{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*] *~Multiverse Mysteries~*[*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*}
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-FutureFalloutVerse*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*~8~*
Chapter 11:
Anxiety, Allegories & Autonomy
{****************}
*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*-Raphael-*
{****************}
"O-okay…I know how this seems b-"
"It 'seems' like you're turning yourself into a freaking supervillian! And that's not an exaggeration! That is the literal truth! Becks said your readings are false, a projection, have been since we met. He couldn't tell until now because it was too subtle- too realistic, too damn good but he analyzed it and he's positive that they're false. That they don't seem human. That's-"
Raphael shook his head, flashing his most disarming smile, chuckling softly, waving him off.
"Not even remotely true. It's just a harmless privacy shield." He smiled, glancing over at Becks, giving a little fluttery wave and apologetic shrug to the trembling little tridectopod.
"Apologies little one, didn't mean to scare you. I just don't like others being able to read me so I have a few false projections to mask my personal readings." He flashed yet another reassuring, overly charming smile, once more trying to wave the two off, glancing between them.
Becks shifted nervously, ocular sensor blinking, hesitantly shifting over him, sensor brightening before dimming, shifting back over to Simon, head shaking, growing even more agitated.
}Do not know…can't tell…readings are false…all false…can't tell…not real…not human…not safe!{
Raphael sighed, shaking his head.
"Becks, I'm safe-"
}Don't know…can't tell…readings false…all false…all artificial…not real…not reading human…{
"Becks, I'm human-"
}Don't know…false readings…All false…all artificial…not registering as human…{
"I'm human."
Simon quirked his eyebrow.
"Then prove it."
Raphael froze, blinking.
"Wha-"
Simon shrugged, waving towards him.
"Prove it. You said they're just shields. If they're shields than you can control them. Drop the shields and let him see your real readings."
Raphael shifted.
"I don't have to do t-"
Simon huffed, eyes widening.
"Raphael, you're lying."
He scoffed, shaking his head, holding his hands up placatingly.
"I'm not lying. I just don't like p-"
"I don't CARE if you don't like people being able to read your vitals! I don't care about you being private or whatever else! I am freaking the hell out here!
You have been lying to me this entire time- have been giving false information. Becks systems are not reading you as human. Becks is telling me you're not human and I trust him more than anyone. I trust his readings and I trust his judgment and I trust in the fact that he is freaking terrified of you right now. I don't care about your privacy or delicate sensibilities or any of that right now.
If you don't do this I can't trust you. I will never be able to trust you." He sighed, looking up pleadingly.
"Raph, please? I am really scared here. I don't know what's going on. I like you and I love this place and I don't want to leave but I can't work for someone I can't trust. I can't work for some criminal or supervillain or a monster that is frankenstining themselves into oblivion. I can't and I won't.
J-just drop the shields, please? Just for a few seconds; just long enough for Becks to get your real readings. Just enough to show him-show me- that you are what you say you are…
Please Raph? I really need you to do this for me…please?" he trailed off, voice soft, desperate.
Raphael shivers, blinking, feeling the wave of fear and suspicion and anxiety…feels the twisting in his stomach and the jitteriness of his pulse, feels the desperation and sadness and growing panic.
Raphael took a deep breath, gulping, head shaking faintly.
'Simon…I-I can't…"
Simon gasped, stumbling back, shifting Becks on his shoulder, reaching up protectively, shaking his head. Raphael swallowed, looking up, meeting his eyes, placatingly raising his hands.
"Simon it's not like that- it's really not what you think."
"You're conducting experiments on yourself!"
Raphael huffed, shaking his head, again trying to wave him off.
"N-not experimenting- just testing. I've run all the simulations, did all the theoretical runs and all the other steps. This is just the next logical step. Just a few harmless little tests, same as any other inventor worth their salt. Even you! I know for a fact you personally test a lot of your inventions! You even said as much with that Dino repelling body spray."
Simon scoffed, glaring, shaking his head.
"That's nothing like this and you know it damn good and well! You're conducting biomechanical experiments on yourself, cybernetic experiments and god only knows what else."
Raphael chuckled, shaking his head.
"You're exaggerating- it's nothing anywhere near as dramatic."
Simon scoffed, glaring, free hand clenching, other hand shifting Becks a bit closer on his shoulder, trying to both soothe and shield the trembling little tridectopod.
"The hell it isn't! You're not even registering as human! That's not just 'some little harmless testing!' That is full on non-sanctioned, non-reviewed biomechanical and cybernetic enhancements! That totally flies in the face of the nanothrall protocol and the AAIB and all the other rules and regulations in the big ten. Not the small, stupid, piddling, technical, bureaucratic red tape type regulations that everyone pushes every now and again- these are the big ones! The biggest ones! The ones that even crazy, reckless maverick nutjob mad scientists like Magnus follow!
The rules that exist for really good, world protecting type reasons!"
Raphael huffed, shaking his head, again trying to wave him off.
"Oh come on now, it does not. Not completely at least. At best it pushes them to their limits- or maybe in a few just the tiniest bit past but it doesn't-"
"Yes it does!"
"Simon it doesn't. I'm fine; I'm the head of the most advanced, cutting edge company on the planet. I know what I'm doing."
Simon scoffed disbelievingly, eyes wide, animatedly waving.
"Yeah, so did easily a dozen other 'top of their field' scientists who are now either dead or locked up in supermax. They all thought they had it under control. Were positive they knew what they were doing and everything was fine and that's exactly what they all said right up until it got away from them and blew up in their face and the authorities and military started swarming in to take them down."
Raphael chuckled, brow quirking.
"Okay Simon, alright now. I think you've been reading a few too many comic books."
Simon scoffed, totally bypassing the bait.
"Pfft, please, that was just pathetic, don't even try. I'm not talking about comic books; I'm talking about history books. The big, complex, detailed books that document exactly why the nanothrall protocol and all the rest of the big ten rules exist. That document all the lives ruined or lost to foolish, egotistical idiots who got in too deep and got too full of themselves who played god and nearly brought this world to its destruction. "
Raphael bristled at that, just managing to push that down, shaking his head.
"This is different!"
"How is it different?"
Raphael scoffed, waving dismissively.
"They were sloppy, didn't know what they were doing."
"Neither do you!"
"Yes I do!"
Simon scoffed, giving a derisive laugh.
"Not if you're seriously running biomechanical experiments on yourself, you don't. There's a reason you don't run these kinds of tests on yourself without multiple reviews and an entire med crew read in and monitoring. Those rules aren't just to protect the public and innocent civilians. They're there to protect the scientists.
There are so many things that can go wrong, so many things that can end up altering your brain chemistry or thought processes or emotions or a million other things just enough to where you don't realize it's happening. Don't realize just what it's doing to you- what it's killing off inside you- until it's too late and you're too far gone.
The WMTC protocol of 2147 s-"
Raphael growled, shaking his head, glaring.
"Yeah, thanks for the history lesson but I really don't need it. I don't need a lecture on the WMTC protocols- I was on the damn council when we wrote them-AM on the council still to this day.
Half of the protocols I helped write. I was on the council and I was in the meetings when the WMTC made the list of the big ten, and I pushed all of them, called in more favors, issued more threats, struck more deals and twisted more arms than you can possibly imagine in order to get the damn things enacted as quickly as possible and make sure they were air tight.
I know all the dangers Simon! I know all the reasons and arguments and all of the potential risks of human experimentation- I know all of it, okay! I know it better than anyone possibly can! Than anyone ever should! That is why I pushed so hard to get the damn rules enacted!"
Simon blinked, faltering.
"You did? Wha-b-but then why did you-"
"I DIDN'T!"
"Y-you didn't…?" Simon blinks, freezing. Raphael can practically see it all clicking; see that bold, beautiful, unequivocally brilliant mind shifting into gear, moving all the pieces, slotting them into place.
}…Didn't wha-{
"Not now Becks…Privacy mode..." Simon whispered, voice shaky.
Beck gave a soft little beep, settling, ocular sensor brightening before dimming and shuttering, tendrils curling up around his body. Simon reached up, gently picking up the little contraption, lightly settling him on the drafting table he's been standing against, softly running his hand over his head soothingly before turning back to Raphael.
Simon swallows, paling slightly, those big, bright, shimmering honey brown eyes shifting over Raphael, head shaking faintly. Raphael shifted, turning away from him, trying to block out the onslaught of emotions radiating at him that he feels washing over him like a tidal wave.
"O-oh…god, Raphael I…I'm s-"
"Damnit Simon, don't do that." Raphael growled.
"Do wha-"
Raphael whirled back towards him, glaring, dark eyes flashing bright.
"Don't pity me."
Simon gasped, shaking his head.
"I'm n-"
"Yes you are! I can feel it! Every last bit of it. I can feel the pain and the sadness and the righteous anger and that cold, sad, dark pathetic feeling that makes your stomach twist in knots and your head pound."
Simon blinked, swallowing.
"H-how c-I'm n-"
"Yes you are! There's no hiding it from me. I can read it plain as day. I can feel every last blip. Every one. I can feel the uptick in your vitals, the skittering little beat of your heart, the spinning in your head and the cold, numbness that is dancing along your fingertips and slipping down your spine, that flicker of disgust.
I feel it. I feel every last god damn little flit and flicker running through your system. I feel it all, I see it all and I freaking hate that feeling. I can't process that feeling, not towards me.
I am not some sad, pathetic sideshow freak to be gawked at. I do not need your pity. I do not want your pity. I am not some weak, helpless, broken little victim."
Simon again shook his head, those stupidly emotive honey brown eyes shimmering bright and wide and open in such a way that Raphael has to look away in a futile attempt to try and block it out.
"I-I know you're not. I'm not-"
"Yes y-"
He huffed, a little flare of annoyance slipping through the heavy, smothering emotions.
"NO, Raphael; I'm not. It's not pity; its empathy-"
Raphael scoffed, irritatedly waving.
"Same damn thing."
Simon scoffed right back; Raphael can feel the strengthened spike of irritation and little flutter of anger. It's a welcome reprieve, something much more familiar, but it doesn't last.
"It's not the same thing."
Raphael braces himself as the complicated mess of other emotions once more surges to the forefront, somehow even stronger than before. Raphael grits his teeth, fingers flexing, taking a deep breath, wrapping his arms around himself in an attempt to push the intrusive feelings back.
"Yes it i-"
The anger flares again, brighter than before, he feels the buzzy little thrill of the strength and determination of the younger man. It makes his head spin and his breath catch, a dizzying little shiver slipping down his spine, cutting through the heaviness of the moment.
"No, Raphael it's not the same. Not even close. I don't know what all you have going, what all you see or feel or sense or process or whatever the hell else but it's not nearly as effective as you seem to think it is. You may get all the data and elements but you absolutely suck at interpreting them.
It's not pity I feel for you, it is empathy. Its sadness that you had to go through whatever you went through. Again it's not pity; it's empathy- there's a big difference in the two and I can't just shut it off so you're just gonna have to suck it up, put on your big boy pants and deal." He huffs, glaring.
Raphael startles, a near surprised almost laugh slipping out. He blinks, shrugging, head titling faintly in concession, unable to help a slight almost smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Simon scoffed, nodding insistently, folding his arms, glaring, meeting his gaze head on without flinching.
"I know you're okay now, alright? I know you're good. You're freaking incredible. I know you are- I've met you. I have no doubt that whatever you went through, whatever happened, whatever horrors or pain or trauma you went through you faced them and fought them and found ways of turning them around, co-opting them and using them to your advantage because of course you did and now it's just as much an asset of yours as your intimidation or your terrifying level of intelligence or the whole weirdly weaponized flirting thing.
I don't know what all you went through but you are the farthest thing from weak or helpless or broken than anyone I've ever met. Please don't read any of it as that because that can't be further from the truth." He paused, sighing, hesitantly slipping closer, looking up, meeting Raphael's eyes head on.
Raphael feels his mouth go dry and his head spin at the look in those soft, dizzying honey brown eyes.
"Raphael, I know you're alright NOW -I do and I'm SO relieved that you are- but that doesn't change the fact that I also know you have likely been through hell in order to get there and it had to be painful and terrifying and worse than anything I can ever imagine and I'm sorry you had to experience that. I'd be sorry anyone had to face something like that. No one deserves that kind of pain.
Again, it's not pity; I just hate that you had to face something no one should ever have to face. And I really am sorry if what you were getting from me upsets you. That is the last thing I want to do…I just really can't help it." He trailed off, shifting nervously, shaking his head, shrugging helplessly, the bright flare of anger petering out, slipping to something soft and warm and unnervingly comforting.
Raphael shifted awkwardly, sighing, swallowing, giving a kind of shaky nod.
"I-I know you can't. You can't help the emotions you feel any more than I can help what input I get." He shifted, shrugging awkwardly, glancing up, nervously scratching at the back of his neck.
"And I'm sorry for snapping at you and scaring you…" he paused, glancing from Simon over to Becks curled up on the table, gesturing towards the little tridectopod.
"Both of you. I never intended to do that. I cannot lower the shields, it's a physical impossibility. I specifically designed them like that- had to design them like that in order for them to work at the time. I know you think I was just being stubborn but I really am not capable of lowering them.
I-in truth after everything I have went through even if I was capable of lowering them I don't know that I would. It makes me very uncomfortable having someone being able to snoop on something so personal..." he swallowed, shrugging, reaching up, pushing his hair back.
"I had a very long time where I had no say in that whatsoever. In basically anything. I can't lower the shields because I intentionally made them that way so no one could ever force me to lower them. Even if I have no control over my body or mind whatsoever they still cannot.
T-the shields aren't about you-they're about me. About making me feel safe in my own skin…In my own mind. I didn't have that for a very long time."
Simon swallowed, shakily nodding, leaning somewhat heavily against the drafting table, blinking, those soft, pretty, impossibly warm honey brown eyes getting a bit misty.
"I-god Raph, I am so sorry. I really didn't mean to pry…W-well I mean I did but I didn't know what I was prying into…sorry."
Raphael huffed out a faint, almost laugh.
"Simon; you weren't prying. You were scared out of your mind that you were trapped in a secret underwater lab by some psychotic, cybernetically enhanced literal supervillian that your trusted robotic sidekick was telling you wasn't even registering as human. It's more than understandable."
Simon shook his head.
"Still I-"
Raphael shook his head, smiling softly.
"No apologies necessary, Angel. We're good…" he paused, shifting, head tilting, looking up hopefully.
"J-just…can you keep this to yourself?"
Simon gasped, nodding.
"Oh! O-of course. I won't tell anyone, I promise, your secrets safe with me. You can trust me."
Raphael smiled, dark gaze flickering over him, nodding.
"I know I can. And I don't even think I need any of my extra senses to know that. Thank you, Simon. You have no idea just how much this means to me. No one knows-at least no one who wasn't also in the program. Not even Mags. I've never actually told anyone…never been able to bring myself to. It's just…you know…if I talk about it then they're gonna want to talk about IT and I…I just really don't ever want to have to mentally go back there.
Some things are better left buried, you know?"
Simon took a deep breath, nodding.
"No-I-I mean yes…I get it. And again your secret is safe with me. I won't tell anyone. If you want I'll never bring it up again. But if you ever do want to talk, I'll listen."
Raphael nodded, smiling softly. Simon flashed a sad almost smile back, nodding before shifting, glancing away, clearly not really sure what to do next. Raphael feels the tightness in his chest loosening a bit, a soothing bit of warmth and compassion sparking, intermingled with a soft little flicker of curiosity.
Raphael sighed, shifting, brow quirking.
"You have a question, don't you?"
Simon started, blinking, quickly shaking his head.
"Oh, it- no I don't."
Raphael couldn't help a faint bit of a laugh, nodding.
"Yes you do. It's okay; go ahead. I know you want to ask."
Simon shook he head.
"N-it's really none of my business and you literally just said you don't want to talk about it. God knows I've pushed you enough already about it. It's fine, really, I don't need to know."
Raphael sighed, head tilting, brow quirking.
"Simon? That really does not work with me. Like I said I can read everything, I can see that bright mind of yours starting to spiral. I know you want to ask something. Just ask. It's okay…really…just go ahead and ask."
He hesitated, swallowing, soft blue eyes shifting over him.
"Okay just…y-what all…I mean is it just your senses or…"
Raphael sighed.
"Or…"
Simon gulped, nodding.
"H-how m-I mean what…"
"Everything…"Raphael shrugged.
He took a deep breath, holding up his hand, the nails sharpening and darkening, flashing a gunmetal near black, a glimmer of flickering circuitry slipping over his hand and up his arm, the odd red flicker shimmering under his shirt, over to his other side, trailing up his neck and cheek. He blinks, eyes shifting, flickering, flaring bright, glimmering red, illuminating whirring gears.
Simon gasped, eyes widening in shock. Raphael shifted, pushing the changes back, nervously reaching up, scratching at the back of his neck, shrugging, flashing a faint not quite smile.
"It's basically every cell in my body. I honestly don't know what Becks would read if I could drop the shield. I-I don't know if I'd want to know. Pretty sure the reason I can understand him so well is because in a lot of ways I'm probably more like him then you…" he huffed, shifting, looking up kind of hesitantly.
"But I am still human. I still feel human…at least most of the time, or as much as I ever did. I don't know; honestly I've always been a bit off and weird about the whole human 'thing'. Hell, that was probably a big factor in why I was chosen in the first place. But despite all that it looks like I really don't feel too different than I did before.
I still think the same, feel the same. I'm still me…just a kind of enhanced version. I'm the same person I was, the same person you've been talking to all day…I'm just…you know…a bit different." Raphael trailed off, giving an uncertain little shrug.
Simon swallowed, shakily nodding, hesitantly pushing away from the drafting table, moving a bit closer.
"Y-yeah, I get that. It's like a book jacket, it's the covering, and that can be changed or altered or whatever but it doesn't change what's inside…w-well…I mean…obviously with the every cell thing it's more than just surface level stuff but…even if you're not technically h-I-I mean you are even if the readings don't show it. Your cells aren't what makes you human-I mean they do but your humanity isn't in the cells a-oh you know what I mean!" he huffed, cheeks warming prettily, rolling his eyes at himself before giving a faint shrug, glancing over, flashing a soft smile.
Raphael chuckled, nodding, charmed by the adorable flailing and the genuine warmth and complete acceptance he can feel from the younger man.
"Exactly…you do get it…maybe extremely awkwardly but you do get it."
Simon laughed, nodding, giving a soft sigh, relaxing faintly before kind of fidgeting, shifting, a little flutter of some curious emotion slipping over him. Raphael feels it, feels the swell and twist, the little butterfly type feeling in his stomach that Simon tries to push down, trying to ignore it, feels that wonderfully chaotic mind starting once more to spiral, spin and shift like a self-contained hurricane.
Raphael sighed faintly, head tilting.
"There's more, isn't there?"
Simon started, blushing faintly, shaking his head.
"Oh, n-no…it's nothing…just one of my random thoughts. Happens a lot, ignore it, it'll go away."
Raphael shook his head.
"I can't…and you don't seem to be able to either. You're having a mental argument with yourself over it. Clearly it's something."
"I-w-wha-I'm not…" he trails off, catching Raph's pointed eyebrow quirk and his amused, slightly sarcastic look.
Simon's cheeks flush prettily, this time the fetching color creeping up to the tips of his cute little ears, clearly realizing he's seen every falter and blip. Raphael can't help being charmed by the reaction, just barely managing to keep the chuckle inside, not wanting it to be misinterpreted as mocking. He swallows, shrugging, again waving Simon forward.
"Simon, come on, please? Whatever it is just get on with it. I won't get mad if it's too personal or whatever, I promise. I just want to know so you can stop spinning on it and we can move on…okay?"
Simon blinks, nodding shyly, clearly still debating, trying to figure out the best way to word it. Raphael can't help a soft little smile as he catches Simon just barely managing to keep an irritated huff and eye roll internal. Raphael takes a deep breath to center himself, trying to brace for whatever was to come, turning away a bit and just settles in, waiting patiently.
He feels Simon hesitate a few more moments before seemingly making up his mind, getting up his nerve, slowly crossing the room, coming to a stop just beside him. Raphael takes another deep breath, turning back to him, figuring he wants to be closer to ask whatever he wants to ask…
Meaning that it's probably something really personal and likely super uncomfortable...oh joy…
Still, he did promise…and it's pretty much to be expected…
May as well get it over with…
Raphael steadies himself, turning to face the younger man, catching the breathtaking whirlwind of emotions spinning and spiraling in that bright, beautiful mind, shimmering, reflecting perfectly in those dizzyingly gorgeous honey brown eyes. He shivers, mouth going dry, feeling momentarily struck dumb, having no clue what exactly his Angel is spinning on but also knowing without a shadow of a doubt he will be totally incapable of waving it off or denying him, whatever it was.
God those eyes…he feels completely helpless under that gaze. Like there's nothing he'd be able to deny the man…not when he looks at him like that…
I-it's weird…by all logic he should hate this feeling…he should feel uncomfortable, exposed; on guard…H-he doesn't…
He really, REALLY doesn't…
And that scares the hell out of him.
Raphael takes a deep, somewhat gulping breath, trying to pull himself out of the beginnings of his own mental spiral, trying to steady himself, bracing himself for whatever was to come, wanting to just get it done and over with so they can move on and he can get them both out of here and he can go home and have his own panic spiral and internal freakout in peace.
And did he seriously think of him as HIS Angel? Oh dear god he is so incredibly screwed h-o-okay…pull back…
Time and place.
Deal with Simon's questions, get him calm, get them settled, get home…THEN you can freak out.
He swallows, head shaking, giving a slight wave.
"L-look Simon, whatever it is ju-" he begins but trails off as Simon slips even closer, wrapping his arms around Raphael, hugging him tight.
Raph freezes. going rigid in shock.
W-wait…what?
O-okay…gotta admit he did NOT see this coming.
He feels Simon falter, feels the doubt and nerves creeping back in, the soft warmth returning to his cheeks, Simon clearly picking up on his reaction and thinking he's overstepped, slowly beginning to pull away. It's enough to snap Raphael out of it.
Raphael starts, making a soft little whimpering sound, quickly shaking his head, catching Simon, stopping his retreat, tugging hims back in, wrapping his arms around Simon, squeezing him tight, all but melting into the embrace. Simon's breath catches, he shivers, grip tightening, one hand trailing up, catching Raphael's shoulder, pulling him in even closer, other hand running soothingly over his back, turning his head, nuzzling lightly against his hair, squeezing even tighter.
Raphael swallows, momentarily struck dumb by the onslaught of input he's getting from the younger man. There's so much it's nearly overwhelming. He feels an awesome wave of warmth, strength, compassion and protectiveness flowing over him. It feels like it's surrounding him, wrapping around him, shielding him.
It's totally overwhelming but in the absolute best possible way.
He feels grounded and protected...
H-he feels safe.
Really safe.
He didn't know he could still feel like that.
{****************}
*-Other-*-Other-*-Other-*- Other-*Other-*
***-Blake-***
{****************}
"Oh! And then we went to get burgers at this really awesome diner that was actually nineteen fifties themed- Isaac figured that kept close enough to the no spoilers type rules and also that I'd get a kick out of it. He was right too, it was awesome! They had a soda fountain and malts and everything and all the food was absolutely amazing! We had burgers and fries and malts. Isaac said it was one of his favorite places- he said for his birthday next month they're gonna be getting the food from there.
They're making a whole theme out of it. He was really eager to talk to me to get ideas cause he really wants to get it perfect and he figured since I was actually-you know- from the fifties I'd be like a kind of super expert and he's gonna have a sock hop and all this other fifties kinda stuff and he thought I'd have some good ideas cause I'd know the styles and music and all of that first hand but you know it's me and fashion is just NOT my thing.
I tried to help as much as I could but I didn't really know about a lot of the styles he was talking about and I finally had to just tell him that I could help with the music and that kind of thing but I was pretty much hopelessly fashion impaired and that I'd really like to help but about the only thing I'm like a 'super expert' on about in our time are all the cheesy sci-fi movies and pulp comics and I thought he would be really disappointed but he was really excited!
He said that's actually perfect cause a lot of his friends aren't super into the whole fashion/sock hop thing and that's what everyone does and he really wanted his party to stand out and be unique and he loved the theme but it was really lacking something to really make it pop and he loved the idea of making it a 50's sci-fi movie theme! He said it would be perfect as the people who like the fashion and that could really get into that part and the ones not really into that could do like cheesy monster movie type looks which sounds like a total blast.
He was so thrilled with the idea that he actually hugged me and he said this is the perfect twist on the idea especially since most of his closer friends are all other travelers and the whole sci-fi thing is really big with them if anything just for the sheer irony and he thought his friends would get a real kick out of it and like it so much more than just the standard fashion and sock hop thing." Kasey bounced excitedly, taking another bite of his ice cream, deep green eyes sparkling bright and eager, reaching up, pushing a loose lock of auburn hair back behind his ear before giving a bright gasp, eyes brightening all the more, beaming continuing on.
"And oh my gosh he was SO right!
They absolutely loved the idea! Dakota even hugged me and said thank god cause she was not about to try and figure out a damn poodle skirt and ponytail- she was already sketching out ideas for a creature from the black lagoon costume on this weird glowing, holographic thingy. she loved that and so did Vergil. He really wanted to do some kind of over the top alien costume. Ravi didn't really agree with them though, he said the poodle skirt look seemed pretty fun but were a bit stiff and drab. He was trying to figure out a more interesting twist on it. From how he was talking I'm pretty sure he plans on wearing one but I don't know how much it's gonna look like an actual poodle skirt. He said something about neon, holographic glitter and anti-gravity petticoats."
Blake blinked, huffing out a faint laugh, holding up a finger, brow quirking, nodding faintly.
"Okay, I'm definitely not a poodle skirt kinda girl but that might work. So who i-"
Kasey startled, nodding, laughing, bouncing in his chair, smiling brightly, animatedly waving.
"Oh right! Sorry, totally spaced- they're some of Isaac and Max's friends. It was really fun. And it was totally fine cause I didn't have to watch what I said cause they're actually other travelers whose families ended up here too so they know all the rules and it was SO cool!
They were awesome! And they were from like everywhere-o-or everywhen I guess." He laughed, bouncing eagerly, taking the last bite of his ice cream, swallowing quickly before smiling, gesturing with the spoon, continuing on.
"Virgil was from the nineteen twenties and his family ran a real live speakeasy and Ravi and Tyrone are from the twenty third century but like twenty years apart and Stacy is from the twenty fifth century and Alora was from the nineteen eighties and her sweetheart Aubrey was around during the crusades and Dakota was from the eighteen thirties and Kenzie was from the sixteen hundreds and was almost burned at the stake as a witch!"
Millie blinked at the rapid fire onslaught of information, somewhat at a loss, nodding faintly, flashing a soft if confused smile.
"My, t-they sound like quite an interesting group."
Kasey beamed, nodding.
"I know right?! They are, they're amazing! Oh my gosh, it was incredible. I'll remember it for the rest of my life."
She smiled, nodding, warm grey blue eyes soft and bright.
"That's wonderful sweetheart. It sounds like you had a lot of fun."
Kasey nodded, bouncing in his seat before standing up, beginning to take his dish in, moving over, hugging his mom.
"I did mom. Best day of my life. Thank you so much for letting me go!" He smiled softly, hugging her again before pulling back.
Millie smiled, slipping her arm around her son, hugging him, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she reaches over, taking Kasey's bowl from him, beginning to gather the other dishes up to take into the kitchen.
"Millie you don't need to do that, you guys are guests. Here, I got it." Divya interjected, standing, quickly moving to take the dishes.
Millie smiled, shaking her head, giving a fluttery wave.
"Oh please, let me get it. It's the least I can do with you letting us stay here tonight. Your place is lovely by the way."
Divya smiled, shrugging, taking a few of the dishes from her.
"Well thank you- I'm quite fond of it and if you insist at the very least let me help you with it. And it really was no problem at all. Besides I kinda figured you guys could use a little break." Divya sighed, head tilting towards the kitchen, glancing over, flashing a faintly apologetic smile.
"No offense but with those two a little seems like it would go a VERY long way."
"Oh girl, you have NO idea." Blake snorted, nodding, her and Kasey standing up, falling into step with the other two, the quartet moving into the kitchen area, Divya opening an odd looking cabinet, stacking the dishes in it before closing the door, hitting a button on the front, the thing making a light, musical chime.
Kasey blinked, brow quirking at the odd cabinet before shaking his head, huffing out a faint chuckle, shifting back to the conversation, leaning back against the counter, head tilting, giving a bit of a shrug.
"Yeah they are a lot of the time, but they have their moments."
Blake huffed, brow quirking, glancing over.
"When?"
Kasey laughed, Millie rolled her eyes, lightly nudging Blake's shoulder, looking over chidingly.
"Alright Blake, come on now. I know you like to give the boys a hard time but you know your uncle and Ritchie's hearts are in the right place. They're just trying to look out for you guys and keep you safe. They really are trying their best."
She snorted.
"Yeah, well their best most of the time just comes off as bullheaded obnoxiousness, obliviousness, condescension and full on jackassary."
Millie huffed, nudging her.
"Kasey! Language."
Blake rolled her eyes, waving her off.
"Oh come on Aunt Millie it wasn't that bad and you know it's true!"
"It is n-"
"Then why are we at Divya's instead of back at the barracks with them?" Blake asked, smirking pointedly.
Millie faltered, blinking before giving a faint huff, waving her off, giving a bit of a shrug and a fluttery wave.
"Okay, so admittedly they can at times be rather trying-"
"Ah ha!" Blake exclaimed, pointing.
Millie chuckled, head tilting in concession, holding her hands up placatingly, helplessly shrugging.
"But that's just the way it is with men. They can be stubborn and hard headed and annoying or overbearing at times but if you want one in your life it's something you just have to learn to accept. The good ones are worth the effort. Your uncle Walter is a good one."
Blake huffed, brow quirking.
"And Ritchie?"
Millie huffed, rolling her eyes in faint amusement, brow quirking.
"He is a good one too. Or at least he's well on his way to growing into a good one. I admit at times he's a bit of a work in progress but he's got a good head on his shoulders and a great role model. I'm sure he will do fine. One day he is going to make some young lady very happy."
Blake tilted her head, brow quirking in amusement.
"Even when he annoys the hell out of her?"
Millie laughed, eyes widening, nodding exasperatedly.
"Yes Blake; even then. It's part and parcel with love, marriage, family and all the rest."
"God I'm glad I don't have to deal with that." Divya muttered, shaking her head, opening the cabinet back up, beginning to pull the seemingly spotlessly clean bowls back out of the cabinet, moving them to one of the clear stacks of bowls in the shelves above the sink.
Blake blinked, glancing over at her, head tilting curiously.
"What was that?"
Divya started, glancing over, flashing a faint smile, waving her off.
"Nothing, don't mind me." She smiled again, shrugging, gesturing towards Millie.
"She's right; and it's not just guys. Anyone in a long term, romantic relationship is gonna have things that irritate the hell out of them that they need to just learn to accept. It doesn't matter if it's a guy and a girl, two guys, two girls or whatever other pairing or grouping- any long term couples are gonna have something about their partner that no matter how much they love them still drives them up the wall.
It's just a reality of dating and romance. If you want romance and romantic love in your life than that's just something you have to learn to accept." She smiled, leaning back against the kitchen counter, relaxing, giving a fluttery wave.
"I'm just glad I don't have to deal with any of that."
Millie blinked, head tilting in faint concern.
"What do you mean? You're so young, and you're absolutely lovely! You shouldn't give up on love. I'm sure there's someone out there perfect for you."
Divya laughed, flashing a warm smile, shaking her head.
"Thanks Mills, that's really sweet and everything but I haven't 'given up on it'. In order to give up on something you have to actually want it to begin with. And as for the mystery hypothetical person of my dreams if they do exist and want anything beyond a platonic relationship with me they're straight up out of luck."
"Wha-"
She chuckled, shrugging.
"I'm Asexual and completely Aromantic. That means I have no interest in any of that; dating, romance, marriage, sex, any of it. Solid nope clear across the board. It just has no appeal to me. It never has and it never will.
Guess you can say it's just the way I'm wired." She huffed out a faint chuckle seemingly at some kind of inside joke, shrugging totally unconcerned.
"Oh dear, that seems so bleak." Millie sighed before startling, wincing, head tilting in concern, looking over the younger woman.
"Sorry, I don't mean to be rude. It's just…a-a life without love i-"
Divya gave a slightly exasperated sigh, shaking her head, waving off the concern with a reassuring smile.
"But that's the thing; it's not without love, not even close. I have a lot of love in my life; just not the romantic/intimate/sexual kind. Something I am one hundred percent good with. As I said it's not something I have ever wanted. Not something that has ever in any way appealed to me. It's something that, honestly kinda makes my skin crawl just thinking about." She sighed, shrugging, giving a bit of a wave.
W-wait…what? That…that sounds l-
"And I'm not sad or lonely. My life isn't in any way devoid of love; I have a lot of friends like Raph, Devin and Mags and many others that I love with all my heart and I have my older brother who's a huge dork and a flailing, fretting pain in the ass who I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. I have a ton of people that I share my life with- just none in a romantic kind of context. My life is full of friends and family that I love, that are always there for me.
Look, I know how alien that seems to most who have always had that as something they saw in their life. For them the idea of never finding romantic love is one of the worst things they can imagine but with people like me it's just not the case.
It's not something I'm missing because it's not something I have ever wanted in my life." She sighed, shrugging faintly, looking up kind of helplessly.
"I-I don't know, it's really hard to explain. I know in the past it was really complicated trying to explain differing sexualities. In our time we don't really have to anymore as people learn about all of this in school in sociology, psychology and about a dozen other different humanities type disciplines. We all know the terminology and language and all the rest…it's just kinda basic knowledge anymore that we don't generally give so much as a second thought…sorry…" she gave a faint breath of a laugh, shaking her head, shrugging.
"Kinda glad about that right now; this seems like it'd get old really fast."
Blake huffed, nodding.
"Understatement of the year girl. It is a total pain in the ass.' She chuckled, smiling, settling closer to Divya, giving a bit of a shrug, glancing over.
"Best way I've found so far is to explain it like someone who doesn't like chocolate. Who doesn't want chocolate. Who the very idea of chocolate makes them sick; like maybe they're even allergic to chocolate."
Divya blinked, smiling, nodding approvingly, pointing.
"Hey, that's actually a really solid explanation."
Blake snorted, head shaking, exasperatedly shrugging.
"Yeah…it should be. Except for the fact that I actually really do love chocolate and now half the people I have tried explaining it to freak out if they see me having it thinking I'm gonna either hurl or go into anaphylactic shock."
Divya laughed, nodding, head titling concedingly, giving an exasperatedly exaggerated sigh, again pointing.
"Well there is that. Allegories should come with some kind of warning label. They don't really work with idiots."
Blake laughed, animatedly nodding, settling closer.
"Oh girl, you don't even know."
Divya chuckled, smiling, shrugging. Head tilting.
"Eh, actually on this I kinda do- idiocy is a universal truth. No matter what time you're born in or what time you're living in; no matter the sexuality, race, religion, gender identity, color or creed there will always be idiots to misinterpret, misconstrue or just in general be confused. It's just a fact of life in any timeline." She paused, head tilting, glancing over.
"So you're Aro/Ace too?"
Blake gave a faint, breathless little laugh, shrugging helplessly.
"I-I don't really know. I've never heard those terms before but how you were explaining it sounded exactly like me. I don't want to date, I don't want to get married, I sure as hell don't want a man but I've never really been any more interested in girls- though they at least annoy me less but that's about it. The idea of kissing someone or anything like that like in a romantic kind of way kinda makes me sick to my stomach. And not like in a cutesy 'butterflies, nerves' kinda way. Like in an 'ate two chilidogs then went on the Giant Dipper down at Santa Monica pier' kinda way." She glanced over, head tilting hopefully, looking over the other girl.
"Does that mean I'm this Aro/Ace thingy?"
Divya laughed, giving a slight nod and a kind of shrug.
"I don't really know for sure. As a general rule we don't make a point of pushing labels on others- it's considered ignorant and pretty rude- those you really need to figure out for yourself. However from everything you said – along with the very colorful description-it certainly sounds like you are most likely somewhere on the Ace spectrum." She smiled, settling a bit closer, waving.
"Sorry, not trying to be difficult. It's just a very personal, extremely nuanced part of your personal identity. That's why we don't just toss labels around all haphazard. I know around your time sexuality was really seen as a simple binary, two option kind of multiple choice – as just gay or straight- but it's really far less like a true/false type question and more of a long form essay question. It's not all simple, black and white there's so many other options and shades of grey that it's hard enough for the actual person to figure out- the last thing they need is outside influences trying to label, categorize or in other ways box them in.
Asexuality is very much in that 'grey' area.
Asexual means someone who does not feel sexual attraction. Aromantic is someone who doesn't feel romantic attraction. Someone who is Aro/Ace is someone who has no interest in either romance or sex and most often is sexually repulsed- uh that would be the chilidog and coaster thing you were describing-but that's not a hard and fast rule and it's not all the options, not even close.
You can have people who are Asexual and totally aromantic- meaning they don't want any kind of romance at all- like me- but there's also a lot of Asexuals who while they don't necessarily feel sexual attraction do still feel romantic attraction. Someone who's ace but still feels romantic attraction can be sexually repulsed, neutral or sexually favorable; which basically means their opinion on sex is a hard no, eh maybe or sure why not and all of those can be to varying degrees depending on each individual person. The majority of asexuals who aren't fully aro may very well still want a romantic relationship.
They could still want to date and be cuddly and romantic- some even though they don't feel the intense, overwhelming pull and need of sexual attraction like allosexuals can still be open to a sexual relationship with a partner in the context of a relationship- which is perfectly fine. Everyone has their own views and their own limits and their own personal preferences. That's why we stress the 'spectrum' thing as if you just limit it to purely aro/ace sexually repulsed that disenfranchises a large portion of our demographic- and as relatively small as our numbers are that just makes no sense.
In general Asexuals make up between one and two percent of the population though the numbers are rather spotty as it's entirely possible even now for someone to be asexual and sexually neutral or favorable and simply not realize, just assuming they're a romantic waiting for the right person or are more uptight than most, more religious, a 'good girl' or what have you.
The thing of it is that you have asexual people who are totally aro, who are completely sexually repulsed and wouldn't even want to so much as kiss someone and those who are kinda neutral on the subject and those who are favorable and everything in between. Then you have people who are Demisexual who only really feel attraction after they have a strong emotional bond with someone and Greysexuals who only feel it very rarely and there's dozens of other facets to it…Aand I just realized I am lecturing like I'm giving a freaking seminar…" she trailed off, glancing over, flashing an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, hazard of being in PR. I have a tendency to slip into lecture mode without even realizing it."
Blake laughed, shaking his head, waving her off, settling closer eagerly.
"Hey no apologies necessary. Lecture away, please! This is one of the only lectures I've actually wanted to listen to. I would love to learn as much as I can about this and I'm never going to have another chance." She started, looking over hopefully, scratching nervously at the back of his neck.
"Oh, umm…sorry. I know in all the never ending paperwork it said about foreknowledge and spoilers and all of that but there has to be like an exception or something when the foreknowledge is something like this…something that is specifically about a person and their identity or whatever…r-right?"
Divya hesitated, reaching up, scratching at the back of her neck, shrugging.
"W-well…In truth if you are going back to your time we really are supposed to limit as much as possible the information you get of the future. And yes that would include breakthroughs in the various studies of humanities- even when they can and do apply directly to you." Divya sighed, giving a somewhat apologetic shrug, glancing back at her, head shaking faintly.
"Sorry, but since you guys chose to go back we c-"
Blake startled, eyes wide, near flailing, standing up straight.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa-hold up…chose? "
Divya blinked, brow quirking, slowly nodding.
"Yes? Chose. You guys are planning on going back tomorrow, right?"
Kasey blinked, glancing over at Blake, eye widening before shifting back to Divya, slowly nodding
"W-well yeah- The anomaly is reopening. We have a way back. That means we have to go back…doesn't it?"
Divya shook her head.
"No…that means you have the opportunity to go back- something that admittedly very few get. You have the opportunity to go back. But just because an opportunity presents itself that doesn't mean you are obligated to take it.
The anomaly will reopen tomorrow at two thirty four. That is a fact but what you do about it is your choice. You can go back- and again very few travelers get that option- but just because it's a feasible possibility that doesn't mean it is an inevitability."
Kasey gasped, starting, deep green eyes wide and bright with hope and shock.
"S-so wait…we…we can stay? Like…just like that? We can just choose to stay here and not go back?"
Divya blinked, slowly nodding, head tilting, looking between Blake and Kasey curiously, holding up a finger.
"Yes, of course you can. You didn't know that?"
"Wha-no we didn't know that! How the hell would we know that?!"
"It was in the paperwork."
This time Blake did full on flail, head shaking animatedly.
"What? No it wasn't! I would have remembered that! Where-"
Divya sighed.
"Section twenty-two, sub section six, paragraph one fifty three; the proliferation of individualistic autonomy and the declaration of Oasis' operatives to unequivocal absence of any undo interventionist actions outside the constraints of immediate personal preservation, agency and security and the nullification of speculative pre-determinative dynamics."
Blake froze, blinking, feeling like her left eye was twitching.
"I have no idea what any of that freaking means!"
Divya huffed out a faint chuckle, nodding apologetically.
"Yes, I suppose it is a bit ambiguous."
"A bit?"
"Okay, it is extremely ambiguous. And in truth that is completely intentional. The more people understand the paperwork the more they want to argue points. The vast majority of the paperwork is just disclaimers, it's procedural and non-negotiable. As I said most travelers do not have the potential of going back to their time.
They have to agree to all the rules in order for us to help them but if they don't we don't have too many moves as we can't just toss them out into the general population babbling about time travel and secret clandestine projects. We need them to agree. The more they want to argue the more of an issue they will usually be. Most of the ones who would be more apt to argue points would also be too proud to admit if they didn't understand something. It makes everything far easier."
Blake huffed, nodding distractedly, waving her off.
"Okay, yeah that's all well and good and all but what does all that gobbledygook actually mean?"
Divya shrugged, glancing between the three of them, shrugging.
"It means all human beings who come through have the autonomy to make their own choices. Oasis employees are not permitted to interfere in those choices with the exception of personal protection or the protection of others. We help keep travelers safe, if they're staying in our time- though choice or pure happenstance- we assist them with adapting to their new world and do whatever we can to aid them in thriving independently in our time but beyond that all the choices made are left up entirely to the individuals."
Blake blinked rapidly, head shaking slowly, holding up a finger.
"Yeah, okay so that was a lot more words and babble but to me it sounds like what you're saying is that all that complicated jargon means we- " She paused, gesturing between her and her younger cousin.
"Can choose to stay here. That it is our choice to go back to our time or more specifically NOT to go back…that IS what you're saying…right?"
Divya nodded, glancing faintly up to Millie, taking in her rather struck in an entirely different way look before shifting back to the two youngest family members, nodding.
"Yes, it is your choice. All of it is your choice. You don't 'have' to do anything. You are sentient human beings. You have the power of autonomous thought. You have the ability to make your own decisions.
The anomaly opened and you all came through- that was not a choice, it was an accident but what happens now is very much your own decision."
Blake shook her head, eyes wide.
"So we can just choose to stay? Even though we were born centuries ago?"
Divya shrugged.
"Time is a funny thing. we think of it as solid and linear but it's much more complicated than that. You were born in the 1940's but through happenstance ended up in the 2150's. If you choose to stay that's what happened and that's what the records will show."
Kasey blinked, head shaking slowly.
"And that doesn't mess anything up? Us hopping forward two centuries in time?"
Again Divya shrugged.
"Hey technically I won't be born for another eight centuries. I spent a pretty significant portion of my life three centuries in my future and now I'm making my life in this time. As I said it's a very complex thing."
Blake blinked, eyes wide.
"You wha-"
Divya shook her head, giving a fluttery wave.
"Sorry, no spoilers. People from the future are not permitted to share future knowledge or in anyway interfere with known past events. No exceptions…but to answer your question I actually can answer-
Yes. It is entirely possible for you to be born into one century and spend your life in another."
Kasey gasped, looking over in shock, squeezing Blake's hand, bouncing on his heels.
"So wait-we can stay- like me specifically-I can stay? Like I can make that decision? I am still a minor."
Divya sighed, head tilting, giving a bit of a wave.
"That admittedly is rather complicated as in general we do have a very strict policy against interfering with family dynamics and that however that does go to the wayside when the immediate safety of the traveler is involved. If you do not feel you are safe going back than the team wouldn't hesitate to assist you in whatever way we can.
Raph will be along on the drop off- he was quite curious about some of the readings from Simon's invention and he wants to get the physical data himself…Well…get data, flirt with the new cutie, same difference.." she huffed, rolling her eyes faintly, giving a bit of a shrug before sobering, meeting the teens eyes.
"Regardless of the reason him being there will be a huge asset. If you let him know that you don't want to go back- that you don't feel safe going back- he will not let it happen."
Kasey blinked, swallowing, nodding.
"O-okay…that's good…that's really good. Is there any way you can give him a heads up beforehand?"
Divya smiled, nodding, waving him off.
"Oh don't worry, nothing gets by him. He's always a good ten steps ahead. He'll be ready. Whatever you need he'll have your back."
Kasey relaxed faintly, flashing a grateful smile, nodding.
"Kay great, thank you. So when w-"
"N-now don't get too far ahead of yourself here. You need to really think-" Millie began, looking between them, head shaking faintly, eyes wide and fretful.
Blake shook her head.
"No Aunt Millie- we don't need to think, we know. We need to stay."
"She's right mom." Kasey nodded, looking over pleadingly at his mom, gesturing over towards his cousin.
Millie sighed, looking between the two, head shaking.
"Sweetheart- we can't. Your dad would never agree to it."
Blake shook her head.
"He doesn't have to. We'll stay- me and Kasey. Just us. We'd be fine. Right Kasey?" she glanced over at the teen.
Kasey nodded, deep green eyes wide and bright, nodding, smiling.
"Yeah, we would." He shifted over to his mom, nodding, gesturing over to Blake.
"We'd be fine mom. We'd be good-so good."
Millie blinked, swallowing, head shaking apologetically, helplessly shrugging.
"Honey, I know you like it here but it's not your home- not OUR home. Everything we have is back there. We can't just pick up stakes and leave like that. Our whole lives are back there-"
Blake scoffed, shaking her head.
"Your guys's may be but ours isn't. We have nothing. My college classes are a joke. Everyone just assumes I'm in school looking for a husband, the teachers don't take me seriously, they don't answer my questions and get pissed if I point out something one of the guys screwed up. Half of them flat out ignore me and the other half are creepy old men who try to hit on me. Kasey can't go back and you know why. He's miserable back then. He is not safe back then. You know it- you said it just a few hours ago. You want him to be able to be himself. He can do that here. He is better here. SO much better here. We both are."
Millie swallowed, looking between her niece and her son, blinking.
"Sweetheart, you can't do this. We couldn't just leave you here."
Kasey nodded.
"Yes, you can. We'd be fine. Blake's an adult, I'm not even a year from being one. Dad was just six months older than me when he enlisted in the military. If he can make that decision at that age I can make this one.
You heard what Divya said- they help people get settled. I know all the traveler teens are still in school. They have after school jobs and their families are doing good. Isaac has been here on his own for two years since he was fifteen and he's totally fine- more than fine.
And I wouldn't be alone. I'd have Blake." He smiled, glancing over, resting his hand on his cousins shoulder, squeezing, nodding, shifting back to his mom.
"We'd be good mom."
Blake nodded, standing up straight, meeting her Aunts eyes, nodding.
"He's right Aunt Millie. We'd be fine. You know I'd look out for Kasey and keep him safe. I promise I'll keep him safe." She paused, looking over at her younger cousin, smiling, reaching over, resting her hand on Kasey's shoulder, squeezing tightly.
"We'd be fine. Like Kasey said; I'm an adult, he nearly is. I can find a job and we can find a place to live. I could get caught back up and go to college here-only now it will be like real college-not just seen as me looking for my MRS. Hell, Kasey's just barely two years younger than me. I can find a job until he finishes up school and then we can go together. We can do this. We can make this work.
I mean yeah it might be hard at first but we were planning on moving out together after he got out of school anyways. This would just be a year earlier. We could-"
Kasey nodded excitedly, bouncing on his heels.
"You're right we could! Like I said Isaac has been here on his own since he was fifteen and the other travelers said Oasis really helped them get a good fresh start and get set on their feet. They helped them get caught up, helped them find work and housing and all of that. They helped all of them, they would help us too…right Divya?" he paused, looking over hopefully.
Divya nodded.
"Yes, of course we would. Travelers are our responsibility. We don't that that lightly. We would make sure you find your place." She glanced over, catching Millie's eye, flashing a faint smile.
"We do everything we can to help those who stay to adjust to life in our timeline. We help with education, housing, employment and assimilation. I assure you, anyone who stays would be in very good hands."
Blake nodded, smiling, looking over at Kasey, eyes wide and bright.
"We could do this- oh my god we could do this, we could totally do this! W-"
Millie sighed, swallowing, looking at her son, eyes soft and sad, shaking her head.
"Honey, I can see how much you want this, how much it means to you but your father will never agree to this. I'm sorry but he just won't. "
Kasey faltered, shifting.
"I-bu-"
"So we just won't give him the option."
Kasey and Millie both blinked, looking over at Blake.
"What do y-"
She shrugged, gesturing towards Millie.
"Aunt Millie's right; he won't agree to it. No way in hell. The more time he has to get worked up about it the more he's going to dig in and fight us on it. The more he's gonna try to force you to go back. He won't let you stay- I don't really think he'd care either way with me but no way he'd just leave you here. Like Aunt Millie said, he's sure he knows what's best for you.
We're not gonna be able to convince him so we just won't give him the choice. We need some kind of plan."
Divya shrugged, giving a bit of a wave.
"Well like I said there's always the Raph option. If he knows you are unwilling to go back he will not allow it to happen. Walter and Ritchie may think they're the big man or whatever but Raph could absolutely wipe the floor with them without so much as breaking a sweat.
They push it he will have no problem pushing them right back."
Kasey swallowed, blinking, giving a faint nod, pointing.
"O-okay well we have the Raphael option but maybe we try and keep that as the backup/last resort. I know we've had our issues and differences and all that but I'd kind of prefer it if my last memory of my dad and big brother isn't them getting their asses kicked by a stupidly gorgeous quasi-supervillain.
We should keep brainstorming."
Blake huffed out a faint laugh, giving a bit of a shrug.
"I might be kinda good with it but it definitely wouldn't be the best way to leave it. We'll try to come up with something less embarrassing for them. I'm thinking maybe we just try the simplest route. We'll go to the island with the rest of the family, play along right up till the rest of the family jumps then they go through and we can just bail at the last minute and stay here." She looked over, holding up a finger.
"The car is a convertible, top will be down. Can you tuck and roll?"
Kasey huffed out a faint laugh, shaking his head.
"Umm…no…no I cannot. We may need to think harder…" he paused, glancing over at the clock on the wall before shifting back, holding up a finger.
"We also may need a bit more help with this." he glanced over at Divya, smiling hopefully.
"Max was spending the night at Isaac's tonight. Can I use your phone?"
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*][*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*}
*~*~*End Of Chapter Notes*~*~*
{*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*][*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*}
AAIB- Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Baseline
WMTC-
World Medical Technological Council
*~Page 29 of 29~*
{ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*]8*- Future Fallout Verse*-8 [ *^*^*^ *^*^*^*^*^*^*}