*backdated to Saturday the 24th*

[lt_blade]

Theme nights on Saturdays at the club made bouncing all the more interesting. Not that she had much to complain about, it was something to do and she got to listen to some nice music while doing it.  

The job wasn't nearly as stressful as some of her others, but somehow her hair was still a little messy even held back in a tail. She stretched her legs and she collected the bag containing her dress from the ball, kept in the back for safe keeping.  Due to the distance, she was compelled to change from the dress to her uniform in one of the dressing rooms of the second floor-an act that made Sonya glad that she wasn't so modest about such things.

She promised Scorpion they'd meet after the club closed for the night, and he finished helping Jane clean up. Why Sonya promised in the first place, she knew that well enough: she was only at the ball for an hour or so, and after all the time teaching Scorpion to dance and only to rush things. But why she felt guilty in the first place, and why she seemed to blush afterwards, was what she'd like to know for herself. Yes, she was being honest with Webster when she said it was nice to have someone who seemed to understand where she was coming from, but that wasn't enough to really mean anything beyond comradeship.

She shook her head  and stepped outside the club: she was probably just making a big deal out of nothing. It felt good talking to him, that's all.

Comments

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion stepped out from the shadows. It was just habit.

"Hello, Sonya."

He was still dressed in his suit, but he had unfastened his tie. He had considered it a very successful night. He had attended a ball, danced, and made some conversation. It felt like progress.

As he had waited for Sonya, however, he had wondered exactly why she had wanted to meet him afterwards. He knew they had both been feeling their friendship drifting into something closer, and he had mixed feelings on the subject.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She practically expected him to show up from the shadows.

"Scorpion, hello." She walked over to him, bag in arm. "Keep me company for a bit? Left the ball in somewhat of a hurry."

It was a bit late, but then it was a walk to either of their huts.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I have no pressing plans. I would be glad to keep you company."

He walked along beside her down the trail. Scorpion decided to let Sonya begin the conversation.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Unless you went into smuggling, at this hour, I wouldn't think you had any plans."

"Do you want to head to your place, or go over to mine." Because that really determines where they head.

Sonya was aware that she felt something for Scorpion, but it may've only been because he was from her realm (so to speak), and they had both suffered similair heartache (though she didn't go to such extreme), but that was even more of a reason to take things slow-if to go that way at all.

But she only wanted to talk, there was no harm in that.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I'll walk with you over to yours."

It was a longer walk, which suited him fine. He glanced upward at the stars, which had once again rearranged themselves. It had been very strange when he had first noticed it. Now, he just enjoyed being able to look up and see stars.

"So, how was your time at the jazz club?"

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Follow me then." She motioned with her head and started to walk with him along the path.

"It was one of the more amusing nights. The strip joint on the second floor sometimes holds theme nights, and this time it was a 'Drag' theme." Part of her was only a little sorry she never got to see Zell in drag-not that there would be any way for him to wear drag unless someone got him seriously drunk.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Hmm. I am not sure what to think of this strip club. I would think, though, that if it were less than respectable, you would not be associated with it. If people enjoy it, then I suppose it is a good thing. I preferred staying at the ball instead of being around for 'Drag night.'"

Scorpion knew Sonya had a high standard of personal integrity, and would not associate with pure sleaze. He also was not sure of revisiting one of the places in which he and Sonya had their Valentine's date. Losing control over one's self was unnerving. He was thankful his dishonorable behavior had been limited, and he had not spoken everything that had crossed his mind that day.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Sonya tried really hard to not think of Scorpion in drag-it took a lot of 'not trying'.

"It's something to do, and so long as it's being done by consensual adults I really don't care." She said. Sonya was all for women's lib, but in a place where there was no standardized economy, the only way those men and women would've been of their own free will and not out of desperation-unless it was to keep away boredom. "It's really one of the less sleazy places I've seen."

And she's seen some sleazy places in her line of work.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I'm willing to take your word for it. But, if I will be spending an hour of my time, I'll take the entertainment of the jazz club."

As they walked along, Scorpion had thought of Ishiah. The thought motivated another train of thought.

"There are some unusual people here on this island. And I am starting to think there could be more than one version of Earthrealm."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I bounce at the jazz club Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the rest of the days it's the strip joint." She said. "Except for Sundays, when the place is closed.

"Possibily, this one kid, Percy Jackson, told me that he has greek gods where he's from." She barely restrainged from rolling her eyes, not that he would've really noticed, but it wasn't very mature. "Raiden said that there are many realms, maybe there are different dimensions of Earth."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I've met this same boy. He seemed very convinced. And, I must admit, if I can be human, then there can be an Earth where the Greek Gods live in Manhattan."

Scorpion glanced over to Sonya then back ahead to the trail.

"I also met a man named Ishiah. I told him about myself. It turns out that he used to be an angel."

He wondered what Sonya would think of that.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"And if there are thunder gods and men trained to create ice from their bare hands," She laughed. "At this point, I'm just rolling with the punches-it saves me from getting a bunch of unnecessary headaches."

She turned to look at him a bit as she spoke. "Jesus, we're getting all kinds of people on the island-but I'll be honest, you meeting a former angel does sound like the start of a bad joke: a ghost and an angel meet on the beach." She laughed.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion smiled and laughed lightly, but just lightly. It was funny, but realizing Ishiah had been an angel had disturbed him a bit. It had slightly shaken his confidence in his past choices. He knew he wouldn't have done it any differently if he had another chance, but still...

"Just a ghost? You're being kind."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Would you prefer I call you a 'demon'?" She asked. "I'm all for details, but I can't really bring myself to call you a demon-spawn maybe, but that doesn't have the same ring to it."

Yes, Scorpion had done some bad things, even in his past life, but then Sonya had also killed. She was in no position to judge.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion took in a breath and shrugged.

"It's actually a good question. I don't know. I think for the time being, it does not matter."

He added, "I wonder what Ishiah would call me."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"You're human now, that's all that matters." And actually, it mattered a lot. Scorpion already knew that as a human he could experience emotional reactions, and then there were the abilities he could do as a specter that he couldn't do as a human.

"I wouldn't think it matters really, considering you're both human." And Sonya didn't see the point in drawing in the argument that they were from different sides, unless there was some conflict of course besides.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"It may not matter to Ishiah. As for me, is being human for the moment all that matters?"

He paused to consider.

"Perhaps. Maybe that's all I should think about. There is nothing to change my future, so perhaps I should just think of now."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Unless you start regretting what you did as a specter, then yes, being human is all that matters." She nodded.

"Think of that, and still try to remember your past." Sonya still agreed on that much. "And try to start over."

She thought a moment then laughed a little. "It's strange. A few years ago, I wouldn't have even considered helping you, considering your known history as an assasin. Now, it doesn't matter to me."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion exchanged an amused look with Sonya.

"Likewise. I doubt I would have even bothered talking to you. You were irrelevant to my purpose. You were not in my way, and you would not be of any help."

"Now, you are the most relevant person on this island. Who knows? Perhaps all of these other people belong in other versions of Earthrealm."

Someone he had danced with. Was there supposed to be some meaning the the fact that he and Sonya were the only two people present from the Tournament?

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

It was only a matter of will that Sonya kept walking, but she was glad that in the firelight of torches, he couldn't see that she turned red really quickly. She remembered how he spoke that day after Valentine's day, and while he was telling her something (she couldn't help reading between the lines), this time it was more honest.

Breath Sonya, she thought. You're probably just reading too much into this.

"Thank you." She tried to keep her voice steady. "I guess I'm just glad to have someone who..who knows what I went through in the tournament. It means a lot to finally have someone I could talk to without having to explain myself."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Was it his imagination, or had there been a slight change in Sonya's gait? He dismissed the thought.

"Yes. I think this is good for you. The Tournament is merciless and harsh. I had the advantage of not being human. The experience would have been altogether different if I had been mortal as you were. Considering how much of Shang Tsung's personal attention you attracted, it's quite impressive that you were as successful as you were. Most others would not have survived."

He was simply stating facts. Scorpion respected Sonya.

There was more to it than that, but it was not to be stated.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"I was no stranger to death prior to the tournament, Scorpion. I saw it in my own family and my team, and I've done my own fair share of killing before the tournament. It's so much that there was killing in the tournament, it was because outside of defending Earth, it's basic design was for the entertaiment and power of a sick and twisted bastard of a sorcerer."

She ran a hand through her hair. "You could thank my training for that. If it wasn't for my training in the Special Forces, I wouldn't have lasted for so long."

Without it, she would've possibly been pregnant with Tsung's child by now. She tried to not think in that direction though, as doing so made her feel ill.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion furrowed his brow as she humbly explained away her great victory.

"True, but even Special Forces training does not necessarily mean you would survive. The Outworld warriors are anything but normal opponents. There is the pressure of being brutalized before death if you failed to win. There is the pressure of a power-crazed sorcerer who wants you for his own sick desires. There is the pressure of the fate of your comrades. There is the pressure of the fate of Earthrealm. I think you vastly understate yourself, Sonya."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

That was true, otherwise her men would've still been alive.

She frowned. "No, but I'm sure it gave me an advantage. You're right about all of the pressure, but the training gave me an idea of what to except, how to try and resist their attempts at brainwashing." She paused. "At some points I even managed to hold off Tsung from reading into my head." She should've been proud of that-except that it only made Tsung even more fascinated with her.

"As for Earthrealm, what else could I do but keep fighting. If I gave up I wouldn't be of help to anyone and it would be one less enemy for them to fight against."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

Scorpion cast Sonya an impressed look when she said she warded off Shang Tsung's power like that.

"But, not all people are capable of Special Forces training, especially women, who are not encouraged to do such a thing. And not all could put that training to good use against Shang Tsung. It takes great levels of aptitude and effort. If training was all that was necessary, then the Shaolin monks would not have lost nine Tournaments straight. You could have chosen to leave the fate of Earthrealm with Liu Kang. Perhaps he would have succeeded with one less ally, or perhaps not. Many brave warriors would have fled at the sight of Prince Goro."

Scorpion turned to Sonya and smiled.

"It appears that I am determined to respect you."