1 week later
"come on Victoria you can do this, your fans are waiting" says Tori
"you ok Star" says Julia
"yes, I'm just unsure if I should release my song silver Shadow" says Tori
"which one is silver shadow" says Julia
"the one I wrote about Cat 'take me around the world, show me how you see things, out of the blue we shall sing to the birds, I will show you my way', cat teased it but never released it, it's a love song and isn't true jazz form, it makes me nervous as the wedding draws nearer" says Tori
"why because of things you mentioned in it, you know better than anyone it's going to be a hit, 'the silver girl in the silver dress, how I wish I could feel your breath´ I love that part, suggestive yes but it's pure raw emotion, it shows you as a Jazz icon can still get hurt but also that you can love, it shows you aren't as unfeeling as some superstars who just try and please their fans" says Julia
"that's true, I guess I didn't see it like that, ok I'm ready to perform" says Tori
After the show
"um tor you cut yourself" says Cat
"oh yeah that, these door frames aren't finished apparently, I got cut just before the show" says Tori
"they seem fine to me" says Julia as Josi Lynn and Marcus walk up
"you didn't have the cut on stage, we'd have seen it, must you participate in old Vega marriage rituals Tori Star" says Josi
"how would you know that's what that was" says Tori
"someone please explain" says Cat
"the ritual is about creating a blood bond between two people that are about to marry, it stopped being legal royal family wise thirty years ago, anyone who attempts it is usually removed from the family" Says Josi Lynn
"that ritual requires the blood of both, cat doesn't have any cuts on her, you don't know everything Josi Lynn" says Tori
"Should I get Jason in here to verify your claim Tori" says Josi
"you are one of the reasons I put Lexie in charge and abandoned the throne, you think you know everything, I do have suicidal tendencies Josi, I was thinking about ending it all over Silver Shadow, the message it sends, the wording I used made me uncomfortable, the full ten minute song gets very inappropriate and I didn't like it, it's also not true Jazz music" says Tori
"you do tend to bite me more than normal lately" says Cat
"have I ever drawn blood" says Tori
"well no" says Cat
"then she's doing it because you let her, I'm sorry Star for assuming, I'm trying to change, that's why I like Markus" says Josi
"is this true Markus" says Tori
"yes, I'm not the greatest looking guy as you know Victoria, she said right away that it was my selfless actions she loved first, as popular as she is she is very shy" says Markus
"that has a familiar ring to it, so now that you know her better do you think you can deal with her sixties curls" says Tori
"we've come to an agreement, if she goes out to an event or holds an event or party that she can wear her curls how she wants, but if we are alone she lets her hair loose and makes them bouncy curls" says Markus
"you ok with that agreement Josi" says Tori intrigued
"yes, I'm too used to performing, I was the one who suggested it, I'm too attached to the look of Quinn Tora, it's not who I am, not who I want to be for the rest of my life" says Josi
"as long as you weren't forced to do that, we may disagree on many things Josi, but know that your self worth is more important than changing for someone because it makes a relationship work" says Tori
"this coming from the girl who abandoned her post as Princess for love" says Josi
"hey, I'm coming back, I made it clear Lexie's placement as princess was temporary from the start, the TFSA was her idea not mine" says Tori
"wait so she's the reason prices dropped by forty-five percent on all products in Spain" says Josi
"yes, I just brought it to the world's attention, when I start in two years she will be my policy consultant" says Tori
"two years, I have to wait two years to see you back in Spain in power where you deserve to be" says Josi
"maybe three, I want to get used to being Cat's wife first, how is the other houses taking my pending marriage to Cat" says Tori
"they are excited, you have opened a peaceful dialogue between Italian royal families and Spanish royal families, we haven't seen peace like this in over ten years" says Josi
"who knew following my heart would bring peace to two royal families, Cat how is the Italian royal taking it" says Tori
"they are enjoying the peace while it lasts, friendly relationships are few and far between, rarely lasted a year when they were peaceful, Cassandra understands our relationship and fully supports it so the other families have no choice" says Cat as they get in a limo
"she really went that hard on the Marano's, so I don't have to worry about them then" says Tori
"Cassandra offered a peaceful resolution, they said no, so the authorities got involved, arrests were made, people were fined huge fines, and Ally Darksilver rules the Marano family now as she chooses" says Cat
2 hours later back in San-Francisco
"I thought Trina bought a backstage and an after party pass" says Caitlyn as everyone walks in
"she brought her boyfriend to the concert, she wanted my opinion, I told her he looked like a good man, she's asking mom and dad" says Tori
"he seemed nice, Kyle Wolf I think his name was" says Natasha
"you talked to him" says Tori
"yes, he wanted to comment on my performance, he said it was amazing" says Natasha
"so he's German, does Trina know this" says Tori
"she called him her Schatz so I assume so" says Natasha
"that means treasure, how long have they been together" says Tori
"she actually smiled at me and hugged me said some German word in my ear, I don't know what it means, Tintenfisch" says Natasha
"that translates to octopus, did she say anything else" says Tori
"the Spanish word for Party" says Natasha
"she can't stand octopi, never has, why would she need to learn it in a different language, I hate puzzles" says Tori
"but I do, octopus party, that could mean any number of things, did it sound perfect German or bad German" says Julia
"she has a good teacher but it definitely wasn't perfect" says Natasha
"how did you judge
that" says Julia
"she paused, as if to see his reaction, he coughed and she winced" says Natasha
"Ampua, that method doesn't work well for everyone, it didn't work for me, did she just wince or tense up as well" says Julia
"just the wince, since when do you speak Finnish so openly, or know German" says Natasha
"I like both they have a certain Scharf taste on my tongue, I can't explain it, why do you speak Swedish or French" says Julia
"that's fair Julia, stand down Dana, she's been learning from Hans he's pretty good at teaching, Trina also knows she loves puzzles, so what is the answer Julia" says Tori
"of all the possible different meanings for octopus, I come up with Oktober Party" says Julia
"how'd you get Oktober from octopus" says Tori confused
"common mistakes made by a rookie, once instead of Oktoberfest I said octopus fest, that conversation did not go well, although I assume in this case she did it on purpose" says Julia
"I imagine that conversation didn't end with you getting any sausage dogs did it" says Tori
"it most definitely did not, they repeated back what I said and I knew I messed up, I walked on my hands trying to get out of there as fast as I could, someone I now recognize as Kyle Wolf stopped me, Nette Zirkusdame, gave me some money and sent me to his sister who took the money and gave me some soup" says Julia
"what's his sister's name" says Cat as they walk to the elevator
"Erika, she's a tad skiddish, her first words were hi my name is Erika but her accent was heavy, I couldn't understand her, Kyle came over and said she is a learner, less accent" says Julia
"is she nice" says Beck
"they go above and beyond nice, their father's side of the family were bad people in World war two, their father helped them be a light in the world" says Julia
"I asked about her not him" says Beck
"she volunteers at a homeless shelter full of veterans Beck, he's a translator by trade, helping people is their goal, helped even farther by the FTSA, they ordered ingredients tailored to the Veterans" says Julia
"does she hide her accent" says Beck
"in normal situations yes, Oktoberfest was the first time in a year she's let it show, do you have some sort of anti German sentiment Beck, not every German is a bad person you know" says Julia
"I want to keep you safe" says Beck
"you are too protective Beck, I will have friends who aren't Americans, you can't stop me, could you just respect that I have good judgement, or maybe I have poor judgement because both of the guys I had crushes on seem to treat me like I'm two" says Julia as she heads to her room
"did I say something wrong" says Beck
"not wrong for someone like Jade who liked the babying you did, Julia sees it as an insult to her independence as a person" says Natasha
"I was just treating her like the teen she is" says Beck
"oh my God Beck, open your eyes, she's your girlfriend not some kid who needs to be babysat" says Natasha
"I'm in the dog house tonight aren't I" says Beck
"she was pumped for the afterparty of my first concert, Dana has been showing her some cool water aerobatics tricks and she wanted to show you, you just ruined her whole night, if you aren't in the dog house, you are probably going to be dumped" says Tori
"I hope it's just the dog house, she never gave me a list of things to avoid, I'm a protective person by nature, it's how I was raised, she would really dump me because of my nature" says Beck
"she dumped me for mine, call it a character flaw, let her cool down, I'll talk to her, maybe she will apologize" says Jill as everyone reaches her at the pool
"ok this is even better than I imagined, you have outdone yourself Jill" says Tori
"oh you will be saying that about five more times tonight, I will talk to Juka now" says Jill
With Julia
"what do you want Jill I'm not in a forgiving mood right now" says Julia
"you never gave him a list of things to avoid, what's he supposed to do tiptoe around everything he says to make you happy" says Jill
"yes" says Julia upset
"that's not a relationship that's a prison, his father raised him to be the protector he is, what you're asking him to do is mean and cruel, if he can't be himself around you then what's the point of him trying to date you" says Jill
"then why is he trying, you stopped" says Julia
"you broke my wrist, what was I supposed to do forget it happened, what we had was special yes but it wasn't worth the hospital trips, he adores you Julia, he needs perspective sometimes because you and Jade are polar opposites, he needs to learn not everything he did with Jade will work with you" says Jill
30 minutes later as Trina arrives
"does anyone know where Julia is, Erika wanted me to give her something" says Trina
"she should be in her room, what was it" says Beck
"she isn't, I checked, one of the veterans remembered her from a session with Jason a few years back and wanted to give her his field knife from his time in the war" says Trina
"if she's not in her room where would she be, Tori" says Beck
"Jill knows her better than I do" says Tori
"if she's not in her room there is only one place she'd go, are all the care accounted for Tori" says Jill
"they were locked down when we walked into the house, she doesn't drive…" says Tori
"then she walked" says Jill
"at this time of night, she'd walk halfway across the city to go see Michelle Vega, I just don't see her doing that" says Tori
"then you never truly knew her, I took Beck's side, explained some things" says Jill
"and Michelle is a sucker for sob stories" says Tori
"no she isn't, not the way you mean Tori, I pushed Julia to expand her limits, Michelle always took Julia's side when dad was confronted, and because he couldn't see Julia as anything other than the perfect little girl she pretended to be, he always sided with her and Michelle" says Juliette
"you saying that Julia is manipulative" says Tori
"when she's around Michelle, big time, she's looking for someone to see her side" says Juliette
"what about her issue with Cotton clothing, did she manipulate us on that" says Tori
"no, I've seen the rash she gets, I was the one who suggested she try silk, chances are Michelle picked her up" says Juliette
With Michelle 20 minutes later
"hey Tori I got her, she's safe" says Michelle to Tori over the phone
"how'd you find her" says Tori
"the necklace Jason gave her is a tracker she was at a convenience store buying sleeping pills tori" says Michelle
"she went that far, she didn't take them all did she" says Tori
"no, I was tracking her as soon as she left your house, she had six in her hand, I looked her in the eye and said only one, then got her in my car and took her to see dad" says Michelle
"is she ok" says Tori
"looked like she was in a fight but otherwise she's ok, the neighbourhood she was in wasn't a good one Tori, Ecaliante gang territory" says Michelle
"ok I'm sending Trina" says Tori
"that's fine, she was asking for Trina the whole ride home anyway" says Michelle
45 minutes later as Trina arrives at Michelle's
"wow she looks bad" says Trina shocked
"she walked right into Ecaliante Gang territory defenseless, it's a miracle she is still alive" says Michelle
"she was where, whoa that's crazy, they are known for making people disappear, how do you think she survived" says Trina
"I think she threw the first punch, they are known for leaving teens alone" says Michelle
"so you assumption is that she wanted to disappear" says Trina
"I'm saying she wanted to die, Tori filled me in on her situation, You know Beck is known to be protective right" says Michelle
"I'm assuming he went too far" says Trina
"indeed then Jill explained stuff and she left the house without letting a single person know" says Michelle
"she hasn't had the best childhood by any reasonable standards" says Trina
"I don't even think she had a childhood, while in my Dads care we were always scheming to make Juliette angry, she's never really been at peace mentally, she never knew her parents, she was convinced her family hated her, that she was this freak that no one loved" says Michelle
"so when Beck protects her what do you think she sees" says Trina
"me, if she accidentally broke something, I always took the blame, I protected her from any harm" says Michelle
1 am
"Mishy is that you" says Julia
"yes, I need answers, why that part of town, why the sleeping pills" says Michelle
"Beck thought I was just some teen who needed protecting, I heard them talking, my window was open, it hurt me bad" says Julia
"you really like this Beck huh" says Michelle
"I thought I did, I don't know anymore, I don't need protecting anymore like what he did, I realize that's who he is but he treated me like I was a little girl, not a seventeen year old girl who can make friends without someone's approval first" says Julia
"I agree but he's learning, you want me to talk to him" says Michelle
"I don't know, I want to stay here for a few days, your boyfriend wouldn't mind would he" says Julia
"I don't know, he's already made plans, we are headed to France for a four day get away, he doesn't like people in my house unsupervised" says Michelle
"oh ok, maybe I can stay at Trina's for a few days then" says Julia
"I'll ask her, now sleep ok" says Michelle
9 am
"hey Michelle, Tori said you have Julia, can I see her" says Beck
"she's at Trina's for the next few days, why do you want to see her so bad" says Michelle
"she's my girlfriend" says Beck
"is that how you've been treating her then, not like a girl who needs to be protected from everything" says Michelle
"I'm learning, she's secretive and never gave me a list of things to avoid" says Beck
"she has a reason to be secretive, Juliette hates me because Julia and I were always scheming to infuriate her, when you protect her from harmless people you go too far" says Michelle
"how would you know" says Beck
"because I protected her from everything and everyone, she walked right in to Ecaliente gang neighbourhood defenceless" says Michelle
"she survived" says Beck
"yes, they have this thing about teens, they leave them alone, she confirmed she threw the first punch" says Michelle
"how did she survive it" Asks Beck
"contortion" says Michelle
"how could Contortion save her from one of the most violent Gangs in Sanfran" Asks Beck
"something she calls the Whip effect, she gains momentum, bounces off a wall and proceeds to kick one after another in the chest with each bounce off the wall, Alice Cortez is the only other Contortionist recognized that can perform such an attack" says Michelle
"do wounds on her body confirm this" says Beck
"as well as the ten Gang members recently admitted to the hospital, I was about to go talk to them if you'd like to tag along" says Michelle
"sure" says Beck
At the hospital 20 minutes later
"of all the people I expected to visit me Michelle you weren't one" says Gregory
"So about Julia" says Michelle
"it was a blur, one moment she punched us, the next we had her pinned against a wall, I don't remember much of what happened next" says Gregory
"what do you remember" says Michelle
"she picked us off one by one, she was like a ninja, as if to send a message to the leader that the community is to be left alone" says Gregory
"so she didn't have a knife on her or a gun" says Michelle
"no gun but if she had a knife on her she didn't use it, she had no need, I'm known as the strongest in the neighbourhood and she almost cracked a rib or two" says Gregory
"my view of her is all wrong" says Beck
"Ahh the Boyfriend, she left me with a message for you" says Gregory
"what was the message" says Beck
"see I'm not defenseless" says Gregory
"so she's on a violent streak" says Beck
"no, it was a show of power, strength and restraint, she could have killed us, she has the agility to out maneuver us and the power behind her kicks to kill but she didn't, she seemed to kick us where it would hurt us but had the least chance of killing us, the doctors have said as much" says Gregory as Emilia walks in
"it's true, each gang member seems to have been hit where they have the most muscle tone" says Emilia
"I thought you were a therapist Emilia" says Michelle
"I am, Gregory is Spanish, he knows of the QinTar, he asked me specifically for help" says Emilia
"it's Julia, she did this to them, she confirmed it" says Michelle
"there is no way Julia could have done this to them, she's only seventeen" says Emilia
"is this her" says Michelle handing Gregory a picture of Julia
"yup that's her, Julia Kari" says Gregory
"that's impossible, the QinTar don't recruit teens" says Emilia
"why mention the QinTar, they don't target America" says Michelle
"the QinTar isn't a terrorist Group Michelle, it's a group of Elite assassins that know how to target and disable people, the fluidity of her strikes, the power of her kicks, the targeting of Gang members, it's classic QinTar" says Emilia
"she despises Violence, the QinTar are set on kill strikes, they don't leave witnesses" says Michelle
"the QinTar is evolving, the Ecaliente occupy an Italian neighbourhood, the Ecaliente is a Spanish Gang, authorities have been trying to get them to stop ruling the neighbourhood purely on fear and failing" says Emilia
"where the authorities failed Julia succeeded, the gang is set to disband in two days in fear she will kill us" says Gregory
"they really afraid of her" says Beck
"when the QinTar targets you, you know it's time to leave, they weren't always the angry ninjas they are now, they used to be peace keepers, anti military, at one time they freed Italy from the grips of insanity and fear" says Gregory
"so why did they become what they are today" asks Beck
"that same fear, fear they couldn't protect everyone in today's world simply by promises of peace, they were right in the end, but the way Julia fought she isn't a pledged member, instead she's practicing the old way, the peaceful way and it scares us" says Gregory
"why" says Beck
"because it shows that she has found a way to grow past the fear of past warriors, if she has no fear, the Ecaliente has no way to keep their grip on their claimed community of Italians" says Gregory
"so the Ecaliente is just going to disappear, just like that" says Michelle
"no we are going to face our guilt, turn ourselves in, in hopes of pleasing Julia" says Gregory
"I actually can't believe you are afraid of her that much, you guys are known for making people disappear, how can you be afraid of her" says Beck
"you haven't seen her in action man, if I didn't know better I'd say she was in two places at once, not even our sniper could get a lock on her, she's dangerous man, the Ecaliente believe that fear brings order and control, without fear she could get herself killed, believing she is invincible is dangerous" says Gregory as Julia walks in
"my mother abandoned me, I fear abandonment, loneliness but not death, The Ecaliente went too far, ruling with fear only brings caos, they had to be dealt with" says Julia
"why let us live then" says Gregory
"while QinTar of old believed that death brings peace, I believe that mercy brings balance" says Julia
"and if we kept the grip on the community" says Gregory
"Star Tora, while her name is masked for security reasons, she believes that true evil, the death of innocent unarmed citizens needs to be punished, that lessons be learned" says Julia
"the Princess sent you to rain blood on us has she" says Gregory
"I find it odd you worship her Gregory, after all you've done, I thought no believers remained" says Julia
"this life was not one I chose willingly, knowing that, I deserve the punishment afforded to me by my actions, I weep for the lives lost by my hand, I deserve not redemption of her breath" says Gregory
"who said anything about redemption Gregory, you will bear witness to her anger in two days, the chance of your survival is slim" says Julia
"this seems too poetic for my taste, even with the legend of the fire Queen existing, it seems too perfect" says Emilia
"there is only one royal family member I know that believes in lessons" says Beck
"still believe I need protecting Beck" says Julia taunting him
"you were never missing were you, were you even mad at me at all" says Beck upset
"as far as JP was concerned I was, the idiotic thing I find annoying is everyone assumes that the fire Queen has to be the current heir, why don't people ever try and translate old texts" says Julia
"so you were really at risk fighting the Ecaliente" says Beck
"if you are referring to risk of suicide by murder, yes it was a risk I was willing to take, everyone sees me as defenceless except for the Fire Queen, I took the mission because of your insistence that I couldn't defend myself, you see me as a child, not your girlfriend, I figured if that's how he sees me then if I die he wouldn't cry over it if I died defending a thousand people" says Julia
"that's crazy, do you really believe I see you as a child, that I wouldn't care if you died" says Beck
"you said yourself that in your eyes I was a child who needed protection" says Julia
"Juka, that's a wicked literal translation of what I said, you're a year and a half younger than I am, in the eyes of the law you are a child, do you think Tori would let me live if you got hurt" says Beck
"Tori is not the Fire Queen, Dana is, Tori is the ice princess of lore, the bringer of peace, the lover of balance, Dana hides her anger well, I'll give her that" says Julia