "I am glad to see that you enjoyed it. I hope that Mel does as well if you choose to share it." She nods at him. "I felt as if you did not understand the respect I give you and the understanding of the struggles and weight that you bear. I wanted you to know what I saw."

She peers over at her own handwriting. "I do not believe I expressed it well enough. There are always more words."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Hey, hey, m'sorry. I was teasing. M'sorry." Alexander rests a hand on her arm gently and tries to let her see that smile even as he listens to the words she offers and tries to keep his face from twisting into that way people have when they just see the cutest puppy in the world in the pound and their heart entirely goes out to it.
    "They were lovely words, and fine imagery." His hand squeezes her arm a little before he draws back, turning to face her and pulling his ankle over his knee so he can rest a hand on it. "It reminded me of my father in some ways, of you in others, of Mel as well." He uses his other hand upon the railing that's over his head, just holding onto it as he looks to her, eyes distancing looking past.

    "Carrying the weight of the past."

    "Every step slower and slower.

    "Until you embrace it."

    "It feels to me like one of my own half-formed thoughts given voice and life with you. So please do not speak ill of it..." He shakes his head a little and then adds with a hint of humor to her, "Or I'll have to kick your ass for talking trash about my poem."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi is easily comforted, it turns out, and the hand on the arm seems to sort things out. She shifts her weight a bit to get a better look at him when he starts to talk about the imagery. Her usually bright smile becomes brighter as he seems to particularly enjoy it. The humor sticks and she looks well. "I am pleased you enjoyed it. As I said, I felt I needed to express it. Even if I am good with words, sometimes just stumbling through them verbally can be hard."

While she is rarely awkward or stumbles over her words, it doesn't change that she doesn't always know what to say or how to express it, especially in a moment that's in front of her where she can't write it down and edit it until it works. "It's the first piece of poetry I've written to a Midgardian, so it will always be special."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "And the first piece of poetry I've received from a Valkyrie," He smiles, then adds after a beat, "In training." That said he nudges her a little with his knee and then rests his weight back against the small cement rise that blocks off the stairs from the grassy hill. "But to be honest, it surprised me a lot. I had the feeling you thought poorly of me in some ways."
    "I mean, other than the whole Greek thing," Humor helps difficult conversations sometimes, perhaps now it does as well. He smiles a little and watches her with that calm gaze, "Just with everything. I don't know. Maybe that was all just me being overly-sensitive." Which, to be fair, wouldn't be the first time for him.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"You seemed as if I had bothered you in some way when you shoo'd me out after eating pizza and I felt as if I had maybe done something wrong. Consider the poem an apology if I somehow offended you," Heidi offers, her tone steady and even. "I do not want to give an impression that I dislike you. I appreciate your company."

Simple and straightforward. She's good at that, even amidst his slight teases and jokes. She might normally make more of them, but she's trying the whole opening up thing a little bit. Scary territory.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small glimmer of empathy can be seen in his eyes as he exhales and he says quietly, "No, it's my fault. Heidi. You're... you seem like a really nice and kind person. And I just..."
    He leans back lolling back and grabbing the underside of that railing with both hands, lying half on the cement and half on the grass beyond the stairway there, then tightens his arms, biceps bunching slightly as he pulls himself up and onto the other side of that railing, hopping up onto it if only so he can dangle his feet there. Nervous energy perhaps, but once he settles he uncurls a hand toward her.
    "I was raised to keep an eye out for insults and things. And some of the things you said coulda been misinterpreted in some ways. And it was part I was sort of feeling it from you, but also when Mel gets her drink on she kinda..." His lip twists a little, "Well you saw. So my guard was up and I was just maybe taking things the worst possible way."
    He balances there on the railing, one foot up on it as he holds that knee to his chest. "But seriously, the fact that you took the time... and focus, to write a poem for me. And that you cared how I felt. There is no ill will here. I am touched. I am filled with a warm affection for you."
    She can likely see that inclination of his, to make a joke, to rob a moment of its seriousness to say something light to distract. But then he furrows his brow and instead just lets those words stand.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"If I can tell you one truth, Alexander, it is that I will never purposely do anything to injure you unless you are my enemy. I value honesty and straightforwardness. If I were to feel negatively towards you, I would make it well known," Heidi says. Perhaps opinions and feelings aren't always so simple, but she tries, at least. She tries /hard/.

"I do think you were concerned for Mel and that was already my fault, so I do not fault you for feeling as if I were to blame. It is my fault, in essence, and for that I am deeply sorry." There's the briefest of pauses. "Even if she seemed to enjoy herself greatly."

His comment about affection and the lack of a joke are noted, prompting her to speak again. "You have made me notice something I was a little unready to face. I have made friends with many on Midgard, many seem to enjoy my presence. But as much as I call these my friends, I am not..." She seems to find it hard to find words. "I do not open up to them," she decides on, at last.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As she speaks he'll watch, those eerie eyes following along with her words, watching her lips as he is at times seen to do. He blinks a few times and lets a wan smile overtake his features as he looks up to her eyes. As she finishes telling him of her desire to not do harm, his head nods two times, accepting her words. And when she apologizes for Melissa's indulgence in Asgardian mead he sort of lets that smile grow as he looks to the side, perhaps about to say something.
    Yet it's more what she says at the end and he nods. "That's alright, Heidi. It's good to be able to feel you can be open and at ease entirely with your friends. But with good friends you don't have to be. Sometimes you /need/ to be a certain way, and it's with your friends that you be however you need to be then, to get through whatever passes. They'll trust you to be how you need to be, with no expectation for you to apologize."
    He reaches a hand out and touches her shoulder a little, just a small pat, thumb squeezing gently as if trying to impart some hint of strength that she may need.
    "Some times you save those things for your close friends, or companions, or comrades, or even lovers. Right?"

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I suppose you are right," Heidi agrees, slowly, though she's still a little unsure of how to deal with the complicated friendships she's forming. "I merely want to explain that... I have not attempted to be vulnerable with a friend before in Midgard. I haven't created that trust. I trust Lady Sif, but I have not with someone here."

She frowns, just slightly, which is an odd expression on Heidi. "I am abundantly aware that being vulnerable is not a comfortable thing, but I am trying."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The youth bites his lower lip as he balances there, looking down at her as his head cants the other way like some labrador puzzled by its master eating peanut butter and not sharing. Yet his smile is conjured easily enough as he shakes his head and he murmurs, "I'm not sure what you're meaning, Heidi." He leans a little to the side, one hand reaching out to help support him from his precarious perch.
    "How are you vulnerable? Am I making you feel vulnerable? Or are you... perhaps thinking I am open with you and you cannot reciprocate?"
    He really is trying as he lifts his chin then smiles, "You don't have to change for me. You are already high in my esteem, and despite my better judgement..." His smile eases into a grin, "I liked you as soon as we started talking. You are very easy to get along with." A hand to the side, "It was just things were kinda crazy back at the apartment."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi is still frowning, just a little. "It is not changing as much as it is... I am trying to not hide." She glances at him, the tiniest smile returning. "You have been kind to me and friendly and been warm in a way that most have not yet done. So yes, perhaps I am trying to reciprocate. I am good at being friendly, I am not so wonderful at letting people in."

She gives a frustrated look that ends up looking less annoyed and more just grumpy. "I am not certain words are expressing my meaning well. Just understand that I am trying to let you be a friend. A /real/ friend."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    For a time he exhales a soft breath, perhaps a sigh? No what might have been a laugh though it's rich with affection and that look he had been trying to stop before? The one with the puppy in the pound? He can't stop it now as he just shakes his head and eases off of that railing. "You are so darn cute." The words rushed out a little bit as he's dropping with a light thap-thap of his sneakers hitting the cement and then fwumpfing over to the side to retake his seat beside her.
    Putting one arm around her shoulder and giving a gentle hug, he looks in her eyes and tells her, "Real friends, ok. And you know, you should talk to Melissa. She really thought you were great. I think you guys would get along when she's, you know, sober." His smile is warm and then he shakes his head.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
The hug is a surprise, but not unwelcome as Heidi seems comfortable with people in her space. The hug is returned a bit, and her smile grows again. "I do not know about cute, but I will accept the compliment all the same. You are right though about her. I would enjoy her company. She seems quite amusing when drunk so I imagine she would be equally as amusing while sober. I like her style."

It's a style she's not really used to seeing all that much. A raw, untamed style that is certainly something exciting. "I am appreciative of the fact that you are willing to deal with my feeble attempts at more of an honest friendship."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Mel, to some, she's..." Alexander's eyes distance as he looks ahead, his arm drawing back and settling on his leg as he leans forwards, resting forearms on knees and interlacing his fingers. "To some she's an acquired taste. For me she's just... the best." He looks sidelong at Heidi and then away. "When I first met her..." His head bobs a few times in reflection, "I thought there is someone that needs a good ass-kicking."
    Alex grins as he looks toward Heidi and shrugs, "And apparently she thought the same thing. But if we go out with her somewhere, it's even money if we're going to get into a brawl or run around on rooftops or just get into some kind of trouble. So if we do, just be ready. Ok?"
    That said he looks away, thoughts likely on the young and very very... just so damn short woman that he's dating. "But don't worry. She's also... she'll take you at face value, trust you if you're honest with her. So if you're hesitant in being open with me, you can probably be open with her."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I am not going to stop anyone's fun, Alexander. Run across all the rooftops you want. If there is anything I truly enjoy, it's to experience the joys of life. If it's fun, I embrace it. There are so many things on Midgard I have yet to try. Running across rooftops is one of them," Heidi comments, though she's mostly studying him as he talks of Melissa.

"You do seem like quite the pair. You do well together. You seem comfortable in each other's company. It is something I like seeing. I like seeing people happy. Especially if they are people I already enjoy the company of." She shakes her head after a moment. "But it is not that I am hesitant in being open with you. It is just a new experience here. I am used to knowing people for hundreds of years before giving out the same measure of trust you seem to give me."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ahh," Alexander says softly, understanding perhaps finally dawning. He gives a small nod of his head and he looks to the side, then back again. "And we have only known each other a few times. A handful of shared moments." He leans back then, resting his elbows on steps a little higher behind them, crossing his feet at the ankles as he itches at a shin with the back of his sneaker for a moment.
    "I can see that. I hope you do not feel I am overly hasty in my granting of friendship."
    He looks down, and casually extends a toe to nudge at his backpack thoughtfully, brows beetling for an instant as he looks back. "That might be just sort of because I am how I am. I... don't really feel fear for the most part. For various reasons. I feel reasonably competent that I can handle most problems before me. So I'm not afraid about what might happen. So my trust and giving of myself is safer for me. I don't like to feel hurt, but also I guess I'm not too worried about it either. If that makes sense."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I do not think it hasty, per se. It is just new. Midgardians live different lives. It is not so prolonged as ours is. Every moment means more. You have to make judgements based on what little you know of something because you do not have the time that I do," Heidi looks back at him. "I suppose it is good you have no fear. I do not fear battle, or danger, or pain. But there is plenty I do fear otherwise. I fear my heart."

She doesn't particularly elaborate. "I admire the way a Midgardian can cut through to the heart of things. It is a beautiful thing, to be able to fearlessly give trust. This is my attempt to try." She gestures at him. "So this is probably a sloppy attempt but I am trying."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    At that she is able to touch on a sense of trepidation for him. It is not fear, but she might sense the subtle feel of regret, tinged red with that hint of a blush to mark his ears a little. He smiles, looks away perhaps to hide the slight pained aspect to the smile. Perhaps it is close to self-recrimination, or as close as the arrogant youth can reach. He takes a deep breath, then looks back at her and asks. "Is this..."
    A pause, he looks down, then up with his lips twisted a little as if apologetic. "Is this because of what I said back at my home?"
    He looks down, sneaker scuffing faintly against the concrete before he adds. "M'sorry, if so. It was kinda rude. I imagine."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Ah, uh, perhaps in a sense. I am not offended by it if that is what you are worried about." Worry, not fear. "It is just something I had not considered, so much." Heidi offers a small smile. "I have been looking at Midgard as a place to enjoy temporarily, one with no lasting impressions but a nice memory of people and places. A place I could visit again, but not something... with reasons to linger."

She looks thoughtful. "It just made me consider what I wanted, what I appreciated from my time here and that is why I feel as if I want to be more open. I would like the people here to leave an impression on me, in whatever way it happens to be. You are a catalyst for change."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Hnh," Alexander says as he looks sidelong at her, one eyebrow raised as he considers her words. He smiles again and then lightly leans against her, that small touch of body language perhaps enough to let her know that on some level he's pleased. His head bobs a bit as he takes in a deep breath and holds it, then lets it free as he looks to the side. "That's a nice thing to say really."
    He lowers his head then looks at her askance, from under his eyelids as if not sure what to make of her. "That you've decided to be more open. With your feelings, your heart."
    He takes a moment to look into the distance as he chews the inside of his cheek gently, his thoughts wandering before he comes back with, "You know, anyone you choose to share your heart with, is going to be a very lucky person."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
The simple lean is returned, a returned gesture. Heidi seems thoughtful, taking in the words. "I am giving it a shot, at least. I do not know how well it will work, but we are having this conversation which means I'm at least open to talking about things I may not have been before."

She lets out a slow breath. "I am not certain about the heart thing, though. That is dangerous territory that I am not certain if or when someone would tread, much less make a claim. It is not even something I have thought about very much."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small smile flickers to life and with a twinkle he looks up sidelong at Heidi and tells her with that same ease that Mel told him, "That's bullshit." But there's no malice in the word, no insult, no laughter. There is just him shaking his head as he murmurs, "Heidi Ingerdottir if you persist in impugning my good friend Heidi Ingerdottir, I shall be forced to challenge you to a duel that most likely will leave both of us sore and bruised and grumpy for days."
    That said he grins and looks away as he shakes his head a little, touching the back of his neck as he considers, "There's no doubt if someone would care to gain your affections, Heidi. You have a staggering beauty, that is almost effortless. You move with grace and elegance. You have a look of intensity when you fight, and there is a seriousness to you at times that sets your features off like a shower of sparks or something..."
    He looks away and grins then uncurls a hand toward her, "Well, you're the poet." That said he shakes his head, "So there is no question of 'if'. Perhaps 'when' but I imagine that timetable is more based on your wishes than those who admire you."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I am afraid we are going to have to duel then, Alexander. I hope you are prepared for I will not go easy on you," Heidi quips, looking back over at him with a semi-serious expression. Behind it lies a very amused smile that isn't hard at all to find. Her smiles usually aren't. "Perhaps you should have anticipated the fact that I enjoy sparring."

The Asgardian grins, an attempt at keeping her usually bright and cheerful face from looking as flustered as she actually is. "Your compliments are very kind and harder to sit through than I imagined that many compliments would be." She gives him a small smile, then bumps him gently from the side. "I think you're more of a poet than you realize, Alexander. Perhaps you should write Melissa a poem. She may appreciate the affection."

She does seem to think on the idea of 'when'. "I do not think there is a when in particular. I will perhaps see it when it is there and that will be when. These things do not need rushing. They may happen as soon or as late as they would like."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I am terrible at poetry, just sit there and stare at the paper." He says simply, decisively, eyes distancing as he shakes his head, "But I try to tell her how I feel, every chance I get. And ok sure sometimes it's me telling her she's a dork." As he says this his smile slips wry, amused at that because for them it passes as a term of endearment. "But I also tell her how I feel when the moment takes me. And with her the moment is often." He looks back at her and nudges again with an elbow.
    "But you're right, with our lifespans we don't need to rush but..." He shakes his head and looks up. "I sort of felt like that. No rush, just experience life. But now that I've met Melissa. I sort of feel... like I in some way resent the life I lived without knowing her. And I know that..."
    His features droop slightly, a faint cloud coming over his features. "I know that I'm probably going to outlive her. So I mean... don't approach it like we're timeless beings, even though we kinda are. Approach it with vibrancy and desire, because our time with the people we love is finite. And even for Asgardians immortal, war or accidents take them from us. So you need to act and take them before they slip away."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi chuckles. "Perhaps then that is better for you. I find it is harder to speak it. Poetry suits me. It's a permanent example of how you feel or a story you tell." She does study him, her mood sobering a bit. "With such a long life I have experienced many a relationship, I have enjoyed time with people. But I cannot say I've had any that I want to spend hundreds of years with. They are usually not so fulfilling."

She dips her head. "I think what you have is truly beautiful. You found something and you have it and you're holding it tight. You can make it last for as long as it can. You may outlive her, but won't those days be beautiful?" She's smiling again. "Perhaps I just like to watch others be happy. I could live my life that way just fine."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Don't deny yourself, Heidi." Alexander says that easily enough, but then he chuckles a little and then adds, "But hey, who am I to say whatever? Live your life how you want. But if you find someone that excites you and makes you want to get up in the morning and have them be the first thing you see? Then don't hold off."
    A small laugh slips from him, "But I dunno. You've lived a lot longer than I have. So maybe you know better and I just... I dunno, maybe I'll need to experience this pain for myself. The loss and all, and then perhaps I'll... be less likely to leap in with both feet."
    "Since really you are just..." Alexander looks at Heidi and tells her with a slow lifting grin, "Just so monumentally, staggeringly, epoch-defyingly old. Just so damn old."
    Though he does lean away a little half expecting a thwap of some kind.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi reaches over to put a hand on his shoulder. "Please, don't let yourself become jaded to the truly happy moments in life. The pain you experience just makes you understand the happy moments, the moments when you feel like it's all worth it. When you roll over and see the person you'd like to be with. That is worth it. And any sort of loss is painful but do not lose that joy. That's /life/ right there. Experiencing the good things in life is worth dealing with all the bad ones."

She releases his shoulder and shifts her weight to make herself more comfortable. "I suppose I am old." She doesn't seem annoyed by it this time, just more... resigned? "You'll get here one day, young Alexander."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I was teasing you, Heidi." Alexander says with that faint lilt to his voice that in other teenagers would signify the single word of 'duh'. But his smile might steal away any of the sting and he says as he looks away. "It's... humor and all. Is how I deal with emotions. Easy to say something and then make a joke and that way you can sort of play it off."
    "Sooo." Alex looks down, "Yeah. It's not bad that you've lived so long, and are going to live even longer. In fact it's a little intimidating." His eyebrows lift as he starts to give this some thought, "I wonder why that is. I can hang out with my family who are crazy old and it doesn't bug me at all."
    He takes a deep breath and looks across the way at Heidi, "But you, thinking you had experienced so much more than me. That was intimidating." He chews the inside of his cheek. Then he smiles and looks away, "Maybe that's because I didn't care if they liked me or not." His family.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"You don't want to just feel it?" Heidi asks, looking at him seriously. "Telling a joke to break up a feeling takes away the meaning. Emotions are important to feel. You have to deal with them at some point. Running from them is... cowardly." Did she just call him a coward? No possible way. She's back to being smiley though. "But intimidating? Me?" She pauses for a second, then copies Alexander who was copying Mel. "Bullshit."

She doesn't believe anyone's intimidated by her. "Besides, what more does that give me than you? Just years of experience to practice to be the most elite of warriors Asgard has." No big deal.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Sometimes, no, and I know you think it's cowardly. But..." Alexander shakes his head, "It's for those times when you say something, and you sort of feel it, but you're not sure if it is a good thing to inflict on another person, right? So you give them an out. That's what it is sometimes." He looks down at the toes of his sneakers, lifting them up, "That and sometimes you just have something really funny to say and you can't hold it in."
    At that he smiles and nods, "But yeah, intimidating in that I dunno, I don't usually seek approval from people." Then he sits up and tilts, "Maybe it's because you were in a position of mild authority and were talking down to me a little. Young Alexander this and Young Alexander that." He tilts his head, "Hm, in any case."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"So you were trying to impress me?" Now Heidi's grinning at the prospect. "Well it's a good thing you learned that I'm not intimidating and gave /that/ idea up." She nudges him with her elbow. "Besides, 'young Alexander' isn't demeaning. It's a term of endearment. I wouldn't call you that if I didn't feel as if I were comfortable referring to you as such." She does usually act very poltely towards each other, after all.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    What's that up in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Melissa in an unusually good mood deciding to go on an acrobatic romp through the clouds. Her pink wings slice through the air, driving her at almost Mach 1 (experience has shown her that breaking that speed results in a lot of people angry with her if she's in a city) as she swoops and glides and jinks and rolls and tumbles through the clouds. Winding up near Happy Dale or whatever the place is called she looks down fondly at where she met the blonde who gave her that weird mystical mead shit.
    Holy shit. She's there again. And Alex is out!
    Grinning evilly she shuts off her wings and plummets to the ground, guiding herself with feet and hands and a few carefully placed vanes of sonic energy to direct herself in freefall to the school below. And just at the last moment, out go her wings, clawing hard at the air to stop her as she swoops in at an impossible speed ... and lands gently on her feet right next to the pair.
    "Hi guys!"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Of course as this happens there are only a handful of students still in the area, though it's still going to be a handful of kids with a hell of a story. For when Songbird slices through the air, then retracts her wings for that long plummet... she might escape their notice...
    Until those wings /flare/ out and sh appears like a brilliant pink bird of prey landing in that rush of movement and then alighting gently. Just giving that oh so casual greeting even as Alexander... poor poor Alexander is just laughing as he shakes his head and hangs from the railing beside him, both hands holding him up as he cackles and sighs, "Oh man you guys are... you are both just kiling me."
    He shakes his head, people are pointing now and waving at the brilliantly dressed Melissa Gold and Alexander uncurls a hand to her, motioning both at Mel and at Heidi. "First her..." He motions, "With the horse and the wings."
    "Now you, and the big whoosh. You know how hard it is to come up with an excuse for this?"
    He's complaining, but he's laughing and shaking his head, tickled as he murmurs and makes a mock voice that sounds like a guy who clearly isn't all there, "Doop-dee-doo, oh don't mind me, I just hang out with two beautiful super hero gals. I'm super normal though, doop-dee-doo." And he grins again, still shaking his head.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
No sooner has Melissa landed then Heidi is on her feet looking positively delighted. "Oh, so this is what you meant by flying!" She moves the tiniest bit closer so she can try to peek at where the wings came from. "Ah, greetings, I'm sorry I'm being so rude!" She looks like a kid in a candy store with the prospect of Melissa just flying around like that.

Heidi looks between Melissa and Alexander, leaning in closer to stage whisper in Mel's direction, "I think he is just jealous we fly." She is doing her best to not get /overly/ excited though. "We should go flying sometime. Perhaps we can share tricks!"

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Mel affects a 'Joisy' accent. "Share tricks, honey!? You go find your own corner to work!"
    Most people would laugh at that, though with what little clues Mel's dropped in conversation with Alex, his laughter might be a little bit nervous.
    "So how are you Blondie!?" she then says, grinning, stepping up to hug the Asgardian's torso (because SO TALL!) before backing off to stand beside Alex, arm around his waist. "Listen, I wanted to sorry if I did or said anything stupid or bad while I was bombed. That shit you gave me wiped me." She chuckles. "Don't ask Alex about the bathroom, please."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I'm not jealous," Alexander grins and then just accepts what has happened, spilled milk after al. Then he looks over at Melissa and says, "Hey. Mel." His voice drops a little becoming gentle. He looks over at Heidi and smiles, and for a moment there's real affection there for them as he takes Melissa's hand and holds it. "Heidi wrote a poem for us. I'd like you to read it. Okay?"
    And as he says that he reaches for the book that he had set aside upon the grass nearby, just reeaching over and grabbing it, then pulling open the last page and exposing a small parchment with hand written words on it. He'll unfold it and hand it to Melissa, smiling a little when he meets her eyes, then looking across the way toward Heidi to share the smile with her to.

Weight of the past.

We stand on the shoulders of giants
They passed us their blood
Now we stride forward,
Soaked in crimson.

It is heavy, this weight.
A burden made heavy by time
A gift given but not desired.
Blood-stained, you stride forward.
How heavy it must be
Carrying the weight of the past
Every step slower and slower
Until you embrace it

You are not someone to be crushed
Under the weight
You stand strong, you lift higher
Each stride forward
Becoming one along a journey

Such strength is rare
A bone breaks but grows stronger
When it heals
To endure and persevere
You become wise beyond your years.

-Saga

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
That's a joke Heidi gets! And she giggles in response. It's not a laugh, it's an actual /giggle/. She returns the quick squeeze of a hug before glancing between the pair. "You have no need of apologies, you were quite amusing if a little blunt, which I suppose to be your natural state already." She looks to Alex to see if her assessment is correct. He'll be honest!

But then there's the sharing of poetry and the look on Heidi's face is not her usual grinning or smiling one. She's nervous. Alex had liked it and been touched, but she doesn't exactly know about Mel's opinions. It's clear, though, by the look on her face that this is something that actually /means/ something to her. It's also clear that whatever she's feeling is /not/ something she's used to feeling.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Mel looks back at Alex, smiling, but as the poem is handed her her smile turns more confused.
    Then, as she looks at it, her confusion turns to befuddlement. Embarrassed a bit, judging by that hunched-over stance, she starts reading it aloud.
    To say it is a bad reading is an understatement. Her tongue stumbles over some words. Some she pronounces phonetically, clearly having never seen them written before. (PER sev ee re) And she knows. She knows all too well what she sounds like. Her ears are practically on fire. Her face is going stone hard to conceal what would be deep shame otherwise.
    But she perseveres. Ironically enough. She perseveres, refusing to give up until she's read every last word.
    Aloud.
    Many of them correctly.
    She pauses then to collect herself enough to paste a wan smile on her face. "It's lovely," she says, her face blank. It's gone way over her head. And the problem is that Mel isn't stupid. She knows that she did badly. A stupid person wouldn't. Which is all the more horror.
    "Thank you." Her voice is thick with emotion, and finishes with a gulp as she tries to keep her stomach down.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As she reads, Alexander holds onto her and meets her eyes, but he does not stop her. Does not change his expression, he watches her and as she focuses, as she endures though she my be embarrassed, if she looks around it's doubtful she'll find judgment or a lack of support. Alex's arm around her does not waver, nor does the warmth of his expression. He just says quietly, "I told her the part that was my favorite. Carrying the weight of the past. Every step slower and slower. Until you embrace it. It meant a lot to me."
    He holds her close, then looks over at Heidi and gestures for her to come over as well if she would. "She was so grateful to spend that time with us, to want to be our friend that she wrote that. It's a wonderful thing. Just like you, Mel."
    He'll push a hand through her hair gently, and smile as he eases back a little to meet her eyes, a small smile there in his gaze.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
That's not the usual reaction Heidi gets from her poetry. There's a difference between a negative reaction and what /this/ is. There's something to be said about Mel's sticking power, getting through all of it. And Heidi's well aware that this isn't something easy. "It's about taking your past and not letting it bring you down, taking it and using it to make you stronger." It's a simplification of it, but that's the message.

"I appreciated getting the opportunity to enjoy the evening and I thought this would be a nice apology for the accident with the mead." When Alexander gestures for her to come over, Heidi stays rooted to the spot. She's smiling--sort of. The semi-smile is almost more alarming than there not being one.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Alexander can feel that fear as she reads. He'll think I'm stupid. He'll think I'm a buffoon. He'll leave me alone. He'll drop me. And then the fear melts away in the warmth of his support.
    Then, with newfound courage after Alex didn't drop her or mock her, she grins at Heidi with mostly-false bravado--the eyes are still troubled, though that's fading too--saying, "Yeah, I figured it meant somethin' like that."
    It's for the best she doesn't wear undergarments with the spandex. Flames inside spandex--pants on fire--would hurt.
    Then, relaxing more, she waves dismissively, scoffing. "You kiddin'? That was one of the best benders I ever been on. Don't apologize, bring more!"
    She laughs and squeezes Alex, and when she thinks Heidi isn't looking (she's bad at guessing that) she mouths 'thank you' his way.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A smile and a small nod is shared back with Melissa as he squeezes her hand with his, but then he turns back and steps over toward Heidi, knowing how much she put into that poem, knowing the effort and the baring of self and soul. He'll walk over to her and stop to rest a hand on her arm and meet her eyes,"It is a wonderful poem, and we both love it." He looks towards Melissa and says, "Just Mel sometimes handles things with an intensity that is tough. Because people who have had to deal with a lot of stuff in life, when they feel something that comes along that's genuine, it can be a rush and a really strong impact of emotion."
    And in that instant, Heidi might feel a subtle shift coming from the blond youth. Not that roar and rage of his power when it's active, seeking to hurl fear and terror around him. This is a faint feeling of peace that comes from him, that lets the world pass with less tension, less fear. Nothing conscious, but is there when he tries to comfort people he cares about.
    "I hope you understand."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"I'm glad it went over well," Heidi says, smiling. It doesn't really follow to her eyes though. Alexander could probably catch it if he's looking hard enough. She looks past him to Melissa, giving her a smile. This one's half-way to seeming alright. "I apologize if it was intense." Whatever comfort he offers, it doesn't seem to do much. Instead, she steps around him and brushes past on her way to stand next to Melissa.

She reaches into a pocket (a skirt with pockets!) and pulls out the same flask from before. "Keep it. It's a gift." She holds it out.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Melissa takes the proffered flask as if it were a holy relic, eyes wide, gingerly touching it, with a reverence that seems ludicrous. "Wow!" she murmurs. "That's ... really cool! I ..." NOW of all times the tears well up. No tears beyond the threat of them as she humiliated herself in front of her friends. But a gift? A tear trickles down her cheek.
    Then her face gets annoyed. "I keep meaning to get pockets put into this thing," she says ruefully. "Alex, can I put it in your pack?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Sure," Alexander stays there a bit away from them, arms folded low his hands holding his elbows as he looks between them. A small shift of his stance to the other leg as he takes a deep breath and watches them, then he nods to the indicated backpack that's lying there half on the cement and half on the grass. "Just over there," He'll step over, a few moves around so he doesn't get in the way and scoops up the book he had abandoned before.
    "Hey, mind passing it back over?" He opens the back of the book and holds it open then gives a nod for her to pass the poem back over. He'll keep that at least.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi does smile this time, this one genuine, but it's small. It's in response to the tear. Someone gave her a gift earlier, it feels right to be able to do the same. And Mel seemed to enjoy it a lot as well. "Just be careful with it, alright? Make sure that Alexander is there to help you." Safety in numbers!

She does feel out of place, at the moment, but she looks at Mel for a moment. She'll be able to catch the look, but Alex probably won't from his angle. It's not a look of pity, but understanding. "Took me like a hundred years to get really good at reading poetry outloud. You did great." It feels like a thank you, somehow.

She then looks around for a moment. "I imagine I am needed elsewhere." She says, simply.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Melissa's face is guarded now. She knows something happened. She knows that she somehow put her foot in it. But for the life of her she can't figure out how. Shifting uncomfortably as she looks between Heidi and Alex she slowly steps toward the bag. She hands the poem to Alex on the way past, looking into his eyes with a searching, questioning gaze, then quickly steps to the pack to put the flask in it. (Booze is important. Always secure your booze.)
    Then, again, she takes her place next to Alex, but still clearly confused by what's gone on.
    And clearly convinced she's to blame.
    Time to play her role. Judas Goat.
    "Please don't leave," she says to Heidi. "Not on my account. I'm the one who ruined the poem. I shoulda let Alex read it. He's great at that kind of stuff. Has the voice and everythin'." She steps forward to Heidi, hugging her again. Well, hugging her torso again, given the height differential. It may be time to buy platforms. "It was really nice. I just ... suck at reading," she murmurs. "My fault."
    There. That should make everything better, right? RIGHT!?

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As Melissa hugs Heidi, Alexander smiles a little and he says, "You didn't screw anything up, Mel. It's okay." He hefts his backpack and slips the book back inside, the zipper whirring faintly one way, then whirring back the other. It's slung over his shoulder and he stuffs his hands into the pockets of his jeans, looking on but not moving for now, letting things play out without trying to affect them for now.
    After a moment he reaches back down and picks up some of the trash from earlier, pocketing that as well, then shifting his hips to lean against the railing and tilt his head between the two of them, watching back and forth.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
The hug is unexpected, but Heidi doesn't shy away from it. An arm moves to return the hug and the not-yet-Valkyrie lets out a slow breath. "You did not ruin it. I should have been more considerate. I did not think." She hadn't thought it would go the way it did, but nothing could be done about it now. "I do not think I was ready to share so much with the world, that's all. Do not think it your fault."

Heidi nods towards the pack where the flask is. "I gave you that so you would know that things are fine. That I consider you an equal." Regardless of how bad her poetry reading might be. "I am merely pretending to have a reason to go because I am not entirely sure how to handle emotion like this and I would prefer not to upset my friends." Well, she's honest.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    And now Mel laughs. This is her turf! "I handle emotion like that by pounding the shit out of somethin'!" she exclaims. "Punching bag. Person. Person is best if they can fight back 'cause it's loads of fun!"
    She shoots a fond, and meaningful, glance Alex's way, winking out of sight of the tall woman. "Wanna go to a biker bar, you two? We can say something about how shitty Harleys are and how Honda makes better bikes. That'll give us more than enough exercise for pounding the shit out of people!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As if he had been holding his breath, when Heidi makes that confession he exhales a small puff as if just only now remembering to breathe. He shifts his weight to the other foot and shakes his head, "Dammit, Heidi." He takes a deep breath and then steps forward to where her and Melissa are and he slips his arms around them both, "It's okay to be open with us, and we're not gonna hurt you on purpose. Same promise you made."
    As he says this he'll rest his hands around their waists, and to be fair Heidi's waist is a good bit higher than Mel's, but he lowers his head a little, and just holds onto them both, giving a gentle hug to each in turn. It's just a gentle embrace, then he lifts his head as Mel offers her insight and he laughs, "You know, right now... I could use some of that Asgardian mead. And then /you/ guys could carry me home after the bar fight. S'only fair."

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
"Your intent to hurt was never in question, Alexander. For either of you. If I had thought your intention was to hurt me there would already be punching involved," Heidi points out. She moves her other arm so that Alex is fully involved in the now much larger hug. "I am not sure that me punching someone is a great idea right now. I would likely cause a significant amount of damage to people and property." She pauses.

"You could both have some mead and I could carry you both back and then you could sleep it off together." How romantic! They can vomit into a toilet together.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    "OK, let's split the difference," Mel says with a chuckle. "We'll exchange punches. I punch you. You punch me. One punch each. It's how we broke ties in shoot wrestlin'. One punch each until one gives or passes out."
    Mel separates from Alex to stand before Heidi. "Whaddya say, Blondie. Work a bit of that aggression out of ya! We'll both have loads of fun!"
    She glances across at Alex. "Winner takes him on. Winner of that is the champeen!"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    For a time Alexander just sort of enjoys the closeness, hearing their heartbeats, and feeling that peace, that small cessation of fear. Even the small hint of his own. He takes a deep breath, then smiles as he looks a bit serenely toward Heidi and then Melissa...
    And then Mel talks.
    Eyes widening back and easing from the embrace, Alexander sort of looks at them both and he says with a voice that is a little wary, "Umm, Mel. This might not be a good idea." Though that look on her face does seem to be the kind of face she makes when she's decided and that's that. He looks over at Heidi and quirks an eyebrow, "She's like, probably joking." A look back, ok she's not joking.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
There is some calmness that comes from standing there, though there's probably a touch of awkwardness too. Heidi doesn't seem to mind either, especially being on the verge of some kind of emotional outburst. Violence isn't the usual way she deals with it and the suggestion is one that gets a bit of an eyebrow raise.

"I appreciate the sentiment but somehow I don't think that's a good idea. I believe the consequences are stronger than the benefits." Especially because there's probably a lack of control going on thanks to the magical world of emotions.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Melissa can give the impression (over and over and over) that she's stupid. This is because people place so much stock in linguistic ability in assessing intelligence. But she's not stupid. She's uneducated. There is a large difference and it's a difference people have forgotten to their disadvantage.
    Red gems fire up on her sonic rig. Pink wings unfold from nowhere behind her. Her mouth opens. (Alex will probably cringe...) But instead of her signature sonic attack, out comes ... music. Her pitch-perfect voice starts by itself, weakly, almost aethereally.

        Fierce is the gale
        From the north sea
        We drink and rejoice from the chalice

    It's not her work, of course. It's a song she's heard. A song that, despite its heavy metal nature, is filled with peculiar longing and introspection. Her voice strengthens, as if the singer were coming nearer.

        Holding the course
        Through long nights and days
        The ice and the hail bear no malice

        Toe the line
        Keep it fine
        Every man seeks this end

    And then, Alex will recognize the shit-eating grin that's slowly spreading over her features. Her sonics ramp up even more as electric guitars, bass, drums fill out the sound.

        VALHALLA - you are calling
        VALHALLA - you are calling me home
        VALHALLA - new day dawning
        VALHALLA - this is where I belong
            I BELONG!

    The last two words belted out in an octave-high jumped scream.

    Her eyes search out Heidi's, trying to gague the impact her performance is having as the music swells behind her. She knows she's fucking good at this and it shows in her stance. The proud bearing. The shimmering eyes. She just doesn't know what impact it has on her friend. For Heidi is that, despite the short acquaintance.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    At first Alex is surprised, his eyes widen as she keys in and cues up those sonics twinkling to life and her gear lighting up with the powers of her constructs, even as her voice rises coming to life with that gift of hers that has brought her forth from all the hard times she's endured. And then he laughs a little, maybe even with a little bit of something getting in the corner of his eye as he shakes his head and looks away.
    But when he looks back, when Melissa finishes that song and she's just glowing with that look of such strength such confidence. And if she looks over at Alexander she'll see him, as he looks to her. Smiling, his lips twisted into a happy frown with his lips a little pooched. But what does she see in his features as he looks to her?
    Pride.
    Just so much pride in her, in who she is, and that she's with him.
    He'll look over at Heidi and then point at Mel with his index finger, then back at himself with his thumb on the same hand, just a single smooth gesture. As if to say, 'she's with me.'

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi is a musican. Granted, her instrument of choice is the lyre. Not quite so popular on Midgard. However, she has not really experienced the joys of music from this realm much at all. Whatever was playing in stores and restaurants and the like that she happened to wander into. Nothing like /this/. And the lyrics? Those are pretty amusing.

She laughs pretty hard at first, amused by the antics and what's going on, but then it occurs to her /why/ it's being done and her eyes well up with tears. She's touched. And probably still pretty emotional from earlier. She was trying to leave before this happened. She hugs her arms a little bit. It seems to have... worked?

Melissa Gold has posed:
    Mel ... seems happy with that response, ramping the music to fade out into the distance.
    "I'm no poet," she says. Captain Obvious to the white courtesy phone. "I can barely read. Can't write worth shit." A self-deprecating laugh, fending off the laughter of others via pre-emption. "Give me a crayon and lots of space. But I can sing. And I can make any fuckin' sound I hear. So ... I ... tried to think of the only song I knew that was 'bout vikings. That's what this ass guard stuff is, right? Vikings?"
    She cringes a bit. "Lot simpler than your thing from before. Probly sounds like a child's song to you. But ... I'm glad you liked ... it?"
    Yeah, that insecurity is still there, even after that badass strut while she was singing.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Alexander closes the distance a little, but he doesn't get in the way. He sliiiides down the railing he had been balanced on before and sort of hops off of it at the end to take up a place nearby and at Mel's side but not interfering for now. He just sort of crosses his arms over his chest, making sure his backpack is out of the way. He looks toward Heidi and nods a little before he just says, "It was pretty cool, Mel."
    And Heidi might notice, no hint of a joke there, no prevarication. Just that quiet praise and a gentle smile.

Heidi Ingerdottir has posed:
Heidi is having problems forming coherant thoughts. She's emotional and usually doesn't let it out like this. So she's a bit out of her depth, but it's clear the music is really appreciated. "It's a bit like your vikings, yes. I like it." She is at least able to answer questions. One hand scrubs briefly over her eyes. "It isn't like childrens songs." The protest is a little weak, and Heidi tries to spend a little time to compose herself. She's having a very un-Heidi=like moment right now.

Melissa Gold has posed:
    That's all Mel needs to hear. And once again the tall blonde woman is hugged by the short one. "Good," is all she says. "I don't got a lot of friends, so I want the ones I do have to be happy."
    One hand separates from the Asgardian to wave Alex in, then goes back. "Now let's go drink way too much and wind up next morning in a foreign country without a visa. Or a passport. Or any idea how we got there."
    Yeah, she really isn't very good at knowing where to draw the borders...