As Clear As Crystal

A New Lead?

The outcome of you saving Triton after what he suffered was rather daunting; all of a sudden you were seen as a hero, all of a sudden your public image had started to tilt in your favour much faster than before. It should be a good thing that the people seemed to look at you more favourably now, but there was a sort of emotional whiplash as just before, so many looked at you with uncertainty.

It really was a daunting change, so many people coming up to you with them expressing how they saw you in a better light. So many people wanted to be seen around the human who had demonstrated acts of heroism to save the life of a member of the royal family, a pessimistic side of you felt like some of it was rather disingenuous. One second you were the controversial human arrival, now you were a brave hero, at least people seemed to be less distrusting.

That being said, the constant barrage of praise was overwhelming; two days of just about everyone rushing up and acting like they were supporting you from the start meant you needed a break. And this was of course the point where Crystal came in to save you, having pulled you away from a large crowd that swarmed you as you headed outside for some fresh air, naively assuming the constant praise would have died down by this point. Crystal got you out of there, she helped you retreat to a spot out of sight where she gave you a moment to catch your breath before she spoke.

"Enjoying the attention from your adoring public?" She asked playfully as you were hunched over, drawing in one more deep breath before standing upright and replying that it was a lot to deal with. "I mean, don't get me wrong, it's nice not having half the population glaring at me, but all these people suddenly calling me a hero? It's a lot" you told her and Crystal insisted that you were a hero, if it wasn't for you then Triton could have suffered even worse burns.

"It was the right thing to do" just downplayed your actions, justifying them as being what should have been done no matter by who. "Plus, you helped, you doused us both in water" you added but Crystal replied that you were still the one to rush forward first, even after Triton told you to stay back. "Don't downplay your actions, you did a good thing" she told you but you just repeated that it was the right thing to do, that you couldn't just stand by and do nothing when Triton was suffering like that.

As you said this, you glanced around the corner that Crystal pulled you around, seeing the large crowd that had gathered at the spot you were swarmed. "It's just a lot, not even Black Bolt walking me around town had this outcome" you spoke quietly as Crystal stepped to your side before pulling you back as someone turned in your direction, she hid you again and you turned to face her as she asked if you needed a break.

"I can call Lockjaw, maybe we could go out for a bit?" She asked and you would have pondered the risks but you felt a little constricted, you were happy that people weren't hostile (or at least passive aggressive) but the constant barrage of attention was too much. "Sure" was all you said in response and Crystal's smile broadened as she whistled for Lockjaw with the large dog appearing in a flash of light.

A quick request later and there was a second flash as the large dog teleported you and Crystal out of Attilan, just in time for someone to round them corner as they thought they heard a noise and saw a faint light. But coming up with nothing, they turned back and the crowd started to disperse.

Arriving in the city, you and Crystal thanked Lockjaw for the transportation before sending him back and leaving the two of you alone. This all gave you another chance to breathe, you took a deep breath of the city air and sighed with relief at the chance to get away. "Feeling better?" Crystal asked as you looked up again and you nodded, answering that you were feeling much better as you were just feeling a little closed in by such a large crowd.