Memories

[Damien Schwartz]

((guess who's back?))

He follows her lead, moved as easy as a normal piece of paper. There is absolutely no way that he is able to resist her. Putting the cups on the table and sitting down, his eyes look at her and waits for her to sit down.

Once she does, his left hand seeks her right one and holds it, and his right hand slowly crosses her cheek, feeling the soft skin. In this way, he is slightly leaning against her, but he still doesn't kiss.

Why? Because of fear. he is still afraid, not of her, but of rejection, and he is still very confused about this whole new world he was so violently and rapidly pushed in.

He leans back into a normal sitting position for two reasons. One, he takes a sip of his coffee, and two, the fear of rejection is there to once again give him tormenting doubts in every single second, prolonging them to what seems to be a century for each.

[tarot]

(( yay yay yay yay, welcome back ;D great post by the way ))

Tarot giggles as she leads him towards the table. It is so obvious that Damien, like her, is a little nervous and in a strange way, that puts her at ease as it seems that he has no prior expectations.

His hand reaches for hers and their fingers interlock. It is an amazing feeling, being so close to someone but only having 'known' them for a fleeting moment. The connection is still there, she feels that this is destiny and that they are being pulled together by this awesome unseen force.

She closes her eyes slightly as his hand crosses her cheek. His fingers are smooth and warm, making her skin tingle with the electricity that passes between them. He seems so close to kissing her, she wishes that he would.

When he moves back to a normal sitting position, she feels slighlty disappointed. That would have been the opportune moment for him to go in for the kill and she would have been a willing victim. She watches him as he sips his coffee, seeing the nervous tension spreading across his face.

She smiles.

It is up to her to make the first move.

She leans over towards him, moving her left hand over to rest it on his chest. She moves her face towards his, closing her eyes.

Slowly, her lips meet his in that so longed for embrace.

[Damien Schwartz]

He did not expect this of her. So, the coffee which is still in his mouth is now swallowed so that it is quite obvious that he is surprised, and there is a very audible "gulp" coming from his throat.

Her hand on his chest brings a very pleasant warmth with it. His eyes glance quickly to the hand before returning to her face. She is so beautiful.

His body automatically presses against the sofa a bit more, as if trying to avoid contact, and Damien himself has no idea of why is this, except maybe his shyness. He really is extremely shy now, for God knows what reason.

Closing his eyes, he accepts her lips, and returns with the same passion, but still gently, and his arm moves towards her, his hand landing slowly on her back and pulling her a bit closer, all of these actions very slow and gentle, as if he was handling a fictive figure made out of fog, afraid of dispersing it with too hard a pressure.

His other arm does the same action, and he pulls her even closer, so that there is very little space between their bodies, and he just stays in this position, kissing her, hugging her, wanting this bliss to last for an eternity.

And this is when he senses the change. Oh no, he can't control his power any more. The kiss is very long, and this transfers all of her academic knowledge over to him, so that he shares all of the knowledge she has, places instilled in his mind forever, other knowledge being there only temporary.

For one thing he is thankful, and this is the fact that the harvesting isn't a violent process and she can't feel anything, and there is no pain or anything really, just the slightly uncomfortable feeling in his head. Under his closed eyelids, his dark green eyes are once again purple. But a different shade than before.

This is a very deep shade of purple, one that leaves an extremely mystic feeling in anyone who looks in his eyes, and there is also extreme joy in those eyes. It is as if the two purple circles are worlds for themselves, not connected to this world in any way. And this looks very good on Damien, but he doesn't know about the love-induced change in color, and neither will Tarot up to the moment they open their eyes and look at each other.

((thanks for the welcome and compliment, yours are great. *gives you a great-post cookie*))

[tarot]

(( thank you *smiles and dances round room wildly* your last post was seriously the most amazing thing i have ever read!!!! ))

After what seems like an eternity in the passion of the embrace, Tarot withdraws from the touch of his lips. She licks her own a little, they taste like the coffee that was in his mouth before he swallowed it nervously.

She tucks a small amount of her long red hair behind her ear as it had fallen on her face while she had kissed him. It is obvious to her that she loves him, he is the most amazing thing that had ever happened to her and she wants him to know that.

With his hands caressing her back while their lips touched, she knew that she was truly wanted and that she belonged.

She moves off him slightly, there was little room between them as he had pulled her in close to his body as they locked lips. She wants to wallow in the glorious smell of warmth that his body possesses but has become aware of a few pairs of eyes watching them.

She shoots a penetrating glance at the would be voyers, willing them to look on at her euphoria, and then turns back to look at his face.

His eyes are still closed. She moves her body closer to his and kisses him again, his arms still round her back but looser than before, helpless to her advance. She withdraws again but still his eyes aren't open.

"Damien?" she looked at him enquiringly. "Are you ok?"

She moved her hand to the left side of his face and stroked his cheek a little, feeling the smooth surface of his skin. She moves in and kisses the corner of his mouth, touching it slightly with the tip of her tongue, still tasting coffee but experiencing a new feeling, sort of that he now knows her itimately through their touch.

She now withdraws more from him and moves to an almost 'normal' seating position, leading his body to turn round with the movement of hers, reaching for his hands and holding them in hers.

She looks him fully in the face. "What are your powers Damien?"

(( sorry it's a bit sucky, anything compared to your last one would! ))

[Damien Schwartz]

His eyes remain closed for a few moments after the first parting of their lips. This is because of two reasons. One, he knows that his eyes are purple, even though he is expecting the usual light purple which is no longer there, and the second reason is that he has a slight headache from the amount of information absorbed from that contact.

The eyelids remain closed through the next two kisses, and then he finally opens his eyes, looking at her directly, thinking that the change in color should be gone by now. But it isn't. This is something different, and his eyes have remained the deep, love-tanned, wonderful shade of purple for a lot more time.

He hears her question, and his brain does process it, but no answer comes. He is just unable to speak for some reason. Finally, a few words come out, but they are unintelligible, and then he clears his throat and takes another sip of his coffee.

"Um, I can teleport to any place I see, even if just in a picture, and I can teleport other things and people with me, or individually, just moving them. Sort of like telekinesis, but only with the beginning and ending points. I prefer thinking of it as Blinking. Also, I copy any knowledge of places through skin contact to my own mind, as well as all academic knowledge if it's a more...intimate sort of contact, such as a kiss. Through a kiss, the knowledge of places stays forever in my mind. The other information fades away after a while, and I can't absorb any memories or emotions." he replies in a lengthy explanation, his eyes never leaving hers. Still, at this point, she does know one thing more than he does- the fact that his eyes are not dark green still escapes him.

((what are you talking about? It's great!))

[tarot]

(( thank you. aaargh, writer's block today! ))

Tarot listens intently to Damien while he lists his powers. She is impressed, he seems like a pretty powerful mutant and his abilities are spectacular compared to hers.

Tarot had suspected that sooner or later one of them would have revealed their powers to the other but she hadn't had been expected it during a kiss. She now knows that he may want her to show him hers, but she isn't sure if she is ready for this yet.

"So you know everywhere I've ever been?" she shakes her head, a little weirded out by the concept of this intimate knowledge but also in awe.

She looks at his eyes, they are now a deep and intense hue of purple, unlike the dark green shade similar to her own that they had been before.

"Is that why your eyes have changed colour?" she asks, and leans in close to him to kiss him again, "They look beautiful."

She withdraws from the touch and strokes his hand, caressing each of his fingers individually, taking time to explore every crease and fold of the skin whilst thinking about the implicationsof what had happened between them. She was extremely greatful that he could not absorb memories, there were things in her past that she did not want him to know, not now at least, not while things seem so perfect.

She kisses him again, passionately, continuing to stroke the fingers of his left hand and touching the side of his face with her hand. Suddenly a thought comes to her, and she sits back away from him, his hand still in hers.

"If you know everything about the places I have been, do you know about the institute? " she looks at him and smiles, "Do you want me to take you there?"

[Damien Schwartz]

A perplexed look comes over his face. His eyes were still purple? "Odd..." he says at her question, "They usually turn back quite fast. Thanks..." he says at her compliment.

Then, he naturally kisses back, and once more hugs her. Her hands feel so heavenly on his skin. He enjoys each and every single one of her touches, and finally there is a realization that there is such thing as a heaven on Earth. This is the first time he had ever been in love. In fact, he never even had a girlfriend up until now. It was quite remarkable how innocent he managed to remain in a world dominated by corruption.

"I don't know everything about the places you have been to, but I do know where they are, and what their names are. I have been searching for the institute for quite some time now, actually. I met one mutant once, but he wouldn't give me the answer to where the institute is, so I never actually got there." he says simply, and then smiles.

"You see, I am still quite new in the city, and don't know anything. Well, at least not first-hand." he adds, since he had been to quite a few random places made known by touch.

((sorry for Uber-crappiness, I think I'm going into WB again))

[tarot]

(( it's not crap, sometimes the muse isn't on your side, I am well experienced with that lol! ))

Tarot is a little suprised that Damien has met a mutant other than herself or, at least, a mutant that had revealed themselves to be one. The only open and out there mutants she knew of were the brotherhood, and she truly wished that Damien had never had a brush in with them, especially after what had recently happened. Magneto was certainly one mutant that she would prefer her boyfriend not to be involved with, even if his ideals hit a slight chord with her own, she definately did not approve of his methods.

She continues to stroke his hand gently as she listens to his answers intently. God, I hope he isn't viewing me as the Spanish Inquisission she thought, realising that it may feel like she is probing him for anything and everything. She just wants to know about him, he is so wonderful and new that she just wants to bathe in the knowledge of him.

After his answer she kisses him, partly to destroy the impression of constant questioning, partly because his strong German accent makes her want to and partly because he seems like an outsider, just like her. He is amazing, a priceless oil painting to her eyes, so beautiful and graceful, but also powerful and protective. She wants him to look after her, to keep her safe in the warmth of his arms and intoxicated in his smell. She kisses him again, more passionately than before, hoping that her feelings would pass to him through the emotion of her lips.

She withdraws and takes another sip of her Cappuccino. By now it is cold and grainy but he bought it for her, making it feel like an extension of his being. She doesn't want to seem rude either, desiring to show him how greatful she is for him just being there.

She takes his hands and looks at him ernestly. "The institute's amazing you know, it's helped me so much." she says, lying through her teeth. It's not the institute she dislikes, it's the loneliness of being there, of having no one to talk to and no one to feel close to. The teachings of the proffessor found resonance with her and she was a hard worker, dligent in her studies but still she feels so alien there, even among people who share the ability to use amazing powers like her own.

Her fingers still explore the fingers of each hand, moving in small circular patterns as if tracing their appearance, trying to ignore the unpleasent reminisimg. It is impossible, a small silvery, soletary tear runs down her cheek when she thinks of how alone the so called "family of mutants" make her feel. She keeps her head down, pointed towards his lap, and wipes it away hastily, hoping that he doesn't notice and ruin the perfection. She also wants to keep him decieved, if he thinks the institute is great, maybe he'll come back with her and then she won't be alone any more.

[Damien Schwartz]

By now his own cappuccino is long gone, and he returns the kiss, his eyes studying her carefully afterwards. He hopes to be allowed to come to the institute, just so that he can be with her, his new-found sun.

He notices the tear, and his eyes fill with fear. Oh, no, I didn't do something wrong did I? he asks himself, terrified of the answer. His hand reaches forward, takes her chin lightly and lifts her head slowly so that their eyes are at level.

"What's wrong? Did I do or say something to upset you?" he asks shakily, and then reaches and takes her cup to hand it to her. But he stops. "Oh God, this must taste horrible! Wait here, I'll get you a new one." he says and before she even has a chance to open her mouth, he is already at the bar, ordering a new cappuccino.

He comes back, handing her the fresh, hot coffee, and then takes his previous position, still looking at her. "I hope I didn't make you sad somehow." he says uncertainly, hoping his head off that he didn't.

A thought appears to him, and he decides to ask the question. "Hey, do you think I would be allowed to be at the institute? I would really like that, so that I can see you as often as possible. I recon if we live in the same building, we could at least run into each other every day." he says.

He could basically move in immediately, as he came to New York with only the clothes on his back and one single traveling bag, which is basically unpacked, since he decided not to use the wardrobe of the room he rented- it was because he never was too keen on sharing his clothes with a whole ecosystem of probably so far unknown life forms.

[tarot]

Tarot leans her head against his warm shoulder, snuggling in to his touch, her red hair fanning out slightly with the weight of her head. She takes his hand and again begins to stroke his fingers in a comforting way, trying to let him know that he isn't the reason why she's upset.

"No, of course you didn't do anything wrong, " she says softly. She turns to face him and smiles, "You're the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me, I'm just caught up in the emotion, that's all." She kisses him softly, then reaches for her fresh cappuccino, taking a sip of the hot, rich liquid. It tastes so much better than the cold one.

"Thank you for the coffee," she says, taking another sip, savoring the strong taste like the inside of his mouth when their lips first met. This has been the most amazing day of her life and to think it had started off so bad.

She has almost forgotten the question he had just asked her, loosing herself in the warmth of his touch and the intoxicating, alluring smell of the coffee house. The atmosphere wrapped round her like mist, and she was in bliss. She wouldn't have cared if the world had stopped right at that moment, she would have been happy there. Anyway, didn't people say that the world stopped when you saw your true love? If that was the case, the world had stopped already.

She turns to face him, moving her face close to his, "Of course you'd be welcome a the institute." she answers eagerly. "Professor X always allows new mutants as long as they're willing to learn and persevere. He teaches anyone to control their powers and improve them, as long as they're doing so for the power of good. Unlike that Magneto who just thinks of the advancement of the mutant race and murders people......."

She feels like she is ranting. Magneto was an awful person, so cruel and twisted by life's hardships but she didn't want him to intrude into her euphoria. She kisses him once more. "I would love you to be there with me every day. I'd miss you if you weren't, I can't imagine life without you ever again."

[tarot]

(( hey, i won't be here for the next 12 days sorry, going to house sit for an aunt. i promise next post will be awesome to make up for it. have fun, liz xxx (tarot)

[Damien Schwartz]

((relax, we're not due to die in a month ))

A wide smile spreads across his face as he hears her answer, one that hasn't been there for a very very long time. His eyes return to their normal dark shade of green, but somehow seem deeper, more mysterious.

When he speaks, his voice seems to have every single edge of the strong German accent filled with joy. "Great, I would really love to come. Although, I don't think I have any specific possibilities for power improvement. Except perhaps the distance I can blink to, although hardly..."

He looks at her eyes, and then kisses her passionately, making it last a while before letting go. "And to think that just minutes ago I was thinking of returning to Germany." he comments with a smile on his face as his hand idly strokes her beautiful flaming red hair.

Today started out very bad for Damien, but look at him now. He's experiencing emotions he never knew existed before, and he likes these experiences very much. In fact, everything about Tarot seems so wonderfully divine that he cannot think of leaving her for but a second.

[Warren Worthington III]

((hope y'all don't mind some company... if you do, you can just fail to notice Warren... busy making out in the back row... ))

Warren is on his way back to the Institute from taping a "Today show" segment, but decides to stop for a cup of mediocre coffee. Well, that's his official reason, anyway.

The truth is he still gets a kick out of seeing people react to his wings. Even when they scowl, swear at him, run away, whatever... it sucks, but it beats hiding them and always wondering. And he thinks there's been less of that since he first went public, more surreptitious thumbs-ups from people in crowds. Maybe his public appearances are good for something after all.

Then again, maybe that's just wishful thinking, he thinks to himself as he slips through the revolving door and the crowd stares at him. Maybe they're the same bigots they always were and I'm just getting used to it.

His attention is drawn from the crowd by a familiar face, though. Or, well, somewhat familiar. Familiar hair, anyway... and how many six-foot-tall gorgeous redheads with waist-length hair can there be in Westchester county, anyway?

He's a bit embarassed that he doesn't remember her name. He's tried to learn all the students' names, but he's never actually met this one in person... she's always hiding in a corner somewhere during Institute social gatherings. Her code name is some kind of magic thing, he remembers that much... Arcana? Tarot? Seance? something like that.

Not that it matters too much, since her attention seems completely captured by the hairgel-happy boy she's making out with. Warren smirks as he walks up to the counter to order his coffee, wondering who the boy is and where she knows him from.

[tarot]

(( GUESS WHO'S BACK...... lol, no worries. you'll be involved in the post but there will still be quite a bit of 'making out in the back row' ))

Damien's kiss was electric. The passion of the clash of lips was such a force that it felt as if Damien had become a part of her being. In a way, he has. He is an extension of Tarot's subconscious, the missing fragment to repair a once shattered life.

To think that she had only met him this afternoon and already they were so like the lovers in her deck, their lips locked and palms touching. She longs to take it further, at the right time if he is willing too.

Even though the image and the attributes of the major arcana card were so clear in her head, she resisted the temptation to use her powers. All the events of today had been purely "human", not influenced by the elements of her advanced evolution that gave her her gifts.

She smiles at him and kisses him softly. "I've never been to Germany", she mumbles sleepily, feeling so relaxed that it is hard for her to keep her eyes open. The slow, rhythmical touch of Damien's hand on her hair only adds to her comfort and tiredness, so cuddled into his shoulder her eyelids begin to close.

Just as she is beginning to fall asleep, she hears a familiar noise. Beyond the cries of astonishment and some of fear, she hears the friction of feathers on feathers, much like the sound of a bird in flight.

"Shit" she opens her eyes quickly, her relaxed state totally gone.

She is on edge, tense and nervous, her body rigid and upright.

Her grip tightens on Damien's hand so that she is almost crushing his fingers but she is oblivious.

It's not that the sound is particularly terrifying or disturbing, but it still fills her with dread. In front of her, she see what she had suspected.

He is extremely tall and handsome, with blonde curly hair and almost tanned skin. And he just happens to have giant white angel wings that give him his mutant name.

She doesn't know why his presence is so disruptive to her, she hardly knows him, not that she really knows anyone at the Institute. That's the problem with her fondness for immersing herself in fantasy heroes and heroines of literature, she misses out on elements of real life such as friendship. She is sure that Warren is an amazing guy, a strong allie and a perfect angel, but he still makes her feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps it's the overwhelming feeling of loneliness that her life at the Institute brings. After all, she has no friends there, a reason why she is so keen to take Damien back with her. Not only would she have a lover, she would have a companion too.

Perhaps it is the freedom that his mutation brings. Maybe she is envious of the availability of escape from unpleasant situations that his wings give him, an avenue she wishes she had now.

Perhaps, the most likely reason is that he could ruin the illusion of the Institute's effect on her that she has painted for Damien. One wrong word and her euphoria could be broken, her one chance at true happiness destroyed.

She feels cold, her body rigid and upright and her skin ghostly white. Her grip on her lover's hand is still excruciatingly tight. "Let's go" she says quietly, staring forward at the familiar face.

[Damien Schwartz]

((Back and better than ever, I dare say. Oh, and YAYAYAYAYAY))

Damien closes his eyes as they part lips, and smiles at her comment. "Then I will take you there for the weekend. There's a cottage my family doesn't really use, although it's fully equipped with everything. We could..." he is stopped in mid sentence by her hand almost crushing the bones of his.

Before he gets to say anything, however, she expresses a wish to go. "Why? What's wrong?" he asks, not moving, following her gaze, which is more than obvious. And not at all comfortable, probably for anyone involved in the scene which has so suddenly and boldly changed itself from a heaven to some really weird twilight zone. He definitely didn't expect to see an angel. Not an angel, idiot, a mutant! Although, there seems to be little difference. he thinks.

"Is he a friend of yours? He goes to the academy, right? I want to meet him, he most certainly is interesting." he says, not really understanding the dread which she expels through her still very painful hold. He doesn't complain about it, however. She can do almost whatever she wants to him.

He does, however stand up and starts walking slowly in his direction. "Come on..." he tells her, a smile still on his face. He is slightly worried about her, but expels it to perhaps a paranoia of loosing something he found that is so dear to his heart.