littleladylord (littleladylord) wrote,
@ 2012-06-08 20:27:00

Very AU: Exiles Road
She fell in the sand with a WHUMPH, and followed the smell of coffee and muffins to a man who couldn't be haggled with. He told her horrifying stories about her father turning into a bigoted monster, and said the only way to stop it was to work with his people.

Cindy wasn't happy about any of this, anything was better than letting that happen to Daddy, to the world, if by some chance this guy was for real. So. Okay. Here she was, standing on some bizarre street, surrounded by bizarre people.

And.... wow.

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	littleladylord 2012-06-09 06:06 am UTC (link)
	"Parents were in the biz, Huh? You've got equipment and everything." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 06:08 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah. Was there a Captain America in your world? There isn't always, but a fair number of them, anyway. The shield was... my dad's. The hammer... is a longer story. But... yeah. My homeworld, all my teachers, were pretty much super heroes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 06:11 am UTC (link)
	"Afraid not, but it's quite a shield." Must've cost a fortune. "So... how do we do this job?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 06:16 am UTC (link)
	She taps the bracelet. "This was given to me by the Timebroker when we first got the job. It gives us a hint on every new world. We follow it to its conclusion. And whenever we resolve it, we move to the next one, until people's worlds are resolved enough to go home." Or they don't survive, but she doesn't say that. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 06:17 am UTC (link)
	"Okay. I don't suppose it also tells you where the nearest grocery store is?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

rogue_star
2012-06-09 06:22 am UTC (link)

"No, no maps, no local news. We're on our own for that. When we jump out of each world, we have whatever is deemed our standard outfit and equipment, and anything on us. So if anything is very important to you, keep it with you. As for food and all... sometimes we have to forage, sometimes, if we have money, we can stock up a little, but don't carry any of that kind of stuff to the next world, really."

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littleladylord
2012-06-09 06:31 am UTC (link)

"...Okay. I think I get it."

And as the Exiles puzzled over the Tallus's latest clue, which didn't seem too hard a mission, Cindy got to work talking to people. Figuring out what they needed, and then going out and finding it. And Negotiating. And when she Asked Nicely, it wasn't to screw an honest merchant over. It was to just violate the occasional store policy about throwing out the leftover food, or that sort of thing.

And Cindy got her start on keeping the exiles well-fed. And soon realized it was equally important to keep them well-bandaged.

And Sarah wasn't just hot. She was amazing. The nice and considerate stuff didn't go away once the introductions were done. And gosh, when she was in action...

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rogue_star
2012-06-09 06:36 am UTC (link)

And all of that is a godsend. Sarah is very good at guerilla warfare. When they need to scrounge for every resource, she's fine. Dealing with things the way Cindy does... is totally outside her experience. They eat better, rest better, and have better medical supplies than ever - and it makes a difference.

And meanwhile, she hasn't failed to notice that Cindy is rather cute too... but, of course, she keeps that to herself. Never sure how that will be taken.

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littleladylord
2012-06-09 06:45 am UTC (link)

And Cindy plays quartermistress and keeps her mouth shut about, you know, that stuff.

And then Sarah takes some hits that are beyond her usual capacity to deal with, and Cindy's stomach goes cold. As soon as the fight is won, and they're given a little time before the next phase of the job has to go into affect, Cindy throws her courage to the sticking place and shows up in their hotel room --- she'd booked them a whole wing-in-renovation going to waste -- with the salve and stuff. "Could you, like, use a hand with stuff?"

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rogue_star
2012-06-09 06:52 am UTC (link)

Its like the old days, with the sentinels. Take the risks, take the hits, sometimes its necessary in order to make sure the team gets the job done. And, thankfully, given enough time and rest, she's pretty sure she'll heal. She's had worse... if only so many times.

The extra care helps.
"Yeah... I got the shoulder back in place. If you could help me out of this top... probably a loss, going to need a new one... see to the burns, maybe check and make sure nothing is broken?"

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	littleladylord 2012-06-09 06:54 am UTC (link)
	Swallow. "Okay. Um" Do it, coward. "Full disclosure -- I want to help, but you deserve to know -- we're all girls here, but I'm, y'know, sapphic persuasion and stuff." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 06:57 am UTC (link)
	She can't help it. She laughs... not the best reaction, for so many reasons. Partly just because, as the saying goes, it hurts when she laughs. "Sorry... sorry... not laughing at you. Uhm... some of the team knows. I don't really even think about saying it anymore, because... well, it normally doesn't matter, really. I'm a lesbian too." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:00 am UTC (link)
	Cindy starts to turn crimson, but the clarification helps. "Oh." Swallow. Wow. And here she figured being in this life was a sign God didn't like her that much. Right. Anyway. "Well, if you're still okay with it, let me help you." And she will dutifully, carefully, and professionally get that top off and make sure nothing's broken. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 07:05 am UTC (link)
	"I don't mind at all." she agrees, not quite able to not take a little more note of Cindy and her touch now. Finally, while she's working. "Did you... leave anyone special back home or anything?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:07 am UTC (link)
	"Nope. Wasn't even out to my parents yet. I had a timetable for that." She laughs nervously. "My timetables don't really work anymore." Salve. Salve goes on burns. First salve goes on hands, then on burns. Right. She can do this. Carefully. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 07:14 am UTC (link)
	"You can work harder than that if you want. The whole durability thing. I'm not going to break any more than I am." she offers pleasantly enough. "Yeah, when I left my world, I didn't even know. Kind of came as a bit of a shock. You... really had a timetable?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:18 am UTC (link)
	"...'kay." And she massages things right in, stubby little hands getting thorough. "Yeah. Rest of high school and first year of college for introspection to confirm for sure that I was, the rest of college to tell my parents and get them used to it, then start seriously exploring my dating options as I finished my MBA." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 07:20 am UTC (link)
	"You'll make a good business major when we get you home. I can tell already." she replies, shifting a bit to try and make sure all of the burns are available for the salve. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:22 am UTC (link)
	Don't look at her chest, don't look at her chest, don't look at her... perfect breasts. Cindy's trying not to stare as she makes sure to cover all the burns. She blushes for multiple reasons. "Thanks. Hope to." But even getting home -- fixing home, sure, but not getting -- doesn't have the same promise it should. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 07:26 am UTC (link)
	Eventually, she does notice, and, whether its to her credit, or a sign of how truly oblivious to such things she is - it takes her a few moments to figure out why Cindy isn't looking at what she's doing. "Uhm... you can look... if you want. It doesn't make me uncomfortable or anything." And now she's blushing too. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

littleladylord
2012-06-09 07:30 am UTC (link)

Cindy wished she had a better basis for things so she could know to what extent 'it doesn't make me uncomfortable' meant 'I can completely separate you from any thought of sexuality whatsoever, what with your being a stubby little weaselgirl'. Of course, with what she's distinctly coming to know of Sarah... a standard basis might not help, either.

So she'll just settle for a near-breathless. "...'kay," and look slightly more at what she's doing. And eventually. "Not trying to play out of my league or anything."

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rogue_star
2012-06-09 07:42 am UTC (link)

And now she gets it, sort of. "Its not that at all. You're... really cute. After what happened with my sort of very short term girlfriend especially, and to a lesser degree before that... I just kind of have a lot of trouble getting close to anyone... like that or otherwise. I've been on Exiles Road my whole adult life, such as it is. I've had... three dates, really? You're definitely in my league... I just..."

she sighs. "I don't know at all if I should be playing ball. Its so hard to even think about getting hurt again."

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	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:45 am UTC (link)
	"Oh." A pause, as she handles some bandages. "You want to talk about it?" Pause. "And...thanks" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rogue_star 2012-06-09 07:47 am UTC (link)
	"No... yes... I don't even know if... or why... I said that much. You're easy to talk to. I usually try not to let the team see the cracks in the armor, I guess. This is hard enough on them." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2012-06-09 07:48 am UTC (link)
	" 'Course it's hard. Everything sucks. But having seniority doesn't make you immune or anything." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)