Coffee After An Appointment

[Enrique]

It had become something of a tradition for Enrique and Marta to spend the day doing fun things on the days of her psychology appointments.  They would go get lunch or some sort of treat or maybe go shopping at the GUM.  Enrique always let Marta decide, but it was getting to be where she would want to spend that time with friends soon - especially since she was making friends.

Marta had changed quickly in the last week.  Online school had been a good choice for her and going to Kallisti had been helpful as well.  That still surprised Enrique, but Marta was growing.  The other kids there had accepted her without question.  Then she had gone to a group session with them and Elyse's friend Hayden and her confidence had soared.  She still struggled.  The previous day she had a minor episode, but given that it was minor and her issues were becoming less frequent, she was healing a bit more.

Marta had wanted to go to the coffee shop she had seen Elyse and her friends in the other day, and of all things, she wanted coffee.  That was new too.  Elyse had informed him that Marta was showing interest in boys now too.  She just was growing up, and that would make things more difficult, but still, she viewed Enrique like a big brother. Marta ordered a cappuccino and sat down, Enrique sitting across from her.

"How is school going?" he asked her.  

"Fine - working hard and learning a lot.  Sterling helps when I don't understand things. It's easier with the smaller group and being with friends," she said honestly.  "Did you have fun the nights I was with Elyse."

Enrique smiled.  They had been enjoyable evenings. "I did - made a new friend myself." He and Marisol had a dinner date one night, but neither one felt ready for anything besides friendship and Enrique was content with that.

"Oh," Marta said with a mischievous smile. "Is it a girlfriend?"

"No it's not like that at all..."

"Ricky's got a girlfriend...Ricky's got a girlfriend..." she said in a teasing singsong voice. "I'm kidding! Glad you had fun!"

It was things like that that reinforced that Marta was changing.  She never would have teased him like that before.  Enrique was getting the idea that he was beginning to see what Marta would have been before her trauma.  Now that it was being dealt with, it was starting to come out.

[Marta]

Marta drank her cappuccino which was a new beverage for her. She found out what people liked it so much. It was delicious. Splash was underneath the table, just relaxing. "Elyse isn't doing well," she told Ricky, moving into a more serious tone.

Ricky looked concerned. "What's going on?"

Marta looked down, a little sad. "Apparently she's been struggling with...thoughts of hurting herself. I got to talk to her on the phone yesterday and texted her this morning. She's getting help, but not doing okay. You should send her good thoughts every once in awhile. I think Anna is staying with her now too." Ricky didn't know Anna except by sight, but he would be glad to know she wasn't alone.

Ricky nodded. "I will," he said after a moment, and she saw he sent a text - probably to Elyse.

Marta, now in a serious mood continued. "Ricky - why don't you hunt anymore," her voice was quiet. She knew what Ricky was, and he wasn't one of the bad ones who killed people like her, but she wondered why he didn't hunt monsters anymore.

Ricky sighed. "It's...complicated. I'll explain sometime, just not today."

Marta nodded. "I ask because I was in the dream and found a cave - and there is something bad there. I don't know what it is." Ricky gave her a level look. She wasn't supposed to go into the dream alone. "I think someone should check it out." she finished before he could interject. Ricky apparently still did work for the Atharim, it just wasn't hunting anymore. Maybe he could send someone out to look.

[Cade]

Cade got a cryptic message from his half-brother.

Meet me at the café you met the girls at.

The biggest part about it all was how did he know where he'd met the girls? And how was he supposed to know which girls he even meant. This was some seriously weirding Cade out but he went anyway. The weather was still blistering cold, he was certain that it was only getting colder.

He ordered a coffee and sat down unzipping his coat and tossing it over the back of his chair unceremoniously. It wasn't the same spot he'd been in before, he was closer to the door and flipping through his wallet as he waited for his brother.

[Nox]

Ashton had a basic content happy song in the folder with in an hour of Nox asking. He hadn't meant for the guy to do it immediately, but he obviously felt obligated. Nox would have to say something. He wasn't any of their bosses, specially Ashton and Liv's and they needed to learn to make decisions for themselves. He wasn't going to replace the Blackthorns and be their so-called master. They were free to do what they wanted.

"Sky, I need to make an on going play list that is subtle in my ear at all times for the shared folder with Ashton. The playlist shouldn't be put on repeat for the whole thing, I'll control it with the lens warriors. I want to be able to hear my other music and all other audio at the same time. Can you do that for me?"

Sky spoke in his ear. "I can. Any other conditions?"

"There will be once they are available for now we are just gonna get this one song on repeat until Ashton comes up with more for me."

Nox spoke to the AI like he did Sage. He wondered if Wicked was going to get jealous, or if he'd done it on purpose so he'd stop bothering him for what Sage probably thought was mundane stupid shit. Probably a little bit of both.

Lily cooed up at him as they walked the cold streets. He might end up getting a cab or taking the subway more with out the power. It was hard getting used to being without it. All the little things he used to do -- now were so much harder in the real world.

The café he was meeting Cade at was one of his favorites. Not because of the coffee or food, but because that's where he could see Thalia's work. He missed her a great deal and their lack of communication while she was incommunicado across the world was grating on him. He had so much to tell her. And then again now he didn't even feel that annoyance. Hey Sky, send Thal a text for me. The horde is gone. So is the power. I think I'm going insane. End text

"I shouldn't sent End Text?"

Nox rolled his eyes at the Sky's humor. "Sage has had way too much fun with you."

"Not as much fun as he hopes you have with me." She chirped back at him.

Nox pulled open the door and saw Cade sitting nearby and as he walked up to the counter noticed Marta and she waved at him. He gave her a friendly smile and a wave as he unzipped the puffy jacket so he and Lily didn't die in the now superheated room. God he missed the power.

Nox ordered a black coffee and went to sit down across from the blond who claimed to be his brother.

[[ Marta modded with permission ]]