#jimmy traville

[bridgyrose]

AU where Neo’s ascension sends her to a Modern AU, with all of her powers stripped in order to live in this new world. (Maybe she becomes a child as well? Could be adopted by loving parents in order to have a second chance at childhood)

(I think I can run with this one)

“Over here Trivia!” 

Neo paused for a moment as the noise and lights of the city practically overwhelmed her. She had remembered jumping off the tree and then a bright light as she fell… only to be met with concrete against her hands along with bright lights and loud cars driving down the road. She picked herself up and looked over at her mother, almost not recognizing her. 

Carmel smiled at her and held out a hand for her to grab. “We dont want to be late to dinner. Your father has been making sure that all the preparations for your birthday are perfect.” 

Neo nodded and took her mother’s hand, still not used to hearing her old name. But what really caught her off guard was that her reflection looked like a child again. She looked like she was almost seven again, brown hair pulled back into braided pigtails, the dress she wore was just like the one she had worn all those years ago, though she did notice she wasnt wearing any of the contacts she was forced to wear before. Her mismatched pink and brown eyes werent hidden like they’d been before. 

“Dont lollygag,” Carmel said as she pulled Neo forward. “We’re going to be late if we take too long.” 

Neo sighed but walked a bit closer to keep up with her mother, already dreading her birthday. She still wasnt entirely sure what the plan was, but at least here, she didnt seem to be expected to conform to a particular look. And beyond the lack of dust, Vale still looked mostly the same. Busy streets, shops that catered to particular tastes in fashion, food, hobbies and the like… it all seemed… normal. 

She followed her mother into a restaurant that seemed to have just opened up for the day, still empty as a few of the staff made their way around the tables to make sure everything was set up and in place. Le Mistraili, a name she was familiar with as a favorite of her mother’s for a restaurant. Not that she was ever allowed to go when she was younger, always left at home to be kept out of sight. 

“Carmel!” Jimmy called out from near the back of the restaurant. “Over here! I made sure to get a great table for us and our little Neo!” 

Neo raised a brow when she heard her father call her Neo, not quite sure how she felt about it. 

Carmel sighed. “Do you have to call her ‘Neo’ out here?” 

“Its just a harmless nickname. Her eyes remind me of the icecream flavor-” 

“And you know she doesnt like attention being drawn to them.” 

“She’s too young to care. Besides, she might grow to like the name.” 

“Like you used to be called ‘Sprinkles’ in college?” 

Jimmy rolled his eyes. “Lets focus on our daughter. She doesnt turn eight every day.” 

Neo smiled a bit as she listened to her parents and climbed up into her chair, still just a bit too short to see over the table well. It was strange to see her parents get along, let alone want her around, though she had to admit that it felt nice to be included. Even as she waited for the smiles to fade and the fighting to start, she relaxed as she watched a waitress come over with a few menus while other patrons started to file in and take their seats. For once, she could admit she was happy. 

At least, until she felt a piece of her missing. A piece she couldnt place as she stared at her reflection in her silverware, almost as if something had been stripped away. 

Carmel put a hand on her shoulder. “Everything okay dear? If its too loud, we can find somewhere else to eat.” 

Neo shook her head and slowly signed as the knowledge of the language almost seemed to flow into her mind. “I’m fine. I feel a bit…” she stopped for a moment as she tried to think of the right word, finally signing once more. “...lost.”

“She’s probably feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything,” Jimmy answered. “We’re in a new part of town, she’s going to be starting school again in just a couple weeks without the friends she had before, I’d be nervous too.” 

“Let us know if you need us to leave, okay Trivia?” 

Neo nodded and tried to push her feelings aside. She’d figure out what was missing later. For now, she wanted to enjoy spending time with her parents, a dream she never thought would come true.