20178/Who's the Boss: Starring Cain Marko

Who's the Boss: Starring Cain Marko
Date of Scene:	04 March 2025
Location:	Main Kitchen
Synopsis:	Rogue and Cain have a chat about recent events in the Juggernaut's life, and the politics of the various Mutant factions.
Cast of Characters:	Rogue, Cain Marko

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Rogue has posed:
It was a nice day outside, with the hints of Spring ebbing ever closer to a fresh beginning to the relatively still new year, and as such there were a number of kids eating their meals outside today. Rogue had been in the kitchen working on most of that meal prep, as it was on her duty roster for the day. Dressed in a flannel button-up shirt, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, blue jeans and leather boots with chonky heels, the Southern Belle's hair was tied back in a bun on the crown of her head, with her white bangs framing her face. She had just finished bringing a bunch of plates and glasses in from outside, using a caddy to wheel them across the kitchen to the sink, and thusly creating a little work station of getting the dishes rinised off and in to one of the dish washers.

this was the furthest thing from satisfying work within a school meant to help young Mutants learn the ins and outs of their mutation, but even the non glamourous chores had to get done.

"When are robots gonna finally be ready for this crap..." rogue muttered, as she loaded a stack of dishes in to the washer racks, dropping silverware in to their little cubbys, and exhaling heavily as she slid the racks back in to the washer's interior. Her phone was on the polished granite counter, a voice prattling off the latest news headlines of whatever geopolitical drama was the talk of the day.

The water was running in the sink, and the Belle let her hands go beneath it, to let the hot water rinse them off, as she leaned against the counter on one hip and glanced at the talking head on her phone screen.

Cain Marko has posed:
"When's lunch time in this joint? Can't a guy get a sandwich or somethin'? "

The voice that rumbles in....that deep rumbling voice is probably one of the last voices most self respecting schools what lumbering around and hovering nearby impressionable young children. A heavy gravelly, brawler of a voice with the cadence of a school yard bully that never quite grew up out of those bad habits and, if anything, magnified them with the self assuredness of being physically invincible .. at least so far as he claims. Others may dispute that claim but the fact remains .. Cain Marko is here. In Xavier's school. The school of his step brother, whom not a handful of years ago he'd sworn to end and tear down everything he'd built.

My how things change...

He fills up the entryway to the backyard - a hulkish form that - even compressed to about the smallest he can manage - still seems to fill up the room with his sheer presence. He ducks forward - looming in and squeezing through the kitchen doors with surprisingly deft and ginger movements that are in stark contrast to his gargantuan bulk and eventually straightens up to a full seven foot plus height - nearly scraping his head on the lowest parts of the ceiling. Still - he manages. If Piotr can move his metal self around the kitchen he can as well.. if only -just-.

"...Hnnn.. Usually we had some household help to do what yer doing..." he rumbles.

He...wisely no doubt...keeps his distance.

Rogue has posed:
There were not a lot of hulking people around the school that were capable of blocking out the late evening light from the double french doors that lead out on to the back balcony, but Cain Marko was one of them. Rogue had seen the memo put out by the Professor too, about Cain being given a place in the Guest boat house. There wasn't a lot she could say about it either, as when she had first arrived here, everyone had been pretty against her being allowed to stay too. Charles had made it a puushed-through permission, that Rogue would stay here, and the similar affordance had clearly been given to the X-Men's on again off again antagonist in Cain Marko.

thus, when the light was blocked out, Rogue looked over from the sink, drying her hands with a soft hand towel, and she eyed the hulk of a man. "You want a sandwich?" She asked him, as she considered it. She'd been at it all afternoon, so with but a simple moment of thought, she shrugged her shoulders. "Come on in, find a place t'sit." The Mississippi native said, as she turned back to the center island counter where all the meal prep was still out in various containers and baggies. "Rotissery chicken and cheddar cheese ta your likin'?" She asked, as she was already getting him setup with a brand new footlong of a submarine sandwich bread, pealing it out of a plastic baggy. She had a knife out, and was quick to slice the length of bread in to two halves, practiced ease with the blade showcasing this was far from her first rodeo at putting together a mighty foot long sub sandwich!

"What brings ya around here? I thought you hated all'a us?" She asked him, as she worked.

Cain Marko has posed:
The red haired bruiser blinks a few times. That was...a surprising response. He was expecting biting wit. A sharp comeback. A dismissive wave. Not to get what he asked for. The irony being he doesn't actually -need- to eat. He doesn't get hungry anymore. At least, not in the literal sense. He can -feel- hunger but it just won't stop him or do anything to prevent him from doing what he does. The desire to eat and drink is still there it just doesn't provide him with any benefits.

But that sandwich sure looks good.

"Uh..." he rumbles, sounding sheepish and thrown off before he reaches up and rubs the under side of his nose, sniffing abit as he does.

"Uh...thanks."

A second later and he's lowered his great bulk down onto a chair, no doubt reinforced to handle the rougher students and so able to support his weight.

"Where'd you get a crazy idea that I -hate- y'all?" he asks, sounding rather honest. "It was Charles I been feudin' with. Yer just collateral... I don't hate ya, Rogue. I just gotta do what I gotta do. Y'know?"

Rogue has posed:
The rules of Engagement were a lot different when it came to being in the heart of the school. Out in the 'wild'? Rogue was more prone to being sassy, quippy, or down right confrontational. In here? She was a teacher, and one of the Xavier School teachers that actually went to college to get the official credentials that made her a licensed teaching professional in the state of New York. She took her job seriously, and over the course of her 7 years of being at Xavier's School, she had gone from a reclusive student, who kept to herself, to a more open and rambunctious youth leader amongst her peers at the time. She'd shed her reputation of being trouble, mostly, and had become a reliable member of the faculty. Charles had given Cain permission to be here, thus Rogue was here to help him as much as she was anyone else on the 'in' crew.

But, she still smirked at his reaction, as she lined the two halves of bread with perfectly rolled slices of chicken, cheese, lettucs and soon to have a knife bathed up in mayo.

"Well, Mistah..." She said, her naturally smokey voice touching each spoken word with a burnt-end flavor. "I've seen all manner'a family spats, and what you an' the Professah have? That exceeds all'a that. You'd run us right over, if'n I assume it seemed like it would justify whatever means ya had up in that head'a yours. Maybe ya don't hate us, but I'd still say that qualifies as a fair level of indifference." She glanced over at him, green eyes sending a slightly judgemental look, along with a smirk conveying a lack of her being overly serious in the moment.

"Apple juice, Capri Sun, Sweet Tea, or water? What's your poison?" She asked, as she made the finishing touches on the sandwich, and had it dished out in to two halves on a dark red plate.

Cain Marko has posed:
Indifference. That's the word. At least most of the time. He gives as good as he gets in terms of verbal spats and doesn't have a high opinion of most of them but...beyond the amusement that comes from 'playing with ones food' or the temper tantrum of a bully taking out his frustrations on those forced to stand in his way.. what -does- he think of most of them? Cain is forced to ponder that and he frowns...mostly at himself. It's not the sort of soul searching he came here for.

He came for a sandwich.

"Sweet tea." he rumbles and then falls silent, just looking at her and turning over her words in his mind before finally acknowledging, "Alright, indifference, sure. Yeah. As far as I saw it you folk were just there in the way while I wanted to 'deal' with ol'Charlie. Obstacles to slow me down or just harass and hassle me when I was doing what I felt was justified. Plus, let's face it... when it comes to the ol' 'Super' terminology... we're considered on different sides of the track... so yeah..I guess I can see where yer coming from but ...it's nothin' personal."

He pauses and then adds with a sly grin, "..AT least... Most of the time. I'm only human after all.... Gotta let a guy have -some- personal beef from time to time. It's fun gettin' under the skin of good ol'Colossus or Wolverine. What can I say?"

He makes an idle gesture and then says, "You aint got nothin' to worry about. It aint like I plan on pickin' out curtains or something and despite what you might think...I'm not in the habit of attackin' kids or damaging schools. Though maybe you need someone like me around to offer a different...perspetive on things. Education aint much if all they get is a one sided...point of view.."

He grins again at that. A bit of mischief in his eyes though he tempers it by adding, "..So...you wanna know what happened?"

Rogue has posed:
"Good choice," rogue replied, with regard to the Sweet Tea option. She had the glass bottle opened up, and a fresh pour put in to a big metal Yeti cup for what she assumed was a man who had a thirst to quench. She was a considerate food prepper, if he thought about it. Big sandwich, big drink, she was giving him what she assumed were his preferences.

As she grabbed a stack of napkins, and began to walk toward him with his meal, she had a smirk showing on her pink hued lips. "If'n you think this place has anything but endless debates over how t'do literally /everythin'/, then you're being as naive as ya are tall." She said, sliding the plate and drink on to the table, before she turned to walk back toward her place at the kitchen counter, where her own drink had been left behind.

At his offer to explain things further, she had to look back at him to her right. She considered it a moment, pondering over whether or not she did want to hear it all. But with a light exhale, and a roll of her eyes, she nodded once. "Yeah, I'm curious about it all. If the Professah feels this is the place ya need ta be, then it really must be."

She turned to face him, and folded one arm over her stomach, rumpling the fabric of her button-up shirt, as she raised her own glass of tea to her lips for a sip.

"Don't tell me your friends kick ya outta their club?" She teased, showing him some glimmers of that sass of hers.

Cain Marko has posed:
"No." says Cain, tone flat as he answers her. Looks like it's Rogue: 1, Cain: 0 on the Sassometer.

"IF y'mean The Brotherhood at least. I could go back up to the Asteroid if I wanted but I don't trust th'mutant teleporters right now and Genosha's their stompin' ground so..."

It all might sound a bit covoluted...as if he's starting in the middle of the story versus the beginning - and as if realizing that he takes a breath and then shrugs while reaching a meaty hand down to lay hold of the large sandwich before him.

"I made a dumb mistake." he admits. Hard for him to do but he says it. "You probably know that I've lent my aid to The Brotherhood from time t'time and to Genosha. Mystique always treated me with respect. Other mutants involved as well... Some of yer own.." His gaze flickers briefly to Rogue at that last part but the he looks back to the food infront of him, "Even Magneto. And they paid on time. Paid good. Put me to good use. Smashin' Sentinels and Friends of Humanity folk on behalf of 'Mutant Kind'.. sure. I'm an ally... So I didn't think much of it when Fabian Cortez asked me t'look out for his Acolytes on some missions."

After a pause, Cain gives a rueful smirk at Rogue, "He blames y'all for the death of some of 'em. Something to do with Sinister..."

After another pause, Cain continues, "Anyway, thats why you saw me at that Fight Club. I was 'watching out for 'em' while they did some scoutin' and made sure the club wasn't exploitin' mutants. Problem is...not everyone is as respectful as Mystique and Magneto. Some of his Acolytes got in my face. Bigots and racists. Called me slurs, didn't like the fact that I was human. I taught one guy a lesson but then he got in my face again during another outing. It was like he was..wiggin' out or something.." Cain frowns abit, confused, but then says, "So...I shoved 'im into a car. Broke him pretty bad. I thought he was tougher then that but....I guess he ended upd yin' on Asteroid M...."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue lowered her drink down, another sip of her own sweet tea enjoyed. she folded both of her arms over her stomach, and just leaned on her left hip against the edge of the granite countertop. She focused her eyes on him, fully listening to him talk, as her phone quietly rambled on about the news behind her back.

She had been with the Brotherhood a decade ago, and she had seen what Mystique and Magneto were capable of, having her own perspectives on it all, to be sure.

"Asteroid M is trouble," she quietly said, barely above a whisper. "You'd be wise t'never go up there. I don't."

She drew in a breath, and uncrossed her arms. She picked up her glass of tea, and meandered to the table, to sit on the other side of it across from him, the windows over her shoulders showing the north western yard, and a few kids in the far distance playing on the tennis court.

"Cain.. Look at you. You're a mountain. Why are ya lettin' words get under that unstoppable armor'a yours, and find a palce t'live inside that big lunk of a meatball that ya call a mind?" She asked him. "You're supposed to be one'a the toughest people around, but if you're gettin' so bent outta shape about what other people's fat mouths are sayin' to you? Then how tough are ya, really?" She questioned, tilting her head to the side. 'I get it, pride and all that crap... But you know who you are, and what you are. They're only goin' at ya to try and get ya to screw up. Sounds like it was workin' too, and that shows ya got some vulnerabilities after all, Sugah."

yes, she gave him the Sugah moniker.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Mmngh.."

Cain has a mouth full of food when Rogue lays into him with some hard facts. He frowns abit... narrows his eyes and then pauses to just...let it sink in. There is silence before he rumbles, "Yeah, yeah. I know I coulda just walked away but..... It aint that easy...and sometimes it's not just about if it gets under your skin or not. Sometimes you have to make a stand and a statement, y'know? Look..if a student came in here and mouthed off at you and ten others were watching...."

Cain makes an idle gesture, "What...because you know you're self assured and confident in yerself that you just let it go and walk out the room? No of course not. Y'discipline the kid, accordin' to the rules here. It's for his own good and the good of the kids watching. Right? Sometimes you -can't- just walk away... but look.. You and I aren't rank amatuers. I know how hard I shoved the guy and we both know Mystique has mutant healers in her employ on Asteroid M. I didn't intend t'kill that guy.... There's funny business here!"

After a pause, Cain restrains his voice abit more...suddenly self conscious about the students just a few rooms over. Grumbling, he continues, "...But anyway they blamed me. So...later they staged an ambush. This time they used a psion. Got in my head. Monet was there that time. Froze and locked me up while I was heading down the streets in Manhattan, mindin' my business. Somehow they had...I dunno...they were somehow able to actually knock me back, into a buildin'. There was this huge Acolyte slugging it out with me but then he suddenly shrank just before I took a counter swing. Knocked him across several blocks and uh.."

His voice trails off but the implications are clear based on the hard look in his eyes. More blood on his hands. . So that's Cain: 2 - Acolytes: 0.

"...That's when Charles reached out t'me to talk about what was happening."

Rogue has posed:
"I get it." Rogue softly replied to him, at his comparison to a mouthy teacher situation with some rowdy student. "I got students misbehavin' on a daily basis. Some'a them have pretty sharp words too. But ya gotta stay cool. Ya gotta know where you are on the levels'a punishment. Whether there is a God behind all'a us or not, you were given some pretty powerful fists, Cain Marko, an' the people who challenge ya may not know what they're capable of doin'."

She could relate in some ways. She may not be tagged with the title of Unstoppable, but she was damn near it in most cases. She could tell that he killed a guy, or at least that is how it was insinuated by him, and with a faint nod, she drew in a breath through her pert nose, as she leaned back on her kitchen chair, and crossed her legs at the knees.

"Ya definitely got yourself in some hot water then, if that is the reason the Professah offered ya a retreat here. Fabian has been by here too, though, ya know? He's not bashful about ridin' up on this place. He gave us some kinda box thing, that amps up our Mutations. I've been the recepient of that boost a couple times now... I'd fear whatever it might boost you inta bein'. I know your situation ain't entirely like ours, Mutants an' all. You're somethin' different. But still, ya gotta be careful around Fabian, I'd guess. He might get ya in a trap that really makes the hot water you're already in, start ta boil over."

Cain Marko has posed:
For the second time in recent memory...Cain is forced to confront his own part in the death of the Acolytes who attacked him. The cruelty that lies within him...the force of destruction that he embodies.. Well it justifies it all of course. If they didn't want to die they shouldn't have harassed him. Does a landslide apologize or feel guilty for crushing those caught beneath it. Of course not.

The man, Cain Marko, knows he could have just walked away... There's no escaping that simple truth.

"Hnnngh." he grunts again, his displesaure evident but not targetted at Rogue. Fortunantely a slight subject change provides something else to think about.

"Fabian won't stop blowi'n up my phone. I dunno if he knows if I"m here or not but he swears up and down it wasn't his fault and he wasn't behind the attacks. He really wants to meet with me. I kee ignorin' him. I think he needs to shake in his boots a little on if I'm going to retaliate against 'im but..."

Cain pauses, setting his half eaten sandwich down and reaching up now to rub at his lightly bearded jaw now.

"Amp powers up? Huh. My powers are magical. Mystical in origin. He never even brought it up b'fore. I dunno if he could even do that. Cyttorak might not like attemtpin' to temper with the enchantment that makes me his avatar.... Or maybe he -would-... Either way...it ain't good."

That said, Cain grows quiet once again before finally noting, "I warned Charles that they might try somethin' here but he seemed pretty confident they wouldn't. You folk are packin' enough fire power here to make Kryptonians think twice so he might have a point. Still..I aint trying to paint a target on ya or something."

Rogue has posed:
"If there is some kinda actual conscience behind your magical abilities?" Rogue questioned, as she had a small smile blossom again on her facial features. "I can't imagine it would say no ta more powers bein' offered on the table... Seems like that stuff'a yours is already a bit mad with powers as-is. But, like ya said, maybe ol' Fabian can't really effect your none anyway. Mutants don't often have overly sensitive boundaries on our abilities though. Seems like if we push hard enough, there are very few things we aren't capable'a doing..."

She smirked again, before she glanced at some students passing by outside, one of them bouncing a soccer ball against the patio bricks. When she looked back to Cain across from her, she upnodded at him. "I've fought one Kryptonian so far, an' I walked away the winner. If ya call absorbin' that kinda power really winnin'. Frankly, that is goin' up to a level that I would not mind avoidin'. Havin' the sun become some kinda battery? It was uncomfortable..."

She drew in a breath, and exhaled it softly again. "Look. If Fabian comes here lookin' for trouble with ya? You're on the Professah's good side, right now, which means ya got our backup too. So, yeah, you're probably safe here. But if ya go out there, killin' and rampagin' through Fabian's people? You're gonna lose our support fast. At least, that's my assumption. I can't imagine the Professah will back ya for forever, if you're out there being an Agent of Chaos. So yeah... play your cards right, an' you can enjoy this oasis, like the resta us do."

She shook her head gently side to side. "But honestly, this place doesn't seem like the kinda joint you'd wanna hang around for too long. I imagine these kids' an' all us Do Gooders, will get under your skin in short order too..." She might be teasing him lightly again.

Cain Marko has posed:
"Heh.."

It's short, but a mild laugh. Then:

"I already tol'Charles I don't plan to stay cooped up in here and honeslty you all would be dumb t'want me to. I -am- an internationally wanted super criminal, yeah? You let the word get out that Cain Marko is slummin' up at the Xavier Institute and it's gonna be bad news. The only reason I slide by on all that Galactus stuff when around the League and Avengers when I help out is cause of the whole cosmic threat angle and th'fact that I'ma card carryin' member of The Justice League Dark. Most of 'em would shoot me into space and let me keep goin' if they could manage it... So I dunno that I'm gonna just stick my head in the sand here. I don't hide from fights. I just need a breather."

He shakes his head at that and then makes an idle gesture, sandwich in hand, "B'sides... aint y'all supposed to do somethin' about them folk anyway? Fabian's goons aren't up to any good. If I -did- go out there causin' a ruckus with 'em.. why -shouldnt- you folk back me up if I got good cause. They aint nothin' but trouble and were ready to kill and terrify the civilians on the streets when they attacked me. Didn't care one whit about knockin' a building over onto folk.."

Pot and Kettle anyone? He's been there done that..though in his mind he does warn people in advance and folk are usually fleeing so...it's okay! Right??

"Anyway I aint lookin' for help like that... But I'm not gonna not defend myself and I aint gonna not do my job either. I got a rep t'consider. Clients...you know..."

Cain's voice trails off as he frowns, looking down at his food. "..Important stuff..."

After a beat of silence he finally adds, "..Cyttorak's basically a god. Elder god. Gods are fickle. Don't like folk mucking with what they do and empower but I also got my own agency so I guess we'll see. Either way.. .if Fabian -could- amp me...I dont' think anybod wants tos eee what might result...."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue's left hand reached out to her glass, and she gathered it up to raise it up for another sip, while he spoke. When she lowered it down once more, she kept her hand around the base of it, with the amber hued tea halfway filling the glass still. "I mean, I'd be happy to rush in, and stop them Acolytes, were I given any warnin' about where to be, when to be there, and what to expect. Right now, though, we have had a lot on our plates. You said Monet was present for one'a the events? Monet is one'a the most active members'a this team out there. I am not sure that girl even ever sleeps, point in fact."

She smirked again, before she glanced across the kitchen to where her phone was. She stood up, leaving her tea behind, to walk to where she had left her phone. "You feed the Professah worthy intel on Acolyte assets, intentions, and nefarious plans? An' I'm sure it'll trickle down to our leadership, and thus? The resta us will get involved too..." She picked up her smart hpone, and tapped the screen to pause the video feed.

"We're a well oiled machine like that, but like any machine, we gotta get the right instructions in order t'know where to put our focused efforts. I dunno what Fabian's goal is, but he's really kickin' up a lotta dust lately. I'm guessin Mystique is turnin' a blind eye to it all too. she has a way'a ignorin' her people, when they start doin' stuff that goes against whatever scheme she's workin' on at any given time. But if ya ask me? Mystique an' Magneto should pull on Fabian's leash."

Cain Marko has posed:
Eyes narrowing a touch, Cain lets his gaze follow Rogue's movements as he listens once again.. Pondering her words and letting them sink in once more. He feels it... a sense of bitterness and mistrust. He heard it in her voice before when the Asteroid came up and once again her frustration and disapproval seems evident and really..who can blame her given her history. He doesn't know the details of course. It's nothing he's ever engaged with but her warning about The Asteroid did not go unnoticed.

"Mystique probably aint got much say." he finally says, "The Acolytes...are their own thing. Mystique just concerns herself with The Brotherhood. Good chance Fabian sees her as an equal and not someone to answer to. There's Exodus o'course but that seems to be another 'side' to it as well. Again, not someone likely to answer to Mystique. As to Magneto? He's effectively a figure head, the way I see it. Mostly doing his own thing..."

He takes another bite, finishing off his sandwich, and then rumbles, "You folk are more organized then them. Just less aggressive..."

Rogue has posed:
As Cain spoke, Rogue went about putting the various sandwich stuffins away. She carried a platter to one of the larger of the multi fridge setup, before she moved back to gather up and repackage the bread in to their paper bags.

"I imagine you're right about Mystique. But, still. She's not someone you wanna tick off, in that sphere. If she's not on your side, then you're that much more in bad footin'. As for Magnus?" She paused, to consider him. "I haven't seen him a long time... Figurehead or not? Ain't nobody gonna cross him in that group, or gaggle, or Murder. Whatever ya wanna call'em. Magnus is where all the paths really do end at, even if he can't be bothered to declare himself such a thing still. He's still the top dog, if ya don't catch my meanin'." She cast Cain a grin for a second, before she turned to slide the paper bags of bread in to the cabinet spaces built for such a storage purpose.

"It's like Game'a Thrones, if ya watched that show. Ya gotta play the political shit right, or ya suffer in ways ya didn't anticipate..."

Cain Marko has posed:
"Never said they weren't dangerous...just notin' The Brotherhood isn't some active unified front the way I see it.. Course I aint privvy to all of it. I said I'd help out from time to time, not drink the kool-aid, if y'get my meanin'. But I do know that Fabian doesn't answer to Mystique. He don't care what anyone thinks but the Genoshan royals and of 'em just really Magneto...and he's smart. Smart enough to play into Magneto's use for 'im, especially with you describing his power ampin' abilities. I last saw Magneto when we were assaultin' Galactus ship. Cortez was there as well, playin' his part, lke some major domo or somethin'."

Cain quiets a bit, watchin as Rogue continues to clean up and put everything away, "So I guess I'm saying that...yer right...but the Acolytes probably aren't going to be reeled in by either of 'em. I mean...they're -called- The Acolytes right? Fanatics servin' that mutant supremacy cause..."

Cain slowly stands up now, creaking up to his full height as he rumbles, "..Thanks fer the sandwich.."

He finishes off the sweet tea in one go and then, slowly grins, ".....You uh....should let me take a spin in that Danger Room of yers.. I promise not to bust it up like I did back in the day when stompin' in here after Charles..."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had most of the stuff put away in a rather impressively small amount of time, considering how many mouths needed to be fed in this place. When she paused again, he was up on his feet, and asking for his special favor.

She cast him a small smirk. "Grab me some time, when you're ready for a fight. I'll let ya inside it, make sure it is on the best settins to really push you to your limits. that things learns us, damn good, and knows where to hit us, and how to his us too. Ya might be surprised by it..." She says of the Danger Room.

"And you're welcome for the sandwich. There's more here if'n ya get the hungers later."