Welcome to Gaia! ::

ƈσđεŋąɱε: Flintlock
ℓσƈąŧïσŋ: Courtyard, chilling with the Origami master, Holly.
þσщεŗ: Molecular Mimicry.
ŧɧσųɠɧŧş: Damned tangled knuckles....

Reggie smiled at the short haired girl, "Holly.... Pretty name." Reggie looked down at the paper in her aluminum looking hands, then she chuckled wryly, "First few months? Try first few years for me." She grinned and shook her head, praying to whatever god decided to listen that she wouldn't get too frustrated. She kinda hoped at the moment that the Greek gods were real, so Athena could bestow upon her some wisdom and patience. She chuckled at the thought, knowing full and well that those gods wouldn't listen to her, and knowing that no matter how frustrated she got, she probably wouldn't give up until she had something that at least somewhat resembled a flower.

Reggie watched the other girl's hands intently as she tried her best to mimic her movements. She frowned in concentration, catching her tongue between her teeth as was her habit, "Folding in half... Yeah, I can do that. Easy peasy japanesey." That was truthfully just about all she could do. She managed to match the edges up just right, humming lightly at her tiny, tiny accomplishment. She glanced back over at Holly's hands and nodded, "Triangle, alright. Good thing I passed Geometry." She grinned in almost childish triumph when she saw that her paper looked exactly like Holly's.

But, her grin faded almost as fast as it had arrived, replaced by a comical pout, "Awww, I'v got to unfold it now. And I thought I was almost done." Nevertheless, she unfolded it as Holly had instructed and set to work on collapsing the paper (adding a few extra and unneeded creases along the way). When the other girl let go of her paper and started to fold using her powers, Reggie was temporarily distracted as she gave a low whistle, "Coolio power. That could come in handy." Seeing that she had been left behind a step or two, she rushed to catch up, although she was relieved that Holly repeated the steps over. A few times she had had to backtrack and restart a step when her fingers didn't seem to want to cooperate.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, Holly finally spoke again and Reggie looked up at her with a chuckle, "Well, I'm swimming. Albeit, swimming like a man with no arms and only one leg, but swimming nonetheless." She looked down at her flower, then over at Holly's, then she burst out laughing. Her own was crinkled and wrinkled and deformed on the left side, while her tutor's was far more than perfect. It was the saddest, funniest thing she'd seen in a long time. She brushed her black hair out of her face and shook her head lightly as she looked at her flower, "Wow. I need to practice more. Well, it's got character, I can say that." Sitting her flower gingerly in her lap, she looked at Holly with her amused, light grey eyes, "So, what're your thoughts on this prom? I'v been thinking about it, and you seem like the type who may want to go. While I, on the other hand, would rather stay at home studying. Or playing Fallout." Yes, she was a gamer. A nerd in her own right. You wouldn't be able to tell just by looking at her, or even watching her. It amused her to think that she had a secret double life (not really, but like she says, it amuses her. She tends to do things that amuse her). On one side, there was the popular jockette who won everything she did; and on the other, there was the video game nerd who could wipe out an entire squad of pro-gamers in Call of Duty.

“Tell me that when you’ve done it. I know what being an animal is like—amico.”, she returned to him softly, gunmetal blue eyes flickering with uncertainty. Not with her claims….But with how much of her mind was still truly her own. To be the animal, was to be the animal…That was that. The desire for flesh, to protect or do harm… Bloodlust was something she had long ago become familiar with. When she looked back towards him, her eyes were filled with a sense of perfect understanding… More than he would have known, outside of the Wolverine. “It doesn’t just disappear when I shift back, Gideon. It isn’t as if some kind of magic removes the memory…”

That would be perhaps, the first time she’d ever used his given name to him. Her expression was neutral…Calm and firm…Honest. She had no reason to lie.

She’d read as much of his file as she could before the alarms had been tripped. She’d been trained to speed read, as a way of gathering information. It simply just one more skill she’d acquired that made her perfect for espionage and assassinations. Most of his file hadn’t surprised her, though the feats listed had been more than impressive. He tended to feel the need to prove he was the biggest monster in the room…Katarina was there to tell him, that it simply wasn’t true. Not anymore.

He’d softened in his time away from H.Y.D.R.A…While he was still lethal, he had softened. That wasn’t something he could deny…Whether it was some kind of perspective or some kind of emotional attachment that had changed him….Something, someone, had made him more than a killing machine.

The Contessa was no doubt furious.

“It’s still all about strengths and weaknesses…You know very well, that I don’t simply mean physical. Strength can be many things… And in this world, that strength will win.”, Katarina reiterated plainly, shaking her head faintly when he commented on her speculations about Romania. No…The opposite really wasn’t true anywhere else. Humans had evolved to a certain point—But some simply viewed that mutants weren’t of their kind. Groups of humans killed each other…Especially over beliefs…But one human, unless inbred or paid to do so did not stalk another—And kill them, like buffalo or deer.

Did not mount human heads to walls, or above fire places.

“That is exactly the point—If the stronger opponent can be brought down…He was never that strong in the first place.”, she spoke out simply…Sighing, when he mentioned being Alpha. If he wasn’t, it wouldn’t feel disrespectful to look him in the eye. Katarina bowed to no one…No one, except the Alpha of her pack… And since her old group was far beyond her reach…Instinctively, she created a new one. It was impossible not to…

“I cannot help, what you are. You are, what you are… I ask nothing of you. You’ve nothing to offer me, that I cannot attain myself…With time.”, Katarina returned softly, knowing instinctively that he didn’t understand pack order. Of course he wouldn’t… He wasn’t raised that way. But with his more animalistic tendencies, perhaps he should have been.

The conversation had taken a dark turn, and it weighed her down. She demanded her freedom from the Contessa…But also required revenge. For killing her family, and taking her a child…For ruining their good name. For denying her…Everything, that most humans took for granted… Hearing Gideon’s words and rationalization of the Contessa’s thought process reassured her slightly… But she couldn’t help but think that the woman had other plans in mind. From a purely strategic standpoint it made sense…But Madame Hydra was not only strategic—But vindictive.

They wouldn’t risk losing anymore shifters to the X-Men…Many of them died, or were wounded in normal missions. They might send a panwere after her, but not another shifter. Nothing so simple…. It was all so terribly complicated that it made her head ache and she gingerly rubbed her temples as she brushed her hair back—Sighing softly. She needed to think...At this point, he was telling her much of what she already knew...But simply didn't want to hear.

She shook her head resolutely when he mentioned making friends…Talking to others. The thought was abhorrent to her. It went against everything she had ever learned. The less who knew of her, the safer she was. When he mentioned a name, Isabella, she stiffened… She’d passed the Latino woman more than once, and her scent had remained a familiar oddity. “It was her then…”

“Who changed you.”, she murmured quietly, her face filled with confusion. Katarina was…Unable to understand. But that was the scent that had been so thoroughly wrapped around him when she first met him at the mall…It made sense…In a strange, star crossed kind of way.

Sighing, she didn’t expect him to reply as she came to her feet and stretched her arms over her head—Muscles in her neck popping. "I suppose... If I am to be held prisoner...The food could be worse."

Enough of the dark talk… If she was going to have to worry about Madam Hydra and the rest of them coming after her for the rest of her days…She might as well enjoy herself while she still had a mind to do so. Her eyes flashed gold, signaling she was soon to shift again as she looked back towards X-20….Veritas.

“...Run with me?”

It wasn’t an offer to run in the gym together, but to dart through the forest that littered Xavier’s estate—A game of cat and mouse. It was....Hesitant. She wasn't used to asking someone to do something...Moreso, to coerce them into doing exactly what she wanted. It was selfish of her to ask…But it would make her feel better, to know that if some H.Y.D.R.A. driven asset found her and decided to take a shot at her form afar… It would be far more difficult with Gideon nearby.

Considering, they likely wouldn’t bother.

Alpha: Time to go bug Kerri and meet some of the other alphas.

Lillian went to look for Alex but it appeared her roommate had wondered off somewhere else. It was rather strange and she had assumed the girl wanted to chat. It would seem that assumption was incorrect. Alex vanished so that left her not sure what to do. She looked back at Cissa and saw she was busy with Roland. That's when she had a good idea Kerri is around here somewhere. She would say something about her going with to prom with Roland. Not a mean thing just friendly ribbing since she didn't see that happen.

Leaving the cafeteria with one peeled orange to munch on with another not peeled one as well. The lounge is a common gathering place given that the asking happened recently she must be there. So that thought cemented her destination. Of course she would feel foolish if Kerri wasn't in there. It's always convenient having the lounge pretty much just off the cafeteria that is was clearly done on purpose. When she entered the lounge as usually for this time it was a hub of activity or well at least bodies at any rate. She say two of her new team mates Aurelie and Bianca she believed. Before she only had only really interacted in passing before but luckily Lillian did have a good memory. Well so long as it isn't when her mind is feeling all jumbled from absorbing multiple people in one day. Not that it has happened often really. She really should go talk to them after joking with Kerri, they were new teammates after all. There were two people she didn't recognize one with green skin and the other a fit looking bald guy. Then she spotted Kerri posing for Orchid to draw.

Lillian smirked and walked in the room toward her target. Her hair had lightened considerably though it was still noticeable brunette just shiny. Her skin held the unearthly glow to it that Cissa had which made her so alluring to on lookers. So anyone that knew her ability would clearly tell Lillian was currently packing some fire power in the form of Cissa's abilities. And along with that would tip them to her also having her personality slightly altered by the sun goddesses charming personality. Stopping near Kerri but not close enough to disturb the artists view and took in Kerri's form.

"So you and Roland huh." Lillian said meaning clearly about Kerri's prom date. "Didn't see that one coming. He is quite the lucky fellow. But really I hope he treats you right. Cissa will roast him in that armor like a baked potato otherwise." Lillian said as she walked around her friend to the opposite side while doing a little twirl. Lillian had no clue where the twirl came from cause it isn't something she would normally do. And while Cissa had the grace for it wasn't something she saw her doing at least not in the current situation. "Just saying." While Cissa would protect all her omegas, Kerrigan was well much more so. Even if the redhead was more then capable of taking care of herself. Things never needed to make sense to others for Cissa only that is did to her. Maybe other personalities were leaking out from people she copied in the past. It was possible given that they still existed somewhere inside of her dormant.

She peered over to her new teammates on the Alpha's the former Omega smirked and winked at Kerri. "I think it's time to go meet some of the new people I will be on missions with. You should join me over there when you finish your modeling." And with that she made her way over to where Aurelie and Bianca were still talking. Sitting in a seat crossing her legs she looked at the two girls with a bright smile. She was holding back the personalities apart from her own. So even with the glow to her skin akin to Cissa the Copycat held no ill will towards people for the team they were on. No if she hated someone it was because of their own personal actions. Her attire currently consisted a pair of fitted jeans and a simple snug long sleeve blue t shirt, with a short sleeve black t shirt over it with the words 'Men make good pets.' in bold pink letters over a pair of male and female stick figures with the male on all fours with a leash around his neck leading to the woman's hand. Along with a pair of thin black gloves.

"Sorry to intrude ladies. Figured I should get to know my new teammates. Being newly transferred to the Alphas and all from the Omegas." Lillian looked between to the to attempt to gauge her reception. The two had given off a friendly enough vibe she didn't think her intrusion would make the girls upset. "Name's Lillian Hart Aka Copycat." She said waving with a gloved hand. "I didn't interrupt anything important did I?"


(OOC: Sorry if I missed any characters in the lounge it wasn't on purpose if I did.)

Code Name: Siren
Team: Alpha
Location: Academy - Side Porch
Ability: Sound Manipulation
Singing: Nothing Give me something to sing about...

Isabella remained silent until Christian responded, her form achingly still. The breeze moved around her, tousling her long auburn hair this way and that…But the rest of her stood straight as a totem. It was simply a natural instinct over these past few days to mask her presence…Sometimes, being unheard also led to being unseen… Leo had mentioned wanting a Danger Room session… But was she really qualified to do that?

Their last mission had been…Not a mission at all—But a spur of the moment, everyday crisis that she’d spent most of the time sleeping through. The songstress was having serious doubts about herself, and her ability to lead the Alpha’s any longer… Perhaps she was all wrong. Perhaps it really was Narcissa that had the right approach. Teach with punishment. The Omega’s had returned after facing off against Magneto none the worse for wear.

Magneto.

His lackeys had put her team through the ringer—Because she hadn’t had the brains to see the bigger picture before it was too late. It left her with a bitter taste in her mouth…And her disposition none too stable.

A small smile crossed her lips when Christian, the lone wolf Omega, called her ma’am—Before it disappeared entirely. As if it had never been… As if that small action, that she’d once done so easily pained her now.

“Point taken.”, she responded softly, her naturally musical tones carrying to his ears without effort. She didn’t make an effort to conceal her conversation… She just made sure that she was understood over the gentle breeze. “But time in the infirmary is not…Time off. It’s simply time on the bench…It’s an entirely different story.”

He was right in thinking that she didn’t know him well. Or at all. He was an Omega. They usually avoided the Alpha leader subconsciously…Just as she tended to avoid them. Not for her own sake, but because their Red Queen was terribly predictable… And it wouldn’t have been the first time she’d flown off the handle for feeling that Isabella was directly interfering with her teaching methods by showing some of her team members well deserved kindness… Narcissa couldn’t touch her, without solid cause—Else Emma would lose it.

But she could discipline her team members as she saw fit.

Despite what others thought…There were indeed consequences, and reigns on the Omega Leader’s actions. They were just invisible to those that didn’t know the truth.

She was unaware that she might have stung Christian with her one way comment…If she had been, she would have immediately apologized. All she did lately seemed to consist of putting her foot in her mouth. She simply meant to imply that she wouldn’t think less of him, if it came down to that…He’d been through an ordeal. Elixir managed to make it look so easy…Almost like repairing a doll, instead of a person…But Christian had still known agony…Still known the all encompassing darkness that she remembered…His injuries, were on her shoulders. If he hadn’t of been forced to save her…He likely wouldn’t have been in the same area for Victor Creed to find and maul. She could see a certain amount of disillusionment in his eyes…But what from, was anyone’s guess. It was probably due to the secrets kept in this mansion… Most thought that everything was so terribly open book—Especially since everyone seemed to know everyone else’s business.

But there was much that he didn’t know. That she couldn’t say—Because it wasn’t her place, and she wasn’t his leader.

Her face formed a delicate frown when he told her not to worry about using her ability against him. He’d been half out of it—Injured. It hadn’t been morally correct in retrospect…But remembering how terrified he looked when he’d awoken from a nightmare… It had seemed like the right things to do.

It wasn’t all right. It was a morally gray area that she hated. But he forgave her…So that would be enough for now. “I just…Didn’t like to see you…”

“Suffering.”

He stood then, and came closer—Causing her to tense…Not out of any fault on his part, simply because she was overly aware lately. She didn’t want to make the same mistakes she had before. Mystique had been hidden within a boy that had looked as innocent as Christian did now… She could be anyone. Anyone at all. Waiting, plotting against them. The hair on the back of her neck started to stand on end and she realized that her paranoia was becoming too much… Not everyone, was the blue witch in disguise. It just wasn’t possible.

He folded his arms across his chest, and she looked away, expression guilty for the momentary distrust. “You’re not wrong.”

He gave her the offer to take a seat, and she shook her head sadly—Offering him a tight smile…Trying to show that it wasn’t him she was refusing. “I think standing would be best…”

“Then if I should hear an inhuman British dialect from not far away… I can simply pretend that I was passing by, and spare you a tongue lashing.”

Her gaze turned back towards the lake, again focusing on Tara and Leo… A long time ago, that would have been her at the lake… Sitting with a friend, with Gideon, Evelyn, Poppet… All people that now felt so very far beyond her reach. Everyone that she had known and held dear was simply…Gone… Of course she still had Scott and all of the Professors…They were the only constants. Well, the X-Men… And Narcissa.

Everyone else seemed to treat the school like a revolving door.

Perhaps they had the right idea.

“The world isn’t going to get any better... There’s so much hate… I…”, she trailed off lightly, almost so quietly that he wouldn’t be able to hear… It was almost as if she was stopping herself…Unsure if she should be saying anything at all…Least of all in front of an Omega that she barely knew. “…I don’t know if I can keep fighting…”

“We keep pushing back the tide… And for what? The moon changes phases…And the tide comes right back in…Higher than before…”

‘And I’m drowning in it.’, she thought, but didn’t say… Her head tilted to the side, almost like a hawk would to hear a mouse better. She’d heard her name from Aurelie, just like she’d heard it from Leo…She hadn’t caught the exact context…. But indeed she would need to visit the sweet blond girl very soon, and reassure her—Like Leo… That she’d done nothing wrong. And everything right.

Isabella had failed her Alpha’s—Not the other way around.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxOmega - Cafeteria, library

“You know sometimes, you come up with the most unique explanations... it's always so informative” Aren drawled sarcastically, poking fun at Narcissa's description of E-bay. He took the first part for what it was, but silently subtracted the bits about mass destruction sales to children. “But obviously a sadist like you would be well informed about such a website... Though why you'd be interested in buying such things when you can blast whoever you damn well please is beyond me.” His chocolate eyes raised to gaze at the ceiling, the tone he used completely nonchalant, uncaring. Instead, he allowed himself to draw closer to her, as though he were the opposite end of her magnetic pull.

And no, the native didn't miss the abrupt interruption to their current conversation, but found her avoidance and typical interjections to be disporting. That she kept drawing the line in the sand was commendable – one of them had to do it, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be him.

That would be absolutely no fun.

It was far more amusing to watch her squirm and struggle to keep their exchanges to a more donnish nature. Her stoical stance dropped when he mentioned Scott's ginger-fetish, face wrinkling in disgust, which garnered one of the native's easy laughs in response. Sometimes, Narcissa was too easy to rile up; he always knew just what to say to have her give rise to antics that others might have found unbecoming. He always found them refreshing... she definitely wasn't the monster that many painted her to be.

Feigning surprise, Aren drew a hand to his chest, eyebrows crawling towards his hairline when she mentioned that everyone was entitled to their mistakes. “Ki'somma... I didn't know you would be so forgiving towards Scooter.” Or anyone at all, typically. 'Blast first, maybe ask questions later' tended to be her motto towards most. And just as it was common knowledge that the diamond heirress made slurs against the fair skinned, freckled red headed breed, it was the general understanding that she and Headmaster Summers were far from fond of each other. It seemed, they lived to make the other miserable.

Granted, he too harbored a deep distaste for Scot, for reasons wholly different thanCissa's . The Boy Scout professor tended to fray his nerves as a teacher. He whispered in her ear, and he paid particularly close attention to how rigid she became, noting that she was fighting any sort of reaction... While she did so much to mask it, Aren considered it a win for his side. Neither was close to admitting defeat, but it was always nice to know that she was fighting it tooth and nail. The challenge only made it more intriguing, as the game of cat and mouse was far from over – who was which was still to be determined. Mostly, he figured he was the feline between the two of them, considering he was doing the majority of the chasing. And it was moments like these, where he could imagine her dangling by her tail in his paw, though... he wasn't going to do anything to her... it was better to watch her swing to and fro.

It scarcely mattered to the size shifter that she was constantly distancing herself from him for his sake. And it likely wouldn't ever begin to matter... they'd started like this in Catalina, tension between them tight enough they could rosin a bow against it. And it wasn't likely to dissipate any time soon.

That she shook her head when he offered her a test drive only caused the native's humor to enlighten his features. “No woman I've been with has ever suffered from that, ki'somma.” He stated listlessly, one of his hands plunging into his hairline, pushing the locks out of his face. “I think...” He started, leaning closer so that only she could hear what he had to say, as though it were a great secret of utmost importance. “You're afraid you'd like it just a little too much, and it'll ruin that image you insist upon keeping with the rest of the academy.”

She stuck her tongue out at his admonishment of her constantly negating his ideas with excuses – some that were pitiful at best... and rather than taking it to heart, Aren saw it as an opening to cross the line for the umpteenth time this week. “Don't stick your tongue out unless you're planning on using it.” He teased, the jesting nature back in full force.

Chocolate orbs rolled towards the ceiling when the Omega leader started complaining about the 'packs of girls' that kept approaching him. “Migraine or not,” He cheesed, ”They appreciate the fine form of a native. Some girls just dig the savagery.” He posed for her, glibly responding to the entire situation. “A trait I'd have hoped you'd have picked up by now.. but, you seem to be nearly as stubborn as me.” Not quite enough though. There was a reason his mother often referred to him as a donkey, and it had nothing to do with packing her stuff around.

His features pulled downward when she droned that she'd not been paying attention to his social life outside of her, trying to go for a look similar to that of a kicked puppy, pout and all. “You mean to say, you don't miss me trying to seduce you during lessons anymore? Maybe I should start failing again, just so that I can remind you.” A grin broke the downtrodden expression when she said that God had to avoid his spare time on purpose, laughter shaking his shoulders. “Ki'somma... you make me sound like the academy wretch...” Though, he had to admit.. that she thought he wasn't going without only added to his conceit. It wasn't an insufferable ego that he projected though... Aren simply had an air of confidence underlying the cavalier, fun-loving class clown persona.

Smooth fingertips found their way to hold Cissa's chin, a small nudge to persuade her to look at him as she remained silent. As he held her there with the lightest of touches (that no one else would dare do), he chuckled, the sound deep from the caverns of his chest – deeper than he'd really wanted them to be. It was evidence, as much as he flirted, taunted... and as much as she avoided... she affected him as much as he did her. Though, neither of them would care to admit to that. Like he had a right to do so, his index finger tantalized a curl that he had found fascinating. “You wouldn't do that, when you like me as I am – perfect and appealing to thine eye.” The native responded easily, shrugging off her threat with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Her prim retort about the Disney stars she was doing only elicited a dark chuckle. “While I won't pretend to guess why you know all those fun facts about the stars on a children's network... I'd like to inform you that while that's all true... I'm sure none of them will hold a candle to your size shifting Native – especially once I coerced your lovely wedding down to slide to the floor.”

She hadn't responded... and it was simply too much fun to remind her that he'd literally skipped over the next three proverbial lines with that one.


**


“ You're either a) losing your touch... or b) I'm simply so attractive that they'll brave being around you to have a chance of snagging me for their perfect prom date.” Aren said, just before gnawing off a bit of his crust, finding the cheese to be just the right amount of greasy. “Either way, you should commend yourself for having the best of the best on your team.” No, he didn't actually feel that way about himself, but it was easy to jest and make jibes at the situation when Narcissa found it so grating. Even if the girls weren't interrupting their meal, the fact that they had gotten close enough to see the differences of blues in her eyes was likely disheartening to someone who had halls part like the Red Sea when she flounced down them.

Aren listened intently as she ranted on about whether or not she'd go, a small lopsided grin replacing any blank look he might have had when she referred to Emma as 'the witch.' “You make them weep, but yet, they still approach our table.” He said, a small gesture of his head motioning to a gaggle of girls just a few tables over. “One got away... I think they're mustering their courage to do the same. And later, they'll boast to everyone that they got within two feet of you and lived to tell the tale, without even the slightest of singe marks.” Of course, he was completely joking – laughing through the entire scenario.

Only he could get away with it. That much, he knew.

“You don't know what other female company I've been keeping, waahkanaapinako. Didn't you just say that you hadn't been keeping tabs on me?” The retort was fast, easy and elicited a flash of his teeth with his smile.

He missed the fact that she glared openly at the word 'borrow,' but, understandably so. As much insight as she may have had on her team member, she'd not quite been able to wrap her head around just how poor roots were monetarily. He was rich in culture, his zest for life... even if his wallet was always empty.

That she didn't deny the fact that she wouldn't want to be a high schooler's date kept him from asking her, even though he was certain she'd be a wonderful woman to have on his arm. It didn't bother him – Aren let things roll off of his back without care. Narcissa was different for a reason.. and getting her to agree to go out with him at all would take something just short of a miracle, when she was so set against treating her Omegas as play things. Prom, was an entirely different caliber of outings.

“It's no big deal, ki'somma.. As a resident of the reservation life, I'm quite accustomed to borrowing things when needed.” But that was about as far as they got in the conversation – Roland arrived just moments after, announcing that he was taking Kerri to prom. It took Narcissa a second to process the thought, as though it were almost inconceivable.

He nearly snorted when she muttered that Roland at least bled red... saving for now the small tidbit about his plans to ask someone who 'bled blue.' It was best to leave that part out, he was certain. She'd hate it. But, not enough to change her mind about the entire night..

Immediately after processing the whole idea, she pulled out her mobile phone, expertly typing on the keyboard in order to make arrangements. Lillian had sauntered in then, pecking Narcissa's cheek with little more than a “hi” or “goodbye.” She was simply there long enough to copy the British girl's power and be on her way. strange.  “True that... but Lillian has better taste than that... she'd at least copy someone hot.” Aren stated, polishing off his pizza before standing, ready to leave her and Roland be.

The anger in her tone elicited nothing but humor from him as he walked away, one of his knuckles touching his lips in effort to muffle the sound just a bit. “I take that as a challenge, ki'somma... We'll see who wins later on.” With that, and her calling out that she knew he was about to ask an Alpha, Aren took his leave... laughing to himself the entire way to the library.

**

He hadn't been too big on the details as he sauntered into the library, save for the fact that the person he was looking for was fortuitously there, as he'd hoped. The sound of his voice got her to twist around to glance at him, a welcoming smile on her face, despite his introduction to the very serious conversation.


Felix, a newer addition to the Omegas had already made good in Aren's opinion, if only for the mock expression he'd just given him. That he had a sense of humor, and wouldn't be so serious all the time, was a worthy trait in his opinion. Too many stiffs... not enough clowns to keep them grounded.

If no one else appreciated it, the native would. “Oh yeah... it's been so tough this last month.” He added, grinning with the statement. When the new Omega stated that people might think him deformed, Aren feigned shock, pretending to check himself for any obscurities in his own appearance. “I'd hope not... all this physique would be completely wasted.”

He didn't take the time to continue the conversation, remembering now that he'd come in on a mission. And it appeared, that even though he'd not made a big production of it, Operation: Ask Raine to Prom was in motion. He'd not taken down any mental details about where they were, what he was wearing.. he'd not really even rehearsed what he was going to say. In retrospect, that should have made him nervous.

What he did note, however, was the flood of color to her cheeks when he segued into the question he'd been meaning to ask her all day. The dimples in his cheeks became more pronounced when she hurriedly exclaimed that she didn't have a date, apparently giddy that he'd asked her. A small chuckle slid from his lips when she regained her composure and tried to appear collected, as though she was showing too much excitement about the whole ordeal. “Sounds like a plan then.” The native responded happily, wondering now if Cissa had already put in an order for his suit. Knowing her, probably so.

“I suppose we should... I'd hate for a teammate to be dateless to the even of the semester.” Aren agreed, holding a hand to his chin as he eyes Felix, as though trying to imagine him with one of the girls he knew. Felix's expression was one of a challenge, and Aren's humor grew. “Nice to meet you officially. And yes, Bella's off limits. Ki'somma would maim your 'naughty' parts for that one.” He said, completely deadpan.

“So, one worthy of an Omega date...” How many girls still didn't have dates... “There's that Alex girl, Bianca... I think Scarecrow wants to snag Aurelie to 'not' go with him... Orchid, the new green girl that I've not met yet... the Katarina girl that Gideon wouldn't let out of his sight when she first arrived...” He tried to compile a list, trying to remember Tsukino's name, but drew a blank, except that she'd had a go-around with Cissa before Magneto's attack against the city. “There's Lillian, who apparently can look like Miley Cyrus if you'd prefer....”

“On our team... that Quinn girl is pretty... though I've not met her.” Hanging with Narcissa had its perks... he learned their names, so that she could pretend she hadn't. “As is Daylia... she's quiet, but has proved herself to belong on the team several times over. And she's pretty.” The rest of them he just couldn't think of...

“I'd think the last two would be my choice... and then you wouldn't have to worry about suffering the wrath of our almighty leader.” Aren said, chocolate eyes full of humor. He was likely the one person on the teams that didn't take Narcissa Stone completely seriously. “As to which ones don't have dates yet, Raine and I can fish around if you'd like..” Mostly Raine.. .because she'd be better at that stuff than he would.

Speaking of, he turned to his now official date with a smile gracing his lips, obviously happy with the decision to ask her. “Now... in exchange for waffles,” He joked, never one to make things too serious. “I need to know the color of your dress so that I can plan accordingly.” And at least get a corsage to match it. He'd gone through this whole thing before, and knew well it was a necessary thing....

Plus, girls tended to like flowers.

"And whether or not we want to go to dinner... I fully intend to treat you like a princess." So long as Cissa didn't scorch her.

Name: Brown, Farren Brown but you may call me Mother Nature

Location: Lounge

╘════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

XXXXXXXXX Name: Ƞarcissa "Cissa" Ƚucania
XXXXXXXXX Team: Ѻmega

XXXXXXXXXXXX Never forget who you are…
XXXXXX Never forget what you are.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX The World surely won't…
XXXXXMake it your strength.
XXXXXXXXXXThen it can never be your weakness…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXArmor yourself in it.
XXXXXXAnd it can never be used to hurt you…

XXXXXX Location: Academy - Cafeteria
XXXXXX Thinking: Don't Forget Your Bitty Rain Coats!






Narcissa waved her hand in the air dismissively when he commented on her explanation…Sure that sooner or later—If he hadn’t already, that she wasn’t the most reliable source of information when it came to pop culture. Usually, she simply fibbed for kicks, to see what she could get away with. It was always entertaining when it came to Aren…She could night get away with anything— If Dom hadn’t already forewarned him. She chuckled softly when he called her a sadist, letting the cherry blossoms fall out of her hand as she lost interest. “Why would I be interested in buying those things?”

“Because I’m a sadist…”, she shot back with a tantalizing grin, cherry lips curved upward teasingly. “And because I can.”

It was…On a very scary, terrifying, government watch list level…Mildly true. If she really wanted high priced weaponry… She would get it. Where there was a will…There was most definitely a way.

His insinuation that she forgave Scott made her eyes roll… “I don’t forgive him…”

“I mourn him. It’s such a waste… He could have been so….”, the sun goddess trailed off with a purr, seeming to daydream for a moment—Before ice colored eyes snapped back to the native with a certain coquettish flare. “..So…Delightful.”

Shrugging softly then, she lost all compassion as she sighed. “But alas... He’s still infected with the sheer stupidity-disease.”

Quite like what she was slowly suspecting that Aren suffered from. She could say without a shadow of a doubt that he enjoyed pushing her buttons. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t try for it so often. It was almost as if he liked getting a rise out of her… And the more he tried, the more she seemed to try and lock herself away—tightening like the strings of a violin as it was tuned… Only the tension never ceased…And eventually the strings were going to pop. She wasn’t sure what would happen then…Fireworks, perhaps literally, were rest assured. “You’ve never been with a woman like me…So all bets are off.”

He leaned close, too close as usual, and she should have leaned away. Buy to do so would have been a step backward…Another step backward. It would have shown fear, where there was nothing to be afraid of. So she remained stalwart, only to sneer despite her rapidly beating heart. “Nothing will ruin that. I’m evil, Aren… A very bad, bad girl. Or haven’t you heard?”

“Short of a personal pardon from the Vatican—I assure you that my coital conquests won’t change that.”

At least they had better not. She’d worked too long, and too hard to be feared and respected…She would have chosen to be loved…But there was no room in her life for such a fickle thing.

So fear would have to do.

Narcissa…Blatantly ignored his comments about savagery, and about his form. She would have to have been blind and dumb not to observe, or feel, for that matter, the muscular structure he so effortlessly maintained—Despite the heap loads of crap he ate. It was far more prudent to let him think that some way…Some how, the handsome line of his chiseled jaw and escaped her keen notice. Her eyes shot towards him again when he playfully mentioned failing and her hand moved—Pressing against his chest as she shoved him lightly, with enough warmth behind her touch to be a fair warning. “Don’t you dare.”

“How could I miss it, Aquene—When it never stopped?”

And that was easily the truth… The easygoing banter they’d started resorting to had only intensified since they’d met all those months ago. There was always something…Some kind of…Tension between them that was so thick, she could feel it. But it was far from suffocating… It was… Strangely, relieving.

“Maybe the Academy letch…”, she grumbled, her voice failing when he touched her gently... Such a small thing, elicited the largest reaction from her. Which oddly enough, was nothing at all… Stillness and silence. He laughed, that perfect laugh, and she felt her teeth sinking softly into the inside of her lip to keep from responding…Her head screaming for her to get the -hell- away from him. He was dangerous, in more ways that one. He was -in- danger. As he toyed with her hair, other parts of her demanded something quite different. Other parts, she was staunchly ignoring, and pretended didn’t exist. But not speaking could only save her for so long… If she didn’t form a proper rebuttal, he would be the victor….He would have succeeded. And she would lose…

She couldn’t lose.

He laughed again, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end…Did he know what he sounded like when he laughed like that?

For a moment, his warmth called to her—And following her ability unthinkingly she drew closer, much to close to claim any sense of propriety. Warmth comforted her…Soothed her, disarmed her. There was a scant moment to marvel how well they fit together, the line between them seamless as the honeyed, chocolate color of his eyes melted and chipped away at her resistance. It always did, when she gazed a little too long… Most men would have felt her hand collide with their face at so openly mentioning undressing her… But anger only seemed to spur Aren forward. The more she threw a fit, the more he pressed her.

Suddenly she smirked, breaking away with feathery dusting of dark blond lashes when she winked... Finally giving into her natural urge to respond sass with sass. “My…Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves…. A wedding and you’ve not even touched first base?”

Her head tilted as she seemed to consider it, before her eyes rounded innocently—Guileless. “Have it your way then. Just don’t expect me to wear white.”

All of her hard work at keeping him at arms length that day was surely lost.

She would have to start from scratch. Sigh. Again.

**

“Sod off, Aquene--This is all your fault.”, she snipped at Aren when he pointed out that she may, or may not be losing her touch…She ate her cake, and glared at him over her fork every now and again. He made good points but she deliberately ignored every bit of it. It was an old Narcissa tactic…Don’t like what you hear? Simply pretend it was never said in the first place. “All their brazenness shows is that I’ve given them too much credit over the years. They’re far less intelligent than I thought.”

She sneered when he mentioned what female company he’d been keeping, again, deigning not to respond—Especially when he called her… waahkanaapinako. Whatever the bloody hell that meant.

She was almost afraid to ask.

“But...Borrowing isn’t needed.”, the blond goddess pointed out with a furrowed brow. She came from money… Lots of it. Her family from both sides were all filthy, dirty rich. That may have attested to some of her nasty attitude… Her parents, before their untimely end, had supplemented love with gifts. Borrowing was…Inconceivable. Unless one was talking about a pretty sporty rental car to wreck over the weekend.

She hated that he sounded so amused as he left—Each thread of anger she threw at him making him chuckle. He made…What, kissing her, a challenge? He was insane, truly.

Even if he weren’t an Omega… It was against everything she believed in, to accept second in any situation. And if Aren was half the cad he made himself out to be, he’d not have nearly enough patience to complete his end of the bargain—And he’d eventually move on.

One could only hope.

The sun goddess fumed silently then, in a world of her own for a moment. Why? Oh, a dozen and one reasons… Aren, this damn dance—Emma, Scott, the MRA, Magneto, her canceled pedicure… But most prominently, she hated the thought of the Alpha’s outshining her Omega’s…Even at something as silly as prom. The Omega’s were better, simply put. (At least, that was what she would tell anyone who asked…Actual reasons, for her distaste of Alpha’s would only be made known to individuals worthy of knowing her well enough to be told.) Just because the other team couldn’t handle a little fire, blindness, and general a** kicking every now and again—The Headmaster just seemed content to let their captain run them into the ground. They were all going to end up fat and lazy if they didn’t start training soon.

At least, that was her none too selfless hope…The Alpha’s would finally have a use… Chuggy little pups that could be used as a distraction—And perhaps even cannon fodder.

How quaint.

Coming back to the present and her original gripe, she changed her bid…Raising it…More than substantially. She couldn’t exactly…Force the Omega’s to learn the do’s and don’t of fashion over night…But she could push them, hard as hell, in the right direction. And hit them over the head with a rolled up newspaper, if they resisted.

It wasn’t so much that Narcissa wasn’t a fan of Roland taking Kerrigan to the dance…Moreover, she didn’t trust men with her best friend. She was lovely, skilled, and smart. She didn’t deserve anything, but the best that the male gender had on a whole to offer. And if she couldn’t have the best… The boy on her arm, had better work hard as hell, to make sure that the sun goddess didn’t notice.

Her eyes flickered when he suggested black and white— Not saying anything directly against it…Especially since he seemed to readily accept her changes. The colors of his suit would depend on what Kerrigan wore… And what Kerrigan wore, would be carefully selected by the blond heiress. Then again, she might take come consideration into what the woman wore… So long as she didn’t say ‘pantsuit’. Bugger that… “Let me rephrase… You’ll get what I give you, and you’ll make all the ladies swoon all Gone With the Wind style... Sound good?”

For someone that tended to have questionable thought processes on the field… He had sure learned quickly, about the do’s and don’t’s of her personality. He didn’t necessarily speak out of turn, and he used proper—Or mostly proper Americanized-English. In light of his interesting temperament, she cut him some slack. Not much, mind you—But some. “So long as we understand one another.”

“I’ll make sure our dorm is empty, considering you likely won’t be getting back into yours until you see some Alpha doing the walk of shame out of yours… But do us all a favor pack your own bitty rain-coats for little Roland. I’m too pretty to be an Aunt.”

Narcissa also wasn’t known for her sense of tact. She firmly believed that tact was simply a term used for cowards, so they could avoid saying what they truly thought… It never occurred to her that on occasion, what she said may or may not be considered rude…She was more blunt, than anything else—As he would soon find out.

Her phone made a small sound, that oddly seemed like a bird chirping several times—Before she slid out of her chair with a pleased bounce. Someone had already taken on her bid…Apparently, elegant formal ware was easier to come buy, if one was ordering more of it. Somehow managing to gracefully hike down the micro-minidress that she wore. It was the marvel of half the women in the school, that Narcissa managed to wear dresses that tiny, and not flash the world everytime she moved. Her eyes narrowed as she eyed Roland’s broad shoulders again… Aren, she could guess. She was around him, close enough to him frequently enough that it wouldn’t be hard… Roland wouldn’t be quite so easy. Grabbing her British red coat, and her clutch, she dropped them in Roland’s lap so she could keep typing with both hands.

“Come on then, love—Let’s go get you naked.”, she winked blithely as she turned, tossing golden waves over her shoulder. The tiny sliver of good in her black little heart thought of adding ‘for measurements’—But she held a mental vote, and found it vetoed. Poor Roland.

Raising her comm to her lips, she headed out the door—Expecting that Roland would follow. “Omega’s that are in need of formal wear—Report to my dorm.”

It wasn’t so much a…Request, but a command. Those that didn’t know her would figure that out on their own…Likely the hard way.

Hearing only one true note









Oh the body swayed to music