Opening Up
Epic Nine
Written by Cartman's Girl and Poe

Note: Yes, it's still going. Will it ever end??? …yes, yes it will.

A while later that same evening at Poe's base, Enid made a surprise call. Living so close, she had heard the uproar from Zim and Poe. To say the least she was curious about what had happened. She knocked on the door, then waited. Poe answered the door,

"Hey, En," He smiled at her and opened the door, letting her in quickly as he was undisguised, "What brings you by?"

"Oh, stuff.." she shrugged, pulling her wig off. "Daddy, did anything bad happen here?" Enid turned to face him, "Cause I heard a lot of yelling." He backed his antennae slightly,

"You did? Well.." He sighed, tilting his head to the side, "Zim was raging at Cten and I over something Vist did.."

"Jeesh..." Enid rolled her eyes, then took her contacts out. "What'd he do?"

"He.. uh.." He sighed, pondering the best way to put this, "Athra had come over here so they could study for a project.. and well.. they apparently weren't doing much in the way of skoolwork."

"Did he rip one of Athra's legs off or something?" she quirked an antennae. "I know they get rough now and then, but.."

"No, no.. They were getting physical in.. the entirely other sense." She stared at him for a while, before her eye-ridges rose.

"...no way."

"Cten said that he admitted they'd actually been 'together' quite a while. Vist happened to find some, *ahem*, contraceptives while they were in the lab…" Enid smirked,

"So you never moved those things?" she asked simply as if it was an every day question.

"Hey, I thought they were well hidden," He scowled, "I should've known that they weren't what they seemed though, a few weeks back I saw them on a bench in the park, and, well… I assumed they were fighting." She shook her head,

"Man, they had everyone tricked then... huh, kids."

"Yeah, they're odd like that." He folded his arms, smirking at her slightly, "But as long as you're here, why not stay for lunch?" He started towards the kitchen.

"Hey sure, why not?" Enid grinned. He opened the fridge and started rooting around,

"You know, if a pair of kids who we thought hated each other turned out to be like this.." He pulled out some sandwhich meat, "I have to wonder about Radge and that human."

"You suspect he has a thing for her, huh?" she pulled a chair out and sat down, leaning against the table. "I don't blame you Daddy, I don't blame you at all." He sighed,

"She's a nice girl and all," He procured some toppings as well, already knowing all of Enid's preferences since he'd usually made her skool lunches, "Heck, they kind of remind me of you and Zib." He set the stuff on the counter, taking out the bread, "But she is a human, and if she ever found out.."

"Do you think she'd do something Dib wanted to do all those times?" she picked up her sandwich, "I mean, she's his best friend.."

"Well, I don't know. They are rather close and she seems far less interested in that sort of stuff than Dib, but.. Humans can be pretty greedy for fame." He sat down as well with his own sandwhich.

"Hmm... I might have to talk to him about that. Since he's had.. that smell around him." Enid took a bite into her sandwich, giving Poe a look since he knew the smell of hormones pretty well by now. He shook his head,

"Teenagers, gotta love 'em." He took a bite as well, "How about Ivy?"

"Far from it." she replied after swallowing. "I think her attack has warn her off men possibly for the rest of her life."

"I guess you can't blame her.. Well, as long as she's happy and not lonely.. I mean, her brother and her aunt are kinda preoccupied with other people to be much company."

"I know.. I keep telling her to get out and get a friend somewhere.." Enid shook her head sadly. "I want her to be happy, but it's hard." He nodded,

"Tell me about it.. it reminds me of how Vist use to be." He leaned back in his chair, "I just hope she doesn't become like her grandparents on Zib's side and be largely antisocial and unreasonable."

"Sadly, I can see her becoming like that." Enid chewed on the sandwich crust, then swallowed. "I don't know what to do, really I don't."

"Maybe as parents we can't do anything. I mean.. the only thing that seemed to improve Vist's attitude was Athra." He finished his sandwhich.

"Well I'm not about to find an 'Athra' for Ivy... she snarls at any male who comes near her who isn't family... that poor mail man.."

"She's not in any kind of social activities at skool at all?" He frowned slightly.

"None." Enid sighed, leaning on the table. "She has no need to be social at all."

"Maybe she needs some kind of positive thing to happen to her.. To at least counter the bad thing that did." He folded his arms on the table, "I think she acts the way she does because she's scared.."

"Me too. Afraid she'd get hurt physically or mentally if she lets anyone get close to her." she put her hand to her forehead, frowning. "But what could she do.."

"We could try talking to her about it, but.. She might only close up further if we did."

"Ugh." Enid then put her head on the table, hands on the back of it. "She gives me such a headache." Poe frowned,

"At the very least she doesn't seem to be.. sick," He glanced to the side, "Unless that's what's making her act like this.."

"Daddy don't make me worry more please..." she lifted her head to look at him, then sighed. "Too late." He flinched slightly,

"Sorry, En, but you have to consider these things." He leaned over the table and took her hand, "She probably just needs a friend, but.. the first step would be getting her to realize that."

"I know, I know... but how I go about that is an entire headache alone!" Enid whined slightly. Poe looked at her sympathetically, then stood up and walked over to where she was,

"You're not alone, En, you have Zib, and your mother and I…"

"I know Daddy, I know..." she looked up at him, slowly sitting up. "Even talking to her is difficult." He shook his head slightly,

"It's hard to imagine how she can be so different from Ragde, but.." He pondered, "Does Zib have it easier or harder talking to her?"

"Better, a little at least." Enid narrowed an eye. "She always was a Daddy's girl." He smiled slightly, setting his hand on the back of her head,

"Wonder where she got it from."

"Gee, me too.." she smirked, folding her arms. He looked up at the ceiling.

"I don't know.. It could always be a a teenager thing."

"Bah." Enid waved a hand. "I'll talk to Zib about it, then see if he can talk some sense into her at least."

"Just don't be too hard on her.. it'll just make things worse." He sighed, "I don't know.. Maybe I'll try to talk to her.. She gets along with me." He frowned slightly, "I think."

"Hyeah, we all hope she gets along with us." she frowned in agitation, and clenched one of her fists. "Sometimes I wonder if it's my fault she's like this."

"Now, don't think like that." He put his hand on her shoulder, "Why would it be?"

"Because I wasn't ready to be a Mother?" Enid glanced up at him, one antennae quirking. "Which is true, I didn't plan for what happened to happen."

"No one ever is." He glanced to the side, then shook his head, "I don't think it's that, though, Ragde seems fine."

"He shies away from anyone he does know, I'm surprised he made friends with Allison when he did." she shrugged, then stood up.

"Too bad Ivy didn't do the same.. Athra was her friend for a while.. she managed to reach her somehow. That means it can be done again, right?"

"She and Athra still are friends, Daddy. They hang out, but now Athra spends some more time with Vist and all... Ivy's being left behind."

"Yeah.. I imagine not even Ragde does much with her anymore." He glanced to the ground.

"Sadly, but still.. not like they were a real friendly sort of brother and sister to begin with." Enid pointed out, "She always used to tease him, even when they were newly hatched smeets."

"True, I can't really blame him for being distant." He folded his arms, then glanced over at her, "She gets teased a lot herself now, doesn't she?"

"From what I heard, girls and boys make remarks about her behind her back, and to her face." she frowned slightly, "Athra once told me that the local flock of girls called her a Lesbo."

"Ugh." He shook his head, "I really dislike humans sometimes.. but.. She got worse after the incident with the muggers, right?"

"Very worse. I've had.. a lot of interviews with the Principal about her behaviour and he says, if she doesn't fix her attitude problem she'll be expelled. Not that she cares, she said so herself." Enid sighed, shaking her head. "She's worse then Vist I swear." He frowned, nodding slightly.

"True, at least Vist seemed to inherit Cten's self control.. Where's Ivy now, in skool?"

"Kicked out for the day." she replied quietly.

"Oh. Is she at home or out and about?"

"Home. I told her since she's in trouble with the Skool, she can't go out." Enid shook her head gently, "She did not like that." He nodded again,

"Maybe we should go talk to her.."

"You're not doing anything here?"

"Am I ever?" He smiled slightly, then shrugged, "I think Cten's administering 'the talk' to Vist in his room, so.."

"Ohh, the talk... heh, Mom doesn't use any fancy words either." Enid smirked, remembering back when she first started developing and Cten gave her the same thing. "All right, let's blow this popsicle stand and head over to Troubled Teens Land." she grinned, pulling her wig on. He did the same with his, and they headed out the door. Ivy, meanwhile, was curled up on the couch, glaring at the TV while she hugged herself, her knees tucked up. Over the course of time it became apparent she had inherited some more human characteristics, becoming rather, well, curvy. After one too many nasty comments, though, she started wearing things that hid her form. Eventually Enid arrived home, Poe following behind her. Pulling her wig off, and contacts out Enid walked up to Ivy, looking down at her.

"Ivy, we need to have a little talk." Ivy's hair scythes tilted back at the sound, and she glanced up at her mother and grandfather,

"I already told you the thing at skool wasn't my fault.." She shifted her weight and seemed to curl up a bit more, "That guy wouldn't stop hasseling me." Enid nodded, then sat down besides her on the couch.

"I know, you explained that to me, the boy's parents and the Principal. But I want to talk about something else." Ivy blinked up at them, wondering in the back of her mind why her grandfather was there as well. Poe sat down on the arm of the couch,

"Ivy, we're.. We're worried about you."

"Me? Why? I can take care of myself!" She said quickly.

"We know that, we know that too well.." Enid replied, then reached out and took Ivy's hand, "We're worried about your social interaction, if any.." Ivy flinched slightly, but allowed her mother to hold her hand, looking at her from over her knees.

"I don't need anyone." She glanced to the side, scowling.

"Everyone needs friends and family, Ivy," Poe waved his hands.

"Because, we know you've been alone lately. What with Ragde and Athra doing their own things, but I want to see you happy. And I know, being alone isn't a good thing." she said calmly, surprised Ivy was letting her touch her hand because normally she'd pull away. Ivy scrunched up slightly, glaring at the carpet.

"What's wrong with being alone? Other people just interfere," Gotta love those Membrane genes.

"But they also offer support when you need it." Enid said.

"But.. They don't.." She hunched her shoulders and mumbled into her folded arms, "I don't need support.. it's.. it's weak."

"Everyone needs support, Ivy." Poe folded his own arms, "Who are you to think you're stronger than everyone else?" She started to defend herself, but closed her mouth and leaned her forehead against her arms.

"True, you needed help that one time but that was then." Enid knew Ivy was still touchy about that incident, not only just being attacked but being protected by her brother was something all together humiliating. Ivy bristled at that and hugged herself tightly,

"I didn't! I could've.. I mean.." She trailed off. Poe pondered for a moment, then turned to Ivy,

"Ivy.. are you afraid you're vulnerable because of what happened that one time?"

"No!" She said, far too quickly. Enid glanced at Poe, raising an eye-ridge. Then turned back to Ivy.

"Ivy, we all know how well you are in defending yourself, but that doesn't mean everyone's out to get you." she sat back, looking at her with a concerned look. "But seriously, I do think you need a friend." Her hair-scythes drooped slightly, and she stared over her sleeves at the couch cushion,

"I thought Athra was my friend… but she's always off with that horrible Vist," she growled to herself.

"Athra is your friend, she's just experiencing some new... uh, things lately. It's bound to happen to everyone sooner or later." Enid couldn't help but pause and feel uncomfortable saying that part, that's for sure. Ivy gave Enid a puzzled look, then shook her head,

"I can't stand him though," her lip twitched, "She always finds some excuse to go off and do.. whatever they do!" She waved her hand, "And Ragde has his human." She grunted, "Who else is there?"

"Maybe you should look into finding a new friend?" Enid asked, "I'm sure there's some looking for a friend."

"With a human?" Ivy looked at her mom incredulously,

"You're part human yourself, Ivy.." Poe reminded her, albeit gently,

"Doesn't mean I like them," she muttered.

"Well, what else is there to find on this planet, hon?" she asked, smirking. "Not like there's other alien life here."

"Most of the other lifeforms aren't going to talk back, either." Poe added, and Ivy sighed.

"But.. every human I've met has been.." She growled and clenched her fist.

"Annoying? I know dear, most of them are jerks. It just takes some time to find a nice one amongst them."

"..that'd be the nice way of putting it." Ivy kept staring at her boots, "I don't.. I don't even know how to look."

"Simple, you just go out and if anyone looks interesting, strike up a conversation." Enid said, "I know it'd be difficult.."

"But.. Everyone.. They're all weirded out by how I look," she muttered.

"Well.. that just means any that weren't would be a good friend, since they look past superficial features." Enid frowned, sitting back and thinking.

"How else to people find friends on this planet..." Poe thought about it as well, and Ivy looked over at them.

"Don't worry about it," she muttered, hugging her knees, "No one likes me anyway." Poe frowned,

"Well, Ivy, you do generally act in a way that wouldn't.. promote acts of friendliness toward you."

"And if you think nothing of yourself, no one else will." Enid said, "Have confidence and believe in yourself." Poe nodded,

"Just try being nicer, too, Ivy. Treat people how you want them to treat you."

"But even if I just leave them alone, they still.." She stiffened, narrowing her eyes at the memories,

"Ignore them. That'll hurt them more than anything else."

"They're probably doing that just to rile you up, and get you in trouble. And it seems to be working." she looked at the TV, then at Poe. "Is there any disco like places around here?"

"Disco?" He looked confused for a moment, "There are clubs and bars and such, but the atmosphere of those are, eh.." He made a 'questionable' hand.

"I mean like, ones made for people underage and what not."

"Oh.. Well, I don't know, probably." Ivy watched the exchange and muttered, realizing she was probably going to be shuffled off ot some social human place that she'd hate. "What would you think of a place like that, Ivy?"

"Never been.."

"We'll look into that then." Enid nodded, "But only if you want to go to one, just once Ivy." Ivy nodded reluctantly;

"I guess it'll be better than hanging out in the park." Poe smiled,

"If nothing else, we'll be able to figure out what you don't like. Besides everything, I mean." He teased gently.

"Daddy." Enid smirked, hitting his arm playfully. Ivy scowled at him, but a tiiiiiny smile tugged at her mouth,

"I don't hate everything - well, sometimes I do, but.."

"What do you.. um, not hate?"

"My.. um.. family?" She looked up at them.

"Well I hope you don't hate us! I didn't go through a painful laying for nothing you know." Enid joked, grinning at Ivy.

"'Course not, Mom." It was one of those rare times when Ivy wasn't scowling or snarling as she said this,

"What else?" Poe asked, encouraged,

"Fighting?" His face dropped,

"Well, we'll have to work on that.."

[To be continued]