Jill and I are cool now. I really admire the work she’s doing to help camp people integrate with society, and she’s generally just a nice person. We hang out whenever she ends up in Baltimore, so about every other month.
My relationship with Benjamin is simply, I’ve made my peace with the fact that he’s in my life, but you can’t make me love it. He and I will never be friends. I don’t hate him. I don’t wish him harm. I’m even happy that he’s married and stuff.
But the man tried to murder me. Period. No amount of do-gooding after that changes the past. We say hello from across the room when we are together and then don’t talk to each other.
Tag: dearberenice
Dear Berenice, what’s your favorite kind of pizza? What’s your *least* favorite movie? Would you rather go out in public wearing a kilt, a penguin suit, or scuba gear?
Pizza makes my stomach hurt. Lark says it’s the cheese. But I do like ham and pineapple together, so I’d probably like Hawaiian pizza the most.
I’ve watched a lot of movies in the last few years! My least favorite, so far, was the Hobbit trilogy. I’d just read the original book for school (my GED, technically), and I was so excited to see it on the big screen. Man, what a soulless bunch of movies. And did I mention that I hate unnecessary romance? Ugh.
I’d rather wear scuba gear. There’s something very commanding about it, and if I fall into the water, I’ll be okay.
Dear Berenice, in your own words, what went wrong between you and Jillian Johnson growing up?
Jill took me out to dinner last year. We talked about our childhoods over sushi. It turns out that I don’t like sushi, but I enjoyed the conversation.
Short answer: we were both immature.
Long answer: we both have big personalities, and we were both jealous of each other. I was jealous that she had, in my opinion, the superior powers. I was stronger, but she was faster, more agile, and had better reflexes. She could outsmart me in fights and make me look stupid. She, it turns out, was jealous of how petted I was by my parents. I have a great relationship with my parents, and my sister before she died. This did not go unnoticed.
There was a lot of posturing and bullying, though I have to admit that I was more likely to be the bully. I did and said some things that I’m truly sorry about, and I hope that Jill doesn’t think back on them with pain. We’re friends now, and I’m happy about it.
Dear Berenice, why did you choose to join the marshals instead of enlisting in the national superhero corps?
Because Alysia got away, and I just couldn’t take it.
It’s been three years since the hospital battle, and I still can’t stand that she literally slipped through my fingers. That damn cow ran away when I was grappling with her, and she hasn’t been seen since. The Marshals are fugitive hunters (among other things), and they’re heavily involved in rounding up the remaining Westerners and, now, supervillains. I’m going to be there when they finally take Alysia down.
The NSC is just a new way for superheroes to serve, but with more oversight. It’s still city-based and focused on eliminating street crime. I want to go bigger than that.
Berenice: how did you find out about Abby’s death? what happened after all that?
That was a long. ass. night.
After most of the fires were put out at the hospital, the police rounded up the living superheroes and told us that there’d been a horrible explosion in Baltimore. Lark and I asked to go there. I knew something terrible had gone down when we landed at a hospital, not an explosion site.
They took us to the morgue first. They said it wasn’t going to be easy, but nothing could’ve prepared me for seeing Abby’s body. She was in a small room off the side, on a slab, and completely broken. I fell into Lark’s arms and she all but carried me out. We were also asked to confirm Topher’s body, but I barely even remember that. I was crying too hard.
After I’d calmed down (about half an hour later), Benjamin came and got us from up in surgery. I remember him being just covered in blood. Guys, you can’t even imagine how much blood was on him–I wasn’t even mad at him being there, that’s how shocked I was. I think he wanted to hug me, but had the sense not to. He told us that Reuben had been maimed in the explosion and he hadn’t been able to save his leg. Lark asked if anyone else had been hurt. The poor guy started to cry. Not big sobs or anything. He just turned away from us, his shoulders shaking, and you know what? I kind of wanted to hug him, because I thought Jill was dead and in a zillion pieces, which why she wasn’t in the morgue.
Lark actually did hug him, and asked him what had happened. He told us that Reid was on life support, Ember had been sedated because she wouldn’t stop screaming, and Jill was in surgery. Reuben had just gotten out of surgery. Something about scar tissue over missing limbs. I think Benjamin was just very, very tired. Marco came and got him then, and told him to go to bed.
And I’ll have you know that I’ve never teased him about crying. I think anyone would’ve cried after all that.
Dear Berenice, what’s your fashion sense these days?
Fuzzy sweaters, skinny jeans, and knit scarves/mittens/hats from Target, especially in bright colors. My favorite color is purple, and I just bought a super cute plum-colored peacoat. Winter clothes are the best.
Berenice here.
Before I start answering your questions, I thought I’d introduce myself a little bit. Apparently I’m intimidating! I wouldn’t want y’all to think I was unapproachable, since I haven’t been a superhero in nearly three years. I’m just Berenice now, though if I don’t crash and burn at the Marshal academy, I’ll soon be Deputy US Marshal Grantham. (Man, that sounds hot.)
I’m currently sitting in my tiny-ass apartment that I share with Lark, with Law & Order on the television and a steaming mug of Sleepytime tea next to me. Lark just told me that I look stupid, since I’m reading y’all’s questions and grinning from ear to ear, but she’s just grouchy because business school is kicking her ass.
I’m single as a Pringle right now, and I think it’ll stay that way for a long time because I’ll be so busy with the Marshals. I see Reuben and Gabriela all the time, mostly because they ask me to babysit Nora and Mary Rose a lot. I don’t mind, since the girls are cute and I get paid in cash. Lark has big plans to be the next big thing in business, and I think she’s been in talks with Jen, who is also a business lady in stocks or commodities or something. She’s in New York City right now!
I keep tabs on the Saint Catherine team, too. Jill and Benjamin are finally on their honeymoon in the Caribbean. Ember and Reid are parked out in the middle of friggin’ nowhere in Georgia, and I think Jill’s cousin Christiana is helping them get settled with a bunch of horses. Marco is going to college! He’s going to be a nurse. He’s a bit frosty with me whenever I see him, but I’m really glad he’s doing well.
I’ll be answering y’all’s questions throughout the evening, probably during ad breaks.
Berenice out.
Dear Berenice, what powers would you choose other than the ones you already have?
I used to wish all the time that I had a really showy power. Sure, super strength is fun to show off at parties (I’ve actually done this), but when a bunch of criminals have their guns out, it would be nice to do something that makes my eyes glow and, oh I don’t know, makes fire appear from my nostrils. I’d like to make people crap their pants with the minimum of effort.
bernice, if you could say one thing to Benjamin Trent, what would it be?
Let me just get this out there: I say whatever the hell I want to that guy, whenever I want, however I want. There’s nothing in my brain regarding Benjamin Trent that I won’t say to him.
But in the spirit of the question, there is one thing I’ve never said but plan to one day: ”Please tell me about Topher’s last minutes.”
I’ve never asked him to tell me about my friend’s final moments because I’m afraid I’ll cry, and like hell am I going to cry in front of Benjamin Trent.
Dear Berenice: Imagine you’re stuck on a desert island. You can choose two other people to be stuck with you: one from your team and one from the Saint Catherine team. The Three of you are the only humans there. Who do you choose and why?
My team: Reuben.
Saint Catherine team: Reid.
The Fischer brothers are some of the most absurdly overpowered men on the planet, which is definitely an advantage in a desert island scenario. Both of them can make shelters and boats with their powers, and I’m assuming that at least one of them could somehow produce fire with their powers.
Wide Spread Interests 