7399/New Furniture for Moving Day

New Furniture for Moving Day
Date of Scene:	16 August 2021
Location:	Clarice & Cynthia's Quarters, and London, England
Synopsis:	Clarice and Cynthia start moving into their new quarters. As an escape from emotional discoveries, they go on a shopping trip to London, England for furniture with some of Clarice's friends.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Raven Darkholme, Rahne Sinclair, Lydia Dietrich, Henry McCoy, Talia Wagner

---

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice has been in the new quarters already - in fact, she'd been in there already with Lydia, as she struggled over learning how to cut wrapping paper to the correct size in order to wrap a gift. In the end, she managed to conquer this challenge, thanks to Lydia's guidance. As Clarice and Cynthia step into the room, the standard furniture is already in place - a small desk for Cynthia tucked in where the second door used to be, and a larger desk for Clarice - perhaps someone was expecting her to start taking on a few more responsibilities for helping to run the Brotherhood? And of course chairs for each desk, and large, King-sized beds in the bedrooms as well as dressers for their clothes.
    On Cynthia's desk sits the carefully wrapped gift - in purple paper with a green bow on it. Because why not?
    "So... What do you think?" Clarice asks. "I was figuring we could put a TV and a couch in here... there's room enough. Maybe some of your friends, like Pete, could come up sometimes..."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia had no idea what to expect. The Asteroid had already turned out to be way more than she could have imagined, so many rooms and people, the garden alone was enough to melt her brain. Now to a new room, shared with her sister, she had decided not to expect and this allowed her to be shocked.

"Holy sheets!" she exclaimed, more over the size than anything in the room. "It's huge. You must know the owners or something." She teased, then finally started to look around.

The desks were nice, she didn't need a very large one just enough space for a computer for her school work and... a present sitting there. "You must get all the channels," she comments, looking at the area Clarice was suggesting for couch and TV. "I sent a picture of the garden to Pete, he'd like to visit some time."

Now her eyes go back to that present, and she slowly makes her way over to it. "You don't have to keep buying things Clare, just having you is more than enough."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "You just say the word and I'll pop down to pick him up. Assuming that we can get permission from... Kelly wasn't it? for the visit."
    As for the gift, Clarice shrugs her shoulders. "This is the last one until your Birthday," she replies, allowing some amusement to color her voice. "...probably. I make no promises." She gives the girl a nudge as she adds, "Open it anyways. You'll get it, when you see it. It's- well. It's for both of us, really."
    Of course beneath the wrapping is the photo album, with 'I smile because you're my sister. I laugh because there's nothing you can do about it,' emblazoned across the front - and the selfie of them in the garden already in place as their first photo.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Unwrapping the package, being careful because she wants that purple paper, Cynthia looks at the words on the front of the album and just starts laughing. "Clarice!" she scolds, but is still just cackling away.

Setting the album on the desk, while still laughing, she walks over and hugs her sister. "Thank you, it's perfect... and so true, so very true."

Stepping back so as not to crowd her sister too much, after all this was still a process of getting to know each other, she offer a smile, "Kelly won't have a problem with it. She's looking after like fifty kids, as long as Pete does his homework and keeps his phone with him, she doesn't care. Curfew is ten on school nights, midnight on weekends, unless other arrangements have been made like... oh... staying the night on the asteroid." She grins.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice returns the hug, and if she's being honest, she's a little disappointed when Cynthia pulls away. There's a part of her that just wants to keep hugging - as if that will make up for the lost time. "We'll fill the whole thing up - you know. Eventually. We've got time, yeah?"
    She leads the way towards Cynthia's bedroom - which is only Cynthia's bedroom by virtue of the fact that Clarice is used to having her bedroom door on the right - and looks in as the door slides open. "Pete's welcome to stay for a weekend, it shouldn't be a problem. So what are you hiding in that pocket of yours?" She asks curiously.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia gawks at the room, the size of it. There's enough space in there for at least four people and then some. Taking a moment to just walk around the space, she pauses at Clarice's words and giggles.

"How long have you been waiting to ask that question?" she asks with a grin. "Cause... well.. there's /a lot/ of stuff in the pocket." Walking to what she thinks is the perfect spot, "This was an accidental grab, but I'm glad it happened."

Putting her hand in a specific position, like out and away from her, an old chair just appears in a puff of purple. It may be old, but it was well cared for and clean. "I was panicking and just touched it and well, chair in the pocket. This room uh... couldn't hold it all."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I don't know. Probably since... about the same time you handed me a photo album," Clarice admits. She's silent a moment before asking, "Are there any home videos somewhere? I don't- I can't remember their voices." She remains near the doorway, leaning back against the wall as she studies the chair. It doesn't strike a chord with her. Maybe they bought it after she was taken? Or maybe it simply wasn't anything that ever mattered to her.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia hmms softly, then closes her eyes. For a moment her fingers seem to wiggle, as if she's counting or playing the piano in the air. She puts both hands into a specific location, and a plastic crate appears between her hands and she grabs onto it.

"If there's anything like that, it'd be in here," she sets the crate down and pops the lid off. Insides are a couple of really old VHS tapes, numerous CDs, what looks like a wedding veil carefully folded up and in a plastic container of it's own, a stuffed monkey, a few pairs of baby shoes, a couple onesies, a couple of tiny little dresses, and a jewelry box.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    There's a momentary hesitation before Clarice pushes off the wall to move closer, almost as if she's //afraid// of the box and its contents. She can feel her heart pounding as she looks inside. Her gaze goes first to the VHS tapes - since that is indeed what she'd asked for - but it's the monkey in the little plastic case that her gaze locks onto a moment later, and she reaches for it, struggling with getting the container open.
    A moment later she clearly decides 'to hell with that' and cleanly severs the top of the case off with a portal, so she can reach in and claim the toy, hugging it fiercely and wordlessly. For the moment at least, the videos can wait. //This// she remembers.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia looks up from the box just as the plastic is severed by a portal and watches her sister hug the monkey. A soft smile spreads across her face. "Mom kept it in the box," she says quietly. "Sealed like that... because it... smelled like you."

Then her eyes go back to the box, and she starts looking through the tapes.

"This is their wedding tape," she offers, just talking now to talk. "This is their first, second and oh god..." she blinks, holding up the tape. "It's their anniversaries, and the end of the tape is your birth." She does not want to watch that.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I, uhh... I can see how that'd be important to her," Clarice agrees quietly, still holding tightly to the toy. "I called him... I called him..." It was on the tip of her tongue, and it was driving her nuts. Monkeymonkeymonkeymonkey- "Mucky?"
    She wipes at her eyes, peering into the box at the VHS tapes as Cynthia names them off. She blinks, murmuring quietly, "I'm not sure I want to see that..." That sounds... awkward.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia giggles, "I don't want to see it either, but it's part of the things she saved."

She looks up again, still smiling, "Mucky... that sounds about right. She only said the name once and told me it wasn't to be played with, ever... but when I was really little, I'd sit and stare at it."

She holds up a CD now, "Dad put all of your birthday parties from tape onto this CD."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "All of them?" Clarice asks - still hugging the monkey with one hand as she reaches out to accept the CD. "I only really remember the one. The Halloween themed birthday they threw for me, since- since my Birthday's on October 31st." There were photos of it in album. Well - there were photos of all the birthdays, but that one took up a little extra space. "I'll, umm - I'm not sure if my computer even has a DVD player. I'll have to borrow one."
    Surely her parents would be on the video, right? And she could hear them speak?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"My laptop has a player," Cynthia comments. "And yeah, they were big on pictures and videos. I think there's some of mine in here too, as well as dad and mom's birthdays. They mostly all ended up on CDs, dad was working on it when ..." she stops there then slides the box toward Clarice.

"Anyway, have at."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice nods, pulling the box closer to herself. There's a hesitation before she carefully sets the monkey back into the box - and then blinks away the broken pieces of the plastic case it used to be in. "I'll, uhh... Put these in my room for now. Thanks Cynthia. I- I can't wait to see these." She gives her sister a small, tight smile, before looking back down at the box.
    "Some people believe that- I mean, that people have a spirit, a soul, yeah? And I've seen- well. There's a mutant I know who has the ability to see spirits. Ghosts. ...whatever.
    "Do //you// think they can see us? Do you think they know?"
    Was their mother still there - following them sometimes? Or was she gone now that her daughters were together? And gone to where?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia nods as she picks herself up, leaving the crate for Clarice to do with what she wants.

"Oh sure, ghosts are real, spirits and souls, real. One of the younger mutants at the orphanage hears them."

Moving over she sits in the chair, and for a moment she closes her eyes and just... sits. After a moment a tear escapes her eye, which makes her angrily wipe it away, stand up and pop the chair back into the pocket.

"I'll see what else I can find," she offers, clearing her throat. "There's lots of things in the pocket that might interest you."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'd like to see them," Clarice invites, watching her sister uncertainly. Should she tell her? Would it be too much?
    Would it really be better to keep it from her?
    "...I don't know about dad," she admits. "But I- one of my friends could see spirits. He saw mom. And he did something one day where- well. I saw her too, but I couldn't hear her. He could. He said- She was trying to tell me about you. I misunderstood. I just- I assumed you were gone, too. But maybe she was trying to help us fine one another."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia blinks a few times then steps toward Clarice, "Wait... you learned about me mom's ghost?"

That seems to be hard for her to wrap her head around. Ghosts she could believe in, because of Pamala, but her mother as a ghost, that was way more difficult.

"Okay... Okay... so... my mother couldn't rest," she says slowly as she starts to half pace, half rock back and forth. "Maybe she can now?" She looks to Clarice. "Now that Mystique found me and we're together? You think she can rest now?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I don't know. I think so - I hope so," Clarice answers, hoping she hasn't made a mistake in telling Cynthia. "I just know- that's what Nicolai said she wanted to tell me. He said she was talking about a sister. But- We had to leave Genosha. There were too many spirits, and we had to go. He never got your name, and I assumed you were dead, but then Mystique found you anyways, so... I think probably that this is what she wanted, don't you? And that now she knows and- that it's alright now."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia stares off into nothingness for a moment then looks back to Clarice nodding.

"Yeah... she can probably rest now," she lies to herself, because really that can't be the reason. Their mother thought Clarice was dead when she died, so there was no reason for her spirit to linger just to tell her that she has a sister. No, the real reason their mother couldn't rest was the way she died, but Cynthia refused to think about that.

"So, when can we fix the common room up?" She says out of no where, complete change of subject.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Right now," Clarice says immediately - rising to her feet with the box in her arms. She takes it to her room, tucking it into place against the wall. Mucky she pulls out again, though, staring down at the little toy monkey and petting the fur. After a few seconds of staring, she nestles the monkey into place on her bed, before returning to their shared living room.
    "...okay. Umm. What do you mean 'fix it up' though? I don't- I'm not much of a decorator," she admits.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Moving back into the main room between their bedrooms, Cynthia shrugs a little when Clarice returns.

"You said something about a couch and a TV," she offers. "I mean, anything really. I don't know about decorating either. Do you know someone who decorates?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - yeah. But I figured we could just - I don't know. Find a couch we like online and go pick it up? And definitely a TV. And... I don't know. Do you do video games? We could... get a console or something. And you probably need a shelf there for your school books," she indicates the space next to Cynthia's desk, turning to eye the space before adding sheepishly, "Not sure what else, though. Maybe Lydia would be better at decorating. Or Lorna."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia walks over to what will be her desk and picks up the album, "Well, we have to do stuff together to start taking pictures to add to this. Perhaps we should go to like a furniture store or..." she hmms. "Yeah, we need help. I've got no clue about this stuff, I mean I can look through a catalog or online and see stuff I like, but I don't have money so I never bothered beyond that."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'll - umm. We'll figure out a stipend for you," Clarice says uncertainly, her brows furrowing. I mean - do parents usually give their kids money? How much money? She almost never spends the money she gets, so it's not like it would be a hardship...
    She knows so little about all of this...
    "But a shopping trip sounds like a plan. I'll, umm- I could invite some of my friends to give us ideas?" she suggests as she pulls out her phone - shooting out a quick text message to Lydia, Lorna, and Hank. 'Shopping trip with Cynthia? We don't know how to dekorat.' It's only thanks to autocorrect that 'decorate' gets spelled correctly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A smile crosses Cynthia's face and she nods, "Sure, you probably have way more friends than I do, and although Pete is gay, his specialty is fashion, not interior design." She giggles at that, apparently there's a joke there. "So maybe your friends could help out."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice is quiet for a while as she waits for responses on her phone - letting out a sigh and shaking her head slightly. "Not sure that I do," she admits. Lorna's busy, Hank's busy... Well. Not sure how could Hank would be at decorating, anyways. Decorating isn't exactly Rahne's thing, but maybe...? No answer from Lydia..." She lets out a sigh. "Might just be you and me."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia shrugs, "Then it's just you and me, and we make all the decisions and tell everyone it's their fault because we were unsupervised." She grins ear to ear. "See how I twisted that? That's call teen power."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Are we going to try to purposefully pick the most horrendous things?" Clarice says dryly. "Though really - when it comes to a couch, maybe we look for the most comfortable one?"
    She gets a thoughtful look on her features before asking, "Where should we go shopping, though? Probably somewhere that speaks English. It's a bit early in America, but shops should be open on the East Coast, or we could go to England... Sweden, Norway... Don't know that many shops would be open in Australia right now."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia was just about to sit in the chair at her desk to give it a try, see what it felt like and then Clarice was talking about other countries. In her life, Cynthia has been two places. Genosha and the Asteroid. She used to think about traveling when she was younger, all the other places, but after the attack, something in her changed. It might have been the brain damage, but she never assumed she'd go anywhere after that.

"England?" She asks slowly. "We could go to England? Don't you like... need passports and English money for that?" She starts inching toward Clarice slowly. "I mean, isn't that what we're supposed to do... cause really, if you want something I can just..." she touches the air in front of her.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice blinks at Cynthia in surprise, then shakes her head slightly. "I mean - technically, yes, we're supposed to have passports, and visas, and go through immigration and stuff but..." Clarices gestures broadly and shrugs. "Teleporter! So I //never// bother with any of that." She shrugs her shoulders as she adds, "As for money - I just bring along a credit card they'll accept. VISA cards travel pretty well, really."
    She gets a ping on her phone and looks down, her expression lighting up as she adds, "Rahne can join us."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia hmmms, bouncing slightly, "Gods, so many choices then! We could shop ANYWHERE!" She laughs, then darts to her lap top to look up the time zones and location, where English is spoken. "Okay, English is mid-afternoon, we could have Bangers and Mash! Or, or, or... fish and chips! England, we need to go to London!" She got way excited way fast.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "London it is!" Clarice agrees in amusement - looking at her phone again as she gets another message. "Oh - Talia's in, too." Maybe Cynthia's statement had been right after all? "God I hope Talia knows how to decorate," she mutters quietly under her breath.
    A series of well placed portals end up with five women on the streets of London, in the Belgravia district, famed for its interior design stores. This was probably something Talia discovered through a quick internet search. "Alright, so... We need stuff for the living room in our new quarters and- well. I don't know. Anything that catches our eyes, I guess."
    Clarice studiously ignores the stares they get for appearing through a strange purple portal. She's well used to that, after all.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia still is so not used to this portal travel, but it's so much fun. Pop, go, pop, go! So much better than pop, gone.

With each new person added to the group, she offers friendly greetings, always remaining close to Clarice. In the end as they end up in England, she's so hyped she'd pure energy bubbling over.

"That has got to be the best fricken way to travel!"

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne has something on her cheek. It looks as if she was eating when she got the portal, and given the way she's been lately it's a pretty fair bet that she'd be eating still. There's no way that all fits in her tiny lithe frame, but yet there she is.

She looks up at London, then frowns. "Oh Laird, not thes place," she murmurs. Then she looks up at the rest of them and waves her hands animatedly. "Ah mean, es fine! Pure cool, et is. Big Ben yay!" So fake.

She smiles. See me smiling?

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Shopping? Did somebody say shopping? Lydia was slow to respond to the text that Clarice sent, since she was so invested in writing for her latest novel, but she got a response out just in time to pop over to London. Being able to just... /go/ anywhere in the world is still mind boggling for the glowing green mutant.

When asked where to go she was absolutely at a loss, though, so she picked someplace that seemed posh enough to go to find a furniture store that isn't an Ikea. "Belgravia?" she suggests. And then she's there.

"So!" she says, rubbing her hands together excitedly, "Let's see if we can find a furniture store!"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia is really excited, she's not in the US, she not in Genosha, she is actually in a completely different country! She looks around with excitement then freezes and looks at Rahne.

"What's wrong? Don't you like London? Should we go some place else?" She is actually concerned about this, because she wants all of her sister's friends to like her.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean - I might be a little biased, but I think so," Clarice agrees with Cynthia in amusement, looking around at their surroundings in curiosity, before turning to give Rahne a bemused look. "It's okay if you don't like London," she remarks. "And Cynthia - it's okay if you //do// want to see London." Looking Rahne she explains, "It's just- well. Cynthia's never even left Genosha before." Honestly, to Clarice the Asteroid was part of Genosha. "So I let her pick the destination."
    She nods towards a store nearby with a large storefront window displaying a fashionable wooden dining set. "They must have other furniture - yeah? We need a couch. And- I don't know. Maybe some other stuff. A book shelf, a TV, a video game console. Ummm... decorating... things." Whatever those were.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Well, London was quite the place to be! Henry was quite happy to accept a quick jaunt over there from Clarice, donning his tweed blazer with the brown elbow patches. Quite the proffessorial look, honestly. He's got his reading glasses stored in his breast pocket, in case they decide to stop in for some food somewhere. Musn't squint to read the menu, after all. He takes in the sights, the scents - the everything of jolly ol' London.

A glance to Rahne and a smile. "I have your back, Rahne. No worries, all right?" He comments, in case it is a concern of safety. "So! Shopping? Or sight seeing? Food?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia leans closer to Clarice to whisper, "That is a lot of fur... does the drain ever forgive him?" She then offers a huge smile toward Henry, who she has never met before. Either she's joking or she serious, it's hard to tell, but she is smiling to most likely is kidding.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks thoughtful at the mention of what they should get. "A comfy couch, yes. That's first on the list. Maybe a table and chairs if you have space so you can study together." She starts nodding to herself. "Entertainment case with large TV and console...."

"Hm. Maybe some plants? All you'd have to do is water them on a schedule and they'd be happy."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - I already have some plants. I wouldn't mind a few more, though. It reminds me of- well, of that first year I spent with Mister Creed. We spent a lot of it in the woods," Clarice explains, looking towards Cynthia as she offers this explination.
    As for the talk of Hank's poor drains - she lets out a snort of amusement. "They probably have to bring a plumber in pretty often. It must be annoying." She gives Hank to playful nudge to take the sting out of it, as she leads the way into the furniture store, ignoring the stares from the employees and customers who hadn't expected so many people with such obvious mutations to enter the shop all at once.
    "Do we need to decide on some sort of... color scheme? Isn't that how people do things?"

Henry McCoy has posed:
Sharp ears, has Henry. "I tend to do a lot of brushing before stepping into the shower. And after." He grins to Cynthia. "I had a friend who was nice enough to help with the brushing - that helped keep me calm." A slight shrug and smile. He nudges Clarice back, carefully. "I also have a couple of designs in place to help clear up the problem of errant fur." A sage nod.

"Are you getting uniforms? Or just similar outfits?" He wonders, peering around at the store as they enter. The stares and looks are normal for him - he pays it no mind.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia starts bouncing around again, so much energy. She looks in the window with the table and chairs, which has nothing to do with what they want, but the place may have other stuff.

"Wait," she suddenly stops and looks at Lydia, met her once, she's safe. "Clarice studies?"

The holding still lasts maybe thirty seconds and she's bouncing again. "Plants also need UV lights, or they die. Light bulbs don't do it, trust me, we tried while in the tents."

She shifts her eyes to large, blue and furry, then extends her hand toward him. "Hi, I'm Cynthia, you can call me Thia if you want. Sorry about the comment, I couldn't resist. I really do like your fur, and am doing some serious soul searching to not start petting you."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ was trailing behind everyone a bit distracted as she used the internet to read up on this realities London. She really wanted to get the lay of the land. Which hero sorts might be all busy bodies here. What villains might throw the wheel thing like a giant toy across the city. Frisby or roll style.

She finally stops messing around on her phone though and steps up a bit to catch up. Her own fur blue but much shorter than Hanks, tail swishing behind her.

She is wearing her punky and spiky leather look that she has adopted while hanging out with the Brotherhood mostly.

"Color scheme and style I suppose.. like what look are you going for... retro.. modern... dorm room.... and what furniture are you missing out on right now... " yeah she has been in Clarice's room but she isn't sure what the others are looking to get or stock into the rooms.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I study," Clarice confirms, struggling to supress a wince. This is more people than she would usually admit this in front of but- oh well. "I wasn't exactly offered an education growing up, so I'm trying to catch up. It's a challenge.
    "Oh, hey, this chair is nice," Clarice remarks suddenly, dropping into a blue stuffed chair with smooth, curved lines. Deflect and redirect. Always.
    Looking to Talia she adds, "Well. I mean, Cynthia and I have adjoining quarters now - Magneto pulled out the wall between two antechambers to give us a living room. So... We need a couch, for sure, and a book shelf for Thia's books, and beyond that- whatever catches our eyes, really.
    "No clothes shopping today, though. ... I don't think. I mean, I guess it depends on how the day goes..."

Henry McCoy has posed:
A slight grin at the mention of the remodel of the rooms, Eric's help, and the necessity for a new decor. "Oh! Look for comfort over style, trust me. Usually, you can find something that has both, but..." A chuckle from Henry. "Definitely look for comfort. You want something that will let you de-stress from the day, and curl up with a good book or movie."

A wink to Cynthia. "No problem, Thia. I am pretty fond of my fur nowadays, too." A laugh. "Seeing myself without it is a shock to my system, truly. It's been so long, now." A slight shrug. Henry waves to Talia as she joins them. "As she says, look for what you need, too."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Studying the chair, Cynthia sits in Clarice's lap as if attempting to test the chair but gets her sister inside, then she does the ultimate trapped sister thing... she starts tickling her.

"Why would we need uniforms?" She asks, tickling Clarice, or trying to find ticklish spots. "Yeah, Clare saved me from tent city in Genosha. We have a main room together, but I have my own bedroom for the first time!"

She looks back to Clarice, stopping the tickle to let her breath, "I can help you with that, if you want."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ gives a three fingered wave to Cynthia and then looks at Clarice flopped in the chair.

"Well clothes shopping wouldn't be around here... we would want to pop up to Soho for that." TJ muses as she looks around at the various furniture in the shop. "Wonder if Carnaby Street is still a mix of Fifth Ave and Haight Ashbury... hippy consumerism..."

She pokes a couch with her tail tip. "Definitely for what you need... though if they look a bit similar and have some color scheme going on winner. More color than style ... but some people say the opposite. Hard to go wrong."

"Oh..are we using Hank's Avenger's Amex or did we swipe Lorna's?"

She watches the tickling amused.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "He- hey! Hey!" Clarice protests as she's abruptly tickled. She laughs, but then - see, this is where Clarice has the advantage.
    Abruptly, she isn't in the chair anymore, she's behind Hank instead, popping her head out to one side to stick her tongue out at Cynthia. She also put her thumb to her nose and waggles her fingers at the younger girl. Neener neener neener!
    "I swiped Mystique's card." No, no she didn't. She has her own credit card - and it will work just fine.
    "...and I'd welcome the help." Though she hopes Cynthia won't be too appalled by how far behind her older sister is. "Lydia's been helping me some. Umm... Lorna was the one who really insisted I start studying. She believes firmly in the importance of a proper education for all the citizens of Genosha."

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast clucks his tongue at Talia's suggestion. "I cannot in good conscience use my Avenger's card..." He winks to the other blue mutant. "Not that they'd mind, I am sure." A slight chuckle. As the tickling commences, he shakes his head. "Siblings. It is good to see them together, eh?"

And then he's a shield, with Clarice appearing behind him. "Please, no nudity. I would be absolutely purple with embarassment." A laugh. Looking back to Clarice, he nods. "If you ever need help, I am always willing to help with education."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia pouts when Clarice cheats, and complains with a laughing, "Oh come on! If I use my abilities you'd all be naked!"

She stands up now, and this is when she notices Talia's tail. You just can't miss it when it's poking couches. With wide eyes she smiles broadly and extends her hand toward the woman, "Hi, I'm Cynthia, you can call me Thia, I love your tail!"

A quick glance to Henry and she's trying to figure out, for that quick moment, how he would turn purple... would his hair turn purple? "Um..." she considered asking then changes gears because it would just be wrong and awkward to ask an adult male that kind of question. "Clarice is already purple, and I have some purple."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ watches the teleporting to escape the tickling. "Okay that is just cheating." Talia notes amused though. She has seen worse with her dad raising her with that advantage. Though it has helped her develope some pretty fast reflexes. Not just the mutant gifted portion.

She circles the tail around and puts it in Cynthia's hand to give a shake. It is very dexterous and stronger than it looks. "Thanks." she notes. When it is released she twirls and it is gone.... did it.. retract.... where the hell did the tail go.

"The IronCorportratist wouldn't notice some furniture shopping here Hank.. he would assume you just got taste." yeah she is teasing lightly. "Probably be jealous and order Jarvis to order him some for an office he won't use..."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "No nudity!" Clarice protests with a laugh. "We left our passports at the, errm, hotel after all..." Right. Those 'passports' that have their visas on them. Sure.
    She emerges from behind Hank, moving to put an arm casually around her sister, to get her back on her feet. "Purple is beautiful," she agrees. "But a purple couch would clash too much. Let's go find something that suits, yeah? It looks like they have more couches over there..." She nods further into the store, and leads the charge that direction.
    "I appreciate that Hank - I do! Everyone's been so generous about wanting to help..." It really does mean a lot to her.
    Even if she does seem to blow off a lot of those offers.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Yep. Plenty of purple to go around. No need for Henry to blush, then! "Quite possibly, Talia. And I do have taste... just a more old-fashioned taste than Tony. He likes the sleek and modern look of things." A chuckle. "Something about being a futurist, all that."

He grins to Clarice and Cynthia. "Good. People should be encouraging when you are trying to better yourself. That's what friends do, they support one another." A look around again. "So, what specifically are you looking for in terms of furniture? Couch? Chair? Tables?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia slides her arm around Clarice once she's on her feet.

"If we get a purple couch, you'd disappear on it and I'd particularly disappear," she offers. "So let's not and say we did. But I did like that blue chair."

She starts looking around, then urges Clarice to start walking toward the back and the other couches. "How about cow print?" She points to an all leather couch that looks like the side of a cow, not the meat, the actual patches of color fur. "Oh! I wonder if they have one of those recliner couches."

Talia Wagner has posed:

"I should have swiped Tony's wallet when I swiped your Avengers Access card... mom would probably be upset with me though..."

When she is walking again to check out couches her tail is back and swishing. "Well... cowprint would probably work if you were going for western or ironic.... otherwise probably not." she finds a very plush looking steel blue grey looking couch and touches it with a hand ... "Hmm this one seems nice..." pressing it a few times and then flops down onto the couch checking it out.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Cow print? Really? Clarice studies her sister, trying to judge if the other girl is joking or not. ...she has to be. Right? "It's a bit of a, ummm... bold statement?" she comments uncertainly. "Honestly, I like the look of the one Talia's found better. Though, I don't know if it reclines. Does the whole couch recline on a recliner couch?" she asks uncertainly.
    "Which one do you like, Hank?" As she's studying the couches, she comes upon one that is sectional - with a long, divan shaped section. A glance at a photo of it, has her lifting up at the cushion and- "Oh. You can put things under here. I guess that's sort of neat?" Do they need that?

Henry McCoy has posed:
The man thinks a moment, nodding at the one Talia has found. "I am partial to that color, of course. And it looks comfortable. Try it out?" He suggests, before a slight look of irritation. His phone buzzes, the man reaching into his pocket to retrieve it. "If you ladies will excuse me a moment?" He offers, apologetically, before stepping out of the shoppe to take the call.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia laughs and nudges Clarice, "I was joking, that thing looks like a cow you can sit on."

Stepping away from Clarice now she moves over to sit on the couch beside Talia, bouncing a little to test it. "This is really nice actually, come try it Clarice." ooking to Talia she says, "Where did you tail go? Does it teleport away or just disappear?" And then she adds, "The ends of the couch are like recliners, I've seen them on the net."

Talia Wagner has posed:
"Honestly I think it is a quirk from my dad's side of the family... strange as it is .. it just kind of retracts and vanishes into me." she shrugs a bit helpless and relaxes sprawled against the arm of the couch, her arm over the back of it.

"My vote is this one... I think they only recline if they do like the sectional ones with the recliners on the ends.. like couch lazy-Boy hybrids..."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice shrugs, moving away from the white sectional she was studying, to the couch the other two are on. She poofs away in a flash of purple energy, only to reappear a foot or so above the couch in a horizontal position, her legs flopping over the arm of the couch opposite Talia, and her head landing abruptly in Cynthia's lap. "Hrm. I see what you guys are saying. This one isn't bad at all," she agrees, smirking up at the pair with amusement.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia looks down at her sister's head in her lead, then reaches to brush the hair out of Clarice's face, "You cheat a lot don't you? But this couch is way comfortable, what you think? It's big enough to sleep on even."

She can't help but look at Talia's butt, probably for more than one reason, but the tail... it's about the tail. "So it just... goes inside you. That's kinda cool actually, a tail you can hide."

Talia Wagner has posed:
"Told you so." says TJ smugly.

She is pointedly ignoring the store clerk and some of his existential angst of three mutants sitting on his couch all cozy and sprawled.

Fuck em

"Yup.. zip gone. It does make going sunbathing or swimming easier .. swimsuits don't need tailholes then." she seems amused by it all.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Talia - where do you buy your pants that they come with tail holes?" Clarice quips back, an amused smile on her features.
    She pushes herself up to a proper, seated position as she adds, "Of course I do. I mean - who //wouldn't//?" She bounces again on the couch, and leans into the arm of it, and against the back. "Yeah. Pretty comfortable - doesn't recline, though. And yes - Pete can sleep on the couch, if that's what you're hinting about. Though- I mean, we could get one of those- what do you call them?" She frowns in though. "I used to have one - under my bed. A bed under your bed. That pulls out... For- I mean, when I had sleep overs with friends..."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia can't miss being stared at, she's not used to it, so she starts staring back.

"You can always alter swim suits to include a tail hole you know," she comments, still staring back.

She doesn't understand what his problem is, what the issue might be. She grew up in Genosha, this sort of thing doesn't happen there. "Hey, what's your damage dude?! We're gonna buy a couch, so need to be all rude and sheet."

She looks back to Clarice now, since she got that out of her system and made the guy jump out of his skin, "Trundle bed, those are way cool to have. Pete however can sleep in the bed with me... gay, remember?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
"It isn't like there is any downside to cheating for Clarice. I mean if I use my tricks it has really has a lot of collateral damage .. not suitable for cheating.... naptime for people every time.. alas..."

She closes her eyes relaxing. "I mean I could get swimsuits altered like the pants.. which I have to get altered Clarice... but well... they are so much more disposable than good pants so it seems like a small blessing it disappears when I need it to. It also means under an image inducer I am less likely to be given away by someone bumping my tail."

She mmms "or pull out futon thing... bunk beds.... if you don't get his couch I'm getting it for my room upstairs or at the mansion."

She cracks an eye open at the nervous clerk. Now more nervous and also embarrassed.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I know, I know. But I thought maybe he'd feel more comfortable with his own bed," Clarice offers with a shrug. "So. We could get a trundle - thank you - or use the couch or- really, it doesn't matter to me. It's whatever you guys like."
    Clarice shoots a look towards the nervous employee, then leans in towards her sister to murmur quietly, "Most places - mutants are the minority. So people aren't used to seeing a group of us just strolling in, flaunting powers and the like. I usually ignore it, unless they start pulling shit."
    She pats the couch then muses, "Well, as long as you don't have your heart set on a reclining couch, I'm fine with this one. Then we just need to find you a book shelf for next to your desk. And then we can go find an electronics store for a TV. Do you and Pete like video games?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia shakes her head, standing up from the couch. "This couch is perfect, let's get it... but Pete, no, he freaks out when alone, so it's actually better if he doesn't sleep alone on the couch... trust me, unless of course you want to wake up from his nightmares cause you're having them too."

She eyes the clerk again, but he got smart and moved away from now, so she turns her attention back to Clarice. "So this couch, you can find the clerk, I think I scared him. Why was he staring like that?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
Something that was said finally sinks in with the extended exchange "Wait a second... who is Pete?"

The expanded description of powers blinks. "I definitely don't want someone elses nightmares.. or... um... someone in my nightmares." she started out joking then thought about it as she was talking and got very .. very quiet on the subject of her nightmares.

Haunted almost.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "He's Cynthia's friend. He's telepathic," Clarice explains quietly, giving her sister a curious and concerned look as she thinks about Pete's struggles. "He dreams about the sentinels?" she asks in a quiet, sympathetic voice. "I had my own dreams about that day." She reaches over to give her sister a reassuring squeeze. She's pretty sure, though, that she doesn't want to see Pete's nightmares - that it would only stir up her own bad memories.
    "He's just staring because he's not used to seeing a purple girl, and a blue girl. That's all. In England mutants are probably only... 5% of the population. And even then, a lot of those people pass as flatscan humans. He's just not used to folks like us, it's not necessarily his fault."
    Pushing herself to her feet, she moves to approach the guy with a bright, encouraging smile. "Hey. We wanted to buy that couch - can we take that one there, or is there another in the back...? No need to worry about delivery." She reaches into her pocket as she talks to pull out her credit card.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Looking over to Talia, Cynthia offers a smile, "He's telepathic, like extremely so, and has really bad nightmares if he sleeps alone, so... someone always sleeps with him and no nightmares." She shifts slightly where she's standing, chewing at her bottom lip. "Once, before Kelly took over, the guy in charge tried to make Pete sleep alone... the whole tent woke up screaming at the same time. It's the sentinels and other things mostly."

Time for a subject change, she could see something just passed Talia's face, the vibe in the air changed, "So, we pay for the couch then go get a TV and yes, we play video games, but he cheats by reading my mind."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ blinks a little bit. "Yeah.. though knowing about TV buying.. .should go to some big box store State side for the TV..." she shifts on the couch.

"This couch though is a keeper one way opr another...."

"Sentinels are pretty bad." she notes as well now.

She pops up to her feet now and then stretches and twirls around.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It doesn't take long to pay for the couch. It takes longer for Clarice to convince the to carry the matching couch from the backroom, out onto the show room for them. But once they have - she turns to her sister with a broad grin. "You want to do the honors, or should I?" she asks. After all, either way the people watching will see what is essentially the same effect.
    "Did you see a shelf you like - for next to your desk?" she calls. "Or maybe a little table and chairs? Though - I mean, we can just pull your chair over to my desk really..."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There's something humorous about watching men carry a couch and bitch, with accents, at the same time. Cynthia can't help but giggle a little about it.

"That shelf there would work," she indicates a simple wooden shelf, nothing fancy about it, but it is painted blue. "I don't need much space, most things stay in the pocket." As she says that she touches the couch and it disappears in a puff of purple. "It would be easier to just move my chair to your desk, a table and chairs doesn't make sense."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ tilts her head a little bit studying the puff of purple smoke where the couch was a moment ago and then looks between the sisters.

"Okay... is hers a teleport objects power by touch or ... how does it work?" she is pretty curious. First time she has seen it after all.

She grins. "Shoplifting would be easy that way." she muses.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Great. Add on the shelf please?" Clarice adds brightly. "And if you could bring that in from the back? Or - you know, she could just go back there and touch it- no?"
    Something about liability, and guests not being allowed in the back, no insurance, blah, blah...
    "Fine, fine. You guys can lug it out here for us. We don't mind."
    She turns next to Talia, blinking at her as if - quite honestly - this has never occured to her. "...I mean. Yeah, I suppose it would be, but... There's no need for anything like that. The Brotherhood pays me well enough."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia gets this mischievous little grin on her face, and the sparkle in her eyes matches.

"It's not teleporting," she admits, some human on the other side of the store staring with a slack jaw. "It's... well I touch things and they go into a pocket. Once in there, they are stuck in suspended animation until I want them back, then I just have to think about what I want and I can make it appear again." She moves closer to Talia and whispers, "And I have shop lifted before, cause I was dirt poor."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ nods to Cynthia "Cool." whether or not she means the shop lifting or power. Who is to say.

Probably the power.

"Also.. I had no idea we got paid..." she muses. "I've just been mooching off my not-parents.... good to know."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Yes, we get paid," Clarice replies with amusement. "You know, if you go on missions for the cause. Do patrols in Bushwick - all that stuff." Does she have any idea where the money comes from? No.
    Once the shelf is brought out for Cynthia to blink into storage, and her credit card is returned to her, Clarice turns towards her two companions. "Well - lunch and sight-seeing in London?" she asks. "Or blink back to America to hit an electronics store and do lunch over there...?" I mean - never mind that it's probably still Breakfast time over there. Timezones. Meh.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"Fish and chips!" Cynthia exclaims, then touches the shelf. Another purple puff and it joins the couch in nothingness. "Then we look around a little longer before popping back to New York to buy a television and some gaming consoles. I may need a few other things from a normal store, if that's alright... I mean, I don't know how this is supposed to work."

A bit of a sheepish smiles lands on her face, "So so I just ask for things I need Clarice, like you know..." she mutters a word that sounds like harpoons. "just ask?"

Now she heads over to Talia, "Not parents? What's that mean?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ blinks "Oh. I'm not from this timeline, I'm from a different earth originally... so uh.. the two people here whom are my .. not parents... and I." she thinks and hand wobbles. "It is complicated but they are pretty great people and actually are cool with me being in their lives even if they aren't in each others...."

"I've been doing all that Clarice.. I didn't know we got paid.. I'll have to check with the quartermaster.. maybe I have an account with credit I didn't even know about lol..."

"Also fish and chips or shepards pie sounds grand... I could use a guiness and some fish and chips though myself..."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Alright, fish and chips it is," Clarice agrees, turning to the cashier to get directions to a good shop.
    Hopefully it's a good shop and he's not just being a dick.
    Turning to Cynthia she adds, "Talia used to travel to different realities with not-me, and with not-me's Mister Creed, as well." She starts strolling towards the exit, hands shoving into her pockets as she adds, "You should have an account. I'll see who I can talk to about onboard proceedures - that that never came up. I mean, yeah, you get room and board on the asteroid - but you need a stipend too for clothes, and toiletries, and such. And everyone deserves a bit of entertainment money, yeah?"
    She glances towards Talia for a moment before she asks, "I was wondering, though. Have you ever met another Cynthia - in all your travels?" Did //her// Clarice have a Cynthia she simply never brought up?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
So in one day Cynthia learned that her mother is a ghost in Genosha, and that there are people from other realities... oh and there are other realities. The science supports that there like it, but until now there wasn't really proof. Moving along with Clarice and Talia, she looks between the two. This particular conversation was a bit over her head, so for now she was going to look around at /everything/ they passed by.

Apparently there was something about them that drew attention from other's out on the streets, because they were being stared at again. As they walked, people sort of moved out of the way and stared. It makes her look at her shirt to make sure there isn't anything on it, then she checks her face to see if there's something on it. Nope and nope, so she was clueless.

Talia Wagner has posed:
"I don't recommend moving between timelines. Messy." she clarifies about the whole thing.

The bit about a Cynthia though has her thoughtful. "We tended to not run into ourselves for one reason or another... not sure if it was a paradox thing or .. well not sure. The Clarice I knew was from a specific.. timeline that was really bad." she considers that. "One of the worst.. if she had a sibling I am pretty sure it was nothing she wanted to talk about. Sorry."

Which is code for TJ doubts they lived if they existed there.

TJ seems to not give two shits about the stares, as long as no one is pointing a weapon at them she just walks and chats. Which isn't to say she isn't keeping half an eye out for trouble at the same time though.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Gotcha," Clarice answers Talia quietly, not questioning any further on that line of thought. Instead, she links arms with Cynthia asking brightly, "So - now that you know we can travel anywhere in the world... Where would you like to go? What would you like to see?" she asks.
    "Where do you think Pete would like to visit?" Should she get Kelly's permission before taking him places other than the Asteroid? ... probably.
    "I'm up for anywhere - so long as it's reasonably safe. So - no active volcanoes, no visiting Port Morseby - that sort of thing."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia offers to hook her other arm with Talia, if she wants to, no obligation or anything.

"What is Port Morseby?" She asks Clarice first, then starts thinking about places. "China, Japan, Hawaii... ooooh, I hear Hawaii is a great place to go to just play on the beach, swim around, maybe surf or wind sail... not that I have done either of those things."

Spotting the restaurant the guy mentioned, she picks up the pace, "Pete would likely want to see France, his grandparents used to live there... I mean they may still live there, they just didn't want him, but he speaks French and loves the place all the same."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ lets her arm be hooked in, meeting the gesture in turn.

Though she has to hurry now when Cynthia picks up the pace.

"Paris is fun. Hawaii is even more fun though. We could take long weekends or a day in all sorts of spots."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I also have a private island in the Bahamas," Clarice volunteers. "And I even keep some scuba gear there. Just need to bring down fresh tanks, you know?" This is all remarked in the most casual voice possible, as if commenting on the weather, or a preference for ketchup over mustard.
    "And Port Moresby is a town in Papua New Guinea which is one of the most dangerous and violent cities in the world. There are safer warzones, honestly."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
At the door to the restaurant Cynthia pauses, "Why would I want to go there? Is there anything at all touriesty about the place? I don't think 'watch this gang kill the other gang' falls into that category."

As she pulls the door open to the other can go in first, one of those I'm the teenager, let the adults go first thing she adds, "How do you have your own island? When can we go? Do you know how to fish?" And then out of the blue to Talia, "Can you stab fish with your tail?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
"Well.. it isn't sharp. If I had a harpoon or knife held in my tail though I could probably stab a fish sure..."

Yup she can sword fight with it, she is her father's daughter after all.

She holds up three fingers, which is totally her being a brat to the hostess. "Three please." and settles into the seat when they are shown to a table.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "There are some. But there are better, safer places to do those things at - is all," Clarice answers.
    As for 'fishing' - here brow furrows for a moment, and she shakes her head. "I mean - no. Not really? I could maybe hit a fish with one of my javelins," she muses thoughtfully. "But fishing with a fishing rod? No."
    She settles in at one of the booths, relaxing in the chair as she explains, "When I was practicing long distance jumps - and jumping based on coordinates and satellite images - I found an small, empty island in the Bahamas and jumped there. I have a little shelter set up with my swim suits, and towels, and some emergency food, a few changes of clothes, a first aid kit, water - and now some scuba gear. It's... my island. I mean, I don't //own// it, but it's mine." As far as she's concerned.
    She doesn't bother to look at the menu before asking, "Should we just get three different kinds of fish - and just share?" she asks.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Dropping into a chair, Cynthia picks up the menu to start looking at.

"So you borrowed an island, that's cool," she comments from behind the menu. "Three kinds of fish would be cool... I can't fish a pole really well, but I did a few times. Swimming is better anyway, not that I know how to SCUBA."

For reasons likely unknown, she starts reading off the menu out loud, partly for Clarice but also for herself because some of the names sound funny when said. "They also have your guinness Talia."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ nods "Lets get a variety of fish, lots of chips, and I'll take a guiness for sure." she slinks back up to her feet though.

"I need to duck to the wash room... or is it water closet here... hmm.. whatever." she grins and heads that way tail swishing behind her as she goes.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm sure we'll order too much!" Clarice calls cheerfully after Talia. "Why don't you just go ahead and order anything that catches your eye," she invites as she listens to Cynthia reading from the menu. "I'm sure we'll all find something that we like. If they have sweet potato fries- sorry, chips. If you haven't had those before - they're so good.
    She nods to the waitress that brings them waters, and picking up hers for a sip before adding, "I'll send Hank a text so he can find us and join us as well..." She pulls out her phone, sending out a quick message - carefully typing out the name and address of the shop from the menu.
    "I have snorkel equipment on the island too, by the way. Snorkeling's much easier than scuba."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia hmmms, looking over the menu. In the end she actually orders all four of their 'world famous' beer batter fish choices, three types of their chips, and some of the chef's coleslaw. For Talia, she orders the Guinness, then points to where Talia was sitting with a, "You saw her, she's old enough. It's not for me." then a soda for herself, no ice. "What do you want to drink Clare?" is asked so she can order it before the waitress leaves.

"I've never been snorkeling either, is it fun?" She asks, setting the menu back in the little holder. "Oh hey, they have a piano... think they'd have a problem with me playing?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Can I get a cider? You must have them," Clarice remarks as Cynthia places the orders for them, tucking her phone away in her pocket.
    "...you can play?" Clarice asks in some surprise, straightening up in her seat, an eager expression on her features. "I want to hear you play! They shouldn't h have a problem." If they do - she'll pay them to no longer have a problem.
    "Snorkeling's easy. You have have to blow the tube clear of water when you surface - before you try to breathe. And it's so beautiful, and relaxing. It's- well. It's one of the things that even stands a chance he helping me to... to settle my mind, sometimes. There fish on the reef are so beautiful..."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia hops from her chair, "Yeah, I had numerous lessons. Come on over, if they have a problem I'll stop."

Walking over to the old stand up piano, she opens the little lid over the keys. Despite the age of the piano, and the wear on the keys, it still looks well taken care of. Sitting on the bench, she chews a little at her bottom lip.

"It's been over a year since I played," she offers, then looks to Clarice. "I'd love to go snorkeling with you some times, you can show me how."

Back to the piano, she tests the keys by running the scale. "Huh, nicely tuned." That's her only comment before she starts to play Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven, and she plays it well.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Absolutely," Clarice promises.
    She falls silent, though, as Cynthia plays - her gaze following the girl's hands as they move over the keys. This was something she didn't know at all about her sister - and it fascinated her.
    She remains silent for as long as Cynthia continues to play - clearing her throat before asking, "Should we look for a piano too? We could fit a stand up piano in your room, yeah?"
    After a momentary pause she adds, "Do any of the other kids at the orphanage - did any of them study instruments? Did any of them talk about wanting to play? I bet we could get them instruments."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The waitress looked like she was about to come over when Cynthia sat down, but one she started the playing the woman stopped dead in her tracks. In fact the entire place was looking and listening as Cynthia played. There was heart and soul with every note she played, pouring into the song that most likely they had all heard a hundred times before in their lives. But to sit there in some Fish and Chips restaurant and listen to a mutant playing one of Beethoven's most amazing pieces of music... they were speechless.

When the song ended she opened her eyes and smiled, looking up at Clarice. "Oh no, there's no need for that. I'll save up and get an electronic piano, then I can record the songs if I want to." She stands up, noticing the place was dead silent and looks around. Without warning they start clapping and her cheeks go a dark brown in embarrassment. She offers a nod, a little bow, then slinks over to the table to sit back down.

There's a few who talked about playing before, but there's no instruments and no teacher, and no money for any of those things."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean... I can't help with the teacher, but- I want to help. They're- I mean, they're your friends, right? And just because they haven't been fortunate to find family... I mean, I can't take them all in. But if I can do something to make things better for them, to make them happier... Even if it's just instruments, and maybe some video instruction, or internet-based tutoring in instruments, or something...
    "Or if there's something else I could be doing that you think would matter more to them," Clarice encourages. "You know the situation better."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Picking up the soda, she removes the paper from her straw and pokes it in the glass. Taking a sip, Cynthia goes to pretending people weren't looking over at her, though it wasn't staring now, it was admiration.

"There's food, clothing, board games, and computers for school, but that's about it," she offers. "It's not like people don't try, and Mystique has brought all kinds of toys, but, it's not the same. I think instruments would be nice for them, and even instructional videos would be cool."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Of course it's not the same," Clarice agrees. "I mean- well." She lets out a quiet sigh, picking up her cider for a sip. "There's no going back to the way things were. None of us have that power. But anything that can help make things better, make them happier, then... it's worth it. They-" There's a momentary, uncertain pause. "They deserve it." Several times already Clarice has been told that she deserves this - this happiness. This good fortune. She still finds it hard to believe she deserves much of anything.
    "I'll send a message to Kelly to see who plays what instrument - and we'll try to find some for them."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia immediately says, "Pete wants a guitar." Then she coughs, and looks at the soda. "Sorry. I just know that's what he really wants, he used to play too."

The waitress brings out the orders and sets it all on the table, makes sure that everything is there then offers a smile with a, "Anything else or are ya all good fer now?"

Cynthia looks over everything, even how the fish and chips are wrapped in fake newspaper like they used to be served. "I think it's all here, Clare you see anything missing?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Nah, I'm good," Clarice replies, giving the server a friendly smile. "Thank you very much."
    She picks up one of the chips - dipping it into some ketchup and letting out a contented sigh before she remarks, "Well, we'll get Pete a guitar. There's different kinds, I think? I mean- Some work with electricity, yeah? And some don't. Do you know what kind he used to play?"
    She frowns thoughtfully then remarks, "Maybe it'd be better to drag him along to find a guitar. I bet there are 'used instrument' stores somewhere. And they'd be filled with guitars."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia goes straight for a piece of fish, breaking a bit off to try with nothing on it, but having to blow on it a little.

"I think he played acoustic," she hmms, the pulls out her phone and fires off a text to Pete. "He'll respond when he wakes up, no school today so he slept in most likely, which means Alessa slept in too."

She finally eats the piece of fish and melts with a, "Whoooa... that is /so/ good!" Then reaches for another piece of a different fish. "I know nothing can ever be the same, trust me, I know. Am I silly to wish it? Should I just stop doing that and face the reality that it all sucks, and they'll never have families again?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It doesn't //all// suck," Clarice answers quietly. "There's a lot of things that suck. And what happened to Genosha-" She shakes her head helplessly. She was there. She failed //so many people// that day, and the nightmares still haunt her.
    "I- I feel like I lost my whole world twice in my life. But both times, there were people waiting to pick me back up, and remind me I wasn't alone. Even after- I mean, when I was freed from the Pens, I //was// alone. But I found Mister Creed. I found a new family. They can't have their family back, but they'll have a family. They will."
    Picking up a piece of fish, she tears at it with her fingers - before finally dipping a bit of it into a sauce as she finishes speaking, and taking a bite.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Eying the piece of fish in her hand, Cynthia sighs softly before dipping it into tartar sauce.

"Yeah, but you aren't a kid Clare," she finally says. "Most of em feel unwanted, unloved, they cling to the hope that someone will want to be their parents, when there just isn't anyone who wants mutant kids."

She pops the piece of fish in her mouth to savor a moment, then takes a sip of her soda. "Thing is, there's nothing to be done about it, not a single thing. I lived it, I know what they feel, and I keep expecting to wake up and find that this was all some dream. I know when they're older, they'll find friends and family, but really Clare, kids don't think about the future... they think about the now and tomorrow. So the instruments, they'll help and maybe a console with games. It'll take their mind off the now for a while."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "But I was. I was your age when the Brotherhood rescued me, and took me in. I mean - I wasn't a //little// kid anymore, but-" Clarice lets out a sigh. "Yeah," she agrees sadly. "I'm sure it's hard for the little guys. And I wish I had a way to fix that."
    She presses her lips together before musing, "I could try, maybe, to find some way for- To encourage members of the Brotherhood to- I mean, not adopt them, but- mentor them? Like a big brother or sister? Or an aunt or uncle? I mean, we'd have to make it clear that this is a real kid, and a real commitment they need to keep, but... I wonder if something like that might be possible. I woulda have been lost with Mister Creed. And Lorna. I don't know who I'd be today, otherwise. I'd- I'm sure I'd be a mess. A real mess."
    She nibbles at more of the fish as she tries to thinnk of a logical way to implement the plan. They could offer some sort of stipend to cover the cost of outtings or activities with their 'mentee'? Wouldn't do to flat out pay them for taking a kid on. That's the wrong motivation...

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia chews at her bottom lip a little, considering the fish and chips, then picks up a chip to dip in ketchup.

"Queen Lorna," she says softly. "She needs to do something, say something, speak to the people of Genosha. She needs to step up, to stop pretending she doesn't matter, and /do/ something. Sure the rebuilding is nice, and the port is working again, but people are still wandering around in a haze a year after the attack."

Now she slowly looks over at Clarice, "If I meet her, I intend to tell her that. She needs to come home."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice encourages Cynthia with a small smile. "You'll meet her," she promises - without daring to mention the question she'd so recently posed to the Queen. After all, there are so //many// reasons not to bring that up. "I think she's mostly over being angry with me," she adds in a wry tone. "And we're still friends," thank goodness. "So I'm sure you'll meet her. I did tell her about you already - briefly."
    She washes down her piece of fish with a swig of her cider before adding. "And you tell her whatever you think she needs to hear. But here's the thing with Lorna - she really doesn't like the bowing, and scraping, and formalities. She gets real annoyed with people 'Your Majesty' needlessly. So here's what you do. When you meet her - it's Lorna. She smile, you shake her hand, you treat her like a normal person.
    "The moment you want to talk business, though - you want to talk about the people of Genosha, and what they need from their Queen - that's when you switch to 'Your Majesty.'"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia looks both surprised and shock at the same time, then slowly it switches to a hint of anger in there.

"She doesn't want to be our Queen?" she asks with that same hint of anger. "If she doesn't want to, why not just give it all back to King Magneto? Either you're the queen or you aren't. You don't turn it on and off like a light switch, that's not how it works. So clearly, she doesn't want to be our Queen."

The takes another chip, no ketchup, and shoves it in her mouth. She couldn't understand it. Magneto has always wanted to be the king, he liberated Genosha for a reason and he ruled fairly. Mutants were prospering, gaining power, the cities were thriving, and then the attack.

"That fucking attack," she mutters, not watching her language this time. "If the attack hadn't happened... King Magneto would still be king, Genosha would still be thriving with a patriarch who actually cared..."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Hey - hey, whoa, it's not like that," Clarice says hastily. She lets out a sigh, and shakes her head. "First off - Lorna cares. She does. So get that out of your head right this instant. And second of all... Honestly, Magneto hates it when I used 'Your Majesty' around him as well. Though I still do, sometimes. When it's called for."
    She lets out a sigh. "Look - Lorna was not that much older than you when Magneto freed Genosha and took the throne. She wasn't raised as Royalty. She wasn't raised for leadership. She didn't even know Magneto was her father for most of her life. All of the sudden - she's a Princess. And then a few years later, everything thinks Magneto's dead and- and she's Queen. It's not a responsibility she was ready for, or anticipated, and she had to take the throne under the worst possible circumstances.
    "She cares about Genosha, and its people. She wants to do right by all of you. But... in her mind, she's just a person. Just a normal woman, who has all this responsibility. And she doesn't like the pomp and circumstance - that's all."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Once again the fish gets glared at, because if Cynthia looks at Clarice right now that glare would be aimed at her, and it not really her sister that makes her angry, so she doesn't deserve it.

"Great men do not seek power they have power thrust upon them." She starts slowly, picking up the piece of fish. "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader, John Quincy Adams. Leadership is the willingness to put oneself at risk, John C. Maxwell. Leadership is defined not by the position you hold but by the people who follow you, Charlene Li."

Now that she's not glaring any more, she looks to Clarice. "Either she's the Queen, or not, there is no in between."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice lets out a sigh, feeling like she must be saying the wrong words - explaining things wrong. Like she's doing her Queen a deep disservice today. "She is your Queen. She is my Queen. I love her, and I believe in her, and I know she absolutely wants the best for the people of Genosha. She just- She feels she hasn't earned the adoration yet and that makes her uneasy. Just because she feels uncomfortable with the bowing, and scraping, and titles - it doesn't mean that she doesn't care deeply for, and want the best for the Genoshan people."
    She picks up a chip, poking it into the ketchup and stirring it around idly as she adds, "I try to advise her and guide her when I can - but I'm completely uneducated. She also turns to her Father for advice, and people at Xavier's school. She's a very young Queen, she's new to leadership, and her country is in crisis. It's a difficult situation. She needs guidance - and you telling her what you've seen, what you know - that can help guide her. Yeah? That's all."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia finally eats the piece of fish she picked up, trying to understand what Clarice is saying versus the things she's heard in Genosha. Maybe people were just assholes, maybe that's why so many people were still floating around in a haze. It's no wonder Lorna wouldn't come back to live in Genosha, if people were just being assholes, why should she? But that wasn't entirely true either, because these were the people who worked hard, every day, to rebuilt Genosha. They could have left, gone anywhere else in the world, but instead choose to stay.

"I guess I'm just a dumb kid," she finally says. "And don't get it, maybe I never will. I've only been out of the hospital tent for like... what, five months? So maybe I missed something."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "You're not a dumb kid," Clarice replies firmly. "...I bet you're loads smarter than I am. All I'm really saying is - Lorna's still just a person, even if she is our Queen. She means well. She wants the best for Genosha - but she's imperfect. She makes mistakes, and she needs help, and guidance. She needs time to become a better leader, and she doesn't have time, and it frightens her. Maybe what she needs is someone like you to wake her up a little. Yeah? But if you go in there mad at her, attacking her, blaming her - anything like that, then you'll have a harder time getting your point across. Does that make more sense?" she asks hopefully.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia nods a little, "I guess is makes sense, but if she's so wrapped up in what she perceives as her own limitations, then how can she open her eyes to actually /see/ that she's already the person Genosha needs? She doesn't have to be perfect, or all powerful, she doesn't have to be an amazing leader... she just has to /be there/."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We tell her. We make her see that. We bring her to see where you've been living, perhaps," Clarice suggests. "We'll figure it out, and we'll get things done."
    She smiles a bit wryly as she adds, "Of course, you should know that I'll //always// defend Lorna. I wouldn't be- I mean, I was a different person when I met Lorna. In many ways, she helped make me who I am, and I owe her a lot."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Taking another sip of her soda, Cynthia just nods a little, accepting. It made sense, she was a Royal Guard after all, she had to defend Lorna and Magento.

"That makes sense," she offers, starting to wrap up the fish and chip, because she can't eat any more. "You've had her to help you, so sure, you'll stick by her."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "She's the one who insisted I learn how to read," Clarice offers as explination. "She's the one who taught me that- well. That violence only breeds fear and hatred. Lots of other little things too, but those made the biggest impact." She continues nibbling at the food, as she'd almost completely stopped eating when she thought she'd somehow turned her own sister against her Queen. "She's one of my dearest friends - and she's practically family to me. You'll meet her soon."
    Clarice can only hope things go well when that happens.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia offers Clarice a smile.

"Don't worry, I won't ruin your friendship or anything, and I'll be respectful. I won't say anything about any of this," she offers, finishing her soda. "I'm kinda of used to not really speaking up, I mean unless defending someone else, then you can't shut me up."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "You can speak up," Clarice says firmly. "And Lorna will listen. I promise you that. It's just- well. You don't need to get disrespectful to get her to listen - and I think if you did, she'd be //less// likely to listen. You know? And like I said - you should greet her first as Lorna. She'd be meeting her friend's little sister. That's something that //Lorna// is doing. Not Her Royal Majesty, Queen Lorna Dane of Genosha.
    "Once you switch to talking about Genosha, and what Genosha needs from her - you switch to Your Majesty, so she knows we're switching to business. And she'll listen," she explains simply.
    After a few more fries, she pushes the plate away and lets out a sigh. "I don't get fish and chips often enough, I think."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Cynthia waves the waitress over, "Can we get to-go containers please?"

Back to Clarice she says, "You said that, but I get it now. I just hope she realizes how much the people love her. They don't care if she's perfect or not, that she's trying is all that matters to them."

With the containers brought, Cynthia puts the food into them. Then from her pocket she pulls a sealable plastic container which gets all the to-go containers put in it. When the plastic container is sealed again, she touches it and poof, gone.

"They'll be just as fresh as they were right now, when you want them again," she giggles.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I did, but you got angry, and people don't always listen when they're angry," Clarice replies with amusement. "Or... maybe that's just me. I very, very rarely listen when I'm angry."
    She helps back the food into the to-go containers, and watches as Cynthia loads the food into the special storage container to blink it away.
    "I think Talia and Hank were giving us more time together," she says in amusement. "Let's track them both down - and we'll pop over to America to drop them off, and pick up those electronics. Maybe we can get a buy-one-get-one deal on the game consoles."
    Oh, she knows that isn't going to happen. But a girl can dream.
    "Next day off - I'm taking you and Pete instrument shopping at a used instrument store. No arguements or excuses accepted."