3749/The Blind Leading

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The Blind Leading
Date of Scene: 08 October 2020
Location: Mel's Roadside Diner
Synopsis: Mystique draws Ruth under her wing
Cast of Characters: Ruth Aldine, Raven Darkholme




Ruth Aldine has posed:
The very few times that Ruth can actually get out, she goes to Mel's diner. She's not exactly a regular, but she always treats it as a special occasion to be shared by herself; her birthday was recently and her aunt sent her $40 bucks for her to do what she liked.

With it being the breakfast rush, which Ruth was in no mood to do. Rush, that is!

A stack of pancakes, a plate of bacon, some sausage and loaded hash browns. The hasbrowns were filled with green peppers, onions and cheese, sprinkled with pepper and salt. She had a decanter of orange juice set up upon the table in front of her, along with a small vase with a daisy in it. Special request. She was going to enjoy her birthday meal to the fullest!

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique steps in wearing a simple yellow raincoat, pulling the hood back and shaking out her hair. She's blonde today, tastefully in her early thirties. She has a simple pair of navy slacks and a cream-colored sweater underneath the coat. Her blue eyes flick around until they settle on Ruth, a small smile curling the corners of her lips.

She leans into the counter, "I'll take a cup of coffee, lots of cream and sugar, over at the young lady's table," she says, nodding towards Ruth. Then she casually comes over and drops into the seat on the other side of the booth, laying out her coat and drumming blue-tinted nails over the countertop.

"Hello, Ruth," she says. "You don't know me, except you probably do. You know a lot of things, don't you?"

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Ruth wasn't much for praying; yet she does clasp her hands together to thank the staff for the good food, quietly. Her head bows, then sharply nods, and right towards the fork and knife to prepare to cut into the pancakes. It was quick and easy slices, making them all square as her aunt would, the blueberry syrup taken and soon spread along the top, which soon cascades down the side..

As the woman sits, Ruth continues on with the path. Taking only two pieces of pancake along with a piece of sausage, but not eating them just yet.

"Yes. Sorry. I know you as blue." And then she takes a bite, chewing. "Mmfh. should I be surprised today, yes.. mo.."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique smiles, "Typically, I like to take people off-guard. But I'm more than pleased for you to 'see me coming', so to speak," she says. She accepts the coffee with a twinkle and a cheery thank you to the waitstaff. Facade? Real? Hard to say. Raven is exceptionally hard to read, even for experienced telepaths.

"My name is Raven Darkholme. You likely know me as Mystique," she says, eyes flashing golden for a moment before returning to normal. "I know about you, Ruth. I make it my business to know the mutants coming into their own, the next generation so to speak. Your talent is impressive. I'd like to make use of it."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Still eating, not missing a beat. So far her breakfast wasn't ruined, though Ruth never really expects anything anymore, since she knows what would happen the further that she looked. In fact, she looks past this conversation, she could already see how things were going to develop, which path she could and should take. When she would take it.. how..

"Okay.." She says quietly, pushing the food away for now, settling for pouring her own orange juice. The little vase was alo set aside, so that it could be more of a direct line of 'communication' between her and Raven..

"How?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique takes a slow sip of the coffee, blowing across the surface until it reaches something less than boiling.

"In the past, I had a...companion," she says. The pain of the loss must be quite profound, for her to let even that much genuine emotion slip out, her voice almost cracking for a moment. "She was everything to me. I won't pretend otherwise. But, beyond our relationship, she gave me insight. She, like, you was blind and gifted with visions. She saw the traceries of history laid out before her and helped me navigate them, to try to make the world better for our kind. For years now, I have been without her guidance. It makes the work harder."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
Ruth didn't take a sip of her orange juice just yet. Keeping what would be her 'gaze' lowered towards the table, fingers crawling repeatedly against the side of the glass. She listens to the clear heartbreak, though she doesn't pry. Normally she would have, but.. well.. aside from fearing for her life, she felt that it was private enough which made her care.

"Oh.." She says quietly. "Sorry.. I just see myself walking, yes. To not get hurt." It was a slight lie, she could see past that, not that she wanted to reveal it all to a proverbial stranger. "Pardon, I do not think I can do what you are asking. I do not know how."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique sits back and assesses carefully, her lips pursed. "I think that you can. Perhaps not yet. But I've read your assessments, you have significant potential as both a psionic and a precog," she says. Xavier's files were generally hard to acquire but Mystique was nothing if not resourceful.

"I don't want you to get hurt. I recognize that you've probably had your head filled with Charles' pacifist rigamarole. Co-existence, defend those that fear and hate you, all of that wretched fairy tale nonsense. I will say that, unlike the X-men, I get things done."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
"You would take the time to teach me? Yes?" Ruth asks, it was now that she looked suddenly interested. Aside from her best friend, no one really took an interest, and perhaps that is what is making her a bit.. eager.

She smiles a little, which fades soon after, the plate of bacon soon pushed in between the two with her hands. To share at least, to co-exist with one another, here, right now, meant to have bacon. Bacon in betwen potential friends.

"I think I am okay with this." Ruth admits. Truly, she really is.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique smiles, "I lived with Destiny for decades. While her powers were not my own, I understand them - and the toll they can take - likely as well as anyone ungifted with them could be. Yes, I will teach you, to the best of my ability. And I won't force you to take extraneous math and geography lessons on the side. You're old enough to have had quite enough of such."

"If you want, I can approach to get you membership within the Brotherhood. If you would prefer things kept unofficial, you and I can keep your lessons and our work discreet, especially if you have any affection for Xavier's school. They will not like your association with me, but I hope that you care as little about that as I do. I am not in the mutant pleasing business, I am in the mutant saving business."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
"I.. I still need to graduate though." Ruth admits. "What if I get a job?" It was an honest quesiton, but she was sure that no one would actually hire someone who looked like her. She was physically deformed.

But she's heard a lot about the Brotherhood; they were not exactly savory types. However, most said the same about mutants and they were horribly wrong..

"I. Yes. I think I can do both." Ruth states, then sits up with a little bit of confidence that she could muster. "I will do both."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique blinks and considers, "If you want a job, of course, you can have one. I'm asking for your help, not your life. If it's a matter of material needs, I can easily provide for those. Money is one of the bigger lies not directly associated with mutantkind."

"Doing both may be difficult at times. There are times when the Brotherhood and Xavier's own will come in conflict. Lately, the outside threats to our kind have been enough to mostly put us on the same side. But that won't last. Magneto and Charles won't allow it. They're too invested in their little chess game to seek true unity," she sighs.

"But I'll keep you as safe as we can. And I can teach you how to sneak, how to fight, how to keep secrets. If you want."

Ruth Aldine has posed:
"No, like.." She gestures around the diner. What if she wanted an actual job! But she doesn't elaborate further than that, her chin lifting now as to tilt her head in Raven's direction, her lips pursing into a thin line as she grows still. She was 'looking'. Not so much at her but at her own situation. Running through the lines, separating herself, following paths, and snapping back again with a jerk back of her head.

"I can handle both." Ruth states. Confidently.

She reaches out now to take a few stalks of shared bacon, making a slight stack so that she could take a bite. They were crispy, and stood straight without it being wiggily. And she liked it like that.

"Okay."

Ruth, clearly, was such an easy sell, it was a goddamned shame.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique shrugs, "If you want a job, you can get a job. If you want a job and they discriminate against you, let me know and I'll make them suffer for it."

She finishes her cup of coffee, her hypermetabolism meaning the caffeine didn't do much. Raven wasn't entirely surprised the girl was game. From what she could see, during her brief reconaissance, the blind girl was rarely given much attention. Because she didn't demand it, perhaps, and because, as always, the female, the different, the disabled, are pushed to the side, even by those who claim otherwise. Mystique's been dealing with it for over a century.

Raven reaches into the pocket of her coat, sliding a phone across the table. "A burner phone. I have amatching one. Only one number in the memory - this phone," she says.

Ruth Aldine has posed:
"Okay." Ruth said. That was simple.

As the woman finishes her coffee, Ruth decidedly drinks her OJ, not stopping for a beat. Bacon can be salty, and it made her thirsty. Besides, OJ is addicting.

As the cell phone is passed forward, Ruth reaches out to take it, and exchanges it with her other cell phone, just because. It wasn't like anyone was calling her either way, and her aunt usually operated by email. "Thank you." She states, purely out of habit. "Sorry, when do I call you."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique speaks simply, "If you need me. Otherwise, I'll call you."

"I'll be in touch soon about training. And the Brotherhood. And the future. I'm pleased to bring you into the cause. I see a great deal of potential in you, young lady."