Christmas 2017: The Shaws

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Slarti
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Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> "Perhaps I should have driven it here, to give you a bit more time to adjust." It had seemed a decent idea at the time, but Boston Crossing two days before Christmas now looked like a sea of people and vehicles jammed into a small shopping district with old, narrow streets.

<Shaw> Seated in the passenger seat of the new Knight SUV, which Hope called - not incorrectly - a tank, they could certainly see over the crowds, but getting through them to park was another matter.

<Jessica> "Maybe..." she didn't think that would help. It was very much a tank and she felt small, as pregnant as she was, sat in the seat. Her hands were wrapped around her seatbelt strap as she looked out of the window.

<Shaw> Noticing her hands were no longer on the wheel from his peripheral vision, Sebastian looked over. "Koibito? Are you all right?"

<Jessica> "There's so many people..." and the roads just got narrower and narrower. The lights were changing. She shifted the car into gear and attempted to navigate the streets.

<Shaw> "Yes, well it is Christmas." He looked between her and the road.

<Jessica> "Why are the roads so narrow?!" She was freaking out. It was bad enough navigating when there wasn't people all over the place.

<Shaw> "Because the city is old." Even for him, it was a reach across the console to place his hand on her thigh.

<Jessica> "Where can we park? Like... that I can get this thing into without flattening another car...."

<Shaw> "On the street, or there is a garage on the next block." He stared in that direction as if he could see it from here, and spotted a young man on a bicycle - in December - weaving up beside the vehicle. The man was staring at the shiny black tank curiously, and then looked up, and up, and made eye contact with its owner.

<Jessica> Jess was aware of the cyclist and internally flailing. "Will we get in to a garage?"

<Shaw> "It should clear most standard garage ceilings." Or so the brochure said. "Although we may need two slots, or to park on the roof." The bicyclist dipped alarmingly toward them and Sebastian tried not to react. He failed.

<Jessica> "What is wrong with people?!" Jess honked the horn at the idiot because she didn't want to flatten him.

<Shaw> The horn sounded like an alarm and the man screeched and crashed his bike into a newsstand.

<Jessica> Jess decided that was better than running the man over, glancing at Sebastian, "Not a word."

<Shaw> "Not saying any." He pressed his lips together and started trying to track other potential hazards, and search for parking. "There, that terrible purple BMW has its lights on, perhaps it's leaving."

<Jessica> Jess slowed down and eyed the vehicle in question... and prayed.

<Shaw> Of course, that meant she would need to parallel park. "So, it will most certainly be a full house at Christmas. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

<Jessica> "Stay out of the kitchen unless I specifically ask for help, that's all," she offered him a smile before her concentration became consumed by parking a tank.

<Shaw> "Yes, ma'am," he chuckled. "Perhaps I should get out and... clear the area?"

<Jessica> "If they don't get out of the way on their own, they deserve to get run over. Darwinism."

<Shaw> "Fair point, love." He laughed, though he knew she wasn't joking. "So... stay out of the kitchen. Does that mean I must entertain?"

<Jessica> "... Yes." This made her happy too, "And you can be nice to Viper."

<Shaw> "Must I?" He laughed a little, turning in the seat to observe the crowd, and noticing they were picking up traffic behind them.

<Jessica> "It's Christmas," she reminded him, sighing with relief once she'd gotten them into the space and leveled off. She was soooo not driving home.

<Shaw> "I suppose." He beamed at her in triumph when she shifted to park. "That wasn't bad at all, now was it?"

<Jessica> She stared at him for a long moment then unhooked her seatbelt and reached for her handbag. It had been terrifying.

<Shaw> Well, he knew what that look meant. Since he hadn't been wearing a belt, he opened his door and jumped down, circling to assist her.

<Jessica> "You're driving home," Jess informed him once she was safely on the ground. "I got us into that space without incident, I don't want to push my luck getting us out again..."

<Shaw> "It will just take some getting used to, love." He offered her his arm and pressed the fob to lock the vehicle. People were staring. He didn't care.

<Jessica> Jess cared, she cared a whole hell of a lot and worried about accidentally pheromone bombing the area. Of course, that would make it much easier to get home because there'd be no one on the streets....

<Shaw> Her anxiety was bleeding over, and he rested his hand on hers where it clutched his arm. "You did fine."

<Jessica> "People are staring... because we're driving a tank."

<Shaw> "It's no different from a Hummer." Which was, of course, incorrect.

<Jessica> "It's huge!" Jess argued, "Do we really need something this big?"

<Shaw> "It's safe." It was made from ballistic aluminum, so it had best be safe.

<Jessica> "Well yeah... it's a tank... but what about everyone else on the road?"

<Shaw> His look told her exactly what he thought of everyone else.

<Jessica> She frowned, "Sebastian... I don't want to flatten all the other cars on the road into pancakes..."

<Shaw> "Well, that's not the point, unless they're trying to flatten you, of course."

<Jessica> "But... I might end up doing that by accident... the roads are small and the car is... a brick..."

<Shaw> He opened the door of a shop for her. "If you don't like it after you've had a chance to adjust, we can look into other options."

<Jessica> She nodded, "I just don't know why we need something that big..."
<Shaw> "It is... large," he finally admitted, cocking his head and turning to look at a display inside.

<Jessica> She sighed, "I'm sorry... I know you're only thinking of our safety what with the crazy Sentinels and everything..."

<Shaw> "It's all right, and I know it might seem a tad... extreme, but if there were an... attack, it could save your lives, and give you time to get away." He turned back to her and smiled, sliding his arm around her waist.

<Jessica> "I thought that was the point of that inhibitor inhibitor?"

<Shaw> "It is. The car, the inhibitor... it's all to help us stay safe."

<Jessica> "If it came down to it... I'd probably rather fly than take a car this big... easier to take corners..."

<Shaw> "True enough." He rested his hand on her belly, steering them past a gaggle of over-perfumed elderly women in the store.

<Jessica> She turned her head to give him a quick kiss, "How much does that thing weigh?"

<Shaw> "Fourteen hundred pounds... give or take." He grinned.

<Jessica> "Oh I can totally lift that." Maybe she could carry the thing to safety if there were more people in it than she could carry.

<Shaw> His grin grew wider and he gave her another kiss. One of the old women was watching them.

<Jessica> The realisation then dawned that if she ever found a spot that was difficult to park in she could just pick up the car and drop it into place. At least that problem was solved.... once the baby was born anyway. People might frown at her for lifting a car while pregnant, she was sure that would be included under the 'no heavy lifting' umbrella.

<Shaw> He could feel the wheels turning in her mind. Not plotting to throw it in the river, are you, koibito?

<Jessica> She turned her head to give him a grin, I hadn't thought of that.

<Shaw> Well, it is of course insured, but I would prefer you'd give it a chance first. He leaned in and nuzzled her.

<Jessica> I will... but only as a passenger until I get used to it. She didn't want to drive it again.

<Shaw> I'm told the Aston will be ready by the end of the month, so there is that, if you prefer.

<Jessica> I do... but it's not very child friendly... Though, neither was the tank. We'll figure it out. She offered a smile.

<Shaw> No, I know it's not. He nodded and moved slightly, his hand sliding down to intertwine their fingers to look through the shop.

<Jessica> She glanced over her shoulder then, convinced they were still being shot disapproving looks by the old people cluster.

<Shaw> Sebastian wasn't sure he approved of the strange appliance on display in front of him. It looked like something from one of the basement rooms of the Hellfire Club, yet the sign claimed it was for baking.

<Jessica> The old people weren't staring overtly but there was something there... She frowned, turning her attention back to Sebastian.

<Shaw> What in hell was it? He flipped over the price tag and made a perplexed noise.

<Jessica> Jess raised an eyebrow at the noise, "What?"

<Shaw> "...what is it?" He pressed a button and was rewarded with a whir from inside the metallic cage.

<Jessica> Jess laughed, "It's an industrial sized mixer... for dough and stuff." She smacked his hands away from the buttons, feeling a stab of annoyance that wasn't hers. She looked for the old ladies again.

<Shaw> Undeterred, he found another button, then picked up an attachment. He raised an eyebrow at it, then looked at Jess with a suggestive smirk. "And stuff."

<Jessica> "Not that stuff!" She swatted his arm, again looking for that cluster of old people and knowing they'd moved somehow.

<Shaw> "What do you keep looking at?" His tone was amused and he looked as well, quickly locating the old biddies, who were whispering and staring at them. Sebastian stared back.

<Jessica> "Keep getting this feeling they don't approve..." She chewed her lip.

<Shaw> "Oh?" That brought his attention back to Jess and he studied her face, eyes lingering on her lip. Though he knew she was nervous, that small mannerism always affected him. "I'm sure they don't, but that should just be additional entertainment for our shopping, yes?"

<Jessica> "Mmhmm..." And now she was distracted because someone much closer was making her feel something else entirely. Her nose wrinkled with her confusion.

<Shaw> Sebastian leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. "Just ignore them. Perhaps they're jealous." He touched her stomach. "Or, perhaps she's sensing things?"

<Jessica> "Pretty sure it's that..." she looked down at the bump, "Because I'm getting something off you now..."

<Shaw> "Well, that could be the link, I suppose." He moved his hand over the bump, searching for movement.

<Jessica> Jess shrugged helplessly, "I don't know anymore... it's so confusing..."

<Shaw> "It could be all coming from me, I suppose." He tilted his head, hand still rubbing in circles. "I could close the link? Just for a few minutes?"

<Jessica> She thought about it for a moment then nodded, "Worth a try...?"

<Shaw> Sebastian gave a nod, then concentrated for a moment and shielded himself tightly, closing their link as well as he could. It was difficult, and then strange. He drew in a ragged breath and straightened with a frown. "That's... uncomfortable."

<Jessica> She nodded, "Yeah..." Nope. She didn't like that. She worked on focusing on the other feelings again to see if they were still there. "Uuuugh...."

<Shaw> "Ugh?" He looked over at the cluster of old women, who had moved on. She was always in his mind, at least when they were close enough. For her to be right here but so far away? It was horrible.

<Jessica> "Nope... now it's worse..." she stepped closer to him, "I think the link was blocking most of it out because you were stronger... and now you're gone..."

<Shaw> "What... is it? Precisely?" He slid his arm around her, concerned.

<Jessica> She shrugged helplessly, afraid to focus overmuch on any of it. She did try, however, cringing at the assault on her senses. There were flashes of annoyance from people stood in queues, joy from people who found the perfect gift for that special someone, frustration from people who couldn't get to the thing they wanted because there were too many people in the shop, amusement, anger, disappointment, despair.

<Shaw> She looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Jess? Love?"

<Jessica> "I don't like it..." she reached out and clung to him, "I want the link back now please..."

<Shaw> "Of course." He didn't like seeing her upset, and reconnected their link while giving her a hug.

<Jessica> Jess returned the hug as well as she could with the bump in the way, pressing her face against his neck and breathing him in. She let the link overwhelm her for a moment to drown everything else into background noise.

<Shaw> You're fine. He held her tight and bowed his head to kiss her through her hair, sending her his reassurance.

<Jessica> She nodded, taking a few more steadying breaths before she straightened up, "Let's get our shopping done."

<Shaw> "Do you think it's her?" He brushed his hand over the bump, smoothing down her coat.

<Jessica> "I don't know... I don't know how I'd tell otherwise..." she shook her head, "I'm going to try to ignore it..."

<Shaw> "I'm not certain either." He slid his arm around her and steered her to a less crowded part of the store. "All right, we'll finish our shopping and I'll drive home. Yes?"

<Jessica> She nodded, "I am all for this plan. You can do all the driving in the scary car."

<Shaw> “Of course." He nodded as well, and leaned in to give her a kiss and a wolfish grin. "For now."
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

A day or two after Christmas

<Hope> Hope eased herself back into her seat on Sebastian's plane, bringing her glass of scotch to her lips as she gazed out the window. Chris hadn't been too pleased that she was going to Alaska in the first place, but he knew better than to protest club business. She swallowed hard. Should she have brought him?

<Hope> She glanced over to the other passengers on the plane, eyes settling on the surprise asian on the flight. No. No she should not have. She wanted to deal with this nuisance all on her own.

<Shaw> Sebastian thumbed off his phone and picked up his own crystal tumbler of scotch, taking an appreciative sip. He watched Hope with a slight smile. "It's not Air Force One, but I do hope you're not too disappointed."

<Hope> She smirked back, nodding at him. "It will just have to do, won't it?" she teased. She set her glass down, shifting her seat to be more sociable. "I didn't realize we'd be having such..." she glanced at Shinobi "lovely company."

<Shinobi> Slouched in his own seat, he gave his father and the Stark woman a lazy, toothy smile. "Likewise unpleasantly surprised, but then I was told this little excursion wasn't optional."

<Shaw> "Shinobi," he warned with a slight shake of his head. "Jessica needed a bit of quiet time, and since I'm unwilling to let him roam about on his own, here we are. I do apologize." He flashed Hope a grin that didn't look terribly apologetic.

<Hope> Hope shot them both a glare. "Super. You ever think of putting her in a glass bubble so she can't stress herself out? Though I guess... she'd find a way in there too." Hope sighed.

<Shinobi> "Like a hamster wheel?" He smirked at Sebastian and turned his attention to the blue outside the window.

<Shaw> He rolled his eyes and sipped his scotch.

<Hope> Hope smiled despite herself. "Now there's an amusing thought." With Shinobi no longer talking to her, she glanced to Sebastian. "So are you going to tell us why we're here?"

<Shaw> "Because it's Christmas, love." He paused at Shinobi's snort, then went on. "And, your birthday, of course, so happy birthday." He raised his glass toward her and inclined his head.

<Hope> She stuck her tongue out at Shinobi. "So... trip to Alaska for my birthday slash Christmas?" Odd. She had just been to Alaska with Bobby. Though that was fun. She totally liked Alaska a lot better with Bobby around.

<Shaw> "Indeed. I have something to show you." He sat up and reached into his attache case, coming up with a small, wrapped box, which he handed over to her. "One of your gifts."

<Hope> "What's this?" she asked, taking the box, slightly surprised. She started working on the wrapping paper right away.

<Shinobi> Now interested, he pretended not to be.

<Shaw> "I considered jewelry, but I didn't believed anything I saw suited you, so I thought you might be interested in another approach." He got up to refill their glasses, even pouring a scotch for his faux son.

<Hope> The lid off the box, Hope blinked at the syringe inside it. Her eyes shot up to Sebastian, clearly baffled. "The fuckity fuck?"

<Shinobi> Leaning over to see inside Hope's box, he smirked. "Well... that's a new kink."

<Shaw> Sebastian brought Hope her refilled glass. "Inside this," he said, picking the syringe out of the box, "Is a solution to the little problem we suffered at the children's hospital."

<Hope> Hope looked between him and the syringe. It took her all of two seconds before she held out her arm.

<Shinobi> He blinked. The woman was insane.

<Shaw> "You don't even want to know how? Or what?" He chuckled, handing her the tumbler of scotch. "Eager."

<Hope> "Oh I definitely want to know how. I already know what. You have plenty of time to explain before we land." She took the scotch, taking a sip.

<Shaw> "It's based on inhibitor technology, and reverses it, effectively blocking the effects of those beams the sentinels currently use to negate our abilities."

<Hope> "And the limitations? How many blasts can it withstand?"

<Shaw> "Two at the least, potentially three without loss of all protection. I won't lie, love, it's still undergoing testing, and there is the question of range of effectiveness, since I doubt it would withstand a blast at point blank." He tapped the fat syringe on his palm.

<Hope> She thought about that, and nodded. "So... I'm sort of a guinea pig then, yeah?"

<Shinobi> "Well, well, father, dabbling in human experimentation? Careful, your Nathaniel Essex is showing..." He tsked, then looked back out the window, still listening.

<Shaw> Sebastian pressed his lips together in irritation. "It's nothing I haven't done to myself," he snapped.

<Hope> The glass flew from her hand before she could stop herself, shattering on the wall near Shinobi's head.

<Shinobi> He ducked, phasing at the same time, though he needed to be careful not to drop through the jet. "Are you nuts?!"

<Shaw> "Hope!" He had to stop to put the delicate syringe aside before he could intervene.

<Hope> She sat there for a moment, breathing. She picked up her phone and started for the bathroom. "Sorry, I'll just uh... toilet. Sorry."

<Shinobi> "Yes, run and call daddy!" She'd gotten scotch on him! And glass, but mostly it was the scotch that irritated him. "I liked this shirt..."

<Shaw> "Hope-" Sebastian started after her, once again feeling the weight of guilt for that bastard Essex.

<Hope> That was it. She took the few steps back and swung at Shinobi's face.

<Shinobi> He wasn't phased, since he was trying to clean off his shirt, so the punch took him off guard and knocked him back into his seat, where his belated reaction phased him through the seat and onto the floor behind it.

<Shaw> Since it was a little late to stop them, Sebastian just picked up his scotch and took a sip.

<Hope> "Don't you dare, ever, mock me again," she warned, standing over him. "Or a sucker punch will be the least of your worries." She turned again, heading for that restroom. "Yeah yeah, I'll put myself in time out," she told Sebastian as she went.

<Shinobi> "Shut up." He increased his density to push his way past Sebastian, shoulder checking him on the way to get ice for his face.

<Shaw> Sebastian waited for the bathroom door to close before he went over to where Shinobi was picking himself up off the floor. "I do hope that was quite worth it."

<Hope> Hope took several moments to recompose herself before she reemerged, going straight for the scotch.

<Shaw> For his part, Sebastian was counting to ten in three languages before he decided how to deal with either of the children on his jet.

<Shinobi> He was at the bar, getting ice, when she returned. Pulling himself up to his full height, he shot her a venomous look.

<Hope> She glanced up at Shinobi, smirking. "If that's supposed to intimidate me, it doesn't." She handed him a rag for the ice, not taking her eyes off of his.

<Shaw> He leaned on the bulkhead and took another sip of scotch, watching this exchange with a smirk.

<Shinobi> He took the rag, eyes narrowing slightly, but he had no problems with staring her down. "How kind of you. It would have been especially helpful if you'd brought your ice idiot so he could pop out a few cubes for me."

<Hope> "How unfortunate for you. Perhaps if you were less of a douchbag, you wouldn't have need for ice." She switched to Sebastian's power so she could bounce off their minds just enough to pour herself a drink without taking her eyes off Shinobi. She couldn't look away first.

<Shinobi> How the fuck was she doing that? "You have alcoholic echolocation. How fascinating." He bared his teeth at her and folded the ice into the rag, pressing it to his cheekbone and keeping his eyes on hers since she apparently wanted to play this game.

<Hope> "I'm full of surprises," she smirked at him over the rim of the glass, finally taking a sip.

<Shaw> Sebastian's eyebrow went up at her response. "Well then, if you two are quite finished?" He gestured to their seats and retook his own after retrieving the syringe. "I have one for you as well, Shinobi, so sit."

<Hope> "I thought we were just getting started." She picked up the bottle, and headed to her seat. He could have the win.

<Shaw> He gave Hope a slight smirk and nod, then turned his attention back to Shinobi, who was still standing there, his eyes glued to Hope's backside. Sebastian cleared his throat and took a sip of his scotch.

<Shinobi> Somewhat perplexed now, he watched her return to her seat.

<Hope> Hope reclaimed her seat, glancing back over at Shinobi. She totally caught that. She grinned into her scotch. Still had it!

<Shaw> Sebastian looked between the two, then took the bottle from Hope to refill his own glass. "As I was saying, I've been giving the blocking tech to those closest to me, as a gift. And yes, it furthers the development and testing."

<Shinobi> His eyes snapped to hers when she sat down, and he realized he'd been caught. So, he smirked at her and took his time returning to his own seat.

<Hope> "Do you have one for Drake?" Hope asked, managing to look away from her distraction to focus on business again.

<Shaw> "That is something we will have to test - how well the technology will tolerate drastic temperature changes." Sebastian balanced his tumbler against his knee to shrug off his suit jacket and started rolling up his sleeve.

<Shinobi> "And you want to test this on me?" He found his own drink, still mostly intact, and took a sip. "Forgive me if I'm not entirely convinced."

<Hope> "Poltroons need not be tested," she informed Shinobi. "He's testing it on me. Doesn’t that tell you something?"

<Shinobi> It took a moment, in which he stared at her with a calculating frown. "Oh, most definitely. Since, after all, a knavish speech sleeps in a fool's ear."

<Hope> She sat up in her seat, suddenly awake and alive. "What trick, what device, what starting-hole canst thou now find out, to hide thee from this open and apparent shame?" Sebastian was forgotten. The serum was forgotten. She had a war to win.

<Shaw> Sebastian drummed his fingers on the arm of the seat. Uno, due, tre...

<Shinobi> He didn't know exactly how it was he knew these words, but he did. It seemed... natural. "Thou hath more hair than wit, and more faults than hairs... and more wealth than faults, Stark." Shinobi ended it with a sneer and a dismissive once-over. The hair part was certainly correct.

<Hope> She glared at him, then waved a hand dismissively. "Hence, horrible villain, or I'll spurn thine eyes like balls before me." She turned her attention back to Sebastian. "You were saying?"

<Shinobi> He laughed. "What was that about my balls?"

<Shaw> "Yes, as I was saying, I've injected myself." He extended his arm and showed her the pale skin of his upper arm, and a fading mark just under his bicep.

<Hope> "I breathe defiance to thine ears." She told Shinobi, not bothering to look over at him. She carefully touched Sebastian's arm, inspecting it. How could she quote Shakespeare when she was thinking science?

<Shinobi> "Oh, but thou shame the music of sweet news by playing it with so sour a face," he said, his tone sing-song when he sat forward to look at the mark on his father's arm. Happily, it brought him closer to Hope Stark's sour face, so he grinned at it, wolfishly.

<Hope> "Oh Shinobi... A false face must hide what the false heart doth know." She looked over at him, suddenly aware that he was close to her. "Thou appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours," she told him in a soft volume. Very close indeed.

<Shaw> "Yes, and as fascinating as an exercise in bizarre literary one upmanship as this has been, don't you both think it's time we get to the matter at hand before we land?"

<Shinobi> "You wound me..." He grinned at her. "I even used Listerine this morning..."

<Hope> Laughing, Hope put her hand on Shinobi's head to gently push him away. "Yeah yeah, let's get our injection done. Never know when we'll get company." She held out her arm again.

<Shaw> This time, Sebastian took it, and located the gift box to pull out an alcohol packet. After he wiped down her skin, he met her eyes before he injected her. Sebastian nodded once, giving her a small, reassuring smile.

<Shinobi> It was unsettling, watching him inject her with God knew what.

<Hope> She masked the pain with Shinobi right there, pretending all was well. "Well that's done." She glanced back at Sebastian, grateful for the distraction.

<Shaw> "Well done." Sebastian's smile grew a bit broader and he carefully recapped the specialized syringe.

<Shinobi> He was watching them both carefully, although he couldn't help the flash of irritation at the way he treated her.

<Hope> She smiled back at Sebastian, grabbing up her scotch to drink it. "Hopefully I don't get to test it out too soon."

<Shaw> "Let's hold out hope." The terrible pun made him smirk and he sat back to rifle though his attache. "Shinobi, your turn."

<Shinobi> "I never said I wanted to be a part of your test group."

<Hope> "Give his dose to Bobby then," Hope suggested, taking a slow drink of her scotch.

<Shaw> "Well, I certainly have enough for anyone interested, but I thought to take care of you now." Undeterred, Sebastian took another box from the case and opened it himself. "Where do you want it?"

<Shinobi> "Not everyone is willing to just heel the instant you snap your fingers, father." He gave Hope a pointed look.

<Hope> That got her to laugh. "Ohhh he wishes it were that simple with me. Would make life so much easier."

<Shaw> "It most certainly would." With everyone. He looked at Shinobi expectantly, but he still wasn't moving.

<Hope> Her eyes flicked between the two of them. This could be interesting. She took another sip and eased back into her seat, watching the showdown.

<Shaw> "You may choose where I implant this chip, or I may choose it for you." His tone was perfectly even, but he gave the syringe a slight wave.

<Shinobi> "And what else is included in that package? A tracker? An actual inhibitor? I'm certain you would love to have another way to control me." He glared at Sebastian.

<Hope> "So cynical." She swirled the amber liquid in the glass. "Shinobi..." she remembered not trusting Sebastian either. "He's not the enemy."

<Shinobi> "No, of course not." He snorted. "I have stuck to the letter of our agreement, but this is where the line is drawn. Why would I ever let you do something like that to me?"

<Shaw> "Because, I don't want you to be helpless should the unthinkable happen and we're attacked by sentinels? I've given Jessica one exactly like this, the only difference is that due to her pregnancy she needs to wear it instead." He was quickly losing patience, and there was a ding to signal the jet's descent. "Time is growing short, Shinobi."

<Hope> "You don't know what it's like... to face those things. Powerless. Or you wouldn't hesitate." She set her empty glass down. She knew. She knew all too well.

<Shinobi> Her tone made him hesitate in his response and he looked over at her. "I have yet to see one. In person, that is."

<Hope> She swallowed hard, looking up at him again. "I've nearly died twice. Because they knocked out my powers. So whatever is in there? I don't care. And I'd rather be tracked than dead."

<Shaw> Sebastian's mouth ticked upward just slightly. He would count that as implied retroactive consent then. "Have you stopped to consider that if I inject you with this, that SHIELD's inhibitor cuffs will no longer work on you? Viper cannot use her tricks either, until she adapts, at any rate."

<Shinobi> He looked out the window, at the snow and scattered buildings streaking by, and shook his head.

<Hope> Hope started grinning. She hadn't considered that either. "Invincible. And unlike Jess, it's not some stupid form of jewelry. It's part of you."

<Shaw> Sebastian turned his attention to Hope to raise his eyebrow for the shot at his wife. "At any rate, she's right." Although, he could always override it, at least in Shinobi's case. While he was feeling the Christmas spirit a tad, he wasn't feeling suicidal.

<Shinobi> It made him look at them both, watching the exchanged expressions again. "No." He turned his attention back out the window, crossing his arms.

<Hope> Hope rolled her eyes. "Let a sentinel get a hold of him. He'll wise up."

<Shaw> He decided to let it rest, for the moment, and stashed the box in his case, sitting back in the seat. "Indeed, if it isn't too late for such regret, of course." The descent was getting noticeable now, and his ears popped.

<Shaw> Turning to Hope, he grinned. "Well, now the adventure begins."
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> Sebastian couldn't really see the driver, due to the privacy window, which made him somewhat uncomfortable. Or, perhaps the problem was that he was shoved into the back of this rented limo with Hope, Shinobi, and two SHIELD agents.

<Shaw> He decided to redirect his attention, and after checking his phone, looked out the window. The snow-covered mountains made a breathtaking backdrop to the city, he had to admit. "You know, I've never been here before, not really. Not aside from one or two brief business trips."

<Hope> "I haven't been back properly since I left... three years ago." Hope was fixated on the window, an uncharacteristic smile on her face. She always said she hated Alaska, but she was overwhelmed with a sense of home. Everything seemed so clean here. And fresh.

<Shaw> "And how does it feel?" Her smile made the answer fairly obvious, but he watched her with his own pleased expression.

<Shinobi> He was jammed between the door and an agent, and he couldn't get any closer to the door without phasing through it. The conversation made him look over, however.

<Hope> "Amazing... Bobby and I came camping up here, but that was to forget about things. And it wasn't Christmas." She reached over and took Sebastian's hand, looking up at him. "Thank you."

<Shaw> "You're quite welcome, little Stark." He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze. "Camping?" The corner of his mouth twisted a bit. "Ech."

<Hope> She laughed and nodded a little. "Yeah. Real camping. Like, we only ate what we hunted camping. Carol is going with me next time."

<Shaw> "That sounds... well, fairly dreadful." There was a reason he lived in the city, after all. "There will be no camping this time around, I'm afraid. We'll spend tonight at the Crowne Plaza. I have reserved the presidential suite."

<Hope> She mulled this information over a bit. "Acceptable." She smirked a bit.

<Shaw> "I'm glad you approve. I also made arrangements for your... escort." He smirked at the agents. "You're welcome as well, since I'm certain it's rather above your pay grade."

<Shinobi> He looked back out the window, wondering if he would be staying with the agents there as well. Joy.

<Hope> "Well that was thoughtful of you." She released his hand, placing it back on her lap. "So... where are we going?"

<Shinobi> How thoughtful. He snorted softly.

<Shaw> "Well, that's all part of the surprise, isn't it?" He leaned toward her to whisper in her ear. "It has nothing to do with Club business." The limo turned up a private drive.

<Hope> Confused, she gave him a look. She studied his face for any further clues, but found none. She was going to complain about surprises... but then she remembered Jess hated them. He had nobody to surprise. She smiled again. "I guess I'll just be surprised then."

<Shaw> He grinned at her, then took her hand back for the ride up the hill. The sign was just as in the photos in his report, reading Hope House. It was bright and cheerful, adorned with yellow and orange sunflowers and daisies.

<Shaw> When they rounded the bend, a sprawling estate built from timber and fieldstone came into view, surrounded by a field of snow and backed by the mountains.

<Shinobi> Wondering what his father was up to, he frowned at the sign.

<Hope> She squeezed his hand, staring at the sign first. That was followed by the landscaping and the building itself. What is the world was this place? She'd never heard of it before. She swallowed. If she could have lived there as a kid, even just for a day, it might have been a day of happiness.

<Shaw> The limo rolled to a stop and Sebastian didn't wait for the driver to open the door, getting out himself and offering Hope his hand. It was ridiculously cold up here, and his breath puffed in the air.

<Hope> Taking the offered hand, Hope slid out of the car after him, smile already on her face. This place... was amazing. "What is this place?" she asked, taking his arm and tugging her coat a bit tighter. She totally should have brought Drake.

<Shinobi> Left to get out with the agents, he waited for the driver to open the other door and stretched, taking his time to look around. It was... white. Very white.

<Shaw> "Well, I believe to answer that question I should tell you the rest of the name. It's the Hope Stark House, for children." He slid his arm around her and watched her face, hoping he had judged this correctly.

<Hope> She blinked several times, taking a staggering breath. She looked up at him, then back at the building, tightening her hold on him. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. She brought a hand up to her mouth, covering it as she closed her eyes and counted to five.

<Shaw> "It's all right, little Stark." He held on, then pulled her into a hug.

<Shinobi> Turning around to look at the building... was it a house? It looked a bit like a house, or an office building made to look like a house. Or a lodge. He couldn't make heads or tails of the architecture in this frozen north. Then he saw his father and Stark. That was... odd.

<Hope> She held onto Sebastian, hiding her face as she took some deep breaths. "You built me a children's home?"

<Shaw> "Well, I located an existing non-profit with an excellent reputation, and I gave them a.... boost, we'll say." He smiled at the house, looking it over. "Perhaps this will make things a little easier for other children in your previous situation."

<Hope> She laughed a little, wiping a stray tear. "This is..." she didn't have words. She just nodded a little. "Thank you." She sniffed, hoping she looked presentable. "Thank you." She turned back toward the building.

<Shaw> "You're most welcome. Merry Christmas, and incidentally, happy birthday." Locating a handkerchief in a pocket, he presented it to her. "Shall we go see it? The Hope Stark Foundation was most generous and I believe they already have a few residents."

<Hope> She carefully wiped her face, mindful of her makeup. "You have no idea how many people you've helped with this. How many lives you made better."

<Shinobi> Was she... crying? Well, well... not such a winning idea then, was it, old man?

<Shaw> "It's the least I could do." He escorted her up the sidewalk and stopped by the plaque with the dedication, also decorated with bright sunflowers. "They'll be more or less self-sustaining, as they already had funding, but we'll keep helping them. You can be as involved as you like with the foundation."

<Hope> "Very involved," she told him with a smile. How could she be anything else? "They shouldn't have want for anything."

<Shaw> "Excellent." Sebastian let go to open the door for her, only then remembering Shinobi and the agents. Of course, the two agents were blending in with the landscape, and his faux son was sticking out of it, looking miserable and cold. "Come in," he suggested, his tone not unkind.

<Hope> Hope held out her hand for Shinobi with a smile, waiting at the door. Would he take it? She decided she quite liked this experiment, however it turned out.

<Shinobi> Ah, they weren't unhappy tears. What a pity. Surprisingly, the thought made him feel a slight twinge when she smiled at him. She was feeling charitable, apparently, but after the sucker punch on the jet he was wary.

<Shaw> Already inside the door, Sebastian looked back at the others and raised an eyebrow at Hope's invitation.

<Shinobi> It was his father's reaction that cinched his decision, and so Shinobi took Hope's hand with a winning smile. It was only slightly painful, entirely thanks to that punch.

<Hope> She squeezed Shinobi's hand and smiled back at him, following Sebastian through the doorway.

<Shinobi> "So, as I wasn't privy to the grand reveal, what the hell is this place?" He looked around the lobby, which looked rather like a living room, with an office to one side. Something about it tugged at his memories.

<Hope> She swallowed again, squeezing his hand harder to steady her emotions. "It's a children's home. I... I wasn't always known to be a Stark." She smiled as a group of three kids ran by, screaming and laughing. She could already hear someone scolding them. She just smiled more. "I was like them."

<Shinobi> When he saw the children, he knew what this place was, and drew in a ragged breath.

<Hope> She put her other hand on his arm. "You alright?" she asked softly.

<Shinobi> His throat worked and he frowned. "I know your history... do you know mine?" So, for her his father would bend over backward. And he spent most of his life as a pawn.

<Hope> "Pieces," she told him, keeping a hold on him. "We can talk about it later... okay? When there aren't... little ears." She nodded as more kids appeared.

<Shinobi> "Yeah..." His eyes were on a small boy.

<Hope> Hope felt terrible for him. She kept a hold of him as they started their tour. Apparently, they had a lot to talk about.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Their hotel suite at the Crowne Plaza was fantastic. Hope got herself settled into her room and changed into her swimsuit. She wrapped herself up in the fluffy hotel robe and headed for the hot tub within the suite. She found scotch already waiting. Somebody knew she was coming. She grinned and poured herself a glass.

<Shaw> Shockingly, he was in the family suite, although he was sharing a room with his father. Still, the suite was beautiful, and after he found the liquor cabinet it was doubly so. After his little chat with Sebastian at the children's home, he was somewhat less angry, but all the more confused. The scotch was helping him with that, however.

<Hope> She set her drink down and headed into the living room. Hope texted away on her phone as she entered. "Hey Sebastian, I'm going to-oh." She glanced up just in time to see Shinobi alone in the room. "Heeeey Shinobi. Have you seen Sebastian?" Hopefully he was close. Like behind her.

<Shaw> The flame flickering in the fireplace had mesmerized him, but Hope's voice broke the spell and he sat up. "Oh. He went to the bar. Something about calling Jessica." Shinobi waved his hand and snorted, then actually looked at the Stark in the room. Oh.

<Hope> "Oh... I was going to order some food." She studied Shinobi briefly. "Want anything?"

<Shaw> He raised his glass of alcohol and gave it a slight shake.

<Hope> "Take that as a no then," she smiled, sitting down to pick up the phone and place her order. She was aware that her leg was showing, and she carefully slid the robe to cover that up.

<Shaw> "Well, wait... yes, I probably should eat." He put the glass down and swung his legs over to sit up. This, not coincidentally, gave him a much better view. "I'll have whatever you're having."

<Hope> She ordered them salmon and chocolate covered strawberries. She also gave them a stern warning about any nuts touching their food. The chef assured her it would be allergy free. That task done, she hung up the phone, smiling at him. "So I was going to check out this hot tub. Got it heating up. And there's scotch in there." She got to her feet again.

<Shaw> He listened to her peculiar nut warning with a half frown, still watching her. "There's a hot tub?" Shinobi finished untangling himself from the over-large chair and stood as well. "Where?"

<Hope> Laughing, she led him back to where it was. "It should be warmed up by now." She stuck her toe in, wobbling a bit.

<Shaw> His hand shot out to catch her arm. "Careful."

<Hope> "Thanks," she took a step back, keeping a hold of him. "It's warmed up." She glanced up at him and took of her robe, tossing it aside to reveal her black swimsuit.

<Shaw> A sip of scotch was required when she started to remove that robe, but then to his vast disappointment she was wearing a swimsuit. "That's... strappy." He used his critique as excuse to give her a thorough assessment.

<Hope> She just smirked and slid into the tub, picking up her own glass of scotch. "Indeed it is."

<Shinobi> The smirk was returned and he carefully set his drink down to loosen his tie, keeping his eyes on hers.

<Hope> Leaning back against the far wall, Hope watched him, smirking into her glass as she locked eyes with him. She certainly wasn't going to look away now.

<Shinobi> His brow twitched, along with his mouth, and he slid the tie free, the only sound in the room the hiss of the silk against the cotton.

<Hope> Hope required much more scotch to deal with this. She had to remind herself that she had a boyfriend. She smirked anyway and took another sip. Well, flirting never hurt anyone.

<Shinobi> Shinobi unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it free of his trousers. He grinned.

<Hope> It suddenly occurred to Hope that he didn't have a swim suit on. That caused another sip of scotch. She so wasn't looking away first though. Let him get naked. Shaw would kick his ass. Maybe. Possibly.

<Shinobi> He unbuckled his belt and peeled off his shirt and undershirt, breaking eye contact only to get it over his head.

<Hope> More scotch. Definitely more scotch. She had to look away to pour herself more. As soon as it was poured she looked back up at him, relaxing again.

<Shinobi> Kicking off his shoes and socks, he dropped trou and left his boxer briefs in place, stepping into the hot water and sitting down on the edge. Only then did he pick up his scotch and take a sip. "It is a bit warmer, isn't it?"

<Hope> Smirking, Hope nodded. "Yeah. There's a reason I was headed here." She studied him a bit, tracing the rim of her glass with her finger. She looked down at her tracing, totally losing round two. "I wanted to apologize... for on the plane."

<Shinobi> "Oh?" He kept his tone level.

<Hope> "Yeah..." she sank lower into the water, glad her hair was up in a bun so it wasn't getting soaked. "You hit a sore subject. I snapped. I'm sorry."

<Shinobi> "Ah. Essex?" He looked down at his glass, balancing it on his knee.

<Hope> "You said you knew my history. Do you know what he did?" She looked over at him again.

<Shinobi> "Yeah." He had to take another drink. "I was there."

<Hope> She downed that glass. "Why? Why would you bring it up then? Especially if you... help him." She spat out the last words.

<Shinobi> "I... didn't think about it, not in relation to you." He frowned into the glass. "He raised me. It was...natural... to help him. At the time."

<Hope> "I don't remember you... why don't I remember you?" She studied his face, trying to remember the details she had long suppressed.

<Shinobi> He shrugged one shoulder. "I was just one of several Acolytes." Shinobi met her eyes again.

<Hope> She looked away from him, staring down at the liquid in her cup instead. "Yeah..." Images of the videos she had been forced to watch flashed through her mind.

<Shinobi> It was surprisingly difficult now, sitting here and seeing her obviously damaged. "He was wrong. They both were."

<Hope> She jumped a bit, brought back to reality. It took her a moment before she caught up to him. "Sorry? Both who?"

<Shinobi> "Essex, and En Sabah Nur. That stance of x-gene superiority at all costs, even while using us to further their own agenda." He snorted, knocking back the rest of his glass. "And Essex... he wasn't even a mutant."

<Hope> "Dr. Loony Toon got what he deserved." She poured herself another glass of scotch. "I didn't know who I was then. Not that it might have changed anything, but another one of us, Teagan, she told me that the X-men forgot about me. That they weren't coming."

<Shinobi> "Well, I recall spending a lot of time fending off the X-Men." He gave the bottle a longing look, then slid around the edge of the tub toward her.

<Hope> She swallowed as he approached her, eyes on him again. "She was wrong, obviously. But I've really struggled with that. And then I found Tony. And Sebastian showed up." She laughed a little, remembering. "I thought he was after my ideas."

<Shinobi> He watched her from the corner of his eye while he poured himself a refill. "Only then?"

<Hope> She sat up, getting a better look at him. "Do you know something I don't?"

<Shinobi> "I just thought... he had a long association with that school." He watched her curiously. Did she not know then?

<Hope> "Yeah he did, but he wasn't around when I first got there." She took a sip of her drink. "Anyway... He's kind of been... the only stable thing in my life. Tony is busy running the country."

<Shinobi> Shinobi huffed. Clearly, she didn't, and he was almost delighted. "Oh... the irony."

<Hope> "The irony of... what, exactly? Finally finding out my parents aren't dead, but he's too busy to be a dad?"

<Shinobi> "No, not that. Sebastian..." He smiled into his glass and took a drink. "He likes to pretend he's such a patron saint now."

<Hope> "Well now, yeah. He used to be a much bigger douchebag." She pointed out, taking another drink. Something about him made her uneasy though. She glanced at the doorway. Come on Sebastian. Come back.

<Shinobi> "Especially since you have him to thank for Essex in the first place," he said, taking a casual sip.

<Hope> Silence filled the room except for the sound of the bubbles. Hope blinked a few times, staring at him. Sebastian was responsible for Essex? That seemed unlikely. "You know, it's pathetic. You're just jealous that he likes me more than you, so you're trying to get rid of me. It won't work."

<Shinobi> "Jealous?" He looked at her then.

<Hope> Hope started out of the hottub, going for a towel. "You heard me." She wrapped the towel around her body quickly. She didn't want him ogling her now.

<Shinobi> "Essex was the administrator at my group home... and then he took a personal interest, and he told me all about my father." She was running away now? How disappointing.

<Hope> "Did it ever occur to you that he lied? Because Loony Toon wasn't exactly all there." She dropped the towel in favor of the robe.

<Shinobi> He considered this. "I suppose that's possible, to make me hate him... more." Watching her don the robe, he couldn't tear his eyes away.

<Hope> Hope looked back over at him, kneeling down so she wasn't towering over him. "Sebastian is a good man now. Isn't that what is important? That he's trying now?" She was so going to talk to him about this Essex bullshit though.

<Shinobi> "I don't know. Where was he twenty years ago? Ten years ago?" His father's speech from earlier echoed in his ears. A home in Omaha, much like the one here, that would help those like him, and Hope.

<Hope> "Tony didn't know about me. Sebastian probably didn't know about you either."

<Shinobi> He held up his glass in salute. "What a truly good man."

<Hope> "I don't know about your mom, but mine hid it from him. She changed her name so that nobody would know. You clearly have daddy issues. maybe you should sort them out." She got to her feet again.

<Shinobi> "Well, now you sound like Jessica." Frowning, he slid down into the water.

<Hope> Hope made a face. "Then I must be nuts." She grabbed the bottle of scotch and took a swig. "Jess is rarely right."

<Shinobi> He waved his glass, sloshing the alcohol slightly.

<Hope> She pulled up her robe to dangle her feet back in the water. "Why are you such an ass?" she questioned, refilling his glass.

<Shinobi> "Genetics, apparently?" Oh, she was giving him more, which nicely replaced what had hit the water.

<Hope> She scoffed at him and took a swig from the bottle. "Probably.”

<Shinobi> "Yet you like him. You're here with him." Slipping further down into the water, he listened to it bubble just under his ears.

<Hope> "He's family..." she explained. "He and Tony are close, like brothers I guess. I'm pretty sure he tells the hospital he's my uncle when I am there. Don't know for sure. Usually too busy bitching at people to bring me coffee and a healing mutant."

<Shinobi> "You people," he chuckled. "Always prattling on about family."

<Hope> "It was all I ever wanted, Shinobi." She stared down at the bottle, taking a sip. "It always seemed so important. And you know what? When you go from house to house, watching other families care for each other, watching them love each other. And not you? Over and over again?" She passed him the bottle. "Yeah. It's pretty fucking important."

<Hope> Hope got to her feet again and went to see if room service had arrived yet.

<Shinobi> Taking the bottle, he watched her go, then stared at it with a frown. Finally, he set it aside and tipped his head back against the edge of the tub.

<Hope> She was just in time. Stan was bringing the food into the room. She thanked him and sat down at the table with her plate. She picked up her fork and poked at the salmon, forcing a bite into her mouth after a moment.

<Shinobi> He sat there for a while, staring at the ceiling, thinking. Well, thinking as well as he could with his head spinning.

<Hope> Where the hell was Sebastian anyway!? She sent him a text that his DNA receptacle was a huge asshole. After sending it something horrifying occurred to her. Even if she locked her door, he could just walk right in.

<Shinobi> Sitting here alone was no fun, and he might drown if he wasn't careful. Shinobi dragged himself from the hot tub and found a robe. He was still tying it around his waist when he walked out into the living room and found dinner.

<Hope> Upon his entry, Hope immediately acted like nothing was the matter at all. She took a bite of her dinner, careful not to look at him at all.

<Shinobi> "Well, that looks good." He didn't wait for invitation to pull up a chair for himself and sit down, uncovering his own plate.

<Hope> She glanced over at him, studying him. She set her fork down, rather loudly. "Do you feel any remorse for the things you've done?"

<Shinobi> He was just picking up his fork, and so was a bit stuck. It hovered over the plate, then tapped on the edge. "Do you mean for today, or from before?"

<Hope> "Both." She watched him carefully.

<Shinobi> "Essex was... insane." He didn't want to think about it too deeply, shaking his head sharply and looking away. "So was Nur."

<Hope> "You didn't answer the question," she pointed out. He had been living with Jess far too long. "It's as simple as yes or no.”

<Shinobi> "What about yes and no?" He cocked his head and watched her.

<Hope> "Then elaborate on the... yes. Elaborate on the yes."

<Shinobi> "I... that general... Stryker." Shinobi shook his head. "I don't remember most of what happened then, including... that day." At this, he looked up at her again. "But killing Madelyne Pryor, and her running mate? And Stark and Rhodes? That... well, it wasn't me. Not really."

<Shinobi> He attempted to meet her eyes. "I don't know if I was the one who shot you or not, but, well, I'm sorry."

<Hope> Did he mean it?" She stared at him for several moments before picking up her fork again. "The salmon is cooked beautifully. You'll like it, if you like salmon. I guess I should have asked. Do you like salmon?" she looked over at him again. All malice was removed from her face, leaving a typical Stark expression.

<Shinobi> Shinobi leaned in, tilting his head and giving her a dubious look. "That is an impressive ability."

<Hope> "You'll learn it," she told him, taking a bite.

<Shinobi> "Do I want to?" He picked up his knife and studied it.

<Hope> A grin spread across her face. "Oh Shinobi. You have much to learn about this life that you have been thrust into." She reached across the small table and took his hand. "But don't worry. I'm still learning too. We can figure it out together."
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> Sebastian ordered room service without further consultation with the others once he saw Shinobi's general state. Now showered, shaved and dressed, he was already sipping his second cup of coffee when the tray arrived.

<Hope> Hope in her robe was just shuffling out of her room, rubbing her head a bit and yawning. "I hope you ordered coffee. And lots of it."

<Shaw> "I made coffee, and I ordered more. And good morning to you, too, little Stark." He smirked and poured her a cup, holding it out in offering.

<Hope> For the first time in a long time, Hope eyed the cup with suspicion. But she needed the caffeine. But he was a bad guy! But caffeine. She took the cup and sighed. "Look... um. We need to talk."

<Shaw> "Oh? I hope Shinobi didn't give you any trouble. With your guards outside it seemed safe." And he'd needed a break from their bickering last night, truly. Sebastian sipped his own coffee, watching her curiously.

<Hope> "He told me you're the reason Essex got access to the school." Hope told him bluntly. "Are you?"

<Shaw> Though he very nearly choked, Sebastian recovered quickly. "Pardon? He told you... what?" His tone was carefully even. Of all the disaster scenarios he had imagined, this was not one of them.

<Hope> Hope set that cup of coffee down. Was that confirmation? She wasn't sure. "You are the reason Essex gained access to the school."

<Shaw> He watched her place the cup down without drinking, and knew what it meant. "Hope..."

<Hope> She had forgotten how few mutants there really were in Alaska. Nothing good to steal from meant she had to rely on herself and her brains. "So this whole time, you've what? Had a change of heart? Grew a conscious? Or gathering intel for someone else?"

<Shaw> "Yes, I have had a change of heart, and the man for whom I did that work? I had him killed earlier this year, so I could take his place and make sure this would never happen again." She looked twitchy, as if she might flee, and so he stood to move between her and the door.

<Hope> That move made her laugh out loud. "Because I couldn't phase right through you, Sebastian. Really. But I do wonder... if Tony knows you are the reason I was turned into a weapon of mass destruction." She traced her finger over the rip of the coffee cup, thinking... and making sure her shields were rock solid. She licked her lips and watched him.

<Shaw> Sebastian held up both hands. "If he remembers..." But that wasn't really the point. "Hope, I had nothing to do with what happened to you. It was years before you came to Xavier's."

<Hope> She gave him a dark smile. "Ah but who showed him to the buffet of mutants?"

<Shaw> "It was my route to the Inner Circle... a decade ago. I was the Lord Imperial's spy."

<Hope> She laughed, balling the hand not on the coffee into a fist. "Lovely. Selling us all out to promote yourself. I know I know... you weren't directly involved with what happened to me," she mocked. "Oh but you are. And you have to answer for that."

<Shaw> "I have," he said quietly. "Ever since that... fiasco, I've tried to settle my debt."

<Hope> She watched him carefully, weighing her words cautiously. "I hope your reward was worth it, your majesty." She turned and headed back to her room.

<Shaw> "No," he watched her go and sat down heavily in the nearest chair. "No, it wasn't."

<Hope> She stopped at her doorway, not looking at him. "I won't be telling the others. But I would....appreciate? Expect? no further secrets being kept from me."

<Shaw> "I didn't have any others." He looked up, but didn't really see her. "Not really, not anymore." Sebastian sighed. "I'm sorry... so sorry."

<Hope> "I meant the others at the school." She looked back at him finally. "I know you are. And I should show you exactly what your ambition led to." But he had changed. Hadn't he? Hadn't he been there for her since then? Every single time? It was the same thing Paige had pushed into her mind. Actions had consequences that rippled.

<Shaw> "I meant other secrets. Not from you." He sat forward and covered his face with both hands. Of course, of course this would happen, eventually.

<Hope> "Were you ever going to tell me, Sebastian? Does Jess know?" She watched him, but didn't move from her stop at the door.

<Shaw> "She knows." He cleared his throat. "I... don't know. I was waiting for the right time, I suppose."

<Hope> "I really just wish I had heard it from you and not him," she told him sadly. "Maybe it would be easier to deal with. I don't know."

<Shaw> Shinobi. That gave his upset a far more definite target and he stared at the closed bedroom door. He was awake inside now, he could tell. Likely listening to every word.

<Hope> She followed his eyes to the door. "Don't you dare," she snapped.

<Shaw> "What? As if he isn't enjoying every moment of this?" Sebastian surged to his feet.

<Hope> "You should have told me yourself!" Hope moved to block his way to that door. There was do damn way he was getting through her.

<Shaw> "Perhaps so, but you know full well he's using this as a golden opportunity to create havoc." He pitched his voice to carry, and picked up Hope's discarded coffee cup to fling it past her to shatter on the door.

<Hope> Hope ducked quickly. "HEY!" She glared at him, moving toward him. "You do not throw shit at me, Sebastian Shaw, just because I don't agree with you!"

<Shaw> "I didn't throw it at you," he growled, spinning around to pick up his own cup and hurled it overhand as well. "You little bastard! After I gave you every opportunity!"

<Hope> Hope rolled her eyes. "Just. Leave him alone. He's fucked up enough as it is." She sighed, sinking into a chair. "Though if it makes you feel better, I'll sit on him and you can pound him?" she offered.

<Shaw> "Oh, I assure you, he doesn't know how truly fucked up he is." He sneered and started for the door again. "Perhaps I should tell him, yes?"

<Hope> Hope got to her feet again. "STOP." She didn't know what to say to him or what to do. But Shinobi was the closest thing she had to a brother now. "Don't make it worse," she half pleaded.

<Shaw> "Worse," he hissed. "Worse than that look you're giving me right now?" Snarling, he turned to pace, then changed his mind and ducked around her.

<Hope> Hope jumped on his back quickly. "NO! I won't let you do this!"

<Shaw> "Hope!" He didn't want to hurt her, and reached back to snag her arm.

<Hope> "Dad!" She couldn't stop his hand from grabbing her, but she could hold on tighter. "No!"

<Shaw> Sebastian stopped, his grip tight around her forearm.

<Hope> "Ow!" She whined, struggling against him.

<Shaw> Carefully, he went down on one knee. "Hope, get off."

<Hope> What had just happened? Hope got down, eying him warily... right up until the moment she realized what she said.

<Shaw> He turned to look at her, taking in her expression.

<Hope> She swallowed, trying to keep her face even. She had so not said that. Nope. Nope! "Are you done?" She tried to change the subject. Quickly.

<Shaw> "I am." He reached for her hand.

<Hope> She looked at the hand, then up at his face, confused. What was going on here? Hesitantly, warily, she let him take her hand.

<Shaw> Sebastian moved a bit closer and took her hand in both of his, his eyes on their hands. He let out a ragged breath and swallowed, loudly.

<Hope> Every muscle in her body was on alert ready to run if she needed to. She watched him, still not sure about how he was reacting. She was ready for the worst.

<Shaw> He sniffed, attempting to do it subtly, and closed his eyes.

<Hope> Sniffling. That she understood! She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

<Shaw> "Can you forgive me, love?" Awkwardly, he returned the embrace, hiding his face in the shoulder of her bathrobe.

<Hope> "Of course I will." She held him tighter. "But I don't like you right now," she mumbled at him, but kept him close so he couldn't escape.

<Shaw> "If it's any consolation," he sniffed again. "I tried to kill him for years. Of course it was one of yours who finally succeeded."

<Hope> She nodded, burying her face into him. She finally turned it just enough to speak. "That helps. And I know you've changed."

<Shaw> Sebastian let out a relieved sigh. "It doesn't excuse it, but it wasn't supposed to be... what it became. Essex tricked me, tricked the Lord Imperial. I was ordered to help the X-Men apprehend him and recover the students... and afterward I came to know you. So many of you..." He squeezed her tightly.

<Hope> She nodded, clicking the pieces together. "We've all made mistakes we regret." So many mistakes. "But you can't take it out on him. He's never going to be a part of the family if you do."

<Shaw> He slowly nodded. "I shouldn't have lost my temper, but I thought I'd lost you."

<Hope> She swallowed at that, looking up at him in surprise.

<Shaw> It made him raise his head and look at her as well. One corner of his mouth hitched up. "You can't be surprised."

<Hope> She hid her face against him so he couldn't see her tears. "Nope," she lied.

<Shaw> "Of course." It was a little too late for that, but he shifted to hold her.

<Hope> "You have your own kids... real kids," she argued with him.

<Shaw> Sebastian's eyes cut to the closed bedroom door for just a moment. "You know I love you like a daughter. I always will."

<Hope> "And when that baby arrives? And you have a real daughter? What then?" She couldn't look up. She knew what happened then. it had happened several times before.

<Shaw> "What then? I always will, little Stark." He kissed her through her hair.

<Hope> Hope lost it. She cried on him.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope plopped down onto the couch in the suite living area, magazine in hand. "So, we should go for a hike or something," Hope suggested, already flipping through the magazine. "Fresh air... snow... sunshine... perfect day for it."

<Hope> She glanced around the hotel room, not certain Sebastian would go for this idea. He wasn't as big on the outdoors as she was. Or Bobby. Or Carol for that matter.

<Shaw> Sebastian was half-watching the Steelers on television, remote control in hand, and rolled his head to the side to give her a horrified expression. "A hike?"

<Hope> She glanced up at him again, laughing at his expression. "What? Afraid I'll kill you in the woods and take your kidney?" She set the magazine down so she could wiggle her fingers at him. "Yeah, a hike sounds fun. If for no other reason than Shinobi will whine the whole time."

<Shaw> "Are you certain it's not my liver you're after, little Stark?" The moue turned into a toothy grin and he raised a hand to wriggle right back. "You do make it sound a tad more tempting at that, but I'm not sure he's going to emerge today." After the revelations and tension this morning, he and Hope had returned to their normal routine. Shinobi, however, had yet to appear.

<Hope> "Such a stick in the mud. Clearly he's your child," she tossed the magazine aside and slouched on the couch. She glanced over at what he was watching on the TV. "Ugh, football. Hey! Didn't we record the Penguins game?!"

<Shaw> He rolled his head and his eyes at her assessment of his DNA. "We did! I forgot." Realizing the remote was upside down after his wriggling, Sebastian righted it and brought up the menu. "Time zones are a scourge against humanity."

<Hope> Hope reached for the phone. "I'm ordering the hot wings and beer. Anything else?"

<Shaw> "Tell them to keep those damn celery sticks." After a moment of thought, he hummed to himself. "Pizza."

<Hope> Hope laughed. "I shall get the meatiest one," she knocked on Shinobi's door. "You want food? Ordering wings and pizza."

<Shaw> Sebastian saluted her with the remote control and turned back to the television.

<Shinobi> In the depths of the bedroom, Shinobi heard Hope and raised his head from his arms. Was he capable of eating pizza? His stomach growled, but he couldn't tell if it was in protest for from hunger. "Maybe?" More importantly, however: "I'm not sure if I should come out."

<Hope> "You're fine," she told him through the door, calling down to the kitchen. Food secured, she plopped back down on the couch. "Hope they put a rush on it."

<Shinobi> "I doubt that." He went face down back into the pillow.

<Shaw> "Per orders of Hope." Sebastian flashed his teeth at her. "Start it or wait?"

<Hope> She laughed and toyed with her hair a bit. "Let's start! There is Crosby to see!"

<Shaw> "Overrated," he opined, and did as he was told, sliding down into the sofa to get comfortable.

<Hope> "You shut your mouth," Hope warned, grinning at him. "Or I'll go Malkin on you and take you dooooooooown!"

<Shinobi> Hiding in the room all day was tempting, but not feasible in a hotel. After waking with a pounding head to the argument in the living room, he was grateful for Hope's intervention. Grateful, yet a bit resentful.

<Shaw> "He's not even leading in goals or assists this year." Sebastian sniffed, glancing at the bedroom door when he heard the movement.

<Hope> "Don't make me come over there!" She warned, flexing her pitiful muscles.

<Shaw> With a dismissive laugh, he picked up a throw pillow and gave her a whack.

<Hope> She let out a girly shriek and looked for a weapon. Pillow acquired, she whacked him back. "Have at thee!"

<Shinobi> He sat up, listening to them bicker.

<Shaw> "Have at thee? My, you have been around the Hellfire Club too much." He laughed and covered his face with his own pillow.

<Hope> "It's from Monty Python, you uncultured swine!" She laughed and whacked him again.

<Shaw> "Ahhh, I see, is that the one with the coconuts?" He sat up, and since he had the advantage of reach managed to glance the pillow off the top of her head. "Tis a flesh wound." Rather proud of that one, he grinned.

<Shinobi> He'd made it as far as the door, and was listening to them... quote Holy Grail at one another. Shinobi blinked.

<Hope> She shrieked again. "Cheater! You have longer arms!" She tossed a pillow at him to distract him.

<Shaw> "How is that cheating? I'm using my natural advantage." He laughed, then sat up and looked pointedly at her disheveled hair. Distraction tactics he knew well.

<Hope> "Because I'm not winning," she pointed out, like it was obvious. She whacked him again, then shrieked. "Crosby!" She made for the TV.

<Shaw> "Well, I'll be damned..." Crosby, it appeared, was not overrated today. Still holding his pillow, Sebastian was thoroughly distracted himself.

<Shinobi> It was suddenly quiet, so it seemed as good as time as any to sneak out into the room. He made for a chair.

<Hope> Hope shouted as Crosby made a goal. "IN YOUR FACE!" She turned to rub it in Shaw's face, but paused as she saw Shinobi. She gave him a smile.

<Shaw> He'd heard the door open, but decided the television was more interesting for the moment.

<Shinobi> Once in the chair, he pulled up his feet. Hope was looking at him, and ... smiling? One corner of his mouth twitched.

<Hope> Hope picked up the pillow and whacked Shaw again. "Told you Crosby was the man!"

<Shinobi> He smirked, especially at the undignified sound his father made.

<Hope> Hope laughed at Sebastian. "Don't doubt my future husband again! Or Malkin." She gave him another whack for good measure.

<Shaw> "I think number twenty-nine is an up and comer. I can't recall his name. Something French." He accepted the whack and returned it, finally looking at his faux son. "I trust you're feeling better?"

<Shinobi> He'd expected something much more pointed, or possibly violent, so he was taken off guard for a moment. "Somewhat."

<Hope> Hope looked between them, a bit uneasy. "The cool people in the family watch hockey. Hockey is cool."

<Shaw> Sebastian was uneasy about whatever Hope was doing there, and slowly he turned his head to stare back at her, eyebrow raised.

<Shinobi> He'd had little else to do but catch up on television since he'd left SHIELD's tender mercies, so he snorted.

<Hope> Hope ignored Sebastian and tried filled Shinobi in on the game basics.

<Shinobi> "I played baseball growing up." He got the basics of hockey, but unless there was blood on the ice he wasn't terribly interested.

<Shaw> He tried not to stiffen up at the boy's statement.

<Hope> Hope gave him a funny look. "Really? That's surprising." Hope had barely gotten the words out of her mouth when Stan and Phil and a small group of agents came through the hotel door. Stan started motioning for Sebastian and Shinobi to head to the bathroom. Phil grabbed up Hope by her arm, taking her that way.

<Phil> He spoke into his radio as he hurried her, glad she wasn't protesting too much. "Cinderella in flight. Sharky and Speed Racer in tow."

<Shaw> "What is it?" Sebastian had the forethought to grab his phone from the coffee table. Of course, he'd some to Alaska armed but he had nothing in reach now.

<Shinobi> He stayed put, staring up at the agent. "Speed Racer?"

<Stan> "We have a situation. You can go with her, or stay and get shot," he put it bluntly.

<Hope> Hope tried so hard not to laugh at Speed Racer too. "Speed Racer? Really?"

<Phil> Phil just shrugged. "I don't make up the codenames. Get down."

<Shinobi> Looking amongst the agents and Hope - and at the back of his father's head, since he was already on his phone - he stretched out his legs and stood, then able to look down at this fool who'd called him Speed Racer.

<Hope> Hope moved to the bathtub, sitting in it and crossing her arms over her chest. Well this was different. She looked over for Sebastian and Shinobi.

<Stan> Stan didn't care what Shinobi did. He pulled out his gun and headed to the bathroom with Phil.

<Shaw> Sebastian joined Hope, after checking in with the hotel security. He sat on the edge of the tub and gave Hope a tight smile. "It was a good thing I didn't wait on that inhibitor..."

<Shinobi> He was left to catch up, still confused and angry, and cast an envious glance at the racist agent's gun.

<Hope> Hope couldn't help but laugh at him. "Yeah," she sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "I wish people would stop trying to kill me." She tapped her toes a bit, thinking, then sat up suddenly. "Where' Shinobi!?"

<Shaw> Sebastian looked at the door, past Phil, who was blocking the doorway talking into his com. "Perhaps I should go back for him..." He got up, slowly, trying to listen past the agent's nattering for a status update.

<Shinobi> "Flatscan scum, why should I do anything you ask?" He caught up with the agent.

<Stan> "Look, junior, we don't have time for this, so cooperate now or I might use you as a human - I'm sorry, mutant shield." Stan rounded on the younger Shaw and sized him up. Unfortunately, he was also a big little motherfucker.

<Shinobi> He snarled, increasing his density to hit the agent with a sucker punch. Beyond that, he had no real plan.

<Stan> Without blinking, he extended the inhibitor cuffs he kept concealed up his sleeve and stepped into the obvious punch. Ducking past the fist, he caught the guy's other wrist and clamped it on. Spinning around, he hooked his knee while he was off balance and took him to the floor. "Who's the flatscan now?"

<Phil> Phil couldn't help but laugh from his post. He quickly covered that up. So unprofessional. "Speed Racer in custody."

<Hope> Hope moved to get out of the bathtub to see around him. "What the hell is going on?"

<Shaw> He'd seen most of it from over Phil's shoulder and rolled his eyes heavenward. "Shinobi was being... well, rather himself. Difficult."

<Shinobi> Now with both hands cuffed behind his back, and facedown on the floor, he aimed a kick at the agent.

<Stan> "I'll tase you... Speed Racer."

<Phil> "Either walk your ass in here, or we can drag you. Doesn't matter to us."

<Hope> Hope felt a pang of sympathy for him. Damnit if he wasn't her a few years ago. "Shinobi... just... please come in here. Please?"

<Shinobi> He glared at everyone since there was little else he could do, then slowly struggled to his knees. The agent grabbed his arm and hauled him upright, shoving him into the bathroom.

<Hope> She moved of the tub in time to grab onto him and keep him from falling. "I'm so sorry," she told him softly.

<Shinobi> He felt strange - weak, and leaned against Hope more than he liked. "Why?" he mumbled. "I did it..."

<Shaw> "And what did you hope to accomplish with that?" Sebastian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.

<Hope> Hope shot Sebastian a look. "I get it," she told Shinobi softly again. "I got pepper sprayed by them before." She held him up, keeping him sturdy.

<Shaw> Sebastian raised an eyebrow at her.

<Shinobi> He looked up at her. "Why? They're supposed to protect you..."

<Hope> She smirked a bit. "I... really resented having babysitters. I might have deserved it. Maybe. The point is... when they go into that mode? It's better to listen. Because they are serious."

<Shinobi> He lacked the energy to argue and so he nodded and slid down to sit on the closed toilet lid.

<Shaw> "Perhaps you should have taken the inhibitor protection I offered?" Sebastian waited for Shinobi to glare up at him and put on a smirk.

<Hope> Hope couldn't stop herself from laughing, though she did try to stifle it as she crawled back into her seat in the bathtub. "Can I go just one Christmas without someone trying to kill me? This used to be my favorite holiday."

<Shaw> Sebastian sighed, remembering last Christmas himself. "I don't know, love." He moved back over and sat down on the edge of the tub again, bracing his back against the wall and checking his phone.

<Shinobi> The cuffs were cutting into his wrists and he tried to get comfortable. "Christmas is terrible. It was always just another day."

<Hope> "I liked Christmas.... especially when I was with this one family." She smiled a bit. "I really liked them..." She hugged her knees to her chest, wondering where that family was. The thought that they were probably killed by her boyfriend startled her and made her sick to her stomach.

<Shinobi> "No families in a group home." He shot Sebastian another glare.

<Hope> "Nope. I had several of those too," she shot back at Shinobi. "But when I was little. I did get to stay with this one family for a couple of years."

<Shinobi> He had nothing to say to this, so just kept squirming on his slick seat.

<Shaw> "If Tony had known... if I had known, neither of you would have grown up that way," he said slowly.

<Hope> Hope reached out to take Sebastian's hand. "I know that." The sniffle still escaped. She swallowed, quickly trying to cover it up.

<Shaw> Sebastian squeezed her hand and smiled.

<Shinobi> He watched this display and looked away.

<Hope> "We didn't get our chicken wings," Hope made a face.

<Shaw> "Later. We'll make them make us some fresh." He nodded. "And my pizza." Sebastian watched Shinobi from the corner of his eye. "What do you want, Shinobi?"

<Shinobi> Startled from his brooding, he jerked slightly. "What?"

<Hope> She looked over at Shinobi, sightly baffled. She dropped Sebastian's hand, leaning back in the tub, watching them.

<Shaw> "Pizza? Wings? I'm sure they have other assorted junk foods that are yours for the asking." He smirked, no emotion beyond polite interest showing on his face.

<Shinobi> "Oh." He eyed Hope and his father. "I'm not hungry."

<Hope> "You haven't eaten..." Hope pointed out."

<Shinobi> "No, and I might puke." For many reasons.

<Hope> "Well do it over there," Hope made a face.

<Phil> Phil muttered something into his com, finally looking back at them. "All clear." He started for the front door.

<Shaw> "All clear? So what was it?" Sebastian straightened up and followed Phil.

<Shinobi> He looked at Hope, then the door, then back to Hope. "That means...?"

<Phil> Phil reluctantly looked at Sebastian, keeping his voice low. "We received a tip. That someone in the building had assault rifles and intended to use them." He glanced around Sebastian to the redhead in the bathroom, then back at him. "They found nothing in the building, but doubled security from local forces until we leave."

<Hope> Hope climbed out of the tub and looked over at Shinobi. "Means the threat is over?"

<Shinobi> "What about..." He shimmied his shoulders, then stood, his hands still restrained behind his back.

<Shaw> "It's certain? Should we check out?" He checked his phone, looking for an update from his own people.

<Phil> "My team is confident. If you choose to go early, that is of course, your decision."

<Hope> Hope's eyes filled with laughter before her lips did. "Phil! Can we get some keys in here?"

<Shaw> Distracted, Sebastian nodded and thanked the agent while he texted his personal assistant.

<Shinobi> "It's not funny," he protested.

<Hope> Hope caught the keys that Phil tossed to her easily. "It's a little funny. Mostly because you were so persistent about not trusting Sebastian's chip." She moved behind him, carefully undoing his handcuffs.

<Shinobi> Once freed, he rubbed his wrists, frowning at the marks. "You heard what he called me."

<Hope> "Yeah I don't get it," she admitted. "Some cartoon race car driver?" She pulled his hand to her, inspecting the marks.

<Shinobi> "Yeah, a Japanese one." Surprised, he let her take his hand.

<Hope> She cringed a bit. "I... didn't make that connection. Do you want me to make them change it?" She continued to inspect his wrist.

<Shinobi> "How do they come up with those names anyway?" He remembered something, and smiled. "Cinderella."

<Hope> She wrinkled her nose at him. "Well, mine... the media kind of had this... thing with me. Cinderella story. Poor orphan finds rich dad? It was way better than being called Annie. I might have had to bribe a couple of reporters."

<Shinobi> Shinobi cocked his head, studying her face, and her hair. "You don't look like a Cinderella..."

<Hope> Hope looked at him, studying his face. "I don't?"

<Shinobi> "Nope." He raised his free hand and picked up a lock of her red hair, giving her a smirk. "More like Ariel."

<Hope> She smiled back at him, glancing over at the hair he was holding. "You know... she always was my favorite. For obvious reasons."

<Shinobi> "Obviously." He twirled the bit of hair around his finger, gaze flicking between his hand and her face.

<Hope> Hope shifted her gaze back over to him, taking in his expression.

<Shinobi> Shinobi met her eyes and smiled. "Ariel it is then."

<Hope> She smiled back at him, deciding she really liked that. "I'm okay with this."

<Shinobi> "Good." He grinned, giving her hair a flick, and realizing she still had his hand. "Think I'll survive?"

<Hope> Springing back to her usual alertness she quickly dropped his hand and tucked her red hair behind her ear. "Yeah, yeah you'll be just fine. We should um. We should go check on that food, yeah? Yeah." She half stumbled on her first step toward the door.

<Shinobi> Shinobi caught her arm. "Careful, Ariel, we don't need your agents back..." He frowned. "They'd probably think I'm assaulting you and tase me this time."

<Shaw> Sebastian was back on the sofa in the living room, after a farewell chat with Coulson and... he never could remember the other one's name. He found their place in the hockey game and paused, looking toward the bathroom and only now tuning in on their conversation. Interesting.

<Hope> She looked from his hand up to his face. She couldn't help but smile at the nickname, but just a small smile. "Yeah. Probably right."

<Shinobi> "Of course I'm right." He let go of her arm, sliding both hands into his pockets.

<Shaw> "Are you two quite settled then?" Sebastian waved the remote control over his head. "I took the liberty of re-ordering our lunch while you were..." He tipped his head back to give them a once-over and smirk, "talking."

<Hope> With one final look, Hope looked at Shinobi before leaving him to go find her seat in front of the tv again. "Thanks!" She turned her usual smile back on as she sat down.

<Shinobi> He frowned at his father and returned to his seat on the far side of the seating area.

<Shaw> "Your favorite earned himself a penalty while you were... occupied." Sebastian gave Hope a sly grin.

<Hope> Hope shot him a look, but said nothing. She pulling a throw pillow into her lap and hugged it. "My future husband knows better than that. He better score to make up for it."

<Shinobi> "Your future husband?" He smirked, and shifted to watch.

<Shaw> Sebastian tapped the remote control against his thigh, enjoying the tiny jolts of energy, and watched the other two occupants of the room more than the game. Very interesting indeed.

<Hope> "He just doesn't know it yet," she smirked, or tried to. "Or probably who I am. Details."

<Shinobi> "Prince Eric plays for Pittsburgh?" He tsked, shaking his head.

<Shaw> "And what's wrong with Pittsburgh?" Sebastian raised a brow at his faux son.

<Hope> Hope threw her pillow at Shinobi's head.

<Shinobi> He laughed and caught the pillow.

<Shaw> Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly, but they were saved from further scrutiny by the room service knock. He got up, listening to the agents outside grill the waitstaff.

<Hope> Hope smiled over at Shinobi though, despite his joking. "If Prince Eric did play for the Penguins, I'd be all over that."

<Shinobi> "Penguins eat fish," he observed, grin turning more than a little dirty.

<Shaw> Perhaps these two did need a chaperone, he decided, listening while he tipped the server and rolled the cart in himself. "Pizza, wings, and beer."

<Hope> "Damn... now I want sushi. Hey hey! Wings! And beer!" Hope hopped up to pick up her wings.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> For once, Jess and the baby's schedules were synchronized and she was asleep. Taking the opportunity, Sebastian laid down with her and dozed, his nose buried in her hair.

<Hope> Hope leaned against the lamppost for a good few minutes, debating this decision. He was kind of the reason she was in this mess to begin with, but she really didn't have anywhere else to go. Tony was out of the country.

<Hope> She picked up her bag and carefully made her way up the steps, through the snow, to the door. Her mind flailed a little. Knock? Doorbell? She tried knocking.

<Shaw> His phone started vibrating on the nightstand, and he scrunched his eyes tighter. If she woke up... Downstairs, he could already hear Widget moving. After a moment, he carefully extricated himself and sat up, checking the security alert on his phone.

<Shaw> Instantly, he was out of bed and didn't bother to find his shoes. Sebastian only took a moment to close the bedroom door, and then started down the stairs to the door.

<Hope> Hope looked over her shoulder, watching the snow while she waited to see if somebody answered. Could she just let herself in? She wasn't sure. She couldn't remember. Her mind was too muddled for rules. Rules which she had broken and gotten her into this mess to begin with.

<Shaw> He made it past Widget and to the foyer, reminding himself to work on a speed upgrade for the poor robot. Sebastian opened the door and took her in. "What's wrong? Are you all right?"

<Hope> That was a loaded question. No she wasn't alright. As for what was wrong? Was everything too much?" She dropped her bag. "Dad..." She moved to him, wrapping her arms around him.

<Shaw> For a moment, he wondered what had happened to Tony - he would have been notified, immediately, had something happened. Then he realized she meant him and caught her. "What's wrong, love?" Sebastian held her, toeing the bag aside so he could close the door. Outside, he saw her shadows and gave them a nod.

<Hope> She held onto him, but just couldn't get the words. She tapped into his powers and pushed gently at his mind.

<Shaw> Shocked, he lowered his shields. You'll be all right. Whatever it is, you know I'll help you...

<Hope> Chris knows... She pushed his reaction into Sebastian’s mind. There was no other way to say it. She looked down, swallowing hard.

<Shaw> It was easier this way, since he understood the situation immediately. I'm so sorry... Sebastian didn't bother to hide the shame and regret he felt, and the anger at the boy's reaction. You're safe. He tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head.

<Hope> "I thought I was doing the right thing, telling him." She tightened her hold on him too.

<Shaw> "I told Jess... I've told her there will be no secrets between us. I've lived too many secrets."

<Hope> She nodded, understanding that. "Apparently I was better off with the secrets."

<Shaw> "Then he's a fool." His tone was angry and he let go of her to pick up her bag. "Let's at least go upstairs, but we need to be quiet. Jess is asleep and she gets precious little."

<Hope> Hope slid her heels off to carry them in one hand. She followed him wordlessly, definitely not wanting to wake the pregnant lady.

<Shaw> Widget met them at the top of the stairs and took the bag, burbling quietly.

<Shaw> "He can get you some coffee, if you'd like." He turned around and looked her over closely. The smell told him she'd already had enough to drink. "I'm sure I can manage to heat you some food... and of course Jess has made cupcakes."

<Hope> She refused to look up at him, simply nodding a little. "Coffee. Coffee is always good." She shoved her hand through her hair, trying to catch up. "I won't stay long. You have enough people underfoot as it is." And hopefully Tony would be home soon.

<Shaw> "You may stay as long as you need, love." Widget toddled off to make the coffee. "I'm sure Jess will be happy to see you."

<Hope> Hope gave him a look. "Yes, because I would be so happy to see me right now."

<Shaw> He returned the look and pointed at the sofa. "Sit."

<Hope> She leaned back against the wall, staring down at her bare feet instead. "I'm fine."

<Shaw> "Hope, please." Sebastian sat down himself.

<Hope> Hope glanced over at him, finally half rolling her eyes and sitting down in a chair.

<Shaw> "What do you plan to do?" He slid down into the sofa, watching her.

<Hope> Plan? She was supposed to have a plan? She glanced over at him reluctantly. "Hide?"

<Shaw> "Well, for the short term that would probably be sufficient."

<Hope> "I really don't need a lecture right now. I am very aware of how badly I have fucked up."

<Shaw> "How badly you have fucked up?" He gave her a dubious look. "You told him the truth, and he couldn't handle it. That is not your fault."

<Hope> "No but the rest of it was." She looked down again.

<Shaw> He cleared his throat. "You made a mistake. We both did."

<Hope> Hope nodded. "I know. But you didn't really know. Why would I do that?" she looked up at him again.

<Shaw> "Because I'm obviously irresistible." He smirked, resting his head on the back of the sofa and crossing his arms.

<Hope> Her hand went to her mouth, mentally pushing the bile back down. Ew. So ew. "Yeah that must be it." she dropped her hand again.

<Shaw> Sebastian laughed, though quietly. "No?"

<Hope> "Maybe 4 bottles of scotch later, yeah. But... ew. I'm sorry. Maybe it's just how things have changed since then."

<Shaw> "Four is a tad excessive, for anyone with less than a fully-developed healing ability."

<Hope> "It was a bad day," she argued.

<Shaw> "Hope," he said, sitting up and sliding to the other end of the sofa closer to her. "Speaking from experience, there are no solutions at the bottom of a bottle."

<Hope> "Plenty of solutions." She played with a bit of her red hair, not looking at him directly. "And there are enough healing abilities to pick from. I'm fine."

<Shaw> "Yes, including mine, but that's rather beside the point."

<Hope> She blinked a little, looking up at him. It occurred to her that this was what fathers did. She pulled her knees up to curl up in her chair, letting that sink in a little. "I stopped for a long time. After.... the baby. Didn't seem to make much difference."

<Shaw> "Well, there was still rather a lot of chaos then." He watched her, noticing her balling into herself.

<Hope> She laughed, trying to keep it soft. "There's always a lot of chaos."

<Shaw> "True." Widget entered with a low whistle and a tray with two cups of coffee.

<Hope> Hope picked up her cup of coffee as quickly as she could. The thought did occur that she should spike it. "I guess I just get to wait and see if he wants to fix things or not now."

<Shaw> "No, not really." He took his own cup, thanking the robot.

<Hope> "What do you mean not really?" she asked, sipping the hot liquid carefully.

<Shaw> "Do you want to fix things? His reaction was... fairly spectacular."

<Hope> She looked up at him, finally, properly. His reaction. He had left. Without much of a conversation at that. "I...." did she? She swallowed.

<Shaw> "Hope, there's no wrong answer." He gave her a slight smile. "You and he jumped into what seemed a rather serious entanglement not long after your fiancé’s death."

<Hope> The silent tears started, and she was unable to stop them. "I still miss him. And I feel like I shouldn't."

<Shaw> "Why? Of course you still miss him." Sebastian got up and looked for a box of tissues.

<Hope> "Because I'm with Chris and I'm supposed to be happy? It's been a year? Take your pick?" She watched his movements, not sure what he was doing.

<Shaw> Finding one, he picked up the box and brought it to her, then pulled over the coffee table to sit down. "There is no time limit." Sebastian swallowed, looking down at the box. "I love Jessica dearly, but I still miss Madelyne, and that was over... long before her death."

<Hope> She took the tissue box and set it down beside her, taking the top tissue to wipe her face. "I probably should have listened, but Chris was great. And then he got high all the time. And we fought constantly. Then he was gone... and now? I just don't know anymore. I don't know what I'm supposed to do or what I want to do."

<Shaw> "He's been through rather a lot himself, and it's remarkable they were able to reverse that... transformation. Perhaps he simply needed time to cool off after the revelation - and I'm certain he'll be out for my blood as well - but if this is a pattern of unwillingness to discuss problems..."

<Hope> "I'm sure he will and it's stupid! It wasn't really your fault." She toyed with the tissue in her hand. "How bad does Jess really hate me now?"

<Shaw> "She doesn't hate you." He listened for movement from their room, but it seemed she was still sleeping, luckily.

<Hope> The thought that she should though stung her a bit. She swallowed again and looked up at him. "If he's really so angry to do something stupid, maybe I shouldn't be here at all."

<Shaw> "Nonsense. If he's going to do something stupid, this is precisely the place you should be." Sebastian reached over to take her hand and stop her fidgeting with the tissue.

<Hope> She paused her fidgeting and looked down at his hand on hers. "Why? If he would do something to you?"

<Shaw> "I have nothing to fear from that boy." Sebastian intertwined their fingers.

<Hope> She swallowed hard, squeezing his hand. Slowly, she nodded. "Okay." She looked up at him with a bit of a small smile. "I guess I need to be here to teach Shinobi anyway. I told him I would."

<Shaw> His eyebrow raised. "To teach him what exactly?"

<Hope> "You do realize that he and I had very similar lives? And that he is where I was before we even met? If anyone knows what he's going through, it's me."

<Shaw> "I know," he said, taking her hand in both of hers. "Just... be cautious with him. He's seeing a counselor twice a week, and I've attempted to ease him into more normal activities, but we know his past is... problematic."

<Hope> "I know." She squeezed his hands. "He needs...." she thought about it a moment. He needed the same thing she had and still did. "Family. And I'm part of that... right?"

<Shaw> "You most certainly are, little Stark." Sebastian smiled and returned her squeeze.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope drummed her fingers on the counter at the Shaws' while the coffee brewed. She stared out the window for a while, lost in the still falling snow. It made her want vodka, of all things. She snorted and started looking for an acceptable coffee mug in the cabinet.

<Doreen> Doreen had been contemplating going down to see Shinobi, she had missed him, but she was still mad that he just left without saying anything. When she heard someone moving about in the kitchen she figured it was him and decided to go down, she could play it off as wanting to get some food.

<Hope> Careful not to wake anyone up, Hope selected her mug and closed the cabinet door. She set it down on the counter and leaned down to stare at the black liquid pooling into the pot. She made a slight face. Why were these things so slow?

<Doreen> Doreen got to the kitchen and noticed a girl standing there waiting on coffee. Mmm she's cute. Wait.... "Uhmm.... who are you?" She backed up to the steps contemplating yelling for Jessica.

<Hope> Hope's red hair flipped over her shoulder as she turned to look at... a girl? That was the biggest tail she'd ever seen! She slid a hand to her hip, sizing up the girl. "I could ask you the same thing." Wait hadn't Sebastian mentioned some stray that they had taken in. "I'm Hope."

<Doreen> Doreen chewed her lip. "I guess you're not a burglar, they don't usually make coffee." She moved into the kitchen and got a mug for herself. "So uhmm you're a friend?" She was still a little wary of the new girl.

<Hope> How the hell did this girl not know who she was? Had she not picked up a paper or turned on the news in the past year and a half? She laughed at Doreen. "Really? A burglar? Do you really not know who I am?"

<Doreen> "Uhmm a cute redhead that brews coffee to rescue us from the dreaded early morning?" Doreen shrugged a little.

<Hope> She snorted, finally pouring herself a cup of coffee now that the stupid machine had completed its task. "Hope Stark. Sebastian is my...." What was he? "Family."

<Doreen> "Oh I'm Doreen Green. Jessica kinda took me in." Doreen eyed her again. "Enough for me?" She gave her a warm smile.

<Hope> "Ahhh right, I heard about that." She poured some coffee into Doreen's cup. "My other dad is the president. Tony Stark." She made a slight face. "Yeah it's kind of... complicated." She set the pot back down into the maker and picked up her mug with both hands.

<Doreen> "I know complicated.... trust me." She thought about the situation she was in. "It's nice to meet you."

<Hope> "Yeah you too." Hope took a careful sip of her coffee. "So..." What were you supposed to say to the person your dad took in as a stray? "Um... need sugar? Or milk?"

<Doreen> "Neither. So uhmm I guess you're here for Sebastian. I think him and Jess are uhmm busy." She wrinkled up her nose not wanting to think about that.

<Hope> Hope raised an eyebrow at her. "I'll keep that in mind." Who did she think she was playing hostess to her?

<Doreen> "So... uhmm." Doreen took a sip of coffee. "I guess I'll go see if Shinobi is up?"

<Hope> "Oh hey, good idea. Tell him I'm here, would ya?"

<Doreen> "Sure." Doreen headed down to his dungeon. She didn't even knock, just opened the door. "You alive down here butt head?"

<Hope> Hope raised an eyebrow again at that. The hell was with this chick?

<Shinobi> There was suddenly light. Why was there light? Startled, his attempt to look up at the door ended with him rolling right off the bed, tangled in wires from his headphones, and with the tablet computer thumping to the floor.

<Hope> The noise got Hope's attention. She followed, wanting to know what was happening too.

<Doreen> Doreen just laughed a little. "You alive?" She went into his dungeon to see if she could help him.

<Shinobi> "Yeah? What?" It was Doreen, and thankfully not Jessica, although she would have knocked. Maybe she did knock? He was tangled up in the blankets from his bed now, and carefully sat up, untangling the cord of the headphones to get them from around his neck.

<Hope> "Shinobi!" Hope went on into the dungeon, pausing when she finally caught sight of him.

<Doreen> Doreen started to help get him out of the blankets. "Mmm well hi there sailor." She stared at the computer screen for a minute. “You knew I was upstairs right?" She just laughed a little.

<Shinobi> He then heard the second female voice, but it was too late. "Hey..."

<Hope> Maybe looking a bit longer than was appropriate, Hope kicked herself into gear. "When you are um... done? With that? I'll uh... be upstairs." She quickly tried to retreat up the stairs.

<Shinobi> "I think I'm done." Belatedly, he found a pillow to cover himself.

<Doreen> That just made her laugh more. "Looks like you had fun." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

<Hope> Hope made a b-line for the alcohol. She would need so much of that to erase what she just saw. And heard.

<Shinobi> "Not quite... enough... or quickly enough, apparently." He was still trying to sort himself out. "What's she doing here?"

<Hope> Locked! That son of a bitch. Maybe like father like son? She marched back down toward the dungeon.

<Doreen> "Dunno. I don't even know who she is.... She said she's family." Doreen found him some pants and brought them over to him. "I'm mad at you."

<Shinobi> "She's... sort of like my father's daughter..." He shook his head. "Mad? What did I do?" He snatched the pants, finally getting over his shock enough to scrape himself from the floor and put his tablet on the nightstand.

<Hope> "Shinobi," Hope called down into the dungeon, so not going much further down. "Please tell me you have scotch down there? Or well, anything really."

<Shinobi> He heard her voice again and dropped the headphones.

<Doreen> "He has wine." Doreen sighed. "You didn't tell me you were leaving." She kissed his cheek and went to get Hope some wine.

<Shinobi> "I didn't know I was leaving. There wasn't really much option." He picked up the headphones and put them on the tablet, then opened the door on the nightstand. There was half a bottle of purloined scotch in there and after a moment of debate he got it out.

<Hope> Wine? What was he, 40? "Wine? Seriously?" The punishment fit the crime. She sighed.

<Doreen> "Oooh he found scotch score!" Doreen bounced a little. "Oh? I'll rethink being mad I guess."

<Shinobi> "The wine cellar is down here." Shinobi zipped his pants but missed the button and gave Doreen a confused look.

<Doreen> Doreen got the button for him. "I wish you would have said something. I missed you."

<Hope> "Is it safe to come down?" Hope questioned, making a face at the lovey dovey crap.

<Doreen> "He has pants on."

<Hope> Weighing Doreen's words, Hope went on down the rest of the steps, taking in the basement. "You have a lair..."

<Shinobi> "I do," he said to Hope, then gave Doreen yet another confused look. "I couldn't have said anything... I didn't know."

<Hope> Hope took the chance to glance over at the tablet screen, blinking a little. She quickly glanced back over at Doreen and Shinobi. "Do I even want to know?"

<Shinobi> "She calls it my dungeon," he said, indicating Doreen, and then noticing she was looking at his tablet. "Um..." Shinobi cleared his throat. "So, scotch?"

<Doreen> "Oh. Well that sucks..." Doreen frowned. "See pants." She played with his waistband.

<Hope> "Scotch. Yes. Your father locked me out of the liquor cabinet." She crossed her arms over her chest awkwardly. She had the distinct feeling she was in the middle of something.

<Doreen> "I know where they hide the key." Doreen grinned.

<Shinobi> Shinobi picked up the half-full bottle and gave it a slosh. "Why did he lock you out? And why are you here, anyway? I thought you were jetlagged." He smirked at Doreen. Of course she did.

<Hope> Hope just looked at him, swallowing as her heart-rate picked up. "I uh..." A glance at Doreen cut off the nerve she had left. "I should really probably just go."

<Doreen> Doreen bit her lip. "You okay?"

<Shinobi> Hope's expression was... off. Shinobi exchanged a glance with Doreen and moved closer to her. "Are you? Where's Sebastian? Should I get him?"

<Hope> "He's with Jess." And would absolutely kill her if they bothered him now. With great difficulty, she pasted on her best fake smile. "Of course I'm alright! I'll uh go grab some stuff. Surely he didn't hide the car keys too. Or the credit card." She started off toward the stairs.

<Doreen> "I can get some ice cream." She looked between the two.

<Shinobi> He wasn't fooled by that expression. "Go... get scotch?"

<Hope> "And maybe some food? A bunch of health junk here." She paused at the base of the stairs. "Unless he took my card." Would he have done that?

<Doreen> "I have lots of junk food stashed up stairs."

<Shinobi> "There you are then." He shrugged and smiled at Doreen. "If he took your card, and the key... I'm guessing it's for a reason." For her anyway, since he never extended the same courtesy to him.

<Hope> "You don't have to be nice to me. Either of you. I really don't deserve it." She looked back over at them both.

<Doreen> "That's what family does I think. Well I'm not family but he is." Doreen tried to give her a warm smile. "I'll get the food." She slipped past her to get junk food and ice cream.

<Shinobi> "We do have this." He sloshed the bottle again and moved closer.

<Hope> "Shinobi... I did something... really bad. Really bad." She looked up at his face, thinking it was a safer place to look than his chest.

<Shinobi> "I doubt it's as bad as my bad, if you recall." He cocked his head, watching her face, although after a moment he bent to catch her eyes.

<Hope> "No... but it's still pretty bad." She looked into his eyes, swallowing hard. "I kind of cheated on my boyfriend months ago. With someone I should have never, ever done that with regardless. And... he found out. So now everyone gets to know how horrible I am and what I did."

<Shinobi> He blinked. "That's it?"

<Hope> "This is a big deal ok!" Especially the who it was with.

<Shinobi> "You... cheated on a boyfriend. That's not... well, it's not a felony." He handed her the bottle. "Here, just... don't go out anywhere, if you're all freaked out."

<Hope> "I'm not all freaked out," she lied, taking the bottle. "It's a little more complicated than that, but yeah. And he'll be turning up here. I guarantee you. He'll come looking for me. So I guess... if that happens... just… stay down here?"

<Shinobi> "Your boyfriend? Here?" He laughed. "Actually, I would imagine my father would enjoy that." Was she frightened? After a moment, he forced himself to sober. “Nothing will happen to you... not here."

<Doreen> Doreen came down with lots of junk food and balanced a few bowls of ice cream. She figured that she could share with Shinobi.

<Shinobi> He spotted Doreen and moved to help her with the bowls. "Thanks," he said with a smile.

<Hope> Hope made herself smile as Doreen came back. She held on firmly to the bottle of scotch, looking down at it instead of them. Thank you, Shinobi. she pushed gently at his mind.

<Doreen> "Do you uhmm need more time alone." Doreen strained to get out. She missed Shinobi but she could wait.

<Shinobi> His head whipped up to stare at Hope in shock. "You're welcome? I... don't know?"

<Hope> "Shouldn't I be asking you two that question?" She asked with a slight laugh.

<Doreen> "Pfft he's not getting any until Shaw confirms he was kidnapped." She grinned.

<Hope> "He... was... kidnapped. And I really... don't think I wanted to know that." She made a face.

<Doreen> "I won't tell you what he gets as a treat then." She giggled a little as she went to the stairs.

<Shinobi> He watched her tail swish as she walked away, then looked at Hope with wide eyes.

<Hope> After Doreen was gone, Hope turned back to Shinobi. "Are you... dating the tiny fluffy girl!?" Hope smiled at him brightly. Oh this was golden! "That's adorable!"

<Shinobi> "I... don't know? There was a date, I think... but it's supposed to be... casual? Especially considering she asked me about bringing in another girl... possibly another guy." He made a face at that thought.

<Hope> Hope laughed and patted Shinobi on the top of his head. "Awwwww! You have a fluffy girl who wants threesomes... Isn't that like, every guy's fantasy right there?"

<Shinobi> "I don't know..." He pulled another face at the pat and straightened up so she couldn't reach the top of his head as easily. "You're not a telepath. Where did that come from?"

<Hope> She looked at him funny, dropping her hand carefully "From... a telepath."

<Shinobi> "No, really?" He snorted, then closed his eyes and screwed up his face to think at her. Are you still there?!

<Hope> Yes... She answered back softly, swallowing hard. She should have dropped the power. She should drop the power. From his surprise, she could guess who he didn't know was a telepath.

<Shinobi> Eyes popping open, he met hers. Interesting.

<Hope> I have a really far reach... She looked back into his eyes, stabling out the connection so that it wouldn't give him a headache.

<Shinobi> It felt... better now, and he drew in a surprised breath.

<Hope> She gave him a smile, sighing a little herself. You alright? Her fingers fumbled on the lid, trying to open it.

<Shinobi> Yeah. This is weird. He took the bottle and opened it for her, since it gave him another focus in this odd situation. So there are mutants everywhere...

<Hope> Yeah, especially in big cities like this, "Thanks." She took the bottle, taking a swig. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. Whenever you want it cut off, just tell me. Or picture a door closing. Hope didn't use telepathy too often, so it was nice to have someone to practice with that wasn't a telepath.

<Shinobi> "No problem." He wriggled his fingers, asking for the bottle back. And you take on physical mutations as well? Shinobi projected an image of her with a fluffy tail and smirked.

<Hope> She shot him a look, some annoyance filtering over their link. I don't really like those, but yes, I take on the entire X-gene of the host. She passed him the bottle.

<Shinobi> He took a pull from the bottle, his eyes still on her. You don't like them?

<Hope> Lying with him in her head would be much more trouble than it was worth. She shook her head, keeping eye contact. No. I don't. Ferals are hard to control, so I usually only take them out with someone. But besides that... I stay away from powers that have physical attributes. Except Pietro's. The hair color isn't a big deal since it's temporary.

<Doreen> Doreen sat completely still on the stairs wondering what was going on. It was way too quiet. What heck are they doing.... Why can't she question him about me more.

<Shinobi> How interesting... you dislike physical mutations. Even among our own species there's bigotry. He took another swig of the scotch and handed it back.

<Hope> Clearly you have no problem with them, seeing as how you are fucking the squirrel girl. She didn't take the bottle from him this time.

<Shinobi> I think it's interesting. She's cute. And... ditsy. And I've never had a prejudice against our fellow mutants. Clearly somebody did, however. I'm guessing your boyfriend doesn't have a physical mutation then?

<Hope> I don't have a prejudice. I just don't want to look like that. She completely avoided all mention of Chris.

<Shinobi> Why not? It's cute. He shook the bottle.

<Hope> I don't think it's cute. She admitted, shifting her weight. Where had Doreen gone anyway?

<Shinobi> Well, it's not a fin, Ariel, but we can't all be a princess. He put the bottle on the step beside her and went to find a shirt.

<Hope> "I'm not a princess," she snapped, picking up the bottle and staring at it. My gift is to pick which powers I use. I don't like physical mutations for a lot of reasons. They hurt, a lot of the time... and sometimes itchy.

<Shinobi> "How convenient for you, to have the pick of the litter. Not everyone is so fortunate."

<Hope> "No, no they aren't. But I finally have some control over my life and I'm going to use it."

<Shinobi> That shut him up, and he pulled a tee over his head, taking a moment before he looked back at her.

<Hope> "Look... I know it looks so awesome. But I can't do much. As a kid... well I have shadows everywhere I go now. I can't go some places because people are always trying to kill me. Picking powers is sometimes the one thing I can control. So I do."

<Shinobi> Shinobi cleared his throat, attempted to meet her eyes, and failed. "I understand that..."

<Hope> Hope handed him his bottle of scotch back. "I know you do. I'm... out for awhile. So you can do... whatever it is you do with whatever she is to you."

<Shinobi> "You probably shouldn't leave, if your boyfriend is... questionable?" He took the bottle and frowned at it. "It is safe here. Especially for you."

<Hope> "I'll stay close," she promised. "I just... um. Need some air." When you are through.... you can push at my mind if it makes you feel better.

<Doreen> Doreen scampered up the stairs before she left to make sure she didn't get caught. Well that wasn't worth eavesdropping on.

<Shinobi> So I can find you? He smirked.

<Hope> She smirked back at him. As long as that telepath hasn't let the area... I'll keep the power active.

<Shinobi> Shinobi had his own ideas about this, so he nodded, once. "Enjoy your air then." Apparently he was going to enjoy some ice cream, perhaps with scotch.
Slarti
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Title: Damn Not Given
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> "What happened to this coffee pot?" Sebastian rather suspected he knew, but it was possible one of the other household occupants had changed the settings. He tinkered with it, raising the lid to look inside as if the water were at fault.

<Hope> "It wasn't making coffee fast enough in this soberlation you have me in." Hope informed him, digging through the cabinets. This place sucked on food options.

<Shaw> "Sober is for the best right now, love." He looked over at her, then back to his coffee machine. "What did you do to it?" he asked suspiciously.

<Hope> "When you give me back the key to the liquor, I'll tell you." Hope told him with a glare. "It's not really good for anyone. You know that right?"

<Jessica> Jess felt much better after her epic nap and, after pulling on some clothes, she shuffled up the stairs to the sound of voices. "What's going on....?"

<Hope> "Your husband is an ass." Hope told her, slamming the cabinet.

<Shaw> "Well, that's a well known fact." He turned his attention to Jess and moved over to her to give her a kiss.

<Jessica> Jess blinked at her, looking between the two of them, "Um... why? What did he do?"

<Hope> "Keeping me and scotch apart. Nobody is amused." She ran her hand through her hair.

<Shaw> "I took away her scotch." He smirked.

<Jessica> "Ah... well... probably for the best? Why are you here? Not that it's not great... but..." she wrinkled her nose.

<Hope> Hope swallowed and shot Sebastian a look. Then went back to her hunt for contraband.

<Shaw> "Hope's going to be staying with us for a while." Sebastian slid his arms around Jess and rested his forehead against her. She had a fight with Nord... when she told him about the incident that occurred when my memory was altered. Tony is out of the country, and she shouldn't be alone.

<Jessica> Oh... she has the worst timing ever... She chewed her lip again, "Okay... but... where are we putting her?"

<Shaw> I know, I'm sorry, koibito. He kissed her temple and straightened up. "My workroom? I do have that sleeper sofa."

<Hope> "I won't be here long," she promised. Again. "Just.... as soon as Tony gets home I'll go to DC." She closed the cabinet. At least he didn't hide the liquor.

<Jessica> "Is that a good idea? All those tempting projects...?" She went to the kettle and flicked the switch. "Who's hungry?"

<Hope> "What tempting projects?" Hope asked, suddenly interested.

<Jessica> Jess just pointed at Hope because she was demonstrating her point.

<Shaw> "It's all right, I trust her..." He watched her from the side of his eye as he said this. "At least I think I do."

<Hope> "I work better with scotch," she pointed out.

<Jessica> "No one works better with scotch, that's the point... at least I thought that was the point of alcohol..." She opened the fridge and investigated the contents. "What shall we have for dinner?"

<Shaw> Sebastian tipped his head to the side, since he rather worked better with scotch as well.

<Hope> Hope just gave Jess a crazy look. "Yes. Yes they do."

<Shaw> "So, dinner... what would you like, Hope?"

<Hope> "Scotch. Scotch. And for dessert, some scotch with Splenda."

<Jessica> Jess wrinkled her nose, "Noooo that's not food."

<Hope> "Then I'm not hungry." She crossed her arms over her chest.

<Shaw> "Splenda?" He made a face. "That's... blasphemy."

<Jessica> "I'm ignoring it. Real sugar or get out," Jess threw Sebastian a grin, knowing full well that wasn't the part the bothered him.

<Hope> Frustrated, Hope just sighed. Maybe she had packed a bottle? She should check her bag.

<Shaw> Sebastian laughed. "Come on, Hope. Humor me."

<Jessica> "Dinner! What do you want? Answer now or you'll have to eat what I want to eat and I'm pregnant so...."

<Hope> "Fine. Pizza." Pizza sounded somewhat doable at least.

<Shaw> He looked at Jess, and even attempted a beseeching expression.

<Jessica> Jess sighed, closing the fridge, "Fiiiine... but I'm baking because otherwise I'll be bored."

<Shaw> "Excellent. Hope can help you."

<Hope> What was wrong with these people!? Hope just stared at him. "What?!"

<Jessica> "Oh! We can make brownies!" Jess moved remarkably quickly given her size to the cupboard with the baking ingredients.

<Shaw> "What?" He grinned. "I'll sort your accommodations, my dear."

<Hope> "I don't eat cooked brownies! And you are not leaving me alone to cook!" She rounded on Sebastian.

<Jessica> "Well we can make two lots and we'll only cook one - you can eat the other one."

<Shaw> "You aren't alone... you're with Jess." His smile just grew. "And I'll order the pizza. Meat?"

<Hope> Hope held the sides of her temples, trying to even out her breathing agian. "Stop being nice to me," she told them softly.

<Jessica> Jess paused, looking over her shoulder at Hope, "Uh... bad girl, go to your room?"

<Hope> Hope looked at her in the most bizarre way, then laughed.

<Shaw> Wondering if this was some bizarre new version of their 'dark and twisty' code, Sebastian just found his stash of carryout menus.

<Hope> Hope placed her hands down on the counter, looking down between them. "I don't deserve you guys being nice. Ok? That's all."

<Jessica> He knew what she liked on her pizza so she turned her attention back to the cupboards, "Want to put chocolate chips in them?" Hope was being silly so she decided to ignore that too.

<Hope> "Is that even a question?" Hope pointed out to Jess.

<Jessica> Jess took out the packet and set it on the counter with the other things, "I also want to make pastry... but I don't know what to put in it."

<Hope> "Rum." Hope offered with a grin.

<Jessica> Jess wrinkled her nose, "Pregnant."

<Hope> "It cooks off!" She protested, laughing.

<Shaw> Sebastian moved behind Hope and kissed the top of her head. "So, pizza with every meat, and perhaps you should put meat in the pastry as well." He strolled past to Jess and cocked his head. "I'll order a vegetable one for you and our... other guest."

<Jessica> "Thank you..." she leaned to press a kiss to his cheek, "Now get out of the way."

<Hope> Hope made a face. She didn't want to think about what Shinobi and that guest were doing.

<Jessica> "I can make a meat pie.... Oh!" She had an idea now, "It's Christmas, minced meat pies!"

<Hope> "Why does that sound disgusting?" Hope questioned, staying well away from all that cooking over there.

<Jessica> "Because you have no idea how amazing they are?" Jess started pulling down other things.

<Shaw> Pizza ordered, Sebastian slid his phone into his pocket and came back, sitting on the ledge to the side of the kitchen to watch them. "Have I had that before? As in, have you made that before?"

<Jessica> "Tiny pies with dried fruit inside, yes I have." Jess smiled at him.

<Shaw> Sebastian just nodded to this revelation, trying to pretend as if he remembered.

<Hope> Hope wanted nothing to do with that cooking.... but brownie batter was appealing. She cautiously approached the bowl, like it might explode on her, and picked it up to continue the process.

<Jessica> Jess started tossing aforementioned dried fruit into a bowl with some brown sugar and other nice smelling things.

<Shaw> Once she got the spices out, he did remember it. The potpourri pies. Oh dear. "I'll be right back." He started for the stairs to check his workroom for things Hope could potentially break.

<Hope> It didn't take Hope long to mix up the batter.... and sit on the counter, starting to eat it.

<Jessica> Jess was enjoying making the pies and the pastry, she went to the oven to start it heating up before she started to fill the pies.

<Christopher> Chris got in to the Tesla Roadster he was renting to test it out and texted Hope to see if she was ready for him to come get her for dinner. Well it's interesting enough for an electric car.

<Hope> Hope pulled out her phone, seeing Chris face pop up. She didn't even get to read it as the phone dropped from her hands onto the floor.

<Jessica> Jess looked over at Hope, frowning a little in concern, "You okay?"

<Hope> "Yeah um. Just slipped." She offered, carefully setting the bowl down on the counter beside her. did she want to read it? She stared at the phone on the floor. Where was Shinobi? She could make him read it! No, that was weird. She could read it. Totally. She swallowed and slid off the counter.

<Jessica> Jess watched her as a glob of the mixture she was filling the pies with dripped off her spoon and onto the floor with a satisfying splat.

<Hope> She picked it up, checking it for cracks. Satisfied it was in one piece, Hope scratched the back of her head. Realizing Jess was watching her, she slowly dropped her hand. With a few presses, she had the text pulled up.

<Jessica> Jess looked down at the pie filling that had narrowly missed her bare foot.

<Hope> "He... wants to know if I'm ready for dinner?" Hope glanced over to Jess, baffled.

<Jessica> "Tell him yes, you're having pizza and he can go get his own." She went to get some paper towels to wipe up the mixture from the floor.

<Shaw> Sebastian heard the exchange from upstairs and thundered down the steps. Jess was on the floor, and Hope was on her phone. "Nord?"

<Hope> Hope certainly wasn't saying that. She nodded at Sebastian in the doorway. "Who else? Drake?"

<Shaw> "Love, if you don't want to speak to him, you don't have to." He moved over to help Jess clean up her ... smelly fruit.

<Jessica> Jess let him take the paper towel and straightened up again, going back to filling the pies.

<Hope> She felt a rush of different emotions as she processed the text message. Was she ready for dinner? He hadn't even spoken to her since he had walked out and now he wanted dinner? Ut oh. Hope knew what that was code for.

<Hope> She ran her fingers through her hair, shaking slightly. What was she going to do? What was she supposed to do. She didn't know how to respond to that! "He's breaking up with me. He wants to go to dinner. That's what he's doing."

<Jessica> Jess chewed her lip, looking down at Sebastian before tracking back up to Hope.

<Christopher> Chris sent her another text that he wasn't mad at her he just wanted to talk and that he'd made reservations at her favorite place in boston. He started up the engine and took off remembering he didn't know where Sebastian and Jess lived.

<Hope> "Dinner at my favorite place... of course he isn't mad and just wants to talk. In public. Where I can't made a scene." Hope threw her phone to the other room. Nope! Not dealing with that. Nope!

<Shaw> Sebastian watched the phone sail past.

<Jessica> Jess watched the phone fly, "Uh... okay... well... I guess that's that..."

<Christopher> At the first stop he looked at his phone and frowned when she hadn't texted him back. 'Babe? You okay....? I need to know where Shaw lives so I can pick you up.'

<Shaw> Sebastian went and picked up the phone, thumbing across to read the message. His eyebrow quirked up. "He wants to know where I live."

<Hope> "I bet he does...." Hope swallowed hard.

<Jessica> "Do you want one of us to speak to him instead?"

<Shaw> "I'll do it." He frowned at the phone, then looked at Hope. "If you wish."

<Hope> "Oh like that's a good idea," Hope snapped, then quickly felt bad. "I'm sorry... no. I don't think either of you should." But she didn't want to either. Where was Doreen!?

<Shaw> "It's fine, Hope. Perhaps... if you think speaking to me would make things worse, he might prefer Jessica?"

<Hope> "No way am I sending your pregnant wife to fight my battles." Hope hopped off the counter, but leaned back against it.

<Shaw> "Well, I meant to call him..."

<Jessica> "Or you can let one of us text him the address so you can tell him to go away in person? ... But I can totally smack him for you if you want... or make him scream like a girl." Pheromones were fun.

<Hope> "I guess text him the address... I'll figure out something to say."

<Shaw> Sebastian frowned, but did as he was told, texting the boy nothing but the address and resisting the urge to add anything.

<Christopher> Chris got the address and plugged it into the GPS so he could find his way to the house. For a new car this is a pretty nice one. The next light he texted her that he'd be there in about fifteen to twenty minutes.

<Shaw> "Well, our pizza will arrive before he will. Twenty minutes at the most." Sebastian debated handing her back her phone, but it could face further abuse, so he leaned on the kitchen counter and set it beside him.

<Jessica> Time to get those pies in the oven! She put the lids on and slid the tray in.

<Hope> Hope didn't know what to do. She glanced between them, awkwardly. She shouldn't have come here. She moved to Jess once her hands were free and pulled her into a hug.

<Jessica> Jess resisted the urge to flail in alarm at the surprise hug and managed to return it, eying Sebastian over Hope's shoulder. What just happened?

<Shaw> He suppressed a laugh, but was still far too amused by Jess' expression. She called me dad earlier, love, so we'll chalk it up to extreme stress and forced sobriety.

<Hope> "I'm sorry," she told her softly. "For so much. I've been a terrible friend. I should fix that." She let Jess go.

<Jessica> Jess shook her head, "Don't worry about it, I've not been great either... all water under the bridge," she gave her a smile.

<Hope> Hope gave her a weak smile. "Can I?" she motioned to Jess' stomach.

<Shaw> He watched them with a faint smile.

<Jessica> Jess nodded, taking Hope's hand and placing it on the bump where Hope would feel the movement.

<Hope> She laughed through some tears, smiling softly. "That's so weird."

<Jessica> "Yep... and it's a pain sometimes when you're trying to sleep or not go to the bathroom every five minutes..." Plus funny things were happening with her powers.

<Shaw> "But it's also remarkable, really..." He smiled, trying not to think about how much time Jess spent in the bathroom.

<Christopher> Chris got to the place and frowned a little. He really didn't want to see Sebastian. He wanted to break his face all over the pavement but he could be the bigger man for Hope. Carefully, Chris parked the rented car and went to the door to knock.

<Hope> "Pizza!" The mood was broken by that knock.

<Jessica> Jess laughed, "I would race you to the door but... it's a struggle to get through doorways."

<Shaw> The proximity alarm beeped and he pulled his phone from his pocket and frowned at the security camera image. "No, I'm afraid not..."

<Hope> That news sobered Hope right back up. "Can I have scotch NOW?" She begged.

<Shaw> "Do you want to see him? Or shall I tell him no?"

<Jessica> Jess captured Hope's hand again. No one was having scotch.

<Hope> "No! Wait... Yes... I need to deal with this. I just..." She tried to breath evenly, holding onto the counter. "I'm good." She tied to extract herself from Jess so she could go to the door.

<Shaw> "All right." He could hear Widget downstairs, and flicked his phone to authorize him to open the door. "Do you want me to come with you?"

<Christopher> Chris waited at the door patiently. He adjusted his coat with a shiver it was cold outside. Please answer Hope...

<Jessica> Jess let her go but followed behind her, she was feeling protective - probably the mom hormones.

<Shinobi> Headphones on again, he thought he heard something from upstairs and looked at Doreen.

<Doreen> Doreen kissed his cheek and pulled his attention back to the screen. "You don't wanna go up there."

<Widget> The robot unlocked the door and opened it, burbling quietly at the man on the steps.

<Hope> Hope stopped where she could see the door, too scared to open it. Her future was on the other side of that door. The thought was overwhelming. As Widget opened it, fear flooded Hope.

<Christopher> Chris just stared at the robot. "What are you...."

<Jessica> Jess' anxiety levels went up with Hope's and she tried to stuff it back down again.

<Shaw> Both women were making him edgy, and Sebastian edged in front of Jess on the stairs, taking her hand.

<Widget> Cocking his head, he whistled and opened the door further, gesturing the man inside and running a quiet scan.

<Jessica> Jess gave Sebastian's hand a squeeze, I'm okay... I think...

<Christopher> Chris cautiously entered the foyer completely expecting a trap from Sebastian, maybe a drop floor that ended in a pool of acid.

<Hope> Hope's hands fidgeted as she stood there, trying to work up her nerve. She latched onto Shinobi's mind. His was comforting. Similar. Tell me I'm not a bad person. Please. Tell me I'm not. She stared at Chris, unable to move.

<Shaw> Sebastian reached the foyer first and turned to make sure Jess was well. He looked up at Hope, who seemed... frozen. Turning to Nord and squeezing Jess' hand, he cleared his throat. "Good evening, Mr. Nord."

<Christopher> "Shaw...." Chris had to force out. "Nice place." He squeezed his keys in his pocket to keep him from doing something stupid.

<Shinobi> It was very likely she was right, but he'd freed one ear to listen upstairs anyway. When he heard a voice in his head he let out a startled squeak.

<Jessica> Jess heard the noise downstairs and looked down at the floor before looking back up at Chris and moving a little closer to Hope.

<Shaw> "Thank you." Sebastian gave Nord a once-over. He did look... well, more normal than he'd ever seen, actually.

<Doreen> Doreen giggled and rolled her eyes at him. "You're so cute."

<Shinobi> I don't think you're a bad person... why would you think that? He sat up, wondering what was going on now. "Can you hear what's going on up there?"

<Christopher> Chris looked past the target of his own rage and saw his girlfriend. "Hey Hope." He gave her a small wave.

<Hope> Because she was. She shifted a little to look at him. "Chris." I just... needed to hear it.

<Doreen> "Someone named Nord is up there? And him and Sebastian are talkingish?" Doreen snuggled up to him she was kinda cold.

<Christopher> "You ready? Or do you want me to push back our reservation?" He smiled a little more, it had only been a little while but he had missed her, more from only seeing her for a few minutes after her return from Alaska.

<Shaw> As fascinatingly awkward as this was, it would take all night at this rate. "Hope, whatever you want to do, we're here... for you." He gave Nord another glance.

<Hope> She stared at him. Really? Really!? She brought one finger up, then dropped it. "You don't talk to me and then you want to go to dinner? You can say whatever it is you need to say here."

<Jessica> Jess felt a flash of rage that wasn't her own, and her eyes narrowed a little at Chris. She was also varying degrees of anxious and there was something else she couldn't put her finger on.

<Shinobi> His heart rate picked up, for no reason he could tell. "I think I might puke..." Yet he tightened his arm around Doreen.

<Christopher> Chris swallowed a little. "I needed time to process." Chris wondered if he was allowed to move over to her or if Sebastian would stop him. "Can we talk in private then?"

<Hope> Hope had to cut the link to Shinobi. She couldn't maintain that and her emotions with no liquor in her system. "They both have enhanced hearing. Save yourself the trouble."

<Jessica> "In this house? Good luck with that." Jess almost laughed.

<Doreen> "You puke on me and I'll kill you. You have no idea how long it takes to get that out of fur." She didn't move though and started to rub his back.

<Shaw> I think I need a drink, he sent to Jess, wondering if he should shield himself from their link just for a while. Sebastian rested his hand on her belly.

<Jessica> Have one for me too.... She was trying not to hold on to the emotions she didn't recognise as her own but she was getting confused.

<Shinobi> As suddenly as the feeling came it was gone and he gasped. Still, he'd broken out in a cold sweat. "What the fuck was that?"

<Doreen> She gave him a concerned look. "Are you okay? Do you want me to get Jessica or your Dad?"

<Shinobi> That was the last thing he wanted, so he groaned and waved her away, flopping over to bury his face in the pillow.

<Doreen> She gave his back a gentle rub. "Water?"

<Hope> "I already know what you want. You didn't need to drive all the way over here just to do it!" Jess shouldn't be here. She turned to look at her. She couldn't ask her to leave her own house! This was a nightmare. Where was a teleporter?!

<Christopher> "Hope...I want to talk to my girlfriend and take her to dinner. That's it, no hidden messages or anything like that. I guess that is if you still want me."

<Jessica> Jess felt another flash of anger and frustration that didn't belong to her and she reached to put a hand on Hope's arm, deciding that she was the source.

<Hope> "Don't try to put this on me. Well. I guess it is on me." She jumped at the touch on her shoulder. "I'm a terrible girlfriend. We've always known this! You didn't want to date in the first place! I forced it on you, and now look where we are!?" She started to feel herself calm down. Which was nice.

<Shaw> Sebastian watched this exchange quietly.

<Christopher> It finally clicked in his head what she was thinking. "I'm not trying to break up with you Hope. I just don't want to talk about this in front of other people.” Especially not Sebastian but he kept that to himself. "If you were terrible you would have left me when I was a monster. You could have and I wouldn't have blamed you. I fucked up so massively I never expected you to stay with me.”

<Jessica> Her touch seemed to be having the desired effect and lessening the emotional turmoil in Hope and easing the stress on Jess, herself.

<Hope> "You left me. You weren't there for me at all." She told him, now in a much calmer voice.

<Jessica> "You know," Jess interjected, "You may have had your time to process but, maybe, Hope hasn't finished. Why don't you leave it for now and come back after the holidays..."

<Christopher> "I was a fucking idiot and I drove you away because I was too stupid to realize what I was doing.... Not even the shit they did to me makes up for not being there when you needed me." Chris mind flashed to the tortures that were all coming back to him.

<Hope> "Yeah. You're right." Hope took a step away from Jess, finally figuring that one out. She needed her own emotions. Not planted ones. "Our entire relationship has been one fight after another. I'm tired of it. I'm tired of fighting." She thought about what Jess said. "And maybe I just need time... for me. Without anyone telling me what I should think or feel!"

<Christopher> "Yeah...?" Chris frowned a little. "I can give you time Hope. I'm sorry I wasn't worth shit as a boyfriend."

<Shaw> Sebastian shifted his weight, arm sliding protectively around Jess. And perhaps a stint in AA, and some therapy. I wonder if I can get a two for one discount with Shinobi's therapist.

<Hope> "And how much time are you willing to give?" She wanted something to throw at him for that last part.

<Jessica> If you don't ask, you don't get.... Jess leaned in to him a little as she dropped her hand to her belly when Hope drew away.

<Shaw> I believe that's an excellent plan then. He turned toward Jess and kissed her cheek.

<Christopher> "Whatever you need. All I want is a chance to make you happy and if you need me to stay away I can do that." He was breaking inside but he wasn't going to let them know that, especially not Sebastian.

<Hope> She looked down at the stairs. Is that what she wanted? No. But was it what she needed? Most likely. She nodded. "Okay."

<Jessica> Jess watched Chris, wishing she was as good at reading body language as Viper. But maybe she didn't need that, she stared intently at him, trying to see if she could pick up any of his emotions like she seemed to have been doing with Sebastian lately, and now Hope.

<Christopher> "If you guys want my reservation I'm sure they'd let you add one more to the table." Chris swallowed and started towards the door. "Love you Hope." Chris let out as he stepped through the doorway, half hoping she wouldn't hear him.

<Hope> The problem with using Sebastian's power... was that she did. She sank down on the stairs, burying her face in her hand. You too she thought to herself.

<Shaw> And as the owner of the power, he certainly heard it and rolled his eyes. Wasn't this what he'd warned her about all along?

<Jessica> Jess was rather looking forward to pizza by now and she idly wondered where the delivery guy was. Maybe he'd sensed danger and hidden somewhere.

<Jessica> Threshold now clear and the heat draining from the house, Jess went to close the door behind their visitor.

<Hope> Hope headed for the liquor cabinet.

<Shaw> That was... interesting. Sebastian stopped Jess and leaned out to check for both Nord and the pizza man.

<Jessica> Yeah... for a multitude of reasons... Jess frowned at the outside world.

<Doreen> "I think Hope broke up with her boyfriend or some random man... I don't know."

<Shaw> Raising an eyebrow at Nord's car, he brightened immensely when he saw the pizza delivery man. "I'm not tipping him. He's late."

<Jessica> "I'm going to check on the pies... and Hope..." she turned back for the stairs.

<Shinobi> "Oh yeah?" Right now, he wasn't sure he cared, since he still felt ... weird. Jumpy. Upset?

<Doreen> She kissed his back as she rubbed it. "Yeah pretty sure."

<Shinobi> "That's nice." He groaned and buried his face in the pillow again.
Svartfreja
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Svartfreja »

<Hope> The rocking chair in the baby's room was really comfortable. And it was quiet in there. Nobody came in there. There was no baby yet! Hope held onto her two bottles of scotch, drinking from the third. She glared at the door. Fuck SebastianDaddy if he thought he was getting any of her precious bottles!

<Jessica> After dividing up the pizzas, Jess took hers and Hope's portions (along with some mince pies) to find the other girl. Enhanced hearing made this a simple task, even without without the weird emotional vibrations she was getting. She knocked softly on the door to the nursery to announce her presence before stepping inside.

<Hope> She shouldn't be surprised. She just shook her head as Jess entered. "If you are here to enforce prohibition... please leave"

<Jessica> "I'm not... just wondered if you'd want some food," she moved in front of her and held up the plate of pizza.

<Hope> No she did not want pizza. But Sebastian had played a pouty face to get her that pizza. She sighed heavily and reached out with her free hand to take the plate. "Thank you."

<Jessica> "Is the alcohol at least helping?" She leaned against the wall after setting the plate of pies down on the window ledge.

<Hope> "Yes. It always does." She had to set the bottle she was drinking from down on the floor. And then realized this was stupid of her. "Take the chair." She started putting all the bottles down so she could move to the floor.

<Jessica> She offered Hope a smile and went to take the seat, "Thanks..." After getting settled and casting her eyes around the room at all the duckies, Jess focused her attention back on the redhead, "Um... can I ask you something?"

<Hope> Hope laughed at her. "You know you can." She poked at the pizza, finally picking it up to take a bite.

<Jessica> "I'm not sure how to ask...." she chewed the corner of her lip, "I've been experiencing some weird things...."

<Hope> "It's called being pregnant and maybe you should ask Paige?" Hope offered, hopefully, taking a bite.

<Jessica> She shook her head, "It's not a pregnant thing... it's a powers thing..."

<Hope> "Oh... oh! Well I can help with that. What's it doing? Want me to tap in?"

<Jessica> "Will you be able to tell if it's me or the baby?" She loved Sebastian dearly but she really didn't think she could handle a telepathic child.

<Hope> "Two distinct x-genes. I should be able to differentiate. But... I've never tried a baby before." Hope took another bite. Could be interesting.

<Jessica> "Okay... well... check mine first..." she shifted uncomfortably, "I need to know if I've developed anything... new...."

<Hope> Hope nodded, and scanned Jess, not really tapping into the powers. She licked her lips, thinking. "Well... I see all the ones I remember. But I don't remember empathy. Have you always had that? That would totally explain the thing on the stairs though!"

<Jessica> Jess blinked at Hope, shaking her head slowly, "I haven't... and it would explain a lot.... what thing on the stairs?"

<Hope> "The thing... you know the thing! When you touched me. And made me calm down. That thing. Or was that a pheromone thing. Because that's kind of confusing."

<Jessica> "Defintely not a pheromone thing, you'd know if it was a pheromone thing.... and I didn't know I was doing that.... sorry..."

<Hope> "Hey it's fine. I kind of figured out I should have been more angry than I was. So I stepped away. I shouldn't have come here with you... struggling? the way you are. I'm really sorry."

<Jessica> "I'm okay... and I'm glad you still feel like you can come here and be around me... it's been a long time since I've felt useful like this..."

<Hope> "Still... it's putting stress on you, Jess. I can find a hotel tomorrow."

<Jessica> "You think going away where I can't watch you will be less stressful for me?" She laughed and shook her head, "It's better if you're here... besides, now that I know what's going on I can keep a better eyes on things and hopefully avoid the affect so much... empathy's much less stressful than a potentially telepathic child."

<Hope> Hope laughed slightly. "Well... that's true." Jess liked to mother. "Still...how many people do you want here?" she laughed a little again, taking more scotch.

<Jessica> "I'd be happier minus a squirrel, honestly... it was only supposed to be temporary but she seems to have just moved in... I'm not sure how to tell her it's time to go without feeling like a bitch..."

<Hope> "So I guess throwing her stuff out the window is in line with bitch too?" Hope offered, taking another drink. "That's not fair... she was nice to me. But should she really be allll over Shinobi like that? He's...." fragile. And she had fucked up his mind. Shit.

<Jessica> "No. She shouldn't. I don't like it but what can I do? It's not like I have any right to tell either of them to stop even if I know it's bad for them both..."

<Hope> "Yeah... and if I do, it looks like I want in on that." Hope made a face and drank more scotch. Lots more scotch. "Make Sebastian do it."

<Jessica> "I can't do that - I invited her to stay....."

<Hope> "So? Isn't that what husbands are for? Wouldn't know for sure, never going to have one, but isn't that what they are for? Doing the heavy lifting?" She took a sip of the scotch, followed by a bite of pizza.

<Jessica> "I don't know... I mean... there's an issue of tact..." she wrinkled her nose, "Never been Sebastian's strong suit because intimidation works better for him... but Doreen wouldn't take that well..."

<Hope> Hope just took a swig. Why did Jess always care so much what other people thought. "What's this tact you speak of?" she grinned at Jess.

<Jessica> "It's important when you don't want an army of squirrels descending on your electronics," Jess nodded sagely and took a bite of pizza.

<Hope> "It's kind of ridiculous that you have to worry about that after she's been living here for... how long now?" Hope took another drink. Talking about Doreen was so much better than talking about her own life. She wondered how long she could get away with it.

<Jessica> "Well she seems to have gotten a bit attached to Shinobi..." Which was something she could have happily gone forever without knowing or witnessing. Especially the witnessing.

<Hope> "Ew." Hope let slip, shuddering. "I don't want to think about that." Nope.

<Jessica> "Neither do I... I suggest not borrowing mine or Sebastian's powers for too long at a time. For your sanity."

<Hope> "With them and you two? You don't have to worry about that one," she gave Jess a nod.

<Jessica> Jess laughed a little, "Well we're not as bad as we were... it's a bit awkward now," she nodded to the bump. "I can't wait for this to be over."

<Hope> That required another drink of scotch. "Still. Don't want to hear all that. Ew," she gave Jess a small smile.

<Jessica> She laughed, shaking her head, "Think what it's like at the school.... and people wonder why I moved out."

<Hope> Hope laughed at that. "I guess you're right. That place is like a 1970s key party."

<Jessica> "It's sooooo bad and that's on top of the noises old buildings make and all the other tiny creatures that live there. It's a wonder I got any sleep at all."

<Hope> "It's a wonder you get any sleep at all. You live in Boston now."

<Jessica> "It's actually easier here... the sound of the traffic drowns most other things out.... of course, now there's a tiny person kicking my insides at random intervals instead..."

<Hope> Hope eyed that stomach, then shoved the rest of that piece of pizza in her mouth. After a moment to chew and swallow, she spoke again. "And then you have crazy sort of children dropping in and blowing things up."

<Jessica> "Yeah... I don't mind having Shinobi in the house though... it's better for him to be here than somewhere else and he's much better now that the tension's sort of mostly gone between him and Sebastian."

<Hope> "That's getting better for sure. And he's not a dick to me anymore. I let him know that wasn't going to work." She smirked, smug.

<Jessica> "Good... I'm trying to help him trust people... make friends that are good for him, you know?" She finished the last piece of pizza on her plate.

<Hope> "Yeah..." Hope decided maybe she should stay away from him. She picked up another piece of pizza and took a bite, thinking. "I should start looking for apartments. I don't really want to stay at school now."

<Jessica> "Because of Chris?" She sighed, levering herself out of the chair to get the mince pies from the window sil, "Wouldn't that make it complicated for your security detail? Not that I'm trying to discourage you but I know you hate that at the best of times..."

<Hope> "I'm not going to arrange my life because it might be inconvenient for people to do their job." Hope took another bite.

<Jessica> "I know... but are you going to let them stay in the house with you?" She swapped the plate of pies for her empty pizza plate and sat down again.

<Hope> "They live in their own places... but they can come inside, yeah."

<Jessica> "Aren't you supposed to have around the clock security? I mean... you do at the school - that place is crawling with SHIELD..."

<Hope> "I do all the time. I'm sure they are here somewhere. I don't get to go anywhere by myself anymore."

<Jessica> "That must be a nightmare..." she wrinkled her nose, "Kind of an invasion of privacy."

<Hope> "Why do you think I fought it as hard as I did?" Hope gave her a questioning look. "Everyone thinks I'm a huge brat about it, but really? Never getting to go anywhere alone?"

<Jessica> "I would hate that... I do hate that... I really need to be done with this so I can do normal things again... it's really boring being stuck in the house all the time."

<Hope> "Why are you stuck in the house all the time?" She questioned her. "Boston is right out there."

<Jessica> Jess shook her head, "I can't get around very easily and with all the Sentinel craziness I don't feel very safe... I don't want to risk anything happening... it'd be different if I could get up to the school."

<Hope> "So make Sebsatian take you to the school?" Like hell would he let anything happen to her.

<Jessica> "Don't have the car anymore... I used to drive up there and he'd take my bike... and then the car got mangled and now there's a new thing that's... terrifying."

<Hope> "Drive my car," Hope laughed a little. "My car is way better than his... I don't even know what to call it!"

<Jessica> "It's a bloody tank, is what it is.... I don't know what he was thinking..." she rolled her eyes, "I guess I could just get one for myself... something small and child friendly... and less.... bricky..."

<Hope> "He was thinking of something to keep you safe," Hope interjected. "But the Corvette is way better than that thing."

<Jessica> "The other car was perfectly fine... safe is all relative. I don't even feel like it'd be safe to drive that thing down the street - it's such a narrow road..."

<Hope> "So make him buy you a car! It's not like he can't afford a car for his wife. Come on."

<Jessica> "I have my own money, you know... not that I'm ever allowed to spend any of it."

<Hope> "...Then let's go car shopping! Wooo!" Hope took a nice big swig of the scotch. "Tomorrow. They are closed today. Now. At this time."

<Jessica> "You seem entirely too excited about car shopping...."

<Hope> "I like car shopping... maybe I should get another new car! I need a garage."

<Jessica> "You need less scotch if we're going car shopping... or you're not allowed to drive anything."

<Hope> "Weeellllll I suspect prohibition will be reinstated tomorrow." She needed her own place.

<Jessica> "Only if we threw all the booze away and I don't think Sebastian could do that to himself."

<Hope> She underestimated the lengths he would go to in order to piss her off. Hope raised her bottle in 'cheers' and took a hearty drink. "I hope you are right. Because that sober shit was terrible."

<Jessica> "You realise that a permanent state of sobriety is how I live, right? I don't have a choice."

<Hope> "Yep. I do. But I don't have to be that way," she pointed out. "I was sober for months... I dealt with my boyfriend being captured and losing a baby sober. I think I've earned my scotch."

<Jessica> "You have," Jess offered her a small sympathetic look, "I'll let it go... I know how you deal with things. Sebastian's just trying to stop you from damaging yourself I suppose... he worries."

<Hope> "Well, if I hurt myself, then he can worry?" She offered, finishing her pizza.

<Jessica> "If you hurt yourself and I've let you drink it'll be on my head... so don't do that," Jess offered her the pies, "Want to go heckle the telly?"

<Hope> "I'm not going to hurt myself," she pointed out, exasperated. "Don't really want to watch TV, but you go ahead."

<Jessica> "It's no fun without someone else," She pouted, "I'll go and read a book upstairs... if you want to talk and can't find me, just keep going up until you run out of stairs."

<Hope> "Fiiiine, we can watch the TV. But I'm taking the scotch."

<Jessica> "By all means, bring the scotch. I can enjoy it vicariously through you," She got out of her seat, "Popcorn to throw at the tv while we right the wrongs of the world."

<Hope> "And we need to find my batter! I wasn't finished with that yet," Hope declared, carefully carrying her bottles of scotch.

<Jessica> "Yes, that's very important too... I did put some of it in the oven though because I can't eat it raw. Don't worry, there's plenty left."

<Hope> She laughed and followed Jess. "Well... we can't all be perfect," she grinned, teasing her.

<Jessica> "Perfect is a state of mind," Jess waved it off, "Besides, if there was nothing wrong with any of us, it'd be soooo boring. What would we do all day?"

<Hope> "Drink scotch and shop online?" Hope offered. Oooo she could use some new outfits.

<Jessica> Jess laughed, "I would buy so much crap! ... When I'm done being pregnant, we should do that."

<Hope> "I'm doing that today! And after you are done being pregnant!" Hope laughed with her.

<Jessica> "Yay!" Jess gave her a grin, leading the way back up to the kitchen to fetch the popcorn and various states of brownie.
:quicksilver Pietro Maximoff [Quicksilver]

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Svartfreja
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Svartfreja »

<Doreen> Doreen sat on her bed, book in hand, thumbing through the pages slowly. She was avoiding anywhere but her room and the dungeon after the craziness with Hope.

<Jessica> Jess ventured up to Doreen's room with the remainder of the brownies and mince pies and a couple of mugs of hot chocolate. She knocked on the door, already secure in the knowledge that Shinobi was downstairs.

<Doreen> "Coming." Doreen hopped up and moved to the door to open it. "Oh hi Jessica." She smiled.

<Jessica> Jess smiled back, lifting the tray, "I brought sweet things. Can I come in?"

<Doreen> "Yeah anytime, it's your house." Doreen took the tray from her to help. "How are you doing, Jessica? That was, uhmm, a little heated. I wasn't trying to eavesdrop I can just hear a lot...."

<Jessica> "I'm fine, we all are," She stepped inside and closed the door, "Hard not to hear something that's happening right above you, if anyone knows that it's me."

<Doreen> "Yeah. It bothered Shinobi I think. He was acting strange."

<Jessica> Jess made a mental note to check on Shinobi later. She took a seat on the end of Doreen's bed, "He'll be okay."

<Doreen> "Yeah I'm sure. He's a big boy." Doreen sat the tray on the nightstand and gave Jess one of the mugs.

<Jessica> Jess wrapped her hands around the mug, tugging at the corner of her lip with her teeth, "Yeah..." This was awkward. She wasn't sure how to say what she wanted to say without coming right out and saying it but that would hurt Doreen's feelings. Maybe she should have asked Sebastian to do this.

<Doreen> Doreen sipped at her hot chocolate and joined Jessica on the bed. "Mmm this is good."

<Jessica> "I'm glad you like it," she offered Doreen a smile, "And I'm glad you feel at home here... but, and please don't take this the wrong way... don't you think it's time you go back to the school now? I'm not trying to throw you out or anything just... we have a baby on the way and you have school... classes you're missing out on..."

<Doreen> "Yeah... I was talking to Shinobi about that. I'm sorry if I'm in your guys' hair too much." Doreen frowned. "I really really appreciate everything you and Sebastian have done for me. I don't really want to move back but I planned on going back after the break." She bit her lip, she hadn't told Shinobi that part.

<Jessica> "I understand that you don't want to... But it's better for you there. You need friends your own age... Sebastian and I are going to have our hands full with the baby and you won't get any sleep which won't do your studies any good."

<Doreen> "Mmmhm. I'll miss you guys though." She frowned, she really did like being around Jessica and Sebastian they were nice to her.

<Jessica> "It's not like you'll never see us - we visit the school all the time. I would have thought you'd be sick of us by now..."

<Doreen> "Pfft you guys are great. And...." She hid behind her mug. "I never really had a mother."

<Jessica> Jess blinked at her, not really sure how to take that. She wasn't that much older than the girl... "Doreen...."

<Doreen> "I know, you've just been taking care of me and you and Sebastian are married and it's yeah... I'll stop talking." She bit her lip. "I am going to miss all this."

<Jessica> "I don't know what to say... I'm flattered but... I'm not really qualified... I shouldn't take that role... I'm just trying to be a good friend..."

<Doreen> "Yes you are. You rescued me when you barely knew me. You took me in and let me stay here. You tried to teach me how to cook. And now you're bringing me sweets to try and make up for bad news." Doreen gave Jessica a warm smile. "You're the best."

<Jessica> "Thanks...." She returned the smile, "I'm glad I'm doing a good job... And soon I hope to bring the cooking lessons up to the school... first, though, I need a car... and less baby bump."

<Doreen> Doreen laughed a little. "And a babysitter." She carefully hugged Jessica. "Am I still allowed to, uhmm, come see Shinobi?" She knew that Jessica didn't approve of them but she liked him a lot.

<Jessica> "I suppose so... but you should call first... due date's only a month away so we might not be here... anything could happen."

<Doreen> "Mmhm. I can do that. I know you don't like us doing things... but I like him. And he's nice to me." Doreen sipped at her cocoa, trying to distract herself.

<Jessica> "I know... it's just... I brought you here because of what happened to you... and you were all for trying to improve your life and I'm worried about you because you just jumped into bed with the next person you met... you don't know anything about him, not really... and I don't know that it's good for either of you... not in the long run..."

<Doreen> "We went on an actual date... I'm trying Jess." She bit her lip and stared at her feet. Doreen was trying to think of how to defend them. "I know what he did.... he told me. But I know he's not a bad person."

<Jessica> "He's not a bad person, I'm not saying that... What I'm saying is that he's very lost... he doesn't know himself either. He needs time to find out who he is... and so do you... you can't do that in a relationship..."

<Doreen> "What if I don't want to do this alone...." Doreen didn't want to make Jessica mad but she didn't want to end things with Shinobi.

<Jessica> "Doreen... I know it's scary but you can't go through life always relying on other people. You have to learn how to look after yourself... because you never know when the rug will be pulled out from under your feet."

<Doreen> "I'm not relying on Shinobi. I enjoy spending time with him and he makes me happy. I think I make him happy too..."

<Jessica> "But you're tying yourselves to each other... don't you see that? You want this to work out so badly that you don't see it might not and you won't accept it when it happens... He's not ready for this... and neither are you."

<Doreen> "Actually he said we should just keep it casual for now. That's another reason I thought that I should go back to school. I told you I'd take things slower Jess. I'm just not too good at saying no to myself." She turned her face away, for once in her life being shy about sex.

<Jessica> "Then keep it casual... don't call it a relationship..." she reached to take Doreen's hand, "I think the space would be good for you both."

<Doreen> Doreen decided just to concede to Jessica because she knew she wasn't going to give up. "Yeah I've got a lot to make up for too, probably going to be pretty busy with make up work...."

<Jessica> "And you definitely don't want to be doing that with a screaming baby around," Jess pointed out.

<Doreen> "Pfft I bet you'll keep that baby too happy for it to cry." She gave Jessica another big smile. "I really really do appreciate everything you did for me."

<Jessica> "I know... and you're welcome. I'll still help when I can, you can ask for help whenever you need it."

<Doreen> "Pfft you'll have a baby to focus on. I think I'll be able to handle myself, maybe." Doreen finished her cocoa and set it down.

<Jessica> "Well, if there is anything... don't feel like you can't ask, that's all I'm saying." She gave her a smile, getting to her feet, "I'll leave you to.... whatever it is you're doing now..."

<Doreen> "Just a little reading. I like history and you guys have a pretty awesome library." She gave Jessica a small wave. "Thanks Jessica."

<Jessica> "Yeah we do, but I prefer fiction," she went to the door, "See you at breakfast."

<Doreen> "Mmhm I'll make sure not to make too many goo goo eyes at Shinobi." She teased Jessica a little. "Night."
:quicksilver Pietro Maximoff [Quicksilver]

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Svartfreja
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Svartfreja »

<Hope> With no concept of what hour it was, Hope had pulled herself from the couch and wandered into the kitchen. She had finished off one bottle of scotch that day, and brought her second bottle with her. Just in case. She set it down on the counter and looked around the kitchen. There was no junk food in this house. You had to make it yourself.

<Hope> Stupid rules. She smoothed out her green dress and started looking for the mixing bowls. Well. At least she knew how to make two things.

<Shinobi> Shinobi looked at the clock before he rolled out of bed and showered, but didn't care how late it was. He was hungry, and since Doreen had left, he was curious about what the hell had gone on earlier. After his shower and locating clean clothes, he started the long trek up the stairs.

<Hope> Hope hit play on her phone, keeping the volume down low out of courtesy for the super hearing. She hummed and sang along, moving slightly with the music as she got the bowl down and started mixing up the batter. When a good song came on, however, the spoon became a microphone as she lip sang with it, dancing around the kitchen.

<Shinobi> He sneaked a look at the closed master bedroom door on the way up and then stopped at the top of the stairs to the kitchen. Head tipping sideways, he watched her dance, and then realized she was singing. Well, well.

<Hope> Oblivious to him, she got more into the song, using some of the moves she had picked up from years of clubbing. She dropped the spoon in the bowl so she had both hands to dance with. As the song said throw my hands up in the air, Hope did too.

<Shinobi> Who knew coming out of his room was such a good idea? Shinobi knew he couldn't enjoy the show for too terribly long before she noticed he was there and possibly threw something at him again.

<Hope> She moved around the counter, going for an ingredient when she spotted him. "How long have you been standing there?"

<Shinobi> "Long enough," he said with a smirk. After a pause to see if there was any incoming crockery, he stepped up onto the floor and slid his hands in his pockets to swagger toward her.

<Hope> She couldn't help herself. She smirked back at him. "Really now? Should I be ashamed?" She leaned over the counter to hit pause on her music.

<Shinobi> His gaze slid down to watch her action, and lingered. "Not at all, but you knew that." Shinobi stopped and brought his attention back to her face.

<Hope> "You are not wrong," she smirked. "I spent years in clubs... I had to pick up something, right?" She looked back over at him, swallowing and suddenly nervous. "Shinobi..."

<Shinobi> "Looks like all that practice paid off then," he observed, and circled her a bit. "Yeah?"

<Hope> How did she even begin this conversation. "I... I want to apologize. For earlier." She synced up with Sebastian again, just in case. Her eyes ducked down, avoiding his.

<Shinobi> Shinobi stopped and drew his hands from his pockets to cross his arms. "Yeah, what happened there? What was going on?" He watched her curiously.

<Hope> "I make a terrible telepath?" she tried to joke, but sighed a little instead. "Chris and I broke up. And in order to talk to him, I just... needed that reassurance."

<Shinobi> "And I was... reassuring?" His tone was dubious, but he leaned toward her and down to try to catch her eyes.

<Hope> Reluctantly, she caught his gaze. "In a way, yes. You are a lot like me. And how I could have been in a different situation. Not the same but..." she struggled for the word she wanted.

<Shinobi> Now he had to look away, although only briefly. "Close enough." He huffed a disgusted laugh. "Damaged goods?"

<Hope> "I shouldn't have done that to you. And I'm sorry." She said, forcing the words out before she could chicken out. It was all she could do to keep eye contact with him.

<Shinobi> He nodded slightly in acknowledgment. "It was just... startling. And you're not... a terrible person. Not by any stretch."

<Hope> "Thank you. Now if only I could get myself to believe that." She pulled the bowl over to her, sticking her finger into the batter. She stuck her finger into her mouth, licking off the brownie goodness, her eyes looking up at him only just before she spoke. "You helped at least. If that makes it any better."

<Shinobi> "Well, there's a first time for everything." His smirk faltered at that lick and he swallowed.

<Hope> She smiled at him, pushing the bowl over on the counter so he could reach it too if he wanted. "I know a lot of bad stuff happened in the past. To both of us. Especially you... but you don't have to be that person anymore. You have this... amazing opportunity in front of you, Shinobi. I guess I kind of want that too. To start over."

<Shinobi> "Yeah... that's what Jess and my father keep trying to convince me of." After a moment of consideration, he dipped his finger into the bowl as well and sucked it from the tip. Tasty. "Is that why you broke up with him then? I didn't really hear much of it... but I did feel..." He frowned and stared at the bowl again. "I guess I felt how upset you were. It was... weird."

<Hope> The smirk she had at his finger licking disappeared into a cringe. "Yeah... I mean no. I mean... I don't know." She ran her hand through her hair. "I lost my fiance a year ago. Chris and I got together pretty quickly afterward. Everyone tried to tell me I was rushing things, but I didn't listen."

<Shinobi> "Lost?" He realized he had batter on his knuckle and sucked that off as well, watching her.

<Hope> "He was killed with the others at the school," she supplied, watching him lick that off, distracted. She shook herself back to attention. "Chris and I fought all the time. Then he started doing drugs, I don't know when, but we fought constantly. Then he was kidnapped for several months." And I lost his baby, she added to herself.

<Shinobi> "Ah. I'm sorry." Another casualty of that Viper woman. "He was kidnapped?" This seemed to be a common thing amongst those X-Men, didn't it? "What sort of drugs? Common street drugs?"

<Hope> "I think it was Kick. It messed with his powers. Bobby dealt with most of the drug removal... afterward." She stuck her finger back into the batter, licking it off while lost in thought. "I know how you feel with everyone telling you what to do and how to act and what to think."

<Shinobi> Kick. He winced, then lost his train of thought while he watched her. "What do you mean?"

<Hope> "Because they do it to me too. Not just the Shaws... but Tony. And the press secretary. And everyone else. Everyone is always trying to tell me what to do. Go here Hope. Do this Hope. Go read to these orphans, Hope." She dipped her finger back into the batter and licked it off.

<Shinobi> Shinobi reached over and scooped out some more batter for himself. "My father," he started it carefully, and he was still weighing those words every time he said them. "He said I've never had the opportunity to be my own man... and that's the chance he wants to give me here." He looked down at his finger, studying it with great interest.

<Hope> "You haven't really, have you? You can figure out who you are. What you like. What you want to do." She took more batter out, licking it throughtfully. "I still don't know what I want. Just... in life. Do you?" She looked over at him again.

<Shinobi> He was quiet for a while, licking the batter from his finger. "No." Looking back at her, he shrugged one shoulder. "I'm supposed to go to school... to work with Sebastian... to the club." He paused to lick again and snorted. "He's already got me in therapy. Twice a week, with the same guy he hired when SHIELD had me..."

<Hope> Hope couldn't help but laugh a little. "The same path. And you wonder why I find you comforting." She left him long enough to grab two spoons from the drawer, offering him one upon her return. "And neither of us know if we want it. The life we're supposed to have. The life we're born for." She took a spoonful of batter.

<Shinobi> "Thanks." He was a bit surprised, but took the spoon and twirled it between his fingers. Comforting. It was an odd idea. "It's better than the life I had..."

<Hope> "Amen to that," she took a bite of batter from the spoon, studying him a bit. "Maybe I should get my own place. I don't want to go back to the school."

<Shinobi> Pausing mid-scoop, he looked at her. "Yeah?"

<Hope> "Maybe. I mean, DC is a bit far to stay with Tony." She took another bite, thinking.

<Shinobi> "I'm sure they'd let you stay here." He took a bite of batter. "You're family... it's obvious." She was most definitely more family than he.

<Hope> "What's so obvious about it?" she asked, licking her spoon.

<Shinobi> "He cares for you." He very nearly mumbled it, and shoved the spoon into his mouth.

<Hope> That gave her pause. Hope stared at him, processing. He did. He did and he didn't have to. She had Tony. She wasn't an orphan anymore. She swallowed and reached out, taking his hand that wasn't being used for brownie batter. "You can't see he cares about you too?"

<Shinobi> He frowned and stared into the bowl, taking far longer with the spoon than necessary.

<Hope> "He didn't know about you, but once he did? What did he do?"

<Shinobi> "Actually," he said, stabbing the batter with the spoon again. "He assaulted me and called me a fraud."

<Hope> "And after that?" She asked, carefully dropping his hand after the stabbing.

<Shinobi> "After the DNA test results..." He stopped to think, picking out more batter. His own memories from that time weren't the best. "He was different."

<Hope> "Hard to deny blood." She smirked a bit, taking another bite. "I hacked into the FBI database to find a match for mine. It barfed up Tony Stark. I ran it like ten more times to be sure."

<Shinobi> That made him straighten up and look at her directly. After a moment, he laughed. "Sneaky. I like it." His grin faded. "I didn't have the resources to double check, but the truth seemed fairly evident, no matter how much he denied it at first." Shinobi smirked, tilting his head in mimicry of his father's smug expression.

<Hope> Hope smirked back at him, finding the resemblance uncanny, though she knew the truth about why. "He wants you to work with him. He wants you in his life. If he didn't, you wouldn't be here." She took his hand back, giving it a squeeze. "Don't compare your relationship with him to mine. He... kind of earned our relationship. I was terrible to him."

<Shinobi> "That's what Jessica has told me." He realized she was holding his hand and looked down, turning his own to curl his fingers over hers. "I find it doubtful that's it's truly that simple." Mulling it over for a moment, he pursed his lips and decided to share. "He won't tell me who my mother is. So, I don't know if she's alive, or dead, or anything about her... other than the obvious." Essex wouldn't tell him either.

<Hope> "Does he even know?" She asked, squeezing his hand. "Mine... died as I was born. Which is how nobody knew about me. She hid herself, even from her family. To protect Tony."

<Shinobi> He gave her a sympathetic look and returned the squeeze. "I don't know. He won't talk about it... at all. He's done business in Japan. I was at the Hellfire Club in Tokyo. Once. I introduced myself as his son and they all seemed... quite surprised. But she could have been from anywhere. I don't know how I ended up in Nebraska, of all places."

<Hope> "I know you want to know... and I don't want to discount her at all. But for now? What about Jess?" She stepped just a tiny bit closer to him. "You have a family right here, Shinobi. A family that wants you."

<Shinobi> "You sound like her. Jess." He smiled faintly, and since she was close took the opportunity to study her face. "So. We're... family?" For the first time since their chat had turned serious, his gaze turned intent.

<Hope> She started to answer, but his gaze stopped her. How was she supposed to answer that? She opened her mouth a bit, closing it again. "You are all a family. I... don't know what I am."

<Shinobi> "Really?" His eyes narrowed slightly and he cocked his head, lightly squeezing her hand. "I think I know." This was getting interesting.

<Hope> "What do you think, then?" She asked, squeezing back.

<Shinobi> Since the spoon was forgotten, he left it in the bowl and reached over to hook a lock of her bright hair. "You're Ariel, of course."

<Hope> She laughed, smiling at him. "Yeah. I'm Ariel." She set her own spoon down into the bowl too, staring at the two of them for a moment. If she stayed there, she knew what was going to happen. "I uh... should um...." she stammered a bit, stuck.

<Shinobi> "Right." He straightened up, something in him remembering earlier, when she'd been in his mind. "It's late." Shinobi tucked the hair behind her ear with a smirk and squeezed her hand again.

<Hope> She smiled at him, relieved and grateful. "I'll see you tomorrow? Or... today?"

<Shinobi> "I've got nowhere else to be." He returned the smile, studying her face.

<Hope> She nodded as she smiled, finally pulling her hand from his as she walked back a couple of steps, to the counter. She picked up the bottle of scotch she had brought with her and handed it to him. "Can you hide this?"

<Shinobi> He took the bottle with a soft laugh. "Of course. I'll keep it with mine."

<Hope> "I really can't thank you enough. This prohibition is terrible." She smiled a bit. "Thank you. Goodnight, Shinobi."

<Shinobi> "Good night." He wasn't in a terrible rush to leave, and he'd forgotten he'd come up in part for food. Picking a spoonful of the batter up again, he popped it into his mouth. "Get some sleep, Ariel," he said around the spoon, and turned toward the stairs.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope sat on the floor in one of the more open spaces of the Shaw house, typing away on her laptop. She wasn't exactly sure how long she had been living on the couch in Sebastian's work room... but she was positive it was time to leave. Thus, her hunt for an apartment.

<Jessica> Jess had spent some time rummaging around in her tatty old backpack and had finally found what she was looking for. After a stop in the kitchen for coffee and cookies, she headed through the house to find Hope. "Hey..."

<Hope> Hope jumped a bit, having been fully consumed in her hunt. "Hey!" She closed the lid on the laptop just a bit, smiling at Jess.

<Jessica> "I thought you might like some sugar and caffeine." She offered the plate and the coffee cup. "You've been up here for hours."

<Hope> Hope took them, laughing a little. "Yeah... I probably have. Thanks." She set the cookies down to hold the coffee with both hands. She put the mug to her nose, inhaling it deeply before drinking it.

<Jessica> "What are you up to?" She nodded to the laptop, "Not car shopping without me, I hope? Sorry about the other day... Hard to sleep a lot of the time so I have to nap when I can..."

<Hope> "No... not car shopping. Why are you apologizing for sleeping?" She gave her an odd look. "I'm... apartment shopping."

<Jessica> "Because we made plans, however alcohol fueled, and I ruined it," she dragged a few cushions over and sat down on them on the floor. "Sick of us already?"

<Hope> "It's fine, Jess. Really. It's not like either of us really need a new car anyway." She shifted a bit, setting the coffee down. "It's not that I'm sick of you guys. But I'm living on your couch. And Sebastian hid projects while I'm here." And Shinobi... well that was separate issue.

<Jessica> "I do need a new car, though. Did you forget the part where the tank is a scary scary monster that I don't want to climb inside?" She shifted in her seat with a wince, "I'm sure it's not because he doesn't want you to see them... he just... has a process and you know you couldn't help yourself."

<Hope> "Exactly. It's not that I'm offended or anything, but I know I'm being a pain in the ass." She picked up a cookie and took a bite, placing the rest back on the plate. Ugh, cooked. "I know you don't like the tank. I thought married people talked about stuff like that? But again, I really don't know. So don't trust my judgement."

<Jessica> Jess shook her head, "He came home with it... I can't yell at him because we don't need the money and it makes him feel better so... I'll just get a small car and he can drive that scary thing. Married people compromise... and also avoid talking about things that will start stupid rows that don't mean anything when the wife is pregnant." She eyed the cookies, fortunately having planned for this.

<Jessica> "Sharky, bring the bowl..." the silver corgi waddled in, a bowl in a recess on his back full of brownie batter. "I have a backup snack."

<Hope> That made Hope laugh as she took the bowl. "I guess I'm pretty transparent. Thanks." She took a bite, savoring the flavor. "I don't want to be another Doreen."

<Jessica> Jess sighed, "You're not, don't even think like that..." She gave Hope a small shove, "You don't shed all over the furniture."

<Hope> Hope couldn't help but laugh at that one. "I know, I know... but the whole... overstaying your welcome thing..."

<Jessica> "Hope, you've been here a few days. Doreen's been here over a month.... and that was only supposed to be a few days... and I saw... things... if you do any of those things we'll talk but until then you're fine. I promise... and Sebastian would be offended if he thought you felt like this."

<Hope> "So we don't tell him and find me a super cute apartment?!" She asked, fake smile in place. But it fell, she smiled. "Well I'm not moving out today... but I still feel like I should be looking. I also... know... about those... things.... you probably saw." She made a face. So ew.

<Jessica> Jess' nose wrinkled, "Be glad it's only a mental image and not a memory burned into your retinas." She patted Hope on the arm consolingly, "I'll help you look... have to make sure it's somewhere nice."

<Hope> "There are a couple down the street from here, but I found one across town that I really like." She opened the laptop back up to show Jess. "It's right next to the commons and gardens. Well, less than a block away. Walking distance."

<Jessica> "Ooooh nice," Jess clicked through the pictures of the apartment, "Having some green space nearby is always good. Stops you going stir crazy."

<Hope> "I thought so too. I didn't realize how much I liked being outside until recently. Maybe I should just go live on a park bench. Like a hobo..."

<Jessica> Jess laughed, "Yeah you and all your secret service body guards.... maybe you could get them to build you a fort out of newspapers."

<Hope> "Bobby totally would build me an ice fort, if he wasn't off being Mr. Almost Married man this holiday break." She laughed, grinning. "It would be a magnificent fort too."

<Jessica> "I'm sure it would.... I remember the ice palaces he used to build." She smiled, "Aaaand how much it used to suck that I couldn't go and play in them."

<Hope> "Such a show off," she laughed. "It's only 7 minutes away..." Hope pointed out to Jess. "Not far."

<Jessica> "That by car or on foot?" Because she sure wasn't driving there until she got a new car.

<Hope> "By car," she laughed. "It's across town."

<Jessica> "Boo.... need to get a new car first or you'll have to pick me up."

<Hope> "I can do that!" Hope grinned at her. "Either way. I don't even know if the place is vacant."

<Jessica> "Well then find out! So we can go look at it... and then go look at more places even if you don't want them because it's fun to look around other people's houses."

<Hope> "You know, it really is," she took a sip of her coffee. "And I need someplace I can paint."

<Jessica> "You don't like our colour scheme?" Jess teased.

<Hope> "The white is lovely, don't get me wrong. I need a yellow room though. At least one."

<Jessica> "The nursery has yellow... but you can't sleep in there, someone already claimed it." She patted the bump, "Also the yellow has added duckies."

<Hope> "Yeah... the two together is a bit much still. Well ducks in general. Yellow though... yellow has good memories."

<Jessica> "Ducks are awesome! Well the babies..." she protested, "But... before you go... I have something I wanted to give to you... I've been holding on to it for a while."

<Hope> "Something to give me?" Hope ignored the comment about ducks, looking over at Jess questioningly.

<Jessica> Jess nodded, reaching into back pocket of pants and taking out the item, "I kept this for you... for when you were ready to deal with things..."

<Hope> Was she ready to deal with things? Maybe. But she didn't really have a choice. She had to sort things out and deal. But what in the world could it be? "Really?"

<Jessica> She nodded, "I didn't think you really meant it before... when you threw it at me... thought you'd regret it later..." She opened her hand to show Hope the engangement ring that Johnny had given her. "I kept it safe for you... until you were ready to let go."

<Hope> Her mouth opened, breathing stopped. She finally worked herself back enough to close her mouth and take the ring, holding it carefully in her fingers. Johnny. "His nickname was Ducky you know. Sue called him that. She'd quack at him."

<Jessica> Jess nodded, laughing, "Yeah... and he hated them so much." She watched Hope's face as she studied the ring.

<Hope> Hope was fixated on it, and all the memories attached. "Thank you for keeping it."

<Jessica> "It wasn't mine to throw away... And I wanted to wait to give it back to you... so I could be sure you wouldn't throw it at me again."

<Hope> She winced a bit, still unable to look away from it. "Sorry...I hope you never have to know how I felt that day."

<Jessica> Jess shifted and leaned over to wrap Hope into a hug. "I hope you never feel that way again."

<Hope> Hope broke. She squeezed the ring closed in her fist and wrapped her arms around Jess, crying on her.

<Jessica> Jess just held her and let her cry, it had been a long time coming.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope was told this room was a cupola whatever the hell that was. It was quiet and she could be alone with her thoughts, analyzing her broken relationship that she had just ended. She leaned her forehead into her knees, holding her legs to her chest and crying into them. How the hell had she gotten here?

<Shinobi> While Shinobi still had half a jar of peanut butter and the bottom of a jar of grape jelly in his dungeon room's small kitchen, his mini fridge was out of milk. No one could eat peanut butter and jelly without milk, so he tightly wrapped his sandwich in a paper towel and started the climb to the main kitchen, nibbling around the edges.

<Hope> Hope wiped her face and turned so she could look out the window at the falling snow while she cried. Was the snow mocking her? All those stupid romantic movies had people cuddled up or kissing while it snowed. Here she was alone at the top of an old bell tower. The bell tower part was pretty cool at least.

<Shinobi> Once he was in the kitchen, he found the milk, but he also alerted Jessica's weird silver dog of his presence. Sharky waddled up to him, butt wriggling, and danced under his feet until he found some of the raw meat the creature ate and tossed it some. Him. It. Whatever. "You're strange," he informed it.

<Hope> Had she made a mistake? Hope cringed and pressed her face into her knees again, rocking forward and back slightly. What was she doing? What was she going to do?

<Shinobi> Once Sharky snapped down a couple of pieces of meat, he yapped once and spun in a circle. Taking a bite of his sandwich and washing it down with a drink, Shinobi watched the dog skitter to the stairs and then turn around to look at him expectantly. "What?"

<Hope> She sat up a bit, pulling at her red hair. Maybe she should cut it. Or go blonde! She could pull off blonde, right? Chris was blonde. Hope sighed and sank into herself, curling up against the window.

<Shinobi> Sharky came back, circled him, and barked again, then ran for the stairs and halfway up. He turned and stared, then barked again. "Yes, you're Lassie. I get it." Shinobi started up the stairs after him.

<Hope> Though she couldn't quite make out the voice, Hope could definitely make out the bark. Even the dog had ditched her. She reached around herself and pulled her sweater closer, tighter, wiping her face on the sleeve.

<Shinobi> They were going all the way to the top, and he started to wonder if something was wrong with Jess. "Hello?" Sharky vanished up the spiral stairs and he followed.

<Hope> A surprise Sharky made Hope smile. She pulled Sharky into her lap, cuddling him. He hadn't abandoned her!

<Shinobi> "Jess?" Since no one answered, he was starting to wonder if he should have brought his phone, or where the robot was. Tucking his snack into the crook of one elbow, he rounded the top of the stairs at a trot that shook the metal frame.

<Shinobi> "Oh!" That wasn't Jess. "Hey."

<Hope> Hope realized too late that he had just called out to her. She startled, but held onto Sharky. She tried a smile, but lost it quickly. "Hey."

<Shinobi> Her hair was a mess and her eyes and nose as red as her hair. "Bad day?"

<Hope> She laughed a little, nodding. "You could say bad... year? Decade? Life?" She pressed her lips into each other, then looked back out the window. "All of the above sometimes."

<Shinobi> "I know that feeling." There was little in the way of furniture up here, so he sat on the floor and reshuffled his snack, placing the milk on the floor. "Sorry, I didn't know you were up here. I could get you a drink?"

<Shinobi> After a moment of thought, he smirked at her. "Or a sandwich, or part of mine? I promise I haven't licked it all over or anything."

<Hope> "Nobody knew I was up here," she reasoned, looking over at him finally to inspect his sandwich choice. She really smelled it before she saw it. Hope about flailed at him, recoiling and pressing herself back against the glass. "No thanks!"

<Shinobi> He jumped to reach for her arm at the extreme reaction, and even Sharky barked and squirmed. "Okay..." Once he was sure she wasn't going through the glass he sat back and took a bite.

<Hope> "Sorry," she cuddled Sharky again, swallowing hard. That had been close! "So... how did you find me?"

<Shinobi> "The weird dog." He nodded his head at Sharky and slid back against one of the window sills to face her.

<Hope> She backed away from him as far as she could, stroking Sharky, but ready to use him as a shield. She smiled at the dog and snuggled him close. "Good boy, Sharky."

<Shinobi> "I heard he's named after my father." Shinobi snorted, watching her from the corner of his eye. Her behavior was strange.

<Hope> She laughed a little, relaxing when he didn't get any closer with his poison. "He is. Well, sorta. Bobby and his almost wife Paige call him that. And the baby is Baby Shark. You need a Shark name too."

<Shinobi> "Why shark? I've heard it, but..." He shrugged, taking another bite. At least she wasn't crying anymore, but she was still edging away from him. The bread was suddenly hard to swallow, and he coughed slightly to cover and took a drink.

<Hope> Sharky be damned. Hope shielded herself with her sweater immediately, wrapping it over her and Sharky both, protecting her face from flying peanut particles. "ACK!"

<Shinobi> The overreaction very nearly made him choke in truth, and check to make sure he hadn't done anything disgusting. When he was able to speak, he started with "What?"

<Shinobi> And then he remembered the hotel. "You're allergic to peanuts."

<Hope> "Highly," She affirmed from under the sweater. "Is it safe again?"

<Shinobi> "Yeah. Sorry." He wasn't sure what to do now, and wrapped the remaining portion up in the towel, checking for crumbs.

<Hope> "You can still eat... just... keep it over there?" She asked, peeking out. "Stan and Phil both have EPI pens... wherever they are."

<Shinobi> "It's fine." If Stryker had known this, it would have made a mission much easier. The thought made him drop the sandwich as if it burned him.

<Hope> While odd, it didn't really register that she should be concerned about. "That's why I specify about the nuts. Johnny and I had some Chinese food one time. Apparently... they used peanut oil."

<Shinobi> Shinobi was staring blankly at the wrapped sandwich while she spoke. After a beat, he carefully shoved it away, along with the glass. "Should I... go? I can trash it. Brush my teeth?" Burn it and take a shower?

<Hope> "As cute as you are, I don't think we'll be making out. You'll be okay," she told him with a smile. "Unless.. you want to go. Then yeah, go?" She ran a hand through her hair.

<Shinobi> He returned the smile with a grin and watched the motion of her hand. "I don't really want to go, no."

<Hope> She glanced over at him, relaxing and extending her foot so that it could touch his just barely. She looked back out the window, resting her head against it. "I'm glad you're staying. I was moping up here by myself."

<Shinobi> The grin faded into a wistful smile and he rolled his leg just enough to bump her, and then back up to where she'd started them. She had little feet. Like Ariel. "So," he finally said, leaning against the sill again. "Why are you moping? Need to get back to the sea?"

<Hope> She smiled at the bump and looked over at him instead of the snow. "Just... everything. Whether I made the right decision. Stuff you don't want to hear about."

<Shinobi> "Tell me anyway?" Since he had her attention, he smirked.

<Hope> "Just thinking about Chris and all the shit he pulled."

<Shinobi> Oh yeah, that boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. He wished he remembered if he knew anything about that particular subject. Man. "So... what shit was that?"

<Hope> "So I kind of got with him maybe too soon after Johnny died." At least she could say that name now, though it occurred to her that maybe he didn't know Johnny. "Johnny was my fiance." She moved her fingers to her empty left ring finger, swallowing, then dropping that hand.

<Shinobi> "He... died at the school, right?" He caught the movement, watching her hands. Little hands, little feet. She was delicate.

<Hope> She shifted her hair a bit, looking back up at Shinobi. "Yeah. He did. And everyone tried to warn me, but you know how we are. Did I listen? Noooo."

<Shinobi> That made him laugh softly, bumping her foot again. "Why listen when your opinion is obviously the correct one?"

<Hope> She laughed, bumping his foot back. "Exactly. And it was just... weird... with Chris. Thinking about it now, anyway. It was just sex... but then I wanted more. He resisted but I insisted. Once again... I should have listened."

<Shinobi> He smirked, thinking of his own particular situation. "Yeah... it happens..."

<Hope> "Few months later, he started doing the Kick. I don't know when exactly. But we just started fighting and fighting and fighting. That's all we did. And we were kind of off and on, or I thought so. So I guess I didn't technically cheat? I considered us off at that time?"

<Shinobi> "He lost that memo." Shinobi nodded, watching her face. "Or maybe he used it to snort a line. I heard of people using Kick like that." He made a face.

<Hope> She cringed a bit, looking out the window. "I got attacked by a sentinal before that. It knocked out my powers and Drake's. My iceman guard. We both wound up in the hospital. I... didn't wake up for a long time. Guess who didn't come."

<Shinobi> "You were attacked... before? Before this last time?" He sat up slightly at that. Perhaps these sentinels were more of a threat than he thought.

<Hope> "Yeah, hence my theory that they are specifically out to get me." She sighed, sitting up a bit too. "Chris was too busy getting high to care that I was in a coma."

<Shinobi> "A coma? Well." He realized he missed the contact now. "I suppose you do make a tantalizing target..."

<Hope> Her face flushed slightly as she smiled. "How could they resist? The fighting got worse after that. Then he was kidnapped for three months."

<Shinobi> "Three months." His surprise showed in his tone. The time in Stryker's facility was mostly a blur, for which he was thankful. He couldn't remember how long Nur had Hope and the others, either. "By whom?"

<Hope> "I don't know. They turned him into some terrible... thing. He went on a rampage in Alaska. Killed a ton of people." She returned to her relaxed pose, foot out as she sprawled.

<Shinobi> Her toes were colorful, and he smiled and slid down to join her again. "There..." Should he tell her this? "I don't think there are many groups who could pull that off... not as many as you think, unless it was a government program. After... Essex... most of them went dark.."

<Shinobi> "Of course, I've kind of been out of those circles for... a while." That was very likely a mistake, even after his attempted damage control.

<Hope> She leaned forward a bit, careful to leave her foot where it was. "I highly doubt it was government... But if it was... holy shit Shinobi. Tony never did like him. Do you think... no... surely not..."

<Shinobi> "I... didn't exactly mean that." He frowned, leaning himself to watch her face.

<Hope> Hope searched his face, studying his eyes, hunting for information. "My dad... is the government."

<Shinobi> "He isn't the whole government." He looked down with a frown. "The man who took me... Stryker... he worked for the government."

<Hope> "I guess... I guess you have a point." Hope pulled her sweater tighter around her and Sharky, stroking him absent mindedly. She rested her head against the window, sort of curling into herself again. "I miscarried while he was gone."

<Shinobi> "Oh..." Now, he had no idea what to say. Shinobi rubbed both hands on his denim-covered thighs. "I'm... sorry..."

<Hope> "After everything... that's the thing that really gets me. I couldn't even do that right. I had one job."

<Shinobi> He had questions, but no place to ask any of them. She looked miserable, but he wasn't certain she would want his sympathy. Was that was it was? Was that what he was feeling?

<Hope> "I'm sorry," she told him finally. "You should be out celebrating or something." She wiped her face again. "It's New Year's Eve. That's what people do."

<Shinobi> "I'm... not in a SHIELD prison. That's enough to celebrate." She was crying again, and he looked around for something to give her, but all he had was his peanut-infested paper towel. He slid a little closer to her. "Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

<Hope> She watched him, considering his off. What was it she needed or wanted? She wasn't sure sure on the wanting, but needed something else, and it was worth the risk of rash. She scooped up Sharky and moved herself so that she could sit beside Shinobi, resting her head on his shoulder. "Nope. Not a thing."

<Shinobi> He drew in a startled breath and didn't move for a moment. When he remembered to breathe again, he felt warmer. "Well... good."

<Hope> She laughed a little a him. "You've done plenty."

<Shinobi> "What..." Pausing, he cleared his throat. "What did I do?" Confused, but compelled, he finally moved a little and slid his arm around her shoulders.

<Hope> "Listened." She shifted to snuggle into him just a little. "Just listened."

<Shinobi> He closed his eyes at this contact, moving just a little closer to hold her. "Well, that was easy."

<Hope> Hope leaned up and kissed his cheek softly. "Happy New Year."

<Shinobi> Turning his head slightly, he moved back enough to see her face clearly, eyes drawn to her lips, then back to her eyes.

<Hope> Hope swallowed hard, slowly looking up to meet his gaze. She wanted to. She very much wanted to. Maybe if he hadn't just had peanut butter. Maybe if she hadn't just cried all over him. Maybe next time he looked at her like that. Hope rested her forehead against his cheek, resting a hand gently at the base of his neck, on his shoulder. But not today.

<Shinobi> "Happy New Year." He rubbed her arm, giving her a gentle squeeze. Fucking peanut butter.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope had nearly taken up residence in one of the Shaw bathrooms. She had been in there over an hour, but she was nearly done. Hair in place, she was working on her makeup. Her blue dress fit her form rather well, and she had found some tights with huge stars on them. A pair of black heels later, and she was ready to hit the club. Well nearly.

<Shaw> Sebastian was not sure what he'd been hearing coming from that bathroom for the last hour and a half, but it sounded serious. After checking his work room over for damage, he wandered to the kitchen and made himself coffee. Forty-five minutes later he made more, and then decided he may as well get some work done himself.

<Hope> A reddish pink lipstick was the last item she applied. She fluffed her hair one more time before turning off the light and heading out of the bathroom to collect her coat and purse.

<Shaw> He looked up from his tablet when he heard movement. It was rather late for her to be... clicking.

<Hope> Hope sent a text to Shinobi that she was going out if he was interested in getting out of the house. Coat on, purse in hand, Hope headed downstairs.

<Shaw> Saving his work, Sebastian sat up and looked over the back of the sofa at her. Stars. His eyebrow went up. "That's... an interesting option for sleep."

<Hope> "Who's sleeping?" she gave him a strange look. "I don't plan on doing any of that tonight."

<Shaw> Of course he was aware of that, but he feigned surprise. "Oh? Where are you going?"

<Hope> "Royale. Why?" She asked him, crossing her arms over her chest.

<Shaw> It took a moment, but then he realized what that was. "Ah. And you're taking your... shadows?" He put his aside his tablet to get up.

<Hope> She tilted her head to the side a bit. "Like I have any choice in that? Of course they are coming."

<Shaw> He nodded, then slowly moved closer to circle her, taking it all in.

<Hope> Hope turned to keep his eyes on her front, not her back. "What are you doing?"

<Shaw> Sebastian grinned at her response. "Making you nervous, apparently."

<Hope> "Yes. Stop that." She whacked him just a little, giving him a very confused look.

<Shaw> "Are you certain you want to do that?" He laughed at the smack, head dropping into a tilt to study those stars. "You look like you'd fit in at fantasy night... or Ringling Brothers."

<Hope> She stared at him a bit more, looking down to check her phone and respond to Shinobi. "I want you to stop giving me that creepy face."

<Shaw> He laughed again, shaking his head. "Those things on your legs are mesmerizing. It that really in fashion?"

<Hope> "Would I be wearing them if they weren't? I have several different styles of tights. And why are you worried about my tights?!"

<Shaw> "Well," he straightened and crossed his arms. "I'm not truly concerned about the tights."

<Hope> "Well that's a relief." She didn't take a step back, though she wanted to. So what was it he wanted? "What are you concerned about then?"

<Shaw> "How are you?" He studied her face this time.

<Hope> "I'm fine..." she told him, the same look of confusion and concern still on her face.

<Shaw> "Are you certain a night of drinking is a solution?" He realized acutely he had no room to talk about things like this, but he hoped he was somewhat older and wiser by this point.

<Hope> "A solution to... what? Exactly what do you think of me, Sebastian? That since I just broke up with Chris I'm going to go get drunk and then sleep with the first cute guy I see at the hotel next door?"

<Shaw> "You are a Stark. I would be disappointed if that wasn't your plan."

<Hope> "Then prepare to be disappointed." She moved to head to the door.

<Shaw> "Hope," he started, deciding to fall in beside her instead of blocking her path. "Have you given any thought to your plans... beyond tonight? You know you are more than welcome to stay here with us, for as long as you need."

<Hope> These married people were in cahoots together. She paused to look up at him, considering his words and her answer. "Bit crowded, don't you think?"

<Shaw> "I'm confident we can work it out. Miss Green shall be returning to the school after break, I believe."

<Hope> "I see." She told him, shaking her head just a bit to readjust her hair. "I told Jess... I found a place. Seven minutes away. I'm really not into overstaying my welcome."

<Shaw> "Little Stark, you're hardly doing that." He very nearly had to move to avoid the hair. "Did you now?"

<Hope> "I'm living on your couch, Sebastian..." She pointed out. She looked up at him, wanting to tell him the rest of why she wanted to leave, but not wanting to tell him at the same time.

<Shaw> "Soon enough a bedroom will be free," he pointed out. "And in the meanwhile, I can convert one of the lounges into a bedroom, love. Easily." Now he did step in front of her, taking her hand. "I dislike the idea of you being alone right now."

<Shaw> "Well, alone with your shadows, but they are just that."

<Hope> She squeezed his hand. "I know. Me too."

<Shaw> "Then stay, at least for a while."

<Hope> "I don't think that would be a good idea," she admitted softly.

<Shaw> Sebastian cocked his head. "Why?"

<Hope> She looked up at him, trying to come up with a reason. Any reason. Any. She checked her phone.

<Shaw> He studied her face, concerned, and then her phone beeped.

<Hope> She smiled at it and typed back, then lowered it to look up at Sebastian again. Her smile fell. Oh right. She was supposed to be coming up with a reason to not live there.

<Shaw> "Already?" He didn't see the message, but that smile said everything.

<Hope> "What I can't have friends?" She asked, but knew she was found.

<Shaw> "I'm certain you do." He crossed his arms and smirked.

<Hope> "It's not like... that." She shifted her weight. "At all."

<Shaw> "I just don't want to see..." How to word this, with a prickly Stark... "You hurt. Again."

<Hope> "I know. I don't either." She looked up into her second father's eyes. "It's not like... that."

<Shaw> "All right." Sebastian shrugged one shoulder. "Still, I would feel better if you stayed here with us, at least for a while." Forcing himself to relax, he moved in and hugged her. "Tony is... too far away. I'm right here."

<Hope> She sighed, hugging him tightly. "It's not... you." She tried again. "And it will take some time to get the apartment sorted anyway?"

<Shaw> "True enough." He kissed the top of her head, realizing she smelled entirely too strongly of perfume and product. "Just be careful tonight, all right?"

<Hope> "Just going to have fun. Nothing for you to be worried about... old man." She smiled up at him.

<Shaw> "Of course." He smirked, quirking an eyebrow, and let her go. "Tomorrow, we'll chat again, yes?"

<Hope> She smiled a little, nodding. "Anytime you want."

<Shaw> Sebastian gave her a nod and a small, sincere smile. "You know were I am, should you need me."

<Hope> "In my room... oddly and weirdly enough..." she laughed a little.

<Shaw> "Well, true enough. You could work on those upgrades to Widget while you're in there if the fancy strikes."

<Hope> "Happy to help." She primped her hair and headed off to the stairs. "Don't wait up, old man."

<Shaw> "Don't get arrested, little Stark. Or recorded. I'll be monitoring the relevant social media."

<Hope> "Hashtag stalker!" She called as she descended.

<Shinobi> His shower had been fast. Shaving was faster, and he dug through several of his new shirts before finding one he liked - black. After a final check in the mirror, he pocketed his phone and new wallet with new identification and rushed up the stairs.

<Hope> Hope waited in the foyer, texting Phil that she was ready to go. Once she laid eyes on Shinobi she grinned. "Woooow, you clean up nicely."

<Shinobi> Catching sight of her, he stopped and grinned. "I have to agree."

<Shaw> The sounds coming from the foyer were... perplexing, and troubling.

<Hope> "You ready then? They've already called ahead, so you get the VIP treatment tonight." She approached him, still taking in his outfit.

<Shinobi> "Well, I've never experienced that." He closed the distance, slowly. After another once-over, he smirked. "Stars? No seashells?"

<Hope> "Maybe they are starfish." She smiled, taking his arm and leading him toward the door.

<Shaw> Expression sour, Sebastian moved to the bar. This called for scotch.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> The VIP treatment meant Hope and Shinobi hadn't needed to wait in the line outside the club at all. They were escorted inside immediately, and the club had even provided a VIP lounge area for them. Complete with club security. They had brought in extra police and bouncers to make sure that the first kid came back to their club. She was a big spender, after all.

<Hope> Royale was one of the two choices Hope had picked from for the night. This one had a slight medieval theme throughout it, which she knew would amuse Shinobi once they were inside and she noticed it herself. Drinks were super fast to get, and Hope opened up their tab, including the agents on it.

<Hope> The agents took up their positions, making sure they had proper vantage points, one up on the second level.

<Hope> Hope, however, didn't really notice any of that. They had been there awhile with no incident, which meant she had enjoyed a few drinks by the time she took Shinobi's hand in her own. With her scotch in her other hand, she pulled him to the dance floor. "You've seen my moves... now I want to see yours!"

<Shinobi> His own drink sloshed at the tug, and he laughed."Do you now?" Shinobi was pleasantly buzzed and intertwined their fingers as they found a place on the floor. Despite the security, it was reasonably busy - enough people to jostle them at any rate.

<Hope> The busier it was, the better Hope liked it. They could blend into the crowd and disappear. Well maybe he could. Her hair made her stick out usually. She turned to face him, grinning and keeping his hand. "I do. So whatcha got?"

<Shinobi> Shinobi kept her hand, turning to face her and taking a sip of his scotch, moving to the music. It had been a very, very long time since he'd been out, but once he'd been good at this. It was required, after all.

<Hope> Hope grinned and moved to an acceptable distance in front of him to dance with him, falling into beat with him. "You've been holding out on me!"

<Shinobi> "It's not like there's been much opportunity, before now." With effort, he kept his hand from wandering once it was free.

<Hope> "Should maybe make more opportunity..." she thought aloud, dancing in a slow, twirl of a circle, keeping his hand the whole time.

<Shinobi> He used that hand to pull her close, moving with her. "That sounds like a great idea."

<Hope> The slight touches as they moved woke Hope up a little. This was so much better than staying home and moping about how life hadn't turned out as she expected. "Doesn't it?!" She grinned and danced a bit closer. "Great to have someone who can keep up with me."

<Shinobi> "As it is to have someone to keep up with," he laughed, noticing she was moving closer and smirked.

<Hope> She smirked back up at him, downing the rest of her scotch and putting her glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

<Shinobi> He met her eyes and took a sip of his own, which was too full to just toss back. The beat of the music was thrumming through his bones, and her movements and hair were mesmerizing.

<Hope> Hope relaxed in his gaze and his hold, allowing herself to just... enjoy the music and the dancing. She slid her newly freed hand up to his shoulder, close to his neck.

<Shinobi> He took another drink and tilted his head toward her hand, and since she was now close enough, he moved his other arm around her too.

<Hope> it was so easy to forget everything and just get lost in that gaze. So much so that she was surprised to feel another hand on her waist that did not belong to Shinobi. This bold guy danced up behind her, very, very close behind her. Hope jumped a bit in surprise, turning her head to see who this person was. She blinked. No clue who this guy was!

<Shinobi> Shinobi stiffened at the intrusion and straightened, giving the guy a once over and then a glare. His arm tightened and he attempted to move them away.

<Hope> Hope gave Shinobi a what the hell look as they moved, but the guy followed them.

<Guy> "Hey baby..." He ignored Shinobi, focusing on the redhead instead.

<Shinobi> "Excuse you. I don't believe that's her name, and I don't believe she's interested." He neatly spun them to put himself between Hope and the drunk.

<Hope> Hope had just time to smile at Shinobi as she heard the guy again. If Shinobi would focus on her and not the guy, they'd be fine. Maybe she should call Phil.

<Guy> "Hey man, what's your problem?"

<Shinobi> "She isn't interested." He sneered at the man and turned his attention to Hope. "Fool."

<Hope> He really was a fool. Hope stayed close to her dance partner, thinking maybe they should move. "Should get a refill anyway. Maybe this idiot will take the hint."

<Shinobi> "Mm." Shinobi gave the man another dismissive stare, since he was trying to work his way back around to Hope again. He knocked back the rest of his glass and shoved the empty at the drunk before taking Hope's hand to escort her to the bar.

<Hope> "I wonder how much trouble I'd get in for punching him..." she wondered aloud, moving his hand to wrap around her instead. Maybe only partly for effect.

<Shinobi> He wasn't at all opposed to this, and moved his hand to her hip, taking a moment before he let it settle. "Allow me, if he requires it," he said with a smirk.

<Hope> She smirked back at him, staying close. "Absolutely. You earned it." Once at the bar, she ordered them both fresh drinks.

<Shinobi> "Have I?" He laughed, leaning against the bar and keeping her quite close. She smelled wonderful, and knew how to play the game. "I wonder what other privileges I may earn tonight then."

<Hope> "Ohhh well... I guess we'll just have to find out, won't we?" She asked, smirking up at him. As her drink arrived, she picked up the glass, looking up at him.

<Shinobi> Shinobi accepted his own drink and caught her eyes, his smirk widening into a smile. "The night is young." He raised his glass to her and took a drink.

<Hope> She raised her's back and really thought about what he had offered. But no. She couldn't. She took a sip and set her glass down. "A few years ago... this is what I did all the time. Every night."

<Shinobi> "Oh yeah?" He took a look around. "Sometimes it was required... for business. Rarely for fun."

<Hope> "I've had fun tonight... Well with you. But this whole scene? I don't know anymore," she admitted, looking down at her drink.

<Shinobi> "It's..." After another look around, he frowned and took a drink. "There is a definite air of desperation."

<Hope> She laughed, sighing. "Oh my God, Shinobi... does this mean I'm getting... old? And my next step is to buy a cat and stay home knitting? Or something?"

<Shinobi> Her expression made him laugh despite himself. "You're positively ancient, Ariel." Shinobi picked up a curl and twined it around his finger. "Get a fish."

<Hope> "And a hermit crab?" She asked, smirking at him. "Ariel had a crabby old man named Sebastian telling her what to do too."

<Shinobi> "See, I named you well!" Now truly amused, his laugh was loud even with the music.

<Hope> Hope laughed with him, tapping the tip of his nose gently with her finger. "Yes, yes you did! Now I just need Flounder." And Prince Eric. She drank more scotch.

<Shinobi> "Mmm, maybe a tail," he chuckled, wrinkling his nose at the tap.

<Hope> "Yeah... what is the deal... with...." Did she want to bring up Doreen? Not really. Especially not when he made that face. "I really think I am getting old."

<Shinobi> He cocked his head, wondering what she'd started to say. "You're my age, we're hardly old." He took another drink.

<Hope> She worked her mouth a bit, struggling for words. "At one point in time... I would have taken you next door and done... really... obscene things with you," she told him, talking with her hands a bit. "But that got me into a lot of trouble." She pressed her lips a bit, trying to save herself. And suddenly, old man Shaw was in her head. She wanted to wait.

<Shinobi> His eyes widened at her words and the flailing. When they processed, he took a drink. "But just the right amount of trouble could be great fun," he said, giving her a smirk over the rim of the glass and a slow blink.

<Hope> "It really would," she admitted.

<Shinobi> Shinobi's grin just broadened. After a moment, he put the glass down and moved his hand over hers, lightly touching.

<Hope> She squeezed his hand, regretting her words before she spoke them. But she had to. She was supposed to be healing... not doing the same crap that led her there. "And if you are still interested in that fun in a couple of months... Well. I'll show you how it should be done." She gave him a smirk, though a weak one. "But I think my days of one night stands in hotels is done."

<Shinobi> "I won't be going anywhere." He stroked his thumb over her skin, studying her face. Well, barring any unforeseen returns to SHIELD detention, of course.

<Hope> Surprise, shock, and relief all floated through her. She gave him a genuine smile, squeezing his hand more. "You know... they want me to stay at the house longer."

<Shinobi> "Do they?" That was truly interesting. "And are you?"

<Hope> "I haven't decided... " she looked back over into his eyes. "I don't know what I want to do yet. But I'm slowly starting to figure all that out."

<Shinobi> He nodded, drawing his teeth over his lower lip as he thought. "Well, when you figure out the secrets of life, let me know, will you?"

<Hope> "You want to know the secret?" She brought a hand to his cheek, stroking it gently. "Find what makes you happy. What makes you feel... whole. And hold onto that. Until you find that thing? Try things! Try all kinds of things. Like tonight."

<Shinobi> He swallowed at this turn, and his eyes searched hers. After a moment, he leaned into her touch. "I'll... remember that." There was nothing else he could say, and he covered her hand with his.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> "She's so small... I don't understand how she can lose so much fur..." Sebastian was in a place he never expected, on the floor, reaching underneath the bed in the guest room, attempting to reach a sock so it wouldn't clog the vacuum cleaner.

<Jessica> "She's covered in it..." Jess' nose wrinkled as she looked around the room, "At least once we're done here there won't be anymore..." they'd already got the stuff around the house.

<Shaw> "Well, I knew that, but still." He snagged the offending item - also fuzzy - and held it up to Jess. "I'm eternally grateful that Sharky does not shed."

<Jessica> "Yep.... me too... remind me to thank Viper later." She held out the box for the sock. "Is that the last of them?"

<Shaw> "That's all I see." He sat up and brushed himself off, feeling rather fuzzy himself now. "I don't know that Hope will agree to moving in here, honestly."

<Jessica> "We just have to make sure we're thorough... and disinfect everything..." because God only knew what else they'd been up to in here.

<Shaw> "Perhaps we should have a look at Shinobi's room as well. Although, I hesitate to look beneath his bed, and if I find a sock there Sharky can retrieve it."

<Jessica> Jess shook her head, "His room is his responsibility - it's his space... we can't just invade it like that..."

<Shaw> "Mmm." He hauled the vacuum cleaner over to himself and stared at it. "I think we may need to have a chat with him... I'm uncertain how to do it."

<Jessica> "A chat? About what?" She went to put the box out in the hallway so it was out of the way.

<Shaw> "Tony called me this morning, and Hope's little... outing... is on the front page of the gossip rags." He fiddled with the settings on the machine.

<Jessica> "Oh... wait... crap... that could be bad..."

<Shaw> "Oh, yes... and since she was photographed with Shinobi..."

<Jessica> Jess face-palmed. "We're going to need to do damage control... does Tony know? How pissed would he be?"

<Shaw> "Oh, he knows." He looked up at Jess, resting his head against the bed. "The one morning he's sober..."

<Jessica> Jess pulled a face, "This is bad.... yeah we'll need to talk to him... her too..." And after everything she'd told her about her feelings on Shinobi and Doreen...

<Shaw> "It's... complex. Disconcerting. I've seen them together... and in Alaska when she defended him."

<Jessica> "Why are our lives so complicated? I don't get enough sleep to deal with this crap..."

<Shaw> "She said she feels a certain kinship with him... I'm unsure if it's any more than that on her side." Although he had his suspicions.

<Jessica> "Well the tabloids sure won't see it that way... though I suppose I might be able to find out for sure now...." she chewed her lip, "The other day I asked Hope to check my powers..."

<Shaw> "Oh?" Now she had his full attention, the vacuum and their complicated house guests forgotten. "Your powers?"

<Jessica> "Well... I thought it'd be easier... and I was afraid she'd tell me the baby's telepathic... Doesn't matter... It is my powers..." She leaned against the door frame.

<Shaw> "Really? What is it?" He frowned, thinking. "I suppose it could be low-level telepathy? Empathy?"

<Jessica> "Empathy... which I don't want or need but I suppose it could be helpful in this instance... I have no idea how to go about training or shielding for this..."

<Shaw> "That's fascinating." Sebastian unfolded himself and stood, brushing off the hair and dust.

<Jessica> "I'm sure it is for you... but for me it's kind of annoying... I'm an emotional minefield as it is."

<Shaw> "Well, and perhaps that's why you manifested this." He closed in on her and studied her with interest. "That correlation between circumstance and manifestation..."

<Jessica> "Yeah... maybe... I guess it'll make the mothering thing a bit easier..." she straightened up, "Do I need to remind you that I'm not a project again?"

<Shaw> Sebastian stopped himself and grinned, reaching over to toy with a stray piece of her hair. "No, you're not." He gave her a kiss. "My koibito."

<Jessica> She smiled, turning her face toward his hand, "Let's get this all cleaned up so we can have a rest."

<Shaw> "Of course." First, however, he kissed her again and rested his forehead against hers. "We can figure out this new ability, love."

<Jessica> "I hope so... for now, I'm working on instinct - which is what I did with everything else. Seems to be working well enough so far." She offered him a smile.

<Carol> It never ceased to amaze her that, no matter where she was in the world, SHIELD could find her when something went to hell. They couldn't find their own asses the rest of the time but they knew how to fuck up her first vacation in a year. She pressed the doorbell and glared at door in front of her.

<Shaw> The security system beeped an alarm to his phone and he heard Widget already stirring downstairs. "What now..." When he pulled up the camera feed and saw an angry blonde on his doorstep, Sebastian showed Jess the screen. "Oh, this should be interesting."

<Jessica> Jess cringed, she turned for the door, "Let's get this over with...." She toed the box against the wall and started for the stairs.

<Shaw> He pocketed his phone and swept her up to carry her down the stairs. "Then, nap, then clean."

<Jessica> "Nap? Surely not..." she laughed, wrapping her arms around him.

<Carol> Folding her arms, Carol started tapping her foot impatiently.

<Shaw> "Well... the bed might be required, at any rate." He quirked his brow at her and kept on down the steps. There were a lot of them, after all.

<Jessica> "Mmhmm, that's what I thought." She didn't mind being carried - it was much faster than walking.

<Shaw> Once again, he passed Widget and made a mental note. "I really need to work on him."

<Shaw> They reached the foyer and he carefully placed Jessica on her feet, sparing another kiss before he opened the door. "Colonel Danvers," he greeted, putting on a polite smile. "To what do we owe the pleasure? I hope your holidays were pleasant?"

<Carol> "They were right up until this morning." She tugged a rolled up newspaper out of the waistband at the back of her pants and thrust it at his chest, "I had to interrupt my vacation to deal with this."

<Shaw> Sebastian took the paper and unrolled it. Enquirer. "Yes, it's an amazing likeness, although I believe they missed her best side."

<Carol> She narrowed her eyes, pushing past him to go inside because if she started yelling out there, people would look. "What the hell is going on? And be quick."

<Shaw> "Do come in." He smirked and closed the door behind her, taking his time to turn around and hand the paper to Jess. Crossing his arms, he stared at the SHIELD agent. "They are both adults, you are aware."

<Shinobi> There were always people making racket above him, and he only half listened most of the time, but something made him nudge his headphones back to see what was going on.

<Carol> "Oh I know. I also know that the last time I saw Hope she was still dating Chris. I realise it's been a couple of weeks but holy shit, do you think you can get her to slow the fuck down?"

<Jessica> Jess wondered if she should make a comment about tiny ears, the decided she better not. Carol was pissed. Though she suspected it wasn't entirely the Hope and Shinobi surprise.

<Shaw> "They aren't dating. They were out at a club." He watched her with an amused expression.

<Carol> "Well thank fuck for that," she pushed a hand through her hair, snow still melting in it, "I just... why would you think it was a good idea to let her go out in public with the guy that was part of the plot to assassinate her dad? I can't believe Stan and Phil just let that happen either." She was going to bash their heads together. "Did no one think that could be a potential problem?"

<Jessica> Jess held up her hands, "I didn't know this was happening..."

<Shinobi> He sat up, pushing the headphones back to listen.

<Shaw> "He was never charged, and as of yet, he hasn't been identified by those hacks." Sebastian gestured to the paper. "We can ensure that doesn't happen."

<Carol> "You better - Fury's not in the least amused. He wasn't great about letting Shinobi stay here but he let it go because of assurances that you could handle it... but now Hope's involved. It looks bad to them and makes them ruin my vacation."

<Shaw> "You realize Tony has already called me about this, yes?" Sebastian took a step closer to Danvers. "I will take care of affairs under my own roof, and I suggest you do the same. From what I've heard, Nord went on a rampage and destroyed half the old growth on the property."

<Carol> "I'm on vacation!" Carol's temper, already on a low boil, erupted, her eyes glowing orange with energy. "Do you have any idea how far I had to fly just to come down here and check you hadn't all lost your freaking minds?!"

<Shaw> "Do give Cessily my regards." Sebastian smirked, unimpressed.

<Jessica> Jess stepped in front of Sebastian when Carol looked like she might take a swing at him. "Sebastian, please don't make it worse... I only just found out about this myself," she added to Carol. "And you need to calm down because yelling isn't going to make it go away." Maybe she could try that empathy thing if she knew what she'd done with Hope that worked.

<Shaw> The corner of his eye twitched at his pregnant wife standing between them, so he moved, circling back around Danvers. "I thought we were having a quite calm conversation on our respective responsibilities."

<Carol> "You want a talk about responsibilities? You're making it really fucking hard to do my job - which is my responsibility." Her eyes narrowed on him but she did unclench her fists, the orange glow fading slightly.

<Shinobi> He wondered if he should go up there and got up, moving to the bottom of the stairs. It was more than a little surprising that Sebastian seemed to be defending him.

<Shaw> "Hope came to me for help, which, as I told Tony, I am more than happy to provide, including, if necessary, protection from her former lover." He tilted his head to watch her. "And though I try to give her what counsel I can, you and I both know she is only interested in her own opinion. She is a Stark."

<Carol> "I get that. But you could at least try talking to her about how this looks. I don't think you're getting just how much of a problem this could be."

<Shinobi> Ah, there it was. He was only interested in defending Hope. That made much more sense.

<Shaw> "No, I know. He's... improving, but not everyone is privy to that information either, so it's impossible for Tony or Fury to judge." Sebastian glanced toward the basement door. He was down there. "Shinobi and Hope have much in common."

<Carol> "Well maybe you should tell them this stuff so I don't have to interrupt the first vacation I've had in a year to come and deal with this. You might not like that I'm here, but I can guarantee I hate it more so I would appreciate less of the attitude."

<Shaw> "Colonel Danvers, you realize you could have just called, yes?" He hid his smirk. Barely. "And I did tell Tony, point of fact."

<Carol> "No, actually, I couldn't. I fried my phone again they had to send a field Agent with a helicopter to tell me that I had to come back here." She pushed both hands through her hair, "You all need to work on better communication. Seriously. There is no need for all this cloak and dagger bullshit."

<Jessica> "Unless, apparently, we want to ruin people's holiday and piss them off all at once..."

<Shaw> "There's been no bullshit, and everything is under control." He attempted a smile that didn't appear too smug.

<Carol> "So tell them that!" He was being infuriatingly calm. It wasn't helping her mood at all.

<Jessica> Jess frowned, Could you maybe not bait her? I know it's fun for you but... pregnant empath over here.....

<Shaw> I'm not intentionally baiting her. Much. Well. Not now. "Colonel, I already said I did tell Tony, earlier today in fact. I can give Fury a call. Later."

<Carol> "I would prefer sooner in future. I have enough to worry about... now that I'm here I feel obligated to check that the school is still standing." It had taken her almost a year but she was back to hating this assignment. So. Much.

<Shaw> Sebastian inclined his head in consent. "Still standing, from what I understand, but minus some of its tree cover."

<Carol> She groaned. "Better not then... I might punch Chris instead and break a few walls."

<Shaw> "Don't punch him. He would enjoy that too much." He gave her his shark's grin.

<Carol> "Not the way I'd do it." Her eyes narrowed again. He was a huge headache.

<Shaw> "Don't be too certain." Sebastian kept on grinning. "Would you like a coffee for the road?"

<Carol> "Only if there's scotch in it." If it wasn't for alcohol, she would never get through a single day.

<Shinobi> Still standing at the foot of the stairs, he stared blankly at the door.

<Shaw> "Scotch is a must." He extended his hand, indicating she precede them up the stairs for the coffee.

<Jessica> Jess frowned, watching Carol pass them on the way to the stairs. Sometimes I worry that everyone I know is an alcoholic...

<Shaw> I'm not. He grinned at her and offered his arm.

<Jessica> Some people would disagree... like doctors... She took his arm to walk with him up the stairs.
Slarti
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> Hope carried the speech she was supposed to give with her as she headed to the kitchen. She had considered hiding longer, but she was starving. If she was lucky, nobody would hear her. She doubted she'd be that lucky. Her publicist had just ripped her a new one about the photo that leaked, forcing her to issue a statement and condemn her own actions.

<Hope> This whole being a role model thing was stupid. Hope was by no means a role model. She set the speech down on the counter and opened the fridge, digging around for something quick to eat so she could hide again.

<Jessica> Jess heard the noise in the kitchen and employed her flight powers to sneak up the stairs. Whichever one of them it was lurking in there needed to be talked to and she didn't want them to flee from the sound of feet on the stairs. Landing gently at the top of the stairs, she went to the doorway and cleared her throat.

<Hope> The sudden sound without the feet had just the opposite of the desired effect. Hope shouted and dropped the carton of milk she was holding. "Son of a bitch!"

<Jessica> "Hello to you too," Jess walked over to her, picking up a roll of paper towels on her way for the milk.

<Hope> "Where did you even come from?" Hope asked, picking up the milk as she calmed down from her sudden surprise.

<Jessica> "Naptime," she replied, offering the paper towels out to her, "Needed one before more cleaning happened."

<Hope> Hope took the towels with a thanks, bending down to clean up her mess. "Gotcha."

<Jessica> "Where have you been hiding?" She went to put the kettle on, prodding Sebastian via their link.

<Hope> "If I tell you... then you'll just find me there later?" Hope winced a bit.

<Jessica> "I think I could find you if I really tried, anyway. You're a beacon of emotional turmoil."

<Hope> Hope shot her a glare. Those were her emotions damnit. It wasn't fair to have them thrown at her.

<Jessica> "I'm not eavesdropping..." Jess held up her hands at the look, "I kind of can't help picking it up... I'm new at this, I don't know what I'm doing..."

<Hope> Well there was a surefire way to fix that. Hope didn't point that out though. Instead, she threw the paper towels away. Food could wait.

<Jessica> "Hope... are you okay?" She seemed anxious and flighty.

<Hope> Hope just blinked at her. Did they not know?! That would be super fantastic if they didn't know! "Uhhhhhh yeah! Great!"

<Jessica> Her nose wrinkled, "Are you sure? Because you're acting weird..." Sebastian, wake up!

<Hope> "You're the empath. Why are you even asking?" Hope picked up her speech and stealthily slid it into her back pocket.

<Jessica> "Because I feel like it's rude to eavesdrop on someone else's emotions... didn't you just glare at me because you were worried about the same thing?"

<Hope> "You were already doing it?" Hope pointed out awkwardly.

<Shaw> Unlike Jessica, he couldn't fly, so Sebastian plodded up the stairs slowly and with a yawn. He hadn't bothered to look in the mirror, and he didn't care at the moment. Coming out onto the landing, he took in the scene. "Good morning, little Stark."

<Jessica> "I wasn't!" Jess tried not to flail, "I was just saying that I could."

<Shaw> He raised an eyebrow at his wife, and then looked between the two.

<Hope> Good morning? What was so good about it? At least she had heard that one coming, though she was kind of trapped in the kitchen. She swallowed. "Hey." She gave Jess an odd look. She was... odd today. Odd... oh hell. They did know didn't they? Maybe? Maybe not.

<Shaw> You haven't brought it up yet, have you? Hope was... twitchy. He moved a little closer, sizing her up.

<Hope> She retreated a couple of steps, immediately regretting it.

<Jessica> Have you seen what I'm dealing with? Jess focused on her tea because it would give her an excuse to not look at either of them.

<Shaw> Backing away from him was not what he'd expected, so he stopped. "Are you all right, love?"

<Hope> She needed scotch. A whole bottle. Or two. Or five. She nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. Was just um..." Think! "Was just on my way out really."

<Jessica> "On your way out through the fridge?" Jess raised an eyebrow at her.

<Hope> "I was thirsty." She explained. "I can just grab something there. No big deal." She waved it off a bit.

<Shaw> His eyebrow followed, and he decided to cut right to the chase. "We've seen the papers, Hope."

<Hope> She closed her eyes briefly, reopening them with a sigh. "Who hasn't?"

<Shaw> "Shinobi, to my knowledge." He moved close to her again, reaching for her shoulder.

<Jessica> And Carol hadn't until SHIELD sent someone to show it to her but Jess decided to leave that part out.

<Hope> Hope took a step away from him again. "Good. Maybe he won't."

<Shaw> "Why are you... edging?" He frowned, but didn't move again.

<Hope> "Why are you... advancing?" she challenged him back.

<Shaw> "Because you're acting strange." He crossed his arms and stared at her.

<Hope> "Just... go ahead. Yell. Tell me what a horrible mistake I made."

<Shaw> "Because that is what you expect?" Sebastian studied her face, and glanced at Jessica, since her nervousness was starting to wear on his frame of mind as well.

<Hope> "Because that's what happened!"

<Jessica> Jess turned to look at Hope then, "What happened?"

<Shaw> Perhaps there was more to this matter... "The media breach is unfortunate, but nothing that can't be handled."

<Hope> Did they not realized that she had revealed his location to anyone hunting for him? She sure as hell wasn't going to fill them in on that if they hadn't figured it out on their own! She crossed her arms, trying to calm down. Was there a way to mask her emotions? Maybe not, but she could manipulate them.

<Hope> Hope focused on her memory of Tony giving her the 'adoption' papers to change her name, immediately feeling some relief. "I guess you're right."

<Shaw> His own mind ground to a halt at her sudden change of gear and his eyes narrowed. "What happened." Sebastian started toward her again, his voice dropping. "What did he do to you?"

<Jessica> Jess cocked her head on one side, suspicious herself. "Sebastian..." always jumping to the worst conclusions.

<Hope> His question fluttered her back to their moment at the bar, and she had to fight to not let her face flush... or smile. "Nothing. We just danced. And drank. We had an entire team of agents with us."

<Jessica> Ohhhh craaaaap. Jess turned back to her tea making. Crap. Crap. Crap.

<Shaw> He looked between the two women again, feeling he was missing something.

<Hope> "Give him some credit, Sebastian."

<Jessica> Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. What was she supposed to do about this? Could she ignore it? Maybe... probably not. Fucking empathy. She wanted to bang her head against a wall but they'd notice that.

<Shaw> "Well, I assumed it was safe enough, because otherwise I would not have stood by when I heard you leave together." He backed down, slightly, but still looked between the women. "You're acting so strangely, however, that it made me wonder..." Wait.

<Hope> "I just got chewed out?" She offered, trying to cover her tracks.

<Shaw> That was a very questioning tone for an explanation. "Tony called me first thing this morning."

<Hope> "Oh fantastic. He can call you and can't return my twenty. Great." Hope snapped, running her fingers through her hair. "I get the publicist."

<Jessica> "Hope..." Jess chewed her lip, "Calm down, we're not going to yell at you..."

<Shaw> "Ah." That explained a great deal of this then. "You know how he is." Straightening up and uncrossing his arms to attempt to dial himself back, he smiled at Jess. "She's right... there's nothing to be upset about. It's simply media intrusion, and we can handle it. I understand that you and Shinobi have much in common."

<Hope> They hadn't heard the same speech she had then. While protecting herself was a great option, it might not protect him. "Until they find him," she finally stated.

<Shaw> "Pardon?" He was beginning to feel he needed a neck brace for this conversation.

<Hope> "Just think about it," she told him softly.

<Jessica> The penny dropped, "That's what she meant earlier... when she said she didn't think we were getting how much of a problem this was... she didn't mean Hope..."

<Hope> "I'm a non-issue, as I was kindly reminded. They elected a Stark. They expect that from me. But when someone figures out who he is? That's on me."

<Shaw> "Shinobi? I've already been working on that. The media hasn't identified him, and I'm ensuring they never will. Of course, Fury and Tony did, but as for the general public making the connection, we won't allow it."

<Hope> Hope just stared at him. It wasn't the public she was worried about. It was Stryker. She looked down, waiting for him to catch up.

<Jessica> "It's not the general public that are the problem, Sebastian... there are other people besides SHIELD that know who he is."

<Shaw> "Nathaniel Essex and En Sabah Nur are dead. His fellow Acolytes are either in custody as well or have just as much interest in staying downwind as he." After a moment, he frowned. "You're thinking of Stryker. Why would he have an interest in a failed experiment?"

<Hope> "Who was he trying to kill again? And who was his failed experiment just on the papers with?" Hope looked up finally. "As I said. I fucked up."

<Shaw> "SHIELD has already debriefed Shinobi of every details he knows, so unless Stryker wishes to emerge from his cover to remove Shinobi for simple spite, for his failure, I don't believe that is a real concern."

<Shaw> Sebastian heard the front door open and close downstairs and looked questioningly at Jess.

<Jessica> "Then we don't need to tell you to be careful," Jess glanced at Sebastian. "Hope... we're just worried about you, both of you." She glanced down at the floor, shrugging helplessly at Sebastian, I'll go and check?

<Hope> "Be careful about what?! What could I possibly do to top this?!" Hope looked between them.

<Shaw> Please. He nodded at Jessica with a faint smile, then turned his attention back to Hope. "It's not as serious as you think..." But she was very concerned about Shinobi, of all people. Interesting.

<Jessica> Jess took her tea with her and headed for the balcony because it was faster than the stairs.

<Hope> Or Sebastian didn't see how useful that weapon would be. She sank down into a chair, too exhausted to stand anymore.

<Shaw> He followed and sat down adjacent to her. "Love, it's fine."

<Hope> "I'm finally trying to do everything right. Trying to sort through things. Not sleeping with guys following a breakup. Not jumping any guns. Just... doing it right. And this happens." She crossed her arms on the table, laying her forehead down on her arms.

<Shaw> "What is really bothering you most, Hope?" Sebastian watched her, keeping his link with Jess open in case of trouble. "Trying to recover is excellent. It's what you need - time to think things through." After a moment of thought and a nod to himself, he continued. "I'm proud of you, for that."

<Hope> "That I didn't think things through. That I put him, possibly all of us, in danger. You may not think it's a big deal, but the White House does. I don't know who might want him or for what, but they can find him easily now." She told him, not looking up.

<Shaw> He considered this. "And you're worried about him?"

<Hope> "Why wouldn't I be?" She asked him, finally looking up.

<Shaw> "Hope, love..." Pursing his lips, he wondered if he was truly the person to broach this subject. "Jess and I have noticed you and he have been growing... close."

<Hope> "Isn't that the whole point of this family thing?" She asked, totally deflecting that.

<Shaw> Shinobi's escape provided him an opportunity. "Yes, and while I do think of you as my daughter, we both know what Shinobi truly is, and as such, I know how he thinks." Sebastian looked her over. "You're attractive, and he's opportunistic."

<Hope> Hope gave him a horrified/disgusted look, feeling she needed a robe. And a sweater. And a huge ski coat. "Why thank you for that."
<Shaw> He looked down with a smirk. "You know what I'm attempting to say."

<Hope> "Yes and please stop," She eyed him a bit. "I need to go call Tony. Again. She pushed back her chair, getting to her feet. "And for the record. People can be close without fucking each other, Sebastian.”

<Shaw> "Can they?" He was entirely too amused by this. "I wasn't aware."

<Hope> The words well apparently not you were almost out of her mouth when she stopped them, suddenly horrified. Shinobi was half Shaw. Not half like a child... half exactly. Was that his game?

<Shaw> She locked up and he blinked at her mildly.

<Hope> Hope pushed off the table angrily and headed for the stairs. She was so done with all the men in her life.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Jessica> After pulling her coat on and reacquiring her tea, Jess went outside and picked a direction to start walking in search of their basement dweller.

<Shinobi> He hadn't gone far. Inside Starbucks, Shinobi sat and stared at a cup of coffee in a corner chair.

<Jessica> Her feet, or perhaps her new power, hadn't failed her and she found Shinobi in Starbucks - the staff looked highly offended that she'd brought her own tea. She sat down across from him and put her tea down on the table, "Everything okay?"

<Shinobi> Since he saw her come in, he shouldn't have been surprised when she sat down, but he still jumped a bit. "In a relative sense."

<Jessica> She chewed her lip, "Did you want space or are you just hiding because you're worried you're in trouble for something?"

<Shinobi> "I don't know. Am I?" He picked up the coffee and inhaled, but didn't drink it.

<Jessica> "In trouble? Of course not..." she gave him a sympathetic look.

<Shinobi> "First time for everything."

<Jessica> "Shinobi..." She reached across the table to put her hand on his forearm, "We're not even angry... just worried..."

<Shinobi> "We haven't..." He frowned now at the hand, but after a moment looked up at her face.

<Jessica> "I wasn't worried about that..." She gave him a small reassuring smile, "I understand that you want to go out and have fun..."

<Shinobi> "It's what you were worried about before." He looked down. "With Doreen." Who was now gone.

<Jessica> "Doreen is an entirely separate issue... I was worried about that for a variety of reasons... I don't have the same concerns with Hope... but I'm still worried about both of you."

<Shinobi> Shinobi cleared his throat and moved back, wrapping both hands around his cup. "I never hurt her. Doreen. I didn't know she had been... why you took her in." He took a sip of coffee. "Not until she told me later on..."

<Jessica> "I know... I promised her I wouldn't say why she was there... it wasn't anyone's business but hers.... And I know you had no intention of hurting her but there are different kinds of hurt..." She picked up her tea at his retreat, "I was trying to help her change her life... she didn't seem to understand what I meant in the end... so maybe she wasn't ready for that yet."

<Shinobi> He nodded, once, and stared into the cup. "I saw the pictures. On the internet."

<Jessica> "Do you understand why we're worried?" She took a sip of her tea.

<Shinobi> "I read the headlines, and just because I don't have enhanced hearing doesn't mean I'm deaf. An assassin with the president's daughter can't be good for his approval ratings." Only after he spoke did he think to look around for anyone listening.

<Jessica> She shook her head, "No... that was the obvious concern, yes... but we're worried about you too... being in the papers could make you a target. We want you to be safe with us..."

<Shinobi> "I doubt you can protect me from Tony Stark." His tone was flat. A few of the things he'd overheard, both good and bad, stuck more than others. He's improving, and I made a mistake chief amongst them. "Though I thought the SHIELD agent was here to take me back."

<Jessica> "We wouldn't let that happen... you haven't done anything wrong, Shinobi. Making friends is exactly what we want you to do. We want you to have a normal life, it's good for you... but getting your picture in the paper is dangerous, it doesn't matter who it's with."

<Shinobi> He looked up at her, confused. "I don't get what you mean. It's bad for Hope but the only people left alive who would recognize me and care are her dad's people... unless they just have me killed instead of imprisonment this time. That... actually would make more sense..." he decided, sorting it out as he spoke.

<Jessica> "Anything could happen... and being out with Hope makes you a high profile target regardless of your past... I want you both to be happy but I want you to be safe too... is it too much to ask for both?"

<Shinobi> Hope's words from that night came back to him and he looked down, closing his eyes. It didn't mean what he thought it'd meant and he was a fool to believe otherwise.

<Jessica> Jess felt a small stab in her chest of some emotional pain that wasn't hers and she reached across the table again before she could stop herself.

<Shinobi> "I think it probably is." He looked up at her hand on his, then to her face to meet her eyes.

<Jessica> "Well I hope you're wrong about that... really... for all of our sakes. We've all lost far too much already. We deserve to have some happiness." She gave his hand a gentle squeeze, "Come home..."

<Shinobi> "Yeah, well, every time I seem to find a little... it doesn't last." He returned the squeeze and shrugged.

<Jessica> "I know the feeling," she sighed, "But I refuse to give up entirely.... I don't like admitting defeat." She reached her other hand across to touch his cheek in a reassuring gesture, "We'll find a way to have both... stubbornness is a Shaw trait."

<Shinobi> "He... what he said to the agent? Did he mean it?" It was a stupid question, since she could easily lie, but would she? Shinobi leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. Hold onto it. He swallowed. Did she mean it?

<Jessica> Jess cocked her head on one side, "Of course he did," she gave him a smile, "I know he's been known to lie to get people to leave him alone but that was true, every word."

<Shinobi> He squeezed his eyes tight and nodded slightly. Is it you? As Hope had instructed, he directed his thoughts at Jessica. It would explain a tremendous amount.

<Jessica> The thought obviously didn't reach her but the reaction seemed promising so she brushed her thumb lightly over his cheek. "We're both very proud of how far you've come in such a short time."

<Shinobi> "Yeah?" Not Jessica then. Wondering if Hope was using the telepath's power he tried to reach her instead. When there was no answer, he sighed and opened his eyes to look at Jess.

<Jessica> "Whatever happens, Shinobi, you're welcome in our house. It's your home now." She lowered her hand to rest on top of his with her other, "We'll do our best to keep you safe and out of SHIELD custody."

<Shinobi> "Thanks..." He took her hand, staring down at their fingers. "I've caused..." This was physically difficult for him to say. "A lot of trouble... for both of you. For lots of things." Shinobi frowned again. "I'm sorry."

<Jessica> She gave his hand a squeeze, "All is forgiven. You have nothing to fear from me or Sebastian, I promise."

<Shinobi> He nodded again, once. "I won't see Hope again after this, will I?"

<Jessica> She blinked, surprised now, "Why wouldn't you?"

<Shinobi> "She'll have to go... for her own safety. And Stark will make her, if you and my father don't." Doreen had been fun, at times, and a welcome distraction, but Hope was... something else.

<Jessica> "No one can make a Stark do anything they don't want to do. If Hope wants to continue staying with us, she will... if she wants to leave she can leave. But I won't stop seeing her, she's my friend. I'm sure she'll visit us and I will go and see her too and you can come with me and I'll go and sit outside so you can talk about me."

<Shinobi> "I did try to kill her," he pointed out, lowering his voice and looking around once more, before he dragged his chair closer to her.

<Jessica> "You didn't know what you were doing," she drew him into a hug now that he was closer, "Does she know you were there?"

<Shinobi> Surprised, he stiffened up. "She does. I told her... I wouldn't have done that. Not if I'd had control. I wouldn't kill those who were mutants, or who tried to help our cause."

<Jessica> She loosened her grip a little and sat up but kept an arm around him, "And she didn't punch you or anything? Because unless she did that and then didn't speak to you again, I think you're safe in her books."

<Shinobi> At the risk of losing the contact, he shifted closer and hugged her himself.

<Jessica> She laughed softly, returning the hug, "You worry too much, Shinobi. Family isn't so easily broken into pieces - we forgive."

<Shinobi> "She knows I was there... when Nur had her." And yet she'd let him close. But now... "Did I ever hurt you?" He moved back enough to see her face. "You were one of the X-Men..."

<Jessica> "I was at the debate..." she nodded, "I think I did enough damage there myself... my powers got messed up and I sort of accidentally pheromone bombed the place... We've all done stupid things."

<Shinobi> "Well, I'm sorry for that, too." He sighed and gave her a tired smirk.

<Jessica> "I forgave you a long time ago," she smiled at him, "You can't be held responsible when you don't know what you're doing... I didn't have that excuse when I did things for Viper and people forgave me, let it never be said that I'm a hypocrite."

<Shinobi> He gave her a faint smile, and another nod of thanks. "It was. Fun, that is. That night with Hope. The most fun I've had in..." The truth was, he couldn't remember.

<Jessica> She hated her new power. It told her things she didn't want to know. Ever. "Well, I'm glad you're making friends... we'll have to find ways for you to make some more."

<Shinobi> "More that I didn't try to kill. Yes, I know." He picked up his cold coffee, stared at it, then put it down again. "So if she's still there, I should talk to her... if she'll talk to me."

<Jessica> "If it'll put your mind at rest, yes... but if she's angry like she was when I left... don't take anything she says too seriously. She says things she doesn't mean... and forgets she should apologise for them later."

<Shinobi> "Okay. I guess... it's time to go home?" He looked back at Jess with lopsided half smile.

<Jessica> "I think so... I still have a floor to vacuum." She got to her feet, picking up her mug and offering her hand.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> As excited as Hope had been that Tony finally called her back, that quickly dissipated the longer he chewed her out. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She snapped. "Look I'm sorry I ruined your morning hot toddy, but I've already spoken with the publicist..... Yes he felt that I needed to make a statement, but then he decided it just needed to disappear."

<Hope> Hope sank onto the sofa in Sebastian's work room, hoping he was gone somewhere. Somewhere that welcomed his creepiness. "Yes I came to Shaw's because of Chris.... no I haven't been out drinking and clubbing every night! It was one night! And you're one to talk! ......... That's what he pointed out too! They elected a Stark, they should be all surprised."

<Hope> Hope pulled at her hair, getting more and more uncomfortable. "No I don't need to spend the rest of Holiday at the White House! I'm perfectly capable.... YES he's been 'supervising me.' Have you not heard of his fucking prohibition?! It's awful!"

<Shinobi> He was half surprised she was still in the house, and Sebastian's surveying look as he went by didn't improve his mood. He wasn't sure if he felt better or worse after his chat with Jessica.

<Hope> She tapped her foot, anger finally getting to her when he hit a more sensitive subject than Sebastian. "The fuck are you talking about?! ..... Yeah I know who he is.... yes I know..... Yes I know!... Are you kidding me!? No I haven't slept with him! I haven't even... I am not dignifying that with a response!" She ran a shaky hand through her hair.

<Hope> She paused as he yelled some more, then rolled her eyes, though he couldn't see it. "Well have you SEEN him? I mean fucking hell. Can you blame me?! ...... HA! If you don't want to hear it then don't ask!" She yelled back at him, looking for something to throw. "No he isn't. Stop saying that! You don't even know him!"

<Shinobi> Her voice carried through the open spaces and he didn't need those enhanced senses to hear almost every word. Shinobi stopped on the stairs.

<Hope> "None of you do. None of you know what that's like. You are so quick to condemn him, but not one of you can give him an ounce of credit! ..... No he isn't fucking your daughter! .... Yes he does know that, thank you VERY much." She wanted to throw her phone. Had she seriously waited all day for this shit?

<Hope> Her rage calmed a bit as he did, she bit her lip, shaking her head a bit. "He's a better guy than Chris is, if that's fair at all to say.... Yeah I do. If he wanted to kill me, I'd be dead already. Really? You really want to go there?.... No you don't have to worry about that. I don't get to have a life, remember? You chose to run for president.... "

<Shinobi> There was no way he was walking into that, so he pulled out his own phone to text her.

<Hope> "Yeah okay.... Yeah he pointed that out too. I agree." She quickly checked her phone as she got an incoming text, her throat tightening when she saw what it was. Talk. Talk was never good. Not more talks. "Hey yeah..." She caught herself sniffling. "Yeah I love you too. I promise I'm fine. He's not dangerous. He's a decent guy... for once.... Bye Dad."

<Hope> Hope hung up the phone and looked at that text again. Was 'NO!' too mean? It was too mean. Better just rip off yet another bandaid. She texted him back <Sure>.

<Shinobi> Despite what he'd heard - decent? - he waited for a few moments more and started back up the stairs. Shinobi had never been in Sebastian's work room, so this was a first on several levels and he looked around while he knocked on the jamb to the open door.

<Hope> She startled a bit, but couldn't help herself. She smiled when she saw him. "Hey."

<Shinobi> "Hey." He loitered at the threshold, looking anywhere but at Hope.

<Hope> The one time he couldn't manage it. Hope pulled her pillow to her lap and squeezed it tightly, her smile dropping. She braced herself, waiting to hear what he had to say. She dropped her eyes, staring at her pillow instead.

<Shinobi> "May I... come in?" He glanced at her, then back to the work bench.

<Hope> "Yeah," she got out, feeling sick, which both surprised and confused her. "Of course you can."

<Shinobi> "Thanks." He managed to look at her, and almost smiled, except she looked miserable.

<Hope> Should she start? Should he? She just waited, fidgeting with her fingernails instead. Then her eyes fell on her bag. Maybe Tony was right.

<Shinobi> Shinobi went inside and stopped himself from looking around the room - his focus was on one thing. "Paparazzi shitheads. I thought your bodyguards were supposed to take care of them."

<Hope> That stunned her and pulled her back to reality. "I thought so too, " she told him softly. "I didn't even notice either. Maybe it was a really good camera phone?"

<Shinobi> "Yeah, could be." He smiled a little, searching her face.

<Hope> She smiled back just a little before cracking. "I'm so sorry, Shinobi." The weight of her mistake fell on her once faced with him directly.

<Shinobi> He paused. "For what? It's... more of a problem for you." He sat down on the arm of the sofa, at the opposite end from her.

<Hope> "Until somebody figures out who you are in that picture. And decide to find you." She pressed her hands to her face, blocking him out so she could focus. "Anything that happens to you is my fault now. I don't care if Sebastian doesn’t think it's a big deal. It isn't... until it is."

<Shinobi> "Your father already knows who and where I am," he pointed out, watching her. She was worried about him?

<Hope> "Yeah." He didn't get it. Well no use in both of them worrying over it. She lowered her hands, daring to look back at him again.

<Shinobi> "Jess said they won't let SHIELD take me back... especially not over this, but I don't know that they could stop it. Or that they should." He cleared his throat and looked at her with another smile. "But if they do, it was worth it."

<Hope> "If that was all I was worried about... I wouldn't be worried." She looked down at her hands again. Her shoulders slumped a bit. "I'm more concerned about somebody who would want you to complete that failed mission. And now they have an excellent opportunity. Silver platter."

<Shinobi> "Oh." That's what all those hints were about. He slid off the arm of the sofa and into the seat.

<Hope> She looked over at him again, not really sure what to do. "I don't care about the press and what they said about me. I'm used to that. I wouldn't even care about SHIELD, because really? I can deal with their boss. But this? I.... I can't fix this."

<Shinobi> He crossed his arms, rubbing his thumb over his lower lip. "I won't let him take me again."

<Hope> "I didn't plan on letting him take you either," she pointed out, looking over at that subtle movement of his thumb.

<Shinobi> Shinobi paused the restless movement to look over at her. "I failed before." That needed more explanation, but it took him a moment. This was difficult. "Essex always told me I should never be taken alive."

<Hope> She let that sink in. Was he really saying what she thought he was? Would he really do that, just to not be turned into a weapon again? A weapon that could kill her and or Tony? Or was she reading too much into things. Probably the latter. "I'm not letting anyone take you."

<Shinobi> "I can't... hurt you." Not again. He couldn't be used again. Pulling his legs up into the seat, he stared at the partially open door.

<Hope> She swallowed hard and moved her pillow to the far side so she could move next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She thought of saying something reassuring, but she wasn't really sure what to say to that. She settled on just staying where she was, head against him. It said enough.

<Shinobi> He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, though of course it was shaky when he exhaled.

<Hope> "At least... with me around... there's extra security, on top of the security." She chewed her lip a bit. "Though I don't know how much longer I can stay."

<Shinobi> "That's what I thought." If he didn't have much time, maybe it was best to not get any closer.

<Hope> "They said 'as long as I needed' but I feel...." She shrugged. "That..." she couldn't force the words out. They'd all get tired of her being there, especially with the media pulling stunts.

<Shinobi> "You should go?" He swallowed over the words and let go of his own knee to slide his arm around her shoulders.

<Hope> "That they will want me to, though may be too nice to say it," she admitted softly, snuggling into him a little.

<Shinobi> "Jess told me it's up to you." He wondered if it was his imagination that she was moving even closer. "You're a Stark, and you can't be made to do anything."

<Hope> She smiled, despite herself. "It's different when it is someone else's house," Jess had said that though? Really? She had her pegged.

<Shinobi> "So... are you?" His thumb was now rubbing small circles on the bare skin of her arm just below her sleeve.

<Hope> She smirked up at him a bit. "I guess... they'll just have to throw me out?" Or tell Tony. Either way.

<Shinobi> "You're staying then?" He hated the hopeful tone to his voice, but it had been impossible to stop.

<Hope> "I'm staying," she confirmed. Until one of her dads forced her out at least.

<Shinobi> He looked down at her with a wide smile. "Yeah? That's the best news I've heard all day."

<Hope> She bopped the tip of his nose gently with her finger. "Yeah." She matched his smile easily, feeding off his own enthusiasm.

<Shinobi> That made him laugh and he turned toward her, reaching to catch a lock of hair and twist it around his finger. "Now you need that fish, princess."

<Hope> She laughed and nodded a little. "Yeah I guess I do. I don't know how Sebastian would feel about a fish in his work room... though I guess he already has a mermaid in here."

<Shinobi> "He definitely does." After a moment of thought about that statement, he frowned. "You know Doreen left, right?"

<Hope> "Oh... are you alright?" she asked, remembering their... relationship.

<Shinobi> "Yeah. We... I'm not sure we parted on the best terms." He frowned a little, not sure what happened there himself.

<Hope> "I'm really sorry about that, Shinobi." Maybe it was a lie, but it was what people said in these situations at least.

<Shinobi> He shook it off and smirked at her. "It's fine." Since he still had a piece of her hair, he twirled it. "Jess and my father were cleaning out the room. It has its own bathroom, so I would think it'd be more comfortable for you."

<Hope> That would require professional maids. And so much bleach. And a bonfire for that mattress. She laughed a little... then just stared at him. "You thought about that?"

<Shinobi> He had. "Well... it makes sense. It is the guest room, since I have the other guest room."

<Hope> Hadn't they offered her that room? She couldn't remember. She was busy trying to leave at that time. But, she supposed, if enough bleach was applied... "Maybe it does make sense. Give Sebastian his space back."

<Shinobi> "Precisely." He grinned, feeling triumphant. "I bet they'd let you redecorate." His nose wrinkled. "I did. You should have seen it. Jess' giant insect brother stayed there before."

<Hope> She laughed a little. "Maybe they will." That was a commitment though. Redecorating meant staying. She swallowed hard. It meant staying awhile.

<Shinobi> He hummed a few bars of Under the Sea and twirled her curl.

<Hope> That brought a huge smile back to her face as she watched him. "Maybe you should ask them."

<Shinobi> "Maybe I will." His eyebrow arched up and he smirked.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shaw> It was convenient to have a minion on call across the street, particularly one who could monitor all potentially dangerous or awkward situations going on inside. With Jess on his arm, Sebastian escorted her across the street.

<Jessica> Jess was glad for the minion, not for the monitoring capacity because that felt too much like spying for her liking but for the lack of emotional turmoil and disturbing squishy feelings for people she didn't want to have squishy feelings for.

<Jessica> She hadn't told Sebastian the nature of her discomfort as yet just that she needed a break from all the emotional upheaval. Between Hope and Shinobi and her own hormones, she felt like she was on a roller coaster and she wanted off.

<Yukio> After one last warning to her new pet and companion and bodyguard, Yukio buzzed her boss in, wondering what this was about.

<Shaw> Sebastian found the elevator and toyed with a lock of his wife's hair while they waited. "We could have just gotten coffee, you know."

<Jessica> Jess wrinkled her nose, "Nooo, coffee bad. And I think I upset them because I was just in there and I brought my own tea with me..."

<Shaw> "Upset them?" Sebastian sniffed and raised an eyebrow. "They do realize we own them, so we should be able to have a full English tea in there if you wanted."

<Jessica> "They were giving me weird looks..." she shrugged, "I would go there for proper tea if they had it though..."

<Shaw> "Well, we can politely and firmly suggest they get your favorite brand in stock." Sebastian grinned. Problem solved.

<Yukio> Already antsy, she opened her apartment door and just waited for them. "You know, I didn't tell them you were here," she said to the other occupant of the room.

<Viper> "They're used to me showing up unannounced," Viper dismissed the concern, "It'll be amusing to watch the reaction, don't you think?"

<Yukio> "Hai, most definitely." That idea made her perk up a bit and she bounced, pleased when the elevator door opened. "Mr. Shaw! Mrs. Shaw! This is an unexpected pleasure." She gestured them inside.

<Jessica> Jess had forgotten how hyperactive Yukio was but she gave her a smile anyway.

<Shaw> "Yukio, it's good to see you. I hope you haven't been too bored over here..." When he started in the door, he saw she certainly wasn't. "Sarkissian," he said, by way of greeting.

<Viper> "Hello, Sebastian." Viper inclined her head to him in acknowledgment and turned a smile on Jessica, "Hello Jessica."

<Jessica> Jess returned the smile, "Hi," she was somewhat relieved by Viper's presence. If anyone was going to give her a break from emotional drama, it was Viper.

<Shaw> Sebastian was less than pleased to see Viper, but it was the flash of silver that really drew his eye. He stared at the creature, perched on the arm of the sofa, then looked at Yukio, eyebrow raised in question.

<Yukio> "That's Pishipishi!" Unfazed, she slammed the door and fairly skipped over to her new pet. The slightly oversized silver macaque chattered and jumped onto her shoulder.

<Jessica> Jess' eyes slid from Yukio and her new pet to Viper. This was a disaster waiting to happen.

<Shaw> Sebastian turned to Sarkissian and crossed his arms. "So I take it she's on your payroll now as well."

<Viper> She raised an eyebrow, "Yukio is a free agent. She is entitled to take any job she wishes for any payment she desires."

<Shaw> "We'll talk about this later," he told Yukio, then studied the silver creature. This one was larger than Jessica's, and his eyes slid sideways to Jess.

<Yukio> She nodded once, and clucked her tongue at the predator. It sat up to attention and returned the man's stare.

<Jessica> Jess realised she was being looked at and turned her head to look at him and give him a shrug, "I thought the little one was cuter..."

<Shaw> "Well, he is, I suppose, but... hardly the point."

<Yukio> "I'm training him. He will be a guard as well, so, it's all good!" She grinned. "Coffee?"

<Jessica> Jess wrinkled her nose, "Tea, please..." She looked around for somewhere she could sit.

<Shaw> "Coffee, yes." He took Jessica's coat and took off his own, then helped her to a seat, all before he remembered to add a "please."

<Yukio> "You're so welcome," she enthused, smirking, and went to her small kitchen. "Your house is not dull, I will give you that. I though this was going to be boring!"

<Jessica> "Well, I'd say I'm glad you're not bored but I still feel weird about being watched..." Jess' nose wrinkled at the reminder of the fact. At least her powers had settled down again and she chewed her lip while she tentatively felt out the room.

<Yukio> "I don't watch watch! I just... monitor the security system, and the neighborhood, and especially the Starbucks." She grinned.

<Jessica> "What's in the Starbucks that's so important?" Jess was distracted but not enough to miss that.

<Yukio> "The hot blonde guy, of course. How have you missed?" She bounced back into the living room while the beverages nuked. Her predator flowed off her shoulder and into the form of a sleek doberman to sniff around the guests.

<Shaw> Sebastian slid his arm around Jess, tensing up at the silver creature's approach.

<Jessica> "Married, not really looking," Jess waved it off, "And I'm not overly fond of coffee." She eyed the predator with more curiosity than fear, knowing they were fairly vulnerable to electricity.

<Viper> "I'm sure you're allowed to look, Sebastian couldn't get too jealous."

<Shaw> "You are aware I'm sitting right here, yes?" He was still watching the predator, however, since it was sniffing at his knee.

<Viper> "How could I miss you?" Viper smirked in reply.

<Shaw> Sebastian looked up at Viper and smirked in return. "So, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

<Viper> "Always so suspicious. Would it damage your fragile male ego to discover I am not here to see you? Or you, Jessica darling," she offered Jessica a smile though.

<Yukio> "She likes me!" She called from the kitchen. "Isn't that fun?"

<Jessica> Jess glanced at Sebastian to see how he was taking this news. It was one thing for Viper to be employing Yukio but, she suspected, another for them to become as close to friends as Viper got.

<Shaw> Sebastian's face screwed up slightly, and then he leveled his expression.

<Yukio> "Coffee and tea, here we go!" She brought two mugs back in and gave Mr. Shaw a cursory bow before the handed them the cups.

<Jessica> Jess accepted her tea with a smile, "Thank you... have you decided your pet is a he or a she?"

<Yukio> "I keep calling him a he, but I don't know." She shrugged and looked at Viper. "But shhhh, she gets all indignant when you call it a pet."

<Viper> Viper did indeed wince at the term but covered it quickly, arching a curious eyebrow at Sebastian.

<Jessica> "I decided Sharky's a he," Jess told Yukio, "Suits him."

<Shaw> "I would hope." He smirked, then grinned at Jess in illustration.

<Yukio> She stifled a giggle and sat down.

<Jessica> Jess giggled too, "Yes, it's no secret - I named him after Sebastian."

<Yukio> "And I see why." She smirked at her employer and clucked her tongue at her predator to bring him back to heel. "So, what brings you here?"

<Jessica> "We needed a break from all of that," she gestured vaguely across the street, "Or... I needed a break anyway."

<Shaw> "It's a... disturbing situation," Sebastian agreed, and gave Jess a squeeze.

<Yukio> "Oh, the jailbird and the first daughter?" She laughed. "Moved on quick from squirrel and electric car man."

<Jessica> Jess nodded, "Among other things, yeah..." she sighed. "Life needs to be less complicated..."

<Yukio> "Shame... I would have tried to get some of that too if she wasn't so quick." She clicked her tongue, giving her employer a cheeky grin and giggling.

<Jessica> Jess wrinkled her nose and hid in her cup of tea. Good tea. Simple tea. Wait. She felt out with her empathy again and latched onto the void that was Viper. Once she got over how weird that was it was remarkably relaxing. Now she was happy.

<Shaw> Sebastian's nose wrinkled for an entirely different reason. "No."

<Yukio> "No?" She laughed again. "Really? You're going to cockblock your own son?"

<Shaw> "He's not-" Sebastian cut himself off with a glance at Jess.

<Jessica> Jess realised his eyes were on her again and she lifted her head, raising both eyebrows at him. "What?"

<Shaw> Sebastian sniffed and turned his attention back to Yukio, who was really becoming more trouble than she was worth.

<Yukio> "He's not smoking hot? That's where you're wrong." Mr. Shaw's expression was hilarious!

<Jessica> Aaaand they were still on Shinobi. Nowhere was safe. She looked at Viper, wishing the woman was a telepath.

<Viper> Unfortunately for Jessica, Viper was also finding this far too amusing to change the subject just yet.

<Shaw> His look turned calculating. "You know, perhaps you're right."

<Jessica> The mug in Jess' hands creaked in protest as her grip on it tightened.

<Yukio> "Hah? Of course I'm right!"

<Shaw> "Perhaps he should spend time with someone other than Hope..." He heard the sound from Jessica's cup and looked at it, then her. "It would potentially solve some problems, you have to admit."

<Jessica> "Yes... but like... can we try to get him to not sleep with the next person? Maybe get him some male friends....?" Jess attempted a save for her sanity.

<Shaw> Sebastian thought on this. "Women are more distracting. Trust me."

<Jessica> "But that's my point!" Jess' mug made another angry sound, "He's supposed to be finding himself. He can't do that if he's busy finding the next person to sleep with!"

<Yukio> "Finding himself? He's right there." She helpfully pointed across the street.

<Jessica> Jess looked at Sebastian for help. She was getting a headache.

<Shaw> "That's not quite what she meant." Sebastian's own sense of self preservation was kicking in at that look. "He's had a difficult past, for many reasons, and now we want him to... heal."

<Yukio> She rolled her eyes and snorted. "Lame."

<Jessica> "If he doesn't have a normal life, it could end up very badly for all of us... it's not lame to want someone to be happy...." Jess frowned.

<Yukio> "Noo, but it's lame to be so lame about it!" She shrugged and wrinkled her nose, finding a toy to throw at her predator. The silver doberman barked once and caught it neatly.

<Viper> Viper laughed, "They're parents now. It goes with the territory, or so I'm told."

<Shaw> Sebastian decided he'd had quite enough of this entire discussion. "I'm considering renting another unit in this building for Hope's security detail." He gave Viper a pointed look. "Would you like one as well?"

<Viper> She smirked, "Sebastian, if I wanted one I would certainly not need you to pay for it. I come and go as I see fit... regardless of who may want to keep tabs on me."

<Shaw> "Perhaps we should each buy a floor?"

<Viper> She laughed, "I have perfectly fine living arrangements of my own, thank you."

<Shaw> "Well it's not for living. Just stalking." He flashed her his teeth.

<Viper> "I do that well enough without your help, too." She inclined her head toward him and took a sip of her coffee, "I can guarantee I've been doing this far longer than you."

<Shaw> "Of course." Sebastian smirked and made himself more comfortable, tracing his fingers over Jessica's arm.

<Yukio> "Ech. You're all uptight."

<Viper> She raised an eyebrow at Yukio.

<Yukio> "It's true! You can't blame me for telling the truth!"

<Viper> "I can and I will."

<Yukio> "Pfffffft."

<Viper> She laughed, "It's not too late for me to change my mind, you know."

<Shaw> Sebastian laughed.

<Yukio> "You wouldn't! You couldn't! Pishi likes me too much now. He'd just bite you!"

<Viper> "Care to test that theory?"

<Yukio> She called her predator and when he hopped up on the chair with her she wrapped both arms around him protectively.

<Viper> "I shall take that as a 'no', then," she smirked.

<Shaw> Sebastian watched this entire exchange with amusement, then looked at his wife. "Love, are you feeling better?"

<Jessica> Jess blinked herself out of her daze, "Huh? Oh... yeah, much better." She offered him a smile and leaned against him a little. I found a nothing to focus on. Works a treat.

<Shaw> He masked a vaguely disgusted expression. I can guess who that is. His gaze wandered back to Sarkissian and he gave her a gentle squeeze. "Wonderful." We can't take her home with us indefinitely. Perish the thought.

<Jessica> I know... but it's a nice holiday... She gave him another smile, dropping her head to rest on his shoulder.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Shinobi> The room certainly looked different now. Emptier, for one, and much more... yellow. Even though the painting wasn't complete yet, it made everything brighter. It had taken him some time to make the connection between this and the color scheme at the home in Alaska, but once he did, he understood.

<Shaw> "And why, precisely, was it that we didn't pay to have this assembled?" Sebastian was on the floor, sorting bits of hardware. "I recall I learned my lesson on this when assembling the crib."

<Hope> "Somebody was sure they were the most brilliant engineer who ever lived and surely they could put together a bed. And when you see Hope, you should tell her how horribly wrong she was," Hope told them, struggling to read the directions.

<Shaw> He leaned over and looked at those directions, plucked them from her hands and turned them over. "That won't help, but there you go."

<Shinobi> He watched this with a smirk and reloaded the paint roller, stretching to reach the corner nearest the window.

<Hope> Hope frowned at the new picture, then grinned. "That did help!" She moved to attach the piece that had her stumped, grinning in triumph. "On second thought. Tell Hope she's the best damn engineer in the room." She smirked, glancing over at Shinobi.

<Shaw> "I never thought I would wish I could read Swedish." He handed her a piece that looked likely and went back to digging through the box.

<Shinobi> He laughed softly at her triumph and was rewarded with a splatter of yellow paint on his face and shoulder.

<Hope> Which made Hope laugh at him, quickly ducking her head to pretend she had been laughing at Sebastian. "Is it too late to call and ask for assembly? Or would we need to turn in our rank of master engineers if it bests us?"

<Shaw> "I wasn't aware you had such a rank, love." Sebastian flashed his teeth at her.

<Hope> "Well I figured this out and you didn't. So where does that leave us?' She asked, smiling sweetly.

<Shaw> "Mmm, well, it makes you the apprentice, since the master doesn't lift a finger on lesser projects." He flicked the last small package of washers at her.

<Shinobi> He watched them as he cleaned the paint off, still amused, though his eyes lingered on Hope.

<Hope> "Is that code for 'I have no clue what I'm doing?'" She smirked at him, catching the washers and opening them.

<Shinobi> There was just a bit more of this wall left, and then he planned to take a break. Shinobi reloaded the roller and tackled another high place, since Hope had left them all for he and his father.

<Shaw> "If that will help you sleep better tonight." He returned the smirk and watched Shinobi for a moment. "However, I can't fault your choice of colors."

<Hope> "And why's that?" she asked, screwing another part in. "I mean, besides the fact that it's not Guthrie's signature pink." She glanced over at Shinobi again when she thought she wouldn't get caught.

<Shaw> "Why, the black, of course," he said with a laugh, starting to pick up the mess of plastic baggies and cardboard packing material.

<Hope> "Like your soul...." she smirked over at him, going back to tightening screws.

<Shinobi> His lips pressed together to stop him from laughing.

<Shaw> "Of course." Sebastian gathered the last box and after a last glance between them moved to the door. "I'll take these downstairs and check in on Jess. I'll... be back."

<Hope> She smiled as he left, glancing over to Shinobi. "Thanks for your help, Shinobi."

<Shinobi> "You're welcome." He was nearly finished with this job for the day, however, and did his last reload and stretch. "It's very bright."

<Hope> That made Hope smile. "Ariel did have a thing with the sun and being on land, right?" She laughed a little. "I like yellow."

<Shinobi> "I noticed there was a lot of it... in Alaska. At that home." No matter what he did, he seemed to be covered in those little dots of paint.

<Hope> She nodded. "Yellow and sunflowers. Daisies too, but not as much as sunflowers. They're just... special," she smiled over at him. "Always somewhere in between living and dead. They latch onto the tiniest rays of light and turn to face it." She swore under the breath, putting her thumb in her mouth.

<Shinobi> He turned back to look at her when she swore. "You okay?" The wall was done, or as near as, and so he dropped the roller and wiped his hands on his shirt to join her.

<Hope> "Mmhmmm." she mumbled around her thumb. "Maybe I shouldn't have been so cocky about my engineering skills after all." She told him, inspecting it.

<Shinobi> Shinobi took her wrist and looked at her thumb. It was completely unnecessary, he was sure, but why pass up a good excuse? "I enjoy listening to you put him in place." He grinned. "I remember the sunflowers on the sign... so they're always looking for a better day, yeah?"

<Hope> She laughed a little, watching her hand with him as he inspected it. Her smile faded at the last part, caught by his phrasing. "You know... they named me Hope at the hospital because the nurses thought I would need that most. Or something. It was in my file.... A note from them." She looked up at him slowly, thinking about that.

<Shinobi> "Guess they were right." He smiled a little, unwilling to let go of her hand now that he had it.

<Hope> "They have no idea how right," she smiled back at him again, in no hurry to extract her hand from him.

<Shinobi> Mouth twitching, he tilted his head. "My name means ninja. I have no idea what anyone was thinking."

<Hope> "Not sure about ninja... but I totally think you'd make a great Jedi. Battling the dark side of the force, always pointing me in the right direction. Like.... Obi-wan... Obi!"

<Shinobi> He didn't know what to think about this, and blinked at her several times. "I'm... an old white guy?"

<Hope> She laughed, squeezing his hand. "You took from that an old white guy?"

<Shinobi> Laughing along, he brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "No, I got it... but I think I was the dark side for... most of my life. But I like it." Shinobi looked down, noticing more yellow paint. "I've never had a nickname before."

<Hope> "You don't have to be the dark side anymore," she told him softly, flicking a bit of his longish hair with a smile. "You get to be Obi now. Champion of... um... painting in hard to reach places."

<Shinobi> "Well, that is a worthy occupation." He smirked, and kissed the back of her hand before he let it go. "I'm going to have to be champion of the shower pretty soon, since I got yellow paint everywhere."

<Hope> "It looks good on you. Really brings out your eyes." She fake fluttered her eyelashes at him, actually giggling.

<Shinobi> "Brown does go with everything," he smirked, then laughed at the flutter. Unable to help himself, he reached over and brushed her hair back to better see her smile.

<Hope> She laughed a little more, sighing just a bit. "It really does." She really focused on the color of his eyes and how dark they were compared to her's. Before she realized it, she caught his hand after it was free of her hair and held onto it.

<Shinobi> Shinobi looked down at their hands and smiled to himself. There was no peanut butter stopping him this time, but he wasn't sure.

<Hope> Hope stroked his hand a bit with her thumb, lost in thought a bit as she smiled at his smile.

<Shinobi> He lost himself in those green eyes, leaning in slightly.

<Hope> She noticed him lean and had a split second to make a decision. She leaned in toward him nervously, her mind racing, trying to calculate the outcome of her action.

<Shinobi> Gaze on her mouth, he swallowed, parted his lips, and sat up, pulling his hand free. By the time he got to his feet, he was literally shaking, and after mumbling an apology bolted for the door.

<Hope> Stunned, Hope watched as he retreated. After some time, she finally closed her mouth and set a reminder on her phone for when she woke up. She shoved her feelings down and went back to work, figuring out that damn Swedish furniture on her own. The directions weren't very clear, but one thing was. Shinobi had rejected her.
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Jessica> Jess wandered around the house tidying things away. She was bored but restless, unable to get comfortable with the baby moving around. The house was quiet, which was weird lately, so she put some music on.

<Shinobi> It was late once he actually woke, which was disheartening, since he'd done little sleeping during the actual night. Facing Hope, after his actions the night before, was something he was trying to put off as long as possible.

<Shinobi> When he looked at his phone and saw it was nearly noon, he realized he'd hit that limit and got up to shower.

<Jessica> Jess saw the time, herself, and decided to make some lunch. Maybe the smell of food would lure Shinobi out of wherever he was hiding? Having had only a small breakfast, Jess decided that bacon and eggs were an acceptable lunch and got to work.

<Shinobi> Once he was presentable, he picked up Hope's gift and started up the stairs. Food. He smelled food. Ever since he'd thrown out his jar of peanut butter, he needed to restock his stores. By the time he reached the kitchen level, he was starving.

<Jessica> Jess looked up and gave him a smile, just as she was sliding the bacon out of the pan onto some kitchen towel to drain the fat off it. "It lives!"

<Shinobi> "It sure does," he said with a slight chuckle, drawn closer by the smell.

<Jessica> "Want half?" she gestured to the bacon with the wooden spoon she was using to break up the scrambled eggs.

<Shinobi> "You should have more than half, since you have... two." He gestured at her stomach, sloshing the gift a bit.

<Jessica> She shook her head, "I already had breakfast - you didn't." She took down a second plate and separated the bacon between the two then added the eggs.

<Shinobi> "Thanks." After a moment, he supposed he could assist, and went to get silverware. He placed the small tank on the bench to help her, and took the little jar of fish flakes from his pocket to place atop the tank.

<Jessica> Jess eyed the fish tank and raised an eyebrow but decided not to ask. "I'm glad you're awake, I've been wondering what to do with myself.."

<Shinobi> "Yeah?" Since he was being helpful, he took the plates and brought them to the table for her. "Hope isn't up yet either?"

<Jessica> "Hope's not here," She put some bread into the toaster and went to the fridge for milk, flicking the kettle on as she passed it.

<Shinobi> "She's not?" He frowned, looking up at her and feeling a flicker of dread. "She go shopping again?"

<Jessica> Jess shook her head, locating the butter for her toast, "She's in New York."

<Shinobi> A dozen thoughts ran through his head, all conflicting. She didn't tell him she was going to New York, but then, he hadn't given her a chance. And, really, why would she? He wasn't really anything to her. Not boyfriend, not brother... nothing. "Oh."

<Jessica> "We were surprised too," Jess tapped the butter, "Toast? Butter?"

<Shinobi> He chewed his lip, frowning at the floor. "No."

<Jessica> "Your loss," she smiled, buttering the toast and slicing it before going to pour the tea. She glanced over her shoulder at him, "You okay?"

<Shinobi> "I'm... not really hungry anymore. You should have it." Numb, he dragged himself back to the bench to pick up the fish. That had been a monumentally stupid idea.

<Jessica> "You are hungry, you haven't eaten all day... sit down and talk about it...." she frowned a little, "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

<Shinobi> "But it won't change anything. I'm sure I'll get to talk about my feelings enough tomorrow." His tone was snide.

<Jessica> "It might..." She set her tea down on the table and went over to him, "Please come and eat with me, I've been on my own all morning and I did actually make half of this for you... I was going to bring it down..."

<Shinobi> How was it she managed to make him feel guilty just by being nice? He stood stiffly, still holding the bright and now pissed off fish.

<Jessica> She reached to put a hand on his arm, "What's the matter? You don't have to tell me but I'll only worry..."

<Shinobi> He didn't pull away, and took a deep breath. "Last night, I probably made a mistake."

<Jessica> She cocked her head on one side, gesturing him back toward the table, "What kind of mistake?"

<Shinobi> Shinobi went with her, bringing the fish along as well. "With Hope."

<Jessica> Oh crap! Not that! Please don't let it be that! "What happened?"

<Shinobi> "Nothing." He set down the tank and flung himself into the chair, which protested with a creak.

<Jessica> Now she was confused, "I don't understand... if nothing happened, what did you do?"

<Shinobi> "I was painting her room," he said, to his hands as he inspected his nails. "We talked. Then..." He looked up at her. "You hear every word we say, how do you not know?"

<Jessica> "Sometimes I'm asleep or hiding somewhere trying not to listen to the house... it takes some practice. I don't intentionally eavesdrop on people's private conversations..."

<Shinobi> Shinobi slid further into the chair and shifted his stare to the fish. "I almost kissed her."

<Jessica> "But you didn't?" She wasn't sure how she felt about that, relieved, probably, but she was picking up on his emotions too. "That's not a crime, Shinobi..."

<Shinobi> "She told me... well, she said she wanted to wait." Recalling how she'd reacted to him and Doreen, he watched her now from the corner of his eye.

<Jessica> "Then is it so bad that you didn't?" She really shouldn't be surprised but damn, they could wait between entanglements for a little while surely? She was sure she hadn't been this bad.

<Shinobi> "I thought I was doing what she wanted."
<Jessica> "It sounds like you were..." She was completely baffled why this sudden turn in mood.

<Shinobi> "I didn't get the chance to tell her... and now she's gone." And he had a fish.

<Jessica> Oh! "Oh! She's not gone she's just... in New York. She's coming back." She was a dumbass. Maybe she needed more food... she started on the bacon.

<Shinobi> "She is?" He sat up and tried not to sound ridiculously hopeful.

<Jessica> Jess nodded, "Mmhmm," she swallowed her mouthful, "She's got some errands to run there."

<Shinobi> "Do you know when?" He tapped the side of the tank, trying to appear uninterested.

<Jessica> She gave a helpless shrug, "I shouldn't think she'd be away too long..." couldn't take that long to finalise the sale of a flat, right?

<Shinobi> "Hmm. Okay." He was still confused, conflicted, and more than a little disappointed, but maybe she'd be back tonight.

<Jessica> "Sebastian would know how long roughly... I'll give him a call in a bit. I don't like disturbing him at work - he's in the office so rarely."

<Shinobi> A little surprised, he looked up. "Yeah? ...thanks."

<Jessica> She offered a smile, "No problem..." she watched him for a moment, "You do know.... Hope wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, right?"

<Shinobi> Finished pestering the fish, he shifted a little, looked at her once and then straightened up. "I would like to think so, but I don't really know," he said.

<Jessica> "Well take it from someone who does know. You're her friend, she'd say goodbye... unless you did something to really piss her off and, trust me, you'd know if you had."

<Shinobi> Was he her friend? He supposed. "It's... complicated," he finally admitted with a sigh.

<Jessica> "Life is complicated," Jess pointed out, "And, believe me, I wish it wasn't. It's exhausting."

<Shinobi> Picking up his fork, he gave it a considering stare and then picked at the eggs. "Yeah. Tell me about it."

<Jessica> "I would give almost anything for a simple life... but I think I'd probably get really bored...."

<Shinobi> Unsure what to say to that, he broke off another piece of bacon and ate it.

<Jessica> "I know..." Jess nodded in defeat, "There's something wrong with me..."

<Shinobi> He looked up at her quickly, wondering if he should be alarmed. Oh. "You're fucking around," he said, almost in realization the moment he said it, and laughed a little.

<Jessica> Jess laughed too, "Yes... I do that.... a lot, actually. You should get used to it." It was only fair she warned him.

<Shinobi> "I suppose I haven't had a lot of reason to notice." He laughed, shaking his head, and slicking back his hair with both hands. Now that it was dry, it was falling into his face.

<Jessica> "Well you wouldn't if you hide in the basement all day like Igor.... how about you come out with me this afternoon? You can get out of the house and I can be sure there'll be someone there in case I fall down and can't get up again."

<Shinobi> After eating another piece of bacon and thinking about this, he nodded. "Yeah, okay." It was somewhat surprising how easy she was to talk to, so he smiled. "Thanks."

<Jessica> "Any time," she assured him, pausing to eye him again, "Maybe while we're out we can look for somewhere you like the look of to get your hair cut... looks like it might be getting on your nerves a bit there."

<Shinobi> "Yeah, I guess so." He was somewhat surprised he hadn't been forced to get it cut before now. Pulling a hank of his black hair forward, he gave it a stare. "I haven't had it cut since... well, before..." He made a face.

<Jessica> "Then we should move that to the top of the list, you'll feel much better for it, I'm sure." She offered him another smile and picked up her tea.

<Shinobi> The idea was beginning to appeal to him more, and he smirked a bit. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
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Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

< Shinobi > After the episode ended, Shinobi paused the auto roll and slid down into the bed to stare up at the ceiling. The house was quieter now. More empty. More depressing. He closed his eyes and sighed, stretching and dropping the tablet onto his chest.

< Shinobi > Talking about his feelings today had been especially trying, since he had no idea what they were, especially after those new photos of Hope Stark with her new boy toy emerged. Although the outing with Jessica yesterday had been – dare he say fun? - the one today with his father after his session for more clothing and that hair cut was not.

<Hope> Back from selling her apartment, and a brilliant photo shoot, Hope struggled with her bag as she came in the house. "Dammit." She swore as she dropped it, struggling and letting it get the better of her. She sighed, running her hand through her hair. And she was hot now. How was that even possible?

< Shinobi > He heard some noise upstairs, but decided to ignore it. There was no point in getting his hopes up. He snorted at himself and looked over at the small tank on his desk.

<Hope> Hope sighed and latched onto Bobby's power, feeling immediate relief. She breathed out some fog and tried to get her bag upstairs so she could avoid Shinobi. Shinobi... Her throat tightened momentarily until she found herself falling through the floor.

<Hope> Her body reacted by icing over as she fell through several floors, screaming as she went. She landed with a thud on the floor of Shinobi's room, both powers dropping as she landed on the floor. A very naked Hope lay there stunned, hand moving to the back of her head. "Ow...."

<Shinobi> "What the-" His eyes popped open at the scream, and before he had time to sit up, the flash of movement from the corner of his eye made him roll in the opposite direction. That bit of training meant to save his ass did little for his tablet since it thumped to the floor a second before he landed on his feet beside it.

<Shinobi> Shinobi looked over the bed and couldn't quite process what he saw, glancing at the ceiling and then back at her. "Hope?" Rounding the bed, he didn't know where to look, but managed to see everything before he grabbed the blanket from his bed and threw it over her. Crouching beside her, he smoothed her hair back. "Hope?"

<Hope> "Owwwww," she repeated, winded and stunned. She opened her eyes, surprised to see Shinobi, though she had trouble focusing on him.

<Shinobi> "What... are you okay?" She wasn't, but he looked up at the ceiling once more and back at her. "You... used my powers." But why was she naked? He tucked the blanket around her and moved closer. "Hey, can you look at me?"

<Hope> She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to get the name out. She couldn't focus enough to get his power on her own. Why the hell wasn't David there already. "Get... David." she managed to get out.

<Shinobi> "David?" Who was David? "Where? Here?" He didn't bother to wait for an explanation, since she was obviously hurt, and he knew better than to try to move her even though she looked like she weighed nothing. Squashing down that idea, he went for the door and took the stairs two at a time.

<David> David was just making his way down the stairs when his eyes narrowed at the sight of Shinobi. He grabbed the boy and shoved him against the wall. "The fuck did you do!? Where is she?"

<Hope> Hope closed her eyes again, fighting sleep. He better hurry. Or he was fired.

<Shinobi> Shinobi's eyes widened, recognizing the man from the photos - the man they were saying was him. "She fell through my ceiling, you asshole!" The stairwell backed up to the elevator shaft, and he phased free, backing through the wall.

<David> Not wasting time with the punk, David ran the rest of the way down, finally kneeling beside her and checking first for a pulse. "Stark." He tried to see if she was responsive. When he got a mumbled response, he put his hands on her cheeks. "Focus. Breathe. Think about my voice and focus on healing."

<Shinobi> He airwalked down the elevator shaft and back through the wall into the basement. The guy was hovering over her, talking to her, his hands on her face. Shinobi crossed his arms and moved a little closer, staying intangible for now.

<David> When she tried to say something else, David shushed her. "Just focus on me. Focus on my voice. Focus on what I can do."

<Shinobi> Shinobi looked away, searching for something else to focus on himself, but all he found was the desk.

<Hope> Finally latching onto the power, Hope groaned and sat up. "Owwww! What the hell!?" She pressed her hand to the back of her head as she continued to heal.

<David> "I was wondering the same thing. As she sat up, he realized that the blanket was covering her naked form. He glared at Shinobi, but spoke to her. "Why are you naked?"

<Shinobi> His eyes were drawn back to Hope, then the guy. David. Raising his chin, he stared down his nose at him.

<Hope> "Because I iced over! When I fell. Through three fucking stories. Or did you miss that?" She rubbed her head, thinking about that. "Actually... I iced over as I fell.... Like at the same time."

<Shinobi> "You were cold..." A moment too late he realized this was as good as a confession that he'd touched her.

<Hope> Hope turned her head to look at him, where had he come from? "Where did you come from?"

<David> Rolling his eyes, David stood up. "I'll get you some clothes." He narrowed those eyes at Shinobi. He had touched her. Tony would be getting his full report, that was for sure.

<Shinobi> Shinobi managed a bit of a sneer for that look from David. "I live here."

<Hope> Oh she was in his room. Why was she in his room? Why had any of that happened!? She watched David as he headed up the stairs, noticing the way they looked at each other. "What the hell did I miss?"

<Shinobi> Once he was out of sight, Shinobi solidified and moved over to crouch down beside her. "I was hoping you could tell me. I heard a scream and a ...well, thud..." He gestured to indicate her on the floor. "Here you are."

<Hope> She looked down, trying to think. "I was hot... and couldn't get my bag up the stairs. So I used Bobby's power. And then I thought about you..." she trailed off, thinking. Thinking about people and tapping into their powers automatically hadn't happened since she was a teenager. Was that what had happened?

<Shinobi> "You used my power, and his, I guess... but where did your clothes go then?" She thought about him? "Your other friend needs to keep his hands to himself."

<Hope> "When I ice.... the clothes go away unless I have a special uniform on. Which probably burned with the school. Super." She tried to wrap herself in the blanket better, looking up at him suddenly. "What do you mean hands to himself?"

<Shinobi> "It doesn't matter," he snapped, getting up to sit on the bed, bracing his elbows on his knees as he rubbed both hands over his face. "I saw the pictures."

<Hope> "It does matter!" She snapped back at him, getting to her feet. "What pictures? Can you give me a break and make some very clear sense?"

<Shinobi> "Of you and that... David guy! He looks old enough to be your father! To be my father! ....he looks older than my father..." Irritated that he'd gotten off subject, he tried not to look at her, standing there wrapped in his blanket, and ended up staring at her little feet and those bright toenails.

<Hope> "Why do you even care anyway!? You rejected me, remember?!" She adjusted the blanket so it tucked into itself around her, freeing up her hands.

<Shinobi> That made him look up at her, shocked. "What?"

<Hope> She crossed her arms over her chest. "It doesn't matter. We took those damn pictures for you. So you're welcome. The whole fucking world gets to think I'm a slut, but as long as they think that was HIM and not YOU, nobody will look too closely at the face and realize it is YOU."

<Shinobi> "...for me?" It sounded ridiculous, but the photos were similar to the ones from the club. "So they would think it's him... but who is he?"

<Hope> "He's my body guard. He's like 100 years old. But they don't know that. And he's about as cuddly as a cactus.... but he's supposed to be the best agent they have. And his healing power is the best they've found." She leaned back against his wall, checking to be sure she was still covered. "He's just my guard, doing his job."

<Shinobi> "Oh." He shook his head, trying to work through it, but he couldn't get one detail out of his mind. Shaking his head, he stood up and moved over to her, intent, and studied her face. "I didn't reject you."

<Hope> "Then what would you call it?" she asked, looking up at him, but with her back against the wall she couldn't really go anywhere. She met his gaze though, locking in on it.

<Shinobi> "I was doing what you asked," he said quietly, and raised his hand, wanting to touch her but unsure if he should. Finally, he decided her hair was safe enough, and used the backs of his fingers to move it from her face.

<Hope> Her mind raced, trying to figure out what she had asked him. Finally, it settled on their conversation. She had asked him to wait. She had asked him to give her space and time to sort things out. He had done that, when she hadn't. All anger left her as she pulled him to her, wrapping her arms securely around him. He was wonderful.

<Shinobi> He smiled a little when he saw understanding dawn in her eyes, and then he held onto her tightly. "I wanted to..." He had wanted it more than anything. "When I went to your room in the morning to try to explain... you were gone." Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek against her head.

<Hope> "I didn't get a chance to tell you I was going to New York. My old apartment sold. I had to clean out anything I wanted to keep." She closed her eyes, not moving so she could just hold him. "I wouldn't just... leave. No matter how mad."

<Shinobi> "Jess told me..." But not before he'd overreacted spectacularly, of course. "I'm... I felt like an ass." He moved his hand up to stroke through her hair. "Like I drove you off."

<Hope> "Takes more than that to run me off. I just... I thought it best to wait so people wouldn't say I was rushing things again. You're still getting settled. I'm still getting settled... Patience never was my strongest virtue," she admitted, relaxing into him as he played with her hair. She hadn't realized how much she loved that before.

<Shinobi> "It's not mine either... getting a little better at it." He felt her relax and felt warm. "You told me you wanted to wait, so I thought I was doing the right thing."

<Hope> That made her smile, turning her head to look up at him. "Look at you, looking out for me." And here everyone was worried about him being dangerous.

<Shinobi> He grinned down at her, and the moment stretched out, and if he wasn't careful, he'd try to kiss her again. "I'm trying." He still played with her hair though, unable to help himself.

<Hope> "I like it," she admitted, sighing a little. Her fingers went up to his hair, flicking a spike. "You got a haircut."

<Shinobi> "Do you?" He smirked just a bit, and then lost it when she touched his hair. Closing his eyes, he swallowed, clenched his jaw and tried not to embarrass himself. "Do you like that?"

<Hope> "I really do," she played with it a bit, getting it to fall right. "It looks good on you."

<Shinobi> Now was not the time to point out he generally wore it this way when he worked for Nur. "Thanks," he managed, then cleared his throat and smiled at her a little. It grew at her expression while she fussed with his hair. "It's got nothing on red."

<Hope> "Well not much can or does." She smiled at him, moving her hand so that her arm was wrapped back around him. "Shinobi... I should um. Get dressed."

<Shinobi> "Right." He smirked again, and took a step back. "I can... get you something a little better than a blanket." Breaking eye contact, with effort, he went to dig through a drawer.

<Hope> It was much easier to think without him so close. She ran her hand through her hair, making a face. Ugh she must look horrid. "So do I look like a drowned rat?"

<Shinobi> "Not at all. Like a mermaid." His insistence to Jess earlier that he could do his own damn laundry, thank you very much, was coming back to him now, and he frowned, coming up with a pair of black boxer briefs. "I'm afraid I haven't done laundry yet..."

<Hope> "Oh..." she really didn't want to leave him. Hadn't David mentioned clothes? Maybe he talked to Drake and realized he should bugger off. "I um... could um." Go. She could go. Fix her hair, face, and put on proper clothes.

<Shinobi> " Here you go, Ariel. I promise they're clean." Grabbing the back of the neck of his tee, he started to yank it off. "And I haven't worn this for long."

<Hope> Staring. There was staring. Hope licked her lips and stepped to him, putting her hands on the offered clothes. "Thanks," she forced out. Bathroom. She should go to the bathroom. She should.

<Shinobi> Shinobi smirked. "You're welcome." After a moment, he nodded toward the bathroom door. "Or... I could promise to turn around?"

<Hope> Yeah right, like she trusted him with that! "Right... just um. Just a sec?" She smiled a little, awkwardly, and retreated to the bathroom.

<Shinobi> He grinned at the closed bathroom door, crossing his arms. Well, his day had certainly taken a turn for the better.

<Hope> Hope took the opportunity of being alone to press his shirt to her face, breathing it in and smiling. She slid it on and the boxers, then went to the mirror to try to do something with her poor hair.

<Shinobi> Shinobi glanced in the mirror over his dresser himself. His hair did look good. Pleased, he decided maybe he should pick up a bit.

<Hope> Thankfully he had some things she could use in there. It took her a few minutes, but when she reemerged, she was presentable. Not her usual self, but presentable. Somewhat. While the shirt covered her ass, she was very thankful for the boxer briefs, which were loose on her. It made her smirk.

<Shinobi> The door opened while he was checking the tablet for damage and he dropped it back onto the bed with a soft thump. "Well, well... look at you." He strolled over to her, game face in place, although his palms were sweating.

<Hope> She smirked up at him, leaning against the door frame a bit. "This shirt is really nice," she smoothed out the hem a bit, aware she didn't have a bra on.

<Shinobi> "It suits you. Perfectly." He didn't bother trying not to look, though he brought his eyes quickly enough back to her face. Somehow, she had managed to fix her hair in there. Shinobi moved in close and picked up one of the soft curls.

<Hope> Hope grinned at him, straightening herself up. "Careful. It might disappear..." she teased, watching him.

<Shinobi> The idea of her keeping the shirt made him swallow. "In that case, I hope it does." He watched her hair slide through his fingertips for a moment.

<Hope> She smirked at him again, taking his spare hand in her own, intertwining their fingers. "Do I still look like a mermaid, Obi?"

<Shinobi> "Oh, yeah... most definitely." The nickname made him smile, and lose track of his thoughts.

<Hope> She smiled at his smile, lost there for a moment. Her eyes shifted down to his chest, then back up to his eyes. So dark.

<Shinobi> He wasn't sure how long it was before he remembered. "I have something for you," he finally said with a grin.

<Hope> She shook her head a little, bringing her back to reality. "What? You have something for me?"

<Shinobi> "Yeah." Giving her hair a final twirl and smirking, he kept her hand and led her to his desk, and to the small fish tank. "Every Ariel needs a Flounder."

<Hope> Her smile was slow as she took in the bright green betta with blue rocks at the bottom. Flounder had a seashell... and a fork. "You got me a fish?" She asked, truly touched and wrapping her arm around him instead of holding his hand.

<Shinobi> "I got you a fish," he confirmed, and would have been happy to get several more, now.

<Hope> She snuggled into him, smiling happily. "Obi... this is..." she just grinned. "Nobody has ever gotten me a pet before."

<Shinobi> That made him blink, although he had no room for comparison. "Really? I suppose... I never had one either." Shaking himself, he tapped the lid and watched the fish puff up. "He's feisty. I got him... a few days ago."

<Hope> "Just like the real Flounder," she grinned, leaning down to look at the fish. "He's beautiful, Shinobi. And green! Like Ariel's tail."

<Shinobi> "I got him the day before your furniture was delivered. It was... a welcome gift, I suppose." He knew that was a thing, though he'd never had cause to exercise the etiquette he did know. Recalling the day he'd tried to deliver it, he nervously rubbed his fingers over his mouth.

<Hope> "And then I disappeared," she supplied for him, wincing. "I'm sorry...." She looked over at him, stuck on the movement of his fingers on his mouth.

<Shinobi> "And then you disappeared," he agreed, eyes still on the fish.

<Hope> "Well I won't be going anywhere else for a little while. Until I'm needed in DC again." She looked back over at the fish, smiling at it. "Can you help me get Flounder up to my room?"

<Shinobi> "Sure, of course." He realized she still had her arm around him, and he had an arm around her as well, so he turned toward her and wrapped her up for another hug.

<Hope> Hope held onto him tightly, pressing her face into the warm flesh of his chest. She had to count in her mind, worried of acting in a way unbecoming of the lady she was striving to become. "Thank you, Obi."

<Shinobi> "Thank you." He held her tightly, bending down to almost touch the crown of her head with his mouth and nose. She smelled a little like his hair gel now, but still like Hope... and peppermint.

<Hope> "But I didn't do anything," she protested, reluctant to pull away from him.

<Shinobi> "Yeah, you did." Deciding what the hell, he closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head. "You came back."
Slarti
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Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 2:25 pm
Title: Damn Not Given
Nightscrawlearth Character: :icey :phoenix

Re: Christmas 2017: The Shaws

Post by Slarti »

<Hope> With Shinobi's help, Hope had her bag back in her room and her little fish tank set up. They had put the tank on the dresser where it could be easily seen throughout the room. She still had some decorating to do, but Hope lay on her back on her bed, hanging off the foot of the bed slightly, upside down and texting. Decorating could wait.

<Shinobi> Since Sebastian was still out and one of Hope's guards was occupied with Jessica and the other was... missing... Shinobi helped himself to his father's closet for a shirt. Still buttoning, he ran back up the stairs to Hope's room.

<Shinobi> He stopped in the doorway, the last few buttons forgotten, at the sight of her draped over the bed, hair cascading down over the edge.

<Hope> Oblivious that she was being watched, Hope typed away at her phone, posting something to her Twitter feed.

<Shinobi> And she was staying. He grinned to himself and watched her for a moment, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. Eventually, he cleared his throat.

<Hope> She glanced to the noise and grinned, rolling over on her side and propping herself up on her elbow. "Hey." But it was his outfit that caught her attention. The small bit of flesh peeking out from where those forgotten buttons were meant to cover. She swallowed hard. Why had she wanted to wait again?

<Shinobi> "Hey again." She hadn't changed clothes either, which made his stomach clench in all sorts of ways. "All settled back in?"

<Hope> He voice once again pulled her back. She set her phone aside and sat up, one foot sliding off the edge of the bed. "Kind of?" She laughed, running her hand through her hair. "I need to unpack." Her eyes never left him, not able to look away.

<Shinobi> "You want some company?" He stared at her hair, then snapped himself out of it and smiled.

<Hope> "From you? Always." She smiled back at him.

<Shinobi> She shouldn't tell him things like that, not if she wanted him to give her that time she asked for. "Careful, you'll feed my ego." He pushed off the door frame and sauntered into her room, deciding the bed was too dangerous, and the fish needed some attention.

<Hope> "Aren't you a Shaw? It's not possible to make your ego larger," she teased, watching his movement. "So... I have a theory."

<Shinobi> "It does certainly seem to be genetic," he said with a chuckle, tapping the tank to provoke the fish. "A theory?" Shinobi deemed it safe enough to look over his shoulder at her.

<Hope> "Yeah..." she watched him with Flounder for a moment. "I think.... I lost control of my power. Because I was using two of them. At the saaaaaaaaaame time."

<Shinobi> "And you can't normally do that, I take it." He turned around to face her, arms crossed again to take her in.

<Hope> "No, I never have. I didn't even know I could. But that would explain why I was a block of ice falling through the floor. Right? It makes sense?" She tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear, watching him.

<Shinobi> "It does. Your skin... you were ice cold..." He moved closer to her. "Scared the shit out of me." That she'd just come through his ceiling had taken time to process as well. "You're lucky you stopped at the floor, or that you didn't solidify inside the bed," he said more quietly.

<Hope> "Or solidify through anything in between," she pointed out, looking away from him and down at her toes. "I wasn't even trying to use your power. It was a complete accident."

<Shinobi> "Or gone to the opposite end of my power." He sat down on the bed beside her. "I can help you with mine, but... that's weird. I know we can... further evolve. It happens..."

<Hope> "I'd really like to train with you. At least then you could possibly rescue me. I've used phasing before. Kat has it. But every signature is a little different." She smiled and pushed her hair back over her shoulder, out of her way. "I guess mine finally evolved then?"

<Shinobi> "It's convenient, and it certainly came in handy when your new bodyguard got a bit overenthusiastic." He watched her hair again, and the movement of her hand.

<Hope> She stared at him, her look changing instantly. "What did he do?"

<Shinobi> "He accused me of doing something to you. I evaded him. My power is excellent for that, at least. It has offensive and defensive capabilities, so I'm lucky there."

<Hope> She eyed him a bit suspiciously. "So I don't need to handle this?"

<Shinobi> Finally catching on to her meaning, he laughed. "No. No harm done." The implications were moving, however. "I'm fine, really. Unless he's going to continue, or wait until I go to sleep to shoot me."

<Hope> "I wouldn't.... think so. Maybe I should do something about it. Proactively. Before he gets overzealous in his job. Hopefully Bobby is around more. Bobby is... chill." She grinned at her own pun. "Bobby and I worked things out a long time ago."

<Shinobi> "Yeah, I've met him..." The day he realized he almost felt concern for his father. It was rather memorable. "So, do you think you can do it again? Now that you're aware of what you're doing? There are several mutants in the vicinity, after all."

<Hope> "Definitely. I wouldn't want to use yours with another again. But... maybe two I've used before would go better?" She wasn't sure why she thought he'd have more insight into her powers than she did, but the change in her ability had her nervous. Was it just two? Or could she use even more than that?

<Shinobi> "Perhaps Bobby Drake and Jess then? Although I'm not sure I want to be electrocuted." He smirked, sitting back and making himself comfortable. "Have you used hers very much? You seemed comfortable with that telepath." Ah, yes.

<Hope> "Yeah I've used her's. I think I can control it. Bobby's is second nature. When you're with someone all the time like that, it's best to be familiar with it. Well... here goes." She latched onto Bobby first, breathing out fog as she did. Then she focused in on Jess, trying to pick hers up and hold it at the same time.

<Shinobi> "That's certainly interesting..." He watched the mist of breath, tucking one leg under him to turn and watch her.

<Hope> Unaware, Hope immediately began leaking pheromones as she latched onto the second power. "Oh this is.... weird. Really weird." She pushed off of the bed to move to the wall, trying out that sticky thing.

<Shinobi> "You should see her do it to clean the ceiling fans..." It was a fascinating afternoon, although now he felt somewhat ashamed of some of the applications he thought of that day. "Has that telepath left the area?"

<Hope> Hope wasn't sure what to do with that emotion. Oh no. She had forgotten about that power. "Uhhh" Hope dropped back to the floor to feel for Sebastian. "Yeah it's back. Close enough to feel. Why?" She sat back down beside him. Then it hit her. Empathy wasn't the only part of Jess' powers that she had forgotten about.

<Shinobi> Shinobi drew in a ragged breath, shifting uncomfortably and unable to take his eyes from her the closer she got. "I tried to contact you.... like you said. Thinking to you to reach you..." His nostrils flared when she sat down. He wanted her so much it almost hurt, and the clenching of his heart definitely was painful.

<Hope> His emotions that she picked up got her to her feet quickly, moving to the corner as she dropped both powers. Holy crap. Holy crap! "S-sorry." She paused. "When did you try to contact me?" She needed a fan to clear the air. Or a match.

<Shinobi> "After the photos first came out..." Swallowing, he got up to follow her. She was in his clothes... and he hadn't forgotten what he'd seen before he covered her. She was almost his... she should be his.

<Hope> She winced, trying to keep him at arm's length. "I'm sorry. I should have kept it active, if the telepath was in range. I got distracted after being yelled at."

<Shinobi> Shinobi's gaze roved over her and then he focused on her eyes. He caught her wrist, bringing her hand to his mouth and blowing a hot breath over her skin as he skimmed her pulse point with his nose and lips. "I thought I'd never get to see you again..."

<Hope> Hope shuddered at the breath. It would be so easy. He only stopped because she had asked him to, right? But no. Not like this. This wasn't fair. He was acting on pheromones that she had accidentally released. "We should um. Get some air, Shinobi."

<Shinobi> "Why?" He kissed her wrist, mouthing and nibbling. "You want this... you want me... I want you, and it's more than just this." Moving in quickly, he gripped her hip and pulled her against him. "So much more."

<Hope> "You have no idea..." He was right there. It would be easy. He was right! They both did... No! Pheromones. "I'm really... really sorry about this." she warned him as she picked up Bobby's power.... and quickly dropped the temperature of the room. She tried to pull away from him once the cold hit, ready to freeze his jeans if this failed.

<Shinobi> "What the-?" It was cold and she was gone. Shinobi spun around to stare at her, phasing to escape the biting cold.

<Hope> "Are you good now?" She asked, not looking directly at him out of guilt. But not so guilty that she didn't stay by the door this time.

<Shinobi> He had no idea, but he was definitely confused. "Good with what? What the fuck?"

<Hope> She brought the temperature back up, dropping the power. "I'm so, so sorry. My bad. I... might have... influenced you there accidentally? I shouldn't have been so cocky about multiple powers." She looked back up at him to see how pissed he was.

<Shinobi> The density shift hadn't entirely stopped the effects of the cold, and now he was shivering for an entirely different reason than he had been moments earlier. "Whose power did... what?" He shook his head, feeling strange.

<Hope> "Jess... she has much better control over it than I do. I'm so, so sorry." She told him, scared to go back over to him yet in case they were still in the air.

<Shinobi> "It's... what is it?" He solidified and didn't feel any better for it, backing himself into the corner to lean against the wall. A glance at her told him he couldn't get any closer and he turned to stare at the yellow.

<Hope> She cleared her throat a bit, then sighed. "Some kind of pheromones." She looked over at him, feeling even worse. "Maybe.... I could leave? I'm so sorry."

<Shinobi> "Do you know how to disburse them?" He rested his forehead against the wall, along with a fist. "I should go." Yet he didn't move, as it was taking all his concentration not to go after her.

<Hope> "No..." She looked down at her feet, feeling terrible. "Let's get you out of this room. Up to the roof! Fresh air! That's it! Window!" She moved quickly to the window to open it.

<Shinobi> He watched her, trying to slow his breathing. "Sorry..."

<Hope> "It's definitely not your fault," she assured him, backing away so he could go to the window.

<Shinobi> "Yeah, but I could have... hurt you." It was what they'd been worried about with Doreen, after all, but this was much, much worse. Shinobi moved to the window and stuck his head out, taking a deep breath.

<Hope> She was touched... but a little amused. "I'm tougher than you think, Shinobi." She leaned back against the opposite wall, watching him.

<Shinobi> "It doesn't matter..." The air was freezing, but it was helping. "Maybe turn on the ceiling fan?"

<Hope> Wordlessly, she flicked on the ceiling fan. "Is it helping?"

<Shinobi> "Yeah." He took a few more deep breaths, and now his nose was freezing, and he was losing feeling in the fingertips that clutched the sill.

<Hope> "So.... won't be doing that again," she tried to laugh a little. Truth was, she needed to if she was going to be here long term. However, she sure as hell wasn't going to with him in the room.

<Shinobi> He laughed and blew out a long breath, watching it freeze in the air. "Maybe someday..." Raising his eyebrow, he looked back inside at her.

<Hope> It took her a moment, but she slowly grinned. "Yeah. Someday. And maybe with some warning next time."

<Shinobi> "Warning would also be good." Deciding it was safe to turn around, he smirked and crossed his arms, only partly because he was freezing. Normally, a someday would have pissed him off, but everything was different now, wasn't it?

<Hope> She smirked back at him, enjoying the view. "I can get some kick ass power combos now though. And can really leave that telepath active as much as possible."

<Shinobi> How about now? He watched her carefully. Maybe he was wrong, since he hadn't heard his father return, or maybe there really was another telepath.

<Hope> You got me. She smiled at him, moving back into the room again.

<Shinobi> He took a few steps and looked around, gauging how he felt, then shrugged and closed the window. Indeed I do.

<Hope> She tucked some hair behind her ear, relaxing again. She sat down on the edge of her bed, eyes still focused on him. You sure you're ok?

<Shinobi> Yeah. It was nothing a long shower wouldn't cure, he supposed, although it had been... odd. That was... odd. I knew what I was doing, sort of, but it was just... instinct. He cleared his throat and paced a short circuit, trying to remember what he'd said to her.

<Hope> She shook her head a bit. That's kind of what it's designed to do I think. Those primal instincts. If it hadn't been for those pheromones... She shook herself from that thought. I just need to learn some control.

<Shinobi> Shinobi stopped and smirked at her. Or less control.

<Hope> Her eyes shifted up to him quickly, swallowing. Didn't feel right taking advantage of you when you were basically drugged, after all.

<Shinobi> His lip just curled further. I wouldn't complain. Downstairs, he heard voices, and one was distinctively his father's, talking about coffee and the Starbucks next door. The man was loud, and never bothered to temper his tone, so enhanced senses were not necessary.

<Hope> She smirked and ducked her head. Not complaining wasn't' the point. She glanced at the door, rubbing her arms a bit from the chill in the room. She should tell Sebastian about her power increase. I'll keep that in mind.

<Shinobi> It seemed safe enough, so he joined her again on the bed and put an arm around her, rubbing her cold bare skin. Okay, so, maybe not Jessica's powers for a while, but you could use my father's and ice potentially.

<Hope> She moved closer to him to get warm, not really sure she wanted to try two powers again, though Bobby's would warm her up. I could do that... I use your dad's a lot. She was using his currently. But wait, wasn't she still hiding the identity of the telepath? She couldn't lie to him! Not after she just drugged him.

<Shinobi> She was warm, even though she may not feel it herself, and smelled fantastic. After a few moments of silence, he ran his tongue over his teeth, making the connection. My father is the telepath.

<Hope> What makes you say that? She questioned, shifting uncomfortably against him.

<Shinobi> It's true, isn't it? It was more of a hunch than anything, but from her reaction a good one, and he leaned down to catch her eyes.

<Hope> She was doomed, she realized, as she looked back into his eyes. Yes. Not many know.

<Shinobi> He frowned, mulling this over.

<Hope> She swallowed, watching his face carefully and processing what was filtering over their connection.

<Shinobi> It made a lot of sense, answered many questions, and raised a few more. That's convenient.

<Hope> What's that supposed to mean? She asked, nervous and worried she had opened up another can of worms.

<Shinobi> It means you can practice more, right? He was watching her face. She was nervous.

<Hope> She laughed and rested her cheek against him again. "Yeah. It really does."

<Shinobi> It was time for another talk with his father, obviously. He gave her a squeeze and turned to rest his head against hers.

<Hope> Hope closed her eyes and breathed him in. I don't know if I was supposed to tell you or not.

<Shinobi> I'm sure you weren't. He thought about that for a moment. I won't tell him. He doesn't need to know, and I have wondered for a while.

<Hope> Thank you. I probably wasn't. I'm usually really careful about using that part. Damn he smelled good. And that shirt was soft.

<Shinobi> He and Jess... they communicate without speaking. They're doing this... It was... intimate. Moreso than the telepathy he'd experienced in the past, although that was primarily used as a weapon. The thought made him shiver.

<Hope> Yes they do. All the time. He keeps it active as long as he's in range of her. She felt calm and content sitting in his arms on her bed. She held him tighter at the shiver, rubbing him gently to warm him.

<Shinobi> I never liked telepaths. He closed his eyes, willing himself not to think of the past.

<Hope> Hope weighed her decision carefully. She moved so she could press her forehead against his. Eyes still closed, she tried to calm him. I can stop if you want. If it makes you uncomfortable.

<Shinobi> Surprised, he opened his eyes. She was so close. It doesn't. Not this. Not you. His father was another matter, however.

<Hope> She smiled, relieved. I still like you here, she admitted.

<Shinobi> I'm still reassuring? Once more, if he moved just a bit, her mouth was right there.

<Shinobi> He smiled in return and brushed his nose against hers. So easy. It would be so easy, and she smelled great and he was sure he still felt those pheromones...

<Hope> She had no words, only feelings of joy and peace. She slid her hand to his shoulder, squeezing it a bit. He'd make an excellent Prince Eric, and she really hoped that thought hadn't filtered over.

<Shinobi> She really did need to work on this telepathy thing. Shinobi grinned and opened his eyes, kissing the tip of her nose before he backed off.

<Hope> Hope opened her eyes when he moved away, still smiling. I guess I should get really dressed before Sebastian or Jess see me.

<Shinobi> They already assume the worst, of course. His expression shifted to something more sly.

<Hope> She tapped the tip of his nose gently, but moved away from him to her closet. Even though I told him and Tony both otherwise... I doubt they believe me.

<Shinobi> I did the same with Jess... Although, now, she knew there was more to it than he'd let on to Sebastian.

<Hope> Hope sighed and kept searching in the closet. At lest she might believe you. She needed to go to campus. She was missing most of her wardrobe. I kind of need to go back to campus and get some stuff. You could come when I go if you want.

<Shinobi> He watched her rifle though the closet, shifting only slightly uncomfortably. I do like you in this, however... The invitation got his attention and he smirked. I would love to.

<Hope> She paused to look over at him, smirked over at him, debating that for a moment. Until somebody tries to put you through a wall, getting the wrong idea. Or blame her for it.

<Shinobi> He was sure the mental sigh was almost audible to her. Well, I have been told I need to visit the school and learn from my... previous mistakes.

<Hope> Hope softened a little and moved to sit back down, wrapping her arms around him. You have a fresh start. And at least this time... you aren't alone.
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