"Oh, Sophia. Why don't you sit, we can talk." My statement to her gave her pause, but she soon settled down in front of me. In a way, she was predictable. As long as one didn't present a force that was insurmountable, she would keep going.

"What's there to talk about?" Oh my, that dark look directed at me was full of malice and anger. It positively roiled off her. It tasted sharp and spicy, and yet it held a hint of sweetness much like the thai siracha that mom used to like to add to her dishes every now and then.

Something about adding a hint of spice to one's life. Mom would smile at dad when she said that. Still, I digress.

"I'm totes going to kill you," She continued on with that smile. That slight curve of her lip that indicated that she was beyond pissed. Her fists were on the table, I could see her knuckles almost white beneath her dark skin.

In response, I merely tilted my head at her. "Are you now, Sophia? Later, mister Kurtis."

I smiled and waved at one of the dock workers that I vaguely remembered, he waved back at me as he left the dinner. "Later. And it's Kurt, with no need for the mister."

"Right, my bad. Later, Kurt." Sophia frowned at the wave and smile before looking around the restaurant and gave me a careful considering look. I leaned into the back of my seat and looked at her with one raised eyebrow. "No one is going to bother us, you know. After all, we're just two normal school girls, well... two school girls having a civil discussion, yes? Nothing remarkable that anyone would pay attention to."

The truth hung heavy in my words. It was an undeniable truth. And we were absolutely normal, two school girls talking in a diner. A sight that you might smile at before putting out of your mind, without regard for the actual conversation.

"I see," She closed her eyes, breathing in and out, calming herself down.

I wanted to reply with a "do you now?" or perhaps a "is that so?", but that didn't quite fit the tense mood at the table between Sophia and I. This was a serious matter, and would need to be handled delicately. Thus, I choose my words carefully.

"Kind of sucks when things don't go the way you think they should, does it?" I blinked and smiled at the waitress as she brought over my iced tea. "Thank you, and my friend here will have a large Sprite."

"Not a problem, hon. You need anything, just give me a shout, 'kay?" I nodded my understanding as she walked back to the bar counter. Sophia blinked at me as if surprised that I knew that she liked the lemony drink.

"Yeah, life's a bitch. And then you die," Sophia's frown did not relent. It was clear that she believed herself trapped and that she didn't like it. Not one bit.

"True, there is that" I stretched and smiled at her, I knew that my mouth was just a little too wide for it to be the beautiful smile that Emma had and used to grace me with. No wonder she shuddered at my reply. "Thing is, I understand you have this thing about predators and prey and such, yes?"

"Yeah, what of it?" She nodded at me. "It's a very simple concept. You get people like me, who are predators and then there are people like you, who are prey."

The delivery of the sprite was soon done and I thanked the waitress once more. "So black and white, Sophia. Yes and no. Zero and one. It's so binary. So boring."

That spiteful look was back once more. "Really now. Is this how this talk is going to be? You insulting me and everything I say?"

"No, Sophia. That wouldn't be right." I wagged a finger at her. "No, what I meant is that, there is always a bigger fish. And some times, the little fishes?"

I smiled and spread my hands wide. "They can grow into bigger fishes than expected."

"So, you trying to say you were a baby predator." There was a scoff in her voice. "People don't change like that."

"No... people don't change," I nodded in agreement with her. "But people don't have the power to fly. To shoot lasers out of their eyes. People don't have the power to just make impossible things happen as they want it to. People should not have the power to destroy cities or to save them from things that would do so."

"What are you saying?" Her voice was soft now, curious.

"Those things I mentioned? Those are not things people do," I continued. "You are a 'parahuman', yes? This is a time for truths, no lies."

I made air quotes as I mentioned the name that society called those gifted with power, the dry and formal name for capes.

There was a moment of silence as she looked around the diner. No one else paid attention to us or our conversation. Why would they? Was it not a normal thing for two girls to just talk? Nothing note worthy.

"Yeah, what of it?" She nodded and gave me an answer eventually.

"We're not human. Oh, people would say that we're just human plus or some such," I smiled once more at her, perhaps I should work on being more sociable, as it looked like my smiles were simply not cutting it. "But we're not, are we? You and me, the things we can do are not something humans can do."

"That's crazy talk, you know, right?" She swallowed and looked at me with concern, or was that fear? I couldn't tell. "Listen, Taylor... it's clear that when you triggered that I might have gone a little too far and you might have snapped a bit much. Why don't we relax a little."

Sophia quieted down as my fish and chips were place on the table by the waitress. It smelled good, I could see the smoke wafting off it as I drizzled lemon juice on the fish and vinegar on the chips.

"And after you're done with your dinner, we can just go down to the Protectorate building. They're very understanding of new capes and stuff." That smile on Sophia's face was certainly forced. Perhaps... perhaps, I had gone a little too far in my role. The mask I had donned in my mind just a smidge too extreme, even for Sophia.

"So, you're a Ward," I raised an eyebrow at her. There were only two female wards at present, one was a few years younger than me. But the other. I considered what I knew of Shadow Stalker and Sophia. It was surprisingly obvious who she was when donning her mask.

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

I tilted my head as I considered this before cutting one of the battered and fried cod into pieces. It was almost obligatory that I dipped it into the tartar sauce before chewing on it.

I masticated for a bit before swallowing and speaking once more. "And if I say... no?"

"Seriously, Taylor, you have issues like a library has magazines in it." She looked at me in my eyes. "It doesn't matter if you're a predator or prey. You shouldn't say things like that, even if you don't mean it. And you do, I can see it in your eyes. You believe in that stuff."

"Only crazy people would believe in that stuff," Sophia continued. "I've seen vid..."

"True. Or monsters," I nodded at her speaking after another piece of fish. She paled at my response. "Or people with a bias against parahumans."

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Goblin Queen | Appearances can be monstrous
Worm / Exalted