So, you ran because of your powers, and not because of the pressure you felt you were under.
( She looks back, then, assuming it was probably both. Slayer powers or not, those expectations sound confining. Her father's expectations are Hope growing into herself, whatever that looks like. She can do very little wrong, even when she's done wrong. )
Was it more pressure from your father, or his?
( Or was it the pressure she put on herself?
Hope can never live up to how she wants to be, and that pressure is always directed inward. )
More from ... him, actually. I don't think either of our parents would have really cared one way or another but JJ ... I think he had this whole picture in his head. Didn't really bother to ask if I was on the same page.
[There's a beat as she thinks about how that sounded.]
It's not that I didn't love him, because I did. But ... not like that. Not the way he wanted me to.
Sometimes, the best thing we can do is let each other go. My ex boyfriend and I are cosmically incompatible. Like, he will turn to mud if we -- he did turn to mud.
[Mia stares at her for a minute, before her face gets that expression that Oliver has when he realizes that he hates the fact the word they live in means he has to ask this question.]
... Like, literally? You guys kiss and he'd just ...
It led to one of the worst years of my life and multiple false alarm Landon's. ( That... weren't him. ) But, I've grown up, and Landon and I are friends now. Actually, honest to god friends. And Josie and I found our way to each other. So, even if JJ wasn't the right one, maybe the right one is out there. And until you find them, you're a slayer, and you have your brother, and - now, us. We all kind of come packaged together. You are honorary super squad.
It's more than just witches. It's ... everyone. If Tamara Monroe had her way, she would kill all of us.
[Witches, vampires, werewolves, probably even Slayers too. No one not human would be safe. But that isn't the point.]
My dad managed to get out eventually. He doesn't really do that much heroing in his old age. But he had a choice in it. He's human, through and through. People like us -
[and it's so strange, setting herself apart from him, as though she's something different. And she is, but Oliver's still her father, still a hero.]
- I guess we have to make a choice, whether we can live with standing by or if we can't. I can't, not really. It's in my blood. But I can't make that choice for anyone else.
No, it's not. What I've lived... But, I can't help but think, make my parents proud. Get a degree. Or something. We'll see. Sometimes, I think I'm going because my girlfriend is.
( A conversation she should probably be having with her. )
No, but really, Mia leads her downstairs and for the first time in a while, Hope lets completely loose, jumping, swaying, and bobbing to electronica. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
notwitty) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everyonelives2021-10-27 05:46 pm
no subject
( She looks back, then, assuming it was probably both. Slayer powers or not, those expectations sound confining. Her father's expectations are Hope growing into herself, whatever that looks like. She can do very little wrong, even when she's done wrong. )
Was it more pressure from your father, or his?
( Or was it the pressure she put on herself?
Hope can never live up to how she wants to be, and that pressure is always directed inward. )
no subject
More from ... him, actually. I don't think either of our parents would have really cared one way or another but JJ ... I think he had this whole picture in his head. Didn't really bother to ask if I was on the same page.
[There's a beat as she thinks about how that sounded.]
It's not that I didn't love him, because I did. But ... not like that. Not the way he wanted me to.
no subject
( He's alive again, though. )
no subject
... Like, literally? You guys kiss and he'd just ...
[Makes a plop! gesture with her hands.]
no subject
( Let that sink in. )
no subject
[And she thought Buffy's first time was bad.]
That doesn't sound traumatic at all.
[Sarcasm, obviously.]
no subject
no subject
I appreciate that.
[She knows what it means to be on a squad.]
The feeling is mutual.
no subject
( Wars of all kinds for her, really. )
Do you think this life follows us?
no subject
[Witches, vampires, werewolves, probably even Slayers too. No one not human would be safe. But that isn't the point.]
My dad managed to get out eventually. He doesn't really do that much heroing in his old age. But he had a choice in it. He's human, through and through. People like us -
[and it's so strange, setting herself apart from him, as though she's something different. And she is, but Oliver's still her father, still a hero.]
- I guess we have to make a choice, whether we can live with standing by or if we can't. I can't, not really. It's in my blood. But I can't make that choice for anyone else.
no subject
Neither can I. And, I can't stand on the sidelines, either. I tend to put myself into the middle of everything. Or, lead the charge.
( She is much more of a team player now. )
no subject
But the great thing about being on a team is that when you can't step up, someone's there to cover you. It's good that you have a squad.
no subject
( But, here they've made it. )
Did you go to college?
no subject
I was supposed to, but ... it didn't work out. And honestly, I don't feel like I missed anything so.
[She shrugs.]
College isn't for everyone.
no subject
( A conversation she should probably be having with her. )
no subject
Your dad's probably loaded right? It's not like you'd be taking on debt.
[That's probably not the best way to think about college, but:]
Try it for a semester. See what you think, and if it's not for you, you don't have to go back. But at least you tried.
no subject
( Mia's right. )
What happens when it's everyone else's expectations and not your own? What if you don't know what you expect from yourself?
no subject
[Not that she's really had the college experience, but being with the Slayers has been her own kind of dip into the adult pond.]
You'll be the one making all the choices. No one's gonna make them for you.
no subject
( Even though, it's gotten her to some great places. She has an amazing girlfriend. And a loving, if slightly homicidal family. )
Thank you, for coming out with me and showing me how the other half clubs.
no subject
[It's nice to spend time in a familiar scene without being on the look out for vampires eating the patrons. But on that note:]
Want to go dance, while we're here?
no subject
( And they do. Exeunt. Pursued by a bear.
No, but really, Mia leads her downstairs and for the first time in a while, Hope lets completely loose, jumping, swaying, and bobbing to electronica. )