10352/Keeping Up with the -Els

Keeping Up with the -Els
Date of Scene:	07 December 2019
Location:	Ororo's Attic - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Kitty brings Ororo and Rogue up to speed regarding the latest news regarding Superman, after Kitty's encounter with the Justice League.
Cast of Characters:	Storm, Shadowcat, Rogue

---

Storm has posed:
"I have some peppermint cocoa if you like, Kitty." Ororo looks over from her miniature kitchenette; a repurposed laving basin with a pair of hotplates on the small tabletop nearby. Upon one of the hotplates an old steel kettle burbles its way to a slow boil.

"Or tea, if you like," she adds, and tasks herself with fixing up a little serviette for the two women. It only takes a few moments to assemble and Ororo carries it to her cozy sitting nook and sets it on the low-slung table in the center. Eschewing one of the chairs she folds her legs under her and tucks a boldly tropical floral-print sarong around her knees and feet. Despite the chill outside, she wears only a lightweight black vest that exposes an inch of her midriff. The humidity is bringing out the natural curl of her hair and causes it to rise and arc from her head like a horse's mane. She invites Kitty to get comfortable and sets about mixing a drink. "So tell me what has happened with Superman's family."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde came up to Storm's room after returning from Metropolis. Lockheed was staying put on her shoulder, the empathic dragon knowing how troubled Kitty's thoughts were, if lacking the telepathy to actually read them.

"Tea would be lovely," Kitty tells Ororo, her face reflecting the state of those thoughts in her head. She finds a spot to sit, relaxing back into the cushioned seat, but not seeming to find the comfort from it one normally might.

"Well, to catch you up," Kitty says, letting out a sigh. Things that she's not shared around the mansion, worried about protecting identities of those in Gotham. "Someone wanted me to check what was in Superman's tomb. They thought his body might not be there. I refused. Didn't want to desecrate it. Only, some bad guys tried to get in. I lucked out and was in the area for other work and helped stop them. Thor and some others were there too," Kitty says.

"Well, in the midst of that action, I did scans and the body in the tomb isn't Superman. Though it was probably grown from someone with access to his genome. And, more long story made short, CADMUS, possibly ARGUS, I'm not even sure if they are the same group or not, but anyway. They have the body, but got it away from where it was being worked on. It's suspected by the Justice League they may be trying to clone him or otherwise gain some advantage against some danger posed by Apokolips." Kitty pauses. That's a lot to take in.

Storm has posed:
"That is very troubling," Ororo agrees. Her lips purse thoughtfully. A selection of tea is offered to Kitty along with a small teapot for steeping. The diffuser's set in place and Ororo pours hot water from the kettle into the smaller pot.

"Superman is one of Earth's greatest heroes. I can imagine why the government would be interested in trying to replicate him. I appreciate your diligence, Kitty," Ororo advises the younger woman. She smiles approvingly. "You took the initiative and stepped in where you were needed. I'm sure many of our allies appreciate your willingness as well. You did the proper thing."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue flies past the windows. With a car beneath her.

It blocks out the light from outside, one window after another, but is gone in a flash, leaving the outside light to filter in again.

The car, and the almost-21 year old soar over the school and descend down toward the garage with said car. What she's doing, why she's doing it, is anyone's guess... which is par for the course with that one. It was one of her cars, the dark green charger with the black racing stripes.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives a soft sigh and nods. "There's a chance he might not be dead. The body isn't decaying, apparently. And they have... something lethal to Superman. What was used to stop him this time, that they will use on him if they think someone might come for the body," Kitty adds.

"If he is alive, even if he's saved, he's still a threat. Zatanna, one of the Justice League who does magic, believes someone called Yuga Khan is possessing him magically. I'm going to speak to Illyana. See if the Soulsword might be able to break it," Kitty says. "Though, I don't know what effect it might have on Superman if it did."

Kitty raises an eyebrow as Rogue flies past with her car. "Ok, either Harry Potter and Ron Weasley are in town. Or Rogue had car trouble." She sends off a text>> What's with the car? Ororo and I are in her attic. With tea.

Storm has posed:
"I'm afraid that's something well out of my wheelhouse," Ororo apologizes. She follows the flighted shadow with surprise on her face until she recognizes Rogue. "I give equal odds to the Potterverse or to Anna-Marie's midnight fidgets."

Without being prompted she unlocks a window and flickers the balcony light, twice, to let the younger heroine know she's welcome up in that location.

"If Zatanna says she believes something, I think it's prudent to trust her expertise. The magic of man is not something I wholly understand," Ororo admits. She finds her seat again and folds her legs under her once more. "It's different from the way Mother moves through the universe. I could ask Dr. Strange about it sometime, but..." She smiles. "I'm quite happy with what I have, if I'm being honest. Perhaps in another lifetime."

Rogue has posed:
It takes a little bit, but eventually the flying Belle returns to the balcony where she'd received texts and landing lights from. She glides right up to the balcon, wearing slim fit blue jeans, knee high heeled leather boots, a brown leather jacket with frilly fluffy white lapels, a dark green scarf wrapped around her neck and a matching dark red cashmere beanie atop her head.

As she reaches the balcony she silently slips down onto its edge and places her butt down upon the railing, then crosses her legs at the knee and places her gloved hands on either sides of her thighs to grip the railing she's now perched on.

She exhales a heavy breath and smiles at those within the attic apartment. "Hello." She says, one husky hued word, saying it like its the first word she's said outloud in hours, if not days.

Shadowcat has posed:
"I'm not very good with it either. Though, I know the Soulsword is one of the best things there is at breaking through it. But I don't know the limits like Illyana would," Kitty tells Ororo.

She takes up her tea, taking a sip of it while looking over and watching Rogue land. "Hey AM," Kitty offers with a wave and a big smile for her former roomie. Lockheed is sitting shotgun on her shoulder. "Something wrong with the car?" she asks. "I had a student's face bounce off of mine. Tommy. Was running and slipped on ice in the parking lot and his face hit right near the headlight, last night. Chris was in the Wellness Office and took care of it. He was going to have a beaut of a black eye otherwise."

Storm has posed:
Ororo beckons Rogue in, and opens the balcony door to usher the woman in. "Please come in, dear. We just put the kettle on. I'd leave the door open, but I'm afraid Kathryn might catch a cold." It is a properly damp sort of New England winter. The mild breeze only makes it feel all the colder.

"We were discussing the Superman situation. It seems as if there are some hostile government types who are interested in trying to recover his body and unlock more secrets about his DNA. Kitty said that she was concerned that he might even be alive, but in the possession of a demon."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue glides off of the railing when the door is opened and Ororo invites her inside. As she strides on in to the familiar attic apartment she listens to Kitty and winces at the story. "That must've sucked, for him. Hope the car is okay too though." She smirks, knowing full well the kids around here are constnatly falling or hurting themselves because they act like jackasses on the regular.

She starts to unbutton her jacket then, one silver twist of little metal bands after another until she pulls the jacket open and lets it glide down off of her shoulders. She drapes it over a chair, then proceeds to pull her scarf off to fold it over the jacket as well, beneath she wears a black sweater that is tight to her form and tucked into her jeans that are cinched with a belt around her waist. "Demonic Superman with a government agency?" Rogue huffs out a laugh and shakes her head side to side. "I guess I'd offer help, but I wouldn't even know where t'begin with that."

Her left hand pulls her beanie off the top of her head then, her white and brown locks left in a bit of a tussle now. "I got contact online, by some woman who said her family was being harassed by... bears. Up near the Adirondacks... So I took a couple friends and went up there t'help'em out. Battery died in the car, cause we used it t'setup a trap."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty says, "Well, the demon was the cause of him turning evil in the first place. But, yes, apparently ARGUS or CADMUS or... both, have him. This is really Justice League stuff. But, the impact could be huge. I think the X-men should leave it to them if they think they can handle it, but if they need our assistance? We should probably be prepared for it."

Kitty listens to Rogue's story. "It's a whole different sort of power to be able to just fly your car back home," she says with a shake of her head and a laugh. "I'd say someday we should trade powers, but... you could actually do that with me, I couldn't do it back with you. So not fair!"

Storm has posed:
"Bears, hmm?" Ororo liftst a white brow at Rogue, as if suspecting some shenanigans. But the invitation remains and she latches the window once Rogue's inside. She offers to hang up Rogue's outwear and brings another set of serving cups to the low table.

"It's very much their field," Ororo nods at Kitty. "But I don't think Charles would object to a polite offer of assistance, if it's needed. There's no reason to divorce ourselves wholly from the issue. If the League asks for aid, we'll certainly provide it."

"Tea, dear? Or hot chocolate?" Ororo murmurs inquisitively at Rogue. She busies herself with preparing a drink and looks back to Kitty. "Would you be comfortable with expressing that to the League, officially, on the school's behalf?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue picks her stuff up again so Ororo can do the proper thing and hang it all up in a good and tidy spot... she grins at the white haired woman then and nods softly once. "Bears." She affirms. "And you're a hot chocolate." She lets a grin spread over her lips after saying that before she shakes her head. "I'm sorry, just bein' stupid. But yeah, that would be delicious. I've been out in the cold since like Wednesday mornin'."

She looks between Kitty and Ororo then as she finds the arm of a chair to sit down upon and place her gloved hands between her thighs, palms flat together. "These bears killed one'a the family's dogs, and chased some'a their friends toward the house one night. So... yeah, went up there... bought a buncha McDonald's and loaded it up in the car with the windows down and the heat on, just blastin' the smell out into the woods. They eventually showed up... after the car battery died." Rogue grins. "They've been... relocated now, and there's images'a me fightin' bears online. So, win win."

Another look is given over to Kitty, then back to Storm. "Why does the Justice League exist if they're just gonna get possessed by Demons and turned inta tools t'be used against us?" She huffs out a sardonic laugh. "Those guys are Titans, like God levels'a power, aren't they? They need t'get their shit t'gether if ya ask me... BUT, nobody is, so yeah."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives a soft laugh and a headshake about the new pictures online. "As long as you don't use it as some kind of endorsement against the team in Chicago," says the girl from Deerfield.

Kitty lets out a sigh, and relaxes just a bit more than she did when she first arrived. "Well, they could ask about the clones in the basement freezer too, so... I'm not throwing stones there. Also, they don't know I'm from the X-men. I was in a different costume, for anonymity," Kitty says. "So, just in case it comes up somehow, it isn't like they asked the X-men directly for help. But, I'll pass on what I hear."

Storm has posed:
Ororo pursess her lips at Rogue in a scolding manner, though it's more to suppress a grin at Rogue's cheeky entendre. She swats the air in Rogue's wake, barely making contact with her hip.

"I'm glad everyone's doing well then," Ororo murmurs at Rogue once they're settled. The cocoa is a powdered mix, but the extra creme and some peppermint give it a little more body than mere hot water would allow.

"Don't be so quick to discount the X-men, dear," Ororo tells Kitty with a smile. "We're pretty far from helpless ourselves. The League benefits from the celebrity their diversity provides. We have to do the best we can despite the ignominity *our* diversity creates. More cocoa, dear?" she invites Kitty, and offers Kitty the leftover from Rogue's freshly steaming cuppa cocoa.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue draws a breath in as she listens to the others and then raises up to walk over to accept the drink that Storm is making her whenever it is ready, but in the mean time she'll glance back to Kitty. "Well, I'm happy t'help if there's ever a fight I can help with. I'll even absorb the big blue'n'red boyscout if it comes t'that. Not sure what would happen if I tried, but... I did meet him once, at the Avengers mansion. Jesus Cornwall Jackson was he attractive. I mean, like 'so attractive' that it was almost becoming 'unattractive just how attractive he was'." She snorts softly then and places one hand upon her hip. "If thats the kinda men that came from his planet, I wish I'd get a space ship and fly out there." Does she knows his planet was destroyed? Probably not, she doesn't care about super her stories that much.

"There's a team in Chicago?" She asks Kitty then. "Like Justice League? What do they have some kinda Bearman leadin'em?" She doesn't realize that was a sports reference either, because she rarely thinks about sports, her mind is generally on OTHER subjects.

"I think the X-Men do it right. Covert rather than Celebrity. That Celebrity stuff just sets ya up t'be challenged all the time. Not that we're not challenged, but, I think they're different. The clone thing, I don't wanna think about it. I'm just glad mine is dealt with and not comin' back."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty takes the cocoa from Storm with a smile. "Yes, thank you, Ororo," Kitty tells her as she accepts the mug. She lets out a soft laugh and tells Rogue, "The Chicago Bears. Football team. I'm so going to have to take you to a game sometime. It has everything you like. People hitting each other. Men whose position is called 'tight end'," she muses.

"I don't actually know Superman either, but I can believe it. He was always pretty amazing on TV," Kitty says of the man's looks. She takes a sip of the cocoa, flashing Storm a smile at the quality of it. "I agree. I think lower key is better. I have to say though. Hearing that the government is involved in this stuff with Superman's body doesn't do anything for my trust. I mean, they bought Sentinels. Whose to say what any clones would be taught? Or, it might not even be clones, but just advancements of some other fashion. Who holds the leash, that's the problem."

Storm has posed:
"That is the tradeoff in our favor," Ororo agrees, and nods at the two women. "We will be spared a great deal of the attention that the League recieves. We can move more easily and discreetly. We don't have the protection of law," she concedes, "but it also means our enemies can't use traditional means of attacking or inconveniencing us unless they, too, are willing to be outed to the public. Let Superman work in the light. The shadows are a comfort to me," she declares.

"Even if he does have a jaw like a block of granite," Ororo mutters into her teacup. She winks once, conspiratorially.

Rogue has posed:
After Kitty speaks of the government being involved, Rogue lowers her mug after her first sip from the hot chocolate and she... she can't help herself but softly whistle the X-Files themesong, part of it anyway, she's never even seen the show but she's heard the tune on the internet because its a giant meme song at this stage in the show's legacy.

That being out of the way, she sweeps over to a chair to turn it around backward so she can straddle it sit on with backward to rest her free hand on its top and the mug of hot hot hot chocolate beside it. "I watched a vide online about jaws and why they're gettin' smaller and smaller in humans. Its cause'a evolution. Cause we're not out tearin' inta predators inthe wild anymore. Instead we're... goin' t'McDonald's t'get our food." She grins. "Eventually we're gonna look like those 'Gray Aliens' - and no I don't mean Jean's family - I mean the ones that ya see in the movies'n stories about butt probes."

Another hot chocolate sip. Rogue nods her head at her own words. "But yeah. X-Men do it right. The rest've'em have got it all wrong. Though." She pauses, more Rogue-thoughts inboud. "I do feel bad for Scott. He should be just as hyped as Captain America or Superman are. He gets none'a that respect. It ain't fair. He's such a badass. Even if, ya know... he's a Tight End himself, in more ways than one." She shows another grin then, sips more drink. "Mmmmm... this is good."

Shadowcat has posed:
Lockheed climbs down off of Kitty's shoulder, moving to curl up in her lap. Usually he would have gone to greet either woman after not seeing them for awhile. That Kitty's little emotional weather vane didn't probably speaks to how unnerving the situation was for her.

Though back in the school, in her home, and with her friends, she's feeling better. Kitty strokes the little dragon's back between taking sips of her cocoa. She has to move a hand to her mouth to cover her laugh at the comment about Grey Aliens. "Oh. That one has to go up on the school website," she says, letting the laugh out fully.

Kitty nods slowly. "I think I'd rather be a part of a team like this. But that said, there's something to be said for people having a symbol. You should see what it's like at work when Cap just visits Stark Tower. And I don't mean the swooning. Which, there's a lot of that too. But just... people are uplifted. I'm sure you know what I mean," Kitty says, the final bit directed at Rogue, the former Avenger who probably knows Steve far better than Kitty ever will.

Storm has posed:
The 'Gray Aliens' joke provokes a sincere grin from Ororo, and she tries and fails to hide it behinde her teacup. Rogue's suggestion about bringing it to Jean is met with a vigorous nod of approval.

She turns back to Kitty. "I've met Captain Rogers. He does have a remarkable presence," Ororo agrees with Kitty. She smiles wryly. "A... sincerity, I think. In everything he does. You did well to invite him here that while back, I know the students appreciated it." Kitty's knee is given a pat.

"Is there anything else to report from the League?" Ororo asks Kitty. "Think carefully, you may have observed some quite small detail that will only seem relevant in hindsight. How is their morale overall?"

Rogue has posed:
Mid-sip, Rogue sits up straighter and draws her lips from the mug, she motions with one hand and does that drink-cut-off noise of 'Mmmf!' then speaks. "Thats what I mean! Scott'n Steve are almost identical. I mean they could be brothers, if not for the... obvious giant stretch in time between when one was born and the other was... hatched. But I mean, in-generality terms." Generality can't possibly be a word. "Scott deserves t'have kids walkin' around in his costume on Halloween, and pretendin' t'shoot eye beams at bad guys that are actually just the family's cat. I dunno, he just... thats a side effect'a bein' a secret team, I guess."

More hot chocolate sipping. Rogue's phone buzzes as Ororo asks more about the Justice League, which is something she can't help much with for whatever reason - probably a lack of interest in her part. So she grabs her phone up and starts to read the text she'd got... a second later and she snorts out a laugh at it. "Ah... what a jackass." She says to her phone shaking her head side to side whilst staring down at it, her white flowing bangs just waving side to side as she does it.

One thumb starts to text a response back to whomever it is she's bantering with. "We're not startin' a group called the Bearvengers." She reads her response text as she types it out, so its kinda slow as she taps that thumb around the screen.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives little nods of agreement with Rogue. "He does. The whole team deserves so much from the world that they don't even realize, how many times we've saved them. But, I'd still rather be in the shadows. Be able to have a life that doesn't involve villains coming after you all the time." She pauses a moment, thoughts of a threat popping into her head before she pushes it away.

Kitty clears her throat, then takes a sip of the hot chocolate. "They are kind of tore apart by this. Two of their best fought each other to the death. Superman's relatives were not about at the time and are still dealing with the loss now they are back. But... they are carrying on, the same as we would," Kitty says.

Storm has posed:
Ororo grins and laughs merrily at Rogue's antics. "Bearvengers? You could start with Hank McCoy," she offers cheekily. "Maybe see if Victor Creed's had a sudden shift in morality and has decided to join the side of truth and honor."

Ororo finishes her drink and gets to her feet to start clearing the flatware away. "Or Logan, for that matter. He's hirsute enough."

Ororo laughs gaily and starts rinsing and washing the dishes, humming contentedly in a modest domestic bliss. With the crackling of logs in the belly of her cast-iron stove, it's certainly comfortably warm in her attic despite the oppressive New England winter trying to rattle the windowpanes with a cold wet wind.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue is moving to stand up from her chair then. She grins at Ororo as she starts to walk past her. "I don't think those men all wanna get inta a group together and then be known as the 'Bears'. There's a meanin' t'that word that I strongly doubt those big hairy men wanna have affixed t'their macho personalities." She holds her grin then.

"I'm gonna step out and make a call real quick, I gotta tell a friend'a mine from the Music store where he left his apartment keys. He said 'I'll remember them here.' but obviously that didn't happen." As Rogue is stepping outside she's closing the door behind her, holding the phone up to her face.

"You left them under the Spongebob bucket behind the store." And she's gone, back outside to the rooftop area.

Shadowcat has posed:
The quirk in Kitty's grin suggests she was aware of the alternate meaning for 'bear', but probably was not intending to bring it up. "All we need, another team to contend with," she jokes as she finishes off the hot chocolate.

"Ororo, I don't get how everything you make is always so perfect. It's like my mother. There's some gene there that I surely did not inherit. Maybe Mom's a mutant as well and you both have that power?" Kitty asks. She reaches down to pick up her curled up dragon and relocate him to her shoulder as she goes to clean her cup.

"Well, I should probably go and check on things around the school. Kurt's BAMFs put up mistletoe. A bit more of it maybe than we need in a school of hormone-laden teenagers," she says. Kitty moves over to give Storm a quick hug if allowed. "Thank you as always," she tells her. Kitty gives Rogue a grin as she's getting ready to head out. "Next time you're going relocating bears, let me know and I'll help," she offers before Rogue heads outside.