An Icy Conversation

[reluctant_gargoyle]

Now several days into the new year, Elisa had left Hope in Angela and Broadway's care for the evening (much to Angela's delight and Broadway's chagrin, she imagined), the second in command of the Manhattan Clan had gone looking for one of the more troubled members of her Clan.

Granted, that could apply equally to many of their new arrivals, but Chiyoko was simply an angry young Gargoyle and Guinevere was slowly starting to overcome her doubts about herself, especially in light of her still-developing relationship with Franklin. 

No, Elisa was looking for Icy. 

Now, don't get her wrong, she genuinely liked Icy.  But she was often deeply troubled by what she saw in her.  Her terrible shyness, her relentless self-doubts, and the fact that, even after she'd had some training from some of the greatest warriors alive (Hudson, Katana, Goliath, and Brooklyn), she still didn't really seem to be getting much better in a fight.  While not all Gargoyles were meant to be fighters (someone needed to tend to hearth and home, after all), it still worried her.  Especially in light of the fact that their situation in Manhattan was geared more toward being fighters anyway.  Others, like the Ishmurans, had the advantage of being teachers or keepers of lore.

Now, just where was the little blue girl?

Comments

[random_xtras]

Icy frowns over the encyclopedia that she holds on her knees, her wings rustling slightly as she moves them against the wall. Intent on sounding out words in her snug hideaway under the end table in the corner, she's oblivious to everything else in the world.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"Whatcha looking at, Icy?"

[random_xtras]

She starts, but doesn't squeak as she once would have. Instead she peers out of her shelter with her wide eyes. "Detroit."

[random_xtras]

"Ah?" She looks up. "Alright. I will... I'll get my vest."

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"Great. I'll meet you outside."

[random_xtras]

"Oh," she says thoughtfully. "I do not... don't know."

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"Did it have something to do with the fight? I mean, I know you're always worried about pulling your weight around here..."

[random_xtras]

"There was civilization, before the ice took it." She overlooks the older gargoyle's other words.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

"Other than the Gargoyles? I'm sorry... rude of me either way to phrase it like that."

[random_xtras]

Her only reply is to dive, teeth clenched in concentration.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

Elisa takes a brief moment to ascertain where the cry for help is going from, then bent her wings and went into a steep dive.

[random_xtras]

Unhappily, her CPR works about as well as Icy's did. The man is still unresponsive by the time sirens approach.

And Icy's no where in sight.

[elisa-garg.livejournal.com]

Growling with frustration, Elisa quickly scales the nearest wall, crouching on the roof while looking for Icy.

[random_xtras]

She doesn't react; doesn't blink. Her tail doesn't even twitch.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Aaaw, man..." Broadway reaches up to touch the headset radio he's wearing. "This is Broadway. I've got her. But... well, the lights are on, but nobody's home."

"Bring her back home, Broadway," Elisa's voice crackles in his ear.

"Already on my way," he replies. And so he is.

[random_xtras]

She's bruised, and the skin on one set of wing knuckles is broken and encrusted with dirt, but other than that she's physically untouched. But an examination of her eyes will reveal the absent stare of mild catatonia. Overwhelmed by the events of the night, she's shut down and is trying to hide away from them.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Nothing wrong physically that won't just heal come the dawn," Dr. James says, "but... it looks to me like she's just shut down. Based on what you've told me, Elisa... She was simple overwhelmed by the violence she committed."

Lex frowns, but tries hard not to cry. "Come back. Please. We need you. ...I need you."

Next night

[random_xtras]

Icy stretches her wings reflexively, shedding her stone covering and then once more curling small... or trying to. Was there something obstructing her ability to do so?

She frowns slightly and opens her eyes.

Re: Next night

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"Hey there."

[random_xtras]

She sniffs and leans back to look at him again, silently looking for assurance that she'd really heard what he said. That the man was alright. Her big eyes are full of relief, but the hurt look is still in them, and if Lex were able to understand he'd see that it's a magnification of that look she's been wearing for awhile and that he was wondering about.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Lex's understanding of women ranks slightly below that of the average human male, but he's learning. "It's gonna be okay, Icy," he repeats, gently stroking her cheek.

[random_xtras]

She nods again and sighs, relaxing again a little. Then she peeks at him.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

"See? It's okay."

[random_xtras]

She looks up in time to see it and bites her lip, dropping her eyes back to the sandwich fixings.

[elisas-clan.livejournal.com]

Well, maybe he can talk to someone else in the Clan about it. Or heck, even Fox. Even though she did try to kill him once upon a time, he's actually become fairly friendly with the Mrs. of the house, mostly due to his fondness for Alex.