I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change... Who: Shatterstar & Rictor What: After the torrid romance and the calm... comes the storm. Again. When: Tuesday, mid-day Where: Upstate New York. The road on the way to the City and eventually Omega Base Warnings: Likely language, references to adult situations, probably a fair heaping of angst too.
After their last big blowout, Shatterstar seemed to have exorcised some of the bad blood that was coming between even him and his best friend and lover, Rictor. Star had become increasingly violent and short tempered, his natural tendency towards discipline turning into outright rigidity when it came to his dealings with others. This had resulted in violence which while justified, strictly speaking, was completely atypical in him. In the past, he had always found other ways to make his point without resorting to broken limbs and noses, his strict warrior's code encouraging his self-control to a point that did not allow that. But now it was as if he was falling back on earlier, more brutal teachings that he had later eschewed. However, once it became apparent to him that his current behavior was literally driving a wedge between him and Rictor, he sought to be on his best behavior.
When he was with Rictor, he seemed to understand things more clearly, to revert back to his earlier, less violent self up to a point. When he was with Ric he even felt some guilt over the things he had done, like killing those men who had been trying to kill Sofia the night he met her instead of disabling them like he would have done when he lived in the Haven. He couldn't know that it was Sinister's influence compelling him to make those harsher choices, so he was thinking this was all something that was coming from within, that it spoke of changes within himself that he had to deal with. He even attributed it to Ben Russell's influence over his mind, since the earth boy had not had the years of rigorous training and meditation to temper his more violent urges. Whatever it was, he felt like he had it under control now, especially after the long weekend he'd had with Rictor.
They had celebrated Ric's birthday by spending time together in what Shatterstar expected to be a sleepy little bed and breakfast like the quaint pictures he had found online of such places. He had even trained himself not to ask why every damn thing and piece of fabric, upholstery and wallpaper in those pictures had flowers on it. Or ducks. He didn't know which was worse, but if that was where Rictor wanted to spend his special day, then far be it from him to judge or whinge. He had a sizable surprise when they arrived at a stately manor with tastefully appointed rooms close to the Hudson River at about a three hour drive from the city taking the scenic route. There were some flowers on the carpet and a subtle motif on the drapes, and a picture of a pelican over the fireplace, but otherwise the rest of the elegant suite was blessedly flower free. The bathroom was beautiful, mostly all white and roomy. Star's Spartan sensibilities approved.
Being in such surroundings, not having to fight for their lives every other day, did wonders for their mental state and their relationship, Star felt. He was calmer, away from Sinister's influence, and thinking more like himself. And then there was Rictor. He had never loved him more, even though it was almost funny how skittish Julio got whenever he tried to tell him. Not that it was easy for Star to speak of such things. He would much rather demonstrate, which he had. Every day. Several times a day. Insistently. Loudly. Strenuously.
Which was why, like your typical male having gotten no signs from Rictor that his advances were less than welcome and desired, he happily lulled himself into a false sense of security, thinking everything was all right between them. The crisis? It had been averted. The whole Star is bugfuck crazy and needs his head looked at deal, a phase. Overcome. Done with. Forgotten. Or so he hoped.