Christmas 2013: Selene

[Starfish]

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."

[Ferguson]

"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 crusing a long next to the group in just his t-shirt and jeans, "Yes because paint will be so much tricker 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 monopolised 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 widly, 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 onboard 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 septer?"

"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 bruning 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-zombois 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 signiture, 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 occured 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 definately 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 anticiptae 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 hyspanic, "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 ahven't tried to swoop down and eat yuo or whatever, that's gotta be worth someting 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 definately not going to burn her.

"Fine by me, who wants to be volunteeed 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 panckes 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 offerd 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."

[puppygirl]

Selene was used to being the only one concerned about the school's safety by now. Therefore it didn't surprise her much to find everyone else busy whit holiday preparations, while the task of securing the estate from tentacled zombies had been left to her. One day they'd thank her for making their life safer.

One tentacled monster happened to be sneaking up on Selene just as she though that, closer and closer, moving on silent feet, two hands dropped onto her shoulders from behind and a voice whispered, "Boo." in her ear.

Not picking up any psychic tracks from the stalker, Selene was understandably surprised. She spun around with a yell and swung a kitchen mixer at the offender, complete with a thick glob of sticky goo attached to the end.

"Argh!" Darrem screamed like a little girl and ducked, managing to miss getting the mixer to the face but not managing to avoid getting goo all over his hair and mohawk, "It's me! It's me!"

Selene paused and blinked, still holding the mixer in a menacing way as she looked at Darren. The sticky mess began to drop to the floor. "Oh, hey there," she said. "Did you forget that it's dangerous to sneak up on me? Especially when there are tentacled things afoot."

"Hey, this tentacled thing is always afoot!" Darren couldn't help the grin despite his head being covered in a mystery substance, "Though you know I like to live dangerously babe," he winked at her.

"Have you been reading dubious Japanese comics again," Selene asked, dumping the majority of the gooey glob in the kitchen bowl, before stepping up to Darren to put her arms around him.

"I am always reading dubius Japanese comics, Onemanga is a wonderful website," Darren grinned, before putting his arms around her and hugging her tightly, kissing her forhead, "Are you okay?"

"Why yes, I'm excellent," Selene replied, returning the kiss. "Even though I could have used your help earlier. It's hard being the only responsible one at school."

"Yeah, I'm sorry 'bout that," Darren pulled a face, "and yeah? Everyone else got cabin fever or something?"

"They are occupying themselves with holiday decorations and getting drunk on eggnog, while leaving me to worry about defending us from the tentacly apocalypse," Selene said, turning to stir the sticky mass inside the bowl. "One day they'll thank me for mining the lawn with glue-bombs, however."

"... Glue bombs?" Darren grinned, "Pure genius! I'm sure they will!" He only wished he was there to see the discovery, "Soooo ... that's what I've got in my hair right now then?"

"Hey, don't you complain," Selene said, running her hand through Darren's hair to help him get rid of her bomb material. "It's only fair you get an idea how troublesome it can be to get sticky substances caught up in her hair."

"Hey hey, there have been plenty of time I've gotten a sticky mess in my hair, the most recent was last thursday," Darren caught her hand and kissed the tip of her fingers, "or have you forgotten?"

"How could I?" Selene smiled and kissed Darren again. "It tends to amuse me when you get messed up." She turned around to wash her hands. "So, where have you been? Couldn't resist shooting golf balls at unsuspecting zombies again?"

His smile faded a little, "Yeah ... you could say that ..." then his usual impish grin returned, "Hey, you wanna take a break from that for a few? All work and no play makes Sel dull."

"And we can't have that, can we?" Selene shot Darren a grin, then promptly hopped up to wrap her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "I've been stirring that mess for too long now. A break would be perfect."

Darren held her tightly, "Oh, take it you want a lift then? Where shall we go?"

Selene cocked her head and put on a thoughtful expression. "So many options." She bit her lip. "How about someplace private?"

"Attic?"

"Perfect!" Selene put on another grin and held on.

Darren gently carried her out of the back door and flew straight upwards slowly till they landed on the roof.

"How I have missed my personal boyfriend-lift," Selene said, carefully putting her feet back on the ground - or roof, in this case. "There's no heating in the attic, so we might have to look for a way to keep warm." She opened the window and stepped inside.

"Oooh, I'm sure I could think of something," he grinned, opening the door into the attic and holding it for her, "we've still got all those blankets and the like up here after all."

"It's always nice when we think alike," Selene smiled as she stepped into the attic, which was only slightly warmer than the air outside. She rubbed her arms to heat herself up. "I think we should get comfortable."

"Say no more," Darren swept her up as he followed her in and deposited her in their nest of pillows and blankets, before burying them beneath them, "We should get a stove up here," he said, wrappig himself around her to keep her warm.

"Oh yes, just think of all the excitement that comes with the possibility of burning down the mansion by accident." Selene chuckled, snuggling up against Darren.

"Livin' on the edge, babe," he said, snuggling his face into her hair in inhaling deeply, "God ... I miss you when I'm not here ..."

"Why not just take me along then," Selene asked, shifting a little when she felt that her shirt was definitely unneeded. "The good thing about being post-grad is that I won't get frowned at when skipping classes."

Darren paused for a moment, the sighed, rolling onto his back and pulling her down on top of him, "... I wish I could babe but ... I can't ..."

"Why not?" Selene cocked her head, sitting up as she straddled Darren's lap, so she could unbutton her shirt and slip out of it. "I'm not heavy, and I'm pretty sure I could make myself fit into a suitcase when I had to."

He ran his hand through her hair and then down the front of her chest, "It's ... it's not as simple as that ..." all year he'd been in two minds abuot this, it could endanger her but ... at the same time she'd given him three years of perfect love and companionship and he'd returned it with a lie ... "Selene ... I have something I ... something I gotta confess ..."

Selene's expression darkened when he said that. "You are a tiny alien living inside the hollowed out skull of my boyfriend," she said and let out a sigh. "I've always suspected as much."

Darren cracked up at that and hugged her close to him, "Oh yeah, you caught me! What gave it away?"

"Are you kidding me? No earthling could have tolerated my strange schemes for such a long time without running away in terror." Selene leaned down to give his lip a playful nip. "You're either insane, or not of this world."

"Could be both? I could be a horrow from beyond the span of space and time, Warlock fhtagn!" He smiled, leaning up to kiss her, "But ... I'm being serious here babe, there's something I need to tell you."

Selene brushed a few strands of hair out of her face and propped herself up on her elbows. "Well, if you're serious about it, then I suggest you tell me while I'm in such a good mood." There was a faint smile on her lips as she kissed Darren's neck.

Darren tried desperatly hard to not be distracted, "Mmm ... Sel ... there's ... well, there's no good way of saying this but ... I've been lying to you, to everyone, ever since I came back to the school ..."

Her caresses trailing off, Selene leaned back to get a look at Darren's face. "You do sound serious about this," she stated. "Lying about what?" That alone didn't trouble her too much yet. After all, everyone was lying. All the time.

Well ... he could either dally around about this ... or he could be up front ... up front would be less painful in the long run, "It's ... it's about the whole ... army thing Selene."

Selene arched an eyebrow as she gave Darren a scrutinizing look. "The army? Is that where you have been sneaking off to when I couldn't find you?" She frowned. "You didn't let yourself get drafted or anything, did you?"

Darren laughed, but it wasn't a happy laugh, "Oh God ... you don't know how right you are there babe ..." he sighed, rolling them over so they were both laying on thier sides and faceing each other, "You remember how ... after the Phalanx the army came and took me and my ... my dad away?"

Selene gave a slight nod. "I assumed they probed you to make sure you won't cause another outbreak of the bee people," she said, before her eyes narrowed. "They didn't do anything unpleasant to you, did the? Because if they did, I can tell you that I won't care if they have guns..."

Darren shook his head, "No ... not really, but you know when I came back I said that I'd managed to escape, faked my death and stuff so that they wouldn't follow me?" He brushed a strand of her hair back from her face, "... I lied, they sent me here ... to observe the school," he cracked a small smile, "to make sure you guys never turned into terrorists or anything and threatened national security."

Selene gave Darren a long and silent look. "You spied on us for the army," she eventually asked.

Darren looked awkward, "... Sorta, but you gotta believe me, I did it so I could make sure you guys were all kept safe, people were getting seriously worried about this place and they were talking about sending a team in to shut it down, but Fury ... he said that if he sent one of his agents in to observe that wouldn't be necessary ... and it's not proper spying, I basically have to contact base and go 'Nope, still no anti-american sentiments here ... please Selene ... you believe me?"

Selene remained silent for a long moment. "I... don't know," she eventually said. "At first I thought you meant to tell me that you had joined the army reserve to drive old tanks over compact cars in your spare time... but this is just somewhat unexpected." She sat up and crossed her legs. "So... they meant to spy on us... but didn't because you offered to do it?"

"Well, the figured just to send a team in and arrest all of you under the counter-terroism act, but Fury offered me instead, and I took it because I wanted to make sure you guys stayed safe, because I think that this school is maybe the best thing out there for mutants and ... and because I missed you so, so much Selene, I'd have done anything to see you again ..." Darren said, sitting up as well and taking her hand in his, "You mean everything to me Selene, always have, back when I was Warlock and now that I'm Darren."

Selene instinctively grasped his hand and gave it a squeeze, while her other hand occupied itself with twirling a stray strand of her black hair. "You're aware that this is still quite a surprise," she said after another moment of silence. "I remember Fury... believed he was a good man. Very upright." She looked Darren in the eyes. "Much like you."

She bit her lip, pausing again, before adding: "I believe you."

Darren grabbed hold of her and pulled her in for a hard kiss, leeting out a groan of relief as he did so. He kissed her fiercly for a moment before the broke apart, his face split by the happies, goofiest smile ever, "You ... you've got no idea how much that means to me Selene ... I've wanted to tell you for so long but I couldn't, I've been sworn to secrecy," he kissed her again, "You can't tell anyone else about this Sel, I mean it, if they think for a moment that my postion has been compromised ..."

A wry smile appeared on Selene's lips. "Remember who you're talking to," she said. "I was born to be all secretive and scheming." Even though she couldn't read his mind, she felt that she could trust him. "To be honest, I'm quite relieved you confessed your secret to me. I had already started to believe that you kept no secrets on your own. And how suspicious would that have been?"

Darren grinned widly, "Glad I didn't let you down then," before kissing her again, he loved her so much and she'd trusted him and believed him about this, she hadn't turned from him and before he realised what he'd said he'd blurted out, "Marry me."

Selene was perfectly sure that her heart skipped a beat of three, before she choked rather awkwardly and simply stared at Darren. "Excuse me," she asked, her voice sounding coarse and quite undignified. "You're trying to kill me tonight, aren't you?"

Darren paled, OhshitohshitohshitIjustaskedhertomarryme! What did he do? Did he take it back ... no, that might make her angry and right after this big confession ... "I ... I ... no, no of course not ..." he stammered.

Selene blinked, her mind reeling from all the strangeness occurring around her, convincing her that she was very close to fainting. "Will you please stop confusing me and start making up your mind," she then demanded, giving Darren a smack on the head. "Of course I'll marry you, silly boy!" Wait what...!?

"... You will?" OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod! Well he had to have meant it since those words made him more insanely happy then he'd ever thought possible, "... YEESSSSSS!" And then he glomped her pretty much.

Selene squealed, no less undignified than her previous reaction, and toppled over to the floor with Darren. "I guess so," she replied, barely any air inside her lungs. "After all, the voodoo spirits already said we belong to each other. It's obviously destined to happen, no?"

"Besides, for some reason, I happen to like you very much." She smiled, leaning in to kiss Darren. "One could even say I love you."

Darren kissed her back, hands holding the side of her face, "Yeah ... and there's a quite large probability that I love you you too," and there, he'd said it, the l-word and it felt so damn good.

"What a cosmic coincidence." Selene stroked her hands over the sides of Darren's face and smiled. "You know that I'll still make you suffer for lying to me, do you?" Her smile turned into a grin. "Proposing to me won't get you out of this."

"Oh? The good kind of punishment or the bad kind?"

Putting on a thoughtful expression, Selene took her time to come up with an answer. "I guess it must be your lucky day," she said. "Not only do you get to marry me, I'm also in a good enough mood for the exciting kind of punishment."

Darren smiled goofily, "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

[Ferguson]

Darren plucked another small, golden ring from the wreakage, "Aha! How about thi-" he squinted at it before tossing it to one side, "naaah, way to big for you babe," he grinned over at his intended.

Tigra sniffed at the items keeping her company on her latest rooftop perch. They'd been there for a while... probably most people didn't want to be up that high but she found it reassuring to be able to survey her surroundings all at the same time.

"You know, I'm certain there has to be something in my contract that states I shouldn't be stealing with students...I can trust you all to keep this a secret?" Lorna looked back at the others, smirking. "Just imagine if I got sacked. Who else would let you play with chainsaws in art class?"

"It's such a shame this place got hit so badly, isn't it?" Selene returned Darren's smile. "It would be irresponsible to leave all these shiny baubles to get lost in the dust and debris, don't you think?" She encountered an unbroken showcase, and promptly corrected the situation by accidentally dropping a heavy hat-stand into it. "Such a shame indeed."

"Haven't got to that part of the curriculum, Mrs Drake." Adam was clutching an odd bottle of clear fluid. "Was that before or after the ice sculptures with flamethrowers?"

Chainsaws in art class? Gambit has watch the pair for several minutes now, and that line had thrown him, somewhat. That woman was a teacher? Looting? Hardly professional conduct. He kept a charged playing card in hand, just in case, and continued to watch... for now.

"Oh I dunno, I was hoping to collect enough evidence to get you fired so I could steal your job, there can only be one! ... art teacher ..." Darren snickered to himself as he found another display case.

"Sounds like a mutually beneficial arrangement there," Selene replied, showing Lorna a smirk.

A pigeon landed on the far side of the roof. It hadn't seen her. Eeeeexcellent.

"I don't know, I'd let you cover portrait painting and the like. I'll give you Bob the Model's number...he always goes over so well."

Darren peered out of the window to check zomboid movements, "I don't wanna rush you people but there seem to be more of them generally meandering this way, and we've still gotta go find dresses and stuff," he picked up another ring and a jewlers eyepiece that he'd found behind the counter, screwed it into his eye for the effect and peered at it ... ooooooh.

Adam muttered to himself, blue eyes narrowed over his mask, black PVC coat replacing the one he'd burnt as he edged closer to the group. Wearing mostly blue and black, he looked like an extremely paranoid and skinny Twi'lek, the fake blue-black dreads near-glowing. "Mrs Drake, I swear I will do all your paperwork if we never have to see him again."

His arm was still in a sling as he nervously watched the zombies. "Did you know they can crush you? It really hurts. Lots. Also, Mrs Drake, I would totally help you hide the bodies too."

The pigeon took off in an attempt to flee as Tigra pounced. she caught it but missed the edge of the roof and plummeted to the ground, landing on a car. "Ow...." she still had her pigeon though. Score!

Lorna moved to peer out at the general shufflings of the hobo zombie parade. "Yeah, might want to get a move on at that. And Bob the Model is a passage into adulthood." She paused, looking back at Adam and smirking. "I'll keep the body hiding in mind...I think we might want to move, the zombos definitely would have heard that landing."

Adam eyetwitched. "Want I should burn them? I can totally burn them. Zombies burn good."

"It's harder to draw ugly people than beautiful, Bob's a pretty good model for learning life drawing," he held the ring out to Selene, "What do you think, regular and black diamonds? It's your size and probably costs the same amount as a small island."

"As much as these things sparkle and glitter, I think i still prefer more modest accessories," Selene mused, holding up a heavy necklace. "Roadkill jewelry and animals bones beat expensive kitsch any day, if you ask me."

In watching the newcomers, Remy'd totally forgotten about the potentially lifethreatening situation he'd found himself in. Still, seeing them rummage was amusing him: he'd already taken most of the decent stuff from this room. He couldn't help but smirk silently to himself.

She shook her head. "I'm not convinced people aren't still in there somewhere." She glanced back at everyone. "We haven't been doing too bad by them, have we?" She bit her lip, thinking it over. "Well, we have to defend ourselves, can't help that."

"Pleeeeeeaaase lemme burn them..." Adam sniffed, before narrowing his eyes. "Um. Lorna? We're not alone. I don't mean the zombos..." His eyes flared red. "...Yup, 'nother human in here." He paused. "...Want I should burn?"

Tigra extracted herself from the folded roof-crater she was lying in and sat up to chew on her catch while she kept her eyes and ears open for zombie movements.

Glancing at Darren and the ring he held out for her, Selene gave it a scrutinizing look and smirked. "Of course, I'm willing to make an exception for the one or other exception piece," she said. "If I end up not liking it, we can still exchange it for that island later."

Darren shrugged, "If they're trying to hurt me and my own, i'm taking 'em down before they take us down," he gave her a slightly appologetic smile, "sorry teach, guess that's just an army way of looking at things."

Damn... had he been spotted? How the... he was perfectly hidden! The unlit corridor at the back of the store was pitch as night... save for the glowing card he held inside his pocket. Maybe he was just being paranoid. He remained perfectly still..

"...Maybe I shouldn't tell you I've been keeping score...?"

"Oh? Awesome! We have a winner, but gotta do this properly," he got down on one knee and took Selene's hand, "So Sel ... haven't changed your mind have you?"

Selene peered out of the window, spotting Tigra climbing off a wrecked car outside. "I think the cat is about to drag something in."

"I'll just...pretend I didn't hear that bit." Lorna looked about, not sure what she was looking for but trusted Adam's senses. "Now now, we don't burn possible friends or anything. Wait until you decide they're worth burning."

Adam sniffed again, blood-red eyes narrowed as he looked around in the way that only the truly paranoid could. Damnit, he hated being watched and- "Ooooh! Shiny!" He suddenly bounded over the road, paranoia, person and zombies forgotten, gloved hand pressed against a window. "...Must have."

"..." Lorna gave up, shaking her head and just reaching over and patting Adam's shoulder. "Darren, do you know what he was talking about?"

Tigra licked her fur clean of blood and hopped off the car to wander inside to the others, "You guys not done yet?" she climbed up on a counter, curling her tail around her legs as she sat down.

"Sure do, adolesent human male, he was in here before we were, unarmed, guess he just had a similar idea to us," Darren called over, still kneeling.

"...Sure thing, teach." He said vaguely, before tapping the glass, red eyes fixed on the coat in the window. Oh man, and it was better than the one he'd wasted. He put his hand on the glass, blurred it in a circle and grinned happily as the entire window shattered. "Is mine now."

Turning her head, Selene found that she was getting proposed to in what had to be the most unfitting, inappropriate, and tasteless scenario imaginable. It was just like in her wildest dreams. "Oh, how could I, love," she replied, a grin on her lips as she looked down at Darren. She took his hand.

"Person. Is guy, watching, smells of burny...I think? I don't know." Adam petted the coat before nicking it. "Um. I could probably you know...pull him out, but I'm not completely recovered yet..."

Darren slipped the ring onto her finger, stood up, picked her up and swung her around him, okay, buisness taken care off now they could deal with their little voyer.

Oh she was definitely not being a good role model tonight...but Darren and Selene needed their things and it wasn't as if insurance wasn't going to cover this all when the store owners got back. "Hello?"

Adolescent? Human? Unarmed?! Whoever these guys were, they clearly had no idea what they were talking about. Still, the 'human' thing threw him. Did they mean he wasn't a zombie... or something else? One called out: remy didn't answer. Too many questions, not enough answers. He didn't want to walk straight into the unknown just yet.

Tigra sniffed at the scents in the air, "Think maybe he's scared."

"Not suprised with a half-naked catgirl running around, I'd be scare too," Darren said, still holding Selene off the ground.

"...Nope. I'd say wary."

"Zombies do that to a person." Lorna figured, "And the half-naked catgirl would depend fully on his taste in entertainment."

"... Well no one's asking you, Darren." Tigra narrowed her eyes on him.

Just as he said that, there was a sudden zip and a chunk knocked out of the wall. "Zombie!" He dove behind a counter, cowering.

Scared?! Remy LeBeau was never SCARED. That was enough. Pulling his hand from his pocket, the card glowing in the darkness of the corridor he stood in, he walked out towards the group, hair falling over his face to conceal his eyes. "Take more dan a zombie t' scare me, cherie." A sudden craack, a section of wall falling away grabbing Remy's attention. "Thinkin' we're on de same side for now, non?"

"Kill them! Hurt them!"

While Lorna took the commendable route of caution, Selene went for a more proactive approach, and while still holding on to Darren, reached over to the counter, picked up a small ceramic cherub statue, and chucked it into the direction of the stranger.

"Balls" Lorna was up in the air, breaking metal bits of the display case off for projectiles. "You know, I think that sounds reasonable. Good to meet you."

Reflexes as sharp as ever, Remy tossed the glowing card straight at the cherub, exploding it on impact. "Dis how y' treat people y' just met?"

"Argh! Zo- wait. You're not a zombie. Excellent!" A bottle of clear liquid was pushed into the stranger's hand along with a lighter. "Molotov, light and throw, light and throw!!"

"Ahhh! Sonuva-" Darren lept into the air with Selene, and the guy had emerged and ... he knew that accent, "Aww hell, another frikkin' cajun?" he grumbled, watching a tendril start to try and ram it's way through the wall.

"It's a sign of affection," Selene replied, letting go of Darren so she could land on her on two feet again.

"Fire BAD!" Tigra supplied at the sound of the word 'molotov'.

"Also, type A negative, we have plenty of that at the school, and fire not bad, fire saved me from being et!"

"Zombie slaying good!" Darren said, bringing both hands up and concentrating, sending out a pulse of yellow energy towards the tendril, there was an angry shriek from the other side of the wall.

He stares at the bottle with a smirk, tossing the lighter aside. "You guys do nothin' but talk? Dunno if y' realised, but..." The bottom glows, and Remy throws it. "...Dis kinda a dangerous place t' be right now!" the bottle sails throw the window, and explodes outside.

A tendril headed for Adam again. "Hey hey hey, we discussed this, I might be a little freaky but no freaky lovin' bitches!" The tentacle met a blurring blade. "Nice throw!" Another zombie was picked up, struggling. "Lorna, kill or disable?"

"Well...pays to be on your toes." Lorna cleared her throat, more than a tad sheepish as she let herself come back to the ground as she aimed her projectiles at the nearest tentacle. She watched as the bottle went out and apparently did it's explody thing. "Now that's quite nice."

Tigra headed outside, ducked a couple of tendrils and pulled a street light out of the ground to hit things with. Golfing with Zombies was totally getting sold as a game idea.

"Handy trick you've got there dude," Darren called over, "but in my professional opinion we should evac," he aimed another blast.

"If you can avoid killing by all means." She knew reason would dictate just letting him go on that but there was still a chance they were people somewhere in there...plus cutting Adam's tether loose just seemed like a bad idea. "Yes, I trust we've gotten everything we came for? No need to stick around."

"Y' always ask yo' girlfriend for orders?" Remy said with a smile to the... the guy who weirdly knew his bloodtype. He grabbed a piece of shattered glass from the ground, charged it, and threw again. Turning to the young woman who complimented him, he flicked his hair back from his face and smiled. "Wait 'til y' see my other tricks." Evac was suggested... and Remy couldn't help but think that running may be the best idea.

Darren tapped the pocket that he'd stashed the two golden wedding bands in, "We're good, boss."

"Yes, run away, run away before they hurt you." Adam nodded, before bouncing the zombie on its head a couple of times and dropping it. "Not my girlfriend, gorgeous, just my teacher. I'm gay." He grinned, pulling the mask down and holding his good gloved hand out. "Adam Kilduff. I'm not insane." He paused. "...At least, on paper I'm not insane."

Tigra was smacking zombies away with her makeshift bat, trying to best her own record of five blocks.

Gorgeous?? Well, Remy was never one to turn down a compliment, no matter where it came from. "Gambit. Sanity questionable, dey say," he replied with a grin, before gesturing to the corridor he'd hidden in. "Leads out back. Was clear out dere when I came in//"

Darren nodded, "Back sounds good, i'll cover you guys, you got point Lorna?"

Huh, so Adam had decided on that? Good for him. "They have a tendency to swarm shops once they realize there are people around but we should be kosher." She kicked off of the ground again, hovering to the lead. "Got it."

Adam grinned. "You're my new best friend. I'll tell Bit not to kill you in your sleep."

Selene pelted the approaching oozy zombies with various pieces of jewelry. "This place pretty much lost its charm," she said. "

"Yo Tiggy!" Darren called out the window, "we're evacing, out back!"

"Yeah I can hear you!" Tigra rolled her eyes, smacking another zombie away and picturing it as Darren's head.

She... flew? Ok, that explained why they hadn't been shocked by his powers then. There people were freaks like him! He was unsure about this guy being his best friend... but not being killed in his sleep was always a plus point. "Hope y' all got a car or somet'ing.."

Adam gave him a blank look. "I run faster than tube trains. Why the hell would I want a car?" With that, he grabbed the guy and started tugging him. "Come on, people, my wrist says zombies bad. I bet anything it'll start aching when zombies are near - or tentacles."

"So, you got a place you're living, Mr Gambit?...and do you count a van as good enough?" Speaking of which, it might be a good idea to all ready start that van up and get it down the street for them.

"... So you're good out there by yourself then, playing zombie ball?" Darren fired a few blasts into the horde to keep them back as he checked everyone else was heading out.

Discovering more of the frighteningly cheerful cherub statuettes, Selene decided to make the best possible use of the little naked buggers, channeled enough energy into them to animate a small flock, and sent them out to cover their retreat. "Fly, my lovelies!"

"Yeah, I can climb the walls if they get too close and I'm faster than they are on foot anyway. I'm good."

He allowed himself to be dragged away, picking up his pace as he realised just how close danger was. "Got an apartment I locked down a few blocks from here. Wasn't really 'spectin company though..." he replied, not entirely sure if he wanted to share his safehouse with others.

"... Okay then, have fun," Darren gave her a lazy salute and followed the others out back.

Tigra cheered as she cleared her record... sure it was on a bounce but who was gonna argue?

"...Thought teach said no killing...?" He muttered, totally ignoring his own love for burning zombies.

"Sooooo Tiggy's quite possibly nobley sacrificed herself so we could get away, what now?" Darren said, bolting the back door behind him for all the good it would do.

Selene slipped out the back of the store, quickly sending a telekinetic garbage can to topple a zombie in the distance before it could decide to head their way. "I'd be very welcome for a more comfortable place to take this party."

Tigra turned her ears to listen to the movements of the others, waiting til she thought they'd gotten far enough away.

"...That is the damnedest thing I've ever seen." Lorna practically forgot herself, hovering in place watching the cherub army. Oh, wait, yes. Zombies, best avoid. Lorna swore as one snapped a whiplike inky tentacle towards her leg. "Bad touch, don't approve." She gave it a quick slice and flew again.

"The question is..." He carried on up the hall. "The really important question is...will this coat go with my dreads?"

"...You people are crazy," Remy replied as he eyed them all with a degree of suspicion. However, there were some rather pretty faces in their number, and they -were- freaks like him... Maybe he could at least offer them his safehouse for now. Safety in numbers, right? "T'ree blocks away. Got my bike out de back. Where be dis van of yours?"

"Oui, we are. Well, I am. Can't vouch for them. I just like blowing shit up and I'm heavily medicated to stop me doing it."

Once they were far enough to be safe, Tigra jumped up and scaled the wall of the mall, taking the route over the roof. She jumped off and landed on the pavement just behind the group.

"We might be crazy," Selene replied, sending a dumpster into another zombie down the road, "but If the available options consist of tentacles zombies made of black goo and a bunch of crazy people, which would be the more sensible choice?"

"I don't know, a nice family outing to a zoo? Can we move faster please?"

"At least you don't say crazy like it's a bad thing," Darren grinned, pointing, "The van's that way, couple-a blocks away."

"Your dreads are pretty much whichever colour you want that day so I'll say you're good." She flew a bit faster, looking behind her. "Van is coming. So...you looking for a place maybe? We have a school...sort of an odd recruitment call but there you go."

"It's an epic school. It has lights and heating and everything!"

"...Y' got a good point, cherie," Gambit admitted, perhaps a little hesitantly. He broke off from the group as they got to the loading area out back, and beelined straight to his motorcycle, leant up against the wall. Swinging a leg over and kickstarting it, he tilted his head. "Can carry one o' you. De rest, y' have to run it."

Tigra followed along behind the group, not really listening to the conversation since her senses were busy scouting for trouble... and more pigeons. She was hungry.

"And is mostly zombie free, as well," Selene added.

The van rounded the corner, driverless as Lorna was pulling it along, bowling into one of their zombie friends and making a squealing stop near Tigra.

"Ten points Lorna!"

"...I wanna ride the bike! Can I ride the bike?"

Tigra blinked at the van sliding to a stop, "Man if that had been much closer I'd have no toes..."

"Long as y' keep y' hands somewhere sensible.." Remy replied with a raised eyebrow, head snapping around as a driverless van flung around into the loading area. "Geez! Dere anyt'ing y' can't do?!"

"Tap dance."

".... You know you need toes to do that, right?"

"Hey, no groping on a first date. And by the power of friendship...yeah, actually, there's a fuckton we can't do. End world hunger being one." He swung a leg over the bike, good arm tight around the guy. "I can fling anything out of our way. Go as fast as you like."

"I have ten perfectly fine toes thank you very much ... at least when I want them, doesn't mean I can tap dance ... or blow smoke rings."

"I can totally tapdance...I just move the metal in the shoes!" Lorna called back as she dove for the driver's seat. "You follow us to the school?"

She opened the door and climbed on into the van, "That's cheating - bad teacher!" Tigra laughed.

"Also, I suggest we try to not stray too far from our transportation the next time we scout the monster infested back-alleys," Selene announced, hopping into the van. "See? You forced me to be the sensible one of the group. Doesn't that tell us that we might be getting a little too reckless here?"

Oh God...Selene was right.

"Aww, but that's no fun then babe," Darren mock-pouted, sliding into the van beside her and putting his arm around her shoulders, "Guess we'll have to go dress shopping another day then huh?"

"I didn't even think there was a 'too reckless' for you, Sel... oh my God it really is the end of the world."

A little unsure how he felt about his choice of biking partner, he figured there were much more important things at hand here. "Reckless would be stayin' here any longer, cherie. Follow me, oui?" Remy said, a hint of desperation to his voice, as he kicked the bike into life, revving it loudly before taking off, hoping the others has the sense to follow.

A zombie slowy, sedately piroetted into the air in front of them, before getting slammed so hard into a wall the brick cracked. "...Hope they have insurance. And for the record, I'm no predator. It's just near my meds time."

"They didn't have my colour, anyway," Selene replied, resting her head on Darren's shoulder.

Lorna peeled out, tailing this Gambit fellow as closely as she dared in the dear old school van. "I'm convinced this thing is magic sometimes."

"Homme, don't be sayin' tings like dat when we on a motorbike, neh?" Remy said, wondering just what on earth was going through this unusual young mans head... and just what it was his ability was. He had no doubt in his mind he was amongst and entirely mutant group now. As he tackled the corner towards 'his' apartment sharply, he supposed that this wasn't such a bad thing, under the circumstances.

"Magic how?" Tigra raised an eyebrow, "Because driving itself doesn't count when you're doing it."

"But that one in the first wndow was already shredded, it would have looked awesome," Darren said, shrugging and kissing her temple.

"Hey, look. I could totally point out that I'm riding you shotgun here, but I'm not going to. You blow things up, that's cool, but it's not like I'm going to drag you down a backalley and rape you. There's only one person my roofies are for."

"Again, homme... too much.." He paused, another sharp corner. He hoped the van was keeping track of him. "..Information." They were closing in on his apartment, and as he slowed to a halt, he was careful to make sure the street they now found themselves on was deserted. Turning in his seat, he waited for the van.

"I meant more that it's managed to survive with us all these years considering what we put it through. It's a wonder the thing runs." She patted the dash. "That's it baby girl, you keep on purring."

"Hm, you're right," Selene replied, a thoughtful expression on her face. "We should definitely look out for torn dresses in the future. Blood splatters are a bonus."

"Yeah, I'm good at that. I don't have an inappropriate button." He admited happily. "Apparently it makes me fun to be around. That and the stabby."

"... I'm not gonna burst your bubble. Yeah it's magic."

"I'm pretty sure that the spirit of Professor Forge inhabits it and is what keeps it together," Selene remarked with a serious expression and nodded.

"Something belonging to Forge inhabited it at least," Darren muttered, deciding against just where he'd found the old perverts hidden camera in here.

"Have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to your wedding, Selene?" She pulled a face at the mention of the deceased Professor. "Well, he did have a fondness for such things."

"Y' definitely ain't borin', dat's for sure..." Remy replied with a grin, patting the young mans leg to indicate he should get off the bike. "Here dey come. Surprised dat old t'ing dey drivin' ain't broken down."

"And other things."

Lorna put on the break early as she saw Gambit and Adam stopped ahead. "There we are...doesn't seem to be anything inky and black around." She opened the door, poking her head out. "Not a bad area."

"I'm quite positive it's going to be quite memorable," Selene told Lorna. "Once I'm done calculating when the stars are right, you'll be the first to get the date for the reception."

Adam complied, going around the street in a blur to make sure there were no zombies before stopping next to the bike. "Well...there's a few of us who have abilities with mechanical things. The punk guy, Darren? He does this weird shit with electrical stuff. It's awesome. Just don't piss him off. Same with the green-haired chick, Lorna. Talk about magnetic personality."

Tigra poked her head out and scented the air, "We're good." She stepped out onto the street.

"Also, thanks, I'd hate to be boring." He pulled his mask down and grinned again.

"The stars are always right," Darren waved his fingers infront of his mouth in the classic cthulhu immitation, "when you have the DR."

"I had hoped we would be taking the scenic route," Selene commented, hopping out of the van.

"Secnic? In New York?" Darren climbed out after her, whistling when he saw the building they'd stopped infront of, "Well if you're gonna squat, might as well squat in style."

Slowly, he was getting their powers together. Shotgun guy, did lots of stuff. Catgirl was... well, a cat girl. Teacher lady could fly. Punk guy, electrics... Quite a rag tag bunch, really. "Follow me, amies. And close an' lock de doors behind y', oui?" he said, wheeling his bike up towards one of the apartments. He didn't stop, continuing to push it up the few stone steps, pushing the door open and wheeling the bike into the hallway.

"So you suggest we marry in the DR;" Selene asked Darren. "It's an intriguing idea. We could pick any setting we like, and I'm sure Danger wouldn't object to downloading an online certification so she can conduct the ceremony herself."

"Adam, boring? I'm pretty sure that has never happened in his life." She gave Tigra a nod at the all clear. "Good. Now we can meet each other properly." She nodded, following behind Gambit as he led the way.

"Don' scratch her as y' walk past," Remy said, his bike being about the only constant thing in his life. and began to walk up the stairs towards the top floor: the elevator had given out ages ago.

"Very scenic, thanks to me. Painting by yours truly. Zombos don't appreciate it though." He followed the new guy, giving the bike a curious and respectful look as he was careful in passing her. "...Don't usually see bikes this close. She's pretty."

"... So I could fulfill my life-long dream of gettng married in R'lyeh?" Darren's eyes pratically glowed with the possibilities.

Tigra followed the guy indoors, hopping up onto the handrail to walk up that way instead of on the steps.

"...Mrs Draaaaake can I have a biiiiike?"

"If the state of New York will let you have a license for it I suppose I can't stop you." Lorna answered back, wondering just how that would turn out and imagining Adam driving into the recroom.

Selene paused before heading up along with the others, tapping a finger against a nearby streetlamp, imbuing it with enough power it could keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. She then followed the others.

"I can totally pretend I'm sane enough to be allowed to ride one."

"Dude ... I'm pretty sure in New York you have to fail the sanity test to pass the driving one, you've seen the cabbies right?"

"Good point."

Adam gave Darren and Lorna a purely innocent blank look.

Tigra decided to stay out of it. Voicing her concern about the idea of Adam behind the controls of any vehicle would probably result in her being pursued by said vehicle.

That look simply wasn't to be trusted. "So, how long have you been here?" She asked their host, having a quick look around.

"I'll have you know I have the perfect balance of an NY cabbie and an Irish grandma when it comes to driving anything."

"Cozy," Selene commented upon looking around.

"... That's a terrifying idea, even for me, and there's no way I can be hurt by being run over," Darren muttered before sprawling across a chair.

"Only 'bout a week," Remy replied, having left them to their banter as they finally reached the second to top floor. He pushed a door, unlocked, open into one of the apartments. "Ain't got no key, so barricade it wit' dat dresser once y' all in, 'kay?" he instructed, leaving them to let themselves in as he quickly checked the rest of the place. All clear, it seemed. For a city in ruins, Remy had gone out of his way to not only keep this apartment safe, but comfortable. Sure the windows were boarded shut, but the fridge was stocked, and there were plenty of books and *ahem* magazines laying around to keep him amused during his captivity within the NYC limits.

"This brings back fond memories of my stay in the windy city," Selene remarked, stepping into the room. "I like what you made out of the place."

Adam went and stood nervously in the corner, wrinkling his nose a little and eyeing up a mag. "I prefer my nest. My nest has a fort and a rabbit."

Tigra resisted the urge to sniff at everything. A guy living on his own for a week and not going out for fear of zombies... yeah. She could already guess that. She moved to look out of a window instead.

"It's a pretty sweet pad," Darren said, a weathered eye going over the magazines and approving of the guy's tastes.

"Does de job," Remy grinned in response, looking over the group. Generally, they all seemed around a similar age to himself, perhaps give or take a few years. It was strange, to be around a group of people just like himself, with their oddities and powers. "Take it y' ain't all from New York den?" he asked.

"No shit, Sherlock. Ireland, bred and true." Adam grinned happily.

Tigra shook her head, "No - Chicago." She tucked her tail around her legs as she sat down by the window.

"Barracks brat here," Darren gave the guy a salute, "i'm from all over."

"De accent gave it away, homme," he said with a smile to his shotgun buddy, eyes then moving to the cat girl. Chicago, huh? He hadn't been there in a while. He wondered just how well Chicago had taken to having a were-cat living in their midst...

"From everywhere and nowhere," Selene replied, a slight smile on her lips as she looked towards the guy. "Originally from Spain, however, in case you're interested."

army kid gave his salute, Remy playfully mocking it back. The woman (a pretty one at that) from everywhere, and Spain. He could see it in her eyes. "Always interested in de pretty ones like you, cherie," he replied with a wink.

Darren smirked at the flirting, "Yeah, she is pretty interesting," he said smoothly, wondering what Selene would do to this one.

"Well, you're certainly not the only one who has made his interest in me known," Selene replied, her smile turning into a wry smirk. "Just keep in mind that curiosity often leads down a perilous path. I guess there are some things man is not supposed to know. Incidentally, I keep most of them in my closet."

Darren snorted and grinned knowingly to himself.

"She's not even kidding a little bit."

"She has meds too." Adam supplied helpfully.

"Perilous paths? Dey tend t' be my favourite kind," Remy replied, a small grin, and a quick look at the other two as they jumped in. "Am I standin' in a room full of mutant asylum break-outs of somet'ing?"

"Nope. I'm the only actual insane one. She's just nuts."

"That's debatable... I'd have said yes...."

"Yes well, you would."

"Including yourself in that number too, I take it?"

"I'm not crazy... but my mom thinks I am."

Darren pulled a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket, offering them around, "Don't mind if I, do you dude?"

Selene grinned at the new guy, before looking at the others. "I like him already," she said. "He's amusing. Can we keep him?"

"Only if he follows us home. I kinda like him too."

There was a blur, and Darren's packet was down by one.

"Riiiight..." he replied, looking a little suspicious of them. Just what had he gotten himself into?! Armybrat pulled out a carton of cigs, Remy shrugging. "So long as y' don't mind sharin'?" he replied, holding his hand out expectantly.

"Hey, hey, no plannin' on takin' me home. Dunno if y' moms ever told ya, but I AIN'T de kinda guy y' wanna bring home. Not f' more dan a single night, anyways." he said with a small chuckle.

"Was why I was offering 'em dude," he smiled, taking one out and holding it to the tip of his index finger, it grew yellow hot for a second as he lit the cigarette before passing it over to him, "Name's Kent by the way, Darren Kent," he lit his own smoke and brought it to his lips, glancing at Adam.

"Didn't know you smoked, dude?"

"I can get along with that kind of guy." Tigra grinned fangily.

"Y' know-" Adam paused long enough to light his fag. "-We are gonna have to get back to the school eventually. And dude, most of us ain't got moms. I don't." He took a small drag. "I don't, not often, smell and taste's too much, but I did nearly get eaten yesterday." He waved his splinted wrist.

"Think the last time I smoked was Kevin. Oh wait - nope - JP."

"Merci," Remy replied, taking the lit cirgarette and enjoy a long, deep drag on it, smiling inwardly at catgirls comment. He made no effort to offer his own name back. They mentioned their school again, Remy tilting his head curiously. "What school is dis?"

"Xavier's school for freaks and weirdos." Adam grinned. "Like us."

"Xaiver's University, it's for gifted people," Darren grinned, a bit of smoke escaping the side of his mouth.

"My name is Selene, by the way." she tossed in.

Xavier? Never heard of him. But then, Remy wasn't really one to keep up with news. Another introduction, this time from the Senorita. Remy walked over to her, reaching out to take her hand, a light kiss placed upon it. "Pleasure, cherie."

"We take in pretty much everyone with the whole mutie thing. It's a good place - and completely protected from zombies."

Charming bastard, wasn't he? He'd have to watch this one ... not that he didn't trust Selene but .... yeah.

"I'm Greer... or well... I prefer 'Tigra' in this form - I shapeshift."

He gave a brief wink to Selene, then turned to the catgirl, quite intrigued. "De fluff ain't permenant, den?" he asked, having already wondered that. Having a minor one of his own, physical mutations were always quite interesting to Remy.

"See? Apparently it takes a guy living in a dump to show you lot what proper manners mean." Selene smirked as she looked from the new guy to the rest of the group.

Adam took another drag. "Nope. She can look completely normal." He lifted a fake dread to show a pointed ear before grinning at Selene. "Aw, I'm always polite. You gave me drugs."

"I have manners! I even make my own sandwhiches!" Darren protested.

*sandwiches

"Yeah I can look human if I want... it's just warmer and safer when I'm furry...." she concentrated for a moment and shifted back to her fleshy self, "See?"

"Manners, homme, means y' should be makin' HER de sandwich, not y'self," Remy said with a smirk, before his attention was quickly taken back by catgirl... Tigra... as she transformed. "Dat... dat's... Wow. Pretty good trick..." he said, somewhat.. transfixed for a few moments.

"Professor Charles Xavier owns the school, we're just a bit away in Westchester." Lorna rejoined the group after watching the window for any signs of trouble. "And I'm Lorna, Professor Dane-Drake though I'm pretty sure most everyone drops the Dane by now. Figured I should introduce myself properly as well."

"She lets me use a chainsaw."

He tore his eyes from Tigra to Lorna, eyebrows raised. "Double-barrelled, eh? Guessin' y' got a nice man waitin' fo' y' at home while y' go lootin' den?" he asked, not wanting to know if Adam was being serious or not..

"You double-barreled your name, I thought you just took Bobby's?"

"Most of us drop the Drake, as well, and only call her Lorna," Selene tossed in, before looking at the green haired teacher. "Sorry, I didn't mean to subvert your authority."

"Only on trees though. And occasionally birds..."

"Bobby thought it'd be funny if I could say my name was Lorna double D...it was in a fit of immaturity. It's what happens after getting married by aging Elvis."

"It's okay, cutlery is mine. That's all the authority I need."

"...Though there was that one time...I stopped the bleeding and he got it reattached though..."

Greer shivered a little then shifted back into her fur. Warmer now.

"Fear the spork," Selene said ominously.

"Seriously, fear it."

"But not as much as the barbeque fork."

"But anyway. Yeah, that's what the school's about. Safe, warm, full of nommy things and people to poke."

Yep, freak school, by every meaning of the word. Tigra changed back (a shame..) and Remy looked around them all, pointing in turn "Lorna, Selene, Gr- Tigra, Darren an' Adam, oui?"

"Oui!"

Tigra nodded, "Yep." she gave him a smile.

"Got it in one," Darren smirked.

He'd try to remember that, as he was generally good with names. Another relaxing drag on the cigarette (he'd have to find some of his own tomorrow, as he'd forgotten how much he enjoyed it) as he finally felt at ease enough to sit on the couch. "So, how long y' plannin' on stayin'?"

"I dunno, how long till you throw us out man?" Darren took a long pull.

"Until there's no more tentacle rape."

"Keep de smokes comin', and I'll consider it y' rent," he replied coyly, avoiding giving a exact time limit on just how long he'd put up with them.

Lorna looked to the others. "Well, tentacles are a worry." She admitted.

That made Darren laugh.

"I think we're still good...." Tigra put in, "You can kick us out if you want."

"No he can't. I rode shotgun, you can't just reject that kind of thing."

"It's a life bond you have now, hmm?"

"...Wait, was that inappropriate?"

Remy shrugged, taking a final pull on the cig until it was all but down to the filter, before putting it out on the boarded window beside him. He smirked at Adam's comment, rolling his red-on-black eyes a little. "Gonna be gettin' dark out dere soon. Y' might as well wait til mornin', neh?"

"Highly," Darren flicked some ash of his cigarette.

Adam sidled to a boarded up window, peering out through a crack. "...Yeah. I've been chased by them in the dark." He sobered a little. "It's not pleasent."

"Until then I'll be tempted to try and talk up the school, just because I'm on the school staff and feel like I should since we can't really get out too often to bring in new students in the current situation...though I guess the jet would get by things easily enough...huh." Lorna found herself distracted, thinking that through. "Well, this way we don't have to worry about FEMA or the CDC alerting anyone to a mystery jet."

"I can see fine enough in the dark... but I guess some of you are at a disadvantage..."

"'Nough room f' everyone, I t'ink," Remy said, gesturing around the room. Two armchairs, the couch he sat on, the floor, and... "Only one bedroom. Double. Someone's welcome t' join me if y' want," he offered, a sideways glance to Selene.

"Yeah. You know they'll totally claim Blackwatch, right?" Adam rubbed the back of his head, taking another drag. "Not me, pussycat, I'm fine in the dark. I just object to wasting good molotovs on zombies."

"...I'd love to, man, really would, but like I said - my roofies are in another glass."

Lorna wished she was completely certain Adam was joking about that. She couldn't help but have some small doubts, however.

"I don't think the military's quite desperate enough to unleash the force of a thousand suns upon New York, Adam," he raised an eyebrow at Selene, she was going to have fun with that one.

"I agree that the jet might be a bit too obvious in this situation," Selene remarked. "We might as well take him up on the offer. After all, we're even provided with entertainment." Sitting down on the mattress, she picked up one of the stray magazines.

Tigra watched the tip of her own tail flick back and forth. She was still hungry.

"Not sure they're to y' taste, cherie," Remy said as Selene picked up a mag. What?! He was a guy, and he'd been stuck by himself for almost two weeks. Could you blame him for wanting SOMETHING worth coming home to?

"And I'm quite sure my fiance would love to take you up on the offer with the bed and all," Selene added, smirking over the edge of the magazine. "As an army brat, he's used to the whole sharing bunks business, I guess."

"I don't think anyone can judge Selene's tastes." Lorna smirked very slightly, trying to hide the amusement and automatic curiosity as to what Selene would say.

Adam glanced sideways at the guy, unnatural blue eyes narrowed slightly, noting he didn't even know his name yet. "Hey...you know, I can't just call you 'man' all the time. You got some name we can call you by? Or I'm going to end up making one up for you, and it might just be as unsound as my reputation."

"...Either that or I'll make JP jealous by calling you bitch."

"Oh believe me, they are," Darren gave Gambit a leering wink, "and yes, I'm sure all three of us could squeeze in, might be a bit of a tight fit though," Darren waggled his eyebrows form emphasis and grinned evilly.

Oh yeah, names were important to know... she needed to write that down. She always forgot to ask.

"...I now know too much." She said mostly to herself, trying not to picture any of this.

Fiance? His eyes moved from Senorita to Army Brat, smile falling slightly. He hadn't been expecting that. "Non, I'm good, t'anks," he replied, perhaps a little awkwardly. He was desperate right now, perhaps... but not to that extent. Finally, they got around to asking names...

"Y' can call me Gambit," he replied, sticking to his rule of keeping his name hidden. You never knew who'd recognise it, after all.

"We can certainly stick with that."

Awww ... the little crestfallen look was quite sweet ... "Yeah, we're used to people using fake names."

"I'm sure we can find you some single ladies to use your charm on, don't you worry."

"Nice to meet you, Gambit," she smiled, totally not minding the non-name-ness of it. She understood that. "... Um... do you have anything I can put on over this....?" she gestured at her underwear, "If we're gonna be here a while... I don't wanna get loose fur on the furniture...."

"Yup. I use Toxic. It's actually a stage name." Adam said happily. "You know what 'Gambit' means, right?"

"Introduce him to Cess when we get back? Or rather Ms. Kincaid?" Darren suggested, not without pity towards the other man.

"Y' t'ink I'd've chosen it if I didn't know, homme?" he replied with a cheeky smile at Adam. He disappeared for a moment into the bedroom, returning moments later with a mens oversized shirt, tossing it to Tigra. "Should do y' for de night."

"Or JP's roomie, if he swings that way."

"And really? What does it mean then?" Adam smirked.

"Thanks...." she smiled again and put the shirt on, shifting back out of her fur and drawing her knees up to her chest. Now she could sit how she liked without her tail spoiling it.

"Takin' a risk, homme. Puttin' y'self in danger t' try and get de one up on de other side. Story o' Gambit's life."

"You sir, just won my admiration and respect. I like you." Adam grinned, pointing with his cigarette before taking another drag.

"Well, Mr. Gambit, welcome to the area, sorry it's in shambles."

"Seconded," Greer said with a small grin.

Darren grinned, stubbing out his cigarette, "I get the feeling you're gonna fit riiiiiiight in."

Lorna offered her hand to shake. "And even if you decide to not join us at Xavier's we'll be here if you need any help...though I'll still probably keep asking if you're going to join us."

"No need for de Mister part, cherie. Jus' Gambit is fine," he replied, not one for formalities. A weird bunch... but not an entirely terrible one. He almost found himself quite liking their company. As for fitting in.. Remy rarely fit in anywhere.

He took up Lorna's hand, twisting not to shake it, but to kiss it instead. Handshakes with women just never felt right for him. "Wasn't aware I was invited," he commented.

"Oh, you're definitely welcome." Lorna nodded to him. She smirked at the kiss though.

"Suggest we turn in for de night, den," he said, slightly reluctantly turning towards Darren before adding "De happily engaged can take de bedroom. Gambit ain't feelin' sleep just yet. Gonna keep watch."

"Now that's what I call hospitality," Selene remarked, smirking first at Gambit, then at Darren. "Shall we?" She held out her hand while putting down the magazine.

Darren took the hand and winked at the group, "We'll try not to keep you guys up."

"I'm suddenly glad I'm not kitty-fied anymore...."

"...I don't sleep. Not much, and not in a strange place. I'll help keep watch - I can feel 'em coming a mile away anyway." His eyes suddenly flared a solid blood red, leaving little trails. "And smell 'em. Darren, I swear to god, I smell anything suspicious and I will taser." His eye twitched slightly.

"Suddenly glad I'm keepin' watch, petite.." Gambit sighed to Tigra with a roll of his eyes. "Kitchen, homme. Still got de window uncovered a bit dere. Good view. E'vryone else, take a chair, an' get some sleep."

"Is there food in the kitchen?" She asked hopefully.

"Sure thing, Gaaaaambit." Adam gave him a lazy salute. "I'll watch your back passage good." He grinned, then sidled into the kitchen, trailing cigarette smoke.

"Enough. Help y'self," he replied simply. No point in holding out on them, as he could always find more if he needed it. To Adam, he made no comment.

"Thanks!" She hopped up, looking down at the hem of the shirt.... it was low enough, and headed into the kitchen to forage.

Lorna claimed a seat, stretching out as best as she could and half closed her eyes. "Serious about the offer, has to be difficult being what we are on your own, especially now."

Remy leaned against the wall closest to the window, peering out through the slats in the wood he'd nailed there. "...Will t'ink about it. T' be honest wit' ya, cherie, I don't tend t' stick around anywhere too long.."

"Yeah, we've got those types as well." Lorna sounded half-amused, not able to stop the thought about their various travellers who never quite manage to leave.