OOC - This thread takes place on the 6th of May.

Kealey’s early suspicions about the library at the Mansion had been correct. The place was in fantastic shape for something that had been mostly taken care of by teenagers. Unfortunately, that was still pretty shoddy shape as far as the new Mansion Librarian was concerned. It simply wouldn’t do, and Kealey had spent the last few days rearranging the large shelves that filled the room.

The books had been arranged pretty well by author, but the subjects were barely distinguishable from one another and some of the arrangements by decimal were off. Which is exactly why this particular morning found Kealey on the top of one of the wheeled ladders in the library, a sling full of books draped over her shoulder. Students milled in and out and the blond found herself slightly distracted as was always the case when a lot of the younger mansion residents were in close proximity.

The problem with being distracted while one is on a ladder is that they often end up off the ladder. In this case, a particularly speedy student was darting in and out of the shelves, exhilaration pumping through him as he moved. Kealey squirmed slightly on the ladder, reminding herself that there was nothing thrilling about standing shelving books. Out she reached to place the book she was holding, just a bit further, then a bit further.… Too far, her momentum and weight carried her away from the ladder and Kealey’s feet lost their traction on the ladder.

As her foot slipped on the rung, Kealey cried out a little and flung her hands out, catching the top edge of the bookshelf before she could fall.

”Help!” she squeaked as she hung there, wondering just how long a person could cling by the fingertips. She didn’t have to wonder long, though, because the shelf started to lean, her weight pulling it towards the ground. Books started falling forward and Kealey stopped worrying about personal bodily harm and started worrying about what was going to happen to the books….to all the work she’d done the last few days.

The angle of incline decreased and her fingers slipped from the top of the shelf, the short fall ending with a solid landing on her derriere. The bookshelf didn’t stop, though. Up Kealey looked to see it looming towards her and she raised her arms to protect her head just as an avalanche of books cascaded down.

It was a mystery how Shin hadn't found Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's lovable detective Sherlock Holmes earlier in his adult life. The characters were clever, the plot was fun, and everyone was endearing. So entranced was Shin by the book he had his nose buried in, he didn't notice something had happened to the book shelf behind him until it had fallen, and Kealey had shouted 'Help!'

Slowly, Shin turned. His eyes rose to the tip top tip of the toppled shelf, widened. A bead of sweat grew on the side of Shin's cheek.

Did I do that...? But no. That was stupid. Quit being stupid, Shin. He couldn't possibly have-- wait. Kealey'd shouted for help.

The book in his hands snapped shut, and slid into place haphazardly on a nearby shelf as the realization struck him. Shin wheeled around the fallen shelves, over to the pile of books on the floor. His eyes darted to and fro for a sign of her. Blond hair? An outstretched arm? Maybe a leg?

He didn't see her!

"Kealey!?" Shin cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting in the library unimpeded by 'do not shout' signs. "Kealey, where are you?"

She was lost! Lost at sea!! Drowned under torrents of words, and a maelstrom of pages.

Oh, what ever would he do? He slumped over at the thought, then instantly straightened up again.

He'd fight it. Book by book, he'd bale her out of trouble. He'd get her home... Shin started scooping books out of the way.

The books finally stopped falling, and Kealey simply sat where she was for a moment before moving her hands and looking around. Upon further consideration, that action was slightly exaggerated because all the blond could see were books. Had there really been that many on the shelf? Had the shelf been that tall? Nothing really hurt, and it didn’t feel like anything was too battered or bruised. Kealey amended…there was nothing very bruised…except her pride.

Emotions flittered closer, impeding Kealey’s embarrassment and she was grateful for the distraction, especially when she realized who it was. Somehow Shin being the one to witness her ridiculous accident was easier to handle than someone she didn’t know, or worse, someone she did know.

Focusing on Shin’s emotions, which were determined and mildly concerned at the moment, Kealey started shoving books off her head. There hadn’t been that many, and soon enough a pale hand emerged, cresting out of the small sea of books, looking for a life preserver.

”I’m right here….” she announced, voice tinged with self-irritation over all the work she was going to have to do. If only she’d been paying attention to the books instead of the emotions of that kid who had been running around.

”Stupid powers…” she grumbled as she held out a hand so Shin could help her up. A look around confirmed that only the one shelf had fallen and Kealey breathed a small sigh of relief that a domino effect had not occurred, ”You’d think that after all these years I’d be able to keep my head straight when doing something as simple as standing on a ladder.”

A voice. A hand. Shin reached out and hoisted the empath from the pile. Her words were lost on him. He'd been worried. Up she came, into a hug.

"You're okay," Shin emphasized. "The mess on the floor isn't important."

Relief. Kealey couldn’t help but feel it too as Shin pulled her from the pile of books. Kealey observed it as she emerged, it really wasn’t that big, and as she gained her feet she found herself enveloped in a hug. She hugged back and nodded her head at Shin’s words, suddenly feeling a little sheepish for the way she’d been going on about her powers.

Kealey opened her mouth to agree with Shin, to tell him that he was right. It was a lucky thing that she’d managed to fall several feet and emerge with no injuries. The bookshelf was heavy, it could have fallen on her as well. That would have been bad. Kealey tried to say these things, but before she could get more than a single word out of her mouth, everything shut down.

A few moments later, or an eternity, Kealey opened her eyes and found herself staring at the ceiling of the library. Confusion permeated almost every fiber of the empath’s being and she realized she was feeling it from all directions. Confusion and alarm.

It took another moment for Kealey to feel the books digging into her back and the slightly heavy pressure on the left side of her body. She turned her head. It was….Shin.

What had happened, were they okay? ”Shin?!” she said, experimentally moving her arms and legs and shaking his shoulder. ”What just happened?”

How does one describe complete neural shutdown?

One second, he was looking at Kealey, the next, there were no words.

There were no words to describe it. He was speechless, tongue-tied, braindead...

Darkness and silence just didn't do the trick.

~*~

Someone was shaking his shoulder. They say, when you die you see angels. As he opened his eyes to let the thin crack of light pour in... Kealey's face popped up in his vision grid.

"Huh?" Shin rolled off her, and sat up groggily. "What happened? The last thing I remember, I'd helped you up..." His voice trailed off as he looked around the library. A few of the other students were expressing similar reactions. That couldn't be good...

He looked to the wall clock, then announced to the room "Anyone else just lose a few seconds of their life?"

The results were unanimous, a general consensus of 'buh?'

"We need to get to a television..." Shin tried standing up, but failed half-way.

Now it was Kealey’s turn to feel relieved. Shin opened his eyes and she let out breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding. He was okay, she was okay, they’d somehow fallen on the books after Shin had helped her up. Shin rolled to the side, and Kealey sat up slowly, a hand going to the side of her head as if trying to push memories inside that simply weren’t there.

So many people were confused. Kealey’s blue eyed gaze followed Shin’s to the clock on the wall, then in a general scan of the library. What they were looking for, Kealey couldn’t puzzle out, but her other hand found a place on the other side of her head. It hurt, and her heart was racing like she’d just ran a mile.

Shin asked if anyone else had lost a few seconds of their life, and Kealey stared at him in more mute confusion. Lost a few seconds? They’d all been unconscious at the same time? But how? Was everyone okay? Shin suggested finding a television and Kealey couldn’t figure out why. She trusted Shin, though, and if he said they needed to find a TV, that’s what they would do.

Shin tried to stand and didn’t quite make it, then Kealey tried and ended up with the same results. Everything in her mind and body just felt….wrong. It was frightening, and uncomfortable, and she reached out to wrap her hand around Shin’s wrist.

”Together?” she said, still trying to figure out exactly what had happened and why she felt so very wrong.

They got to the television, alright. It was a wonder how they made it through the mansion's halls to the living room at all. Like a three-legged race, they helped each other down the hall, to an elevator, first floor, out the door. It was slow. Shin leaned on Kealey, Kealey, on Shin. They made it to the living room, and flopped down on the couch.

Together.

Shin reached forward, and grabbed the remote. He onned the television, and turned it to the news.

The news, it wasn't good.

At the bottom of the screen, information streamed. There were reports of massive pile ups, and car accidents all over Manhattan. On the screen, the announcer spoke of the mayor's collapse. Condition: Stable. The reporter speculated on why so many similar accidents had occurred at once.

Shin looked to Kealey. There were no words.

It was a long way to the Living Room. It was a Really. Long. Way. And the whole way, Kealey continued to feel strange. Something about the whole situation was simply so wrong, she was glad Shin was there to lean on. Her arms and legs were sore, like she‘d run a long way or done physical labor of a couple of hours, and Kealey had a feeling she wouldn’t have made it on her own. There was also the confusion from everywhere around, it made Kealey’s eyes well up. Shin was there, though, and he was leading the way. Everything was going to be okay. Kealey just followed..

Soon, or not so soon, they were in the living room and on the couch. Once settled, Kealey immediately pulled her knees up, hands going back into her hair as Shin reached out for the remote.

The news was on, and Kealey couldn’t help but remember another time when they’d sat mutely on a couch while a disaster unfolded on the television. This was similar, except she didn’t feel like this was her fault. Someone was responsible though…something. The feelings in the mansion were intense, people were coming around and were every bit as confused and afraid as Kealey and Shin had been. It was a lot to deal with.

Shin looked at her, and Kealey shook her head, ”Everyone is so confused…and afraid.” she said, hands tightening slightly in her hair. ”What if it happens again?”

>>”Everyone is so confused…and afraid.”

Kealey said. Shin could hear the worry in her voice...

>>”What if it happens again?”

He had to ease it. That was the only option. There was no other way.

"Let's go flying..." Shin stood. He looked at her earnestly, and held out his hand. "This is too deep. I need to take my mind off it... You said you wanted to learn self defense, though?" He took a deep breath. "Now's the time."

Still so confused…and getting worse by the moment. It seemed like as more time passed, the more confused everyone was getting. All those emotions in the relatively closed space of the mansion had Kealey feeling something akin to the way she’d felt when she’d been struggling to find her keys after a long night of drinking. The fear on top of it didn’t help either. Kealey kept forgetting why she was afraid, then looking at the television and remembering everything. That in turn confused her and the vicious cycle started over.

Shin spoke and that spinning wheel grinded to a halt. Focus. Kealey looked at Shin, eyes slightly bleary as she tried to puzzle out exactly what he had said.

Flying? Self Defense?

It didn’t matter, it was away from the mansion and all of the craziness inside. She nodded her head.

”Only if we can go high.” she said, voice shaking slightly, ”I don’t think I can handle being around all the people.”

>>”Only if we can go high.” she said, voice shaking slightly, ”I don’t think I can handle being around all the people.”

"Is there any other way to fly?" Shin nodded. "C'mon, take my hand. I'll help you up."

Kealey nodded, taking his hand. Shin turned, and led her from the livingroom, through all that confusion, to the mansion's front lawn. When he got there, he paused for a moment, letting go of her hand. Shin focused on the image he'd spent so much time and practice creating. In the grid of his mind, it spun, the digital Origami crane not quite capable of space flight, Porygon. Slowly, triangles spun up, building the image. After a minute of work, Shin opened his eyes. Porygon's triangular pupils narrowed into eyes of triumph! The finishing touch.

Shin climbed onto the polyhedral polygon construct's back. He once again offered his hand. "Hop on. I know just the place."

They would fly high, apparently it was the only way to do it. Shin still offered his hand, and Kealey took it, allowing him to help her to her feet and lead her from the living room.

Through the mansion they went, Kealey following along and trying to keep her mind focused on where they were going and what they were doing despite all the confusion. It got better, if only marginally, as they went, and by the time they were outside, Kealey could wrap her mind around things a little more effectively. If anything, that made her agree with Shin more. They needed to get out of there.

Shin let go of her hand, and Kealey waited, watching as Shin used his powers to create his Porygon on the lawn. His eyes were shut, and he was concentrating. Again, she wished her powers were something she could really work with. Then again, Shin practiced with his a lot, something that was difficult if not impossible for Kealey.

Onto Porygon Shin got, and Kealey mused slightly over the fact that this was going to be kind of like riding a motorcycle. Shin held out his hand again and Kealey took it, climbing onto the shard construct, still unable to shake the weirdness of what had happened just a short while before.

”Let’s go.””

>>”Let’s go.”

She didn't need to tell him twice. Porygon rose above the crazy emotions, above the mansion grounds, into the sky. It turned its pointed beak in the direction of Cerberus Towers, and took off.

The sky above New York was relatively quiet, as high up as they were. It was a nice day. You wouldn't have been able to tell, with all the traffic down below. As they flew, neither Shin, nor Kealey spoke. Eventually, their destination loomed ahead of them. The sun glinted off the side of the skyscrapers, in a toxic gold.

The shard Porygon climbed towards the building's roof. Shin touched down gently, and helped Kealey off.

He pulled out his cellphone, and called up Megara. A short while later, she opened the rooftop door for them.

"You really need to call first..." She tapped her foot impatiently.

"Can we use the training room?" Shin asked.

"Sure."

Shin led Kealey downstairs, to a white-walled room with blue training mats. Around the room were stationed wooden training blocks with peg arms set into the wood.

Shin nodded to the mat. "Sit down."

He sat down himself, cross-legged, on the mat.

The sky was quiet. Just like it had been on the day with the ferry. Kealey sat behind Shin on Porygon’s back and leaned her head against his shoulder. As they rose, Kealey closed her eyes and took deep breaths. She wasn’t scared of heights, she wasn’t worried about falling, it was just nice to feel the world fall away as they rose. All the emotions, all the worry, all the fear, simply gone as they flew higher and higher. Finally, Kealey relaxed and opened her eyes.

This time was every bit as incredible as the first when Kealey realized just how high up in the air they were. It was boggling to think that Shin was doing all of this with his mind. The thought probably should have been alarming, but it wasn’t. They wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t safe.

It was quiet as they flew and Kealey simply watched the ground and city fly by as they headed towards wherever it was Shin thought they needed to go. They landed, and Kealey found herself standing somewhere vaguely familiar. There were emotions here, but they weren’t quite as disturbing as what she’d felt in the mansion a short while before. She was about to ask Shin why they were there when he pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number.

He was serious. That made Kealey serious, she paid attention. She also knew who Shin was calling.

A little while later, her suspicions confirmed, Kealey followed Shin into the building and through hallways.

”I think you’d better call earlier next time.” she said softly, trying not to betray the seriousness of the situation as they walked into what had to be a training room.

Shin was still serious, and when he sat and instructed her to do the same, Kealey obeyed almost before she realized what she was doing, arranging herself in the same way Shin had.

Across from Shin, Kealey tilted her head slightly, reaching up to pull her hair into a ponytail and fasten it with an elastic she had around her wrist.

”Now what?”