Issue 1 Downtime

Brett and Rhi arrived the gates of the palace about 20 minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start, just to make sure they could get a good view of the proceedings. Even so, there was already a bit of a crowd gathered there.

"This is it. Not too shabby, right?"

"Oh, I can't belive this is real. There is nothing like this at home." Rhi gushed, clinging excitedly to his arm.

He beamed at her. "It is pretty amazing, isn't it? All of the marble and the statues...gah, it's been to long since I've been here."

"What's it like where you are from, Brett?" Rhi tugged at the straps of her yellow sundress, it had a habit of slipping, as she gave him her most winning smile.

"It's not bad. People there speak with funny accents compared to the rest of the country - or so we're told. A lot of people go to Bristol to see the cathedral there, but it's not as big of a deal when you're a local, I guess. Parts of town are a bit dodgy, but I still like it there. It's home. What about where you're from?"

Rhi shrugged.

"Same as anywhere I guess, school was my whole world - with the cheerleading and stuff. I didn't see much of it before... then Jayda and I came out here."

He nodded. "The weather's a bit cooler here, I imagine," he half-stated, half-asked. "Probably about as humid at times if I'd have to guess, though. Do you have a good view? It should start in a few minutes.

"I'm a little shorter than you, yes, can we move forward a little more?" Rhi lead him forward through the crowd a bit, her fingers twined through his.

"Did you like high school?"

"Sure." He inched his way a bit closer to the edge of the crowd with Rhi, where spectators were cordoned off to give room for the guards when they marched out. They weren't at the very front, but thankfully, the few who were ahead of them were mostly short. "It wasn't too bad. I was pretty good in academics, and I was active in football. That was also when my brother left home, which made my life much easier." He rolled his eyes.

"You play football? I'm a cheerleader - though you could probably tell that from my room, right? OH! You mean soccer though, don't you.." Rhi laughed.

"..and you didn't mention a brother."

"Yes, I mean soccer. And I have an older brother. Unfortunately," he added with a smirk.

"Whats he like?"

"A bully. He felt like it was his birthright to pick on me or something. Eh, I shouldn't make him out to be a monster, he really isn't. Besides, I think he's a bit jealous that I have a power, so I have, as you might say, one-upped him."

"Is it not normal for siblings to both have powers?" Rhi asked curiously.

"If one or both parents are mutants, it's very normal, I think. But neither of my parents are mutants, sooo...maybe that makes it a bit less likely in my case."

"You were probably special before your power catalyst, I can tell." Rhi nodded, very sure of herself.

"Not especially," he admitted. "But I do like rubbing it in my brother's face. Of course, he'll say a few generic mutant insults, but I know how he works, heheh. Now, you on the other hand, seem most exceptional."

"You know what, Brett? I think you might like me." Rhi teased gently, slipping her hand in his with a giggle.

"What's there not to like?," he asked her with a smile, sliding an arm around her. "I could get used to being around high spirits, you know? Well, that, and you are really pretty..." His faced turned a bit red upon blurting that out. Yeah, that sounded smooth...

"You are very good looking too, Brett. Definitely rate up with the hottest guys on campus." Rhi grinned.

"Right. You know it," he said with a hint of sarcasm, though he smiled and blushed regardless. "Thanks anyway."

Rhi gave his hand another squeeze and turned her eyes back to the guards.

A few more minutes passed before they heard some members of the guard beging to play music as they marched inside of the gates. Some of it was very traditional and formal, but they also threw in "Hey Jude" that turned into a Beatles medly of sorts.

From there, the gates were opened, with a number of guards lines up. They played music again as they marched outside in a procession, eventually making their way around the Victoria Memorial.

As they played Brett turned to Rhi and smiled. If she hadn't seen anything like Buckingham Palace, she probably hadn't seen a procession quite this fancy, either.

Rhi was happily awestruck, drawn in by the formality and spectacular of the event.

"I keep waiting for a princess.."

Brett chuckled, barely audible over the fanfare. "It's actually an even bigger deal if there's royalty involved in a parade." After a few more minutes, the previous guard were relieved from duty and those who had muched out to replace were now in place, as the gate closed. The crowd began to disperse.

"So how'd you like it?"

"It was amazing, I've never seen anything like it. Do you think they do it at all the castley places or just this one?"

"Hm...some of them, yes. Most of the castles were still have aren't royal residences, of course, but if memory serves they have a Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle. There may be others, too."

"I wish I lived in a palace." Rhi sighed lingering a moment longer as the crowd dispersed wrapped up in her own fantasy land.

"That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? You could just sit up on your balcony and wave at people while your gaurds marched, heh."

"You'd come visit right?" Rhi asked with a laugh.

"As often as I'd be invited." He grinned. "So, weren't we going to go find some food?"

"Oh god, yes, I thought you would never ask!" Rhi rubbed her stomach in a display of hunger and it rumbled in response.

"Alright, what kind of cuisine would the fair princess like for lunch?"

"Hot dogs? burgers? fries? Milkshake?" Rhi suggested with a laugh at the look on Brett's face.

"I'm totally cool with anything you choose really.."

"In that case, maybe we should just wander until we find something that strikes our fancy." He grasped her hand gently, smiling. "Sound like a plan?"

"Awesome." Rhi grinned at Brett, a little smitten.

"Great. Maybe we'll find something without having to go too far.