*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]

"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."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She mulled over what he said. It was true about the monks and training. It gave her an edge, but then a lot of soldiers were given an 'edge' and that didn't necessarily mean they'd survive-it just meant she was lucky.

She found herself smiling back at the last comment. "You're a skilled warrior yourself, so that means a lot."

"I couldn't leave Liu Kang. Even if he was the Chosen One and didn't necessarily need my help, it would've been cowardly and selfish to just abandon the team like that. Goro scared me, but I was more concerned about Sparky and Catsclaw's safety."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that was quite a different existence from this one. Now I live in a hut and fish for a living. It is a much simpler life."

He walked for a moment in silence.

"I've started making a few spears for myself. I also have begun working on sushi. The bookshelf can be useful."

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

Judging from the distance, they were half way there. The tourches, stars and moon offering enough light.

"Actually, I'm more impressed about you learning to make sushi." Spears she expected from him, cooking, or just preparing food in the kitchen was something else.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"I am working on it. I have to get it right before I start serving it to others. Save being impressed for when I perfect it."

Scorpion's sushi was actually passable, but he would not be satisfied until it was much better. He wanted it to be professional, and not just something one whipped up.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

"Okay, fine." She gave him a playful pat on the back. "But you realize that I'm used to army issue food, so as long as it doesn't make me sick-I'm still going to be impressed.

It was about time they move onto something less serious anyway.

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

She had amused him, so in a joking manner, he replied, "Ah, such low standards! And after such high praise, see how quickly she sinks into dishonor..."

He gave Sonya a light push away with his hand.

[lt-blade.livejournal.com]

She laughed even as he gave her a light push.

"Hey, after 15 years of my mom's cooking and army chow, you'd feel the same way. Why do you think it's called 'chow' and not actually 'food'."

"Dishonor has nothing to do with it."

[get-over-here.livejournal.com]

"Ah, now I know the secret as to how Sonya Blade became so tough. I will do my best to hone my skills so you can eat some real food for once in your life."

Scorpion glanced over to the woman walking next to him and realized that his life on the island would be drastically different without her.