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xp_logs Molly and Topaz attend the Salem Center Fall Festival.
The Salem Center Fall Festival was in full swing. The sun was starting to sink below the horizon, so the carnival ride lights were coming on. Carnival music and the smell of kettle corn, corn dogs, and funnel cakes filled the air.
Molly pretty much looked like she was in Heaven. She sported a purple leather jacket emblazoned with various buttons over an oversized black sweater that was more of a dress on her and purple black cat leggings, along with green, calf-high boots and a dark pink beanie.
"You wanna ride the Ferris Wheel first? It's probably got the best view!"
"Uh.... sure?"
Molly's choice of carnival partner was something to be desired. Topaz hadn't told Molly she had never been to any kind of carnival before, because she was sure the answer would have been a screeched "WHAT?!", but really, Topaz had no idea what to do here. There were a lot of people, and it was tempting to retreat back to the car and hide for the rest of the night. But Molly wanted to have fun, and Topaz wasn't about to say no.
And okay, the Ferris Wheel did look pretty cool. "Sure," she said with a bit more confidence in her voice. "Let's go."
Molly darted over toward the ride, making sure Topaz was able to follow despite all the crowds of people. "Good thing I came early and bought tickets!" she said, digging a stash of orange tickets out of her pocket. She offered some to Topaz as they got in line and waited. The waiting was the hardest part.
"Did you know they invented the Ferris Wheel cause they wanted something that would beat the Eiffel Tower?" she said.
"You're brilliant," Topaz said, taking the tickets. "Ta. And really?"
Molly grinned brightly. "Yeah! The guy who made the Ferris Wheel only made one, though. He died at like...30-something and then people stole his design and made them. There were like....wooden ones before the guy ever made the metal one but they get called Ferris Wheels still," she said, staring up at the Ferris Wheel as she spoke, then sighed happily.
"Engineering is so cool."
Topaz looked up at the wheel as well, shuddering internally at the thought of having to get on a wooden one. Nope, no thank you. "You're really into this stuff, aren't you?"
Molly tilted her head curiously, then smiled again. "Yeah! It's like a puzzle, but better, y'know? Figuring out how stuff works and putting it together...but then you actually get to DO stuff with it," she said, tracing the path of the Ferris Wheel with her finger.
She shrugged, biting her lip. "I---I mean, I think its cool."
"It is," Topaz agreed, smiling. She didn't want Molly to think she was being annoying or anything. "It is kind of fascinating to think about how things work."
"I wanna go to college and take some classes to learn more and stuff but I---just haven't really done it yet," Molly said. She shifted back and forth from her heels to her toes.
"What about you? What do you wanna do? Like....be a librarian? They have a show about them, y'know. But it looks a lot different than the people you see at the library normally," she added with a grin.
"The applications are a pain," Topaz said, shuddering inwardly as she recalled the trauma she'd had to go through filling out applications when she was applying. She'd only sent out a couple, and had miraculously gotten into all of them, but the paperwork had been so much. "If you need any help with it, I'd be happy to give you a hand."
At Molly's question, Topaz had to resist the urge to grimace. "Not really sure yet," she admitted. "I've seen a few episodes of that show, though. Magic, mayhem, and destruction. Seems pretty close to what I normally do." Anything to change the subject.
"Yeah, but you're cooler anyway," Molly said, bumping her shoulder with a grin.
"Maybe...the team stuff will work out? Like....go Team Science?" she said, encouragingly pumping her fist.
Topaz laughed. "I don't know, I don't think I can beat hunting for artifacts and fighting evil gods." Her smile was small, but genuine. "But yeah. Go Team Science."
They finally got to the front of the line and handed in their tickets, climbing in the mental bubble as the door clanged shut behind them. A few moments later, the Ferris Wheel started to move.
Molly paused. "You aren't---afraid of heights, are you?" she said with dawning realization.
"Not afraid," Topaz assured her. "Have a healthy respect for things that can kill me, yes. But I think we're safe."
"Cool!" Molly said, leaning over the side as the ground got farther and farther away and the city lights sparkled like fireflies.
"This is the best ride. I mean, except for the fast ones. Those are pretty awesome but the view is like....so pretty," Molly said.
It took Topaz a moment to bring herself to look out as well. It was almost surreal, looking down at this world - this weird, twisted world, created by a god-like mutant that had pieced it together from bits and bobs from other destroyed universes. It was odd to think about.
But Molly was right - it was beautiful.
"Think we could get high enough to see the mansion?" Topaz asked, leaning forward a bit to look around.
"Uh...." Molly glanced around. "I dunno," she replied honestly, then grinned
"But we could find out!"
She tilted her head. "Could you use your magic stuff to fly if you wanted to?"
Topaz frowned thoughtfully, her eyebrows furrowing. "I don't know," she said honestly. "There are levitation charms - I can mimic telekinesis with small objects. I think making myself levitate might be beyond my capabilities."
"Oh," Molly replied casually, nodding a little. "I've been working on like....leaping boots. That way if I land it won't get all cratery. Or at least, not as bad. But physics is not very nice."
Topaz peeked over the edge of the ferris wheel, noting with some apprehension how high up they were. Not very nice indeed. "So they'd absorb most of the blow from your landing?"
"Yep!" Molly said. "I mean...I'd be okay even if I fell cause...y'know....but at least the ground would be too."
She tilted her head. "I'm not gonna change my name, though, to be like....Jillrabbit or Froggal or something."
"How about Leap?" Topaz suggested, half-jokingly. "I never got the point of code names. It's not like anyone wears a mask to cover their identity."
Molly appeared to think about the codename for a split second before grinning. "Dude, codenames are the best. They make you sound badass AND they keep your identity secret. Cause if people know your real name AND your face they might be able to look you up and stuff. And since my parents aren't...." she shrugged. "Y'know, the best, I think codenames are good."
"I dunno." Topaz shrugged. "I guess it doesn't really matter to me. No one knows my real my name, and there's no one really looking for me. Amanda called me Padawan during that mess with SHIELD and it's not like it matters. They know who I am already."
Nodding a little, Molly reached outside of their little bubble and felt the wind blow across her fingers. It was a little chilly from the crisp autumn breeze.
"Maybe, yeah," she said.
She propped her elbow over the side and looked down at the ground below.
"I guess...there's a lot of other bad guys out there too, y'know? I think the X-People do it to try to protect us."
"Yeah, I know." Topaz leaned forward, resting her arms on the edge of the window, her eyes scanning the skyline. "Guess it's just not a problem for me. I mean, no person in their right mind would actually name their kid Topaz." She added that part with a small smile.
Molly grinned. "You do have an awesome name," she said, nudging her with her shoulder before leaning back.
"But if you wanted to change it what would it be?"
Topaz smiled thoughtfully, tilting her head. "Kiah," she said after a moment. "What about you?"
"Kee-uh," Molly said, sounding it out. She blinked at her curiously, with pure innocence.
"Like the car?"
That got her a laugh, and Topaz nudged Molly's foot with her own. "Yeah, I suppose, but that's not where I got it from. Go on, what if you could change your name? And I don't just mean your codename, I mean if you could have anything other than Molly Hayes, what would it be?"
Molly laughed, leaning her head back as she stared at the moon, which was way closer that it should've been.
"Well..I dunno..." she said, chewing on her lip.
"Sif called me Astrid, cause....the Asgardians said I was strong enough to almost be like them. Y'know, almost. And before that I was Rosie....back in the other brain universe where I was old and helped Wademan...the one that Rachel came from," she said, then made a face.
"Long story."
She shrugged. "I usedta not like it but---Now that I'm older, and more like...wiser and stuff. I kinda Molly now, though."
Topaz had no clue about the Rachel thing, and decided it was better not to ask. "I guess we get the names we get for a reason," she said, fiddling thoughtfully with her topaz necklace. "Whether it's from our parents or from a gemstone."
Molly nodded a little as the Ferris Wheel started back up again.
"Yeah, I guess," she said, then glanced over. "But I can totally call you Kiah sometimes if you want."
She grinned, then did a karate chop.
"Kee-yah!"
Topaz laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, you could. I don't think I'd mind that much." She looked back out of the cart. "Looks like we're going down."
Peering over, Molly made a face. "Oh, okay," she said, though the look of sadness quickly evaporated to that of someone suddenly serious.
"Then I have a very important question."
"Yeah? What's that?"
Molly narrowed her eyes, then reached out her hand to put it gently on her shoulder.
"Have you ever had a funnel cake?"
Topaz immediately adopted the same, serious tone. "I have not. Are you planning on changing that?"
Molly slowly grinned.
"Ya," she said with a valley girl voice and a tossle of her head. She held up her fingers.
"Two kinds: plain with powdered sugar, and deluxe, with strawberries and whipped cream. Totally sharing though, otherwise the sugar would just put in a coma."
"Can't wait," Topaz said honestly as they finally touched down on the ground.
The Salem Center Fall Festival was in full swing. The sun was starting to sink below the horizon, so the carnival ride lights were coming on. Carnival music and the smell of kettle corn, corn dogs, and funnel cakes filled the air.
Molly pretty much looked like she was in Heaven. She sported a purple leather jacket emblazoned with various buttons over an oversized black sweater that was more of a dress on her and purple black cat leggings, along with green, calf-high boots and a dark pink beanie.
"You wanna ride the Ferris Wheel first? It's probably got the best view!"
"Uh.... sure?"
Molly's choice of carnival partner was something to be desired. Topaz hadn't told Molly she had never been to any kind of carnival before, because she was sure the answer would have been a screeched "WHAT?!", but really, Topaz had no idea what to do here. There were a lot of people, and it was tempting to retreat back to the car and hide for the rest of the night. But Molly wanted to have fun, and Topaz wasn't about to say no.
And okay, the Ferris Wheel did look pretty cool. "Sure," she said with a bit more confidence in her voice. "Let's go."
Molly darted over toward the ride, making sure Topaz was able to follow despite all the crowds of people. "Good thing I came early and bought tickets!" she said, digging a stash of orange tickets out of her pocket. She offered some to Topaz as they got in line and waited. The waiting was the hardest part.
"Did you know they invented the Ferris Wheel cause they wanted something that would beat the Eiffel Tower?" she said.
"You're brilliant," Topaz said, taking the tickets. "Ta. And really?"
Molly grinned brightly. "Yeah! The guy who made the Ferris Wheel only made one, though. He died at like...30-something and then people stole his design and made them. There were like....wooden ones before the guy ever made the metal one but they get called Ferris Wheels still," she said, staring up at the Ferris Wheel as she spoke, then sighed happily.
"Engineering is so cool."
Topaz looked up at the wheel as well, shuddering internally at the thought of having to get on a wooden one. Nope, no thank you. "You're really into this stuff, aren't you?"
Molly tilted her head curiously, then smiled again. "Yeah! It's like a puzzle, but better, y'know? Figuring out how stuff works and putting it together...but then you actually get to DO stuff with it," she said, tracing the path of the Ferris Wheel with her finger.
She shrugged, biting her lip. "I---I mean, I think its cool."
"It is," Topaz agreed, smiling. She didn't want Molly to think she was being annoying or anything. "It is kind of fascinating to think about how things work."
"I wanna go to college and take some classes to learn more and stuff but I---just haven't really done it yet," Molly said. She shifted back and forth from her heels to her toes.
"What about you? What do you wanna do? Like....be a librarian? They have a show about them, y'know. But it looks a lot different than the people you see at the library normally," she added with a grin.
"The applications are a pain," Topaz said, shuddering inwardly as she recalled the trauma she'd had to go through filling out applications when she was applying. She'd only sent out a couple, and had miraculously gotten into all of them, but the paperwork had been so much. "If you need any help with it, I'd be happy to give you a hand."
At Molly's question, Topaz had to resist the urge to grimace. "Not really sure yet," she admitted. "I've seen a few episodes of that show, though. Magic, mayhem, and destruction. Seems pretty close to what I normally do." Anything to change the subject.
"Yeah, but you're cooler anyway," Molly said, bumping her shoulder with a grin.
"Maybe...the team stuff will work out? Like....go Team Science?" she said, encouragingly pumping her fist.
Topaz laughed. "I don't know, I don't think I can beat hunting for artifacts and fighting evil gods." Her smile was small, but genuine. "But yeah. Go Team Science."
They finally got to the front of the line and handed in their tickets, climbing in the mental bubble as the door clanged shut behind them. A few moments later, the Ferris Wheel started to move.
Molly paused. "You aren't---afraid of heights, are you?" she said with dawning realization.
"Not afraid," Topaz assured her. "Have a healthy respect for things that can kill me, yes. But I think we're safe."
"Cool!" Molly said, leaning over the side as the ground got farther and farther away and the city lights sparkled like fireflies.
"This is the best ride. I mean, except for the fast ones. Those are pretty awesome but the view is like....so pretty," Molly said.
It took Topaz a moment to bring herself to look out as well. It was almost surreal, looking down at this world - this weird, twisted world, created by a god-like mutant that had pieced it together from bits and bobs from other destroyed universes. It was odd to think about.
But Molly was right - it was beautiful.
"Think we could get high enough to see the mansion?" Topaz asked, leaning forward a bit to look around.
"Uh...." Molly glanced around. "I dunno," she replied honestly, then grinned
"But we could find out!"
She tilted her head. "Could you use your magic stuff to fly if you wanted to?"
Topaz frowned thoughtfully, her eyebrows furrowing. "I don't know," she said honestly. "There are levitation charms - I can mimic telekinesis with small objects. I think making myself levitate might be beyond my capabilities."
"Oh," Molly replied casually, nodding a little. "I've been working on like....leaping boots. That way if I land it won't get all cratery. Or at least, not as bad. But physics is not very nice."
Topaz peeked over the edge of the ferris wheel, noting with some apprehension how high up they were. Not very nice indeed. "So they'd absorb most of the blow from your landing?"
"Yep!" Molly said. "I mean...I'd be okay even if I fell cause...y'know....but at least the ground would be too."
She tilted her head. "I'm not gonna change my name, though, to be like....Jillrabbit or Froggal or something."
"How about Leap?" Topaz suggested, half-jokingly. "I never got the point of code names. It's not like anyone wears a mask to cover their identity."
Molly appeared to think about the codename for a split second before grinning. "Dude, codenames are the best. They make you sound badass AND they keep your identity secret. Cause if people know your real name AND your face they might be able to look you up and stuff. And since my parents aren't...." she shrugged. "Y'know, the best, I think codenames are good."
"I dunno." Topaz shrugged. "I guess it doesn't really matter to me. No one knows my real my name, and there's no one really looking for me. Amanda called me Padawan during that mess with SHIELD and it's not like it matters. They know who I am already."
Nodding a little, Molly reached outside of their little bubble and felt the wind blow across her fingers. It was a little chilly from the crisp autumn breeze.
"Maybe, yeah," she said.
She propped her elbow over the side and looked down at the ground below.
"I guess...there's a lot of other bad guys out there too, y'know? I think the X-People do it to try to protect us."
"Yeah, I know." Topaz leaned forward, resting her arms on the edge of the window, her eyes scanning the skyline. "Guess it's just not a problem for me. I mean, no person in their right mind would actually name their kid Topaz." She added that part with a small smile.
Molly grinned. "You do have an awesome name," she said, nudging her with her shoulder before leaning back.
"But if you wanted to change it what would it be?"
Topaz smiled thoughtfully, tilting her head. "Kiah," she said after a moment. "What about you?"
"Kee-uh," Molly said, sounding it out. She blinked at her curiously, with pure innocence.
"Like the car?"
That got her a laugh, and Topaz nudged Molly's foot with her own. "Yeah, I suppose, but that's not where I got it from. Go on, what if you could change your name? And I don't just mean your codename, I mean if you could have anything other than Molly Hayes, what would it be?"
Molly laughed, leaning her head back as she stared at the moon, which was way closer that it should've been.
"Well..I dunno..." she said, chewing on her lip.
"Sif called me Astrid, cause....the Asgardians said I was strong enough to almost be like them. Y'know, almost. And before that I was Rosie....back in the other brain universe where I was old and helped Wademan...the one that Rachel came from," she said, then made a face.
"Long story."
She shrugged. "I usedta not like it but---Now that I'm older, and more like...wiser and stuff. I kinda Molly now, though."
Topaz had no clue about the Rachel thing, and decided it was better not to ask. "I guess we get the names we get for a reason," she said, fiddling thoughtfully with her topaz necklace. "Whether it's from our parents or from a gemstone."
Molly nodded a little as the Ferris Wheel started back up again.
"Yeah, I guess," she said, then glanced over. "But I can totally call you Kiah sometimes if you want."
She grinned, then did a karate chop.
"Kee-yah!"
Topaz laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, you could. I don't think I'd mind that much." She looked back out of the cart. "Looks like we're going down."
Peering over, Molly made a face. "Oh, okay," she said, though the look of sadness quickly evaporated to that of someone suddenly serious.
"Then I have a very important question."
"Yeah? What's that?"
Molly narrowed her eyes, then reached out her hand to put it gently on her shoulder.
"Have you ever had a funnel cake?"
Topaz immediately adopted the same, serious tone. "I have not. Are you planning on changing that?"
Molly slowly grinned.
"Ya," she said with a valley girl voice and a tossle of her head. She held up her fingers.
"Two kinds: plain with powdered sugar, and deluxe, with strawberries and whipped cream. Totally sharing though, otherwise the sugar would just put in a coma."
"Can't wait," Topaz said honestly as they finally touched down on the ground.
