Sweeter Than the Rest (Avi)

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Saturday evening jogs with Avinea had become something of a weekly tradition for Sakhmet. They'd met weeks ago, not long after Sakhmet had taken in Delilah, in fact, though of course she'd said nothing to the other girl about harboring anyone. After all, Delilah had wanted that to be a secret, and if she couldn't tell her brothers she definitely wasn't going to mention it to anyone else.

It was nice, having another female friend. She loved her brothers, but not even Isis was quite the same as having another girl to talk with.

Delilah didn't quite count in her mind, either, if only because she'd taken on a somewhat protector role with the other woman, more than a confidant or friend.

Avi was a friend. They may not have seen one another more than once a week, but that didn't matter. She was someone whom Sakhmet could talk to and jog with, and that was enough.

The weather was oppressively humid, a reminder that the summer had been a scorcher even up North, but the clouds forming overhead promised rain and perhaps a reprieve. Sakhmet wouldn't have minded a bit of rain, even should it happen while they were out; she was already drenched in sweat, the back of her sports bra one giant wet patch. A little (or even a lot) of rain wouldn't make a difference.

Stray hairs had come loose from her ponytail and plastered across her face, and she pushed them out of the way. "I hope it rains." She commented with a grimace, "It's unbearably hot. If it's like this for another week I'm going to melt. There will be no Sakhy to run with you next Saturday, for I shall be a puddle on my bedroom floor."

[Avinea Jale]

Avi had grown accustomed to the jogs that she and Sakhmet had been doing every Saturday night for the last few weeks. She had met Sakhmet in the park a while ago and they had taken up running together. Even though the girl was older then she, it was ice to have someone to confide in. Ash was nice, but well, he was a he, and most certainly not a she.

Avi's first impressions of Sakhmet was was that she was one of the sweetest people she knew. Honestly, Avi doubted the girl would ever have any enemies and was almost certain that there was not a bad bone in her body. Avi could tell that Sakhemt, from the way she gushed about her brothers, truly loved her family. Apparently Her younger brother also went to Hammel, but Avi had yet to meet him. Either way Sakhmet was quickly becoming someone Avi would protect with her life and one of her closest friends.

When she had first met Sakhmet Avi had a bit of trouble pronouncing her name so thereby named her Socks. Now Avi meant no harm by naming her friend this. It was just that Socks had on Hello Kitty knee-high socks and they stood out very much against her black running shoes and shorts. Avi has continued to call her that to this day, but she would stop if Socks asked her too. She was not trying to impose the name on her or anything. In fact that was the last thing she wanted to do. If Sakhmet truly opposed it Avi would stop.

Avi had known that today was going to be a good jogging night when she had gotten to the lake, a bit early, and had started her stretch ups. She was wearing a pair of simple black running shorts and a sip up hoodie. She was not so comfortable with herself to just wear a sports bra, but that was okay She was also wearing her new running shoes and was tying them up when Socks had first approached.

Avi was a bit worried about the weather as the evening progressed. She wasn't a weather person but she could tell that the winds were picking up. That normally indicated a storm. Not to mention the visible side effects that were visible also. Namely the Dark clouds, humidity, and the fact that it just smelled like a storm. The rain would be welcome though with the humidity. The air might loosen up and the sweat that was pouring down on both Avi and Socks would be masked. If that was good then it was all the better.

By the time they were both not even a quarter of their og into the run they were both drenched in sweat. Both girls hair had come loose in places and Avi looked over worriedly at Socks. Would she be able to survive the humidity? “ Rain would be nice. It would cool off the air some.” Speaking of the air Avi had an idea. Smiling she mustered up a cold breeze and brought it to the two girls. “Hopefully this will cool us down some.” Avi laughed as Socks started to comment about how she wouldn't be running with her if it was still this hot next Saturday night. “Maybe we should just skip the run next Saturday if it is this hot. The heat is not good for our bodies like this. We really don't want to get overheated and die of dehydration. That would most certainly not be good.” As Avi chuckled at the puddle comment she sighed. “ Can I join you in the puddle-ness?” It would be better, and hey we might even be bale to make a lake?”

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet sighed in relief at the breeze Avinea mustered. "Oh my goooood, that feels so much better."

She made a show of enjoying the breeze, spreading her arms wide and tossing her head back and slowing her pace to a trot as the wind swept over them both. "Thank you, thank you."

She knew that meta abilities frequently came with side effects, some of which were quite nasty, and so she would never ask her brothers or her friends to aid her comfort by using them, but she certainly wouldn't object if they used their abilities of their own volition. She was grateful that Avinea was willing to play human fan temporarily, even if the breeze didn't solve the problem of the heat index.

"So true, we probably should skip if it stays this hot. Maybe we can hit the gym instead." She suggested, working under the assumption that the local gyms would use air conditioning. Every building in America seemed to have air conditioning, just about, and it was a wonderful luxury, particularly given the sweltering heat.

Avi's comment about forming a lake between the two of them sparked an idea and she halted in front of her friend, a small grin on her face, "You know, there is a lake right here. Wanna ditch the jog and go swimming?"

So she didn't have a bathing suit; her running clothes were already soaked as it was, and if it started raining they would only get wetter.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi grinned as Socks felt the breeze pop up. Sure she would have a slight headache later but that was fine. The cool breeze was worth it. “ Doesn't it though?”

Avi had to laugh as Socks made a show of enjoying the breeze that came upon them. When she slowed down Avi did the same to keep pace with her. Giggling at the show of appreciation she smiled. “Well you are quite welcome socks, though it was as much or me as it was for you. We both needed a little cooling off.”

Avi knew that a headache would be coming sooner or later, she just hoed it would be later. She was having fun with her friend. She could survive a little headache. Avi could only hope it would be a little one. Nothing major. Sighing she let the breeze go and do as it pleased. As soon as the breeze left she sighed again. It really was too hot to be running around.

Smirking Avi continued with Socks as she started talking about going to the gym instead of being outside. “As long as it has A.C. I am up for it.” Laughing a bit at the look on Sock's face she smiled. “Though, running on the treadmill normally ends up with me on the floor behind it.” This was Socks she was talking to, Avi had no trouble admitting her faults.

When Socks almost halted to a dead stop in front of her Avi had to put non the breaks so she did not run into her. “Geez little warning next time socks, I don't want to run you over.” Then of course Avi saw the look on Sock's face. The look of mischievousness and ideas. Avi got a grin on her face as she heard the words. “Hmm... A chance to cool off and go swimming at the same time?” Avi looked up at the sky. The only thing is that she was worried about the storm coming. Oh well. As long as it was not lightening, or thundering out it was safe.” As long as it doesn't start storming."

Getting a silly grin on her face Avi started running towards the lake. “ Race ya to the dock!” Smirking Avi started taking her shoes off and her hoodie. Hey, she wanted to race and it was fun to go swimming. Turning around once in the water, she called out, “ Come on slowpoke!” Smirking she slowed down in her swimming. It was no fun to race if the other person wasn't trying.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet squealed as Avi took off toward the lake, her surprise rooting her to the spot just long enough for the younger girl to get a head start.

"Wait up!" She laughed, taking off after the other girl, not expecting her friend to actually slow down, not when she'd proclaimed this a race. "That's not fair, you got a head start!"

She skidded to a stop on the docks, arms windmilling as she barely avoided splashing into the lake fully clothed. "I'm not slow!" She objected as she kicked her shoes backward, into the grass behind the dock, "I didn't have fair warning!" She peeled off her socks and tossed them toward her shoes. "You're a cheater!"

She stuck out her tongue and then burst into laughter again; she wasn't truly upset. That was just the sort of trick any of her brothers would have pulled and she should have expected it.

"Watch out, here I come!" She yelled, jumping in after Avi, enjoying the cool water after the unbearable temperatures and sweat.

"Oooooh, that feels so nice!" She giggled, splashing water at the aerokinetic.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi turned a bit to see Socks almost rooted in her place before it finally set in that it was a race for the two. She watched as Socks finally got it through her head that it was a race and took off to race Avi. She wasn't about to slow down though. It was a race after all.

Avi gave a smirk as she looked back at Socks and she heard her words Just before she jumped off the dock and into the water. “ Slowpoke.” Grinning she was waiting in the water for her friend. “No you just don't process things that fast.”

Avi watched and started to move towards the doc some to help her if she fell, but seeing as Socks steadied herself Avi smiled and just floated a bit. “ I don't cheat Socks, you should know this.” Smirking she looked up and dove under the water only to come back up after a minute or two. The water certainty felt nice. “ Aww if it makes you feel any better ill but you ice cream later?”

Avi smiled up at the older girl and grinned when she burst into laughter. “ See you really aren't that upset.”

Avi smirked and moved out of the way as Socks jumped right in after her. Emerging a little ways away she smiled and swam over to her. “Waters nice right?” Sighing happy she looked at the girl who was enjoying the water. "Excellent idea Socks. Great idea, really it is.” Smiling she went under again liking the change from the hot temperatures and humidity that was evident on land.

Avi nodded in agreement as Socks exclaimed her joy.” It really does, I..” Avi was interrupted as she was splashed. “ Did you just splash me?” Smirking Avi splashed her back a bit. “ It is so on. “ Avi got in the ready position for a water fight. Hey Socks had initiated it didn't she?

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet sighed melodramatically, placing one hand over her heart and keeping afloat as best she could with the other, "No, no. Ice cream will not heal my pain. The pain of your cheating!"

Her laughter unfortunately ruined the effect, and she ducked quickly, trying unsuccessfully to look stern and disapproving. "No! I'm so upset. SO upset. There are no words to express how upset I am. I'll never recover, never, I'm traumat----eeeeeeeek." She shrieked as the other girl splashed her in retaliation, throwing her hands in front of her face in a futile attempt at shielding it.

"Ahahaha, you want on, I'll give you on!" She giggled, using all her (not particularly impressive) weight to cause an equally unimpressive tidal wave in Avi's direction. Probably the other girl's aerokinesis was an advantage here, but that was okay; she was perfectly happy to have water splashed into her face, cooling her off. Stray hairs were already clinging to her face, and her sports bra was already soaked (more so now that she'd jumped in a lake) so their water fight only served to make her more comfortable.

"Just wait, I'll so win." She threatened, though she wasn't sure how they would judge winning. That didn't matter, though. It was just fun.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi frowned as Socks refused her ice cream. “ Well fine then. No ice cream for you. Even if I was going to let you get a triple scoop WITH sprinkles.” Avi grinned. If that didn't get Sicks to like her gain then she had only one last resort that was to be used in the direst of moments.

Avi could only smirk as Socks tired, with that being the key word, to deny it and shield herself as the splash came. “That's what you get for not forgiving me.” Smirking she waited for the obvious retaliation. Avi swam a bit a ways to get in safe splash free zone. She would be darned I the other girl too many splashes on her. “ So you use splashing to express how eeeeeeeeeeeek you are?” Avi smirked. She knew she was baiting her friend, but she also knew that Socks knew it was all in good-natured fun.

Avi watched as Socks attempted to send a wave in her direction. Smirking she dived under the water and waited until the wave got out of the way. She knew that she was in no mortal danger from the wave but when she popped back up she smirked and faked looking hurt. “What were you trying to do? Murder me? Oh it is so on!” With that Avi sent a massive wave, with a little unconscious help from her power, towards the girl. It wasn't huge per se but it was big enough to come up to the other girls nose. She watched with a satisfied smirk as the wave hit the girl full on and then settled down afterwards.

“ Keep dreaming Socks, I shall win and that is that.” Again Avi splashed her, trying her hardest to get the biggest wave but this time no power was necessary. And hey if worse came to worse Avi could just dunk the other girl. After all there were no rules right?

[Sakhmet Richmond]

"Oooh, wait, did you say with sprinkles?" Sakhmet put one finger up to her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll reconsider..." Ice cream did sound appealing, but that would mean getting out of the water, which she didn't care to do right now. It was so cool in the lake!

She laughed as she tried to dodge Avinea's retaliatory splashes, shrieking whenever one hit her, which was frequently. "You got that right, I'm going to drown you and leave your body in the lake and nobody will know what happened to you."

A wave of water slapped her in the face, and she floated backwards, blinking water out of her eyes and shaking her head so that droplets flew from her hair. "I'm blind. I'm blind now and it is all your fault!"

One of Horus's teachers was blind, now. An English teacher, she thought he'd said. It was odd, a bunch of teachers had been absent, and when they returned one of them was blind and he hadn't known why. She'd not thought about it, until after the accusation left her mouth. Oh, shit, that might be one of Avi's teachers; the other girl probably thought she was being incredibly insensitive.

"I mean," She backtracked quickly, "I'm sure that I could get used to it. There's braille and such, right?"

A rumbling overhead caused her to tilt her face up, noticing that the clouds had darkened since she and Avinea had first met up. As soon as she did fat drops of rain began to fall, hitting her in the face.

"Uh, oh, it looks like rain." She half-sang, half-commented.

And then flashes of lightening tore across the sky, accompanying the ever-increasing rumbles of thunder.

"Maybe that ice cream is a good idea, after all."

She scrambled out of the lake and onto the dock, pulling on shoes but not socks. At least with an ice cream parlor they could eat inside rather than being out in the storm.

[Avinea Jale]

“ That's right. Sprinkles. And nope. You already said you didn't want it. Your out of luck.” Avi tried to keep a straight face as she waded through the water.The water felt so nice though. “ I was going to do it when we got out of the lake actually. Too bad I should just go straight back to Hammel now.”

Avi giggled at the girls proclamation of drowning her. “ I hope you know that if you do that my parents will exact revenge on you and your family”Avi giggled. Not that they would be able to do anything of course. “I really didn't know you were part of the mafia Socks.”

Avi watched with a satisfied smirk as the wave hit her in the face. A slightly worried look came over her face though when socks stopped moving for a bit. Avi let out a relieved sigh when she was starting to exclaim she had blinded her. “ I am sorry socks... I guess I used to much force..” Avi grinned and thought of the only way to make it up to the other girl, “ I surrender, you win~”

Avi didn't know why all of her teachers were out, or in the hospital, or even why one of her teachers was blind. I didn't really bug her but it was a bit annoying that she had not a clue what was going on. She had not had the blind teacher or anything so that was not an issue but she was curious as to what in the world was going on.

Avi looked over at her friend and realized something was wrong. “Still being blind must suck.Its not something you just get used to over night.”

Avi watched as Socks looked up at the sky. She did the same and noticed the rain also when it began to rain down on her. She started swimming towards shore needing to get out of the water.

Avi nodded at Sock's comment and pulled her along towards the dock, “ Yea we better get out. Water conducts electricity really well so if lighting sturck us while we were in the water we would be electrocuted.”


Then of course there were flashes of lightening tore across the sky, accompanied by the rumbles of thunder.

Avi smiled at the words socks was speaking. “Good idea Socks. We should hurry in getting there though. I really don't want to be running in a thunder and lightening storm”

Finally getting to the dock and pulling herself up she scrambled to put on her warm jacket and shoes. “So wheres the ice cream parlor again?”

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet blinked water out of her eyes, pointing in the direction she knew the ice cream parlor lay.

"It's not that far." Her voice sounded hesitant; it never seemed that far when she went with her brothers, but that was without the threat of thunder to contend with. It was, however, with the threat of melting into a puddle due to humidity, which she supposed lent a similar urgency to those treks.

She took off in the direction of the parlor, wet feet squelching in her shoes, rolling up her socks as she went. She was pretty sure they could get to the parlor before the storms started up more seriously. If not, they would have to seek shelter elsewhere: Sakhmet, at least, had walked to the lake from her home.

Her estimation was almost correct.

Almost.

The tiny retail strip that housed the ice cream parlor (calling it a strip mall was a bit generous; there was also a Home Depot, a Subway and an empty lot) came into view just as the clouds broke, and the intermittent drops of water became more insistent, pattering down on their heads furiously.

An extra burst of speed born of a desire to get in out of the rain saw Sakhmet to the doors of the ice cream bent over and panting with exertion.

"That...was...longer....than....I thought." She apologized to Avi, one hand against her chest as she willed her heartbeat to slow, a task rendered difficult as it sped up with every crash of thunder overhead. At least the awning kept them relatively safe.

It would have kept them dry, as well, if they hadn't already been soaking.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi looked over at Socks as she started to speak and point in the direction. Nodding she waited for socks to get started. It wasn't polite to go ahead of her.

Avi nodded as Socks retold that it was not that far at all. Smiling she started stretching getting ready to run for it. At least the rain would cool them off some. Avi hoped it wasn't that far. She really did. She would have sprinted towards the shop if She wasn't with Socks, but she knew it was better to wait for her, especially if she herself did not know where it was.

Avi took off when Socks did. She had stored her own socks in her back pocket as it was indefinably easier to have warm socks then wet ones when you were going back to the dorm. Much better. She wanted to out run the storm and hoped that the ice cream place was closer then Socks had said. She wouldn't mind getting drenched, it would cool her off, but she didn't want a cold and she didn't want to get struck by lighting. She kept running and running hoping that she was getting closer.

Avi had followed Socks along the trail and saw approaching buildings as the storms was starting to get worse. She was surprised at how far it was from the lake, but she also knew that it wasn't really that long. Since they were running it had seemed longer. Avi looked around the few stores and such that came into view. Home Depot, Subway and the ice cream parlor were the things that accompanied the few lots. Plus the parking lot. The empty parking lot. Avi raced towards the shop as the rain started to come down harder.

Avi kept right in step as she followed socks into the doors of the Ice cream shop. It was really coming down outside and Avi was glad that they had a chance to get under a roof, where they would be less wet.

Avi just nodded at Socks as she panted through a few words trying to catch her breath. She herself was pretty worn out and was half tempted to sit on the floor and put her head between her legs to catch her breath. That was more of a long distance sprint then anything and even though it wasn't much, the fact that it was raining and her clothes ere wet, made it all the harder to run. She heard the distant thunder and smiled. She liked storms. She just didn't like running in them.

“ It is all good.” Avi said as she wrung out her sweatshirt. She was soaked head to toe. At least though they were safe under a roof and wouldn't be struck by lightning now.

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet shook herself like a dog, water flying everywhere, but to no avail; she was still drenched. Unfortunately she couldn't just strip, not here in public, so this was about as dry as she was going to get.

At least they were no longer in any danger of heat stroke.

"Do you know what flavor you want?" She asked as she pushed open the door to stand inside the blessedly dry shop, dripping puddles around her feet as she just stood for a moment in appreciation of the lack of rain.

The proprietor, a tiny, dark-skinned older woman from Nepal, glanced up as the two girls walked in, smiling at them in spite of the fact that they were turning her nice, polished floor into a lake. "The weather is nasty, is it not?" She greeted them, putting away her magazine and shuffling to the counter, obviously pleased to have any customers at all in this weather.

"It is," Sakhmet nodded in fervent agreement, pawing at her hair, which kept falling into her eyes in damp clumps. She was going to be so cold once she dried off, and ice cream wouldn't help that at all, but it was tasty, and therefore worth it.

Of course, once dry they couldn't stay in the ice cream parlor forever; they would have to leave somehow, and who knew when the rain would let up? Sakhmet did not want to go back out in the rain, and so she resolved to call Sett and ask him to pick her and Avi up...and to threaten to hit him if he tried to hook up with her friend.

"Oh, my goodness, do my eyes deceive me?" She gasped , surveying the bountiful ice cream choices. "Does that say pomegranate ice cream? I would love a large cone of that, please." She ordered, eyes wide, both surprised and thrilled to see this flavor here in Pilot Ridge.

[Avinea Jale]

Avi had to laugh as Socks shook herself. Water was flying everywhere, but she was glad that she was having such fun being absolutely and positively soaked. Smiling herself Avi mused how the rain hadn't ruined her good friends mood. That, never seemed to be in a bad mood unlike the weather.

Now of course they were not going to die because of the overbearing heat.

Avi pondered as she thought about what flavors there were and smiled as her mind ran though the different choices. She shook her head at socks and bit her lip. " No, not really"

Avi's eyes flicked over to the shop owner and worker that was there or the day. She briefly wondered where she was from, but shook it off as she looked over the menu. " That is is. Luckily we were able to outrun some of it." Avi smiled at her as she made her way over to the counter, all the while leaving a trail of puddles.

Avi figured she might be cold after drying out and having ice cream, but maybe she could work up a warm breeze. that would be a good amount of effort though, since she was inside and the rain had cooled everything off. Still it wouldn't hurt to try. After of course she got some ice cream.

Avi did NOT want to think about running back to hammel in the rain. She really didn't In fact she didn't want to think about it so much that she immediately pushed it from her mind and choose to believe that the rain was going to let down before she had to get back. It wasn't as if it would take long fr her to get back to Hammel. it really wasn't that far. Really.

Avi looked up at the menu while listening to her friend go on and on about Pomegranate Ice cream. To her the blackberry was looking good. Actually the more she thought about it the more she was stuck between blackberry and raspberry. She didn't know which of those to get so she decided to get both. Smiling she looked over to the person behind the counter. "One double scoop, one raspberry, on blackberry please." Avi grinned over at her friend as she waited for the ice cream. " You going to call one of your brothers to come get you?" Avi smiled and took out her wallet to pay the lady behind the counter. "Thanks"

[Sakhmet Richmond]

Sakhmet accepted her ice cream, licking her lips in anticipation of delicious pomegranate flavor. "Yeah, definitely," She made her way to one of the tiny round tables in the middle of the parlor, pulling out a seat, holding off on even a tiny lick of ice cream until Avi had joined her with her double berry cone.

"You're welcome to come with me. I'll make whichever one picks us up stop by Hammel, too."

She couldn't very well allow her friend to go back in the pouring rain, after all. Though it was a welcome change from unbearable heat it still wasn't weather she wished to be out inn.

A quick text was sent to Sett, telling him not only where they were, but requesting that he come pick them up. He would undoubtedly flirt with poor Avi, but he was more reliable than Nubs, an Horus' unicycle wouldn't be useful in this situation.

"All taken care of." She smiled, taking an experimental lick of her treat.

The rain may have put a damper on their run, but this wasn't a bad end to their time together at all.

((wrap?))