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Post by Arianna Roberts on Apr 19, 2009 7:49:47 GMT -7
'Ugh. Brilliant.' I stepped out into the rain, and sighed. It didn't really look like it was going to clear up any time soon, either. The sky was looking pretty bleak. I reached into my bag, pulling out a plain red umbrella and opening it, stepping out of the shelter the music store provided and into the crowd of people.
That was one good thing about New York, I reasoned, the fact that it was full of people. I could get lost in a crowd here, like a regular person. No one gave me more than a quick glance when I passed them. I could pretend she was just a normal kid, despite the fact that I knew full well that I wasn't.
I turned the corner, crossing a road quickly with a small group of people. As I walked, my bag hit me in the side with every other step, and I silently begged that the rain wouldn't last for the rest of the day. Rain meant spending time with my 'sisters'. Neither of which I liked. I sighed, slowing down. Why bother rushing to get home, if that was all that was waiting? Two bratty pre-teens with too much junk and no experience of not getting what they want. Yeah, it sounded really fun.
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Post by Emma deLauro on Apr 19, 2009 13:54:49 GMT -7
Being back to life, is a bit of a trip... I mean, I was dead for 2 years... and though you could say that's not a long time, and not allot should change, where I'm concerned, it has. I couldn't believe my ears when the team tried to explain all the things I'd missed... Adam, a clone? Lexa... Things are definitely different. It's been hard enough getting my own emotions together, but being Empathic, I'm constantly bombarded by the emotions of everyone around me. Adam passes me a concerned glance as I start to hit the door, and I turn, giving him a look, "I'll be back. I just need... to get my own feelings together. Things are so tight here, I can't tell if what I'm feeling is me, or someone else's." He doesn't say a word, just nods to me, and goes back to his own business. I'll just go for a walk, that's all... a walk should clear my head right up. I haven't been out of Sanctuary since I've been back, so some space will keep me from getting all couped up as well. I don't get far before it starts to rain. I'm from Seattle, rain doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I raise my face to it, and hold my arms out, feeling it hit me, letting it cleanse me so to speak. It feels good to be alive. I start getting someone else's feelings, a bit on edge, and slightly miserable. Another person walking through the city feels lonely... and another tiffed that her boss reprimanded her... I probably shouldn't do this... but... I'm so damned tired of other's emotions right now... if everyone feels the happiness I do, even for a couple minutes, who's to say it's a bad thing? I keep my stance, face up to the rain, arms out, only instead of simply feeling the rain, I use my powers to push out my own feelings, making everyone around me simply happy to be alive.
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Post by Arianna Roberts on Apr 19, 2009 15:15:46 GMT -7
I turned another corner, taking the longest possible route home and pulling my umbrella closer to me, trying not to stab anyone's eye in the process. I got a few odd looks, but merely glared back. It wasn't like I was particularly bothered what they thought of me. My sisters, on the other hand, I did care. Sort of. If they knew I didn't like them as much I did, they'd make my life hell. So it was better to pretend I could stand them.
I passed someone with short, wavy hair, and then I felt myself slowing down. I felt happy all of a sudden, but part of me knew I wasn't supposed to be. I'd been annoyed until a moment ago. Now I was unnaturally happy. If I could have been annoyed, I would have been. I didn't have a clue what was going on.
I glanced over my shoulder to the woman I'd passed, curiously. She looked happier than most people around, who were smiling in spite of the rain now. I felt myself come to a halt, watching her. It was a stupid idea, but I considered that she might actually be to blame for the sudden change in everyone's feelings.
Hey, I could... do whatever the hell it was I could do. I hadn't quite worked out the technical terms yet. But I had the basic idea down, I could work it. Still, it was a possibility that this woman was doing something, right? I wasn't in a position to be narrow-minded about things like that, after all.
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Post by Emma deLauro on Apr 19, 2009 15:48:35 GMT -7
My move seemed to work, and now the weight of all the emotions around me seems to melt away.... almost. One girl in the crowd actually turns and looks my way, as if she knows I'm the one that changed her emotions. A younger girl, with straight, dark hair. And I can tell without even reading her, that she's not quit what most consider 'normal'. She suspects what I just did, I can feel the suspicion in her. I take my hands out of the air, holding them up to her instead, totally looking her way, "I'm not looking for any trouble here. If you don't want to be happy, just walk away. The effects will wear off when you're out of my vicinity." I probably should try to do more, possibly get her to consider joining the underground for her own good, but I'm not on duty... Hell! I've been dead, and I haven't gone over any official stuff with Adam yet, I may end up doing something wrong if I make this business. All I want, is some time to feel good, to be back, without being emotional about it. I mean, if she's having any issues, or being attacked right in front of me by GSA, I'd jump the hell in and help a girl out... but there's no emergencies here, and I want to stay peaceful. Feeling a bit guilty for using my powers on someone who obviously doesn't want it, I hold my hand out to her, "Look, name's Emma. I can tell you're not like everyone else around here, you're different, like me. Wanna go grab a coffee, or something? I'm buying!"
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Post by Arianna Roberts on Apr 19, 2009 16:00:35 GMT -7
I listened to the woman carefully, eyes widening. Oh crud. I had not seen that response coming. She didn't really seem to mind the fact I'd been staring at her. And she was offering me free coffee. Which only confirmed what I'd thought when I'd moved out here: New York was weird.
Even so, I found myself nodding, walking over slowly. Hey, it was killing two birds with one stone. I was putting off going home for even longer, and I might even get a few answers. Win-win situation. Hopefully.
"Sorry." I muttered quietly, still clutching the umbrella. "For, y'know, staring." I swallowed. "I'm Ari." I figured it couldn't hurt to go with her for a while. She didn't exactly look dangerous, and I could always run through a wall to get away if something happened. I forced a smile. "I'm different, yeah. That's one word for it." 'Freak' was another.
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Post by Emma deLauro on Apr 19, 2009 16:14:35 GMT -7
She apologizes for staring, and I have to smirk, "Well, it's probably my own fault. I should have known better than to force my feelings on everyone else around me... but, you know." I shrug, "Sometimes it takes us a bit more to stay happy, than most." It's really not a good excuse for what I did, but it's the truth. It was a selfish move, broadcasting happiness, just so I don't have to feel the downside to everyone else's personal issues. She clutches her umbrella, so I let my hand drop, not really concerned enough that she didn't shake it. I grin at her next words, "Yeah, there are allot of words for it, but I try not to say too many of them out on the street in front of others, tends to cause a scene." I nod as she accepts my offer, and look around for the nearest coffee shop. Seeing some high priced foo foo coffee place, I motion for her to come along, and head on over. Going inside, it was more noticeable that I'm wet. I was just standing there letting it pour all over me. My hair is going to frizz and poof soon too! Oh well, right now, I just don't care. I inhale deeply, the scent of fresh ground coffee beans almost as good as the smell of the rain. "Something warm on a drizzly day like this is just too good!" I order a regular coffee, nothing too fancy, and turn to her, "Anything you want, I don't mind." I grab us a seat on an over stuffed couch, near a fake fire place that still gives off some heat, the better to dry off with I suppose. Suddenly not sure were I was going with this, I wonder what we should talk about... it's more private than just standing out on the street, so discussing our 'different' natures wouldn't cause much damage here... But perhaps she's not in to talking about it? I don't know... and I'm not planning on using my powers to find out either. "So, new to the City?" Smalltalk, yeah, but still, better than nothing.
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Post by Arianna Roberts on Apr 20, 2009 1:35:51 GMT -7
She seemed so carefree about using her powers- or whatever they were- that it surprised me. And we were discussing it in the middle of the street, which was kinda weird too. I put it down to her being more comfortable with what she could do than I was.
I followed her silently towards the slightly expensive-looking coffee house, and closed my umbrella as I walked in. I thought about calling the house quickly, telling them I'd be a little later than planned, but decided against it. I'd just tell them whatever came to mind when they wanted to know where I'd been, and hope it worked for them.
I watched as Emma ordered her coffee, and then ordered the same quickly, following her to the table she'd sat at. I smiled a little as I sat down, placing my bag and umbrella on the floor next to my chair. "Thanks for the coffee." I said quietly. I wasn't used to people I didn't know offering me free drinks. Or free anything, for that matter.
When she asked if I was knew to the city, I couldn't help but laugh a little. "Yeah. It's been about a month, if that." I sighed, forcing another smile. At least it didn't feel too awkward, sitting there. I let myself relax a little. "Um, what about you?" Lame, but it was the first thing that came out when I opened my mouth, and I was sticking to it. I wondered when our conversation would take the turn from small-talk to different-we-have-powers-talk, or if it would at all. It wasn't too busy in here, but it looked like a safe enough place.
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Post by Emma deLauro on Apr 25, 2009 0:39:43 GMT -7
She gets a coffee, thanking me for it as she sits with me. I nod my head to the thanks, not making a big deal out of it. Seems I was right about her being new, and I didn't even use my powers for that one! She asks if I'm new to the city, "Nope, I'm not new. Though I have been gone for a couple years." Understatement there, but I don't know her well enough to really give out details like Oh I was dead. The server comes by with our coffee, and I take mine, smelling it a bit before actually drinking it. I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee! The server makes sure everything's to our liking, then wanders off, leaving us pretty much alone, in this part of the shop anyhow. I wrap my hands around the cup, to feel the warmth, starting to feel a bit mushy with all the rain soaked into my cloths. My eyes wander around the room, the rustic, old style they tried in vain attempts with in the decor. The only thing I know about her, and the only thing I can tell we have in common, I try the subject out, to see if she wants to talk about it or not, "So, you've seen some of what I can do, I can feel people's emotions, and I can make them feel the emotions I want them too. So, what's you're specialty?"
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Post by Arianna Roberts on Apr 26, 2009 2:16:47 GMT -7
I just nodded in response, taking my coffee from our server at the same time. I took a small sip, and couldn't help but smile a little as the drink warmed me up. I'd forgotten how much I liked the stuff. I placed the cup back down on the table, keeping one hand around it.
After the server had left, I took another sip of the drink, and glanced to Emma, who was looking around the room. Then she turned back to me, asking me about what I could do. And I couldn't help but catch that she'd said the emotions thing was some of what she could do. I was curious, but said nothing.
"I, um..." I started. I wasn't really sure how to describe it. I looked around. We were pretty far away from anyone else, and it was quiet in there too. Swallowing, I took my free hand, the one I wasn't warming with the coffee, and plunged it through the table. I got the same weird feeling I did whenever I used my ability. Once my hand was through, I lifted it back up- the normal way- and placed it onto the table, smiling at Emma sheepishly.
I knew there was another part to it, but it wasn't the kind of thing I could demonstrate to her very easily, without causing serious damage to something. So, I left it there, wondering what she'd make of it.
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Post by Shalimar Fox on May 7, 2009 2:51:50 GMT -7
((Emma said she didn't mind if I joined you guys, so I hope its ok!))
My spirits were soaring, having Emma back with us did plenty to put me in a good mood. And nothing keeps me in a good mood like shopping. Ok, maybe one thing, exercise. Or two things, if you enjoy kicking some bad guy butt, which I do. Still, grabbing a new pair of boots at a killer price was a great feeling. I was walking home past a familiar coffee shop when I caught Emma's scent. I stopped and turned, focusing my feral senses as my eyes gleamed a golden yellow. Emma was inside alright, having coffee with someone. Even as I watched I saw the girl with Emma plunge her hand through the table. She phased, just like Jesse. So Emma had found another New Mutant. I hoped I wasn't interupting as I went inside and ordered a mocha. Taking my coffee I joined Emma and her friend. "Hey Em! You'll never believe the new boots I just bought." I sat my bags down. "I'm not interupting am I? I sme...saw you in the window and thought I'd stop in and say hey. Mind if I join you guys?" It probably wasn't a good idea for me to announce that I'd found Emma by her scent, even if the girl with her was also a mutant. I slid into an empty seat and sipped my coffee, it's warmth stealing into me. I turned to the girl with Emma and introduced myself, holding out my hand to her. "Hi, I'm Shalimar." I said with a grin.
((Sorry it's short...they'll get longer as we go. LoL))
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Post by Emma deLauro on May 8, 2009 0:27:18 GMT -7
She starts to tell me, but looks around as if unsure of our surroundings, and then plunges her hand into the table. Phasing, just like Jesse. So she would be molecular... She flashes me a sheepish smile, and I pass her back a grin.
"Very cool."
I bet at her age, and how cautious she is, she doesn't get the chance to just be what she really is, a mutant. When it causes fear, and the occasional GSA hunt, it's not something you get to just be open with. I am glad she already feels comfortable enough to show me. But, before I have a chance to go into anything further, Shalimar comes in. I grin when she comes over, almost admitting she smelled us all the way from outside...
"Hey Shal! You're not interrupting! This is Ari. We were just playing a little game of 'you show me yous'."
I give a little naughty grin toward my best friend,
"She kind of... caught me giving a public attitude adjustment."
It's a good thing Shalimar showed up though. If this girl needs Sanctuary, Shal would be more up to date on things. Being dead for a year, there's still allot I probably need to be updated on when it comes to 'business'.
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