Becoming Monsters: I'm Blue 28

Becoming Monsters is the creation of AiLovesToGrow, setting used with permission.

The idea for this story comes from Amethyst Dragonfly. With special thanks to TheNyxianLily for help brainstorming this time around. Oh, and fans of Forged in Fire might recognize a reference or two in this chapter.

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Chapter 28: Evaluation

Dinner wasn't a particularly chatty affair after all that had gone on that day. Abbey forcing herself to watch the duel had been rough, going back to the Main Hall to tell the Marshal and reliving it in her head was worse. Neither had felt much like cooking once they got home, nor like risking what the house would do if they tried, so a bit of research led them to find a nearby Chinese restaurant and order delivery. Some things are just easier to process with fried rice and egg drop soup inside of you.

Neither felt like getting anything with fire sauce on it, notably.

Abbey coughed a couple of times, more to clear her throat than anything. "I wanted to say... thank you, Justin. For coming as fast as you did." The corner of her mouth quirked up in a grin. "Even if you did come armed."

Justin finished chewing his mouthful and swallowed. "Didn't exactly have time to run home and drop it off. When a Green Parrot offers to carry you where you need to go, you don't keep him waiting. Caballeros has a bunch of interesting folks in it, makes me wish I spoke Spanish better."

Abbey twitched despite herself. Justin could say that word without consequence, now. She still had the habits. "Oh, aren't they the guys with the Lich? I met him once as he was working on setting up stalls."

Justin's phone rang. "Hello? Uh, no, not a bad time. On a Saturday? Ten is fine, I'll be there. Yes, professor, and thank you."

He hung up, and Abbey's head reflexively tilted. "Who was that, and what are you now scheduled to do tomorrow at ten?"

"That was Professor Sinclair, my Senior Art Portfolio evaluator. She said she has a friend who's an expert and visiting the area. He agreed to come check out my project to give his opinion since she doesn't do weapons as much." He laid a hand on the pommel of the weapon, still on his belt. "Assuming that goes well, I only have a couple minor things to finish out and that's it for the portfolio project. English Lit is the only other class I actually need to pass to graduate."

Abbey looked at her watch. "In that case, we need to finish up, clean up, and get to bed. I'm going to make sure you put your best foot forward."

"Thanks." Justin took a moment to calm his own racing heart down. "The finish line's in sight. And you're why I can do it. All of this? Even without the home? You make everything better. So thank you for choosing me, even with all the weirdness in getting there."

She blushed a bit. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if there's any more fried rice left, it's about to disappear."

"I'll finish the soup."

Despite the excitement, or perhaps because of it, they didn't need much more than a short walk on the beach to be ready for bed. Once there, sleep came swiftly. It was a good thing they got to bed early, too. Neither thought to set an alarm. Both expected to be waking up around six or seven. Abbey rolled out of bed at eight, saw the time, and shook Justin to wake him up before the morning scramble.

They weren't the only ones, either. May was feeding baby Alex, but Todd was helping the others get ready in a hurry. Something about a Delver team unexpectedly coming in to the hospital and needing to be treated by what seemed like every specialist in the place. Including a dream interpreter. That disproportionate amount of treatment they required meant that all hands were on deck again, including a couple of med students who were only here for a bit longer. Staying out of the way of that was complicated, but thankfully only a brief issue. They took off running towards the portal, leaving Abbey and Justin to share coffee and bagels with Todd and May.

One shower later and Abbey helped Justin put on something a half-step nicer than usual (slacks and a button-down shirt) and straighten out before they took the dormitory door. A few minutes walk through the peaceful Saturday on campus brought them to the art building, then to the classroom itself. They paused outside as Abbey made sure his sword belt was still on straight. 'Alright. I can't go in there with you, love, but I know you've got this." She kissed him good luck, and Justin stepped into the room.

There were two people waiting there, both Humans. To the left was an older woman, her slate-gray hair long and her face wrinkled. Professor Sinclair had been in the art field approximately since dinosaurs roamed the Earth and knew what she was about. She was dressed unnervingly casually, her jeans and work shirt showing clay stains that seemed fresh. Her gaze, though, was already dissecting him. Justin's dress, his demeanor, and the blue glass sword that was on his belt.

To the right was a stout gentleman, dressed in a dapper vest and long-sleeved shirt. He had a smile on his face showing under his thick white mustache and goatee, eyes bright behind round-rimmed glasses. Justin noticed something, though. His arms were thick with muscle, his outstretched hand showing the lightly dotted scars characteristic of blacksmiths. Professor Sinclair had called him in for his expertise, the man absolutely knew his business. "You must be Justin."

Justin took the outstretched hand, wincing a bit at the strength of the man's grip. "Yes, sir."

"Good! Let's get down to business, shall we? Go ahead and present your blade, and tell me a bit about it."

Under Professor Sinclair's watchful eye, Justin carefully unsheathed the sword he had worked so hard on and handed it to the man hilt-first. "It took a lot of trial and error to get here, sir. The blade is made from glass dyed with cobalt, the gold you see running through it was once three Gold Coins from the Seattle Dungeon."

The blacksmith was hefting it, checking the lines and balance, gently running his nail along the edge. "Classic katzbalger profile and S-shaped guard, good weight and balance from your disk pommel, got your fullers in, and your edge is razor sharp. The swirls of coloration add a nice chatoyancy. That's the illusion of motion even when it's still. Having a handle made from glass is an odd choice for a weapon, though I suppose if this is an artistic piece it makes sense. Is this all one piece?"

Justin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "That was the original idea, but it blew up in my face. Literally, I spent time in the hospital around when that demon attacked it. The gold inside was inspired by Japanese kintsugi repair methods, since the master I'm trying to apprentice myself to said it would be needed anyway. She said it was worth trying to enchant once I turn it in. This is also my Apprentice project for her."

"An Apprentice piece?" The dapper man was thoughtful. "From what I can see, this is excellently crafted and well-researched. The story, if anything, adds to it. Glad you didn't give up. I would have accepted this as a Journeyman project if it had been made of steel. Who's the master you're petitioning?"

Justin's heart was beating with unbelievable speed in his chest. "Quiverbow, sir."

"Ah, that explains why you chose a German weapon. I don't know exactly what she is looking for, but I would be very surprised if she doesn't accept it. Since you have another person to give it to, I'm not going to bash it into a railroad spike or anything like that. All in all, excellent piece. Professor Sinclair tells me your methods for making it were unorthodox, care to elaborate?"

"The inspiration for much of my artwork is this Changed world of ours, sir. Even the color of the glass here matches my fiancee's skin tone. As for how I made this one, I am a Shaper by Class. Events a few weeks ago showed me that I work well with glass using those abilities, so it is magically assembled rather than blown or cast. Honestly, I think that separating art from the System is without merit. It gives us new ways to express what we see and new means of inspiration besides, so I seek to incorporate them."

"Absolutely fascinating. I look forward to you graduating into production of these pieces, since I want to commission a few from you for display." He looked at the professor standing next to him. "I leave it to you to judge the purely artistic merits from your own point of view, but from mine? He has forged an authentic, beautiful, and functional version of a classic historical weapon. I've made three of these myself, and his is no less accurate than them other than the method of creation. Justin."

"Yes, sir?"

"If you ever do this for use as a weapon, you need to work on the handle. The fluted patterning is a good idea for a grip, but glass itself does not make a good interface between the user and the weapon itself. I can index it properly and feel where the edge is, but under impact it will want to slip and turn. This also assumes that the material is hardened or reinforced enough to not shatter like the glass it is. I suggest wood or leather if you can work with the materials."

Justin nodded. "Thank you, sir. If I ever create these for use as weapons I will make sure to do so. For now, they are art first."

The blacksmith nodded, then held the sword out hilt-first to Justin. Justin, in turn, gently took his weapon and re-sheathed it. The blacksmith smiled. "You are free to go. I'll confer with your other judge, but if it were up to me alone this is a success."

"Thank you for coming out to evaluate my project, sir." Justin turned and stepped out of the room letting the door close behind him. As soon as it clicked he felt the relief wash through him. His knees weakened as a haze of white edged his vision.

Abbey was there, holding him up when his legs wouldn't. "Justin! Are you alright? What happened in there?"

He tried to steady himself. "I think I might have just gotten an A. They won't tell me for a while, not officially, but that guy... huh, he never said his name... he really liked it. He said he couldn't wait for me to graduate so that he could commission some for himself."

"That's awesome, Justin!" Abbey would have been bouncing, but the fact that she was still supporting most of his weight stopped most of that.

"I think I'm mostly just relieved. Can we go home for a bit? I'm... still kind of wobbly."

Abbey smiled. "I think we can manage that."

It wasn't long before the two were back in their bedroom, sitting on the bed and just leaning on each other. It was a good feeling. A burden had been lifted, a hurdle cleared. Neither really knew what to do with themselves, either. The last stretch of their life had been frantic. Always doing something or getting ready to do something else. Now? Justin's big task was done, his portfolio was complete other than some sketches that he did not want to be working on just now. Abbey wasn't exactly going to the bank to do more this weekend, either, and didn't have any assignments from the Guild Leader Marshal. The prospect of actual, real free time was kind of terrifying.

Justin was the one to break the comfortable silence. "Hey Abbey? I think I have an idea."

She looked at him. "Please tell me it's not another craft."

"Oh, no, just the opposite. It's Saturday and the State Fair is open in Puyallup. Might be a bit of a bus ride, but you want to go?"

"Did... did you just ask me out on a date?"

"Yep! We kind of skipped that part in the craziness, and I'd really love to make up for lost time. Does that sound good to you?" He heard a slight whooshing sound coming from the same direction as Abbey and looked over.

Her business suit had disappeared. In its place was a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt with blue text on it that read "I heart my artist." Her smile told him everything he needed to know.

She helped him get changed into something more casual the old-fashioned way, and they were off. One portal door to the dormitory to get close to the bus stop, a quick search to make sure they were getting on the right bus, about thirty minutes cuddled up together peacefully on the bus seat on the way there, and they were at their destination. The State Fair had changed a lot since it started back up three years after the Change. They had to keep a couple of Delver-certified guards on staff in case of a portal, there were more caveats and rules about who could get on a ride (since most weren't designed with 15-foot Ogres in mind any more than they were a three-foot Human child), and they importantly had to start accepting Coinage. But really, once you were in? The experience was about the same as before. You could go and just... let go. Forget about the world for a bit. Play some games, ride some rides, eat greasy food, and be among a lot of people who wanted nothing more than to do the same.

Justin paid for their tickets with the extra Silver coins he'd gotten working. Abbey then had to pay for lunch, since he didn't have all THAT much on him. Both agreed that the turkey legs at camp were better, but these were perfectly acceptable. The fries were amazing, though.

"Friend of mine from Delaware told me about this place at Rehoboth Beach," Justin was saying as he drizzled malt vinegar on his. "Salt and vinegar are so underrated on fries. So, you want to hit rides or games first?"

Abbey snagged one of his fries before answering, nodding in agreement that it was good. "I never did all that well with rides. Seasickness translates to coasters, and I don't want to accidentally assume my true form halfway. Games and shows?"

"Works for me!" As soon as they finished (and threw away their trash, they're not savages), Abbey and Justin started making their way through the crowds. To be honest? Those crowds were probably as entertaining as anything else that was at the Fair. There were kids! Children who were either born after the Change or were too young to remember it, including one memorable baby Blue Slime being carried in a plastic bucket by his parents.

They went to a ring toss game (and failed hilariously badly), a water cannon round (which Abbey beat Justin by a mile on), and arrived at a horizontal ladder climb. The barker said he couldn't let Abbey try for a prize since it wasn't really designed for someone who could shapeshift, but Justin was free to as long as he didn't use any Class abilities. Justin took one look at the prize (a very large blue squishy bear) and decided that he HAD to get it for Abbey. The ladder flipped. Justin did not let go or touch the ground, finding it easier to scale upside-down than it was while wobbling everywhere on the top. With a wicked grin, he reached up through the rungs of the rope ladder and rang the bell, much to the whooping and cheering from people who had gathered to watch during the attempt.

The barker looked amused. "I'm not supposed to give the grand prize if you take longer than 30 seconds, but that was worth it." Justin grabbed the bear he had darned well earned, handing it to his furiously blushing date, and they went off practically skipping to see what else they could find.

It more than made up for the entertainingly bad attempt at a hammer smash later on.

"You know, Justin, you don't have to try so hard to impress me. I'm already plenty impressed. You know, by everything." Abbey was gently placing a headband on Justin that had cat ears on it.

"Maybe I don't have to, but I want to. I got to cheat my way past this part, but it's fun and it makes you smile whether I succeed or not." Justin adjusted the garishly pink cat ears. "Takes the pressure off."

"You gonna let me try a game?" She was thankfully grinning when she said this.

He looked at his wrist, where the cheap plastic bracelet she'd won from the water cannon sat. "Sure. Any that you fancy?"

She looked around. "I think we're near a maze race. Let's go there!"

Justin also looked around for it. "Uh, where? I don't see it."

"Take a right after that bunch of stalls."

"How did you know that?"

She pulled a leaflet out of her pocket and grinned. "I grabbed a map as we came in, now come on!" She grabbed him by the wrist and took off running, Justin happily running with her. Also happy he'd been exercising regularly, this would have gotten tiring otherwise. A minute and a half of giggling sprint later and they found it.

The building had the same temporary feel as everything else, but the barker outside was grinning. "Alright, you two look like you know what you're looking for, and that's me! Fancy a try at the Mirror Maze Race?"

Abbey's grin got a lot more feral. "You know it! How long do we have?"

"If you can make it out the exit in less than five minutes without using Race or Class Abilities, you win a prize! If you take more than ten, we'll open it up and come find you. Think you're up for it?"

"Oh, it's on. Ready, Justin?"

"Ready!" He was looking forward to this. Mirror mazes were something he'd heard about, seen in cartoons, but never got a chance to try.

"Sounds like you two are enthusiastic! Alright young man, head on over to the door on the right. As for you," he nodded at Abbey, "door on the left. On my mark, I'll start the timer." He waited a moment for them to get to the doors. "Ready? Go!"

Both Abbey and Justin opened their doors and dashed inside. The walls of the maze were helpfully arranged along nice square patterns, presumably to make the place easier to set up. That is where the helpfulness ended, Justin rapidly realized that his eyes were more hindrance than help as he tried to even figure out where those walls were as opposed to the gaps where he could turn. He was about to close his eyes and go by feel when he caught a glimpse of motion. A flash of blue. Abbey.

With or without powers, she's got a way better sense of direction than me. Time to stay close.

The mirrors were confusing, but once he had a line he realized he could follow it the same way a beam of light would. He could pick out his path, make his way with only the vaguest use of his eyes and ears to see if he could track his blue beau down in the confusing mess. It didn't take long to get where he thought he'd seen her, but by the time he was there she was nowhere to be found. The sound of footsteps and a giggle led him to turn right and run forward. Briefly, as his nose met a mirror, but with a brief detour he managed to get moving again.

Soon there was sunlight. It was not direct, bouncing crazily off of the same mirrors, but it was different enough from the overhead lighting that he knew the exit had to be close. Either that or he'd gotten turned around badly enough that it was the entrance. Abbey's footfalls were still audible, she was also close by. He paused, trying to sight along the sunlight to find his way out.

Suddenly, there was darkness and a warm pressure as someone covered his eyes. "Guess who?" The voice sounded very, very familiar.

With a wild smile, Justin replied "Just my favorite person in the world, this one or any other."

Abbey dropped her hands from Justin's eyes, grabbed his shoulders, and spun him around to face her before kissing him on the lips. The kiss was deep, it was passionate, and neither of them wanted it to end any time soon. It was the kind of kiss that movies and novels rhapsodize about, the kind of kiss that would heal the soul and set the world right. Certainly, Justin felt all of these things and more.

The feeling lasted about another minute, at which point a buzzer sounded and the mirrored walls around them all sank into the ground. From the exit door now clearly visible ahead of them, the barker smiled. "Looks like you two got close before you got distracted. Better than most couples who come by. I'm not giving you two any prizes, but you know, I don't think you care, do you?"

Abbey and Justin separated with small giggles and broad smiles. Both looked at him and replied "no, sir."

He laughed, long and loud. "Okay you lovebirds, I'd love to let you stay but the next group's waiting. So as I like to say at my other job, I don't care where you go but you can't stay here."

The two of them, laughing like children and smiling like the morning sun, left the building and ran off to find something else to do. There was, thankfully, an entire Fair full of things to do waiting for them. Trivia and funnel cake, basketball and air guns. A break on a bench to watch as the crowds walked by, chatting lightly about any random thing that came to mind. They even stopped by a glassblower, and Justin got to spend several fascinating minutes looking at how someone without his particular skill set worked on the material. Most importantly, though? The two were basically never more than an arm's length apart... and that length was almost always measured by the fact that they were almost always touching. Hand in hand, preferably, but they definitely accept hand on shoulder, hand on waist, or (best of them all) abandoning pretense and getting back to that kiss. Frequently.

Alas, the evening had to end eventually. After grabbing dinner (chicken wings, which they shamelessly fed each other), they caught the last bus heading back up to Seattle. The thirty minute trip was spent much like the last few hours had been: kissing, cuddling, giggling, and in general enjoying the fact that there were no other demands on their time and attention besides each other.

The bus dropped them off at the university, and at this point the people living in the dormitory building were used to seeing Abbey walking through every now and then. They didn't ask any further questions, other than some noting that they seemed to be doing well. Dorm room, portal, and they were home. Neither really felt like ending it, though, so they kept on walking. Out to the beach, out to the pier. It was dark, but the skies were clear and the stars shining bright beside the crescent moon. The waves lapped at the shore and their toes alike as they sat at the edge. Nothing in the world mattered. Nothing but each other.

They did stand eventually. They took the slow walk back up the beach, into their home, into their bedroom. Abbey and Justin bade farewell to the world outside. At least, for a little bit longer.