Books and Bad Luck (Kealey)

Some people said that TV was mindless. Honestly, that’s what Kealey had been looking for when she’d made her way into the living room this particular Monday morning. It had been two days since the murderer had assaulted her with his feelings and found her outside of her room. It had been two days until she’d quite literally unloaded the emotional baggage of her early life on Shin. It had been two days since he’d taken it all in stride. Time went on even though all of these things had happened, but Kealey seemed just the smallest bit stuck. She was shaken still, and it just wasn’t wearing off like it should have been. Every time she had a moment to think, her mind drifted back to those feelings, or what they’d done to her dreams. She needed a distraction.

The television had done a good job, so far, and if Kealey was honest she absolutely loved the lack of emotion she felt from the people on the screen. It was a chance to focus and practice on what they were doing. It was easy, especially since there was someone else in the room who was bound and determined to be relaxed and concentrate. Kealey basked in the emotions, her tense body gradually relaxing into the plush cushions of the couch. This was much better.

The TV droned on and Kealey found herself drifting slightly as she watched. It was really the first time she’d felt completely comfortable and safe. At least since she’d left Shin’s room that morning to help him walk Thor.

The music changed suddenly on the TV, and Kealey’s half-open eyes widened, focusing on the news that was scrolling across the screen.

”WHAT?!” she exclaimed, shooting upright and grabbing the remote to turn the volume up. The library was on fire…her library. People were pouring out into the street, and Kealey recognized some of them, her former colleagues from the time she’d spent as an employee there. She tried to inventory them as she watched, but she didn’t know who was working and who wasn’t. A redhead too close to the flames got pulled away by a firefighter and again Kealey hoped that none of her friends were still inside. The library had sprinkler systems designed exactly for this kind of situation, but with as big as the building was…

Relaxing emotions completely forgotten, Kealey stared at the TV anxiously, craving information as details scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Kealey flushed slightly when a somewhat disembodied voice asked if she was alright. It was hard to pull her eyes from the television screen. It looked like most of the people leaving the building were alright, and with the number of fire fighters streaming in, they had to have the fire under control soon.

Finally satisfied that the authorities were doing everything they could, Kealey pulled her eyes away from the screen and turned to give body and face to the voice. Kealey already knew that the emotions were the determined and relaxed ones she’d been enjoying so much a few minutes ago, but she really hadn’t expected what she saw.

Working in fashion, Kealey had heard the word ”Fabulous” applied to many things, and if there was a word for the way this guy was dressed…it was fabulous. Kealey nodded her head.

”Oh, yes, thank you for asking. I’m just concerned about the library. You see, I used to work there. I’m very sorry I disturbed your reading. I know you were very relaxed.”

He accepted her apology without reservation and Kealey glanced down at the book he was holding in his lap. She couldn’t see the title from her vantage point across the room, but he said that he hadn’t been accomplishing much. Kealey’s natural curiosity took over, and she found herself wondering what exactly he’d been reading and why. His expressed condolences for the library washed the curiosity away though and the blond turned her attention back to the television for a moment.

When she tured back, the man had rise and was taking a bow. Kealey simply had to stare at his outfit. For a design student, it really was something to see. Defiitely Avant garde…but it worked. At least for him. Juka gave his name, and Kealey repeated it mentally, trying to commit it to memory.

”I’m Kealey.” she said, skipping the formality of first and last name.

Kealey was surprised at the offer of transportation to the library and she glanced back at the TV for a moment thinking about the offer. It didn’t occur to Kealey to ask how they’d get there, she was in a house full of people who could do amazing things. Surely this Juka had a power that would help. The thought made Kealey frown, though. There had been one bad person living in the mansion under the guise of a student. Could this be another? Kealey didn’t think so, she really didn’t, and she hated how her trust and faith in the general goodness of the human race had been damaged by the encounter.


”No.” she said, turning on the couch as to not be rude while she was having a conversation. ”Thank you so much for offering though. I’m pretty sure I’d just be in the way.”

She was worried though, and would be until the flames were put out. Occasional glances over the next few minutes showed that the fire appeared to have been isolated to one section of the library. That was definitely a good thing. Not for that one section, but for the library in general.

Kealey turned back to Juka and eyed the book in his lap, ”What are you reading that is giving you such a hard time?” Distraction was what Kealey needed, hopefully Juka wouldn’t mind providing it.

Kealey shook her head at Juka’s question, ”I haven’t.” she said mildly, weighing her other options for response, ”I don’t technically live here, either. I run the library and am doing some costume work for Sam. That and….a few other things…convinced me that taking a room would be a good idea.” There, that was enough. No matter how comfortable the reciprocal emotions were making her feel, Juka was still a stranger.


He commented on the fire at the library and how frustrating it was sometimes when he was powerless and Kealey nodded her head, ”Tell me about it.” she said, some of the dreary mood from earlier creeping back into her voice, ”I see all these people around here who can do such amazing things, and all I’m good at is getting myself I trouble.”

Kealey knew what all her friends would have said about that and her cheeks colored slightly, ”They all try to tell me otherwise, but I doubt any of them would pick me on their side in a fight.”

He was reading about chess. Kealey eyed the book, the activity was one that she’d never considered taking up. Things like that took too much concentration and her abilities would be too much like cheating. Like poker, another game Kealey always refused to play.

”I wish you luck with the chess.” she commented, wondering vaguely who Hunter was. Probably someone she hadn’t met, the mansion was so large. ”It’s something I never really had a mind for.”

”Both.” Kealey said in response to Juka’s question as to whether she did her own designs or simply made costumes, ”I’m about to be a second year design student at FIT. Sam hired me on for some new looks.”

As for the other question, the one about her powers, Kealey sighed, then spoke, ”Emotions. One of the students called me an…” she screwed up her face in thought for a moment, ”Emotionmancer. I feel them, change them…though as far as a talent is concerned, I’ll say it again. The only thing I’m talented at is getting into trouble and sticking my nose in where it really doesn’t belong.”

Juka didn’t seem to think that chess was going to end up being his strong suit either, and shot an irritated glare in the direction of the book. Kealey had to smile a bit, the conversation was nice, and a welcome distraction from the television. ”You seem to have quite the eye for fashion yourself. Who made your outfit?” she asked, the word fabulous echoing through the blonde’s mind once more.

Kealey’s cheeks flushed slightly when Juka said he’d simply have to see her work. ”Oh, I’m just a student…” she said modestly, ”The things I make aren’t anything special, but if you really wanted I‘m sure I could show you my portfolio sometime.”

Ironically enough, Juka seemed to empathize when Kealey spoke about her powers. He also told her the same thing everyone else did, that her powers weren’t useless. Kealey nodded her head and smiled, ”Thank you for that. It sounds like you know what I mean, at least as far as getting in trouble is concerned. I’ve just got this terrible tendency to get curious….then I can’t stop myself.”

Juka went on to talk about where and how he’d put together his outfit and Kealey nodded her head in agreement, she knew of the stores he was talking about. If New York was good for something, it was hand-me-downs. A person could find the most incredible things in second-hand stores. With the number of designers in the city, and the amount of money that was thrown around, a person could walk into a thrift store and walk out with something that should have been outrageously expensive for a steal.

The most interesting part about Juka’s outfit, though, was that Juka had done all the modifications himself. Kealey looked at it again, with a much more critical eye. The work really was excellent.

”Well, it’s beautiful work Juka. It seems you’ve got a real talent. So tell me, how does one as fabulous as yourself find their way to the mansion?”

Kealey blushed at the sincere compliment from Juka. Surely she looked nothing like an angel, and his flattery, no matter how inflated, was meant with the best of intentions. Kealey shook her head, though, it was simply too much.

Juka’s reasons for jumping into things were a bit different from hers and Kealey digested what the finely dressed man said for a few moments before responding. ”I hate letting things happen to people. When I feel something bad going on, I have to help. I get hurt a lot and end up dragging other people into the problems…but I feel like I have to do something.”

People doing things with the best intentions often ended up causing some of the world biggest problems. It was a lesson Kealey knew she needed to learn, but still…. ”I have to do the best I can.”

Juka described his living situation and Kealey commiserated even more, ”I have an apartment in Manhattan too….though I haven’t been there in quite some time. One of those situations I shouldn’t have been involved in in the first place came back to haunt me and I’ve been staying here ever since. I also run the library now too, and with the costumes it’s easier.” There was more, there was lots more, and Kealey looked around at the other people gathered in the living room.

”The people too…they’re some of the best I’ve ever met.” she said, then paused as something Juka had said permeated her thoughts.

”You don’t sleep at all?”