After The Fall

It was Friday night and the club they'd chosen was loud and packed. Nowhere near so crowded that their arrival didn't turn almost every head in the place in an almost comical wave, though, and 'Berto grinned at the sea of faces illuminated in the pulsing lights as almost every person within view of the entrance turned to watch them or, more accurately, Jay. Or more accurately still, Jay's wings. Many of them were visibly trying to decide if the wings were real, or if Jay was just another wannabe trying to capitalize on the mutant hype.

'Berto tugged on Jay's sleeve, urging him to bend enough that he could speak quietly into his ear. Or at least quietly enough to not be heard by anyone nearby over the beat of the music. "At least back home people have the grace not to stare quite so blatantly."

It had been a very trying night, even for those of them who'd stayed home. Once he'd seen all his family returned safe and sound, Jay'd set to helping his brother with setting up for Bobby and Ty. He'd needed a bit of space after, so he'd told Sam he was off to shower and retreated into the bathroom. He did feel the need to relax some, and as the shower was his only option, he figured a hot shower would ease him enough to be able to maybe catch some sleep.

He had no choice but to use one of the larger stalls, and so made his way to the far end. Making sure his back was to the stall, he proceeded to start working off his shirt.

Jay had been spending most of his time wandering around, taking in the property and establishing his bearings. He'd been here long enough now to have a pretty good internal map for the place, though the world itself still confused him at times. He'd never had to bind his wings before for any reason other than the occasional costume and then it was entirely his choice, and didn't tend to last long. When your twin sister was a goddess with a sewing machine you tended to not need to conform. Though back home it wasn't much of an issue to begin with. It wasn't as if wings were uncommon, after all. So he hadn't left the grounds for long. And when he had he hadn't wandered.

It just felt uncomfortable and unnatural and he was struggling with a world of hiding, as if there was some shame in what they were. He knew and understood that rationally it was in everyone's best interests and for their safety. He respected the need for it, and was frankly, awed by how well the community seemed to be able to conform to the rules with the vast array of abilities present. He'd acclimate in time. He knew he was capable. He just wasn't entirely ready yet, and there was nothing wrong with that. It wasn't as if they needed him to pitch in outside. And if they did, well, he'd find the strength.

It didn't help that he had to be careful with his flying. Though he was thankfully able to fly. He tried to get as much in as he could. The weather was great for it. 'Berto, he knew, would much rather be in Rio regardless of the world they were in. Thankfully though, the weather was to his tastes...mostly.

The sight of wild splashing from the corner of his eye drew him immediately. And he was already headed for it when he realized it was not troubled splashing, but the excitement of a toddler in the safety of the shallows under the watchful eye of a tall blond. Well...in for a penny...

"Hey," he greeted, coming into range.

"UNC' JAY!!!" squealed the little person.

He dropped into the water behind him with a splash that while not very high had the toddler giggling in delight. "Is this...?" he said to Sam, gesturing at the toddler with the curved tip of a wing.

Another summer and another trip to Rio. It was almost as though they were--gasp!--starting to become a little predictable. If anyone had said this to her, however, Hope would have defended them by saying that the Occasionally Judgmental Breakfast Club was never predictable. No, they just liked to be traditional in some things. One of those tried and true blue traditions was Rio. It was starting to become a third (or fourth, fifth, sixth because Hope lost track of all the places that she had deemed a home away from home over the years) home to her.

They hadn't quite taken off or even boarded yet, and Hope was sitting, straw hat already perched on her head, talking into her cell phone. "I don't know why you're acting like this is such a big deal, Danny. It's Rio. It's summer. We go to Rio. In the summer. This is just like always." She paused, pressed her lips together and then shot an apologetic look at Jay and `Berto. Her brother was apparently never going to stop being jealous of the amount of time she spent traveling with her best friends.

Speaking of best friends, where had Lizzie gotten off to? Hope craned her head around in an attempt to look through the crowd, but it didn't help. Between being seated and still being tiny, she didn't have luck scoping places out. Phantom form would have done the trick, but then she would drop the phone. It wasn't worth it. Lizzie would be along, and they wouldn't leave without her.

"Danny, I have to go," she said, cutting off her brother's tirade about yet again being abandoned. "I am not going to fall behind on my studies. I never have before. This isn't any different. Hanging up. Hanging up. Love you. I'll call soon. Bye. Bye." Hitting the end button, she powered the phone down and tossed it into her messenger bag.

Springing up, she laced her arms through those of her companions. "Should we go on a mission to find our long lost compatriot? It's been an awfully long time, and I'm beginning to worry that some dashing corsair might have stolen her away body and soul."