WHO: Tessa Carstairs and J'onn J'onzz WHAT: A random meeting WHEN: Recently WARNINGS: Nona STATUS: Complete and Closed
J’onn was out shopping at a few stores for after Christmas ideas. There were a few things he wanted to get, including just a few items he had spotted before, but not gotten. Now he was enjoying himself, talking, and quietly simply moving from place to place.
And occasionally changing his face ever so slightly. Just to practice and keep himself limber in that most fundamental art of Martians. He was careful, he thought, in changing, and in keeping himself relatively anonymous.
*** A shapeshifter was hard to hide from another shapeshifter, however, and although Tessa had not been looking to spot one, she nevertheless noticed the subtle changing of the stranger’s face.
She looked around; no one else seemed to have noticed. And just like that, in the time she had taken to look around, he was almost right in front of her.
“Oh!” She stopped short. “My apologies.”
***
J’onn stopped as well, and canted his head, then shook it, smiling. “Not at all, my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going.” He extended his hand. “J’onn J’onzz, martial arts instructor, and refugee.” He used the term the town used, sometimes, for them, as he extended his hand.
She looked familiar, and not in the way a random person did. Had she been on the network? In one of his classes? At a party he was at? It bugged at him as he worried at the vague recognition.
***
Tessa hesitated at taking his hand - not because she was scared of him, but because she was worried of what might happen. It had been almost a year now since she had lost control over her powers and shifted to become whoever she touched, but she had also never touched another shapeshifter. What if it set off her powers again?
In the end, she settled for caution.
“A pleasure, Mr. Johns.” She made an attempt at the fricative, but didn't quite manage it. “My name is Tessa Carstairs. Please excuse my rudeness; I am also a refugee, and I have...a condition.”
She smiled pleasantly, hoping it would ease the rudeness. She did not mean to be.
**
J’onn’s forehead crinkled, then he nodded. “Alright. I’m sorry to hear that.” He dropped his hand and shook his head. He didn’t mind her messing up his last name. Almost all humans did.
“Is there anything that can be done?”
***
“Better control over my powers, I suppose,” Tessa said with a rueful smile. She had been working at it, but there was still so much she did not know about herself. Once again, she wished Magnus were still here. He could have helped her.
“But speaking of powers…” She lowered her voice, in case it was not something he wished to be made public. “I do not know if you are aware, but your face has been changing. Are you an Eidelon demon?”
***
“Do you have anyone to help you learn?”
J’onn blinked, then opened his mouth. “What is an Eidelon demon? And no, I am not. I am from Mars, the planet.” He wave a hand upward, his voice very soft, boosted by projection from his mind. Not true telepathy, but just an assist.
***
No, she did not think he was an Eidelon demon; they were cruel and vicious. She should know: her father was one. But he was a shapeshifter, and...from Mars?
She gasped, looking up where he pointed. “The planet? I did not think anything could live there. And no...” she shook her head. “There was someone, once. But he was returned home.”
***
“No one can, any more. I come from Mars, but many years in Earth’s path. My people were wiped out by another.” He had gotten used to telling it, well, a little, now.
“Perhaps, then, we can help one another.”
He smiled ruefully. “I too, need to work on my skills.”
*** “Is that why you are unable to keep a stable face?” Tessa asked curiously. “I do apologize if I am being too forward with my questions. I have never met another shapeshifter before.”
It was her admission that she had the same powers.
***
“Actually, i was practicing shifting little parts of the face. Most people seem unable to notice it when it happens. So I rarely worry.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “And I have not met one since I got here. Don’t worry about being too forward. It is nice to be among friends.”
***
“I hope that we can be,” Tessa said warmly. It would be good to have someone to practice her powers with. “I must finish my errands, but perhaps we can meet at another time? You can find me on the network.”
***
“I would be glad to meet you again, yes.” He nodded to her. “Then there I will go to seek you out. Be well, and I hope the rest of your day is a good one.”
He nodded as he turned, thinking and planning ahead.