For Jessica

[tooprettytodie]

The changing of the island to the old west had thrown off Valkyrie's date plans just a bit. She had actually planned a really cool date with Jessica only to have the entire island screw things up by changing into the American old west. It was like they were stuck in a horrible theme park.

The one saving grace was that she had been able to coax a decent looking outfit from the clothing box, where most of her friends had been stuck in some really horrid dresses.

As it was, with a few days preparation she'd been able to figure out a fairly decent substitute for the date she had originally planned. All in all, it had taken a little bit of hard work and a note to Jessica to meet her closer to 3 o'clock than to one but it was going to be worth it. If things went well, maybe she'd have to see if Jessica wanted to try her original idea once they got back home. In the mean time, she thought this would be pretty fun.

The fact that Jessica was so fun was the only thing keeping Valkyrie from being overly nervous at the moment. This was her first official date with a girl, which was kind of a big thing. Did she like girls? Did she just like Jessica? Are you there God, it's me Valkyrie?

Well, either way, whatever was going to happen was going to happen soon. Unless, of course, Jessica stood her up.

Comments

[notaparker]

"So it wasn't carefully prepared in a five-star restaurant?" I say, twitching my skirt a little to make sure it's decent.

Ha. As if this get-up ever couldn't be, it's basically designed to make any level of indecency impossible. Oh, those old-timers.

"I'd take points off, except for the part where I'm not picky. About food, anyway."

[tooprettytodie]

"I think five members of the police force were in the place I got the food, and they probably have those Marshall badges, right? So technically it's sort of five star."

That was stretching it beyond reason, but she felt like she could make it work in an upside-down logic sort of way.

"So what are you picky about?" Valkyrie asked, opening up the basket to begin distributing the food. "I'm guessing the accuracy of statistics is one of them."

[notaparker]

"That makes basically no sense, but it's fun, so... I'll allow it," I say, nodding, eyeing the shelter and wondering if leaning on it is advised.

I think I'll avoid it. Besides, I'm fine where I am. It's a picnic, so even if I am by nature a percher, I can sit.

"Um, so, let's see. Statistics, definitely. Adherence to the scientific method. References to old pop culture properties? It's not really a long list. Oh, and hair products."

Not... actually a joke, really. I'm kind of vain about my hair, because my hair is awesome. Best hair of all the clones, I don't care what Peter says about that Kaine guy.

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie had to admit, Jessica really did have nice hair. Even a week into the Old West, it was really nice hair. Apparently she was just as serious about hair products as she was about the rest of things.

Fortunately, they were all things that Valkyrie could appreciate. Maybe she wasn't that into the scientific method or old pop culture references, but she could appreciate them still.

"And making sure people stay safe at parties. I meant to ask you... why do that? I mean, it's just that not many people would. I think it's cool that you do, and I'm glad you do. I'd just like to know why."

That seemed like it was a big thing. Most people didn't do that. Valkyrie didn't even do that, and looking after people was her job.

[notaparker]

There's a somewhat complicated question. I know why, obviously, since I do it, and if there's one thing I'm not, it's unclear of my motivations on any point. I'm pretty aware of my own thought processes, sort of by necessity. Chosen necessity, really. I don't have to keep an eye on them, monitor my own memories, but I want to be distinct. To be me.

"That's- it's a thing. It's kind of a whole thing," I say. "Do you want the speech? It's not a lecture, it's just- an explanation of how it's a thing. Of my reasoning, there."

[tooprettytodie]

"Wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know," she said.

A speech sounded promising, that meant it was more than just being the responsible one. Or at the very least, there was a good reason for her to be responsible.

The island was full of a bunch of superheroes and police officers and who knows what, but she'd never really heard of why anyone did that. She knew that assuming 'because they were drawn that way' did a disservice to them, but she'd still never heard why from anyone. She was curious, because she didn't know anyone else she could talk to about become a hero.

Maybe Jessica wasn't a hero in tights, but someone that was willing to man a hydration station at a party had to have a good reason to do it.

[notaparker]

Where to start on that one...

Ha, like I don't know. I might not be Peter, but it all comes back to the same place. Some things I'm not going to throw away just to be individual. Can't even conceive of it.

"My uncle," I say, pausing only slightly to consider the term, but I'm going to keep it. How else to describe Uncle Ben? He's Uncle Ben. "said once -- right before he died, actually -- that if there's things in this world that you can do to help people, to make things better for them in whatever way, that if you have something to offer... that's it's not just a good idea to do it, it isn't just a bonus. It's a responsibility."

I pause, to give myself a second, take off my hat and run my hand through my hair. "He said that with great power comes great responsibility. Now, I don't exactly have great power. I don't have a suit of flying armor or a medical degree. Just some smarts. And I've got a couple of projects I'm working on, but in the meantime... I do what I can, where I can. I can maybe help some people at those parties not get into trouble or danger, and as soon as I realized I could..."

I put my hat back on and put my hands up to the side, palms upwards, shrugging faintly. "I pretty much had to."

[tooprettytodie]

Valkyrie had never felt so humbled in her life. It wasn't necessarily in a bad way, it was probably in a way that she really needed, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Valkyrie fought bad people because they were bad people. She even reasoned that she was more equipped to do it than most people and that she had an excellent partner in Skulduggery to help train her.

But when it came down to it, she loved doing it. She enjoyed it, she was fascinated and thrilled by all the things she did and saw and she refused to sit back and let other people do all the work. Yes, she would still do it all if she didn't enjoy it because she didn't want people she cared about hurt, but Jessica helped people for a much more nobler reason.

Valkyrie would have hated her if it weren't for the fact that she would feel awful about it. How can you hate someone that selfless?

"Wow," she said, quiet for a moment while she processed it all, or at least tried to. "I- I'm sorry but I don't think I can really react to that properly other than to say I'm impressed. That's kind of a heavy world view to process."

[notaparker]

I scrunch up my face and mumble, "I told you it was a whole thing. That is... how it is a thing. Is it- heavy? I guess it's kind of heavy. Agh, man, I knew I should have gone with the short, quippy version. Always go with the short quippy version."

Still, that's the reason. The founding notion, of Peter Parker and Jessica Drew both. I'm not really going to disrespect it, and, I don't know, it is what it is. It is my deal. Not my whole deal -- nothing like clonehood to give a girl layers -- but a substantial part.

[tooprettytodie]

"No," Valkyrie said, firmly, shaking her head at Jessica. She wouldn't have wanted the short, quippy version of it. This was much better.

"No, if someone asks you, you shouldn't tell them the short quippy version of that. Because it's important for people to think about that, the power and responsibility thing. It means you don't help people because of who they are, or if they're going to appreciate it. You help because you can. That's important to think about."

It was certainly something Valkyrie was going to think about, probably for a while. Surprisingly, the idea of thinking about it didn't fill her with a fear of guilt either. It was almost enlightening to realize she had something important to think about.

"And I think it makes you pretty special. But I already knew you were special, so I should get extra points for recognizing it without knowing why. Not that it's the only special thing about you."

[notaparker]

"There's also my fabulous hair," I say, still directing the quip somewhat in the direction of the ground, but getting considerably less mumbly and embarrassed about it by the second. Flattery'll do wonders, it turns out. Or... actually less flattery, more genuine compliments, it seems like, which is going to make me all embarrassed again.

"Um. Thank you. That is- that's pretty swell to hear. Obviously. But, c'mon, look who's talking. You're a wizard detective. Which, even aside from the cool magic, just the detective part, that must mean you help people, right? So you can go ahead and get that special label, too. Along with the points for recognizing mine. Which I am happy to award."

[tooprettytodie]

"Yes, and your hair," Valkyrie said with a grin. Apparently sheepish expressions were just as adorable on girls as they could be on guys. At least, Jessica's glancing at the ground was rather adorable.

"And yeah, I help people. But some of that is because it's fun. Being able to use magic is fun. Beating up bad guys? So much fun. Meeting new and interesting people, and non-people, that want to kill you? Surprisingly fun."

[notaparker]

Beating up bad guys is so much fun. So much. I catch myself starting to nod along and manage I think to mostly just make it a 'go on' nod and not a 'boy do I feel that, sister,' kind of nod.

"I don't think there's a rule that says you can't enjoy it. If there is, it's a dumb rule. But it's not like you're beating up the good guys, yeah? So the murderous meet-and-greets and the cool magic is, like, a bonus. How'd you get into that, anyway? The magic thing. Did an owl drop off a letter all, 'congratulations, you are magic'?"

[tooprettytodie]

"Uh, my uncle died, actually," Valkyrie admitted, realizing how strange it sounded after what Jessica had just said. Sometimes, it was disturbing the parallels she shared with people on the island. Fortunately, this story wasn't really one of them.

"He was a famous writer and... kind of, well, he was kind of a jerk. Very strong-willed and the 'doesn't suffer fools gladly' type. I adored him though and I was definitely his favorite. I'll... let you draw your own conclusions as to why we got along so well."

That was about as close to admitted that she could be a jerk and a tiny bit strong willed as well. And stupid people annoyed her.

"He died and left me pretty much everything. Including the key to stopping these Lovecraftian monsters. Only the servants of the monsters didn't want them to be stopped. So they tried to kill me and I sort of just... fell into it all."

[notaparker]

"Clearly the lack of foolishness," I say, to the 'drawing my own conclusions' part of that. Or, okay, the strong-willed kindred spirit bit, but mine works to and is also slightly more date-appropriate, y'know? I'll keep the other one in the bag, unspoken but acknowledged.

"Man, though, that must have been trip. One minute normal, the next minute... Lovecraftian horrors. Not turning and running is a hell of a thing, honestly. Or a hell dimension kind of thing, I guess."

[tooprettytodie]

Jessica definitely won points with Valkyrie by not mentioning the less pleasant qualities she might have in common with Gordon.

"Well, they probably would have caught up to me if I had tried to run. And if people are trying to kill me, I'm going to learn to fight back. Plus, I always thought I didn't fit in, like I was meant to be a part of something different so when I finally found out about the magical world it was kind of a relief."

[notaparker]

"Learning to fight back is pretty sensible," I say, reaching over to snag myself a drumstick. "Is it hard? Magic? Are wands involved in any respect?"

[tooprettytodie]

"No, no wands," Valkyrie said with a laugh. That was one thing she had trouble with on the island, that wand magic was real in some worlds. It just seemed silly to her.

"Well, not really. I suppose someone could make a wand that did a specific spell or something, but they're not required. Necromancers do need a focus for their magic, but I don't know anyone that uses a wand."

[notaparker]

"Like a creepy skull? Or a creepy staff with a skull on the end of it?" I say, because turns out there are necromancers. Maybe I should have expected that, magic and all, and it's not like my universe is free of the undead what with the vampires and all.

[tooprettytodie]

"I don't know any that have a skull, and Solomon has a cane, but it's just plain black," she said. A skull on the end of it would just be a bit too cliche, which sometimes fit Solomon.

"Mine is this," she added, holding up her hand to show the plain black ring on her finger. "Sort of simple, but fits in pretty well and easy to carry around."

[notaparker]

That is kind of stylish and completely devoid of skulls and skullishness, which is promising, but I'm still hung up a little on the part where this means- it means that, right?

"Hold the ouiji board," I say, cocking my head, looking from the ring to Valkyrie. "You're a- wait, I don't want to sound prejudiced against necromancers, I was just assuming they're bad guys with nasty juju, are they not... bad guys with nasty juju?"

[tooprettytodie]

"Not exactly."

Valkyrie could understand the sentiment. 'Death Magic' wasn't really a type of magic that made you think that they were out to save the world. And they weren't, they just... okay most of them were really bad.

"I've only studied some Necromancy because- okay, story time. So when my partner and I, the one that's a skeleton, defeated the Lovecraftian horrors, he got sucked through a portal into the world they came from before they invaded ours. So I needed a lot of help to get him back and a Necromancer I knew thought I was their like... chosen one or something, their Death Bringer. So not the Death Bringer, by the way. They use the power of death to control shadows. And they don't go around killing people to get more power, either. Mostly."

[notaparker]

"...okay, that's not so bad, then," I say, once I've worked out that it is. Magic people and their portals into horror dimensions. That's what did Doc Strange in, in the end. Magic portal, bam, no more Doc Strange. Add him to the list of that disaster's badness.

"So it's kind of a bad rep from the name. And also that their chosen one is called the Death Bringer. Is it wrong if I'm a little relieved to not be on a date with someone rocking the title Death Bringer?"

I pause, lean out from the shelter a little, holding out my hand to see if there are indeed drops of rain falling. "...especially since your meteorology is on the mark. I dub thee... Rain Bringer."

[tooprettytodie]

"Not wrong at all. Especially when it turns out the Death Bringer's job was to kill a third of the population all at once. Basically, clogging the spirit tunnel so that no one could ever die again."

It had upset her when she learned about that. Not that the Necromancers were planning on that, but that Solomon and some others thought that she could be convinced to do that. Did she really seem like the kind of person who could be convinced to do that?

There were more pleasant things to think about at the moment though, such as the fact that it was actually raining.

"Excellent. It's going really pour for a bit, but the lightning further out is amazing. Also, if you're afraid of thunder, I will totally pull the 'I will hold you close' card."

[notaparker]

That defintely qualifies as bad juju. Any group who can draw up a 'kill a third of the population' plan and not think, 'hey maybe we should hold up a second here, turns out we're completely wackadoodle,' probably has some deep flaws as an organization.

So I'm more than happy to move away from that particular maniacal plan issue back to the flirting thing. Which is... nice. No, that just sounds indifferent, it's kind of swell. I may be unsure where I stand with respects to relationships as a whole thing, but I can take back flirting. I might not know if its going anywhere or if I want it to, but it's still fun, right? Maybe I'm overthinking, maybe just boil it down to... it's a good date, I like Valkyrie, even if she knows some crazy folks.

"I am suddenly developing an intense fear of thunder," I say, affecting a quizzical expression. "Weird."