17572/Alien Bug Girls and Body Slams

Alien Bug Girls and Body Slams
Date of Scene:	04 April 2024
Location:	Athletics: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Mary Jane and Voodoo have a spar and talk about life at the Triskelion.
Cast of Characters:	Mary Jane Watson, Priscilla Kitaen

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Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's evaluation. Priscilla's last working in a team was several years ago, and she had been doing her own thing for awhile. So now that she was in SHIELD, she had to have her combat abilities evaluated. And she's facing off with Mary Jane, if only by virtue that the two are passingly familiar with one another. MJ is twirling two large batons.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
While she understands the need, Priscilla wasn't really looking forward to this. Her mood had lightened a bit when she saw Mary Jane however. "So I have to actually do the physical stuff, it'd be cheating if I used my mind powers?" She asks just to be sure. She's holding her own batons firmly but with a basic sort of competance. Usually if things turn physical, Pris just transforms if for some reason her psionic gifts aren't working or she doesn't want to use them. Facing off against a monster usually gives people pause for long enough for her to take advantage. That also wouldn't work here and she isn't all too keen to do that infront of Mary Jane either.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would grin, "You can try if you want. You'll fail though. Also a lot of enemies will be psi protected or have null fields. If you're caught up in one of those then you need backups. And way too many enemies out there can take guns, so you have to be ready to stab." She would twirl her batons. "Ready?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla nods. That's a good point about the enemies being protected. Just because she hasn't come across that much, doesn't mean she won't now. "I'm ready." She takes up a ready stance and watches Mary Jane closely, hoping to be able to predict what the other is about to do by observing her movements. At the very least she's ready to act defensively. "I can stab. Or claw." She'd waggle her fingers if they weren't busy.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would grin, 'All right. So go ahead and come at me with a claw. Real one preferred if you can morph that selectively." She would go to a defensive stance, waiting to see how Priscilla would attack. "Not full bug, just mostly human for now."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
After clenching the batons tightly, Priscilla looks down at the floor for a moment before visibly sighing and gathering herself. She tosses one baton aside so it doesn't get broken and then her hand shifts, the carmel colored skin replaces by green scales. Hard black ridges protrude near her elbow and above each finger, all of which bear wicked looking claws instead of nails. Shelving her disgust over the partial transformation, she tucks and rolls, her intention to come up slashing at MJ from a lower position, her other hand moving to block a strike with the remaining baton. Or so she's hoping.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane goes to move to block the lower end strike with one of her batons, and moves to flip up her other baton in a telegraphed way that would be a strike ready for Priscilla to block it. This has both of Voodoo's hands anchored in place for just a heartbeat.. Then Mary Jane's leg snaps up, intent on giving a quarter power kick to Voodoo's gut.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Oh! Pris sees the kick coming and does a twisty/bendy thing with her left leg to bring it up and take the blow instead. It'll hurt but not as much as a kick to the gut and she's kept in peak physical shape even if she isn't dancing for a living anymore. She's.. very flexible. A kick on the side of her shinbone might be curse worthy but it won't take her breath away. It might have been smarter to shift to the scales and better protection they offer but that isn't a go to move even though she's been able to do it for awhile now. She attempts to lunge upwards but fails due to the awkward position of her body.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
And there Mary Jane takes a few steps back to hop and let Priscilla recover. "That's where coordination comes in. You were getting too overcomplicated with your strike. You weren't fully committing to either maneuver. You dodged it excellently but it put you off balance. You're not used to moving with your body in that form?" Acrobatics-wise.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"I.." Priscilla winces. "I don't transform unless something is telling me it's necessary, like, an instinct sort of thing. Then whatever I do is pretty much all on instinct rather than training. If I try to focus on what I'm doing in that form it slows me down. It's like.. I know what to do if I'm not actually thinking about it." And she definitely tries not to think about it. "It probably sounds stupid but it's harder to do things in training because it's not a life or death situation so my instincts don't really kick in." She gets to her feet and waves her hand back and forth. "I'm kind of used to it but kind of not."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "That makes sense. It makes it harder to train as it goes against wha'ts natural for you. So you're fighting theway your body works. Training has good things and bad things about it. But in your case if the issue is your physiology and metabolism, it would be counterproductive."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"It does?" Priscilla looks relieved. She was afraid it would sound like some lame excuse. Her trainer before, when she'd been part of a team hadn't believed her after all. That was before they found out what Pris really was though. It wasn't like anyone was listening to anything she said after that. "When I'm shifted I'm different, my mind is different. More wild and chaotic but my body still knows what to do and even when I'm human, there's a part of me that knows when to change even if I don't always know why. Like once, some part of me realized trouble was coming and I shifted just in time to be protected from some tranq darts."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "Yeah, that's a lot more involved than a rookie seeing how badly you can beat her up can make a call on. That's something someone higher up will figure out how to best go about workingw ith you on. You don't make someone's body and brain fight against them." She would consider. "So the shifting is instinctive to some level and adaptive?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Looking relieved, Pris was also very afraid of how her body would instinctively react if she did actually feel threatened, she nods. "Yeah. It's really instinctive. It's a lot harder and takes longer to shift if I am just trying to do it for no real reason. When I'm not thinking about it or it feels necessary, it happens fast." She drops her arm and it returns to normal. Priscilla tilts her head and looks at Mary Jane. "You were a model, right? How did you end up here, at least, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would uh, "Long story. Well, actually not that long. I'm sort of possessed over by a fragment of an ancient barbarian spirit who was blessed by a goddess about twelve.. Maybe fifteen thousand years ago. She's in my head and generally tells me how to best chop up people into gooey bits. SHIELD works for us. And you did some pretty nice dance moves yourself."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla is secretly relieved now that she has reason to know what Mary Jane's situation is without having to admit to her Sight. "I can usually help people that are possessed. The daemonties possess people, and demons too. But you.. you're different. I can sort of sense that spirit but I don't think I could do anything even if you wanted me to. I dunno if it's the god blessing or the spirit's age or both. Or maybe just that I'm a newb at this in comparison.. at least you seem well meshed compared to others I've seen where it was a constant battle for control or one side taking over comepletely. Usually the evil wins out in that case. Your's isn't evil though." Priscilla blushes at the compliment to her dance moves. She had become so much more than a common stripper. Rich and reclusive people would never have sought her out if that's all she were. She'd blended her own moves with Bharatanatyam and Middle Eastern and African forms of belly dancing. She'd also used her powers to enhance her already good looks and manipulate emotions a bit here and there as well.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shrug, "it's a magic thing. She's a.. I dunno, disembodied spirit? Fragment? No real sense to define it and we'd both rather not have a sorceror poking about in our skull." Despite the fact she was clearly referrig to Sonja as someone 'separate' and yet using the 'our' and 'we' when it came to body possession. "And evil? Oh.. Believe me, you do not want to hear about her life experiences. Definitely, definitely not. You're cute, I don't want to break you of your denial." She would fold her hands.
    "But you mved really gracefully. I was not expecting you to shift around my kick."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla grins. "Thanks." She shrugs modestly. "I'm just really flexible." A soft laugh. "I mean you can do awful things, or things that seem awful and still not be actually evil. Things were different where your passenger came from. The times were different, at least I suspect. That has bearing too." She seems happy about being reffered to as cute. "I'm about as jaded as they come, thanks to people's reactions to me and the telepathy and empathy but.. I guess you're right. Part of me still holds on to hope, is a little idealistic. Or maybe just hasnt' given up completely yet."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "Things from then were.. A lot different from now." Her tone is distracted.. Her face twisting some. "And you're here, trying to do stuff to help people. That's pretty far from jaded and cynical. You're functional. You've been burned before and you're figuring it out."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"Maybe but it's also for selfish reasons. I mean, I do want to help people.. but.. I also need to something or I'm going to go crazy and while I hate what I am, that doesn't mean I won't use it to do good because I was meant to do the opposite. I was supposed to just be a mindless grunt soldier in a plan to take over the world. I ended up being a lot more than the sum of my parts. Using that to make difference is a giant fuck you to the assholes that started my transformation. The rest.." She sighs and looks mildly shamed. "I don't want to be alone anymore. I'm not sure I can do this but I have to try."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would offer her hand over to squeeze Priscilla's shoulder. "Then you're strong. Becuase you know that you can't stay as you were, it was breaking you down. And that you had to move forwards and do something out. And you're taking a step. Might be the right one, might be the wrong one. But you're still taking it. That's hard."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla isn't sure about her strength but.. it's good to hear. She nods and covers MJ's hand with her own for a moment, squeezing gently and smiling. "Thanks." It certainly hasn't been easy but she's feeling better about the decision to join SHIELD every day. "I'm glad here, despite everything." She really is. If she hasn't had time to make a lot of progress yet, well at least more than her driver will be interested if something happens and she disappears. That's already a giant step up from before.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to if allowed slide her arm around Prisiclla's waist. "Gotta start somewhere. And you're mature enough to know you'll fall flat on your face a few times along the way. And take your time, not like you're going to figure out life in a few weeks. Going to have to get started somewhere. And I think that's enough serious for now."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"Y'know, you're pretty wise." Pris comments as she leans against Mary Jane. She nods her head. Yeah, that is enough seriousness for the time being. "What should we do instead? I already fell on my face, like really, recently and I'm still recovering. Talk about embarrassing.. it was so ungraceful." She does laugh though because now it's kind of funny. She can't recall the last time she actually tripped like that.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "Well, the embarrassing part could get worse. You could be wearing that outfit you had on first time we ran into one anotehr and fallen down where there were other agents about. Then you'd never have heard the last of it." Her hand still if permitted restinga long Priscilla's waist.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla ducks her head. "I..was.." She's only hoping no one caught her on video. Since it was during a disaster of awful proportions, she doesn't think anyone would have stopped to film it but of course in this day and age people definitely were! That'll be an unpleasant surprise later. "I know it looks silly.." Well, she does now. "But it stretches when I shift and it's backless for my wings, and has a place for the tail.." and.. "and Okay, I like purple too." Priscilla laughs. She also doesn't pull away or move, enjoying the moment of closeness.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would pff, "I see. I suppose you've learned the type of stuf fyou can wear that doesn't tear easy? Or do you like it when it's like that?" Definitely teasing her now as the two went along through the halls, heading towards one of the rec areas. "Or you not into having people pull your tail about that sorta stuff?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscillas laughs again. "I spent enough time half or undressed when I was younger. It's nice to be covered up. Especially since everyone and their brother has a phone out recording everything now... oh." She frowns. Well. Maybe she'll get lucky. Or maybe the news will have images of a weird monster saving people alongside the heros tonight. Oh well. She doesn't want to dwell on that idea. "I haven't came across anyone brave enough to mess with me like that when I'm transformed but.. I haven't done it outside of a need to protect myself or others very many times yet." She's started, this past week, to try to not hate herself so much but.. it's not easy. "I need to get over it, I know. It's just not that easy. I guess I'd be thrilled if someone wasn't afraid of me. I usually try to mask myself with illusions but if there is too much going on, its a waste of energy."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I think most folks here are crazed enough that no one's going to care that much. Don't worry about it. Just accept that life is strange, shrug, go on about it and expect that you'll spend most of your time staring and completely befuddled. It makes things a lot easier to run with. And you're way too cute for anyone to be afraid of you. You could totally use your bug suit to wi costume contests. You'd do great whenever there's a Halloween show."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Those words cause Pris to have a bit more spring to her step. She knows Mary Jane is right, can sense the truthfullness of her words and with beings like the Hulk around.. well.. maybe.. there's hope for her after all. "Thanks." Pricalla blushes a bit and smiles. "A Halloween show huh?" She laughs. That's an idea to consider for another time. It's certainly a ways off anyhow.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would chuckle, "Yeah. Also suppose it's a bit past Mardi Gras, though you probably don't have any issues getting beads." Sh would quip. "So just remember to chill and not take yourself that seriously. You'll fall over more often and everyone will get to see a lot more purple."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla is still chuckling. "Okay. I'll try." Her lips quirk. "No, never had a problem getting beads. I miss it there sometimes but I like living here. It's different. Quieter in some ways, noisier in others. I always thought New Orleans was such a busy city but compared to New York.. there are just so many more people here. People that live here and aren't just tourists passing through. I mean there are plenty of those too of course but it doesn't take away a significant part of the population if it isn't a busy tourist time."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "So you think you'd go back to New Orleans full time then if things here don't work out? Or you going to be staying in the City for now in general no matter where things go?" she would inquire thoughtfully while walking along, sliding in to the cafeteria. "And you a city gal or a country one?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"I bought an aparment in Hell's Kitchen. It's a studio but it's nice. I intend to stay here, however things work out. This place, a lot happens here. Even if I'm not SHIELD material, then at least I should still be able to do good." She enters the cafeteria, staying close to MJ. "Definitely city. I wouldn't know what to do in the country if I wasn't working. It's too quiet. Too, isolated. I like having everything I could possibly need or want nearby and able to be walked to or driven or have it delivered.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would grin, "Yeah, can get you. Moved around a lot as a kid. Never got settled in anywhere for long. Learned just had to figure out how to get from place to place quickly. When things were all spread out it made it a pain. Just couldn't smile at someone and ask 'em for a ride. City's always an adventure, figuring out hwere to go and what to do."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"I grew up in Missoula. I ran off the day I turned eighteen, hitch-hiked to New Orleans. I never wanna live somewhere so small again. I know there are even smaller places than that but yikes. It was so ordinary and boring. People with such tiny minds. I hated it." She nods. "Yes, it is an adventure, even while other things are easier. Like having so many options for groceries or fast food, or shopping in general. If you want outdoorsy stuff there are the parks and zoos and things. This is much better."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Not sure you'd call Central Park outdoors but fair enough. You can find anything in the city if you're willing to look for it and get lost. And oof, if you're talking about smaller places than that I'm afraid now." Teasing, winking over at Priscilla, letting the other girl lean in

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"Well. If you get lost in Central Park, at least you aren't likely to die from it. I got lost in the woods once as a kid and that was the longest two days of my life. If the dogs hadn't found me.." She shakes her head. Priscilla laughs and leans close. "Okay maybe it more like half a day but it seemed like two days. I'm not a fan of the woods." She admits readily. "Getting lost in the city is a lot more fun."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "Eww, you've convinced me, I definitely don't want to be a country girl. And amen, sister." Teasing, and going to move to grab a snack and then settle down in the cafeteria. "So, given we're done with your evaluation part of beating up for th eday, what you wanna do?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla grabs a soda for herself and sits across from Mary Jane. She considers the question and then asks one of her own. "Was that a sign for a pool I saw around here earlier? Maybe we could visit that?" She asks a bit shyly. She actually knows there is a pool. She hasn't been in yet but does have a suit here. Still, she's trying to be smooth.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Yeah, it's more for laps and survival training than recreational swimming. You'd probably get yelled at. Unless you asked very, very nicely. You seem like the type that could get away with that kind of thing." Teasing back.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Darn. Oh well it was an idea. Wait.. "Survival training?" Priscilla looks baffled. "Why would you need a pool for that?" She asks. "I am definitely the type to get away with that kind of thing. Even before I had psyhcic powers, I was good at getting my way. That's probably not the best idea here though." Mostly cause she's sure there are security cameras and really doesn't want to get anyone in trouble. Priscilla laughs. "I'll have to find a pool that is for reacreational purposes. I haven't been swimming in a really long time."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smirk, "Well, if you can do enough of that to get a pool party and also not be brigged for it and then sent to clean out the Hellicarrier's rotor assemblies with a toothbrush, then I'm sure a ton of folks will want to join in. And yes, there are cameras everywhere. But you probably don't want to go swimming here. Or the Hudson."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla shudders. "I wouldn't touch that river with a hundred foot pole." Nor does she fancy going into the ocean anywhere nearby. "Some people really live here though, right?" She asks with obvious curiousity. "I mean, I know they do, it just seems weird." As much as she wants to be a part of things, she needs her home life to be seperate from her work life.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shrug, "Well, yeah. The Triskelion is a barracks. There are places to stay for folks who are affiliated with the organization. Some stay here part time, some do full time. I mean, rent's a hell of a lot cheaper than going out and trying to afford somewhere in the city."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
She tilts her head and considers that. "Okay, I guess I can see that. I just still.. I need my own space. I worked hard to make that a thing I could afford though. I know everyone isn't as fortunate. It's still hard to imagine. Do you have a place here?" Priscilla asks, blue eyes alight with interest.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Yeah, I occasionally crash at my Aunt Anna's but I mostly live here. It's basically an apartment. Well, small for one.. But I don't have a lot of stuff, easy commute, and I save a lot of cash."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"Really? I mean, my apartment isn't that big. It's nice but not big." If she really thinks about it then what is the difference living in an apartment building and here? There's still a lot of other people around either way. "I had no idea SHIELD was a thing when I bought the place. I wonder if I would have considered it if I hadn't had my own space yet.. probably not if I still had the money. I don't have to drive myself here either though. So the commute doesn't bother me. My driver can double as a body guard if I need him too but I haven't yet. I did a favor for his company's boss and in return he gave me one of his people as a driver."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Fact you make enough to have a driver puts you above most folks. Well, other than the consultants. Some of them make do. And it's good to have your own place, and your own space. You don't wnat to stay here unless you have a reason. It means not a ton of privacy, always noise, no real room to do anything. Knowing that you basically sleep here and tha'ts about it."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla nods. Truthfully, she would have hired a driver if she hadn't been provided with one and her apartment has some really good sound proofing to help with noise issues. She wasn't kidding about it being nice. "Well. If you ever need out of here and want some piece and quiet, you can stop by my place. I'm trying to get out more instead of just hanging around there all the time. I do have to have a certain amount of sleep every night though or bad things happen."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Thanks. I might tkae you up on it but I'm kind of wanting to go my own way in things. Yes, I know that sounds completely hypocritical working for a military intelligence organizationa nd staying in a barracks and with cameras on me twenty six hours a day. But you make a solid point."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"Well, if you aren't used to being a soldier or a spy then this might be a lot." Priscilla smiles. "It does have its advantages though. I can see that and most people don't have to worry about going crazy if they don't get the right amount of rest so if it's noisy at times.. it's not as big a deal. It's also probably pretty safe here. I know the neighborhood I'm in is better than it used to be but it's still a work in progress."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I see. So is there any particular reason the shy, exotic girl is inviting me back to her apartment to spend quality time with her?" She's clearly teasing over now but seeing what sort of reaction she's going to get.

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla tries not to blush but doesn't quite manage it. "Um.." She hedges for a moment and then just smiles. "I also would like to spend more time with you?" She shakes her head at herself. "I definitely would like to spend more time with you." The former dancer admits. It's belatedely occuring to her that she hasn't been on a real date in a few years and even then people were always asking her. She has almost no practice with asking anyone herself. Good grief, at her age that is just.. augh. "I have never been more grateful for dark skin." She's aware her blush is still visible but at least her cheeks aren't clown red.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I think I can manage that. So what would you like to do then? I mean I can't exactly go crash at your place right now but I'm game with us hanging out together when we're not in the field. I just don't have a lot of time is all." She's trying very, very hard to not break into giggles. "And you are completely adorable."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla can See the amusement but she finds the situation funny herself and so she just grins. "Yeah I can imagine how busy you must be. I'm glad to hang out when you've time though." Very glad in fact. "Well." She tilts her head and thinks. "I could send out for groceries and cook you dinner? Have you ever been to New Orleans? I could do up a jumbo or maybe crawfish etouffee? I won't be on top chef anytime soon but I'm a pretty good cook. I know how to do most things, though I'm a bit less good at baking."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Sounds great to me. We can figure out a time that works for us and I can take an afternoon off. We can hangout together and enjoy ourselves. Well, until a crisis comes in and there's a giant monster trying to eat Metropolis." She would qiup, her fingers sliding over around Priscilla's waist. "May I?"

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
"That sounds great." Pris smiles. Then blinks. "I mean, not the monster part. Well, that could be fun too.. a different kind of fun but still fun.." Geeze stop rambling Prsiclla! She thinks as she pulls herself together and looks at Mary Jane, grins and then nods. "Yes."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to stand on tiptoe, lean in, and give Priscilla a very gentle kiss, "I'm looking forwards to it, Tiger. We'll make it work soon."

Priscilla Kitaen has posed:
Priscilla looks (and is) absolutely charmed. She reaches up and touches Mary Jane's cheek for a moment. "Something to look forward to for sure." The dancer turned SHIELD agent smiles. A rare and very genuine smile that lights up her eyes. "I'll see you soon." She's got to finish writing up her report about what happened at the bridge. This job has so much more paperwork than she'd expected but it does make sense. "Hopefully very soon." Priscilla offers a playful wink.