Violet Schultz holds tightly onto Greg Norton's hand, her knuckles pale as they step into the sea of people. Every inch of the hall seems alive with energy, but Violet's gaze darts nervously from one crowd to the next. She feels her body tingling, her perspective subtly shifting lower toward the ground.
"You okay, Vi? We can step outside if you need a breather,"
"No, it's just—so many people. I want to do this. I have to meet Marcus Chen,"
"Then let's stick together. I’ve got you,"
Violet[/@ch_1] as her nerves steadily take over, causing her to shrink until she's only a few inches tall.]
From her new vantage point, the legs of tables and the hems of costumes become towering obstacles. Greg kneels quickly, hiding her behind a display of oversized plushies. Nearby, a group of fans pose for photos, oblivious to the tiny drama unfolding at their feet.
"Just breathe, Vi. I’ll keep watch until you’re ready,"
"It’s so much. But I can do this. I just… wish I wasn’t so obvious,"
As Violet regains her confidence, she slowly grows back to about a foot tall, then two, then her full height. Clutching her favorite comic, she moves forward with Greg by her side. Her heart hammers in her chest as she locks eyes with her idol.
"You’re doing great. Almost there,"
"I’ve waited so long for this,"
Violet[/@ch_1] finally stands before Marcus Chen, the crowd’s noise fades into a distant hum. The table is covered in glossy comics and metallic markers, and flashes from nearby cameras flicker like fireworks. The world feels electric, excitement surging through her.]
"And who do I make this out to?"
"To Violet, please. You have no idea what your stories mean to me,"
As Marcus smiles warmly and signs her comic, Violet's body surges with joy. Suddenly, she grows, her head shooting upward, her limbs expanding until she towers over the crowd at an astonishing thirty feet. The entire hall gasps, some people ducking or staring wide-eyed, while others scramble for their phones to capture the moment.
Violet[/@ch_1]’s enormous form, her face flushed crimson. Balloons brush against her knees, and comic stands wobble precariously as she tries not to step on anything.]
Greg shouts up to her, his voice barely audible over the startled crowd. Violet breathes deeply, focusing on shrinking herself back down. Each second feels like an eternity before she finally returns to her normal height, surrounded by the stunned silence of hundreds of onlookers.
"Vi! Are you alright?"
"I’m so sorry, everyone! It’s… a metahuman thing. I didn’t mean to cause trouble,"
Violet[/@ch_1] dusts herself off, cheeks still pink. Marcus Chen steps around the table, concern and admiration in his eyes. Security hesitates, glancing at one another, before deciding the danger has passed.]
"That was certainly memorable, Violet. You handled it better than some superheroes I’ve written,"
"You did it, Vi. You really did it,"
"I guess my powers have a flair for the dramatic,"
The crowd starts to laugh and applaud, the atmosphere lightening. Violet grins, holding her signed comic to her chest, and walks out hand-in-hand with Greg, her confidence a little bigger than before.
