but we were just a legend in my mind; I guess that I was blind

[beginstofly]

Jonathan Stens is walking around Grant Park, shirtless despite the cold and with medium-sized powder blue wings sticking out his back. He can't make them go back in. There was a lot of frustration and fighting and actually trying to pull them off a little (hey, he was panicking, he can't be held accountable for his actions) and then there was

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[sensi_doctor]

JD is in Grant Park, too. He is having issues of his own. Mainly trying to figure out what's real and what isn't but he's gotten to the point where he doesn't even care. If most of what he sees isn't real, it's fine with him. He likes what he sees very much, and he doesn't want to lose it. he doesn't even notice when the Nate had been walking beside him disappears when he gets a sight of Johnny.

"Hey," he says running up to him. "You're- It's cold for going shirtless. Also, people might try to hurt you for those wings so maybe you should-..."

He strips his own too big coat off and drapes it over Johnny's shoulders as best he can. It's difficult with the wings there providing more to cover but he manages to get at least the majority of them out of sight.

"There. Better." JD is shivering now but at least Johnny isn't a walking target for someone who doesn't like 'freaks'. So that's better, right? He can't help feeling protective of the kid since he always looks at him in that way, that way he's all too familiar with.

[beginstofly]

JD being with Johnny is particularly dangerous today, because Johnny is facing the truth of everything. Which would include about JD. No doubt, Johnny's a little slow, but he's starting to put together his original meeting with JD and ... he looks up at him when he approaches with sad eyes. He would never, EVER shatter JD's illusions, and he can't even be sure, but ... yeah. He feels sorry for him. And suddenly he feels way older than usual.

"Hi, JD," he says somberly, crossing his arms over his chest. His wings pull strangely. They're weird muscle-like things that he's going to have to get used to. "'M fine."

Then there is a coat being slung around his shoulders and he looks up at JD again, an expression of ... it's a mix of knowledge and sadness and absolute pathetic gratitude, because it's this loving gesture that shows caring and he is feeling sadly lacking in that in this moment.

" ... Thank you." His voice is a little hoarse. "I - I can't put the wings back in. They just won't goThen the look turns to pure worry. "You're

[sensi_doctor]

It would take so much effort to shatter those illusions so it's best that no one tries or that if they do try that they're prepared to face the wall of denial

[beginstofly]

That's good. Not that Johnny'll try. He'd much rather get to share JD's wall of denial than try to break it.

"Well." Johnny sniffs sharply, wipes at his face. "I guess fine is kinda one of those words where the meaning can be what you want it to be, right? I mean, I didn't say I was ... was fabulous or anything. Just fine." He stares moodily. For Johnny, this is bizarre behaviour.

Johnny would try to pass the coat back if he didn't immediately sense the truth of JD's statement that people might want to hurt him. But he doesn't understand why. "People - they freak out about wings? Like how I freaked out, or - " Johnny already knows the answer. Fear makes him ask, but he interrupts himself anyway, flopping back down on the corner he'd been sitting on, pulling his backpack into his lap.

"That's like a really good idea. I know this isn't normal, but I can still write to another angel. Maybe it's happened to one of them, too." Johnny's biting his lip, feeling around in his backpack. Then he sighs and lets it clatter to the ground. "

[monitorthebirds]

Hawkes is out walking, still more than a little prickly about Murphy and.. That guy. He's not really sure why. It ain't jealousy or anything, since Murphy's... Kinda more of a mom than Vansen is. And, you know, he'd never try to fail!kiss Murphy. It's weird.

Hawkes being grumpy and thinky means he's not always watching where he's going, especially since the streets are busy, so if you get bumped a bit by a 6'3 floppy-haired boy, Medusa... The narration is very sorry.

[neveravictim04]

Generally if a man taller than she bumped into her, Medusa would be growling and shoving him off and assuming battle stance. But not today.

No, today, she catches this stranger who has bumped into her in her arms and laughs good-naturedly, trying to help steady him. "Are you all right?" she inquires, grinning and holding him up as long as necessary.

[monitorthebirds]

Hawkes kind of awkwardly shifts so he's not so close to her, half-frowning and half-looking surprised. Even after all this time in Chicago and all that time with the 58th, he's still a lot like a poorly socialized puppy that thinks people outside his comfort zone are gonna come after him.

"Yeah," he says, awkwardly. "'M fine. Guess I wasn't watchin' where I was goin'." Awkward pause. "...Are you okay?"

Well... She seems weirdly happy, anyway.

[neveravictim04]

Aww, Hawkes and Medusa are so alike! When Medusa is normal, that is. As it is, she feels sorry for him after seeing his reaction. Can he not see that she will not harm him?

"I am fine," she says, and nods a little encouragingly. "And I am glad you are as well."

Then she remembers, and a little alarm flashes through her eyes. "Well, fine besides my lack of a job. People seem to find it difficult to trust me, I believe." She frowns. "They always seem ... frightened, when I ask for work. But you are sure that you're well?"

She smiling again, after her little ramble. No doubt, it's ... a little creepy.

[thehighestwing]

Oh, Medusa. Not very many people understand Phoebe-speak.

...It is possible no one fully understands Phoebe-speak. Thankfully--or maybe not--she is nearby, and when she sees a wanderer she decides to stop on her way to the Conrad and offer her assistance!

Because that's normal.

"Hi!" Phoebe beams up at Medusa. "Can I help you?"

[neveravictim04]

This would be a lot more interesting if Medusa were her normal, suspicious self. If Phoebe happened to use any Phoebe-speak Medusa recognized from the journals she would think she had a stalker.

But Medusa is not her normal self today.

"Yes, perhaps you can!" This strikes Medusa as a revelation. Someone else could potentially help her! "I am trying to find honey for someone, for a gift."

She pauses, frowning slightly. "But I have no money or job." She looks eagerly at Phoebe. "But I am willing to work! It is simply a manner of ... finding that work."

[thehighestwing]

Phoebe doesn't stalk Medusa. She smothers people with her love and occasionally clings on tighter than she should and doesn't understand the concept of personal space.

Ahem.

"... Doh. That sounds like a very nice thing to do! And who wouldn't like honey? I've even got some at home if you'd like."

Phoebe's spidey senses are telling her this woman is a wanderer, however. And wanderers always have crap luck at finding jobs.

"I can help you with that! Or try. Is there something you're really, really good at?"

[neveravictim04]

Obviously Phoebe would not understand Medusa's definition of stalk. In fact, Medusa just might call Phoebe's way of being an assault, practically. Usually.

Medusa has a wide smile on her face now. This girl agrees that honey is a good gift! Medusa is pleased. She is certain Martha will like it now.

"You are wonderful," Medusa says warmly, holding out her hand for this person to shake it as she has seen others do. "I am Medusa, and I am good at fighting. When the monsters descended here I turned some to stone. But I beat some to death as well." She pauses. "I prefer to use my power as a last resort." And then there is grinning. When Medusa remembers this later, she is going to die. "It is so much more fun using what powers I feel I have earned myself than any bestowed upon me by the gods. I am not sure how helpful that would be, though. And I believe my training in battle is ... somewhat outdated. However, any way you can help me would be very appreciated! Especially with the honey, as I wanted to get it to my friend soon

wow look at that jessi bait

[idontlikecake]

If there's one thing Jessi understands, it's those red rimmed eyes. She hovers for a moment, leaning against a tree as she watches him, letting out a little sigh. She knows she doesn't have time to take care of this.

You can't save everyone you see, Yokko.

But oh, she wants to. She has to. It hurts so much, seeing other people hurting. And someone with their wings out in Grant Park? It's a problem she understands. Her whole family has problems with their wings, but she's one of the ones who got it so much worse. Jessi's wings don't go back in. She's long given up trying. Passed out too many times.

Whether or not she really can save everyone she sees, she knows she needs to do something or she won't be able to sleep tonight. Justin will have to spend a little more time with Mariah. Her wings flutter as she walks towards him. At least they're small

sorry to bait! Only ... not really. >>

[beginstofly]

Johnny looks up dully, and then brightens a little. She has wings!

"Hey, I haven't seen any angels, like, out of the Conrad's basement," Johnny says, gesturing for this girl to take a seat beside him. "Yours are smaller than mine, but nice." He smiles.

"Um. I'm Johnny, and yes I do have people to talk to. Well, a person, but one person is better than none persons. Or ... something." The grin falters. "Nice of you to offer, but I don't wanna, like, bother you with my crap."

He scratches at his neck, completely unaware of his own puppy dog eyes. Johnny knows not his own power.

sorry this took so long. >__<

[idontlikecake]

Jessi knows she doesn't really have time for this, but well, she can't help it. Someday, she'll be able to walk away from a situation like this. Someday she'll be able to see someone hurting and just hope that someone else takes care of the situation. But for now, that's not possible, so she sits down, running her fingers through her hair, giving him an awkward smile.

"It's a good thing they're small," she says, shrugging. "They don't go back in."

She's vaguely aware that her family has issues with their wings. Hers, though, are by far the worst. They still itch during periods of intense emotion, even though they're already out. Kaden always had trouble controlling his wings, too.

She leans back; her skirt is damp from the ground, but it doesn't matter. He wouldn't need the puppy dog eyes. Not for Jessi. "And two people are better than one," she points out. He's not getting off the hook. "Come on, you need a shirt."

Standing up, she motions towards the car. "You're going to catch your death out here."

totally fine! I'm slow these days, and understand. ^^

[beginstofly]

Johnny's head snaps up so fast it cracks and hurts.

"Whoa, they - your wings don't go back in EITHER?" Answers! There could be answers! "Do - do you know why?"

"I don't need a shirt! Really!' Johnny looks away from her, a little shamefaced. "Um, I have a shirt. I just ..." Wanted a fight, or trouble. Or just didn't care. "I was too hot."

And then he winces at the already obvious lie. Ow.

"I won't catch my death, I just ... want my wings to go back in and am in a little bit of denial."

... JEEZ! This facing-the-truth compulsion he seems to have grown is ... really inconvenient.