15417/Taking Care Of The Bird

Taking Care Of The Bird
Date of Scene:	20 July 2023
Location:	Blackbird Hangar
Synopsis:	Various X-men gather in the Blackbird hangar for maintenance work and conversations.
Cast of Characters:	Kitty Pryde, Monet St. Croix, Remy LeBeau, Ororo Munroe, Rogue, Noriko Ashida

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Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty has been doing some maintenance on the Blackbird. Much of it has been routine, but then she found some components in the engine that look like they were the worse for wear after some of the combat that plane has seen recently.

She's finished removing the engine housing and is peering inside at the parts. A pair of overalls protect her clothes from getting greasy. There's a smear of it on her hands, and a spot on a cheek where she must have rubbed at while her hands were greasy. "Hrm. Yeah, going to need to replace you completely," she says to the part.

Kitty goes over to a big toolbox on a cart, wheeling it over to have it all at arm's length. The right tool is selected to begin unfastening the damaged component.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would float on down. She's not going to be doing something so banal as -working- on the Blackbird after all. She would, however, at least familiarize herself over with the systems given the sheer number of deep space threats that they were facing as of late.

"Ms. Pryde. Forgive me for querying if you are not the right person to direct this to.. But I beleive that we should look to the feasibility of adapting the Blackbird for longer range outings. Given that /thing/.." By that she means the latest addition to the Solar System - the giant head-ball.

"Whehter through the Shi'Ar or GIRL.. Something more suited to deep space operations may be necessary given the recent shift in our adversaries contingents."

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau meanders in out of idle interest, hearing the voices of the two women. His hair is pulled back into a ponytail, wearing jeans and a PROPERTY OF NEW ORLEANS t-shirt. He finishes his cigarette before he goes inside, charging up the filter and tossing it into the air to explode with a tiny *bam*.

"What is with all of this outer space nonsense? Gambit is not interested in dying from lack of oxygen or crashing into the sun because of some alien. I went out there once and I regretted every second of it. Anyway, ain't we s'pposed t'be takin' care o' mutants? Leave that merde to the Avengers, non?"

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde looks up, giving first Monet and then Remy a warm smile before refocusing most of her attention on the work. She unfastens some bolts and then begins unplugging wires and hoses from the component needing repair.

"Well, I don't know if converting the Blackbird would be the right thing to even try. It's a stealth plane, not really intended for space," Kitty says. "But talking about interstellar distances is a whole other thing. Earth's technology level just isn't quite there yet. It's still easier for us to acquire something from aliens than manufacture our own," she says. "Only a few on the planet even understand the science behind their drives."

She begins carefully removing the Blackbird's engine component, setting it on the cart beside the toolbox. "Can you go grab me another one of these?" she asks Monet. "Should be in a box, labelled..." Kitty peers down at the part. "Three three X L four two five. And say 'manifold' on it somewhere." She gestures towards the spare parts locker.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod over at Kitty, "Very well. But some sort of alternative is needed if we are to have to be ready for deep space missions that does not make us reliant upon the Starport." Or 'hitching a ride' in parlance. But, that's something for someone higher up the food chain on the team to decide if is necessary and if so what's the best way to go about it.

She would nod over at Gambit, "Regardless, the existence of such a thing is fascinating. The exact mechanics for how such an.. Entity came to be and whatever things lead to it being.. Created? Making itself? Whatever it's origin is.. Fascinating." And likely completely terrifying.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
"Katherine is an exceptional engineer, but retrofitting a plane into a starship is perhaps too great a task to give to one person," Ororo says. The weather-shaper's sharp ears give her a prelude to the conversation ahead of her. Her attire is a modest, sleeveless dress made of white linen. It flatters without being provocative and has the same breezy comfort as most of her wardrobe. She's spent a little time on her hair today, the beaded plaits pulled to a high bun in back and artfully pinned in place against her wealth of white hair.

"I believe these are for you," Ororo says to Kitty, and hands her a shoebox-sized package. "It is from Lockheed-Martin. I believe they are the ones who originally designed our jet, yes?" she inquires.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau hops up on top of a large crate, criss-cross applesauce, brushing an errant lock of hair from his where it falls across his face and tucking it behind his ear.

"You and I, mama, have very different definitions of fascinating. A beautiful woman, a waterfall, a painting. A six course meal. A good heist. These things are fascinating. Mechanical bits and piece, ah, it put Gambit to sleep real quick," he says.

"Was hopin' somebody might be up for somet'in' fun, but sound like everybody all business today."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde takes the box from Ororo after greeting the older mutant with a warm smile. "Yep, I'll check with Hank and see what he had them working on," she says, looking obviously curious about the part Ororo delivered.

A grin is flashed over to Remy. "Oh come on, there's something sexy a perfectly balanced relationship between air speed and the drag coefficient that holds up across several Mach worth of velocity," she tells him. Then pauses. "I mean, to me. But yes I like the sunsets and waterfalls too," she says.

She begins installing the new part. "So you are all required at my birthday. Presence needed more than presents," she tells them. "Atlantic City, Remy, your kind of thing. Storm, don't know if you want to hit any shows while we're there. But we've got a long weekend and all with it being summer, no one needing to be in school."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would look over at Remy and shrug, "Well, in any case you are in the presence of Ms. Munroe which should satisfy most of your prerequisites then. And I do feel that given the.. Highly hsotile nature of the entity in our solar system that some information on the abomination for analysis is useful. In hte.. Train wreck sort of way." She rather dislikes that particular euphemism - it's so banal. But, it hopefully gets the.. Metaphorical point across of her interest.

"Very well, Ms. Pryde. And why Atlantic City? Why not somewhere like Luxemborg? Morocco? Somewhere that has some degree of exoticness to it?" Instead of what could charitably be called New Jersey trying it's hand over at being Las Vegas.

"I am unsure if I can make it for the moment. Do forgive me for my likely abscence."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Monet's flattery earns her a flashing smile and a subtle nod of gratitude for the compliment. When Remy starts chatting, she can't help but giggle at him. "Oh, Remy," Ororo sighs with a feigned exhaustion. "You're never going to change, are you?" she asks, and laughs with a sudden whimsical humor. Slender fingers reach out to give his cheek a fond pat to take any sting out of her words.

She looks away from Remy and nods at Kitty. "And of course I'll attend your party, Katherine, I wouldn't miss it for the world," she assures the younger woman. "I've been to Atlantic City only the one time, some years ago. I would welcome a return with someone who knows the venue better.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau shrugs, "I admit, I do not keep up with the news, I know nothing of this entity you are both talking about. Maybe they just misunderstood, no? Gambit been misunderstood plenty of time, I know how it be," he says.

"I don't understand half the things you say, kitty cat, but you do look good sayin' it. I be at your birthday sure 'nough, long as the long arm of the law don't poke they piggy hoofs into my life again."

Speakin' o' good looks, how you doin', Stormy? You gettin' sucked into all these spaceship shenanigan? Why I wanna be changin' now, I'm a god damn Cajun delight."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty's focus is on the mechanics going on, though she keeps up the conversation as she works. Hoses are reconnected and tightened. Brackets are bolted securely into place. Kitty pulls out her phone of her own design, extending a little cable to plug it into the component and begin running a test diagnostic on the plane's engine.

She wipes at her forehead, leaving a second grease streak there to go with the one on her cheek. "Well hopefully we make it home without any arrests," she says to Remy with a grin. Kitty shrugs then and tells Monet, "Eh, some people feel more comfortable a local place like that. Also nice to not have to always ask Illyana for a transport for these sorts of things. We did Oregon last year, figured local would be good."

Kitty tells Storm, "I don't know the place the best either. But we did some research, staying at a nice place right by the ocean. So there's casinos, there's the beach. Even theme parks. Shows and night clubs."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would smile over at Ms. Munroe at the acknowledged compliment. There's a rare enough shine over to her face then as she returns her attention over to Remy. "Then hopefully it is something that you will not have to be tasked with." She can at least understand that - she had gotten wrenched into this space calamity over from the Savage Lands, the Brood, the Spaceport, the Shi'Ar.. And all of the expansions that had forcibly showcased to her ther was much more going around than just this swiftly Tilting Planet.

As Kitty would elaborate over on her reasoning, Monet would give a nod - Kitty may not be looking directly at her but the physical gesture of understanding was still there. "Do enjoy yourself and everyone that goes with you. I'm sure that you'll have a splendid time."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue glides down the hallway outside the Blackbird hangar, her green and gold bodysuit glistening under the subtle lights. Her gloved hands tucked casually into her leather jacket side pockets, . As she approaches the source of the voices, her keen senses pick up the muffled discussion within the hangar. A slight furrow forms on her brow, piquing her curiosity, and without hesitation, she steps into the vast chamber.

Her sun-yellow thigh-high boots impact softly on the polished metal floor as she moves toward the others with a curious expression touching her facial features, her two-toned hair of chestnut and snowy locks brushed recently, laying smooth down the right side of her face and across her chest.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
Noriko isn't a regular down at these levels other that the cleaning that brings her down here.  She has a mop bucket with her, one of those rolley, janitorial  and she blur/walks in, shoving the bucket to the side with her foot as she moves to get the big old dust mop.

The speedster's hair has seen better days, the blue starting to grow out with some gnarly black roots.  She sports some fading grey cargo pants and an old t-shirt.  It's only when she starts sprinting down the hangar with the mop that she realizes people are here.  And not just one.  She comes to a quick stop mid sprint and lifts a gauntlet in greeting, still kind of far away from the group.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo is certainly wise enough not to take Remy's outrageous flattery at face value, but she flashes him another dazzling grin all the same. The weather-shaper finds a place to stand where she is in no one's path, her hands resting atop each other just in front of her navel. Even at rest, she exudes the grace of a queen. "I am taking a steadier hand at things domestically," she assures Remy. "Jean's been preoccupied with field matters more than usual. To that end, I am taking on what work I can to keep the school running. It was one thing when Charles had to contend with but a dozen of us; now, it seems only fair that we try to limit his burden as much as possible."

Spotting Rogue, she lifts her fingers and beckons the woman over. "Hello Rogue, come join us," she invites her. Nori, on the other hand, gets a rather direct look when she starts sprinting, punctuated by a single lofted white brow.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau sighs as he sits back, "We lucky you all so very responsible, both 'cause you do such a great job and 'cause it leave me free to be myself an' avoid all the work," he grins. "Keep your pretty noses to the grindstone, ladies, I be rootin' you on," he winks one of his darkling eyes.

"I dunno, I just know some o' these problems these days, they way beyond what I can do much for. I ain't Superman, even if I is better lookin' than he ever thought about bein'. Maybe I should get a cape?"

He turns his head when he sees Rogue come in. Because he always turns his head when Rogue does anything. "Whatchu be thinkin', cher, you think Remy Lebeau look good in a cape and tights?"

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty chews her lip as she studies the diagnostic results. She looks over at the component, head tilting this way and that as if to regard it from different angles. She picks up a hammer and gives it a few soft taps, then returns her eyes to the screen. "Ah, better," she says. Then she retightens everything, before grabbing a hand towel to wipe her hands clean.

"Hey AM, hey Nori," she greets at seeing the two other young women have arrived in the hangar. "Just finishing up some engine work," she says. "And Remy was saying how he thinks he needs to be given more chores around the school," Kitty adds, grinning without looking Remy's way.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would turn over to Rogue, "Greetings Rogue." Noting the seeming furrow vanishing just a moment after Rogue makes her entrance. "I hope that you are well." she offers politely, moving to shift her position to give Rogue more room to approach the group. Then Noriko is doing her superspeed arrival, pausing mid-stride and M is thrown off for just a moment in surprise before she rapidly reorients herself. "You seem distracted." Her tone is quiet - it's likely simple to miss it in Ororo's approach towards Noriko.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue gives a sidelong glance to Nori, but she doesn't linger it long... trying to track after Nori when she's sprinting around is a feeble endeavor, after all. Instead, rogue just comes to stand on Monet and Ororo's right side, offering the two women a soft smile before her green eyes go to Remy then.

She waits a second, as she eyes him. "Pretty sure I've seen you wear tights an' capes before. In fact, I'm pretty sure you own at least six of'em. You got a closet full, like Lando Calrissian. Admit it already, Cajun." She says back at him, showing him a faint smile too.

Her eyes dance over to the Blackbird, to where Kitty is, and she upnods once. "Wade Wilson has been sneakin' in a lot more lately. We could use someone bein' a bit more on the ball ready t'stop whatever weird things he's doin. Some'a the kids say he hid a grenade launcher on campus, or somethin'. Apparently he took that with him when he left though... But blessed be the one who finds whatever hidden caches he may still have out there, or in here..." She glances around their immediate location there-after, perhaps suspecting Deadpool might even sto weapons down here somehow.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
Noriko's technique is arguably...well, a lot more ends up in the air than on the mop.  It's not like the hangar is all that dirty to begin with, since Noriko has already been on top of the cleaning anyways...way on top of it.

"What?  This hangar doesn't clean itself," Noriko shrugs at Ororo's expression and then coughs a little from all the dust she kicked up a half second ago.  She starts off slower again, blurry-walking the mop instead this time, little mumbles barely audible.  Her glance back to Rogue comes over her shoulder as she's walking away, an eye roll that happens to come just after Remy soliciting Rogue for her opinion.  "Wait there's a grenade launcher on campus somewhere," Nori leans on the mop, suddenly on the edge of the group.

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo makes a gesture with one hand and a brief, rather unnatural breeze drifts through the enclosed hanger. It hits the dust cloud and every flickering mote goes *down*, pinned firmly to the floor before dusting up the work area.

"I am not thrilled with the prospect of Mr. Wilson leaving weapons on campus," Ororo remarks. There's a stern edge to her voice she only rarely employs. "Some of our students are much more dangerous than any mere weapon. However, it is still something that is volatile and with which they have no experience. If anyone hears of it, or finds it, please let me know immediately and we will have it secured in the arms room."

A sour expression crosses Ororo's normally placid features. "And if this is a trend with Mr. Wilson, then we will have a -lengthy- discussion about student safety. I know some of you think he makes for great comic relief, but the last thing we need is a student dying on the grounds because of his harebrained antics."

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau puts a hand to his forehead in faux dismay, "Rogue! Ma petit! You cut me to the quick! Spillin' my secrets in front o' all an' sundry. I think you probably like me out o' tights even more, though," he says with a rakish grin.

To Kitty, he points a finger, "Don't be startin' none o' that, y'hear? Gambit don't do no chorin' an' I don't be havin' no boss. I's just a happy volunteer, givin' my all in the name o' good cause. Saintly-like. But ain't nobody gon' be tellin' me what to d--" he says, then looks back at Rogue again. "Well, mostly none. You don't wan' me doin' most o' that kinda stuff anyhows, I ain't no good at it. What'm I gonna teach a kid but how to pick a pocket or run away from home? Half the kids here already know that shit anyways."

Kitty Pryde has posed:
Kitty Pryde grins at the exchanges between people. She gets the engine cowling back in place and secures it. Then does a final pass over making sure it is sealed up tight. That seems to meet her satisfaction, and then she runs another set of diagnostics on the engine. "Going to start her up for a few seconds," she warns everyone, shooing any who are standing in an area that would be dangerous to back away to a safer spot.

"Rogue, are you ready for Atlantic City? Nori are you coming too?" Kitty asks, referring to her birthday bash this year which will be down the coast at the resort city. "Have a block of rooms booked ahead if you need one," she says.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would frown, "Forgive me, but why is he allowed on campus? He hides weapons around here, which puts the students at risk. I am unsure if he has active warrants out for him or not. But he is most decidedly a threat. So why can he not simply be ejected and made it clear to him that he is not permitted to return and will be treated as hostile if he is on school grounds? Any members whom wish to associate with him can do so off the Mansion's property." She does not like having lots of weapons hidden around campus.

She goes to look at Ororo, her face pensive. Her own preference is for more.. Forceful measures, but she is just an inidivual who lives at the school and a junior member of the team. The weight of the others counts for far more. "Will you then not be attempting to take as much as youc an from the casinos or is that not a challenge?" To Gambit.

Rogue has posed:
The response about Deadpool from Storm has Rogue nodding gently twice to her. "Yeah, I don't want random weapons hidden around here neither... And... wait, we keep him around for comedy relief? I always assumed he was like, related to the Professah. Like his mentally challenged nephew, or somethin'..."

Her eyes drift back to Remy then, as she props her left wedge-heeled booted foot up on the metal support of the Blackbird tool cabinet in front of her. She draws her left gloved hand out of her jacket pocket to rest her forearm across the top of her thigh then. She smirks at Remy, lifting her chin up ever so slightly. "There may be some benefits to a lack'a clothes on you, Swampy. But that's as detailed as I'm gonna get inta that..."

Her smirk is concealed as much as she can before she looks to Kitty. She clears her throat then and fidgets a bit. "About that..." She starts to say with regard to the Atlantic City trip. "I dunno if I'm up for it. I got fired from the Mighty Woman gig, if ya hadn't heard. Plus, all the stuff goin' on with the Mutant drugs, or whatever... Haven't really been feelin' all that 'festive' cause'a all that...."

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Thanks," Nori shoots Ororo a small grin.  "Practice makes perfect," Noriko holds the mop shaft out toward Remy with a smirk.  "Atlantic City?  Yeah.  Got nothing else to do but maybe boss Remy around," because she's running with that.  "You can teach me to lift a wallet better and I'll teach you to lift a finger."

The speedster glances towards Kitty and nods.  "Yeah.  But...is Jubes going to be there?"  She starts to say something else but stops herself.  "Wait are we going on your birthday or around your birthday or-?"  Her brain obviously is firing through all of the mundane possibilities as if it's grasping onto something just to not be idle.

"Sounds like you could use a distraction," Nori comments on Rogue's thoughts on the Atlantic City trip.  "That sucks."

Ororo Munroe has posed:
Ororo shares a blank look with everyone else. "/I/ always thought he was one of Charles' charity cases," she supplies.

Who is that masked menace, and why hasn't someone stopped him yet?! Her plaits twist in the air with the bemused shake of her head. A low, amused giggle slips her lips and Ororo rolls her eyes fondly at the others-- and herself.

Ororo moves a hand near Rogue to get her attention without touching her physically. "Regardless of what the media sees you as, Anna-Marie, you are now, and always, one of us," she reminds the belle. "And it would give us all great pleasure if you joined us for Kitty's birthday."

"With that, I should excuse myself," Ororo informs the others. "Duty calls. Remy, come by my office later, I have a number of tasks that can only be addressed by a handsome, dashing Cajun man." Ororo can lay it on thick too, and she flashes a wholly unapologetic grin at Remy.

"As for the rest of you, I hope to see you at supper." With a nod, Ororo turns and starts making a path to exit the hanger.

Remy LeBeau has posed:
Remy LeBeau grins, "I have the opposite o' chores t'do myself, but I s'pose I might give you a chance to give me a little purpose, Stormy. A man does like to be of help now an' again, non?" he grins.

He hops up, "Plus, I be needin' a little nicotine, I afraid. Bad habits die hard, just like Gambit. Don't none o' you go changin' now, I like you all just the way you be," he winks as he starts to pull out his pack of cigarettes and head for the door.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
As the others go to spread out and do their own things, and Kitty returns to working over with the Blackbird and whatever parts had been sent in, M goes to edge away just enough in case they do happen to explode. It was something from Lockheed-Martin after all. Famed for horrific cost overruns, immense bonuses to executives, and the capability to have more than ten times the original cost estimates pile up on R&D and still maintain funding. The government did (not) get what it paid for and the military industrial complex loved them all themore for it.

Rogue likewise gets a sad nod and look of agreement. "Why would you need tutlage in the art of being subtle, Ms. Ashida?"

Noriko Ashida has posed:
Noriko finishes up the rest of the hangar rather quickly as people start splitting up and separating thanks to Ororo's help dampening the ions in the dust particles.

As she sets the mop back into place, she looks back over at Monet.  "Huh?  What do you mean?"  She sounds like a native to the Americas, but the girl's first language is not English.  "What's tutelage?"  She squints defensively at Monet.  "I've never heard that word before," she admits uncharacteristically.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would go to then switch to Japanese, moving tos peak in that given that the word was not the most translatable . "Instruction. While I'm sure that even Mister Lebeau could teach you some tricks, with your speed unless you require it for hte purposes of learning control, I doubt you need any particular demonstrations."

Noriko is the one that could probably steal the proverbial pants off someone after all.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"I was curious.  I've never had to be...but, the other day I-hit my head and some weird stuff happened with my powers, so I thought, I-okay I'm just trying to stay busy," Noriko admits as if saying everything before took so much effort and it just spills out.  "I'm bored."  She's bored all the time.  Her life is a challenge in relieving boredom after all, so that hardly sounds convincing as much it is also true.

Noriko just watches Monet in the wake of her non-answer to Monet's non-question as if she could wait her out or maybe she'll go away without Nori /technically/ having to be so impolite as to draw ire.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance over at Noriko to make sure she heard it appropriately. "You were.. Hit on the head and something went weird with your powers?" Was there some sort of 'cuckoo' and ringing sound like a pair of coconuts being quashed together as well?

"And unfortunately, those of us of such a slow ot perceive state are unable to maintain such engagement as you are." Monet goes to grab the first shiny object she can - some of the wrapping foil over from Kitty's delivery.. And flicks it through the air ~juuuussssttt~ out of reach of Noriko, where if the girl went to grab for it the gust of air of her moving would bat it up into the air just out of reach, and perhpas the cycle would repeat itself.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"I was slower...slower than you," Noriko adds, for clarity.  "I mean, that's never happened before and I wasn't trying and I could see everything going slow like I was fast but I wasn't moving fast," she says rapidly.  "I'm okay now.  It was just really weird."

The bit of foil is tantalizing if only because Noriko just /knows/ she can grab that, even if she knows Monet premeditated this.  Her gauntlet darts out toward the foil, but even the charges her body is carrying work against her, along with her self-generated gust.  But she doesn't really want to move from her posture, so each swipe is lazy, last moment, and ineffective.  Like a cat with a feather, she swipes the other arm as if she could trick the forces of nature or catch them off guard.  "That's not what I meant!"  Then she finally zaps the foil to a crisp with a blast from her palm, but it's not as satisfying as it should be.  It just shears it in half and where there was one thing to catch, now there are two.  She lets them fall.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would glance at Noriko, "I see. Normally one does not suffer any sort of side effects, at least power related, from some sort of normal concussive trauma. That is something you may wish to speak to Doctor McCoy over. There is probably something extraneous at work there." She does at least pay attention now.

Even as Noriko moves over like the cat in the eternal sunbeam flailing over at the feather but not having the energy to roll away. "And then do correct me, what did you mean then Ms. Ashida?"

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Well I don't know what it was but it's over so, plus it was probably some interaction with some dumb vampire power or something."  So she was knocked very very very hard...or something.

"You know I'm not one of those aliens who can't get hurt."   The speedster is doing her best effort to keep up her front, to maintain her emotions, but doing that, staying in sync with Monet, and keeping her mind from racing over thoughts of Jubilation, it's just too much and she settles for the goal of not crying.  "Jubes left...and I tried to find her.  I did, or she found me, but she's not coming back and she told me to stop looking and some guys came and took the coffin."  The words come out so fast they run into each other.  "And so I stopped looking, and I'm...bored."  So not bored, but 'bored.'  Disgusted with herself on some level, her eyes drift off to the side, breaking contact with Monet.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would quirk a brow over at Noriko, "So was it as a result of someone after Ms. Lee?" She would frown over. Remembering some things from her own.. Nevermind. That's quickly banished away as for thier last chit-chat which is buried. She cannot show weakness. She cannot show emotion.

And she can completely respect that as Noriko goes to do the same exact thing that she does. Ther'es no pressure.. At least until Noriko goes to open up on it. She looks sad. "I'm sorry. Would.. You like for me to sweep for her instead?" Since Jubilee had said nothing about M and M was belligerent enough that the other woman could only expect it.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"No.  I was asking some lowlife who thought mutant blood would be marketable after a snack.  I just thought, he would probably know where she was if he was staying out from under her," and selling vampire blood in the region.  The speedster picks up on the frown, but doesn't pursue it further.

"She wants me to leave her alone.  If you could just make sure she's okay, that she's not still sleeping on someone's couch or something."  Even with her lightning thoughts, the speedster doesn't put two and two together on the coffin, or maybe she has.  Maybe she's just that frazzled.

"Just, don't tell her I was the one who asked?"  This request might just be for Noriko's nerves, but even if it is, the girl is obviously unaware of that.  "It's my fault," she admits. "So...yeah."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would look down at Noriko with a frown of ealuation. Listening to the tone in the girl's voice and a low frown. "I would hope that it isn't." If they had vampires chasing after mutants purely for thier blood, it was another thing thrown onto the mix that they didn't have to deal with.

"I'll dow hat I can to make sure that I can find her and that she's all right and I'll let you know. If you prefer that I don't ask her what is going on or make inquiries on the matter, I won't. And.."

She doesn't push on 'it's my fault'. She has her own tirade of pain and she can't offer anything to the other girl. She's open to talking about it.. But is also makings ure not to push on it.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"I know what's going on.  She doesn't need to explain herself to me," Noriko says quietly.  "It wasn't here...it was some bridge somewhere else so you don't need to worry about vampires going for mutant blood.  It's not yet a fad."

"Whatever you want to ask you can ask but...she asked me to stop looking so I want to respect that.  I can't keep an eye on her now and I know there are vampires who'd like to stake her.  -and with all this mutant cure stuff going around."  Bad actors will definitely want to get their hands on that.  But it's clear Noriko is just spinning at this point, picking one of a million worries that is swarming her mind and trying to burst to the surface of their conversation.

"Maybe make sure her security is good?  I would-yeah...I'd appreciate that."

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would nod, "Of course." She doesn't say that Noriko can speak to her if she wants to. Or to anyone. Or encourage her to. Or say to go after Jubilee. "I'll keep an eye out for her. I doubt she'll hide herself away completely, so she'll turn up soon. I'll make sure that she's all right and safe, and then get back to you. And I won't mention you at all." She promises to Noriko.

She owes both of them. THe least she can do is try to pay back part of her obligation.

Noriko Ashida has posed:
"Okay."  Noriko's eyes are slightly glazed over, as if some wheels have been spinning the whole time in the background and this has brought some grease to the operation.  She lets out a soft sigh, flexing her fingers absently.

"Listen-I owe you for this.  Thank you."  Noriko bows her head in a sign of subtle respect for what Monet has offered to do for her.  "I...I should go," before crying a river and humiliating herself?  Yep.  And she's suddenly gone as quickly as moisture begins to well up in her eyes.

Monet St. Croix has posed:
Monet St. Croix would shake her head, "I owe the both of you." She doesn't elaborate anything more on it beyond her promise that she'll do what she can to find Jubilee and make sure that she's safe and all right. She murmurs.. 'Be well' even as Noriko speeds off.