Dahlia Liang ✈️ Sam Wilson / Falcon (edgeofglory) wrote in dunhavenic, @ 2019-10-14 09:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | !log, * jeanne, * terri, c: dahlia liang, c: verity mckinnon |
WHO: Dahlia Liang & Verity McKinnon
WHEN: Saturday October 12th
WHERE: Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum - Washington, DC
SUMMARY: A visit to a familiar place stirs up forgotten memories and unexpected feelings.
WARNINGS: None!
Dahlia could remember October 12, 2006, as if it had been yesterday. Like most kids who grew up in the DC Metro area, she'd come to the Smithsonian more times than she could count. But the Air & Space Museum had always held a special place for her, and she took in each exhibit with wide eyes and a pounding heart no matter how many times she'd been there before. Then, that day, she'd been on a school trip with the rest of her sophomore classmates from Dunhaven, but she'd lingered behind the official tour so she could continually marvel at Amelia Earhart's bright red Lockheed 5B Vega. It was the plane she'd flown solo across the Atlantic Ocean, as well as non-stop across the United States, both feats first for a woman. Dahlia counted herself lucky that she had been born into a time when being a female pilot was no longer revolutionary, but she also held women like Amelia Earhart and other pioneers in very high regard. They had paved the way. It was there, in front of that bright red airplane, that Dahlia had met Verity McKinnon. They had struck up an immediate friendship bound around airplanes, flight, and perhaps a little bit of rebellion, too. That had been thirteen years ago. More than a decade of friendship had changed them both in irrevocable and unexpected ways, but perhaps none so much as the last month. Because it had been nearly a month ago now that Verity had forgotten… everything. Every word, deed, and moment they'd shared, gone in an instant- lost in the advent of strange powers and new identities. So even though this was the first anniversary that they'd be spending on US soil since they'd been in basic training back in 2009, Dahlia made no mention of it to Verity. Instead, she drove into DC on her own, paid the admission at the front desk of the Air & Space Museum, and made her way through the exhibits with a quiet, unexpected solemnity. -- She knew what the day was, even without Dahlia mentioning anything specifically that morning. Dahlia had said a few different times that they had been friends for nearly thirteen years, marking it down to the day. It had not been difficult to count up those days when her friend had quietly left their house that day. She still didn't remember, though sometimes there were errant thoughts and feelings that felt so close to the surface...like she was trying to break free from a prison of her own making. As time had gone on, she'd begun to grasp a better control over the powers that had plagued her since the day of the accident. She no longer felt fearful just to leave their house, or that she might accidentally destroy everything that they had worked so hard for. Hearing the stories wasn't the same as remembering, but she'd been willing to listen to whatever anyone wanted to tell her. It just…seemed to make people sad. She had flipped through pictures with Dahlia before, though some things hadn't been explained fully. Still, she noted the surroundings in several of the photos were the same. Old planes on display. A museum. It hadn't taken long to figure out which one, and on the off chance that she might be able to make things better instead of worse, she had left their house and gone to DC. Dahlia had taken their car, but…Verity's powers meant that if she was very careful to not be seen, she could transport herself very easily. She had paid the admission in the museum, and walked into it with awe. She saw it with new, fresh eyes. It was as though she'd never seen it before. And yet…the longer that she walked, the more familiar things began to seem. There, surrounded by history - hers and the world's - and planes, Verity's mind began to stitch itself back together. It was when she set her eyes on that red plane…Amelia Earhart's Lockheed 5B Vega, that everything seemed to snap right back into place. She saw Dahlia's silhouette there, standing and staring up at that plane in the spot where they had met. Her heart pounded behind her ribs, a rush of emotion bringing tears to her eyes. She remembered…everything. Over a decade of friendship, flight, and unfailing loyalty. Her brothers, Naomi, their kittens, their service and travel around the world. All of it seemed to rush to the surface at once, and for a moment, Verity paused, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what she had forgotten. There was a very strong temptation to rush forward and crash into Dahlia with a hug, but she took a deep breath and steadied herself. She made the approach with her heart in her throat, and ever so gently bumped her shoulder into Dahlia's when she reached her side, staring ahead at that red plane, "I…I was jealous of your scrunchie, you know. It was tie dye. Mine was just green." -- She'd been standing there in front of that plane for longer than she probably should have done. Dahlia hadn't been certain exactly what she was waiting for, or even what she was looking at, other than something that had seemed so important before but now had all but lost its entire significance. At least, until someone nudged her shoulder. I was jealous of your scrunchie. The words were so innocuous, but Dahlia knew that she hadn't given over that particular detail to Verity- because it was Verity, standing there beside her now- and even as she turned to face her friend, she felt the tears brimming in her eyes. "You should have told me. We could have swapped." -- Her throat felt tight, her eyes stinging a little as the image of Dahlia swam before her. She gave a half shrug as she grinned, "That was all part of my master plan." A sniffle and a small, laugh followed, "Become best friends. Confess to my jealousy on the thirteenth anniversary of that friendship, in the same spot where we first saw each other. Admit that I ordered us matching scrunchies as a gag gift and then hid them…and forgot where until just a few minutes ago. But I remember now. I remember…" -- She hadn't really worn scrunchies at all since going into the military- there, then, more austere measures had been the order, not fun tie-dye accessories. And, somehow, in the adjustment to civilian life, Dahlia just hadn't gotten back to that point quite yet. But she hastily wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands, trying (and failing) to suppress a sniffle. Verity was here- which almost certainly meant that she'd used her powers to get here from Dunhaven, but that didn't bother Dahlia so much. She hadn't wanted to make this anniversary yet another reason for either one of them to feel guilty over what was gone. They were still going to be friends, of course, even without this place as part of their story. Maybe that was why she'd felt the need to come here alone- to close that chapter before moving on. Except Verity remembered. She remembered… "Everything?" -- She didn't know - or realize - what she might have been intruding on by showing up here, but something about the memories she had built in this place had put her brain back to rights. It wasn't just Dahlia. She'd brought Miles here when he was still a kid, and she'd dragged her father here to see the planes. She had even talked Ian's ear off a time or two about exhibits within these walls, and he had listened to her, even if his passions were in different kinds of antiques. "I think so. It feels like everything. Even that morning on the run," Verity confirmed. She'd had a dream of sorts that morning, though it had been a waking one. She remembered that too. Carol. The plane. The crash. Mar-vel, and her death. The engine explosion...and the source of her power. -- The tears had brimmed again, but this time Dahlia didn't reach her hands up to brush them away. She and Verity had made dozens, maybe even hundreds of memories in this place over the years. The prospect of those things being lost and irretrievable had left her feeling empty and, well, forgotten. The connection to her own emotions felt suddenly tenuous, her body unsure how to process the prospect of returning to what had once been normal. But normal would be different now, of course. A redefinition of tradition and expectations. Not for the worst- no, never that- just… an adjustment. And though it wasn't expected, in this moment and with this rush of emotion, Dahlia moved in one swift step, her hand reaching for Verity's even as she leaned in and pressed a (perhaps still tearful) kiss to her lips. -- Verity was expecting an embrace. She thought certainly, after these weeks as very much not herself, the return of her memories would be met with a hug. Probably a long one. She stepped forward in that anticipation, her hand grasped by Dahlia, but instead of an embrace she found her best friend’s lips pressed to her own. Surprised as she was, her response was somewhat delayed. She did not retreat from the kiss, but she paused, almost hesitating beneath it. Even when their lips parted, Verity’s lips were pursed a little, and she was slightly dazed as her mind tried to catch up to what had happened. While she’d always been very open about her own attractions to both men and women, Verity knew that Dahlia’s leanings were not necessarily the same. While she wasn’t blind and had always known that Dahlia was very attractive, she’d never even allowed herself the possibility to think that they might be anything more than best friends. How many times had they said that they were just life partners? That Dahlia was tragically heterosexual? They’d been mistaken as a couple countless times over the years, but they’d always denied it...joked about it, even. Their intimacy with one another had always been present, but platonic. Snuggling on the couch, walking with arms linked or hands held, kisses to cheeks, but not the lips... “OK…” she began, her heart beating a little faster than before. Her words, when they came, were quick and curious. “Maybe I don’t remember everything. Unless that’s new. Should I remember that?” -- It seemed to take a moment for Dahlia, too, to realize what she'd done- though Verity's obvious confusion and perhaps even mistrust at the sudden kiss was certainly a clue enough. She took a quick step back, releasing Verity's hand, her own cheeks flushing as she shook her head. "It's… no. No, I didn't, I- I just thought you were gone, and-" Dahlia closed her eyes, tears pressing out around her lashes. "I'm sorry." -- “Hey,” Verity said quickly as she saw those renewed tears, stepping forward and reclaiming Dahlia’s hand in her own. She didn’t know what was in store for them, but she knew she didn’t want her best friend thinking she’d done anything wrong. “You don’t have to apologize for anything, D. I’m not upset. Just...a little surprised is all.” She squeezed Dahlia’s hand, and tilted her head a little to the side, “It takes way more than...the combustion of a light-speed engine to keep me down.” -- She didn't pull her hand away, but Dahlia didn't step any closer, either. She glanced up at the tall museum ceiling, willing the last of those tears to fall so she could then hastily wipe them from her cheeks with her free hand. "I know. I know. I've just… doubted. I see you die in my dreams for years and then these last weeks I wake up and I'm a stranger to you. It's… I'm a mess." She shook her head. This wasn't exactly news. Her mental instability had been the reason for her discharge from the Air Force. -- “No matter what my mind remembers, Dahlia Liang, you could never be a complete stranger to me. I still gave you my trust. When I knew nothing else, I knew I was safe with you,” she promised, though maybe that wasn’t enough. It couldn’t have been easy. They’d built an unbreakable bond over the last thirteen years. She could hardly imagine what it would have been like for Dahlia...to be the one that knew everything that was missing. “It was the dreams. The accident that she had. When she woke up, she’d forgotten everything, too. I think it just took some time for my brain to figure out that I’m me, and...I don’t know, maybe to adjust to whatever the hell these powers are,” Verity didn’t know if applying an explanation would really help. It might have helped a week ago. Now it was probably just a little too late to be a real source of comfort. -- Dahlia had tried to support Verity as best she could these last few weeks, not knowing how long the amnesia might last. As with anything else associated with the dreams, it was a mostly unknown and little more than a waiting game. The thirteen years of memories had been something she'd been willing to set aside if needed, if she had to… reset everything with Verity, back to zero. It seemed like maybe now that wouldn't be the case, though if she still had powers, well, then it would still be an adjustment. "I didn't let you know anything else," Dahlia shrugged, shaking her head. From the moment that Verity had woken in that crater, Dahlia had been at her side. Tugging their joined hands, Dahlia moved to sit on a nearby bench, still well within view of their favorite plane. "Tell me about her?" -- That was true, perhaps, but Verity didn't have to trust Dahlia. Yet, she had. There had been something about her that had drawn Verity, even when she was uncertain about everything else. She easily moved when Dahlia tugged on her hand, joining her on that bench across from the plane. There was still much that she didn't know, and she was certain of that. But she knew more now than she ever had before. "Her name is Carol," Verity said with a small smile, "She's a tough as nails pilot. Not unlike me, I guess. I remember…some vague things about her childhood. She grew up getting yelled at a lot for doing things people thought she shouldn't because she was a girl. She eventually ended up working on a government project called Pegasus. She was told the work she was doing could end wars…save people. It felt like important work." Verity smiled a little sadly, "Doctor Lawson was the woman she was working with. The morning of the run, I had a dream. We were flying, and we were attacked by a high - tech aircraft. We got shot down, and when Carol helped Lawson out of the wreckage, her blood was blue. She told Carol that she was actually from another planet and that her name was Mar-Vell. She was trying to stop an unjust war that wasn't even on Earth." "Unfortunately…the attackers caught up with them and shot her. She died trying to destroy the engine of their craft…part of Project Pegasus. Carol had a tough decision to make, but she knew that she was alone…and that no one knew where they had crashed. She knew that her mentor had died trying to do, so she shot the engine and it combusted. She was hit by the blast. That's where the powers came from, I think. I know flashes of after? And I don't think she remembers who she was. I think…the people that attacked her took her with them to whatever planet they came from." -- The answers and explanations came, slowly but surely, and Dahlia listened with interest layered into concern. High tech aircraft, wars, shot down… Her hand had clutched tighter to Verity's at that part, though she hadn't interrupted. When Verity finished speaking, it was still a few longer breaths before Dahlia managed a simple, "Damn. That's… pretty heavy, V." Another pause, then, "Do you… feel more like her or like you? Should I call you Carol?" -- “It is,” she agreed, though she was still trying to wrap her mind around all of it, too. The dreams felt more like memories that she had lived through. She could even place them along a timeline, even though she’d remembered them so quickly. She shook her head softly, blonde hair brushing against the back of her neck as she did so, “I still feel like me, Dahlia. I’m still Verity. I think...it doesn’t feel unnatural to refer to myself as her? But I definitely am first and foremost Verity McKinnon. Though, now the fact that my middle name is Carolynn kind of feels like more than a coincidence.” She smiled softly, and squeezed Dahlia’s hand back, taking a deep breath, “I know it’s a lot. I know...it’s been a really hard few weeks. But I think everything is going to be OK now.” -- Dahlia sank a bit further down into the bench, and after a moment she pulled her hand from Verity's and instead wrapped it around her friend's middle, pulling her closer and offering a shoulder to lean on. "You're first and foremost my best friend," she amended, with a touch of almost playfulness to her voice, though this was tempered by another deep breath. "We'll figure it all out together. I'm bound to start dreaming of someone or another one of these days, so this'll just be round one. Practice. Though hopefully who ever I dream of is less inclined to blow up trees." -- Verity grinned, not denying the truth in Dahlia's correction. As Verity, a large part in shaping who she had become was their long friendship. They would need to talk about that kiss. She knew that. Even still, if Dahlia didn't want to talk about it now - and it seemed she didn't - Verity was willing to give her some time to sort her thoughts and feelings. It had been quite an emotional anniversary of their friendship. "We'll take the dreams as they come. For both of us," Verity promised, snorting a little at Dahlia's reminder of her first foray into powers, "Better trees than our house, D. Silver linings." |