1838/A Dangerous Game: Recruiting the Prodigy

A Dangerous Game: Recruiting the Prodigy
Date of Scene:	05 August 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Mystique, Hellion, Emma Frost

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Mystique has posed:
    The note had been slipped, surreptiously, into Julian's pocket at some point, during the day. Somehow, a note was there. In a very elaborate handwriting, and old style pen of quill and inkwell. It read, simply:
    There are others who recognize your talent. If you wish a true chance to go unshackeled, and unbridled and deliver to the world your full potential, meet me in the back grounds of the school after your classes. I will be waiting.

    The note was not signed.
    And in the back of the schoolyard of the Academy of Tomorrow, there are two drinks set out. A napkin under one has the initials: J.K. penned into it. The other is filled, but - well, there is nobody there, when Julian arrives.

Hellion has posed:
     Julian had bee back to his dorm by the time he read the note. The telekinetic had been most intrigued, and of course, decided to take whomever left it for him up on at lest hearing them out.

  The Hellion flew, as almost he always did to their meeting place. The black haired boy set himself down and sauntered to the drinks, lifting the one penned with his name from the napkin to his outstretched hand. Examining the refreshment, he awaits the person who invited him.

Mystique has posed:
    So confident. And, he'd looked right past her. They always did. Suddenly, the hedge about five feet to Julian's right, just in his perepherial vision and out of his dominant line of sight from where the glass was moves. It moves, and -- well, it, or rather -she- walks. The camoflage of the hedge shifts off of her, and the woman's appearance, once a perfect match for the hedge, now takes on a dark blue hue. Her hair red. Her clothes, a matching red halter top and tight, very tight pants and curb-stomping boots to that of her hair and lipstick. Her eyes? Pupiless yellow. Bright yellow. Almost irridescent.
    "Julian Keller. Well met," she greets, moving past him, to claim her own drink. She sits down on that ledge, casually. Crosses her leg.
    "I've heard so much about you."

Hellion has posed:
     Julian in fact did move right past, not even noticing the well camouflaged Mystique. When his periphery spots the boy turns, and his cobalt eyes watch as she changed from hedge drab to Mystique blue. "Impressive." Hellion offers, raising his glass to the shapeshifter.

     Julian smiled a boyishly charming smile as she mentions she's heard about him. "Well, looks like all the time training here has paid off." Julian sits right down on the ledge to join her.

Mystique has posed:
    "Quite so." Mystique smiles in a sultry sort of fashion as her eyes -seem- to regard Julian. It's hard to say when they are solid yellow if she's looking straight at him, or past him. "There are many impressive things in this world, and many of those are mutants. Such as ourselves. And, of course, Emma. An intriguing project, her school, here."
    Briefly her head turns, to consider the school. Impressive, even if it's not quite comparable to Xavier's. She takes a sip of her drink. "I have it on good authority you're quite - talented."

Hellion has posed:
     The telekinetic takes a healthy drink from the glass, again giving his charming smile. "You have that right, if certain folk are correct, we are the superior species." The academy in its glory, it lacked the old world charm Xavier's did, but in it's place, there was the futuristic and 'eyes forward' aspect.

  "I am indeed...talented, of course. Moving objects with your mind tends to have that effect. Most important it has a wide range of uses." Hellion continues to drink. "What can I do for you?" He asks, knowing Mystique has something in mind for Julian to do.

Mystique has posed:
    "Talent," murmurs Mystique, with a measure of knowing, casual experience, "Is nothing without will. Drive. Purpose. And, the desire to apply it. Talent, without purpose is - useless." She sets the drink down, indifferently.
    Her next question may catch Julian offguard. Then again, knowing Emma and how she likely trains her students? It may well not. "Have you killed before, Mr. Keller?"

Emma Frost has posed:
    Emma finds herself drawn to the meeting... partly helped by her... well, some might call it 'less than ethical' scanning of the thoughts of her employees throughout the academy, keeping an eye on her students. It's simply good headmistressing, of course.
    And so she comes breezing across the yard, whistling out cheerfully, hips swinging, heels clicking... at least up until she's on the grass and that noise fades. "Oh! My! Visiting us and asking such -personal- questions. This is going to be all sorts of delightful, Ms. Darkholme... a pleasure as always, I am sure, hm?"

Hellion has posed:
     Julian's eye flickers, he certainly had drive to use his talent. "I...know." Though lately, he'd grown complacent, the most action he'd seen lately was confronting some of the Xavier's people about destroying the quad of the Academy.

  The distinguishing clicking of heels certainly gave Emma away to the student. Julian set his drink down on the ledge and stood up. He was a miscreant, but only to those he didn't respect. "Headmistress Frost." He offers an impish grin to the telepath.

Mystique has posed:
    Raven is not one given to the social formalities that Emma finds so quaint, or perhaps even necessary. "You know I only come about when someting interesting is on my plate, Emma. At least I gave you the courtesy of knowing about my arrival." She knows her 'slippery' mind is something that occassionally vexes the hell out of Emma. And, that gives her a moderate sense of amusement, in those particular moments, sometimes.
    Yellow eyes look back to Julian. "But you didn't answer my question, Julian. Have you ever killed another human? Or, for that matter, another mutant?"
    And Emma would know Mystique rather well enough to know that she's asking this question for a -reason-.

Emma Frost has posed:
    Given the way Emma's eyes narrow, that slippery mind -is- vexing her... and it's likely because of that question. She glances to Julian, favouring him with a crooked, cool little smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Ah, Mr. Keller, charmed as always of course. You've been doing fantastic work lately." Certainly, as far as she's concerned anything that reminds Xavier's students not to mess up someone -else's- school is work well done.

    Emma lets her gaze snap back to Mystique though, arms crossing behind her lower back as she murmurs out softly. "Oh, that's so true. I -do- wish we had a more casual relationship, but you are -always- so very... driven, hm? And my my, you certainly sound like you're being driven somewhere -quite-... well, let's just say I'm sure you're not asking people at Xavier's that sort of question about whatever you're plotting here today."

Hellion has posed:
     "Thank you, Miss Frost." He offered with a smile, thought the subject of Mystique's question was enough to knock him off of his prideful thoughts.

  Julian shakes his head, running his hand through his hair with a slight tinge of unease. "No, no I haven't." Hellion had done plenty that had lived up to his namesake, but nothing to that extent. It had been a line he was sure to cross sometime, he'd figured. But not something that he expected to do so soon. He's only a seventeen year old, but he knew his gifts could be quite deadly if he ever decided to be.

Mystique has posed:
    From Mystique's pocket, she withdraws a small flash drive. She holds it up, for both Emma, and for Julian to see. "I have discovered - a problem. It is a matter of fact that there is a robust slave trade that has existed since man could walk. It still goes on today," she lectures Julian, casually. She knows Emma already knows this - at least, this part of it. "All over the world. Even right here. In this fantastic city of the promises of tomorrow. But in Mexico," she says, tapping one finger to the end of the flash drive, "There is a small, but well guarded fortress. That has managed to get their hands on several collars. I presume that your Headmistress has educated on these nefarious, sinister devices, designed to repress our natures. This is the real purpose of them, Julian. To enslave us. To make us tools for them."
    Mystique's nostrils flare, before she leans back, gathering self-control. "I am assembling a strike team to - eliminate this threat to our kind. To free those enslaved."
    Her eyes look to Emma, "I have come to offer you, and your Headmistress a - field trip that will be highly educational. And allow you, Julian, to - well, see just how far your limits will take you. Without any repurcussions. Without any rules. Save two. No mutant dies. And, the leader is mine. After Emma rips his mind apart."

Emma Frost has posed:
    Emma gives a small shrug, "Well, I -have- wanted one of those collars, so I can set some... -very- well-compensated employees to reverse engineering them in order to find a countermeasure." She glances sidelong to Julian and murmurs out. "And I certainly won't stop you from coming along, -if- you think you can handle it... however, I'm afraid I'll be keeping our involvement -quite-... forgotten to anyone -not- on our team."

    She clicks her tongue sharply and gives a firm shake of her head, "Mutant rights or not, I'll not be having my school tied to paramilitary activities like Charles is oh so happy to have rumored. -I- don't feel as though Sentinel attacks are a fine excuse for remodelling the athletic complex every semester or two. But I suppose it -has- been several weeks since I was in that silly robbery at that benefit dinner. I could enjoy a... short vacation from paperwork."

Hellion has posed:
     What had once been a boy happy and prideful, gave way to a scowl and a clenched fist. "I'm well aware of those things people like that pig Senator Creed attempted to shill on us like some kind of cure."

  Julian gives a nod to Emma, understanding what she means. "I understand, Miss Frost." The mutant boy took a deep breath, Emma had known that Julian had the capacity to do great things, it all depended on where he decided to go. "This isn't me being a student here, it's me being Hellion." The code name he held in such high regard. "I can handle it. anything to free our kind."

Mystique has posed:
    "Your aspirations are - limited, Emma. I have other plans for the collars. And, means to see it done. Don't worry. I'll be sure to include you," she assures the White Queen with a rather casual air. It's not hard for Julian to pick up that these two likely have a deep, and sorid sort of history. "Victor will be joining us. As will Neena. And, Cain." Yes. Mystique has even brought in the Juggernaut for this one. And Sabretooth. Quite the power and murder party.
    "I merely thought you'd want to be included, Emma. If all goes as planned, there won't be anyone left alive to wipe the minds of. And, another group entirely will be blamed for what went wrong."

Emma Frost has posed:
    Emma sighs, reaching out to rest a hand on Julian's shoulder and giving a little squeeze. "Well, I suppose we'll be using this as a training fieldtrip for you after all. Or... practice. I'm sure you'll do exceptional, as always." She rolls her eyes at Mystique's opinion on her aspirations. "Yes, well, we can't -all- devote quite so much focus to one thing at a time. But... Victor -and- Cain?"

    There's -almost- a shudder through her, and certainly a brief look of distaste flashes across her features. "Mh... I suppose we'll need to get outfits specifically for this fieldtrip, Julian. I'm afraid -no- amount of drycleaning will be likely to salvage our outfits by the end. This sounds as though it will be... effective but -disorderly-. Messy, really. In the very literal sense."

Hellion has posed:
     Julian hadn't been made aware of any real names other than Magneto's, but once Emma reacts to the names dropped by Mystique, he knows they mean business. Emma's reassurance definitely makes Julian a bit pumped for the mission.

  Julian's own allegiances had yet to be known, but it was no surprise that he did see the White Queen as a mentor. "I always liked the red and black." He offers regard to outfits, smiling. "Brings out my eyes."

Mystique has posed:
    "This," Mystique measures towards Emma, mildly, "Is a mission that requires effectiveness. And, deserves a certain measure of brutality. Victor would be upset, if I did not bring him along. Those we free will be sent to Genosha. Transportation has already been arranged."
    She adds, "And, well. I think you'll enjoy the fallout, Emma." Mystique smiles a smile that Emma knows all too well. One of Mystique's rather intricate schemes. Which usually winds up in someone being framed who didn't do anything.

Emma Frost has posed:
    Emma sighs out and nods her head, "Oh, I'm sure it does. I don't -disapprove-. I'm simply not going to wear anything -expensive-. But still, one does enjoy a little exercise now and then, even if... well, is it ever -truly- a 'challenge' when it's nothing but slavers or narrow minded human supremists? They switch off as easy as lightswitches most often."
    Emma laughs sharply and nods her head with a crooked grin, "I -have- been thinking the news has been terribly predictable lately. I could enjoy a few weeks of... some sort of dramatic revelations of someone's -shockingly- illegal attack on Mexican territory. All those murders! I surely never would have suspected... whoever it winds up being."

Hellion has posed:
     Julian chuckles just a little, it seems the question of morality in the face of slavers is a little bit moot at this point. "Brutality is just fine for these pigs, if you ask me." He indeed believed in Homo Superior, and just as Emma mentions, he's felt like things needed shaking up, especially in idyllic Metropolis. "Well, Mystique, you asked for a Hellion, you will have one." He offers, raising his glass to the shapeshifter.

Mystique has posed:
    "Good." Mystique rises then, slowly. Then, suddenly she's shrinking in size, shifting into a girl. A girl who had, bumped into Julian earlier that day. Apologized, profusely. A girl who had - it may come to Julian's mind, planted the note she'd left him in his pocket. The girl, not any older than Julian, and certainly dressed and pretty enough to be one of Emma's students, smiles at Juilan.
    She smiles at Emma.
    "I'll see you both, very soon, then."
    And then the girl, the student, the shapeshifter who can be anyone she wants, anytime she wants, begins to traipse out of the lawn, back towards the school.

Emma Frost has posed:
    Emma watches Mystique slip away and sighs out, murmuring dryly. "A bell. Yes, I do believe next Christmas, I shall send Ms. Darkholme a lovely choker with a bell... like a cat, yes? She's simply far too... resourceful about slipping in wherever she wishes to be. If she at least had the decency to make herself glow like a telepathic billboard, I'd likely allow her more leeway." She clicks her tongue and murmurs dryly, "And, of course Mr. Keller, you're not getting out of any -work- with this little vacation. Your classwork is all still due at the usual duedates. This, -this- is the true struggle of vigilantism."

Hellion has posed:
     Julian sighs with a laugh, recognizing the girl who had bumped into him. "Well, a pleasure to see -you- again." He offers, before finishing off the glass as she walks off.

  The mutant student had almost expected a smidge of leniency towards his classes, but seems like the White Queen had different plans. The telekinetic offers just a small sigh, before responding. "I'll make the proper arrangements for it, Miss Frost." What he had meant by 'proper' though...was up for interpretation.