She'd woken drenched in sweat. Again. She'd had the nightmare. Again. Was it still classified as a nightmare if it was based in memory? Staring at the ceiling, Isabelle decided she didn't care. She just wanted to stop having it. Here she was, the tough girl, waking up sweaty and feeling the ghosts of pain. How pathetic was that?

She was Isabelle Carr. She had the respect of her teammates, if not that bond they seemed to have with each other. Maybe they didn't fall all over themselves with loyalty and whatnot, but they knew they could count on her and she them. After all, she pulled her weight--more than. And she could hold her own with any of them. More than.

So why was she still haunted by the memories of some insecure boys in high school?

The answer was obvious, so she didn't let herself think it. Instead, she slipped out of bed and got dressed. It was her usual outfit of a t-shirt that said 'Chargers' and a pair of ratty jeans and even rattier athletic shoes. Her poor mother would have sighed with resignation. But Isabelle had no class today and no practice so she just wore the first thing she put her hand on. Felt kind of odd, really, to think that she didn't have to study until summer classes started.

What was she going to do?

Unsure about that, she tucked some money in her pocket and headed out of her room. Maybe she'd go to the cafeteria, find someone to go with her to Harpy's for some ice cream. Yeah, that sounded good. She hadn't treated herself in a long time. Kind of sad now that she thought about it. Other than guys on the team and some classmates, she didn't know many people.

Well, she decided as she lazily walked into the cafeteria, she'd have to change that.

Athena Morrison awoke to the sounds of intent snoring and sleepily rolled her eyes. Looking at her alarm clock even as she did, the malevolent red numbers confirmed what she’d already known. She’d slept in, the clock must have buzzed and because of it met a fate worst than death known as the snooze button slam. Because Athena or Atty to her friends hadn’t touched it and that meant only her roommate, ah screw all the pretenses, her twin sister had turned it off.

Not only that, but hadn’t woken her as she gotten up to do it. And even now the heavy snoring said that she’d managed to fall back into the slumber of the dead or at least those that partied till two in the morning managed.

Silently Atty cursed herself for being talked into last night. But it had been fun, and they were like many other students completely free until summer session started, but crap she’d meant to get up for a run. If she kept slacking off she’d start gaining weight and never be ready when the teams got together again.

Sliding from bed, a part of her really wanted to get back at E, her sister, but manners and decent human nature got the better of petty vengeance, so she slid out of bed, brushed her teeth and rinsed before taking a shower and finishing ye old morning ritual by returning to her room and getting sunscreen, make up, and cloths out of the way.

By the time she was in jeans, a t-shirt, and a blazer that worked surprisingly well with the ensemble and her favorite slats, Atty decided breakfast was the better part of valor and headed down the cafeteria.

Once inside she moved toward the scent of coffee and muffins, entranced and suddenly realizing just how hungry she really was. Maybe she’d need that run after all.

Her resolve to meet new people wavered slightly as she stepped into the cafeteria. For a second, Isabelle was strongly reminded of high school--the girls were confident and pretty and, well, girly. Feminine in a way she never had been with their lipstick and eyeshadow and God only knew what else. Isabelle had never fit in in high school. The girls weren't interested in what she was interested in and the boys... well, they either resented her or were scared of her.

Holding the cup of coffee she'd gotten, Isabelle wondered what she was supposed to do. Just go up to someone and start talking? Oh, all the embarrassing ways that could turn out. Sighing, she took a sip of the coffee, pleased with how strong it was. At home, coffee wasn't good unless it was stout enough that you could walk on the surface. Most people tended not to like it that strong.

Isabelle began to walk around the tables, looking for one without a lot of people. She wasn't having a whole lot of success considering classes had just ended so lots of students were celebrating. Then she walked smack into someone. "I--oh. Sorry about that. I didn't spill anything on you, did I?"

Maybe she should have worried less about the scent of coffee and more about where she was going. That was all Atty could think as she realized she’d run into someone, someone who was apologizing and well that just made her feel bad. It wasn’t their fault. She should have been watching, besides there was no way what she was wearing could be ruined. It was…eh, Atty stopped cold, or rather hot and scurried back suddenly.


“Ow, ow, ow, hot.” She complained, slapping at her thigh. Ow, indeed, crap she’d gotten coffee on herself. And it was hot. Ouch.


Atty slapped at it, hissed and avoid any naughty words that she’d come to know by her sister’s continuous bombardment with them and smiled her best smile as it finally stopped burning or at least enough that she didn’t have to slap at it. It was still sore and would probably blister later, but for now it just held that dull burning-ache that all burns do and Atty immediately tried to apologize.

“I’m so sorry…” She said. “It wasn’t your fault, I just wasn’t paying attention and well…I’m a klutz. I got a little coffee on me, but I’m fine. Really!”

And yet even as she said that, Atty really looked at the girl she bumped into. She was tall, er well taller than her. Much taller, and more well proportioned with short hair that was a dark rich blond as opposed to the bleached that was rather popular and just a few shades darker than the albino girl’s own translucent hair that like a polar bear gave the illusion of white. Still for her size, she seemed rather nice, if only for what she’d spoken after they’d bumped into each other.

And just like that Atty realized she’d seen that face before. Everyone that went to DU had. She was…ok, Atty would admit to not knowing her name, but she was the woman on the football team. That sort of thing doesn’t happen all the time and well…just…wow.

“I’m really sorry.” She added weakly, not sure exactly what to say to someone that was kind of like a hero to everyone that believed in Feminism in action.

Isabelle winced, very obviously, as her hot coffee spilled out onto the shorter girl. "I'm so sorry. Lemme help with that." She offered, setting the now half-empty cup down to grab some napkins. After a moment's thought, she also got some ice from the soda machine to offer Atty.

Not being one prone to fluttery motions or otherwise useless fidgety... ness, Isabelle felt a bit awkward just standing there as the other girl slapped at her thigh and danced around. And apologized. But she figured it was a little too personal to be dabbing napkins at the girl's legs. "Uh, no, that's okay. Really. I think we, um, ran into each other."

Not exactly how she'd intended to start the day.

And if she could have heard the tail end of Atty's thoughts, she would have been even more uncomfortable. Isabelle had never thought she was making some 'Girl Power' stand by playing football. She just played. Anyway, she also felt like some big galumphing hulk next to the smaller, slighter Atty.

Then Isabelle noticed that the girl was looking at her kind of funny. "Um..." She glanced down to check if she'd gotten some coffee on herself as well, "Yes?"

“Um…nothing.” Atty replied quickly to the offered “Yes?” She really hadn’t been trying to stare, instead it was one of those stupid things, you know like when you see someone you know or at least should know and you look at them thinking it will jog your memory, but it really doesn’t and people just kind of think you’re weird for staring.

That’s why Atty hated getting caught and now, well she just felt embarrassed for looking in the first place. And that embarrassment showed on her easily. Her blush was rather apparent through her pale-pale skin and yet she met the bigger girl’s gaze again kind of carefully as she moved to take the napkins and offered ice.

“Thank you very much.” She pipped, her voice doing a wonderful job of not betraying her nervousness, though the same couldn’t be said for her big violet colored eyes.

Still with a smile that held only an edge of nervousness she wiped at her jeans with some of the napkins, even as she wrapped others around the ice and pressed it into the burning sensation. It still burned, but it did feel better.

“Thanks again,” She said this time daring to met the other’s gaze. “Not the best of meetings I guess…but a meeting. Hi, I’m Athena.”

Isabelle watched the other girl curiously, as she looked to be almost as embarrassed as she was herself. Also, it was an excuse to study the pale, pale blond hair and the eyes. Were they really purple? And, if they were, were they contacts or really that color like the actress's?

The other girl was at least five inches shorter than Isabelle was, but she was also fit and athletic looking. Just from the other female athletes she knew, Isabelle would have guessed track or softball. Maybe swimming. All the girl athletes she knew had this long, lean look to them--swifter looking than her. Isabelle did a lot of strength training to build up her muscle and stamina.

"Welcome." She replied easily enough, not sounding as awkward as she had. "Yeah, that's for sure." Isabelle smiled slightly at the girl's name. She'd always liked Greek mythology and Athena. Sticking out a hand she replied, "Really? That's cool. I'm Isabelle Carr."

A slight chuckle.

“Really,” She replied, knowing that most people were surprised at her name. And quickly she added. “Athena Morrison. But most folks just call me Atty.”

She gave Isabelle her most cordial smile then. And felt better for knowing her name…it was a bit sad that she’d forgot, but Atty really did feel better and took the other’s hand as she gave it a firm shake.

“Nice to meet you.” She said brightly, her purple eyes proving the sentiment as genuine as could be.

As for her eye color, Atty knew it was strange, probably as strange as skin and hair without pigment. She was pale; more pale than most people could manage. And that lack of pigment made sunscreen a rather good investment. It also made her shoulder length hair snow white and the only pigment she possessed, in her eyes made the smallest amount of blue mix with the red of most albinastics into a vibrant and very real violet. In fact this was what marked her as a type II albino to anyone with a medical degree.

To Atty it was just the way she was, and if people stared or had questions, well good for them. Either you learned to live with it or you didn’t live. That had become The Morrison Sisters’ golden rule.

Looking a bit sheepish, Atty added.

“I’m on the Fencing squad.”

As a sport it involved some strength training, but much more endrance and arobic fine tuning.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Atty." Isabelle replied with a smile. It was a good smile that softened the tough, almost harsh, lines of her features. She rarely, if ever, wore makeup so it was good that she had a nice smile. "You can call me either Isabelle or Carr. Most people do." One guy had called her Izzie once, but not in a nice way.

Well, it hadn't lasted long after she socked him a good one right into his gut.

"You too." And, despite the circumstances, Isabelle supposed it was nice to meet the other girl. It was what she'd intended to do, right? Meet people, not spill coffee on them. She gripped the other girl's hand firmly, noticing how dark her skin was in comparison to Atty's. Not to mention the little scars and nicks all over her knuckles.

Ah, well, couldn't be helped.

As Atty mentioned she was on the fencing team, Isabelle's curiousity was piqued. "Fencing, huh? I used to want to try that, but I'd rather learn swordfighting--like the stuff they do in the movies. But I like to watch fencing on the Olympics." She smiled, picked up her cooling coffee. "I play football and I'm thinking about dabbling with boxing. I've never really competed in an organized way, but I'd like to. Like Laila Ali."

“Alright Isabelle,” Atty agreed amicably, deciding between the other girl’s two offered names.

Then she just couldn’t help the smile that came over her. Sword fighting like in the movies-that never failed to slay her-not that she had a problem with what Isabelle had said. It was just that, well everyone wanted to learn sword fighting like in the movies and the funny thing about it was how inaccurate nearly all the movies were.

To anybody that had seen a real sword fight, well it was always funny. Like so many other things it was something that Hollywood had gotten wrong. Fight like that in a sword fight and you’d be dead inside of a second. Clashing blades just almost didn’t happen. And the nasty thing the movies never hit on was the fact that the entire sword is a weapon, not just the blade. You could take a hilt or cross guard to the face at any moment in a real sword fight. It was a whole lot more function over form, the opposite of movies to be sure.

Still grinning Atty laughed, even as she finally fully appreciated the size difference between her and Isabelle. Wow, she was really big and looked really strong. Not that that was a bad thing, it wasn’t. It was just a difference she couldn’t help but notice. Probably a lot like Isabelle had to have noticed her “funny” skin color as it had come to be known.

Letting out a sigh that she hoped wasn’t touched with self-pity(Atty always got really self-conscious around new people), she said.

“I could teach you. You know; the movie stuff. It’s all pretty easy, especially since you’d never fight with a sword like that.”

She shrugged then as she spoke, apologetically.

“Sorry, just a little bit of personal criticism toward Hollywood,” She laughed. “Ok, technically a lot. I mean they really got it all wrong when it comes to swords. I’ve been fencing since I was little, but my dad has this friend in Scotland and well he taught me a little of the real deal while we were visiting. So I actually know how to use a saber too.”

Then she just felt a lot like hugging Isabelle. Olympic fencing was without a doubt the greatest thing on planet earth. And the fact that she’d probably run into the one person outside of the fencing squad that watched it. Well simply put: Yay!

“Boxing sounds really cool.” Atty said then. “I don’t think I could. I’m more a Judo girl myself, but that be really cool and I bet you could do it too Isabelle. So remember me when you’re the champ.”

That said, Atty realized she’d fallen short in her quest for breakfast. And while she could wait, she instantly had a better idea. It was the least she could do.

“Um… Isabelle? Do you want to join me in getting something? I mean if nothing else, I can at least buy you another coffee.”

Isabelle listened as the other girl admonished Hollywood and their interpretation of swordfighting. "Yeah, well, Hollywood. They do that with every thing. Like, I always get pissed off about how they do the football a lot of times. It's like, the defensive ends are not fast and they don't carry the ball. I mean, hello." She made a face, a 'duh' face and shook her head disparagingly.

"I blame Star Wars, actually. I mean, you had the lightsaber and that was a really good excuse to have those awesome battles, you know. Like the whole Anakin-Dooku fight where he got his arm chopped off." The bigger girl continued, skipping back to the subject of Hollywood and swordfighting. She did that when she talked, sliding from one subject to another.

At Athena's mention of teaching her how to do the sword-swinging like Hollywood did, Isabelle laughed a little and gave her a pointed up and down. "I wouldn't mind that. Might be afraid of, you know, missing and taking your head off though." She joked. The height difference between the two girls was extremely obvious. Plus, Isabelle was strong too, built more like a guy of the same size than a girl. The boy with boobs, her brother had once said.

"My dad liked boxing. He wasn't a, y'know, huge fanatic over it or anything, but he really liked Muhammed Ali. He's even got the series of fights Ali had with Frazier on DVD. Awesome. 'Course, boxing's kind of losing the popularity it had. Nowadays if people wanna watch large men pound on each other, they watch football." Isabelle laughed as Athena said she'd be a champ, raising her arms in the air slightly. "I am the greatest. I'm a bad man. I am so pretty."

Hey, food. That was right. She'd wanted food and gotten off track, what with ramming into people and all. "Ice cream. You want? In the offseason, I eat almost zero sugars and carbs, but today I woke up with a monster craving and thought I'd cheat." In fact, the mere thought of it was enough to have her mouth watering. Also, it was a fairly warm day so ice cream would taste great. Then again, ice cream was always great.

Atty smiled and nearly chuckled. Isabelle had actually said what she’d been thinking…Hollywood…ah how it did love to pervert the things we all know and love. If Isabelle thought the football was bad, Atty thought she’d needed to hear one of her dad’s rant about Archeology in movies. He loved Indiana Jones with a passion, but promised to shoot himself if one more Tomb Raider flick came out.

Heh. What could she say, her dad was where she and her sister got their does of melodramatic flare…

“Star Wars.” Atty said smiling. “Ok, I’ll admit that those sword fights were cool…especially the Anakin-Dooku one. But,” And Atty really knew how to put emphasis on that word. “What’s funny about all of that is that George Lucas based the whole lightsaber deal on katana…Japanese swords and I don’t think there’s a sword art more likely to never clash blades than Japanese swordsmanship. It’s all quickness and killing your opponent with one fatal slash, you don’t even swing unless you plan to kill…”

Atty raised a single pale eyebrow at Isabelle then, at the reply to her offer to teach her some of the Hollywood stuff. She couldn’t suppress the bubbly little giggle she felt, but that didn’t stop her from crossing her arms all confrontationally and trying to look stern even if she couldn’t completely stop laughing.

“Was that a short joke?” She asked with a phony anger that she could hardly keep a straight face for. “I’ll have you know that I’m much stronger than I look…plus I don’t doubt your stronger, but I’m faster and more skilled…”

She giggled again.

“Let’s just say I’ll take my chances, ok. As long as it doesn’t come to blows without swords…that I’d lose.”

Atty nodded then at Isabelle’s statement about her father and boxing. Atty knew her dad wasn’t into many sports, but like lots of people he did love boxing, even if he was a martial artist in his own spare time. Sometimes they sparred, when he was home and wasn’t bone tired. She laughed again then at Isabelle’s sudden Ali impression and that, well it just slayed her.

“Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, rumble young man, rumble.” She added, with a wry smile.

Then Athena looked thoughtful.

Ice cream did sound good…but should she…that would mean burning it off. And well she tried not to cheat on her diet…it made it harder to get back on sometimes. Uhmmm. Finally she simply relented, holding the air of a woman that had wanted to be convinced to be bad.

“Sure.” She said, still smiling. “I try to be good too, but you only live once…so as my dad says boyah…actually I guess he just says that in any situation where there’s excitement. But my pop is funny like that. So let’s go ruin our diets…we can both always work it off later.”

"A short joke?" Isabelle repeated, her eyes wide and innocent. The whole who, me? act might have worked too if she hadn't been so obviously biting her cheek to keep from laughing. At least Atty was having a similar reaction. Meant that the, yes, shorter girl had a sense of humor.

"Katanas? Really? I knew he based Vader's mask on, like... a samurai's mask, but I didn't know he did the lightsabers on katanas. I never liked katanas. I always preferred the broadsword or the, you know, hand-and-a-half. 'Course, Luke's green saber was the most awesomest one of all. Except for that one in the video game, Knights of the Old Republic. The sequel. Where you could get a silver blade." Isabelle paused suddenly and thought about what she'd been saying. "Wow, listen to me get my geek on." She poked her nose pushing at imaginary glasses. "We must save Gandalf!"

Isabelle laughed again, her smile bright as Atty agreed to go for ice cream. "Great! I want... oooh... I don't know. I always go for something huge when I get ice cream. Figure if I'm cheating I might as well cheat big, you know?" Tossing the dregs of her coffee in the trash can as she started for the door, she eyed the other girl curiously. "So, you work out... let me guess, lotsa reps, twenties-thirties?" She asked. Atty had a much leaner, more toned figure than Isabelle did.

Atty just shook her head at Isabelle’s expression. She simply refused to comment, greatly refused. In fact she had no doubt that if she said anything it would come out as a laugh and be a laugh that would literally split her sides wide open or at least have her gasping for breath. Especially given that Isabelle’s expression reminded her terribly of a kitten she once had, a kitten that had loved shredding curtains and had put on that very same expression and still did even now into old adulthood.

Athena knew it was funny the places her mind went sometimes, but what could she say, she was how she was. And not everyone looks out at the world and sees the same thing.

She nodded then.

“Yep, katana. Maybe not just the katana…I mean they do call it a lightsaber and all so a saber was probably the base too, but just in the way they’re always wielded in the movies, well the strikes are always fast and flowing. That’s what katana do. Actually probably one of the most beautiful fighting arts on the planet comes from using the katana.”

She shrugged.

“I like European swords too myself, but I still do like katana, they have a certain kind of style and finesse attached and Hollywood does pick up on that kind of thing…”

She giggled then, smiling at Isabelle.

“You’re never too cool to get your geek on. So no worries…especially considering you’re talking to a Literature major. I’m pretty sure they don’t get much geekier than me…oh and if we’re off to save Gandalf do I get an elf bow?”

Atty considered then what Isabelle had said about the ice cream. All in all it didn’t sound like too bad a philosophy. Though the thought of the work she’d have to do to make sure it stayed off…hum.

She nodded then.

“Yep, that obvious huh? I’m not exactly benching big numbers or anything, but it does keep me lean if nothing else. That and lots and lots of cardio, I even incorporate ankle and wrist weights to my running most of the time. I’m not really a power athlete, but stamina and cardio are important so that’s where I work for the most part.”

Isabelle listened as Atty talked about the whole lightsaber-katana-saber thing. "Yeah, maybe. But the word lightsaber is just so cool, you know? Lightsaber. How awesome is a sword made of a laser? So, you know, they might have just plucked the name from nowhere. 'Cause it sounded cool. It might not have been based on a saber at all. Lightkatana just doesn't have the same ring to it, you know?" She shrugged her shoulders in a 'who knows' sort of gesture. "Never actually seen anyone fight with one of those. Katanas, not lightsabers."

"Elf bow? Sure, as long as I get Sting." Isabelle grinned. "Oh, look. We're back on swords again. Or that sword Arwen uses. I forgot what it's called." As if to illustrate, she sketched her hands in the air, trying to draw the long, curved sword with her fingers. "Ah, whatever. It's a long, shiny thing made of metal. Speaking of metal, ever notice how the sheaths are always metal? Probably because it makes that cool ringing sound, but it would dull your blade."

Yep, that was Isabelle. She was usually extremely intense, but when she got on certain subjects she rambled. Really, really, rambled. Such as with swords, for an example. She didn't know much about them but that didn't stop her from talking about them. Incessantly. But her attention was tugged away from that subject as Athena replied to her question about the workouts.

"Well, I dunno how obvious. I mean, I play football so fifty percent of my life is devoted to working out. So I kind of, you know, am able to guess what others do." Isabelle pushed the sleeve to her t-shirt up, poked her bicep proudly. "My personal best at the bench press is twelve of 225. Not as good as some of the guys, but it's fine for a safety. The linemen though, they're monsters. Some of them do twenty-five reps on their bad days. Anyway, in the offseason I do a lot of conditioning, lose some bulk and run more. I get really cut. Typically, I run six-seven miles a day, lighten up on my weights but do a lot more repetitions." She grinned again. "Eat a lot of poached eggs."

Atty shrugged a bit noncommittal.

“I guess that could be it.” She agreed about the name. “But I don’t know, George Lucas is a really educated guy; lots of mythology and literature in the old trilogy.”

She smiled, snickering then.

“Heh, I guess I’m always getting my nerd on. But what can I say I was raised in it. Heck named after it. But yes really, all kinds of references in Star Wars, and I have to agree with you. The lightsaber would be the single coolest thing ever to have in real life. If only because it’s a sword that cuts anything…and I guess it would be a little less cool if it were the lightkatana. But I now have to invite you to borrow my personal collection of samurai movies…I must share the katana love.” Her expression said then that she would do just that. After all Athena did have an extensive library of movies and lots of sword fighting stuff, even if she did spend most of the movies; much to her and her sister’s chagrin talking about how wrong the technique was.

Still Atty loved her sword flicks. She had just bought the “Shinobi” box set. True enough Ninjas didn’t use katana usually, but Asian swords and style were a thing completely and onto themselves in the world of sword combat and even an inaccurate action flick or two couldn’t completely water down just how beautiful such a thing was.

Atty nodded then, still smiling.

“It’s a deal.” She agreed cordially. “Though isn’t Sting a bit small side for someone so..” She asked that as innocently as could be. Then said thoughtfully. “Hadhafang. I think that’s Arwen’s. But then can I get the bow and Aragorn’s. I just thought the one in Return of The King was…well beautiful.”

She nodded then at the sheath statement.

“That’s probably the reason. Most real swords have a leather or wooden sheath or somewhere in between, some have metal. But usually metal means that you don’t just use the sheath as a sheath. I mean I don’t know if regular people know this kind of stuff, but there are styles were the sheath becomes a weapon too or is used for defense…so you know. Mostly though the sheath is about protecting your blade, so metal not really so great, at least inside the sheath.”

Atty shrugged then.

Maybe Isabelle did ramble, but then Atty hardly noticed, probably because she rambled even more. She could skit subject with the best of them and lets just say that as a member of the fencing team, well she was gland whenever someone was interested, especially when it came to swords. They were just a personal love.

Exercise, that on the other hand was work. She put all that she could into it to be in shape and conditioned, but for her it was always work. Though Atty of course could appreciate the work of others and she couldn’t help but give an impressed whistle at Isabelle’s bicep. Ok, she was teasing, but only a little. Isabelle was in great shape, more than that Atty could honestly say that she’d be intimidated doing anything against her other that sword fighting or fencing and that was saying a lot about the girl that showed no fear when it came to competition.

She nodded then.

“Well I’m impressed regardless. I mean it’s not like it’s a competition…you against the guys. Plus I’m pretty sure that some of them weigh about double your 225, so yeah. Plus I don’t even weight 225. I think I would literally kill myself if I tried that much weight...”

Then Atty paused. Not really sure what to say. She suddenly felt lazy. Jesus. Six or seven miles a day-wow-she was happy when she got five. Usually about two in the morning and three before sunset so that she could get ready for bed…sure she weighted herself for those, but they were just like two sets of ankle weights and a set of wrist weights. Still Atty wasn’t going to make this a competition. Didn’t she just say the same thing to Isabelle, besides if it was a competition…she had so lost.

Still she laughed at the poached eggs comment.

“I eat lots of soy myself. I’m not a vegetarian or anything, but well I don’t know I just kind of lay a little low on the animal products until I just have to catch a burger or a steak.”

She shrugged.

“Guess I’m just weird.”

"Soy? Ewww." Isabelle had very definite thoughts on soy products. Giving a mock shudder, she gave Atty an eye and said, "My high school always had tofu burgers on Wednesdays. Nobody bought lunch on Wednesdays. Shockingly, the two were connected." Then she laughed, practically brayed. "One time, on a dare, I bought one. I took the patty out and chucked it at this guy who thought he was God's gift to women. It bounced off his head." Shaking her own, she stifled a laugh as she continued, "Jeez. Those things were like rubber."

Tucking her hands in the pockets of her holey jeans, Isabelle snickered a little as Atty talked about the weights and stuff. A sudden image of the girl being squished like a cartoon character where they're completely flat popped into her mind. "Yikes. Well, weird or not, you like ice cream. So that's good. I've been craving ice cream. Man! In the offseason I eat practically no sugars and no fats. I mean, you have to eat some, but we're talking teeny amounts. I have some carbs, but that's only because I amp up my running. So I always crave ice cream. But it's no fun getting ice cream all by your lonesome." Teasingly, she shot Atty a look and continued with, "Hmm... want your cone made with soy milk or cow juice? Yum!"

As they stepped outside, Isabelle glanced up at the sky. Partly cloudy, but plenty of sun. Nice weather if you could get it.

"Think fast!"

At the shout, her head whipped to the side, her eyes narrowing. The blue in them sharpened, like pieces of colored glass. A football bulleted towards her and Atty, more towards Atty than Isabelle. Reflexively, Isabelle's hands shot out, nipped the ball before it could smash into her companion's face.

Atty chuckled. She just couldn’t help it. Isabelle made her smile and she couldn’t even stop long enough to speak, instead she simple shook her head in annoyance at her own devout amusement. Isabelle was just too much. Funny without being over baring; something Atty couldn’t say she was used to. Her sister the comedian was always so rough and tumble; and while funny, rough and tumble was the emphasis.

Indeed Isabelle was like that anti-Electra. A welcome change really. Atty then couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the tofu burger story.

“Indeed?” She asked, voice almost appraising, and definitely teasing.

“So because school tofu is bad, all tofu is bad? I’m not sure about your school Isabelle, but mine…well cafeteria food was just bad. It didn’t matter what it was made of, in fact I think every student tried hard never to learn what it was made of…after all you can only eat so many gray Salisbury Stakes without thinking. ‘Maybe this isn’t really steak…”

That made her smile then and she continued smiling as she said coyly and in a loud monologue.

“Note to self, invite Isabelle over for a Garden Burger one of these days…they’re soy, but delicious and almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Just ask her in advance how she likes her burgers and we shall see what she has to say afterward when the surprise is sprung.”

She chuckled again

“As I said; weird. But yes I do like ice cream.” She listened then as the other girl talked about her diet. Remarkably they were really similar, though Atty would admit to more carbs. Mostly because every now and then her sister would talk her into a round of drinking or at least a drink and that, well what was a beer if not carbs and alcohol is always broken down into sugar by the body…so yeah she cheated a little bit more than Isabelle probably did.

The shorter girl wrinkled up her nose then.

“Thanks for that visual. Cow juice.”

Still she laughed.

“But if it’s really Ice cream it has to be real milk…so cow juice it is.”

As they made their way outside, Atty kept walking until she notice Isabelle’s pause to gauge the weather. It was nice all in all and really because of that Atty had worn sunscreen. She had to be really careful about her skin.

Then just like that there was a yell and Atty turned just in time to watch the flight of a foot ball square for her face. Instinctively she stepped back. Her eyes could already tell it was a pretty hard throw. Atty didn’t play, but indentifying speed and force came not only from fencing, but martial arts as well. And just in the nick of time Isabelle rushed forward to bag the ball.

All in all it was a rather exciting scene, but not one that Atty felt ready to repeat. In fact a part of her was ready to show just why you don’t attack the resident Judo girl. But as it was she just asked Isabelle.

“Any idea where that came from?” She made sure to make her voice clear and even. Didn’t want to let anger or panic slip, even if two very different parts of her were neck in neck in both.

Isabelle grinned listening to Atty's little monologue. Copying her, she mimicked the other girl's tone and said, "Note to self, do not eat burgers cooked by Athena Morrison. Or, if necessary, examine carefully and do not be surprised when told they were made with fake cows." She grinned again, tried not to laugh. "M--oo?"

Cafeteria food or not, and cafeteria food hadn't actually been that bad at her high school, those tofu burgers had given Isabelle a deep-seated suspicion towards any meats that really weren't. Besides, she didn't understand about the whole veggie-meat thing anyway. If you're gonna eat vegetables, eat vegetables that actually look like vegetables. Why turn them into icky fake meats?

After plucking the football out of the air, she was already glancing around before Atty spoke. Seeing as she was on the football team, in the secondary no less, it wasn't surprising that Isabelle too could quickly and accurately judge where incoming projectiles had come from. With rapid-fire calculations she would have found hard to articulate, her crystalline blue eyes flickered around, swiftly pinpointing where the ball had come from. "You moron!" Isabelle called, hurling a good, tight spiral to the guy who'd thrown it.

"I'm a safety for a reason, you know," she reminded him as he came closer. The newcomer was tall, at least three inches taller than her, and leanly built. His teeth glowed white against his dark, polished looking skin as he grinned at her.

"Aw, shut it, Carr. Miss I-had-eighty-eight-touchdowns in high school and God-knows-how-many-interceptions."

Isabelle frowned. "How do you know about that?" It was interesting, the subtle change that had come over her with the appearance of the guy. She hadn't shuttered down or anything, just become a lot less... open. Less giggly/goofy as she'd been with Atty.

"I'm hurt that you forget I know everything."

"Of course." There was a moment of silence as Isabelle looked at the guy and the guy looked at her. Then glanced at Atty. "Oh, right. Atty, this is JaDerrick Jones. The great, wonderful, masterful quarterback of the Demaitre University Chargers."

JaDerrick grinned, batted his eyes at Isabelle. "Aw... she love me so."

Atty would have laughed at Isabelle’s own monologue, really she would have. After all she was as her sister had once called her, an easy room. Comedy was a love as much as literature, indeed since comedy was a literary staple it was one that she’d always had with her and thus it didn’t take much for someone to make her laugh, to tell a joke that she found simply touched her deep. And yet she didn’t laugh, after all she was much too annoyed that someone had almost smashed her in the face with a football.

If Isabelle hadn’t been there. Well Atty wouldn’t have said she was helpless, but that would have hurt and hurt bad. The fact that it had been thrown because she was with Isabelle had never crossed her mind and wouldn’t jerks were just jerks, no matter who they picked on and the victim never really mattered. That was something Atty knew from personal experience. Life is short, but some people make it seem so very long indeed, and not in a good way.

When Isabelle shouted, Athena turned, violet eyes seeing immediately what moron it was that she was addressing. She watched the ball for a moment, then watched the guy so much more longer, even as Isabelle and he went into a heated exchange or at least it seemed heated enough from Athena’s point of view.

And Athena didn’t miss the change in Isabelle indeed there was a change in the both of them. After all as smiling and carefree, maybe a little neurotic or hyper, but still carefree that she seemed, Athena wasn’t one for bullies in any shape or form. She’d grown up with them, for a time been one, it was not her idea of good time and well while she didn’t know JaDerrick Jones very well, he seemed just the type.

And that made her expression pensive at best.

“Hi.” She said easily. “Athena Morrison." I love you too, I think. Or at least I’d love to kick your butt.

That last part, she didn't say aloud of course.

OOC: Pffft. You changed that ending.

"Nice to meetcha, Athena Morrison. Hey, you related to that dude... um, wa's his name... Jack Morrison? He covers the sports programs in the school paper." JaDerrick grinned his trademark rubbery grin and stuck out a hand to shake. Without waiting very long for a reply, he spoke again, "So, whatchoo doin' with Carr here? Talkin' girl stuff?" He asked it with another grin and an exaggerated roll of his eyes.

Isabelle, there was no other word for it, scowled. "Right, Jones. We were just discussing Revlon versus Mary Kay." She knew he hadn't really meant it in the way that it had sounded. Other than in the obvious sense, she had a deep-seated suspicion that JaDerrick didn't really even know she was a girl. In fact, he probably thought of her as, oh God, an honorary guy. With honorary balls.

Christ.

Showing off a bit, JaDerrick tossed the football towards Isabelle, caught it with one hand before she could. "Dang, Carr, you actually know what those are?" He laughed at the way she slitted her eyes at him. "So, anyway, where y'all headed?"

((OOC: Yeah, there was more me than Atty in that first one. I was kind of angry when I wrote it.))

Atty just couldn’t help her own grin, maybe it was a little snarky, but what could she say. After all JaDerrick’s first question hit her as hilariously poetic in a twisted and perhaps dark humored sort of way. Most people might have called it ironic, but then again people were always misusing that word. After all irony is: a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is a gap or incongruity between what a speaker or a writer says and what is generally understood.

What?

She was the daughter of a Literature Professor, so sue her.

Too many people used it as a synonym for incongruous or coincidental. It wasn’t ironic that the first question the quarterback asked her had sports references…just a bit poetic. A little bit. Well ok, enough to make her laugh, but not in his face. No, that would be mean and bad. So instead she simple shook her head to the negative.

“Nope, no relation.” She said, cordially.

Then she just couldn’t help the open laugh, that came as he asked if they’d been talking about “girl stuff”. And Isabelle’s reply didn’t help too much with that. After all it hit a little close to home. She and Revlon got along smashingly, thank you very much! Actually she was read to say just as much before the QB beat her to the punch again. And she couldn’t help but sigh as she watched him throw the football. A part of her wished she had her rapier, it would avoid any football accidents; not that she couldn’t catch, it was just easier for her to slice targets out of the air than snatch them.

She perked up then at the other’s last question and smiled.

“Haven’t college movies taught you anything?” She asked then. “We’re going back to my place to have a lingerie and pillow fighting bonanza…”

OOC: It's sad. I actually understand that first paragraph.

"No relation? Eh, di'n't figger. You don't look like Jack at all. He's got a... thing." To punctuate his words, JaDerrick gestured vaguely at his own face. "It's like... a... well, a thing. Thingy." The way he mimed it, one would have to suspect that Jack Morrison, no relation to Athena Morrison, had a second nose.

Isabelle only raised an eyebrow, too used to JaDerrick's antics to be anything more or less than mildly amused. She could tell he was slightly disappointed at her lack of laughter, but hey. He got one from Atty, so he ought to be happy enough. Besides, she knew the real JaDerrick Jones. He might act like a class clown off the field, but he was like the second coming of Patton when he was on it.

She cracked at last when Atty referred to the pillow fight they were going to have. Isabelle gave a laugh. It was a moment.

"Oh, really?" JaDerrick asked, drawing out the word 'really'. "Y'all are gonna have to invite me now."

Isabelle smiled seriously. "You know what, we should. In fact, we should have a G-string that's just your size, Jones."

OOC: Not sad. Just interesting, because I'm not sure I understood it. :lol:

Atty couldn’t help the little smile. At first thought she was sure that JaDerrick was going to be one of those that made violence simmer in her, those kinds that just thought they were God’s gift to everyone. Usually her sister was around, knew just how much those types annoyed her, even if she did try to be nice, and got rid of them. But since Electra wasn’t around, Atty thought she’d have to take it on herself to run him off.

However Athena could admit she was wrong, aside from giving Isabelle a bit of a hard time, something she really had to admit annoyed her a bit, he really didn’t seem that bad. Not like the guys that had gone to her high school…the jerks. He seemed a bit goofy, but who didn’t have their goofy moments. And besides if she didn’t know better she’d say that he probably had a thing for Isabelle…maybe he was just too shy about saying anything or maybe it just didn’t occur to him that he “liked” the girl. And yes she’d thought “liked”, she was after all dealing with the male of the species.

Looking from JaDerrick to Isabelle, she couldn’t help another laugh.

“Um…any idea what thing he’s talking about? And it’s not a thing-thing is this thing?” She asked comically.

It was at about that time that she caught Isabelle’s laugh and subsequent joke, well okay, she only caught it because she was trying her best not to laugh at JaDerrick and the way he’d said really and maybe just a little bit at the ‘y’all’ that followed. But Isabelle did make her laugh, bless her. She made Atty laugh so hard that for a second she was sure she couldn’t breathe. Then the moment was over and she couldn’t-not-reply.

“We probably do.” She agreed with Isabelle’s comment. “But then again is he afraid of whips…because after a good pillow fight you know I always love a good flogging…kinda weird…but true.”

She made her violet eyes as clear and innocent as she could; saying that last. It was actually pretty hard, considering. That was considering that she wanted to laugh her head off, but knew she’d get a much better reaction playing it straight. Whoever’d said that comedy was hard…they’d been spot on.

Isabelle grinned at Athena's question. "No, it's not a thing-thing. It's more of a thingy kind of thing," she replied with utter sobriety. "Actually, it looks kind of like he broke his nose, but I'm not sure." Easily and smoothly stripping the football away from JaDerrick as he tossed it in the air again, Isabelle spun it in her hands. "Whatever it is, I don't think it's genetic. So, even if you were related, his thingy-like thing probably wouldn't affect you," she pointed out.

"There were way too many 'thing's in that sentence, Carr." JaDerrick informed her, fruitlessly trying to steal the football back. "You goin', like, there's a thing and then he had a thing but that don't mean Athena Morrison here will have that thing. It was worse dan what I said.

Then all the blood drained out of his face.

Isabelle couldn't help but laugh again at his expression. It was perfect. Sheer male terror at the idea of having to wear a G-string. Swiftly, she bopped him on the head with the football, couldn't help but needle him a little more. "Ooh, flogging, Jones! Haven't you ever wanted to be flogged?" Letting him take the ball back, she mimed cracking a whip at him.

JaDerrick tucked the football securely under his arm. "Um, well, ladies. Its been fun and all, but I think dis is where I... um... take my leave." With a friendly punch in the arm for Isabelle, he let Atty off with a wave. "Don't forget, Carr, we gotta meeting with the new conditioning coach Saturday. An' you know I'll have your ass if you be late."

"That was one time," Isabelle called after him.

Athena simply chuckled. Looking at Isabelle, smiling, and shaking her head all she could do for one bright and shining moment was laugh. Like most of her laughs it was a kind of light and flowing sound. Actually it was the kind of laugh that her sister often picked at her about, telling her she had the most “girly” laugh she’d ever heard. To which Atty was fond of replying “well I am a girl, unlike some sisters I know.” Ah yes, gather round ladies and gentlemen and behold the grandly majestic wit of the Morrison bloodline.

But of course Electra wasn’t here now, so laughing was ok. Well at least it was a jibe free zone for the time being.

“Now he complains about too many ‘things’ in a sentence…” Atty teased JaDerrick though she was looking at Isabelle; expression still sweet and innocent.

She listened then as he continued and knew right away that she still couldn’t tell up from down with that many ‘things’ in a sentence, but it was enough that she offered him another smile, though that wasn’t so hard. After all if she’d had a camera she might have taken a picture.

The look on his face…well what could be said about that face that wasn’t true of the greatest comedic works of the century. Indeed it had it all. And then some. Then Isabelle was laughing, but Atty had to keep it together, after all she wasn’t done.

“Even if he hasn’t Isabelle,” Atty replied to the other woman’s question. “He’d enjoy it.” Looking as bashful as she could, laughter roaring on the inside, she looked at him then. “They always do…”

At JaDerrick retreat, she simply returned the wave, finally unable to keep the amusement off her face. Atty knew she’d been bad for that, but sometimes as her sister loved to say; bad was just too good to pass up.

“Bye.” She called after Isabelle. “See ya round.”

Then when she was pretty sure he was far enough off, Atty just couldn’t resist.

“So, was that last bit wrong of me? I didn’t mean to tease him too much…but I’m never sure when I’ve gone too far.”

Isabelle let out a rolling laugh as soon as she was sure JaDerrick couldn't hear her. It was okay to chuckle a little at his expense, but she didn't want to belly-laugh to his face. Figured that that would be considered rude—though the blond would be the first to admit that she rarely cared about being rude.

"Nah, JaDerrick's a big boy. He can take some teasing," Isabelle replied, "even if it's from a girl." She smiled a little and tucked her hands in her pockets. Shot a glance at Atty. "Which is an admirable trait in, not only a guy, but a mucho manly football player. There are a few guys on the team you'd have to beat up before they let you tease them." Rolling her eyes, though her words were serious enough, she gave a half-laugh and indicated her body.

In the sport she played, looking like your typical blond bimbo was hardly an asset. Maybe if she’d looked like one of those female bodybuilders. The kind that looked like men—excluding their strangely contoured boobs of course. “Or let them beat you up. Kinda funny how that works, you know?” Isabelle mused thoughtfully. It really did work that way. If you picked a fight with them and won, they’d have to respect you. If you got into a fight and lost, but didn’t whine about it, they’d usually respect you too.

Huh.

“So, why fencing? The challenge of whether or not you can beat the guy? Or the thrill of, you know, swinging a rapier around. Or whatever you call them. Foil?” She asked, sort of randomly changing the subject.

Atty couldn’t help her own little chuckle. You know because someone else is laughing, it’s really hard just to resist. But even so, she sobered up pretty quick and Atty nodded as she listened to Isabelle speak. Some of it she knew. You learn a little bit about the old male ego pretty quick if you’re a girl, but she nodded anyway, especially at the stuff she didn’t and was learning.

Atty couldn’t help another laugh though at the prospect of letting them beat her up…

“I don’t think I’d choose that one if I could avoid it.” Atty said, simple statement of fact. Her expression turned serious then, at least a bit more than it had been. “Some of those guys…I think they could probably kill me with a stern look…your truly is not that durable.”

Athena knew she might be underestimating herself, after all she was surprisingly good in a fight, Judo and all. But sometimes cowardice is the better part of valor. Sometimes. Not to be confused with she wouldn’t fight, because she would if forced to. And some fights just aren’t about winning, nope, not at all.

The change of subject was sudden. But then again also kind of welcome, it brought back her smile and she smiled.

“Rapier and foil are two different things.” She said, again simply fact. “It all depends on the kind of bout you’re in, Rapier or foil. But as for why, well I guess it was all about the stories I used to get read when I was little. I mean you know; Sleeping Beauty, Treasure Island, and even some mythology when it came to my mom. I guess as strange as it sounds…well you know how some little girls want to be ballet dancers? Me I always wanted to be a knight…they just always seemed so much more interesting than the princesses.”

Atty’s smile had devolved into smirk.

“Yeah, I know it’s weird. But that’s what got me into it when I was little. Now, well now I just really enjoy it. I’m good at it. Just that kind of stuff I suppose…”

"Hah!" Isabelle barked out as Athena mentioned the not being durable thing. "You look pretty durable to me. But hey. I'm not suggesting you, you know, go up to the DU football team and pick a fight. Just saying. Rambling, you know? But it really is true."

She nodded as she listened to what Atty was saying. "Hey, I definitely know what you mean. I always hated the whole 'fare-thee-well, oh brave and handsome man, you who are so big and manly and riding off to do man things like war' crap that girls seemed to get stuck with. Come on, Lara Croft is better than Indiana Jones. Ka-pow! Also, I always hated cheerleaders. Everybody always pushed me to be a cheerleader rather than a player." Isabelle frowned. Once again, that whole disadvantaging blond bimbo thing.

"Screw bouncing up and down on the sidelines with pom-poms and short skirts. I wanna be out there hitting people, you know?" Once again, she realized she was talking about herself. That tended to happen, even when she was trying not to. "So, anyway. It's gotta be something not a whole lot of girls do, huh? I mean, softball, track, and whatever a lot of us do. But fencing's probably more rich-boy oriented, eh?"

Athena’s smile was wry as she said rather easily.

“That’s what you say, but how do I know that your intent wasn’t to force me to commit suicide by linebacker? Huh…Ms. Isabelle Carr. I think you’re trying to kill me…and you’ll never get away with it. You dastardly scheme will never work…”

She chuckled then. Couldn’t finish, just laughed.

“I know what you meant.” She said more soberly then. “I know you weren’t talking about going up and socking the biggest guy I can find. I mean this isn’t a prison movie, even if I do wonder about the prison part sometimes. You’re talking about them respecting you. And yeah, you’re right. That happens everywhere, you know the girl shows up and suddenly everything cools down. Or they wonder if you’re gonna cry because you broke a nail or something…”

Atty sighed then. And shook her head, before another sigh.

“What can I say Isabelle, we all know the old double standard is alive and well. Sometimes it works for you, more often it works against you. And that’s in everything, even outside of sports.”

And that made her smile as she listened to Isabelle then. Listened to the comparison between Indiana Jones and Laura Croft, Atty knew her dad might disagree on that one. For an actual archeologist, he loved some Indi or maybe it was because he was an actual archeologist and real life archeology just didn’t have enough random gun and fist fights. But she smiled at the other and nodded, that is until she got to cheerleaders. What could Atty really say…how about:

“I used to be a cheerleader you know.” She said it suddenly; her expression was completely serious, actually a bit grim. “I well…I guess I really wanted to fit in. You know it’s not easy being a walking ghost. But in the end I regretted it. Not to sound all teen movie on you or anything, but it was the biggest mistake of my life…wanting to be popular.”

Then Atty couldn’t help the nod. Maybe Isabelle was talking about herself, but that was something Athena didn’t mind. Especially considering Isabelle was an interesting person. It had nothing to do with the football and a lot to do with the woman behind it.

“I’ve never hit people, um well you know football tackled. But I know what you mean. The some day my prince will come mentality get a little annoying after a bit.”

A shrug then.

“Actually there are girl teams. They split us, but I’ve taken on some of the guys. Too many of them think because they’ve got more upper body they can man handle you. They learn otherwise though. And I wouldn’t call it rich-boy oriented.” She smiled. “Now don’t get me wrong, I know rich boys do it. But they’re garbage at it, usually. All those elitist upper crust types are usually just posturing; when you really get into the sport you realize that it’s not that different from a real sword fight. All about balancing; attacking and defending, using your terrain to your advantage.”

That made her smile again.

“Actually I guess that makes it like war. Is it strange that I put it like that? But that’s what its like. And kind of like Judo. I do that too, you know, and their kind of similar. Not with function, but with what’s behind them. It’s about discipline I guess. And mind as much as body.”

"Suicide by linebacker, huh?" Isabelle thought it had a sort of ring to it. Someone could make a funny off that. Or, heck, even a play. Hey, yeah, that would be funny. And how incredibly insane she was. "Could probably happen, you know. Word of advice, if you ever meet DeAngelo McFayden, don't do anything. I mean it. Just freeze and don't move a muscle. The guy's pineapple of a brain is hardwired to hit anything that moves. Once his gaze moves past you, very slowly start to edge away." She grinned and did an exaggerated tiptoe. "Basically, treat him as you might a rabid hyena."

"Good qualities for a middle linebacker; baaaaad qualities for your typical human being. But hey. It's on the field that counts, right?" By the way she said it, it was plain to see that she was being more or less sarcastic. Even though Isabelle would be the first to admit that all the pivotal moments in her life so far had been football related, she would also subject you to a long lecture as to why there was way too much emphasis on sports.

First-hand knowledge, you know?

Isabelle nodded as she listened to Athena. "I get that. I mean, I ran track at first. My pre-football era. I did hurdling and sprinting. And that was fine. Plenty of girls run track. That particular barrier was broken down years ago. But football?" She shook her head. "I could've been popular as a track star. Sometimes..." she hesitated, then shrugged. "You know. Sometimes I wish I had. It's not the same as doing the pom-pom shtick, but, well. I mean, I get what you're saying." A frown appeared.

Wow. She was getting all, like, introspective. Or whatever it was called. Soppy. And she wasn't even drunk. At least she hadn't gone all Dr. Phil and talked about how everybody has to be their own person and blah blah blah.

"'Terrain'? Really? Do they make playing fields, or whatever, with features and such?" Even as she was asking, Isabelle was distracted. By the bright, shiny sign proclaiming 'Old-Churn Ice Cream'. "Ooh, look. Talk about timing. Twenty percent discounts on Wednesdays."

There was an interesting gleam in her eyes as they fell on the ice cream shop. The kind that made it clear that it would be dangerous to get between her and the ice cream right then.

“Or the Tyrannosaur from Jurassic Park…” Atty, said not being able to resist the interjected comment. Well and truly she didn’t know who DeAngelo McFayden was, but she filed the information away later. After all it might very well save her life. Atty doubt that the guy went around hitting “poor defenseless” girls such as herself, but ya never know, really you don’t. People are crazy. Yeah a news flash to the world, that one was.

Atty smiled then, clicking her tongue in a tsking kind of sound.

“Now what would all the big strong football players say if they heard you talking about ‘the craft’ like that.” Like Isabelle’s most of that statement was sarcasm, especially, ‘the craft’. She’d heard other athletes use it before, in her sport, in others. She’d always thought it kind of funny, even a bit egotistical. It got to be your craft when someone started paying you. Actually even then, it was just sports, just a game. That seemed something else that Athena was ready to agree with whole heartedly with Isabelle over.

Everyone took their sports too serious. Maybe it was just society, but folks really needed to start lightening up.

Case in point, Atty laughed, not at what Isabelle was saying, but rather for the expression that came after it. A kind of look that instantly had her framing the other woman with her fingers, measuring, even as she laughed…

“We’re ready for your dramatic pause now, Ms. Carr.” She teased, playing cameraman-er-camerawoman.

Then Isabelle’s question got another laugh from her, even as she shook her head to the negative.

“Um, no. Well not really, but you face off within a certain area, usually padded and all. Most of them seem exactly the same, but that’s only until you start moving. Terrain, can be something as simple as a point where the mat is lower than any other. A place where something wrinkles, or even if you’re near a wall. You take it all in, can even make a game plan on it…sometimes.”

Catching glimpse of the sign then, Atty felt guilty. Guilty in that right before you do something you shouldn’t way, as if her will power were trying to march her back the other way, tell her that she didn’t need ice cream, but what could she say to twenty percent discount?

“That sounds good.” Athena finally said. Her gaze took Isabelle in then, and she was forced to swallow a chuckle. But she did wonder if she’d lose a hand if she got too close. Still that didn’t stop her from teasing.

“Ladies first…” She offered, motioning toward the shop. Maybe not that funny, but sometimes you just have to laugh at your own jokes.

Isabelle flashed Atty a bright, surprisingly sweet grin--as if just the idea of ice cream brought out her softer side. That is assuming, of course, Isabelle Layla Carr could be credited with a softer side. "Don't mind if I do." The slightly frightening light in her eyes dimmed, leaving behind only an eager, anticipatory one.

"Table or counter? Oh, wait, the counter's full. Guess it's gonna have to be a table," she noted, making her way through the crowded, though not jam-packed, ice cream shop in her usual manner. Straightforward. One could almost see her getting ready to drop a shoulder when a cluster of fellow Demaitre University students blocked her way.

Well. Ice cream wasn't that important. So Isabelle waited patiently enough for them to pay and move on, quickly snagging a fairly quiet table near the back. Along the way, a couple of kids waved or called her last name. Most of them were familiar, but she couldn't place the names. Isabelle was the type with a lot of acquaintances--though not a lot of friends.

Surreptitiously snatching a couple of menus, she brushed at a short lock of blond hair and tossed one to Atty. "Go big or go home, right?" she asked with a faintly conspiratorial grin. Scanning the laminated menu, Isabelle wrestled with her own diet ethic even as she tried to find the biggest, most indulgent item on there.

She didn't really need a double-fudge sundae with extra whipped cream and cherries, after all. Or the triple-berry special with blue, black, and strawberries. Besides, the part of her mind not already slavering told her, she'd have to stay in the gym for probably an extra hour. Run an extra mile--or two. Even telling that part of her mind to go pound sand didn't help.

"So. I've got a proposition for ya, Atty. How about we split the guilt and compare personal punishments tomorrow?" Isabelle grinned a little wider. "Believe me, if you take me up on the offer, you better get something huge."

Athena couldn’t suppress a little chuckle. Isabelle was without a doubt one of the scariest people she’d ever met; well that was when it came to ice cream. Other than that though, she was, well she was just great. Funny was an understatement with her and Atty found that she was really enjoying herself. A lot more than if she’d settled for breakfast and a run. Um, maybe that didn’t seem much a compliment, but it was. Or at least in Atty’s mind it attempted to be, maybe it was just better to say that it was comfortable around Isabelle, something Atty had come to look for in a friend and she really hoped that she and Isabelle could be, friends that is.

“You’re welcome.” She countered then, with a smile that was smug. The fake, teasing, kind of smug. And it was enough to turn her expression completely amused as she looked around, taking in the ice cream shop and its patrons.

With a nodded she confirmed Isabelle’s observation.

“Seems that way,” Atty said, gazing at the counter thoughtfully. Even so, she simply shrugged though. “Doesn’t matter really, I don’t really have a preference.” She laughed. “That is so long as we do get to sit down.”

Even as she said it though, Atty knew there wasn’t much danger of that. There was a good amount of people about, but not nearly enough to warrant standing up. Sliding in behind Isabelle though, Atty didn’t much worry. Instead she followed in the other’s wake, taking in people and ice cream. The latter going into the former.

There was a bit of a hold up, but before long and after a few shouts aimed in Isabelle’s general direction, a bit of crowd response; and they’d made their way to a quite table in the back. Throughout the ordeal Atty just watched, unlike Isabelle she was rather light on the acquaintances, she spotted a few faces that she recognized, even managed a few waves. As usual there were also people that just stared at her in general. You’d think nobody had ever seen an albino girl before…well okay, maybe they hadn’t. It didn’t bother Atty either way, though she had lost her smile somewhere along the way. Well temporarily. It came back big time as Isabelle tossed her a menu and she was forced to make an effort at not laughing out loud at the way Isabelle’s grin struck her.

It was pretty clear in that expression that she would have to “go big or go home.”

She nodded.

“Right!” Was her reply.

The specter of Athena’s diet however wasn’t so easily placated. She didn’t want to get anything too much. Didn’t want to look like a pig or anything, even if her metabolism probably was high enough to burn it all off. But jeez. Some of the stuff did just look awesome, or sounded depending on if there was a picture or not. But that whole 2L Root Beer Float did look like heaven or the brownie disaster. Okay maybe that second one kind of eliminated itself-disaster brought up all kinds of negative imagery, especially to the little voice that liked nagging her about caloric intake. But-

Atty paused then, not looking at her menu any more, but looking at Isabelle as she spoke. There was an idea! It just made her wonder what to get, what would be enough…hum.

“Alright, you’re on.” Atty said then. “But you know…I don’t know what to get. And if it’s got to be a lot…” That last was just a little friendly teasing. “Well I’ll have it be on your head, Isabelle, plus it gives me an excuse later…you know I can say you talked me into it.” That made her laugh, but really she knew she’d probably be happy with whatever Isabelle chose, that is as long as it didn’t have anything to do with liquorish-black liquorish-disgusting. And probably a bit disturbing that there was actually an ice cream trying to recreate that ‘flavor’ though Atty knew she was being charitable calling that a flavor.

"Don't know what to get?" Isabelle echoed, a thoroughly mischievous look on her face. "I can fix that," she continued, scanning the menu for a couple of the items she remembered from the last time she was here, "here we go. Like chocolate? The fudge-chip explosion is enough to make a chocolate loving atheist believe in the existence of a higher power." She said with a grin, leaning over to point it out on Atty's menu.

Even knowing she sounded like a paid endorser didn't stop her from rhapsodizing. "See? Brownie flavored ice cream with brownie chunks, chocolate chips, a fudge ribbon, and fudge sauce. And optional cookie crumbles. I had it when I came to visit the campus. I swear it took me a month to fully recover." Isabelle was joking, of course, but it really was good.

Old Churn knew that it had the perfect market when it sat right next to a college campus. They were a little pricey, sure, but the ice cream was worth every penny. 'Cause, boy, they sure didn't skimp when it came to their product.

"As for me, I think I'm gonna go with the triple berry special. Strawberry ice cream, vanilla ice cream, and blueberry ice cream. And, of course, strawberry, blueberry, and blackberry sauces. And whipped cream." She paused long enough to reflect on the number of calories and grams of sugar in what she was planning to get.

Definitely two miles extra.

Pleased, she set the menu back down on the table, then leaned back and laced her fingers behind her head. "They've got this competition here that I've wanted to do for a while. What it is, is you get the monster sundae with sixteen scoops of ice cream and if you eat it all yourself, you get it free and your picture on the wall." Isabelle laughed a little. "Pretty much, I haven't done it because I'm afraid about halfway through my stomach is going to revolt and I'll end up embarrassing myself."

Could shock and awe actually become the same thing? More so could they meld with disgust and self loathing? Throw in a dash of weakening will power and a dash of excitement, you would get Athena Morrison. Thoughtfully she looked from Isabelle to the menu she clasped in slender fingers and then Isabelle again. She shook her head then, let out a weak sigh and looked the other woman in the eye as she said simply.

“You’re the devil, you know that right?” The words started off plain enough, but they quickly melted into sour amusement. “I think I almost went into a sugar coma from you explaining that to me…and you know what I believe you about the month.”

Swallowing, Atty just couldn’t help the faux fear she let slide over her face.

“I think that might kill me. I really do.”

And a very melodramatic part of her thought it might. The more sensible side of course said that it would only kill her diet, well that and keep her from sleeping for weeks on end. After all she’d been hyperactive as a child, actually her and Electra. Twins, same genes…they hadn’t had a lot of candy growing up, sweets were rare, but ice cream had been her dad’s love. So they’d had ice cream right after he’d come back from trips.

Looking at and bringing her mind back to her menu, Atty considered Isabelle’s other suggestion. It sounded good, but then she wasn’t a fan of blueberry ice cream. The fruit was fine, all fruit was fine, but the fake fruit flavors…those always bothered her for some reason. Well except for strawberry, what kind of monster do you have to be not to love all things strawberry.

“Huhm.” She replied suddenly, looking thoughtful. And then just like that the thoughtful look was gone and her grin turned a whole lot roguish as Isabelle mentioned the contest. Alright, Atty had no hopes of winning, but since Isabelle was tempting her, well why not share the wealth.

“I’ll do,” She said sounding completely serious. “But that is, only if you do it too.”

Her smile turned wry.

“So is it a challenge or no?”

OOC: -pokes you- Dude, you always make me feel totally out of my league. Is it somehow sick to like you for that? :P

Isabelle was impressed. And it took a lot to impress her. But Atty was just... just... so, well, what was the word? Awesome worked. Better than brave, which was what first popped into the blonde's mind. Sure, it was cool to take on the Sweet Sixteen, but not necessarily brave. You know?

Grinning at being called the devil, which she didn't mind overly, Isabelle nonchalantly studied her blunt, unpolished nails as she considered taking on the challenge--both Atty's and the Sweet Sixteen. It would be, she reflected, extremely embarrassing to toss her cookies in front of this crowd.

But there was also her family pride to consider, in addition to her personal ego. After all, the Carr's were famous (or infamous) for not backing down from a challenge. Well, in Nebraska at least. Didn't matter if the challenge was eating sixteen scoops of ice cream or arm wrestling. That was just part of being a Carr. Not backing down was one of the cardinal rules. Right beneath not quitting.

"All right. Let's do it," she said at last, her grin taking on a playfully malicious cast as she overtly studied the petite Athena. "Should I tell them to get the mop ready?" Isabelle teased, her pale blue eyes glinting a bit.

((OOC: The same goes for you. You always make me bring my A game, so thanks for that. It imporves the skills, so thank you.))

Atty smile turned dastardly, okay, she really didn’t do dastardly too well. But she had seen Electra pull it off enough, that she knew her face-er their face-whatever. Sometimes it was just confusing being a twin. Anyway, she knew that her face was technically capable of it. So she gave it her best shot, interlaced her fingers and did her best evil master mind voice. Which she would have loved to put in a Bond movie, but alas…

“Perhaps,” He granted, almost laughing. “I don’t know; are you feeling a bit ill then Ms. Carr.”

Atty just couldn’t help the delighted little grin that came with the totally lame tease. But it was the best trash-talk she could manage. After all if there was a trash talk gene, Electra had both of theirs. That girl could talk up a storm, annoy a saint, and make grown men cry. Amazing to see, but just a bit too nasty for Atty to ever be really interested, but their were things they did share. A healthy love of competition was one of them. And Atty’s was at full blast as she gestured for a server.

Truth be told, she was as nervous as…well as Grandma Morrison might say, a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but then she wasn’t going to give up. She could almost see the same thing in Isabelle’s eyes and besides it would be interesting to see who would win. It was gonna be a showdown, that thought actually made her chuckle.

“So you wanna order or should I?” She asked then, sounding as confident as she could manage. Actually more than she could manage, that’s the wonderful thing about big talk. Still hands down, Atty was ready to have fun, even if that fun might make her sick. It was fine so long as she didn’t get sick first. That was the point of pride. Or at least that’s what she told herself.

Isabelle couldn't hold in the guffaw at Atty's 'big bad' face and voice. "Mufufufufufu?" Chuckling, she decided to get into it as well, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand. "It's not I that I worry about, Ms. Morrison, it's you," she retorted, putting emphasis on the last word.

Face clearing, even as she fought down more laughs at their combined wittiness, Isabelle rocked back. "Yeah, I guess we should. If the waitress manages to get over here, you know." Her sharply blue eyes were watching the dark-haired, aproned, woman in question who was currently fending off a cluster of gangly boys.

Isabelle knew a couple of them.

When finally able to make her way over, Beth gave them one of the practiced 'what can I do for you' smiles that food service employees were known for.

"They hassling you?" Isabelle asked, nodding towards the boys.

Beth glanced over. "Them? They're harmless. Annoying, but harmless. You ready to order?"

"Yeah. A Sweet Sixteen Challenge. With..." she glanced down at the menu before continuing, "Two vanilla, two strawberry, two blueberry, two caramel fudge, two mint chocolate chip, two cookies n' cream, and two peach scoops." As an afterthought, she added a "Yikes."

Atty couldn’t help the bubbly little giggle Isabelle hit her with. But she didn’t giggle, she despised giggling with a passion, yet still like the wrath of God it came and it shocked her into silence a moment as she looked at Isabelle with a decidedly pointed look. She couldn’t manage a comeback as long as she was scared to open her mouth, but that look rather eloquently informed Isabelle that as they say. “It was on! Oh yeah!” Atty didn’t do staring down well, but hey, the message was sent, even if she did kind of giggle around the edges. Winning would be her vengeance for the giggling…erm at least she hoped. After all she’d never eaten this much of anything, let alone ice cream. To tell the truth she’d be lucky she really didn’t go into a sugar coma.

Atty shook herself. She couldn’t think like that. Think positive, visualize, heck her mom was always spouting that psycho babble, but it worked right. Didn’t it?

Taking a slow breath Atty looked her foe square in the eye, gave her sweetest smile.

“So sweet of you Ms. Carr,” She finally replied, witty sarcasm a must.

Atty’s expression softened then and she nodded. Yeah, the waitress was taking a while. They’d been sitting and hadn’t even gotten a hello. Actually Atty was just glad that she wasn’t out with Luna. Being a waitress herself, Luna would not have been happy with crappy service. Actually for someone so laid back it was kind of a zany sore spot to have, but Atty guessed it was because she worked so hard herself.

Still Atty was glad for Isabelle over Luna.

It was then though that Atty’s gaze followed Isabelle’s. The table of guy over seemed to be being total jerks. While Atty could keep her smile, it was suddenly a little less sincere. She really didn’t want to give the jerks the satisfaction of her anger, she knew even if she wasn’t the one they were trying to get a rise out of. But seeing anybody treated like that got under Atty’s skin.

She watched as the woman, her name tag read Beth came over to serve them. Atty was really glad for Isabelle then. She talked to the woman, even asked of the jerks had been hassling her. Luna came to mind again then and Atty knew with her or even Atty’s twin Electra. They would have just gotten up and probably clocked the guy with the biggest smile.

Score another point for meeting people that aren’t totally insane, even if it was a little less than satisfying when the waitress just shrugged it off. However as Isabelle ordered, Atty sighed. Holy crap. She was actually going to do this. Really do it. Crud. But hey at least she’d get enough ice cream. Enough to probably last her the year, but eh you only live once.

“Can I get the same thing?” Atty added at the end. “That is except for the blueberry and peach, let me get Butter Pecan and French Vanilla please.” No fake fruit for her...