Roof, Sunday Afternoon

[not_a_moonie]

So Alana had these different parts for a weekend, and she'd finally worked up the courage to give them a good workout. She'd tried it by herself in her room, but, honestly, that didn't really do anything for her. She was going to need to do this in public

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[rebelseekspizza]

It had been a weird weekend so far. Okay, not bad, just all over the place. Weird.

Dante needed a smoke. And maybe some fresh air. The roof seemed like the best option, so he was heading up the stairs, pack of cigarettes already in hand, and--

"Huh." He stared up. Yeah. That was. Uh. Definitely someone flying. He caught himself a few seconds later, and managed a perfectly functional, "...How's the feather up there?"

[not_a_moonie]

"For the birds," Alana returned easily, and flew down to hover in the air a couple yards from Dante's head. "Hey there! God, that's a rush."

She didn't bother introducing herself, but she didn't think Dante would have too hard a time figuring it out.

[rebelseekspizza]

Yeah, the wings kind of made it an easy one, though so did a process of elimination.

Dante blinked up at her.

Then he slipped a cigarette between his lips in an attempt to wipe the 'huh' off his own face. "I didn't know you could do that," he said.

[not_a_moonie]

"I can't," Alana told him. "Long story, but boy-me is a hell of a lot better at flying than girl-me."

She tried a somersault in the air to demonstrate, but turned it into a loop when she realized she had no idea what to do with her legs. She'd have to work on that one.

"It's only for the weekend, but it's fucking awesome while it lasts."

[rebelseekspizza]

"You definitely know how to cut it like that," Dante said. He crossed his arms and tilted his head. "That's weird, though."

The her not being able to fly usually part. Not the flying part. Apparently.

[not_a_moonie]

"Rude," Alana said, not sounding terribly put out. She went back to flying lazy figure eights around the roof.

A moment later, it occurred to her to add, "Wait, which part is weird?"

[rebelseekspizza]

"That you can't usually do that," Dante called. He hadn't really minded her flying off again, because it was cool to watch, but... "I know you said it's complicated, but what?"

[not_a_moonie]

This was a conversation she had to land for.

"It's called wingbleeding," Alana said, as she came to a rest heavily on her feet. "Think of it as like circumcision for girls' wings."

There was something guarded in her face: She knew from past experience that this particular cultural tradition did not tend to play well in Fandom.

[rebelseekspizza]

"So guys get to fly and you don't," Dante said.

He didn't like playing to the guarded in her expression, exactly, but he was a boy with a sword called Rebellion etched on his soul; he had to go with a quiet, "That's fucked up."

[not_a_moonie]

"That's what everybody says," Alana reported. "Never bugged me back home -- it's not like even the guys fly that much -- but weekends like this make me feel like I missed out."

[rebelseekspizza]

"It's something they can do that you can't," Dante said, shrugging. "Can't see how that's not fucked up, even if they don't do it." Beat. "It looks pretty damn cool from down here."

[not_a_moonie]

"It just never felt fucked up," Alana repeated. "I mean, I guess it is, but you guys are way more fucked up about the boy-girl thing than we are. Like, your whole hang-up about girls not wanting sex is really not a thing at home."

Though in an ideal world, Alana would be able to fly and want sex.

She sighed. "Anyhow. It feels cool. I'd offer to take you up but I'm not sure I can lift you."

[rebelseekspizza]

"I'm good watching from here," Dante promised because he was a year off from being able to sort-of join her. He sat down on the roof, finally digging around his pocket for his lighter. "You've never felt like going 'hey, why can I fly and not this guy'?"

[not_a_moonie]

"I guess? But no more than 'hey, how come her family is richer than mine' or 'hey, how come this person can sing and I can't,'" Alana shrugged. "You know. Basic life-isn't-fair stuff."

[rebelseekspizza]

"Yeah, but... someone did that to you," Dante said slowly.

He really wanted to let it go - didn't like being the stick in the mud - but for him, that was a big deal.

[not_a_moonie]

"Somebody cuts off the tips of a lot of guys' dicks, and most of them don't spend their whole lives crying over it," Alana said. "It's cultural. But to be honest, between how amazing flying feels and the way people react to wingbleeding here -- I probably will skip it if I have a daughter someday."