[center][b][sup][h1][color=white]TWILIGHT[/COLOR][/h1][/sup][/b]
[sub][color=silver][b]A N D[/b][/color][/sub]

[b][sup][h1][color=fff79a]Quickling[/COLOR][/h1][/sup][/b][/CENTER]
[COLOR=silver][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]T H E   S A N C T U A R Y[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=silver]July 3[sup]rd[/sup], 2020 |  Happy Harbour, Rhode Island[/color] - A post in collaboration with [@MrDidact][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]

Juno watched Kassy go, wondering what was going through her teammate's mind and feeling both concerned about what Kassy might do as well as vaguely guilty that she had some role in the Atlantean's breakdown. Then, as always happened lately when she was feeling gloomy, she began to think of Leo. And her mood soured even further. Images and sensations and scents began to flash through her mind. Things she hated to even think about. But things she could never forget. 

And so Tachyus caught Juno unawares when he stepped up in front of her and snapped her out of her reverie. Juno looked up at him suddenly, taking in the casual loose-fitting civillian clothes he wore. Juno hadn't even thought about what Tachyus might have been doing during the whole exchange with Kassy, but evidently he had missed most of it. His model perfect hair was still damp from the shower, and he looked like he just stepped out of an ad for the gym. 

Juno didn't know much about the demigod. But there was an undeniable allure to him, beyond his perfect physique. Beyond his charming demeanor even. He had the very air of someone who held great power and knew it. Many of her teammates were potent, but most were unsure of themselves or were beholden to that power. Tachyus was far from completely in control either. But his usual confidence and surety of his command was appealing, reminding Juno of the professionals she had grown up with and fought beside for most of her life. 

But now he looked forlorn, almost like Kassy. But then Juno was sure she looked little better. It had been a hard day for everyone, that was clear. Juno shook her head and replied, [b] "No, it wasn't you. If anything it was my fault. I was coaching her with some boxing and... something happened to her. I don't know what. She wasn't herself." [/b] 

Juno smiled ruefully, [b] "Kind of a recurring theme today I guess. They really should do more psychological assesment before they send out a bunch of teens and young adults on life or death missions." [/b] The smile passed and Juno said, [b] "But seriously. Something's wrong with Kassy. And something's wrong with Magnus. If we're not careful, we'll rip ourselves apart before the villains even get a chance to. We need to come together." [/b] 

The young heroine noticed Tachyus wasn't meeting her eyes. [b] "How are you holding up? Magnus was pretty harsh to you earlier. It was uncalled for." [/b] 


Tachyus wasn't sure how to answer her question at first.  It clicked suddenly that she may have thought his behaviour had to do with the almost-fight with Magnus. In reality, Tachyus was more perturbed by the prospect of approaching her in conversation, particularly the conversation he was about to start.

[b]"Oh, yeah."[/b] Tachyus started, dismissively waving his hand, [b]"I'm not worried about him. He's a beast, but nothing the Amazonians haven't faced. I suspect I'll just need to prove that my uhm... demonstration of weakness earlier today wasn't my modus operandi."[/b] The demigod paused for a moment, then sighed and shook his head.

Juno replied, [b] "You made a misstep. But so does everyone. Even Magnus did, today, he even got tenderized by a clown hammer for it. Making a mistake is part of the job from time to time. We just have to learn from them so they don't happen again. And I'm sure you will. With your powers and training, you're a big asset to the team already." [/b] Juno had heard the same words spoken to her before, and it wasn't hard to repeat them. A cliche perhaps, but cliches formed for a reason and Juno had seen them work before. 

At the very least, she was fairly sure she wouldn't make Tachyus launch into a homicidal rage. As she spoke, she recounted some moments she had been less than optimal in her performance. How humiliated she had been. How much she effort she had spent to make up for it. Tachyus didn't need any more criticism then what he was already giving himself. He needed a show of support. For all her icy tendencies, Juno knew that much.

[b]"Well, thanks. I'm holding up just fine thanks to you, anyway. I've never been poisoned before. Most of the bouts I've been in were more honourable affairs. I don't know how my body would have reacted if I didn't get help, regardless of my parentage,"[/b] Tachyus grinned suddenly, a slight crooking of the right side of his mouth, [b]"Guess I owe you one. Having a god in your debt is a pretty nifty trump card, I'd wager."[/b]

Her perfectly formed and proportioned teammate had a photogenic smile too, and Juno found herself smiling slightly in return, even though his statement also caught her somewhat by surprise. She managed to keep that from showing on her face however as she said, [b] "Villains often don't hold to things like honor, and the Jokerz even less than most. I've had one or two hits like that before, and it's never something to laugh at." [/b] 

Juno remembered the incident too, when one of the many Copperheads had managed to get the drop on her before her shield had come up. If it hadn't been for her mother, she probably wouldn't have made it. She was seventeen, and after that her mom had tried to stop her from pursuing a heroic career any further. It had only driven Juno's drive to improve. To never be caught off guard again. 

[b] "You're welcome, Tachyus, but I was just doing my duty as one of your teammates. I never leave anyone behind. And damned if I'd let one of those clowns hurt someone on my team. I know you would have done the same for me." [/b] Her smile, turning into something of a sly grin, Juno said, [b] "Though I think in the knight and damsel dynamic, I actually enjoy being the one to do the carrying. Very chivalric." [/b] 

She chuckled slightly and said, [b] "And a favor from a god does sound pretty nice. But I thought you were a demigod technically? Is that like a promotion kind of deal? Being worthy and all that? Or just whoever hits the smiting quota the highest?" [/b] Juno smiled to let Tachyus know she was just teasing him. Men enjoyed teasing to some extent she found, but not so much it hurt their egos. And it felt good to banter with someone after everything that happened today, to get her mind off of enraged teammates and rivalries. 

 Tachyus gave an exaggerated mock frown, furrowing his brow and pulling the corners of his mouth down. In truth, he wasn't sure if the pantheon would actually allow any change, set as they were in their ways. Could he actually earn his place among them? Something to ask his father during his next visitation.
 
[b] "Maybe if I'm charming enough, Aphrodite will take me on as her ward."[/b] He gave his best seductive wink, then ruined it with a chortle, [b]"Honestly, I think it [i]is[/i] a kind of promotion. From everything I've read about past demigods, that seems to be the case. Hard to tell what's legend and what's truth though. Of course, even if I can't join my father and the other gods, there's another pantheon here on earth that I can still strive for. They call it the Justice League. Perhaps I'll get the honour of standing next to Juno, [i]Goddess of Light[/i] in the photoshoots, eh?"[/b] He finished with a wry smile. 

Juno smiled back, just as wryly. He really was a charmer. Not like the sedate, collected, even melancholy Conner. And much different from the brooding, tense, combative Magnus. All of them had their own appeal, but Tachyus' was somewhat more conventional for Juno. Fairly uncomplicated. Though she was sure he had some sort of personal baggage he had to sort out. Everyone in this business did. 

Juno chuckled, [b] "I'm flattered. Not that I haven't heard that one before. Fans can get quite intense. As for the Justice League, that's my dream as well. Being part of this team is the next step for me before I join. This team has a lot of potential to fill the void the Titans left. I think you'd be a good fit as well. As for photoshoots, well you could do those now. Capes are huge on the social scene. If you want, I could make some calls. Introduce the public properly to Quickling. Interviews, photoshoots, the whole deal. You have the right look for it. A few months and you'll have a horde of fangirls. And fanboys of course." [/b] Juno smiled again. She hadn't told him that she was on the team to redeem her career and not just pad out her resume, but he didn't need to know that. 

Tachyus' grin widened into a genuine smile at the prospect of being rocketed into the spotlight. He found himself wondering if, like a true god, his powers would increase based on his devotees. Was worth a shot.

[b]"I'll have to take you up on the offer. Could use some good publicity after the Jokerz fiasco. We can maybe discuss it over lunch or something?"[/b] The demigod offered, but he was too nervous to await a response, so he cut the tension.

[b]"Anyway, we should get back to the others. I was gonna' go for a stroll, but I'm starving, and I can almost smell the bacon from here."[/b] As he finished speaking, he turned and started walking towards the hall. He really was hungry, though his awkward nervousness in regards to Juno drove him to walk a little faster than was warranted. 

Juno was no fool and she could almost always pick up on when a guy was feeling nervous. It was subtle, but the way that he hurried out a bit faster than he needed to was a big clue. He definitely had at least a bit of a thing for her. She smiled a bit too herself. His nervousness was actually kind of cute. Juno called out to him, [b] "You go ahead. I intend to get some training in tonight. But we should do lunch. We can take a quick hop over to Metropolis and I'll show you one of my favorite places. Just let me know when is good for you. And save some bacon for me." [/b] 

The young heroine watched Tachyus walk away. Even in a bit of a hurry he had a stride that belonged on a runway, which made an... interesting view as Juno looked on for a moment. She quickly looked away in case Tachyus decided to look back. The Amazons really did have some good exercise regimens, evidently. Juno laughed to herself. She knew some girls, and guys, that would go absolutely crazy over him. But she wasn't quite sure what she felt about her teammate yet, feelings that were almost as muddled as they were with Magnus. 

She sighed. A few weeks on this team and it was already turning into a soap opera. Juno tried to put it out of her mind and casted up a hardlight training dummy, throwing herself into a rhytym of strikes and kicks as she tried to get the day's events, her dysfunctional team, and her perplexing comrades off of her mind.