"Now that surely didn't get us very far," Selene commented as they made their way back from the endless line of frustrated and impatient people trying to get out of the city on any of the regular routes.
"It looks like they really are turning people away up there." Jean-Paul sighed, wrinkling his nose as he tried to see the beginning of the crowd. "I guess the city really is closed up then."
"The line is not moving except for backwards," Selene muttered, watching the other people who had given up on waiting and slowly trudged back into the city. Many had already found a spot to get comfortable - more or less, anyway.
"So what do we do now? The food they send is shit... we need to get out... or I can go hunting but you already said no to that...."
"I guess this would be mostly because the only thing you could possibly hope to find inside New York is either rat, pigeon, or poodle - and I'm not to keen on either," Selene remarked. "We might have a better chance to try and hijack a hot-dog cart."
"Well, if we're going to get out we're certainly not going to get out there." He waved to one disgruntled person coming back, definitely turned away."
"There's plenty of yummy things in the woods - deer, rabbit... fish..." she shrugged a little, "Just have to know where to look."
"I'd rather not eat anything that's been chewed on all ready, thanks all the same."
"So...surely there's some place they're not guarding we can just slip through, right?"
"I could animate one of those subway snack vending machines," Selene offered. "It could follow us around and shower us in sweets when we feel like it."
"...now we've got a backup plan." Jean-Paul shrugged, deciding that didn't sound half bad.
"I'd only chew on the neck til it was dead... the main bulk of the animal would be fine..." Tigra rolled her eyes.
Johnny had so far remained silent, refraining from complaining about having to wait all this time, but his face twisted at the idea of chewing on necks. That was almost as bad as Curt eating out of the garbage.
"And as for getting out of the city, I presume we could always swim," Selene continued as she strolled down the sidewalk. "Or try to find a boat. Or if that fails... build one? I've heard garbage cans float."
"Curt would eat our boat if that's the case, and I'll pass on sinking."
Giving Selene a bit of a confused look, Jean-Paul turned around, deciding to look for the potential hole in FEMA's enclosure around the city.
"Do you think we could ride on Curt?" Selene gave Johnny a curious look.
Johnny considered the question for some reason and shuddered at the idea of riding Curt. "Well, I imagine if you really wanted to..."
".... I wouldn't recommend that...."
"Not somoene I've got on my riding list to be honest."
"Really? Who tops that list, I wonder?" Selene did some further contemplating. "I guess there's always the subway tunnels if we decide to go for a route underground."
His face twisted again, "Aren't those kinda dark, gross, and filled with hobos?"
"Maybe... but they probably thought of that.... cleared out all the hobos and replaced them with army guys whielding tasers."
"And we'd still have to surface when it got time to actually get out of the city, won't we?"
"Until the hobos ate the army guys and are now hobos with tasers," Selene concluded.
"That is a truely terrifying thought...."
"...and we're avoiding that, definitely."
"Agreed."
"Which leaves us with catapulting someone as the only reasonable alternative," Selene added with a nod.
".... I'm not volunteering for that."
"Well, luckily, we have fliers so no catapult necessary...though it'd be fun." He cracked Selene a grin.
Johnny looked between the three of them. He was pretty sure he was the only one of them that flied, though his memory was shit...
"Still not volunteering...." Tigra decided to make that clear.
"I'll go over then. You lot's carrying all the food back though, yeah?"
Jean-Paul liked shopping when other people carried his bags. It was just nicer.
"If that's what it takes to get rid of you for a while," Johnny grinned.
"You love me."
"Well, depends on how filled the pantry back at the mansion is likely to be, and whether it can be restocked while everything is kept locked down."
He nodded, "Very much so."
"I can carry it... I can carry a car so I think I can manage shopping."
"And I love you, my bitches." He reached over, patting Johnny on the cheek with a girn. "Just need to find a place to cross then."
"Which again makes me wonder why you aren't pulling us in a riksha," Selene said, smirking at Tigra.
"Let's find somewhere off a road... probably less heavily guarded...." she looked oved at Selene, "I'm not a slave..."
"I suggest one of the less crowded places, where there likely will be less people in uniform, too."
Johnny placed a hand over JP's, smirking, "Don't get caught. I don't know what I'll do without you."
"Well, you're not a dog either but I'll go ahead and make the mush joke. Mush!" With that Jean-Paul ducked away from the streets, keeping an eye out in case someone was keeping an eye out on them.
"Don't worry, we'd pay you," Selene replied to Tigra, grinning slightly. "Preferably in food?"
Tigra scowled at JP, "I'm not doing it."
"I'll take food payments."
"Good, I'd rather watch you pull things anyway." He cracked a wider grin, cutting through a yard and looking for some actual cover for crossing on ahead.
Tigra raised an eyebrow as she followed JP, was he hitting on Johnny? Inappropriate timing much?
Johnny snickered.
"We could still take a shortcut through the subway tunnels to get to a less populated place," Selene suggested, following the others. "I've seen them hunt Mexicans on TV, and they always use those thermal cameras, so we might be safer down there."
"They won't be hunting us til we get over the wall, I think we're safe from thermal cameras for now...."
"We just need to find a more...natural place. Which yeah, might be a bit of a challenge."
".... Do you have to insult me in every possible way today?"
"Who?"
"Insulting is his natural setting."
"I believe to most natural place you might find in this part of town would be a junkyard," Selene remarked.
"Aparently...." she frowned, "You realise a feral mutant's main ability is a heightend sense of smell, right? If anyone can find a people-free zone it's me."
Jean-Paul gave her a bit of the hairy eyeball. "I wasn't even that time. I mean that's where they would be less likely to be. Not everything is about you being able to be fuzzy. Then get up here and find it then."
"Selene's got a point about the junkyard though. Shall we?"
She muttered under her breath, "Whatever you want, I'll just trail after you not using any of the useful abilities I was given...." she rolled her eyes a little.
"I guess a junkyard might not be as disgusting as tunnels, so sure."
"Got the trail of a junkyard then, Greer?"
"It would also provide us with the tools to build that catapult should our primary plan backfire in any way."
Greer sighed heavily, scenting the air a little - more to get her bearings than anything else. She knew where the junkyard was. It was like her second home. She set off in the right direction once she was sure where she was.
"Well, hopefully between now and then either Johnny or I will still be capable of flight but always good to have a backup."
"Otherwise we might just have to annex a hotel room until this is over, or raid a mall for camping equipment." Selene paused, walking silently for a moment. "Do you think sewing several tents together to make a hot air balloon could work?"
"How are we supposed to power a hot air balloon?" Johnny asked, paused, and shook his head, "Nevermind."
Tigra grinned at him, "You of all people had to ask that question?"
"...you'll never know until you try." Jean-Paul had a laugh, looking back to make sure they didn't have anyone watching still. "Ahh, this is working out great, not a soul watching anyway and less people around." he dropped his voice for that, approving very much.
"Apparently," he mumbled.
"There probably will be patrols or sentries watching the area beyond the houses, so we might want to be careful before venturing too far out."
"Well, at least it's getting darker." He looked up, having a look at the steadily darkening skies.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hear anyone walking around too...."
"Good to hear." He nodded approvingly.
"And I'll listen for unfriendly minds nearby," Selene added, trying to sort out the psychic signals she picked up in the vicinity.
Johnny tried to think of a job for himself, offering up, "I'll just follow and look better than JP."
"You're underqualified for that, sweetheart."
Tigra giggled a little and shook her head.
"I'll just have to try harder then."
"Don't worry, we'll give you a nice makeover later to make you the prettiest of them all," Selene remarked with a smirk on her lips.
Jean-Paul looked back to Selene. "I get to help, yes?"
"I don't see why not since she'll need to make sure I look better than you," he grinned.
"We could make an epic duel out of the event," Selene replied with a smirk, falling silent as the turned another corner and found themselves approaching the junkyard by the edge of town.
"So I get to dress you, hmm?" Yeah, that was a leer. Right, need to focus, the junkyard was upon them. "Well, definitely empty. Does anyone see where FEMA's set up the border?"
"Dress implies clothing," Johnny pointed out and glanced around.
"It implies taking them on and off as well."
"Doesn't necessarily mean in front of you."
"Not without some climbing..."
"Then you'll just have to settle for coming in behind me." He ran up to the edge of the junk yard, flying just a bit to see over.
Johnny shrugged, "I imagined it'd be the other way around."
"That's the thing about me, I never settle." He called down motioning for Johnny to follow him up to have a look. "I see little peg things, think that's the border marker anyway. I think they've assumed nobody would come this far."
Selene left the looking around business to others, focusing instead on her inner senses. "I don't think anyone is nearby except for us."
Johnny went fiery and took into the air to follow JP for a look, "So, we just jump the border and it's all good..."
"Yeah, that seems to be the jist of it." He turned to look down at the others. "Any food requests you want me to nip out and get then?"
"I'd be content with you coming back to pick us up should that way be clear," Selene replied.
"I can feed myself, get what you like...."
"Right then, see you all in a minute." With that Jean-Paul was off, charging the border.
And then, the second he was over the border he was not, falling out of his run and coming to a rolling stop, out cold.
Selene watched JP fail spectacularly at walking, jumping up behind her cover but deciding to stay clear of the open space. She looked around to see if anything or anyone could have hit him, but just saw him lie motionless on the ground.
Right. So, he definitely wasn't trying to hop the border now...
"Jean-Paul!" Tigra ran over to check on him but the border defenses got her too and she was unconscious and very much human-looking before she hit the floor.
This time Selene ducked further behind her cover, her eyebrows arched when she witnessed Tigra topple over, as well. "Stay here," she told Johnny.
Johnny nodded, fairly content with not moving any closer to the border, "I can do that."
The sound of a truck was roaring closer, coming up to the junk yard now.
"I can't see anyone," she whispered, spinning around when she heard the vehicle approach. "Guess we didn't stay unnoticed, after all."
She debated what to do. Tigra falling over like that had make it obvious that just running over to get them was no option - there was someone or something knocking them out just like that. "They're still alive," she told Johnny, sensing the two mutants life-force.
"Well, that's a plus," Johnny sighed. He was a bit noticeable like this, and now he lacked clothing... He debated which would attract more attention. On fire or naked? "So, what do we do?"
Two of the workers got out, heading for the border and..."We've got naked jumpers? Phil, what the hell is this shit?"
Phil did not know. "Maybe this disease adds crazy too...but she don't look tentacly, does she?" Both men stepped over the border, coming to nudge their finds.
Selene bit her lip when she saw the military truck approach from the wrong side of the border. "I'm not sure we can do anything from here," she whispered back.
Johnny made sure he was out of sight as the men climbed out of the truck, not exactly pleased with them nudging at Tigra. Well, or JP, he guessed. "Nothing comes to mind besides throwing junk..."
"I'd be all for this, but we could end up hurting the wrong one," Selene replied.
"Well, this'll give the guys at camp a thrill I guess." the cuffs came out and Phil toed Greer over, cuffing just in case she woke up and using it to lift her up as his partner in Federal Emergency did the same with Jean-Paul
"Before we do anything, we'll have to find out what knocked them out so easily," Selene told Johnny. "And possibly inform the others somehow."
He glanced over to Selene, "And, we're going to let them take Greer and JP?"
"I'm open for suggestions on how to accomplish that without getting knocked out ourselves or taking too long," Selene replied. "They were here quickly after we tried to cross the border, and no doubt there's more of them."
Their border jumpers now tossed in and locked away. FEMA Phil and Don were off, driving for their camp
Selene bit her lip again. "Well, so much for that," she muttered. "Hopefully they'll at least get some food wherever they're being taken now."
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
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Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
"Viarge..." Jean-Paul whined, cringing as he woke up. That had hurt...whatever that was. He blinked as he sat up, trying to collect his thoughts as he looked across from him to the other side of the truck. "...Huh, this isn't a situation I ever thought I'd be in."
Greer let out a groan as she stirred, she hurt all over. And she was cold. And the floor was hard... and moving... she sat up, "What the fuck?!"
"You said exactly what I was thinking." He admitted, looking about the truck. "I do believe that didn't go as planned. What happeend?"
"You passed out on the other side of the border... I went to see if you were okay and I guess I must've passed out too...." she shivered, why was she cold? She looked down at herself. Oh. "When did that happen...?" she shifted back into her fur. Better.
"I'd say that happened after I passed out." He sighed. "Well, we're still moving. I don't really want to be here when we stop, do you?"
"Not especially... it'll definately get worse than being handcuffed in a truck..." speaking of which... she pulled the cuffs off, the metal twisting and breaking. She tossed them to one side.
"Hm, good idea." Jean-Paul lifted his feet, putting the handcuffs in front of him now before vibrating his hands out, rubbing his wrists. "you're okay, right?"
She nodded, "I'm fine... healing mutation means I'm generally not down for long..."
"That must come in handy." He gave a bit of a chuckle, pulling himself to his feet and going to test the door and have a look out. "I don't think we've went far."
"It's pretty good... I get in trouble a lot..." she moved to the door, holding onto the wall, her tail flicking out behind her as she tried to keep her balance. "Well... far or not, it's not like I can't find my way back..."
"Wasn't doubting that." He clarified. "Just relieved we haven't made it through any checkpoints or whatever or have rendered ourselves brain damaged. Shall we?" he waved his hand at the door. "After you."
Tigra nodded, jumping out of the van and rolling when she hit the ground, digging her claws into the road to stop herself. She stood up and shook herself off. That was unpleasant.
Jean-Paul decided to just not hit the ground this time. The first time had hurt just enough to avoid a second time that day. He did let himself down by Tigra. "I imagine the others didn't stick around. We might as well get back to the school, yes?"
She nodded, "Yeah..." she looked around, scenting the air again and frowning a little. "Hope they're okay..."
He looked behind them at the truck still going none the wiser. "Well, there isn't another truck so if they'd bring them to the same place they weren't captured. Maybe they didn't cross."
"Well I'd hope that watching us get whatevered unconscious would put them off the idea of following us..."
"Indeed. Hopefully they've went back to warn the others...I suppose getting in won't be near as difficult as getting out."
"I hope not... that'd be annoying... and kinda pointless...."
"Well, it's not like anyone's in a big rush to get into a quarantined city...hopefully at least we don't pass out the second we get on the other side at least."
"Yeah but that's assuming the barrier discriminates between in and out..." she shrugged a little, "We'll work it out when we get there."
"Indeed we shall." He started walking, glancing back to keep an eye on the truck to make sure that it didn't double back.
She sighed, "I wish it wasn't so damned cold... then I could not look so obviously different..." she was worried about people turning up out of nowhere and giving them the third degree about why they were heading for the city, but if they were obviously mutants they might skip the questioning part.
"They might notice you being naked as well. Though then you'd only be arrested for public indecency and I don't think we should get you arrested by anyone two times in one day."
"I don't mind being naked... and I'm sure they wouldn't complain that loudly..."
"Depends on who you ask I suppose but I'd always heard that was a stricter problem south of the border, overly puritanical roots and everything."
"Yeah... ew religion..." she shook her head, "I did away with that as soon as possible."
The truck was well away now so Jean-Paul allowed himself to relax as they made their way. "I don't have a big problem with religion...some people in them, sure."
"Most of it frowns on anything and everything I get up to.... better for everyone if I just pretend it doesn't exist."
"Would you believe I'm Catholic?" Ahh, yes, this was looking familiar. "See any sign of the border?"
"... No I would not." she laughed a little then turned her attention to the road ahead, "Hmm...."
"Well, not a good one nor one that pays much attention but I've never bothered actively not being one so I suppose that puts me in some form of limbo."
"Mmhmm... they tend to frown on the guys humping guys thing too...."
"What can I say, I think the Pope's hat is bitching."
She laughed, "Imagine the kind of stuff you could hide in there...."
"Oh yes, you could hide small children..."
Tigra cracked up again and gave him a shove, a little harder than she meant to because she forgot herself, "You're terrible!"
Jean-Paul fell over and just sort of rolled, amused and laughing. "I'm delightful."
"Oh so that's what they call it these days?" she put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow at him and smirking a little.
He just lay there, nodding. "Yes. I am up to date on the latest lingo. I am hip to all sorts of jive."
"Oh stop talking before you embarass yourself." She offered him a hand up.
"I never embarass myself." He gladly took the hand up though. "That's part of my charm."
"Uh huh... sure..." she patted him a little.
He cracked the largest grin he could manage at that, popping his nose up in the air and sauntered. "One of the many pieces to my charm puzzle."
She laughed, "You're such a dork..."
"You're finding a lot of the pieces, aren't you now?" He stopped short as he found one of the pegs marking the border. "Well...should we hop over it or what?"
"I don't know..." she chewed her lip, sniffing at the peg a little before she realised what she was doing. Damned feral. "Guess we just... try?"
"...I could fly us up. I mean this thing has to have some sort of range on it."
"And if it doesn't? I'll be fine but you probably bruisse..."
Another thing occured to him. "What if we just didn't use our powers?"
".... I'd have to be naked for that....."
"Well, as much as that might pain me, I'm all ready plenty bruised passing out mid-run and I'd rather not fall to my doom...so I'll live with nudity."
"Okay... but it's fucking freezing I hope you know...." She had to take a moment to prepare herself for that.
"I'll not make pointed comments, promise."
"Better not..." she ran a hand through her hair and shifted out of her fur, stepping over the boundary. She put a hand out to steady herself on the otherside and groaned a little. That didn't feel nice at all. Also... COLD. She shifted back into her fur.
As Jean-Paul stepped over he could feel his stomach turn inside out. Suddenly that particular organ felt very...fuzzy. "Christ, that.." He thought better of talking as that fuzzy feeling crept up from his stomach with a foul taste, making his eyes water as he stumbled sideways.
"That was horrible...." Tigra finished for him, recovering a little faster. She caught him as he stumbled, "Come on, let's get out of here..."
He felt it was better not to speak, just nodding and regretting it as he focused on putting one foot in front of the other, completely disoriented.
Tigra steered them away from the boundary and off the main road just to be on the safe side, holding JP upright until he was able to manage on his own.
"Yeah, yeah, horrible about covers it." Still green, Jean-Paul found his voice a moment before finding his feet, shaking it off and walking properly albeit a bit swervy. "Think I'm going to go sleep that off when we get home."
"Good idea... you don't smell very well... or look it...."
"And that's absolutely tragic. I must fix that and return to my typical glory."
"And spectacular campness..." Tigra nodded, "Although that seems to have blossomed in your discomfort."
"It's not camp if it's the truth...and it's simply a stiff upper lip when in discomfort, works quite well for me."
"Yeah yeah, I believe you."
"Plus I have to recover from the shock of waking up handcuffed with nude girly bits nearby. It's a bit of a surprise."
She laughed, "Aww, did I offend your delicate homo sensibilities?"
"More the moment before my head caught up with what was happening. That was a scary half-second."
She laughed harder, "Oh wow... no offense... but no.... never."
"How can I be offended? It'd be a terrible thing to happen."
"Well you're so sure you're all attractive and all of that... I was worried you might not appreciate someone saying you're not...."
"Oh I know I am. I don't need any validation."
"If you say so.... you're just not my type I guess.... too girly... and not in a good way." she grinned.
"...how am I girly?" Now that did earn a bit of the stink eye.
"It amazes me that you even have to ask that question," she raised an eyebrow at him, "Do you not listen to yourself when you talk?"
"I am not girly."
"If you say so..."
"Of course I say so. I enjoy being right." He did smile again at that, glad as the buildings started to look more familiar.
"Aww you're so deluded it's adorable." She ruffled his hair.
"I prefer enlightened."
She laughed, "You're not bald or fat enough for that title."
"You'll see the light one day, not to worry." He patted her back. "Maybe after the zombo plague."
"I just hope there is an 'after'...."
The smile did slip a little as Jean-Paul nodded. "Yeah, have to hope for that...at least it's not spread out of the city."
"Yeah... I just wish there'd been some news on how it was spreading or if they have a cure or what... it's just... nothing... I hate that.... And I hate that they're blaming mutants... why are we always the go to response?"
"Scapegoat and fear, happens anytime something like this coincides with bad blood towards any minority."
"Doesn't make it okay...." she frowned, "It's not like we need any help at being unpopular..."
"God no, it's the farthest thing from being okay. Makes me want to slap people with two-by-fours to tell the truth."
"Yes because that would really help our image..."
"It'd be nice though. Don't take that away from me."
"Oh yeah... it'd be amazingly theraputic.... just make sure there's no cameras nearby and you're set."
"We could take up baseball."
"And aim at anti-mutant types? I bet I could hit them pretty hard even from a distance..."
"And straight out of the ballpark?"
"Yeah... or just in the ballsack..."
Greer let out a groan as she stirred, she hurt all over. And she was cold. And the floor was hard... and moving... she sat up, "What the fuck?!"
"You said exactly what I was thinking." He admitted, looking about the truck. "I do believe that didn't go as planned. What happeend?"
"You passed out on the other side of the border... I went to see if you were okay and I guess I must've passed out too...." she shivered, why was she cold? She looked down at herself. Oh. "When did that happen...?" she shifted back into her fur. Better.
"I'd say that happened after I passed out." He sighed. "Well, we're still moving. I don't really want to be here when we stop, do you?"
"Not especially... it'll definately get worse than being handcuffed in a truck..." speaking of which... she pulled the cuffs off, the metal twisting and breaking. She tossed them to one side.
"Hm, good idea." Jean-Paul lifted his feet, putting the handcuffs in front of him now before vibrating his hands out, rubbing his wrists. "you're okay, right?"
She nodded, "I'm fine... healing mutation means I'm generally not down for long..."
"That must come in handy." He gave a bit of a chuckle, pulling himself to his feet and going to test the door and have a look out. "I don't think we've went far."
"It's pretty good... I get in trouble a lot..." she moved to the door, holding onto the wall, her tail flicking out behind her as she tried to keep her balance. "Well... far or not, it's not like I can't find my way back..."
"Wasn't doubting that." He clarified. "Just relieved we haven't made it through any checkpoints or whatever or have rendered ourselves brain damaged. Shall we?" he waved his hand at the door. "After you."
Tigra nodded, jumping out of the van and rolling when she hit the ground, digging her claws into the road to stop herself. She stood up and shook herself off. That was unpleasant.
Jean-Paul decided to just not hit the ground this time. The first time had hurt just enough to avoid a second time that day. He did let himself down by Tigra. "I imagine the others didn't stick around. We might as well get back to the school, yes?"
She nodded, "Yeah..." she looked around, scenting the air again and frowning a little. "Hope they're okay..."
He looked behind them at the truck still going none the wiser. "Well, there isn't another truck so if they'd bring them to the same place they weren't captured. Maybe they didn't cross."
"Well I'd hope that watching us get whatevered unconscious would put them off the idea of following us..."
"Indeed. Hopefully they've went back to warn the others...I suppose getting in won't be near as difficult as getting out."
"I hope not... that'd be annoying... and kinda pointless...."
"Well, it's not like anyone's in a big rush to get into a quarantined city...hopefully at least we don't pass out the second we get on the other side at least."
"Yeah but that's assuming the barrier discriminates between in and out..." she shrugged a little, "We'll work it out when we get there."
"Indeed we shall." He started walking, glancing back to keep an eye on the truck to make sure that it didn't double back.
She sighed, "I wish it wasn't so damned cold... then I could not look so obviously different..." she was worried about people turning up out of nowhere and giving them the third degree about why they were heading for the city, but if they were obviously mutants they might skip the questioning part.
"They might notice you being naked as well. Though then you'd only be arrested for public indecency and I don't think we should get you arrested by anyone two times in one day."
"I don't mind being naked... and I'm sure they wouldn't complain that loudly..."
"Depends on who you ask I suppose but I'd always heard that was a stricter problem south of the border, overly puritanical roots and everything."
"Yeah... ew religion..." she shook her head, "I did away with that as soon as possible."
The truck was well away now so Jean-Paul allowed himself to relax as they made their way. "I don't have a big problem with religion...some people in them, sure."
"Most of it frowns on anything and everything I get up to.... better for everyone if I just pretend it doesn't exist."
"Would you believe I'm Catholic?" Ahh, yes, this was looking familiar. "See any sign of the border?"
"... No I would not." she laughed a little then turned her attention to the road ahead, "Hmm...."
"Well, not a good one nor one that pays much attention but I've never bothered actively not being one so I suppose that puts me in some form of limbo."
"Mmhmm... they tend to frown on the guys humping guys thing too...."
"What can I say, I think the Pope's hat is bitching."
She laughed, "Imagine the kind of stuff you could hide in there...."
"Oh yes, you could hide small children..."
Tigra cracked up again and gave him a shove, a little harder than she meant to because she forgot herself, "You're terrible!"
Jean-Paul fell over and just sort of rolled, amused and laughing. "I'm delightful."
"Oh so that's what they call it these days?" she put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow at him and smirking a little.
He just lay there, nodding. "Yes. I am up to date on the latest lingo. I am hip to all sorts of jive."
"Oh stop talking before you embarass yourself." She offered him a hand up.
"I never embarass myself." He gladly took the hand up though. "That's part of my charm."
"Uh huh... sure..." she patted him a little.
He cracked the largest grin he could manage at that, popping his nose up in the air and sauntered. "One of the many pieces to my charm puzzle."
She laughed, "You're such a dork..."
"You're finding a lot of the pieces, aren't you now?" He stopped short as he found one of the pegs marking the border. "Well...should we hop over it or what?"
"I don't know..." she chewed her lip, sniffing at the peg a little before she realised what she was doing. Damned feral. "Guess we just... try?"
"...I could fly us up. I mean this thing has to have some sort of range on it."
"And if it doesn't? I'll be fine but you probably bruisse..."
Another thing occured to him. "What if we just didn't use our powers?"
".... I'd have to be naked for that....."
"Well, as much as that might pain me, I'm all ready plenty bruised passing out mid-run and I'd rather not fall to my doom...so I'll live with nudity."
"Okay... but it's fucking freezing I hope you know...." She had to take a moment to prepare herself for that.
"I'll not make pointed comments, promise."
"Better not..." she ran a hand through her hair and shifted out of her fur, stepping over the boundary. She put a hand out to steady herself on the otherside and groaned a little. That didn't feel nice at all. Also... COLD. She shifted back into her fur.
As Jean-Paul stepped over he could feel his stomach turn inside out. Suddenly that particular organ felt very...fuzzy. "Christ, that.." He thought better of talking as that fuzzy feeling crept up from his stomach with a foul taste, making his eyes water as he stumbled sideways.
"That was horrible...." Tigra finished for him, recovering a little faster. She caught him as he stumbled, "Come on, let's get out of here..."
He felt it was better not to speak, just nodding and regretting it as he focused on putting one foot in front of the other, completely disoriented.
Tigra steered them away from the boundary and off the main road just to be on the safe side, holding JP upright until he was able to manage on his own.
"Yeah, yeah, horrible about covers it." Still green, Jean-Paul found his voice a moment before finding his feet, shaking it off and walking properly albeit a bit swervy. "Think I'm going to go sleep that off when we get home."
"Good idea... you don't smell very well... or look it...."
"And that's absolutely tragic. I must fix that and return to my typical glory."
"And spectacular campness..." Tigra nodded, "Although that seems to have blossomed in your discomfort."
"It's not camp if it's the truth...and it's simply a stiff upper lip when in discomfort, works quite well for me."
"Yeah yeah, I believe you."
"Plus I have to recover from the shock of waking up handcuffed with nude girly bits nearby. It's a bit of a surprise."
She laughed, "Aww, did I offend your delicate homo sensibilities?"
"More the moment before my head caught up with what was happening. That was a scary half-second."
She laughed harder, "Oh wow... no offense... but no.... never."
"How can I be offended? It'd be a terrible thing to happen."
"Well you're so sure you're all attractive and all of that... I was worried you might not appreciate someone saying you're not...."
"Oh I know I am. I don't need any validation."
"If you say so.... you're just not my type I guess.... too girly... and not in a good way." she grinned.
"...how am I girly?" Now that did earn a bit of the stink eye.
"It amazes me that you even have to ask that question," she raised an eyebrow at him, "Do you not listen to yourself when you talk?"
"I am not girly."
"If you say so..."
"Of course I say so. I enjoy being right." He did smile again at that, glad as the buildings started to look more familiar.
"Aww you're so deluded it's adorable." She ruffled his hair.
"I prefer enlightened."
She laughed, "You're not bald or fat enough for that title."
"You'll see the light one day, not to worry." He patted her back. "Maybe after the zombo plague."
"I just hope there is an 'after'...."
The smile did slip a little as Jean-Paul nodded. "Yeah, have to hope for that...at least it's not spread out of the city."
"Yeah... I just wish there'd been some news on how it was spreading or if they have a cure or what... it's just... nothing... I hate that.... And I hate that they're blaming mutants... why are we always the go to response?"
"Scapegoat and fear, happens anytime something like this coincides with bad blood towards any minority."
"Doesn't make it okay...." she frowned, "It's not like we need any help at being unpopular..."
"God no, it's the farthest thing from being okay. Makes me want to slap people with two-by-fours to tell the truth."
"Yes because that would really help our image..."
"It'd be nice though. Don't take that away from me."
"Oh yeah... it'd be amazingly theraputic.... just make sure there's no cameras nearby and you're set."
"We could take up baseball."
"And aim at anti-mutant types? I bet I could hit them pretty hard even from a distance..."
"And straight out of the ballpark?"
"Yeah... or just in the ballsack..."
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Finding a crazy pink girl should be easy. Finding one who could pop through portals though was no easy task and Jean-Paul was beginning to become discouraged as he slumped through the alley to the main street, casting quick glances left and right in search for anything that looked like a tentacle.
Monet hit a looter over the head and tossed him out the door of her favorite boutique. This was her store, thank you very much. "And stay out!" Monet flinched as she noticed a man rounding the corner as the looter was already mid-flight. "Oops."
Aaaand now was a good time to be on the other corner of the sidewalk. Jean-Paul was out of the way and looking around, expecting to see a portal closing where the looter had appeared from but there was nothing. Then he looked around for the source of the voice.
And all of a sudden the red and yellow aura'd man turned into an orange blur and was across the street. "Unimpressed."
"I'm sorry, was I to catch him?" Well, she was definitely not a pink girl dressed like Robin Hood and Green Arrow had the love child the later always wanted.
"No. You were supposed to be hit by him." Monet turned and started looking around the shop for something that would catch her eye.
"I'm sorry to have ruined your evening of people bowling. You know, if you head on down to the food stores there are zombos basically in wait for stupid people coming in for supplies. I bet you could do all sorts of bowling there."
"I could. But I'm not a stupid person. So people bowling will have to stay at 5th avenue." She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Why are you still across the street if you insist on talking to me?"
"Who's around to hear us?" He laughed but did pop right back over. "Because, frankly, I don't really think the tentacle people are that much on gossip."
"Maybe not. But they might be keen on the fact that looters might come near high-end stores like this one." Monet immediately cracked a grin at what she said, "That would be amusing if they were that intelligent." She turned to him and offered her hand, back of it up, "Monet St. Croix. And you are?"
"I think a few things have made looters nervous, though they might be tempted enough." He shrugged, taking and shaking the offered hand. "Jean-Paul Martin. I thought that must be who you were."
Monet frowned as he shook her hand. Obviously he had no chivalry. "Oh? How did you know?"
"People at school talk? Surely you weren't away long enough to forget that."
"Of course not. But it doesn't explain how you knew what I looked like. People hate me there, so surely they weren't showing off pictures."
"Unfamiliar person throwing around people but feels the need to make conversation? Unless there are some subsect of New York mutants not living it up on their own island at the moment I should know about?"
Monet smirked at the description of herself. "I quite like that description. So you go to Xavier's then?"
"Yes, my sister and I." He nodded. "The students that came for recruitment aided in removing her from the nunnery she was studying at."
"Nunnery?" Monet barely managed to hold back a snicker. "What kind of fun is there to be found at a nunnery?"
"Absolutely none I would imagine."
He couldn't help but brustle slightly at the amused look on her face but he triedk to keep it in check.
"So then she was there because...?" Monet just couldn't understand why someone would willingly choose to be at a nunnery if they didn't think it would be fun.
"well, my aunt and uncle were offered a scholarship for her when we were starting school." He decided she didn't need to know the financial details that went into that choice.
"How depressing for her. Is she thrilled to be somewhere with men?"
"Who on earth wouldn't be?" It was an automatic response.
Monet arched an eyebrow at that, "Most straight men, I suppose."
"Well, I don't generally worry about that type. I find they're much more trouble than they're worth."
"Agreed. Have you met Jason yet?" Wait. He'd said no to three-somes. Damn. "Or Pietro? Pietro's quite fun to play with even though he is indeed straight."
"I'm afraid I've not met this Jason though he's hired a friend of mine. Pietro I am well acquainted with but I don't really need to look for anyone else to fill any timeslots so will just avoid any straight confusion there. Plus I'd have to have more to do with Illyana than I'd feel comfortable with, that's for certain."
"Oh? Who has he hired? And for what purpose?" Monet frowned. This whole 'mind privacy' thing she did for him didn't work so well when he kept things from her...
"Reed, suppose you've not met him yet though. He's pretty bad about keeping to himself, not the most social of creatures but absolutely brilliant."
"Interesting." Monet made a mental note to find this person and play a game of matching intelligence. "So why are you on abandoned 5th Avenue, then?"
"Looking for someone actually. I don't suppose you've seen a crazed pink girl who thinks she's Supergirl or some such thing?"
"No. Shall I let her know she's being hunted by a non-tentacle person if perhaps I do happen upon her?"
"I suppose she's gone off by now anyway. She's not likely to stay any place long, even if she does have looters to defend against."
"Is she a friend of yours?"
He nodded. "Something like that anyway. She helped me out a few years back. Didn't really expect to run into her again though."
"And now that you have? What are you going to do when you find her?"
"Well, I'm not quite positive." He admitted, nudging a bit of gravel with his toe ahead of him. "I would try to talk her into staying at the school but she isn't one that generally stays in one place. At least, she wasn't the last time I met her."
"So when she turns you down, which she will, what will you have to talk to her about then?"
He gave her a funny look at the 'which she will'; quirking an eyebrow high. "Well, we are friends of a sort so I suppose we'll talk about whatever it is we wish."
"You don't expect that she'll just leave on you like she has in the past?"
"The leaving isn't a rude leaving, just going on her way." He shrugged again. "I imagine she'll be on her way soon enough, probably once there's not any looters around to try and be a superhero about."
"Why would anyone want to be a superhero about looters? Why not just let them do what they will? Unless of course what they will is what you want."
"Some people have this altruistic streak to them."
Monet made a face at that, "Yes, I know. I never understand people like that."
"I used to have the same problem but I got over it I suppose."
"The same as her? Because I have no problems what-so-ever." She gave a sweet smile and turned to slip a diamond bracelet on and admire it.
"...yeah, I'm sure you don't, sweetheart." The tone was pleasant but obviously fake sentiment all the way through.
Monet arched an eyebrow and looked at him over her shoulder. "I think we're done now. Au revoir then."
"À la prochaine. Jetez les pillards attentivement."
((Until next time. Throw the looters carefully.))
"Jamais." Monet grinned at him.
((Never.))
Monet hit a looter over the head and tossed him out the door of her favorite boutique. This was her store, thank you very much. "And stay out!" Monet flinched as she noticed a man rounding the corner as the looter was already mid-flight. "Oops."
Aaaand now was a good time to be on the other corner of the sidewalk. Jean-Paul was out of the way and looking around, expecting to see a portal closing where the looter had appeared from but there was nothing. Then he looked around for the source of the voice.
And all of a sudden the red and yellow aura'd man turned into an orange blur and was across the street. "Unimpressed."
"I'm sorry, was I to catch him?" Well, she was definitely not a pink girl dressed like Robin Hood and Green Arrow had the love child the later always wanted.
"No. You were supposed to be hit by him." Monet turned and started looking around the shop for something that would catch her eye.
"I'm sorry to have ruined your evening of people bowling. You know, if you head on down to the food stores there are zombos basically in wait for stupid people coming in for supplies. I bet you could do all sorts of bowling there."
"I could. But I'm not a stupid person. So people bowling will have to stay at 5th avenue." She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Why are you still across the street if you insist on talking to me?"
"Who's around to hear us?" He laughed but did pop right back over. "Because, frankly, I don't really think the tentacle people are that much on gossip."
"Maybe not. But they might be keen on the fact that looters might come near high-end stores like this one." Monet immediately cracked a grin at what she said, "That would be amusing if they were that intelligent." She turned to him and offered her hand, back of it up, "Monet St. Croix. And you are?"
"I think a few things have made looters nervous, though they might be tempted enough." He shrugged, taking and shaking the offered hand. "Jean-Paul Martin. I thought that must be who you were."
Monet frowned as he shook her hand. Obviously he had no chivalry. "Oh? How did you know?"
"People at school talk? Surely you weren't away long enough to forget that."
"Of course not. But it doesn't explain how you knew what I looked like. People hate me there, so surely they weren't showing off pictures."
"Unfamiliar person throwing around people but feels the need to make conversation? Unless there are some subsect of New York mutants not living it up on their own island at the moment I should know about?"
Monet smirked at the description of herself. "I quite like that description. So you go to Xavier's then?"
"Yes, my sister and I." He nodded. "The students that came for recruitment aided in removing her from the nunnery she was studying at."
"Nunnery?" Monet barely managed to hold back a snicker. "What kind of fun is there to be found at a nunnery?"
"Absolutely none I would imagine."
He couldn't help but brustle slightly at the amused look on her face but he triedk to keep it in check.
"So then she was there because...?" Monet just couldn't understand why someone would willingly choose to be at a nunnery if they didn't think it would be fun.
"well, my aunt and uncle were offered a scholarship for her when we were starting school." He decided she didn't need to know the financial details that went into that choice.
"How depressing for her. Is she thrilled to be somewhere with men?"
"Who on earth wouldn't be?" It was an automatic response.
Monet arched an eyebrow at that, "Most straight men, I suppose."
"Well, I don't generally worry about that type. I find they're much more trouble than they're worth."
"Agreed. Have you met Jason yet?" Wait. He'd said no to three-somes. Damn. "Or Pietro? Pietro's quite fun to play with even though he is indeed straight."
"I'm afraid I've not met this Jason though he's hired a friend of mine. Pietro I am well acquainted with but I don't really need to look for anyone else to fill any timeslots so will just avoid any straight confusion there. Plus I'd have to have more to do with Illyana than I'd feel comfortable with, that's for certain."
"Oh? Who has he hired? And for what purpose?" Monet frowned. This whole 'mind privacy' thing she did for him didn't work so well when he kept things from her...
"Reed, suppose you've not met him yet though. He's pretty bad about keeping to himself, not the most social of creatures but absolutely brilliant."
"Interesting." Monet made a mental note to find this person and play a game of matching intelligence. "So why are you on abandoned 5th Avenue, then?"
"Looking for someone actually. I don't suppose you've seen a crazed pink girl who thinks she's Supergirl or some such thing?"
"No. Shall I let her know she's being hunted by a non-tentacle person if perhaps I do happen upon her?"
"I suppose she's gone off by now anyway. She's not likely to stay any place long, even if she does have looters to defend against."
"Is she a friend of yours?"
He nodded. "Something like that anyway. She helped me out a few years back. Didn't really expect to run into her again though."
"And now that you have? What are you going to do when you find her?"
"Well, I'm not quite positive." He admitted, nudging a bit of gravel with his toe ahead of him. "I would try to talk her into staying at the school but she isn't one that generally stays in one place. At least, she wasn't the last time I met her."
"So when she turns you down, which she will, what will you have to talk to her about then?"
He gave her a funny look at the 'which she will'; quirking an eyebrow high. "Well, we are friends of a sort so I suppose we'll talk about whatever it is we wish."
"You don't expect that she'll just leave on you like she has in the past?"
"The leaving isn't a rude leaving, just going on her way." He shrugged again. "I imagine she'll be on her way soon enough, probably once there's not any looters around to try and be a superhero about."
"Why would anyone want to be a superhero about looters? Why not just let them do what they will? Unless of course what they will is what you want."
"Some people have this altruistic streak to them."
Monet made a face at that, "Yes, I know. I never understand people like that."
"I used to have the same problem but I got over it I suppose."
"The same as her? Because I have no problems what-so-ever." She gave a sweet smile and turned to slip a diamond bracelet on and admire it.
"...yeah, I'm sure you don't, sweetheart." The tone was pleasant but obviously fake sentiment all the way through.
Monet arched an eyebrow and looked at him over her shoulder. "I think we're done now. Au revoir then."
"À la prochaine. Jetez les pillards attentivement."
((Until next time. Throw the looters carefully.))
"Jamais." Monet grinned at him.
((Never.))
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Rogue sat in a chair at the table, looking out the window at the stone she had put in place for Sam. It had been over a year now. She looked down at the magazine on the table and turned the page as she took a bite of her apple. It was empty and quiet in the kitchen. Just how she liked it. She glanced up at the ceiling then back down at the magazine without even blinking.
It wasn't empty for long though. Jean-Paul came in on a mission, and that mission was to cook some pasta as he was definitely running low on carbs and such and that was one of the quickest pick-me-ups he knew how to make. He was in and to the stove before he realized he wasn't alone. He glanced over, nodding to Rogue though she wasn't someone he had spoken too too terrible much. "Hello there."
Rogue looked up with just her eyes. Why was someone here? She managed to nod back though, "Hey."
Oh yeah, that's why not many of his year knew Rogue too well as far as Jean-Paul knew, standoffish and monosyllabic. Still, silence, it had to be filled! "Um, would you like some pasta?"
"Nope." Rogue held up her apple and waved it a bit without looking up at him again. Maybe he would go away soon without saying much more to her...
"Ah, all right then." Rogue 1, Jean-Paul 0. I'm definitely losing at this. Unfortunately he had to actually wait for the water to boil before he could even put his pasta on to cook so Rogue was going to be stuck with him for a while. "So what are you up to?"
Rogue closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath then opened them and closed her magazine all at once, finally fully looking up at him. "Nothin' now."
"Okay then." Rogue was definitely getting some side-eye for that. "I'll just stay over here then. Won't interrupt your stoic mopery anymore. Don't mind me."
"Ain't mopin'. Readin'." She took a bite of her apple and opened the magazine back up to make the point.
"Right, fine." Siiiide-eye. "Anything interesting?"
"Nope." Rogue took another bite of the apple then tossed it past Jean-Paul and into the garbage can. "Ain't y'all gonna get out tha pasta f'r when tha water's boilin'?"
"I had considered it. It generally doesn't taste near as nice if you skip that step." He watched the apple sail over, not sure what to make of this person at all.
"Then y' should do that then." Rogue got up and went to the sink for a glass of water, avoiding walking directly under where Sam had died.
The side-eye was now looking more than a little perturbed and Jean-Paul moved noisily to get the mentioned pasta out.
Rogue filled the glass and drank as she looked blankly out the window over the sink. She waited for a moment to see if he would quiet down then turned to look at him, "Could y' do that with a lil more respect f'r tha other people in tha room? In other words: Quietly?"
"Are you really going to school me on politeness? Really?" Yep, there came the stink eye. Jean-Paul poured the pasta in as loudly as anyone could manage. "Pardon me for attempting to get to know someone I hadn't had the chance to talk to all this time. Be unresponsive all you want but if you're about to try to lecture me on that it's the pot and the kettle I believe."
"Ah've not done a damned thing ta get in y'all's way'r bother ya at all. So don't y'all turn this 'round an' try ta make it like me bein' quiet an' not real social is tha same thing as y'all disturbin' tha peace with tha loudest bag o' noodles ever."
"Oh no, you haven't been a snooty thing over there at all. Never you mind, I've no intentions of bothering you with any company ever again. You don't need to worry a thing about pleasantries from me."
"Since when has anyone ever had a problem with a person keepin' ta themselves? An' where tha hell do ya get off talkin' back ta staff that way?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you graduating meant I had to take shit from you" He reached over, grabbing a napkin and holding it out for her. "I assume you intend to wipe."
"Sugah, it ain't shit ya takin' from me. 'Cause Ah didn't bother yall. It was y'all who bothered me." Rogue glared at the napkin and wanted to step up to get in his face but hesitated as it meant she'd have to cross the kitchen under the spot she hated and wouldn't. "Why don't ya use that ta clean up tha mess ya makin' from tha water boilin over?"
"Oh, so now you're going to tell me when I'm bothered? This must be why I see you alone all the time, too unpleasant to be tolerated." The mess was cleaned up in speed, Jean-Paul gaining his spot right back, arms crossed and just waiting for her.
"Why tha hell does it bother ya that Ah like ta keep ta mahself? It's mah business. Not y'alls. An' Ah'd thank ya kindly ta remember that."
"Keep to yourself all you want, when you're rude about it, however, don't be surprised when I'm rude right back. And I had always heard southerners were supposed to be hospitable."
"If y'all'd left me alone, Ah wouldn't had ta be rude ta make ya do so." She smirked, "We're plenty hospitable, sugah. But we're also some o' tha meanest when ya piss us off."
"Maybe you should invest in a sign. I imagine Penny has a spare chalkboard." he smirked right back.
"Maybe y'all should know not ta poke a sleepin' bear."
"I'm terribly sorry, I mistook you for human. I see I was in error."
"Yeah, there's where ya wrong. Ah ain't been 'human' in a while. But if y'all would listen when people talk an' whisper 'bout mah bad moods in tha halls, ya would know that."
"I tend not to listen to gossip." He arched an eyebrow at the human debate though but decided that was another discussion. "Maybe you should take midol for that and people won't have to whisper."
"Ah don't give a damn if they whisper so long as they leave me alone." She glared, "This ain't a Midol problem anyhow."
"My apologies again, I'm still sure they make a pill for you. Maybe a few."
"Ain't no pill in tha world can get rid o' this an' Ah don't want it gone anyhow. So thanks f'r ya opinions, but now ya should just leave well enough alone an' eat ya lunch."
"And what is 'this'? Have the voices you use to keep you company in your head had a mutiny or something?" He stepped out from what he didn't realize was his protective zone, back to the stove to tend his food.
"Ah tried ta warn ya politely not ta backtalk me. Shut ya trap 'fore Ah shut it f'r ya."
"Oh yes, staff violence, I'm sure [i[that's[/i} tolerated."
"Ah really don't give a shit what's tolerated an' haven't in a little over a year. Like Ah said: if ya listened ta what people say, y'all'd know that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, as it turns out my existence here hasn't revolved about learning about you and you can be well assured it won't after this."
"Good. How 'bout we keep it that way an' start now?" She moved back to sit at the table again, sidestepping around the spot on the ceiling once more.
Jean-Paul, not knowing about the spot at all, saw that as her avoiding him entirely. "What? Am I so repugnant you have to walk around me? Afraid I'm going to wig out and dump the pasta water on you or something? I have better social grace than that though I suppose it's a novel idea to you."
Rogue looked completely confused about that and stared at him in silence for a moment, "What?"
"I believe I insinuated your social charms are primative and might involve you going 'Me am Smashy!'"
"They ain't primative. Ah just don't care much f'r people. That would include y'all by tha way. In case ya were wonderin'."
"I can't imagine too many people care for you either. I can't imagine how with this evidence."
Rogue glared at him silently for a minute then turned and looked out the window at Sam's stone, ignoring Jean-Paul.
He wasn't looking at her as he got his plate together. "I'll be sure to warn any innocent person away from talking with you. You can thank me however you like."
"That'd be grand. Thanks. Now if there's nothin' else ya needed?" She gestured at the door for him then looked back out the window.
"Well, maybe I thought I'd eat in the kitchen." He looked up, giving her the smartest of looks.
Rogue looked at him fully and gave him a blank face. "Well, maybe Ah thought y'all'd keep ya word an' get out o' mah hair."
"I don't see that you have any say over where I eat. Or is that why the ceiling had to be patched?"
Rogue felt her heart stop for a second and her eyes burned with angry tears as her jaw clenched. "Shut ya trap."
"Pushed someone's head through and just left them there kicking 'Noo, I'm sorry, I'll never make a joke about your hair again!'"
With that, Rogue dove over the table, tackling Jean-Paul to the ground, "Ah said shut it!" She slapped her bare hand to his face and held it there.
What in the sheer fuckery? Jean-Paul did not understand this. There was bitchy and then there was flat out crazy. There was no doubt which this was but it should just be a quick zip over...oh...well...that was a problem.
"Ya cain't run away from me if Ah want ya t' be gotten. Ah fly just as fast as ya run. Remember that."
What the fuck? No she doesn't. Oh...wait...now she would. That's right, that's what she did. Jean-Paul's thoughts were slowing down pretty swiftly along with his struggling.
Rogue grinned as his eyes closed and his body went limp. He was still breathing so that was good. Then she realized where she was and she zipped over away from it, pressing herself to the wall and breathing heavily. Rogue closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing just as she got all of his memories in her head. She slammed up a wall as fast as she could, not wanting to deal with it just at the moment.
When she felt like she'd stopped shaking from being under the spot on the ceiling, she went back to her seat and was glad to see him still on the floor. Good. Gained her silence for a while. She opened her magazine back up and started reading where she'd left off.
Jean-Paul simply slid down flat onto the floor, completely out and limp as can be.
Rogue finished the article and went to the fridge to get some grapes, glancing over her shoulder at the lump on the floor before going back to her chair with a bowl of the aforementioned fruit.
It took a good while for Jean-Paul to move, rolling over and curling up into a ball, piecing together what exactly had happened with a deep grumble.
Rogue blinked at the noise then frowned with a sigh. Damnit. He woke up sooner than she wanted. "G'mornin'."
He sat up, rubbing his face and looked up at the voice. Oh lovely. "So you're who does that."
"Who else did ya think did it?"
"I didn't really think it important enough to ask around. Didn't figure I needed to research everyone's powers in the school."
Rogue zipped over to the sink, got him a glass of water and set it as close to him as she could manage without getting under the spot, then went back to sit down.
"Well now ya know."
"Thank you." He took the water. "Handy powers, that, though I suggest you don't use it to get over the quarantine border, doesn't work."
"Ah don't leave tha mansion much, so no worries there." She nodded at the water, "Welcome. Ya gonna leave me alone now?"
"It might take me a moment." He answered quite truthfully, still firmly seated on the floor. "Well, at least I'm not cuffed and with some nude tiger girl in the back of a truck again."
"Maybe ya shoulda been more careful then."
He arched an eyebrow high at that. "Really?"
"Yeah really. Disable tha tech 'fore ya go in. Or take someone with ya who knows how if y'all don't."
"Except for the part where nobody knew it existed?" He tested, then arched an eyebrow. "...you know that now, hmm?"
Rogue sighed, "That's why ya always check everything 'bout the place ya goin'. Case tha place. Even tha city borders. Every single nook'n cranny."
"And we're supposed to magically know what it looks like too, eh? I'll keep in mind to be magic next time."
"Anythin' that looks suspiscious... Or even if it doesn't... Check it out." Are these new kids learning nothing in their training classes?
"I'm so terribly sorry to have failed you." His eyes rolled hard again. "If only your powers worked in reverse so I might be as flawlessly perfect as you."
"Ah never said Ah was perfect. But ya really should pay attention in class. 'Cause that was a rookie mistake."
"And exactly how does one case 'out of the city' without being picked up for nosing around anyway? Teach me, kemosabe."
"Well obviously ya know how not to. So maybe Ah should just let ya try again an' see if ya can do it better."
"I could always watch and learn."
"Sure ya could. If ya had any interest in bein' around me. So why don't ya just go off an' find someone who can show ya how that ain't me so y' don't have ta be 'round mah 'unpleasant' self. An' don't worry 'bout ya powers. They'll be back in 'bout an hour'r so, give'r take a few minutes."
"Oh dear, have I wounded your delicate senses?" Picking himself up off of the floor, Jean-Paul just grabbed a loaf of bread, deciding he deserved it.
Rogue laughed, "Oh hell no. Ah ain't that delicate, sugah. But thanks f'r tha laugh."
"Then sound less butthurt about it." He opened the bread up, eating away.
"Butthurt? Really?" Rogue rolled her eyes, "Sugah, get a new vocabulary."
"I find it quite accurate for your general demeanor from what I've seen of it. I use the word that fits the situation."
"Mah general demeanor is mah own ta decide what word best describes it. An' Ah choose anti-social. So unless ya need help with ya powers, which Ah know ya don't, do us both a favor an' stay out o' mah way."
"The school is both of ours to inhabit. I've no intentions of purposefully crossing your path but I'm certainly not going to go out of my way to avoid it either."
"That's all Ah can ask. An' that ya learn how ta make pasta in a quieter manner."
"You're probably hungry if you take on my powers in the same state as I had them at that moment. bread?"
Rogue arched an eyebrow at him offering her something to eat. "What's wrong with it? Stale?"
"Nothing wrong with it. It came from the supply truck two days ago."
She sat there for a moment before taking the proffered bread and taking a bite. "Thanks."
"If you'd take a peek into the memories you'd see I generally don't like letting people go hungry, after all. You're welcome."
"Ah know ya don't. But ya also ain't that fond o' me."
"I'm not fond of a lot of people." he shrugged, taking a few more slices.
"Me neither. Join tha club." She took another slice and got up to get some peanut butter to put on it.
He couldn't help but laugh at the idea of that as a club. "Sort of defeating the purpose in a roundabout way."
"Yeah, but who tha hell cares?" She got the peanut butter, avoided the spot to get a knife, and sat back down at the table with her treasures. "Peanut butter?"
"Point there." he nodded. "Yes, please."
Rogue spread the peanut butter on the piece in her hand, held it out to him and took another slice for herself.
After spreading some on that slice, she folded it in half and looked at him, sizing him up. "Sorry."
"Yeah, sorry as well." He admitted between bites of his sandwich. "I have a...thing when I think I'm being snubbed."
"So Ah noticed. Ah have a thing when people won't lemme 'lone." She glanced up at the ceiling, "Also have a thing 'bout that. If ya wanna know, ask someone else."
"I'll be sure to." he nodded.
"But we'll just not mention it at the moment."
"Smart man." She made them both another sandwich then covered her hand with a napkin and stuck it out to shake, "Truce?"
He easily reached over and shook the hand. "Truce."
It wasn't empty for long though. Jean-Paul came in on a mission, and that mission was to cook some pasta as he was definitely running low on carbs and such and that was one of the quickest pick-me-ups he knew how to make. He was in and to the stove before he realized he wasn't alone. He glanced over, nodding to Rogue though she wasn't someone he had spoken too too terrible much. "Hello there."
Rogue looked up with just her eyes. Why was someone here? She managed to nod back though, "Hey."
Oh yeah, that's why not many of his year knew Rogue too well as far as Jean-Paul knew, standoffish and monosyllabic. Still, silence, it had to be filled! "Um, would you like some pasta?"
"Nope." Rogue held up her apple and waved it a bit without looking up at him again. Maybe he would go away soon without saying much more to her...
"Ah, all right then." Rogue 1, Jean-Paul 0. I'm definitely losing at this. Unfortunately he had to actually wait for the water to boil before he could even put his pasta on to cook so Rogue was going to be stuck with him for a while. "So what are you up to?"
Rogue closed her eyes and took a slow deep breath then opened them and closed her magazine all at once, finally fully looking up at him. "Nothin' now."
"Okay then." Rogue was definitely getting some side-eye for that. "I'll just stay over here then. Won't interrupt your stoic mopery anymore. Don't mind me."
"Ain't mopin'. Readin'." She took a bite of her apple and opened the magazine back up to make the point.
"Right, fine." Siiiide-eye. "Anything interesting?"
"Nope." Rogue took another bite of the apple then tossed it past Jean-Paul and into the garbage can. "Ain't y'all gonna get out tha pasta f'r when tha water's boilin'?"
"I had considered it. It generally doesn't taste near as nice if you skip that step." He watched the apple sail over, not sure what to make of this person at all.
"Then y' should do that then." Rogue got up and went to the sink for a glass of water, avoiding walking directly under where Sam had died.
The side-eye was now looking more than a little perturbed and Jean-Paul moved noisily to get the mentioned pasta out.
Rogue filled the glass and drank as she looked blankly out the window over the sink. She waited for a moment to see if he would quiet down then turned to look at him, "Could y' do that with a lil more respect f'r tha other people in tha room? In other words: Quietly?"
"Are you really going to school me on politeness? Really?" Yep, there came the stink eye. Jean-Paul poured the pasta in as loudly as anyone could manage. "Pardon me for attempting to get to know someone I hadn't had the chance to talk to all this time. Be unresponsive all you want but if you're about to try to lecture me on that it's the pot and the kettle I believe."
"Ah've not done a damned thing ta get in y'all's way'r bother ya at all. So don't y'all turn this 'round an' try ta make it like me bein' quiet an' not real social is tha same thing as y'all disturbin' tha peace with tha loudest bag o' noodles ever."
"Oh no, you haven't been a snooty thing over there at all. Never you mind, I've no intentions of bothering you with any company ever again. You don't need to worry a thing about pleasantries from me."
"Since when has anyone ever had a problem with a person keepin' ta themselves? An' where tha hell do ya get off talkin' back ta staff that way?"
"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you graduating meant I had to take shit from you" He reached over, grabbing a napkin and holding it out for her. "I assume you intend to wipe."
"Sugah, it ain't shit ya takin' from me. 'Cause Ah didn't bother yall. It was y'all who bothered me." Rogue glared at the napkin and wanted to step up to get in his face but hesitated as it meant she'd have to cross the kitchen under the spot she hated and wouldn't. "Why don't ya use that ta clean up tha mess ya makin' from tha water boilin over?"
"Oh, so now you're going to tell me when I'm bothered? This must be why I see you alone all the time, too unpleasant to be tolerated." The mess was cleaned up in speed, Jean-Paul gaining his spot right back, arms crossed and just waiting for her.
"Why tha hell does it bother ya that Ah like ta keep ta mahself? It's mah business. Not y'alls. An' Ah'd thank ya kindly ta remember that."
"Keep to yourself all you want, when you're rude about it, however, don't be surprised when I'm rude right back. And I had always heard southerners were supposed to be hospitable."
"If y'all'd left me alone, Ah wouldn't had ta be rude ta make ya do so." She smirked, "We're plenty hospitable, sugah. But we're also some o' tha meanest when ya piss us off."
"Maybe you should invest in a sign. I imagine Penny has a spare chalkboard." he smirked right back.
"Maybe y'all should know not ta poke a sleepin' bear."
"I'm terribly sorry, I mistook you for human. I see I was in error."
"Yeah, there's where ya wrong. Ah ain't been 'human' in a while. But if y'all would listen when people talk an' whisper 'bout mah bad moods in tha halls, ya would know that."
"I tend not to listen to gossip." He arched an eyebrow at the human debate though but decided that was another discussion. "Maybe you should take midol for that and people won't have to whisper."
"Ah don't give a damn if they whisper so long as they leave me alone." She glared, "This ain't a Midol problem anyhow."
"My apologies again, I'm still sure they make a pill for you. Maybe a few."
"Ain't no pill in tha world can get rid o' this an' Ah don't want it gone anyhow. So thanks f'r ya opinions, but now ya should just leave well enough alone an' eat ya lunch."
"And what is 'this'? Have the voices you use to keep you company in your head had a mutiny or something?" He stepped out from what he didn't realize was his protective zone, back to the stove to tend his food.
"Ah tried ta warn ya politely not ta backtalk me. Shut ya trap 'fore Ah shut it f'r ya."
"Oh yes, staff violence, I'm sure [i[that's[/i} tolerated."
"Ah really don't give a shit what's tolerated an' haven't in a little over a year. Like Ah said: if ya listened ta what people say, y'all'd know that."
"Oh, I'm sorry, as it turns out my existence here hasn't revolved about learning about you and you can be well assured it won't after this."
"Good. How 'bout we keep it that way an' start now?" She moved back to sit at the table again, sidestepping around the spot on the ceiling once more.
Jean-Paul, not knowing about the spot at all, saw that as her avoiding him entirely. "What? Am I so repugnant you have to walk around me? Afraid I'm going to wig out and dump the pasta water on you or something? I have better social grace than that though I suppose it's a novel idea to you."
Rogue looked completely confused about that and stared at him in silence for a moment, "What?"
"I believe I insinuated your social charms are primative and might involve you going 'Me am Smashy!'"
"They ain't primative. Ah just don't care much f'r people. That would include y'all by tha way. In case ya were wonderin'."
"I can't imagine too many people care for you either. I can't imagine how with this evidence."
Rogue glared at him silently for a minute then turned and looked out the window at Sam's stone, ignoring Jean-Paul.
He wasn't looking at her as he got his plate together. "I'll be sure to warn any innocent person away from talking with you. You can thank me however you like."
"That'd be grand. Thanks. Now if there's nothin' else ya needed?" She gestured at the door for him then looked back out the window.
"Well, maybe I thought I'd eat in the kitchen." He looked up, giving her the smartest of looks.
Rogue looked at him fully and gave him a blank face. "Well, maybe Ah thought y'all'd keep ya word an' get out o' mah hair."
"I don't see that you have any say over where I eat. Or is that why the ceiling had to be patched?"
Rogue felt her heart stop for a second and her eyes burned with angry tears as her jaw clenched. "Shut ya trap."
"Pushed someone's head through and just left them there kicking 'Noo, I'm sorry, I'll never make a joke about your hair again!'"
With that, Rogue dove over the table, tackling Jean-Paul to the ground, "Ah said shut it!" She slapped her bare hand to his face and held it there.
What in the sheer fuckery? Jean-Paul did not understand this. There was bitchy and then there was flat out crazy. There was no doubt which this was but it should just be a quick zip over...oh...well...that was a problem.
"Ya cain't run away from me if Ah want ya t' be gotten. Ah fly just as fast as ya run. Remember that."
What the fuck? No she doesn't. Oh...wait...now she would. That's right, that's what she did. Jean-Paul's thoughts were slowing down pretty swiftly along with his struggling.
Rogue grinned as his eyes closed and his body went limp. He was still breathing so that was good. Then she realized where she was and she zipped over away from it, pressing herself to the wall and breathing heavily. Rogue closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing just as she got all of his memories in her head. She slammed up a wall as fast as she could, not wanting to deal with it just at the moment.
When she felt like she'd stopped shaking from being under the spot on the ceiling, she went back to her seat and was glad to see him still on the floor. Good. Gained her silence for a while. She opened her magazine back up and started reading where she'd left off.
Jean-Paul simply slid down flat onto the floor, completely out and limp as can be.
Rogue finished the article and went to the fridge to get some grapes, glancing over her shoulder at the lump on the floor before going back to her chair with a bowl of the aforementioned fruit.
It took a good while for Jean-Paul to move, rolling over and curling up into a ball, piecing together what exactly had happened with a deep grumble.
Rogue blinked at the noise then frowned with a sigh. Damnit. He woke up sooner than she wanted. "G'mornin'."
He sat up, rubbing his face and looked up at the voice. Oh lovely. "So you're who does that."
"Who else did ya think did it?"
"I didn't really think it important enough to ask around. Didn't figure I needed to research everyone's powers in the school."
Rogue zipped over to the sink, got him a glass of water and set it as close to him as she could manage without getting under the spot, then went back to sit down.
"Well now ya know."
"Thank you." He took the water. "Handy powers, that, though I suggest you don't use it to get over the quarantine border, doesn't work."
"Ah don't leave tha mansion much, so no worries there." She nodded at the water, "Welcome. Ya gonna leave me alone now?"
"It might take me a moment." He answered quite truthfully, still firmly seated on the floor. "Well, at least I'm not cuffed and with some nude tiger girl in the back of a truck again."
"Maybe ya shoulda been more careful then."
He arched an eyebrow high at that. "Really?"
"Yeah really. Disable tha tech 'fore ya go in. Or take someone with ya who knows how if y'all don't."
"Except for the part where nobody knew it existed?" He tested, then arched an eyebrow. "...you know that now, hmm?"
Rogue sighed, "That's why ya always check everything 'bout the place ya goin'. Case tha place. Even tha city borders. Every single nook'n cranny."
"And we're supposed to magically know what it looks like too, eh? I'll keep in mind to be magic next time."
"Anythin' that looks suspiscious... Or even if it doesn't... Check it out." Are these new kids learning nothing in their training classes?
"I'm so terribly sorry to have failed you." His eyes rolled hard again. "If only your powers worked in reverse so I might be as flawlessly perfect as you."
"Ah never said Ah was perfect. But ya really should pay attention in class. 'Cause that was a rookie mistake."
"And exactly how does one case 'out of the city' without being picked up for nosing around anyway? Teach me, kemosabe."
"Well obviously ya know how not to. So maybe Ah should just let ya try again an' see if ya can do it better."
"I could always watch and learn."
"Sure ya could. If ya had any interest in bein' around me. So why don't ya just go off an' find someone who can show ya how that ain't me so y' don't have ta be 'round mah 'unpleasant' self. An' don't worry 'bout ya powers. They'll be back in 'bout an hour'r so, give'r take a few minutes."
"Oh dear, have I wounded your delicate senses?" Picking himself up off of the floor, Jean-Paul just grabbed a loaf of bread, deciding he deserved it.
Rogue laughed, "Oh hell no. Ah ain't that delicate, sugah. But thanks f'r tha laugh."
"Then sound less butthurt about it." He opened the bread up, eating away.
"Butthurt? Really?" Rogue rolled her eyes, "Sugah, get a new vocabulary."
"I find it quite accurate for your general demeanor from what I've seen of it. I use the word that fits the situation."
"Mah general demeanor is mah own ta decide what word best describes it. An' Ah choose anti-social. So unless ya need help with ya powers, which Ah know ya don't, do us both a favor an' stay out o' mah way."
"The school is both of ours to inhabit. I've no intentions of purposefully crossing your path but I'm certainly not going to go out of my way to avoid it either."
"That's all Ah can ask. An' that ya learn how ta make pasta in a quieter manner."
"You're probably hungry if you take on my powers in the same state as I had them at that moment. bread?"
Rogue arched an eyebrow at him offering her something to eat. "What's wrong with it? Stale?"
"Nothing wrong with it. It came from the supply truck two days ago."
She sat there for a moment before taking the proffered bread and taking a bite. "Thanks."
"If you'd take a peek into the memories you'd see I generally don't like letting people go hungry, after all. You're welcome."
"Ah know ya don't. But ya also ain't that fond o' me."
"I'm not fond of a lot of people." he shrugged, taking a few more slices.
"Me neither. Join tha club." She took another slice and got up to get some peanut butter to put on it.
He couldn't help but laugh at the idea of that as a club. "Sort of defeating the purpose in a roundabout way."
"Yeah, but who tha hell cares?" She got the peanut butter, avoided the spot to get a knife, and sat back down at the table with her treasures. "Peanut butter?"
"Point there." he nodded. "Yes, please."
Rogue spread the peanut butter on the piece in her hand, held it out to him and took another slice for herself.
After spreading some on that slice, she folded it in half and looked at him, sizing him up. "Sorry."
"Yeah, sorry as well." He admitted between bites of his sandwich. "I have a...thing when I think I'm being snubbed."
"So Ah noticed. Ah have a thing when people won't lemme 'lone." She glanced up at the ceiling, "Also have a thing 'bout that. If ya wanna know, ask someone else."
"I'll be sure to." he nodded.
"But we'll just not mention it at the moment."
"Smart man." She made them both another sandwich then covered her hand with a napkin and stuck it out to shake, "Truce?"
He easily reached over and shook the hand. "Truce."
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Callie surveyed the room. It looked like it had been the set design room for the theatre class, as glitter, fabrics and old sets littered almost every surface. "Perfect!" There was plenty of stuff to make gifts here. She wondered what Adam would like. She walked around poked at a few things.
Jean-Paul eyed the entry way to the design room with an air of apprehension. The most artistic he could be said to get would be painting signs for protests. There were many many things in here that were beyond him...and also a wall hanging holding what appeared to be hundreds of bottles of glitter. Frightening.
"Yeah, perfect." He nodded. Wait, was that a hoop skirt. "Should we be warned about the kinds of plays go on in this place?"
Callie turned as someone else came in. She was under a rather large bolt of silk fabric. She waved her arms. "I am the ghost of Christmas present! Woooo!" She ended up with a case of the giggles and tried to find her way out from under the bright orange material.
Jean-Paul had to give her a laugh for that, grabbing a corner to help her out of her silken prison. "Yeah, if you were any of A Christmas Carol's ghosts you'd be present, wouldn't you?"
"Yes. The other two are too frightening. Some children's book!" She smiled gratefully at JP as she stepped out from under the silk. "Thank you. So, what brings you here? Gift hunting?"
"I don't know, I always liked Past, something nicely ethereal about the character." He shrugged, trying to fold the unruly material up. "Oh yes, I'm hunting. I assume the same for you?"
"Yes. I have Adam...you do not have me, yes?" She blinked. "Otherwise I can help you with gift ideas, if you do not have one."
"Nope, I've got Penny...so nothing fabric she can just shread through." He put the silk aside slightly disappointed as that cut down his selection quite a bit. "I can definitely help you with Adam, if you like."
"I kind of had a vague idea of something computery. But what I not know." She picked up a bolt of dark black satin. "Maybe a bag for his laptop?"
She spotted a stack of what seemed to be leather swatches. She pointed and said, "would she cut through leather as easily as silk?"
"I'm not sure...I'd think not but she is pretty pointy. I was trying to think of something useful to make but I'm just not quite certain." He tapped his chin, having a look about to see what he can find to be useful. "Whatever you get Adam make it colourful, he definitely loves his colours."
"I was looking at this for me, actually." She dimpled and nodded at the bright silk she'd been trapped by. "That's going to be the main colour." She looked around the room and pulled her fabrics to en empty table. She plonked them down and went to a large box labeled misc. she opened it and grinned. "You could make her some metal jewelry from some this this! Girls love jewelry."
"Oh yeah, he will definitely like that." He nodded approvingly at the silk, looking and hmming at the box of treasure. "I defintely could. Maybe I could add some decor to her chalkboard or something."
"How smart! Yes. That is a perfect idea."
He beamed, glad that he had apparently happened on something good. "Well, if you like it I bet she'll like it. I should probably use this as a reason to get to know her better at least."
"She's very sweet." Callie nodded and looked around for more ideas. "I honestly don't know what to make. A bag seems too impersonal."
"Well, lets see, he likes colour, unique bits of clothes, pretty much anything cyberpunk, music, movies...tin hats."
"Hmm. Maybe a nice winter coat with colour?" She went hunting for thicker materials that would line such a garment. "It might work! A whole matching outfit! Bag, jacket, scarf, hat, mittens!"
"You are quite the crafter, aren't you?" He had to admit he was impressed. "I'm no good at this stuff at all."
"I can sew some, did Halloween costumes. Anything beyond that has reached out of my realm of ability."
She did a twirl. "Where do you think I get these clothes? So expensive off the rack or even tailored! If you need help, I am your fairy godmother!"
"Oh thank you, you're going to save me from making this look like some sort of macaroni art sadness." He grinned, clapping as she did a twirl. "Might have to beg clothes sewing off of you once in a while, too."
"I'll be happy to help...I don't know his sizes for anything!" She looked around in a panic. she had so much to do now and so little time, and she didn't even have the basics. "Want to steal some clothing for me?"
"Oh I can do that easily." With that Jean-Paul was off, back again with pants, shirt, and a hat for good measure.
"Oh, I love you!" She grinned and set out the clothing on the table. "Ok, I'm set - let's see what you need. Glue gun, items, and her chalkboard...perhaps a whiteboard instead? No screechy noises."
"I'm here for love." He proclaimed, taking a seat half on the table. "This is true, dry erase and we can get coloured markers for her as well. Will have to make something for her to carry all the markers in then. Surely I can handle that...what goes well with her red?" he turned to the fabric wall, puzzled over it.
"Not pink. But maybe a deep orangey red with turquoise and a small bit of yellow for punch? Or does she not like jewel tones?"
"I can't remember. she seems pretty happy with whatever."
"I'm afraid I don't know...but will use your advice anyway, I think." He swung himself up, going for the fabrics. "I think she'll be fairly easy. Adam'll probably be quite happy with yours as well." He poked at his fabric selection, deciding to just go for it and start cutting.
She eyeballed him. "Measure that first!" She handed over a measuring tape. "Good thing I'm here to help you!" She went back over to the table and found a pencil and paper and started sketching out ideas. "Measure twice, cut once."
He took the measuring tape, looking appropriately sheepish. 'Aw, but cutting is fun. Though I magine Professor Drake probably would have a problem with fabric discards all over the place."
"I'm sure he would. And us using things without permission." She held up some sketches. "Think he'll like these?"
Jean-Paul leaned over the table to have a look. "He will love those pants, definitely. I would recommend something shiny for the hat."
"Shiny...." Se looked around and spotted some faux leather in a bright kelly green. "Oh....excellent."
"He will definitely approve of that." He nodded, now taking the chance to cut.
"Yes, with black leather, and this orange silk for a sash. With matching hat and gloves and scarf! This is going to be wonderful!" He moved tot he other end of the table and started measuring Adam's clothes and making chalk lines on the fabrics. "Thank you, Jean-Paul. You are very helpful."
"Huh, now that's nice to hear, you're welcome and also the same to you." He smiled brightly, starting in on his bag in earnest. "This is going to be a strange Christmas, isn't it?"
"Yes, so strange. I almost went with father to Italy, but stayed."
"I considered going back to see my aunt and uncle but I'd hate to leave with everything going on. Plus I imagine changes of scenery are a bit harder on Jeanne-Marie than I need to put her through unnecessarily."
"Probably. It will be nice here, anyway. I was thinking of getting some chocolate to make hot chocolate and then maybe gather everyone in that pretty great room with that huge fireplace and having a holiday tle-telling evening."
"Now that could be interesting." He nodded approvingly. "I'll show up for the chocolate anyway but I'm sure you'll get some tales from me as well."
"Oh good! Dad and I do this every holiday."
"It would be nice to share a tradition."
"I fully intend to try my hand at making some tourtiere. I cook much better than I craft."
"Oh? Well after this, want to make me something to eat?"
"There we are, I can pay you back that way."
"Good! Then it is settled." she gave him a dimples and went back to measuring. "I suppose we can hide everything in here or do you think other people will be smart enough to look here for inspiration?"
"I imagine people will be in here. It seems to be a little bit of everything, after all." He was still surprised at that hoopskirt.
"Well, then, I suppose we can hide our present somewhere else? Perhaps Mr. Drake's office?"
"We might as well, just might lable it so he doesn't think he's got a secret admirer...that might be something hard to explain to him and his wife."
"Agreed. Yikes! But I do not thinkt hat this would be to his or her style."
"...I don't know. I definitely don't understand either of them completely...did you see Mrs. Drake's Yoda costume?"
"Is that what it was? I thought it was a man from mars." She shrugged. "They seem to like the weird things...'geek chic' I think it is called."
"I assume anyway. There was ear hair." He pulled a face, shuddering slightly which made him muck up a stitch in the bag and swear. "I believe you're right."
"Mmm. Need a thimble?" She asked as she began to cut the fabric.
"It'd probably be the smarter thing but I'm almost done as it is...I cheat." Speed stitching was handy.
"Oh! No fair!" She let out a small wail. "Now that is the most handy thing ever! I'll have to get out my machine to do that."
"Well, if my quality passes your inspection I'd be glad to do a speed stick for you as well?"
"Mmm, no. It would not be my gift if you do it. It should only take me a few days if I do nothing else, so not a problem. But if I do need help, I will ask."
He nodded. "Yeah, I know how that goes. They're just better made."
"Better made?"
"Gifts are better when it's someone making them I mean. Either that or I'm very used to them."
"Oh, yes. You get presents all the time? What is your secret?"
"Charm and good looks." Jean-Paul flashed her his best smile.
"Hmmm. I use my dimples but obviously I am in the presence of a master." She mock-bowed and piled the finished cutouts in a pile.
"Oh, I think we're both masters, my dear." Jean-Paul smiled quite happily as he finished his bag.
"High praise. Shall we go then? I'm hungry!" She scrawled a note for the Drakes and gathered her things. "Shall we meet here tomorrow? I'll bring my sewing machine and then you can pick out things you want me to make for you."
She hustled him out of the room as her stomach growled. "Let us go!"
Jean-Paul eyed the entry way to the design room with an air of apprehension. The most artistic he could be said to get would be painting signs for protests. There were many many things in here that were beyond him...and also a wall hanging holding what appeared to be hundreds of bottles of glitter. Frightening.
"Yeah, perfect." He nodded. Wait, was that a hoop skirt. "Should we be warned about the kinds of plays go on in this place?"
Callie turned as someone else came in. She was under a rather large bolt of silk fabric. She waved her arms. "I am the ghost of Christmas present! Woooo!" She ended up with a case of the giggles and tried to find her way out from under the bright orange material.
Jean-Paul had to give her a laugh for that, grabbing a corner to help her out of her silken prison. "Yeah, if you were any of A Christmas Carol's ghosts you'd be present, wouldn't you?"
"Yes. The other two are too frightening. Some children's book!" She smiled gratefully at JP as she stepped out from under the silk. "Thank you. So, what brings you here? Gift hunting?"
"I don't know, I always liked Past, something nicely ethereal about the character." He shrugged, trying to fold the unruly material up. "Oh yes, I'm hunting. I assume the same for you?"
"Yes. I have Adam...you do not have me, yes?" She blinked. "Otherwise I can help you with gift ideas, if you do not have one."
"Nope, I've got Penny...so nothing fabric she can just shread through." He put the silk aside slightly disappointed as that cut down his selection quite a bit. "I can definitely help you with Adam, if you like."
"I kind of had a vague idea of something computery. But what I not know." She picked up a bolt of dark black satin. "Maybe a bag for his laptop?"
She spotted a stack of what seemed to be leather swatches. She pointed and said, "would she cut through leather as easily as silk?"
"I'm not sure...I'd think not but she is pretty pointy. I was trying to think of something useful to make but I'm just not quite certain." He tapped his chin, having a look about to see what he can find to be useful. "Whatever you get Adam make it colourful, he definitely loves his colours."
"I was looking at this for me, actually." She dimpled and nodded at the bright silk she'd been trapped by. "That's going to be the main colour." She looked around the room and pulled her fabrics to en empty table. She plonked them down and went to a large box labeled misc. she opened it and grinned. "You could make her some metal jewelry from some this this! Girls love jewelry."
"Oh yeah, he will definitely like that." He nodded approvingly at the silk, looking and hmming at the box of treasure. "I defintely could. Maybe I could add some decor to her chalkboard or something."
"How smart! Yes. That is a perfect idea."
He beamed, glad that he had apparently happened on something good. "Well, if you like it I bet she'll like it. I should probably use this as a reason to get to know her better at least."
"She's very sweet." Callie nodded and looked around for more ideas. "I honestly don't know what to make. A bag seems too impersonal."
"Well, lets see, he likes colour, unique bits of clothes, pretty much anything cyberpunk, music, movies...tin hats."
"Hmm. Maybe a nice winter coat with colour?" She went hunting for thicker materials that would line such a garment. "It might work! A whole matching outfit! Bag, jacket, scarf, hat, mittens!"
"You are quite the crafter, aren't you?" He had to admit he was impressed. "I'm no good at this stuff at all."
"I can sew some, did Halloween costumes. Anything beyond that has reached out of my realm of ability."
She did a twirl. "Where do you think I get these clothes? So expensive off the rack or even tailored! If you need help, I am your fairy godmother!"
"Oh thank you, you're going to save me from making this look like some sort of macaroni art sadness." He grinned, clapping as she did a twirl. "Might have to beg clothes sewing off of you once in a while, too."
"I'll be happy to help...I don't know his sizes for anything!" She looked around in a panic. she had so much to do now and so little time, and she didn't even have the basics. "Want to steal some clothing for me?"
"Oh I can do that easily." With that Jean-Paul was off, back again with pants, shirt, and a hat for good measure.
"Oh, I love you!" She grinned and set out the clothing on the table. "Ok, I'm set - let's see what you need. Glue gun, items, and her chalkboard...perhaps a whiteboard instead? No screechy noises."
"I'm here for love." He proclaimed, taking a seat half on the table. "This is true, dry erase and we can get coloured markers for her as well. Will have to make something for her to carry all the markers in then. Surely I can handle that...what goes well with her red?" he turned to the fabric wall, puzzled over it.
"Not pink. But maybe a deep orangey red with turquoise and a small bit of yellow for punch? Or does she not like jewel tones?"
"I can't remember. she seems pretty happy with whatever."
"I'm afraid I don't know...but will use your advice anyway, I think." He swung himself up, going for the fabrics. "I think she'll be fairly easy. Adam'll probably be quite happy with yours as well." He poked at his fabric selection, deciding to just go for it and start cutting.
She eyeballed him. "Measure that first!" She handed over a measuring tape. "Good thing I'm here to help you!" She went back over to the table and found a pencil and paper and started sketching out ideas. "Measure twice, cut once."
He took the measuring tape, looking appropriately sheepish. 'Aw, but cutting is fun. Though I magine Professor Drake probably would have a problem with fabric discards all over the place."
"I'm sure he would. And us using things without permission." She held up some sketches. "Think he'll like these?"
Jean-Paul leaned over the table to have a look. "He will love those pants, definitely. I would recommend something shiny for the hat."
"Shiny...." Se looked around and spotted some faux leather in a bright kelly green. "Oh....excellent."
"He will definitely approve of that." He nodded, now taking the chance to cut.
"Yes, with black leather, and this orange silk for a sash. With matching hat and gloves and scarf! This is going to be wonderful!" He moved tot he other end of the table and started measuring Adam's clothes and making chalk lines on the fabrics. "Thank you, Jean-Paul. You are very helpful."
"Huh, now that's nice to hear, you're welcome and also the same to you." He smiled brightly, starting in on his bag in earnest. "This is going to be a strange Christmas, isn't it?"
"Yes, so strange. I almost went with father to Italy, but stayed."
"I considered going back to see my aunt and uncle but I'd hate to leave with everything going on. Plus I imagine changes of scenery are a bit harder on Jeanne-Marie than I need to put her through unnecessarily."
"Probably. It will be nice here, anyway. I was thinking of getting some chocolate to make hot chocolate and then maybe gather everyone in that pretty great room with that huge fireplace and having a holiday tle-telling evening."
"Now that could be interesting." He nodded approvingly. "I'll show up for the chocolate anyway but I'm sure you'll get some tales from me as well."
"Oh good! Dad and I do this every holiday."
"It would be nice to share a tradition."
"I fully intend to try my hand at making some tourtiere. I cook much better than I craft."
"Oh? Well after this, want to make me something to eat?"
"There we are, I can pay you back that way."
"Good! Then it is settled." she gave him a dimples and went back to measuring. "I suppose we can hide everything in here or do you think other people will be smart enough to look here for inspiration?"
"I imagine people will be in here. It seems to be a little bit of everything, after all." He was still surprised at that hoopskirt.
"Well, then, I suppose we can hide our present somewhere else? Perhaps Mr. Drake's office?"
"We might as well, just might lable it so he doesn't think he's got a secret admirer...that might be something hard to explain to him and his wife."
"Agreed. Yikes! But I do not thinkt hat this would be to his or her style."
"...I don't know. I definitely don't understand either of them completely...did you see Mrs. Drake's Yoda costume?"
"Is that what it was? I thought it was a man from mars." She shrugged. "They seem to like the weird things...'geek chic' I think it is called."
"I assume anyway. There was ear hair." He pulled a face, shuddering slightly which made him muck up a stitch in the bag and swear. "I believe you're right."
"Mmm. Need a thimble?" She asked as she began to cut the fabric.
"It'd probably be the smarter thing but I'm almost done as it is...I cheat." Speed stitching was handy.
"Oh! No fair!" She let out a small wail. "Now that is the most handy thing ever! I'll have to get out my machine to do that."
"Well, if my quality passes your inspection I'd be glad to do a speed stick for you as well?"
"Mmm, no. It would not be my gift if you do it. It should only take me a few days if I do nothing else, so not a problem. But if I do need help, I will ask."
He nodded. "Yeah, I know how that goes. They're just better made."
"Better made?"
"Gifts are better when it's someone making them I mean. Either that or I'm very used to them."
"Oh, yes. You get presents all the time? What is your secret?"
"Charm and good looks." Jean-Paul flashed her his best smile.
"Hmmm. I use my dimples but obviously I am in the presence of a master." She mock-bowed and piled the finished cutouts in a pile.
"Oh, I think we're both masters, my dear." Jean-Paul smiled quite happily as he finished his bag.
"High praise. Shall we go then? I'm hungry!" She scrawled a note for the Drakes and gathered her things. "Shall we meet here tomorrow? I'll bring my sewing machine and then you can pick out things you want me to make for you."
She hustled him out of the room as her stomach growled. "Let us go!"
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Selene: "Now that surely didn't get us very far," Selene commented as they made their way back from the endless line of frustrated and impatient people trying to get out of the city on any of the regular routes.
JP: "It looks like they really are turning people away up there." Jean-Paul sighed, wrinkling his nose as he tried to see the beginning of the crowd. "I guess the city really is closed up then."
Selene: "The line is not moving except for backwards," Selene muttered, watching the other people who had given up on waiting and slowly trudged back into the city. Many had already found a spot to get comfortable - more or less, anyway.
Tigra: "So what do we do now? The food they send is shit... we need to get out... or I can go hunting but you already said no to that...."
Selene: "I guess this would be mostly because the only thing you could possibly hope to find inside New York is either rat, pigeon, or poodle - and I'm not to keen on either," Selene remarked. "We might have a better chance to try and hijack a hot-dog cart."
JP: "Well, if we're going to get out we're certainly not going to get out there." He waved to one disgruntled person coming back, definitely turned away.
Tigra: "There's plenty of yummy things in the woods - deer, rabbit... fish..." she shrugged a little, "Just have to know where to look."
JP: "I'd rather not eat anything that's been chewed on all ready, thanks all the same."
JP: "So...surely there's some place they're not guarding we can just slip through, right?"
Selene: "I could animate one of those subway snack vending machines," Selene offered. "It could follow us around and shower us in sweets when we feel like it."
JP: "...now we've got a backup plan." Jean-Paul shrugged, deciding that didn't sound half bad.
Tigra: "I'd only chew on the neck til it was dead... the main bulk of the animal would be fine..." Tigra rolled her eyes.
Johnny: Johnny had so far remained silent, refraining from complaining about having to wait all this time, but his face twisted at the idea of chewing on necks. That was almost as bad as Curt eating out of the garbage.
Selene: "And as for getting out of the city, I presume we could always swim," Selene continued as she strolled down the sidewalk. "Or try to find a boat. Or if that fails... build one? I've heard garbage cans float."
Johnny: "Curt would eat our boat if that's the case, and I'll pass on sinking."
JP: Giving Selene a bit of a confused look, Jean-Paul turned around, deciding to look for the potential hole in FEMA's enclosure around the city.
Selene: "Do you think we could ride on Curt?" Selene gave Johnny a curious look.
Johnny: Johnny considered the question for some reason and shuddered at the idea of riding Curt. "Well, I imagine if you really wanted to..."
Tigra: ".... I wouldn't recommend that...."
JP: "Not somoene I've got on my riding list to be honest."
Selene: "Really? Who tops that list, I wonder?" Selene did some further contemplating. "I guess there's always the subway tunnels if we decide to go for a route underground."
Johnny: His face twisted again, "Aren't those kinda dark, gross, and filled with hobos?"
Tigra: "Maybe... but they probably thought of that.... cleared out all the hobos and replaced them with army guys whielding tasers."
JP: "And we'd still have to surface when it got time to actually get out of the city, won't we?"
Selene: "Until the hobos ate the army guys and are now hobos with tasers," Selene concluded.
Tigra: "That is a truely terrifying thought...."
JP: "...and we're avoiding that, definitely."
Johnny: "Agreed."
Selene: "Which leaves us with catapulting someone as the only reasonable alternative," Selene added with a nod.
Tigra: ".... I'm not volunteering for that."
JP: "Well, luckily, we have fliers so no catapult necessary...though it'd be fun." He cracked Selene a grin.
Johnny: Johnny looked between the three of them. He was pretty sure he was the only one of them that flew, though his memory was shit...
Tigra: "Still not volunteering...." Tigra decided to make that clear.
JP: "I'll go over then. You lot's carrying all the food back though, yeah?"
JP: Jean-Paul liked shopping when other people carried his bags. It was just nicer.
Johnny: "If that's what it takes to get rid of you for a while," Johnny grinned.
JP: "You love me."
Selene: "Well, depends on how filled the pantry back at the mansion is likely to be, and whether it can be restocked while everything is kept locked down."
Johnny: He nodded, "Very much so."
Tigra: "I can carry it... I can carry a car so I think I can manage shopping."
JP: "And I love you, my bitches." He reached over, patting Johnny on the cheek with a girn. "Just need to find a place to cross then."
Selene: "Which again makes me wonder why you aren't pulling us in a riksha," Selene said, smirking at Tigra.
Tigra: "Let's find somewhere off a road... probably less heavily guarded...." she looked oved at Selene, "I'm not a slave..."
Selene: "I suggest one of the less crowded places, where there likely will be less people in uniform, too."
Johnny: Johnny placed a hand over JP's, smirking, "Don't get caught. I don't know what I'll do without you."
JP: "Well, you're not a dog either but I'll go ahead and make the mush joke. Mush!" With that Jean-Paul ducked away from the streets, keeping an eye out in case someone was keeping an eye out on them.
Selene: "Don't worry, we'd pay you," Selene replied to Tigra, grinning slightly. "Preferably in food?"
Tigra: Tigra scowled at JP, "I'm not doing it."
Johnny: "I'll take food payments."
JP: "Good, I'd rather watch you pull things anyway." He cracked a wider grin, cutting through a yard and looking for some actual cover for crossing on ahead.
Tigra: Tigra raised an eyebrow as she followed JP, was he hitting on Johnny? Inappropriate timing much?
Johnny: Johnny snickered.
Selene: "We could still take a shortcut through the subway tunnels to get to a less populated place," Selene suggested, following the others. "I've seen them hunt Mexicans on TV, and they always use those thermal cameras, so we might be safer down there."
Tigra: "They won't be hunting us til we get over the wall, I think we're safe from thermal cameras for now...."
JP: "We just need to find a more...natural place. Which yeah, might be a bit of a challenge."
Tigra: ".... Do you have to insult me in every possible way today?"
JP: "Who?"
Johnny: "Insulting is his natural setting."
Selene: "I believe the most natural place you might find in this part of town would be a junkyard," Selene remarked.
Tigra: "Aparently...." she frowned, "You realise a feral mutant's main ability is a heightend sense of smell, right? If anyone can find a people-free zone it's me."
JP: Jean-Paul gave her a bit of the hairy eyeball. "I wasn't even that time. I mean that's where they would be less likely to be. Not everything is about you being able to be fuzzy. Then get up here and find it then."
JP: "Selene's got a point about the junkyard though. Shall we?"
Tigra: She muttered under her breath, "Whatever you want, I'll just trail after you not using any of the useful abilities I was given...." she rolled her eyes a little.
Johnny: "I guess a junkyard might not be as disgusting as tunnels, so sure."
JP: "Got the trail of a junkyard then, Greer?"
Selene: "It would also provide us with the tools to build that catapult should our primary plan backfire in any way."
Tigra: Greer sighed heavily, scenting the air a little - more to get her bearings than anything else. She knew where the junkyard was. It was like her second home. She set off in the right direction once she was sure where she was.
JP: "Well, hopefully between now and then either Johnny or I will still be capable of flight but always good to have a backup."
Selene: "Otherwise we might just have to annex a hotel room until this is over, or raid a mall for camping equipment." Selene paused, walking silently for a moment. "Do you think sewing several tents together to make a hot air balloon could work?"
Johnny: "How are we supposed to power a hot air balloon?" Johnny asked, paused, and shook his head, "Nevermind."
Tigra: Tigra grinned at him, "You of all people had to ask that question?"
JP: "...you'll never know until you try." Jean-Paul had a laugh, looking back to make sure they didn't have anyone watching still. "Ahh, this is working out great, not a soul watching anyway and less people around." he dropped his voice for that, approving very much.
Johnny: "Apparently," he mumbled.
Selene: "There probably will be patrols or sentries watching the area beyond the houses, so we might want to be careful before venturing too far out."
JP: "Well, at least it's getting darker." He looked up, having a look at the steadily darkening skies.
Tigra: "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hear anyone walking around too...."
JP: "Good to hear." He nodded approvingly.
Selene: "And I'll listen for unfriendly minds nearby," Selene added, trying to sort out the psychic signals she picked up in the vicinity.
Johnny: Johnny tried to think of a job for himself, offering up, "I'll just follow and look better than JP."
JP: "You're underqualified for that, sweetheart."
Tigra: Tigra giggled a little and shook her head.
Johnny: "I'll just have to try harder then."
Selene: "Don't worry, we'll give you a nice makeover later to make you the prettiest of them all," Selene remarked with a smirk on her lips.
Johnny: "I can't say I'd be completely opposed," he returned the smirk. Makeovers meant girls.
Tigra: Tigra looked between Selene and Johnny and wondered if she should warn him about saying yes to Sel.
JP: Jean-Paul looked back to Selene. "I get to help, yes?"
Johnny: "I don't see why not since she'll need to make sure I look better than you," he grinned.
Selene: "We could make an epic duel out of the event," Selene replied with a smirk, falling silent as the turned another corner and found themselves approaching the junkyard by the edge of town.
JP: "So I get to dress you, hmm?" Yeah, that was a leer. Right, need to focus, the junkyard was upon them. "Well, definitely empty. Does anyone see where FEMA's set up the border?"
Johnny: "Dress implies clothing," Johnny pointed out and glanced around.
JP: "It implies taking them on and off as well."
Johnny: "Doesn't necessarily mean in front of you."
Tigra: "Not without some climbing..."
JP: "Then you'll just have to settle for coming in behind me." He ran up to the edge of the junk yard, flying just a bit to see over.
Johnny: Johnny shrugged, "I imagined it'd be the other way around."
JP: "That's the thing about me, I never settle." He called down motioning for Johnny to follow him up to have a look. "I see little peg things, think that's the border marker anyway. I think they've assumed nobody would come this far."
Selene: Selene left the looking around business to others, focusing instead on her inner senses. "I don't think anyone is nearby except for us."
Johnny: Johnny went fiery and took into the air to follow JP for a look, "So, we just jump the border and it's all good..."
JP: "Yeah, that seems to be the jist of it." He turned to look down at the others. "Any food requests you want me to nip out and get then?"
Selene: "I'd be content with you coming back to pick us up should that way be clear," Selene replied.
Tigra: "I can feed myself, get what you like...."
JP: "Right then, see you all in a minute." With that Jean-Paul was off, charging the border.
JP: And then, the second he was over the border he was not, falling out of his run and coming to a rolling stop, out cold.
Selene: Selene watched JP fail spectacularly at walking, jumping up behind her cover but deciding to stay clear of the open space. She looked around to see if anything or anyone could have hit him, but just saw him lie motionless on the ground.
Johnny: Right. So, he definitely wasn't trying to hop the border now...
Tigra: "Jean-Paul!" Tigra ran over to check on him but the border defenses got her too and she was unconscious and very much human-looking before she hit the floor.
Selene: This time Selene ducked further behind her cover, her eyebrows arched when she witnessed Tigra topple over, as well. "Stay here," she told Johnny.
Johnny: Johnny nodded, fairly content with not moving any closer to the border, "I can do that."
JP: The sound of a truck was roaring closer, coming up to the junk yard now.
Selene: "I can't see anyone," she whispered, spinning around when she heard the vehicle approach. "Guess we didn't stay unnoticed, after all."
Selene: She debated what to do. Tigra falling over like that had make it obvious that just running over to get them was no option - there was someone or something knocking them out just like that. "They're still alive," she told Johnny, sensing the two mutants life-force.
Johnny: "Well, that's a plus," Johnny sighed. He was a bit noticeable like this, and now he lacked clothing... He debated which would attract more attention. On fire or naked? "So, what do we do?"
JP: Two of the workers got out, heading for the border and..."We've got naked jumpers? Phil, what the hell is this shit?"
JP: Phil did not know. "Maybe this disease adds crazy too...but she don't look tentacly, does she?" Both men stepped over the border, coming to nudge their finds.
Selene: Selene bit her lip when she saw the military truck approach from the wrong side of the border. "I'm not sure we can do anything from here," she whispered back.
Johnny: Johnny made sure he was out of sight as the men climbed out of the truck, not exactly pleased with them nudging at Tigra. Well, or JP, he guessed. "Nothing comes to mind besides throwing junk..."
Selene: "I'd be all for this, but we could end up hurting the wrong one," Selene replied.
JP: "Well, this'll give the guys at camp a thrill I guess." the cuffs came out and Phil toed Greer over, cuffing just in case she woke up and using it to lift her up as his partner in Federal Emergency did the same with Jean-Paul
Selene: "Before we do anything, we'll have to find out what knocked them out so easily," Selene told Johnny. "And possibly inform the others somehow."
Johnny: He glanced over to Selene, "And, we're going to let them take Greer and JP?"
Selene: "I'm open for suggestions on how to accomplish that without getting knocked out ourselves or taking too long," Selene replied. "They were here quickly after we tried to cross the border, and no doubt there's more of them."
JP: Their border jumpers now tossed in and locked away. FEMA Phil and Don were off, driving for their camp
Selene: Selene bit her lip again. "Well, so much for that," she muttered. "Hopefully they'll at least get some food wherever they're being taken now."
JP: "It looks like they really are turning people away up there." Jean-Paul sighed, wrinkling his nose as he tried to see the beginning of the crowd. "I guess the city really is closed up then."
Selene: "The line is not moving except for backwards," Selene muttered, watching the other people who had given up on waiting and slowly trudged back into the city. Many had already found a spot to get comfortable - more or less, anyway.
Tigra: "So what do we do now? The food they send is shit... we need to get out... or I can go hunting but you already said no to that...."
Selene: "I guess this would be mostly because the only thing you could possibly hope to find inside New York is either rat, pigeon, or poodle - and I'm not to keen on either," Selene remarked. "We might have a better chance to try and hijack a hot-dog cart."
JP: "Well, if we're going to get out we're certainly not going to get out there." He waved to one disgruntled person coming back, definitely turned away.
Tigra: "There's plenty of yummy things in the woods - deer, rabbit... fish..." she shrugged a little, "Just have to know where to look."
JP: "I'd rather not eat anything that's been chewed on all ready, thanks all the same."
JP: "So...surely there's some place they're not guarding we can just slip through, right?"
Selene: "I could animate one of those subway snack vending machines," Selene offered. "It could follow us around and shower us in sweets when we feel like it."
JP: "...now we've got a backup plan." Jean-Paul shrugged, deciding that didn't sound half bad.
Tigra: "I'd only chew on the neck til it was dead... the main bulk of the animal would be fine..." Tigra rolled her eyes.
Johnny: Johnny had so far remained silent, refraining from complaining about having to wait all this time, but his face twisted at the idea of chewing on necks. That was almost as bad as Curt eating out of the garbage.
Selene: "And as for getting out of the city, I presume we could always swim," Selene continued as she strolled down the sidewalk. "Or try to find a boat. Or if that fails... build one? I've heard garbage cans float."
Johnny: "Curt would eat our boat if that's the case, and I'll pass on sinking."
JP: Giving Selene a bit of a confused look, Jean-Paul turned around, deciding to look for the potential hole in FEMA's enclosure around the city.
Selene: "Do you think we could ride on Curt?" Selene gave Johnny a curious look.
Johnny: Johnny considered the question for some reason and shuddered at the idea of riding Curt. "Well, I imagine if you really wanted to..."
Tigra: ".... I wouldn't recommend that...."
JP: "Not somoene I've got on my riding list to be honest."
Selene: "Really? Who tops that list, I wonder?" Selene did some further contemplating. "I guess there's always the subway tunnels if we decide to go for a route underground."
Johnny: His face twisted again, "Aren't those kinda dark, gross, and filled with hobos?"
Tigra: "Maybe... but they probably thought of that.... cleared out all the hobos and replaced them with army guys whielding tasers."
JP: "And we'd still have to surface when it got time to actually get out of the city, won't we?"
Selene: "Until the hobos ate the army guys and are now hobos with tasers," Selene concluded.
Tigra: "That is a truely terrifying thought...."
JP: "...and we're avoiding that, definitely."
Johnny: "Agreed."
Selene: "Which leaves us with catapulting someone as the only reasonable alternative," Selene added with a nod.
Tigra: ".... I'm not volunteering for that."
JP: "Well, luckily, we have fliers so no catapult necessary...though it'd be fun." He cracked Selene a grin.
Johnny: Johnny looked between the three of them. He was pretty sure he was the only one of them that flew, though his memory was shit...
Tigra: "Still not volunteering...." Tigra decided to make that clear.
JP: "I'll go over then. You lot's carrying all the food back though, yeah?"
JP: Jean-Paul liked shopping when other people carried his bags. It was just nicer.
Johnny: "If that's what it takes to get rid of you for a while," Johnny grinned.
JP: "You love me."
Selene: "Well, depends on how filled the pantry back at the mansion is likely to be, and whether it can be restocked while everything is kept locked down."
Johnny: He nodded, "Very much so."
Tigra: "I can carry it... I can carry a car so I think I can manage shopping."
JP: "And I love you, my bitches." He reached over, patting Johnny on the cheek with a girn. "Just need to find a place to cross then."
Selene: "Which again makes me wonder why you aren't pulling us in a riksha," Selene said, smirking at Tigra.
Tigra: "Let's find somewhere off a road... probably less heavily guarded...." she looked oved at Selene, "I'm not a slave..."
Selene: "I suggest one of the less crowded places, where there likely will be less people in uniform, too."
Johnny: Johnny placed a hand over JP's, smirking, "Don't get caught. I don't know what I'll do without you."
JP: "Well, you're not a dog either but I'll go ahead and make the mush joke. Mush!" With that Jean-Paul ducked away from the streets, keeping an eye out in case someone was keeping an eye out on them.
Selene: "Don't worry, we'd pay you," Selene replied to Tigra, grinning slightly. "Preferably in food?"
Tigra: Tigra scowled at JP, "I'm not doing it."
Johnny: "I'll take food payments."
JP: "Good, I'd rather watch you pull things anyway." He cracked a wider grin, cutting through a yard and looking for some actual cover for crossing on ahead.
Tigra: Tigra raised an eyebrow as she followed JP, was he hitting on Johnny? Inappropriate timing much?
Johnny: Johnny snickered.
Selene: "We could still take a shortcut through the subway tunnels to get to a less populated place," Selene suggested, following the others. "I've seen them hunt Mexicans on TV, and they always use those thermal cameras, so we might be safer down there."
Tigra: "They won't be hunting us til we get over the wall, I think we're safe from thermal cameras for now...."
JP: "We just need to find a more...natural place. Which yeah, might be a bit of a challenge."
Tigra: ".... Do you have to insult me in every possible way today?"
JP: "Who?"
Johnny: "Insulting is his natural setting."
Selene: "I believe the most natural place you might find in this part of town would be a junkyard," Selene remarked.
Tigra: "Aparently...." she frowned, "You realise a feral mutant's main ability is a heightend sense of smell, right? If anyone can find a people-free zone it's me."
JP: Jean-Paul gave her a bit of the hairy eyeball. "I wasn't even that time. I mean that's where they would be less likely to be. Not everything is about you being able to be fuzzy. Then get up here and find it then."
JP: "Selene's got a point about the junkyard though. Shall we?"
Tigra: She muttered under her breath, "Whatever you want, I'll just trail after you not using any of the useful abilities I was given...." she rolled her eyes a little.
Johnny: "I guess a junkyard might not be as disgusting as tunnels, so sure."
JP: "Got the trail of a junkyard then, Greer?"
Selene: "It would also provide us with the tools to build that catapult should our primary plan backfire in any way."
Tigra: Greer sighed heavily, scenting the air a little - more to get her bearings than anything else. She knew where the junkyard was. It was like her second home. She set off in the right direction once she was sure where she was.
JP: "Well, hopefully between now and then either Johnny or I will still be capable of flight but always good to have a backup."
Selene: "Otherwise we might just have to annex a hotel room until this is over, or raid a mall for camping equipment." Selene paused, walking silently for a moment. "Do you think sewing several tents together to make a hot air balloon could work?"
Johnny: "How are we supposed to power a hot air balloon?" Johnny asked, paused, and shook his head, "Nevermind."
Tigra: Tigra grinned at him, "You of all people had to ask that question?"
JP: "...you'll never know until you try." Jean-Paul had a laugh, looking back to make sure they didn't have anyone watching still. "Ahh, this is working out great, not a soul watching anyway and less people around." he dropped his voice for that, approving very much.
Johnny: "Apparently," he mumbled.
Selene: "There probably will be patrols or sentries watching the area beyond the houses, so we might want to be careful before venturing too far out."
JP: "Well, at least it's getting darker." He looked up, having a look at the steadily darkening skies.
Tigra: "I'm pretty sure I'll be able to hear anyone walking around too...."
JP: "Good to hear." He nodded approvingly.
Selene: "And I'll listen for unfriendly minds nearby," Selene added, trying to sort out the psychic signals she picked up in the vicinity.
Johnny: Johnny tried to think of a job for himself, offering up, "I'll just follow and look better than JP."
JP: "You're underqualified for that, sweetheart."
Tigra: Tigra giggled a little and shook her head.
Johnny: "I'll just have to try harder then."
Selene: "Don't worry, we'll give you a nice makeover later to make you the prettiest of them all," Selene remarked with a smirk on her lips.
Johnny: "I can't say I'd be completely opposed," he returned the smirk. Makeovers meant girls.
Tigra: Tigra looked between Selene and Johnny and wondered if she should warn him about saying yes to Sel.
JP: Jean-Paul looked back to Selene. "I get to help, yes?"
Johnny: "I don't see why not since she'll need to make sure I look better than you," he grinned.
Selene: "We could make an epic duel out of the event," Selene replied with a smirk, falling silent as the turned another corner and found themselves approaching the junkyard by the edge of town.
JP: "So I get to dress you, hmm?" Yeah, that was a leer. Right, need to focus, the junkyard was upon them. "Well, definitely empty. Does anyone see where FEMA's set up the border?"
Johnny: "Dress implies clothing," Johnny pointed out and glanced around.
JP: "It implies taking them on and off as well."
Johnny: "Doesn't necessarily mean in front of you."
Tigra: "Not without some climbing..."
JP: "Then you'll just have to settle for coming in behind me." He ran up to the edge of the junk yard, flying just a bit to see over.
Johnny: Johnny shrugged, "I imagined it'd be the other way around."
JP: "That's the thing about me, I never settle." He called down motioning for Johnny to follow him up to have a look. "I see little peg things, think that's the border marker anyway. I think they've assumed nobody would come this far."
Selene: Selene left the looking around business to others, focusing instead on her inner senses. "I don't think anyone is nearby except for us."
Johnny: Johnny went fiery and took into the air to follow JP for a look, "So, we just jump the border and it's all good..."
JP: "Yeah, that seems to be the jist of it." He turned to look down at the others. "Any food requests you want me to nip out and get then?"
Selene: "I'd be content with you coming back to pick us up should that way be clear," Selene replied.
Tigra: "I can feed myself, get what you like...."
JP: "Right then, see you all in a minute." With that Jean-Paul was off, charging the border.
JP: And then, the second he was over the border he was not, falling out of his run and coming to a rolling stop, out cold.
Selene: Selene watched JP fail spectacularly at walking, jumping up behind her cover but deciding to stay clear of the open space. She looked around to see if anything or anyone could have hit him, but just saw him lie motionless on the ground.
Johnny: Right. So, he definitely wasn't trying to hop the border now...
Tigra: "Jean-Paul!" Tigra ran over to check on him but the border defenses got her too and she was unconscious and very much human-looking before she hit the floor.
Selene: This time Selene ducked further behind her cover, her eyebrows arched when she witnessed Tigra topple over, as well. "Stay here," she told Johnny.
Johnny: Johnny nodded, fairly content with not moving any closer to the border, "I can do that."
JP: The sound of a truck was roaring closer, coming up to the junk yard now.
Selene: "I can't see anyone," she whispered, spinning around when she heard the vehicle approach. "Guess we didn't stay unnoticed, after all."
Selene: She debated what to do. Tigra falling over like that had make it obvious that just running over to get them was no option - there was someone or something knocking them out just like that. "They're still alive," she told Johnny, sensing the two mutants life-force.
Johnny: "Well, that's a plus," Johnny sighed. He was a bit noticeable like this, and now he lacked clothing... He debated which would attract more attention. On fire or naked? "So, what do we do?"
JP: Two of the workers got out, heading for the border and..."We've got naked jumpers? Phil, what the hell is this shit?"
JP: Phil did not know. "Maybe this disease adds crazy too...but she don't look tentacly, does she?" Both men stepped over the border, coming to nudge their finds.
Selene: Selene bit her lip when she saw the military truck approach from the wrong side of the border. "I'm not sure we can do anything from here," she whispered back.
Johnny: Johnny made sure he was out of sight as the men climbed out of the truck, not exactly pleased with them nudging at Tigra. Well, or JP, he guessed. "Nothing comes to mind besides throwing junk..."
Selene: "I'd be all for this, but we could end up hurting the wrong one," Selene replied.
JP: "Well, this'll give the guys at camp a thrill I guess." the cuffs came out and Phil toed Greer over, cuffing just in case she woke up and using it to lift her up as his partner in Federal Emergency did the same with Jean-Paul
Selene: "Before we do anything, we'll have to find out what knocked them out so easily," Selene told Johnny. "And possibly inform the others somehow."
Johnny: He glanced over to Selene, "And, we're going to let them take Greer and JP?"
Selene: "I'm open for suggestions on how to accomplish that without getting knocked out ourselves or taking too long," Selene replied. "They were here quickly after we tried to cross the border, and no doubt there's more of them."
JP: Their border jumpers now tossed in and locked away. FEMA Phil and Don were off, driving for their camp
Selene: Selene bit her lip again. "Well, so much for that," she muttered. "Hopefully they'll at least get some food wherever they're being taken now."
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
"My, Adam really did paint the town red and then some, didn't he?" Jean-Paul chuckled quietly as he looked up at the paint job, shaking off a bit of snow from his shoulders.
"I don't envy the people that have to clean up when quarantine is over...." Greer pulled her coat tighter around her. Cold. But she'd committed to being non-fuzzy today so she'd have to suffer.
"Well, it's not like things aren't going to need a fresh coat of paint to cover up ink stains and other things so I suppose it is at least more cheerful."
Darren seemed happy enough cruising a long next to the group in just his t-shirt and jeans, "Yes because paint will be so much trickier compared to all the gore, guts, looting debris and burnt out cars."
"Well I kind of meant all of that in with the repainting, Darren..." Greer rolled her eyes.
"If I were the residents, I'd opt to burn down the place anyway and build up something new and more exciting," Selene commented, strolling by Darren's side.
"Maybe we should help them with that," she mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Like a roller coaster."
"Or a haunted house," Selene added.
"Cheerful isn't the word I'd use." He patted his pockets to make sure his cellphone was there, just in case. "Let's not destroy anymore than what's been done, kids."
"Yeah... you have fun with that...." she shook her head, kicking at an empty can.
"Just as long as the fire involves some s'mores I'm game. Probably would be handy as a security write-off for people as well."
"Oooh haunted house ..."
"Awww, no destruction?" Jean-Paul looked back to Scott, trying not to smirk too badly. "What about mayhem, can we cause mayhem?"
"No."
"I think the goo zombies have monopolized the mayhem anyway, honey..."
"I believe I could offer my help when it comes to rebuilding," Selene told the others. "Getting wrecked buildings to reassemble themselves should be a useful ability."
"That's true, you could be the savior of the city with that."
"You think they'd make me mayor for that," Selene asked, looking at the others.
"I'd totally make you mayor for building haunted houses."
"Ugh kill me now..." Greer muttered.
"I doubt they'd want the help, but you can always offer." He turned his head at a noise. He made sure he was between the kids and it, raising his hand to take off his glasses. There was nothing there.
"Sure, always wanted a tiger-skin rug."
"Why so grumpy," Selene asked Greer. "I could gift you Central Park when I'm in charge."
"Someone forgot to change her litter, that's what."
Greer glared at Darren, "NOT. FUNNY."
"Children, knock it off."
"I will help you with your mayoral run." Jean-Paul promised Selene. "I'm just imagining your slogans."
"Only from your point of view," Darren grinned widely, rolling onto his back, picking Selene up and sitting her on his stomach as he cruised along.
"Over here it's pretty damn funny."
"Yeah because you're an asshole."
Selene chuckled. "We should all take a ride on Darren," she suggested.
"Oh yeah, can I take a ride on Darren?" Oh, come on, like Jean-Paul wasn't going to go there?
"I said shut the fuck up." He turned around. There was something there, definitely.
"Think I'll pass, I'm sure he'd drop me on purpose..."
"Yup, I totally am an asshole, and hop aboard JP," he tapped his chest, "plenty of room."
In the direction of the noise that Scott heard, there was also now smoke.
Selene frowned when she saw the black trail of smoke rising up not too far ahead. "That is new," she said.
Darren tipped his head back, "Looks like there's some fun up there, wanna go check it out?"
He needed no more invitation that that, quickly finding himself on-board the Darren Kent Express. "Is it? I lose track of smoke nowadays. I just figure the hobos have banded together and are having a roast."
Greer frowned, "I'm totally not wearing the right clothes for trouble..." she sighed and took her shoes off so she didn't ruin them.
"Any clothes are the right clothes for trouble, as long as you have a lead pipe," Selene informed the others.
"Lady's got a point."
Scott started off in the direction of the smoke, wishing he had something easier to use than his glasses.
"Not when you have fur... Trust me." she shifted a little to free her tail. That was less uncomfortable. The smoke smell was also putting her off. Smoke meant fire.
Darren cruised after him.
"Onward!" Jean-Paul patted Darren's head, enjoying the ride. "You know, Selene, you've got yourself quit the personal hovercraft here."
"Why thank you," Selene replied, smirking at JP. "Not only is he useful, but also entirely eco-friendly. No emissions, runs on electricity, and purrs like a kitten as long as you change the oil at least once a week."
"But preferably more than once a week."
Greer pulled her coat off, she was too warm now. She also paused to remove her pants. Better. She'd find somewhere safe to put them for after.
"It greatly enhances performance, yes," Selene agreed with a nod.
"Oh, so that's what the kids are calling it nowadays. You know Scott here has the best supply of condoms. I believe he is their king."
Scott stopped as the alley opened onto a large intersection. The fire was larger than he'd expected, and it was creeping closer...no. There were people on fire. He sighed. where the hell was Lizzie when someone needed her? "Ok. Stay alert. I think those are the zombies. Which means someone else set the on fire."
"Fire and zombies?! This is just not my day...."
"... Can you imagine what the king of condom's crown must look like?"
"Or his scepter?"
"I can, and it's a wonderful mental picture," Selene remarked, standing up to get a better view of the situations. "Don't they advice against fighting zombies with fire in every respectable book on the topic. The only thing you accomplish is getting undead who are on fire."
Rose was not far from those burning people. She was backed into the corner of the ally, which was the only thing around her not on fire.
Greer stuffed her clothes into the broken window of a car to free up her hands... she removed her top as an after thought.
"Oh mighty teacher-leader dude? You want me to try scanning the area to see if there's any non-zombos life forms around here?"
Greer sniffed at the ground, "There are...."
Rose caught new movement from the students and narrowed her eyes. She squeezed her hands into fists and the fire disappeared, leaving a charred ally and burning zombies.
"Yes, thank you, Darren. But just a moment." He took off his glasses and blasted a wave of burning zombies into the building across the street. He put his glasses back on. "Ok, go for it. Be careful." Telepaths to link us up would be so useful...
"I can sense at least one non-infected person, too," Selene informed the others. "It's hard to pinpoint them, however."
Darren scanned the area, "Yeeeah, I'm picking up a human signature, it's a bit masked by all the heat though."
Greer tried to filter out the smell of smoke and focus on the scent of the non-zombie. She spotted the shape but was reluctant to move towards it because of the fire.
"You might be careful with those eyebeams, Scott," Selene tossed in, trying to tell the infected from any normals.
"Hi there! Need help?" Scott called to a figure that didn't look like a zombie. "We're here to help you."
Rose glanced around for somewhere to hide. It occurred to her that maybe she should fight instead of hiding. Hiding was getting old.
"I only have one normal scent..." She decided to avoid the fire by climbing up the wall of one of the buildings.
"... Yep, that's our chick," Darren pointed lazily towards the girl Scott was talking too.
Rose snapped her fingers and threw her hand out, sending a line of fire to snake around the group and enclose them and cut off their escape.
Roof was charred bits free! Yay! She walked across and peered over the edge, spotting the girl.... and now she was even more glad she was on the roof and not down there.
"I'm quite sure the rest here are all of the tentacled kind," Selene called out, scanning the area for any other normal minds, but unable to find any.
"Crap."
Darren grinned, "I think she's a bit paranoid, don't blame her."
"Don't sweat it, you've got a flyer here," Darren shrugged.
Maybe she'd just wait and see what happened. She was safe up here...
"Hey, careful with that!" Selene ducked and shielded her eyes as she felt her hair getting singed by the sudden heat.
"Can someone douse the flames?"
"I can blow on it but I doubt it'll do much good," Selene replied, trying to keep her distance to the fire.
Well he already had Selene and JP riding him, "Hold up," Darren said, grabbing Scott around the waist and flying up.
Rose glared and put the fire out again. These bastards were getting tricky. She sent a fireball at the group instead.
"See, no prob-argh!" Darren was forced to roll to avoid the flames, luckily he wasn't too high, "Watch it lady!"
Greer flattened herself down on the roof as fire was thrown at the others. She definitely didn't want to be seen if that was going to happen. She moved further along the ledge and looked for a safe way down that wouldn't startle the girl too much.
""Oh Christ!" Scott yelped as a ball of fire came a little too close. "We're friends, not zombies! He tried the speech in French and Italian. "Put me down, Darren."
Rose wasn't pleased that she had missed. She sent another fiery ball at the flying group, trying to anticipate another dodge.
Selene called out in surprise and held on to Darren when he had to dodge. "Can't you see we're not like them," she shouted. "No tentacles here!"
Tigra climbed down a stack of crates, slowly and carefully. "Um... excuse me..." she said quietly, "Um... I know you're scared but... please don't set me on fire..."
"Sure," Darren dropped Scott as carefully as he could and then quickly brought up his arms to shield himself from the fireball, he was fireproof, his charges weren't.
Scott blasted at the fireball, taking out a building in the process.
"Ma'am, seriously, I am way better looking than any of those monsters," hmmm ... she looked a bit Hispanic, "Seriously, I'm not a zombie!" He tried calling in Spanish.
Rose turned her stance to take in the... fuzzy? woman? near her, keeping fire on her fingers to throw. Fire. She knew that word. "Fire..." And then she heard Spanish! [Spanish]"That is what the last group said."[/Spanish]
"Uh huh... fire bad." Tigra landed on the floor, but stayed low and crouching submissively.
"At least this time it won't be me getting all the blame for obliterating the city," Selene muttered when Scott's beams did quite some impressive damage.
"But were they as articulate as I am? Come one, I can fly and I totally haven't tried to swoop down and eat you or whatever, that's gotta be worth something right? He lowered himself to the ground so that Selene and JP could get off him, "My name's Darren, Darren Kent, what's yours?
The fire on Rose's fingers vanished and she took a step toward the giant talking kitty.
Jean-Paul looked to Scott. "You know, that's pretty badass. Guess that's a building the owners won't have to worry about repainting either, yeah?" Oh yes, destruction had happened. He hopped off of Darren, running for some of the fires that were going that weren't attached to zombos and speeding around them to suck away oxygen, putting it out.
Oh no fire. Awesome. She gave the girl a friendly smile - minus fangs. And purred a little. Friendly. Not zombie.
Selene hopped off hover-Darren and found a nice non-burning spot of pavement. "I think the... Spanish is working," she said. "Hola?"
[Spanish]"I'm not leaving."[/Spanish] Rose told the man speaking Spanish. Rose gently touched the kitty woman.
"Yeah..." He gave the fire girl a smile and held up his hands. Ah, Spanish. Yet another language he apparently should learn. And here he'd thought three was enough. "Keep talking to her she's calming down."
"What did she say?"
Greer sat still and let the girl pet her. She didn't mind pettings.
"Whatever it was I don't think she was quite in agreement...though maybe she's up for groping?" He quirked an eyebrow at the pettings.
"No one's asking you too, pet the nice cat girl for a bit, we've given her her flea pill, it's all good." Darren said, before turning to Scott, "She said she's not leaving, and she thinks we're zombos."
"Well, if any of us prove we don't leak black maybe she'll be on board with that?"
Rose decided the giant kitty was friendly enough, but then she glared at the man again. [Spanish]"Then you leave."[/Spanish] She flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"Ah. Well, I'm not a Zombo, My name is Scott, I'm a teacher. What's your name?" He gave the girl his most nice smile.
"We're here to get you," Selene explained, dusting off her Spanish. She then realized that what she had said might be a bit ominous. "To get you out of trouble, that is."
Greer purred some more, slowly standing up now that the woman was definitely not going to burn her.
"Fine by me, who wants to be volunteered for bleeding?" He poked Scott, "She just asked us to leave," "You sure you don't want a hand here, I mean ... blasting zombies all day must get boring?"
Rose sent fire at Selene for the 'to get you' comment, never hearing the rest.
"I think she's a pyromaniac," Selene told the others in a whisper.
She pointed to herself, "Tigra."
"Whoa!" Selene hit the ground, barely dodging the fireball.
"Definitely pyromaniac," she muttered.
"Ok, seriously. Stop firing on us. We're here to help you, not hurt you." He scooted between the girl and the others.
Darren quickly shot out a hand, catching the fireball and sending it zooming skywards harmlessly, "I will thank you not to threaten my girl friend ma'am."
"You all need to relax your postures a lot..." Tigra told them, "You look majorly threatening."
[Spanish]"I told you sons of bitches I am not going with you before and I'll say it one last time. Leave me alone!"[/Spanish]
"She's afraid, you all look scary... she's defending herself. Just calm the hell down." She frowned a little.
Darren looked at himself in his t-shirt, jeans and mussy hair, then at Selene, then at JP ... Yes, clearly they were very threatening ...
Scott grit his teeth and held out his hand to the girl. "I'm obviously not a zombie, so please calm down."
"Or you could try smiling... non threatening... relax your posture...." God. It was like teaching children.
Jean-Paul dug into his pockets, reaching for something that most everyone could see as a declaration of good intentions, holding out the bag of chocolates he kept on him for extra sugar to burn towards the girl.
"May I brain her," Selene asked the others. "Non-threateningly, of course."
"I'm seriously thinking we should just leave Tigger with the flamy girl and go get pancakes."
"Oh yeah because that would really convince her we weren't trying to hurt her..." Tigra sighed. There was just no hope for non-ferals.
"Tone counts as well, Greer, maybe you should try to give instructions with a smile." he had his own on, taking a seat on the ground as he waited to see what their firestarter thought of his offer.
Rose's eyes lit up a bit. It had to be a trick. Men do not just have candy on them... chocolate candy.
Tigra gave rose a smile, picking one of the chocolates and eating it to show her it was safe.
Rose tensed, ready to fire on JP if the kitty cat dropped dead... but she seemed ok. Maybe it was safe?
"We are not here to harm you," Selene tried again. It had been quite a while since she had spoken Spanish, and actually felt a bit strange.
"Oh, wonderful. Ladies love candy. I've got...a pack of cigarettes and a lighter."
Tigra purred again at Rose. Safe.
"I'd take them." Jean-Paul spoke up. "She might like the fire though."
"Then why are you here? The last people who came tried to take me away. Said they were doing the world a favor."
"We come in peace," Selene continued, holding up the palms of her hands. "I think I still have a lemon somewhere."
Rose took one step closer to the chocolate. How long had it been since she had tasted chocolate? Her mouth watered at the memory.
"Tell her we live around here and saw smoke?" He kept the bag held out for her, still plopped on the ground with his legs gathered up against him.
"This is progress." He lowered his hand and gave a sigh. He took a step back slowly.
Rose didn't take her eyes off Darren as she went for a chocolate, shaking as she did.
Darren shrugged, Selene seemed to be being more effective than him at this, and took a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one.
Tigra's tail curled and uncurled behind her as she watched, continually monitoring the girl's scent for any changes.
Rose put Darren's cigarette out with a smile. Her idea of a joke. She munched on her chocolate happily.
Darren blinked and took the cigarette out of his mouth and stared at the end of a second, before trying to relight it.
Greer giggled a little. She already liked this girl.
Selene searched her pockets, and while she didn't find a lemon or other treats, one contained a small rock with a sour face painted on it. "The people who tried to chase you away wanted to do the same to us," she told the girl, offering her the little rock. "They are no friends of us."
[Spanish]"We can set them on fire then, yes?"[/Spanish] She took the little rock, confused.
Scott sighed and offered up his cigarettes. "What are you guys saying?"
"Yeah, mind translating once in a while? I'm getting cramped up here."
"We are like you," Selene continued, trying not to get too tempted by the girl's suggestions. "Maybe later. It makes them angry."
"She's saying we can set zombies on fire together."
Rose took the offered cigarette and lit the end by blowing on it. She inhaled on the white stick, then grinned. [Spanish]"I can wait to set them on fire."[/Spanish]
"You know, shouldn't we feel more squicky about killing and maiming them...I mean, we don't know the people they were aren't still in there...but, then again, they do try to ink-tentacle us to death."
"She agrees to come with us if you will wear your pants on your head," Selene told JP.
Darren snorted.
"My pants would make a poor hat."
Tigra giggled again, getting the feeling that wasn't what the girl had said. She tried again with her name, "Tigra." she pointed at herself. Then gestured to her indicating she'd like to know her name now.
"She will settle on a turban?" Selene shrugged, then turned back towards the girl. "I'm Selene. What's your name?"
"I could totally bring turbans back." Jean-Paul went ahead and took a bit of his own chocolate.
"My name is Rosalinda Elena Rodriguez... Rose.. I am from Mexico... the pen is on the table..." She paused... then blushed. That was not supposed to be part of a greeting.
Tigra smiled kindly at her, "Rose. That's pretty."
"Oh, good. English. My name is Scott Summers. It's nice to meet you, Rose."
[Spanish]"Are you going to send me back to Mexico?"[/Spanish] She looked to Selene and Darren, since they had been the ones speaking Spanish.
"Do you want to go back to Mexico?"
"Jean-Paul." He gave her a bit of a wave as he introduced himself.
"No one wants to go back to Mexico," Selene remarked. "No, only out of the city. To safety."
She turned to Jean-Paul. "Thank you, Jean-Paul." She pointed to the chocolates. Rose looked back to Selene, paused, then nodded. Out of danger would be a change. Maybe they had a nice bridge to sleep under to keep out of the rain.
He took that as freedom to stand back up. "Of course."
"Then we're in agreement? To get the hell out of here before more zombies or government people show up?"
"Sure, I have a real craving for pancakes now as well."
Rose knew that word too. "Pancakes?"
"Sure... want some?" She smiled.
"Yeah, pancakes ... and bacon ..."
Rose was all smiles now. Food! Real food!?
"Oh there you go, I think that's made her happy."
"I'll cook you some up when we get back to the mansion, if you like?"
Tigra held a hand out to Rose. "Hungry, huh?"
"We come from a place where food is plenty," Selene explained and gave Rose a nod.
Rose looked a bit confused as she tried to translate all of that. She could figure out that she was supposed to take the offered hand.. and there was something about a castle maybe? Surely that wasn't quite right. She took the kitty hand.
[Spanish]"Food is most appreciated. Thank you, ma'am."[/Spanish]
"Food always makes everyone happy," he said with a grin. "I think there's a small cache of food in the van's emergency kit. A couple granola bars, to tide you over."
Tigra smiled at Rose and made a start towards the street... and her clothes.
"You can eat as much as you like, as long as you don't mind being part of our family. Everyone helps out play their part." Selene nodded again and smiled at the new girl. "You know how to tidy, do you? My room is a mess, you know?"
"Selene!"
"What? Everyone is getting their own Mexican, why can't I?"
Darren rolled his eyes and put his arm around Selene, kissing her cheek, "You're terrible, you know that?"
"Of course," Selene replied, leaning against Darren's side. "It takes a lot of work, after all."
Rose wasn't quite sure what to make of these people, but it led to a safe place to sleep for the night and food. Couldn't be all bad.
When they reached the street, Tigra pulled her clothes out of the car and put her coat back on, deciding to just carry the rest of her stuff.
Scott herded the children towards the van, looking behind them for signs of any more zombies.
Rose stayed with the giant kitty cat, keeping an eye out, like Scott, for more zombies of black goo.
"You probably picked a poor time to arrive in the city. But I guess you've figured that out all ready."
"I don't envy the people that have to clean up when quarantine is over...." Greer pulled her coat tighter around her. Cold. But she'd committed to being non-fuzzy today so she'd have to suffer.
"Well, it's not like things aren't going to need a fresh coat of paint to cover up ink stains and other things so I suppose it is at least more cheerful."
Darren seemed happy enough cruising a long next to the group in just his t-shirt and jeans, "Yes because paint will be so much trickier compared to all the gore, guts, looting debris and burnt out cars."
"Well I kind of meant all of that in with the repainting, Darren..." Greer rolled her eyes.
"If I were the residents, I'd opt to burn down the place anyway and build up something new and more exciting," Selene commented, strolling by Darren's side.
"Maybe we should help them with that," she mused, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Like a roller coaster."
"Or a haunted house," Selene added.
"Cheerful isn't the word I'd use." He patted his pockets to make sure his cellphone was there, just in case. "Let's not destroy anymore than what's been done, kids."
"Yeah... you have fun with that...." she shook her head, kicking at an empty can.
"Just as long as the fire involves some s'mores I'm game. Probably would be handy as a security write-off for people as well."
"Oooh haunted house ..."
"Awww, no destruction?" Jean-Paul looked back to Scott, trying not to smirk too badly. "What about mayhem, can we cause mayhem?"
"No."
"I think the goo zombies have monopolized the mayhem anyway, honey..."
"I believe I could offer my help when it comes to rebuilding," Selene told the others. "Getting wrecked buildings to reassemble themselves should be a useful ability."
"That's true, you could be the savior of the city with that."
"You think they'd make me mayor for that," Selene asked, looking at the others.
"I'd totally make you mayor for building haunted houses."
"Ugh kill me now..." Greer muttered.
"I doubt they'd want the help, but you can always offer." He turned his head at a noise. He made sure he was between the kids and it, raising his hand to take off his glasses. There was nothing there.
"Sure, always wanted a tiger-skin rug."
"Why so grumpy," Selene asked Greer. "I could gift you Central Park when I'm in charge."
"Someone forgot to change her litter, that's what."
Greer glared at Darren, "NOT. FUNNY."
"Children, knock it off."
"I will help you with your mayoral run." Jean-Paul promised Selene. "I'm just imagining your slogans."
"Only from your point of view," Darren grinned widely, rolling onto his back, picking Selene up and sitting her on his stomach as he cruised along.
"Over here it's pretty damn funny."
"Yeah because you're an asshole."
Selene chuckled. "We should all take a ride on Darren," she suggested.
"Oh yeah, can I take a ride on Darren?" Oh, come on, like Jean-Paul wasn't going to go there?
"I said shut the fuck up." He turned around. There was something there, definitely.
"Think I'll pass, I'm sure he'd drop me on purpose..."
"Yup, I totally am an asshole, and hop aboard JP," he tapped his chest, "plenty of room."
In the direction of the noise that Scott heard, there was also now smoke.
Selene frowned when she saw the black trail of smoke rising up not too far ahead. "That is new," she said.
Darren tipped his head back, "Looks like there's some fun up there, wanna go check it out?"
He needed no more invitation that that, quickly finding himself on-board the Darren Kent Express. "Is it? I lose track of smoke nowadays. I just figure the hobos have banded together and are having a roast."
Greer frowned, "I'm totally not wearing the right clothes for trouble..." she sighed and took her shoes off so she didn't ruin them.
"Any clothes are the right clothes for trouble, as long as you have a lead pipe," Selene informed the others.
"Lady's got a point."
Scott started off in the direction of the smoke, wishing he had something easier to use than his glasses.
"Not when you have fur... Trust me." she shifted a little to free her tail. That was less uncomfortable. The smoke smell was also putting her off. Smoke meant fire.
Darren cruised after him.
"Onward!" Jean-Paul patted Darren's head, enjoying the ride. "You know, Selene, you've got yourself quit the personal hovercraft here."
"Why thank you," Selene replied, smirking at JP. "Not only is he useful, but also entirely eco-friendly. No emissions, runs on electricity, and purrs like a kitten as long as you change the oil at least once a week."
"But preferably more than once a week."
Greer pulled her coat off, she was too warm now. She also paused to remove her pants. Better. She'd find somewhere safe to put them for after.
"It greatly enhances performance, yes," Selene agreed with a nod.
"Oh, so that's what the kids are calling it nowadays. You know Scott here has the best supply of condoms. I believe he is their king."
Scott stopped as the alley opened onto a large intersection. The fire was larger than he'd expected, and it was creeping closer...no. There were people on fire. He sighed. where the hell was Lizzie when someone needed her? "Ok. Stay alert. I think those are the zombies. Which means someone else set the on fire."
"Fire and zombies?! This is just not my day...."
"... Can you imagine what the king of condom's crown must look like?"
"Or his scepter?"
"I can, and it's a wonderful mental picture," Selene remarked, standing up to get a better view of the situations. "Don't they advice against fighting zombies with fire in every respectable book on the topic. The only thing you accomplish is getting undead who are on fire."
Rose was not far from those burning people. She was backed into the corner of the ally, which was the only thing around her not on fire.
Greer stuffed her clothes into the broken window of a car to free up her hands... she removed her top as an after thought.
"Oh mighty teacher-leader dude? You want me to try scanning the area to see if there's any non-zombos life forms around here?"
Greer sniffed at the ground, "There are...."
Rose caught new movement from the students and narrowed her eyes. She squeezed her hands into fists and the fire disappeared, leaving a charred ally and burning zombies.
"Yes, thank you, Darren. But just a moment." He took off his glasses and blasted a wave of burning zombies into the building across the street. He put his glasses back on. "Ok, go for it. Be careful." Telepaths to link us up would be so useful...
"I can sense at least one non-infected person, too," Selene informed the others. "It's hard to pinpoint them, however."
Darren scanned the area, "Yeeeah, I'm picking up a human signature, it's a bit masked by all the heat though."
Greer tried to filter out the smell of smoke and focus on the scent of the non-zombie. She spotted the shape but was reluctant to move towards it because of the fire.
"You might be careful with those eyebeams, Scott," Selene tossed in, trying to tell the infected from any normals.
"Hi there! Need help?" Scott called to a figure that didn't look like a zombie. "We're here to help you."
Rose glanced around for somewhere to hide. It occurred to her that maybe she should fight instead of hiding. Hiding was getting old.
"I only have one normal scent..." She decided to avoid the fire by climbing up the wall of one of the buildings.
"... Yep, that's our chick," Darren pointed lazily towards the girl Scott was talking too.
Rose snapped her fingers and threw her hand out, sending a line of fire to snake around the group and enclose them and cut off their escape.
Roof was charred bits free! Yay! She walked across and peered over the edge, spotting the girl.... and now she was even more glad she was on the roof and not down there.
"I'm quite sure the rest here are all of the tentacled kind," Selene called out, scanning the area for any other normal minds, but unable to find any.
"Crap."
Darren grinned, "I think she's a bit paranoid, don't blame her."
"Don't sweat it, you've got a flyer here," Darren shrugged.
Maybe she'd just wait and see what happened. She was safe up here...
"Hey, careful with that!" Selene ducked and shielded her eyes as she felt her hair getting singed by the sudden heat.
"Can someone douse the flames?"
"I can blow on it but I doubt it'll do much good," Selene replied, trying to keep her distance to the fire.
Well he already had Selene and JP riding him, "Hold up," Darren said, grabbing Scott around the waist and flying up.
Rose glared and put the fire out again. These bastards were getting tricky. She sent a fireball at the group instead.
"See, no prob-argh!" Darren was forced to roll to avoid the flames, luckily he wasn't too high, "Watch it lady!"
Greer flattened herself down on the roof as fire was thrown at the others. She definitely didn't want to be seen if that was going to happen. She moved further along the ledge and looked for a safe way down that wouldn't startle the girl too much.
""Oh Christ!" Scott yelped as a ball of fire came a little too close. "We're friends, not zombies! He tried the speech in French and Italian. "Put me down, Darren."
Rose wasn't pleased that she had missed. She sent another fiery ball at the flying group, trying to anticipate another dodge.
Selene called out in surprise and held on to Darren when he had to dodge. "Can't you see we're not like them," she shouted. "No tentacles here!"
Tigra climbed down a stack of crates, slowly and carefully. "Um... excuse me..." she said quietly, "Um... I know you're scared but... please don't set me on fire..."
"Sure," Darren dropped Scott as carefully as he could and then quickly brought up his arms to shield himself from the fireball, he was fireproof, his charges weren't.
Scott blasted at the fireball, taking out a building in the process.
"Ma'am, seriously, I am way better looking than any of those monsters," hmmm ... she looked a bit Hispanic, "Seriously, I'm not a zombie!" He tried calling in Spanish.
Rose turned her stance to take in the... fuzzy? woman? near her, keeping fire on her fingers to throw. Fire. She knew that word. "Fire..." And then she heard Spanish! [Spanish]"That is what the last group said."[/Spanish]
"Uh huh... fire bad." Tigra landed on the floor, but stayed low and crouching submissively.
"At least this time it won't be me getting all the blame for obliterating the city," Selene muttered when Scott's beams did quite some impressive damage.
"But were they as articulate as I am? Come one, I can fly and I totally haven't tried to swoop down and eat you or whatever, that's gotta be worth something right? He lowered himself to the ground so that Selene and JP could get off him, "My name's Darren, Darren Kent, what's yours?
The fire on Rose's fingers vanished and she took a step toward the giant talking kitty.
Jean-Paul looked to Scott. "You know, that's pretty badass. Guess that's a building the owners won't have to worry about repainting either, yeah?" Oh yes, destruction had happened. He hopped off of Darren, running for some of the fires that were going that weren't attached to zombos and speeding around them to suck away oxygen, putting it out.
Oh no fire. Awesome. She gave the girl a friendly smile - minus fangs. And purred a little. Friendly. Not zombie.
Selene hopped off hover-Darren and found a nice non-burning spot of pavement. "I think the... Spanish is working," she said. "Hola?"
[Spanish]"I'm not leaving."[/Spanish] Rose told the man speaking Spanish. Rose gently touched the kitty woman.
"Yeah..." He gave the fire girl a smile and held up his hands. Ah, Spanish. Yet another language he apparently should learn. And here he'd thought three was enough. "Keep talking to her she's calming down."
"What did she say?"
Greer sat still and let the girl pet her. She didn't mind pettings.
"Whatever it was I don't think she was quite in agreement...though maybe she's up for groping?" He quirked an eyebrow at the pettings.
"No one's asking you too, pet the nice cat girl for a bit, we've given her her flea pill, it's all good." Darren said, before turning to Scott, "She said she's not leaving, and she thinks we're zombos."
"Well, if any of us prove we don't leak black maybe she'll be on board with that?"
Rose decided the giant kitty was friendly enough, but then she glared at the man again. [Spanish]"Then you leave."[/Spanish] She flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"Ah. Well, I'm not a Zombo, My name is Scott, I'm a teacher. What's your name?" He gave the girl his most nice smile.
"We're here to get you," Selene explained, dusting off her Spanish. She then realized that what she had said might be a bit ominous. "To get you out of trouble, that is."
Greer purred some more, slowly standing up now that the woman was definitely not going to burn her.
"Fine by me, who wants to be volunteered for bleeding?" He poked Scott, "She just asked us to leave," "You sure you don't want a hand here, I mean ... blasting zombies all day must get boring?"
Rose sent fire at Selene for the 'to get you' comment, never hearing the rest.
"I think she's a pyromaniac," Selene told the others in a whisper.
She pointed to herself, "Tigra."
"Whoa!" Selene hit the ground, barely dodging the fireball.
"Definitely pyromaniac," she muttered.
"Ok, seriously. Stop firing on us. We're here to help you, not hurt you." He scooted between the girl and the others.
Darren quickly shot out a hand, catching the fireball and sending it zooming skywards harmlessly, "I will thank you not to threaten my girl friend ma'am."
"You all need to relax your postures a lot..." Tigra told them, "You look majorly threatening."
[Spanish]"I told you sons of bitches I am not going with you before and I'll say it one last time. Leave me alone!"[/Spanish]
"She's afraid, you all look scary... she's defending herself. Just calm the hell down." She frowned a little.
Darren looked at himself in his t-shirt, jeans and mussy hair, then at Selene, then at JP ... Yes, clearly they were very threatening ...
Scott grit his teeth and held out his hand to the girl. "I'm obviously not a zombie, so please calm down."
"Or you could try smiling... non threatening... relax your posture...." God. It was like teaching children.
Jean-Paul dug into his pockets, reaching for something that most everyone could see as a declaration of good intentions, holding out the bag of chocolates he kept on him for extra sugar to burn towards the girl.
"May I brain her," Selene asked the others. "Non-threateningly, of course."
"I'm seriously thinking we should just leave Tigger with the flamy girl and go get pancakes."
"Oh yeah because that would really convince her we weren't trying to hurt her..." Tigra sighed. There was just no hope for non-ferals.
"Tone counts as well, Greer, maybe you should try to give instructions with a smile." he had his own on, taking a seat on the ground as he waited to see what their firestarter thought of his offer.
Rose's eyes lit up a bit. It had to be a trick. Men do not just have candy on them... chocolate candy.
Tigra gave rose a smile, picking one of the chocolates and eating it to show her it was safe.
Rose tensed, ready to fire on JP if the kitty cat dropped dead... but she seemed ok. Maybe it was safe?
"We are not here to harm you," Selene tried again. It had been quite a while since she had spoken Spanish, and actually felt a bit strange.
"Oh, wonderful. Ladies love candy. I've got...a pack of cigarettes and a lighter."
Tigra purred again at Rose. Safe.
"I'd take them." Jean-Paul spoke up. "She might like the fire though."
"Then why are you here? The last people who came tried to take me away. Said they were doing the world a favor."
"We come in peace," Selene continued, holding up the palms of her hands. "I think I still have a lemon somewhere."
Rose took one step closer to the chocolate. How long had it been since she had tasted chocolate? Her mouth watered at the memory.
"Tell her we live around here and saw smoke?" He kept the bag held out for her, still plopped on the ground with his legs gathered up against him.
"This is progress." He lowered his hand and gave a sigh. He took a step back slowly.
Rose didn't take her eyes off Darren as she went for a chocolate, shaking as she did.
Darren shrugged, Selene seemed to be being more effective than him at this, and took a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket and lit one.
Tigra's tail curled and uncurled behind her as she watched, continually monitoring the girl's scent for any changes.
Rose put Darren's cigarette out with a smile. Her idea of a joke. She munched on her chocolate happily.
Darren blinked and took the cigarette out of his mouth and stared at the end of a second, before trying to relight it.
Greer giggled a little. She already liked this girl.
Selene searched her pockets, and while she didn't find a lemon or other treats, one contained a small rock with a sour face painted on it. "The people who tried to chase you away wanted to do the same to us," she told the girl, offering her the little rock. "They are no friends of us."
[Spanish]"We can set them on fire then, yes?"[/Spanish] She took the little rock, confused.
Scott sighed and offered up his cigarettes. "What are you guys saying?"
"Yeah, mind translating once in a while? I'm getting cramped up here."
"We are like you," Selene continued, trying not to get too tempted by the girl's suggestions. "Maybe later. It makes them angry."
"She's saying we can set zombies on fire together."
Rose took the offered cigarette and lit the end by blowing on it. She inhaled on the white stick, then grinned. [Spanish]"I can wait to set them on fire."[/Spanish]
"You know, shouldn't we feel more squicky about killing and maiming them...I mean, we don't know the people they were aren't still in there...but, then again, they do try to ink-tentacle us to death."
"She agrees to come with us if you will wear your pants on your head," Selene told JP.
Darren snorted.
"My pants would make a poor hat."
Tigra giggled again, getting the feeling that wasn't what the girl had said. She tried again with her name, "Tigra." she pointed at herself. Then gestured to her indicating she'd like to know her name now.
"She will settle on a turban?" Selene shrugged, then turned back towards the girl. "I'm Selene. What's your name?"
"I could totally bring turbans back." Jean-Paul went ahead and took a bit of his own chocolate.
"My name is Rosalinda Elena Rodriguez... Rose.. I am from Mexico... the pen is on the table..." She paused... then blushed. That was not supposed to be part of a greeting.
Tigra smiled kindly at her, "Rose. That's pretty."
"Oh, good. English. My name is Scott Summers. It's nice to meet you, Rose."
[Spanish]"Are you going to send me back to Mexico?"[/Spanish] She looked to Selene and Darren, since they had been the ones speaking Spanish.
"Do you want to go back to Mexico?"
"Jean-Paul." He gave her a bit of a wave as he introduced himself.
"No one wants to go back to Mexico," Selene remarked. "No, only out of the city. To safety."
She turned to Jean-Paul. "Thank you, Jean-Paul." She pointed to the chocolates. Rose looked back to Selene, paused, then nodded. Out of danger would be a change. Maybe they had a nice bridge to sleep under to keep out of the rain.
He took that as freedom to stand back up. "Of course."
"Then we're in agreement? To get the hell out of here before more zombies or government people show up?"
"Sure, I have a real craving for pancakes now as well."
Rose knew that word too. "Pancakes?"
"Sure... want some?" She smiled.
"Yeah, pancakes ... and bacon ..."
Rose was all smiles now. Food! Real food!?
"Oh there you go, I think that's made her happy."
"I'll cook you some up when we get back to the mansion, if you like?"
Tigra held a hand out to Rose. "Hungry, huh?"
"We come from a place where food is plenty," Selene explained and gave Rose a nod.
Rose looked a bit confused as she tried to translate all of that. She could figure out that she was supposed to take the offered hand.. and there was something about a castle maybe? Surely that wasn't quite right. She took the kitty hand.
[Spanish]"Food is most appreciated. Thank you, ma'am."[/Spanish]
"Food always makes everyone happy," he said with a grin. "I think there's a small cache of food in the van's emergency kit. A couple granola bars, to tide you over."
Tigra smiled at Rose and made a start towards the street... and her clothes.
"You can eat as much as you like, as long as you don't mind being part of our family. Everyone helps out play their part." Selene nodded again and smiled at the new girl. "You know how to tidy, do you? My room is a mess, you know?"
"Selene!"
"What? Everyone is getting their own Mexican, why can't I?"
Darren rolled his eyes and put his arm around Selene, kissing her cheek, "You're terrible, you know that?"
"Of course," Selene replied, leaning against Darren's side. "It takes a lot of work, after all."
Rose wasn't quite sure what to make of these people, but it led to a safe place to sleep for the night and food. Couldn't be all bad.
When they reached the street, Tigra pulled her clothes out of the car and put her coat back on, deciding to just carry the rest of her stuff.
Scott herded the children towards the van, looking behind them for signs of any more zombies.
Rose stayed with the giant kitty cat, keeping an eye out, like Scott, for more zombies of black goo.
"You probably picked a poor time to arrive in the city. But I guess you've figured that out all ready."
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Jean-Paul stepped out, still pulling tinsel out of his hair as he pulled his coat on, looking up quite happily at the little bit of snow that was coming down. "Mmm, fantastic."
"Me? Oh I know, but thank you for the compliment," a voice issued from above him. Darren was sitting on the low roof above the patio, legs swinging over the side, a box next to him and smoking a cigarette.
Rogue walked out from the back of the garage with her own box and lifted herself up onto the roof a few feet from Darren. "'Lo, Jean-Paul."
He tilted his back and up farther, looking up to see Darren. "You're quite welcome. Hello, Rogue. How goes it out here?"
Darren grinned savagely, "Coldly, apparently," he tapped the box with his elbow, "I've been asked to do the outdoor lights, I guess the skunk here was asked to help ... either that or she just wants to try an annoy me ... or she could be minding her own business but this is Roguey we're talking about so probably not." He took another pull, "What brings you out into the oh so seasonal weather?"
"Ah'm hangin' lights o' mah own accord, Darren. An' Ah've been mindin' mah own business a lot f'r tha past year if ya hadn't noticed." She pulled out lights from the box and looked down at JP, "Gonna help'r just stand there lookin' at us?"
"The seasonal weather brings me out but I suppose I might as well come up and help. I can look at scores of people." He smirked, flying himself on up. "I suppose it does make sense to have the fliers do the lights now, doesn't it?"
"Yep, and those immune to the cold in my case," he took a final drag and flicked the stub away, "and with you we'll probably get it done extra fast now." He made no move to take any lights out.
Jean-Paul didn't go for the lights but he did go for the light staple gun. "I'm just all around useful."
"Oh yeah. Y'all're plenty useful. At givin' me headaches." She passed him some lights to hang.
"See, for absolutely everything." He just grinned, starting to hang where he was. "As well you should know. Had any chats with your head-friend?"
"Now, now Roguey, you being a naughty girl and bad touching the students?" Darren scolded mildly, "setting a bad example there," he grinned as he took out another cigarette before offering the packet around.
"Every chance Ah get, Dar." She smirked and took a cigarette as she looked over to Jean-Paul, "Several. He's very annoyin'. Cain't get him ta shut up really."
"You really shouldn't be surprised." He gave her a wide, completely insincere smile. "Maybe he'll be helpful."
Darren tisked and rolled his eyes, pocketing his cigarettes again, "Y'know one of these days you're gonna bad-touch once to often and they'll kick you outta here, toots," he warned with a wave of a finger before using it to light his smoke, "So JP ... recovered from the near flambeing?"
"Oh yeah, recovered quite nicely. This wasn't the first time I've been knocked out by an angry butch girl."
Rogue passed more lights to JP, 'accidentally' elbowing him hard enough to knock him off his feet and hopefully to the ground. "Hey, they knew when they hired me that anyone who talks 'bout Sam gets a beatin'."
The ground was going to be a bit of a stretch as far as getting Jean-Paul to hit. Instead he just hoovered off of the roof, stringing the lights around. "Helps to warn the new people as to who Sam even was ahead of time though. And I never brought him up at all, just a poorly crafted ceiling. It does make me wonder how many times various places of this school has been rebuilt...should I be worried?"
Darren snorted, "Oh yeah, I forgot Rogue doesn't do the whole rational thing," he nodded, still making no move to help the two with the lights, "maybe she figured that it left such a 'psychic impression'" he did air quotes, "that even non-psychics should be able to pick up the fact that it happened." He gave JP an unhappy smile, "A few semesters ago there was this kid ... he couldn't control his powers at all and they were some fucking freaky powers, let me tell you! Upshot of it is that Rogue's fiance Sam was killed in an explosion in the kitchen."
"Murdered, Darren," Rogue said blankly as she grabbed her own staple gun and started with a new strand of lights.
"Well, may there be no more explosions then." He pulled a face, definitely wanting to avoid all such things. "Any other horrors I should know?"
"Tons."
"Comforting."
"Well there's the cylon in the basement that's been taking courtship lessons off Edward Cullen, but you're probably safe from her ... then there's Wade ... let's just leave that at that ..."
"Danger? Oh I all ready know Danger." He chuckled. "Reed is mildly obsessed with Danger...and by mildly I feel I should knock just in case."
"Wade's his own breed o' horror." Rogue flew along the side of the roof stapling the lights up. "But he ain't really dangerous."
"Oh, and there's Leech up in the attic, he has the power to neutralize all mutations, so don't try flying around him," Darren scratched his chin thoughtfully, "But apart from that ... I mean, you don't need warning about Adam and his stabby-stabby do you, you guys already know each other."
Rogue shuddered at the mention of Adam and the memories that brought up from JP's psyche.
"Yeah, all ready know Adam." Jean-Paul answered, giving Rogue a look. "Oh what are you shuddering at?"
"... Oooh, I recognize that shudder, that's the 'foreign memories uncomfortable sex-act' shudder," Darren grinned, "You mean Twitchy McLeprechaun finally got laid?"
"Hey, no parts of my sex-act memories deserve a shudder." He defended himself. "She should be glad for the free porn, I'd think."
Rogue gave Darren a glare and then turned to Jean-Paul, "Ah ain't glad f'r nothin', thanks. Ah've been real a-sexual lately."
"That doesn't mean you can't recognize quality when you remember it."
Darren snorted, "Hey, could be worse Stripes, at least you haven't inherited any sexual fantasies that involve you from him," he pointed at JP with his cigarette, "So ... morbid curiosity here, what is Adam like in the sack? Either of you can answer this by the way."
"...I'm going to go with an apt pupil. I swear he studied for it."
"... Studied?" Darren frowned at the though of how you 'studied' for such a subject ... was it unfair of him to suspect that Cessily was involved?
Rogue arched an eyebrow at Darren, "Why? Have y'all heard o' any sexual fantasies that involve y'all from someone ya 'hived' with?"
"Of course, how else would I be able to recognize that particular twitch," Darren took his cigarette out of his mouth long enough to poke his tongue out at her.
"...are you the school perversion oracles somehow? Because that sounds like warnings I'd be able to appreciate more." Jean-Paul plugged in a new string of lights, continuing on. "And I can't be the only one that thinks the word 'hived' just sounds dirty in this context, right?"
"I'm serious about the studying though. I'd not be surprised if he hasn't gotten himself a notebook and is taking notes from everything he can find on the internet...I should be more worried than I am."
Rogue blinked at Jean-Paul then turned to look at Darren for a second then back to JP. "Yes we are."
She took another strand of lights and kept going along the roof, "With Darren, hived is just as dirty as it sounds an' then not so much at tha same time."
"The vulcan mindmeld I'm cool with talking about, the hiving not so much, especially given the current situation," Darren sighed, taking a final drag and flicking the end away as he turned to JP, "I may have this ... zombie drone power y'see ..."
"...yeah, that doesn't sound near as appealing as it did a minute ago." He pulled a face. "I think I've all ready had my fill of zombie drones."
"Yeah, well Ah ain't so cool with talkin' 'bout Sam bein' possessed an' then combustin'. So now we're even."
"Yeah, but if you're going to start bad-touching people for referring to it without even knowing about it, you're gonna half to start talking about it sooner or later," Darren shrugged, "I mean, I haven't life-drained you for bringing it up, have I?"
"Will the two of you quit getting off topic with life-draining or essence sucking or whatever? Stick with the good bits now." He hovered back, giving their decor a critical eye. "I suppose doing this won't draw the inky tentacles right to us, yeah?"
"... Naaah, I mean, they're all in the city right? Why'd they be out here?" Darren said confidently ... but he still found himself scanning the grounds nervously ...
"Maybe the not-actually-undead don't like Christmas cheer...or maybe they'll associate it with some sort of meal."
Rogue frowned and looked behind her cautiously, "Ah don't want them ta associate it with a meal... Ah like them not likin' Christmas a lot better..."
"Well ... what do you guys wanna do? Take 'em down?" Darren took out another cigarette and lit it.
"Why don't you take 'em down since y'all ain't even helpin' ta put 'em up?"
"Well, it's not like we won't know until we light them up."
"Well, I say light 'em, we could do with some cheer around here I guess and if they do attract the Star-spawn ... we've proved we can handle them more that once."
Rogue blinked at Darren, "Y'all're certifiable, y' know it?" She sighed and kept stringing the lights though until she got to the edge of the roof. "Plug 'em in, Speedy Gonzales."
"I'm not sure if I object to the rodent suggestion or the geographical confusion most." He did go to plug them in though, smiling up at what they had created. "None too shabby."
"Yep, I am Stripes, but at least I have a shrink for it," he winked at her before blowing out a stream of smoke, "Mmm ... nice work guys, looks really nice."
"Good. Y'all need it." She hovered back from the roof and put her hands on her hips and gave a sharp nod. "Perfect. Y'all wanna help me do tha rest o' tha house? Figure Ah'll line tha windows too."
"Why not? It's certainly better than camping out in the recroom waiting for something to do."
Darren sighed, "Yes, I am totally the only person here who needs a shrink," he shrugged, "Yeah sure, might as well use 'em all up."
'More than likely the whole place needs something."
"Alright then. Let's get this done an' get inside. Ah'm gettin' cold." She hefted her box under her arm and headed to the side of the house, not bothering to wait for the boys.
Jean-Paul fought down the temptation to bring snow along just to get her colder, following Darren on inside and shutting the door behind him. Beyond the fence came and interested murring sound as a finger reached out into a tentacle, wrapping around one of the bars.
"Me? Oh I know, but thank you for the compliment," a voice issued from above him. Darren was sitting on the low roof above the patio, legs swinging over the side, a box next to him and smoking a cigarette.
Rogue walked out from the back of the garage with her own box and lifted herself up onto the roof a few feet from Darren. "'Lo, Jean-Paul."
He tilted his back and up farther, looking up to see Darren. "You're quite welcome. Hello, Rogue. How goes it out here?"
Darren grinned savagely, "Coldly, apparently," he tapped the box with his elbow, "I've been asked to do the outdoor lights, I guess the skunk here was asked to help ... either that or she just wants to try an annoy me ... or she could be minding her own business but this is Roguey we're talking about so probably not." He took another pull, "What brings you out into the oh so seasonal weather?"
"Ah'm hangin' lights o' mah own accord, Darren. An' Ah've been mindin' mah own business a lot f'r tha past year if ya hadn't noticed." She pulled out lights from the box and looked down at JP, "Gonna help'r just stand there lookin' at us?"
"The seasonal weather brings me out but I suppose I might as well come up and help. I can look at scores of people." He smirked, flying himself on up. "I suppose it does make sense to have the fliers do the lights now, doesn't it?"
"Yep, and those immune to the cold in my case," he took a final drag and flicked the stub away, "and with you we'll probably get it done extra fast now." He made no move to take any lights out.
Jean-Paul didn't go for the lights but he did go for the light staple gun. "I'm just all around useful."
"Oh yeah. Y'all're plenty useful. At givin' me headaches." She passed him some lights to hang.
"See, for absolutely everything." He just grinned, starting to hang where he was. "As well you should know. Had any chats with your head-friend?"
"Now, now Roguey, you being a naughty girl and bad touching the students?" Darren scolded mildly, "setting a bad example there," he grinned as he took out another cigarette before offering the packet around.
"Every chance Ah get, Dar." She smirked and took a cigarette as she looked over to Jean-Paul, "Several. He's very annoyin'. Cain't get him ta shut up really."
"You really shouldn't be surprised." He gave her a wide, completely insincere smile. "Maybe he'll be helpful."
Darren tisked and rolled his eyes, pocketing his cigarettes again, "Y'know one of these days you're gonna bad-touch once to often and they'll kick you outta here, toots," he warned with a wave of a finger before using it to light his smoke, "So JP ... recovered from the near flambeing?"
"Oh yeah, recovered quite nicely. This wasn't the first time I've been knocked out by an angry butch girl."
Rogue passed more lights to JP, 'accidentally' elbowing him hard enough to knock him off his feet and hopefully to the ground. "Hey, they knew when they hired me that anyone who talks 'bout Sam gets a beatin'."
The ground was going to be a bit of a stretch as far as getting Jean-Paul to hit. Instead he just hoovered off of the roof, stringing the lights around. "Helps to warn the new people as to who Sam even was ahead of time though. And I never brought him up at all, just a poorly crafted ceiling. It does make me wonder how many times various places of this school has been rebuilt...should I be worried?"
Darren snorted, "Oh yeah, I forgot Rogue doesn't do the whole rational thing," he nodded, still making no move to help the two with the lights, "maybe she figured that it left such a 'psychic impression'" he did air quotes, "that even non-psychics should be able to pick up the fact that it happened." He gave JP an unhappy smile, "A few semesters ago there was this kid ... he couldn't control his powers at all and they were some fucking freaky powers, let me tell you! Upshot of it is that Rogue's fiance Sam was killed in an explosion in the kitchen."
"Murdered, Darren," Rogue said blankly as she grabbed her own staple gun and started with a new strand of lights.
"Well, may there be no more explosions then." He pulled a face, definitely wanting to avoid all such things. "Any other horrors I should know?"
"Tons."
"Comforting."
"Well there's the cylon in the basement that's been taking courtship lessons off Edward Cullen, but you're probably safe from her ... then there's Wade ... let's just leave that at that ..."
"Danger? Oh I all ready know Danger." He chuckled. "Reed is mildly obsessed with Danger...and by mildly I feel I should knock just in case."
"Wade's his own breed o' horror." Rogue flew along the side of the roof stapling the lights up. "But he ain't really dangerous."
"Oh, and there's Leech up in the attic, he has the power to neutralize all mutations, so don't try flying around him," Darren scratched his chin thoughtfully, "But apart from that ... I mean, you don't need warning about Adam and his stabby-stabby do you, you guys already know each other."
Rogue shuddered at the mention of Adam and the memories that brought up from JP's psyche.
"Yeah, all ready know Adam." Jean-Paul answered, giving Rogue a look. "Oh what are you shuddering at?"
"... Oooh, I recognize that shudder, that's the 'foreign memories uncomfortable sex-act' shudder," Darren grinned, "You mean Twitchy McLeprechaun finally got laid?"
"Hey, no parts of my sex-act memories deserve a shudder." He defended himself. "She should be glad for the free porn, I'd think."
Rogue gave Darren a glare and then turned to Jean-Paul, "Ah ain't glad f'r nothin', thanks. Ah've been real a-sexual lately."
"That doesn't mean you can't recognize quality when you remember it."
Darren snorted, "Hey, could be worse Stripes, at least you haven't inherited any sexual fantasies that involve you from him," he pointed at JP with his cigarette, "So ... morbid curiosity here, what is Adam like in the sack? Either of you can answer this by the way."
"...I'm going to go with an apt pupil. I swear he studied for it."
"... Studied?" Darren frowned at the though of how you 'studied' for such a subject ... was it unfair of him to suspect that Cessily was involved?
Rogue arched an eyebrow at Darren, "Why? Have y'all heard o' any sexual fantasies that involve y'all from someone ya 'hived' with?"
"Of course, how else would I be able to recognize that particular twitch," Darren took his cigarette out of his mouth long enough to poke his tongue out at her.
"...are you the school perversion oracles somehow? Because that sounds like warnings I'd be able to appreciate more." Jean-Paul plugged in a new string of lights, continuing on. "And I can't be the only one that thinks the word 'hived' just sounds dirty in this context, right?"
"I'm serious about the studying though. I'd not be surprised if he hasn't gotten himself a notebook and is taking notes from everything he can find on the internet...I should be more worried than I am."
Rogue blinked at Jean-Paul then turned to look at Darren for a second then back to JP. "Yes we are."
She took another strand of lights and kept going along the roof, "With Darren, hived is just as dirty as it sounds an' then not so much at tha same time."
"The vulcan mindmeld I'm cool with talking about, the hiving not so much, especially given the current situation," Darren sighed, taking a final drag and flicking the end away as he turned to JP, "I may have this ... zombie drone power y'see ..."
"...yeah, that doesn't sound near as appealing as it did a minute ago." He pulled a face. "I think I've all ready had my fill of zombie drones."
"Yeah, well Ah ain't so cool with talkin' 'bout Sam bein' possessed an' then combustin'. So now we're even."
"Yeah, but if you're going to start bad-touching people for referring to it without even knowing about it, you're gonna half to start talking about it sooner or later," Darren shrugged, "I mean, I haven't life-drained you for bringing it up, have I?"
"Will the two of you quit getting off topic with life-draining or essence sucking or whatever? Stick with the good bits now." He hovered back, giving their decor a critical eye. "I suppose doing this won't draw the inky tentacles right to us, yeah?"
"... Naaah, I mean, they're all in the city right? Why'd they be out here?" Darren said confidently ... but he still found himself scanning the grounds nervously ...
"Maybe the not-actually-undead don't like Christmas cheer...or maybe they'll associate it with some sort of meal."
Rogue frowned and looked behind her cautiously, "Ah don't want them ta associate it with a meal... Ah like them not likin' Christmas a lot better..."
"Well ... what do you guys wanna do? Take 'em down?" Darren took out another cigarette and lit it.
"Why don't you take 'em down since y'all ain't even helpin' ta put 'em up?"
"Well, it's not like we won't know until we light them up."
"Well, I say light 'em, we could do with some cheer around here I guess and if they do attract the Star-spawn ... we've proved we can handle them more that once."
Rogue blinked at Darren, "Y'all're certifiable, y' know it?" She sighed and kept stringing the lights though until she got to the edge of the roof. "Plug 'em in, Speedy Gonzales."
"I'm not sure if I object to the rodent suggestion or the geographical confusion most." He did go to plug them in though, smiling up at what they had created. "None too shabby."
"Yep, I am Stripes, but at least I have a shrink for it," he winked at her before blowing out a stream of smoke, "Mmm ... nice work guys, looks really nice."
"Good. Y'all need it." She hovered back from the roof and put her hands on her hips and gave a sharp nod. "Perfect. Y'all wanna help me do tha rest o' tha house? Figure Ah'll line tha windows too."
"Why not? It's certainly better than camping out in the recroom waiting for something to do."
Darren sighed, "Yes, I am totally the only person here who needs a shrink," he shrugged, "Yeah sure, might as well use 'em all up."
'More than likely the whole place needs something."
"Alright then. Let's get this done an' get inside. Ah'm gettin' cold." She hefted her box under her arm and headed to the side of the house, not bothering to wait for the boys.
Jean-Paul fought down the temptation to bring snow along just to get her colder, following Darren on inside and shutting the door behind him. Beyond the fence came and interested murring sound as a finger reached out into a tentacle, wrapping around one of the bars.
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Ferguson
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- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Jules took the pool cue as she dropper her coat onto the nearest bar-chair and walked over to the bar-table. She threw down a 50 dollar bill and smiled. "Who thinks they can beat Lightspeed!"
"At pool? I'm afraid I've never been much of a player." Jean-Paul considers the money though but shakes his head. Gambling was just nothing that ever set too comforting with him just because he imagined himself losing far too much.
Callie shook her head. "I do not gamble."
"Aw, c'mon!" Jules whined. She looked to Greer or Darren. "Someone? Someone daring?"
"Huh? Wha'?" Darren looked over from where he was trying to arrange renting Vitos ... it was hard trying to talk business with someone who kept on waving a machete at the slightest noise, ".. Naaah, Jay's the gambler, lady luck doesn't favour me so much."
"Is he always like this?" Jean-Paul nodded to Vito, watching him carefully. Sure, one had to be prepared for tentacle violators but...Jesus.
"I dunno, this is the first zombie invasion I've ever seen him in, it could be normal given the circumstances?"
Greer looked over at the pool table and frowned, "What do I win?"
"Fine..." She stuffed the fifty into her pocket and started racking the balls anyways. "Okay well, we're still playing..." She wondered how much Tequila she would need tonight.
"Nothing now, Greer, offer's off the table. It would've been the whole pot if you matched the bet. However, now you just win the glory."
"I don't want money..."
"Look ... a wedding ... WED-DING, with bridesmaids and best man speeches!" Darren tried to emphasis, "We want to hire the club for the VEN-UE!"
"I find it really uncomforting we're numbering zombie invasions. Does anyone else find that very uncomforting?"
Darren grinned at JP, "You just made the newbie face."
"We're numbering invasions? Since when? What number are we on?"
"I'd rather be new to zombie invasions. I don't want it to get old hat."
"Technically ... two."
"They're creepy!" Callie sipped her drink and looked around. Great. She'd come out to have fun, not worry.
"Two.... right... that's okay... better than like... five...."
"Very creepy." He had to agree, finishing his drink and pulling a face again.
Jules situated herself over to the bar before she lined up a shot. She looked at her watch knowing in just a few minutes her latest customer, the only one
stupid enough to be in town really, would be showing up for some of that sweet, sweet nectar.
"Vito!" She called. He almost hacked her head off when he jumped to face her. "GAH! I just want an appletini, man! Don't Machete Me Bro!"
"...I think he's cracked." Jean-Paul watched this Vito character carefully, arching an eyebrow as he wandered behind the bar, muttering about tentacles, the mafia, and shotguns.
Darren should probably give up ... he didn't seem to be getting through ... but damnit! He was not missing a chance on a possible 'crazed by the end of days' price reduction.
Vito pointed a fat finger at Darren. "Your wedding, no zombies, or you pay for damages."
"... I just pay for damages?"
Jules rose her fist in a fit of glory. "DAMAGES!"
"You're a good customer, you kids, you drink plenty and I ask no questions. Don't burn it down."
"Fire bad." Greer put in. "Totally with you there."
"Don't burn it all down?" She bargained.
"I don't burn. I grow!"
".... YEEEEESSSS!" Darren punched the air, free venue! "Can I have that in writing sir?"
Callie blinked. Perhaps water for the next two rounds.
"Fine, fine, get paper." They had better drink a lot though or Vito would not be pleased.
Darren flailed around for some paper and a pen, eventually he found both ... well ... a pen and a napkin.
Jules kept her mouth shut about napkins having never held up in court for legal contract, knowing perfectly well they could trust Vito... until she flipped a table over or something like that.
The door opened and caused Vito to grip his machete again and growl but only one of the scuzzier regulars made their way in, practically making a bee's line for Julie; definitely needing what she had.
Darren was waving the pen and napkin under Vito's nose, Selene was going to be so pleased with him!
Now they just needed to loot her a nice dress and find someone to perform the ceremony.
Julie smiled and flashed the boy a coy smile. "I'm gonna go to the ladies powder room, sir... would you like to accompany me to the door, I don't trust myself."
The customer's eyes darted from one side to another, acting considerably more squirrlier than he normally did for such drops...money was hard to come by in a deserted city, after all. "Um, yeah, sure."
Greer raised an eyebrow as she watched Julie and sipped her drink.
"So, when are you two going to do the wedding?" Jean-Paul asked Darren but he was watching the newcomer as well, not sure what his problem was.
Darren ignored the newb, to intent on getting his free venue, "Dunno, I mean, hopefully after the zombiegeddon since my family want to come up for the ceremony, but we need to find somewhere that'll marry us first ... lot of places aren't to keen on renting out to mutants see."
She led Captain Scuzzball over to the girls room door and pushed it open with her foot. She turned the light switch on and spun around to face him. "Okay, well first, I need some paper. Girls gotta wipe, y'know?" She put her hands out and made a motion for "paper".
"I...I don't have none."
"Y'know? Paper? I need paper to make this deposit." She loved screwing with people. This analogy was so twisted.
"Any kind of paper. Green paper? It's rectangular? It can have famous politicians on it? Preferably ones who discovered electricity?"
"I don't have anything...I can write a check but no banks'll cash anything, nobody's open an' FEMA sure as hell isn't cashing anything."
She looked to him with a raised eyebrow. "Hold on, I need to pee..." She shut the door in his face. Wow, this one takes the cake...
Jean-Paul nodded. "Yeah, I do remember that being a problem. Probably more down here than at home."
"Please, ya gotta help me. I've been your customer forever. You know I'm good for it, yeah?"
"Just kidnap a priest and tell him you'll eat him if he doesn't marry you, how hard can it be?"
"I don't know, threatening a man of the cloth with cannibalism seems awfully damning."
"... One, neither Selene and I are religious, and two, neither of us are keen on spending our honeymoon in seperate prisons for kidnapping."
"Well kidnap a justice of the peace instead and Selene can just mind wipe them afterwards. Dude, you're dating a telepath what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Forge a license and be done with it."
Julie sighed. She opened the door and looked him in the face. "Good for it? How's about you're good for being decked in the face if you think this business is the kind of mockery you are making it out to be." She said in a quick whisper. "You want the stuff? You need to give money."
"Forgive me for not wanting to start my married life with seedy mind-raping," Darren rolled his eyes ... though Callie's suggestion of a forgery might be leading onto something ...
Greer shrugged, "You're the one complaining about how hard it is..."
He tried worming his way inside the bathroom, wanting away from the crowd just in case. That one guy had a machete. "There ain't none to be had!"
"Then there ain't no stuff lunk head! Hey!" She tried to push back. "This is a ladies room!" The door couldn't be shut, he was already too far inside.
Callie looked up at the yelling. "Oh dear."
Greer frowned, putting down her drink, "You okay, Julie?"
"Um...should we do something?" Jean-Paul looked worried.
"Just give it to me!" He made a grab for her pockets, knowing something had to be there.
"Hey! Hey! No raping in my wedding venue, I'm sure that'd jinx my marriage," Darren called over.
Jules stumbled back as the door shut. "Oh, not again!" Julie grabbed him by his jacket and threw him, forehead first, into the airdryer. She then zipped over to him and grabbed him by his stringy, long hair and began punching his chin.
"Hey! Get your filthy hands off her!" Greer stood up.
"Julie! For God's sake!" She headed for the bathroom.
At the commotion Darren's head snapped around, "Hey! That was a joke, no real raping seriously! What the fuck's going on there?"
"I don't think we should be worrying about her exactly." Jean-Paul cringed as the door swung back and forth, showing a bit of the scene that was going on in there.
Jules reached her hands around his throat and began to strangle him. She felt the force, the power, of withholding life and precious breath. She began to bang the back of his head into the sink. "You fuck!"
Darren craned his head around, "... Jesus Christ! No murdering in me wedding venue either!"
Greer shapeshifted and pushed the bathroom door open, "Julie! LET GO!"
That would definitely cast a dark shadow over the celebrations.
Jean-Paul zipped in, trying to get a hold of Julie's hands as to not have a murder...especially as Vito was yelling now and the machete was waving very angrily.
Greer caught Julie around the waist and tried to pull her off the guy.
"NO!" She shouted, kicking at Tigra. "I'm not going to let these sickos think they can walk all over me!" She tried one of the martial arts chops she had been shown recently, right across his face, knocking him down to the floor, his head hitting the toilet on the way down. She picked him up again by his hair, his mumbling now becoming a plea, and tried to push his head into the water.
"Julie! You can't do this! It's fucking illegal!" She tightened her grip, careful with her claws, and pulled harder.
"It's beyond that, he can't even defend himself, it's just cruel!"
"Herraaaaaaahhh!" She didn't care about illegal. She let her rainbow power shielding flicker nice and bright and even used its force as she brought a punch down on the back of his head.
Greer let go of Julie at the bright light. That hurt!
"Oh fucking-" Darren was forced to try and hold the crazed Vito back from jumping over the bar and hacking away at the other students, "We'll pay for damages man! We'll pay! It's cool!"
Her skin began to almost absorb the light of the rainbow shielding, taking on the various shades of the color spectrum.
"Julie! I'm warning you!" The feral was pissed.
She looked to Tigra with malicious eyes, violet and shining. "Or what!?"
Tigra hissed at her, "Don't think I won't take you down!"
"Just hit her over the head with someone, fuck knows it won't damage anything important!" Darren called over.
She grabbed Captain Dickhead and tossed him back across the bathroom. "Mutants everywhere have it hard! I do the one thing that I can do that makes me a living, that I can always have as a job because no one can take it away from me for being what I am, and you think I'll let him take my money?"
"You can't just kill people, Julie!"
She pointed to the groaning body of ouch on the floor. "Get it in your fucking head! These people don't care about us! They want us for what we have and when they t hink we're not useful they become afraid of us and use us!"
Callie kept back. She couldn't do anything. Please just stop!"
She ran over and kicked him once more for good measure. "User!" she shouted.
"How the hell was this about being a mutant, you just brutalized him because he couldn't pay up." Jean-Paul, despite serious misgivings about this, now had a toilet seat to defend himself just in case.
"And this is helping how?! This is exactly what they're scared of, Julie!" She leapt over Julie and landed by the man on the floor, crouching over him protectively.
"Yes, because drug addicts are usually so thoughtful and polite," Darren muttered, getting Vito to settle back down by pouring him a large whiskey.
"They're scared that they don't know how to respect us for what we are!" She said pointedly. "Better."
Vito was very thankful for whiskey. It helped a lot.
"You don't get respect until you earn it Julie. This is not the way."
Jean-Paul tried to pull the victim for the evening away while they were talking, at least trying to get him out of the bathroom. He couldn't help but watch Julie carefully though. She was crazy if this was how she acted.
"No, Tigra you're mistaken. YOU earn respect, I demand it." She looked to the door and then to Vito. She pulled out a solid wad of 100's and dropped 5 down. Then she looked to Darren and frowned. She dropped the whole wad. "He's not with me, don't take it out on him." She said to Vito.
Tigra's eyes flashed and she pounced on Julie.
Vito roared and the machete waved again. "No more! You kill each other out of my bar!"
Darren quicky snatched the wad and shoved it into Vito's shirt pocket, "See? All better now ... and oh look, the two younge ladies are fighting now, with any luck the neko will claw blondie's clothes off and everything with be better, right?" he topped up Vito's whiskey, patted the man on the head before going over to help JP with dragging the druggie.
"...You have a good point." Vito was calm again, smiling at Darren and patting his shoulder.
Jules hit the floor and groaned. She turned to Tigra and then to JP and then to Vito. "Tigra... if you know what's best... you will stop now... before I have to kill you."
She was angry, she didn't know what she was saying. She knew she would never do it, but she needed a threat scary enough to get the human tiger off of her.
Tigra growled at her, "Don't threaten me, Julie. And don't think I can't hurt you. You can't talk to people like that."
"I don't suppose you're any good at first aide and beyond?" Jean-Paul asked as he looked up to Darren. His eyes soon fell back onto Julie though, just in case.
"Should I call the school for help?" She felt so utterly useless, so maybe a small help of offering to help would be useful.
"They're not people, they're sheep... and the X-Men want to be the fleas that rely on them for their own survival. I'd rather be a dog, and show the sheep who could actually be in charge." She used her hand to push Tigra up a little, just enough to use her ability to zip out of her grasp.
"Actually, I am," Darren smiled at Callie, "Don't worry, you can help plenty, see if Vito has some water and clean cloths and get the first aid kid from behind the bar for me?" he asked her.
She streaked over to the door and saluted the group. "Watch where you step from here on in, they'll be looking to get you." With that, she was gone, her streak blurring away.
Tigra sighed, sitting up and running a hand through her hair, debating the wisdom of following Julie to find out just what the hell was going on.
"Ok." Callie did as asked, and came back with the items, with a small smile.
Darren watched her go, "... That girl is fucking whacked."
"I'm worried about her...."
"Absolutely insane. Anyone who is going to attack people like this...this is bad."
"You think I should go after her? I can track her easy...."
"If she gets eaten by zombies it's Darwinism," Darren said, taking the kit off Caillie with a smile of thanks and starting to tend to the guy's injuries.
"I'm not worried about the zombies... I think she's in some kind of trouble.... she's not herself at all...."
"... And luckily she's all speed and no power, guy's a bit concussed but apart from that he's fine, it's mostly superficial damage here."
"Don't think it'd be a good idea to go after her now...maybe she'll calm down." Jean-Paul tried to sound confident on that but...yeah, this was insane. "You mean she's completely off her cabbage...Hey now, us runners have some power...oh dieu, I'm sharing a power with a rainbow coloured crazy."
"I just don't want her to do something stupid... well... stupider...."
"I'm not saying all zippers are puny, it's just she punches like ... well ... a girl."
"An absolutely batshit one."
"I feel like we should check on her..."
"With no regards for anyone else's matrimonial plans," Darren started bandaging, "Look Tiggy, you wanna go running after her into zombie land, by my guest, just don't expect us to come with you."
"Yeah, more worried about the brutalized man at the moment to be truthful."
"I'm worried about her...." she got to her feet, sighing at yet another pair of ruined shoes. "I'm gonna go look for her..." she picked up her coat.
"We've got things here, go on." Jean-Paul nodded, looking back at the man again. "So...who do we even call now for something like this?"
"The police?"
Tigra waved distractedly over her shoulder as she headed out the door, picking up Julie's scent and following it away down the street.
"There's no one left to call," Darren grunted, "we just gotta do the best we can, he should be okay though once the concussion passes."
"At pool? I'm afraid I've never been much of a player." Jean-Paul considers the money though but shakes his head. Gambling was just nothing that ever set too comforting with him just because he imagined himself losing far too much.
Callie shook her head. "I do not gamble."
"Aw, c'mon!" Jules whined. She looked to Greer or Darren. "Someone? Someone daring?"
"Huh? Wha'?" Darren looked over from where he was trying to arrange renting Vitos ... it was hard trying to talk business with someone who kept on waving a machete at the slightest noise, ".. Naaah, Jay's the gambler, lady luck doesn't favour me so much."
"Is he always like this?" Jean-Paul nodded to Vito, watching him carefully. Sure, one had to be prepared for tentacle violators but...Jesus.
"I dunno, this is the first zombie invasion I've ever seen him in, it could be normal given the circumstances?"
Greer looked over at the pool table and frowned, "What do I win?"
"Fine..." She stuffed the fifty into her pocket and started racking the balls anyways. "Okay well, we're still playing..." She wondered how much Tequila she would need tonight.
"Nothing now, Greer, offer's off the table. It would've been the whole pot if you matched the bet. However, now you just win the glory."
"I don't want money..."
"Look ... a wedding ... WED-DING, with bridesmaids and best man speeches!" Darren tried to emphasis, "We want to hire the club for the VEN-UE!"
"I find it really uncomforting we're numbering zombie invasions. Does anyone else find that very uncomforting?"
Darren grinned at JP, "You just made the newbie face."
"We're numbering invasions? Since when? What number are we on?"
"I'd rather be new to zombie invasions. I don't want it to get old hat."
"Technically ... two."
"They're creepy!" Callie sipped her drink and looked around. Great. She'd come out to have fun, not worry.
"Two.... right... that's okay... better than like... five...."
"Very creepy." He had to agree, finishing his drink and pulling a face again.
Jules situated herself over to the bar before she lined up a shot. She looked at her watch knowing in just a few minutes her latest customer, the only one
stupid enough to be in town really, would be showing up for some of that sweet, sweet nectar.
"Vito!" She called. He almost hacked her head off when he jumped to face her. "GAH! I just want an appletini, man! Don't Machete Me Bro!"
"...I think he's cracked." Jean-Paul watched this Vito character carefully, arching an eyebrow as he wandered behind the bar, muttering about tentacles, the mafia, and shotguns.
Darren should probably give up ... he didn't seem to be getting through ... but damnit! He was not missing a chance on a possible 'crazed by the end of days' price reduction.
Vito pointed a fat finger at Darren. "Your wedding, no zombies, or you pay for damages."
"... I just pay for damages?"
Jules rose her fist in a fit of glory. "DAMAGES!"
"You're a good customer, you kids, you drink plenty and I ask no questions. Don't burn it down."
"Fire bad." Greer put in. "Totally with you there."
"Don't burn it all down?" She bargained.
"I don't burn. I grow!"
".... YEEEEESSSS!" Darren punched the air, free venue! "Can I have that in writing sir?"
Callie blinked. Perhaps water for the next two rounds.
"Fine, fine, get paper." They had better drink a lot though or Vito would not be pleased.
Darren flailed around for some paper and a pen, eventually he found both ... well ... a pen and a napkin.
Jules kept her mouth shut about napkins having never held up in court for legal contract, knowing perfectly well they could trust Vito... until she flipped a table over or something like that.
The door opened and caused Vito to grip his machete again and growl but only one of the scuzzier regulars made their way in, practically making a bee's line for Julie; definitely needing what she had.
Darren was waving the pen and napkin under Vito's nose, Selene was going to be so pleased with him!
Now they just needed to loot her a nice dress and find someone to perform the ceremony.
Julie smiled and flashed the boy a coy smile. "I'm gonna go to the ladies powder room, sir... would you like to accompany me to the door, I don't trust myself."
The customer's eyes darted from one side to another, acting considerably more squirrlier than he normally did for such drops...money was hard to come by in a deserted city, after all. "Um, yeah, sure."
Greer raised an eyebrow as she watched Julie and sipped her drink.
"So, when are you two going to do the wedding?" Jean-Paul asked Darren but he was watching the newcomer as well, not sure what his problem was.
Darren ignored the newb, to intent on getting his free venue, "Dunno, I mean, hopefully after the zombiegeddon since my family want to come up for the ceremony, but we need to find somewhere that'll marry us first ... lot of places aren't to keen on renting out to mutants see."
She led Captain Scuzzball over to the girls room door and pushed it open with her foot. She turned the light switch on and spun around to face him. "Okay, well first, I need some paper. Girls gotta wipe, y'know?" She put her hands out and made a motion for "paper".
"I...I don't have none."
"Y'know? Paper? I need paper to make this deposit." She loved screwing with people. This analogy was so twisted.
"Any kind of paper. Green paper? It's rectangular? It can have famous politicians on it? Preferably ones who discovered electricity?"
"I don't have anything...I can write a check but no banks'll cash anything, nobody's open an' FEMA sure as hell isn't cashing anything."
She looked to him with a raised eyebrow. "Hold on, I need to pee..." She shut the door in his face. Wow, this one takes the cake...
Jean-Paul nodded. "Yeah, I do remember that being a problem. Probably more down here than at home."
"Please, ya gotta help me. I've been your customer forever. You know I'm good for it, yeah?"
"Just kidnap a priest and tell him you'll eat him if he doesn't marry you, how hard can it be?"
"I don't know, threatening a man of the cloth with cannibalism seems awfully damning."
"... One, neither Selene and I are religious, and two, neither of us are keen on spending our honeymoon in seperate prisons for kidnapping."
"Well kidnap a justice of the peace instead and Selene can just mind wipe them afterwards. Dude, you're dating a telepath what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Forge a license and be done with it."
Julie sighed. She opened the door and looked him in the face. "Good for it? How's about you're good for being decked in the face if you think this business is the kind of mockery you are making it out to be." She said in a quick whisper. "You want the stuff? You need to give money."
"Forgive me for not wanting to start my married life with seedy mind-raping," Darren rolled his eyes ... though Callie's suggestion of a forgery might be leading onto something ...
Greer shrugged, "You're the one complaining about how hard it is..."
He tried worming his way inside the bathroom, wanting away from the crowd just in case. That one guy had a machete. "There ain't none to be had!"
"Then there ain't no stuff lunk head! Hey!" She tried to push back. "This is a ladies room!" The door couldn't be shut, he was already too far inside.
Callie looked up at the yelling. "Oh dear."
Greer frowned, putting down her drink, "You okay, Julie?"
"Um...should we do something?" Jean-Paul looked worried.
"Just give it to me!" He made a grab for her pockets, knowing something had to be there.
"Hey! Hey! No raping in my wedding venue, I'm sure that'd jinx my marriage," Darren called over.
Jules stumbled back as the door shut. "Oh, not again!" Julie grabbed him by his jacket and threw him, forehead first, into the airdryer. She then zipped over to him and grabbed him by his stringy, long hair and began punching his chin.
"Hey! Get your filthy hands off her!" Greer stood up.
"Julie! For God's sake!" She headed for the bathroom.
At the commotion Darren's head snapped around, "Hey! That was a joke, no real raping seriously! What the fuck's going on there?"
"I don't think we should be worrying about her exactly." Jean-Paul cringed as the door swung back and forth, showing a bit of the scene that was going on in there.
Jules reached her hands around his throat and began to strangle him. She felt the force, the power, of withholding life and precious breath. She began to bang the back of his head into the sink. "You fuck!"
Darren craned his head around, "... Jesus Christ! No murdering in me wedding venue either!"
Greer shapeshifted and pushed the bathroom door open, "Julie! LET GO!"
That would definitely cast a dark shadow over the celebrations.
Jean-Paul zipped in, trying to get a hold of Julie's hands as to not have a murder...especially as Vito was yelling now and the machete was waving very angrily.
Greer caught Julie around the waist and tried to pull her off the guy.
"NO!" She shouted, kicking at Tigra. "I'm not going to let these sickos think they can walk all over me!" She tried one of the martial arts chops she had been shown recently, right across his face, knocking him down to the floor, his head hitting the toilet on the way down. She picked him up again by his hair, his mumbling now becoming a plea, and tried to push his head into the water.
"Julie! You can't do this! It's fucking illegal!" She tightened her grip, careful with her claws, and pulled harder.
"It's beyond that, he can't even defend himself, it's just cruel!"
"Herraaaaaaahhh!" She didn't care about illegal. She let her rainbow power shielding flicker nice and bright and even used its force as she brought a punch down on the back of his head.
Greer let go of Julie at the bright light. That hurt!
"Oh fucking-" Darren was forced to try and hold the crazed Vito back from jumping over the bar and hacking away at the other students, "We'll pay for damages man! We'll pay! It's cool!"
Her skin began to almost absorb the light of the rainbow shielding, taking on the various shades of the color spectrum.
"Julie! I'm warning you!" The feral was pissed.
She looked to Tigra with malicious eyes, violet and shining. "Or what!?"
Tigra hissed at her, "Don't think I won't take you down!"
"Just hit her over the head with someone, fuck knows it won't damage anything important!" Darren called over.
She grabbed Captain Dickhead and tossed him back across the bathroom. "Mutants everywhere have it hard! I do the one thing that I can do that makes me a living, that I can always have as a job because no one can take it away from me for being what I am, and you think I'll let him take my money?"
"You can't just kill people, Julie!"
She pointed to the groaning body of ouch on the floor. "Get it in your fucking head! These people don't care about us! They want us for what we have and when they t hink we're not useful they become afraid of us and use us!"
Callie kept back. She couldn't do anything. Please just stop!"
She ran over and kicked him once more for good measure. "User!" she shouted.
"How the hell was this about being a mutant, you just brutalized him because he couldn't pay up." Jean-Paul, despite serious misgivings about this, now had a toilet seat to defend himself just in case.
"And this is helping how?! This is exactly what they're scared of, Julie!" She leapt over Julie and landed by the man on the floor, crouching over him protectively.
"Yes, because drug addicts are usually so thoughtful and polite," Darren muttered, getting Vito to settle back down by pouring him a large whiskey.
"They're scared that they don't know how to respect us for what we are!" She said pointedly. "Better."
Vito was very thankful for whiskey. It helped a lot.
"You don't get respect until you earn it Julie. This is not the way."
Jean-Paul tried to pull the victim for the evening away while they were talking, at least trying to get him out of the bathroom. He couldn't help but watch Julie carefully though. She was crazy if this was how she acted.
"No, Tigra you're mistaken. YOU earn respect, I demand it." She looked to the door and then to Vito. She pulled out a solid wad of 100's and dropped 5 down. Then she looked to Darren and frowned. She dropped the whole wad. "He's not with me, don't take it out on him." She said to Vito.
Tigra's eyes flashed and she pounced on Julie.
Vito roared and the machete waved again. "No more! You kill each other out of my bar!"
Darren quicky snatched the wad and shoved it into Vito's shirt pocket, "See? All better now ... and oh look, the two younge ladies are fighting now, with any luck the neko will claw blondie's clothes off and everything with be better, right?" he topped up Vito's whiskey, patted the man on the head before going over to help JP with dragging the druggie.
"...You have a good point." Vito was calm again, smiling at Darren and patting his shoulder.
Jules hit the floor and groaned. She turned to Tigra and then to JP and then to Vito. "Tigra... if you know what's best... you will stop now... before I have to kill you."
She was angry, she didn't know what she was saying. She knew she would never do it, but she needed a threat scary enough to get the human tiger off of her.
Tigra growled at her, "Don't threaten me, Julie. And don't think I can't hurt you. You can't talk to people like that."
"I don't suppose you're any good at first aide and beyond?" Jean-Paul asked as he looked up to Darren. His eyes soon fell back onto Julie though, just in case.
"Should I call the school for help?" She felt so utterly useless, so maybe a small help of offering to help would be useful.
"They're not people, they're sheep... and the X-Men want to be the fleas that rely on them for their own survival. I'd rather be a dog, and show the sheep who could actually be in charge." She used her hand to push Tigra up a little, just enough to use her ability to zip out of her grasp.
"Actually, I am," Darren smiled at Callie, "Don't worry, you can help plenty, see if Vito has some water and clean cloths and get the first aid kid from behind the bar for me?" he asked her.
She streaked over to the door and saluted the group. "Watch where you step from here on in, they'll be looking to get you." With that, she was gone, her streak blurring away.
Tigra sighed, sitting up and running a hand through her hair, debating the wisdom of following Julie to find out just what the hell was going on.
"Ok." Callie did as asked, and came back with the items, with a small smile.
Darren watched her go, "... That girl is fucking whacked."
"I'm worried about her...."
"Absolutely insane. Anyone who is going to attack people like this...this is bad."
"You think I should go after her? I can track her easy...."
"If she gets eaten by zombies it's Darwinism," Darren said, taking the kit off Caillie with a smile of thanks and starting to tend to the guy's injuries.
"I'm not worried about the zombies... I think she's in some kind of trouble.... she's not herself at all...."
"... And luckily she's all speed and no power, guy's a bit concussed but apart from that he's fine, it's mostly superficial damage here."
"Don't think it'd be a good idea to go after her now...maybe she'll calm down." Jean-Paul tried to sound confident on that but...yeah, this was insane. "You mean she's completely off her cabbage...Hey now, us runners have some power...oh dieu, I'm sharing a power with a rainbow coloured crazy."
"I just don't want her to do something stupid... well... stupider...."
"I'm not saying all zippers are puny, it's just she punches like ... well ... a girl."
"An absolutely batshit one."
"I feel like we should check on her..."
"With no regards for anyone else's matrimonial plans," Darren started bandaging, "Look Tiggy, you wanna go running after her into zombie land, by my guest, just don't expect us to come with you."
"Yeah, more worried about the brutalized man at the moment to be truthful."
"I'm worried about her...." she got to her feet, sighing at yet another pair of ruined shoes. "I'm gonna go look for her..." she picked up her coat.
"We've got things here, go on." Jean-Paul nodded, looking back at the man again. "So...who do we even call now for something like this?"
"The police?"
Tigra waved distractedly over her shoulder as she headed out the door, picking up Julie's scent and following it away down the street.
"There's no one left to call," Darren grunted, "we just gotta do the best we can, he should be okay though once the concussion passes."
-
Ferguson
- Dread Pirate
- Posts: 2447
- Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:26 am
- Title: Fergie the Unjust
- Location: I'm in the hick-land playing the spoons
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Jules tore her bloody shirt off to reveal just her tank top and she threw it into the garbage in
the kitchen. She then swung open the fridge door and tore out a bottle of IBC. It was already the next day,
and it still felt like the fight was only a couple hours ago.
Jean-Paul came in on a quest for lunch and found it overly guarded. He wasn't about to step back and
surrender to an awkward situation, though, coming right on in and going for the pantry, giving her a good
dose of side-eye as he did.
She rolled her eyes and slammed the fridge door shut. She drank her cream soda as she went to the
table, stubborn not to leave now. She had planned on going right back up to her room just to finish her
school work for the winter break, but now she needed to make a point. A point that said "I'm not leaving
just because you're here..."
"Nobody ever said anything of the sort." Oh God, was this going to be another Rogue kitchen situation?
Despite that turning out all right, Jean-Paul truly hoped it didn't end that way as he started setting
things out to cook for lunch.
"What makes you think you're better than me? Because you didn't beat a guy up in a bathroom last
night?"
"I wouldn't say it makes me better than you but I'd say it definitely goes into my pro column."
"I think it shows just how blinded and brainwashed this little academy, as it has been
called, has made you. The school work turns into an actual degree, so maybe you can do something with it,
sure. But you're still in their world playing by their rules."
"I'm not blind, I know what's going on. I've been attacked for being a mutant, I've been assaulted
for being a mutant, I've nearly been ra-... Point is, I've seen what they think of us. Why should it matter
if I beat up just one of them?"
"Has made me, hmm? I'll thank you to know that just because I've not started frothing at the mouth I
am just as capable of having my own mind as you." He turned to the stove, putting on the potatoes he had
laid aside.
"Well, for starters he didn't seem to have a problem with your mutation and two, it matteres because
who in the hell does that? You're beating someone just for what they are? Sounds awfully familar to me."
"Hey!" Jules pointed a finger at him. "I beat him 'cause he was going to take advantage of me, the
same way everyone who ever has before! He knows me, he knows I'm a mutant! He knows I'm a girl! He's scum
and he deserved an ass-whoopin'!"
"Funny, it sounded to me as if you had all of the power in that situation."
"You'd think, but you know... I've been in that situation, and that's when a guy pulled a gun on me
and pulled my panties down before I could even react." She said quickly. "You want to know what? I don't
care if it was cowardly to not wait for him to actually do something. I've seen how they think of us,
I'm all set."
"I'm sorry, am I supposed to feel sorry for you now?" Jean-Paul shrugged, not exactly impressed.
"Just because you've been victimized before does not give you the right to make someone else a victim, does
it now?"
"What it gives me is the knowledge to know that unless I act, Jean-Paul... I will always be a
victim. Much like the rest of you ..." she smiled. "Well... baaaaaaa."
"I'm sorry, I must have missed my victimization. You just enjoy being the way you are, let me know how
it works out for you when both sides decide you're a menace."
"The only menace is the race that looks to exterminate Homo Superior. What they do to us now?
Is no different than what happened to Poland in Nazi Germany or happens now to Rwanda or Sudan. It's all the
same. Genocide. It starts small and it evolves into political control and government policies...."
"Then it becomes prison sentences, safe zones and quarantines, and then coincedental terrorist attacks
that allow the U.N. or other world organizations to stand aside while a country is allowed to purge
its citizens because some of them are different. I'm not waiting for the Mutant Equivalen of the Allies."
"Um, am I missing the mutant murder squads? Are there special invitations or something?" He looked
out the window, expecting to see any of these firing squads. "Taking a stance like you're doing is only
going to bring those kind of things on us faster. You're defeating your own puropse."
"Jean-Paul, students have already been killed or have died because of things related to what I'm
talking about. Mutants everywhere are killed, it's not my fault you only watch 'Fox News' or whatever it is
that lets you sit under your rock like Patrick Starr."
That earned a very amused snort from Jean-Paul. "You know absolutely nothing about me and I probably
know less about you but anyone can see that you absolutely lost it back there and probably will in the
future. So I, for one, will just stick with not knowing you well at all because I feel it will be much
safer."
"Good call, smart-ass." She responded.
"Yes, I think my judgement is a bit sounder than the person who goes off on idiotic druggies in public
and tries to write it off as a preemptive hate crime."
"Well, looks like this skirt's gona have to go and fuck up your reality then, 'cause that's just
what's gonna keep happening. Love it or leave it, I'm here."
"Unfortunately it does seem you're mucking up my species, aren't you?"
"Sounds to me like you're the one mucking it up, sitting back and letting humanity take the driver
seat."
"And you're the one attempitng to crash it would seem. Nobody is letting humanity take the driver's
seat, someo fo us just aren't going to behave like idiots in the name of being a mutant."
"So you'd stand by and let some regular people hurt mutants in the name of humanity? In the
name of God? Or Intelligent design?"
"I must have missed that happening then as well. You might think you were the injured party in that
little altercation but I'm fairly sure everyone else can see you weren't being hurt at all and you being a
mutant had nothing to do with what was going on but you being a drug dealer had a pretty huge part in it
apparently."
"I do a service! Had it not been for me, Mutant Growth Hormones would be completely gone in
this community and some mutants who don't even have the ability to fend for themselves would not have been
able to amp up enough to keep their apartments from their racist landlords! I helped a simple guy who just
breathes underwater become an aquatic freak! Chased his landlord out of the building complex! Now it's a
safe haven for poor mutants!"
"Yes, that looked like what you were doing last night, helping people."
"I don't help everyone,... some people can't get help. Some people don't deserve it. Tell me
JP... when the war comes... will you want help?"
"Your kind of help? No, no I won't."
"Then I'll see you from the other side." She said with a coy smile. She got up and adjusted her chest
as she went for the door. "Let me know if you ever change your mind JP, because I'm telling you now...
you're gonna wish you did."
"If it means kicking in innocent people's teeth in I think I'll do just fine without yours."
"Suit yourself." She said happily. "I'll be up in my room. Let me know if you change your mind, I'd
love to bring you to a better perspective. You got the body for it, you just need the mind."
She winked and turned.
"I haven't ruined my mind with whatever it is you sell. Good-bye."
the kitchen. She then swung open the fridge door and tore out a bottle of IBC. It was already the next day,
and it still felt like the fight was only a couple hours ago.
Jean-Paul came in on a quest for lunch and found it overly guarded. He wasn't about to step back and
surrender to an awkward situation, though, coming right on in and going for the pantry, giving her a good
dose of side-eye as he did.
She rolled her eyes and slammed the fridge door shut. She drank her cream soda as she went to the
table, stubborn not to leave now. She had planned on going right back up to her room just to finish her
school work for the winter break, but now she needed to make a point. A point that said "I'm not leaving
just because you're here..."
"Nobody ever said anything of the sort." Oh God, was this going to be another Rogue kitchen situation?
Despite that turning out all right, Jean-Paul truly hoped it didn't end that way as he started setting
things out to cook for lunch.
"What makes you think you're better than me? Because you didn't beat a guy up in a bathroom last
night?"
"I wouldn't say it makes me better than you but I'd say it definitely goes into my pro column."
"I think it shows just how blinded and brainwashed this little academy, as it has been
called, has made you. The school work turns into an actual degree, so maybe you can do something with it,
sure. But you're still in their world playing by their rules."
"I'm not blind, I know what's going on. I've been attacked for being a mutant, I've been assaulted
for being a mutant, I've nearly been ra-... Point is, I've seen what they think of us. Why should it matter
if I beat up just one of them?"
"Has made me, hmm? I'll thank you to know that just because I've not started frothing at the mouth I
am just as capable of having my own mind as you." He turned to the stove, putting on the potatoes he had
laid aside.
"Well, for starters he didn't seem to have a problem with your mutation and two, it matteres because
who in the hell does that? You're beating someone just for what they are? Sounds awfully familar to me."
"Hey!" Jules pointed a finger at him. "I beat him 'cause he was going to take advantage of me, the
same way everyone who ever has before! He knows me, he knows I'm a mutant! He knows I'm a girl! He's scum
and he deserved an ass-whoopin'!"
"Funny, it sounded to me as if you had all of the power in that situation."
"You'd think, but you know... I've been in that situation, and that's when a guy pulled a gun on me
and pulled my panties down before I could even react." She said quickly. "You want to know what? I don't
care if it was cowardly to not wait for him to actually do something. I've seen how they think of us,
I'm all set."
"I'm sorry, am I supposed to feel sorry for you now?" Jean-Paul shrugged, not exactly impressed.
"Just because you've been victimized before does not give you the right to make someone else a victim, does
it now?"
"What it gives me is the knowledge to know that unless I act, Jean-Paul... I will always be a
victim. Much like the rest of you ..." she smiled. "Well... baaaaaaa."
"I'm sorry, I must have missed my victimization. You just enjoy being the way you are, let me know how
it works out for you when both sides decide you're a menace."
"The only menace is the race that looks to exterminate Homo Superior. What they do to us now?
Is no different than what happened to Poland in Nazi Germany or happens now to Rwanda or Sudan. It's all the
same. Genocide. It starts small and it evolves into political control and government policies...."
"Then it becomes prison sentences, safe zones and quarantines, and then coincedental terrorist attacks
that allow the U.N. or other world organizations to stand aside while a country is allowed to purge
its citizens because some of them are different. I'm not waiting for the Mutant Equivalen of the Allies."
"Um, am I missing the mutant murder squads? Are there special invitations or something?" He looked
out the window, expecting to see any of these firing squads. "Taking a stance like you're doing is only
going to bring those kind of things on us faster. You're defeating your own puropse."
"Jean-Paul, students have already been killed or have died because of things related to what I'm
talking about. Mutants everywhere are killed, it's not my fault you only watch 'Fox News' or whatever it is
that lets you sit under your rock like Patrick Starr."
That earned a very amused snort from Jean-Paul. "You know absolutely nothing about me and I probably
know less about you but anyone can see that you absolutely lost it back there and probably will in the
future. So I, for one, will just stick with not knowing you well at all because I feel it will be much
safer."
"Good call, smart-ass." She responded.
"Yes, I think my judgement is a bit sounder than the person who goes off on idiotic druggies in public
and tries to write it off as a preemptive hate crime."
"Well, looks like this skirt's gona have to go and fuck up your reality then, 'cause that's just
what's gonna keep happening. Love it or leave it, I'm here."
"Unfortunately it does seem you're mucking up my species, aren't you?"
"Sounds to me like you're the one mucking it up, sitting back and letting humanity take the driver
seat."
"And you're the one attempitng to crash it would seem. Nobody is letting humanity take the driver's
seat, someo fo us just aren't going to behave like idiots in the name of being a mutant."
"So you'd stand by and let some regular people hurt mutants in the name of humanity? In the
name of God? Or Intelligent design?"
"I must have missed that happening then as well. You might think you were the injured party in that
little altercation but I'm fairly sure everyone else can see you weren't being hurt at all and you being a
mutant had nothing to do with what was going on but you being a drug dealer had a pretty huge part in it
apparently."
"I do a service! Had it not been for me, Mutant Growth Hormones would be completely gone in
this community and some mutants who don't even have the ability to fend for themselves would not have been
able to amp up enough to keep their apartments from their racist landlords! I helped a simple guy who just
breathes underwater become an aquatic freak! Chased his landlord out of the building complex! Now it's a
safe haven for poor mutants!"
"Yes, that looked like what you were doing last night, helping people."
"I don't help everyone,... some people can't get help. Some people don't deserve it. Tell me
JP... when the war comes... will you want help?"
"Your kind of help? No, no I won't."
"Then I'll see you from the other side." She said with a coy smile. She got up and adjusted her chest
as she went for the door. "Let me know if you ever change your mind JP, because I'm telling you now...
you're gonna wish you did."
"If it means kicking in innocent people's teeth in I think I'll do just fine without yours."
"Suit yourself." She said happily. "I'll be up in my room. Let me know if you change your mind, I'd
love to bring you to a better perspective. You got the body for it, you just need the mind."
She winked and turned.
"I haven't ruined my mind with whatever it is you sell. Good-bye."
-
Svartfreja
- Swashbuckler
- Posts: 1985
- Joined: Thu Nov 23, 2006 9:24 pm
- Title: Pushed Beaver
- Nightscrawlearth Character:
:invisiblewoman :spiderwoman - Location: Cloud 9!! ^_^
- Contact:
Christmas 2013: Jean-Paul
Lorna: Lorna pulled the van up to the front steps of the school. "We've got a garage for your bike if you like. It's pretty safe in there...people have been known to hotwire cars or use trucks for more personal activity but generally it's no harm no foul."
Gambit: Following the van, Gambit couldn't help but give a low whistle (unheard over the sound of his engine) as they pulled up to this "Xavier's" place. Stopping beside the van, he gave an appreciative nod. "You guys know how t' live, I'll give y' dat."
Tigra: "Best part is it's all free." Tigra climbed out of the van and shook herself off. Riding around in the back of it always rubbed her fur up the wrong way.
Darren: "Yep, though trust me, the know if you start trying to sell the laptops and shit man," Darren said, climbing out and helping Selene down.
Jay: Jay had been enjoying a quiet smoke when he'd spotted the van and - ooooh. That looked like a new person. Cigarette in mouth, he pushed himself off, circling over the group. "Hey hey amis, y'all bought dinner back? Ah'm starvin' an' dere ain' no spicy chicken left." He landed, tucking the wings behind him and eyeing the new guy curiously. "Bonjou. Dey drug ya?"
Tigra: "Can't promise you chicken but I can catch you something that resembles a bird if you want?" Tigra offered, stretching a little.
Darren: "Been driven to canabalism already, bro?" Darren waved at the flying man.
Gambit: Free? How the hell did they manage that? This place must've cost a fortune to run. Climbing off his bike, though still leaning on the handlebars, his devil-eyes cast over the building. Another game over, and his voice... Remy'd recognise it anywhere. "Non, l'homme. Vous êtes du Bayou?"
Lorna: "Well, Xavier's pretty well loaded so that's how." Lorna admitted with a laugh, ing up the steps. "Jay, there we go, now we're having a Cajun reunion."
Jay: "Hey garcon." Jay grinned easily. "Always. Don' make me tell y'all what Ah do t' turkey." He turned to the new guy, eyes wide. "Wé, ami! Et tu? Je suis-" He grinned sheepishly at Lorna. "Ah, shaddap. Ah'm a long way from home, remember."
Darren: "Nothing's stoppin' ya from going back there, cockatiel," Darren teased, waving to Selene as she headed back inside ... that ring looked damn good on her finger.
Tigra: "Except the horrible zappy invisible wall around the city..."
Gambit: Gambit chuckled. "Sorry, cherie. We keep de home language down for now, non?" he said to Lorna, smiling, before turning back to the newcomer with interest. try as he might, he was quite unable to stop himself looking over his unusual body. "Happy t' be hearin' a decent accent again, I tell y'."
Lorna: "Reno's farther but I've not felt the need to don any of your feathers for a showgirl costume...yet anyway. Maybe I should borrow something for anniversary time or Bobby's birthday." Lorna had a good laugh. "yeah, watch the wall thinger...that's just not kosher though I guess we can jet it well enough."
Jay: "Ah know - it's bin too long. An' you an' Bobby have too many of my moltin's, ami, no more." He laughed. "An' oui...name's Joshua, by d' way, but mos' round here call me Jay." He held out a hand to the new guy.
Gambit: "Re- Gambit," he corrected himself swiftly, the familiarity of a Cajun accent making him feel more comfortable than he should. He shook Jay's hand firmly, liking this place a little more with another Cajun in residence.
Lorna: "Now, that's some nice bonding all ready." Lorna skipped a few of the steps and caught the door. "Shall we begin the grand tour?"
Gambit: "Oui, cherie. Okie t' leave de bike here f' now?" he asked, not wanting to take it to the garage just yet. He was much too eager to see inside the house... and see if all the women at Xavier's were as attractive as those he'd already met.
Darren: Darren shot the boy a sidelong glance, "Maybe we should start with Cess' office?"
Jay: "Non - she's busy an' uh...y'll never get him out." Jay grinned knowingly. "Break d' boy in gently."
Gambit: "Trust me, de last thing Gambit needs is breakin' in gently," he said, though not quite intending it to come out sounding as it did. Ah well, there was no taking it back now.
Tigra: "... Let's just get inside..."
Darren: Darren let out a quiet snort of laughter.
Lorna: "I think I should either be paid more or fired for the things I know and hear." Lorna hurried in at that.
Jay: "Oh oui?" Jay raised an eyebrow at that. "Ah'm gonna hafta see dat for myself some day. F' now, let's get inside - it's fuckin' cold an' Ah want coffee." He paused. "Ah got chicory, if y'all fancy...?"
Tigra: "I'm gonna go... put some pants and a shirt on..." she headed for the stairs.
Gambit: Silently cursing his choice of language, Remy followed the group in, keeping close to his fellow Cajun. Stepping inside, it was clear that this place was loaded. You could tell just from the panelling on the walls, the finish to the ceiling. Way above Remy's standards/
Lorna: "Yeah, can understand that...still no big fan of winter." Lorna groused, shaking the show off of her shoes. "So, what do you think so far?"
Jay: "Oh, Lorna? Dat music essay? It's gonna be late, ami - Ah messed up an' did d' wrong thing on it an' had t' restart. My fault f' tryna do it at butt a.m. in d' mornin'." Jay smiled sheepishly, hand going through his red hair. "Feel free t' dock my grade accordingly."
Gambit: "Thinkin' it's a good t'ing Gambit's here as a guest, otherwise he'd be breakin' in here t'night.."
Lorna: "Hey, not a problem. I'm not grading anything until break's over so you've got time." Lorna brushed the essay worries aside. "And definitely good to come in this way as that way."
Jay: Jay shot him a grin. "Good luck gettin' t'rough dem security gates an' shit, ami, Darren an' Selene monitor every inch of dis place twenty-four seven. Den dere's d' fact most of dis school don' take kindly t' havin' shit stolen..." He winked. "Still, if y'all here to stay, it's a sweet deal, trus' me."
Lorna: "We've had...problems with break-ins before. Maybe you can help out sometime by testing our security and so forth?"
Gambit: "Never said I was here t' stay," Gambit pointed out, not wanting any of them to think he'd committed to anything as he wandered along, still taking it all in and mentally tallying the worth of the place. "And ain't met a system yet I can't get t'rough."
Jay: "Ain't met d' guy yet dat can beat Darren, ami." Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "But y'all wanna try, be my guest, homme - jus' watch out for dem pidgeons, awright?" He clapped Gambit on the shoulder. "Eh, whether y're stayin' as a guest or stayin' for a while, y'll be welcome here, s' long as you don' push your luck."
Lorna: "Well, we'll have to test you on that." Lorna smiled and turned to attempt to give a tour. "Right, down that away is the most important room, kitchen."
Gambit: Remy cast a glance over at Darren, wondering just what it was that made this guy so formidable. Electrics, hadn't they said? As if electrics could stop a son of Jean-Luc LeBeau. Still, he'd keep that to himself for now, making his way into the kitchen. "What's de policy on drinkin'?" he asked curiously.
Darren: "... Sorry I zoned out there a sec," darren shook his head, "What're we talking about again?"
Jay: "Hard an' often, ami. Hard an' often."
Jay: "...D' drinkin', dat is."
Darren: "Oh, yeah, just don't raid the teacher's kitchen for booze, they get angry and wrathful if you do ... detention's the easiest you could get off."
Tigra: Greer slid back down the handrail to get down the stairs, glad in her usual lack of clothing - a halter top and hotpants. But she'd acquired shoes and done away with the fur. "You guys didn't get far..."
Darren: "We started talking booze."
Jay: "Eh, Ah have a store of La Fee Vert if y'all are in d' mood. Mates from N' Orleans send it up."
Gambit: "Dat's what I like t' hear," Remy replied, grinning approvingly. Tigra reappeared, Gambit unable to help himself but give her an appreciating once-over. She looked good in skin. "Thinkin' Gambit might need a welcome party, non?"
Tigra: "Oooh party! Let's do that, I like a good excuse to try and get drunk!"
Darren: Darren noticed the look, "Just make sure she doesn't give you fleas dude," he winked.
Jay: "Thinkin' so, eh?" Jay's accent was noticably thicker around the other Cajun, and he grinned, arm going around Gambit's shoulder. "Absinthe, vodka, whiskey, anythin' y'all want, oui?"
Tigra: "I don't have fleas you jerk!" She smacked him.
Gambit: Unfortunately, Gambit had no idea just how serious Jay may have been... but regardless, he'd keep it in mind. That didn't stop him being able to look, though. Jay's arms thrown around his shoulders now, Remy couldn't help but feel at ease around this guy. "Pick me up at 6, homme."
Darren: The smack did nothing except cause a slight, but very strange ripple across his body, like she was stapping something semi-liquid, "Oh, so you remembered to front-line yourself? I'm pretty sure i've got a cat-treat somewhere for a good girl," he poked his tounge out at her.
Darren: .... Should he warn the new kid about Jay and what he probably had intended .... naaaaaaaah, this could be hilarious.
Tigra: "You're an asshole. I'm going to the kitchen." She stalked off down the hall.
Jay: "Oh Ah will, ami. Y' better dress t' kill." He grinned. "T'ink Ah got a nice pot of gumbo too if y'all feel d' need f' some real spice."
Darren: "You say that like it's a shock to you," Darren called after her, smirking a little at the other two guys, "Yeah, I know ... but she rises to it every damn time, y'know?"
Gambit: "Better dan de stuff Gambit's been eatin' lately. If we're doin' dinner, y' better pick me up earlier," Gambit said with a laugh. A cajun, who drank, and knew good food? What could be better?! He watched Tigra stalk off a little discouraged: she was nice eyecandy to keep around.
Darren: .... Oh lord, this was going to be perfect, he was totally setting up a pigeon-cam and getting some popcorn in for this!
Jay: "Four about right den, homme? Ah can have y'all fed an' wasted come eight, or my name ain't Joshua Jameson."
Gambit: Completely oblivious as to just what he was getting himself into, Remy replied "T'ink I'm dat easy t' get wasted? Hope y' got plenty a bottles in stock, mon ami!" He laughed, turning to Darren. "Y' gonna be joining in, oui?"
Jay: "He can join, but he cain't get drunk - plus Ah'm a bad influence on him." He winked at Darren. "Might get all over-excited, ain't dat right, garcon?"
Darren: "... Oh I wouldn't miss this for the world," Darren said, "we need to get the pratice in before my bachelor party anyway, right?" He nudged Jay.
Jay: "Hell yeah! An' trust me, Gambit - dis is homebrew moonshine. Y'all ain't gonna know y're feet from y' armpit by d' time Ah'm done with ya."
Gambit: Gambit had had his share of unusual drinking buddies in the past, but he could safely say that Jay would no doubt be the oddest, in appearance alone! Lorna had left the boys to it, Gambit slightly lamenting the lack of female company, though the Cajun company made up for it. "Comin' here? Best decision Gambit's made all year."
Darren: Darren grinned widly, "It's a pretty sweet deal here, even better when there's ... y'know, no end of days going on outside."
Gambit: "De world, she has a way of sortin' herself out," Remy said, feigning wiseness. In reality, the situation seemed rather dire... but one had to be optimistic, right?
Darren: "Right ..." Darren gave shifty looks either side, "now that we've dumped the women for the moment, It's time to show you the good shit, to ... y'know, keep you ticking over till everything goes back to normal."
Jay: "Yeah - 'specially wit' Gede on d' case, eh?" Jay shot Darren a look, and then a grin. "...Y'all mean...?"
Gambit: Gambit raised an eyebrow inquisitively. Jay seemed to have a clue what was happening, but Gambit was in the dark,
Darren: "It's time to show you the wonders of technology, seriously, they are wonders," he jerked his head towards one of the doors.
Gambit: Gambit released the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Technology? Really? Great. He was about to be shown some amazing machine that he didn't really care about, or a state-of-the-art whatever.
Darren: Though poor Gambit didn't have a choice, Jay and Darren were steering him towards the lift anyways.
Tigra: Greer wandered back out into the hall with a mostly raw steak and a bottle of water. "You know there's more of the house than the hallway right?"
Darren: "We're skipping to the good bit," Darren called over his shoulder.
Tigra: "Ooooh good bits!"
Gambit: Following politely, though hoping he wasn't about to be shown some super amazing security system, or the biggest, fastest calculator in the world, he tried to keep optimistic. Maybe whatever this was would be interesting. Maybe.
Jay: Jay patted his shoulder as he saw the guy's face. "Trust us, ami...dis is gonna be amazin'."
Darren: Darren hit the switch and the normal looking door slid open, revealing a lift, "Okay, what you gotta bare in mind is that this isn't a normal school, we arn't normal people," he said as they all climbed in, "and a fairly common mutation is super-human intellect."
Darren: There probably wasn't much point in going into the science of hard-light technology, "There's quite a few sub-levels, they're a bit ... sci-fi, where we're heading is somewhere called the DR."
Greer: Greer chewed merrily on her steak, wondering where she was going to put her plate when she was done with it.
Jay: "T'ink...Star Trek. D' Holodeck, ami." Jay smirked. "Only it's called d' Danger Room here. We use it t'...train...mostly..."
Darren: The door shut with a hiss and they started to decend.
Gambit: "DR?" he repeated, going over possible translations of the abbreviation in his head. Something-Room. Data? Nah, too boring. Danger Room? Sounded.... dangerous, oddly. "Ain't gonna find de Enterprise down here, am I?"
Greer: "Only if you find the right program...."
Jay: "Not unless y'all're into dat kinda t'ing. Ah dunno, next frontier..." Oh god. Thank you, Bobby.
Darren: Darren snorted and rolled his eyes as they came to a stop and the door opened, revealing an empty, white corridor.
Gambit: Staring down the plain hallway, Gambit was decidedly unimpressed so far. "Minimalist. Like it. In fashion."
Jay: "Fff. More like easy t' clean d' bloodstains. Medlabs down here too."
Darren: Darren snorted, "This isn't the DR, it's behind the door," he pointed, "come on, the ladies are waiting."
Jay: "Ah hate t' disappoint a lady." He shot Darren a dirty look before grinning. "'Specially considerin' dese are some high-calibre ladies. After y'all, Maestro."
Gambit: "Ladies?" Gambit repeated, confused. What, they kept a troupé of females down here or something. These two were enjoying their little secret too much for Remy's liking, and he was eager to finally get in on it. Hurry up and open the damn door, already..
Darren: Darren keyed in the code to the door ... and then sighed, "Awww, didn't realised it was booked already ..."
Jay: "...Y'all're kiddin' me. Ah swear, if it's Reed again..."
JP: On the other side of the door there were presently no ladies and Jean-Paul would be very offended if anyone tried to argue that fact. "It's fine, come on in, I hadn't actually started anything up again." He peeked out to see who all was with Darren. "Hello roomie, and hello someone I've not had the pleasure yet."
Jay: "Hey JP. Dis is Gambit...wouldja mind if we uh...introduced him to d' DR a little?"
Greer: "Ooooh please say it's okay!"
Gambit: "Bonjour," Remy said, with a small wave to the stranger. Knowing this was a mutant home, he couldn't help but wonder just what the powers were of each person he spotted. Still, he figured it was bad ettiquette to straight-out ask.
Darren: "Gambit, this is JP, he speaks french too," Darren said by way of introduction.
Jay: "Well, not quite. He's Canadian French." Jay grinned. "Makes swearin' at each other fun, oui, ami?"
JP: "Our room is an absolute horror for delicate ears. We do do our fair share of swearing as well." His eyes rolled at Jay a bit but smiled. "And what nefarious ideas do you have in mind for the DR today?"
Gambit: "Most beautiful language in de world for cursin'," Gambit chuckled. Being insulted in French was almost a pleasure.
Darren: Darren just grinned and called out, "Danger? Be a babe and run the DC Funtimes program?"
JP: "...fun times?" Jean-Paul's eyebrow arched even higher than it's natural place.
Jay: "Oh oui. If dey don't know what y're sayin', could be y're chattin' dem up. Win win either way."
Darren: The blankness materialised wooden pannel walls and soft red furnishings, cozy little booths and platforms with poles ...
Darren: "JP .... you might wanna cover your eyes," Darren gave the biggest shit-eating grin as the music started and the girls materialised.
Jay: "...Ah swear, Black Canary's gonna make me go blind one day..."
Greer: ".... I love this program."
Gambit: As the room transformed, Remy couldn't help but take a step back in surprise, eyes wide as he looked around. This... this was amazing! He'd never seen anything like it. As the dancers started to appear, his jaw dropped just a little. "Non, last t'ing y' wanna do is cover y' eyes, homme.."
Jay: "Swear down, ami, dis place can do anything y'all want. An' Ah mean anything."
Gambit: "...Gambit t'inks he may jus' live down here, merci..."
Darren: Darren had the smugest look on his face, "Oh yeah, and they're very accomindating, these girls."
JP: "...Oh joy, now I wish I hadn't shared." Jean-Paul deadpanned, just shaking his head. "Is this what we have to look forward to for your bachelor party then, Darren?"
Greer: "Who made this program? I need to buy them things... many things...."
JP: "I'd try to lie and say it was me to get free things but I have a feeling you wouldn't believe me."
Gambit: "Not enjoyin' de view?" Gambit asked JP disbelievingly.
Jay: Jay hooked a finger into the waist of JP's pants and tugged him over. "Aw hush, mon ami, it does good t'ings to dose who need it. If it's dat bad, Ah'll sit on y're lap so you don't hafta see, oui/"
Darren: "Former student i'm afraid, Bobby and I discovered it one day while we were deleating old programs to free space," Darren threw himself into a booth and snapped his finger, Poison Ivy and Batgirl sashaing over to dance on his table.
Darren: "Let's just say ... JP's not into this sorta thing, and don't worry, Jay's handing my bachelor party, you just know there's gonna be male strippers even if it's just to try and terrify me."
JP: "Nah, I'm sure I can live. If you were in my lap I'd be tempted to give you a dollar." Jean-Paul glanced up at their current entertainment. "Well, in that case I'll have to help him terrify you." He smiled approvingly. "Yeah, not quite my cup of tea to say."
Jay: "Then I saw her, from across the room - Poison Ivy doin' jello shots with Doctor Doom. Like the Eye of sauron, I couldn't look away - She was with some joker but dude was prob'ly gaaay..." Jay's voice completely changed as he grinned widely before reverting back to the Cajun drawl. "Ami, y' know dere will be."
Jay: "Jus' a dollar? Ah'm hurt."
Gambit: Gambit couldn't quite believe it. As real as these girls and this place were... he couldn't get over the fact that it was all an illusion. Technically, anything goes here. Mutely taking a seat at another table, he could do little else but take it all in, still in shock.
JP: "Make it worth more and maybe you'll get a raise."
Greer: Greer reached out to grope one of the simulations, "They feel so real...."
Jay: "Oh hell yes, y' know Ah can." Jay winked with a laugh.
Darren: Darren leant over to Gambit, "It's something called Hard-Light Hologram technology, solid illusions basically, the guy who came up with this ... put a lot of effort into it," he winked as the two dancers ground against each other on his table.
JP: "Darren, I'm not the one to talk at the moment but I'm pretty sure sharing the science might damage the effect a little bit."
Darren: "Science is sexy," Darren protested.
Greer: "Yeah don't shatter the illusion...." she groped some more.
Gambit: "He needs a medal, Gambit t'inks," he said, running a hand over his face as he glanced around, vaguely taking in JP and Jay as they joked with one another.. perhaps a little too comfortably. Better they amused eachother than anyone else (i.e himself).
JP: "...yeah, you're right science can be pretty sexy." Jean-Paul found himself slightly distracted for a moment but waved the thought away.
Jay: Jay simply smirked, still keeping a tight hold on his roomie - he wasn't going to grope, he preferred his women real and able to leave the DR. "Oui. So...y'all likin' dis place den, Gambit? Ah hope y'all remember d' booze an' shit's still t' come..."
Gambit: "Pretty impressive, gotta admit," he said, loving the view, but still quite unable to get his head around the fact it was all an illusion. It'd take some getting used to on a physical level, he figured.
JP: "Booze? I should be made aware of such plans, yes?"
Darren: "Hey, do you know what I found down here the other day?" Darren called over .... damn he could really do with a beer, the only thing that could make this better would be beer.
Gambit: "Strangely, no idea, homme," Gambit replied with a smirk.
Greer: "Treasure?"
JP: "Reed and Danger?"
Darren: "Beds."
Greer: "... Huh?"
Jay: "...Beds, ami?"
Gambit: "Someone testin' de limits of dese holo-girls, sounds like," Remy said, a bit weirded by the fact.
JP: "Well, I guess it's nice someone doesn't just kick their roommate out or something...which reminds me, do we have a door hanging policy?" He looked back to Jay.
Darren: "Seriously, beds, and bedrooms, from all different cultures and time periods. Arabic, imperial chinese, 1920's ritz ... beds upon beds upon beds ..."
Greer: "Oooooh sounds like fun!"
Jay: "Ah dunno, considerin' we tend t' occupy it at d; same time..." He grinned. "Nah. Ah know better'n t' come near y'all when Adam's over. Guy's...keen."
Darren: "I'm figuring someone had a lot of fun with them," Darren shrugged.
Gambit: "Guess so," Gambit shrugged, adding in his head 'Someone who can't get it in de real world, clearly...'
JP: "Whoever is doing the bed thing I am impressed." Jean-Paul had to admit. "And yeah, keen is the word."
Darren: "It was like ... an ancient program, it was last opened two years after the school opened you know, guess whoever it was left."
Callie: Callie had intended to use the DR as her gym of choice, but there were people already using it. She poked her head in a blinked. Flashing lights glinted off her pink skin and red hair. "Oh, wow. I do not think I should be here...Is that Robin? Come here, with those scaly panties, hot stuff!" She went in fully, waving at everyone. Oh. A new person! Wonderful. She dimpled.
Jay: "Eh...Ah try not t' look to hard at d' sorta programs dey have here. Darren...y'all remember Vic at all? D' huge guy? Ah came across one of his Sabretooth programs...guy was a kinky fuck."
Greer: "Hey Callie!" Greer waved and smiled at her.
JP: "Well, we may never know." Jean-Paul looked up. "Callie, excellent, help me deal with all of this. Hmm, Robin?" He started to look around.
Darren: "... Dude, I found some old footage of him and his girlfriend ... seriously kinky," he peered around his dancers, "Callie? Are you even old enough to be in here?" he teased.
Callie: She rolled her eyes and sidled up to JP. "Of course I am old enough! I was just surprised." She poked JP. "Are you going to introduce me or will I do it for myself?"
Gambit: Who cared if she was old enough. She was a cutie. Leave her be. Remy instantly had a smile on his face. He got to his feet, crossing over to her. "Gambit, cherie. Though pretty face like yours, y' can call me whatever y' like."
JP: Jean-Paul smirked at that performance. "I believe he prefers to do it himself. Seems to be the pro-active type."
Darren: "Don't worry man, as far as I'm aware she's fair game," Darren called over, going back to his dancers.
Jay: "...Seriously? Can Ah have it?"
Darren: "... Do I even want to know why?"
JP: "...yes, this is why we're going to start a door hanging policy because I don't want to walk in on you sampling that."
Callie: "Callie. It is nice to meet you." She took his hand. "I like Gambit. It is different." She smiled again. "So, when did you arrive?" Finally, a hot man with manners!
Gambit: Performing the same twist-of-the-hand trick he'd pulled many times before, the handshake shifted into Gambit kissing the back of Callie's hand, charming grin in place. "Just today, cherie. Might be stickin' 'round fo' a while."
Callie: "Oh, very fine manners you have." She smiled wider. "Wonderful. It will be nice to have more friends."
JP: Jean-Paul leaned closer to the others. "I feel as if we should get her a fainting couch."
Gambit: "Pretty girl like you must already have a tonne of friends, non?" Gambit continued, still holding her hand. Was it the light that made her skin seem so unusually pink? Probably not. It wouldn't be the strangest thing he'd seen today, he supposed.
Callie: Callie blushed becomingly on cue. "Yes, a lot of friends." It couldn't be the lighting from the club that made his eyes look so weird. Black on red. Or was it red on black? It didn't matter to her. "But nobody special." She shrugged and removed her hand coyly before he could kiss it again.
JP: "Be careful, Callie. He probably does this to all the girls."
Gambit: He held onto her hand for the briefest moment before letting her pull it away, straightening up with his smile still in place. Finally, a girl who was both responding well to him, and wasn't engaged or married. There was hope for this place yet! "Nobody special, cos you outshine dem, cherie."
Gambit: Turning to JP, Gambit raised an eyebrow, quickly adding "Quick t' be makin' assumptions of people y' literally just met, aren't y'?"
Greer: "Man now I feel offended..."
Callie: "Flattery will get you nowhere, handsome." But she did dimple again. It was nice getting complimented.
Darren: ... This guy was better than net-flix when it came to entertainment value, seriously.
Callie: "It's called flirting, JP. Try it out - it is lots of fun!" She whispered in his ear.
Gambit: "Flattery? Non, cherie. Just callin' dem as I see dem," he retorted, having gone through these motions so often that the words slipped out of his mouth with ease.
JP: He shrugged. "Just teasing but yes, I generally am a bit quick at that. Of course, doesn't mean what you're saying isn't true." He had to give Callie a mock-offended look at that. "I'll have you know I'm more than capable of that."
Greer: "Yeah... still feeling offended over here... if you want me I'll be in the corner with super girl over here..."
Callie: Callie snorted, hearing a glib reply when she heard one. "Well, you must have all the girls at your beck and call, what with your face. Though, nobody can compete with green panties." She turned her attention back to the pole. "I like this program!"
Gambit: Damn, lost her. Oh well, he figured. Another time, another place. She didn't seem like the hard type to win over. Casting his eyes over to Greer, he tilted his head. "C'mon, cherie. Stunner like you? Y' don't need a guy like me tellin' y' de obvious, non?"
Greer: "Doesn't mean I don't like to hear it once in a while... hell knows it'd be better than the crap I put up with from Darren..." she shot a glare at the other guy.
Callie: "You are like a furry Betty Page, Greer, and you know it!"
Greer: Greer blushed a little at Callie, "Well thanks!"
JP: "Careful, Gambit, might lose them to one another if they keep on this."
Darren: "You know, I've told you before if you didn't react, I wouldn't do it," Darren gave her a lazy smile.
Greer: "It's so offensive, Darren..." she frowned at him, "Seriously... it'd be like someone telling you were a walking spyware program... or something..."
Gambit: Sensing a disagreement that had been going on longer than he'd been around, he figured this topic was one he best avoid involvement in. JP's comment caused him to chuckle, yet at the same time, the way they all interacted together reminded him sharply of how much of an outsider he was.
Darren: "... Well yeah, I am," he shrugged, "people call me all kinda things, no reason to get worked up about it, they're just words."
Greer: She shook her head, "You just don't get it..."
Callie: Callie looked sighed at the argument. "They are always like this, I am sorry, Gambit. But hey, at least you know what you are walking into, now."
Darren: "No, I don't think you get it," he shrugged again.
JP: "I always figured Darren was more his own personal CCTV, recording our every motion ready to use anything he sees."
Darren: Darren just gave JP a slightly unsettling smile.
Greer: "Well then we'll just have to agree to disagree and you'll just have to tolerate the occasional blunt object hurled at your head."
JP: Jean-Paul gave Darren the same kind of smile. "I can put on displays for you."
Darren: "Fine by me," not like it could hurt him, the smile faded a little at what JP said, "... Actually, I think i'll pass."
Gambit: "Sure t'ing," he replied to Callie, though his smile had faded somewhat. "Just... gonna step outside a minute, mon amis," he said as he ran a hand through his hair, making his way past both real and holographic persons alike, outof the sliding door and into the hallway. He breathed a heavy sigh. He didn't do well in these weird, almost family environments.
Greer: Greer frowned after him a little, "Did we do something wrong?"
JP: Jean-Paul decided to put that up as a personal victory, kicking his feet up, then arching an eyebrow at Gambit. "Maybe the holograms were too much after all."
Callie: "Yeah, your bickering scared him off!" She crossed her arms.
Greer: Greer chewed her lip and looked down at the floor, now she felt bad....
JP: "You can always go out and console him. Go, get to consoling. I believe the phrase is 'get it, girl.' for this situation."
Icarus: Jay watched Remy leave, frownng slightly. "...Don' t'ink dat had anythin; to do wit' it. 'Scuse me." He quickly followed, finding the guy outside. "...Gambit? Y'all mind if Ah join y'?"
Greer: Greer threw her empty plate at JP's head.
Callie: "Pfff." She waved her hand at JP.
JP: Jean-Paul ducked quickly. "What was that for?"
Greer: "Sleeze."
Callie: "Oh hey!" She was going to leave too if they started trowing things!
Gambit: Lost in thought, he hadn't even heard the door open as Jay joined him. The voice snapped him back to reality, and he quickly threw on his usual care-free expression. "Non, feel free. Just takin' a break, homme," he said with a casual shrug. He'd prefer to be alone... but he could hardly say that.
Darren: Darren rolled his eyes at the plate throwing, how juvenile.
JP: Jean-Paul's eyes rolled at that, not even bothering. "New guy is quite something though, will give him that."
Callie: "He seems very nice."
Greer: "Yeah he does, he let us stay at his hideout in the city last night... after a fleeing from zombies...."
Icarus: Jay smiled a little, pulling out a slightly dog-eared packet of cigarettes, pulling one out and offering the packet to him. "Don't mind 'em, ami, dey can be a bit much. If y'all like, Ah can show y' some slightly more outta d' place ways t' hide when dey're bein' kids." He lit his own. "God knows Ah sometimes cain't hack d' noise...bin alone too long, Ah think."
Darren: "I like him, he knew to back off from a taken women," Darren shrugged, "if he decides to stick around could be good for him, and this place," God knows sometimes he felt outnumbered by all the women here, more dudes could only be a good thing.
JP: "You know, I never thought fleeing from zombies would be something like 'Oh, that again, must be tuesday.' I feel it's skewed my world view forever."
Gambit: Pulling a cigarette out, a nod of thanks, he touched a finger to the tip of it, charging it for a moment and a small crack as the energy exploded, lighting it. "Mebbe. Ain't used t' all... dis.," he said honestly, as Jay seemed to already have the score on him.
Greer: "... Yeah it kind of has... but maybe that'll be a good thing... some how?"
Callie: Callie was lost on the colloquialism, too.
JP: "Just as long as it ends before we become complacent with them."
Callie: "What does that mean, 'must be Tuesday'?"
JP: "Hmm? Was just saying it's not exactly anything new and shocking anymore...that's unsettling."
Icarus: Jay nodded. "'Fore y' ask, Ah ain't a mind reader. But Ah've been minus a family now f'...years, ami, Ah know dat look. Darren, he's got a big family, Greer's might dislike her but dey're still kickin'...JP has his sister, no idea abou' Callie. Me, Ah ain't got shit. An' sometimes dis place gets a bit much, oui? So...don't worry so hard abou' it, if y'all need space y'll get it, an' if y' decide to stay...well, y'll find they'll pull in f' ya too."
Gambit: He remained quiet, though nodded, smoking as he listened and thought. Since leaving home, he'd been a wanderer. He'd never settled, and never made friends he had to lose when he left town. This place.. it would change that. "We'll see, ami. Dunno if dis place is right f' me, yet."
Darren: "... Naah, not really ... though, that could just be me and the fact i'm in senior year ..." Darren looked thoughtful.
JP: "You're far too jaded now to know what to find unsettling?" Now that had to be unsettling.
Greer: "I don't find it that unsettling either... but I've had a weird few years...."
Callie: "I will never get used to them. So sad, and scary."
JP: He looked over to Callie. "I think they're demonstrating what I meant."
Greer: Greer laughed, "Oh honey, I was this way before I got here - when you live in the wilds for two years you have to get used to bad surprises."
Icarus: Jay nodded. "Dat choice is yours t' make, mo ami, don' let anyone take dat away. Jus' know dis might jus' be d' best damn chance y' get, oui?" He smiled. "At leas' stay f' Christmas. D' food's to die for, no kiddin', an' Ah wasn' jokin' about d' amount of booze." He blew out a plume of smoke. "Y' want dat alone time, or you kosher now, ami?"
JP: "...honey?"
Darren: "She's hitting on you, flee while you still can!"
Callie: Callie looked between JP and Greer and started backing towards the door.
Greer: "You'd prefer 'sweetie'?" she raised an eyebrow.
JP: Jean-Paul let a good peal of laughter out. "Oh, I'd say she's barking up the wrong tree but i don't think Greer would appreciate being accused of barking."
Greer: "Hell no, got more class. And I'm not hitting on anyone, I call everyone 'honey'.... Is that not okay?"
JP: Jean-Paul had the sense to bite back the next bit of laughter. "Oh you can stick with whatever you want."
Gambit: He had a point. He might as well take advantage of the free hospitality over Christmas: it wasn't as if he was going back home, after all. "Oui, I'm fine," he assured Jay, before giving the guy one of his very few honest, genuine smiles. "Merci, mon ami."
Greer: "If it's not okay I wish someone would've said something sooner...." she frowned a little. Why didn't people ever say what they were thinking...?
Icarus: "De rien, ami, pas de probleme." Jay grinned. "Y'all have any problems, jus' gimme a bell, a'right? Now...Ah know did is impolite, but Ah'm kinda curious. What is it y'all do exactly?"
Callie: Argument diffused, Callie crept over to an empty couch and sat down, primly crossing her legs.
Gambit: Gambit couldn't help but laugh at the question. "T'ings I shouldn't," he replied, taking another drag from the cigarette. "Gambit's job.. Well, Gambit's old job, was takin' t'ings dat don' belong t' him." Now, he took them for himself.
Icarus: "Don't we all, ami." Jay laughed. "Ah used t' do a bit of dat - not'ing much, food mostly, but y' know how it is, somet'ing shiny an' you just gotta have it. Guess Ah got d' right mutation for bein' a magpie." He chuckled, wings flaring a little with a soft metallic chime from the metal one. "Oh...yeah, we shouldn' smoke indoors, but Ah ain't met one smoker who keeps to dat rule, so hey."
Gambit: He eyed the wings with interest, wondering just what had happened to have one replaced with metal. Not something you just asked, though. "I ain't one t' keep to de rules," he said, glad that the smoking prohibition wasn't strictly kept to. "Mebbe we make sure dey ain't killed eachother yet, non?" he suggested, gesturing at the door to the Danger Room
Jay: "Oui...though Ah doubt it." Jay grinned, punching in the code. "Darren's near enough as laid back as me, but den he did have me as a roomie f' like...two years." The door slid open. "Hey hey, mes amis, did y'all miss me?" He grinned at the rest.
Darren: "-Auto-tuned camel ... that's how I'd describe the noises she made- Oh, hey Jay," Darren waved over at the two cajuns.
JP: "Well, I suppose we can't make any disparaging remarks about her humps. Welcome back." Jean-Paul waved. "We're discussing camel-like mating rites. I apologize ahead of time."
Callie: "Yes, you both were greatly missed!"
Greer: Greer sat down next to Callie and opened her bottle of water.
Gambit: "Don't wanna know, hommes," Gambit remarked, still smoking as he walked back in. The sobering conversation with Jay had dulled him to the effects of the Danger Room. He barely paid attention to the illusions around him. "Listen.. y' got a bedroom dat I could set up in? Been a long few days 'n all.."
Darren: Darren gave the guy a smile, "Yeah, there's plent of spare beds dude, sure Jay'll show you to one, right bro?"
JP: "Oh there's still loads of free beds. That's not a problem at all."
Greer: Greer looked between Jay, JP and Gambit... poor new guy.
Jay: "Well good. Ah vote we go upstairs an' chow down, because Ah dunno about y'all but Ah could do wit' some serious food - an' fuck y'all, Gede, ain't dat much of a predator. Sure Ah'll show y' a room, ami." Jay saluted lazily. "Y'all wanna kip now? Ah'll save y' some food f' later."
Callie: "Well, I came down here for yoga classes, so I'll see you all later." She changed programs so the room became a hot zen-filled oasis.
Gambit: "Might shower, at least. See how I feel," Remy said, not sure if he wanted to be alone or not, so figuring he'd leave his options open. He had a feeling Jay would understand that.
Greer: Greer blinked at the sudden disappearance of her chair. ".... Ow."
Jay: Jay nodded. "A#right. C'mon den, Gambit - let's get y' settled in." He grinned, leading the way out of the DR.
Darren: "I'll leave you too it then Callie," Darren smiled, getting to his feet, "have fun now," before following everyone else out of the room.
Callie: "Sorry! I thought there would be cushions in this program. This is a different one than the one I usually use."
Greer: "It's fine..." she got to her feet, "Guess I should leave you to it... unless you want company?"
Callie: "It's hot yoga, if you can stand it, sure!"
Greer: "I'm sure I'll be fine," she grinned, "Company it is!"
Gambit: Following the van, Gambit couldn't help but give a low whistle (unheard over the sound of his engine) as they pulled up to this "Xavier's" place. Stopping beside the van, he gave an appreciative nod. "You guys know how t' live, I'll give y' dat."
Tigra: "Best part is it's all free." Tigra climbed out of the van and shook herself off. Riding around in the back of it always rubbed her fur up the wrong way.
Darren: "Yep, though trust me, the know if you start trying to sell the laptops and shit man," Darren said, climbing out and helping Selene down.
Jay: Jay had been enjoying a quiet smoke when he'd spotted the van and - ooooh. That looked like a new person. Cigarette in mouth, he pushed himself off, circling over the group. "Hey hey amis, y'all bought dinner back? Ah'm starvin' an' dere ain' no spicy chicken left." He landed, tucking the wings behind him and eyeing the new guy curiously. "Bonjou. Dey drug ya?"
Tigra: "Can't promise you chicken but I can catch you something that resembles a bird if you want?" Tigra offered, stretching a little.
Darren: "Been driven to canabalism already, bro?" Darren waved at the flying man.
Gambit: Free? How the hell did they manage that? This place must've cost a fortune to run. Climbing off his bike, though still leaning on the handlebars, his devil-eyes cast over the building. Another game over, and his voice... Remy'd recognise it anywhere. "Non, l'homme. Vous êtes du Bayou?"
Lorna: "Well, Xavier's pretty well loaded so that's how." Lorna admitted with a laugh, ing up the steps. "Jay, there we go, now we're having a Cajun reunion."
Jay: "Hey garcon." Jay grinned easily. "Always. Don' make me tell y'all what Ah do t' turkey." He turned to the new guy, eyes wide. "Wé, ami! Et tu? Je suis-" He grinned sheepishly at Lorna. "Ah, shaddap. Ah'm a long way from home, remember."
Darren: "Nothing's stoppin' ya from going back there, cockatiel," Darren teased, waving to Selene as she headed back inside ... that ring looked damn good on her finger.
Tigra: "Except the horrible zappy invisible wall around the city..."
Gambit: Gambit chuckled. "Sorry, cherie. We keep de home language down for now, non?" he said to Lorna, smiling, before turning back to the newcomer with interest. try as he might, he was quite unable to stop himself looking over his unusual body. "Happy t' be hearin' a decent accent again, I tell y'."
Lorna: "Reno's farther but I've not felt the need to don any of your feathers for a showgirl costume...yet anyway. Maybe I should borrow something for anniversary time or Bobby's birthday." Lorna had a good laugh. "yeah, watch the wall thinger...that's just not kosher though I guess we can jet it well enough."
Jay: "Ah know - it's bin too long. An' you an' Bobby have too many of my moltin's, ami, no more." He laughed. "An' oui...name's Joshua, by d' way, but mos' round here call me Jay." He held out a hand to the new guy.
Gambit: "Re- Gambit," he corrected himself swiftly, the familiarity of a Cajun accent making him feel more comfortable than he should. He shook Jay's hand firmly, liking this place a little more with another Cajun in residence.
Lorna: "Now, that's some nice bonding all ready." Lorna skipped a few of the steps and caught the door. "Shall we begin the grand tour?"
Gambit: "Oui, cherie. Okie t' leave de bike here f' now?" he asked, not wanting to take it to the garage just yet. He was much too eager to see inside the house... and see if all the women at Xavier's were as attractive as those he'd already met.
Darren: Darren shot the boy a sidelong glance, "Maybe we should start with Cess' office?"
Jay: "Non - she's busy an' uh...y'll never get him out." Jay grinned knowingly. "Break d' boy in gently."
Gambit: "Trust me, de last thing Gambit needs is breakin' in gently," he said, though not quite intending it to come out sounding as it did. Ah well, there was no taking it back now.
Tigra: "... Let's just get inside..."
Darren: Darren let out a quiet snort of laughter.
Lorna: "I think I should either be paid more or fired for the things I know and hear." Lorna hurried in at that.
Jay: "Oh oui?" Jay raised an eyebrow at that. "Ah'm gonna hafta see dat for myself some day. F' now, let's get inside - it's fuckin' cold an' Ah want coffee." He paused. "Ah got chicory, if y'all fancy...?"
Tigra: "I'm gonna go... put some pants and a shirt on..." she headed for the stairs.
Gambit: Silently cursing his choice of language, Remy followed the group in, keeping close to his fellow Cajun. Stepping inside, it was clear that this place was loaded. You could tell just from the panelling on the walls, the finish to the ceiling. Way above Remy's standards/
Lorna: "Yeah, can understand that...still no big fan of winter." Lorna groused, shaking the show off of her shoes. "So, what do you think so far?"
Jay: "Oh, Lorna? Dat music essay? It's gonna be late, ami - Ah messed up an' did d' wrong thing on it an' had t' restart. My fault f' tryna do it at butt a.m. in d' mornin'." Jay smiled sheepishly, hand going through his red hair. "Feel free t' dock my grade accordingly."
Gambit: "Thinkin' it's a good t'ing Gambit's here as a guest, otherwise he'd be breakin' in here t'night.."
Lorna: "Hey, not a problem. I'm not grading anything until break's over so you've got time." Lorna brushed the essay worries aside. "And definitely good to come in this way as that way."
Jay: Jay shot him a grin. "Good luck gettin' t'rough dem security gates an' shit, ami, Darren an' Selene monitor every inch of dis place twenty-four seven. Den dere's d' fact most of dis school don' take kindly t' havin' shit stolen..." He winked. "Still, if y'all here to stay, it's a sweet deal, trus' me."
Lorna: "We've had...problems with break-ins before. Maybe you can help out sometime by testing our security and so forth?"
Gambit: "Never said I was here t' stay," Gambit pointed out, not wanting any of them to think he'd committed to anything as he wandered along, still taking it all in and mentally tallying the worth of the place. "And ain't met a system yet I can't get t'rough."
Jay: "Ain't met d' guy yet dat can beat Darren, ami." Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "But y'all wanna try, be my guest, homme - jus' watch out for dem pidgeons, awright?" He clapped Gambit on the shoulder. "Eh, whether y're stayin' as a guest or stayin' for a while, y'll be welcome here, s' long as you don' push your luck."
Lorna: "Well, we'll have to test you on that." Lorna smiled and turned to attempt to give a tour. "Right, down that away is the most important room, kitchen."
Gambit: Remy cast a glance over at Darren, wondering just what it was that made this guy so formidable. Electrics, hadn't they said? As if electrics could stop a son of Jean-Luc LeBeau. Still, he'd keep that to himself for now, making his way into the kitchen. "What's de policy on drinkin'?" he asked curiously.
Darren: "... Sorry I zoned out there a sec," darren shook his head, "What're we talking about again?"
Jay: "Hard an' often, ami. Hard an' often."
Jay: "...D' drinkin', dat is."
Darren: "Oh, yeah, just don't raid the teacher's kitchen for booze, they get angry and wrathful if you do ... detention's the easiest you could get off."
Tigra: Greer slid back down the handrail to get down the stairs, glad in her usual lack of clothing - a halter top and hotpants. But she'd acquired shoes and done away with the fur. "You guys didn't get far..."
Darren: "We started talking booze."
Jay: "Eh, Ah have a store of La Fee Vert if y'all are in d' mood. Mates from N' Orleans send it up."
Gambit: "Dat's what I like t' hear," Remy replied, grinning approvingly. Tigra reappeared, Gambit unable to help himself but give her an appreciating once-over. She looked good in skin. "Thinkin' Gambit might need a welcome party, non?"
Tigra: "Oooh party! Let's do that, I like a good excuse to try and get drunk!"
Darren: Darren noticed the look, "Just make sure she doesn't give you fleas dude," he winked.
Jay: "Thinkin' so, eh?" Jay's accent was noticably thicker around the other Cajun, and he grinned, arm going around Gambit's shoulder. "Absinthe, vodka, whiskey, anythin' y'all want, oui?"
Tigra: "I don't have fleas you jerk!" She smacked him.
Gambit: Unfortunately, Gambit had no idea just how serious Jay may have been... but regardless, he'd keep it in mind. That didn't stop him being able to look, though. Jay's arms thrown around his shoulders now, Remy couldn't help but feel at ease around this guy. "Pick me up at 6, homme."
Darren: The smack did nothing except cause a slight, but very strange ripple across his body, like she was stapping something semi-liquid, "Oh, so you remembered to front-line yourself? I'm pretty sure i've got a cat-treat somewhere for a good girl," he poked his tounge out at her.
Darren: .... Should he warn the new kid about Jay and what he probably had intended .... naaaaaaaah, this could be hilarious.
Tigra: "You're an asshole. I'm going to the kitchen." She stalked off down the hall.
Jay: "Oh Ah will, ami. Y' better dress t' kill." He grinned. "T'ink Ah got a nice pot of gumbo too if y'all feel d' need f' some real spice."
Darren: "You say that like it's a shock to you," Darren called after her, smirking a little at the other two guys, "Yeah, I know ... but she rises to it every damn time, y'know?"
Gambit: "Better dan de stuff Gambit's been eatin' lately. If we're doin' dinner, y' better pick me up earlier," Gambit said with a laugh. A cajun, who drank, and knew good food? What could be better?! He watched Tigra stalk off a little discouraged: she was nice eyecandy to keep around.
Darren: .... Oh lord, this was going to be perfect, he was totally setting up a pigeon-cam and getting some popcorn in for this!
Jay: "Four about right den, homme? Ah can have y'all fed an' wasted come eight, or my name ain't Joshua Jameson."
Gambit: Completely oblivious as to just what he was getting himself into, Remy replied "T'ink I'm dat easy t' get wasted? Hope y' got plenty a bottles in stock, mon ami!" He laughed, turning to Darren. "Y' gonna be joining in, oui?"
Jay: "He can join, but he cain't get drunk - plus Ah'm a bad influence on him." He winked at Darren. "Might get all over-excited, ain't dat right, garcon?"
Darren: "... Oh I wouldn't miss this for the world," Darren said, "we need to get the pratice in before my bachelor party anyway, right?" He nudged Jay.
Jay: "Hell yeah! An' trust me, Gambit - dis is homebrew moonshine. Y'all ain't gonna know y're feet from y' armpit by d' time Ah'm done with ya."
Gambit: Gambit had had his share of unusual drinking buddies in the past, but he could safely say that Jay would no doubt be the oddest, in appearance alone! Lorna had left the boys to it, Gambit slightly lamenting the lack of female company, though the Cajun company made up for it. "Comin' here? Best decision Gambit's made all year."
Darren: Darren grinned widly, "It's a pretty sweet deal here, even better when there's ... y'know, no end of days going on outside."
Gambit: "De world, she has a way of sortin' herself out," Remy said, feigning wiseness. In reality, the situation seemed rather dire... but one had to be optimistic, right?
Darren: "Right ..." Darren gave shifty looks either side, "now that we've dumped the women for the moment, It's time to show you the good shit, to ... y'know, keep you ticking over till everything goes back to normal."
Jay: "Yeah - 'specially wit' Gede on d' case, eh?" Jay shot Darren a look, and then a grin. "...Y'all mean...?"
Gambit: Gambit raised an eyebrow inquisitively. Jay seemed to have a clue what was happening, but Gambit was in the dark,
Darren: "It's time to show you the wonders of technology, seriously, they are wonders," he jerked his head towards one of the doors.
Gambit: Gambit released the breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. Technology? Really? Great. He was about to be shown some amazing machine that he didn't really care about, or a state-of-the-art whatever.
Darren: Though poor Gambit didn't have a choice, Jay and Darren were steering him towards the lift anyways.
Tigra: Greer wandered back out into the hall with a mostly raw steak and a bottle of water. "You know there's more of the house than the hallway right?"
Darren: "We're skipping to the good bit," Darren called over his shoulder.
Tigra: "Ooooh good bits!"
Gambit: Following politely, though hoping he wasn't about to be shown some super amazing security system, or the biggest, fastest calculator in the world, he tried to keep optimistic. Maybe whatever this was would be interesting. Maybe.
Jay: Jay patted his shoulder as he saw the guy's face. "Trust us, ami...dis is gonna be amazin'."
Darren: Darren hit the switch and the normal looking door slid open, revealing a lift, "Okay, what you gotta bare in mind is that this isn't a normal school, we arn't normal people," he said as they all climbed in, "and a fairly common mutation is super-human intellect."
Darren: There probably wasn't much point in going into the science of hard-light technology, "There's quite a few sub-levels, they're a bit ... sci-fi, where we're heading is somewhere called the DR."
Greer: Greer chewed merrily on her steak, wondering where she was going to put her plate when she was done with it.
Jay: "T'ink...Star Trek. D' Holodeck, ami." Jay smirked. "Only it's called d' Danger Room here. We use it t'...train...mostly..."
Darren: The door shut with a hiss and they started to decend.
Gambit: "DR?" he repeated, going over possible translations of the abbreviation in his head. Something-Room. Data? Nah, too boring. Danger Room? Sounded.... dangerous, oddly. "Ain't gonna find de Enterprise down here, am I?"
Greer: "Only if you find the right program...."
Jay: "Not unless y'all're into dat kinda t'ing. Ah dunno, next frontier..." Oh god. Thank you, Bobby.
Darren: Darren snorted and rolled his eyes as they came to a stop and the door opened, revealing an empty, white corridor.
Gambit: Staring down the plain hallway, Gambit was decidedly unimpressed so far. "Minimalist. Like it. In fashion."
Jay: "Fff. More like easy t' clean d' bloodstains. Medlabs down here too."
Darren: Darren snorted, "This isn't the DR, it's behind the door," he pointed, "come on, the ladies are waiting."
Jay: "Ah hate t' disappoint a lady." He shot Darren a dirty look before grinning. "'Specially considerin' dese are some high-calibre ladies. After y'all, Maestro."
Gambit: "Ladies?" Gambit repeated, confused. What, they kept a troupé of females down here or something. These two were enjoying their little secret too much for Remy's liking, and he was eager to finally get in on it. Hurry up and open the damn door, already..
Darren: Darren keyed in the code to the door ... and then sighed, "Awww, didn't realised it was booked already ..."
Jay: "...Y'all're kiddin' me. Ah swear, if it's Reed again..."
JP: On the other side of the door there were presently no ladies and Jean-Paul would be very offended if anyone tried to argue that fact. "It's fine, come on in, I hadn't actually started anything up again." He peeked out to see who all was with Darren. "Hello roomie, and hello someone I've not had the pleasure yet."
Jay: "Hey JP. Dis is Gambit...wouldja mind if we uh...introduced him to d' DR a little?"
Greer: "Ooooh please say it's okay!"
Gambit: "Bonjour," Remy said, with a small wave to the stranger. Knowing this was a mutant home, he couldn't help but wonder just what the powers were of each person he spotted. Still, he figured it was bad ettiquette to straight-out ask.
Darren: "Gambit, this is JP, he speaks french too," Darren said by way of introduction.
Jay: "Well, not quite. He's Canadian French." Jay grinned. "Makes swearin' at each other fun, oui, ami?"
JP: "Our room is an absolute horror for delicate ears. We do do our fair share of swearing as well." His eyes rolled at Jay a bit but smiled. "And what nefarious ideas do you have in mind for the DR today?"
Gambit: "Most beautiful language in de world for cursin'," Gambit chuckled. Being insulted in French was almost a pleasure.
Darren: Darren just grinned and called out, "Danger? Be a babe and run the DC Funtimes program?"
JP: "...fun times?" Jean-Paul's eyebrow arched even higher than it's natural place.
Jay: "Oh oui. If dey don't know what y're sayin', could be y're chattin' dem up. Win win either way."
Darren: The blankness materialised wooden pannel walls and soft red furnishings, cozy little booths and platforms with poles ...
Darren: "JP .... you might wanna cover your eyes," Darren gave the biggest shit-eating grin as the music started and the girls materialised.
Jay: "...Ah swear, Black Canary's gonna make me go blind one day..."
Greer: ".... I love this program."
Gambit: As the room transformed, Remy couldn't help but take a step back in surprise, eyes wide as he looked around. This... this was amazing! He'd never seen anything like it. As the dancers started to appear, his jaw dropped just a little. "Non, last t'ing y' wanna do is cover y' eyes, homme.."
Jay: "Swear down, ami, dis place can do anything y'all want. An' Ah mean anything."
Gambit: "...Gambit t'inks he may jus' live down here, merci..."
Darren: Darren had the smugest look on his face, "Oh yeah, and they're very accomindating, these girls."
JP: "...Oh joy, now I wish I hadn't shared." Jean-Paul deadpanned, just shaking his head. "Is this what we have to look forward to for your bachelor party then, Darren?"
Greer: "Who made this program? I need to buy them things... many things...."
JP: "I'd try to lie and say it was me to get free things but I have a feeling you wouldn't believe me."
Gambit: "Not enjoyin' de view?" Gambit asked JP disbelievingly.
Jay: Jay hooked a finger into the waist of JP's pants and tugged him over. "Aw hush, mon ami, it does good t'ings to dose who need it. If it's dat bad, Ah'll sit on y're lap so you don't hafta see, oui/"
Darren: "Former student i'm afraid, Bobby and I discovered it one day while we were deleating old programs to free space," Darren threw himself into a booth and snapped his finger, Poison Ivy and Batgirl sashaing over to dance on his table.
Darren: "Let's just say ... JP's not into this sorta thing, and don't worry, Jay's handing my bachelor party, you just know there's gonna be male strippers even if it's just to try and terrify me."
JP: "Nah, I'm sure I can live. If you were in my lap I'd be tempted to give you a dollar." Jean-Paul glanced up at their current entertainment. "Well, in that case I'll have to help him terrify you." He smiled approvingly. "Yeah, not quite my cup of tea to say."
Jay: "Then I saw her, from across the room - Poison Ivy doin' jello shots with Doctor Doom. Like the Eye of sauron, I couldn't look away - She was with some joker but dude was prob'ly gaaay..." Jay's voice completely changed as he grinned widely before reverting back to the Cajun drawl. "Ami, y' know dere will be."
Jay: "Jus' a dollar? Ah'm hurt."
Gambit: Gambit couldn't quite believe it. As real as these girls and this place were... he couldn't get over the fact that it was all an illusion. Technically, anything goes here. Mutely taking a seat at another table, he could do little else but take it all in, still in shock.
JP: "Make it worth more and maybe you'll get a raise."
Greer: Greer reached out to grope one of the simulations, "They feel so real...."
Jay: "Oh hell yes, y' know Ah can." Jay winked with a laugh.
Darren: Darren leant over to Gambit, "It's something called Hard-Light Hologram technology, solid illusions basically, the guy who came up with this ... put a lot of effort into it," he winked as the two dancers ground against each other on his table.
JP: "Darren, I'm not the one to talk at the moment but I'm pretty sure sharing the science might damage the effect a little bit."
Darren: "Science is sexy," Darren protested.
Greer: "Yeah don't shatter the illusion...." she groped some more.
Gambit: "He needs a medal, Gambit t'inks," he said, running a hand over his face as he glanced around, vaguely taking in JP and Jay as they joked with one another.. perhaps a little too comfortably. Better they amused eachother than anyone else (i.e himself).
JP: "...yeah, you're right science can be pretty sexy." Jean-Paul found himself slightly distracted for a moment but waved the thought away.
Jay: Jay simply smirked, still keeping a tight hold on his roomie - he wasn't going to grope, he preferred his women real and able to leave the DR. "Oui. So...y'all likin' dis place den, Gambit? Ah hope y'all remember d' booze an' shit's still t' come..."
Gambit: "Pretty impressive, gotta admit," he said, loving the view, but still quite unable to get his head around the fact it was all an illusion. It'd take some getting used to on a physical level, he figured.
JP: "Booze? I should be made aware of such plans, yes?"
Darren: "Hey, do you know what I found down here the other day?" Darren called over .... damn he could really do with a beer, the only thing that could make this better would be beer.
Gambit: "Strangely, no idea, homme," Gambit replied with a smirk.
Greer: "Treasure?"
JP: "Reed and Danger?"
Darren: "Beds."
Greer: "... Huh?"
Jay: "...Beds, ami?"
Gambit: "Someone testin' de limits of dese holo-girls, sounds like," Remy said, a bit weirded by the fact.
JP: "Well, I guess it's nice someone doesn't just kick their roommate out or something...which reminds me, do we have a door hanging policy?" He looked back to Jay.
Darren: "Seriously, beds, and bedrooms, from all different cultures and time periods. Arabic, imperial chinese, 1920's ritz ... beds upon beds upon beds ..."
Greer: "Oooooh sounds like fun!"
Jay: "Ah dunno, considerin' we tend t' occupy it at d; same time..." He grinned. "Nah. Ah know better'n t' come near y'all when Adam's over. Guy's...keen."
Darren: "I'm figuring someone had a lot of fun with them," Darren shrugged.
Gambit: "Guess so," Gambit shrugged, adding in his head 'Someone who can't get it in de real world, clearly...'
JP: "Whoever is doing the bed thing I am impressed." Jean-Paul had to admit. "And yeah, keen is the word."
Darren: "It was like ... an ancient program, it was last opened two years after the school opened you know, guess whoever it was left."
Callie: Callie had intended to use the DR as her gym of choice, but there were people already using it. She poked her head in a blinked. Flashing lights glinted off her pink skin and red hair. "Oh, wow. I do not think I should be here...Is that Robin? Come here, with those scaly panties, hot stuff!" She went in fully, waving at everyone. Oh. A new person! Wonderful. She dimpled.
Jay: "Eh...Ah try not t' look to hard at d' sorta programs dey have here. Darren...y'all remember Vic at all? D' huge guy? Ah came across one of his Sabretooth programs...guy was a kinky fuck."
Greer: "Hey Callie!" Greer waved and smiled at her.
JP: "Well, we may never know." Jean-Paul looked up. "Callie, excellent, help me deal with all of this. Hmm, Robin?" He started to look around.
Darren: "... Dude, I found some old footage of him and his girlfriend ... seriously kinky," he peered around his dancers, "Callie? Are you even old enough to be in here?" he teased.
Callie: She rolled her eyes and sidled up to JP. "Of course I am old enough! I was just surprised." She poked JP. "Are you going to introduce me or will I do it for myself?"
Gambit: Who cared if she was old enough. She was a cutie. Leave her be. Remy instantly had a smile on his face. He got to his feet, crossing over to her. "Gambit, cherie. Though pretty face like yours, y' can call me whatever y' like."
JP: Jean-Paul smirked at that performance. "I believe he prefers to do it himself. Seems to be the pro-active type."
Darren: "Don't worry man, as far as I'm aware she's fair game," Darren called over, going back to his dancers.
Jay: "...Seriously? Can Ah have it?"
Darren: "... Do I even want to know why?"
JP: "...yes, this is why we're going to start a door hanging policy because I don't want to walk in on you sampling that."
Callie: "Callie. It is nice to meet you." She took his hand. "I like Gambit. It is different." She smiled again. "So, when did you arrive?" Finally, a hot man with manners!
Gambit: Performing the same twist-of-the-hand trick he'd pulled many times before, the handshake shifted into Gambit kissing the back of Callie's hand, charming grin in place. "Just today, cherie. Might be stickin' 'round fo' a while."
Callie: "Oh, very fine manners you have." She smiled wider. "Wonderful. It will be nice to have more friends."
JP: Jean-Paul leaned closer to the others. "I feel as if we should get her a fainting couch."
Gambit: "Pretty girl like you must already have a tonne of friends, non?" Gambit continued, still holding her hand. Was it the light that made her skin seem so unusually pink? Probably not. It wouldn't be the strangest thing he'd seen today, he supposed.
Callie: Callie blushed becomingly on cue. "Yes, a lot of friends." It couldn't be the lighting from the club that made his eyes look so weird. Black on red. Or was it red on black? It didn't matter to her. "But nobody special." She shrugged and removed her hand coyly before he could kiss it again.
JP: "Be careful, Callie. He probably does this to all the girls."
Gambit: He held onto her hand for the briefest moment before letting her pull it away, straightening up with his smile still in place. Finally, a girl who was both responding well to him, and wasn't engaged or married. There was hope for this place yet! "Nobody special, cos you outshine dem, cherie."
Gambit: Turning to JP, Gambit raised an eyebrow, quickly adding "Quick t' be makin' assumptions of people y' literally just met, aren't y'?"
Greer: "Man now I feel offended..."
Callie: "Flattery will get you nowhere, handsome." But she did dimple again. It was nice getting complimented.
Darren: ... This guy was better than net-flix when it came to entertainment value, seriously.
Callie: "It's called flirting, JP. Try it out - it is lots of fun!" She whispered in his ear.
Gambit: "Flattery? Non, cherie. Just callin' dem as I see dem," he retorted, having gone through these motions so often that the words slipped out of his mouth with ease.
JP: He shrugged. "Just teasing but yes, I generally am a bit quick at that. Of course, doesn't mean what you're saying isn't true." He had to give Callie a mock-offended look at that. "I'll have you know I'm more than capable of that."
Greer: "Yeah... still feeling offended over here... if you want me I'll be in the corner with super girl over here..."
Callie: Callie snorted, hearing a glib reply when she heard one. "Well, you must have all the girls at your beck and call, what with your face. Though, nobody can compete with green panties." She turned her attention back to the pole. "I like this program!"
Gambit: Damn, lost her. Oh well, he figured. Another time, another place. She didn't seem like the hard type to win over. Casting his eyes over to Greer, he tilted his head. "C'mon, cherie. Stunner like you? Y' don't need a guy like me tellin' y' de obvious, non?"
Greer: "Doesn't mean I don't like to hear it once in a while... hell knows it'd be better than the crap I put up with from Darren..." she shot a glare at the other guy.
Callie: "You are like a furry Betty Page, Greer, and you know it!"
Greer: Greer blushed a little at Callie, "Well thanks!"
JP: "Careful, Gambit, might lose them to one another if they keep on this."
Darren: "You know, I've told you before if you didn't react, I wouldn't do it," Darren gave her a lazy smile.
Greer: "It's so offensive, Darren..." she frowned at him, "Seriously... it'd be like someone telling you were a walking spyware program... or something..."
Gambit: Sensing a disagreement that had been going on longer than he'd been around, he figured this topic was one he best avoid involvement in. JP's comment caused him to chuckle, yet at the same time, the way they all interacted together reminded him sharply of how much of an outsider he was.
Darren: "... Well yeah, I am," he shrugged, "people call me all kinda things, no reason to get worked up about it, they're just words."
Greer: She shook her head, "You just don't get it..."
Callie: Callie looked sighed at the argument. "They are always like this, I am sorry, Gambit. But hey, at least you know what you are walking into, now."
Darren: "No, I don't think you get it," he shrugged again.
JP: "I always figured Darren was more his own personal CCTV, recording our every motion ready to use anything he sees."
Darren: Darren just gave JP a slightly unsettling smile.
Greer: "Well then we'll just have to agree to disagree and you'll just have to tolerate the occasional blunt object hurled at your head."
JP: Jean-Paul gave Darren the same kind of smile. "I can put on displays for you."
Darren: "Fine by me," not like it could hurt him, the smile faded a little at what JP said, "... Actually, I think i'll pass."
Gambit: "Sure t'ing," he replied to Callie, though his smile had faded somewhat. "Just... gonna step outside a minute, mon amis," he said as he ran a hand through his hair, making his way past both real and holographic persons alike, outof the sliding door and into the hallway. He breathed a heavy sigh. He didn't do well in these weird, almost family environments.
Greer: Greer frowned after him a little, "Did we do something wrong?"
JP: Jean-Paul decided to put that up as a personal victory, kicking his feet up, then arching an eyebrow at Gambit. "Maybe the holograms were too much after all."
Callie: "Yeah, your bickering scared him off!" She crossed her arms.
Greer: Greer chewed her lip and looked down at the floor, now she felt bad....
JP: "You can always go out and console him. Go, get to consoling. I believe the phrase is 'get it, girl.' for this situation."
Icarus: Jay watched Remy leave, frownng slightly. "...Don' t'ink dat had anythin; to do wit' it. 'Scuse me." He quickly followed, finding the guy outside. "...Gambit? Y'all mind if Ah join y'?"
Greer: Greer threw her empty plate at JP's head.
Callie: "Pfff." She waved her hand at JP.
JP: Jean-Paul ducked quickly. "What was that for?"
Greer: "Sleeze."
Callie: "Oh hey!" She was going to leave too if they started trowing things!
Gambit: Lost in thought, he hadn't even heard the door open as Jay joined him. The voice snapped him back to reality, and he quickly threw on his usual care-free expression. "Non, feel free. Just takin' a break, homme," he said with a casual shrug. He'd prefer to be alone... but he could hardly say that.
Darren: Darren rolled his eyes at the plate throwing, how juvenile.
JP: Jean-Paul's eyes rolled at that, not even bothering. "New guy is quite something though, will give him that."
Callie: "He seems very nice."
Greer: "Yeah he does, he let us stay at his hideout in the city last night... after a fleeing from zombies...."
Icarus: Jay smiled a little, pulling out a slightly dog-eared packet of cigarettes, pulling one out and offering the packet to him. "Don't mind 'em, ami, dey can be a bit much. If y'all like, Ah can show y' some slightly more outta d' place ways t' hide when dey're bein' kids." He lit his own. "God knows Ah sometimes cain't hack d' noise...bin alone too long, Ah think."
Darren: "I like him, he knew to back off from a taken women," Darren shrugged, "if he decides to stick around could be good for him, and this place," God knows sometimes he felt outnumbered by all the women here, more dudes could only be a good thing.
JP: "You know, I never thought fleeing from zombies would be something like 'Oh, that again, must be tuesday.' I feel it's skewed my world view forever."
Gambit: Pulling a cigarette out, a nod of thanks, he touched a finger to the tip of it, charging it for a moment and a small crack as the energy exploded, lighting it. "Mebbe. Ain't used t' all... dis.," he said honestly, as Jay seemed to already have the score on him.
Greer: "... Yeah it kind of has... but maybe that'll be a good thing... some how?"
Callie: Callie was lost on the colloquialism, too.
JP: "Just as long as it ends before we become complacent with them."
Callie: "What does that mean, 'must be Tuesday'?"
JP: "Hmm? Was just saying it's not exactly anything new and shocking anymore...that's unsettling."
Icarus: Jay nodded. "'Fore y' ask, Ah ain't a mind reader. But Ah've been minus a family now f'...years, ami, Ah know dat look. Darren, he's got a big family, Greer's might dislike her but dey're still kickin'...JP has his sister, no idea abou' Callie. Me, Ah ain't got shit. An' sometimes dis place gets a bit much, oui? So...don't worry so hard abou' it, if y'all need space y'll get it, an' if y' decide to stay...well, y'll find they'll pull in f' ya too."
Gambit: He remained quiet, though nodded, smoking as he listened and thought. Since leaving home, he'd been a wanderer. He'd never settled, and never made friends he had to lose when he left town. This place.. it would change that. "We'll see, ami. Dunno if dis place is right f' me, yet."
Darren: "... Naah, not really ... though, that could just be me and the fact i'm in senior year ..." Darren looked thoughtful.
JP: "You're far too jaded now to know what to find unsettling?" Now that had to be unsettling.
Greer: "I don't find it that unsettling either... but I've had a weird few years...."
Callie: "I will never get used to them. So sad, and scary."
JP: He looked over to Callie. "I think they're demonstrating what I meant."
Greer: Greer laughed, "Oh honey, I was this way before I got here - when you live in the wilds for two years you have to get used to bad surprises."
Icarus: Jay nodded. "Dat choice is yours t' make, mo ami, don' let anyone take dat away. Jus' know dis might jus' be d' best damn chance y' get, oui?" He smiled. "At leas' stay f' Christmas. D' food's to die for, no kiddin', an' Ah wasn' jokin' about d' amount of booze." He blew out a plume of smoke. "Y' want dat alone time, or you kosher now, ami?"
JP: "...honey?"
Darren: "She's hitting on you, flee while you still can!"
Callie: Callie looked between JP and Greer and started backing towards the door.
Greer: "You'd prefer 'sweetie'?" she raised an eyebrow.
JP: Jean-Paul let a good peal of laughter out. "Oh, I'd say she's barking up the wrong tree but i don't think Greer would appreciate being accused of barking."
Greer: "Hell no, got more class. And I'm not hitting on anyone, I call everyone 'honey'.... Is that not okay?"
JP: Jean-Paul had the sense to bite back the next bit of laughter. "Oh you can stick with whatever you want."
Gambit: He had a point. He might as well take advantage of the free hospitality over Christmas: it wasn't as if he was going back home, after all. "Oui, I'm fine," he assured Jay, before giving the guy one of his very few honest, genuine smiles. "Merci, mon ami."
Greer: "If it's not okay I wish someone would've said something sooner...." she frowned a little. Why didn't people ever say what they were thinking...?
Icarus: "De rien, ami, pas de probleme." Jay grinned. "Y'all have any problems, jus' gimme a bell, a'right? Now...Ah know did is impolite, but Ah'm kinda curious. What is it y'all do exactly?"
Callie: Argument diffused, Callie crept over to an empty couch and sat down, primly crossing her legs.
Gambit: Gambit couldn't help but laugh at the question. "T'ings I shouldn't," he replied, taking another drag from the cigarette. "Gambit's job.. Well, Gambit's old job, was takin' t'ings dat don' belong t' him." Now, he took them for himself.
Icarus: "Don't we all, ami." Jay laughed. "Ah used t' do a bit of dat - not'ing much, food mostly, but y' know how it is, somet'ing shiny an' you just gotta have it. Guess Ah got d' right mutation for bein' a magpie." He chuckled, wings flaring a little with a soft metallic chime from the metal one. "Oh...yeah, we shouldn' smoke indoors, but Ah ain't met one smoker who keeps to dat rule, so hey."
Gambit: He eyed the wings with interest, wondering just what had happened to have one replaced with metal. Not something you just asked, though. "I ain't one t' keep to de rules," he said, glad that the smoking prohibition wasn't strictly kept to. "Mebbe we make sure dey ain't killed eachother yet, non?" he suggested, gesturing at the door to the Danger Room
Jay: "Oui...though Ah doubt it." Jay grinned, punching in the code. "Darren's near enough as laid back as me, but den he did have me as a roomie f' like...two years." The door slid open. "Hey hey, mes amis, did y'all miss me?" He grinned at the rest.
Darren: "-Auto-tuned camel ... that's how I'd describe the noises she made- Oh, hey Jay," Darren waved over at the two cajuns.
JP: "Well, I suppose we can't make any disparaging remarks about her humps. Welcome back." Jean-Paul waved. "We're discussing camel-like mating rites. I apologize ahead of time."
Callie: "Yes, you both were greatly missed!"
Greer: Greer sat down next to Callie and opened her bottle of water.
Gambit: "Don't wanna know, hommes," Gambit remarked, still smoking as he walked back in. The sobering conversation with Jay had dulled him to the effects of the Danger Room. He barely paid attention to the illusions around him. "Listen.. y' got a bedroom dat I could set up in? Been a long few days 'n all.."
Darren: Darren gave the guy a smile, "Yeah, there's plent of spare beds dude, sure Jay'll show you to one, right bro?"
JP: "Oh there's still loads of free beds. That's not a problem at all."
Greer: Greer looked between Jay, JP and Gambit... poor new guy.
Jay: "Well good. Ah vote we go upstairs an' chow down, because Ah dunno about y'all but Ah could do wit' some serious food - an' fuck y'all, Gede, ain't dat much of a predator. Sure Ah'll show y' a room, ami." Jay saluted lazily. "Y'all wanna kip now? Ah'll save y' some food f' later."
Callie: "Well, I came down here for yoga classes, so I'll see you all later." She changed programs so the room became a hot zen-filled oasis.
Gambit: "Might shower, at least. See how I feel," Remy said, not sure if he wanted to be alone or not, so figuring he'd leave his options open. He had a feeling Jay would understand that.
Greer: Greer blinked at the sudden disappearance of her chair. ".... Ow."
Jay: Jay nodded. "A#right. C'mon den, Gambit - let's get y' settled in." He grinned, leading the way out of the DR.
Darren: "I'll leave you too it then Callie," Darren smiled, getting to his feet, "have fun now," before following everyone else out of the room.
Callie: "Sorry! I thought there would be cushions in this program. This is a different one than the one I usually use."
Greer: "It's fine..." she got to her feet, "Guess I should leave you to it... unless you want company?"
Callie: "It's hot yoga, if you can stand it, sure!"
Greer: "I'm sure I'll be fine," she grinned, "Company it is!"
Pietro Maximoff [Quicksilver]Quicksilver: Howisshe?Isshealright?Imusetspeakwithmysisteratonce.
Hawkeye: What is that noise?
IronMan: That is the noise Pietro makes right before he's tossed out of the airlock. ~ Avengers: The Children's Crusade #6