2679/The Chinese Connection

The Chinese Connection
Date of Scene:	03 October 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Shadowcat, Sublime

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Shadowcat has posed:
Finally back in New York. Her college years have been busy, her summers filled with internships and other experiences in her field. Metropolis was an interesting place to visit -- and now that she's stateside more permanently and can perhaps keep an eye a little better on the young woman who is something of a mirror (a little darkly), Kitty sends a text to let Rachel know she's back on the continent. Surprised to find that the other woman is in New York, lunch was simple to arrange... and it's convenient, too. Chinatown is a place Kitty enjoys for many reasons.
    The restaurant is quiet -- it's just a bit on the early side for the lunch rush -- and as Rachel enters the door of the establishment, Kitty is conversing politely with the elderly woman who appears to have just set down a pot of tea.

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel pushes the door open, not quite slouching, but unable to keep herself from pausing just inside to do a quick check over the restaurant, ice blue eyes flicking around for a moment, before they light on Kitty chatting with the woman with the tea. She's been trying to not let that sense of paranoia about her pursuers overcome her; it kinda sucks to constantly be thinking everyone is out to get you, after all. But still...she feels better, sauntering across the restaurant as she waves to the brunette. "Hey, sorry I'm running late..." she says, tugging out a chair and flopping into it.

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty waves with a smile as the older woman leaves them to their lunch. "Hey!" she greets Rachel easily. "I'm glad you could make it. This is a really good place -- food's amazing." She studies Rachel closely. "You doing okay?"

Sublime has posed:
    The blonde purses her lips. "Considering it markets itself as the most generic Chinese place there is, it better be able to live up to having decent food." she notes wryly, then tilts her head, shrugging her shoulders. A little stiffly, a keen eye might notice. "I'm gettin' by. How was England? Haven't been there since I was in high school...' She wrinkles her nose. 'I just remember the food was moderately awful. Except for jaffa cakes."

Shadowcat has posed:
There's a snicker. "Moderately awful doesn't quite begin to cover it, honestly. It's the one part of living in England that I hated." Kitty's eyes flicker slightly, taking in the movements as she grabs for a menu. "So do I want to know what kind of job actually brings you all the way over the New York? Or should I just nod and pretend you're not moving like someone kicked you in the ribcage?"

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel's eyes flicker a bit at that, then gets a rueful look. "...it's not bad. It's actually from a couple months ago, after you went back." she admits, grudgingly. Which, of course, means it was a fairly serious injury if she's still a little stiff from it. "It's almost all healed up, don't worry about it. And I'm just doin' some bodyguard work for some Frost exec who wanted the prestige of having a pretty blonde bodyguard, I think." She sniffs. "All about 'inclusion', which I'd believe more if he didn't keep lookin' down my top."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty's jaw firms up at the mention of Frost... and her brows slam down over her nose at the mention of looking down Rachel's shirt. "Seriously? How have you NOT broken his nose for him yet?" She shakes her head. Little irks her quite as much as dirty pigs masquerading as clean-cut executives. But Rachel knows she's incredibly leery of Emma Frost and anyone even remotely associated. "You're not drawing the ice queen's eyes, are you?"

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel says dryly. "Because I like paying rent, and he hasn't actually tried to grope the goods. Yet, anyway." She reaches up to tuck a blonde strand of hair behind her ear, rolling her eyes a bit. "I know, I know...I'm keepin' it on the down low. I only took the job because he was heading out of Metropolis. She tends to stay there, so it should be fine." She frowns. "...she's all caught up in her new 'academy' thing, anyway."

Shadowcat has posed:
Again, there's a flicker of Kitty's dark eyes. "I see," she replies with an attempt at mildness. She pushes a menu over so Rachel will look and order. "Have some tea. Tea makes everything better." She smirks faintly. "England, Japan, China... tea makes everything better."

Sublime has posed:
    The other woman purses her lips, but reaches out to take the menu, opening it. "That, and General Tso's chicken, makes everything better." she corrects. "Ooh...they have Thai tea, forgot that..." She glances back at Kitty. "...so you're staying in the States now, or is this another visit home?"

Shadowcat has posed:
"I'm back for good," Kitty replies. She looks... perhaps worried. "I was graduating anyway, but the whole invasion thing kind of pushed the decision. I think I'm going to put off any master's programs for a while. I've got some... things... that I need to do. Friends to check in on. ANd maybe figure out where I fit in the scheme of all of this." Because, after all, she *can* just hide her abilities, generally.

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel slits her eyes at the reminder of the invasion. "Yeah, that tore the place up. Though I've had a few good gigs recovering materials buried under rubble, then again. Or looking for survivors." The last is said a little grudgingly again...it's not like she's getting PAID for doing that, and she doesn't like admitting she's giving out freebies. "Those fucking Intergang types even shot up a date of mine." She perks. "Though I did get one of their rifles."

Shadowcat has posed:
Brought out of her reverie, Kitty asks thoughtfully, "Rachel... have you considered, especially in the Metro area, volunteering for something like search and rescue work? I bet if you could get your foot in the door, you'd get paid pretty well for that." There's a tone there -- surprise, perhaps, that she hadn't thought of the idea before. "I.. know a few people who might be able to call in some favors for that kind of thing, if you wanted to do it. Legit and everything."

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel blinks at that, frowning as her eyes go distant. Huh. She hadn't actually thought about being PAID for that. "Dontcha have to be a paramedic or somethin' for that?" She frowns more, then slowly shakes her head. "...they wouldn't hire me without an ID or references or all that jazz. Not for something official, anyway."

Shadowcat has posed:
Now there's actually excitement in Kitty's expression -- because Rachel's need for school is way less than, say, some 13-year-old phaser who is scared to death. Maybe this would be a better way to help. "You'd need ID, yeah... and if your real one won't do, well... *THAT* I can help with. As to references..." She trails off and considers. "We can work on it. But seriously, Rach -- search and rescue like that? Not just after the invasion, but heck even after things like earthquakes and stuff? You can make *serious* money if you get your foot in the right doors. And... I might just be able to help out with some of that."

Sublime has posed:
    There's an odd sort of hesistance in the other woman now, as she turns the idea over in her mind, frowning as her brow furrows. "...an ID, really?" she says after a moment. "I didn't think you were plugged into that sorta stuff, or is this a hack the world thing?" She smirks a bit, then frowns again. "...I...guess, maybe." she says slowly after a moment. "I mean, I still think they need training an' stuff. Unless it's like, driving a coroner's van or something." She makes a face.

Shadowcat has posed:
"Look..." She pauses to wait for orders to be given when the elderly woman comes back to take them. She watches Rachel the whole time, certain things tweaking her memory of their former meetings. When they're alone again, Kitty finally says, "Rachel... I know you're on the run from something or someone. Do you think I don't get it? I'm a mutant too." Her voice is low. "There are plenty of ways that bites us in the butt. Plenty of people who want to use what we can do for their own ends or kill us just because we're different. But... when we can *do* things other people can't... well, I guess I always believed that if you COULD make the world a little bit better, even if it's just a small corner of it, shouldn't you at least try?"
    She bites her lip. "I may not be able to get you everything you need right off the bat. A regular fake ID, heck that's child's play. One that would pass muster for something like a legit job like this? Yeah... that'll take a little longer. But I think I *can* get you what you need. The question is... will you trust me enough to talk to me about what you're running from so that I know *what* we're working around?" She holds up a hand. "You don't have to answer that right this second. Just... think about it. I haven't betrayed your trust, and I won't. If you tell me to get lost, well... I won't do THAT, but I won't bring it up again."

Sublime has posed:
    Rachel places her order easily enough, but then stills, leaning back in her chair a bit defensively as Kitty goes into serious mode, avoiding her eyes as she flicks them down as she's confronted over it. "...I don't want to pull you into my shit, Kitkat..." she says quietly after a moment, those blue eyes flicking up again, before her expression hardens. "...and you don't get it. Not really." God, if they got hold of Kitty...she'd never forgive herself. She'd be one of the ones who wouldn't break and give in. The 'problem' type, and they'd...but maybe...maybe Kitty would...get it. Eventually. But what if she doesn't?

    For a moment, there's old horrors in her eyes, very briefly, before she controls it, shoving it down under an iron will. "Let's just...eat and...you can tell me about school and England." she suggests, neutrally. Because that's safe. Nice and safe chatter.

    She'll let sleeping terrors lie. A bit longer.