Damsel in Distress

Three's Company

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:21:21 GMT

A polite knock comes at the door to Angelica's room this afternoon, sounding with light echoes through the modified warehouse. The sound of clinking behind it also can be heard, and feet shuffling. "Angelica?" It's Kelsi, made obvious by the accent muffled behind the closed barrier. "I have brought something to eat."

Angelica looks up at the sound of the knock, smiling as she hears Kelsi's voice. "Come in!" she calls, her voice cheerful, and starts to step over to help open the door, in case this 'something to eat' has taken up both of the Russian's arms.

Indeed, 'something to eat' is a full spread of a tray with a couple plates heaped with some sort of beef stroganov and cabbage soup. Like much of Kelsi's cooking, it's... aromatic. But she looks proud to be answered, and Angelica opens the door to a big smile amidst bear skin. The smile only conflicts with a passing thought as she asks in a quieter confirmation seeking tone, "Are you wanting to eat?"

Angelica can't help but grin at the sight of the fur-covered, tray-bearing girl. She steps aside to let Kelsi through, nodding as she looks over the selection. Hey, at least she's not having to see any feathers. "Oh, yes, definitely. This looks wonderful," she says enthusiastically as she shuts the door once more. "You can set it on the little table there."

No feathers today. Kelsi's been good about that, though every once in awhile there's that urge that can be seen in her eyes when she looks roofwards towards any cooing. Pigeons beware. Bolstered by the warm reception, she moves to set the tray down upon the indicated table. She even pulls out one of the chairs, holding it for Angelica to have a seat in. "Are we going out today? More ...shopping?"

Angelica smiles as she takes the offered seat. "If ya want to. We could... go walk along Broadway or somethin'. Or go to Central Park." She pauses as she looks over the food, deciding what to eat first, and opts for the cabbage soup.

Though it's heavily spiced, maybe overly so for some palates, Kelsi's trying. The cabbage in it absorbed something in the broth anyway, retaining some beefy kind of flavor. If not, there's always the mushrooms and grains. But far from the concern of how her cuisine takes is the girl's sudden drop to a conspiratorial sort of tone. "The Red Lotus, she is coming with us?"

Angelica blinks as she takes the first bite, unused to the heavy spices, but continues to eat a bit more, more hungry than she is picky. "Red Lotus?" she asks, her tone also dropping as she glances toward the door. "I... I don't know. Do... you think she'd want to? Do... you want me to ask her?"

Kelsi wets her lips, sliding into a chair that faces the door. She's watching it like a hawk. Like it might open to reveal the very one they're speaking of. As Angelica drops her tone, Kelsi physically seems to hunch over again. "I would not mind. But Lord Magnus did not say. She is like Huruma," the girl notes. And from her tone, she's cautious about mentioning the cat shifter as well.

Angelica frowns slightly, not entirely getting the comparison. And perhaps a little disappointed that Kelsi doesn't mind. She stirs her soup absently, then shrugs a shoulder. "Huruma? I... suppose so. I don't know much about Red Lotus."

"Huruma. She is..." Kelsi pauses, seeing Angelica's frown and reading that disappointment much more closely. That causes her brows to lift and pinch with concern. The girl scoots her chair in, nearer the Damsel. "What is wrong, sister?"

Angelica glances up from her soup as Kelsi begins to speak again, but blinks as she scoots closer, looking away. "It's nothing. I just... am uncertain what Red Lotus thinks of me. She seems to... refined. And she's very beautiful."

Shaking her head, Kelsi is quick to refute. "But she is not like you, Angelica. And the other woman also. They are... different." And different, alien, means quite unfamiliar and thus not trustworthy. Sneaking a hand forward, Kelsi reaches over to touch her fingers on the damsel's forearm. If anything, concern on her part feels genuine. "We can go alone. And she waits for Lord Magnus. He could come back soon. She should be here." Consolation prize, perhaps?

Angelica looks back up, offering a small smile as her arm is touched, seeming reassured by Kelsi's words. It's nice to hear, even if it had to be said. "Thank you, Kelsi. I suppose they are... Different is a good way to put it. And you're right. She should be here when Magneto returns. We don't know what he has planned, and we wouldn't want to inconvenience him."

Kelsi grins after, looking pleased to have swung the pendulum of the mood back to a lighter side. "Eat? Then we go?" Very kid in a candy store like, the geokinetic inadvertently squeezes Angelica's arm lightly with the anticipation. "Let's go farther today. See something different." And this different is the good different it seems like.

Angelica grins as well, easily catching on to Kelsi's excitement. "Sounds good! Somethin' different, huh? I think we could definitely manage that. Thanks, Kelsi." Plans semi-made, Angie digs into her food with renewed enthusiasm.

Kelsi lets go of the arm, sitting semi-patiently and watching the other woman eat. Is it unnerving? If so, she's unaware of it. A few minutes pass and she realizes after a moment, "I will change clothes!" And with that she stands abruptly, grinning and skittering for the door.

Light Security and Difficult Questions

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 10:06:07 GMT

It wasn't that I feared their reactions. Not, at least, the reactions of the other two women, but Kelsi... I do not wish to lose her favor, her friendship, even if it is merely the result of my aura.

Even if she'd have little choice but to help me in times of need if her attitude towards me did change.

To me, it'd make a difference. I would rather pretend that she cares for me while I can.

Another week has passed since the curious outcome of the outing to the famous Hershey Square. The Sisters of the Brotherhood returned with plenty of good eats (keeping them well away from the Blob, of course) and enough to last quite some time. It is by the light of the warehouse bulbs above and around provided that Kelsi has sprawled herself upon one of the large metal shipping containers. A bon bon is popped into her mouth, chewed upon lightly. Boredly. So bored in fact, that the metal container itself lifts and hovers for seconds at a time before setting back down. It produces a constant, irritating clunking noise every minute or so. Perhaps she should be reading, or watching TV. But the TV is off, and The Hobbit has been set aside in lieu of this monotonous production of sound. Lift, clunk. Lift, clunk. Kelsi sighs.

"Workin' out?" calls Angelica from below. She stands beside the shipping container, hands on her hips, grinning up toward the top. "I swear, ain't no one around here that doesn't know when you're bored. Hey, set that thing down a moment so I can climb up, eh?" And waiting a moment for the crate to so stop moving, she moves to find a way to climb up.

Keeping anything away from the Blob is a notable accomplishment all in itself - likely one of the many reasons why Mystique elected to disband her version of the Brotherhood, especially with chocolate at stake. Yet, even on this frigid day in February, almost two decades later, it's back to the Brotherhood that the infamous metamorph finds herself. Cloaked in a black leather trenchcoat to bundle her currently Caucasian self against the blustering winds of the city, it's with relief that she enters with her companion to lead the way through the maze of towering metallic shipping crates. Having distanced herself from the superior terrorist organization, only two things bring her here: providing an escort for the lovely Red Lotus, as well as sharing a word or two with Magneto. That thunk of a crate, in addition to voices, draws her closer... Yet, with a curious frown, she doesn't locate the Master of Magnetism as the one moving about such a great container. "Hmmm..."

And just behind Mystique, Red Lotus enters, quite with the air of being escorted. Dressed in a flowing red sari, with her long black hair held up in a bun by two long, black hair sticks and most of her face covered by a thin, red veil, in which she seems to simply disregard the weather. Her attention is also drawn by the thunks and voices, following Mystique to discover their sources. "Are these two part of this brotherhood?" Her voice hints at a british accent, despite her Indian features and is a smooth, flowing sound. Easy to listen to.

Fortunately, Kelsi isn't lifting the crate and simply dropping it whenever she feels like. Angelica's voice coming up quickly gets the reaction of the crate wobbling dangerously in the air as Kelsi loses a moment to excitement instead of focused boredom. Clad in warm, pungent bearskin over her given modern clothing, she scrambles up to a stand on the shipping crate, peeking over the edge and waving to Angelica where she stands. "Allo!" With an eager smile from the geokinetic, the crate lowers its last clunk and she reaches down to offer a hand up to the Damsel. It is the sound of others coming through the maze that makes her pause mid-help, and look to Angelica for what to do. "Intruders?" she asks very softly, worriedly protective.

Angelica halts her search and grins, reaching for the offered hand, almost heedless of any others that might be around. As the help hesitates, though, she frowns, her brows lifting in question. "Huh? Here?" She reaches out with her aura, expanding it to include Kelsi and going a bit further, just in case. Only then does she move to try to peek around the container, to see who is around.

"I believe they're fine, Red Lotus," Mystique murmurs while glacial blue eyes peer through completely opaque sunglasses, glancing first to Kelsi, then to Angelica's peeking face even if her head remains stationary. Ebon hair tucked up into a beret-like winter hat, the shapeshifter sashays a little closer, a disarming smile curling at her lips. "Afternoon, ladies. Would either of you happen to know of Magneto's current whereabouts?" Having never met either of the two formally, only recognizing faces to pair with codenames, she allows them the opportunity to judge as they will.

Red_Lotus looks over the pair with one eyebrow arched upward, assessing. She nods to Mystique's assurance and steps forward as well, "And would either of you be aware of the location of my quarters? I was assured lodging here." She looks around the room, the establishment not being quite up to her preferred standards of living and it shows in her expression. But she looks back to the two new faces and inclines her head toward each in turn. "Intruder I am not. I am the Red Lotus."

Perhaps unused to and thus thrown off by the easygoing attitude, or maybe enraptured by the beauty of the pair of supposed intruders, Kelsi doesn't quite answer immediately. She swallows back down any sort of swift reply, but crowds the edge of the shipping crate with her presence. "He is not here," comes her eventual, heavily accented reply. Her eyes have riveted onto the Red Lotus and her sari, widened to a stare that must seem very familiar for the deadly flower of a woman.

Angelica also shakes her head, stepping a bit more into the open once it's determined that they aren't immediate threats. "He is away on business. But the quarters would be up the stairs over there," she adds, pointing in that direction, also not looking away from Red Lotus. "There was one bein' prepared, which we could show ya to. I'm Damsel," she adds, belatedly.

Supple dusky lips twist in momentary frustration as word is received that the man she was seeking is not currently at home, though the motion is brief, smoothing into another smile. "What a pity," the leather-wearing woman murmurs a touch flippantly. Then, not a beat later: "Russian, are you?" Mystique wonders of Kelsi as glasses are stripped to tuck into an inner pocket. "He neglected to mention that..." Damsel receives a glance, a distant smile, and the hat is next removed. No name is offered as she continues the rest of the way out of the field of boxes to appraise the rest of the visible room.

"When I am prepared to retire, I will require such a courtesy," Red Lotus pauses to look in the direction pointed out and then back to Angelica, "Damsel." Her gaze flicks over to Kelsi, indeed familiar with that stare and not at all adverse to it, "And you? How are you to be addressed?" Tone disapproving of the fact that she had to ask. She leans against one of those boxes, folding her arms across her chest.

Russian she is, as Kelsi strips her eyes off of the Lotus to peer at Mystique. Yet another beauty. Wow. "Da," is her answer at first, corrected after to a small nod and "Yes." Uh oh, they're moving. Kelsi hurriedly slips down from the crate's edge to join the three ladies already on the floor, abandoning book and bonbons entirely. "Y-You should not go in yet. Lord Magnus, he is coming back. Soon. He will show you." And with her name elicited, she straightens up from a small slouching hunch born of habit. Kelsi's answer is distracted, but it comes out. "Kelsi. I am Kelsi." Probably, it seems, because her mind is busy examining the marvels of the newly arrive pair. Even so, though, one might notice how close she sticks to Angelica's side - always within an arm's length or so.

And Angelica sticks close to Kelsi as well, perhaps even a hint of envy in her gaze as the other women get such attention, not that she isn't showing just as much interest, honestly. "True, he should be returnin' before the evenin' is over. Would... would either of ya like somethin' to drink while ya wait, perhaps?"

With no one else visible in either living room, kitchen, or beyond, Mystique's eyes narrow, travelling up the stairs to the housing hallways to graze for any other presences. It's decidedly quiet. "Have others gone into the city today?" she wonders abruptly, in a fashion eerily similar to wondering towards children if their parents are home, turning back to flicker her glance between Kelsi and Angelica. Red Lotus is allowed to answer the question of choice of beverages before Mystique murmurs a dismissive "I'm fine." Though, even if Damsel had asked the question, her calculating gaze remains centered upon Kelsi. "You were manipulating the crate, hmm?"

"Lord Magnus?" Red Lotus says in a mix of disbelief and amusement over the title and looks over to Mystique to confirm if that is what the man chooses to go by. "Kelsi," she greets with another incline of her head, "I suppose, if he is not going to be long, that I can wait." She turns to Angelica, who is, apparently some sort of serving girl. Showing people to rooms, fetching drinks. "Yes, a drink would be agreeable."

Confusion skitters its way over Kelsi's expression at the Lotus' amusement. Now with the pair breaking off from each other, it's harder to keep track of both. And which one to watch?! They're both, well, quite eye-catching. Though with Angelica being the hostess and all, Kelsi is free to keep track of Mystique's movements. Gazing up at the metamorph, she tilts her head at the question posed. "Yes. Practicing is key part of training," she replies, glancing back to the crate for just a second.

Sadly, serving girl isn't too far from, well, how Angelica views herself most of the time. She nods, then heads off toward the kitchen. Of course, then there's the issue of a particular drink not being specified... And thus Angie disappears from the scene for a bit, contemplating which drink to choose and eventually going about gathering about a variety for folks to choose from.

A couple velvet chuckles slip from Mystique's throat with Red Lotus' repetition, her eyes landing upon the exotic beauty to linger on her half-hidden facial features before replying. "Yes. One of those male gifted nicknames that /stuck/." There may be an amusing story there, if her smirk is anything to judge by, though it's not openly presented. As Angelica passes, Mystique's eyes follow for a moment, snapping back towards Kelsi with the reply about the packaging crate. "Oh really? I do hope he's keeping you on a rigorous training schedule," she murmurs as she takes a few steps closer towards Kelsi, wearing that disarming smile. "From what I hear, child, you have most promising gifts."

"I hope he will not be disappointed for my opting not to use it," Lotus says, amusement still present and if not for that veil, there would be a smirk to accompany it. It is Mystique's comment about Kelsi's abilities that pulls Lotus' attention back in her direction. She doesn't move forward as Mystique does, but her interest has been piqued.

Oh lovely. Kelsi's left with the Lotus nearby, to whom her eyes slide back towards inevitably each time that enchanting voice speaks. Only, of course, to be torn away when Mystique puts her into verbal regard. "I do my best," she says a little warily, scooting herself a couple of steps in the direction Angelica swung off to. "Train every day, but, it is sometimes..." She leaves off there, not wanting to really finish the complaint. Not to these somewhat still strangers. "I can do more," she eventually stakes. Her eyes shift back towards Angelica in the kitchen. Help!

Help soon returns! Angelica eventually emerges from the kitchen, carrying a small tray of drinks. "Sorry I took a bit," she says, offering a smile as she steps over to Red Lotus first, letting the veiled woman choose first... as well as giving Angelica a chance to bring this newcomer within her aura, spreading it out to include as much of the group as she can. "Will one of these drinks do?"

"I certainly don't," Mystique allows mischievously with her own quite visible smirk, "though I don't suggest that all others take the same route." Such as Kelsi, who receives the brunt of that assessing gaze - a look which Red Lotus certainly wasn't granted. "Without dedication and striving hard, one can never reach their goals. The road to success is rarely frequented and shouldn't be easy." Kelsi is saved from any other lecturing with Angelica's return...and extension of that benevolent aura. "Do you need help with that?" How uncharacteristic, and Mystique blinks at herself for a brief moment.

Red_Lotus nods along with Mystique's words to Kelsi, "It would do you well to listen. If you truly wish to do more, as you say, you will have to be prepared to work for it. Without going through the crucible, the ore would be useless. If you do have as much potential as rumored, then you owe it to yourself to push even harder than your peers." And Angelica, and her aura, approach Lotus, she reaches out to take a drink without even looking at what it is, "It's quite alright, you were not long in coming." She takes a similar moment as Mystique to pause at her own words. Reassuring the /help/? And Mystique's words cause Lotus to look her way, puzzled at them both. And then she turns to look over Angelica, to really look her over, perhaps rethinking her view of her.

Underneath that assessment, Kelsi tries her hand at keeping firm. Stubborn confidence in herself, one might say, in the face of examination keeps her from wilting back. "I do as I am asked. Lord Magnus knows." Coming under the aura again, Kelsi looks from one face to another until it lands on Angelica. But instead of asking, the girl simply holds out her hands to relieve the damsel of her oh so heavy burden of a drink tray.

Angelica smiles at them all, a smile that's somewhere between shy and smug, and then hands the tray to Kelsi. "Thank you." She also reaches to take one of the drinks before turning her attention to Red Lotus, offering another, more curious smile. "You are to join us, then? Or are you merely staying with us for a while?"

Meeting Red Lotus' gaze, Mystique's eyes narrow with thoughtful near suspicion before realization graces her features. An amused little huff of breath is breathed, now re-assessing Damsel as well, a coy smile toying with her lips. "Also, Kelsi, it's best to only flaunt your gifts when necessary. You never know who may be truly worthy of knowing what they are. Knowledge is power, and you never want someone to have power over you." However spoken to Kelsi, Mystique's eyes only drift from Angelica towards the end. That said, the woman perhaps pointedly slips away, gracing Red Lotus with a deep nod in passing towards the stairs. "I'll only be a moment," she claims, heading towards the private rooms.

"Do as you're asked? Well, I suppose that is /sufficient/. Am I to understand, then, that ambition is not required in order to fill these ranks?" Red Lotus turns to Angelica at her questions, and answers promptly, finding herself wanting to be informative regarding the inquiry, "I believe I am. I owe a debt of gratitude to a number here, as well as to my companion." Brow furrows and suspicion is clear in her expression. She turns to Mystique at her words, an almost admiring look crossing her face at that advice. She couldn't have said it better herself. She returns the nod before Mystique exits the room. And then she turns back to Angelica, eyes narrowed at the girl.

Kelsi stares at the pair with a mixed sort of reaction to their words, either due from parsing what they've actually said or simply from the expression through their body language and pitch of voice. It's the narrowing of the eyes that only make her even more wary then, and by side effect Kelsi's grip on the drink tray tightens. "Then... what is your gift?" she asks quite boldly of the Lotus, moving just that much closer to Angelica.

Angelica seems to either not care or notice any suspicions about herself, sipping at her drink as she listens innocently to the conversation. "Then, welcome," offers Angie with a smile. Her gaze slides toward Kelsi as she moves closer, then back to Red Lotus, awaiting the answer concerning the newcomer's gift.

Red_Lotus watches Kelsi's reaction with observant interest. Perhaps gauging her apparent loyalty to Angelica. "I have many gifts, Kelsi. But I assume you refer to what mutation manifested for me. I heal much faster than is usual. And yourselves? I find you both intriguing in your own ways." Apparently meaning that to be a compliment.

Kelsi shifts her shoulders beneath that bear skin, head canting as information is readily given. Well, at least some of it. "I... you have seen what I do," she answers gradually, her hands occupied with the tray fidgeting briefly. Undeniably, looking upon Red Lotus is quite a distraction from other trains of thought. "And I am close to..." Her sentence pauses as she ponders how to word it, "To the Mother Earth." Yes. Kelsi seals it with a nod.

Well, that question was inevitable from the moment Kelsi spoke up. Angelica looks between the pair, hesitating for a moment before her gaze rests on Kelsi, eyes widening. "My god, I just remembered, I forgot to pick up the groceries I was asked to get! Kel, will you be alright here? I apologize for leaving so quickly," she adds to Red Lotus. "I'm sure we can talk more when I get back. I'd better have the supplies before Magneto returns!" That said, she turns and starts walking hurriedly toward the exit.

Allowed to progress and unquestioned once reaching those upper levels, Mystique's job is quickly performed - in an out of Magneto's private quarters with only the intended trace of her visit left behind. Wearing a tickled smirk, the metamorph slinks with a lithe and feline grace back down those stairs, her gaze landing upon the three-- no, two gathered females, towards who she strides. "Well, I'm done here," she announces. Mission accomplished...though curiously her eyes land on the departing Damsel. A pensive moment is spent before her gaze quite easily, quite willingly returns to "Red Lotus, if you feel secure here, I'll be departing. My apartment is always open for you."

"Mother Earth, I see," Red Lotus says, sounding approving. "Do take care while you are out, Damsel, good servants are difficult to find," she says as Angelica makes her excuses and turns to leave, the fact that she dodged the question not missed. And once the aura leaves her, she shakes her head and looks back over at Mystique. "I am quite secure, however that is an invitation I intend to take advantage of," she looks back to the retreating Angelica, "I prefer the company there." And then, back to Mystique.

But, but there's a whole big world out there. And it's scary. Full of dangerous things, like aisles full of chocolate and whirling, light-up thingamajiggers on concrete facades. Kelsi...frowns. "I will go with you," she starts to say, though Angelica's off and running by then. That leaves her bewildered and in the proverbial dust. Hmph. She hadn't even thought of getting /more/ groceries, but from the rate the Blob eats, supplies might as well be needed on a daily basis. In time, Kelsi looks back to Lotus and later Mystique as she reappears. A suspicion rises again. Just, not enough to really spark action out of the young wild-raised woman - only some looks. It's glaringly obvious that Kelsi's out of her element here.

"Good," Mystique nearly purrs with the compliment paid by the beauty. "My doors are always open to you," an offer clearly not made towards many at all, "and you know where to find me." Kelsi is given a scanning look before those obscuring lenses cover Mystique's eyes, her sunglasses readorned. "You'll grow. Be patient with yourself, child." Without another word, the shapeshifter slips off into the maze, presumably towards the exit.

"I thank you," Lotus offers to Mystique before she slips off, the fact that she gave thanks showing that she does appreciate the offer appropriately. After watching her leave, Lotus turns back to Kelsi, silent for a few long moments, thanks to her veil, her expression is difficult to read. "Kelsi, while we wait for your companion and Magneto to return, I think we can fill the time with a tour of the facility." Meaning, of course, that Kelsi should be the one showing her around.

Watching Kelsi is like watching a certain kind of evolution take place. Once Mystique has disappeared and left just the pair, the girl's silence is left to fall where it may. Lotus' eyes meet hazel ones, and their expressions are entirely different. Kelsi could lose herself in just watching the blossom of beauty bathed in rich red, but the silence is ultimately broken by words. She blinks. And once she parses out what's being asked of her, there is a small bit of worry to it and shifting of her eyes. Decisions are made, and she nods once before tilting her head towards the further interior of the warehouse. She only shortly leaves Red Lotus behind to put the drinks tray down in the kitchen, and reappears with a hand gesturing quite gracefully in the direction where they are to first go. "I will show you the training room," she speaks up, adding to her manner a bow that can only be described as straight out of the books on proper etiquette. Such a strange girl.

Lost in Chocolate Heaven

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 04:14:02 GMT

/That/ was close! I'll have to keep a closer eye on that girl. She's valuable to the Brotherhood. Not to mention great for protection.

But also... I think I might actually like this Kelsi.

It's gigantic. All of it. Everything. The world has pretty much exploded like a grenade in Kelsi's eyes, and her gaze looks upon the multitude of chasing lights and flashing signs, and her ears try desperately to filter out the noise of Times Square. Angelica! Where is she? The /only/ thing in the earth-wielder's world right now that seems to be a somewhat source of comfort is clung to like a leaf on a branch in a hurricane. And yet... there's no denying it. Something smells good. All that chocolate, all that sweet, coffee-colored mana of heaven... there's just so much to take in for one who's never seen anything manmade higher than a two story building. "Angelica," Kelsi murmurs in wonderment and awe, "what is this place?"

Perhaps Angelica was a good choice as far as helping Kelsi is concerned. If there's one thing the girl is used to, it's the noise of the city, the busy and chaotic life of NYC. Angie grins over at Kelsi as the foreign girl clings to her, then turns her gaze to the wondrous building in front of them. "A chocolate store. Hershey's chocolate." Her grin broadens, and she tugs the other girl toward the entrance. "Let's go try some!"

Eep. Kelsi gets pulled towards the entrance beside the Damsel, her footsteps stumbling at first but swiftly catching up as they slip inside. And there's people /everywhere/ too, at least by her standards. People of every shape and size, skin color, fat and skinny, tall and short, wearing all sorts of ridiculous looking clothing all doing their shopping and touristy type things throughout the insides of neatly and appealingly arranged Hershey brand goods. Despite her dress in fatigues and a generally oversized outfit, Kelsi strangely enough wouldn't seem too out of place. Just another tourist, really. The girl's eyes scan frantically over labels and letters, pushing English reading skills to the max. She barely gets out some mutterings of phonetic sounds for some names before being distracted away by the next thing, and the next. Finally, she ends up settling on Angelica's person with the occasional flick of her eyes to a side or a bystander. "This is all... food?" she asks curiously, voice peeking out behind its hermit shell quality.

You don't have to be a complete tourist to be awed by the vast amounts of heavenly chocolate. Angelica's own eyes are wide as she looks over the assortment, her grin becoming more child-like. "Yes," she answers back, her voice hardly hiding her excitement. "Most of it," is the hurriedly added note, after a pause,. "Let's... see what kind of dark chocolate they have!" Angie starts to pull Kelsi in that direction, only to pause two steps later. "Ooooh, chocolate covered cherries!"

Arriving from an opposing direction - footfalls a determined, business click upon the pavement as the destination is already in sight and in mind - comes another woman, appearing to be in her late twenties. Appearances, however, are always deceiving, especially when dealing with Mystique; a woman who, despite her true age, still requires the physiological effects of a certain confectionary every now and again. Upon that cool Caucasian visage, as the smell of the larger-than-life chocolate store wafts towards her, Raven manages a quirked smile. Into the store she strolls, a woman on a mission, and releases a soft sigh of near contentment. Perhaps what they say is true: chocolate is the opium of food lovers.

"Cherries? What are--" Oh, yes, right, she knows what those are. She saw a picture in a book, once - a botanical guide of fruits, herbs and berries from around the world. Kelsi focuses on the box that advertises its chocolatey, fruity goodness, twenty count, sticking her head forward and taking a sniff. Not that she gets much more than the store's general aroma for her troubles, but it was what she does. It seems random, then, that she peels her eyes away from the box to look towards the entrance of the store and the various people streaming in and out of its doors. The disguised Mystique is included in the sweep, though Kelsi's eyes don't linger very long. That contented look seems to be quite the popular expression for many a female who enters this place.

The entrance of any others goes unnoticed by Angelica as she watches Kelsi pick up the box. "We ought to bring some back home," she decides, taking the cherries. "The place could use some chocolate. And... it'll make up for before!" she declares, then, with little real warning, she starts off again toward the dark chocolate section. Mmmm, rich.

Perhaps they're right when health advisors claim that the flavinoids found in the darker varieties of chocolate help prevent heart attacks and cancer, but it's not that which brings Mystique here. As if she'd be troubled by cancer... No, instead, it's the seratonin proven to be released within the brain upon the consumption of the mouth-melting candy. Regardless, it's towards that section of dark chocolates that Mystique strides, walking by ginormous Hershey's Kisses as she goes. On her way, ahead, she notices amidst the tourists, two faces which strike a note of familiarity within the metamorphs eyes. Smile easing onto her expression a little further, she casually heads closer, if not to merely eavesdrop.

Rich in flavor is one thing, but rich in money? There's price tags on everything too, and Kelsi stares at the box's labeled digits awhile longer with a furrowed, pensive brow. She's staring so hard at it that one must wonder if she's trying to see through the box. Then, she looks up. And Angelica's gone off on her own towards the dark chocolate section, leaving her stranded. Oh no! Kelsi fumbles with the box to put it back in place, eyes darting about to look for her rock amidst the raging sea of people. Then by some course of poor luck, the geokinetic starts to move in the wrong direction, away from the path Angelica took, all the while searching.

A mixture of things have been resting heavily on Erik Lehnsherr's mind lately, most notably one large plan in particular which has been in formation for quite some time already, which has shown with the deep lines of contemplation seemingly permanently etched into his features as of late. To offer himself a bit of much needed distraction as a respite from such lengthy contemplations, he's headed up towards Times Square as he had heard that's where two others he's had in mind lately had set off towards shortly before he departed. Fedora tucked low over his face with his hands shoved in the pockets of his charcoal overcoat as he flows along the edges of the crowds on the sidewalks, he seems inevitably drawn towards one place in particular. His eyes only briefly raise to the building as the smells have drawn him here on their own from the streets as he passed, walking slowly inside and off to the side as his eyes start to scan the shelves rather than towards any of the people inside - where the two he's half-looking for actually might be rather than perching next to the Ferrero Rochers.

Angelica shifts the chocolate covered cherries to one arm as she takes down a large dark chocolate kiss. "Can you believe they make them this size, Kel-" she cuts off as she turns and notices that Kelsi is no longer beside her, but instead is off... lost somewhere amongst the swarm of chocolate lovers. Damn! A young Russian girl... shouldn't be too hard, surely... Too preoccupied to notice Mystique nearing her, Angelica is intent upon relocating her friend, standing on her tip-toes to try to see above shelves. And that's how she spots Magneto by the door. Her eyes widen, face paling like a guilty child's, and she ducks down again, hoping to not be spotted. Entering stealth search mode...

What was once two patrons that Mystique had spotted, upon entering the section of dark chocolate, she only manages to relocate one. Curious. Glacial blue eyes leave the features of who she recognizes to be Damsel; while Mystique isn't often around the warehouse, she is never left out of the loop. To wonder aloud, or to watch? Another face, which more than likely isn't identified without his iconic helmet, answers for her; Mystique would recognize the pull of that fedora anywhere. "I don't believe in coincidences," she mutters and, after claiming some of the more bitter candy, mingles in the crowd as well, after Angelica.

Kelsi is barely looking at the products now - although she stops to peer at a rack of plush bears with cartoon eyes, chef hats and a miniature Hershey tee stuck on each - as she hunts for Angelica amidst aisle after aisle of shelving. While Angie stands on her tiptoes, though, Kelsi has taken to ducking in a slight hunch as she moves. Stalks, rather, with a predatorial type of gait to it. While it doesn't help those searching for her, it does help narrow her own search and cull away the distractions. Little does she know that just on the other side of the aisle stands her esteemed leader. Angiiiiie... where are yoouu- ooh, Kisses with Almonds- wait, not looking for that.

Ferrero Rochers are deemed more than suitable for the Master of Magnetism, as he takes one of the boxes and tucks it under an arm as he turns to head off again - but, then, perhaps two boxes, as if because they're on sale for 'two for this price' it's required to bought in pairs. His eyes return to drifting around the store, walking slowly along the aisle as he scans those faces he can see - none of which ring any bells. A gentle breath escapes, though a trip into a store such as this is never without some sort of good side to it. Onward to the kisses! However, as he rounds the corner, he finds instead "Kelsi?" A beat passes as Magneto stands there, steely blue eyes quickly flickering to the sides as he shifts the two boxes of chocolates beneath his arms a bit. "I thought I might find you two in here - speaking of, however..." he trails off as his eyes flicker up and around again in search of that second one who should be with her.

That second one is currently slinking down aisles, trying not to be spotted by the Master of Magnetism as she searches for her lost companion. The chocolate kiss has since been abandoned, although Angelica still clings to the box of cherries. Finally, she rounds the right corner and finds... her worst nightmare. Magneto, with Kelsi... After staring helplessly, and very panicked, for a moment, Angie rushes forward. "Found them! The... chocolate. Oh, hello! Didn't expect to find you here, sir." As the guilt is rather obvious, Angie reaches out to firmly put Kelsi in her aura. Don't let the boss slay her!

As predators stalk one another, searching for those they know are within the store, the one whose presence is not actively known about acts as a monitor for the entire amusing fiasco. Mystique indeed wears a smirk, watching all paths inevitably intersect. As she does, so subtly, so slowly it's hardly noticed even by those directly next to her, she oh-so-carefully eases away from her guise of Raven. Though hair remains a dark shade of black, the woman seems to add on more pounds, as if the smell of chocolate alone does it, while eyes gradually darken towards hazel - features shifting a touch further to point her nose, round her cheeks and uneven her teeth. Once finished, there's hardly a chance that anyone in that trio would recognize her. Still she watches.

Kelsi's name, spoken by the all too familiar tone of Magneto's, sends a quick shock up her spine. Immediately, the young lady straightens up from her hunched over state and turns to face him at a stiff alert. Hazel eyes lift to his blue but for a flicker of a moment before dancing back down and to the side. She wasn't lost. Honest. She was... waiting for Angelica to come back with the chocolate, yes of course. The aura slaps and wraps itself about Kelsi, to which the girl reacts by taking a step back and closer towards the Damsel in no small bit of distress. Oh, the comfort zone. "It is good to see you here too, Lo-- Herr Lehnsherr," she greets the Master of Magnetism as well. A small flick of her averted gaze falls upon the barely visible shine of gold colored foil in bright fluorescent lights. Then it's away again. And her end of the conversation drops there, readying somewhat for what Magneto might have to say in response.

Magneto's eyes lift to Angelica with her appearance, eyebrows raising beneath the brim of his fedora. "Chocolate. Yes, I find there's a lot of it here, hm?" he says to her quick words as for a reason why she was gone, though his eyes drop to that box of chocolate covered cherries for a moment and the very corner of his lips tugs slightly out and up a bit, barely perceptible but there - as if realizing he should grab some too. "No, nor had /I/ expected to be here either, but...I needed a distraction of sorts, and heard you both ventured towards Times Square." His voice remains mostly casual, though a hint of warning creeps underneath his tone as his eyes fall back on Angelica. "You must be /very/ careful to be aware of where she is in the city, Damsel. She is not as familiar with things you or I may find commonplace as of yet - but soon," he says as he switches to a reassuring tone towards Kelsi with those last words.

Angelica smiles. "More chocolate than I think Kelsi here has ever seen." She hooks her arm around Kelsi's and nods, her expression slipping back into that guilty-serious look. "Yes, sir. In fact, I was just thinkin' that we should go purchase this and be off to somewhere... less crowded. Wouldn't want to lose each other," she adds with a grin. Wouldn't want to /again/ anyways. With a respectful nod and a "It was good to run into you, sir," Angie begins tugging Kelsi off toward the checkout counter.

As the Damsel and the earth-mover make their retreat - oblivious to Mystique having played witness to the whole ordeal - that slightly chubby, raven hair'd girl smiles a little more, cheeks crinkling with the motion. Oh look, dimples! But Magneto isn't quite through in the store just yet. Mystique slinks forward, those now hazel eyes alive with an impish glimmer before - whoops! silly shoelaces! - she trips and collides into the Master of Magnetism.

Kelsi nods in agreement with the conversation being directed towards chocolates, a 'safe' topic. It's when expressions change just a little bit, or the intonation wavers towards the side of warning that she reads well into it and quietly bobs her head again. Gulp. Soon enough, she's being tugged away, and gratefully the pair of sisters of the Brotherhood retreat. Nope, Kelsi certainly doesn't recognize Mystique either in that differing guise, and thus passes right by without so much as a blink in her direction on the way to the checkout lines.

A few moments are spent simply standing there as Magneto watches the two head off, but after a beat, the two can see a smirk tugging over his lips in a bit of amusement as he lifts his fingers to lightly tug the brim of his hat down in a parting pseudo-tip. "I'll speak with you both this evening," he adds just before they leave earshot, that slight smirk weaving into his tone to keep it from sounding like Impending Doom. As they depart, he slightly shakes his head and glances over towards the shelves beside him, caught completely unawares as he suddenly finds an unfamiliar woman crashing into him, sending him stumbling to the side for a few steps and reaching out with a hand to catch himself with the shelf. However, one of the Ferrero Rocher containers are not so lucky, and crash to the floor, tugging the corners of his lips down with it. Magneto is not amused.

Mystique is terribly amused! "OhmyGooood. I am /so/ sorry." Her voice, in addition to a mild lisp, is of a mildly grating, somewhat annoying soprano. "/So/ sorry, mister. Ugh, I've got /two/ left feet, I /swear/. And these damn shoelaces--" Which indeed are untied, though the glance down towards those errant laces also serve to draw his attention away from her features - most notably her laughing eyes. "Oh no! Your chocolate!" Which has, most unfortunately, burst from the package to send the little gold balls of chocolate rolling. A few people have looked over at this - as Mystique busies herself with trying to snag each chocolate-hazelnut goodie - eyeing the pair, perhaps murmuring or snickering, but nothing more.

The frown etches deeper into Magneto's features with this compound annoyance, though he keeps the brim of his fedora low, seeing the furrowing of his silvery eyebrows more from the tension around his eyes than the actual motion. "Perhaps if you -tied- them-," he starts in a crisp, sharp tone which holds a quietness as if to bring her own voice down, even though the ire is clearly heard. A sharp breath is released as he glances after those rolling balls, then up to the few others who have looked before he slightly shakes his head. "Have them, I can get another," he mutters as he backs a bit away from the annoying sounding woman.

The woman is rather persistent. "No! No really, I swear! It's like some /conspiracy/ against me. I've even /-super-glued/ them into a /knot/ and they come undone!" Despite Magnus' tempering of his own voice, it only seems to encourage her own - perhaps due to the distance of them now, with Mystique still hunkered on the floor. "OoOOOOoooh. Ferrero Rocher." The words are mildly garbled in that slant-toothed mouth. Instantly, she's up and depositing the fallen chocolates on a nearby shelf. "You're going to get another? I'll come with you. I love those things." At least, at this level, her voice is a bit less flamboyant.

While the increase of her voice only serves to push Magneto another few shuffled side-steps away, to avoid too much attention on him from the others around, her words still serve to draw some vague (if masked) amusement as an eyebrow lightly arches up. However, his eyes still flicker around before he turns to start off on his own and away from the attention, apparently not expecting her offer to join at all as it draws a few rapid blinks from him and actually falters his step for a beat. "What? I...hn. Very well then," he mutters as he glances towards her and continues back to the Ferrero Rocher display.

There's a blissful moment of silence before Mystique pipes back up in that lispful voice: "Are they for...a giiiirl?" The question is asked after a pointed gaze is cast towards his left hand before - foiled! - noticing his black leather gloves. "Cause I know /I/ like them, and /I'm/ a girl, and they seem to be those expensive chocolates that taste /really/ expensive, but actually aren't that bad price wise, y'know?!" A pause as they arrive at the display. "They're a girly chocolate." A pause. "Unless you're getting them for /yourself/." Another pause. "Unless you like being called girly. You never know in New York!"

A frown of slight bewilderment and perhaps a bit of caution towards the woman is given with her bantering and verbal poking, Magneto's eyebrows furrowing together with her classification of the chocolates. "Since when has the respectable and higher-class Ferrero Rocher been considered exclusively a 'girly chocolate'?" Erik asks, however, does not state whether they are actually for him or not, grabbing another one regardless of that fact. "They are a good price though," he allows with a mutter, hoping that will satiate the woman and divert the topic a bit, already starting to edge towards the checkout as he has what he needs.

"Be/cause/. /Obviously/ females have a much finer taste in chocolates. Chocolate's been /scientifically proven/ to affect females in a /more pronounced/ fashion than it does for males. It releases /seratonin/ and /dopamine/. Plus, it's an aphrodisiac. Go ahead. /Wiki/ it." The pinch-nosed twenty-something challenges the Master of Magnetism, likely making him regret having asked a question of the woman. The guised Mystique joins him at the check out, standing behind him and, a few moments into the checkout of his items, she murmurs into his ear in a voice entirely her own: "Your voice is a little recognizable... You'd do best to disguise it."

That sudden and lengthy retort seems to draw Magneto's eyebrows up little by little, further with each stressed word, before the challenge that's given receives a scoff of a dry chuckle in slightly dazed disbelief at the situation he finds himself in, blinking a couple of times as he slightly shakes his head at the discussion rather than the facts. His eyes do, however, drop to the chocolates as if seeing them in a new light as his eyes slightly narrow and he proceeds to the line. For the most part, his attention remains forward on that checkout clerk, at least until that voice draws immediate recognition - and an immediate snap of his attention towards her. His eyes briefly widen with that before, a beat later, they narrow into a very displeased and tight-lipped expression. "You..." Apparently that's all that can be found for now, standing with his money held out, before he snatches back his Ferrero Rochers from the checkout and his eyes flicker back to her, with no handy or witty retort available to make it to his lips in time as he stands off to the side and away from the checkout aisles.

Was that a quick wink? Likely, judging by the glimmer in Mystique's eyes. Once Magneto's transaction at Hershey's Times Square has been completed, the vaguely overweight form of Mystique comes forward to pay for her own purchases: her own package of Ferrero Rocher as well as a slim bar of simple dark chocolate. Items paid for, a toothy smile is passed towards Magneto as she traipses brightly towards the door. "Have a good day, mister!" she says back in that lisping near falsetto, waving as she heads out the door.

Trouble in the Kitchen

Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:17:24 GMT

They say the kitchen is often the most crowded room of a home. Today, though, it's probably a bit of the smelliest of all senses. The reason? Kelsi is cooking. Cooking with things that she's not seen before. Experimentation always bears some kind of fruit, and today it smells like a pungent stew of sorts. As it simmers on the stove, the girl herself has buried her nose in a book, in the process of reading fervently. The only thing that seems out of place in all of this... the errant feathers of a pigeon cover a cutting board.

It's the scent of cooking that brings Angelica out of her room and into the kitchen, adding one body to the room. The crowding begins. "Hey," she offers softly as she steps inside, arms crossed. The stew pot is eyed curiously, but the feathers add a hint of skepticism to the glance. "Whatcha cookin'?"

Food. Yeah, the smell of cooking food tends to draw a lot of people, and Torque isn't exactly immune to human nature, even if she's a mutant. She even goes so far as to ask, "Is that dinner?" standing on her toes to see over Angelica, catching a glimpse of feathers and... a pot of boiling stuff. Hm.

Ever so slowly, Kelsi lowers the edge of her book - The Hobbit - to peer over it at the woman. "Stew," she answers honestly, eyes shifting briefly to the pot before slipping back towards Angie. "There is recipe, but, I like the fresh meat." She pauses to sniff the air. "You want to try? It will be ready soon." Yes, food. Food alleviates tension and spurs on good feelings. With Torque's entrance to the kitchen too, Kelsi tilts her head at the pot again in silent repeat of her offer. The book closes and lowers, though it is no less closely clutched possessively. Inside that pot, should anyone wish to look past the steam, is in fact a whole plucked pigeon amongst those random vegetable pieces.

Angelica looks at the feathers, then the stew, then shakes her head. "I'm trying to cut back on stews. It's a new diet I'm trying out." The pigeon is just not deemed safe by the girl. "I'm Angelica," she adds to the others as she makes her way over to the fridge, intent on making a safe sandwich.

"I'll try it. I've eaten rabbit before. Never pidgeon, though," Torque says to Kelsi, eyeing the bird within the stew. Hopefully, the cook knows how to prepare that stuff because... quite honestly, she really doesn't want to get sick.

Kelsi at first, stares a bit blankly at Angelica's response with a mixture of confusion and even a brief moment of hurt. Why doesn't she want to try it? It's perfectly safe! Torque's agreement though, plus a mention of rabbit, swivels the geokinetic's attention onto her. Quickly, she sets the book down beside her and picks up a ladle and a knife to respond to the other girl's 'request.' Some piece of the bird is cut off, right in the pot, and offered out on knife's end to her. Hm... did she even wash that knife first? Good question. Kelsi's smile though, seems quite fine with this possible lack of sanitation.

Definitely on a diet. She raises a brow at the piece of pigeon that's offered to Torque, then goes about making herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. With a clean knife. "You're both rather new to the place, aren't ya?" she asks, subtly starting to inch out her aura toward Kelsi experimentally.

Torque takes the knife from Kelsi, flipping it around and taking a bite of the pidgeon - apparently somewhat used to handling knives. "Tastes like chicken," she responds, chewing thoughtfully. "Chicken stew. You could've found a new source of food to cure world hunger!"

Oh, she's very new. Well, if anyone seemed to notice the metal boxes in the Sparring Room that looked impossible to move actually do so while Magneto was away might've noticed the Russian girl's presence in an indirect sense. Or a random series of books on the shelf might've gone missing, hoarded away until another random date when they've been returned to their original places and others have been pilfered. She's stealthy when she wants to be, this Kelsi. "My name is Kelsi," she introduces, heavy Russian accent mixed with the ease of a sort of rote practice to it. Her eyes slowly being drawn back towards Angelica. There's a brief but significant pause as then Torque is eyed afterwards. More specifically, that knife the large piece of pigeon sits on. Kelsi's jawline tightens just a little. Then her lips purse, and she steps forward towards Torque to try and take that knife back - firmly, forcefully if need be.

Angelica fixes up her sandwich then moves to sit down at the table, her gaze taking in the small scene between Kelsi and Torque, while a small smile forms on her lips. "Good to meet ya," she offers, then bites into her sandwich. Chicken tasting or no, she still seems to believe that peanut butter is the safer choice for today.

Torque doesn't seem all that attached to the knife, quite honestly - she seems a bit surprised at the forcefulness with which Kelsi grabs it, "I'm Anna. Or Torque. Whichever you prefer," she replies to Angelica's earlier question finally, eyebrow still raised at Kelsi. "Just got here a week or so ago." She hasn't really done a lot of training or anything... nor made any specific marks on the place. Except for the burned spot on the wall from when she tried to fry Huruma.

Kelsi wipes the knife off with one of the nearby dishtowels and then stabs the sharp pointy object into the pigeon-feathered riddled cutting board. There, now no one's going to be trying to swipe that potentially dangerous weapon at Angelica. Once Torque is separated from the knife, Kelsi seems to regain that more 'friendly' approach towards her. "It is good to meet you both. Lord Magnus, he bring you both here too?" Another glance is sent in Angelica's direction. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich is eyed. Eyed, like it could possibly be a sneaky choking device.

Angelica shakes her head, swallowing a bite before speaking. "I was brought here by Huruma, but I've spoken with Magneto several times. He's an amazin' man, and I'm happy to be doin' somethin' worthwhile for once, somethin' that will brighten the future." She offers a smile to them both before adding, "I'm also called Damsel. Guess I just get in trouble a lot." She extends the aura a bit further, slowly, looking to include both Kelsi and Torque within it. She's feeling experimental today.

"Magneto came and got me; after I talked to Huruma, some. I mean. He had other stuff he had to attend to." Torque gets a strange feeling - "DON'T EAT THAT!" and the sandwich begins to get really hot, almost instantaneously bursting into flames - controlled so that they don't actually burn Angelica; just the sandwich. Within seconds, it's reduced to ash. "It could've been poisoned!"

The brief seconds of flame that ensue when the PB&J sandwich spontaneously combusts is all but enough for Kelsi to confirm. It /was/ a dangerous object! But more importantly, there is fire. With fire, it must be put out. And how? By being snuffed with earth. A cry of warning jumps out of Kelsi, followed by a full-fledged lunge towards Angelica to rescue her from the evils of the Burning Peanut Butter Jelly sandwich. In that instant, Kelsi's form morphs itself into a blackish ashy sand not unlike that of the ash itself left by the combusted culinary edible.

Angelica lets out a soft cry of surprise as the sandwich catches on fire, dropping it and blinking as it turns to ash. "Well... Perhaps you have another sug-" And then she's tackled by earth woman. She gasps in surprise, then quickly shuts her eyes and mouth, to avoid getting any unwanted sand within them. Interesting.

Ack! Angelica's being attacked! By the ground! Torque's powers flare up once again as she begins to throw a blast of fire at Kelsi, "Look out!" she cries at Angelica, perhaps both from the fire and a too-late warning about the sand-woman. "I'll burn it off!" she shouts.

The peculiar thing about sand - it takes a lot of heat to burn it. Perhaps surprisingly for Angelica, Kelsi doesn't lose one granule of her psionically controlled form as it retains her humanoid shape. The blast of fire takes the geokinetic by surprise, burning the unmorphed clothing and distracting her away from the immediate danger of the burned-up sandwich. Kelsi cries out in a defensive rage, turning on Torque. A wall of black sand suddenly explodes up from the ground to ward off the flames, teetering on its way down 'snuff' the pyrokinetic.

Well, a small fight in the kitchen is probably enough trouble for a first meeting. Blinking slightly, the innocent bystander in this confrontation - very innocent, yes - Angelica begins to slowly withdraw her aura, first from Torque, and then from Kelsi, trying to make the transition unnoticeable, watching to see how the end unfolds.

Torque's powers do not work in a way such that they can be smothered - rather the air around her, just prior to the sand's attack, becomes extremely hot, the air itself bursting into flame a split second later. The latext tile around Torque's feet begins to bubble and melt, eventually burning away into a pungent smelling gas, concrete and metal beneath it glowing a molten red and flowing slightly, except for the exact spots where she's walking - conspiciously cool so her shoes don't melt. Conscious of it? Probably not. As the sand impacts the flames, it melts somewhat more slowly than the other materials do. For a moment, it looks like brute force will work, and she'll be able to blow a Torque sized hole in the oncoming wall, but she misses the fact that the top of it is falling in on her, ultimately turning into chunks of volcanic glass - glass which is then cooled down to about room temperature by the time it makes it near her body... which ends up hitting her and knocking her over with a yelp, breaking her concentration. The heat and flames dissipate almost instantaneously, leaving only the melted mess of a pile behind.

Quite alarmed now, Kelsi yelps at the sudden flammability of the air around the kitchen. Yet, first instinct looks to be not to protect just herself, but Angelica too. Protection that is, by running. The sand wall loses its controlled sense an instant before the flames cease and desist. Instead, the Russian's sandy form loses its tightly controlled sense and undergoes a 'melt' of its own. The sand from her body extends to wrap itself snugly against Angelica, to mutually flee - fly, rather - back about a hundred feet from the flames and kitchen proper.

For once, Angelica is glad that she was slow about moving that aura. She certainly had little desire to stay too close to those flames, even if they did die down. She clings to her odd, sandy savior, not able to do much, really, as she's flown from the scene. "Thank you," she murmurs weakly. "That was all... unexpected."

Torque picks herself up from all the melted slag she's created, looking a bit dirty but really none the worse for the wear. "Ow," she mutters simply. "Ow." What the hell was that all about? She rubs her forehead where she got thumped, then sedately saunters out of the kitchen. Sure, she'll just pretend nothing happened. It was, an, um. Accident, if Magneto asks. Yeah...

"Pa`zhalsta," Kelsi replies, "You are welcome." It might sound a little grating, like the sound of sand rubbing against each other, but it's somehow still Kelsi's voice. And it somehow sounds grim, cautious about Torque as the pair remain hovering up in the air until the pyro teeters away. Slowly, they lower down after, Angie being set back on her feet gently. The sand re-gathers itself into a form more like the Russian girl. It fades away into flesh a little bit after, though the burnt and singed parts of her clothing remain that way. Kelsi doesn't even turn towards the kitchen to assess the damage done to it yet. Her hazel gaze remains quite intently on Angelica. "You are... not hurt?" she asks in hope, still quite under the subconscious influence of the aura.

Angelica returns the gaze, offering a grateful smile, almost looking a bit pathetic in a way. "No... I'm not hurt, thanks to you. That seemed like a close call." She crosses her arms as though cold, glancing toward the kitchen before looking back. "Welcome to the Brotherhood. Never a dull moment," she adds in a lighter tone.

Kelsi tilts her head, looking quizzically at Angelica's body language perhaps more intensely than one would expect of a young woman like Kelsi. "Thank you," she says slowly before extending her arm out, palm up to show she is 'technically' harmless. "She was a dangerous one. Anna. 'Tork'. But, I will never hurt you. And I will never let her hurt you." Oh yes, it's working well. A pause after, Kelsi adds, "You are cold?" The question is followed by a quick turn and a move towards the couch that's safely away from the kitchen. There, a large bear skin wrap is picked up and Kelsi strides back over to offer it out.

Angelica gives another grateful smile as the open palm is shown, dipping her head in a slight nod. "I believe ya, Kelsi. That's very kind of ya. It's not often that I feel... safe." She chuckles a bit as the skin is offered, reaching to wrap it around herself. "Thank you. Goodness, is this real fur? From... a real bear?"

The bear skin is quite real, tanned and sewn with strong thread. Handmade, no doubt, and something that PETA would have a collective heart attack over. Kelsi bobs her head to confirm. "The bear, he was old but strong. My first." The burnt bits of kitchen are still relatively ignored, but once the Russian is sure that Angelica is taken care of, she moves to take care of the 'mess'. "Hungry?" she asks as well, over her shoulder. "There is stew."

Heels can be heard, as the beauty called Kage enters the kitchen in a long lacy black dress, that clings to his noexistant curves. Even though Aya rarely stops by the warehouse, he's actually looking for Mystique. "Hello, I do not believe we ha..oh my god what happened in here. It is disgusting, and what is that smell." Aya holds a finger in front of his nose to block out the stench of stew and burnt plastic. "What the hell kind of rifraff did Magneto let in here?!"

Angelica smiles, but shakes her head. "No stew for me. I think I am no longer hungry after all that..." She does, however, follow Kelsi further toward the kitchen, the bear skin wrapped tightly around her. "You killed the bear yourself?" she asks, awed by that information, although further questions are stalled by Aya's entrance. "You... The one from the restaurant. I should've figured you'd end up here."

It's not a pretty sight to behold, the kitchen. Amidst the burnt linoleum on the floor and chemical stench mixing with pungent pigeon stew, the sand, the glass... Oh, the glass. Kelsi turns when Angelica follows her, a warding hand lifting. "Stop. There is glass. It is dangerous," she explains, glancing down to the mess on the floor. Like magic, the particles lift from the ground to Kelsi's other hand, where it wraps around her exposed flesh and slowly sinks into her arm. It's during this that Aya steps in and Kelsi... well, Kelsi stares. She herself looks very much the part of 'riffraff', clothes quite singed and burnt in many places, hair a bit tangled and all. However, she takes one step forward. One step in front of Angelica.

At being address Aya turns and looks at Angelica, and actually gives her a sly sort of smile. "Yes, it is I. Happy to see me?" Eyes linger a bit longer on Angelica before looking back to the kitchen and Kelsi and Aya puts up a hand in disqust. At least Kelsi is a mutant, and something else? "Where the hell did Magneto find you? The zoo? I mean when is the last time you took a shower? And with getting glass all over the place?" Kelsi is just so -wild- that Aya is taken back, he's drawn between scrubbing Kelsi clean and getting her decent clothing or putting her outside in a box to air off the smell.

Angelica stops as the warding hand is raised, her brows lifting. "Oh, yes, the glass..." She is quite content to remain behind Kelsi, sheltered by the earth girl's protection, her chin tilted up proudly as she regards Aya from behind the spirit. "Happy depends, as always."

Kelsi stands as tall as she can. He's talking awfully fast though, so it's not like she keeps up that well. There's that little lag time before she can respond. "I do not understand," she says slowly, looking back to Angelica briefly. Perhaps, with a bit of hope that the woman can explain.

Aya looks at Kelsi and sighs. "I am saying, you are a mess and need to be cleaned up. You are filthy, and mutants should take better care of themselves and represent that we /are/ the superior being." He crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head. "That smell will not go away!" He then looks over to Angelica again giving her another warm, yet sly smile. "Happy depends? Than shall we use entralled?" The ego never ends on this guy.

Angelica narrows her eyes at Aya. "Hardly. If you think I'm impressed by your... egotistical attitude, you've got another thing comin'. What /matters/, buster, is not how ya look, but what ya do and what ya stand for. Any mutant with half a brain knows that. Men like you are all the same. Think everyone's just gonna fall all over ya, worship the ground ya walk on. Not this gal. Not anymore. I've seen enough of your type ta know not ta be takin' in by it. Miss Kelsi here is a kinda gal that just helped me out. And she's an honored friend and soon to be member of our Brotherhood." Slight exaggeration. "So I'd appreciate ya showin' her more respect."

The weather outside has been incredibly blustery and surprisingly chill in a stark contrast to the mild winter that the season seemed to start off with. Jack Frost nips at everything not covered with a vengeance in some areas, and while the larger buildings in midtown and to the east my provide some minor cover from the winds, over near Hell's Kitchen is where the streets become veritable wind tunnels. Even a short time outside can leave one's nose and ears slightly redder than usual, and it's likely for this reason that when Erik Lehnsherr strides through the main room still wearing his long, dark overcoat and fedora, his black gloves still on, that even though he was driving (for the most part) his nose and ears show the chill bite of the weather outside. A deep breath is exhaled as he draws closer, eyes sliding through the kitchen to take in the scene as he nods his head to each in turn. "Pleasure to see you back again, Aya. Good evening Angelica, Kelsi..." His voice trails off as he notices the glass and the state of the room, eyebrows slightly furrowing as the look alone asks the question itself.

Aya lets out a laugh at Angelica, and is actually humoured by being called buster. "My dear, you assume that I am like everyother man in this world." His face grows dark and serious as he stares seriously at Angelica. "Never make the mistake again of doing that. I do not expect you to worship the ground I walk on, but I do know I am a greater being that human kind, and I -act- like it. And I know it is about what I do and what I stand for, if I didn't I wouldn't be here right now. And Miss Kelsi over there, well, she needs a bath." Hearing someone great him, Aya turns around and nods cordially at Magneto. "Good Evening Magneto."

Kelsi furrows her brow with Aya's temperamental tantrum-like motions and words. She sniffs at the air again, wondering what this smell is that bothers him so. "I am not... filthy," she says slowly, just that bit behind but parsing. Aya's dark stare towards Angelica causes Kelsi to tense defensively, not unlike an animal ready to strike out. Everything else seems to not be relevant - not relevant in the sense that as long as Aya isn't being threatening towards Angelica, Kelsi is fine with just being there. Fine, until Magneto shows up. And then she looks a bit nervous. Caught, one could say, with what would be a displeasing scene of the kitchen being rather burnt as well as her clothes. It's a very fish out of water awkwardness, and it shows.

Kelsi isn't the only one who's feeling a bit caught. Angelica's eyes lower as Magneto enters the room, her grip on the bear skin wrap tightening. "Magneto," she offers in a meek greeting, although the gaze that flickers up to meet Aya's is anything but meek. Filled with defiance and distrust, apparently not taking a liking to the cross-dressing man. And if there were any threat in Aya's words, in his look, Angelica doesn't seem to fear it one bit. She does, after all, have her aura, which she continues to keep around Kelsi, strengthening it faintly, even, as though she might be able to protect her from both the vague threat of Aya and the scolding of Magneto.

A few moments pass as Magneto's brow-furrowed, warily curious and slightly narrow-eyed gaze lingers on each one of the three in turn. First Angelica, then Kelsi, then Aya, before he finally lets his gaze flicker back to Kelsi, then Angelica. Silence hangs thick as still no explanation is given other than greetings towards him, and his lips tighten as he releases another light sigh and scans the room again as he slowly begins to take his gloves off, eyes lingering on the burnt linoleum then the cutting board. "This is /certainly/ not the way I had hoped to introduce the three of you. Such things are bound to happen when other matters arise, however. Angelica," he starts as his eyes flicker to her again, "you have nothing to fear from Aya, for he knows if he /were/ to try anything, it would be breaching my trust in him. Kelsi," he begins in a slightly more gentle tone as he notices the nervousness and her current state, "you have nothing to fear from -me-, as I understand you are...beginning to untap your powers even more, if such was the case here. However, I /still/ do not know exactly what happened here." His last words are held in a graver tone again, steely eyes sliding away from Kelsi and over to Angelica then Aya and the room for an explanation.

Aya isn't trying to intimate or threaten Angelica, just trying to set her straight. Running a hand through his hair, he sighs as he looks around the kitchen and at the mess. He gives a quick smirk at Magento's words to Angelica, there's that ego again, and Aya has no ideas about betraying Magneto's trust. Turning to look at the master of magnatism, raising his hand. "When I walked in here, the place looked atrocious and that smell was already here." He is quite disgusted by the kitchen actually. "Miss Kelsi is it? When you absorb dirt into yourself, have your hair looking like a ratsnest, and burnt clothing people are going to think you look filthy. If you want, I can take you, and get you all cleaned up and pretty." He's hoping he can get her pretty.

Kelsi looks guilty, sure, but not as much as she looks confused by the flow of things. She shakes her head, but with Magneto's tone being gentler rather than scolding, it's a small comfort. Kelsi pokes out of her invisible shell to try and explain. Only as she does... it's in German towards the Master of Magnetism. "I was cooking," she says with a gesture towards the stew pot, "and Angelica and this girl named Anna Tork came to the kitchen. I offered them food, and suddenly I felt like I couldn't really trust Anna - not with the knife on the board there. And then, Anna said the bread was poison, and I think she set it on fire. After that, I really thought she was going to hurt Angelica, which she did try to when she set the kitchen on fire." Kelsi swallows hard, glancing again to Aya and Angelica for a brief second. "And then she just walked away like nothing happened, and I tried to clean up, and he... she... he, came." The Russian girl wets her lips, done with a pseudo explanation, looking back to the leader with an apologetic expression. "He seems angry with me, and I don't know why."

Angelica shifts her weight from one foot to the other, a tad guilty, since she knows that even if the others are ignorant of what being around her can do, Magneto, at least isn't in the slightest. "That about sums it up, sir," she adds softly, although her gaze does return to Aya, narrowing slightly. It seems that, threat or not, she's not taking a liking to Aya anytime soon. Not after the insult - however well intended - to Kelsi. She has apparently become slightly protective of the Russian, perhaps to compliment how protective Kelsi now seems of her. "It all happened rather fast."

A glance is given towards Aya with his side of things, Magneto releasing a quietly thoughtful 'hm' with Aya's offer as he looks back towards Kelsi now. As she explains what happened, Erik's eyebrows actually furrow even more, though he glances briefly away from Kelsi as if in a body language reassuring her that it's not towards her. "Couldn't really trust Torque," he mutters with his lips tightening slightly, and his right eyebrow arches up as the explanation for setting the kitchen on fire is given. His lips tighten and a light sigh is released, eyebrows still slightly tensed in slightly agitated curiosity at Torque's end of things, though another possibility seems to pop into his head as his attention flickers to Angelica. "I see. I assure you, I will speak with Torque about this. Angelica?" There's a beat, then, "Kelsi believed Torque may have been a threat to you...How did you view things?" he asks in an almost indirect manner, but to Angelica, knowing he's aware of her abilities, she may realize what he's really asking. "Aya, I appreciate the offer, and perhaps after I reassure Kelsi of your good intentions and dedication to us and our cause...and especially those I deem important, she may be more willing."

Aya would take a seat and sit down, but frankly, he's not to sure how clean it is right now and Aya doesn't want to get his nice dress dirty. He folds his arms over his chest and nods. "Thank you, I just do not like our speicies being represented poorly." He's way to elitest and egotistical for his own good many of times. After that Aya quiets down as he watches the two girls. He doesn't know what Kelsi said, so he doesn't comment on what the two are talking about, and Angelica, well, she needs to learn to watch her tounge a bit and cool down is his opinion.

Kelsi looks a little more relaxed once she realizes Magneto's not about to blow up on her, though she's clearly reading him and his expression intensely, relying on visual clues to his mood. Beside that, she's constantly glancing towards Aya and the dress he has on. Obviously not knowing what to make of it, the geokinetic remains quite bewildered. Plus his offer to take her somewhere, well, she's parsing it. English is quite clearly not her strongest language.

Angelica shifts her weight again, glancing up at the Master of Magnetism before lowering her gaze again. "I... Perceptions are often tricky things. I was rather surprised by the fire... and it being so close... I am not sure how much was /meant/. Might be that Torque was looking to help me in her own way..."

Another few moments are spent where Magneto watches Angelica closely, though his expression slowly begins to shift from the agitated tension into a more relaxed one of contemplation, his lips relaxing from their line and gently tugging to the side. "Perceptions quite often are - things are often not how they may seem at first," his eyes flicker towards Kelsi with this, only gently raising an eyebrow as if imparting useful advice to her personally in an amicable manner, "though I am glad you both seem to have taken such a liking to each other, watching each other's backs." His eyes flicker towards Angelica briefly with this, as if to silently and knowingly reveal he may've caught on to how things likely went. "However, I will still speak with Torque on this matter, though I hope my words are able to reassure you both that she likely meant none harm, as she truly desired to be here, and I personally brought her here." A deep breath is taken now, eyebrows both rising as his gaze shifts to Aya, taking a moment as if stepping back from the situation for a moment. "In case you all haven't been introduced - Aya, this is Angelica, and Kelsi. Aya is the one who went with Mystique, Exodus and myself on the last two Benetech infiltration missions to decimate their last facilities."

Aya looks at Magneto and shakes his head with a small sigh. "Women." At the introduction, Aya gives a slight bow of his head and smile respectfully. "I met Angelica at a cafe, and this is my frist time meeting Kelsi. Aya....hmph...you may also call me Kage." He prefers the name humans didn't give him. "Oh Magneto, I took one of the psiscramblers from the Benetech raid, and have been working to modify it for my own personal use, I might need Exodus's help in the testing."

Kelsi follows along the conversation much like she's picking mushrooms in a dark forest. Not everything gets through, but the ones that are illuminated get through quite well and are deftly snatched, filed away. Slowly, she nods at Aya in a friendlier sort of greeting, a more neutrally grounded gesture. "I am sorry to be suspecting of you before, Kage," she notes to him this time in English, a little stilted as she formulates the sentences in mind. "I hope to be helping Lord Magnus, and, the Brotherhood. For our future."

Angelica does afford a small smile to Aya as he's introduced, as well as nods to Kelsi. Returning Magneto's glance, she nods, perhaps revealing in that gesture that his guess is correct. "That is good. I am sure that this can all be straightened out, sir."

"Yes," Magneto allows with a wry and somewhat tired smirk, "Kage, and Damsel," he adds for Kage as he dips his head towards Angelica in offering of her True name. His eyes return to Aya with his slight smirk at the edges as he nods. "An excellent find, that. Feel free to, with my support if he questions the use of such things." His lips ease into a more pleased grin with Kelsi's words, his attention sliding to her. "As I will be helping Kelsi as well, in both educational matters and refining her gifts. I have meant to introduce the two of you," he adds with a glance to Angelica for inclusion, "as I believe Damsel may be a very fitting person to help you...adjust to the ways of the world in this location when I am unavailable, Kelsi, as many things may be new to you."

Aya gets a wide grin on his face as he looks at Kelsi. "I like you." He looks to Damsel and raises an eyebrow. "Damsel huh? It's a pleasure." He purrs out. "Well I must be on my way, I have..things...I must attend to. Like that wine storage center in New Jersey, you know their security will be easy to get through." He gives a small head bow to the girls, and then a deeper bow of respect to Magneto. "Take care Magneto-Sama." Turning, the transvestie saunters out the door.

The young Russian lady shifts attentions smartly onto Magneto every time he speaks, and especially when he mentions her. One can most certainly note her attempts at keeping track of everyone, giving them their due out of her attention. She smiles back at Aya faintly, though it's certainly an expression that befits the young woman better than the angry or confused look from before. Something else the Master of Magnetism says quickly snags her though, and she hangs onto the hope. "I can go out?" she blurts in a rush of Russian, not realizing her slip until moments after. An embarrassed duck of her head follows, and she repeats her statement in a more understandable language.

Angelica nods to Aya as he leaves, watching his departure, then returns her attention to Magneto and Kelsi, offering a more genuine smile now. "I would be more than happy to help Kelsi adjust to this new life in any way I'm able, sir. It's not easy to be in a new place."

A smirk is offered towards Aya as Magneto nods in parting, though his attention is quick to return to the other two, a gentle chuckle sliding out with Kelsi's relief and enthusiasm. "Of course you may, Kelsi, though for a while I would be much more comfortable if you were to go with someone such as Damsel, or perhaps myself, if you were to venture out into the city. There is much you are unfamiliar with in this area, and I do not wish any harm or trouble to come to you out there. However, if you do wish to simply be outside and around the grounds of this haven, you are more than welcome, as long as you are very cautious about calling any attention to our location and do not let any others in." He stands a bit taller for a moment in a subtle stretch, a quiet breath escaping as he adds, "But I need to finish a few things upstairs now. For this evening - if one of you can clean this up again, or perhaps both, it would be appreciated." A gentle manner of assigning duties, care taken towards the nervousness Kelsi displayed before and trying to avoid it sounding like a punishment (subtle though it may be).

There it is - real happiness, and nothing to abate it. Not even cleaning up the kitchen could possibly be punishment at this junction, and Kelsi turns towards Angelica with a wide smile. She's being let out! Of course, she makes sure to express her enthusiastic thanks to the Master of Magnetism. "I will remember," she says with quick nods, all too impatient to do some cleanup right then and there. The glass slides a little along the floor, spurred on by the bits of sand that haven't been cleaned up into a pile.

Angelica nods again to the Magnet Master. "We will take care of the mess in here. It will be just about as good as new by morning," Damsel promises with a smile. "Good night, sir, and thank you." The wide smile from Kelsi is returned, Angie beginning to decide that she does really like this girl... even if the girl does only like /her/ because of the aura.

"Good," Magneto quietly says in a pleased voice with a curve of his lips to reflect this towards Kelsi. Angelica is granted a parting nod as well as Kelsi, that pleased grin lingering on his lips even as he turns to leave. "I will be able to meet with you again tomorrow, Kelsi, to continue our lessons. Goodnight you two." With that, Magneto disappears around the corner and up the stairs, off to attend to a few more things before truly turning in for the night.

"Good night!" comes Kelsi's chirp as she busies herself with the kitchen cleanup once more. Not once does she even ask Angelica to help - she seems to insist on the Damsel staying right where she are so nothing bad can go wrong, be it cutting herself on the glass, knives, or so much as accidentally bumping against the countertop. Interestingly, Kelsi has no qualms about using her powers to manipulate what she needs to fix things, but some parts can't be fixed. Burnt linoleum is instead replaced by patches of stone, everything else scrubbed with sand and rinsed cleanly. All told, the girl is quite efficient at what she can do. Won't be long before she's asking to go outside.

Talk on the Dock

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 08:38:54 GMT

It's snowing. Perfect Christmas weather, they say. Although for Jordan, it just plain sucks. This whole season sucks. He's not feeling it, even after being made to deliver presents to the needy Morlocks. So rather than be inside, spreading cheer to his fellow Mutant, he's out behind the warehouse, sitting on the edge of the dock. He's already had a brisk swim to keep himself properly hydrated; now he's just sitting in the cold, staring at the distant, festive lights of more jolly individuals.

The wintry cold isn't exactly Angelica's favorite weather, and so she's been staying within the warehouse's walls for the most part, especially within her own room, yet it's ever true that one can't stay locked up forever. She's ventured forth tonight, as far as behind the headquarters, and she's bundled in a long overcoat, her arms wrapped around herself to further combat the chill. Spotting a figure on the dock's edge, Angie heads toward him, summoning up a small smile. "Hello?"

Jordan lifts his head and glances briefly over his shoulder. He only wears an old trenchcoat along with his Brotherhood-issue wetsuit, but it's enough for him. Cold and wet climates are his specialty. And when he sees Angelica, he doesn't seem moved at all. "Hello," he mutters, turning to stare again.

"It's a... nice view, huh?" the young woman offers in a shy tone as she draws closer, eventually lowering herself to sit another edge, a few feet away from Jordan. She also lapses into silence, staring out across the water, before she speaks up again. "Just wanderin' to find some fresh air. This weather, though, one breath almost makes ya want to head right back inside and hide by the heater."

"Me not bothered by d'wethah," Jordan states with a shrug. After a moment, he takes a deep breath and adds, "Me always liked d'way dah cities looked lit up at night. Dif'rent from a village. Very dif'rent."

Angelica lifts her gaze to the distant lights as she rubs her arms for further warmth. "I suppose it would be. Different. Never been to a village myself. Born and raised here in good ol' New York City. It's real nice when you can see it from above, from a high buildin'. Someday... someday I'd like to see it from a plane," she admits with another shy smile.

Jordan smirks vaguely. "Not been wit us long," he wonders aloud. "Magneto used to have us in space. Now dat be sight for d'eyes." He pulls his legs up from their dangling position over the edge of the dock and dusts snowflakes off that were sticking to his wetsuit. Hmm. Maybe it is starting to get a bit too cold. Ocean water gets chilly, but not completely freezing.

Angelica shakes her head. "No, I'm new. Couple months, perhaps, since I joined." She tilts her head back, looking up at the sky, not minding what snowflakes might land on her skin or hair. "Space, huh? I bet that was amazin'. Think he'll relocate again?"

"O'course 'e will!" Comes a dry voice from behind both Angelica and Jordan, before Toad leaps forward and out of the shadows that the warehouse casts. Who knows how long he's been standing there listening. But then again, seeing as Toad isn't the most... subtle of creatures, he's probably just heard that last question and decided to butt in. Landing in crouch next to Angelica, he flashes her a sheepish grin. "Some'ing big like the Master of Magnetism won' be kept down 'ere on Earth. 'E'll take us all up there again, some day soon." a thumb is jerked upward, before he finally looks the other way, to Jordan. "'Ey, Jors."

Jordan slowly looks to Toad, not all that surprised that he's come to intrude. Seems whenever Jordan's alone with the opposite sex Toad appears. Like that wart you thought you put a pound of makeup on. "Where be da big mon, anyway, Tode," he asks as he sits up straight. "Wat we g'wan be d'wan b'sides coolin' our jets an' givin' out gifts?"

Angelica jumps slightly at the sound of the unexpected voice, but her smile broadens once she recognizes its owner. "Hello, Toad," she offers, shifting her position so that her back is to neither of the boys. "That will be awesome to see, when he does go back up, but I suppose he has his reasons for wantin' to be down here now. What with 'cures' and Sentinels and... I imagine he has been very busy."

And said wart is about to answer Jordan's question when Angelica speaks up. When she finishes, the Toad sits up, propping his elbows on his knees. "You 'ear the lady, Jors. Big man, big business. 'sides, I rather fancy some more time down 'ere. No takin' those 'orrible things whenever I wanna visit a pub." He nods contently, looking Angelica over for some reason or another. "I wonder 'ow my new frog will like i', though."

Jordan stares at Toad with half-lidded eyes. Then he turns back to looking out at the cityscape. New York looks quite peaceful when you're not knee-deep in is more crime-ridden areas. "Same as d'remora Aye got in Aye tank," he replies after a while. "Dey know no dif'rence."

"I can see why ya might want some time down here," Angelica says, quick to agree with Toad. "Might get too restless in one place for too long with too many folks around. Is it a very big place up there?" Yet she blinks at his last statement. "You have a pet frog? A little tree frog or one of the larger ones?"

Toad shoots Jordan a narrow-eyed glance, before just reaching to firmly pat Jordan on the back. After all, how could Jordan know amphibians are one of the smartest creatures in the word? Mortimer can't blame him for the ignorance. "Oh, she's large alright." He answers slyly, after Anegelica's question. "O'course, she's not even full grown, but I been feedin' 'er enough rodents to grow up nice an' strong." He smiles proudly at Angelica, reaching to scratch the back of his head with one hand.

Jordan glances slowly towards Toad's reaching arm, and as he looks up to Toad's face, his pupils overtake his eyes until they are fully darkened. Don't patronize the shark. "Speakin'ah da twins," he grunts as he climbs to his feet, "it be time dey had dere feed. Don' catch cold." A static gesture of kindness he offers as he turns to head indoors.

Angelica glances up at Jordan as he stands, offering a smile. "Take care, yourself. It was nice talkin' to ya." Her attention quickly returns to Toad, however, and she tilts her head. "Never really had pets myself before." Her look becomes a bit shy. "Think I could see her sometime?"

Toad perks up slightly, at Jordan's sudden leave. Huh. "Same t'you, Jors!" He calls after his acclaimed friend, waving a hand around in good bye. A grin is still on his face as his attention settled back on Angelica. "I never 'ad pets myself, either. 'cept for a cockroach 'ere and there. But I'll be gladto introduce you! 'Er name is Four." There goes that proud look again. Although... a moment afterwards, it starts to fade into more of a pondering expression. Four? "... I'm not exactly sure why."

Angelica returns the grin, briefly, then blinks. "Cockroaches? Well... I suppose that'd be a pet that'd last," she offers, but seems a bit more comfortable with the idea of the frog. "Four, huh? Lotta nice things come in fours. Seasons, luck..."

Toad nods a few times, frantically. "Exactly. 'At must've been i'. She's livin' a luckier life than the bugs I 'ad. 'Course now I /feed/ 'er cockroaches. But they don't taste so good, so I try an' buy 'er mice instead." One would wonder how he knows, perhaps.

Angelica tries /not/ to wonder how he knows as she smiles. "I would guess not, no. I suppose I never gave much thought to what frogs would eat before. Seems a bit sad for the mice, but at least they're givin' their lives for a good cause," she adds with a chuckle, then shivers. "It really /is/ startin' to get cold out. Think I ought to get myself a warmer scarf."

Toad nods once more in agreement, before peering over to Angelica, head angled to the side curiously. "I never felt the cold much. But I 'ave slept outside alot, so maybe tha' 'elped." He shrugs, noticeably trying to think of what to say. He's never been real good at conversations, especially not when he's not being yelled at or insulted. Having to defend himself somes rather easily, compared to just making small talk. "So'uh. Maybe you /should/ ge' inside. Wouldn't wanna ge' sick after Jors warned you, eh?" He grins wryly.

Angelica chuckles as she stands. "No, wouldn't want that. But it was nice to get out for a bit." She glances toward the warehouse for a moment before looking back at him with a smile. "Thank you for the talk!" And with that, she turns and hurries off toward the warmth inside.

Toad smiles back, although it is far, far from a pretty smile. As usual. Though he tries. Once Angelica is out of sight, his expression fades. A breath he'd seemingly been holding for a while escapes the green teinted mutant just before he hops forward to the edge of the docks, and he crouches down to almost motionlessly watch the water.

Nightmares later. Definitely

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:49:18 GMT

The sweet sound of a young voice humming a few secular carols can be heard from the designated kitchen area of the warehouse's main floor, and within it can be found Angelica. The woman is in the midst of making herself a turkey sandwich and seems blissfully unaware of any others who might be around to be subjected to her impromptu music.

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. From overhead comes a heavy, regular tread, metal impacting with metal, approaching the stairway down to the main floor with sinister deliberation. Thunk. Thunk. A three-clawed metal 'foot' at the end of a segmented metal tentacle plants itself at the topmost stair and is soon followed by another just like it that extends all the way down to the floor. Two others follow, similar in appearance, and hanging in the center of them like the body of a daddy longlegs is the portly figure of Dr. Octavius, unshaven and rather rumpled, his eyes hidden behind enigmatic goggles. The tentacles emerge from an opening in the back of a voluminous black coat.

The humming cuts off at the sound of that first thunk, and Angelica moves toward the doorway of the kitchen, eyes wide as she peers out to try and discover the source of the noise. Her eyes widen even more once she finds it. Well, it appears that Otto is no longer anything near an ordinary man. She stares for a moment, then seems to regain her senses and pulls back into the kitchen, as though hoping she wasn't seen.

No such luck. One of the upper limbs seems to have spotted her, its red light glowing past the curling, jointed claws. For a moment, it looks like a kind of deadly flower, but then the way it focuses and seems to peer in her direction is purely serpentine. "Ah, Damsel. Do not look so distressed." Otto is buoyant, even exuberant, though his voice rasps and he sports an ugly set of fresh bruising on his thick neck, like someone tried to strangle him. Grinning widely, he tentacle-walks himself toward the kitchen.

Angelica silently curses as she's spotted, and does what she can to appear less frightened as he enters the kitchen, rushing back over to where she'd been working. She look up with a shaky smile and dips her head in a slight nod as he enters. "...Turkey sandwich? I was just making some."

Fully armed (so to speak), Octavius fills the room. "How very thoughtful," the tentacled terror says in a kind of amiable growl. One and then another of the limbs extend and seem to surround the young mutant, making the enclosed space even moreso. "...But no. I was just heading out for some field tests." If anything, his grin widens, becoming sharklike.

Angelica eyes the limbs warily as they come closer, her brows lifting in concern, looking very much like a damsel in distress. "Oh, well, I'll make sure there's some leftover, if you want some later? After the... field tests?" She swallows, then looks at the nearest tentacle again, her aura starting to strengthen around her as she feels more and more uneasy.

One of the upper arms snakes its way closer to her, the 'death flower petals' curling open as it examines her from a gulf of inches, emitting barely audible clicks and squeals. A trio of smaller, more delicate, manipulators unfold from recesses on the inner side of the outer claws and reach out to pluck at her hair. "No need to be frightened, my dear," says Octavius in the tones of one who, honestly, doesn't mind her being frightened at all. "I would hardly be so discourteous to such a well-mannered young lady."

Angelica cowers back as the tentacles comes closer, running into the counter and trying to lean back even further in an effort to get away from it. Further backing, however, is impossible, and so she is forced to remain still, watching its approach with wide eyes. Her eyes shut tightly as the smaller claws touch her hair, and she shudders. She nods to his words, as though agreeing that she won't be frightened, but can't find the courage to speak.

Click-click skreeeeee. The arm withdraws, but remains within a couple of feet, its 'eye' watching her. Another adroitly opens the silverware draw, takes out a fork, and uses it to spear a few pieces of turkey before bringing this back over toward the man whose shoes still dangle high off the floor. Octavius, watching and savoring Angelica's fear and its affirmation of his own position of power, takes the fork in his 'real' hand. "I was thinking of inviting you to come along," he rasps, just before taking a bite. Mmm, turkey.

Frightened dark eyes follow the movement of the tentacle as it spears the turkey, and then lifts to glance back up at Otto. "M...Me? Invite? I don't see how I'd be any help. Probably just get in the way... Where are you going?"

"Up," rasps Octavius, after taking another bite of turkey. "Far above these filthy streets and scuttling human insects." Empty fork in hand, he smiles patronizingly down at her. "It will be quite safe, I assure you."

Angelica looks up at the ceiling as he says that, shuddering slightly before she turns away, starting to wrap back up the turkey. "Let me just put this in the fridge and then I'll be ready." There's a note of curiosity to her otherwise shaky tone, and she wastes no time in repacking the food.

Otto utters a low, hoarse chuckle, using an extra arm to drop the fork into the sink as he rubs gingerly at his abused neck. "You'll want a coat," he remarks, as he withdraws back to the main room and moves toward the exit.

Angelica glances toward the sink as the fork is dropped, almost jumping at the sound, then nods. "I'll run and get one." And she does just that, fleeing up the stairs only to reappear a minute later with a coat in hand, already throwing it over her shoulders.

Otto is already in coat and hat, and is, as she returns, tugging on his gloves. The look he gives her is both predatory and approving. Then, without word or warning, one arm all but dives toward her, a thinner tentacle extending out from it like a long tongue to wrap itself around her middle.

Mixed signals from the look gets a mixed response in return as Angelica both cowers and offers a small smile. Of course, the smile quickly disappears as the tentacle wraps around her, replaced with a much more worried look. "Quite safe?"

The tendril tightens around her, growing snug, while the arm's claws press against her back and belly. "/Quite/," says Octavius, lifting her off the floor without any sign of effort. Another tentacle tugs open the door, and then they're out into the brisk, chill autumn night. Vibration travels up the grasping limb, letting her feel each step, each impact of 'foot' against concrete, and the swiftness of their passage creates a wind that takes her breath away. And they're still, for the moment, still at street level.

Angelica gasps as she's lifted off of the floor, placing her hands on the tentacle holding her, as though feeling that she needs a better grasp. But the doctor did say that it was safe... Yet she can't throw him anywhere, so there isn't much trust for his words. Even so, she is surprised by how swiftly they travel, not having expected to have her breath stolen in such a fashion, and soon she is silent, simply watching the surroundings as they move.

The circumstances would make it difficult to converse, and Dr. Octavius doesn't attempt it. Nor does he glance her way as he carries her along. Mere blocks away from the Brotherhood's headquarters, he angles toward a crumbling four-story building and begins to scale it, each of his three free tentacles extending to full length. They're at the roof in almost no time at all, and then it's off to the next roof, and the next, always heading for the higher buildings, always climbing, always heading /upwards/, claws gouging handholds in the concrete and brick. As the sounds of traffic grow more distant, the wind gets colder, biting, clawing at hair and pulling at clothes.
It's while scaling toward the top of a crumbling twenty-story apartment building in a disreputable section of town that Otto Octavius starts to laugh, loudly, ecstatically, his broad face transformed into an expression of intense -- and not quite sane, truth to tell -- joy.

Angelica definitely finds reason to be glad she was told to grab a coat as she is carried along, higher and at surprising speeds. She also makes no effort to converse, but merely stares downward, eyes wide as she silently prays that tight grip won't lesson. Her gaze is drawn back to the doctor, however, at the laugh, and then, only then, does she herself get a small smile, expression softening for a brief moment before her tension returns

At the roof of this weary edifice, Otto pauses to stare out over the night-time city with a broad grin, stubbled face flushed and his bowl cut hair horrifically tousled. True, there are a few minor adjustments that are needed, minute irregularities that occurred during the 'run' that only he would notice, but... Gloved hands close into triumphant fists as he draws the arm holding Angelica closer to him. "My dear Damsel," he rasps; all that laughing has further strained his recently-abused windpipe. "Have you the merest inkling of the privilege that I have granted to you this evening?"

Angelica loses any smile that she'd had as she is moved closer to him, that concerned look returning. After all, she /is/ at his mercy right now. And... way too high to fall. "I never imagined it would be like this," she answers after a moment to catch her own breath. "Thank you, Doctor."

So /many/ ways he could harm her, kill her. Fortunate that he means her no harm, not tonight at any rate. "You're /quite/ welcome, my dear," he says, glancing at her with that unpleasant, tooth-clenched grin of his. The flat round lenses of his goggles stare enigmatically at her, giving away nothing. He turns away then and surveys the glimmer of city lights, the distant faint glitter of stars, and the thin cold sliver of moon, nostrils flaring as he takes in a deeply satisfied breath. "Shall we head back? ...A short run, true, but I rather doubt you would have the stomach for the other tests I have planned out for my restored limbs."

Angelica offers a small, uncertain smile in response to that unpleasant grin, then nods to his words, also turning to look at the scene from their high perch. "That would probably be best, yes. Thank you," she adds meekly.

Their return to the warehouse is, if anything, even faster. Octavius sets her down in a narrow alley only a block from the Brotherhood's headquarters, the gripping tendril withdrawing back into its hidden recess. "There you go," he says with the amiability of a dragon who's decided not to roast and eat the maiden fair quite yet. "Off to your sandwiches. Do not wait up." Without waiting for reply, he clambers up the brick wall near them, soon disappearing into the night-time darkness. Another of those mad, joyous, evil, triumphant laughs drifts back her way.

Dinner with the Doctor

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:45:10 GMT

Within the main area of the Brotherhood's haven, Angelica has managed to find a moment of peace, not that such moments have been difficult for her to find. The young woman is curled up in the corner of one of the couches, lost in one of the books from the shelf, the first book of the Pier's Anthony series called "A Spell for Chameleon". There's a small smile on her face as she reads, a relaxed look replacing her usual wariness.

Into this peace comes one Otto Octavius, a man large in presence if not stature, coming down the stairs for a much-needed but irregular meal. Though fairly disheveled (having been paying far more attention to his 'project' than the piddling mundane details of the flesh), the paunchy and often ill-tempered scientist fairly glows with triumph, and as he heads for the kitchen he's humming 'Flight of the Valkyries' under his breath.

It's the humming that eventually gets Angelica's attention, floating into her wariness through the mental visualizations of the book, and she lifts her head, peeking around for the source. It's not very difficult for her to pick out the doctor, and she summons up a brave smile while offering a soft, "Afternoon."

Otto pauses long enough to give the girl a keen look from behind the unrevealing goggles, and then twists his mouth into a crooked grin. "Ah, another of Magneto's young... followers. Enjoying an idle moment, I see."

Angelica uses a thumb to mark her place in the book as she looks over the man, then shrugs a shoulder. "You could say that, yes. I'm new around here, so I find it's often that I'm better off staying out of the way. I'm... Damsel. Or Angelica."

"Staying out of the way is /no/ way to go through life, my dear," declares the doctor, not bothering to introduce himself. Surely she already knows, says his ego. "It's an existence better left to rabbits and jackals. Prey and scavengers."

Angelica frowns as she takes that in, then tilts her head. "But... I'm hardly a predator, and being prey, as ya put it, works out strangely well for me," she counters with a small grin. "Although I guess you're right about the stayin' out of the way. Can't get out of trouble if you don't get in it in the first place."

"Precisely!" says Octavius. "More to the point, you cannot realize your potential by sitting about reading trash." His stomach reminding him what he came down here for, he makes an authoritative gesture for her to follow and then heads for the kitchen without looking back to see if she obeys.

Angelica blinks at the gesture, but not being all that authoritative herself, she does get up from her seat, following him into the kitchen, abandoning the book on the couch. "Can't much argue with that," the woman responds, crossing her arms.

The rumpled, middle-aged nuclear physicist is already poking about the larder like he owned the place, considering his options. Having subsisted on sandwiches and coffee for days, and with one major weight off his shoulders in the form of a tangible, if incomplete, back-of-the-mind presence lurking upstairs in his quarters, he's in the mood for something more elaborate. But what? "Hmmm. What is it, precisely, that you /do/?" he asks her.

Angelica stops just inside the kitchen, hovering uncertainly in the doorway and watching the odd doctor as he searches for food. "Me? Oh, well, I can make people want to help me when I'm in trouble," she answers simply.

Otto straightens up from his lean into the refrigerator and turns to look at her. "Really." His smile is slow and sinister. "Interesting." He draws the word out slightly.

Angelica shrinks back a bit at that sinister smile, her brows lifting and arms hugging herself tighter, although she does nod and give a hint of a smile. "It's... an aura I have. Comes in handy when I need it.

Otto's chuckle is equally nefarious, a throaty sound that suggests it means no one any good. "I imagine that it does. Can you control it?" Turning back to his study of the fridge interior, he spots a container of fresh crabmeat and, near it, a package of bacon. Ah, hah. He retrieves them and a few other ingredients, setting them out on the wide counter one by one.

Angelica doesn't like the sound of that chuckle and shivers a bit as he turns back to the fridge. "Oh, a little bit. How far it can extend to and such..." Understating, but the man makes her uncomfortable. Falling silent, she goes back to merely watching him pull out the containers, somewhat curious as to what he's cooking up.

"And what of the type of /help/ that you receive?" More of the Brotherhood's larder is pilfered: potatoes, celery, milk, an onion, various seasonings, the extra-virgin olive oil, the cooking sherry (though Octavius sneers a little at the label as though finding it less than ideal). He snaps fingers at her, gesturing her over commandingly. "Make yourself useful, by the way, will you?" He points at the chopping board and the two russet potatoes sitting next to it. "Clean, peel, and cut those. Half-inch squares."

"Depends on the trouble," Angelica answers as she moves over to the cutting board and grabs up the knife, starting on potatoes as directed. "First time it happened, my attacker was pulled away from me and chased off by some mighty unhappy folks. Get a lot of escorts when I go places, too. Folks wantin' to make sure I get places okay."

Otto studies the collection of ingredients and, satisfied, closes the fridge and sets to work chopping the red bell pepper. The onion gets set down next to Angelica's cutting board, presumably for her to tackle after she's done with the potatoes. Trust Octavius to give the less-pleasant jobs to others. "Ah. So, you have no /direct/ control over the effects of your ability."

Angelica eyes the onion as it's set next to her board, but makes no complaint, apparently willing to move on to it once the potatoes are cut. "Well, now, I wouldn't say that," she answers vaguely, shrugging slightly. "Ya just gotta take in all the factors."

"Do elaborate," says Dr. Octavius, glancing briefly at her. Cooking aside, he's paying quite close attention.

"Um, welll..." Angelica starts uncertainly, then shrugs as she finishes one potato and starts on the next. "It's like... The power of suggestion. You tell someone to 'Do something', they'll have to figure out what that something is for themselves. But if you provide a more specific suggestion, the response is less... random."

"But if someone was determined to cause you harm..." Octavius lets this trail off with a smirk as he cuts up the pepper with efficient, precise motions.

Angelica glances over at him, then back down to her less precise cutting work. "Well, they can certainly determine to try. I'm not invincible, been hurt before, but I've learned a lot more since then."

Otto nods, the knowing smirk still lingering. "And thus they call you 'Damsel'. As in the damsel in distress. Heh-eh." Again, that grating chuckle. "You know, of course, who I am." It's not a question.

Angelica doesn't know, but the way that is worded, she can't quite /admit/ that, now can she? She blinks a bit down at the potato she's cutting, then smiles. "Of... Of course. It'd be hard not to. And yes, that's why I'm called that."

Otto scraps the chopped red bell pepper into a bowl and then takes the cutting knife to the celery. His expression is smug, confident. "So, you play the victim and direct others to help you when you are in distress. You make others feel well-disposed toward you." He pauses to peer sidelong at her, his smile tight and hard. "What brought you into Brotherhood, I wonder?"

Angelica finishes with the second potato and reaches for the onion, starting to peel off the outer layers. "Play the victim?" she asks, her brow raising. "Sir, if you knew my history, perhaps you'd know how this saved me from situations folks should never be in." She takes in a breath, then lets it out. "It was the broadcast, Magneto's speech. Made me want to do somethin' with my ability, instead of just usin' it to get out of my own distress."

"Ahhh, of course," says Otto Octavius, nodding slightly. "The Master of Magnetism does have a way of attracting more than metal, doesn't he?" Again that low chuckle. "Clips of that broadcast continue to circulate over the Internet, do you know? I imagine that it continues to stir and draw troubled souls."

Angelica nods, her small smile returning, even if her eyes are starting to water because of the onion she's cutting. "So I've gathered in the short time I've been here. He's a good man, as Toad said. I've been nothing but impressed by him. He's someone ya can really respect. Can listen to."

While the girl struggles with the onion, Octavius chops celery and then bacon before moving onto phase two: actual cooking. He sets a medium-sized pot on the stove, turns on the heat, and adds a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. "The world is full of good men," he remarks as he adds the chopped-up bacon. "Impressive men with... causes." His mouth twists into an amused smirk.

Angelica glances sideways at Otto as she finishes chopping up the onion, then smiles. "Hmmm, you may be right, although I've run into very few of those good men in my life," she says dryly. "And it's the causes, I think, that raise those few from being good to impressive. You can tell a lot about a person by the causes they support."

Otto makes a dismissive gesture. "I've met any number of people who were not at all improved by the flags under which they rallied, and others who have drawn any number of followers for no cause other than their own glory." He stirs the sizzling bacon around a bit in the bottom of the pot; the smell becomes pervasive, and woe to any vegetarians in the Brotherhood.

Angelica dips her head in a faint nod, stepping to the side now that her work at the cutting board is finished. "Well, there are ever the rotten apples that get mixed in with the good. Wheat and chaff. Exceptions to every rule and observation."

Otto leaves the bacon sizzling in order to check over the results of her work, which judging by his expression is... adequate but acceptable. No more. "So. Apart from your, hm, inborn skills, what can you do?" He moves the onion and potatoes closer to the stove, then, now that the chopped bacon's nicely crisped, uses a slotted spoon to remove it from the pot and lay it on a paper-towel-covered plate to drain.

Angelica gives a faint smirk at his judgment of her work, then chuckles. "Apart from that? I don't have much fighting use if that's what you mean. Know people who can get things that aren't easily gotten." She shrugs a shoulder. "I managed a store..."

Otto, as she answers, pours off most of the bacon grease (though not all), and then adds ingredients to the pot, including all the chopped vegetables and some of the seasonings. "Ah? What sort of things, I wonder." He stirs the mixture slowly, keeping an eye on the consistency and the clock.

Angelica is silent for a moment, then rests her hands on the counter, leaning against it slightly with a sigh. "Let's just say I've an understandin' of how the streets work. And I know folks there. Used to be into things that I shouldn't've been."

"A damsel with a troubled past," Octavius muses aloud, sounding a trifle amused. "And ashamed of it."

Angelica glances over at Otto again, a sharper look this time, her eyes narrowing. "If I am ashamed of anything, it is that I did not stop things sooner," she answers darkly, then clears her throat. "What about you? What brings /you/ here?"

Otto turns to look at her for a moment, wooden spoon in hand, head raised and expression arch. "An arrangement of convenience. Your esteemed /leader/ offered his services in exchange for the use of my expertise for the benefit of your coalition of... radicals. I chose to accept."

Well, it was a brief, bold moment. Angelica takes a step back as he turns toward her, crossing her arms, and she nods to his response. "A mutually beneficial arrangement for now... Might I ask what your expertise is?"

Otto raises his eyebrows. "Ah. And here I thought you knew who I was." Her lack of knowledge makes him rather more sneery, rather than disappointed as it might a man with a lesser ego. He draws himself to his full height, such as it is. "I am /Dr. Otto Octavius/, little girl. I am the /foremost/ authority on nuclear physics." He turns back to the simmering pot to stir a bit more and then adds a few tablespoons of flour.

Angelica lifts her brows at Otto's introduction, searching her mind for who that might be. Of course, she had heard the talk about him the other night... "The one who took over Ryker's, no?" She gives a small grin, but it disappears quickly. "An honor then, I'm sure. I could definitely see how a man of such genius would be of value here."

Otto grins crookedly as he stirs the pot. "Naturally." He examines the contents, adds chicken broth and, after more stirring, the milk. Whatever it is, it smells quite good. Otto Octavius can cook; who knew? "Of course," he says as he covers the pot for simmering and, after washing his hands again, checks the crabmeat for stray bits of shell, "it's rare for me to find time between my own, mm, projects. Magneto was fortunate enough to catch me in a bit of a trough, activity-wise."

Definitely smells good, and it's keeping Angelica's attention divided, but she smiles in response. "That's certainly fortunate. Interesting where circumstances lead someone to. No doubt you still have a project or two you're working on aside from how you're helping here. An authority like yourself, I imagine, is never idle."

"You imagine correctly," says Octavius, rather archly as he combines the crabmeat with thyme and Old Bay. This then goes into the pot and stirred some more. "I admit that I get quite, hm, /bored/ if I'm not working." He leans over a bit and inhales the aroma with obvious satisfaction.

Other than a nod, there is no immediate response from Angelica. She merely observes the doctor at work with his crab dinner, then smiles. "Boredom is never fun for anyone, especially one like yourself, I imagine. Can lead to some interesting ideas, however, in an attempt to entertain oneself."

"No mere entertainment," Otto says archly, as the soup thickens. "I am not the Green Goblin, cavorting about for the /fun/ of it." He sneers. "All that I do has a /purpose/... even if lesser minds lack the ability to comprehend that purpose."

"Oh, of course," Angelica is quick to answer. "I'd not think it any other way. /Most/ folks might be seeking the entertainment, but anyone can tell that you are not like most folks."

Otto gives her a sharp look. "Don't patronize me, girl," he growls, a touch of the prickly Octavian temper leaking through his good mood.

Angelica cringes at the growl, taking another step back, eyes widening in
fear. "I was agreein', nothin' more. Meant nothin' else by it." Partly in instinct, partly purposefully, she starts inching her aura out farther from her, closer to the doctor.

Otto watches her narrowly for a moment and then snorts derisively and turns his attention back to the pot. In, at the last, goes the bacon and the cooking sherry. "I believe that the bowls are in the cabinet to the side of the sink," he says. "You may get one for yourself if you wish." Payment for chopping up the onion and potatoes, perhaps?

Angelica shudders once again as he turns away, then moves to get two bowls. Dealing with tempers and egos is worth good food. "Thank you," she offers meekly, then grabs spoons as well.

Meek gratitude. An excellent tack to take when dealing with a prickly Octopus. Otto is mollified, at least for the moment. "This, by the way, was my mother's recipe. Hm." He looks thoughtfully at the pantry. "I wonder if Magneto has any oyster crackers in stock..."

Angelica sets the bowl and spoons down, then steps away. "I can look," she offers, then steps over to look around in the cupboards they're most likely in. "And it smells delicious. Definitely better than my own mother's cooking," she offers with a smile.

"I daresay it was one of the reasons my father married her," Octavius says dryly. He serves himself, turns the heat on the stove down to a low simmer -- just enough to keep the remainder warm -- and takes a seat at the kitchen table. Angelica can ladle the bacon and crab chowder into her own bowl; Otto Octavius serves no one.

Angelica, on the other hand, is quite used to serving. Once she's retrieved the crackers, she sets them on the table. "Is there anything you wish to drink?" she asks while she dishes out her own bowl.

Otto was actually just considering that very question. "Glass of milk will do." How... wholesome. And healthy. He eyeballs her. "/Not/ the skim," he adds. Perhaps not so healthy.

Angelica nods and grabs down a glass before heading to the fridge to fill it with whole milk. She walks over and places it next to him with a smile, then moves back to pick up her bowl. "It was good to meet you, Doctor, but I believe I shall take this up to my room. I've my own work to get back to."

Otto twists his mouth into an unpleasant-looking smile. "Of course. It was a pleasure speaking to you, Angelica." He makes a half-waving, half-shooing gesture as if giving her permission to depart.

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:31:40 GMT

Another day has passed, where a number of people have been entering and leaving the warehouse, though with the coming of evening all of the traffic has slowed and people have gone off to their own areas and residences. Magneto has been rather busy today, leaving himself a couple of times before returning upstairs to his office - and now, as evening settles onward into the deep of night, Erik returns from the back hallways upstairs. He strides out to the metal landing, currently dressed in an almost militaristic, black, ribbed long-sleeved shirt and silvered charcoal khakis, and his eyes sweep over the main room once before he begins to descend the steps.

That sweeping gaze may just spot the quiet, still figure of Angelica as she sits on the ground in an out-of-the-way corner, her back against a wall, and her own eyes moving back and forth as she reads from one of the many books. It's 'The Prince' that's caught her attention today. She is not, however, too lost within the book that she doesn't notice Erik's descent, and after glancing down once again to mark her place, she looks over and offers a smile. "Evening, sir."

It seems that she has caught Erik's eye, as when he descends from the steps, he ends up walking towards Angelica with a small but warm grin touching on the corner of his lips. He dips his head in return greeting, offering, "Good evening, Damsel. I am not...interrupting you too terribly, am I?" he asks with a glance down towards her book. His grin eases a bit more onto the other corner of his lips as he recognizes it, his gaze sliding back up towards her as he gently commends, "Rather interesting book, that, to say the least."

Angelica slides up the wall, standing to her feet, as he approaches, and she shakes her head. "No. No, not at all. I was just... curious. I haven't read many of these books. Passing the time." She looks down at the one in her hands as he refers to it and nods. "Yes. I'm not very far, but it seems interesting." The faint smile returns as she looks back up at him. "How are things?"

The grin faintly starts to temper with the question, though Magneto takes a deep breath and seems to resettle his lips into a slightly more agreeable curve than simply neutrality. "They are advancing, though it is currently waiting in a rather...frustrating, information reconnaissance stage. We have managed to acquire exact names so far, of the main people responsible for the attack on the mansion and the production of those Benetech assault robots which also possessed the cure...but they seem to have gone into hiding." He stands just a bit taller now as his hands slip behind his back, to idly clasp each other in a semi-casual manner. "It is only a short matter of time until the rest of the information is uncovered, and then...we can deal with them directly." A beat passes, then he releases a breath and his attention seems to return more directly to the present, and Angelica. "How have things been for you?"

Angelica's own smile fades at the answer, her brows lifting as she takes in the information. "So much has been accomplished in such a short time. All very effective," she comments, clearly impressed. "This cure situation could have been so much worse..." At his question, her smile returns. "Well, thank you. I believe I'm starting to feel more comfortable around here and with the others."

Magneto nods deeply in agreement, a pleased tilt now settling over his lips. "Yes, it could have been /devastating/, even moreso than it is now. Especially if that factory were allowed to continue as it was." He dips his head in a nod of approval towards the comfort. "I am pleased to hear that. I do hope that they have been able to provide you with things to do - entertainment, as well? Hopefully, one of them has introduced you to the large sparring and training areas we have set up, which is always an excellent way to sharpen your skills." His lips start to slowly widen into a wider grin as he continues, "Speaking of skills, Damsel...I would like to discuss the capabilities of your own, if you would?"

Angelica chuckles lightly. "Yes, they have been more than helpful, especially Toad. I admit, it was a pleasant surprise to find him here at first. We'd run into each other previously." She nods about the training areas, but his final question strikes any further comment regarding that from her mind. "Of course," the woman answers with a grin, reaching to place the book on the shelf so that she can further give Magneto her attention. "I'd be more than happy to."

"Excellent," Magneto says with a smooth depth to his voice, and with a glance around the vast main room, he starts to lead her off towards the closest metal shipping crate, and the couches that lie within it. "I have been wondering about the possible scope of your powers, in particular." He gestures for her to have a seat on one of the comfortable couches, while he eases himself down into an armchair in front of it. "Do you happen to know just how...large, you /can/ make this field of effect? Also, as far as direction of it...are you able to, by chance, focus on just whom within that aura of emotional manipulation is effected, or is it simply all who are in it, wishing to come to your aid?"

Angelica follows him into the crate, claiming a seat on the couch she's pointed to, and looks around for a moment before her gaze returns to him at his words. "Large? The farthest I've managed is 20 feet in all directions. There have been times when I have been able to focus which direction it extends, but I have not practiced that as often, but it would be all within it, in whatever direction. I... do not know if I can cause it to be more specific or not. I do know that if I have a specific need or desire, the power works better, whereas otherwise... people's reactions to it tend to vary, sometimes with results that I don't necessarily want. Like when this one man wanted to turn me into a robot to protect me from mortality."

A slow nod is accompanied by an approving grin from Magneto at the size, and he 'hmm's thoughtfully after listening to her information. With the last mention, though, both of his eyebrows flicker upwards before a gentle chuckle slides out, his grin spreading with faint amusement. "Well then, I am glad to see that /that/ most certainly didn't happen. That is an interesting effect. -Here's another important curiosity I've had. If you do have a specific need or desire, those within that field would...do whatever they can to help you achieve that? Is that correct - or do they merely attempt to do what they can to keep you from harm?" His grin begins to edge just a bit wider with the possibilities, "What if you were to have that specific need or desire be concerning someone -else-...such as, if there ever came a time when there may be hostilities, perhaps even directed towards me, and /you/ were with me?"

Angelica frowns slightly as she considers his questions, her head tilting to one side. "I... cannot say that I am completely certain. I've not really had an occasion where I've needed to help anyone except myself. It's not just from harm, though. I've gotten out of parking tickets, had people stick up for me in arguments, or even help with little things like helping me up from my seat or escorting me to my destination. So... I imagine that if I did have that need, it would work, but I've not tested that particular situation."

The pleased grin remains lingering over Magneto's lips as he listens, nodding slowly in understanding. "Well then, perhaps we shall need to test this situation out for ourselves sometime soon. We may discover a whole new realm of focus which you can also direct your attentions towards, if you are able to concentrate on exactly what is occuring within you - mind and body - and how it feels, in order to reconstruct those variables in the right aspects to attain the perfect effects. It is very interesting, the depths that your power seems to include - even parking tickets, and most notably, taking your side in a disagreement." Here, too, the corners of his lips curve up just a little bit more. "With these various effects that you have so far observed - have they been vocalized, or obvious needs or desires of your own? Or were they more internalized, such as you wanting someone to do a certain thing for you, without actually asking them to do it vocally?"

Angelica leans forward a bit as she listens to Magneto's response, nodding her agreement. "I will certainly try to learn all I can, to be of as much use as I can be. The differences in the aura are easier to sense with practice. And yes, it is much easier if there is either an obvious need or some vocalization, some hint that can direct the target's focus. The more internalized... It /can/ work, but has more of a chance of not. Then again... There's another factor that can determine that: How often the person has been within my aura. It has a stronger effect over time. And more lasting."

The grin begins to widen even more now, tracing a curve up along his lips as Erik slowly nods. His hands clasp together now, his first two fingers steepling up near his lips in deep contemplation for a few moments even after she finishes explaining. "Mmm, indeed, so it /can/ work, albeit with a much lower success rate. But - that possibility is still there, nonetheless. So, if you were to...accompany me at some point, even during times of negotiation...do you believe that your aura would also prove beneficial in those respects? Would you, yourself, have to be actually verbally involved in those negotiations as well, or do you believe your intents would perhaps be expressed enough via your presence with me?"

Angelica lifts her brows at that question, another situation that had no doubt never come up. "I... cannot be completely certain in that, not without having it tested, but I imagine that my presence with you, being seen as on your side in whatever issue involved in the negotiations, might be enough. Might cause others to be more inclined to listen or agree."

"Indeed," Erik says in agreement with that possibility, "as I would hope. But, that is another thing we shall have to test out for ourselves at some point, yes?" A warm grin settles over his lips now as he leans slightly forward in his seat, casting a comforting look towards Angelica with his apparent pleasure at everything he's learned so far. "So these effects, from being 'pushed' to think or feel a certain way by your aura...they only last as long as your aura is extended to encompass them, correct? Though, if they were in that aura for longer, you say your effects might become...much more lasting..." His head cants to the side, a silvery eyebrow slightly raising, "Perhaps even permanent, with the correct concentration? Have you already tested the comparable durations and lasting effects to come to this conclusion?"

"Yes," answers Angelica, her voice firmer, some bitterness behind it, her gaze averting. "With my father. It didn't stop him at first. Although it made the others more willing to intervene... As time went on, it was less and less often. Until he stopped. Changed toward me. I don't see him anymore, but I know if I did, he wouldn't be able to even think of raisin' a fist against me." She draws in a breath, then glances back over at him. "So, yes, it lasts as long as they are within my aura... unless they are within it for a long enough time or repeatedly."

An expression of slightly growing ire begins to cross over Magneto's features, tilting them askew, similar to the way he has looked during many of his protests and speeches that make it to the mass public. This time, however, it's directed towards the past, towards those Angelica speaks of, and she catches this as she glances back to him before he takes a deep breath and slowly sighs it out. With that exhale, he lets his features soften again, dipping his head in a nod of thanks and apology. "No, he most certainly will /not/, Damsel. I can assure you, that while you are here, if /anyone/ ever attempts to raise any hand against you...they shall have to deal with me, and the rest of the Brotherhood you are now a part of." He takes another breath as he slowly stands, glancing off towards the doorway before his gaze returns. "You do need to practice your skills...and you have my permission to do just that in minor instances with others here in the Brotherhood. They are aware of your abilities, but if it helps to ease your mind or conscience, you may tell them when you attempt to...or not, and simply report to me the effects, as long as you /do not/ attempt to manipulate anyone in a foolish or dangerous manner. -and do /not/ attempt to manipulate myself in any manner. I thank you, sincerely, for your discussion with me, Damsel."

Angelica can't help but cringe a bit as she catches the tail end of that look, although she relaxes as his expression softens, and listens to his own words with growing amazement and appreciation. "Thank you," she says, softly and sincerely. "And I will practice as I can. You've my word that I'll not manipulate them in any such manner, dangerous or foolish. I wouldn't dream of it. And not you at all. Not you." She looks up at him, then, herself still remaining seated, and offers a genuine smile. "Thank /you/ for the talk, sir. And good night."

The warm grin returns to his features with her responses, and with a tip of his head in parting, Erik turns and strides out of the door into the main room. He heads out and back up the stairs with far more on his mind now than when he originally descended those stairs - and with a lingering grin from those thoughts, as well.

Meeting Fellow Members

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 08:24:56 GMT

It's late evening within the Brotherhood's new Hudson River base of operations. And a face that hasn't really been seen around all that much is in the main area, actually out and about instead of keeping to himself and his projects. Dark Beast, though it's likely common knowledge by now that he loathes the name and prefers McCoy, Doc McCoy, or Doc. He's currently occupying himself with an impromptu game of darts, however with his own unique twisted bent. The Dartboard has a publicity poster of the 'Real McCoy' stuck to it, and McCoy is currently having a grand old time with flicking scalpels into various areas of the Blue Beast's body. Yes, there's issues here that go far beyond simple sibling rivalry. And you thought Cassie Nova and Xavier had issues.

On the farther side of the main room, there is one particular sofa that seems to be commandeered from the rest of the place. Huruma lies half-curled up on said couch, incidentally the one directly in front of the television. The woman's side moves in a somewhat satiated doze, head resting on curled, taloned hands. One giant booted leg is still hanging off haphazardly from the cushions; it seems it was not her original intention to...cat-nap.

Another who hasn't been seen too much, or at least without being shadowed in the background, emerges from her room, making her way into the main area. Angelica wraps her arms around herself, rubbing her arms as though cold, as she wanders further out, looking around with wide eyes, almost as though she expects someone to snap at her for one thing or another. The dull sound of the scalpels hitting the poster eventually draws the timid girl over in that direction, gaze sliding from him to the more familiar Huruma, then back to McCoy.

Doc isn't as social a creature as his 'baby brother', but he does at times enjoy the company of others. He blames Charles Xavier for that as well. Doc likes to spread the blame around, but Henry still gets the most of his ire. A toothy glance is offered to Angelica, as Doc sees he's drawn the attention of one of Magneto's growing family. "Good evening." Doc twirls one of the scalpels like an expert, offering it to Angelica. "Five bucks says you can't nail him in the groin." Doc offers, a wide smile spreading across his features. He hasn't bothered to introduce himself yet, preferring others to make the first move in social situations.

Breaking the stillness of the night with a sudden and unexpected CRASH and screech is the sound of one of the large, metal shipping crates in the faux entrance room suddenly being lifted and rearranged - and not so carefully as Magneto is usually known for. Then, after a long moment of silent pause, the door into this main area of the real Brotherhood quarters opens up, letting Magneto stride into the room in his full regalia. Taking a deep breath, he slowly lets it out in a sigh of slight frustration, continuing into the open portion of the room as his eyes lift to scan over the others currently present.

Voices often disturb slumber, and Huruma is no exception. Her shoulders roll once, back stretching into a small arch with a few pops of noise. The next screech of metal creates a startled hiss, the dark woman sounding it darting into a sitting position. Claws dig for a moment into the sofa underneath, and promptly retract as Magneto makes himself seen. A deep puff of breath follows, almost like a sigh. She relaxes again into the crook of the arm and cushion, feet clicking onto the floor.

Angelica gives a shy smile as McCoy turns to her, looking down at the scalpel for a moment before she reaches out and takes it. "Five bucks?" she says, smile turning to a smirk for a moment before she turns toward the picture and takes aim. With as much time as she's spent in bars, well, this should be nothing. Of course, that's about the same time that Magneto decides to redecorate, and her shot goes awry as the sound startles her, sticking into Hank's arm instead. Ah, well... She turns as Magneto enters, once more wrapping her arms around herself, withdrawing, watching him with a mix of respect, curiosity, and perhaps even a little fear.

Doc turns his attention to Magneto as he strides him, taking note of the full uniform and the sour mood. He of course can't resist opening his mouth and saying something likely to turn Magneto's ire on him, but then Doc isn't the sort to keep his mouth shut about anything. Doc however offers his comment, after seeing that Angelica has missed. "Tough breaks. My... someone's in a cranky mood." Doc offers to Angelica, a slight waggle of his brows offered as Doc slips another scalpel out and flicks it over his shoulder into Hank's groin. If only it was the real thing, but he's trying to be a good boy. Well, at least as good as a twisted deviant from an alternate timeline/reality who enjoys twisted genetic experimentation and metal shorts can be.

Once his eyes have flickered over each one present, Magneto offers them a dip of his head in greeting and "My apologies, for the startling entrance." His jaw slightly tightens as his lips thin into a line of displeasure, his eyes flickering towards McCoy with the last comment. "Needless to say, my visit with them did not quite go...as expected, to say the least. At least there was no unnecessary bloodshed, close as it may have gotten," he adds as he fades out into a quieter tone through almost clenched teeth. "That must wait until we've removed this larger threat." He takes another breath, steadying himself a bit more as his features slightly lighten and his gaze flickers over the three, landing on McCoy and Angelica. "Ah yes, I doubt you have had the pleasure of meeting Damsel, with all of your experiments with those serums. Damsel, this is McCoy, a genius in his own right, though at times his mouth may get the better of him." Those last words are spoken in a slightly sharper tone, as if in a subtle warning to McCoy.

Huruma's gaze flits to Angelica's voice, and that of McCoy, resting on Magneto as he gives a steady recap of his own. She seems to merely absorb the speech, eyes narrowing and knuckles cracking with one hand's fidgeting movements on her knee. Larger threats are hard to keep concentrated on when the scent of the school itself has just wafted in with the man. It might bother her somewhat now, but Huruma manages to keep her rapt attention on the conversation at hand.

Angelica much like Huruma, merely listens, taking in what is said, once more a background figure. She almost cringes at the tense tone, the anger beneath it. As she is addressed, forced into the light, so to speak, she straightens and offers a shaky smile, directing her gaze to McCoy and nodding to him. "An honor to meet ya, McCoy, sir," she says simply.

Dark Beast knows that his skills are a great asset to the group. Which is the only reason he's brave enough to offer an sass to Magneto. Of course, when and if he's no longer a vital key in the organization, he'll have to be sure he has a backdoor prepared. But when doesn't Dark Beast have some sort of plan. "Fools. The lot of them. A bunch of sickening saps that follow the beat of the drum of a man who has lost touch with reality." Doc McCoy offers with a sneer of annoyance, turning to pull the scalpels out of the poster. "I've not had much chance of meeting anyone. My work keeps me on a short leash, I'm afraid. Though I'm sure you prefer that, my friend." Doc offers to Magneto, turning to offer a friendly but somewhat intimidating smile to Damsel. "Charmed, I'm sure. And you can call me Doc, if you like." Doc notes the warning from Magneto, but as usual he doesn't directly address it.

A dark smirk begins to slowly ease over Magneto's features with Doc's words, and he nods in slow but sincere agreement. "He lost his touch with reality many years ago, and I hope that in time to come it shall be swiftly and bluntly made unforgettably /clear/ to him again." That smirk tilts just slightly, a touch knowingly perhaps, as his eyes shift from Damsel back to Doc again. "I only prefer that you finish the serums we have discussed about before it is too late. As for being on a short leash...as always, consider it a forceful favor, to give you more reasons /not/ to go gallivanting around where someone else may very easily find you again." His eyes flicker over to Huruma, attention shifting to her for the moment. "Have there been any significant findings or occurances during my visit elsewhere?"

Huruma sits up with a small breath, dark head tilting slightly. "Not'ing of note, aka." Her white nails rap once on a covered knee. "I'ave been watching a few unrelated persons, bu'nobody tha'wou'be considered...noteworthy." Her voice slows to a mild purr, her eyes fixing on Magneto with a small, sharp smile. "Our darkly bespectacled...guest seems t'find things qui'adequate'ere as well, if'ou'ave no'ad th'pleasure of inquiring to him'ourself."

Angelica returns the smile from McCoy with a small one of her own. "Doc, then." As if he needed to send that smile to be any more intimidating. Her instinctual response to it is to start inching out her aura to him, but she halts the process with a slight glance toward Magneto, her chin lifting slightly as she listens to the rest of the conversation.

Dark Beast grins to Magneto, slipping the scalpels away for now. "Indeed. After all, he gave both you and I a chance to redeem ourselves. Someone has a lot of faith laying around." Doc shoots, he scores. Yeah, he trashed himself there also. But honestly, even Doc was surprised he was given a second chance. "I'll have them completed on schedule to your demands, Magnus." Doc adjusts the simple gold glasses on his face, turning to get himself a cup of coffee. "Oh, I certainly understand. But it also gives you the secondary plus of ensuring I don't go wandering off and decide to pay a visit on some old friends either." Doc glances back, pouring himself a cup of coffee and grabbing a handful of sugar packets.

The pleased grin that tugs at Magneto's lips is much more genuine now, a small nod of thanks being offered to Huruma. "That is /most/ pleasing to hear. No, I am afraid I have had more pressing matters, though I still have much to discuss with him. It is important that he is treated with utmost respect during his stay here, and if you could help impress that matter to the others, Huruma, it would be greatly appreciated." His attention slides over to Angelica with the matter at hand, his own features relaxing due to that sincere grin that had started. "I hope that so far, your time here has been agreeable? There is much that needs to be done with this cure...and at some point, as soon as more time is garnered, I intend to discuss your abilities and the many ways they may be used at greater length." Of course, leave it to Doc's witticisms to draw that demeaner back down into a slightly disgruntled neutrality - however, he bites his words back for now, though offers a quick narrowing of his eyes towards the big blue Dark Beast.

Huruma nods in affirmation, pointed white smile softening with a whisper mostly to herself. "...vilivyo." Her gaze follows his around, however after a moment the white gaze lingers on Angelica's face before Huruma turns mostly away. She goes to leaning into the back of the sofa to stare half-up at the wall, listening closely.

Angelica is drawn out of her spectator mode once again as Magneto turns his attention to her once more, and since he's more relaxed as he speaks, she straightens, smiling a bit wider, and nods. "It has been, yes, thank you. Whenever you are able to discuss my abilities, I look forward to it," she answers sincerely, and there is something a bit more eager about that response, hungry for further knowledge.

Dark Beast finally knuckles under to curiosity, a brow quirking slightly as he adds three packets of sugar to his cup of coffee. "Darkly bespectacled guest?" He inquires, pacing back over to sit on the back of Huruma's sofa and sip his coffee. "I see I'm a touch out of the loop? Who's visiting?" Doc asks, taking a sip of his coffee and rumbling softly to the strong brew. "Oh? We have someone wishing to know more of her abilities? I'd love to offer my insights as well." Doc offers, looking Angelica over... curious as to just what she can do.

"Excellent," Magneto voices his pleasure with a smirk that echoes it towards Angelica, "It is reassuring to hear that, and I am sure that whilst I am busy being called away to attend to other matters..." his gaze shifts over to Doc and nods to his offers in a continuation of his sentence. "There are many here who may help you, Damsel, though...Doc would likely be one of the most proficient at such a task when I am unavailable." His eyes flicker over towards Huruma before lifting towards McCoy, offering a his own partial answer to McCoy's wonderings as well to anything Huruma may respond with. "Doctor Octavius, and he is assisting me with something of great importance."

Huruma's eyes twitch over before her face does. The woman eyes the new company on the sofa, soon smiling at Magneto's answer with an additon of a small, velvety chuckle and a glance at McCoy. "Indeed." She turns her face to the far wall, mumbling off again into her own mental notes. "A small man wit'a pride as big as th'Congo."

Angelica doesn't quite seem to trust the idea of McCoy helping her until Magneto affirms his ability to do so, and then she smiles over at him. "Perhaps we can speak later as well, then. It would not hurt to have more than one opinion on the matter." There's a pause as her gaze glances over at the others, and then she adds, "It's mostly an aura. People within it want to defend me." As talk turns to Otto, she falls silent once more, listening with interest.

Doc certainly doesn't mind helping, especially since getting info on mutations for his database always makes him happy. Of course, he'll have to be good and not scare or scar Damsel. After all, he's still trying to be a good boy. Oh how difficult it can be some days. "Dr. Octavius?" Dark Beast grumps rather annoyedly, sipping his coffee. "Seeing another scientist behind my back now? I see how it is." He's being overly dramatic, but there is part of him that's a touch annoyed by the presence of another Doc on Magneto's ticket. After all, what if he proves more valuable to Magneto. We simply can't have that. "I've seen the man's work, it's strictly amateur hour." Doc notes Angelica's powers with a interested hmmm. "My, wouldn't that come in handy."

A quiet chuckle escapes from Magneto with McCoy's response, a silvery eyebrow arching with slight amusement. "Perhaps it is amateur when compared to your own work, McCoy, in your area. However, the purposes that /I/ require him for are far different than those you are currently needed with, as his specialties lie elsewhere." The smirk draws a little further over Magneto's lips with McCoy's last words, that gaze sliding over towards Angelica as well. "Yes, /indeed/. Very handy, and I have been considering the lengths of such usefulness as well. You have some very unique gifts, Damsel, and I am pleased that you have joined us, so they may be put to the best use."

Huruma lets off a slow rumble, getting to her feet with a heaving sigh and a light smile over her shoulder to the small group. "I mus'rest. /Properly/." She bows her head to the rest of them, white eyes lidding with a small shine. "Mietwisha ruyanoga. I bid'ou goo'night an'sweet dreams." A hiss escapes her as she turns away, long strides taking her in little time to the stairs and up and out of plain sight.

"It has gotten me out of some rather rough spots in the past," answers Angelica with a darker smirk, those rougher spots not being pleasant memories. "But I will be glad to learn how to better use them, how to serve the cause." The smirk finally returns to her usual smile. "And I am also glad that I was brought here, given the opportunity to help," she adds, her gaze drifting to Huruma as she leaves, nodding a silent good night to the woman.

Dark Beast watches Huruma depart, his focus on the strange mutant for a few moments. He always did have a curious eye for the more unique specimens. But now that she's departed, his focus is returned to Magneto as he absorbs what the Master of Magnetism has to say. "Perhaps. Just keep him away from my work area. I have a certain filing system and I would be most.... annoyed if someone fiddled with my things." Doc slides off the back of the sofa, landing on his bare feet once again and stretches with a few lovely audible cracks of weary bones. "Well, I'd love to hang around and socialize.... but I'm not as young as I once was. I think I'll turn in." Dark Beast finishes his coffee, sitting the cup down on a handy table and turning to depart. "Goodnight Damsel... Michael." Doc finger-waggles back at them, before heading off towards the living quarters areas.

A sympathetic tilt slides across Magneto's lips with Angelica's words, slowly nodding in agreement. "As have all of ours, and unfortunately, this initial manifestations usually occur in dire situations - granted, when /well needed/, but I'd rather those dire situations never occur at all." Steely blue eyes drift towards McCoy, and initially a slightly amused smirk starts to settle over his lips, and he dips his head in a parting nod to the doc. However, the name draws a quick, sharp look towards- the back of McCoy's head, as he's already heading up. Nothing is given in return in a verbal parting, though just as McCoy heads off, one last warning squeeze of the metal pants is given as a momentary reminder.

Angelica turns her gaze back to Dark Beast as he signals his departure, watching as he leaves. "Good night, Doc," she offers in response, then shifts her focus back to Magneto. Not that it ever completely left him. The man's not one you can forget or ignore. "All too true," she answers in response. "Too true..." Her gaze slides back toward the stairs, and then she takes a step toward them. "I should maybe retire as well."

"Perhaps," Magneto says after a beat of thought, dipping his head in a nod of agreement, "Perhaps it is time that both of us do. Or, rather, that I at least retire to my office to contemplate a number of things first." He takes a breath and turns to head up the stairs actually with Angelica, rather than simply levitating himself up. "I am pleased to hear things have been going good for you here, Damsel. As always, if there is anything that needs my attention, or that you desire, feel free to knock on my door if I am in. If I am not, you can speak with Exodus...or, perhaps," he adds with a glance towards her, "if you would be more comfortable otherwise, you can leave it in a message tossed under my door." After all, the medievally linguistic zealot sometimes tends to be a bit overwhelming for some.

Angelica moves up the stairs with him, hesitating at first, as he walks with her, but her tension eases, and she smiles at his words. "I imagine the work here never ends," she says, daring to glance up at him briefly, then nods. "Everyone has been kind to me so far, especially Toad. And I will let you know if there is anything, thank you." She smiles at the mention of Exodus, but from her lack of real reaction, it's fairly obvious their paths haven't crossed just yet. "Good night," she offers with a slight dip of her head, and then she moves to the door of her own room.

A more formal meeting... Then on to drinks

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:54:46 GMT

Angelica has kept rather to herself and out of the way since being brought to the warehouse, although of course she's always been willing to help when asked, or when she sees where she can give aid. For now, however, the girl has found a moment of peace and ventured once more to one of the bookcases, gazing over their titles, and even reaching out a hesitant hand to take one down and glance through its pages.

Hop. Hop. Down the stairs comes quite a familiar face. Or, well, Toad likes to think so, anyway. Despite that nobody actually recognizes him. "Fred! Fred, are you--?" Halfway down the stairs, Toad perks to see Angelica, instead. Huh. A grin creeps onto his face, and the search for Fred is given up. "Oye, you!"

Angelica startles at the sound of a voice, jumping a bit, and she snaps the book closed as she looks up. Her brows raise as she begins to place the man on the stairs with the one she'd met in Hell's Kitchen, and she offers a grin. "Heya. Small world, hmm?"

Toad gives a sheepish chuckle, straightening up to descend in a walk. "I 'eard you moved in! Why didn'tcha just tell me y'were a mutant? I could'a brought you right over here!" He gives the area a quick scan - perhaps still looking for the Blob. "Hm. How'd that go, anyway? With the /thief/?" His lips twist to a sneer at the very thought of the X-Men.

Angelica smirks at the mention of the thief, shrugging a shoulder as she puts away the book. "He was a gentleman. But then, they always are around me." She looks back over at Toad and chuckles. "I'm afraid I didn't realize this is where I wanted to be until after our brief meeting, until I heard the broadcast."

"Ah! Well..." Toad slinks closer, eyeballing the books Angelica was looking at earlier. "So, you're a guest, or a more permanen' resident?" He smirks, peering over while he lowers into a crouch once more.

Angelica crosses her arms and looks over at him, tilting her head. "Lookin' to become more permanent. I spoke with Magneto, even, about joinin' ya'll. 'Cause I'd like to actually use what I can do to further the cause, help out."

Toad's brows furrow, his head angling to the side in slight confusion. "No offense- I mean, you're /more/ than welcome 'ere," His sincerity is proven by the mere, eager tone of his voice, "but... wha'do you /do/?"

Angelica laughs a bit at that, then raise a brow. "What good am I, huh? Well... Did ya notice, when I stepped closer to Remy, suddenly his attention was on me and not goin' after ya more? That's what I do. Got an aura that makes people want to protect or side with me."

Toad stares, before quirking a brow. "... Heh. I see why Magneto would want you, yeah. No' tha' we need any 'elp with making people... side with us, bu' I'm sure he's got somethin' planned with ye."

Angelica smiles at that, then shrugs. "Well, we'll see. He said that at least they could help me learn how to use my powers more effectively. Learned how to get a good amount of control over it on my own, but I ain't gonna turn away help now that it's offered, ya know?"

Toad nods. "'E's a good man, he is." He scratches idly at the back of his head. "'E picked me up and off the streets /years/ ago. Don' barely even remember i'." He notes, the utmost respect towards said Master of Magnetism resounding in his voice.

Angelica's expression softens as she hears that, and she glances beyond Toad toward the stairs before offering another slight smile. "He did seem like a good man when I spoke with him. The sort that someone can respect, ya know? Look up to. I didn't know that, though, about you. Kind of him."

"Oh, yeah. Magneto can be cold as steel--" He quirks a brow, sending Angelica a toothy grin, "-- pardon the pun - but 'e's got 'is reasons for tha'. You 'ave to look from..." One hand moves to help illustrate his point, but the gesture doesn't really suffice, and his hand drops back to the ground, "eh, the right point'a view. Which most people don' seem to 'ave."

Angelica loses her smile as Toad says that, not really frowning, but falling back into a more neutral expression. "I wouldn't doubt that about him," she says, wrapping her arms around herself as though cold. "Could guess that even from our brief talk. But it takes a special sort to be leaders." She takes a step back, then looks toward the bookcase. "And leaders are rarely seen in the same light by all."

Toad ponders Angelica's words for a moment, before merely nodding it in either understanding or admittance that he just... doesn't get it. Alas, the subject is changed. "... Did I ever even ge' your name, last time?" A hand rubs at his forehead in slight bashfulness as he peers up.

Angelica grins at that question, eyes lowering as she blushes faintly. For shame, not thinking to introduce herself! "I'm Angelica, or ya can call me Damsel, as ya wish." She looks back up at him. "And you?"

"People jus' call me Toad. Or the Toad, if you wanna be that wee bit more formal." Said mutant grins, rolling his eyes. "Don't think I 'ave to explain myself on tha' one, eh?" Eheh.

Angelica grins in response and nods. "Good to meet ya, then, Toad. And no, I can see how ya got that name. So... Have ya always been with this Brotherhood, then? I really don't know much about how long it's been around or anything."

Toad gives a light shrug. "I been with 'em for a while now, yeah. Don't know exactly how old I was when I first joined, but they'd been at i' for a couple a' years already before tha'." He plucks a book out of the book case, peering at the cover before flipping idly through the pages.

Angelica nods, watching him flip through the book for a moment before she leans against another shelf. "Guess I've a lot of catchin' up to do in getting to know folks and all." Her gaze drifts around the room before settling back on him with a wry smile. "Wouldn't happen to be any alcohol around would there?"

Toad looks through the book, grimacing with disinterest at its contents. When Angelica speaks again, he peers up. "Around 'ere? Weeell, I 'nno about thaaaat." He drawls, a grin spreading on his face. "But there's an Irish pub downtown 'at's bound to have some." He rises, giving a light shrug to accompany the smug expression. "Plus, I get a discount. Regular, an' all." He looks almost proud.

Angelica starts to look disappointed as Toad first speaks, but her expression brightens at the mention of the pub. "That so? Would ya be willin' to take me there?" she asks with a slow grin. "I still need an escort when I leave and all. And who better to go with than with a regular?"

Toad's grin grows, and he gives an obliging nod. "But o'course! It'd be my pleasure, love." He beams, already taking a step back and shfting his weight as to turn towards the doors. "Righ' now? I don' think Magneto will 'ave anything to do for us the rest of today, anyhow."

Angelica grins broadly and nods, even starting to look a bit more confident as she steps to follow him. "No time like the present! Thanks, Toad, you're a dear," she adds with a wink. "Haven't had a good drink in a while, and I also think he won't miss us just for the afternoon or somethin'."

Toad smirks confidently at the grin. "At your service, Damsel. At your service." And with that, he opens the doors, holding them open and pulling aside to let the lady pass first. Eheh.

The Brotherhood

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 10:02:03 GMT

Night has fallen hours ago over the city of New York, and in this warehouse near the Hudson River a chill breeze has been occasionally gusting through, winding around the long-forgotten crates in the first room of the warehouse which add to the guise of innocence, then sometimes squeezing through the smaller doorways which lead into the main section of this newly forming Haven. Throughout the day there has been a considerable amount of action as more crates are brought in from somewhere outside, a small number of people being the main ones which come and go with this process. However, there had been no sign of Magneto within those ranks or anywhere else within the warehouse - at least, until now. From the far side of the inner warehouse, pausing at the top of the stairs in his full regalia and unmistakable in his iconic helmet, Magneto surveys the room once before rising over the railing and slowly descending to the ground.

Angelica has spent a rather odd day within the Haven. Odd as any day is when you're in a new place and seeing new faces throughout the day. She still can't keep straight who is who. She could have sworn she spotted that odd Toad fellow once, and Huruma, of course, she remembers. Otherwise, she's tried to help where she can - or stay out of the way when she can't. Currently, the young woman is gazing over the collection of books within the room, browsing over their titles, unaware, at least for the moment, of Magneto's arrival.

The books range widely in their topics, as people are able to find everything from novels such as Tolkien's or Piers Anthony's series, to extremely detailed books on biology and genetics, and even other historical novels such as Dante's Inferno and Niccolo Machiavelli's 'The Prince'. Magneto's descent is slow and steady, and he lands a good distance away from Angelica before he begins his approach on foot, standing tall with a faint curve beginning to touch the left corner of his lips. "Good evening," his smooth voice carries across the short distance between them as he continues to draw closer.

Angelica's hand lingers near the Fellowship of the Ring for a moment before moving on as she considers the collection, but it drops to her side again as she hears Magneto's voice. Promptly turning around, the woman summons up a smile, even as her dark eyes widen a bit in recognition. "Good evening," she answers back, voice much less certain than his, and then she hastens to add, "I'm Angelica. Some call me Damsel."

Magneto's pace gradually begins to slow as he draws closer to her, dipping his head in a deep nod of greeting before his approach finally stops a couple of yards away from her. "Damsel, is it? Indeed, I have been informed of a few details about you shortly after your arrival here, though my presence has been required elsewhere until now." His gaze flickers up to the bookcase briefly before returning to Angelica as his right eyebrow ever so slightly arches. "I trust that the others have at least marginally seen to your needs and provided a means of entertainment while I was away?"

Angelica nods in affirmation of her name, watching him curiously, with no small amount of awe and respect. She'd seen the broadcast, of course. "Yes, they have, thank you. More than I expected. And I figured that you would no doubt be busy with everything that is happening currently." She offers another small smile. "An interesting collection you have here."

The small grin on Magneto's lips begins to ease into a more genuine grin, a slight inclination of his head given in thanks to the compliment on the collection. "This is only a small selection of what we truly have acquired over time, and I am pleased to hear that they have done so for you." A quiet chuckle slides out of him, though his eyes still watch Angelica carefully and he still maintains that short distance between them. "No doubt the others have been relieved with the way they were able to express their sentiments towards the Benetech Corporation, akin to finally reaping the fruit of what you have been laboring over for so long...but we are nowhere near complete with that." The deeper tone begins to return with the last part added in sincerity, and after regarding her for another moment, he inquires, "I was also only marginally informed about your gifts, though was told that it had to do with a field of manipulation emitting from you?"

"I am glad to hear that things are going well, even if they are not finished," offers Angelica as she crosses her arms, hugging herself as though cold, or uncertain under that gaze. "Yes, it started when I was a teen, and I learned how to control it out of necessity. It causes those within it to want to protect me or defend me. Makes them more sympathetic. I can control its strength and how large of an area it effects."

From within the opening of his helmet, a white eyebrow slowly arches high enough to nearly disappear behind the top of the opening, and the curve of his lips settles into an interested smirk. "Is that so? Hmm, that is extremely interesting," Magneto says in a sincere tone, taking another step forward. "You have acquired that much control over it already too, which is a very good thing to hear. Is this effect it has established through some form of mental manipulation - at least initially, in order to sublimate the emotions towards you? Can it be readily detected by most others, or only those who may be sensitive enough to those subtleties, such as Huruma was?"

Angelica bites her lip at his question, looking down, as well as scooting her left foot back as he steps forward. A minor retreat. "I'm sorry, I do not know exactly how it works. I just needed help, and there was no other way... Just figured out how to recreate that need when I had to - which wasn't hard with..." She shakes her head. "I just got used to it after that. Most others don't sense it or figure it out, no, not unless I have it on at stronger levels. Then it's easier for them to figure out that somethin' is messin' with them."

With the minor retreat, Magneto's features seem to soften a little around the edges, as if in recognition and appreciation. "Perhaps that is one of the things we shall be able to determine for ourselves then, Damsel. But you did say you have acquired adequate control over its range...and you are able to keep it close enough around you so it's essentially suppressed when the situation calls for it, correct?" Though his tone is hopeful and rather pleased overall, the tilt of it over his last words implies that this is clearly one of those situations.

Angelica straightens just slightly as his look softens, as though gaining a small amount of confidence because of it, then offers a reassuring smile at his question. "Yes. I can keep it close to myself and to a less noticeable degree, like I do now. Not able to really turn it /off/, but I can keep it close when needed."

The smirk begins to spread over Magneto's lips further with her confirmation, and he slowly begins to cross the rest of the distance between them, his eyes watching her closely as he goes. "Excellent. Now, the other matter of course to attend to - now that this ability of yours has been defined a bit more - is the reason which Huruma led you back to our Haven, blindfolded...?" The last word is added with a slight lilt to his tone, as if once again searching for confirmation, as well as inquiring further about the reason she desired to come.

Angelica watches as he draws near, this time resisting the urge to step back in response, and she makes sure to keep her aura close to her throughout the talk. "Blindfolded, yes," she answers, her shaky smile returning. "I saw your speech, and I wanted to do what I could to help. I heard of you from another that I'd met, and so when Huruma spoke with me, I was eager to learn more. I'm sure that I can do more for our kind than simply getting a better job for myself, you know?"

An eyebrow quirks upwards slightly and his smirk remains on his lips with her words about the speech and wanting to help. "Mm, yes, in fact I am positive that you could do /far/ more for our kind, when applying your talents in the correct ways. Which, of course," Magneto adds with a small inclination of his head towards her, "I am certain we can help you with, as well. There is much that we can do, /most especially/ with these current events transpiring. However..." he begins almost as a forewarning, his tone deepening slightly with the importance of his words, "if you are truly offering your services to our cause...there is /quite/ a lot that you should understand. Quite a lot to sacrifice, of your current lifestyle, in exchange for everything that it means to become a part of the Brotherhood. If, of course, that is what you sincerely desire."

Angelica gives a sad smile in response. "Sir, I'm not so sure what about my lifestyle ya think I should be worried about losin'. My job at the store? The bad relationship I've been in? The few friends that are really only such because of this power I have? I haven't much to lose. When I heard about this... 'cure', when I heard your words, that was the first time I thought that maybe I could really do somethin'. Make a difference. Be a part of somethin' that matters. If that's even near what you're offerin' in this Brotherhood, then I'll accept any help, make whatever sacrifices are need."

As she continues speaking, a very pleased smile washes over Magneto's features, nodding slowly near the end of her words. "Good, because you do have /much/ to gain through your devotion to us and our cause. There are many rules that must be adhered to - especially for one such as yourself," he adds solomnly, though with a comforting undertone, "simply due to the nature and current time of your recruitment. One must always, always be on guard for any infiltration by those which seek to hinder our progression - but I am certain you shall prove yourself more than enough with time, and the wise application and moderation of your gifts."

Angelica smiles again, expression a bit brighter in response to his own pleased smile. "I imagine that there would be some rules, and the fact that I was blindfolded to be brought here told me that you're cautious folk. And even I know that there are those who are against us, probably especially after this weekend. I'll do what I can to help or prove myself."

Magneto dips his head in a nod of agreement, though Magneto's lips slowly shift into a wry tilt. "Indeed," he says regretfully, "though I have no doubt in my mind that this recent turn of events and the manner in which I was able to reach out to so many people will sway /many/ to come to accept our cause, and join it even...I also realize that it also may push many of those who 'straddle the fence' to the other side, as well, and attempt to prevent us from ridding the world of this...'cure'." Even his expression shifts with that last word, openly displaying the wretched taste it holds for him. "I would suppose that it goes without saying that you may be confined to this facility for a short while, as we fully confirm your intentions, but once we have satiated that preventative measure you may be able to go out once again in the presence of another within the Brotherhood. Or, in some cases, simply with permission or notice of your desire and intentions."

That does give Angelica pause for a brief moment, long enough for her to mull his words over in her mind. After all, the thought of being confined isn't the most appealing one, but, as he said, sacrifices... "That's fine with me. You need to protect your group, and I'm new. I'll go along with whatever precautions are necessary. And, as you say, I doubt, too, that I was the only one that your speech got to thinkin'. Comes a point where you just can't sit by and watch."

Another solomn nod is given - this one of appreciation as Magneto's lips tilt into another wry curve. "I do, especially with our current location on the outskirts of New York City...and the fact that we have had others who have been foolish enough to attempt to betray our secrets to those who would see us destroyed before. I am sure, however, that there will also be much within this facility that you can keep yourself entertained with, and more as time continues and we further continue the transfer of our necessities to this Haven." His eyes linger on her for a few silent, contemplative moments before his lips return into a small grin. "I will inform the others of this addition to our ranks, and I assure you...if you experience any trouble at all, from any of them, inform me of it and I shall see that the matter is swiftly and efficiently dealt with."

Angelica lifts her brows at his words, then shakes her head. "It's a shame what people will do. Seen it all too often. Betrayal, abuse... Can see it everywhere." She lets out a small sigh, then smiles again. "I do appreciate that, but I don't foresee any problems so far. I can handle myself in my own way, even if I don't look it. And yes, I'm sure that I'll be able to keep myself occupied and out of trouble," she adds, her gaze drifting toward the books once more.

A pleased smile warms over Magneto's expression as he speaks in a more gentle tone now, his hand slowly extending in an open invitation for a handshake, "Then let me formally welcome you into the Brotherhood, Angelica. If there is ever anything you should need, feel free to bring it to the attention of one of the senior ranking members, the Acolytes, and they shall pass the word along to me if I am not around myself for such a thing. As it is getting late, if you come with me, I can have a bedroom prepared for you and discuss matters further with you on another day." He turns, and begins to lead her up those stairs and down a long hallway. "Feel free to roam the facility as you desire while you are here, and speak freely with the others within the Brotherhood. But as for now," he says as he reaches the door to her new room with the Brotherhood, his light blue eyes sliding back down towards her, "I must bid you goodnight."

Finding a Cause

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 06:26:32 GMT

The night is still young, and so is Huruma's satiation. The club seems nearly full, with the newscasts of the massive Benetech downfall just reaching the waves. For this reason, there are far more wannabes than what might be normally seen. The music is loud, the drinks flow, and the blood races. Over in one corner, seated at a round table to survey the establishment is a tall, dark woman, her eyes glinting as the colors and lights fly past the ceiling and walls. The bits of silver over her shine in unison. Her legs are crossed, and one hand rests at a large glass on the table in front of her. Tat-tap-tap. Her nails click on the crystal.

The club seemed the perfect way for Angelica to get away from things, keep her mind from drifting over weightier matters. The young woman might seem out of sorts, as she's dressed more casually than most, a long black overcoat covering most of what she wears, yet as she steps through the room, looking for a place to sit, drink in hand, most everyone she passes glances up at her with some look of concern or worry, more /for/ her than about her. Spotting empty seats at Huruma's table, she heads in that direction.

Huruma doesn't miss the motion of the girl towards her, her eyes lidding while her face tilts upwards to watch the approach. Despite her want to open her mouth, hiss and curse, the woman sits still and watches. Tat-tap-tap. The glass is lifted with a slightly finalized look at Angelica, the liquid in it soon burning in a tingle down Huruma's throat. She only got mild buzzes, for the most part, but it seems like something more civil, to down alcohol when one had some repressed emotion. In this case, it was outlandish curiousity at something clearly not present.

Angelica gives a small smile as her dark gaze rests on Huruma, pausing as she reaches the table. "Mind if I join you?" she asks, more out of politeness than really caring to hear the answer. The other woman's gaze does make her a tad nervous, however, and she pulls out the chair a little too far, almost missing it as she sits. A man nearby, who'd just been caught in her aura, notices and quickly steps in to move the seat for her, continuing to worry over her for a moment more before Angelica finally retracts her aura, smiling her thanks and waving her hand for him to go elsewhere as she turns back to her drink with a sigh.

Huruma doesn't protest, either. So it must be fine with her. Her glass sits back down, her slowly returning smirk aimed at Angelica and her little helper. "'Allo, child..." A simple greeting, but a greeting no less. Huruma's teeth click once as she glances at a passing figure plastered with a rather grotesque mask on his head. The woman's dark nose pulls with her lips in distaste, however she lets it lie. Her gaze goes back to the girl, and settles there with an uncomfortable amount of observation of her part.

Angelica offers a slight smile in response to the smirk, giving a single nod in greeting. "Hello." She lets her gaze wander around the club for a moment, taking in the various costumes, the lights, the atmosphere, then takes a long drink from her glass. "Long weekend, no?" she asks, leaning back in her seat and glancing back towards the dark woman across from her.

Huruma takes a bit of a deep breath. "Hnn...t'long, I think..." Her voice purrs, dark and velvet. Tat-tap-tap. "I'ave kept m'self busy, bu'to litt'e ends. Excep't'day. T'day was good..." She lifts the glass again, eyes slitting on her face like a contented feline in a large blanket.

Angelica watches Huruma as she speaks, her head tilted slightly to one side. "Good to hear someone's was good," she says, raising her glass in a vague toast before taking another sip. "Been one thing after another in the news and at home, let me tell ya. One of those rare weekends ya just look forward for Monday to come. 'Cept I'm not lookin' forward to that either."

Huruma lets off a hiss. "I am no'looking fo'ward to it much either..." She glances over, casting a glare to many of the wannabes. "Ther'will be many problems...come this week..." Her teeth click with a loud snap of air. Ah, yes, sore, are we? Huruma's nails clench at the glass as she sets it down. Small trails cut into the crystal underneath. Growl.

Angelica narrows her eyes as she looks off at the rest of the club, her jaw clenching. "Yeah, I know... Not goin' to be pretty, but I hope they get what they deserve in the end. Ain't right, in my opinion." She lets out a frustrated breath, then raises her glass once more. Might need another drink soon.

Huruma tilts her ghostly eyes over, sitting them on the girl nearby. "Who's side ar'ou on, my girl...? 'Ou speak like /both/." She smiles and lets out a sharp bit of a cackle, sharp teeth glinting in the flashing lights.

Angelica lets out a bit of a chuckle in response, watching Huruma with no small amount of wariness as she answers, "The only real side to be on. I'm not a problem that needs cured." The last word is said with a sneer, and she tilts her chin up proudly as she observes Huruma's response, inching her aura close to the other woman, just in case she's wrong in her guess.

Huruma stops slowly in her laugh, lips pulling in a grin as her eyes look out towards Angelica from the side just as the aura inches out towards her. "Ohhh...a /cure/ is not'ing bu'an excuse for /fear/."

Angelica smirks at that response, gaze lowering as she considers it, and then she nods. "Can't say I disagree with that. And I can't say that some folks don't have reason to fear, although I'm sure they abuse just as much themselves. This, though. This is goin' too far, in my thinkin'."

Huruma smiles again, drawing a nailed hand up to her jaw in a sort of perching motion. "I lik'ou, girl...wha'is'our name?" Her eyes narrow inquisitively, and the woman's brain gives a small twitch in the back. There is something demanding of this one.

Angelica's smirk deepens into a smile at that, and she settles back into her chair once again, hands wrapping around her drink. "Angelica. Rodriguez," she offers, adding her last name as an afterthought with a shrug. "And yourself?"

Huruma clicks her nail over the silver stud in her bottom lip. "'Uruma. Just...Huruma." She attempts a jab at killing her voice at the right time. Sometimes people just...didn't get it. "Tis'a /pleasure/, Ms. Rodriguez..." The 'z' is followed through with a short hiss and a finalized purse of her dark lips.

Angelica nods as the name is given in return. "Pleased to meet ya as well, Huruma." She gives a small grin as she adds, "Some folks call me Damsel as well, 'cause it seems I'm always gettin' out of tricky situations that most people wouldn't have."

Huruma raises an already arched brow in her direction. "Ohhh..?" Huruma leans toward her, hand perching on the edge of the seat and the sinew in her taut arm stretching slightly. "Migh'tha'be th'prompting tickle I feel?" Of course, it may get more ticklish now that she's leaning closer. Still a seat away, but the woman looms like a dark shadow wherever she is.

Angelica tilts her head, as though confused at first, then gives a slow grin of understanding. "Ah, yes, that." She slowly draws the aura back closer to herself and reaches up to brush back a strand of her dark hair. "It would be."

Huruma narrows her eyes, the corners of her lips tugging up. "'Ave'ou ever though'bout putting tha'to good use, Mkeombea?" Her lips pull in a smile again, the hoops in her ears sliding to dangle again beside her neck.

Angelica grins, shrugging a shoulder. "Well, sure, of course. Ya got a gift, why not use it, huh? Been mostly just dabbling here and there, usin' it to get better jobs, stay safe, but... This whole cure thing has got me thinkin' that maybe I can find a better use. Especially after seein' that last broadcast. Last night, I think it was."

This prompts a malicious looking grin. Huruma sidles her seat, leaning closer to the girl. "'Ou know, I can'elp'ou wit'tha'thought, child, an'elp'ou turn it into something...real." Her eyes blink in silence, inky pupils lowering to Angelica's face.

Malicious grin is met with a curious look as Angelica leans closer in response. "Oh? Ya can, huh? And just how are ya thinkin' to help me with that? Learned all I know 'bout it on my own, ya know," she adds, lifting a brow.

Huruma purses her lips. "'Ou know his face...the man on the broadcast...Nambawani.../Magneto/--" This last is in a whisper nearly in the girl's ear, a hissing and warm breath. "--He seeks for our kin t'follow him still...an'ou seem lik'ou cou'use an introduction to the /Brotherhood/, Mkeombea." Her pet name seethes in a light hiss, a low, rumbling growl soon echoing in Huruma's dark throat.

Angelica's eyes widen at the whispered name. "Yes," she answers softly with a hinted smile, her expression more eager than before. "That is that man I'd heard 'bout, the one who spoke with such authority." She turns her head to look at Huruma. "I would like to know more of this Brotherhood. Might be time I had a cause beyond my own survival."

"Excellent..." A dark arm seems to melt out of the shadows on the other side of Angelica, ivory claws seeping out of the dim light to hover in mock-protectiveness over her shoulder. Huruma is a sneaky woman. "'Owever...I can on'y bring'ou back with me if I ge'to cover up those pretty litt'e eyes..." One nail draws precariously close to the skin under Angelica's temple.

Angelica tenses only slightly as that arm hovers over her, but then she nods with a half-smirk. "Of course, one can never be too cautious. Do what you must." She doesn't seem /too/ worried. Perhaps leaning a bit on the knowledge of the aura that's there to keep her courage up.

Huruma lets off a smile and a small laugh, her other clawed hand pulling out one of the black cloth napkins on the table. "No peeking, Mkeombea." With that, the woman folds the blindfold up and drapes it lightly over Angelica's eyes, the feeling of a tie soon appearing in the back. Huruma will take good care of you, little one. Just hold her hand and try not to fall in any potholes along the way.

Broadcasts, Cures, and Revenge

Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:47:24 GMT

Another chilly day in Brooklyn, yet the usual Saturday crowd walks down the streets, going about their business. Angelica is one such person. Warmly snug in her full-length overcoat, the young woman makes her way through the sidewalk traffic, keeping her aura close to herself to keep from /too/ much undue attention, although those who pass near her still give concerned looks or pause to see if she needs help.

Another chilly day in Brooklyn, yet the cold doesn't matter much when one is able to control the amount of heat that surrounds them at will. Vulcan has been out and about since Magneto made his announcement on national television. That, combined with news of this 'Benetech cure,' has piqued Gabriel's interest to bring him out to investigate. He leaves from a little alley in Brooklyn he's called home, wrapped in a black coat and hood that really hardly hides the fact that his eyes glow with an intense orange hue. As he passes by people, they might notice the unnatural warmth that emanates from his body -- out of place, especially so close to winter. Unheeding of Angelica or anyone at the moment, the Summers brother walks down the street, coming closer and closer to the fellow mutant as he treds.

Angelica is most likely just as unheeding of Summers as he is of her, most of her attention on the windows she passes and occasionally on the people who step though her aura, gauging their reactions. It isn't until she passes right by Vulcan that she takes notice, noticing that warmth, and her curious gaze lifts to his face.

Conversely, Gabriel summers pays very little attention to Angelica until he passes through that aura. There's something... off, there, that causes Gabriel to pause and stare at Angelica with narrowed eyes. Something off, but he just can't place what--"Who-- who are you?" He asks at least, a small frown hidden behind the hood of his coat. How very strange.

Angelica pauses for a moment as he stares, then seems about to turn away until that question. The woman stops and looks back up at him, offering a small smile. "I'm Angelica." She tilts her head, almost heedless of the others who pass by them. "And you?"

Slowly, Gabriel takes a step back, to remove himself from the thing that makes him feel so odd. An interference with his brain? Energy crackles faintly along his body, though he only looks perturbed for a moment -- "Gabriel. But I prefer the name Vulcan." His words are muttered, before those orange eyes narrow faintly behind the hood. "What is that around you?" It's not the first time he's met someone who could manipulate his emotions. But the other was more distinctly recognizable. This... he almost didn't even notice it.

Angelica smiles at his response, a brow raising slowly. "Vulcan, then." Her hands slide into her pockets, and she glances to the side a moment before looking back up at him. "I could probably ask the same of ya, but it's hardly the topic for a sidewalk conversation now, is it?"

"If you're embarassed, we can make it someplace different than 'sidewalk' conversation." Vulcan doesn't particularly like answers being withheld from him. Then again, he doesn't particularly like a lot of things. The Summers brother lifts a single hand, gesturing upwards towards the sky -- specifically, one of the building roofs. "Unless you think I'm going to steal you away or something." That particular statement is issued with a grunt of wry amusement as the man smirks.

Angelica chuckles lightly. "Oh, no, not embarrassed. Merely a preference." She follows his motion towards the roof, then nods. "That will do just fine. And no, I'm not afraid of being stolen," she adds with her own smirk.

"Hn." Is all Angelica receives in response to her amused little commentaries, befroe Gabriel begins to float into the air, a visible field of yellowish energy surrounding him. Angelica, too -- energy hardens around her in an invisible field that grabs ahold of her, much like makeshift telekinesis. Many onlookers gasp and point, some shouting 'Mutie freaks!' fortunately for them, Gabriel ignores them, rising swiftly through the air before landing on one of the taller buildings on the block. He settles Angelica down lightly, almost as if afraid he might break her somehow if he did it any more suddenly -- side effects from the whatever she surrounds herself with, he bets. And as soon as he lands, Vulcan slowly peels back his hood so that he can get a better look at her, a brow quirking in faint curiosity. "Now will you tell me? You answer my question and maybe I'll answer yours."

Angelica watches with some fascination as he lifts them into the air and they land upon the building, then she crosses her arms, turning to face him. "It's my mutation," she answers, tensing somewhat as she lets him in on her 'secret'. "I have this aura around me that makes other people, well, want to protect me or not harm me. It's all I've got, but it comes in handy."

Frowning, Gabriel crosses arms over his chest, tilting his head as he watches Angelica closely -- and certainly with no small amount of distrust. At least it isn't like the other girl, Ruby. "Can you control it?" He asks quickly after she's done explaining, while at the same time trying to reach out with his own powers and see if it's any energy that he's seen before -- or if it's energy at all. "I'm sure it does." He offers, belatedly, to her last remark. "Being able to wrap people around your finger has its advantages."

"To some degree," Angelica answers, lifting her chin slightly as she's questioned. "I can't turn it off, if that's what you mean. But I can somewhat control how far I extend it to." She leaves out a bit, but that's the gist of it. And no, not an energy. She gives a light chuckle to his last comment, then shrugs a shoulder. "Sometimes we do what we must to survive," the woman adds with a sad smile.

No energy. Nothing that he can control. Which confounds him all the more. A deep frown settles across the lips of the youngest Summers brother as he lifts a hand, running it through black locks of hair. "Must be a pain sometimes, then." He mutters, though any sympathy that could be in his voice is distinctly filtered out. "Just to survive, though? Haven't you thought of using your powers for something more?" This confuses Gabriel. It was the same with that one girl, too. Why? "You could make something for yourself, with gifts like that."

Angelica chuckles. "A pain? Sometimes. I once had a man tell me that he had to protect me from this mortal life by turning me into a robot. Needless to say, I was quick to leave -that- scene." She takes in a deep breath, then sighs, shrugging a shoulder. "Haven't I thought of that? Of course. What's the use in having something like this if you don't use it? Got myself away from my dad, got myself a job. I'm a manager now."

"Turn you into a robot? ... there are a lot more freaks than I remember being in New York." And that's saying something. Gabriel walks towards the edge of the roof, looking down at the people below, lips drawn in a thin line. "Did he hurt you?" Her dad, he means. He's curious, if only because he's never actually had a chance to meet his own father. "You never thought to go to the Xavier Institute? Not that I'd blame you if you didn't. There's only idiots and liars there."

Angelica looks away, her jaw clenching, eyes narrowed, arms wrapping around herself a bit tighter. "Yeah," she says in a dry tone. She swallows, then looks back over at him, frowning. "Xavier's? Never heard of it. And I don't need more idiots and liars in my life. Done well enough on my own. Taught myself just fine."

"..." Gabriel is silent for a long moment, steadfastly looking down to the streets below him. "... I'm sorry to hear that." Are his only, quiet words after that pause, lifting a hand into the air and watching it as gold-orange energy crackles between his fingers. "You're better off not knowing what it is. They abuse people too." Maybe it's not entirely true, but is enough so in Vulcan's mind to say it. "Their leader -- Charles Xavier -- he hurt me too. And now he's trying to hide." It's not something he typically shares, but for some reason, he feels comfortable doing so around Angelica, despite how much the very notion of the bald man makes his eyes narrow and lips crease in a deep frown.

Angelica moves over to the edge of the building, taking a seat upon the bricks there and looking downward, her gaze distant. "It's what cowards do when they realize the ones they've wronged are after them. Hide. The world is full of those who abuse others. I've seen it too many times." Been the abused too many times. "An entire institute of them is sickening, although hardly surprising."

"Yeah. The cowards." The cowards. Gabriel shoves his hands deep into his coat pockets, only offering Angelica a passing, brief glance. The air around her begins to heat just slightly -- allowing her a bit of the warmth he affords himself. "I'm going to get back at them soon enough, though -- all of them. They won't even see it coming." He's planning something big. Something he'll certainly be proud of. "You can't just let people like that take advantage for you without paying for it, right?"

Angelica notices the warmth and is grateful for the brief respite from the cold. "Right," she answers firmly, looking up as he glances toward her. "I wouldn't let someone who hurt me get away with it if I could help it. I'd almost be willing to offer my help, but I'm not certain what I could do, and it's hardly my battle." Her eyes narrow as she looks back down. "And there are other things afoot now, too. What with this 'cure'," she adds, sneering.

"It's my fight," Reaffirms Vulcan, a small tinge of energy crackling across his shoulders in small, erratic arches, "Besides, only I know how to lure that old fool." Or that's what he'd like to think. The mention of the cure, though, causes that crackle to increase in power and volume, electricity tinging at the man's fingertips. "Yeah, that. A 'cure' for superiority. It's just like sentinels in a vial." The mutant spits, looking out across the distance of Brooklyn as he recalls Magneto's broadcast. "... Maybe someone should take care of them, too."

"I wish you luck with that fight then," Angelica offers. "Perhaps another time we can exchange stories of how we both finally defeated our abusers." His comments regarding the cure brings a more dangerous smile to her lips, and she nods. "Oh, indeed. And that fight is one you cannot claim as just your own. I will also do what I can to stop them. Perhaps I will seek out these others who are fighting to join with them."

Luck? He doesn't need it, but he says nothing about it, instead letting a smile twist across his lips in response. "Maybe sometime sooner rather than later." Still, at her words, energy will harden around the girl once more as Vulcan lifts into the air, beginning to float down to the street with Angelica in tow. "I've been thinking of doing the same. But my last talk with Magneto wasn't exactly /fun/." Constipated old crazy as--"Maybe I'll see you again. I'm going to make sure I see that organization crumble to the ground. It'll... be a nice way to kill the time." As the mutant finishes his statement, he settles Angelica on the ground, still suspended in midair. He doesn't say a single word, though; simply staring at her for a single second before launching off into the air once more with a violent uptake of wind, intent on carrying on with his own plans.

Angelica tenses just slightly as she's lifted, unused to being floated down from a roof in such a manner, although she does give a small smile to his words, watching him up until the moment he launches off. "Well, I shall see how my own talk with him goes." If only she could discover how to find him. "I hope you do bring that building down." And all those within. In the silence before he leaves, she merely lifts a hand in farewell, then turns to go back about her own business.

Lo, How the Mighty Have Fallen

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 08:19:41 GMT

After that odd meeting with the blonde woman, Angelica makes her way out of Central Park, her arms wrapped tightly about herself, pulling her coat tight against her to keep in what warmth she can get from it. She has her aura stretched out around her, as it is getting later in the evening. All that is lighting the park are the stars and the lamps that line the paths. At least it's a large moon out.

A veil of cloud crosses the large moon as it sits relatively low on the horizon. The cloud cover producing shadows that stretch and fade as they are approached. That is where Nightshade lurks. In the shadows. He stalks food. Homeless people who nobody in this city would care about if they went missing. Nor would they believe them if they reported it. The glowing red eyes are dull as they follow one particular person. A middle aged man wearing raggedy clothing which have been stuffed with newspaper to help with insulation. As he passes the shadows a long clawed hand shoots forth and drags him in. His startled scream ends in a gasp as his life essence is stripped from his body.

Angelica halts as she hears the scream, her eyes widening, aura instantly extending out to its full range and strength. "Who... Who's there?" she calls into the darkness, shivering as she steps closer to the area the man had been in.

The darkness seems to grow or perhaps Angelica is being drawn into the shadows. Out of the void comes a low hissing voice. The hiss isn't like air leaving. More like gravel being walked on by many booted feet. It speaks one word and one word only. "Nightshade".

Angelica shivers as the darkness envelopes the area, her grip on her coat tightening, her entire look pathetic, frightened, helpless. "N-Nightshade?" she asks, her eyes moving back and forth as she searches the void for the source of the name.

And as she searches two points of red light like the burning of coals on an ebony background appear out of the darkness in fron of her. Again the voice speaks but it is more wordy this time. "Behold Nightshade, Fourth Prince of the Darkforce Dimension. Come to bring order and law to this otherwise lawless place. I am your salvation and your hope." Suddenly all shadow around him and Angelica seem to dissolve and all that remains is a wraithlike form with the same glowing red eyes.

Now that she's located him, her gaze glances him over, appraising, wary, fearful. But even so, she steps closer, now that there is a body to the voice, seeking to get close enough to bring him within her aura. "Prince? Darkforce? I... know nothing of this. What is this salvation you speak of?"

"I seek to rule this dimension. Bring it law and peace. The likes of which has never been seen here before. That is the salvation that I speak of." He feels the effects of the aura and his demeanor instantly change. He now seeks to protect this one from the horrors that will come when he is ruler. "You will be put on the list of the protected. When the war is waged and won. You shall come to no harm."

Angelica lifts her brows as he talks of ruling this dimension. "Law and peace? Is that even possible?" she asks, mainly to just keep him talking, although at his last words, her expression shifts from wary to more interested, and she actually offers a small smile, even if she is intimidated by the creature before her. "That is generous of you. Thank you, Nightshade." She pauses for a moment, then adds, "I am Angelica."

Peace and law are possible if the ones ruled are ruled with an iron fist. So to speak. I will provide that fist. And when I bring it down I will erradicate the very pestilence that brings about the disorder." His voice grows louder and stronger. No longer a whisper but now sounds as the the darkness itself is teaming with thunder just waiting to burst.

Angelica cowers slightly as his voice raises, definitely just a helpless girl within the park. "I suppose I could see your logic there. I don't know... how many -want- that law and peace, though. Why do you feel the need to rule here? Why not your dimension?"

"My dimension is full of petty nobles. Each trying to obtain more power. Here I would be the only one. I would rule and none would be able to challenge me. Here I would be the supreme leader." His voice increases even more as his ire rises at the thought of others ruling here with him.

Angelica tilts her head as she listens, then nods. "I can see why you'd want to come here, then. With all this chaos, all this struggling, it must seem we're just begging for a strong leader."

Nightshade nods. Or at least appears to. The glowing points of light bob up and down on the featureless...face? "So why do you brave the dark? There are fouler things than I in the darkness of the world."

Angelica gives a slight smile. "An unexpected conversation delayed my walk home. Thus I was trying to hurry until I came upon you. I know it isn't safe... But sometimes one must... be brave... And just keep walking."

Nightshade lets out a chuckle that sounds like a jagged stone being dragged across a tile floor. "Perhaps I can make the walk less dangerous for you and offer you a portal to bring you to your residence?" He asks as he scans the night and locks his eyes on another poor unsuspecting homeless man.

Angelica grins up at him after wincing at the chuckle. "You would do that for me? I wouldn't mind getting home quickly and safely in the least. You truly are generous. Perhaps your future rule really will be a salvation."

Nightshade waves a hand and a circular patch of darkness. Pure darkness. Darkness that no light no matter how strong can penetrate. "I must accompany you through the portal. Otherwise you will die."

Angelica looks into the portal, her eyes widening, then she nods solemnly. "Then please do. I have no desire to die," she says, a weak attempt at a joke, and she smiles up at him before seeming to realize just who she's with and pulling her coat tighter around her.

As sudden as a breath a bubble of the same blackness surrounds Angelica. She can feel the bubble leave the ground and Nightshade's voice comes through it crystal clear. "You must tell me where to bring you or should I walk with you through my dimension indefinitely. This bubble will protect you but for a limited time."

Angelica nods and tells him the location of her home, which isn't too far from here, although closer to Clinton than one might expect from just a helpless seeming girl. The bubble is eyed as it surrounds her, a bit wary of the whole experience.

With a jolt the bubble is shunted through the portal and is let down revealing the location in which Angelica's home lies. "Here you are safe. And if you will allow me. I will mark you protected by me. Now no creature of night will harm you or they shall suffer my ire."

Angelica lets out a sigh of relief as they reach her home, then she turns back to Nightshade, looking up at him, still very much intimidated. "Marked? I... suppose I could allow it. It won't hurt me?"

"No" is the simple replie as what appears to be an arm is raised and a fine black line lances from the appendage and strikes Angelica's forehead. It tingles and slightly stings but is gone soon. If she could see in a mirror right now an intricate black mark is now on her but its fading fast. "Now you are marked of my house and protected. If you have need of me. Touch the mark and i will find you." With the words spoken Nightshade disappears into another portal. Leaving Angelica alone on the street.

Angelica starts to lift a hand to the mark, then lowers it, looking around the dark, abandoned street before she turns and steps into her house, locking the door behind her. What a night. A good night.

[OOC] Angelica cackles.
[OOC] Nightshade says, "FOUL TEMPTRESS!!!!"
[OOC] Angelica giggles.
[OOC] Nightshade says, "With a silly little aura you have defeated NS!!!"
[OOC] Angelica laughs! It's so awesome!
[OOC] Nightshade says, "Nice darlin. Very slick"
[OOC] You say, "Of course, it doesn't quite stop him from becoming ruler. XD"
[OOC] Nightshade says, "No, no it doesnt"

A Walk in the Park

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 05:51:50 GMT

It's not yet looking like Christmas, but the air is chill, despite the clear skies. The dim light of the street lamps helps to brighten the darkening park as the sun fades behind the western horizon. Along one of the main paths walks a young woman, her slender form hidden beneath the large bundle of her coat, arms wrapped around herself. Angelica looks about as she makes her way through Central Park, taking in those who are around, her aura gently extended as far as possible around her, testing the waters in a way, which causes a few to glance up in concern as she passes them, only to shake their heads in a puzzled fashion and look back down once she's gone by.

Relaxing upon one of the many park benches (or attempting to a persistent vigor) which line Central Park is a nearly exhausted looking woman. Severe blonde hair, nearly platnium in appearance, is drawn back from her features into a tight bun - the tension almost seeming to pull her cold and pretty features as well. Stormy grey eyes slip closed as a curled snake of smoke slips out from her lips - the cigarette held between index and middle fingers. Dressed in a striped business pants-suit, legs crossed at the knee, her entire countenance cries for privacy. Yet as one girl draws closer, those eyes peek open to grant a curious glance.

Angelica pays no more mind to the exhausted woman than she does the others, her wary, yet amused gaze brushing over her before she glances back away, her attention moving elsewhere. She doesn't get too far beyond Mystique, no more than several feet, before she finally decides to relax as well. Finding the next close bench, the Damsel heads over to it and sits, pulling her coat tired around her as she surveys the park with a faint smile.

That curiosity, that compulsion to do...something for that girl drifts over Mystique and fades with her passing. Slowly an eyebrow arches. Measured curiosity keeps her stormy grey eyes upon the young woman while the cancer stick moves to her lips again.

Colt walks down one of the paths that also happens to leads by the platinum blond and digs into his pocket, throwing his head back and tosses his hair over his shoulders. He produces of pack of clove cigarettes from his pocket and taps one out of the pack in between his lips and pulls it back, placing the pack back into his coat pocket. He feels around for a lighter and frowns. Damn. He steps up to the woman smoking and nods. "Evenin'. Gotta light, lady?" he asks around his cigarette, brow raising.

Angelica continues to sit upon her bench, looking around with a measure of contentment. Of course, her gaze eventually lands back on Mystique, meeting the other woman's look, and she offers a sweet smile and a nod before her attention shifts to a new arrival. A more interesting one. A brow lifts as she looks Colt over curiously.

Abruptly, Mystique's eyes are torn from the petite curiosity with the intrusion of a young man. Dark eyelashes flutter in rapid blinks before she looks towards the male, her eyes critical over his variating shades of white before her free hand slinks into the pocket of her suit jacket. A second later, a zippo is passed towards him in maintained silence - her eyes scaling over him once more before returning towards the young woman.

Colt reaches out to accept the lighter, flipping it open and lighting it on his pant leg and then lifts the lighter up, lighting his cigarette. He flicks it closed, letting out a plume of smoke and looks the lighter over before handing it back to it's owner. He takes the cigarette out of his mouth, holding it between his forefinger and middle finger. "Thanks. Appreciate it. Gettin' chilly, huh?" he asks and then glances over at Angelica. A fair looker.

Angelica is distracted from her appraisal of Colt and the woman next to him as a jogger approaches her, pausing near the bench, a worried look upon his face. "Are you alright?" the man asks, "A young woman like yourself shouldn't be out alone. I could walk with you through the park, if you need." Angie merely smiles at this and shakes her head, drawing her aura in closer to herself so that the man will leave. "No, I'm fine. Thank you." The jogger gives her a puzzled look, then nods. "Long as you're sure..." And he starts on his way again. It's then that she returns Colt's glance, winking at him.

Gaze transfers once more towards Colt - a warning look as he eyes the borrowed lighter, a look that says 'mine'. The zippo returned and subsequently pocketed, Mystique starts to finish her cigarette, her peace broken but interest piqued. "Mmm, as it usually does in autumn," she remarks towards Colt with just a hint of sarcasm. Perhaps she's not one for the small talk today. That passing jogger, his forward words, receives an open frown - eyeing him then Angelica with something akin to suspicion. She remains seated.

As the jogger stops and shows an apparent interest in Angelica his hand goes behind his back and he barely has to flick his wrist when a butterfly knife opens in his hand though he keeps his hand there, knife at the ready. He watches the exchange closely and as the man starts to pass he the knife goes away and his hand drops. He smirks at Angelica somewhat good-naturedly. He nods, looking back at Mystique. "More chill than last year though. I lived in an apartment with a hole in a roof. I know my weather."

Angelica returns Colt's smirk with a shy smile, dropping her gaze. Wallflower, apparently. She snuggles further into her coat as a stronger breeze blows through, shivering slightly. Noting the suspicious glance, she keeps her aura in closer to herself, only inching it out to include the bench she's on, then reaches into her coat to pull out a copy of the Daily Bugle, reading the latest news. Of course, the Cure would have made front page. Again. Her eyes narrow as she glances over the main article.

"What a pity," Mystique intones, again dry and of the appearance of a woman who wouldn't, even in her worst nightmares, own a location which has a hole - roof or elsewhere. Cancer finished, she neglects to extinguish it, merely flicking it from her fingers for it to sully someone else's boots. The whole while, Angelica has held her eyes. Fluidly, she rises, tugging on the hems of her suitcoat and passing another glance towards him before stepping away, her angle towards Angelica.

"Yeah... Thanks for the light again." Colt shrugs as he watches the properly dressed woman get up and then draws a line of travel from her to Angelica. Huh. He slouches into the bend recently vacated and looks over at the girl who had be looking at him. He looks away off into the part blowing neat smoke rings that flutter through the air.

Angelica looks up as Mystique draws near to her location, also quick to notice that her area seems to be the woman's goal. A brow lifts in curiosity, although the smile that passes over her lips is more amused than surprised. "Can I help you?"

"Is that today's paper?" Mystique wonders upon her arrival of a few foot distance, though her eyes remain locked upon Angelica's. "I couldn't help but notice the headline."

Colt isn't paying the two women any attention at this point and is taken up with his relaxing and his smoking...

Angelica glances down at the paper, and she can't quite disguise the moment of tension that runs through her as she sees the headline again. "Why, yes it is," the young woman says, forcing a smile as she looks back up, meeting Mystique's gaze as she offers the paper. "Did you not get a chance to read it?"

"I'm sure it's nothing new. It's the same drivel day after day, hmm? Vandalism upon the facility, Benetech sending out shipments--" An examining eye scopes the paper from a distance. "And, oh goody, this one holds a list of the individual distribution centers." Mystique's eyes raise towards Angelica's. "It's a dangerous time to be a mutant."

Colt's not listening in but he does hear key words and 'Benetech' and 'mutant' are two such words. He turns his head again, now really listening in on the talk. Dangerous for sure but then isn't it always. Degrees of danger. C'est la vie, right? At least from his perspective. He digs into his pocket and gets out another cigarette and lights it off his already burned down on and inserts the new one between his lips, smoking two for a minute before dropping the old one onto the sidewalk.

Angelica smirks at that comment, although there is a degree of wariness within her gaze now. "Oh, it probably is. But then... is that so different from a year ago? Or two? Or three? Life is always full of dangers. One simply needs to learn how to survive amongst them. But you're right," she says, lowering her gaze to the paper before folding it up again. "It is the same old story."

"No," Mystique answers the rhetoric with a dry smirk. "Though dangers can lead to opportunities, and opportunities towards comfort if it's played correctly. People forget to live amidst their surviving." The paper receives a cold-hearted glance before those eyes dance over Angelica's face again. "Things to keep in mind amidst the drivel. Take care." Then the woman turns, her clipped steps passing Colt - to whom she glances towards again, as if knowing he was overhearing, as if passing the same message onwards - before receding into the night within the Park.

Colt nods towards Mystique, acknowledging the hearing and understanding of the information that was passed along and watches her as she leaves. Huh. And he thought that old coot at that Xavier School was a bit bandwagon happy. Well... at least she was a nice little something to look at.

Angelica's gaze turns from wary to curious as Raven speaks. The woman doesn't respond, simply watches as Mystique walks away, then glances down at the paper before she stands and also starts to walk off, the newspaper abandoned on the bench.

A Close Encounter

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:07:47 GMT

It's a chilly day in Central Park today and there aren't as many people out enjoying the weather as a few weeks ago. Ni has a jean jacket with fur lining pulled close around him as he shivers against the cold. His jeans have red stains all over the legs, possibly paint, but probally not. He walks down the path with a determined glare on his face, his eyes staring forward the entire time.

Angelica walks along one of the paths leading toward the duck pond within Central Park, a warm jacket pulled snuggly around her shoulders. The young woman pauses near the edge of the water, gazing down into its depths before she glances around for the nearest bench. It's then that she notices Ni, and she gives him an appraising glance, taking in the stains on his legs, before she starts moving toward a seat.

Ni does notice the woman in front of him and notices her look at him. He gives her a smile and decides to walk over. It's been a while and he needs to relieve some stress. "Good day." He says with a smile, his japanese accent thick. "Mind if I join you?" He figures he can strike up some friendly conversation, get on her good side, and maybe add more colour to his jeans.

Angelica returns the smile with a sweet, shy one of her own. She tilts her head a moment, then nods, scooting to give him more room on the bench to sit. "It is a good day, despite the cold," she says softly. The Damsel is sure to extend her aura to encompass at least the bench upon which they'll sit. Might as well get him exposed to it while they chat and maybe add another fan to her collection.

Ni sits down on the bench and crosses his legs and smiles coyly at her. "It is a big chilly, you do not have a boyfriend to keep you warm on days like today?" Play the game, pretend you're flirting. He looks out at the water. "One thing that is good about the cold is it keeps the crowds away and adds a certain peace to this area that it is usually...lacking."

Angelica chuckles at the question, then shakes her head. "No, just broke up a few months ago, decided I like the single life. At least, for now. Less responsibility." She winks him, seeming to come out of her shy shell a bit. "It is peaceful here. Even more so with the colder weather. Winter always makes things feel... quieter."

Ni smiles at her and tilts his head. "Ah, I much prefer the single life myself, less...attachments." His 'relationships' usually last no longer than one night. "Yes I have noticed the same when winter comes, I enjoy a fresh snow fall. It's like a canvas waiting to be painted on." He then puts out his hand and gives a charming smile. "I am Ni."

"A canvas waiting to be painted on, such is life," says the woman, although there's a bit of an ironic twist to the wry smile that follows her words, then she reaches to take his hand, strengthening her aura just a notch with the contact. "I'm Angelica."

Ni continues giving her that charming smile, one that makes him seem normal, if that's possible. "It is a pleasure Angelica." He nods to her. "It is such as life, it is amazing how much life you can capture in a single painting, and emotion. It's quite a beautiful thing." The thing is, all the pictures he paints are of people before he kills them, and the fear is quite beautiful.

Angelica nods, giving another shy smile. "Nice to meet you as well." She shifts her gaze back to the pond, letting out a brief sigh. "I'm not really much of a painter. I suppose my life has lacked the beauty needed to be one. Only thing I can do is admire other's art, borrow from the beauty they see."

Ni looks up. "Ni is not much of a painter, Ni writes more poetry, where as Ni on the other hand paints. Ni is quite good at it too. Ni helps Ni find some delightful people to paint." He then gives Angelica a smile and tilts his head. "Would you consider modling for Ni sometime? You are quite beautiful."

Angelica can't quite hide the wariness that enters her expression as his manner of speaking changes, and she tugs at a strand of her hair nervously. "I'm not so sure about that. I'm not the modeling sort. So there are, um, two Nis? Or three? Kinda an odd coincidence..."

Ni stands up suddenly feeling uncomfortable. He wants to hurt her but something about her, he has to get away, protect her from himself. "That is alright, Ni is sorry. Ni has to go now. Have a good day." With that he aburptly turns and walks off puzzled by his internal conflict.

Protection Almost Goes Too Far

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:31:25 GMT

It is getting toward evening, and a man in a large, grey coat is taking a stroll through Central Park. Oberon Radcliffe looks to the casual observer like any ordinary man who is getting on in his years. It is for this reason, perhaps, that a collection of lowlifes decided to mug him. Oberon walks along the paved path with his hands in the pockets of his large coat, minding his own business, when a large-framed man steps in front of him, pointing a pistol at him. "Let's see what you've got you've got in your pockets."
To either side, two more men approach from the darkness. One is dressed in similar cheap, casual clothes, while the other is adorned with coarser materials, all in greens and browns. The oddly dressed mugger says, "I suggest you do what he says. We wouldn't want anything unfortunate to happen to you."
The trees nearby creak loudly, though the wind is hardly noticable at the moment.

Shuffle shuffle. Under layers of clothing meant not to keep the wearer warm, but to hide her appearance is a young woman who missed her bus out of the city. She /knows/ she's going to get in trouble for breaking curfew, but one of her online friends had claimed they were in trouble and she'd never be able to forgive herself if it had been true and they'd been hurt! Of course, it turned out to just be some creepy guy with a mutant fetish claiming to be one himself. Ew. She'd high-tailed it almost immediately. So now, Cessily is stuck in the city, alone and embarassed with a dead cell phone battery.
Her own problems, however are forgotten as soon as she sees the older man surrounded by thugs. "Hey!" the silver girl yells, trying to get their attention. Dumb move, yes, but her teachers are superheroes. Monkey see monkey do, and all that.

Another day. It's always just another day, another struggle. A second young woman, although much older than the first, makes her way down a path within Central Park. As Angelica draws near the scene of the potential crime, it does not escape her notice. Her dark gaze turns toward them, taking in the muggers, the victim, the child that's trying to intervene. She bites her lip in thought, head tilting slightly to one side as she considers, then she shrugs a shoulder and starts walking towards them.

Rine is walking through the park, also hidding her appearance, but for much more pressing reasons. As she is a top ten most wanted people. She wears a trench coat over her regular attire. A white hood comes from under the coat, and covers her hair, and shadow's her face. Nice and hidden. A man just infront of the path is getting mugged. She quickly hides her half smirk, as she continues to walk closer. Not noticing the superhero wanna-be's closing for the rescue.

The older man does not appear to be surprised or fearful. In fact he seems more annoyed than anything when he looks up at the first thug, frowning. "Please move aside. I'm trying to enjoy a walk through the park."
Naturally, this offends the criminal, and provikes him to point the gun more threateningly at him. However, as soon as the weapon begins to move, Oberon's right hand flashes out and knocks the pistol to the ground. The hand returns to the pocket once the movement is complete. The thug, shocked, looks to his two companions. The one in greens just grins, and says, "Ah, I do like a challenge."
The creaking of the nearby trees intensifies, and there is a deep rumbling in the ground. One by one, four of the large trees uproot themselves and stride toward the group on legs fromed from their solid trunks, trailing grass and dirt.

Ah? Buh!? Wha? ...Zuh?! Young Cessily makes a sound that can only be described as an "eep!" The trees are /walking/. That's not normal, not even for a student at /Xavier's/. She shrinks a couple inches or so in size under her clothing as she increases her density. It's good to be prepared.

Angelica pauses in her steps as she sees the trees start walking, her brow lifting. Well. Adding curiosity to her reasons for continuing forward, the woman draws ever closer to the group, starting to extend and strengthen her aura to encompass a larger area. "Is there a problem here, boys?"

Rine stops as trees start to uproot themselves and come to the rescue. She's not one for rescues, so she starts to take a step backwards. Apparently this man is safe, or so completely screwed. No sence in hanging around when the arm of the law will inevitably show up.

The mobile foliage keeps moving at its ponderous pace toward the old man. The green villain gives Angelica a smirk as she approaches. "Nothing to worry about, miss. Just be on your way."
Oberon backs away from the thug before him, but the four treants are forming a circle (or a square, for that matter) around him. When he sees Angelica and Cessily, he warns them, "Keep back! I can handle this!" As the second goon approaches, he does a quick hop backward, stabilises himself, and punches the mugger in the face from a distance of four metres. There wasn't a great deal of force behind the blow, but it was enough to send him reeling. The arm retracts back to its normal length just as quickly.

Okay, this is weird, Cessily thinks. It's the old guy who's being attacked, but she feels the sudden /need/ to protect this girl behind her. Her silvery form ripples, shifting underneath her clothing as she flattens and extends her hand to shape it into a makeshift blade, which she weilds protectively.

Angelica seems content to stay where she is now, neither retreating nor moving forward. "Doesn't look like nothin'," she comments, watching as the fight begins, her brows lifting in faint concern as she wraps her arms around herself, observing the actions of Oberon and Cessily.

Rine is out of range for Angelica to have any effect on her. She just blinks at Stretch Arm strong, and his army of trees. She continues to back up, waiting for that sound of distant sirens.

The two thugs seem content to back away while the trees do their work. The obvious leader of this band of brigands replies to Angelica, "Of course it is. Now keep away. We don't want you to get hurt." That is more a concerned warning than a threat, and when he says it a confused expression forms on his face.
One of the trees swings a heavy branch at Oberon. The old man rockets upward as his legs extend rapidly, then he pulls them up under himself, dodging the hostile plant and landing back on the ground once the leafy weapon passes.
Another of the trees receives a signal from its mutant master, one confused by the power of another. Being of very simple mind, the tree immediately recognises a bladed weapon in the hand (more precisely, in place of the hand) of one person near the girl that must be protected and decides she is a threat. It turns and strides toward Cessily.

Silver eyes widen as one of the trees advances on the metallic young woman. "I-- I---" Yeah, words are not coming. With the loss of concentration, her hand begins to shift out of its bladed shape. For some reason, her sense of self-preservation is nowhere to be found, she just needs to protect this complete stranger! There is a tearing sound as her body flattens and expands into a shield of sorts, destroying all of her clothing, save the unstable molecule training uniform she wears underneath at all times. She's really, really glad is wasn't laundry day today.

Angelica has to gasp as the tree starts lumbering closer to her location, at first uncertain as to just who the target is. After all, she's never dealt with walking trees before! She cowers back a step, then watches, fascinated as Cessily expands into a shield, a faint smile forming on her lips. Beautiful.

The tree heading toward Cessily raises one large branch, and swings it down, intending to squash her flat. The other three lay into Oberon, as he attempts to weave between the many branches. One smacks straight into his chest, sending him hurtling through the air and landing on the ground with a thud. The green man walks calmly over to him and says, "Alright, stretch. Hand over your cash and I won't have my friends step on you."
Oberon doesn't reply, and gets up. He's clearly quite angry, but that is not surprising considering what is happening.

The attacking tree branch hits Cessily, though she is already flattened! The branch passes partly through her, as she liquifies to allow it, and begins to reshape around it. Liquid silver tendrils snake onto the tree as she attempts to immobilize it, wrapping around the trunk and branches and tightening her grip.

Angelica watches with widening eyes as Cessily wraps around the tree, impressed. She keeps her attention mostly on the other woman, wary, trying to judge if her actions will cause the tree to topple, and if so... she doesn't want to end up beneath it. In the meantime, she pulls out a cellphone and starts dialing.

With its target now wrapped around it, the simple-minded tree becomes confused and simply stops moving. Its legs merge back into a single trunk and sink into the ground. It appears to be a normal tree again. The other three are still approaching Oberon. While their green-clad leader is distracted by his apparent victory, Oberon unleashes another rapid blow, pointing with two fingers as he strikes. There is a blue flash and the mutant mugger falls onto the ground, a pair of marks on his chest smoldering lightly. The remaining trees root themselves where they stand in the same manner as the first.

When the tree stops moving, Cessily slides down the trunk, momentarily pooling at the base of it before reforming herself. Her uniform, made to reshape itself with her, bears a less-than-subtle X on the front. Three guesses where this young mutant goes to school. "Is everyone alright?" she asks, sounding concerned.

Angelica flicks shut the phone and pockets it as the action winds down. Her brows lift with concern as she glances between the two, her arms wrapping around herself again. "I'm fine," she says, her voice soft, meek. "I... saw what happened. I couldn't... run. Are.. Are you guys okay?"

With their leader fallen, the two goons run off. Oberon leaves the plant-controlling mutant lying there. The police will take care of him. Watching the now stationary trees with caution, Oberon moves toward Cessily and Angelica. As he nears, he becomes aware of a peculiar urge to protect Angelica from any danger. As a member of the Clockwork Path, he knows existence as a biological entity is the most horrific thing anyone can endure, and is troubled by a need to save Angelica from this immediately. He is shaking a little, and manages to supress this urge, convincing himself that she cannot be saved yet. Not while the master is away. He frowns at the two girls. "You should not have tried to help. You could have been badly hurt."

Cessily shrugs. "There aren't a whole lot of things that /can/ hurt me. I mean, trees aren't exactly a threat to me" says the metal girl, shrugging her shiny silver shoulders. "It looked like they were more danger to /you/ than to /me/" Cessily counters. "At least until the Reed Richards impression."

Angelica gives a shaky smile in response to Oberon's words. "You're probably right. I just couldn't stop watchin'. Trees walkin'? Ya just don't see that everyday. Scared me a bit." Turning to Cassiel, her smile deepens, and she adds, "Ya did real good there, stoppin' that tree."

Oberon nods. He doesn't know of Cessily's ability, as he was occupied with his own problems at the time, but he takes her word for it. People with odd-coloured skin tend to have equally odd abilities. Angelica's presence continues to bother him, and he says to her, "You must be saved. I cannot say why, but I know it must be done. When the Prophet returns, I will ask him to offer you the transformation. You must be freed from the burdens of the flesh." Oberon is a little shocked at his own words. He isn't usually so preachy, but for some reason the importance of saving this one person is overwhelming.

Great. They rescued a cultist. Wonderful. At least he's not a Scientologist. The last thing she needs is to have her mutation blamed on alien ghosts living in her body. She gives the other girl a sympathetic look. Usually, it's /her/ that crazy people single out, as nutcases and stoners tend to be attracted to shiny objects.

Angelica blinks at Oberon's mini-sermon, giving him a mixed half-smile of confusion and amusement. "Burdens of the flesh?" she repeats, a brow lifting skeptically. "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm not so certain that it's necessary... But either way, as you say, the prophet isn't here, so I guess I'll just be on my way then, since everyone seems alright." Yes, away from the scary cultist...

Oberon grits his teeth. This is ridiculous. He has no idea what is causing him to act like this, but he can't stop himself. "You don't understand. I must help you abandon your body and embrace the immortal machine. If you do not, you will be subject to suffering and finally death. The Clockwork Path offers freedom from these."

"Okay, um, you need to calm down" Cessily informs the older man, trying really hard not to sound rude. "You were just almost mugged by trees. That's naturally kind of upsetting. Maybe you should sit down. There's a bench right over here..." she motions towards the nearest hobo-free bench.

Angelica begins to think that this is starting to get a bit too tense. Sometimes being saved just isn't worth it. "I appreciate the concern! Glad you're both well," she calls, giving a bit of a way, then starts to make a hasty retreat, withdrawing her aura as she goes. Imagine if this 'Prophet' had been around! Goodness.

As Oberon finds himself outside of the range of the aura, he shakes his head. "What just happened?" He looks at Angelica, clearly confused about what was happening. Now that she has moved away and the effect has stopped, he begins to understand. "That is a very dangerous gift you have."

Cessily has gone from assuming the man is in a cult to assuming he's a paranoid scitzophrenic, because no religion- not even a cult- could be that damn weird. Except maybe Scientology. But without any couches to jump on, it's hard to tell if he's one of /them/ or not. At least her sense of self-preservation is returning. She moves towards her discarded and torn clothing and begins to pick the items up off the ground, hoping that she goes unnoticed now.

Angelica turns her head to look back once as Oberon says those last words, winking to him, then picks up her pace, making her way out of the park. Home, home sounds good. A break from helpful folk.

Oberon frowns once Angelica has left, and turns to Cessily. "I am terribly sorry. I seem to have made a fool of myself." He looks over the various things on the ground. "Do you require assistance?"

For a brief moment, Cessily contemplates pretending to be a statue. It could work. She is made of metal, after all. Or maybe not. "Um. No. I'm fine." Her hands once again reshape themselves, this time into long tendrils that reach down and wrap securely around the pile of clothing to keep it all together. "See?" She forces a smile onto her face.

Oberon observes the liquidity of the silver girl, now understanding why she was in no danger from the tree. "I see. Very well. I shall be off on my way now. Goodnight." If he had a hat he would tip it to her, but he doesn't so he simply smiles and heads back down the path. Today has been extraordinarily strange, and to stick around in the park any longer would only encourage more weirdness.

"Uh. Right. Yeah. Bye." Time to bite the bullet and call the school for a ride back home. Sigh.

Interviewing Possible Escorts

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 09:24:21 GMT

Hell's Kitchen -- it's not the ideal place for /anyone/ to be, especially not when they've got a choice in whether or not to go there. The cold winds are harsh here, smog filtrating through this disorganized and dirty corner of New York City. Many people would not voluntarily enter Hell's Kitchen. Remy LeBeau, however, is here for a purpose. He doesn't really know when he started the whole 'Robin Hood' schtick but, for the past few weeks, the New Orleans thief has been making visits to the slums with gifts of food for those who need and want it. Not food he's really purchased of his own money, of course; that would just be silly. He doesn't really know why he does it. But he does, and that's why he's here today, finishing the distribution and ruffling a small boy on the head with a a small grin. Hands shoving deep into his pockets, Gambit strolls out an alley towards the heart of Hell's Kitchen, a cigarette dangling between his lips. He smiles. Today, is a good day.

While most people might not feel quite at home in the very heart of Clinton, one person strangely does. Or, well, it's not /that/ strange, seeing as this neighbourhood quite resembles the place he grew up in. Or places, actually. On his way back from doing his usually little tasks and bits, Mortimer is ambling restlessly down the very street Gambit just walked into. His earthy coloured clothes clothes almost blend in with the environment. His head is angled down, feet dragging over the sidewalk as he glances askew to a stray trashbag. Today, is a boring day. As always, lately.

Hugging herself to further keep out the cold, Angelica also walks down the streets of Hell's Kitchen, close to the center of that infamous area. She'd come here on business, to check in on an old 'friend', and is now starting to make her way back out, eyeing those she passes with veiled distrust. Her steps inevitably lead her closer to the location of Remy and Mortimer. Today, is just another day. Another struggle for survival.

Just another day. A good day, or a boring day; the look on Remy's face is one of contentment as he saunters down the street, the tip of his cigarette burning with orange ash as he takes in those poisonous vapors, and expells them all from his lips in a sigh and a plume of smoke. His right hand stretches through the air, snatching the cigarette between thumb and index finger. Used boots dig into the concrete of the streetwalk, but Remy only pauses his walk when he spots a man with a certain, crooked stature heading in his general direction. Arching a brow, the thief continues walking, his left arm bumping up against Mortimer as he passes, "'Scuse me, hommes." He offers quietly, and continues his walk.

Oomf. "Huh?" Mortimer hums idly, absent state of mind causing his shoulder to jut back quite a bit when Remy bumps against it. Hence, he has to halt for a second to regain his balance, and actually figure out what just happened. The green teinted mutant looks over his shoulders, and his eyes instantly narrow as he matches Remy's voice and the back of the man's head with... well, the front of it. Gambit. "Wha' is the likes a'/you/ doing 'ere?" It sounds more like an insult than anything, really.

Angelica rounds the corner to turn onto the street just in time to see Remy bumping into Toad and hearing the response. Her chin lifts, body tensing, and then she arches a brow, looking between them. "I hope there's not a problem here."

Ah. It is who Remy thought. The thief gives a little smile as he turns his head, looking back to give Mortimer a sidelong glance. "Well it it ain't de amazin' Toad." Gambit turns to bow deep and graciously to Toad; an action which is no doubt simply meant to taunt the other mutant. "Helpin' people, mon ami. Sumt'in' you ain't got de vocabulary t'understand, non?" Strange black-red eyes peer at Angelica from behind a pair of shades as the thief straightens, raising his hands in a 'I don't know what you're talking about' kind of gesture. "No problems, chere. De Toad, he was jus' about t'be hoppin' off t'hunt down some flies. Ain't dat right, Toady?"

Toad sneers as Remy speaks up, lurching forward slightly as his head curiously twitches to the side at the other man's words. "I 'elp people." Re rebuttals, although he doesn't sounds all too sure about it himself. Alas. "I bet /you/ weren't doing nought but 'elping y'self." His gaze is temporarily averted from Gambit, and flits to Angelica. Gambit finishes, and the Toad's sneer twists into an uncanny grin. "Yeah. An' I believe I just found me a one."

Angelica smirks at them both, her head tilting to one side as she glances between them. "Good. 'Cause I'd -hate- to walk into somethin' troublesome. Out helpin' people, huh?" she asks, her wary gaze glancing over Toad at his last words. "Maybe one of ya would be up for helpin' a gal make her way outta this here part of the city, hmmm?"

"Sound real sure o' yo'self." Is said between a drag of Remy's cigarette, smoke billowing from his lips as he speaks. Glowing red eyes consider Toad silently for a moment, before he shrugs. "Nah. Don' see it in ya. Helpin' people other den yo'self takes a certain 'mount o' character. An' character, Mort, is de last t'ing you got." Letting the man's insults roll off him, the thief's eyes once more roll to Angelica, making sure to keep a careful - very careful - eye on toad. "Mebbe I better take ya out. De Toad, he might get lost an' confused. Non, hommes?" It's the other man's words that cause brown brows to raise behind those sunglasses, his right hand reaching to rub the back of his head thoughtfully. "Don' t'ink ya should be speakin' fool t'ings like dat. Last t'ing ya want, is ta get embarassed in front o' de pretty lady here, don'tcha t'ink?" Gambit is most certainly jeering the other mutant. It's a force of habit, and he does it with a smile. Besides.
Toad ruined one of his shirts.

Yes. Yes he did. It was a wonderous moment, wasn't it? And at the time, Exodus was there to stop him from... 'embarassing himself'. Which, naturally, he wouldn't have done. "Actually..." Toad cuts in, slinking closer to Angelica and giving her his best smile. Which is still quite unsettling, to say the least. "I know this place like the back of my 'and." He preens proudly, "And with /me/ you ain't got to worry about finding your pockets empty when we part again." Well, not /too/ much, anyway. As if it's something to be proud of. "An' prettyboy over there--" He loosely motions towards Gambit, sniffing dismissively, "-- Well, lookit 'm. I doubt 'e knows anything beyond stealin' from the likes of you." He's not letting her go, no. Not without a fight, anyway.

Angelica continues to shift her gaze between the two as they argue back and forth, the corners of her mouth tilting up in an amused smile. "Quite a choice. A 'Toad' who may or may not know his way around here... Or a charming man who may or may not end up a thief. Only in Clinton... Whatever is a poor gal to do?" She chuckles lightly, not seeming /too/ terribly worried about the outcome.

"Dis humble thief would never steal from a beautiful woman such as yo'self, chere. Got my word on dat. Toad, t'ough... he has a nasty habit o' splittin' when t'ings are lookin' a li'l bit dangerous." Remy frowns, fingerless-gloved hand resting just underneath his chin in a thoughtful pose as he looks between Toad and Angelica. "Now I dunno 'bout you, but me? I don' t'ink I'd feel too safe an' comfortable 'bout bein' led by a toad who springs away at de sign o' a threat. 'Sides, he ain't got a winnin' smile." At this statement, Gambit flashes his own pearly whites in a most charming of smiles, dipping low a little and extending a hand outward to Angelica. "Remy, he make sure you get home all nice an' safe."

Hey! Mortimer grunts, and straightens his back for the lady, tilting his head up in a regal sort of way. And failing miserably at looking anything like it. His tongue coils in his mouth, aching to flick out at Gambit's face. But that wouldn't be too... courteous, would it? "Ah, bu' as Gabit 'ere should know, I only do wha' I'm told to do." He grins proudly, looking over to Angelica once more. "An' if this 'ere 'chere' tells me to keep 'er safe until I manage to /get/ 'er somewhere safe, then her wish is my command." The last few words leave his mouth through gritted teeth, as he glances askew at Gambit again. His hand, too, is extended.

Angelica lifts her brows, returning Gambit's grin before glance at both of the extended hands. "So, you promise not to steal me blind while we walk? And you say you'll not hop away at the first sign of danger, hmm? I must say, boys, you're makin' it hard for a gal to decide. I'm almost tempted to take ya both along, jus' so you'll make sure the other keeps his part of the deal," she says with a wink.

"Den ya must get told t'run away an awful lot. Don' say much for you OR yo' boss, eh, mon ami?" Remy just tests the boundaries of Toad's patience and tolerance for the thief's pestering, all the while smiling with a delightful warmth that contradicts the weather surrounding them. "'Sides, never t'ought I'd see de day dat bein' a mindless lackey would be considered a good t'ing. Me, I enjoy de walk home more when I got somebody dat can actually hold a decent conversation. But dat's jus' de opinion o' one man." Remy's eyes lift, to peer over at Mortimer with the arch of a brow and a smirk tugging at the corner of his lip. "Mebbe dat a good idea, chere. But I don' t'ink even dis thief could stop de Toad from runnin'. When it comes to runnin', he a bona fide pro." With all due respect.

OH. Ohhh, now you're on, Frenchie. After a snort snerk from Mortimer, since the Toad is - quite ironically - at a loss for words at the moment, his hand is pulled back to his side. The mutant then lowers himself into a half-crouch, only to bound right back up and stretch his arms out for the other man's shoulders, with the intention of grabbing them and pushing Gambit over. Mine.

Up until that moment, Angelica had been rather lighthearted about the situation. She grins at Gambit's words, starting to respond, but Toad's movement cuts her words short. Backing up a couple steps, to bring herself farther from possible danger, the woman extends her aura out another couple feet away from her. If they are going to fight, fine, but she doesn't want hurt in the process.

There it is. Toad snaps, and Gambit, cocky as he is, isn't exactly surprised; he's a smartass, not a stupid one. His own hand flicks back to his side and, in that same motion, something falls out of his pocket. Something shiny and metallic. "Now, Mort, don' say de Cajun didn't warn ya 'bout startin' a fight..." Toad is fast, Remy will give him that. But the thief has uncanny agility on his side, hyper-metabolized muscles bending to allow him to fluidly falls /backwards/ and just barely out of harms way of those grabbing hands. His prized bo-staff extends outward, attempting to jab Toad in the gut and propel the mutant through the air, using his own momentum as the X-Man suspends himself on a single hand. "... an' in front o' a lady, too! Fo' shame, hommes!"

Toad might be fast, but to his great disappointment - not fast enough. The mutant almost literally flies over Gambit, just nearly missing the other's shoulders only to see the bo-staff extending towards his stomach. Ooohnonono. He sucks his gut in slightly, and arches his back to regain blaance and shift his weight in mid-air, both hands now grabbing at the staff as he lands in another crouch. "Gimme that!"

Angelica frowns as she watches the two fight, her arms wrapping around herself, gaze darting between the two, trying to follow their motions. "Boys, really, is there any need to fight?" she asks, her voice quivering faintly in concern. Her? Useless in a fight? Most definitely.

Sun-glass hidden eyes dart to Angelica as Remy pushes himself back up onto his feet, holding onto his bo-staff with one-hand as Toad lands with a firm grip on the other end. "Don' worry yo' pretty self 'bout it. Dis, it ain't gon' take more den a minute or two." Attention quickly shifts back to Toad, already in the process of making his next move, "You ain't got de grace t'use it, Mort! Best if ya jus' stick ta what you best at..." And Toad might notice three cards between Remy's fingers that are /flung/ at the Brotherhood mutant, even as the thief speaks. All glowing a faint pink, aimed at left shoulder, right shoulder, and forehead of the Toad, "... an' leave de real fightin' to de professionals."

Toad glowers, giving the staff a light tug before dlitting his eyes back up to Gambit's face. "Yeah, actually I think I jus' might." Ironically, Angelica goes virtually ignored for now, it seems. "Turns ou' I'm best at kicking red eyed ars-- Whoah!" And then, the cards come into view. Mortimer's finger unfurl from the staff almost immediately as he pushes himself up and springs up, leaping backwards and back-flipping into a handstand. Not anticipating, of course, that the cards would now hit him in the back, instead. Yeouch. The Toad tilts over and back onto his stomach, grabbing painfully at his sides with a clenched jaw.

Angelica lifts one hand to her mouth as the other two fight, her eyes widening at the effect that the flung cards have upon Toad. She takes a step forward once the other man is on the ground and looks up at Gambit. "Not bad, Stranger. Not bad at all. Never saw a card trick like that one before." A side glance to Toad. "We should probably go before your friend gets up, hmmm?" Seems she's made her choice. For now.

Remy seems very prepared to continue, bo-staff now in both hands and an easy-going smile on his face. More than ready, because, well -- he dislikes Magneto very much and, by extension, he dislikes Toad very much. It doesn't help that Toad ruined a perfectly nice shirt, either. As the cards explode, he is prepared to move in and smack Toad to holy hell with his staff. The only thing that stops him is Angelica's voice -- though it's not really her voice that makes him pause completely and turn, blinking at the girl. He doesn't think much of it. Instead, he shrugs with a grin, the bo-staff collapsing in on itself once more as it hides away in his pocket. "Me, I'm full o' de magic, chere. De name's Remy LeBeau. 'Stranger's' such an ugly term, non?" He straightens, an arm offers itself to Angelica. The other? Lifts in the air as Remy walks off, intent to give Toad a little wave and a cocky smile. "Au revoir, hommes. Mebbe next time you be a bit more lucky an' get t'dance wit' Remy summore. Right now, t'ough, I got more important t'ings t'do."

Toad writhes for a moment, pushing himself onto his side to peer over, just in time to see Gambit's little, mocking wave. His expression twists into a sneer, and his tongue coils out of his mouth to lash irefully before him as he prepared to watch the two depart. No use in getting up anymore, now. Seems he does have an ounce of some sort of pride after all, and he intents on keeping it, slowly creeping up into a crouch once more.

Angelica smiles as Remy turns back towards her, a vague mixture of sadness and triumph in the look. "Delighted to meet you, Remy," the woman says as she takes the offered arm, smiling her thanks more genuinely. "I'm Angelica. Angelica Rodriguez. And yes, names are always preferrable to 'Stranger'." Her head turns slightly as they walk, glancing back at Toad and giving the man one last curious look before she returns her attention to Gambit. Never a dull day when you seek theives as escorts.