The Missing Piece (CC, MATURE/ADULT accepted)

[isabelle]

*Max*

I try not to frown as I watch Liz removing the plastic from the pack of soda. I’m pleased that she still feels comfortable enough to use her powers in front of us, or at least, in front of me. But from the way her hand shakes, I know that she’s still upset by all this, despite her words to the contrary. She notices my look and immediately apologizes for being nervous, although she has nothing to apologize for.

I nod, behind her as she turns and heads out to the living room area again. *Okay,* I tell her silently, glad that she’s now able to talk to me this way, if needed. *But the offer still stands. Say the word and we’ll leave,* I promise.

Liz doesn’t respond directly, instead she assumes a cheerful air and starts to distribute the soda. Only Alex accepts at the moment and she puts the rest on the table before resuming her seat on the floor. I add the sodas I’ve been carrying to the small collection and join her on the second cushion.

“Let’s see – what else can I tell you about us?” I ask, rhetorically as I put my plate and pizza back into my lap. It’s not that there isn’t anything to say, but that there’s so much. Our whole lives are a mystery to her but I can’t tell her everything at once. Should I tell her about Michael, Isabel and I winning a snowfort contest when we were 'ten'? About the pet hampsters we had? About how I helped on the school paper and yearbook committee? It seems so trivial and I feel like we have a lot of time to talk about little things like that, although those little things are exactly the things she needs to know so that she can feel like she knows us.

In a way, I feel like I’m on a job interview, or more accurately, a first date. Trying to tell her all the good things. Trying to get comfortable. Of course, a lot of the stuff that other people didn’t fully understand about us is the stuff that Liz will get right away. The way I’ve always been quiet around others, not usually letting anyone ‘in.’ Michael and Isabel have been the same, with only two exceptions…

I take a look at Maria and Michael, still mostly silent and still pretty much complete strangers to Liz and I decide to break a little of that ice and hopefully encourage them to join in the conversation a little. “Michael is something of an artist and Maria is a fantastic singer.”

[KatnotKath]

OOC I know this won't be my best, but I'm trying . Hope it works. I'm on the computer at a friends, don't have very long thugh, hoping to sort the computer sometime this week *crosses fingers*

~LIz

I hear Max's voice in my head again but for now I don't answer. An hour ago I felt so proud to have succeeded, I was so happy...but now, I don't know..I think that the idea of using that is just a little too 'different'.

As Alex accepts my offer, I smile and pass a can over, asking the others again but on receiving no answer, I simply put them back down on the table, sitting back down on my cushion and picking my plate up. I lean over to get another slice of pizza from the boxes on the table before settleing myself back completely.

Once I'm done, I add some tobasco as usual, and then wait to see where the conversastion will go next.

What else can he tell me... I kow that Max is asking a retorical question there,,, There's so much...too much probably...

Maria gives me a small smile and Michael is still pretty much silent. I think that Max has relalised that, as the next thing he does is to tell me a little about the two of them.

I smile at each in turn. "Really, I'd love to see some of your work..." I tell Michael, genuinly interested before looking next to Maria.

"What sort of things do you like to sing...?"

I know my questions and comments might seem somewhat disjointed, but I am trying my best...


~~~~~

~Alex~

I notice how Max seems to be trying to draw Maria and Michael into the conversation. It goes without saying that it should be a good thing...assuming that Michael uses even an ounce of sense... Of course that's not dsomething he's known for in situations like this...

THe last thing we need is for him to bring up the very topic that's being avoided at present. I mean I know it's important, and it will have to be spoken about eventually but if Max has already explained, I'd say that Liz has had quite enough to deal with the last two days... It must have been a whole lot to take in, I think she's coping rather well considering...

[BrokenAngel]

~Maria~

I nod when Max point out that Michael can draw and I can sing.

"Michael's actually really good," I jump in on that after Liz says she'd love to see some of his work. I don't want to risk him speaking up and saying the wrong thing. "He uses charcoal mostly," I continue to explain. Then I glance over at Michael,"I'm sure he loved to show you some sometime, right?" I raise an eyebrow at him, challenging him to be civil and to elt all alien issues lie.

And then Liz asks what kind of music I like to sing. I can't help but smile, truth is, I love it when anyone wants to talk about my singing and she seems interested, or at least grasping for normal thigns to tlak about. And it doesn't really matter. I can respect both and I still get to talk about singing. "More soulfull jazzy things," I tell her, trying to find the right word,"They suit my voice better." I remember the one time at a talent show in highschool, my first time performing in front of people. I freaked out and almost walked off, my voice squeaked and everything, until Alex joined me on stage, singing even worse on purpose, loosening me up to finally give my performance. I wonder if those are things Liz wants to hear, but decide to isntead ask her a question.

"So how about you, Liz? Any hobbies?"

[isabelle]

Hi all! Here's two posts forwarded to me by KatnotKath.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~Alex~

It's nice to see Maria actually talking... She's never usually quiet, so seeing her just sitting there as she has been doing - well it's not exactly encouraging... I shift position slightly, leaning forward to help myself to another slice of pizza before sitting back and sliding my arm around Isabel again.

I think what suddenly hit us, really hit us as soon as we came in, was Liz's age... I know that we had seen pictures and Nacedo had told Max and the others, but knowing it, and seeing it, well I guess that's two completely different things... Even now, she's trying so hard I can tell, but there's this distance sometimes...

She's in high school... She's living on her own, which hardly makes for a normal high school experience granted, but she's only sixteen...

Still, she's trying hard, and the least we can do is the same. I'm glad to see that Max isn't pushing her to talk about thing she's not ready for – not that I ever expected him to, but still, I'm glad he's not...

I can't help noticing how Maria answers for Michael as Liz comments about him being an artist... Given what I know about her and Michael, I'm guessing that she's worried about what he might say when given a chance... Unfortunately, we can't keep him quiet forever... Liz said she wanted to get to know us, and Michael's part of that...

I just hope that he will be able to use a little bit of sense... To say this is the first time Liz has met any of us apart from Max, and even him she's only known since yesterday, I think she's doing incredibly well, and if we can just keep it going...

I nod in agreement to Maria as she says about the type of music and songs she likes... One thing I can definitely say is that she has one he** of a voice... I reckon if she ever got the chance she could do really well...once she gets over her stage fright of course... She knows she has a good voice, but sometimes singing in front of others still freaks her out a
little...

Of course she's way better than she used to be... I remember the first time she performed - we were at school and it was a talent show. I knew she could do it, and I'd heard her so many times in rehearsal, but when it came to it, she very nearly lost it. I can't believe I actually did it, but I went on to try and help her, making a complete fool of myself... The important thing was that she succeeded though... After her initial problems, after my little performance, she sang brilliantly, showing everyone just what a great singer she is...

I debate saying something to that effect, but it seems that Maria's moving on... Whether she's trying to avoid embarrassing stories like that, or whether she's just more interested in other stuff, or thinks that Liz is, perhaps, I honestly don't know, but her next question is a fair one, nice and normal, and something which what Max said lead onto I guess... I sit back, picking up my slice of pizza and taking a bite while I wait to see how she'll answer.


~~~~

~Liz~

I can't help noticing how Maria seems determined not to let Michael speak for himself... She keeps looking over at him and I remember something Max said earlier... I'm guessing that Michael would be one of the ones who particularly wants what is supposed to happen to happen... I think she's right, he does seem a little scary...

I'm grateful to everyone for not pushing the other issues... This nice, normal conversation is great right now... I nod as Maria explains about Michael's drawings, and then about her singing. "I bet you're great..." I tell them both in a friendly voice.

When Maria asks about my own hobbies, perfectly reasonable question given the current conversation, I shrug slightly. There's not much to tell... I read, write a little...and of course there's been astronomy, but in all honestly I've not had that much time for much else...

Over the last ten years I've had a fair few placements where the person I was placed with was a guy, and most of them asked for a girl for one main reason...so that they didn't have to do so much 'looking after'... By the time I was ten, I was pretty experienced at cooking, cleaning and other such stuff...

Now that's not me suggesting I was treated as a skivy or anything silly like that, but still, I did a fair amount, and that didn't leave much time for myself... What little I did have, I tended to spend with Kyle, going to watch his practices and hanging out with him for a bit after. When I was old enough, I got the job in the crashdown, and since I was emancipated that's more important than ever...

I have less time for myself, more to do and less money. Part of the conditions of my emancipation was that I took responsibility for my education as well as everything else, and I can't afford to fall behind so a fair bit of the time I do have is spent on schoolwork... School, work, and household stuff...isn't my life thrilling...

Hobbies though...

I look up a little awkwardly, realizing that I still haven't answered. "Well I like to read, and I do a little writing...I don't know if you could class it as a hobby though..." I tell her a little awkwardly. "I guess I don't have that much free time..." I look over at Max. "What about you Max, do you have anything like that...?"

[isabelle]

*Max*

I’m disappointed that Michael still hasn’t spoken up. He’s a part of this too and his continued silence has to be un-nerving for Liz. At this point, I’m no longer concerned about him blurting out the wrong thing as he’s obviously past the ‘blurting out’ stage. At least Maria has finally joined in.

*Michael! Say something. You’re probably freaking her out. Show her you’re a normal person, too.* I plead with him silently.

Listening to Liz, I can tell she’s a bit embarrassed not to have more interesting hobbies to share with Maria. Then she turns to me, asking the same question.

“Well…,” I say slowly, not sure how to answer and keep away from the forbidden topics. Nacedo had filled up most of my time with studies that he deemed would be helpful in the future, when I returned to Antar. Things like Military history, diplomacy, politics… Most of it not Earth-related, at all. The Astronomy was the most enjoyable of the training he’d put me through. The track-team and the science clubs were my best escapes from his regimen. Also reading and writing, like Liz…

“I haven’t had a lot of spare time, either,” I confess. “I like to write, too. I’ve told you I enjoy science and astronomy and I’ve read a lot about that. I’ve launched model rockets a couple times and I play chess.” At the last, I give Isabel a side-wise smile. She’d hated chess and refused to join the Chess Club, although she’s actually quite good at it. Michael was really great, ‘tho. We’d both quit the Chess Club when we’d started to become competitive on a regional level – a result of Nacedo’s need to keep a low profile. We were only twelve. That’s when he’d taught us a more complicated Antarian strategy game played in three dimensions, not just two. Michael still beats me at that about half the time we play…

“Michael plays, too,” I add, hoping to give him an opportunity to join the conversation.

[StormWolfstone]

ooc: This is nowhere as good as I had had it originally, but I wanted to try to get something out.......


~Michael~

I simply watch in silence as the others begin talking and notice that Maria is also remaining unusually silent. I can't help but feel surprised by her lack of enthusiasm to jump right in and get to know Liz that way the others are attempting to do. Biting into a slice of pizza, I remember how on the way here, Isabel had silently told me not to say anything unless I had something nice to say.

What was wrong with wanting to get things out in the open? I just wanted to get this whole thing over and get things set to return to our planet before something more happened. Especially, before the people on Antar decided that it was important to pursue both alien couplings. Of course, had I been told from the start that I had no choice but to 'bond' with Isabel I would do so, but only once if possible. I love Maria, even if I'm not certain how to show it.

*You can talk, Michael. Just don't be crude. She needs our friendship before we worry about anything else.* I hear Isabel telling me through telepathy.

Lareina, Zanelroi and Vilandra, that's who they were and I am Kaelorin. They all need to get used to it and accept it so we can get things over with. Isabel seems to fall into things rather quickly and then Alex. I wasn't surprised when Maria wasn't able to keep from talking about music...

Of course, she had to speak up about my art, which as far as I was concerned wasn't as great as they thought. The dome had been nice, but it was also easy. Still, I find that slowly I am beginning to find the urge to say something.

*Michael! Say something. You’re probably freaking her out. Show her you’re a normal person, too.*

Max's voice reaches me telepathically and I have all I can do not to glare at him. *Not all of us think that acting human is important anymore. We have a home to go to now.*
I responded angrily though I kept the emotion from my face, “Well…,” Max responds slowly to Liz's question about his hobbies.

“I haven’t had a lot of spare time, either,” He confesses and I almost want to laugh. “I like to write, too. I’ve told you I enjoy science and astronomy and I’ve read a lot about that. I’ve launched model rockets a couple times and I play chess.” I watch him glance at Isabel and know he's remembering trying to convince her to join the Chess Club. Even I had tried to get her involved. Of course, I almost always beat Max when we'd played.

“Michael plays, too,” He adds and I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, I play and Maxwell attempts to." I say, knowing my voice sounds a bit gruff but at least I was giving it a shot. "I beat him mostly."

*There happy now.* I ask Max silently.

[isabelle]

*Max*

"Sure," I say, giving a short laugh that's almost a snort. "If 52 percent of the time counts as 'mostly'." Well okay, maybe as much as 62 percent but really, "We're not that unevenly matched," I explain, turning my face to Liz as I try to defend myself.

*Very Happy,* I answer Michael. I am pleased that he finally spoke up. He contributed to the conversation and he didn't say anything to upset Liz. It's all I wanted.

For a moment, I'm concerned about what Liz is going to think of our 'arguing' but then decide it's a very normal disagreement and that is what I was aiming for -- normal.

"The three of us have also been horseback-riding a few times," I add, still trying to come up with things to say to this girl who is supposed to be my wife some day. "Although I don't think often enough to count as a hobby..."

That had been part of the 'training,' too. The horseback riding was supposed to relate to some alien creature present in the royal household. I spent so much time trying to imagine this other world, that I never made a good 'connection' to the actual horse I was riding...

Sometimes it seemed that every waking moment had been part of training to be King some day. And sometimes, even non-waking moments, when I would be dreamwalked by Isabel or Nacedo to be coached on thing that there hadn't been time for during the day. Harder was when the dreamwalking was part of Nacedo's training against mind-attacks of various sorts. Of course, he insisted that coming at me when I was unprepared was required, as that's when any enemy would strike as well. It did make sense, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

.

[KatnotKath]

OOC: hope this works, tell me if you want me to change anything

~Alex~

"Well I like to read, and I do a little writing...I don't know if you could class it as a hobby though..."

Liz looks a little awkward, maybe even embaressed as she answers.

"I guess I don't have that much free time..."

Kind of Like Max I guess… They might have had completely different lives, and the reason for little free time is completely different, but neither of them have really had a chance to have a proper childhood from what I’m hearing…

"What about you Max, do you have anything like that...?"

She looks over at max and it’s almost as though she’s turning to something familiar… I guess that Max is a whole lot more familiar than us… At least she’s spent some time, however little, with him…

But then I’m sure that she’s not completely comfortable with any of us… The thing she’s been told, it’s completely understandable, and I think she’s doing brilliantly keeping it together like this…

Of course Michael’s not helping, of that I’m sure… At first I thought it was a good thing that he wasn’t saying anything…I tend to think most of us were a bit worried about what he might say if he did speak, but now… Well Maria’s said something, Isabel and I both… Michael’s silence is very noticeable, and given the way that Liz was looking at him just now…well she looked almostv scared…

While I’m reflecting on all of this, Max is going ahead and answering Liz’s question… His answer sounds much like her own. He isn’t explaining why so much – but then that would rather focus on topics that we’re trying to avoid…

”…I play chess.”

As Max mentions this last, I smile remembering the tales that I’ve been told in the past. From everything that’s been said, I’m sure he and Michael would have done very well at the competitions…Isabel too if she’d joined the Chess Club. Of course Nacedo had insisted on them dropping out… I can’t help feeling a little sorry for them…they did all the hard work, honing their skills, and then when it got to the fun bit, it was taken away…

“Michael plays, too,”


"Yeah, I play and Maxwell attempts to…I beat him mostly."

And he speaks… I shake my head mentally. Only Michael… Still, the response which comes provokes a response from Max and I have to say, right now they just look like bickering brothers… I look over at Liz and smirk. “I bet you’re beginning to rethink the idea of them being older…I know they sometimes sound like kids…”

Liz gives a smile and for the first time, it’s almost as though we’re all part of the same group…

"The three of us have also been horseback-riding a few times…Although I don't think often enough to count as a hobby..."

”That’s something I haven’t done…” I comment shaking my head. If I’m honest, I have to say I’m a little scared of those animals… I guess I’m not that much of an outdoor person. Still, if it’s going to help… I look over at Liz as an idea comes to mind. “I don’t know if there’s anywhere around here that you might be able to do that sort of thing, but if there is, maybe we could give it a go sometime, the six of us…?” I suggest. Of course if she doesn’t want, has a better idea, or even if she and Max want to do it alone I’m sure no one’s going to complain, but for now I get the feeling group activities are going to be accepted more easily than a ‘couple’ activity…the latter might seem a little too much like a ‘date’…

*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Liz~

“I haven’t had a lot of spare time, either…I like to write, too. I’ve told you I enjoy science and astronomy and I’ve read a lot about that. I’ve launched model rockets a couple times and I play chess.”

I guess Max and I have more than we think in common then…although of course it’s going to be for different reasons… I can’t see that his time has been taken up cooking and cleaning, or waiting tables at an alien themed restaurant, but still, I feel like I’m coming to understand him a little more.

Every little bit of information helps… It helps me to feel that I actually know these people. I want to know about their lives, I want to know about the things they like…

As Max mentions Chess, he gives Isabel a certain look and I get the feeling there’s a story behind that. I’m just thinking that I might ask him about it again later when he mentions Michael playing too.

For the first time, I actually hear Michael speak… He’s not exactly the most relaxed person I know, and he sounds a little gruff, but I can’t help laughing as I listen to the banter between the two of them.

“I bet you’re beginning to rethink the idea of them being older…I know they sometimes sound like kids…”

I smile, feeling more relaxed right at this moment in time than I have in the whole time they’ve been here…

For a moment, I almost forget all about why we’re all here…it seems so normal…

Of course that’s only for a moment, but still, it’s a start…

"The three of us have also been horseback-riding a few times…Although I don't think often enough to count as a hobby..."

”That’s something I haven’t done…”

Alex comments and I nod. It’s not something I’ve really had chance to either…

“I don’t know if there’s anywhere around here that you might be able to do that sort of thing, but if there is, maybe we could give it a go sometime, the six of us…?”

As Alex makes this suggestion, I can’t help nodding. “I-I think there’s somewhere…” I respond softly, chewing my lip slightly. It’s not that I don’t want to do things with them, I do…it’s just new… I look back at him and nod again. “It sounds like a good idea…”

It seems like we’ve lapsed into a somewhat uncomfortable silence. Searching around for another normal topic, to break this tense atmosphere that’s developing, I suddenly realise there’s something very simple, very normal, and very relevant, that has yet to be mentioned…

Reaching for my drink, I take a sip and look around at the others. “So…have you sorted out a place to stay yet…?” I ask. Max mentioned a hotel room earlier, but I can’t imagine that would be long term…it would be costly for starters…

[isabelle]

*Max*

Liz looks at me when she asks about where we're staying. I guess that makes sense. I am the one she met first and I'm supposed to be the leader. Why wouldn't I be able to answer that question?

"Uh, actually, I'm not sure," I tell her as I glance at my sister. "Isabel and Alex were on that task this morning." I remember there some good prospects for furnished places, including an actual house, although that one was rather pricey for our vagabond budget.

This is actually kinda interesting, I think. A question that neither Liz or I know the answer to. Something we'll learn about together. Maybe Maria and Michael, too, although I'm guessing they got the synopsis of the trip while the four of them were picking up the pizza. Isabel would undoubtably have the final word on whether a place was 'suitable.' She has rather high standards. While Alex would be best at determining if the price was appropriate and if we might be able to afford it. I'm quite certain they were a great team.

"There were three places they were going to check out," I say, remembering. "How did they look? Did you get our name on a lease somewhere yet?" I ask her and Alex.

[KatnotKath]

~Alex~

It's only when Max asks us, that I realise he doesn't know... I guess I'm so used to their telepathic conversations that I'm just assuming that Isabel contacted him and Michael before saying yes... Not that they're going to complain I imagine... They usually trust the two of us to pick out somewhere nice, and I haven't heard any complaints to date.

Nor do I think they're going to complain about what we've got this time either... I look over and nod in response to his question. "Actually we did yeah... It wasn't one of the first we picked out, but we found a three bedroomed furnished townhouse..." I shrug, looking back at Isabel to see if she wants to add anything before continuing. "The area seems pretty ice... Izzy and I were taking a walk around before you 'called'..."

"Sounds like you have it all sorted..." Liz comments lightly.

I nod. "Well yeah... Except it's more than our usual budget... We're ok for about the first month given the bits of savings we've been able to accumulate over the last few years, but after that, my salery isn't going to cover it all as usual..."

I hope that's not going to be a problem... It's not like they won't be intending to get jobs, only usually we try to keep to my salery for actual rent, The others cover food and other stuff like that, and what's left goes into a pot to be saved. It's the last which has enabled us to keep moving around, so in the past it hasn't worked out badly. [/i]

Unfortunately rent in Roswell is a bit higher than most other places we've been... The places we were looking at originally would have been covered in the usual way, but when Isabel and I saw them it was pretty obvious they weren't suitable...

I mean we're all grown adults... Sleeping on the floor for a night, or even a couple is one thing... Or sleeping on a sofa... But for permenant lodging, it's just not going to work. Max would of course insist on being the one to rough it, given that there's two of us for both couples, but we can't expect him to do that...

No, three bedroomed is a must... And that's what we've got, even if it did cost a bit extra.

I look back at Max. "Anyway, it's a nice place, and we've signed the lease, so we should be able to move out of the hotel as soon as tomorrow if everyone's okay with that..."