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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2015 6:55:40 GMT
Nov. 30
Superboy. B 04
The voice of the Zeta tube was an instant wave of nostalgia, it felt like it had been forever since he had heard it or any of the others designations by the reassuring almost female sounding announcement. Conner had wondered since the first day who they had used as a template for it, was it someone in the Justice League or maybe even like a friend of one of the team?
With Wolf back on the farm still Conner was alone and aware of that. That weird twist in his gut from not knowing who he might meet or if he did meet some of the team that he knew how would they react to him going out into more or less nowhere on a crazy journey to find himself. Clark's words not his.
It felt good though to be back in his usual black on black outfit. On the farm he had tried to wear other things but nothing felt as comfortable. He had compromised with the Kent's though and tried to wear other things, eventually settling on a red and black checked shirt on occasion. That and he hadn't worn the S in almost a year. Superboy was well aware he had had next to no contact with the team in the time he was away, that had been on purpose. Would have been dumb to think that he would have been able to stay away if he had heard they were fighting something dangerous while he was tossing hay bales. None of them had better be hurt while he was away, besides he knew if he was needed then one of them could find him. They had only to do some digging, the Bat pack would have found him in seconds.
Dropping the ruck sack down beside him Conner took a better look around, it looked mostly the same which was nice and weird all at the same time. The cave had been destroyed yet here it was, which was comforting and disturbing. Conner put it down to how long they had spent here, it was always nice to know he had a place to return to that was safe and in a way 'his'.
A lot of good memories here, and some not so good ones. Conner frown deepened, then there was that. Dealing with the relationships of the team, the clone had no doubt that they would still be as complicated as they had always been.
"Anyone here?" Conner gave a shout, he had no idea if anyone lived here any more with the team being able to use the watchtower. For whatever reason though starting in the cave seemed the right thing to do, everything started here and if no one was here then it was a quick hop to the Watchtower. Though that was a last resort, he didn't really want to bump into Kal. It was like the opposite of the start. Kal was being overly helpful now, so Conner didn't want to be dragged around while Superman told everyone that Conner was back. Sometimes Conner wished Clark would back off a bit, it felt like compensation at times, or pity. That just pissed the clone off. Gripping the rucksack strap Conner moved a little further in. "Hello?" He gave a shout again, if nothing else to get his mind away from the track it was on.
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Post by Miss Martian on Jan 22, 2015 7:05:37 GMT
I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own)
I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that's what they don't know, mmm-mmm
That's what they don't know, mmm-mmm
Music sounded from the kitchen, reverberating off the walls and down the corridors as the young Martian danced about ponytail swinging and bobbing as she grooved to the music of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off. Her gear was set off to the corner, M'gann having arrived a little earlier had started on dinner as soon as she got in. Gar and the others, Geoff and Starr would hopefully start to trickle if they were home and smell her cooking. M'gann had Zeta'd to the cave to spend some time with them and check in on, to see how they were doing and well in general just hang out. The Cave was kind of a drop by place for some like M'gann who, had her own place in Metropolis where she went to school and kept up with her alter ego Megan Morse. Now though she was making a spaghetti dinner equipped with garlic bread, cheesey baked tomatoes, Caesar salad and tiramisu for dessert.
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop grooving
It's like I got this music
In my mind
Saying, "It's gonna be alright."
Cheer practice had gone on later than usual as some of the elite stunts were more intricate and their timing was a bit off with the inclusion of the new girl. Still she managed to get here in time to prep for dinner. It was the Martian's thing, whenever she stopped by the Cave, she'd cook for the gang; who ever was around. She came down especially though to check in on her little brother and spend some time with him before she would head out again later that night. But if he wasn't in then she'd leave him a note that she was here and direct him to where she'd store the uneaten food. Her guitar case leaned against the side of the wall by her cheerleading bag as later that night she was going to head out to an open mic being held at a small cafe out near the harbor front of Happy Harbor. But before that time she thought she'd hang with her little brother, teammates and friends if they were around. Someone was always at the Cave.
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
M'gann sang as she texted Nightwing and the other non-resident team members inviting them a spaghetti dinner here at the Cave just in case any of them felt like coming down. M'gann hoped this time they wouldn't be too busy to come down. It'd be nice to have the entire gang here or well most of the gang. Still if any of them could drop by for her famous spaghetti and meatballs it would be great. With the text invitations sent to the Team the young Martian continued to dance around the kitchen and cook.
"Anyone here?" a distant shout was drowned out by music and singing so that its sound was a soft and distant echo over run by a song loudly playing and accompanied with the Martian's voice as she hang along..
Heart-breakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Had the music not been playing loudly in the kitchen, had she maybe not been bouncing around to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off song as she danced around the area while at the same time preparing a meal, M'gann might have heard the computer AI speak that familiar designation. Had she not been jumping about to the song, singing along while objects floated around dropping into a pot of tomato sauce with freshly ground herbs sprinkled in that she was making while the pasta boiled she might have heard him. Knives chopped as she prepped the salad and the delicious smell of baked garlic bread and cheese heated in the oven.
"Hello?" the second time was loud enough for the Martian to hear, either it was louder or they were coming closer, either way the second time M'gann heard the voice, only that distinct pitch and cadence drummed up the familiar and she popped her head out from the doorway in almost disbelief...
"Connor?" her voice sounded almost shocked, no not almost, the cadence and pitch denoted definite surprise. Part of her wanted to go over there and give him a hug of greeting like she does all her friends but well she wasn't even really sure anymore...were they still friends?
A simple glance back into the kitchen and her telegraphed thoughts turned off the music so now there was like this almost heavy weight of silence.
"Hi." she said still casting him a warm smile regardless. "I was making dinner for Gar and well whoever else shows up...it's Spaghetti and meatballs..." there was another bit of pause of uncertainty before she concluded. "You can join in with the rest when they come..if you want."
=== OOC: I blame cbox for the song choice used for this post *snickers* OOC3: Please other team members join this thread take away this potential awkwardness, XD
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 21:39:22 GMT
"Hi." she said still casting him a warm smile regardless. "I was making dinner for Gar and well whoever else shows up...it's Spaghetti and meatballs..." there was another bit of pause of uncertainty before she concluded. "You can join in with the rest when they come..if you want."
Of all the people to meet in the cave, the first one would have to be M'gann. Conner had thought that with the older kids living elsewhere he would bump into new kids or maybe a League member who was here to train them but no. It was Miss Martian. Kicking himself for not hearing the music or smelling the food, the cave played havoc with super senses so they were usually switched off. Superboy was pretty sure that was why the cave was it was, Batman was smart that way. So now he was pretty much face to face with his Ex. Between the break up and the gradual acceptance as friends again, things still felt a little off. They had gone from being inseparable to being apart to him watching her with Lagoon boy, then for her to break up with that guy and Conner was frankly a little confused by it all. There was an expression about walking on egg shells, this felt like the reason that expression existed.
Aware that there was now a weird silence because he hadn't spoken Conner reached up and rubbed the back of his head "Uh Hey." Master of language that he was Conner continued to stand there looking sheepish before realising that she had said more than just a greeting.
"There are others here? For dinner." Others was a good thing, more the merrier Conner thought. Anything to save him from not knowing what to say. Whatever conversation was due to happen in the near future, this was not the place or time for it. "It's been awhile, would be good to catch up and find out what I have missed." He shouldered the rucksack and took several steps forward.
There was a loaded question, he knew it was but it seemed rude not to ask it. Ma Kent would give him that look of disapproval if he didn't. Yet Conner wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer just now. Deciding to just go with the initial thought his mouth worked by itself "So how have you been?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2015 9:00:41 GMT
One of the really awesome things about being a ‘natural wonder’, or at least closer to nature than most of the other inhabitants of mount justice, was a phenomenal sense of …. Smell….
Obviously there was increased sight, increased hearing and lots of other ‘increased…’ but right now it was the heightened scent that send little ripples of delight down Gars spine, making his tail curl in an out of an intricate pattern of loops, and finally made him tear his nose out of the comic books he’d been reading, and leap out of his bed with an exited exclamation of “SWEEEET!”
He’d already forgotten about the super exiting next chapter of his favorite comic, as he rushed out the door of his dorm room, dragged by the nose, by the scent of M’ganns cooking, slowly filling the halls of the cave and making his stomach growl like that of a bear right out of hibernation.
How could he have forgotten how hungry he was! This seemed unbelievable! Unfathomable! He was clearly starving! He sped around one of the corners, sliding on the floor, his naked simian feet, clawing, curling and struggling to keep a grip on the surface, before he decided that the preferred shape of his half monkey form, just wasn’t quick enough! There was food to be had after all! So even before he came out of the corner, his shape was blurring, twisting, shifting and folding down into that of a deep green furry little critter, that part bounced, part ran, part skittered along the cave walls with its bushy tail waving in the air behind him like the banner behind a charging cavalry.
Gar might have been more aware of the voices bounding of the cave walls too, if the increasing empty pit in his stomach wasn’t demanding his full attention. It seemed changing your shape into that of a squirrel, though smaller, did nothing to decrease the size of your hunger. Oh man, oh man, oh man… fooooood. He turned another corner and suddenly found him bouncing between the legs of Super boy, skittering to a stop, and sliding directly into M’ganns feet instead like a green ball of very confused fur.
It however only took him a few seconds – in squirrel time – and everyone should know squirrel time is much faster than human/simian/monkey time... – to regain his focus, and change strategy. So with a renewed determination and the –perfect-for-climbing-big-sister’s-squirrel-feet- he rushed up one of M’ganns legs, all the way up to her shoulder, tail curling around her neck, and his eyes locked firmly on Connor, letting out what could only be interpretated as part surprised, part welcoming squeek.
His mind, open to his sister as it was, was running as fast as his squirrel feet had earliere, going something along the lines of ... ::Connor is back! Connor is back! Connor is back! Connor is back! M'Gann! Connor is back! Connor is back! ... are we eating soon...?::
His face turning, so the small wet nose was only an inch of M'ganns cheek and the dark eyes looking inquiringly at her. Connor might be back... but he was still hungry...
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Post by Miss Martian on Jan 24, 2015 10:18:16 GMT
She remembered it being said once that regret came in all shapes and sizes. Some small , like when your do a bad thing, for a good reason. Some are bigger, like when you let down a friend. Some people escape the pains of regret by making the right choice. Some of people have little time to regret, because they're looking forward to the future. Sometimes you have to fight to come to terms with the past. And sometimes you have to bury the regret, by promising to change. But you know what the biggest regrets are? They're not for the things we did... but the things we didn't do or don't say when we have the chance.
A whole year of having not seen one another, a whole year of not speaking, of not anything and their first encounter is summed up in two words practically forced out of his lips. They grew up together practically in this cave, were inseparable at one point. No one was closer to her than he was, knew things about her that no one else did; knew everything, including her ordeal and captivity in the Checkpoint facility. He even knew exactly what she was, what she really looked like, what she had the potential to be and yet he had never judged her; he accepted her for her. But now...he couldn't even stand to be in the same room with her. The twinge of guilt stabbed at her because she knew it was her fault, all of it and as much as she tried in the past to make it right it apparently amounted to nothing. She even would put money on the fact that he probably seared through the birthday card she gave Superman to give to Connor on his birthday last year. Just so he'd know that he wasn't forgotten, that even if he was away he was still remembered and still family. M'gann always remembered people's birthdays and usually did something like threw them parties or made them cake or cupcakes. In the very least for those that left the team she sent them birthday cards if she could or a text. But she never even knew if he got her card as she heard nothing back not that she expected to, but she liked to think it would have brought a smile to his face knowing people still remembered his birthday. Apparently thought from the looks of it he would have preferred she had forgotten.
"Uh Hey." Conner said rather awkwardly as he continued to stand there looking sheepish reaching up and rubbed the back of his head in that nervous way she knew him to do when he wasn't comfortable. Sometimes it wasn't worth knowing a person inside and out because she could sense he didn't want to have run into her, he didn't want to be here right now with her standing there and that probably hurt the most. She thought in the very least they could have gotten past what happened in the past so that they could have at least stayed friends. Thought that all that time spent together; inseparable at one point and knowing each other so well half the time they didn't even need to speak to each other or her telepathy to know the other's thoughts; M'gann thought that in the least would have meant a friendship worth salvaging. But obviously it wasn't. And it killed her now to feel every discomfort he had, every sign of him wanting to bolt.
'Am I really that bad to be around Connor?' she thought to herself but kept in bottled in, keeping plastered her warm 'Megan' smile that she could fake really well if she wanted to. She wasn't going to make this encounter awkward. She wasn't going to give him a reason to hate her more.
"There are others here? For dinner." Others was a good thing, more the merrier Conner thought. Anything to save him from not knowing what to say. Whatever conversation was due to happen in the near future, this was not the place or time for it.
That thought caused a twinge in the Martian. She wasn't forcefully listening to his thoughts but just like that time back when they first met and were talking about names, M'gann sensed his sadness and discomfort of not having one back then. She never meant to hear it but she just did, and while this time she didn't 'hear' it so much as sensed it in the cadence and pitch of his voice and his ever so subtle nuance of body language that she knew well. You don't spend every waking moment with a person and not know their subtle signs and M'gann picked up on everything loud and clear. She just wished right now that she couldn't.
"Gar is here somewhere and Star and Blue live here permanently but I don't know if they're home at the moment and I texted the others to see if they wanted to join Gar and I." she replied evenly as she stirred the sauce she was cooking.
"It's been awhile, would be good to catch up and find out what I have missed." He shouldered the rucksack and took several steps forward.
She continued to smile that patient warm smile of hers as she nodded then turned around as if to finish her cooking. "Yeah, you can ask them all about it when you see them." she said finally for the first time allowed her smile to fall as her back was to him.
"You can put your stuff down, get comfortable. This used to be your home you know." M'gann said forcing out a lighthearted chuckle trying to sound like she used to when he'd be all uncomfortable. That laugh always used to make him relax a bit, now it probably sounded like fingernails raking a chalkboard. Maybe she shouldn't have done that. Then again if she didn't he would think there was something wrong because that would have been the general 'M'gann' reaction. She needed to keep facades up at least for a little bit longer. She'd be out of here soon anyways.
"So how have you been?"
It was forced, he really didn't want to ask, he really didn't want to know. M'gann could tell and she shut her eyes for a moment and bit down on the stabbing pain. 'God Connor am I really that bad? Can't even stomach to ask let alone know how I've been?' she thought a bit of pain and knowing it was cause of what she did that brought their friendship to this fractured point. If she could she would have made her exit now but couldn't at least not right this moment.
Usually M'gann was full of hope and optimism but this time she didn't see any silver linings in this meeting at all. Still M'gann swallowed hard before answering as it felt as though her throat had constricted making it difficult to talk. She inhaled deeply and exhaled softly to find her center, her eyes now opened looked down at the sauce she was making for her brother and the rest. It was vegetarian meatballs since Gar didn't eat meat. So while it would taste like meatballs it was really much healthier as it was M'gann's own homemade version. She sampled the sauce added a bit more spice to make it just right before smiling with satisfaction. It was just right.
She kept that smile on her face as she turned to answer his question.
"Good. Busy. I'm a Freshman at Met U, on the cheerleading team there...try not to fall over with surprise there." she she beamed while making a joke, trying to muster the excitement she normally would have when describing these things, but it's kinda hard when the person across from you could careless and want to be anywhere but here, simply just asking out of politeness. Still she was trying not to make this awkward and if she answered it with one word he'd know, and then it *would* be awkward. At least with her faking it, he wouldn't know and it would not be as awkward as it already was. "We're prepping for a competition in a two months."
"I also learned to play the guitar while in Chicago with my uncle. I didn't go all Emo or anything though if that's what you think, I didn't. I just hung out with a few guys that played instruments and one of them taught me some stuff. I mastered the two and three finger power chords, a staple for playing Nirvana songs and the ever so useful three chord progression guaranteed to make you sound like a punk rocker cause those chords make up pretty much most of punk music and Green Day stuff. Billy Joe Armstrong eat your heart out." she said with that old smile and exuberance of hers as she brought up the pop references again. "My guitar's over there." she motioned to the casing where it rested leaning against the wall near her cheerleading bag with pompoms peaking out.
"I'm going to this open mic thing tonight, so I won't be staying here long." 'You can breathe easier now.' M'gann thought the last half to herself but still kept up with her excited smile and well she was excited to go, it was just dampened internally with current revelations.
She was just about to ask Connor how he'd been when squirrel Gar came into the scene as he scurried up M’ganns legs, causing the young Martian to at first gasp and squeak in surprise before breaking out into real honest laughter.
"Gar!" she squeaked happily. M'gann could feel her little brother's excitement as the green squirrel scurried all the way up to her shoulder, tail curling around her neck, and his eyes locked firmly on Connor, letting out what could only be interpreted as part surprised, part welcoming squeak. M'gann chuckled more as his mind opened to her running about as fast as the squirrel was up her form.
::Connor is back! Connor is back! Connor is back! Connor is back! M'Gann! Connor is back! Connor is back! ... ::
::Yes I know.:: her thoughts conveyed as she continued to laugh at his excitement. His happiness and exuberance was always infectious to her making her feel much better because there was at least one person in the room that didn't mind her around.
::are we eating soon...?::
His face turning, so the small wet nose was only an inch of M'ganns cheek and the dark eyes looking inquiringly at her.
"Yes, we're eating soon. I made spaghetti with vegetarian meatballs, roasted cheesy tomatoes and garlic bread. Then for dessert, Tiramisu." she said to Gar. "Now why don't you go and say hi to Connor like you want to. I'll get dinner ready ok?" she said as she raised her arm up as if to give Gar a 'branch' to run off of to either leap off her and onto Connor or just onto the floor where he can morph into his usual form.
If anything good could come out of this, it would be that Gar got his hero back. And if there was anything that trumped her own happiness, it was others', particularly her little brothers.
M'gann turned her back then at the two as she started to get things ready for dinner and let them get reacquainted.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 10:57:37 GMT
She could try and hide how she felt but Conner wasn't dumb, he could see the signs of her getting unhappy, sad even.
Still he listened to everything she had been up to, so much more than Conner had. Working on the farm and trying to hang out with the local kids at the Kents. Few games of football here and there but most of it had been spent just in quiet thought and contemplation. Staring out at the fields and just letting the world move without him needing to be around it.
"M'gann.." Conner moved to reach out as she started away, stopping himself as she went back to cooking. This was just weird, they used to be able to just talk and talk. Then she had to use her powers in ways that she must have known upset him. He had been messed around with mentally since he was 'born' and to see her do it to others and even try to do it to him. All over a stupid argument. It wasn't that he wanted to punish her or make her feel bad. It was just he couldn't understand. The M'gann he had fallen in love with would never have done anything like that, she was kind and loving. The M'gann that did that was the White Martian side, she had given into it to protect something she didn't want to lose. He understood that, hell he fought to protect what he cared about all the time. It did have the effect of adding a whole load of questions about the girl he didn't want to be thinking about, especially about her and what they had. His trust had been completely shattered. The faith he had that everything was going to be perfect had been reduced to questions he didn't want the answers too.
They needed to talk, while things had been better when the team had taken time away or maybe it was just him but it did seem like she had done the same, time and distance had a habit of raising walls.
Before he could explain or try to attempt the green squirrel made its appearance, Conner smiled a little as the well named Beast Boy made his way to the shoulder of the Martian.
"Hey Gar " Conner extended a closed fist out for a superboy slash Beast boy fist bump "It's good to see you. Both of you." Conner added sincerely. "The menu sounds amazing M'gann. Will be good to have your cooking again, not that the Kents was bad. Just not the same as home."
With M'gann moving to deal with the food again Conner gave Gar a serious look "I would have thought you would be bigger by now. You seem to have shrunk." As serious as he sounded, well Conner always sounded serious except under a few situations, he had a slight smile on his face. "So how have you been? Training I hope."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2015 22:21:37 GMT
"Yes, we're eating soon. I made spaghetti with vegetarian meatballs, roasted cheesy tomatoes and garlic bread. Then for dessert, Tiramisu." He was pretty sure the sound of his rhumbling stomach, even if it was only squirrel sized, was enough to cause a minor mudslide down the cave walls. Oh man… that sounded good. :: My favorite! You’re the best sis!:: He projected the words at her, as his animal shifting, didn’t really allow for usable vocal cords.
"Now why don't you go and say hi to Connor like you want to. I'll get dinner ready ok?" She helped him untangle the fluffyness that was his tail, from her neck, and made a bridge of her arm, allowing him to bound along it, and unto Connors shoulder. He let out another squeek at the teenage hero, before spiraling down along his body, as a furry green little critter lightning, until he had firm ground under his feet once more.
"Hey Gar - It's good to see you. Both of you." By the time Connor spoke, Gar had managed to shift himself back into a more familiar version of himself, just in time to meet Connors first bump with a genuine grin. “Sweeet! Hey Connor!”
"The menu sounds amazing M'gann. Will be good to have your cooking again, not that the Kents was bad. Just not the same as home."
“It does… doesn’t it! Oh man I’m so hungry! Siiis! Im staaarving!” He spun around and took two quick steps over to M’gann, as she stood with her back to them, stirring the food, and slipped his arms around her, giving her a thight spontaneous hug. At least it was meant to seem that way.. He might be a little enthusiastic, and with an attention span that at times mimicked that of a goldfish’s memory, but he was neither def nor blind to the emotions ripping through his adopted sister. She was in pain, and he knew it. It had something to do with the awkward situation between her and Connor, he was sure of that too, even if no one had seen fit to fill him in on the particular situation yet. Somehow M’gann had done something… and that something was bad… bad enough that Connor had pulled away… that much he’d managed to figure out, based alone on the guilt he’d been able to sense in the martian.
When she’d come to the sanctuary with Seven, he’d been quick to judge her, blame her even, for the odd disappearance of Connor… But he’d never meant to hurt her. Gar didn’t like hurting anyone… least of all his sister.
He gave her an extra little squeeze, for once not needing any words, spoken or projected, to portray the fact that he was there for her. No matter what.
"I would have thought you would be bigger by now. You seem to have shrunk." Connors voice pulled him back out of the hug, leaving M’gann to the very important task of cooking, once more. He turned around and send Connor a disheartened little look. “I’ve grown at least half an inch…and just you wait! any day now... and i'll start growing!" He let out a heartfelt little sigh, and gave the dark green hair a little ruffle, as if to make himself look taller. The mildly gloomy expression was however quickly replaced by a more lighthearted shrug, and a genuine grin. Not even his height, or lack of same, could keep him down for long, and it was completely forgotten as the topic changed once more. "So how have you been? Training I hope."
“of course! I spend some time working and studying at the sanctuary. Until M'gann and her new friend came to pick me up. Anyway! Where have you been? and why did you leave? Are you back home for good now?"
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Post by Miss Martian on Jan 30, 2015 11:47:09 GMT
:: My favorite! You’re the best sis!:: He projected the words at her, as his animal shifting, didn’t really allow for usable vocal cords.
M'gann couldn't help but giggle at the small squirrel on her shoulder, the young Martian closing her eyes and smiling warmly at his sentiment allowing his emotions to wash over her; she clung to that to push away the ill feeling knot in her stomach felt earlier from Connor's initial reaction to seeing her. But with Gar so near and his emotions over flowing, it was easier for her to get all caught up in his excitement.
M'gann then chuckled at her little brother's enthusiasm and helped him untangle himself from her neck only to lift a straightened arm allowing Gar to bound along it, and unto Connors shoulder. The Gar-squirrel let out another squeek at the teenage hero, before spiraling down along his body, as a furry green little critter lightning, until he had firm ground under his feet once more.
M'gann watched the whole exchange as Conner had extended a closed fist out for a superboy /Beast boy fist bump that Gar took in happily.
"It's good to see you. Both of you." Conner added actually sounding sincere even if M'gann knew from his initial reaction to seeing her 'good' was not the best adjective at least in seeing her and that part still stung. Though she was able to cast Connor a small polite and appreciative smile knowing the boy was trying at least for the sake of Gar to tolerate her. That meant a lot to her and she appreciated it although she still wasn't sure what hurt more, his initial reaction to her or the fact that it seemed he hadn't forgiven her for that one big mistake.
M'gann had thought she'd made great strides in trying to make up for it, had thought that she had managed to prove that she was at the core of it all still that 'good' person, but she was learning quite quickly that while some mistakes you can learn and grow from, it would also forever brand you and you can never shake it off completely. Maybe that was the lesson here. Once a 'monster' always a monster, it doesn't matter how hard one tries to prove that they aren't. The moment you slip up, the reasoning of being that 'evil' thing comes right back up to the surface. It hurt at the reminder of what that notion that maybe those people were right. Maybe she is and always would be that horrible thing and she was just fooling herself into thinking she was anything but. Gar's touch though pulled her out of that downward spiralling pit of guilt and shame; his exuberance once more buoying her back up from drowning in initial self-doubt.
Gar had spun around and took two quick steps over to M’gann, as she stood with her back to them, stirring the food trying not to show her faltering facade. The young Martian girl felt her brother's presence but hadn't turned around for fear of anyone seeing her momentary lapse in emotion. She was trying to force down those thoughts as it would do no good right now and she refused to be a 'downer' in this. But when she felt the sudden slip of her brother's tiny arms around her, giving her a tight spontaneous hug M'gann couldn't help but smile. The feel of support and family welled in the young Martian girl and she had to force her eyes to shut jus to savor that feeling. Maybe there was still one last person that never thought of her as that 'monster'. M'gann's hand moved briefly over Gar's own that was wrapped around her form as she bent her head down and in telepathic communication conveyed her appreciation of his surprisingly perceptive support.
::Thanks little brother.:: her voice echoed in his head softly. She wasn't sure Gar would even understand how much his support at that moment meant, but it helped her increasingly faltering confidence to know that maybe there was still a chance for her to prove that she wasn't what stereotypical White Martian to be feared to mistrusted.
"The menu sounds amazing M'gann. Will be good to have your cooking again, not that the Kents was bad. Just not the same as home." Connor's voice caused M'gann to look over at the young man, curious he would say it like that but appreciating his attempt at civility.
"Thanks." M'gann offered putting on a genuine warm smile. Her thanks more in response to Connor's attempt at not making this awkward for Gar. He adored Connor and M'gann did not want to spoil this reunion for him and was thankful that Connor thought the same and also tried for Gar's sake or at least this was what the young Martian believed was the Boy of Steel's intent.
“It does… doesn’t it! Oh man I’m so hungry! Siiis! Im staaarving!” Gar had said causing M'gann to chuckle.
"Well it's a good thing I made a lot then." she said sounding much like her old self. It was going to be ok. She told herself.
"And I promise not to spill any of it on you Connor. Cause I bet you don't miss that part of my cooking." M'gann chuckled also trying to keep it light.
It was one of M'gann's fondest memories of the two when Connor back when they were younger and living here at the cave, had offered to help her cook. M'gann's excitement and nervousness had gotten the best of her TK and well Superboy ended up wearing most of the ingredients that time. Her smile just subconsciously broadened at the memory even as she moved around the kitchen preparing the food putting them onto serving dishes while her mind pulled at the table cloth and plates causing the items to prepare themselves on the table in ghostly fashion. She had much more control and focus now. Then again she had been training exclusively with her uncle for the last year. M'gann had gotten better and stronger with her new and growing Martian abilities.
The young Martian continued to smile as she heard Connor and Gar interacting. "I would have thought you would be bigger by now. You seem to have shrunk...."
“I’ve grown at least half an inch…and just you wait! any day now... and i'll start growing!"
M'gann chuckled as Gar and let out a heartfelt little sigh, and gave the dark green hair a little ruffle, as if to make himself look taller. It was fun to watch her brother and Connor interact. Each doing good to be around one another.
"...So how have you been? Training I hope."
Gar's mildly gloomy expression was however was quickly replaced by a more lighthearted shrug, and a genuine grin. Not even his height, or lack of it seemed to keep him down for long, and it was completely forgotten as the topic changed once more.
"So how have you been? Training I hope."
“of course! I spend some time working and studying at the sanctuary. Until M'gann and her new friend came to pick me up. "
"What can I say? I missed my little brother." M'gann said with a warm smile. "Plus you aren't the only one that missed the Sanctuary and it was good for Seven to experience the serenity of a place like that."
"Anyway! Where have you been? and why did you leave? Are you back home for good now?"
As the two talked M'gann managed to finish setting the table and laying everything out perfectly. It actually looked like a setting she once saw on a Martha Stewart show right down to the pretty embellishments and decor. It wasn't just about the food but the presentation of it all as well, from the glassware and plates to the utensils and the napkin holders. It all had to be perfect in M'gann's eyes to make it right.
"There you go boys. Dinner's ready." she said with a smile. motioning for them to have a seat and dig in.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 22:20:25 GMT
Conner smirked at the green boy as he defended himself verbally, Superboy had meant Gar as a squirrel but he was never that great with jokes. "New friend?" Conner asked curiously as he made his way into the kitchen "His name is Seven or his designation is Seven? I figured there would be some team mates when I got back. Has much changed?" He wasn't really sure to remark on the comment about her cooking ending up all over him, wasn't that really how they had started off? Always being so close in the cave, just them to keep each other company? Little moments like that had created a bond between them, one that was currently broken and being built up again into a friendship. Not that he didn't think about her in a girlfriend way, just that every time he did Conner was reminded of the time she tried to mess with his mind.
Placing his bag down he ruffled around in it before pulling out a Smallville crows shirt and offering it to Gar "I know its not really a souvenir from a mission but last year was kinda my own mission, so this is a memento of that. I got gifts for everyone actually. Figured it would make coming back easier for the team, for me." Rummaging about a little more he pulled out a thick notebook with loose leaves of paper in between the pages and it all held together with rubber bands. "I thought you would like this M'gann. I know you love to cook, so I asked Mrs Kent to get all her friends and the town folk to put down all their recipes and hints and tips for cooking. Same with the girls on the Cheerleading squad, not that they cook. Well they might but I meant more their cheering hints and tips. Sure you don't need them but I thought a couple of them might be of use." Conner wasn't that great with gifts, he tended to stick to obvious things that were clear hobbies and interests. It meant that while he knew the person, he didn't get that creative.
He gave them both a genuine smile "I know its been weird, with me being away and people moving on or doing new things. I just want to come back and try and get things back on track. I needed the break to find myself outside the team, and now I want to come back and find myself in the team again. That probably doesn't make any sense, but it is what I intend to do." It was true, Conner just wanted to come back, help the team again after he had spent the last year working out who he was without the team, if he was anyone. It had been a worry for sometime, that without the team he had next to nothing. Now he knew otherwise. He was able to live without the missions, the super heroics but he missed them, the team and the actual work it did.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2015 15:08:42 GMT
"What can I say? I missed my little brother. Plus you aren't the only one that missed the Sanctuary and it was good for Seven to experience the serenity of a place like that." M’ganns voice mixed into Gars and Connors conversation, just as Gar had been explaining how her and seven had picked him up.
“Well it’s the best place in the world! … well… That and the Cave!” He grinned back at M’gann, before shifting his attention back to Connor, brought back by his; "New friend?", clearly referring curiously to the mention of Seven. "His name is Seven or his designation is Seven? I figured there would be some team mates when I got back. Has much changed?".
“I think its kinda… both… I guess he keeps it simple like that.” Gar realized he still didn’t know that much about the boy known as Seven, perhaps he’d get the chance to rectify that eventually. Though right now! His attention was split between the return of connor, and the increasingly destracting scent of the dinner. It wasn’t really a fair competition… Conner had put his bag down, and was pulling out a shirt, offering it towards Gar, that definitely earned his full attention, if only for a short while. "I know its not really a souvenir from a mission but last year was kinda my own mission, so this is a memento of that. I got gifts for everyone actually. Figured it would make coming back easier for the team, for me." He accepted the shirt and inspected it, with a wide grin. He tilted the image on it a bit, trying to figure it out what it depicted. A stylized crow? A football t-shirt perhaps? Or some other sort of jock support tee. It was cool none the less though. “Sweet! You remembered! I’ll put it with the rest of the collection. This is awesome! I’ll be right back….” One of Gars great prides was the constant growing collection of mission souvenirs that he’d taken upon himself to gather for the team. It was a way of remembering the successes, their victories… but also their struggles… It was all about their story really. Good or bad; All that which made them a team. So, even if Connor had been gone for the better part of the year, even if he’d been on his own, doing his own thing, the t-shirt represented that he was still very much a part of the team, and that he’d returned now. There for it was very important to Gar that it was brought into the rest of the collection as quick as possible. So remotely aware of Connor and M’gann continuing the gift exchange and conversation, Gar was already half way out of the room, holding the ‘souvenir’.
"There you go boys. Dinner's ready." M’ganns voice cut into his strides as effectively as if she’d stuck a branch into a rolling wheel. He hit the breaks, and slid to a stop, his bar feet struggling to get a grip as he spun around. “… you know… it can probably wait a few minutes!” He was referring to the placement of the t-shirt, as he stormed back to the Martha Stewart worthy decked table and had already seated himself with an exited bounce, awaiting the food. It really wasnt a fair competition at all...
What most people didn’t understand was the amount of energy it took simple being… Gar. The enthusiasm, and the hyperactivity, the mood… all of it, would take a lot out of everyone. And that wasn’t even counting the energy he spend when he was molding his body into another shape. Every fysical action was a process of converting energy… so… In short… Gar was ALWAYS hungry.
“Foooood….” He grinned brightly over at M’gann, waiting for them to catch up and sit down around the table.
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Post by Miss Martian on Feb 7, 2015 12:17:53 GMT
M'gann was still busying herself with stuff in the kitchen even after she told the boys to sit and eat, unable to actually sit until she had cleaned out the kitchen. One thing she hated was a messy kitchen, even if she cleaned up as she cooked it was still hard to not have a few things at the end that needed tidying, so she never actually noticed when Connor moved to get things out of his bag. She allowed Gar and Connor to continue discussing things and only half listened to the conversation. Being in the kitchen, doing things was a zen thing for her and easy enough to find her center. It was only when she heard her name did the young Martian turn curiously.
"I thought you would like this M'gann. I know you love to cook, so I asked Mrs Kent to get all her friends and the town folk to put down all their recipes and hints and tips for cooking. Same with the girls on the Cheerleading squad, not that they cook. Well they might but I meant more their cheering hints and tips. Sure you don't need them but I thought a couple of them might be of use." Conner had said offering her the book of loose leaf pages.
She thought he hated her, at least distrust her; didn't like her. She caught the unsettling vibe earlier so she thought she understood, but then now, with the book. M'gann just didn't know. The normally bubbly and talkative teen was suddenly rendered quiet and contemplative.
She wasn't expecting that. Had no words to say at the unexpected gesture where normally the teen would have squeed, leaped up and hugged the boy. M'gann simply walked over slowly, dried her hands as she approached not wanting to mess up the book's pages with water marks. She accepted the thoughtful gift with a soft word of surprised thanks.
"Thank you." she said in half whisper as she opened the pages.
Connor always thought he wasn't that great with gifts, even when M'gann would tell him he was. Sure he didn't go all extravagant and crazy shopaholic with the gifting, but he was always thoughtful with his gifts. That to the Martian meant more than some Tiffany style necklace or bracelet or well anything. To M'gann it was the thought and the heart behind it that mattered, not the actual materialness of the gift. Hell someone could have given her a shoelace and as long as she knew their heart and intent of it was genuine and thought out she would have cherished it more than some pretty trinket. For a telepath, emotions, meaning and intent meant more than the superficial.
"It's perfect." she finally said as she looked up and smiled taking the book and subconsciously holding it tight to her chest as she moved away to put it into her equipment bag. The movement alone would denote that she loved the present, even if she was uncharacteristically reserved. She held it close to her as she walked to her bag of things. She'd be leaving shortly after dinner; didn't want to overstay the welcome, plus she had her open mic thing and didn't want to forget the book and leave it behind.
"I know its been weird, with me being away and people moving on or doing new things. I just want to come back and try and get things back on track. I needed the break to find myself outside the team, and now I want to come back and find myself in the team again. That probably doesn't make any sense, but it is what I intend to do."
"It does actually." M'gann nodded smiling back in understanding, she understood exactly what he meant and was trying to say. The young Martian came back to the table and took a seat next to her brother.
“Foooood….” Gar grinned brightly over at M’gann, waiting for them to catch up and sit down around the table.
With a laugh the young Martian gestured for her brother to dig in first. "Go ahead, you guys start." she smiled. "Jut be a bit careful...some of it is still really hot." she chuckled as she looked over at Gar.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2015 7:10:52 GMT
To Conner's eyes Gar was his usual cheery and bouncy self, and he was glad to have met the green skinned boy as one of the first people he saw back. It made things easier with someone so happy to see him back and Superboy was glad that it would appear that Garfield had given up on getting M'gann and Conner back together. That was a level of awkward that the clone was not comfortable with at this point in time.
Which brought things back to M'gann as things usually did, she was feeling awkward. Conner totally understood it and also knew that it was only a matter of time before that had to be dealt with. Just not here, in the cave in public.
After the break up and everything else that had happened Conner had felt like they had been getting close to being friends again, then the year away happened and suddenly with her in front of him again, it all felt raw again.
So yeah, that was a talk waiting to happen. Conner hated those sort of things. Cadmus hadn't created him for emotional talks, he was there to be a weapon. Granted the team, and especially M'gann, had helped him become someone else but it didn't change the fact that he didn't deal with his emotions well. Anger topped his list of badly handled.
Moving to take a seat at the table, Conner automatically moved to the seat he used to sit at, it was one of those reflex things you do when things are a certain way. Slipping into the seat he looked around the room and found that while most of it was the same there was some differences. Little reminders that things were different now, other team members lived here and not him.
"I'm glad you both liked your things, honestly you two were the easiest to find things for, the others were much trickier." As he shuffled a little in his seat to get comfy Conner looked about a little again, he never was one to talk much and being aware of the oddness was making it worse. He would rather have been fighting tanks or even Mongul than feeling like this.
Yet, Conner was wanting this to work, he wanted to come back to the team and that meant dealing with weird situations like this one.
"How about you two, what is new with you? A lot must have happened in the last year, more than what was in Smallville. That place is really quiet." And had been just what he needed. Conner had been with the team since he had been aware of himself outside that dreamland Cadmus had placed him in, his entire life had been fighting on their behalf and existing as the muscle for the group. A role he was glad to fill, it meant he could do good and protect those that needed it. There had been a whole other world outside the team though, one he had had minimal interaction with. Sure he had tried going to school but that felt trival and useless compared to the team. Now however he could see just how important it had been, while it didn't give him much Conner had at least connected with people outside the team. Smallville had given him the chance to take that further, to see who he was without the heroics and missions.
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Post by Miss Martian on Feb 14, 2015 21:37:58 GMT
"I'm glad you both liked your things, honestly you two were the easiest to find things for, the others were much trickier." Connor said.
"I'm sure your gifts for the others will be just as appreciated." M'gann replied casually. "As long as you stuck with their general likes or hobbies, you're guaranteed a win."
She handed Gar the bread plate first in case he wanted some garlic bread with cheese, glancing briefly at Connor who seemed still uncomfortable even if M'gann had been trying since the very beginning to pretend like everything was ok and treating him like he was just one of the guys on the team. She thought she was doing alright, answering him casually and not being all 'weird', she even tried joking with him about their past earlier just to show she was ok with it but he just ignored it; throwing back the awkward for her. She was trying really hard to be nice and pretend like everything was ok but at almost every turn he has to remind her that it isn't 'ok'. Even when she thought there was head way with his gift, that maybe just maybe it was gonna be ok, he had to throw back the awkward around her for some reason. What was up with him? Didn't he want it like this? Why was he acting like she was going to all of a sudden jump him? It was confusing for her. One moment she thinks he wants nothing to do with her and be anywhere but where she is, then the next thing she knows he's making a touching gesture by giving her a book of recipes and cheer routines, and now he's looking all uncomfortable again. She was pretty sure not hugging him or being all super excited about the book would have made it less awkward for him and yet there he went again all awkward because she was around. What was his deal?
"How about you two, what is new with you? A lot must have happened in the last year, more than what was in Smallville. That place is really quiet."
Wow and he also apparently didn't pay attention to the first time she told him what she'd been up to like five or ten minutes ago. M'gann kept her perma smile on; easy enough when you're a cheeleader to be the smiley one. Smiling came naturally even when one felt something else beneath. She really didn't want the awkward to come out here and now but Connor was really starting to annoy her.
"Well not much new on my end really." M'gann answered pleasantly as if she hadn't just told him this moments ago; her voice sounding just as pleasant and excited as it did the first time she said it to him. "I'm a Freshman at Met U and made the cheerleading squad there...try not to keel over in surprise." she joked. "We are prepping for a competition in a few months."
"Plus, I also learned to play the guitar while in Chicago with my uncle. I didn't go all Emo or anything though if that's what you think, cause I didn't not even a bit. I just hung out with a few guys that played instruments and one of them taught me some stuff. I mastered the two and three finger power chords, a staple for playing Nirvana songs and the ever so useful three chord progression guaranteed to make you sound like a punk rocker cause those chords make up pretty much most of punk music and Green Day stuff. Billy Joe Armstrong eat your heart out." she said with that old smile and exuberance of hers as she brought up the pop references again. "My guitar's over there." she motioned to the casing where it rested leaning against the wall near her cheerleading bag with pompoms peaking out.
Yeah it might have been a deja vu moment for M'gann to be repeating things but obviously to Connor who hadn't really been paying attention to her the first time (or at least to M'gann it seemed that way) he asked her it would probably sound all new.
"Speaking of which. I'm gonna head out after dinner." she said looking over to Gar apologetically. "Sorry for cutting this visit short. It's open mic night at the Blue Moon, less likely to run into Met U people here, in case I suck." she joked. "I'll swing by here again on my way home though."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 19:57:52 GMT
Gar wasn't the best at multitasking, he had to admit that, and once food had been placed in front of him, the majority of his focus was drawn solely to that, spurred on by the lion like growl from his stomach. "Oh man!.. Look at that!" He said to no one in particular as he dug into the vegetarian dish with a vigor and hunger that might lead one to think that he hadn't eaten for weeks. Like a bear straight out of hibernation. In truth he was just your run of the mill teenager, caught in what he personally hoped was a growth spurt... well... run of the mill... mutated ... shape shifting... superhero... teenager... but that in it self did nothing to lessen his hunger.
So for the now Gar seemed more than happy just leaving the chatting and socializing to Connor and M'gann. Besides... They needed it. He might still not be privy to what had happened between them, or why their relationship had stopped so sudden... but what he did know was that it was about time they both got over it, otherwise their combined awkwardness would strange anything and anyone around them. Like the odd tension between the bat kids and Nightwing... Gar didn't get really get that one either... But then again Gar wasn't one to hold a grudge. In that way he was much like the animals he so loved to mimic. Though he did have plans and dreams like any other self-respecting teenager. iI truth Gar liked to live in the now, in the present... There was no point lingering on what had happened a week ago, a month... or a year... You learned from it and you moved on... Like nature... If one thing didn't work out... you evolved and moved past it. Well.. that or you became extinct... Okay... Perhaps not the best example... but there as still a certain Zen like truth to it. Right...? Either way... he didn't think the two older heroes would appreciate his animal wisdom right now... so he remained silent and continued to stuff his face with the goodies that M'gann had whipped up.
It wasn't until M'gann looked at him with a slight apologetic expression that he looked up again, still chewing.
"Speaking of which. I'm gonna head out after dinner. Sorry for cutting this visit short. It's open mic night at the Blue Moon, less likely to run into Met U people here, in case I suck."
"Blue Moon? You gonna play?! I wanna hear you play... Oh! We could come along?" He managed to actually sink most of his food before his outburst, grinning brightly up at M'gann. She wasn't gonna get out of this reuinion -that- easy...
"Its not like theres anyone else here anyway! So take us with you!"
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2015 6:51:21 GMT
Conner frowned, he just had a 'Hello Megan' moment, he had asked that already, she had told him all of that already. He was so caught up in trying to get back to normal he wasn't paying attention properly. The nerves were getting the better of him. "Sorry. I asked that already. That is really cool though. The guitar playing." He gave M'gann an apologetic smile and turn his attention to the food. As usual the Martian had cooked up something that smelled amazing and from Gar's gusto in eating it, tasted amazing too.
Just as Conner took his first bite of food Gar chipped in with an offer to attend the open mic night and caught Conner totally off guard. Which created a decision time moment. Did he want to go see M'gann play and sing at the coffee house. First part yes, second part not so much. He wasn't avoiding the chance at being around M'gann. Not really. The thought of being in a coffee shop full of musicians and tons of people he didn't know. It sounded horrible, the coffee shop part. Still though friends supported friends even if it put you out a little. M'gann would do the exact same thing for anyone else. The least the boy of steel could do was the same for her.
"We could come support you. Friendly faces in the crowd. If you wanted." He did want them to be friends still, he hoped they were. IT was still awkward and a lot unsaid but at the end of the day they had both wanted to keep their friendship alive. Well as best as possible. When she was making kissy face wth fish face Superboy hadn't felt that friendly. Though truthfully he was sort of glad that M'gann and Lagoon Boy had broke up too. Not that he had anything really against the kid but if Conner heard one more 'Neptunes Beard' he was gonna snap. How the martian put up with it was beyond him. Suffice to say Conner was not a fan of Atlantian exclamations. Though Aqua Lad didn't say stuff like that, so maybe it was just Lagoon boy. That made if weird and worse.
It would also give Conner a chance to get used to being back a little more, sure the setting could have been better. Conner was a stay in type of guy, some would call him grumpy but truthfully usually everything he needed was in the cave or on the farm. She always said he should expand his horizons a bit, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad?
"I'm sure me and Beast Boy can find something fun to do though, if you would rather do it alone." Conner added to give the martian an out if she needed it. No point adding pressure to the already strange situation.
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