8071/On the Subject of Spiders

On the Subject of Spiders
Date of Scene:	30 September 2021
Location:	Madison's Apartment -- Palm Tree Apartments
Synopsis:	No description
Cast of Characters:	Madison Evans, Dyani Zitkala

---

Madison Evans has posed:
    The bonus of meeting at Maddie's place instead of a dorm room? Kitchen access. Plus, all the games, the TV, all the comforts of home! That's why Madison has invited Dyani over - and being a dutiful host, she's even made and chilled some nice, thick, sugar water for Dyani's bee friends, which she's poured into a low dish in the middle of the table, easily accessible by as many bees as the girl brings over.
    At the moment, Madison is hunched over her laptop, playing with audio files, and piecing together pieces of recorded sound bites from Spider-man on news reports. You know - for no reason whatsoever. Mmhmm. Sure...

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani flies over to Madison's house, which gets her a few looks but honestly she no longer cares. The idea of getting to fly high and free and through the city was too much to pass up, and so she jumped out of her dorm window and flew over.

She is the polite guest, keeping the bees to a minimum of ten, maybe fifteen buzzing around on her as she knocks on the door.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Hi Dyani!" Madison says brightly as she opens the door to let the girl in - a video image of Spidey paused on her computer screen. "Com'on in! Mom's out tonight - some work dinner thing I dunno - but there's like left over and snacks and stuff if you're hungry, and Irie might be over later - she had like superheroing to do I think? ...or maybe it was homework. Superheroing homework isn't a thing, is it?" she muses, closing and locking the door after the other girl enters. She makes her way back to the table, plonking back down on her seat with a sigh.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani follows Madi back to where the girl's laptop is, and the bees immediately head for the sugar water, they just can't resist it. Her head cants slightly one way, then the other, before she picks a chair to sit in, still watching Madison with the laptop.

"What are you doing?" She finally asks, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I'm trying to get this program to work! It takes samples of people's voices, and then you can type in any script you want, and it'll have them read it. So you can like - make someone say anything you want them to say!" Madison explains with a grin. "...I thought if I got Spidey programmed into it, I could make him do MST3Ks or some reeeeeally awful movies. Instead of having like the - row of movie theater seats with the robots imposed on the film footage, we could have like an image of Spidey hanging from a web in one of the top corners - maybe we even deep fake in like... a straight man for him. Captain America, or someone like that. It'll be //hilarious//."
    She grins at Dyani before adding, "But I could put this away. We could watch a movie, or paint, or play a board game or like - I dunno, make cookies or something."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani inches a little closer. "We do not think we fully understand. Why are you making a movie with Spiderman?" She is attempting to look at the laptop screen now, most of the bees in the dish with the sugar water so she's safe to be near.

"Is this for computer class?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I wonder if I could use it for an assignment somehow...?" Madison muses in a thoughtful tone before adding, "No, not for class. It's just- it'll be funny! And when I show it to him, he'll get a kick out of it! ...or be slightly alarmed. Possibly both." She ponders that for a moment, then shrugs. "But his brother said I could do it, so, that'll be my excuse."
    Her gaze goes distant again as she muses, "I'm trying to decide what movie to use. I mean, I'd just do clips - not the whole movie. Something like 'Surf Nazis Must Die.' But I haven't really settled yet..."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani's head tilts slowly to the side. "You know Spiderman?" She asks both surprised and perhaps a little disbelieving, but then again she knows a few X-Men and some Brotherhood, so was it that far fetched?

"Can we meet him?!" Now the excitement hits. "We have read about him, and others, we would love to meet him!"

Madison Evans has posed:
    Pulling out her phone, Madison pulls out a selfie of her sitting in White Castle with Spidey - scarfing down sliders. She pushes this towards the other girl with a grin. "I mean - sure. Possibly? Probably? I dunno. I mean, the guy's pretty busy, usually, but maybe I can work something out. He's really nice, you know? Like - chill, and down-to-Earth. ...and I have a feeling he likes movie riffs. So he'll //probably// get a kick out of this."
    She hopes so, anyways. It's a fun, and silly prank - which she enjoys! But sometimes people get upset. And that she doesn't enjoy.
    "I ran into his like... brother or something? Yesterday. In the city. When that truck almost hit me."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani picks up the phone to look at the picture, noting the lifts mask to scarf down burgers.

"He does not seem all that busy in the picture," she giggles. "Eating is a necessity."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "He'd just finished stopping a jewelry heist," Madison explains, "and then he ordered like - a two dozen sliders, or something nuts. I can't remember how many it was - they actually added a 'Spidey Special' to the menu because apparently he always comes in an orders like a ton of sliders when he gets a break from fighting crime. He's a seriously nice guy, though, and likes to help train new superheros and stuff. His attitude is that if he puts in the effort to train more heroes he'll have more work now - but in a few years, he'll have a lot more free time, you know?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani hmms softly, watching Madison's face as she talks.

"That is what you want, is it not?" She asks plainly. "To be a hero? Go out and help people, despite the risk to yourself, and perhaps your family, because if they know you, they go for your family... or hover over your family for three years, watching everything they...." she suddenly stops, chews her lip and goes back to the original topic.

"Why do you want to be a hero?" She then asks.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Because if you can help people - you should help people," Madison says simply. "'cuz if you don't - and people get hurt - it's kind'f yer fault, ain't it? Because you could have saved them, and you didn't. I mean yesterday - there were these criminals driving a truck through New York, ignoring stop lights and everything, and Scarlet Spider was trying to stop them, and they were even shooting guns at him, and then they nearly plowed into a crosswalk full of people - including me! But I could've gotten clear, but what about all those other people? And then Scarlet Spider managed to stop the truck by catching it in a net of webs and that's why you should be a super hero if you can - you know?"
    She lets out a sigh before adding, "But my mom doesn't think so."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods and says softly, "Clarice does not think we should either. Our human parents want us to do or be what we want to do or be. If that means to be a hero, then they will support it, but we do not think our powers are useful for that." She stands up to go get a glass of water for herself, then walks back and sits down.

"You have to do what /you/ want to do Madison," she then says. "Your mother will always try to protect you, that is what mother's do, and they can be over protective too... but if you want to be a hero, then you should finish high school, get trained and be a hero."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well. ...I'm already training," Madison replies quietly. "Mom doesn't know that, thought. Spidey's got a spot where I go and he shows me the ropes. And I have a teacher showing me how to use swords. And we're trying to figure out plans to make a real lightsaber - or maybe just a stun saber. Or maybe both. But my mom doesn't know //any// of that and you can't tell her," she says seriously.
    "Well. I mean, maybe I could tell her I'm learning swords so I can join a lightsaber fighting club or something. She probably wouldn't mind that. That's just geeky, and geeky's fine."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Another tilt of her head. "We have never even seen your mother," Dyani says softly. "We could not tell her even if we wanted to, but we do not want to tell her. If this is what you want to do, then you have to do it, but you may find later that you regret not telling your mother."

She takes a drink of the water she got, then sets the glass on the table. "We do not like that you almost got hit by a get away truck."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean. It's better than getting actually hit by a get-away truck," Madison points out. "But it wasn't how I was planning on spending my day. And I'll tell my mom - you know. ...eventually. But if I tell her now, she'll tell me not to train. And it's better if I train, even if I decide not to be a hero in the end, you know?" She shrugs her shoulders, her finger tracing invisible patterns on the perfectly clean table.
    "When the guys got out of the truck - I pulled their guns towardsd me, like Vader did to Han, in Empire Strikes back. And Scarlet Spider was like 'Dude, did you just Vader their blasters?' ...that part I kind'f enjoyed. The guy's a total nerd, you know?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani lifts her brows. "But..." she pauses there, confusion clear in her voice. "You are saying that you do not tell your mother because she will tell you to stop doing something she already does not want you to do. So even if she says stop, would you not just keep doing it? This is very confusing to me."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison lets out a heavy, frustrated sigh. "I mean. If she knew I was disobeying her - she'd always be mad at me. And I don't want either of us to have to deal with that, you know?" she explains. "It's different - doing something you know your parents wouldn't like, but they don't know about it - or doing something when they know about it and they're telling you not to do it..." She keeps running her finger over the table as she adds, "Besides, she'd worry more. And I don't want her to worry."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods. "So you know it is wrong, but will keep doing it until she either figures it out or someone else tells her. Then she will have found out from a stranger, and that will create an even bigger problem." She says all this calmly with several knowing nods.

"We will not tell her, as we said. We hope she never finds out, for your sake."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "She's not gonna fine out!" Madison insists defensively, before letting out a frustrated sigh. She really, really hopes not, anyways. "I mean, do you really tell your parents //everything//?" she asks - she sounds baffled by this - and maybe even a smidge genuinely curious.
    Is there really a teen like that in the world? Seems almost unbelievable!

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods a few more times. "Oh yes, we tell our human parents /everything/ because they were separated from us from three years, not knowing if we were dead or alive, and they need to know what we are doing or they worry, so very much. The only way we are allowed to stay away from the tribe to learn with other people like us, is if we call our parents twice a week and tell them everything we have been doing."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Man, I think if I just disappeared for three years and no one knew where I was - my mom'd end up in an insane assylum or something," Madison says in a quiet voice, staring at Dyani. "They didn't know where you were for //three years//? That's- man. That's shitty! Well. ... but you're here now, and safe now, and that's good! But you don't have to really tell them //everything//. I mean, you're talking to them by phone. They wouldn't even know."
    She hastily adds, "Not that I'm telling you to lie to your parents or anything it's just- nevermind. You can ignore me."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani offers a bright smiles. "Yes, Hydra took us from our human parents and made us a puppet in their plans for world domination. We were forced to do all kinds of bad things, we remember it all, and still have nightmares about some of it." She sounds /way/ too cheerful to be talking about that kind of thing.

"Clarice saved us," she continues, smile going broader. "She is our hive now, we text her daily, to let her know what we are doing. Why would we lie to our parents or our hive? Why would we do something against what they say is good? If it is something we really want to do, we will explain why and then do it."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Then it's good we have people like Clarice, yeah? It's good we have //heroes//. But she doesn't want you heroing?" How does that even make sense?
    "What if there was something you felt compelled to do - like you felt it was morally the right choice - but your parents, or Clarice, or someone, told you they didn't want you to? What if you couldn't persuate them?" Madison asks.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani has to think about that one for a minute, actually think pretty hard. She takes another drink of her water, mulling it over before she finally nods. "We would tell them that we respect and love them, but we need to do this. If they do not approve, we are sorry, but we must do it, it is who we are." She nods again, that coming out how she heard it in her head. "Clarice wants us to explore all the possible things we could do before we decide to hero." Hero has become an adjective now. "We do not have useful skills, for heroing or anything else for that matter, so we are learning all we can to decide what we can and will do."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well. I don't know that my skills are the best for heroing yet - but that's why I'm training them. I mean, some heroes don't have any super powers at all, you know? But they still do it. And I //do// have powers, so... So if I train, it should be easy. Right?"
    If Madison thinks the 'heroing' life is 'easy' she'll be up for some rude awakenings later.
    "I mean, I'll have to tell my mom. Eventually - just... you know. Not yet. I'm sure it'll all work out alright eventually, though."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani shrugs, finishing off her water then moves to take the glass to the sink and wash.

"Clarice says that everyone deserves a childhood, and ours was taken from us, so we should enjoy it while we can... but even we have trouble with that. We have seen what us out there."

Once the glass is clean, she dries it and puts it away before walking back over and sitting down. "We saw a mutant using his powers to enslave humans. We saw what Hydra did to anyone they could. We know there is darkness and evil out there, but we cannot figure out what we can do to help stop it."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean. I've never had to deal with anything like that - but I know there's a lot of darkness out there. You see it on the news, you know? Lots of scary stuff. 9/11, and alien invasions, and people trying to enslave other people and- all kinds of stuff. Awful stuff." Madison lets out a heavy sigh. "And people just go and do their... 9 to 5 office jobs and have families and raise kids," and ditch those kids to start another family...
    "I don't know," Maddie complains. "It's all crazy, and complicated, and scary. So sometimes I just play a board game. Or watch a movie. ...or deep fake Spidey making fun of a bad movies."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani scoots her chair closer and hugs Madison, for no other reason that in her mind, at that moment, Madison needed a hug.

"It is alright Madi," she offers quietly. "You get to be a kid for a while, then when the time is right, you and us will go be heroes, alright? We may not have much in the lines of truly helpful powers, but we can use a bow and we can fly, and that has to count for something, right?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison leans into the hug, grinning at Dyani, and giving a nod. "Yeah. It counts for something. Besides, you could also like - turn into a swarm of bees, right? And sneak into places through the vents, and then unlock the door for everyone else to get on, or free prisonners, or whatever," she points out. "I bet you'd be great at sneaking around and breaking into places."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani blinks. "Hey! We never thought of that!" She announces excitedly. "We could do that! That would be very helpful! Can we join you in training? Maybe think us a group name? We can be heroes!"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean - it's Spidey's call. It his 'training camp' - you know? I'll let him know you're interested - and then you can meet him for sure," Madison suggests - flashing Dyani an even broader smile. "And I'll bet he'll have //even more// ideas on how you can use your powers, and your skills. He's pretty clever, you know?"
    Giving Dyani a nudge she adds, "Hey, are you hungry? I can grab us some food. There's some left over eggplant parmesan. Or I've got snack stuff. We could pop some popcorn and cover it in furikake."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani giggles suddenly, rather profusely. "Fur... what?" She can't even begin to say that word. "We eat anything, and the bees are quite happy with their sugar water, thank you for that. We are extremely easy when it comes to food, we could also order a pizza. We have a card we get to use for things."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "If we order a pizza - we'll have to eat it all and dispose of the evidence," Madison remarks in amusement. "Mom doesn't like it when we order processed junk foods. Here - I'll show you the furikake!" she remarks, bouncing to her feet suddenly, and going to the cupboard. She pulls one of them open, and there's a few jars there - filled with tiny shredded bits of seaweed, with seeds, and bonito flakes, and other flavorings. "My favorite is the wasabi, and the umeboshi - that means pickled plum. It tastes sour. You're supposed to put it over rice - but you put it over popcorn? O. M. G., you don't even know," she says with excitement.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani follows her over to look at the jars, and listen to Madison explain furikake. Not a single word, until she says plum, is understood.

"We said we eat anything, even things we have no idea what are," Dyani finally says, then looks to Madison. "You mother would be angry for me ordering a pizza? That is a major hatred alright. She does not even know me."

She looks back to the jars, "We do not know what those things are, or any of the things you said, but we are willing to try it on popcorn."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "She wouldn't be mad at you. She'd be mad at me, because I know she doesn't want me eating too much junk food, so... Well, so I'd be disobeying her, see?" Madison shrugs her shoulders then explains, "This is why I do stuff like, you know, train with Spidey without telling her. Or buy the occasional burger or milkshake with cash. I mean, if I did it sometimes she wouldn't care that much - but if she spots fast food places on my credit card bill on the regular - oof." She shakes her head - but as she's talking, she's pouring popcorn kernals into two paper bags. She folds over the edges, and tosses them both into the microwave.
    "We'll make two batches - and you can try them both. I mean, besides - I looove them both."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani begins to understand a little more about Madison's mother, two words coming to her mind that she will never say out loud... control freak.

"Because we are bees and not bees, out human parents never cared what we ate," she explains. "It took a while to figure out what our body actually needed, as it is not the same as other people. We require sugar, the purer the better, and proteins from meats, but not much else. Does your mother prefer you eat healthy for a reason?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well - because it's healthy," Madison answers, giving a shrugging of her shoulders. "Which is why, honestly, I could tell her about the sword fighting. Probably should - because that's exercise, you know? If I join a sword a dueling club. As long as I can convince her we have enough like - padding and protective gear and stuff." As the microwave beeps, she dumps them into bowls, and melts a little butter to toss with them - before she sprinkles on and tosses the furikake.
    "Okay. So this one'll be spicy from the wasabi," it has a greenish hue, naturally, "and this one's sour from the pickled plum." It has a purpley pinkish hue to it. Madison goes for the plum first - letting out a satisfied sound.
    "Hey, if you wanted like- protein or whatever, we've got some cheese and lunch meat in the fridge."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani sniffs at the wasabi one a few times, even as a bee lands on the edge of the bowl to dab at the butter there, not the wasabi. Slowly, she reaches out to pick up a piece of the popcorn with green on it and pops it in her mouth.

Spicy wasn't an issue for her, she'd eaten lots of spicy things before, but this was a different kind of spicy and she liked it. "Wow!" she breaths, then grabs one more to add to the first one, chewing both up before grinning broadly. "That is really good!"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "//Right//?" Madison asks with a broad grin. "Not enough people know about furikake popcorn. And it's //just so good.//" Lifting up both bowls of popcorn, she carries them back to the table, dropping back into her chair with a thump, and periodically switching between the two bowls. Having to choose between wasabi and umeboshi is not a thing anyone should ever have to do.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani gets another glass of water, using the same glass she just cleaned, then moves to sit back down. This time she tries the other one, which actually makes her twitch.

"Wha...t is that?" She blehs and takes a drink of the water. Sour is apparently not her thing, at all. "We almost taste plum, but.... ew, sorry."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison can't help but giggle at that reaction. "I mean - okay, that's how I reacted the first time I tried an //actual// pickled plum. I don't like the real plums - whole, you know. It's just too much. But dried up and chopped up and added to furikake mix? Then it's pretty good." With a grin she adds, "But not for everyone, apparently."
    After another handful of popcorn she asks curiously, "Did you decide what your favorite class is yet?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani goes back to the wasabi because it is not gross. "We do not think we can pick a favorite," she admits. "We like all the classes because we are learning something in all of them, except perhaps English. We have troubles with writing reports and essays."

More popcorn disappears, chewed and swallowed. "We /love/ reading though, so we read everything we can get our hands on, even if it does not apply to the class."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "What, like... non-fiction books? Or are you reading like... the Harry Potter books, and Name of the Bone, and Shadow and Bone, and stuff?" And yes, Madison just named exclusive fantasy novels. Guess what she likes to read?
    "Or like... Speak? Speak was good - but, you know, kinda brutal, too," she says in a thoughtful voice. "The other ones are easier to read. More fun."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani reaches over and picks up one of the bees on the edge of the sugar water bowl, moving to place it on her shoulder. It apparently over indulged and has fallen asleep. "We read the Harry Potter books," she says with a nod. "But we do not know the others. We are reading fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, fantasy, history, biographies, everything we can get our hands on. We could not read well before our mutation came, and afterwards we could not read at all. We are making up for it."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well, if you ever want book ideas, I'm happy to tell you which ones I like - and we can talk about them and stuff!" Madison offers. "And we still gotta get my mom to take us to that cave. I think she's free in two weekends - if you and Irie are free, you know. We could go and have like a total blast. And a picnic! A blast and a picnic."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani starts bouncing, "Glowy rocks! Yes, we are available. We do not do much outside of school, so there are no plans to interfere with. Do you think you mother will actually take us? Is there something we can do to help convince her? Our parents could text her, let her know we can go if that will help."

Another handful of popcorn disappears, and another bee is moved to her shoulder. Once she sets them there they just stay, sleeping... if bees could snore.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean - well. Probably won't hurt though - I mean, dunno how my mom'll really know that it's your mom or not. I don't think you need to, though. We're teens - not little kids - and it's educational and stuff - not a rock concert." Madison doesn't even seem aware that she sorta punned there.
    "I'll keep reminding her until we get a date fixed," she promises, flashing Dyani a broad smile.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
The 'rock concert' comment makes Dyani giggle, partly because the rock part but also because she's picturing glowing rocks singing heavy metal.

"If your mother doesn't have time, or doesn't want to, we bet we could get Clarice to take us there," she says once she's over the heavy metal glowing rocks. "Why would going to a rock concert be a bad thing? We thought music was a good thing."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean - it's one thing if it's like an orchestra, or an opera, or a Broadway Musical or something," Madison points out. "Rock concerts though? Depending on the crowd - the fan base? Some of them like do drugs and stuff at the concerts, or get real rowdy. I dunno. That's kind've what I've heard. Not all music is the same."
    She leans back in her chair, musing quietly, "Going to a concert or something would be fun too, though... And I don't mind if it's my mom that takes us to the cave - or Clarice. Does she have a car?" she asks curiously.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani shakes her head slowly. "Clarice does not need a car, she is a teleporter," she says first. "Bright purple portals from one place to another, it is a great deal of fun to send the bees through them." She giggles then, remembering how confused that first bee was.

"Just because a crowd may be rowdy, or do drugs, does not mean that the we need to be rowdy or do drugs," she then says, regarding the concert. "We have never been to a concert of any kind, but we have seen the videos for them on the internet. We think we would like to go some day, but not alone."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Oh. Wait, that's- RIGHT!" Madison says, as she starts putting things together. "Clarice is Clare? Theo's sister! She's a teleporter? Like Ritz? Hey- have you been up to the asteroid yet? Theo took us and O. M. G., so much fun! Let me just-" She pulls out her phone, and after a few moments, manages to find the clip of her and Theo lightsaber battling in zero g. Sure it's a short clip - but it looks sooooo cool.
    "And I agree - pretty much anything you do is more fun if you don't do it alone. You know?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani lifts her brows, tilting her head a little, the same way she does when something confuses her or makes her curious.

"Asteroid?" She asks, then leans over to look at the small video. A grind spreads across her face seeing the lightsaber battle. "You finally got to fight with a saber," she giggles. "Looks like fun.. and yes, Clarice is Clare."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Did she say something she wasn't supposed to say? Does Dyani not know about the Asteroid? "Umm. The Asteroid. In space. Where Theo lives with his sister," Madison explains. "I mean - I only showed you the video 'cuz I thought- well, I figured you knew already..." She buries her uncertainty in a big handful of popcorn.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani straightens her head and ahs softly. "We did not know Clarice lived on an asteroid, nor do we know Theo, but it is alright Madi," she offers a smile. "We keep secrets, remember? We do not think Clarice did not tell us because it was a big secret, we think it merely slipped her mind. There has been a great many things that have happened since she saved us, she cannot be expected to remember every little detail, can she?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison nods her head, though she still doesn't seem entirely certain that she hasn't somehow goofed. She hopes not, anyways. "Well. I hope you get to visit - I mean, it's pretty cool, and has this big garden with trees and fish and squirrels //in space//. I mean, that's just wild. You know? I think you'd like it." She grins at Dyani as she adds, "Irie didn't want to go at first - she likes her feet on the ground - but I think she really liked it, in the end."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani offers a big smile now, bouncing a little in her chair. "Squirrels... in space?!" she exclaims, bouncing again. "And Fish, and trees?! We /must/ see this!"

Even as Dyani is bouncing there is a knock at the door, the usual 'Shave and a Haircut, two bits' knock.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I'm sure you will!" Well. Maddie hopes she will. She pushes the wasabi popcorn towards Dyani to encourage her to enjoy some more - as she pops to her feet, bouncing towards the door to open it. "Theo!" she greets the boy brightly, her gaze going towards the other form beside him without recognition. "You've brought a friend!" she adds, stepping aside to gesture them both in. "Com'on in. We've got popcorn. One's wasabi flavored, and the other's umeboshi - pickled plum."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani takes another handful of popcorn, shoving it into her mouth as Madison goes to answer the door. She's sure she'll see it someday, probably soon, because she'll text Clarice about it and that will be that.

Theo holds out a six pack of Mountain Dew bottles toward Madison. "We come bearing beverages," he announces, then gestures to Pete. "Madison, this is Pete. Pete, this is Madi."

As they both step inside, Pete offers Madison a little wave with a quiet, "Heya Madi. Hope it's alright. I needed to get away from the asteroid for a bit."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Nah, sure, it's cool. I mean, mom's out, so..." Madison gives a shrug of her shoulders. "As long as we don't burn the place down, who cares?" She flashes them both a grin. "You want to stash those cans in the fridge? Hey, this is Dyani. You've- umm, have you met yet?" She's not entirely certain. They know of each other. They go to the same school. Surely they've met?
    "If you want anything else to eat, let me know. Mom made eggplant parmesan last night, and we have a bunch left over. Or we could make sandwiches or something."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani stands up, which might actually make her shorter, and extends a hand to Theo and Pete.

"We are happy to meet you, Theo," she says first. "We have seen you at school, but your classes... phew... much more than we can do."

Theo takes the offered hand and shakes it. "Oh yeah, I've seen you too. We have the same lunch hour too," he offers, then moves over to put the sodas in the fridge. "I figure we can off those before your moment comes home, and I'll take the bottles with me."

Dyani looks to Pete and offers her hand to him as well. "We are pleased to meet you, Pete. We have never seen you, but that doesn't mean we don't like you!"

Pete blinks and accepts the offered hand carefully. She's so tiny, he feels like he'd break her. "Nice to meet you too Dyani," he offers, watching her wings sort of vibrating behind her and then he spots the dozing bees. He's not allergic, but he does not like bees so after the hand shake, he steps back and over by Theo. The two just look at each other for a moment.

"Those bees," Theo says to Dyani. "They're part of your hive right? So... you control them?"

Dyani nods repeatedly. "Yes, they are our hive, they do not sting or act without our permission."

This seems to comfort Pete enough he lets out a slow breath.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "My mom doesn't like bees either," Madison admits. "She's allergic. But! She's not here." And there was perhaps a very good reason for that, now made clear.
    As Theo offers to take the sodas with them, Madison offers a nod of thanks as well. "I appreciate that. Mom gets so weird about stuff like that. I mean, it's not like I'm not exercising and everything, you know?" She rolls her eyes as she resumes her place at the table. "You guys should make yourself at home. Theo remembers where the glasses are, I think. And I can always make more popcorn. Plus, we can put a movie on or whatever if any of you guys like."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo nods, getting four glasses from the cupboard. He pours soda into all four then takes them to the table.

"So what's the problem you're having with the program, Madi?" He asks as he sets a glass by each person.

Pete settles into a chair while Theo is playing host, still watching Dyani's wings, they apparently fascinate him. When Theo puts the glass on the table he ofers a quiet, "Thanks Theo," then picks the glass up for a sip.

Dyani sits herself back in her chosen chair, her eyes watching the last few bees by the sugar water. Her antennae start moving a little as she watches them, and the last few lift off and fly back over to land on various parts of her body. "Too many people misunderstand bees," she says, picking the last over indulged bee up and placing her on her head. "Even before we changed, we knew a lot about bees, but then we love all insects, and arachnids."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well. The programs I can find - they want you to read a script, to prove that you have, you know, the permission of the person whose voice your faking. Which is- I mean, why fake someone's voice if you already have their permission? Why not have them read a script?" Madison lets out a frustrated sigh, and picks up the soda for a grateful sip. "I mean, I get why they do it, so I can't make audio recordings of my classmates claiming they're going to bring a death ray to school or whatever and then hand it over to Ms. MacIntyre, you know? So I've been trying to chop together the 'script' they want - but it's a lot of work and I've heard that most likely the program will recognize that I did that and refuse the file."
    Grinning towards Dyani, Maddie adds, "I love bees. I mean, they don't //want// to sting us if they don't have to - you know? They're not mean or nothing. ...spiders I have a little bit more of a problem with, don't tell Spidey but- Oooo! Scarlet Spider took me web-swinging across a street and it was sooooooo cool, you guys!"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo finally sits down, fishing into his pack for his laptop and setting it on the table.

"You're trying to work within the system Madi," he teases, already booting up and searching through a few files. "What you need is something outside the system. I think this will solve your problem." After a moment, he pulls the USB drive out and offers it to her.

"Dude," Pete says quietly. "You gotta tell her the whole truth. Outside the system is code for pirated."

Dyani tilts her head, looking between the three people sitting at the table. "Bees have no desire to sting, that is true," she says simply in regards to what Madison said. She has noticed that Pete is staring at her wings, so now she is deliberately fluttering them to keep his attention. "We did not know there were still pirates, we thought they only did things on water."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Internet pirates," Madison explains for Dyani with an amused smile - as she accepts the USB stick anyways, and plugs it into her computer. "Pete's warning me that the program's illegal. But I mean - no one's going to be able to trace it or nothing, yeah?" Especially since she isn't even downloading it off the internet. She opens up the thumb drive's files - starting to install the program without waiting for a response.
    "So did you and Theo meet on the Asteroid?" Maddie asks Pete curiously as she works. "Theo took me and Irie up once. O. M. G."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo and Pete look at each other for a moment, a silent conversation taking place before Pete has to look away and Theo just grins broadly. "Nah, we met at the orphanage," he answers. "Pete's been my best friend for over a year now, see also he's been stuck with me. Pete saw the video of us floating around, so I had to take him to do it the other day."

Pete's head snaps back to glare at Theo, no words spoken, just a look.

"I wasn't going to say anything else!" Theo laughs, then shakes his head and types a couple more things into the computer. "No, there's no way it can be traced, all the markers on the program have been striped. What you have there is a completely naked program."

Dyani again looks between everyone, grinning brightly at the banter, even if it is only one sided. "Oh! We remember hearing about internet pirates. We pictured USB sticks with eye patches and giggled." She giggles again, because she thought about it again. "We do not know much about computers. We are taking a class at school to learn more. We are just learning to use this fancy phone Clarice gave us too." She pulls the phone out, and it is in fact the same kind of phone that Theo has, one of the Asteroid M official cell phones. "Madi, we wanted to show you this picture of our human parents at their new home, with Clyde, their horse." She then offers the phone over so Madison can see the picture.

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison can't help but giggle. "Okay, now I wanna know what //you guys// did while floating around in zero g." What could it possibly be that would be so bad? She honestly has no idea idea whatsoever - and she pauses with a thoughtful expression, before looking embarrassed, and taking a sip from her drink. Yeah. Nope. Not gonna ask //that//.
    Instead, she happily takes the phone to study the picture. "Oh, hey! That's cool. Your parents look nice. I've been trying to talk my mom into getting me a horse for eeeeeever, but it's not going to happen. Clyde's a great name."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo looks over at Pete, one brow raised, which makes Pete shift position, takes another sip of his drink, and try to pretend he isn't feeling those eyes on him, or those thoughts in his best friends head.

"Alright, alright," Pete finally relents. "I... got sick." His turn to look embarrassed for entirely different reasons then Madison was thinking.

Theo can't help but laugh, "Oh come on Pete, it wasn't /that/ bad, and it was only once! But it was kinda cool the way it just floated there!"

Pete is clearly not convinced of the 'coolness' of this.

Dyani grins at Madison. "Clyde was our horse," she explains. "But our mother needs him more. They have horses at the high school, did you know that? We could take you riding any time you would like, we already passed all the proper exams." She looks to Theo and Pete. "We could take all of you, if you wanted to learn to ride."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Pete's explination, unforunately, comes just as Madison was drinking more soda - and she ends up spitting it out on the table and partially on her computer screen as she bursts into laughter. "I thought- I thought-" she starts, giggling madly, and unable to stop herself. "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. Really! I swear! It's just- I thought-" She starts laughing again, and has to give up on explaining what she'd been thinking. Or maybe she's never really intended to ellucidate her thoughts.
    She wipes tears from her eyes, rising to get a towel to clean up the mess - not a paper towel. In fact, there isn't one in the place. It looks like Madison's mother takes waste as seriously as she does healthy diet.
    Her attention returns to Dyani as she wipes the table, and her screen. "Oh - I do know! I started helping in the stables over the summer to start learning. I like Heidi the most - she has spunk! Even if she did stomp on my foot - ON PURPOSE - I forgive her, though."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete actually starts chuckling quietly. He knew what she was thinking, not because he was reading her mind but because she was projecting it strongly through the emotions. He wouldn't say anything about it of course, but is most certainly helped lighten his mood.

Theo snerks and nudges Madi. "What were you thinking?" he asks, not about to let it go. "I think I know, Pete definitely knows, it's alright, you can share."

Dyani doesn't need to be a mind reader, not does she have the problem with embarrassment that Madison seems to have. "Oh! Sex!" She just about shouts out of now here. Only after that does she think to add a little more. "That has to be what Madi was thinking, right?" She looks to Madison now, eagerly waiting to see if she was right.

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison bursts into giggles again as Dyani just out and says it - but she does nod her head in confirmation. Once she gets it under control again she adds, "I mean, no offense meant! I don't even know if you guys, umm- well. You're interested in. But you were just acting so- it was the only embarrassing thing to do in zero g that came immediately to mind!" she explains. "Sorry. I'm not usually, uhh... In the gutter like that."
    With the soda cleaned up - and the program installed - she starts feeding it clips of Spidey speaking, watching the progress bar on the program as it processes the audio files.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete is finally grinning, finally seeming to relax and get comfortable. "No, that totally makes sense Madi," he offers with another chuckle. "Where as Theo is /my/ type, I'm not Theo's type... we're just friends." He looks over at Theo and wiggles his brows.

Theo just snorts. "If I was into guys Pete, you'd be my type. Now, if you put on a dress, we could talk."

Dyani just sits there so pleased with herself for getting it right, a smile beaming on her face as she giggles. "We are rarely right, but it made perfect sense. We have heard of a movie that people complained about because the entire thing seemed like an excuse for sex in zero gravity. We do not remember the name of the movie, but that is what popped into our head."

Dyani takes her phone back now, and pokes it back in her pocket. "We are going to see if we can help at the stables. We know everything about horses, our human parents used to raise them."

Pete chews a touch at his lip before asking, "Why... do you call them human parents?"

Dyani smiles at Pete, "Because they are."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Oh, so you like-" Madison starts, looking between first Pete, and then Theo, before nodding her head in understanding. "Okay, I get it. Well, friends are important too, anyways. Friends are like the //most// important, sometimes. You know?" She starts typing into her computer as she adds brightly, "Especially when you need an illegal computer program!"
    In a distracted tone she adds, "I don't really know who I like. It all seems like a lot of fuss and bother, really."
    She ignores the back-and-forth about Dyani's parents - other than to quirk her lips in amusement. Dyani talks a bit odd - she'd picked up on that already. Just didn't seem worth commenting on, to her.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo sits back in his chair a little so he can watch Madi working, mostly out of curiosity. He'll only offer suggestions if it looks like she's having troubles. "I've got connections," he offers with a sly grin. "It's alright not to know, or to care about it in general Mads. No law says you have to give two flying rats butt about any of it, you be you, that's what matters. You're right about friends though," he kicks Pete under the table for no other reason than he can. "I'd of been lost without Pete."

Pete takes the kick while accepting Dyani's answer for what it was, plain truth. She was an oddity to him because not a single thought from her seemed to escape into the air through emotion or excitement. Most people in the world projected without meaning to, but Dyani... nothing. "Don't let Theo fool you," he then says. "I'm the one who would have been lost without him. I was having... well... my mutation came later and I was having issues."

Dyani takes another sip from her glass, and another handful of popcorn. The combination was perfect, she'd have to remember furikake and Mountain Dew. "We don't know either Madi. We doubt there are many who could tolerate our mutation, so we don't worry about it. We prefer friends anyway, though you and Irie already got me naked."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "But you've got it sorted now?" Madison asks Pete - looking up towards him curiously, and with some concern. "I mean - that must be scary. One day you're living your normal life. Next day, you're shooting spikes out of your hands, or controlling fire, or turning into mist. ...or bees."
    At Dyani's comment about getting naked - Madison blinks, then hastily explains, "She was just showing off her power! We asked her to show off her power. We didn't know that she'd- she'd end up //naked// afterwards!" she explains.
    She hits play on her sample text file - and her computer reads out in Spidey's voice, 'Hi, I'm Spider-man - and I like to eat farts.' This //real mature// statement has her bursting into giggles again, before she deletes what she wrote.
    "I think it's working!"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani out right laughs now over Madison's reaction, it was perfect. "We always forget that we are naked after we swarm," she further explains with a grin. "We will have to teach the bees to cover the important things from now on."

Theo almost spits out the drink of soda as Dyani says that, then coughs through Madison explaining it. "I am so glad I wasn't there," he admits, glancing to Pete for a moment, then the computers speaks and he busts up laughing.

Pete just stares for a moment, at Dyani, either he's trying to picture her naked or he's trying to understand her, either way he finally looks away to Madison. "Uh..." he pauses, looking at Theo then looks back to Madison. "I'm a telepath, and my life was never normal." He leaves it there because now her computer is talking about farts and that makes him laugh.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Don't ever tell Spidey I made him say that," Madison remarks with amusement. She picks up her soda again, taking a sip, and seeming to forget her embarrassment over the naked Dyani as she studies Pete curiously. "How were your powers out of control? Were you like - hearing too many voices or something? Do you hear what I'm thinking //right now//?" For the record - she's thinking of a purple panda peeing on a pine, while watching Pete for any reaction to that sentence.
    "I mean- well. You don't gotta tell me if you don't want to. I mean, it's your business and everything, you know?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete had been trying very hard not to deliberately read any one's mind, except Theo, but the minute Madison asks it just happens. It's one of those things he is still working on, still trying to control. "Why did a purple panda pee on a pine?" he asks, then shakes his head. "I'm so sorry! I..."

Theo reaches over and lays his hand on Pete's shoulder as he says, "Hey, chill... it's alright." He looks to Madison. "He's still working on control. Most often he doesn't read people's minds, he tries very hard not to."

Dyani looks between Madison and Pete, but she remains quiet for now.

Pete takes a few deep breaths. "Sorry, I really didn't mean to." He offers a weak smile before adding, "When it was out of control, I was projecting my own terror onto others. I could hear all of their minds like voices screaming, and at night, I just couldn't stop my nightmares from reaching all of them. That's how Theo helped. I can't sleep alone."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison can't help but giggle. "Because it's a ridiculous image!" But her mirth quickly sobers - since Pete seems genuinely distressed. "Hey, it's okay, you know. I don't mind. I mean, I basically asked for it, you know?" She lets out a sigh before adding, "Hell, maybe you can teach me how you do it. I've been trying to get Jedi mind powers to work for moooooonths with no luck yet. But it's probably not the same - the Force, and mutant telepathy... But maybe it is?" She gives a helpless shrug of her shoulders.
    "Besides! You're gonna get better at using and controlling it. Right? You've got Theo to help you!" she says encouragingly, smiling broadly at the distraught teen.
    "...right, Dyani?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods repeatedly. She has no idea what she is nodding yes to, but if Madison said it, then yes. "If we can help, we will. We like to help our friends, it makes us feel important, and after what we did to people against our will, it's important to make up for it."

Pete finally smiles more realistically. "It's been hard, but I'm getting better," he admits. "I might be able to help you though, I have the basics down now, so I can maybe teach them to you."

Theo sits back again, taking another sip of his soda. "See Pete, I told you... Mads is good people."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Great!" Madison answers Pete brightly, then beams at Theo. "Aww - thanks, Theo. That's sweet! Hey Dyani - I'm good people. Multiple good people, even," she teases. "...even if I am using an illegal computer program to deep fake Spider-man. But it's just so I can make him MST3K a video. I was actually thinking - I was planning on having Captain America be the straight man, and have them quipping back and forth, while watching clips from Surf Nazis Must Die," she explains.
    Nudging the bowls of popcorn towards the boys she adds, "Did you try these yet? This one's the pickled plum - it's sour. And this one's wasabi, so it's spicy."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete is the first to take some of the purple popcorn and try it, looking for a moment like he's torn between what he thinks of it. Good, bad, gross, tasty... it all passes by his face before he nods. "I like that," he offers. "And yes, you are good people, all the people."

Theo reaches for the green popcorn, just a few pieces to try, and regrets it almost instantly. "Hot!" He blurts out, downing his soda. He's a wuss with spice.

Dyani giggles, "We are many and one, so apparently are you Madi." She then pauses and looks at Theo. "Wasabi."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Alright. So Theo would be hilarious to take out for sushi," Madison offers with a grin.
    Her attention shifts back to Pete as she adds, "I'm glad you like it. Umeboshi is hit or miss. You either love it or hate it usually. Though it's not as bad as //natto//. My mom likes to eat that stuff, but it's like... vile. So vile." She makes a face, and shakes her head at the thought.
    "So. If you guys met at the orphange - and then became friends - you moved up to the Asteroid because your friend did? They just like - let you do that? I mean - that's pretty cool."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo finishes his soda, then goes to get more because he's a wuss. "I've had sushi, but was told to avoid the green stuff. I didn't know you put it on the popcorn," he drinks some water the adds more soda to his glass.

Pete snerks a little, taking some of the green popcorn and popping it in his mouth. "Meh, not that hot, the other, umeboshi, is better though, try it."

Dyani steals little more popcorn, sitting back and folding her legs up in the chair. "The purple one is weird, too sour."

Pete looks back to Madison. "Actually, Clarice is adopting me, when I turn eighteen. Easier to adopt adults then kids, especially Genosian kids. No one usually wants us, there's a /lot/ of orphans in Genosia."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I said it was spicy! I said it was wasabi," Madison counters, letting out a quiet laugh. "Sorry, though. I mean - I really didn't mean to spring something on you that you don't like." She doesn't seem to mind taking amusement at his reaction, though.
    She munches on more of the popcorn as she listens to Pete's explination, curiosity on her features. "Dude. You're gonna be your bestie's uncle!" she declares, letting out another giggle. "Man, that's kind of weird, ain't it? That's cool, though! Congrats! I wish everyone could have a family. I mean - it's not right, you know?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo sits himself back down and this time tries the other popcorn. It's not exactly what he expected, but it's not hot and he actually likes it. "This is more my style, and it's purple," he grins. "Clare won't be his mom, not really. Paper work will say it, but the truth is Pete'll be my brother."

Pete twitches, "No way he's my uncle, but I'm calling Mystique grandma the first chance I get."

Theo almost spits out the popcorn. "Oh man, don't do that."

Dyani steals a little more green popcorn. "Our human parents would adopt someone who needed a home," she says softly. "Our tribe would take in as many as were permitted to leave."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "But - you guys are from Genosha, right? That's like - a whole other country. Isn't it hard, adopting kids from other countries? But then I guess people do it all the time, don't they? Adopting girls form China, and kids from like Africa and stuff..." Madison muses with thoughtful uncertainty.
    Her gaze looks between Pete and Theo before she asks the obvious question. "Why would you call her grandma? Mystique's not your mom - is she?" she asks Theo uncertainly. "Or - oh! Is Clare like //with// someone? Is she like married to Mystique's son or something? Does Mystique even have a son?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Theo starts chuckling as he shakes his head. "I don't know about any of that, but I know she thinks of Clare like a daughter, so that makes me her nephew, and if Clare adopts Pete, he'll be her grandson... sort of. I mean it's all a joke really, but we're all one big family. We take care of each other." He glances to Pete.

"Too much paper work to do is legally," Pete says plainly. "It's the reason they're all still in Genosha, that and no one wants a mutant, well no normal person does anyway. It would be nice to find them homes, but it won't happen until Genosha is rebuilt."

Dyani seems to suddenly realize something. "Genosha! Yes, Clarice told us about it. We want to help there when we are old enough."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Ohhhhh- wait." Madison's gaze goes distant as she tries to figure out the family connections. "Your... daughter's brother isn't your nephew..." she points out, then gives a shrug. "Well. It's your family, anyways. You make it as confusing as you want - I don't got to draw the family tree." She grins at her friends at her quip - nibbling on more of the popcorn.
    "I still want to see Genosha someday. I mean - I bet it's beautiful. I've never been to an island before - except Catalina that once."
    Looking to Dyani she asks, "Have you gone to an island before?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani tilts her head slightly, trying to recall if she had. "When Hydra was controlling us, we were one of many who invaded an island, does that count?" She looks over to Madison. "It is the only island we have been to, but we want to see Genosha too."

Theo shifts his eyes to Pete for a moment, again another silent conversation takes place. "That only kind of counts," he says as he looks over to Dyani. "But Genosha is beautiful, now that it's regrowing and being rebuilt, and before... oh man, /so/ beautiful. I have a few pictures of if, from growing up there, but they're on the asteroid."

Pete is busy chewing but he nods along with Theo.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Yeah - only kinda," Madison agrees. "When I went to Catalina, we got on one of those glass-bottom-boats and got to look down at all the fish. It was pretty cool. Can you go snorkeling at Genosha? Is the water warm? I bet that would be fun. Maybe if we promised my mom she could come too we could go jump through a portal and make a weekend of it," she muses in a thoughtful tone. "That would be a lot of fun. And then we could try Genoshan food, too! Ooo. I bet there's a Genoshan restaurant in Mutant Town."
    She should go!

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete takes a sip of his soda before setting the cup on the table. "There are places on the beach where you can snorkel, and swim, but no glass bottom boats. The thing about Genosha is that it is hundreds of cultures come together in one." The pause here is because he looks to Theo who just nods. "Mutants not born there, humans, other people out there, they don't understand Genosha for what it is. Some thing mutant hiding place, others think mutant island, but there are humans there who live and work and have lives. No one out here in this world wants to know the truth. Okay... off the soap box, and sorry."

Theo smiles proudly, nodding along as Pete speaks, then looks over to Madison. "We can take you some time, show you everything there is to the place, and all the places that are being rebuilt, but if you want Genoshan foods? Pete can make them."

Dyani hmms softly. "We read about Genosha, and what happened there. We still want to see this place, and visit other people like us."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "You can cook? What's your favorite thing to make? I took with my mom all the time - we bake breads, and make soups, and stews, and we even have our own pasta roller. Which was fun the first several times, but it gets tedious after awhile, but in a way it's still neat, you know?" Madison babbles cheerfully. "We cook stuff from all over the world - but I've never seen a Genoshan cookbook. Maybe because it's - like you said - it's people from all over the world. But there is a real 'Genoshan food'?" she asks in a curious tone.
    Grinning at Dyani Madison adds, "we'll go together! It'll just take a little more planning than visiting a mine filled with glowing rocks."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete nods. "I like to cook, but I'm not real good at it. I can bake though, I mean like..." he shifts a little. "I make cakes, pies, cookies, and I'm good with those."

Dyani perks right up, "Cookies?! We love cookies, and pie. Sugar is required for us, like you eat vegetables."

Theo huhs, so that answered one question he had. "Pete can also make a really good meatloaf, and he has a vegetarian casserole he can make that's actually good."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Should we bake cookies?" Madison asks - clapping her hands together. "We've got everything we'd need. There's chocolate chips, nuts, molasses, spices, sugars, flour, oatmeal - whatever you need.
    "Only no raisins," she says in a serious voice. "Only heathens put raisins into baked goods," she says solemnly - before breaking into a broad grin.
    "What's everyone's favorite kind of cookie?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete snerks softly and says, "Oatmeal raison." Then starts laughing, probably too hard.

Theo rolls his eyes. "He's joking. He likes peanutbutter chocolate chip cookies."

Dyani's wings flutter a little, which wakes up a couple of the bees. "We can bake? We love all cookies, no favorite, but maybe those with frosting are best."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I love peanut butter chocolate chip!" Madison agrees brightly, after grinning at Pete's quip, which hadn't phased her in the least. "And ginger snaps. And macaroons - the one with coconut in them. We don't usually do icing on our cookies - too much hastle - but we could always make a drizzle-icing for your cookies, Dyani, just so they have extra sugar in them?"
    She pops to her feet - and comes back a moment later with a spiral-bound baking cookbook. She pushes this towards her friends. "Here - pick one," she invites. Several of the recipes are marked with post-it notes - probably favorites.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani nods. "Frosting is a hassle, that is why we just eat it out of the container." She says this perfectly calmly, as if everyone did it that way.

Pete grins broadly. "I can make macaroons and profiteroles, though I don't know if profiteroles count as cookies."

"They do in my book," Theo adds with a chuckle. "But I can't cook. I burn water, so I'll just stay back over here and make Captain America talk about sexual positions or something."

Pete blinks once and starts laughing, even as his ears turn a little pink. He's got a think for the Captain, and that just triggered so many things in his head, just like Theo knew it would.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I haven't uploaded the Cap video samples yet!" Madison protests - grinning in amusement. Picking up the cookbook, she makes to drag Pete into the kitchen, calling over her shoulder at Dyani, "My mom caught me eating left over chocolate cake frosting once! It was goooood - but boy she wasn't happy!" She lets out a giggle, flipping the cookbook opened to the peanut butter chocolate chip recipe - it's one of the marked ones - as she starts pulling ingredients out of the cupboard.
    "Can you preheat the oven, and get the butter and eggs?" she asks. "And then you can start telling me how to read minds and stuff. If you want. If you don't mind."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete is the first to his feet to go help, he has a clue. Dyani on the other hand looks confused and attempts to be helpful by looking at the oven. She has no idea how it works, but she will figure it out. Theo is true to his word, he stays away.

"I know hwo to tweak the recipe a little to make either really soft cookie's or crunchy cookies, depending on how you like them," Pete comments, pointing to the oven nob so Dyani knows what she's looking for.

"Oh! What temperature?" She asks, staring at the nob now.

While that's happening, Pete is getting the requested items.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "350!" Madison answers Dyani brightly, without even glancing at the recipe. She's pretty sure that's right, and if she's wrong - it's an easy adjustment.
    "Well. I like 'em soft and gooey in the middle - but with crunch edges. This recipe's pretty good how it is, though. How do you tweak it?" she asks curiously. "Especially tweaking a recipe you've never even used back!" she points out.
    Madeline also pulls out a scale - putting a bowl on it. Because of course she and her mother weigh the flour.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani does her part, she sets the oven to 350 then goes back over by Theo at the table and sits down. If she tries to be any more helpful then that, she'll likely make a mess or set something on fire, so she'll talk to Theo while Madison and Pete make cookies.

"Every recipe has basic ingredients used to achieve the item," Pete says simply. "People alter here and there to the taste or flavors they want, but the basic recipe remains the same. If you want gooier, you can add more butter, of you want crunchier, you add less. That sort of thing."

Setting the items on the counter so Madison can reach them, Pete remains near by to help as needed but continues to talk, which is making Theo over joyed. "The mind is an amazing organ, and reading the thoughts that run through it isn't as easy as reading words. The electrical impulses of the brain that create thought, generates the mental images from what the eyes see, that is really what you are looking for to learn to read. First you have to sense those impulses, then you learn to read those impulses for the thoughts they are."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I don't know that I've ever even sensed them before," Madison complains as she put the butter on a plate, and pops it into the microwave, set to its lowest setting. She seems to know exactly how long it takes to soften the butter at the setting, because she pays no attention to it while weighing out the flour, and adding in the other dry ingredients. "I mean, Jedi are supposed to be able to read minds, and send messages, and sense emotions, and even change people's minds for them, but I've never gotten any of that to work. Sometimes I wonder if I just... somehow didn't get any of the Jedi's mental powers. But the Force is the Force, isn't it?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Pete nods. He may not be able to truly understand this Jedi thing she believes, but he knows the idea from seeing the movies and Theo made it clear that you do not pick at that scab. "That's because you haven't had any training," he offers with a smile. "May I... uh... try something? See if I can help you find the impulses? You may have found them and not even know you did it."

Theo and Dyani begin a serious round of thumb wrestling. Dyani is smaller then even him, but that doesn't mean she can't win if she tries.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Yeah, sure," Madison agrees easily, as she's dumping the stick of butter into the stand mixer's bowl, and adding the sugars as well. "Try away," she invites, giving him a curious look.
    "...do you need me to stop with the cookies, for a minute?" she asks curiously. Of course, that's easy when you have a standmixer to do the work - as she turns it on with a flick, letting it beat the butter for them.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Dyani is winning, or Theo is letting her win, but either way she is giggling and trying to pin his thumb and has managed to do so two our of the possible five matches.

Pete waits until everything in the stand mixer, then reaches over and very lightly touches Madison's right temple. In that instant her mind and his are one. She doesn't know his thoughts, he doesn't know hers, but she can tell that they are linked, she can 'feel' it.

"Do you feel that very slight, very faint pulsing that surrounds everyone in the room?" He then asks.

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison stills under Pete's hand. Usually, she's moving in some day - tapping a foot, bouncing a leg, tapping a finger - but nope. Now she's completely still, her breath catching in her throat and her eyes locked onto Pete's. She can feel their mind's connected - but when she tries to reach out to Dyani and Theo.... she senses nothing.
    "No," she says with disappointment. "I'm like - the opposite of Corran Horn," she laments sadly.