7003/So, About Hydra...

So, About Hydra...
Date of Scene:	19 July 2021
Location:	Dyani's Room
Synopsis:	Clarice shows of her 'I'm an American!' costume, and tells Dyani that the Hydra mutant slavery program has been shut down.
Cast of Characters:	Dyani Zitkala, Clarice Ferguson

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Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani's room is actually clean, not perfect given her vision, but things are stacked out of the way and the bed is made. She is sitting by the open window, bees merrily coming and going. Her personal little hive box is sitting right by the window, and the bees seem pretty busy with their work while she watches the clouds in the sky, or at least that's what is appears she is looking at. At present, the door to her room is open and there are a few bees sitting on the door frame watching people pass by.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    A rather ridiculously dressed Clarice - with a semi-circle of red white and blue, be-striped and be-starred fabric draped around her shoulder, a red-white-and-blue 'Hula' skirt around her waist, and dangly 'fireworks' ceiling decorations somehow suspended from her ears - strides down the hallway approaching Dyani's room, before peeking her head in with a smile. "Hey - Dyani. You mind if I come in for a bit?" she asks in a tone with the cheer perhaps a bit forced.
    After all, this was something she should have talked to Dyani about the last time she was here. But, perhaps, she'd been avoiding it...

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
The young mutant has already turned toward the door way, her large compound eyes waiting for that moment when Clarice would appear and... what in the...?

Dyani stares at Clarice in silence for a short time, head tilting one way, then the other, "Did a flag vomit on you Clarice?" She asks quietly, actually thinking that might be possible, but the things hanging on her had shapes that didn't quite match the idea. "You can always come in, we welcome you all the time, you are hive."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "No, more like the Fourth of July decorations box," Clarice answers as she steps in - gently closing the door, to allow the bees plenty of time to move in or out. "One of the students thought it would be funny to throw a Halloween party in July. Rogue told me to raid the holiday decorations in the closet for costume ideas, so..." She throws her arms wide, and spins in a full circle. "I'm an American! Great costume, right?" From her tone, and the amused expression on her features, even she knows it wasn't - but there's a hint of something almost malicious in her expression. That angry, aggressive teen had //deserved// this costume choice.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani stands up to walk over and hug Clarice with a giggle, scrunching the bits of costume in the process then stepping back.

"So a box of decorations threw up on you, and you made it work! We thought we heard something about a party, but we didn't think we could handle that many people. It really is a creative costume," she turns her head a little, now that she's closer and ohs softly. "Bunting!" She can finally see the shape of the decoration that was confusing her.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Bunting?" Clarice repeats. "Is that what they call it?" she asks curiously. "It's just a... cape thing. I walked around chanting 'Go America! We're number one!' for a bit. Because that's how Americans behave, right?" she remarks with amusement.
    Okay. She's never quite run into an American quite that awful, but still. After returning Dyani's hug, she finally starts divesting herself of her 'Halloween' costume - and once those are off, pulls off a cotton ball that'd been held in place with a bandaid on her left, no far below her elbow. The cottonball gets tossed, while the decorations are gathered up.
    "I bet your parents called you all excited about the goggles, huh?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani offers to help with the unwrapping of the American, giggling a little as she does. "Some American's act like that," she comments. "But /real/ Americans do not wear red, white and blue."

She takes some of the decorations and starts folding them up again. "We are real American, the rest are squatters, or so the Elders say. Our human mother was laughing and crying at the same time when she called. Our human father tried to sound like he was fine, but he was emotional too. They are so happy."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well, this is the only kind of American I can dress up as - with the stuff they had in the closet," Clarice remarks - probably completely unaware of the potential offense she could cause with other, erm, potential costumes.
    "I'm glad - I knew they would be," she remarks. "Now you really can do anything you want - after you're done with school."
    With the attrocious costume off, she drops down onto the bed before adding, "I actually, though - I had something I wanted to talk to you about, Dyani."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani continues to wrap and fold the costume parts, stacking them on the bed so they can go back into the box Clarice talked about. Once she's done, she moves over to sit in the chair by the window, and points to the other one there.

"What did we do wrong?" She asks simply, assuming that's why Clarice has come to talk to her instead of staying at the party.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Nothing at all, Dyani," Clarice answers. "Not a thing." She pushes herself up from the bed, moving to the chair beside Dyani's and sitting before she explains simply, "We finally found them - the people that took you. We went to their base, freed the mutants, and burned the whole place down."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
She had just been ready to look out the window again but she stopped, and her head tilted. It takes Dyani a moment to realize what Clarice is talking about. "Hydra?" She asks softly. "You... got them?"

She seems to be having issues with believing that, but it's Clarice, she'd never lie. "Did they suffer?" Now she sounds more believing, accepting and scoots forward to take Clarice's hand. "What anyone hurt, other than them?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We got them," Clarice agrees. "I don't think any of them got away. The mutant were all safely evacuated to Genosha, where they're being helped, treated for any injuries, and reunited with their families," she explains. "And someone set the base to explode so - even if any of them survived, if any of them were off the base at the time - they can never use that place again. We'll keep our eyes open to make sure they don't try to reopen the program." She gives Dyani's hand a reassuring squeeze. "We got them, Dyani."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani explodes out of the chair to hug Clarice again, tightly. "We're so glad, we don't want anyone else hurt or taken from their families." She steps back, then hugs again just one more time and finally moves back to her chair. "Was anyone you took to get then all hurt?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice returns the hug, smiling as she does so. "Me too," she agrees quietly. "It shouldn't happen to anyone else, though." She hopes.
    As Dyani moves back to her chair and persists in her questioning, she lets out a quiet sigh. Why hide it, though? Why let Dyani believe that this life is anything other than difficult - and sometimes painful? "People were hurt, but they'll all recover. ...I was hurt," she admits. "But I'm going to be fine. It's just going to take a little while longer."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Shock, both compound eyes going wider than they already were and Dyani is back over by Clarice, but this time she looking her over intently. Numerous bees come out of literally no where, from the hive, from outside the room to buzz around Clarice and look at her as well.

"Gods, gods, gods, gods... are you sure you are all right? Did we hurt you by hugging you?" her wings start fluttering madly behind her, though she's clearly not trying to fly. A nervous, anxious motion that seems to come naturally to her now. "Can we get you anything? Can we help? Does someone need to be stung to entertain you?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "No, we're not stinging anyone," Clarice replies with a laugh. "//Who// would we sting here at the-" Well, one person springs to mind, but that's still not a good idea. "-school. We don't sting anyone at school. Okay?" Hell, it was almost tempting, though. She shakes her head slightly before adding, "You didn't hurt me. I'm alright. I just - one of the mutants attacked me. It wasn't his fault, he wasn't himself, you know? And he feels badly about it. I just... I can't use my powers for a little bit, is all. But I'm otherwise fine."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
A few more moments of what is nearly a swarm of bees buzzing around Clarice and then they disperse back to their various places.

A grin spreads across her face, "Who were you thinking? We don't sting anyone as school, even if you wanted us to. Rogue let us have a really large hive and the bees are so very happy, so we do not sting."

Now to the other matter, her wings droop ever so slightly, "He was controlled, like we were. Is he alright? We understand his pain, what happened to him, if he needs someone to talk to, we can talk to him. It will not be easy to accept what he has done, we still do not forgive ourself, despite not being able to stop ourself." She finally sits back in her own chair, folding her wings up. "We remember it now."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm sorry," Clarice says quietly. "I wish those memories hadn't come back for you. I remember it all, too. The experiments that were done on me - the people I killed." She lets out a sigh. "It isn't an easy thing to carry. And sometimes I struggle to sleep. But there are things that help - and people that help."
    She watches Dyani with a small, tight smile. "If you want to go to Genosha, to meet the other mutants - we'll arrange a visit. I'm sure the staff here will understand, and if you're in the company of Lorna..." Then who could complain?

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani's head tilts slightly, "Who is Lorna?" She asks, then sighs softly. "They are our memories, good or bad, running or hiding from them does not teach us to be stronger. My human mother says that which does not kill us, makes us stronger. We did not die, so we much become stronger. We do not like the memories, but we must endure them so that we ensure no one else ever has to live as we did."

She offers Clarice a smile, "Do not let the memories haunt you, do not let them stop you, my human father says that memories cannot hurt you, but they can teach you."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Lorna is my friend - she lives here at the school. And she's my Queen, she rules in Genosha," Clarice explains simply. "I'll introduce you sometime," she promises. "I've mentioned you to her."
    She lets out a sigh before adding, "I try not to let my memories weigh on me too heavily, but sometimes it's hard. It's hard to find much of a lesson in the memory of being used to kill." Used to kill people who were fighting for the cause she now believes in so fervently. "Anyways. It just makes me fight harder for the cause."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani bounces slightly in her chair, "A Queen?! At the school!" She rubs her hands together, "We would very much like to meet her, when we can, we will remember to bow with respect and we will call her Majesty. She may not be our Queen, but she is a Queen, that demands respect."

She giggles, excited at meeting another queen. She considers herself a queen to a hive after all.

"You already learned the lesson Clarice, you do not realize it, but you did. When you realize that, you will be free."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice can help but laugh at this idea. "Oh, Lorna would haaaaate that. You should see the looks she gets when I call her 'Your Majesty.' She //hates// being reminded of her position in Genosha." She rolls her eyes widely. "But she's stuck with it. Her father freed Genosha from- ...from the people who hurt me. And she's- she cares so much about Genosha, about her people and doing what's right for them, she deserves the title. She's the right person to hold it."
    As for the memories, she shakes her head slightly before adding softly, "I don't know if I have it in me to ever be truly free of those memories. And- I don't know. Somehow, just the thought of it feels... wrong."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani's head tilts again, "Of course you cannot be free of the memories, but you can come to a point that they do not effect you. My human mother says it takes time, meditation and patience. The memories will always be there, we did not mean to imply they would go away."

She scoots herself back in the chair, her feet no longer touching the floor. "A queen is a queen, even when she doesn't want to be. I really look forward to meeting her."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Maybe," Clarice agrees quietly. What else can she say? And really, shouldn't she be encouraging Dyani, that some day the memories will get easier? And //haven't// they? "Things aren't as bad as they were." But they'll always effect her - how can they not?
    "Anyways. You'll have to forgive me if I can't come by the school quite so often for a bit - until my powers are back in order. You can call me anytime you like, though."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani ohs softly, shaking her head, "No, it is alright. You have to get better, but you can call, we still have the phone we were given, it is how we call our parents."

She stands up and goes over to the dresser. Pulling open the drop drawer she pulls out an old mayonnaise jar filled with an amber liquid that she carries over to offer to Clarice. "The first of the honey is for you."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice blinks in surprise as the jar is brought up - and smiles broadly as she accepts it with both hands. "Aww, Dyani... thanks," she says sincerely. "I mean, I'm sure you kept some for yourself and the rest of the hive, yeah?" she asks, as she looks down at the thick liquid.
    "I'll share this with everyone up on the Astroid. They'll love it."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods, "Oh yes, we still have more than enough, this is the extra that needs be taken away to make room for more." She moves to sit down. "We wanted you to have the first batch, that is from all the boxes and now they can make a lot more."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - I'm going to put it on pancakes," Clarice decides. "I'll sit down with Mister Creed, and Mystique, and we'll have a big pancakes-and-honey breakfast to reward them for helping stop those Hydra guys." And, you know, for putting up with her when she wasn't quite herself.
    "Anyways. I wanted to let you know we took care of those guys, so you could focus on your hive, and your studies, and making new friends here - yeah?" She rises to her feet - holding out an arm to offer Dyani another hug.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
She never says no to a hug, so Dyani scoots out of the chair and over to hug Clarice, this time the hug is not as tight. She leans into the purple mutant and lays her head on her shoulder and just... hugs.

"Thank you for telling us Clarice, we are very happy to know that no one else will be hurt by them. Will you thank everyone who helped for us? We will get them all fresh honey by next week, it takes that long to make."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Sure, Dyani, I'll let them know," Clarice promises. "And hey - maybe we can send some of this bounty down to Genosha - yeah? Where they're all recovering? Something sweet to brighten their day." She gives the kid a squeeze, letting out a sigh as she adds, "You're a good kid. And I'm glad, every day, that I was able to get you clear of that mess."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods, "Oh yes, we can send some there! That's a wonderful idea!" She finally lets go of Clarice, not really wanting to, but she's learning there's a certain number of second or minutes that hugs are supposed to last. "Do you think anyone would mind if we build more hives, out in the forest, away from the school, to make even more honey? We love giving honey to people, and we love making it."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I can't imagine why they would," Clarice answers. "But just check with one of the teachers before you do. Maybe Ms. Munroe," she suggests. "Since she's the one the most interested in the gardens and such? I bet she'll help you." She gives Dyani an encouraging nudge, then retrieves the Fourth of July decorations. "I better go put these back so no one goes accussing the Brotherhood of theft of school property," she remarks in a teasing tone, as she starts for the door.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani tucks her hands behind her back, under her wings. "We would make sure they knew you did not take them Clarice, you are hive, if they are angry with you, they are angry with us." She walks over to the door to open it for Clarice. "Call us when you can, we will continue to study, and practice. We can send a bee out for over an hour now, we are getting better."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Good. Keep it up!" Clarice waves brightly, before moving back down to the closet to put everything back into place. And everything is put back in the proper place except - huh. Where did the little Nightcrawler stuffie go? Weird.
    Oh well.