Flashback-style! Once upon a time in Genosha

[Kyra Raphael]

(a year later)

Kyra was getting some books out of her locker at school. She was smiling a little, enjoying the excitement she was picking up from the other students, which enhanced her own excitement about being told she was old enough to go to a school dance.

[Daniel Uriel]

"Hey," Daniel said, smirking a little as he walked up, the general telltale warmth to the air around him heralding his approach behind her. "Someone looks like she's having a good day."

[Kyra Raphael]

"Yeah, I am." Kyra said, smiling at him "My parents said I can go to the school dance."

[Daniel Uriel]

"They did?" he asked, sounding a little surprised. "They were pretty dead-set against it last year, weren't they?"

[Kyra Raphael]

"That was last year." Kyra said "They said that now, I'm old enough, and if I want I can go."

[Daniel Uriel]

"Awesome," Daniel said. "So... I take it you do want to go, right? Are you going with anyone yet?"

[Kyra Raphael]

"No, not yet." Kyra said, blushing a little "They just told me yesterday, and, um, no one has asked me yet."

[Daniel Uriel]

Daniel nodded, trying and failing to look casual. "So... ah... do you think that maybe, I mean..." Wow. Suave, totally. He swallowed. "Let me start that over... Will you go to the dance with me?"

[Kyra Raphael]

"Yeah" Kyra said "I'd like that...just a sec" she said, frowning as her phone started to ring.

[Daniel Uriel]

Oh holy shit, she said yes? Wow. Okay... at least I've got money saved up. Going to have to forget buying a computer this year, but that's all right. Seriously? She said yes? Didn't see that one coming...

[Kyra Raphael]

"Yes, I did say yes." Kyra said, frowning "I-its just a dance. Yes, they did give me permission. Why does it matter. Grandmother, its just a dance. I am not taking a tone. Yes, I know. I'm sorry. Oh...I didn't think of that. You're certain.....yes, I understand. Yes, I know. Thank you, Grandmother. Don't worry, I won't. I love you too. Goodbye".

She closed the phone and looked at Daniel. "I'm sorry, I won't be able to go with you."

[Daniel Uriel]

Daniel went through a rather pointed shift of emotions over the next few seconds... from feeling his sudden elation come crashing down, to a rather painful feeling of betrayal, to a sudden but brief surge of anger, to a rather bitter and quiet resolve, until finally he just locked his emotions down completely. "Oh," he said quietly. Just needed to wait a few minutes, I guess.

[Kyra Raphael]

"I'm sorry." Kyra said again "I won't be going to the dance after all."

[Daniel Uriel]

Daniel's expression shifted immediately. "Really?" he asked, wincing, remembering how happy she'd looked about it all just a few minutes before. Gods, her grandma's a bitch... "Well, if the one last year is an indicator, it'd probably be lame anyway," he offered, knowing it wasn't much consolation. "You want to do something else instead, maybe?" Don't get hopeful. Don't get... shit. Just got hopeful.

[Kyra Raphael]

"That might be ok." Kyra said "Maybe we could go for a walk by the beach."

[Daniel Uriel]

"Yeah, that'd be good," Daniel said, warming to the idea. "The one down by the coastal reserve, maybe?"

[Kyra Raphael]

"Yeah." Kyra said "It'd be nice and private."

[Daniel Uriel]

"Yeah, no nosy classmates giving us any crap," he said. Or nosy grandparents, please GOD...

[Kyra Raphael]

"Yeah, so we can go, have fun, and avoid any unpleasant gossip."

[Daniel Uriel]

"Or even pleasant gossip!" Daniel teased. "But yeah. I kind of wrote the dance off until you told me you were going anyway, so... no loss."

[Kyra Raphael]

"Why didn't you tell me you didn't want to go?"

[Daniel Uriel]

"Well if you were going to go, then it'd be fun, but otherwise? Eh. If you're going to be somewhere else, then somewhere else will be more fun."

[Kyra Raphael]

"Oh." Kyra said "Do you really want to go to the beach? Or are you just going along with what I want?"

[Daniel Uriel]

"Nope, the beach sounds good. Hundred percent honest," Daniel answered. Honestly.

[Amanda Weinrich]

"Okay." Kyra said "I trust you."