3844/Heart To Heart

Heart To Heart
Date of Scene:	10 February 2018
Location:	Central Park - Manhattan
Synopsis:	Vicky makes a new friend.
Cast of Characters:	Mon-El, Redstar

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Mon-El has posed:
    After watching Faora and Gregory get into a fight, Lar and Vicky had decided to try to find somewhere a little quieter for a change. They hadn't really gotten a chance to find any peace and quiet yet--every time they'd seen each other there'd been some kind of violence happening one way or another.

    Interestingly enough, despite the cold, since the internet is down, there's actually a fair number of people milling about the park. But still, it's a nice contrast to some other parts of the city at the moment.

Redstar has posed:
Vicky glides over the tree tops, eyeing the ground below, before she banks towards the Zoo. "I know a quiet place," She says to the Daxamite. "It's a place I used to spend a lot of time when I first arrived." And she leads him to a pedestrian overpass and it's utility underpass. The area around is remote and no one is about at this hour.

As Vicky lands on the overpass she spins on her toes to face Mon-El. She still remembers him trying to grab her by the throat. Though there is peace, for her it is a bit tenuous. She knows he thinks her unstable. Hell, she knows she is too. "What did you want to talk about?" She asks as she leans against the overpass retaining wall.

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar descends onto the overpass with Vicky, standing at the railing and resting his arms against it. He notices her uneasiness...all right, it's reasonable enough. He did attack her earlier. But not without reason and she knows it. He shrugs. "I don't know, I just--like you said earlier, we haven't really gotten a chance to talk. I mean -really- talk. Because there's always been some fight or crisis going on."

Redstar has posed:
Vicky stares off into the dark sky and is thoughtful. "Well...yeah..." She trails off and sighs a bit. "What would you do for the person you loved?" She asks out of the blue after a long pause. Blue eyes lock onto the Daxamite as she turns her head to regard him and his reaction, her expression thoughtful.

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar arches a brow at Vicky's suddenly rather deep question. "Whatever is best for them." he answers, a bit awkwardly. It's not like he has a ton of experience in that...area. "Even if--" he sighs. "it might hurt. Why?" he asks in return, watching her expectantly.

Redstar has posed:
Vicky is quiet for a time and then sighs. "I want to not be afraid all the time. Being afraid and always running hasn't helped the person I care about most. So I decided to try something else," She pauses and licks her lips thoughtfully. "I know Ares is unstable. I know the lore and mythology about the god of War. He realized last night, after we last talked, that he had gone too far." Mostly the truth. She'll just gloss over the part where he put a spell on her so things like morality wouldn't bother her to sickness like it was.

Mon-El has posed:
    The admission of being tired of the fear and running all the time earns some sympathy from Lar, his expression softening for a moment. But then, when she mentions Ares again, the empathy fades. He frowns, sounding somewhat frustrated. "Vicky, I -told- you--no -we- told you, to stay away from Ares! You -can't- trust him. He told you to expect betrayal around every turn, well that includes himself, doesn't it? In fact, if anyone's going to betray you, it's -him-. If he doesn't betray your loyalty, he's at least going to betray who you -are-. Turn you into a monster like himself. I asked you before and I'm asking you again. Is that -really- who you want to become? A cruel sadist who glories in death and devastation? Who delights in the pain of others? Honestly, do you think he actually -cares- about you? If it came down to it--your life, or his power, do you think he'd think twice about sacrificing you in order to keep his own status?"

Redstar has posed:
Vicky glances at Mon-El with a raised brow and tilted head. "I know you said to avoid him. But it is kind of hard to avoid a man who can teleport you to him when he wishes," She says with a shoulder shrug. "I can't just...stop now. I have to be careful, or don't you agree that telling the god of war you don't want him anymore is a bad idea?"

Mon-El has posed:
    "I thought you said you could say 'no' any time?" Lar asks, folding his arms. "Or was that a lie, too?"

Redstar has posed:
Vicky snorts and shakes her head. "Just because I can doesn't mean it's a good idea," She says with a shrug of one shoulder. A smirk crosses her lips and she says, "I am doing this carefully. You're not the only one concerned about it. I -do- hear you. But I also...he isn't a bad person when he is just a person." That is probably the part that is the hardest. She'd grown to like the man, not the god.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Can't be a worse idea than what you're doing now." Lar retorts. "I told you already, I know people who can help. Meaning, protect you if he gets angry that you decided to ditch him. He may be powerful, but he's not all-powerful. Get enough people up against him and I'm sure he'd fall down. Grife, -I- could knock him down on a good day, just all by myself." He groans. "Vicky, just because he doesn't 'act' bad all the time, doesn't mean he can be trusted, and doesn't mean he's not going to turn you into a sadistic monster like himself. Again, is that who you really want to become? You want to become just like him?"

Redstar has posed:
"No. And I won't. You seem to forget I fight a demon every day whose bread and butter is just that," Vicky says and then pauses and looks at him. "Actually...you don't know that I suppose. I mean, the file that leaked just talked about my past mental diagnosis. Which were in error, of course, but..." There is a sigh and her head shakes a little sadly. "I learned the truth only recently...that big thing that happened over Times Square? Yeah...that had to do with Starr. She is a demon, daughter of some demon lord named Satannish. All I know is the he scares her, so I know that's bad." A pause and she suddenly turns and leaps over to the underpass below. "I need a drink. Do you like soda?" She calls up to him. "Story telling is thirsty work."

Mon-El has posed:
    "Ugh, -no-!" Lar facepalms. "That just makes it even worse! Now you not only have to fight against Starr, but Ares too." He shakes his head, jumping down after her to follow to wherever she'd like to get a drink. "Look, both of us -saw- what happened the other day. How you almost killed those people because you lost it. I can guarantee you if you stay under him you're just going to get more of that. I mean what if he tells you to slaughter a bunch of defenseless people for the sake of stirring up a fight? You going to just listen to him? Even though you -know- it's wrong?"

Redstar has posed:
Vicky whips around with a frown and glares at Mon-El. "I will say no. Those aliens that attacked me...that was awful. I should have just flown off, stayed away, when the cold didn't disable them. I made a mistake. And I lost control because of it and almost made more," She says fiercely, a frown pinching her face. Then she turns back and walks over to an old and slightly bent utility door. Caution tape is around it which she pulls down, yanking the door open with a screech of metal. The bend obviously making it nigh-impossible for someone without a good deal of strength to open. She doesn't go all the way in, but does duck in and come back out with two cans of cola. One she tosses at the Daxamite before giving the door a shove closed. "I'm not staying under him. I promise. But also I'm -not- going to burn a bridge with someone as dangerous as him. Even Starr agrees on this. The god of War takes vengeance seriously...and you have friends. Great. Can they watch my back 24/7?" She pops the top and takes a sip.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Well, -I- for one can watch your back most of the time. Especially since I can see pretty much everything. And yes, on top of that, yes I do have friends who can watch your back all the time." Lar says with a nod, taking the cola can. Although it kind of just crumples in his hand and spurts the drink everywhere. Sigh. Well that wasn't the first time that had ever happened.

    He exhales with a sound of both frustation and resignation. "Look, I just--I have a...friend I want you to at least have a conversation with, after all of this Rising Tide business is over, all right? Would you at least be open to that?"

Redstar has posed:
Vicky pauses as she sees him catch and crush the can. For a moment she tries to not laugh, pressing her lips tightly together, but it doesn't last. She bursts into girlish giggles and wrenches open the door again, ducking into the old and abandoned utility room. When she emerges it is with a dingy looking, but mostly clean towel. The towel is tossed and then she presents him with another can instead of tossed. "Sorry, but that was hilarious," She says with a warm smile and bright blue eyes.

"Mon-El," She says and then sighs. "I never said I wouldn't listen. Or talk to anyone else. I just...need some room. I am not a murderer, the idea of needless death sickens and..." There is a pause and she blinks with a frown. "I...Sorry, had a flashback to something I don't actually remember." Shaking her head she sighs and meets his eyes. "I'll meet and talk with your friend. And thank you...for caring. It's hard to trust people." She walks back out into open air and sits in the grass at the side of the path.

"I want to tell you my story...so you can maybe understand better why this is all," Vicky waves a hand as she searches for the word, "So complicated."

Mon-El has posed:
    "Hey!" Lar tries to make an offended face Vicky as she bursts out laughing, but he just ends up laughing himself, shaking his head as he takes the towel and start wiping himself off. "It's...not the first time that's happened." he admits. "Thanks to the amnesia, I'm still very new to uh...you know. Being strong enough to throw something to the moon." Once finished cleaning himself up he takes the second can as carefully as possible.

    He looks visibly relieved that she's at least open to a conversation. "Good. Thank you. I know you're in a complicated situation, but I just--" he shakes his head. "I'm just worried about you. I don't want you to get hurt. And I was afraid, if you kept hurting people like you did before, you might get yourself in...trouble."

    The Daxamite sits down on the grass next to her. "It's Lar, by the way. 'Mon-El' is like my formal name. Actually it's not really my name. I don't remember how I got it. Anyway...you can save your story for when you meet Clint. The friend I was talking about, that is. I'll..I'll come with you though, don't worry."

Mon-El has posed:
    He frowns slightly at the slight stumble, though. "Wait what do you mean, a flashback to something you don't remember? And isn't needless death kind of what Ares is all about? At least that's what he -said-, back on that other planet."

Redstar has posed:
"Lar? That is much simpler. I...guess we all have pretty messed up lives," Vicky says, likely in reference to the amnesia. "What...happened? I mean, obviously you can't remember much. But amnesia? I...wow...if I forgot everything I've learned over the last few months. Or my entire life? That would be..." She shakes her head, unable to find the words to describe it.

For a moment she is quiet and then leans over to just gently bump her shoulder against him. "Thanks. I...I don't trust people. Honestly Ares didn't need to tell me that...I already knew it," She grows quiet and reflective for a moment.

~Tell him he is forgiven I suppose...~ Starr says a little snobbishly, like she doesn't really want to admit that she is impressed with the Daxamite.

Vicky begins to do just that when Mon-El asks and she pauses and grows quiet. "A prison. Old. A group of soldiers shoving children towards a building with no windows," She blinks and shakes her head. "A sense of purpose. Knowing the children will somehow be fine, but still angry. Knowing the men are going to kill those kids. Something I do...changes it. But I don't know what...It's...weird."

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar sighs. "Yeah, I don't know what happened. Obviously. Because amnesia. I...vaguely remember stuff from growing up on Daxam. You know, the general things. Like my family, and how I never liked how they treated people. And having basically anything and everything I wanted always handed to me whenever and however I wanted. But otherwise, all I remember is waking up here a few months ago, having no idea how I got here or where I was. Or how to talk to anyone, because I didn't know the language, either." he shakes head. "Yeah, that was -fun-."

    He puts a hand on her shoulder, kind of like he did yesterday. "You can trust me." he says firmly. "I know we kind of got off to a rough start, and I'm sorry about that, but I never meant to really hurt you, honestly."

    A pensive look comes across his face at her story. "Hm. Well, maybe you can tell Clint about that one too. I'm sure....one of his connections can help you get to the bottom of that."

Redstar has posed:
"That does sound rough. Though your grasp of the language is quite fine, near as I can tell," Vicky says, trying to cheer him somewhat. Sure he has a weird accent, but she was from Conneticut. Everyone had a weird accent to her here. His offer of trust makes her search his eyes, a seriousness rarely shown on her face.

Finally, "I believe you," She says quietly and smiles. "And Starr forgives you for trying to one-strike death punch her. Having recently aquired a strength of my own...I can related," She just started practicing right away. He should have seen her first twelve pack disappear in clouds of sugary spray. The kitchen was a mess.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Thanks, I learn fast, thankfully." Lar tells her. "It's one of the many perks of the yellow solar radiation." He says, pointing skyward a moment despite the late hour of the night. "Though I still am kind of rusty on most of the um...colloqualisms. Like..." he searches for an example. "Oh, like earlier when you asked if I were 'hitting' you. I didn't answer because it didn't make any sense to me. I was definitely not trying to hit you. I already hit you before, and that time I almost killed you by accident so I wasn't going to try it again at least not for a while and not unless it becomes...necessary."

    He nods when she finally admits she does trust him. "Thanks, I appreciate it." Then he looks a bit shocked at the admission about Starr. "Seriously? I'm shocked. Maybe she's not as terrible as I thought."

Redstar has posed:
"Oh! Oh oh. Well...hitting is another way of saying flirting, making a romantic move, that sort of thing. Often when a guy asks a girl to go somewhere quiet, here, it is more often than not a means to try and woo her," Vicky is more than happy to explain. She is a little lacking on the more recent social media speak, but the normal stuff? She can totally help with. And it seems to make her delighted to do that.

~Oh, I can be terrible. I just happen to like this place. And why fuck up a bad thing?~ Starr replies even though she knows he cannot hear her. In fact she counts on it, because she knows in Vicky's situation she won't repeat -that- to the Daxamite. n fact Vicky drops her head and brushes a braid back behind an ear.

"She isn't...it was better before her father came and woke her up...but she still remembers that time. And it has made her...more human. I don't think she could ever go back to her home dimension now, even if she could. As I understand it...our souls are melded together. Like...like siamese twins. Only souls...they leak into each other, blend, and change." A pause. "It has something to do with magic theory. I...honestly didn't understand it."

Mon-El has posed:
    "Oh. Well I wasn't--" Lar replies awkwardly as Vicky explains the saying, his face flushing. "I mean, on Daxam, when a female is trying to--" he sighs, shaking his head. "Never mind."

    "So she's not like the others. As in not as bad as the others? Like, a good demon?" he smirks a little bit, because that had to have ruffled Starr's feathers a bit. Or, maybe not. Who knew. "Because she's started to become like you."

Redstar has posed:
Vicky giggles just a bit at his blush and reaches out to pat his hand. "I knew you weren't. I was teasing you. Besides, my heart is already someone elses," She says warmly and with a friendly smile. "I'd like to learn more about your home someday...if you want to share."

Then...~HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~ Starr's laughter is a din in Vicky's head that she is not accustomed too. She blinks extenstively and puts a hand to her temple. She gives a slight shake of her head before focusing on Lar again. ~Oh isn't he cute!~

"I wouldn't say quite that...but in some ways yes. She is still volatile, violent, and has an insatiable urge to pursue sins of body and mind..." That doesn't paint her in a very good picture. Of course, human sins are probably different from Daxian. "Like that guy the first night we met? He had been harassing someone badly. She...impulsively did what she did. Before our souls blended she wouldn't have cared, and probably helped the bastard..."

Mon-El has posed:
    "Oh--right. Um, yeah. I knew that." Lar stammers, his face flushing even more. He clears his throat, quickly moving on from that topic. "Yeah, I'll tell you more...as soon as I can get my memories back and actually remember more about it."

    He nods. "I see. That's kind of what I meant. She isn't as bad as she could be, while still not exactly what we'd call a fully good or honorable person." he says with a chuckle.

Redstar has posed:
"So tell me about this Clint person you want me to meet? How do you know him? Is he part of some hero team?" Vicky asks as she lifts her soda to take a sip. "Mmmm, have you tried hypnosis? They used all sorts of fucked up therapies on me at the institute, but hypnosis was actually kind of neat. And I think they can use it for memories."

~You're making me want to prove you both wrong...~ Starr comments, suddenly distinctly uncomfortable. She is the one who is supposed to snipe and make fun, her pride doesn't care for being called 'good' even if only sort of.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Oh--yeah. Clint. Um...yeah he is part of the Avengers. I'm sure you've heard of them." Lar replies, intentionally not making any mention of SHIELD. "We met at a--um, pizza place in Brooklyn." Well it wasn't a lie, was it? No, not a lie at all. They did meet there!

    He peers uncertainly at the can of soda. To be honest, he has never actually endeavored to open one of these the um, proper way before himself. And, he's pretty sure if he tries, it'll just burst open again. So he just kind of...puts it down on the ground next to him.

Redstar has posed:
Why is he being kind of fishy? Vicky raises a brow and eyes him out of the side of her eyes. "Hmmmm. Which one? Pizza place that is?" She asks, Starr silently encouraging the slight paranoia. "Man...they're probably not open with the blackout. I could really use a good slice or five."

Her eyes drop to the can and then back up. After a pause she reaches out and slowly shows him how to open it, pulling gently up on the tab to break the top open. "Like that," She says with a grin. As her hand comes away he can see fine condensation dripping down the now perfectly cold coke.

Mon-El has posed:
    "Gino's, I think it was?" Lar answers. "Yeah." He chuckles at the admission of craving pizza. "Everyone seems to be crazy about pizza around here." he laughs. "Literally everyone I've met talks about it practically every time the idea of food comes up." He pats her on the back. "Don't worry, it'll let up soon. Someone will figure it out, I know it."

    The Daxamite watches her as she opens the can for him. "Oh um. Thanks." he grins somewhat sheepishly and takes the open can. "Hopefully next time I can actually do it myself the proper way without making a mess."

    Then he stands up, taking the drink with him. "Well, I should get back to the cruiser. And you should get a bite to eat if you're so hungry." he chuckles. "It was nice talking to you without some crisis going on, Vicky."

Redstar has posed:
As Mon-El stands so does she, dusting her butt off with a quick brush of a hand. "As he moves to leave she steps forward to give him a hug. Surprising possibly, but a hug none the less. "I'm glad we talk too. Thank you, Lar," She says and pulls back. Then she pauses and turns back. "Hey...ah...if I give you a twenty will you grab me a pizza from that joint we flew past right before here? I kind of don't fit in public right now..." She ruffles her wings for extra meaning, giving him a lopsided smile.

A laugh, exchange, and ten minutes later they both were on their respective way somewhere. Vicky, for her part, was taking the pizza to her favorite rooftop and reflect on the day. Any day that ended in a new friend was a good day.