Chapter 115: [32] Close Encounters of the Bus Kind 32 [From Beyond Arc]

Close Encounters of the Bus Kind

[32]

A portion of the group immediately turned in Nadia‘s direction, as though she were supposed to be some sort of designated expert on this particular subject. All she did was raise her eyes slightly and put her mouth in a pout of surprise. Sasha immediately clarified that her skill just turned boys into girls and not vice versa, and she had actually attempted to use it that way. She further mentioned that it was just a temporary thing lasting about an hour, according to all the experimentation she had done so far.

“And by experimentation, I mean my little brother… well, sister when I left.” She then added that it was consensual, and she had also bribed him with a lot of candy to not tell mom and dad. Sasha folded her arms and noted, “It actually makes me smile. I know it’s weird and I’m totally weird about it but just seeing someone transform before your eyes, like the world's coolest magic trick but it’s not a trick, just lights the fires of my imagination. I don’t want to hurt anyone with it, which is why I’ve been doing it with my little brother. I hope it can help people. But it makes me smile. Till I figure out more of it, it’s just Hairy and me haha!”

Audrey had several instances of prehensile hair in animation to cite and several little warnings to give about not letting it get too much of a mind of its own. Sasha’s hair waved and gave a quick thumbs up. Nadia hoped that it didn’t have a mind of its own and, if it did, that it at least cooperated with its host. She already felt like the sizable length of her hair as Nadia lent it a certain wild character even without the ability for conscious movement. The utility of more limbs definitely sounded great. Paul could recall so many times when doing something around the bus or truck would’ve gone so much smoother if he just had one more limb to use, even if it was to hold a cell phone.

Glancing across the table, Nadia felt herself do a double take as she saw that Tatiana was suddenly and mysteriously absent. She didn’t recall seeing her get up to excuse herself at any point. There also didn’t seem to be any clear lines of sight where she might’ve dashed off while Nadia was looking at Sasha. The only possibility that remained was that she somehow tucked herself under the table, like Paul sometimes did as a child. But with the lack of a cloth and so many glass sections, she suspected that she should’ve been able to see her. Glancing up, she was further surprised by the sudden reappearance of Tatiana. Several other girls noticed and gave little notes of uncertainty.

Whimpering and frantically waving her hands, Tatiana apologized, “Oops! Sorry sorry sorry! I didn’t mean to just pop off like that. I checked to make sure no one else saw and then I wasn’t sure when to come back. That’s my...I guess I suppose you call it my talent or something. I can become invisible.“ Her voice started with a chirpy tone but then faded so much that Nadia had to strain to hear her last words.

Tatiana, who Paul had seen with her name written with two Ns and just one, was not the absolute tallest at the table, but she was definitely one of the bigger girls. So far as the spelling of her name, it had actually been surprisingly difficult to get an exact answer out of her because she admitted to being perfectly fine with any particular spelling and didn’t want to bother anyone by correcting it. The poor girl grimaced so often, as though she were nursing a painful ulcer and didn’t wanna bother anyone by saying. She was absolutely the loudest and most exuberant voice when it came to cheers on the court though. Her skin tone was a similar, dusty shade to Nadia’s, although closer to Kira’s. She was Filipino with gorgeous brown eyes.

Like every time Paul had glimpsed her off the court, she had on a beautiful dress. Most of them had a red or bluish theme but this one, in particular, looked like she was draped in the Filipino flag, which Nadia recognized because the girl would always seize the opportunity to wave one while cheering. Ornate, colorful flowers, and beautiful filigree decorated the fabric. Wearing a proper, pretty dress was a notion that suddenly struck Nadia as not only possible for her but also encouraged. There were several of them in her closet.

Tatiana‘s hair, down today instead of up as she usually had it for competition, was far too much for Nadia to feel jealous about. She was sometimes called Rapunzel because no one had ever seen her getting a trim. Elsa was actually the one who encouraged Tatiana to speak up as she fumbled with her hands, looking for the words to say next.

“I know it’s not that useful. And it actually feels like something I need to do sometimes. It’s like it’s like… It’s necessary.” Gina hopped in and asked if it was like having to go to the bathroom. The fact that Eva resisted pulling her face or glaring at her demonstrated immense restraint on her part. Tatiana made a sound like a hurt animal and nearly melted into a pool of red blushing in her seat before quietly admitting, “I guess. My sister knows about it, but I think it…thinks it’s just like… she doesn’t know why it happened. She thinks that I am an XX meme…err X-Men. Or like the daughter in the Incredibles.“ Tatiana further admitted to her sister teasing her about walking around naked and spinning her arms to make sure that she wasn’t hiding in a room.

Elsa continued to be the one cheering up and encouraging Tatiana the most. She also seemed to already know what Tatiana‘s skill was from the leading way that she encouraged her to express it. Nervously, she qualified that she might not be able to demonstrate it on command since it only happened from time to time and it was another thing that her sister had taken advantage of.

Without further preamble though, Tatiana‘s body shifted, and she became an exact replica of Elsa sitting next to her. Well, not precisely exact, as the new Elsa did have a little flash of the original’s smile but soon freaked out with a Tatiana blush and tremble. Elsa gleefully embraced her twin as Eva scrunched up her face and gave a look towards Gina, as though this occurrence had somehow been her responsibility. Thessaly, on the table end, gave several hearty claps of appreciation while checking behind her to make sure that none of the other folks in the restaurant could see.

They had dealt with the assumption of identical twins yesterday from Gina and Louise, but Nadia suspected that this would toe the line of suspicion further than they wanted it to go. Tatiana elaborated that her skill tended to manifest whenever she let go of any measure of her confidence, but she still had a certain degree of control over it. Audrey chimed in about whether it was like role-playing as someone else. The trembling Elsa admitted that she had no idea what that was but explained it as though she could pretend to be someone else and perhaps be stronger than she actually felt.

Fortunately, she reverted back to Tatiana right before their waitress returned with several fresh plates for them. The girls took a break from explaining their powers to eat. Duman Baris made a stop around the table to kiss his daughter on the forehead and say a few things to the group. He made it absolutely clear that they were his guests and didn’t have to worry about any of the meal. He even urged them to have several of the specials cooked by him especially. Marisol adamantly thanked their host and even offered to help carry several things out, but Duman would have none of that, even when his daughter offered in her place.

“I want you girls not to have to think and worry about anything today. I know you all have had a long and difficult and challenging week. Be as you would be. Relax and be friendly and have fun today.“ Nadia asked if she still needed to do the extra hours. Duman also waved this off and murmured some explanation that they could have it to be before closing and after closing if necessary.

The rest of the food was ordered and actually out before anyone could really do anything on their phones or start further chat. Fortunately, Elsa remembered to go next with her explanation. She had some of Tatiana‘s energy with shy uncertainty but it felt more like she wielded her reserved nature more than being subject to it. Paul just knew that she bombed at karaoke but also gathered that she did so to entertain others.

Elsa‘s hair had a sleek, princess-like quality but also wildly unkempt spikes and pokes that Audrey labeled as ahoge. It was a brilliant orange that made Nadia think of some version of Scully who forgot to brush her hair. But Elsa had none of that television character’s quiet uncertainty and more of the giggly effusive exuberance of Gillian Anderson in bloopers. At moments, she looked more like a little kid who had been invited to the adults' table.

You are reading story Interactive Short TG Fiction at novel35.com

Flapping her arms behind the table, after an especially spicy bite of food, as though she intended to become like Leslie and float in the air, Elsa began the relation of her talents and skills when it was clear they had some privacy again.

“So my talent is a little bit embarrassing but it’s also kind of neat, I think. Like, Tati can vanish because you know she can’t be seen, while I can vanish…” Elsa instantly popped out of view and, a few moments later, a doll-sized version of her carefully climbed onto the table. Her voice was tinny and small, but Tatiana diligently translated for her, “I can vanish because I get small…”

Hopping back on the chair and then over to the floor, Elsa poofed not only into her regular size but tall enough to challenge most of the doorways in the restaurant. This time, her voice had a certain heft and depth to it that it hadn’t previously as she added, with androgynous weight, “And I can get big too.” Thessaly especially giggled about this.

Resuming her normal size and shape, Elsa scooted back into her chair and took a deep breath before pressing a finger to her mouth and thinking about her skill. She picked up her drinking glass, which was now mostly full of ice, and softly spoke a subtle note of music. The glass immediately vibrated in place, as though it had become a liquid. The air also had a wavy effect and several girls nearby experienced mild but sudden discomfort. Noticing that, Elsa cut the note short and explained, “I can sing really really REALLY bad now. I was doing my best not to break the glass. I shattered one of the stones in the backyard by screaming. And it’s a little scary but kind of cool.”

Erin chimed in occasionally with the sort of encouragement she would always give the girls as their coach. She saw the positives in each of their talents and the potential in their skills. She noted that Elsa would be amazing against monsters and the girl added a quick blush to her cheeks.

She further encouraged how talented Tatiana was and expressed fond jealousy at Sasha‘s special hair but also chagrin at how she would keep it clean. Sasha responded that she had a certain regimen figured out.

Among those with abilities that Nadia knew already, Eva got some undue attention from the girls, especially geeky Audrey who wanted to associate Eva‘s skill with a Skyrim shout. The question of the group soon became which of the talents was Eva sharing amongst them. But it was soon resolved that Nadia was once again the donor because everyone understood when Tatiana spoke a little bit of Tagalog. Nadia had to wonder whether Eva had some conscious influence in that, considering all the chaotic possibilities if it was truly random. She suspected that they may have had Gina‘s phone battery talent at some point but perhaps not been able to use it. But then checking in with Gina on the phone revealed that it had given only 10% of a boost to Elsa’s device, but she was still grateful for that.

Slowing down time could be quite useful for an entire group along with becoming invisible, changing their size, and Sasha’s living hair. She just hoped that no one had any worrisome abilities like telepathy, wondering if the real reason that Leslie skipped the group today was that she still feared infecting them with it.

Marisol didn’t have telepathy, Nadia figured, but she did bring up Leslie and passed along to the group about her telepathic talent. Obviously, the two of them had been in contact over the Internet. Either Leslie hadn’t mentioned the situation with Luna or Marisol kept it to herself, but the girl just vaguely explained that Leslie was meditating to get it under control since it caused her a lot of grief. Of course, her skill to fly was something that got all the girls excited and talking.

A stray discussion about swapping talents and skills as well as the possibility of sharing skills rather than talents made Nadia tense up and dive into her kebab meat. Erin had said a few things to her but had otherwise left her alone despite the fact Nadia didn’t really want that. She wanted every day to be like this.

She wanted to just be with Erin and see her smile. She didn’t wanna have to worry about the gifts she gave and received and who she touched and who she kissed. Just be amongst a group that welcomed her freely and encouraged her, however she was. That was the one ability that she truly wished that she could manifest, the skill of people just being good and friendly to one another. Everyone more like her father, everyone more like this group. Not force people to just be peaceful and kind to one another by some commanding voice or whatever will that Beyond woman used. But to encourage the best in everyone.

No terrifying possibilities of abilities exploding because one thing went wrong, or she pushed people around her in the wrong direction. Just the ability to make things better. Now that would be something special, she thought. 

 

 

 

[I have a question at the end of the chapter again to help with suggestions for where the story should go. I'm actually not that far ahead this time and I am wide open for possibilities for this particular story. Feel free to add an idea which doesn't show up in the options. Also, if you see any random typos or uncapitalized starts of sentences, please pass them along. I have to cut down on my editing due to release speed and my programs don't seem to be catching lowercase sentences. Thank you for reading!]

Poll below

You can find story with these keywords: Interactive Short TG Fiction, Read Interactive Short TG Fiction, Interactive Short TG Fiction novel, Interactive Short TG Fiction book, Interactive Short TG Fiction story, Interactive Short TG Fiction full, Interactive Short TG Fiction Latest Chapter