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."

'Berto shifted the bags he was carrying into one hand as they headed down the hall. He'd ended up with considerably more than one dress and a pair of heels, accumulated across the afternoon at an assortment of stores from clerks displaying varying degrees of disapproval. Though most, to be fair, had disapproved of their occasionally somewhat disruptive good cheer than the fact that he was trying on and purchasing women's clothing.

"Your room or ours, menina?" he asked, smiling at Hope. "I assume you will wish for a fashion show, sim?"

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.

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."