Twylite

From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

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Twylite
Player: @Twylite
Origin:	Magic
Archetype:	Defender
Security Level:	'
Personal Data
Real Name:	same
Known Aliases:	'
Species:	Human
Age:	28
Height:	5'8"
Weight:	140
Eye Color:	pale blue
Hair Color:	White
Biographical Data
Nationality:	US
Occupation:	Portal Corp Research Scientist
Place of Birth:	Peregrin Island
Base of Operations:	'
Marital Status:	Single
Known Relatives:	'
Known Powers
'
Known Abilities
'
Equipment
'
'

She clutched the envelope with the gift certificate to China Cafe in her hand as the smile faded from her face. The man in PPD hardsuit looked at her, a mixture of surprise and... was that pity she saw on his face?

Oh .. oh God... she thought, don't let it be pity....

"Really, I've got alot going on. It's just not a good time," Sgt Phalanx said.

She blinked and felt the heat begin to crawl up into her cheeks. "Oh... yah.. I understand..." She took a step backwards and gave a nervous chuckle, "Dumb idea, anyway..."

"But, I'm flattered. Really, I mean that's very nice of you."

Oh god, it was pity, she was sure of it now.

She backed away. "Yah and you're busy, so, I'll.. uh.. I'll let you... get back.. to.. being busy. Right."

She turned quickly to head for the door.

"Heyy.. watch it!" squeaked a tiny winged creature as she tripped over it.

"Oh... oh sorry.." she stammered. She glanced over her shoulder at him. He was still watching her, with that look of pity. She ducked her head and walked as quickly as she could toward the door.

Once outside the door to the Chalet, she took off in a run.

"Stupid, stupid, STUPID, Twy," she muttered to herself and pushed through the door to the inside of the D. "How could you be SO dumb? Just cuz someone says something nice to you doesn't mean they actually LIKE you.. .how many times do you have to get kicked to figure it out?!"

She ran through the main lobby past a group of heroes standing talking to a couple of catgirls and headed toward the base portal.

What the HELL were you thinking? she thought. He's SO out of your league! You made a complete ASS of yourself there." She stopped and then turned on her heel and dashed back to the group

"Here," she said, "I don't need this. Enjoy." and shoved the envelope with the coupon for dinner into the nearest catgirl's hand. She turned and dashed for the portal to her base.

She picked through the dresses that Serge brought out to her. "No... no... oh God no, too much skin!" she said as she flipped through the outfits one by one. Serge put his hands on his hips and gave an exasperated sigh.

"But these would be simply STUNNING on you!" he said. "You just need to turn loose. You're a FEMALE, aren't you? I mean, you want him to see you as a FEMALE and not just some stuffy scientist?!"

Twylite frowned, "But I AM a stuffy scientist. I'm a mathematician. We aren't exactly known for being... 'sexy.'"

Well, then its up to you to change that," he said and pulled a particularly daring black number from the pile. "Try this on, I INSIST. If it doesn't make him fall all over himself for you, then I will take it back, no charge!"

Twylite grumbled as she took the dress from him and stomped into the dressing room.

Sgt. Phalanx waited by the lower blue side bar. Twylite was supposed to meet him here for dinner. He fiddled with the card he'd brought her. For a brief moment he had the irrational thought that she had actually stood him up. He looked around the room, noting the time in his right eye. It was still a little early, he reassured himself. She'll be here.

"Hey Justin," a voice behind him said. The shadows shimmered and from the darkness stepped a woman in a short, tight black dress with thin spaghtetti straps. The stiletto heels she wore made her nearly as tall as him. Her white hair was shot through with blue and and she reached up with one hand and pushed it back off her shoulders

He blinked, "Twy..?"

She smiled and gave a small shrug, "Yah.. it's me."

"Oh.. oh wow," he stammered. "You look... wow.. you look great!"

She smiled with a look of relief. "You think so? I mean, Serge said that this would be OK.."

Justin grinned at her, "Oh yes, it's more than OK. You look amazing!" He offered her his arm, "Come on, dinner reservations are waiting."

Twylite carefully carried the plate full of cookies toward the portal that lead to the PPD Base where Justin worked. She wasn't really a baker but the chocolate chip cookies she'd made turned out surprisingly well. She knew Justin was working late and she thought it would be fun to surprise him.

She grinned to herself. Things had been going so well with Justin lately she didn't hardly believe it. He was just the kindest, sweetest man she'd ever met and he seemed to truly like her. After all the disappointments in her life, for once this one seemed to be working out.

She stepped through the portal and took a step into the base.

Then stopped dead.

Justin was walking away from her, and in his arms he carried a woman.

She blinked.

She recognized that trench coat, that blond hair.

Her mouth dropped open.

Susan. It was Susan.

She dropped the cookies and fled back through the portal.

She walked through the doors onto the dock outside the Keys of Talos and took a deep breath. She would not cry. She promised herself she would not cry. It was for the best, she reminded herself. All for the best.

She glanced back over her shoulder and through the darkening light she could still see him, sitting where she had left him.

It was over, again. What had he said? "It just isn't right any more."

She bit her lip. No, she knew the truth. It was HER that wasn't right, because she wasn't Susan. Susan.. the blonde, beautiful, former cop turned Arachnos Widow turned cop again. How could she compete with that? She was just a math geek!

Her phone rang, pulling her from her thoughts, and she fished it out of her purse. She looked at the number and frowned. It was from her office. They never called this late at night.

She thumbed the phone on. "This is Twylite," she said. As she listened, she furrowed her brow. "Yes. Yes. Yes I understand. I'll be right there." She snapped the phone off. It was an emergency. They didn't say what, but by the tone it was really serious.

She looked over her shoulder one more time at the figure of the police chief sitting at the table.

"Good bye Justin," she whispered. "I hope you find happiness." She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Maybe Justin didn't need her.. didn't want her.... but Portal Corp did and that was just going to have to be good enough.

She turned on her heel and walked away.