8956/A Knight Amidst The Gardens

A Knight Amidst The Gardens
Date of Scene:	05 December 2021
Location:	The Gardens
Synopsis:	Clarice, Pamela, and Bennet converse about troubles modern and ancient in the Asteroid Gardens.
Cast of Characters:	Paris Bennet, Clarice Ferguson, Pamela Isley

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Paris Bennet has posed:
The tall knight received his new uniform first thing this morning and is already getting used to it., at least his internal clock is telling him this. He couldn't wait around to see where he is allowed and decided to find out what the place is like for himself!

Bennet's wanderings have seen him to a spot of mild familiarity in the form of the gardens, where he is presently hovering above one of the smaller waterfalls gazing up through the skylight at the current view of the world below. He still can't get used to the idea of where this place is apparently...

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice frequents the gardens - everyone needs a little tranquility at times, and who doesn't love that view? But she also uses it as a chance to get the three guinea pigs that call her quarters home out onto some real grass. There's a flash of purple energy, and when it fades, Clarice is standing at the center of a low-walled, steel wire pen, containing a few toys and tunnels - and the aforementioned trio of guinea pigs, who freeze for a moment, before they start running around on and nibbling at the grass. In Clarice's hand is a comic book with 'Rat Queens' on the cover.
    She seems about to sit down within the pen when she spots the hovering man, and after a moment's hesitation, she steps over the wall of the pen instead, setting down her comic book just outside it as she strides quietly towards the waterworks within the garden dome.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela doesn't live in the gardens of course. She has a room. She's been fretting about decorating it for weeks that feel like months. But she does spend an awful lot of time in the gardens relaxing. Gotham was always so crowded, and the Biodome there was a haven. It turns out an asteroid of likeminded mutants with a fantastic garden? That's even better.
    Pamela might worry she's going to become some sort of urban legend, given how she blends into the garden, amongst the plants just silently tending to them. But that mutant gift of hers means the plants and her communicate so much more than most know. Meaning she's got them whispering away about Bennet's hovering and Clarice's relaxing. Also, it turns out plants can nettle Ivy about how she should stop being some sort of recluse and actually introduce herself to her comrades.
    Well, she thinks it's the plants. Maybe it's her own mind. She comes drifting out of the lush vegetation like a spectre, today's deep green hue to her skin helping her blend in, and her return to living leaf and vine attire just aiding in her camoflague. She adjusts her skin's hue a little, a brighter green, easier to spot alongside dark red hair, one hand lifting to give a small wave up towards Bennet... just to see if he's paying attention. Maybe he's lost in a trance or something.

Paris Bennet has posed:
The large mutant somehow 'knows' when his attention is being beckoned. It's one of the oddities about himself that he is becoming accustomed to. That means that when the dryad signals him, his glowing gold within gold eyes are directed downwards to Ivy before an expression of acknowledgement flickers over his ashen face.

Exodus descends forthwith, his cloak barely flickering in spite of the speed with which he drops. It isn't like a rock plummeting, but he is a couple of inches off of the grass momentarily, whereupon he greets in his deep and archaic tones,"Mademoiselle, alle voux matin? Pardon moi, how are you this morning?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    As Paris addresses Ivy, Clarice turns her head towards the woman, studying her curiously. She recieves notices of new residents on the Asteroid - so she'd seen something about the woman not too long ago, but had yet to meet her. She offers a nod of greeting, but doesn't yet close the distance between herself and the pair, not wanting to interrupt without invitation.
    Besides, it gives her a chance to see how Bennet reacts to others here. She still wasn't quite sure what to make of their medival guest, after all.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela grins a touch lopsidedly, maybe a bit self-consciously, that one piece 'swimsuit' of vines and leaves shifts and ruffles a little, like it's alive. Or it's reacting to its owner's nervousness as she huffs out a little sigh and nods her head, "Oh, not bad. Garden's doing well, uhhh... I think I picked out a colour of paint for my walls, so like... full speed ahead on decorating. Things are _going_!"
    She lifts her hand in another little wiggle of fingers to Clarice, her own eyes sweeping over the other woman, "Hey!" she calls out cheerily, or at least... awkwardly? God, she's really not great at this socializing thing. Maybe doing most of it with Harley wasn't the totally awesome practice she thought it was. It's been 10 seconds and no one's set off a road flare or ordered twelve extra large pizzas, she doesn't know how to handle this. So she musters her will power to favour Exodus with sheepish grin, "Not interrupting anything, am I? You looked pretty important floating up there, the daisies wouldn't stop chattering about it."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Exodus follows the attention of the Dryad to the more familiar Clarice whereupon he arches a brow. He had wondered when she would turn up again. He also doesn't need to be psychic to read that she is deliberately hanging back for some reason, and so be looks back to the green woman who has scarcely said anything sensible to his ears yet.

Bennet regards her for a few moments as he tries to gauge an appropriate response before settling on,"...the daisies. Non, no interruptions."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Hello," Clarice greets the woman with a friendly, almost amused smile. She moves a little closer, studying her before remarking, "You must be Pamela...? I apologize for not meeting with your sooner. I'm Clarice Ferguson - Mystique's second," she offers by way of greeting.
    "And this is our latest guest, Bennet du Paris." She does her best with the name, but French R's are really not her thing.
    Her attention shifts to Bennet as she asks, "I hope the quarters were to your satisfaction? I'm glad you found your way to the gardens. This place is a haven to many of us."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela nods her head with a crooked grin of her own, shoulders untensing a little, "Yeah, that's me. Oh! Well, it's nice to meet you! Sorry if I've been... inadvertantly doding you or anything. Just getting settled and dealing with some things in Gotham and the like."
    She turns her attention back to Bennet with a little laugh and a nod of her head, "Yeah, the gardens are something special. I mean, I'll say this, Mystique knew what she was doing ending my tour with them. They're amazing." She gestures to Clarice's comic and grins a touch wider, "Absolutely the place to go with a good book."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Falling silent for another brief series of moments as he observes the interaction between the women, Bennet responds to the acknowledgement with a polite nod. He does eventually work up the nerve to ask,"Are you...a dryad or are you...?"

Bennet is visibly perplexed as to how to broach the subject. It's one thing to be bold and forthright with a sword in hand on a battlefield, it's quite another with a lady in polite conversation! Or so he was raised...

Exodus clears his throat then. Gold within gold eyes flicker between the two women in anticipation of the response, though it may be hard to see with the absence of sclera or pupil!

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well - it's good for both me and the pigs to get out of our quarters sometimes," Clarice says with casual cheer - before realizing that statement may sound a bit strange. "Uh- my guinea pigs, I mean," she explains, gesturing towards the nearby pen. "They're pets for me and my brothers."
    As for Pamela's nature, she offers no explination - leaving it to the woman instead, though a smile of amusement pulls at the corners of her lips. Were dryads even a thing, she has to wonder? She supposes it's possible...

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam's eyes widen a little at the question, her lips quirk in a thoughtful expression, brow furrowing. It's a bit of an unusual question... and Pamela's as visibly perplexed as anyone, "You know, I never really thought about it? I mean, Dryads are... were? Magic?" She tilts her head and sighs out, "I mean, I guess magic's still a thing, so I'm... not a magic Dryad at the least. But I can control plants, talk to them, listen to them... also I'm a chemist."

    Her shoulders rise and fall helplessly as she smiles lopsidedly, "So I guess I may or may not count as a Dryad depending on technicality." She really hadn't considered her nature with nature before. She adds this to the list of things to do... somewhere between interior decorating and sending more sternly worded letters to the board of directors of the latest environment-damaging corporation.

    She snorts out and grins at Clarice, "Oh! Guinea pigs! That's _far_ less confusing! ...Do they have adorable or funny names?"

Paris Bennet has posed:
The big man knits his snowy brows in consternation. The world is much more confusing than he is used to it being. He hrms at her response, then asks for clarification,"Chemist. As in... alchemist?"

With scarcely a beat after that question, he then adds with utter certainty,"Dryads are also called nymphs. They are wood spirits of the world of Faerie. Whimsical and oft spiteful beings with powers over the natural forces of their territory."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Uhh, they're named after-" Clarice hesitates a moment - perhaps openly citing 'witches' would be a bad idea in current company, "the characters in a movie my brothers like. They're named Winnie, Sarah, and Mary," she supplies - the names of the three Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus. "I'd never had a pet before we got them - other than a fish when I was very little. It's nice."
    She looks towards Paris, bemused by his continued confusion, but letting Pamela field the question about chemistry. After all, she understands very little about chemistry and alchemy.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela lifts one eyebrow slightly, her lips twist even more thoughtfully. "Well... _shit_. I think I might be a Dryad." She's not even being sarcastic, it's not like she can't see how those descriptors fit her. A little too comfortably even. Okay, maybe more spiteful than whimsical, but hey, she's had Harls around to up the whimsy quotient while she handled the spite. It makes sense.
     She tilts her head thoughtfully, "Huh... I mean, alchemists focused on changing metals into gold or something, right? I mostly just focus on plants and... uh... poisons... medicines sometimes." It doesn't even cross her mind that also sounds pretty witch-like. But hey, that's probably fine.
    She shrugs lightly and grins, "I mean, I don't do too much lab work anymore... uhhh, once I was able to talk to and control plants, working on science sort of fell to the wayside." Also, she kind of took up ecoterrorism and it turns out that's just _so_ bad on your resume. You'd think giant corporations would appreciate you melting the executives of their competition but it turns out they get all worried you'll do it to them too. But that's water under the bridge. Or... asteroid. She's trying to change. It's all good. She eyes Bennet and perks her eyebrows up, "So! What do you... uhh... do? Like, when you're not hanging out in the garden?"

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet hrms at the question, such a blunt and obvious thing but again something he seriously needs an answer to. So he just dives in,"I was apparently asleep for the last eight centuries. I don't yet do anything per se. Lord Erik and Lady Clarice have been helping me to... adjust since my arrival from.... Switzerland."

The explanation felt ridiculous even as he gave it, but it was the truth as he understood it!

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    //Lady// Clarice? Amusement flickers over Clarice's features - but she decides to leave it be. He has enough to contend with, without being confronted on the littlest things. If he wants to call her a 'Lady' - so be it.
    "He has a lot to learn about the modern world before he can find his place in it," Clarice confirms. "But at least we can provide a safe place for him, until he finds his own way. The modern world can be a confusing place."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam's eyebrows shoot up, her mouth falls open, and she glances back and forth between Bennet and Claire to confirm her hearing didn't just... make some shit up?
    "That's... uhh... well..." She clears her throat and nods her head slowly.
    "Yeah, it sure can be. But it's not all terrible! Frozen yogurt's like... pretty solidly good."
    She offers a helpless little shrug. It's all she's got, really.

Paris Bennet has posed:
The knight didn't stutter and is showing no signs of humor as he lapses into silence anew to consider what the two women are now saying. Frozen yogurt? What?

The man considers in silence only a moment longer before contributing,"I grew up in a village outside of Orleanorum. It was a custom to keep a cauldron in the fireplace at all times, especially in the winter. We would periodically add new ingredients throughout the week, a constantly shifting stew. The best was pheasant and wild onions when we had potatoes from the merchants from Wales."

The tall man is drifted in reverie at the thought, but it doesn't last before he pulls himself back to the present with a heavy sigh.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    At the mention of frozen yogurt, Clarice's eyes light up. "It's not as good as Mootant Milkshakes, though! I shall have to take you there sometime! Umm..." There's a moment of hesitation before she asks, "I suppose that is - if you like sweets? I mean, everyone likes sweets... don't they?" She seems to consider this for a few moments.
    "I could also introduce you to conkies - they're made in Barbados, where I was born. They'll less sweet - but still sweet. They're good with a cup of tea, or coffee. Not that there's anything wrong with a good pot of stew, though. Eddie usually has some sort of stew in the cafeteria for us."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela nods her head and then eyes Clarice with... possibly almost as much confusion as the tall man with them. "Wait, Mootant what? I've never heard of that! Clearly I've been missing out."
TShe taps her chin thoughtfully, fingertip shifting to rub along her cheek, "Hmm, you know, food's usually a pretty good way to like... connect to a new _place_, I don't see why it couldn't also work for a new time..."
    She nods her head solemnly and smiles, "Not that I'm saying you should rush into trying all sorts of food, take your time adjusting, go at your own pace."

Paris Bennet has posed:
The tall man is thoroughly confused at all of the brand-name talk and such. To him, shaking milk is one of the ways to make butter! He has never even considered freezing it, so all of this is going over his head...

After some minutes of listening in lost silence, Exodus rises into the air to resume his reverie of the earth without ceremony.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice watches Paris float up out of their reach with a bemused smile, turning her attention back to Pamela. "I suppose we should leave him to his thoughts - he must have a lot on his mind." A faint frown crosses her features as she adds, "And he must feel terribly alone. Everyone he knew..." is dead. Centuries dead and forgotten.
    She gestures towards the little pen with the guinea pigs - inviting Pamela to accompany her if she likes. "You have been to Mootant Milkshakes? You really should. It's in Bushick, and they're the best milkshakes I've ever found. I bring some up to the Asteroid sometimes - and leave them in the freezer case in the cafeteria for everyone to pick up. Though, come to think of it, I suppose it's been a couple months since I did so..."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam nods and sighs thoughtfully, watching Paris ascend, "Yeah, he's got a lot to think about, no doubt about it." She frowns a little herself, shoulders slumping a touch... even a few of the flowers around droop a little, only to spring back at the mention of the guinea pigs. Because who can stay in the doldrums around those li'l squeakers?
    She nearly springs over to the pen, bending over and reaching out an index finger like she's introducing herself to tiny dogs, "Oh, no! I went to... god, I forget the name of the bar Mystique met me in. I probably should've asked her. It seemed like a good place to unwind."
    Her eyebrows perk and she grins wide, "But I think I'm going to have to head down there, I need to pick up a few things anyhow and it's not like getting to Bushwick's any more or less trouble than Gotham from here... and I've _earned_ a milkshake! Maybe two."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Saints and Sinners?" Clarice guesses with an amused smile. "It's a nice enough place - though I don't go there much myself." Was that a deepening of the magenta hues of her cheek? Surely not.
    As Pam reaches down, a tan and white colored guinea pig trots over to her, sniffing at the offered finger, and looking for treats. Clarice offers simply, "That one's Mary. She's always the friendliest."
    A second tan and white guinea pig (though with far less white to her coat) moves away from the offered hand, retreating into a little domed structure, while a tortoise shell colored guinea pig seems to be ignoring Pam in favor of nudging a jingle ball around. "Winifred's the scaredy pants that just ran to hide. And that's Sarah there with the ball."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Ivy snap-points with the hand that's not playfully finger-walking towards Mary, and then giving her a gentle little pat upon the ears, "That's it!" She grins lopsidedly and sighs out,"I mean, I'm trying to... expand my social circle. You know, because it's not really a circle when it's one person and they've got their own things going on?"
    She glances from tiny fuzzy friend to friend and nods her head, "Well, Winifred's adorable! I mean, they all are, but if I'm picking favorites..." She grins crookedly and shakes her head, "I'd introduce you to the plants, but... I mean, they don't have names or anything, except Frank, and I'm not bringing him up here. I mean, I'm not sure if we _get_ trashy daytime TV, and even if we do, he can just hang out at my apartment and watch it there."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We can get anything up here, I think," Clarice replies with puzzlement. "You name your plants? ... it watches TV?" But it's a //plant//! That just doesn't make sense to her.
    "I've been making more friends lately. More friends - and more family. It's... it's nice. It's a change, but it's nice." There's a fond smile on her features as she thinks of her brother - though a slightly more worried expression starts to impinge as her thoughts turn to her father, next.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam's head shakes quickly, "No no, just Frank. He's... special." The word's got a lot of emphasis on it. It's not flattering emphasis but she sighs and shakes he rhead, "That's not fair. He's.. uhh... an intelligent plant. I was experimenting and uhh..." She shrugs helplessly and huffs out a louder sigh, "Got Frank. His personality's an acquired taste. He also... uhh.." She frowns and rubs the back of her neck sheepishly, "Okay, kind of eats people. I mean, like, not... constantly or anything, I just made him when I was in a... very aggressive mindset."
    Her own lips curve in a worried frown... but she reminds herself she's changing. She hasn't done anything criminal in _weeks_!

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "An intelligent plant that eats people named Frank," Clarice repeats. Ooookay. "What does he eat when he's not eating //people//?" Couldn't he simply be fed small pigs instead? She shakes her head then adds, "I've killed people." A lot, really.
    "Though I try not to kill people if there are better options."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam shrugs and sighs, "Oh, just plant food and water. Believe me, if I had a time machine I'd go back and tell past me to just... order a pizza that night. A plant tha can _audibly complain_ you're not watering his roots right is just..."
    She trails off and grimaces. Huffs out a loud, lingering sigh, "But yeah, he's really more like... a security system now? You know, standard Gotham lowlife breaks into apartment to steal the TV, and uhh.." She shrugs lightly, "I mean, there's a sign on the door, it's not like they should be surprised."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Something of an unintended consequence on the criminal's part," Clarice remarks in a dry, amused tone. "Well. I'll be certain to steer clear of your home just to be sure."
    Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out finely chopped apple and carrots in a small bag, offering some over to Pamela, before she crouches to offer a piece of apple. Sarah trots over eagerly, greedily snatching up the treat.
    "I have to say - I'm happy enough that none of my plants can talk. It's nice having plants around, though. I mean - I spent a while living in forests and such so... Plants can be a comfort."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Exodus hovers back down much the way he departed, arms crossed now and looking somewhat less...pale.

Bennet states matter of factly,"Killing is unbecoming of a lady, though I have known one or two who were left with scant recourse. War is unforgiving." This is something he would know quite a lot about. He glances from one to the other with a hrm as if clearing his throat, though he is really just organizing his words to be sensible to his audience,"I should like to speak to Lord Erik when he is next available. I don't know if what I have to say will make much sense as your conversations have sounded alien to mine ears, your world truly does not seem like a place that I would comprehend at present. Therefore mine likely does not to either of you. I state this at knowing risk of presumption."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam takes a slice of offered apple and bends over to offer it to whichever guinea pig has the bravery to enjoy the snack. She shrugs lightly and rolls her eyes with a laugh, "Yeah, I mean... I can tune the plants out if I need to, but it's nice to have the background of them... especially ones that are happy, so this place is fairly great." She sighs almost wistfully, only to look up as Exodus hovers back down
    Eyebrows perk and shoulders shrug lightly, "To be fair, for the most part it was vines or animated trees doing the killing. ...Well, okay in my case."
    She casts a glance Clarice's way, she's not sure about the other woman's past, but hey... time to try and not to dwell on past sins! Guinea pigs and apple slices. Much better to dwell on.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    It's Mary that eagerly snatches up the apple, and runs away with it, away from her two sisters. Clarice smirks with amusement, before turning her attention to Bennet.
    "I suppose you should tell that to the people who took me from my family - and trained me. Though to the best of my knowledge, most if not all of them are dead. Not by my hand, unfortunately." She'd have liked to have taken at least some of their blood herself. "I am what I am, and I'm afraid I'm not much of a 'Lady.'"

Paris Bennet has posed:
Unruffled for a change, Bennet's features are approaching what one may appropriately describe as certain. There is definitely a degree of color returning to them as he hovers in place and replies,"It was made clear to me yesterday that residents of this place are not permitted to judge harshly of one another, therefore I will say nothing further on the matter. As for the plant life, if they are under your command and not acting independent as such, then that was your own doing. But I have already said enough on that."

Bennet reaches a hand to the waterfall then, and an orb of precious liquid drifts over to him taking the shape of a cup as he transports it forth under his will until it hovers over his hand.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela can't really argue that... even if she kind of wishes she could for her own peace of mind, instead she shrugs and stands up smoothly, arms stretching above her head in a stretch, "Well, that's a fair point. And I'm trying to be even more discerning in my use of... ahh... _aggressive methods_ in dealing with situations."
    She sighs and shakes her head, "I didn't even break any bones when those ninjas caused a ruckus a few weeks ago. Also... like... New York City? Has a very unusual number of ninjas just sort of lurking on rooftops. Someone should look into that."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm afraid 'ninjas' fall outside my jurisdiction," Clarice remarks in amusement, before turning her gaze towards Bennet.
    "If I can use the skills that were taught to me by my oppressors to save and free our mutant brothers and sisters, then I'll do so. I'm a trained figher - a warrior - and that won't change. I try to be discriminating in my use of deadly force, however."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet remains unflappable in the face of the pronouncements. Whether he approves or not it is difficult to say as his arms remain folded over his broad chest.

After a few moments of silence, he breaks said silence and offers a question,"What are these...ninjas?"

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela's mouth works silently for a moment, her brow furrows as she tries to think of how to explain it, "They're... supposed to be some sort of ancient warrior society from another country. But I'm pretty sure these guys were just... bog standard criminals trying to extort a neighborhood. Like, they certainly didn't put up much of a fight. And I think Ninjas are supposed to know magic or something."
    She sighs and shrugs, "Honestly, I didn't really bother to ask anyone what was going on, I was just going on a walk with a friend when them and some regular old criminals got into a fight and dragged us into it."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Ninjas are supposed to be particularly good at sneaking about stealthily. Breaking into places where they should be - possibly even doing assassinations," Clarice offers. She's silent for a moment before adding, "Honestly, not too different from what I was being trained to do. I don't know that I've ever met an actual ninja, though. They're a very popular concept in modern culture, though. People see them as mysterious, and intriguing," she explains in an almost dismissive tone.

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet harrumphs at the explanations, shaking his head as he dismisses the concept thusly,"When I was in the Holy Land, there was an order of warriors very much like that. The Hashasheen. They were known for their guile and cleverness at murder, and it was said their leader, the Old Man in the Mountain had no reflection. I caught one one time, he was good with a knife but I was better with my sword."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam nods her head, "Oh, yeah, I played that videeee... ohhhh... game..." She trails off, eyes widening a little. Pam is _shook_ as it suddenly hits her just how long Bennet's been out of circulation. Well. That's sure something, "Sooo.. uhhh.. yeah, like I said, not real ninjas, pretty sure they were just some street gang trying to stand out from the crowd. Luckily they didn't want to press the issue, and none of the typical mafia guys were really wanting to argue when I took their guns. Not going to lie, it wasn't really a ringing endorsement for taking more walks around Hell's Kitchen."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Guns are a kind of weapon," Clarice supplies. "Like- well. I guess like a bow and arrow? Only smaller. And you can fire it more quickly. Anyways, you'll see." She gives the man a sympathetic look. She's not sure what technology //did// exist 800 years ago. Nothing that she would recognize as proper 'technology' - she thought.
    "Have you seen images of what the world is like yet?" she asks uncertainly. "I could arrange for that, while I try to schedule for you a time to speak with Magneto," she offers. "I'm sure he has much he wants to learn about the time you come from, and from mutants at that time - after all, he sought your tomb out for a reason."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet slowly nods in understanding to Clarice. His lips purse somewhat as he considers how to respond to the predictable explanation, then replies,"I would tell him of the lore of Arthur as I know it. I am ignorant as to where miracle ends and...whatever this is begins." He gestures with a finger to the literal floating cup of water before him.

Bennet takes the cup then and sips of it before continuing,"I could mayhaps tell him of my brief experience with En Sabah Nur and what I recall of...what he did to me."

Paris Bennet has posed:
The gloomy knight then casts his thoughts back to the present. He is on some floating rock impossibly high above the earth in the company of people who have made the impossible normal, so he dares to reply,"Perhaps I should see what has become of the world in my absence sooner than later." Better to rip the band-aid than tug it mildly and extend the pain.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam's content to mostly keep quiet... if only because she's trying to be less of a misanthrope, and not quite so venomously full of pessimism... and, well, letting that sort of thing slip to the guy who's made Captain America's time as an ice cube look like the blink of an eye? That just seems cruel. So instead she shrugs non-commitally, "I mean, I'm sure the big boss'll make time for you and help you adjust... they might just need some time to figure out how to give you the notes on... everything."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Perhaps you should," Clarice agrees with amusement. "Though I assure you - he'll want to hear about En Sabah Nur. I'll admit to my own curiosity as well." Though she doesn't explain why.
    She pulls out her phone - and after frowning at it with concentration as she slowly types something out, she manages to find a video that looks - well - like it //might// be about what she's looking for. 'Crash Course European History: The Industrial Revolution.' "If you touch the screen, it'll start to-" play? She doesn't think that word will mean to him what it means to her, '...to work. You'll see, anyways."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet eyes the device with some skepticism, his snowy brows scrunching as he figures out how to properly hold it. The screen flipping frustrates him for a moment before he gets it right and he inquires,"Touch it...like this?"

Stabbing a finger at the screen, he gets it and the vidya starts to play, his eyes widening as he watches his first StarkTube documentary...

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam flinches a little in sympathy at Bennet's issues with the screen flipping... well, hey, he's already catching up on the frustrations of modern technology! That's probably good.
    For her part, Pam's got no clue who En Sabah Nur is, normally she'd dismiss the name, except if Erik will want to know about him, and Clarice is curious about him, and he was around 800 years ago... he's probably not old news. So she files the name away to ask about another time. And then she gasps softly, "Oh, jeeze. you have _so_ much music to catch up on too."
    She says it with a tone of awe, and maybe a little bit of sympathy... because at some point in catching up, he's going to hit an earworm. Did they have earworms 800 years ago? That must've been rough if the local bard wandered off and you couldn't listen to it to get it out fo your head.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice flashes Pam an amused smile. "And movies," she supplies quietly. "Some of my friends and my family are helping me catch up with, umm, all the 'important' movies I missed given my upbringing..."
    She falls silent though, as she watches Bennet get subjected to everything from trains to planes to automobiles - including the horrors of early factories and child labor before there were any health and safety regulations...

Paris Bennet has posed:
If Bennet had ever heard of anything like the Luddites, he probably has a better understanding of their reasoning long before he's finished. He would continue watching in silence, engrossed for the duration and... mildly disturbed by several points.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam finds herself silent as well, watching the video over the time-stranded mutant's shoulder... and having to bite the inside of her cheek a time or two, because boy would it be easy to go into a screed about how corporations haven't exactly gotten a lot better on some of these things. But clearly this is already a lot to take in and process, and why add to the weight of it?

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    There are a few points where Clarice winces herself - wondering if she chose the right video. If maybe she should have left things like this to someone who had a better understanding of history, to know what to introduce to the man... "So yeah," she murmurs quietly. "The world's changed a lot. Technology has changed a lot. What you're holding now is called a cellphone. You can use it to talk to people you know almost anywhere on the world, instantly. It can also record what you're seeing, and replay the picture and sound for you anytime you like, or for anyone you like. There's other stuff it can do but- well." Those are maybe the easiest to understand.

Paris Bennet has posed:
Thrusting the phone at Clarice when it's finished, Bennet almost spits,"You should smash it..."

Exodus stalks a few paces from the duo and gazes up at the earth, realizing for the first time in a moment of clarity,"Am I looking up, or down? My body says the first, but my mind knows better. Such trifles as that thing may have their use but after what you shewed me I do wonder at the cost."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pamela shrugs helplessly, "I think up and down are relative here. I don't know that dwelling on it is useful, but there have been good aspects to progress as well. New medicines, understanding of illnesses. Society has troubles, but it's not all bad."
    Pam might not always agree with what she's saying, or might not always _feel_ like she agrees, but sometimes it takes seeing someone else's viewpoint to realize your own is shifting.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice takes the phone back, and pockets it, giving the man a sympathetic look. "My brothers would be pretty upset with me if I smashed it," she replies. "It's how I let them know if I'll be going into danger - and how I let them know I'm safely out of it again." She watches the man with concern as she adds, "Life expectancy is something like 80 years now - thanks to new medicines and other technologies - so there are definitely benefits to the modern world. But I know all of this is confusing. I'm sorry if I just made it worse..."
    She lets out a sigh, taking a few steps closer as she adds, "If it helps, in most nations of the world, many of the things in that video are not allowed anymore. Children aren't allowed to work - they're required to go to school and learn instead. Businesses are required to look after the safety and health of their employees. Accidents where people are injured or killed are investigated by governments. The systems aren't perfect, but they're better than they were a hundred years ago."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet listens with squared jaw as he considers her points, or at least tries to. Suspension of judgement isn't easy in the midst of pique but he is at least making the effort. That's not something he was able to do in his old days.

Moments like this, Bennet feels he is becoming a different man. He doesn't know how he feels about this, but he knows he doesn't like most of what he has seen. Bennet stares at Clarice for a long moment, then glances to Pam and from there to the floor. It's a good thing that optic blast aren't in his repertoire as he mutters,"The Strong..."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Pam looks out at the Earth hanging above and frowns thoughtfully, before she stands up straight and sighs out, "Well, it _was_ nice meeting you both... but I think I'm going to go do a little more room decorating and have a nap... or sleep? I don't know what time ti is, or I'm not sure which it counts as." She grins wryly and shrugs her shoulders, "But I do hope... we make a difference in the world. Make it better. However we can." And then she's swaying off with a measured gait, thoughtful, and a touch somber.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "The Strong...?" Clarice repeats uncertainly. She's not a very well read individual, and she's puzzled as to what he might mean. She gives Pamela a distracted nod of farewell, keeping most of her attention on Paris.
    "The world is not perfect - but I hope it'll be a better place by the time I leave it. I protect the people who need my protection - especially if they're mutants, like us. And I try to stop people who hurt others unjustly. I'm sure the world had its own problems in your time, as well."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet has heard Clarice give this particular diatribe before, and he finally drops the literal cup of water, it splashing to the grass when she is done.

Bennet replies then in terse tones,"The Strong. It is what En Sabah Nur looks for. When he found me, he asked me if I was one of... The Strong. Then he took me beneath the sands and showed me what that meant. To be of the Strong."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "The Strong? Is that what he called mutants?" Clarice theorizes curiously. Her gaze goes to where the water has splashed, then back to the man once more. "What was beneath the sands?" she asks more quietly. She needs to know - but part of her is afraid to, as well. After all, the man is tied up into her own history - he was family, literally. And not everything she's heard about the man has been reassuring, precisely.

Paris Bennet has posed:
The knight is mostly just getting this off of himself and it shows. It had been a harrowing experience after all, one he was in no hurry to relive and it was very much as if he were remembering it through a fog,"His temple. A sunken Tower, the home of the clan Akkaba. The people know him as the Eternal Pharaoh. I sought it with the Black Knight, Eobar, you know. We thought it might be something related to the Holy Grail or Fountain of Youth."

Bennet then shrugs and looks back up to Clarice and bluntly concludes,"We...I...was mistaken. There is only pain beneath the sands of Akkaba. Maybe it is his epithet for our kind, but he is a devil dreaming of godhood."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "How do you mean?" Clarice answers quietly. "I only know scattered details about him. He disappears from history for centuries, and always reappears amidst war, and strife... He goes back thousands of years, from what I was able to learn. But little of what I learned was complimentary."
    She smiles wryly before she adds, "If you'd rather save your answers for Magneto, though - I'll understand. He'll want to know these things, as well."

Paris Bennet has posed:
Bennet nods curtly, his arms lowering to his sides as he replies,"Of course. I only pray it doesn't goad him there. The Liar has a way of tearing into your mind even as he...changes you. I will save it for him as you say."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "It is whatever you prefer," Clarice clarifies, though there's a flash of danger in her eyes as she adds in a colder, and more determined tone, "And no one gets to my King without going through me first. I don't care how grand they thing they are - or how many centuries they've lived."
    And if she isn't a match for this En Sabah Nur? That's of little consequence, as long as it saves her King.