Location: Caff
Skills: Memory Manipulation
[h3]
Thurs. Sept. 16
Danni had left the room, going off to do more research about his dragon egg after the conversation they'd had with Vicky. He laid in bed thinking about the events that had happened the day before and what Sabine had said. She was right, they needed to work better as a team, they needed to mend those faults between them and come out stronger if they had any hopes of winning the Contest of Champions. He, however, had no idea where to start, and Sabine didn't seem too happy with how it all ended after her big speech yesterday.
Dorian groaned as he realized he'd have to take the initiative. She didn't want to drive them all to do it, Zelda wouldn't try, Danni would likely forget that speech ever happened, and Percy would rather chew his arm off. So he got up out of bed, threw on his blazer, and made his way over to Sabines dorm room. Dorian had always had this idea that Danni, April, and him would form their own team in the future, but Sabine was right, there would be times where team ups would be necessary, and that meant learning how to get along and work well with others very quickly. He stood outside of her dorm, anxious as he lightly knocked against the door.
Sabine had been laying in bed, checking her posts on her socials when she heard the knock. She paused a second. Had she been expecting anyone? She was sure she didnât set up anything, she was too busy. She quickly got up and threw on some yoga pants and answered the door. To her surprise, Dorian stood there.
âOh, Dorian. Didnât expect to see you today. Everything cool?â Her eyes quickly flashed in panic.
âIs Danni okay? Do I need to hurt someone?â After all, what other reason would Dorian have to come see her?.
Dorian held his hands up
"No no no need to panic. Danniâs off doin' some research 'e's fine. I'm actually 'ere about what you said t'e ot'er dayâŚ" His voice trailed off for a moment as he thought about what to say.
"I won't lie to you, a 'uge chunk of what 'appened is missin'. I've no idea what 'appened wit' Zelda, only t'at Firestar seemed to 'ave it 'andled and we were told to get back to class. ButâŚyou're right, we do need to work toget'er. SoâŚI wanted to see if you 'ad any ideas, while also lettin' you know your words didn't fall of deaf ears."Sabine stared at Dorian for a bit. She hadnât expected her words to reach any of them. It almost touched her how Dorian seemed to, at least on the outside, want to work on it.
âI mean, that part was my fault. I only messed with your mind to confuse you, I didnât mean to set whatever happened up. Even then though, if Zelda was in trouble you could have called for Nemo to stop the whole thing. Thatâs my point. And if I am being honest, this falls on me too. I should have teamed us up better, but I wanted to connect with Percy since I figured he was still upset from before. We worked well together, but even in the end I could tell he didnât care. And if we are going to be a team, we need to be one that can work together.âSabine crossed her arms in thought.
âWe also could probably strengthen our bond. We are only connected through Danni, but I realize I know very little about you. So maybe a quick get-to-know-you deal. Could go get some coffee or whatever. My treat.âDorian rubbed the nape of his neck as Sabine mentioned it was partly her fault. He'd already figured that was what happened, but wasn't going to go and say it. The more she spoke the more he realized he could've handled the situation differently, even if he didn't understand any of what was going on, it was smart to grab their coach and have him help. He was surprised to hear her mention
their bond however. It just felt like an unspoken rule that she was Danni's friend and only his by proxy. Then again that was her entire point.
"Coffee sounds great. We could 'ead to t'e Caf." Dorian wasn't about to tell her that he wasn't fond of the drinks there. Not when she was being nice and attempting to get to know him. He could suck it up for one afternoon.
"Are you ready to go or did you want a minute?" He didn't know if she wanted to be caught dead I'm sweatpants for a potential follower to snag a pic and post it like celebrities with their coffee mugs.
Sabine grabbed her wallet off the side table and closed the door behind her.
âReady. The cafeteria sounds okay, but we can go elsewhere if you want. I donât know about you but I donât eat there unless I have to.â She preferred ordering out if possible.
âBut either way, I could use the caffeine. Classes have been draining me.â She walked down the hall, leading them to the cafeteria, unless Dorian changed his mind.
âFor the record, you and Danni would have definitely won had I not impacted Nemoâs mind. But in fairness, we were to use our powers to help us win and I canât do a whole lot with mine in actual physical means.â"Wait, you changed Nemo's mind?" Dorian asked, shocked as he looked at her. He looked back forwards as they continued to walk towards the cafeteria.
"Caf will do fine I guess. T'ough I can't exactly use my powers for much of t'e challenges eit'er. I only met up to Danni on t'e second obstacle and all I could do was move t'e vines. Aside from t'at Danni carried t'e whole t'ing. I screwed t'e pooch wit' t'e bomb."Sabine grimaced a bit. She thought Dorian knew. Why else did they not get pizza?
âYeah, I figured you knew. I altered Nemoâs memory to have him see me and Percy cross the finish line first. And we would have had you not possessed him! Not that I am faulting you, of course. Though I would have preferred not having been vomited on. Also, I am positive we diffused that bomb. I gave Percy all the tools necessary to do so and it still went off. Something tells me Nemo would have wanted them to blow up anyway. Dude is nuts.ââAlso I donât think you give yourself enough credit. Your power is pretty unique. Depending on whatâs put in front of you I bet you could find a workaround.â"I 'ad no idea, swear. But I 'onestly don't know what 'appened at t'e end t'ier. I've never 'ad someone react t'at way to my possessions. T'ough t'e ot'er day Percy did pass out sick in t'e 'all. Don't tell anyone. I don't t'ink 'e wants anyone to know. I took 'im to see t'e nurse immediately, stayed by 'is side to make sure 'e was ok. Nurse said if 'e didn't get better to ask for Nemo's 'elp. Somet'in about Time Sickness I don't knowâŚI t'ink it's why 'e t'rew up." Dorian felt bad for exacerbating an issue he had assumed had passed. Percy seemed fine, but apparently he wasn't. He just hoped whatever pills Nemo gave him helped.
"Besides, I was fakin' t'e whole feelin' sick t'ing when I was in 'im. I can't actually feel anyt'in' while inside someone." He remarked with a shrug. If he could have felt Percy's illness he probably would've hopped right out. Dorian sighed, crossing his arms as he thought.
"I can find plenty of workaroundsâŚit's findin' t'em wit' ot'ers t'ats 'ard. T'ats what stumped me so much on t'e challenge."âWell thatâs my point. We arenât going to be going at this alone. Itâs why we need to suck it up with who we are teamed up with and work together. I would love to be on a team with Danni and April and Leah but thatâs not how they did it. So we suck it up and put in the work.â"It doesn't 'elp t'at we're wit' freshies. No offense to t'em but t'ey're eit'er over confident in t'ier powers or not confident enough. I t'ink we need to learn exactly what everyone's limits are, both literally and mentally. T'at'll 'elp us work better I t'ink. Or at least plan better."âWell we can start by not setting them on fire or causing anxiety attacks.â Sabine knew that was a low blow, though she found the fire incident funny.
âBut I see what you mean. I donât know if the two of them will be willing to work on it though. Percy, perhaps. Especially after you checked on him. I think Zelda is a lost cause, but maybe sheâll prove me wrong.âDorian was about to protest. To say that it wasn't on them to not give them anxiety, but that they needed to grow past it if they wanted to become heroes. They couldn't crumble under pressure, or anxiety, out in the field. Luckily however, Sabine seemed to see his point, having just chosen to take the blow at him before admitting it.
"I don't t'ink Percy's goin' to be willin' to work on it wit' me. 'e's been pretty radio silent since t'e incident." He said, unwilling to make eye contact with Sabine as he spoke.
"If anyt'in' we can focus on what Zelda feels most confident in first. 'er ability to make super suits. If anyt'in' it'll give us an edge t'e ot'ers won't 'ave."Sabine nodded, though she wouldnât say her feelings regarding Percy and Dorian. Best to let them figure it out.
âMakes sense. I didnât know she worked on super suits. Very Edna Mode. And handy, suits can save lives when powers fail. To an extent it isnât our problem, but we also shouldnât be putting them in positions immediately that make them uncomfortable. Zelda will have to work on it, sure, but we can meet her where sheâs at and help. Same with Percy. I think he may be a bit more willing than he lets on. If his sister is anything to go by.â"She says she doesn't want to be a 'ero at all. T'at she just wants to learn 'ow to make better suits. Seems to 'ave no confidence in 'er powers at all. I'd like to say we tried to 'elp wit' t'at but-" Dorian tapped a finger against his head to indicate his loss of memory. It was hard to tell what had and hadn't failed with Zelda when he didn't even know what they tried or what went wrong. Something told him he and Danni would've given her a speech about trying it out with their support, after all they believed that together everything was better, but who knows if they even made it that far with Zelda.
Sabine shrugged,
âSeems kind of silly to be at a school for superheroes and not want to take part in it, but we are who we are. If you want, I can see about restoring your memory. With permission, of course.â She figured, knowing Danni and, by extension, Dorian a bit, she figured they did give some speech, probably offered aid and a hug. Probably freaked her out, though Zelda would have to learn to, quite frankly, suck it up.
âEither way, we still have to work together, her included. And as I said before I left, I plan on showing just what I am made of and will not let anyone drag me down.âDorian smiled for a brief moment before hesitation took over. He'd like to recall what it was that had happened after the ropes were tied, but he was also extremely wary about Sabine's powers, or any telepathy powers for that matter. He'd brought his sword with him this time, not because of her, but for his general safety and comfort. His hand gripped the handle for a moment, anxious for how to answer.
"I won't lie to you, as much as I'd love my memories backâŚmy family 'as a bad 'istory wit' t'em. It's why I carry around t'is. ButâŚwe are a team, and we need to trust each ot'er. SoâŚwhen we get to t'e caf, I'll place it down and you can restore it. I trust you." Sabine had to admit, she hadnât expected Dorian to take her up on her offer. She wouldnât have blamed him if he wanted nothing to do with her or her powers. But as he said, they were a team.
âOf course. I wonât do anything more than that specific piece.â She wanted to say how touched she was he trusted her enough to allow her to help, but despite this nice conversation, she was still hesitant. What was wrong with her?
Dorian nodded. As they rounded the corner and entered into the cafeteria, he made his way towards the closest table, unclipping the sword from his belt and placing it on the table before walking a few feet away.
"Ready when you are." There was a small quiver in his voice.
Once they were settled, Sabine reached her mind into Dorianâs once he allowed. She was careful not to mess with anything else. Thankfully, she had been in here before and knew where things were, more or less. She was able to find the tear she had caused and quickly mended it, allowing Dorian to be able to recall those memories again. As quickly as she got in, she got out.
Once back out, Sabine breathed a sigh of relief.
âThere. Should be good to go now.âDorian wasn't sure what he expected. A wave of memories, a sudden mental assault, or perhaps a blast of pain as moments of time suddenly appeared within his mind. But it was no such thing, they simply justâŚwere. He recalled having been unable to recall, but now he could see it all clearly. Like getting the word that's been sitting at the tip of your tongue.
"IâŚexpected more. I t'ought maybe I'd feel somet'in' butâŚnot'in. Just feel normal." He said as he went over and grabbed his sword once more.
Dorian wrung his hands around the scabbard for a bit as he thought to himself.
"So, one t'in' Danni and I 'ave worked on over t'e years is meldin' our powers toget'er, maybe if we can get some of us to work better we can all find ways to do it. I bet you could make people not see whose in front of t'em! T'at'd make my job a whole lot easier."Sabine was happy nothing went wrong. She didnât want to tell Dorian what happened during her showcase as well as a multitude of other things that could have happened.
âI mean if I did more you would have felt something, but restoring memories is easy. The memories were there, it was just a matter of allowing you to see them. Nothing to it.âSabine wondered how the two of them could âmeldâ their powers, as Dorian put it.
âPossibly, depends on what I do. I could make a person believe they were born blind, but I donât really impact the actual brain, at least not yet. With practice, maybe.â[Color=CC99FF]"T'ats cool. IâŚdon't really know what I might be capable of wit' practice⌠I feel like I can t'ink of all t'ese t'in's and ways for everyone else to use t'eir powers and grow but when it comes to me I just.. Can't. I don't know 'ow t'ey can grow."/[color] Dorian said with a bit of a sigh as he sat down.
Sabine could see where Dorian was coming from. Her powers might look cool to someone on the outside looking in, but even then it wasnât like she could take a bullet, shoot laers from her eyes, or turn invisible.
âEveryone has their strengths and weaknesses. Looking at it that way, I can see how that seems like a fault, but it isnât. Being able to aid someone else is just as important as doing it on your own. But even then, thereâs things you could do. Itâs why we are here, after all. And being on this team, this is a good way to explore what that looks like. Weâre going to have a lot of enemies going through this, donât add yourself to that list.Dorian tried to force a smile.
"You're right. I shouldn't do t'at to myself." It was easier to be confident in a group setting. To be helpful and fade into the background when needed. But here, one on one with someone who was friends with his best friend, who they barely shared things in common with, it was like being an exposed nerve.
"So we get Zelds on costume duty, and maybe try and edge 'er to use 'er powers in small bits, maybe even just to make needles to sew or somet'in' so she gains confidence, and I can work on tryin' to get Percy to 'ate me less. I t'ink we share a class or two toget'er anyways so t'at'll 'elp."âWe just got to work on Danni then. Have him chill out more so he doesnât freak out Zelda and annoy Percy. Then I think weâll have a pretty functioning team. Or at least one that wonât implode on itself when the time comes.â Sabine looked around,
âI believe I promised you coffee. What are you in the mood for?â"T'at dependsâŚcan we get some scones too? Or a sweet bread?" Dorian asked with a sweet smile and big eyes.
Sabine rolled her eyes, but smiled.
âFine. But I pick the treat since I am buying.â She made her way over to the counter to order them their drinks and some sweet bread since Dorian asked so nicely. All in all, she never would have thought a conversation with Dorian would have ended this way and, maybe if they werenât put on the same team it wouldnât have, but she was thankful they talked.
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