18380/Boots and cats and boots and cats...

Boots and cats and boots and cats...
Date of Scene:	21 June 2024
Location:	145 Central Park Penthouse
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Marie-Ange Colbert, Samuel Guthrie
Tinyplot:	The Ballad of the Hanged Man

---

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
There are those who would say that Marie is addicted to using her tarot cards. She starts each day with them, just to get a glimpse of what the future holds for her, where Fate needs her to be. Of late, things have been a bit more... hazy than the normal for Marie. Attempts to look far into the future are blocked, as if the source of her answers is telling her 'Try Again Later' like a Magic 8-Ball

Today was slightly different. This morning, her reading indicated that she would need the support of her friends. She didn't think too much of it -- she lives with her girlfriend in a luxurious apartment, and her long-lost best friend had taken up residence in the guest room. Surely, if something were to happen, one of Mary or Jenny would qualify, right?

Well. As it turned out, that wasn't the case. When the postman had arrived earlier, he came bearing a registered letter. A rather fancy one at that, complete with a red wax seal keeping it closed. When the young seer noticed the return address, though... her heart sank at the inclusion of two words.

Lyon
France

The inclusion of the name of her ancestral home sent the redhead into the purest of panic, and worst yet? The afternoon saw Jenny out -- shopping or something, she was guessing -- and Mary as well, probably meeting with the Titans. So what did she do?

She sent a panicked text message including the address of the fancy penthouse she was living in, and a request to 'Come quickly. Please.' to everyone labelled as friends in her cell phone. Desperately hoping that at least one of the people who matter most in her life might be available... because right now? She was just curled up on the couch in a bathrobe, staring untrustingly at the letter that sits on the coffee table in front of her. As if it were a snake ready to bite her.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie was working today, but luckily was near the end of his shift. With a bit of a call, and a promise to cover for Tackleberry next weekend so he could go to a gun show upstate. Sam is on his way. He actually had someone drop him off, so he might have gotten a few odd looks and Marie might have explaining to do to the security guys, at the desk, as a NYPD officer in full uniform came in and nodded to them before heading up the elevator to find Marie's door and knocks on it.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
The knock on the door might as well have been accompanied by the voices of angels from the reaction Marie gives on the other side of the door. Practically leaping up to her feet she goes, dashing in bare feet across the carpet and over to answer the door.

"Sam!" she greets, launching herself at her old friend in an attempt to hug the man. Even in uniform, she can recognize him. Normally she'd say something about him looking dashing in it, and apologize for being in far more casual attire than she usually appears in, but... her mind's in other places right now.

"I am so happy you came. Please. Come in, come in." she urges, moving aside to allow him that. Yes, she may well have some 'splaining to do to building security... but that's a problem for Future Marie.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie will hug her back when she moves to hug her and says "It is ok Ah am here girl, whats up? He looks around seeing if there is anything obvious that has happened she might need help for. Not seeing any signs of blood or violence he does relax a bit and steps on in, and looks over to her. "Ah am here, what ever it is, we will handle it, and get ya through it."

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
There's no obvious signs of anything being wrong other than the girl's unkempt state -- a far departure from her usual prim and proper look -- but the look on her face can only be described with two words: Grateful, and Terrified.

"I knew I could count on you, Sam. You have always been there in my times of need." A relationship she's tried her best to be an equal part of, even if she's well aware that there've been times that she hasn't been around. They aren't her proudest moments. "It... it is over there, Sam." she offers meekly, extending an arm out to point towards the coffeetable and the still-sealed envelope upon it. "I never thought the day would come... not after the Professeur helped to avert it after graduation..."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks to her, and says "Your visa having issues again? Do we need to get Doug and Kitty to see about getting you some papers? Ah am sure we can find something to help. He hmmms and says "Berto can probably hire ya and get ya a work visa or something. Ah mean, never heard him have an issue. He thinks about it and realizes the Prof had to do a lot about immigration style papers, since he and Dani, and James were the ones who did not have to worry about that.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"I... am not entirely certain Sam." she offers slightly, eyes downcast. "I thought that my visa was good for a few more years still, but..." she sighs and shakes her head, walking over to sit down on the couch once more, slumping into the cushions. "...I suppose I should see when it expires, then. See how long we have to try and get things in order, oui? Though... I do not recall the immigration bureaus having such... ornate mailers."

Marie tentatively reaches for the letter, swallowing hard as she takes it in her hands. Using her finger to seperate the paper from the seal. What she pulls out doesn't look like official documentation at all...

...more like a piece of some rich person's stationary. There's a few moments of processing as she reads, and the color absolutely drains from her face.

"Mon Dieu..." she murmurs softly, before holding the piece of paper in Sam's direction. It reads as follows:

From the desk of Philippe and Chantal Colbert,

To: Marie-Ange Colbert

Your presence is required post-haste at your family's home. Your grandmother has taken ill and wishes to see you.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie will take the paper and looks it over, and says "Ok, so, do we see if one of the long distance teleporters are free, or should Ah call Berto, and have him get his jet ready?" Yea they might be able to get the X-men to take them via the blackbird, but he figures Marie will probably want to keep this more amongst her friends. And those are the two quickest ways he can think to get there.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"You mean... go?" Marie asks, looking aghast -- if not slightly ill at the suggestion. Marie's relationship with her family -- with the one exception of her grandmother -- has been questionable at best. They were the ones who shipped her off to the convent school that made her life Hell when she was just a little girl. The ones who never called, never wrote when important dates came around. There's little doubt why Marie's hesitant about the prospect of going back.

Yet...

...her grandmother was the only support she'd ever had before coming to America. To say that she's conflicted is a massive understatement. "...do you think Roberto would...?" she asks softly. Teleportation is... too fast in her mind. There's not enough time to prepare. To steel her nerves. "I... could not even think of doing this alone, Sam." she can't look at her friend rightt now, focusing instead on the flooring. "Truly... I wish they had continued to ignore my existence."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie looks to her, and says "Ah know you and your family are not close, Marie, but Ah also know the one person who you would always smile when you mentioned was your granny." He looks to her, and says "And yea, Ah am pretty sure, either you or Ah make a call and we will be on the plan this evening heading there." Yea, he said we. He does not plan on making/letting her go alone. "Trust me, if your granny wants to see you and you don't go you will regret it. Once they are gone, you would give anything for another moment with them." Sam knows a bit about lost family.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Marie's quiet for a few long moments, letting Sam's words really sink in. Ruminating on the offer. The possibilities of what she might be facing upon going back. Was it really /that/ bad...?

With a heavy sigh, she lifts her head to look over at her old friend, "You have always been wise, Samuel Guthrie. You do you family proud." she tells him, forcing the corners of her lips to start to smile. "...thank you. It means much to me that you would accompany me on this task. If you would alert Roberto... I will see about speaking to a few others to join us." Because if she's going to visit her hometown again... she's going to bring an army of support. If for no other reason, to keep her from fleeing before she gets where she needs to go.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods his head a bit and says "Want me to see, if he has time to come along with the new projects he is working on." He hugs her again with one arm as he pulls out his phone and types in a text. <Berto, Marie needs a trip back to France asap, can we use to jet? It is a family emergency.> He will fill Berto in more when he talks to him, but pretty sure that will work.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Marie leans into the hug, nodding solemnly. "Please, Sam... I will need all the support I can get." she offers softly, closing her eyes and she thinks. Mentally trying to decide on who she should reach out to. "Plus... it would be nice for my grand mere to meet my friends. To know that I have not been... as isolated here as I was in France." she decides, smiling a little wider up at Sam, now. "I think she would appreciate to know that such wonderful people had entered my life."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods, and has another plan to get to France if, Berto can't get the plan in time, but that will be making another call to another friend who he has heard is back in town. They have did long trips him before, but he is not sure how Marie would feel taking the "lock" express. He will wait to tell her that option if needed. "Well, Ah would suggest ya see if Mary can go too, unless you two aint to that point.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"I definitely plan to speak with her when she gets back in." Marie replies, making a bit of a face. "I will have to... make sure she understands that it will not likely go as well as when I met her parents..." There's a bit of a smile coming to her lips again as she recalls that memory. The Vasquezes more or less immediately accepted her as one of the family. It was a little overwhelming... but in a good way. Unless things have changed drastically since the last time she was home, that will not be the case in France.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods a bit and says "Well hopefully with the rest of us along she will not quite expect the same thing. That Ah am sure was a bit more of a private thing, where this you will be rolling in with your pose." Yea Sam getting all street yea.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"Oui, sort of... it was only family, and me...." she pauses for a moment, and then giggles a bit. "Actually, you would understand better than most, even if she does not have /quite/ as many siblings as you do." There's a playful elbow given with that statement. "She is one of six; the Vasquezes fostered them all." Because she hasn't gotten the chance to tell these stores as much as she's wanted to! "When Madame Frost offered to buy us a place rather than have us pay rent like we had planned, Mary and I decided that we would send them money monthly to try and make life a little easier for them."

Besides, with Mary and Billy both having moved out at this point, they have space and may well take in more.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods his head a bit to this and says "Ah will have to compare stories with her, and yea, Ah can see that. Alexis' mom bought our building, but now that Alexis is moved to Italy, Ah am doing the whole look over the building and sending her mom rent. Ah think it is her way of ticking off Alexis' dad some.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
"Most definitely." she agrees, about to say something else before suddenly adding, "You know you are welcome to visit any time, oui? We love company, but do not get nearly enough chances to entertain." Pause. "Just, ah... be warned that Jennifer is staying with us for the time being, as well." She had meant to warn Doug about the return of Roulette when she'd invited him over ... only to have said Roulette show up before she could. Now that that particular warning is given and in a timely manner this time, she can't help but ask. "Have you heard from her recently? Alexis, that is." Marie doesn't want to pry, but at the same time... it's a welcome buoy away from the ocean she's fallen into today.

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie says, "She sent me a email a few months back letting me know, her grandparents are doing ok, but she is planning on staying there to look after them. We have both been dating a bit, Ah was seeing a girl recently, but she got called back to the Shiar home world."

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
Marie nods along, listening to her friend as he fills her in on some of the things she's missed. She starts to brighten up when she hears Sam's been dating again, then frowns a bit when hearing that she went back to the Shiar home world. That feels like a bit too long distance of a relationship! "Well... I am sure it will be in no time at all until you are dating again." There's a bit of a teasing grin here. "At least, if Paige allows any strange girls anywhere near you. When we fought the Mutant Liberation Front recently, you were /quite/ the hot topic, Monsieur."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie 's brow raises a bit and says "Oh, she has not told me about this, but then she and Ah have been having talks more about what she is doing and how she is seeing things, more than me coming up in conversation. Only thing about me, was she talked about me being in her calendar, and me telling her Ah am considering come out as a mutant to the force.

Marie-Ange Colbert has posed:
It's easier for Marie to get back into a better mood as the conversation shifts. Much easier. She's grateful for the distraction -- no wonder the cards were insistent about a friend being around. "Oh oui. Apparently she has a score to settle with one of the villains over you... and Power Girl's sister seemed very interested in meeting you as well." Divine, that is. "Though from my understanding she is already seeing someone." It's less understanding, more she's quite familiar with Divine's boyfriend.

"How is Paige doing, by the way? I heard things were... better now, than they were before, though I did not hear that she is doing a calendar." Then a supportive smile, "...if you would like a reading done to see how your fellow officers will react, you know it would be my priviledge to offer you this insight, Sam."

Samuel Guthrie has posed:
Sam Guthrie nods and says "Well right now, Ah am still in the talking to friends see what they think. My captain already knows, but Ah think I will be the first NYCPD mutant. Ah think it will do those in Bushwick a good thing hearing one of theirs is on the force and walking a beat. " He hmms and says "As for Paige she is recovering, from a few things, the surgery and such, but she is still thinking the Brotherhood is doing more for Mutant kinds, since they are public."