Owner	Pose
Kitty Pryde	Kitty has been celebrating life a bit since the battle was won against Brainiac. That release of energy, the signs of someone who thought maybe this was the time they weren't going to make it through. Today finds her back at the school, and heading out to the stables for a ride. One of her favorite activities when she was a student. She'd sent out a few invitations to others via text, letting them know she was taking Sundance out for a ride if anyone else was interested. Now she's at the stables at the appointed time, pulling a saddle down from where it hangs and carrying it over to the familiar mare. "Hey girl," Kitty says with a smile, pulling a sugar cube from her pocket and offering it to the horse, who eats it off of her hand, after which Kitty strokes the mare's head and nose for a bit.
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto's role in the whole Braniac thing was fairly minor helping, earthbound heroes repel the Braniac drones in NYC, and while he did a good job he was at least jokingly salty about missing out on going to space /again/. His memories mostly restored, he had been taking it easy around the mansion, getting ready for his trip to Brazil when the text came and Roberto made his way down to the stables. "Heya Kit Kat, horsing around?" he asks, okay not his best material but he was working up to his pre-Sinister level of humour.
Maxwell Wave	Relieved that the threat of Brainiac was at an end, Maxwell was more than happy to accept the invitation to have a little fun and live it up. He arrives at the stables wearing jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He wasn't certain about the fate of Mutant Town or his various belongings, but he had never been a packrat to begin with. So really, he's just missing out on a little more variety in his wardrobe. Short of a couple of forays to help others who knew more about what they were doing, Max had kept a low profile during the conflict. He offers a wave to Roberto, his eyes glowing a vibrant blue then groans at the pun. "Wow, that hurt. So..  This is Sundance, huh? Nice to meet you." He waves to the Horse.
Kitty Pryde	Kitty Pryde's face lights up as the Brazilian comes out to join her. She spreads a blanket and then puts the horse on Sundance's back, then moves over to give Roberto a little side-bump. "Yeah, really hot to trot today," she quips back, and just as poorly. She sees another arrival at the stables, the glow of blue light coming from Maxwell's eyes making him easy to spot. "Hey Max, glad you made it," she tells him. "Do you and Roberto know each other?" she asks, motioning from the one to the other. "Nice seeing you going around without the goggles," she tells Max with a grin. "How's it feel, being around so many other mutants for a change?" she asks. Kitty moves over to look at the other horses. "The black one has a bit of spirit, not sure how much you horse ride. I think he gets it from Rogue, he's her favorite horse," she says. "The painted down at the end is pretty gentle. Actually, none of them are all that rambunctious really, but he'd be a good choice if you're not used to horses," she says. She looks back to Roberto. "Do you have a favorite?"
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto glances back over his shoulder at the unfamiliar voice, "So you're saying neigh to bad horse jokes then?" he asks Maxwell. There's a brief glance at the man's glowing eyes, but only as much attention as one might give someone with an interesting tattoo or cool hair, the sort of easy acceptance of people's mutation that was the hallmark of the school. There's a smile for Kitty then as she joins in the horseplay, and he turns and extends a hand to Max, "No haven't met, or at least I don't remember," he says, before pointing at his head. "Clone of Jean messed with my mind, hazard of going to this place," he offers as explanation. As to his favourite? "Like Wesley Snipes said, always bet on black," he grins. "Rogue's favourite's never steered me wrong."
Maxwell Wave	Max shakes Robertot's hand in greeting. "Max. Nice to meet you. I.. uh.. was living in Mutant Town, and I guess I was lucky to get abducted by someone else prior to Brainiac. Kitty, Lorna, Clarice, Hank, and Rogue came to the rescue, and I was recovering here when.. Well... poof." He gestures with his hand to describe the disappearance of Bushwick. He gazes over toward Kitty and nods, "I was around a lot of mutants, but.. the mood was different in Bushwick. It seemed like most of us were ashamed of who we were. Its easier to accept myself here. The professor and staff have done a good job... I can't describe how thankful I am for a place to stay during all of this." Max looks to the horses and shrugs. "I've done a little bit of riding. I know enough of the basics to get around... and I can cheat to help with the rest."
Kitty Pryde	The latest pun gets a groan from Kitty, though a smile as well. "Let me get Sundance's saddle set and can help you with yours, Max," she says, tightening the strap that goes beneath the horse to hold the saddle in place. She nods at what Max said, telling Roberto, "He's being a bit modest. His 'abduction' came from him going to help some people who were being abducted by other mutants. Were going to kill them, even," she says, eyes on her work with the horse. She gives Sundance a few little pats and then moves down to the painted horse to help get a saddle on him. "This is Biscuit," she tells Max. "Well, you and Roberto both had a bit of the abduction thing in common though. Glad you're remembering things now, Roberto," she tells him. "You starting up at Columbia next month, right?"
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto makes a face at the mention of his kidnapping, he /definitely/ had those memories, but he was learning to face them. "You got snatched too huh?" he asks Max. He nods about setting up the horses and leans against one of the stalls while Kitty works. "It's definitely made life easier," Roberto says of getting his memories back. "But still remember what everyone did for me while they were gone, so," he punches Kitty's shoulder playfully. "Thanks. And yeah, Columbia this fall, goooo Lions," he says with a mock cheer and a grin.
Kitty Pryde	Kitty grins back at Roberto after the punch. "I nearly scarred for you!" she says in a dramatic tone, patting her leg. The leg that Roberto saw her changing the bandages on in the medical bay back early on after waking up with his amnesia. "Just glad we got all of you back," she tells Roberto, resting a hand on his shoulder for a moment in a fond way. She turns back to lead her horse out of the stall. "So Max had actually reached out to Hank, about studying science and engineering, as a mutant. Not knowing about the school of course. Glad he did, else we wouldn't have known him to know he got abducted and go looking for him," she says. She steps on the stirrup and up into the saddle. She's wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top for the summer day outside, and has a western hat on both for shade, and because she's going horseback riding. It's kind of mandatory!
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto laughs lightly even as his cheeks darken, "Still sorry you got hurt, though, I'll make it up to you, don't worry." He peels off to get his horse out of the stall, nodding about Max's story. "Hank's definitely the right man to see about science and engineering as a mutant," he says. "Who grabbed you though?" he asks.
Maxwell Wave	Max mounts up on Biscuit as he follows the conversation, nodding in commiseration to Roberto. "Guess it's a kidnapping season. Well, I was kidnapped by a small gang of mutants who were deciding to teach some Stryker fanatics a lesson. As much as I understood where they were coming from, they... well... They were going to torture them or worse. There are better ways to let out your anger. Fortunately for them, they got a one-way ticket to the Genosha refugee camp. Happy ending for everyone, minus my skull... One day, I will have vengeance on that brick." He grins and nods enthusiastically, "Yea, really excited to work with Hank. We have different specialties, but he seems like a genius no matter what he's putting his mind too. And the tech at the mansion... just wow. And I thought the Hellfire Club had impressive resources."
Kitty Pryde	Kitty eases her horse on out of the stables at a slow walk. Outside the sun is shining and there are only a few clouds drifting lazily across the sky. There's just a hint of breeze, enough to help keep the day from getting too hot, though it is a warm one. Kitty adjusts her hat on her head and pulls some sunglasses out to wear. "I want to go and visit again. I guess... I never really held out hope about Dad. But now I know. He's not in the any of the shrunken parts of Genosha," she says in a quiet, somber tone.
Roberto Da Costa	Roberto mounts up easily patting the horse's neck once he's in the saddle. "What's your specialty?" Roberto asks Max as he gives his horse a little nudge taking him into the sunshine. Roberto sighs as the light hits him, literally soaking in the rays. "And yeah? You with the Club?" he asks with sudden interest. "My fam and I are members." Kitty's sombre turn is met with sympathy. "Sorry, Kit, really hoped he'd be in there with the rest."
Maxwell Wave	"I feel like I need to at least see where that gang was sent off too.  I mean.. in a way.. I caused them to get shipped off there. I just wanted to stop them, not get them sent halfway across the world, but then again, it saved them from Brainiac in the end." Max frowns a little and rides up alongside Kitty. "Sorry Kitty... Wish you had gotten better news." He looks over his shoulder to Roberto. "I can see and manipulate forces. All kinds of them, but my range is very short. I tend to mess with gravity and the inertia of projectiles. So far, I've been the most useful at redirecting bullet fire from sentinels for other mutants... and pinning drones to the ground." He shakes his head, "Not a member. Contractor. I did the civil engineering work for their new teen-friendly club. I met Emma and Alex at a  pizzeria and by serendipity gave her my card. Next thing I know, I'm in front of her, Mr. Shaw, and some others. That was almost as scary as fighting giant robots." He cracks a laugh.
Kitty Pryde	Kitty Pryde looks over to both young men, giving them a grateful look as they express their sympathy for her. She stays quiet, using the conversation between the two that follows as a chance for her to move her thoughts on. "That's quite the place, I understand," she says. She flashes Roberto a somewhat teasing grin and says, "Not that any of my friends with memberships would ever pull me along to some fancy event where I could wear an awesome dress," she says, the grin confirming it is just teasing. Kitty tells Max, "Just grip gently with your knees. Gently is the key. You'll end up with tight thigh muscles and hamstrings regardless, but you don't need to overdo it. Your feet in the stirrups can support you a lot too," she says. And then she gives Sundance a little nudge, speeding him up to a quicker walk as they start to leave the main grounds behind and head out into the gently rolling hills that make up acre after acre of estate. As they ride, a little figure flies through the air, approaching from the direction of the school. Before long, Lockheed zooms down to land on Kitty's shoulder, and get an affectionate pet from Kitty. The horses seem used enough to the small dragon to take his arrival in stride.
Roberto Da Costa	"That's handy," Roberto grins about Max's abilities. "And sounds like you put it to some good use already," he says. "You thinking about joining the team?" As for the club there's a smile for the assessment of meeting Shaw. "Yeah, he's intimidating and so's Miss Frost but they're alright people for rich jerks." A shrug there. "So you built Purgatory huh?" he asks, meaning the kid's club at the HFC. "And I can help you there Kitty, I'll drag you to one of the events, let you flex your dress game a bit."
Maxwell Wave	"Yea, it is really nice. They paid top-dollar for sound-proofing. Great materials and cared about their residents. I was impressed in a few different ways. Maybe I can weasel my way back in for a leisure visit instead of just doing business." Max comments. "Yep, I built Purgatory. I didn't decorate it, but all the civil design is mine." He takes Kitty's advice but also focuses a moment to reduce both his weight and lower his center of gravity. The result is less strain on the horse, and the mutant balancing perfectly on the animal. A little cheating as he previous mentioned. He smiles wide as Lockheed shows up and offers the little dragon a wave. "Good to see you  again, sir." Max hums for a moment and then shrugs, "I'm... not sure. I think I'm more interested in continuing my studies then being on the frontlines, but if I can be useful, I'm not going to say no. Figure I'll stick around the school either way."
Kitty Pryde	Lockheed gives a few flaps of his wings at the greeting, but stays on Kitty's shoulder. "Thanks Roberto. Girl likes to get gussied up now and then," the Jewish girl tells him with a little grin. Sundance keeps up the quick walk as they move through the open grassy areas, circumventing the stands of trees and bushes to give the animals the easier path through the grass. Kitty listens to the pair and gives a nod, saying, "Max showed me some of what he can do. I think he could be really useful to have around," she comments. She flashes a glance over to Roberto. "Roberto too. Long as the day isn't too shady," she says with a small grin. "I envy you guys the whole flying thing. I mean, I can technically fly too. I suppose it would have to be called that. But, just doing it at walking or running speed is just so not as much fun as you guys zooming around up there."
Maxwell Wave	"You have nothing to be envious of, Kitty. Your power is... well... I think its one of the most useful things I could ever think of. I think the limits are really your imagination, and with that brain of yours... Yea, you've got nothing to be jealous about." Max compliments then gazes toward the horizon with a smile. "Okay, this is a little piece of paradise. I get why you'd want to celebrate out here." He reaches down and strokes the mane of Biscuit while he contently sighs. "This place is such a sanctuary... I wish every mutant had this opportunity."
Kitty Pryde	Kitty's body moves with the horses slow, rolling gait. She's been riding the horses since she came to the school as a young teen, so is quite accustomed to them. Lockheed settles in for the ride, hopping down to rest on the saddle between Kitty and the saddle horn. "It really is beautiful," she agrees. "Have you been out here before in Autumn? When the trees start changing it just becomes magical out here. Even moreso up away from the population, up into Vermont and New Hampshire. You come over a hill and it's just this explosion of colors from the trees changing," she says with a smile at the memory. "I kind of like the cooler weather too. Though, well, who can hate going to the beach," she says with a soft grin. "Speaking of, my birthday is Saturday. Having a little get together at a private stretch of beach. Welcome to come," she says to both young men.
Maxwell Wave	Max listens along and shakes his head, "I haven't seen it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. I've always heard people brag about the Northeast autumn." His eyes widen,  mouth dropping. "Your birthday is Saturday?! Geez, give a guy a little more warning next time, will you?" He frowns a little as his mind immediately goes to potential gifts. His brow knits together in deep concentration. "Hard to not enjoy the beach with the right company. No arguing that." He comments with a smile then drapes the reins over his saddle horn so he can stretch his arms over his head. He tugs down his white t-shirt and then picks the reins back up. "Guess we are heading toward some peace now.. after all this.. Well, war. There's not really another word for it."
Kitty Pryde	Kitty draws a deep breath. "There's been a lot of these along the way. I have stories I can tell you that will make your hair curl," she tells Max. "Roberto does too. There's not any shortage of conflict in this world," she says, her eyes going from her two human companions to instead gaze back out at the beautiful countryside before them. "But, we know there's limits to how far a fight should be taken. And that's something a lot of the world still has to learn. That was a big part of why we felt comfortable bringing you back to the school as we did," she tells him. "Not that everyone who comes here has to feel that way. Hopefully they come to understand in time. But it was pretty clear how you were acting to save even those who hate us... that you get it," she tells him.
Maxwell Wave	"I blame good parents and Star Wars for my moral fiber and view on the vicious cycle that hate produces." He offers a playful wink then frowns, "I guess my eyes are really just now opening to all of it. My world was my own experience... the bullies and hatred I faced. Then I came to Bushwick and saw it the problem at a broader scale. I'm still forming my opinion. Some nights I consider just going to Genosha and trying that for awhile. Though, I suspect its sounds better than its reality." He sighs, "In the end pain is pain. We are all people. We have feelings and dreams. There's no reason to step over each other. So yea, I guess I get it, and I think the only reason I haven't tried running away to the alleged mutant paradise is that.. I feel like I might be running away."
Kitty Pryde	The Jewish girl gives a small nod of her head. "Yes. It's hard to stand by, even in a paradise, when I know what's going on here," she says. "It is beautiful there. Or, was. I don't know how long it will take before the scars are healed there. The visible ones. The mental... will take longer," she says quietly. Kitty glances back, in the direction of the school. "We kind of have the best of both worlds here as far as that goes. A chance to live 'normal' lives, while still not removed from the problems, nor from being able to try to help solve them," she says. "A lot of people move on when they graduate. But a lot of us stick around. Or like me, come back even after having done something else. School abroad," she says. She leans over to pat Max's shoulder. "Just glad to have you here with us," she says, falling quiet then and enjoying the slow ride.
Maxwell Wave	"Glad to be here, Kitty. It's all new for me, so I don't see a reason to move on just yet. Still plenty of people to meet too.. Like Roberto there. Lot of stories I'd like to learn about, maybe use it to reflect on my own experiences. Besides, I have to pay you all back somehow for saving my butt. Gotta balance the score." Max then grows quiet and just enjoys the silence with his company taking in the smell of horse, the caress of a breeze, and the beauty of a setting sun. It was something to savour, because eventually, he'd have to deal with the aftermath of Brainiac. The fight might have been over, but there was a lot of clean up ahead.