016 Starry Starry Night

[kinship]

[A: Mayfield Elementary (Open to All)]

[Cain had taken his lunch into the music room so he could practise while he ate; or at least, that had been the plan... But when he opened up his brown bagged lunch, he quickly discovered (by putting his fingers right into the filling) that the wrapping around his sandwiches had split sometimes in the morning. Making a face and waggling his hand to try and get the sandwich off his fingers, it finally came unstuck with and... unfortunately... flew through the open window. Were you playing innocently outside? Eating your own lunch? Well, now you've got a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on your head. Whoops.]

[B: Around Town (Open to All)]

[Cain is going into a variety of rather odd shops today, or odd for a small boy. He might have stolen some money from Abel that morning (sorry bro) and is on a shopping spree! He's got himself a little pull cart full of odds and ends - a canvas, some squishy looking bags, food, pans, and some warm sweaters. What on Earth is he doing with all of this? And did he just run over your foot with his cart?]

[C: Phone (Filtered to Lucifer)]

I regained a book I thought might be interesting to you, if you'd like to come over then you can borrow it. I remember you have a penchant for poetry, this is a book of politically themed poems from history.

[D: Phone (Filtered to Beast Boy)]

About... About Valentine's Day... [No. No, it's too hard. Sorry, Beast Boy, he just goes awkwardly silent after that.]

[E: Phone (Filtered to Esther)]

Esther? I wondered if we could talk... please. [He's not going to pry for information behind Abel's back, but he needs to talk to her or this will just keep looming over his head and he won't find any peace.]

[F: 1648 Albright Lane (Closed to Abel)]

[Having got all his shopping, Cain ninjas it into the garage before it can be seen, before looking for his brother. He's not a fool, he knows Abel has probably been following him around the town and has seen his purchases already, but he's keeping up the pretence that he doesn't know and isn't taking comfort from Abel stalking him.

It's been a week now since... everything... and he can practically feel the tension still inside both of them. Raw and hurt, a pain that neither of them knew how to soothe and both wanted to desperately. It's why he had come to a decision to do something fun and light-hearted for just the two of them, something he had always wanted to do...]

Comments

[thebeastwithout]

...Hey, that's pretty good.

To be honest, I was kinda thinking I'd give up the Beast thing when I grew up. It's kinda... Well, you know Robin called himself Nightwing 'cause he wanted to be all cool and badass or something, so maybe I oughta come up with something totally different.

[kinship]

Something different...

[HMMM. He is taking this very seriously.]

How about MEGA METAMORPHOSE!

[thebeastwithout]

Hahaha!... Is that a real word?

I'm kinda serious, though. ...That's what I want for my future, too. For people to take me seriously.

[kinship]

Sure it is! Metamorphose is to change from one thing into another... like you change into different animals.

[Ah. That's a pretty good future plan, and there's warmth in Cain's voice when he carries on.]

I think you've got no problem with that, with a good heart and the right determination nobody could fail to take you seriously.

[thebeastwithout]

You really think so? I know I like crackin' jokes and all, but it'd be nice if people actually thought of me as a real superhero every now and then.

...Well! What do you want for your future, Cain?

[kinship]

[That question doesn't bother him any more, he's found his centre and a new determination, he knows he's going to have a good future.]

We're going to find a way to make the people who run Mayfield work for us, and then I'm going to take my brother to a new world of our choosing where we can live together in peace.

[thebeastwithout]

You should come back with me! You could totally join our team and everything. Or just live in Jump City; the Teen Titans will make sure you live in peace.

[kinship]

What about my brother? He's way too old and uncool to be a Teen Titan.

[Sucks to be Abel.]

[thebeastwithout]

He can... be the guy who looks after the Tower when we're all out.

[Beast Boy is the most considerate.]

[kinship]

[He snorts, before nodding (even though Beast Boy can't see him).]

We definitely have a deal. But... do you think your team mates would mind you just inviting a new member they hadn't met?

[thebeastwithout]

Ehh. Yeah, you'll probably have to pass some training. You do have some powers, right?

[kinship]

No.

[He sounds surprised, he thought that would have been obvious by now.]

I'm just... me. Nothing special, I'm afraid.

[thebeastwithout]

Didn't you say you were a little stronger than most people or something, dude?

[Maybe that was someone else he had met. Beast Boy shrugs a little to himself.]

Well, don't worry about it, dude! You can still be one of the cool heroes without any powers like Robin.

[kinship]

A little bit, but not by much... besides, I'm a pacifist, remember? I don't fight.

[And he means that literally, no matter what happens. Even if someone is trying to kill him, he'll just smile and ask them to stop it, like an idiot.]

But I could definitely be a cool hero without powers, count me in.

[thebeastwithout]

...You can cheer us on in battle. It's what Silkie does!

[kinship]

I can definitely do that.

[Wait for it... there's a pause, before Cain suddenly LEAPS (which just sounds like a thud down the phone) and starts sounding super upbeat.]

GO! GO! TEEN TITANS WILL WIN! GO BEAST BOY, HE'S THE COOLEST DUDE WE KNOW!

[thebeastwithout]

[Wow OK that was unexpected. Beast Boy blinks for a moment before holding the phone a little away from his ear and trying not to snort-giggle.]

Dude. You have to make it rhyme!

[kinship]

You never told me that before.

[Huff huff. Okay, he thinks for a moment, before chanting out.]

These teens are titanic
There's no need for panic
Just shout out
GO TEEN TITANS

And so this chant concludes
That they're all awesome dudes
Just shout out
GO TEEN TITANS

[thebeastwithout]

How do you do that? Man, now you've just gotta do some dance moves and you're aaaall set.

[kinship]

[So ridiculously deadpan:]

I don't dance.

[thebeastwithout]

I'll pay ya.

[kinship]

You'll pay me... to dance?

[thebeastwithout]

Pretty please with cherries on top?

[kinship]

[He doesn't know how to dance, no really. This would not end well, but...]

How much is it worth?

[thebeastwithout]

Uh...

Two high-fives and a bowl of tortilla chips.