9044/A little manipulation among friends

A little manipulation among friends
Date of Scene:	02 September 2019
Location:	The Castle Club, Mutant Town
Synopsis:	Mystique and Surge talk mutant rights. An offer is made.
Cast of Characters:	Surge, Mystique

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Surge has posed:
The Castle isn't a Castle persay, but a warehouse. One of the many direlect buildings throughout Mutant Towns ghetto which has been bought out by wealthy individuals and turned into some form of vice for the inhabitants. In this case, a Goth Club. The carding policy is a little loose at the door to obvious mutants or regulars, so Noriko has almost no problem getting in for both of the prior mentioned reasons.

For the past few hours she's been out on the dance floor, sweating her ass off, probably tripping it off too by the dilated pupils, and is only just now making her way off the floor to a table with huffing breaths. Her tanktop clings to each deep breath as she drops down into a seat, waving over one of the scantly clad waitresses to get a water with only the slightest, hahaha slightest, hint of flirting.

Mystique has posed:
    The table's view is blocked by a tall figure, throwing Noriko in the shadow it casts and outlining the silhouette that is most definitely not the scantily clad waitress that just walked up as well. "Two waters," comes the refined voice that can be heard even over the music with a sense of command behind it. The smaller woman pauses, looks her over and turns to go before she steps forward. Blue skin, glowing yellow eyes all wrapped up in a rather nice silk white halter skin tight club dress. Her rich red hair is set into an intricate braid and kept away from her face as she seats herself without asking.

    "One should never be out alone. Invites all sorts of unsavory companions. So I shall help you this evening and be your escort. Tell me," she says as she leans over to be heard. "Tell me, what is your name?" She asks pleasantly, a perfect smile with only lightly pronounced canines is offered.

Surge has posed:
Noriko's head lulls a little backwards and to the side to watch Mystique invite herself to the flirt game /and/ the table with what is most certainly a pleasant, probably also intoxicated, grin. "Why heeellooo there." Because look at that dress, amirite? Sweat isn't pouring off of her, but she's got it running down her face, matting her electric blue hair where it was probably spikey at some point tonight, as well as down the back of her neck.

She smells of bar nuts and bourbon.

As Raven leans in, Nori leans towards her, resting on an elbow against the edge of the table with a half smirk and a begauntleted finger tapping her ear expressively, "Huh?" Waiting for the second tell me, "Huh? I'm just kidding, my name's Noriko Ashida." Pointing the same tappy finger at the seat, not where Raven is sitting, but beside her. Pulled closer with the heel of her boot. "You should probably stay closer if you're worried about me that much, right?"

Mystique has posed:
    Mystique looks bemused at the rather brazen attempts at coaxing her closer. Yellow eyes gleam, catching the light just right as she rises from one seat and moves to settle into the one that Nori has asked her to. A slow blink as her smile remains and she ticks out her fingers to tap the table. "Noriko...I feel as if I have heard that name." Yellow eyes tick up like some quick thinking predator as she eyes the blue hair. "I like your color choice. But then again I am rather partial."

    "I do not worry so much as see what potential there is. Tell me about yourself...what is it a cute girl like you can do?" She grins a bit more, reaching out to carefully tuck blue hair back behind Noriko's ear and then as the waitress hurries back Mystique lifts a finger for her to stay. "A cool towel please. Now. A new one, not something sitting in your bucket of water back there." She ticks her head to the side and just gives a firm look before the woman is off again.

Surge has posed:
Noriko is genuinely amused by the game and seems to take almost as much delight out of it as she does the drugs in her system, specifically the haven't I heard that name before game... She uses it herself. "Probably, I was a contestant runner up on Mutants Got Talent." She jokes, speaking softly so that she /has/ to lean closer to Raven to be heard. Apparently she's got game too. As hair is tucked back behind her ear by a blue finger, Nori watches the hand move back and forth with a side grin.

"What do you mean do? I do a lot of stuff." She asks with her hands up, half shrugging half motioning, "I 'do' a bunch of drugs?" Both of her hands are encased in some kind of gauntlet, they look heavy and are probably why her biceps look like a boxers rather than an 18 year old girls.

"Or do you mean dooooo..." To that, she holds up her hand to trace a finger, cold metal, down the back of Mystique's hand with the tingle of electricity moving over the surface of the gauntlet... fine control is difficult for her though, so it only lasts a half second.

Mystique has posed:
    "Tch, polluting your system. Such a beautiful young thing dulling yourself with such chemicals." Mystique's blue finger ticks back and forth as she assesses Noriko. "You need none of that." She nearly croons and reaches for her water just as the display is given. Yellow eyes follow the path of that finger as her hand reacts just a bit, a slight twitch up and she lets out a breath. "How delicious. Lovely." She says and draws the water to her lips, drinking from it to help drive off the heat in the air that is made mostly by the collective movement of bodies.

    The damp towel is brought and Mystique gracefully snatches it. "Be gone," she orders the other woman who turns to do just that without any hesitation. Blue fingers deftly fold the cloth before she reaches out to lightly wipe at Noriko's face and cheeks. "There we are...now...place this on the back of your neck, just at your hair line." She offers it over to her as she smiles pleasantly.

Surge has posed:
"Having to and just enjoying it are vastly different things..." Noriko's brow furrows a little at the redress of her social lubricates, the full reach of why she takes them isn't touched on, but clearly being torn down about it was a step backwards... if only a small one. What with Raven flutter waving the waitress off, "I'm pretty sure that bitch is a muggle." Not /only/ mutants live in Mutant Town, afterall.

Their normal families do too.

With Mystique dotting the towel down her cheeks and across her brow, Nori leans into her seat a little, one hand out stretched and a leg slipping closer to Raven than not. It spreads her out some, but whatever. "So, are you a good witch or a bad witch?" Taking the folded towel to lay it against the back of her neck as indicated and uses the chair behind her to hold it in place.

Mystique has posed:
    "Muggle...this is a term. Ahh yes, Harry Potter," Mystique remarks thoughtfully. "I see..that is normal right?" she glances after the waitress, gaze lingering. But then her attention shifts to her companion and the blue matronly figure begins to consider Noriko after the towel is taken from her. "There you are," she says pleased and then pauses at the question. "Good and bad are rather arbitrary terms. Nothing is so black and white and no one sees in the same shades anyways. You should ask, what do I believe in...what do I stand for...but if you want to know how I see myself?"

    She leans forward closer and says simply. "A savior of mutants. A warrior for the destitute. A guardian of the driven."

Surge has posed:
"Yeah, something my girlfriend says, I guess I just picked it up.." Noriko says with a half shrug, rubbing her neck side to side so her warm skin brushes against the cool towel laid across it. All the while she's watching Raven with her brow cocked slightly, even amidst the frequent dip gulps of water, her eyes practically sit fixed upon the blue skinned companion.

"Is that how other people see you too?" Remembering, perhaps just now really given her idled brain, that she's no idea the womans name. "Who are you anyhow? Seems like I'd definitely remember you.. which isn't to say I don't know who you are, so much as.. ya know.. drugs and shit." There's a natural lull in her energy level from both the hard dancing, drugs, and possibly not storing enough electricity. The combination is actually tactical on her part, increase the effects of the medicine she takes.

"So you're like that old fucker floating on his island?"

Mystique has posed:
    "Do they? I would certainly hope they do. I have no time for wasted efforts on those that do not see potential. You...though I think have remarkable potential." She pauses, reaching out to touch a gauntlet. "These look like shackles...how barbaric if so." There is a look of empathy, her brows furrowing when Magneto is brought up. That brings her hand back and she sets yellow eyes upon Noriko.

    There is a deep laugh, a laugh that draws attention their way as Mystique shakes her head and then nods, "Yes and no...the 'old fucker' as you so eloquently named him likes to run away from his troubles. He made a haven, he did not solve the problem. Mutants deserve to live as any other being in this world and in fact they deserve more than that. We are the next step, beautiful and bold, glorious and god like...look." She says sweetly and sighs. "Why /do/ you wear them?"

Surge has posed:
Noriko shrugs unknown of her Raven's first question, "Terrible of me to ask a question I already know the answer to... I'm a desperado, certainly, but not a knaive." Her black painted lips curl a little into a smirk, drumming metalic fingers against the table once she's set her glass aside. At least until they're pointed out.. One palm turns over so she can look down at them, eyes narrowed dangerously.. whether at Raven or the items on her forearms, however.

It passes quickly as talk returns to the 'old fucker', "I don't know, man. Dude doesn't look like he's running now." What with his island floating off the American Coast and all that. "Kind of seems like he's pushing for war, but I'm just a kid, right? What the fuck do I know." The smirk doesn't last... again she glances at those god damned gaunlets, "Let me keep track of my energy levels.. focus my electricity." Keep her from going batshit insane with too much or too little charge. "I fucking hate them."

Mystique has posed:
    "Is he? I could not tell. Besides one day his old brittle bones will see his demise. I do not think his daughter is like to follow in his footsteps. The idea that you must keep yourself in check in a point I am trying to make. You are the glorious future beautiful Noriko. Having to regulate what is essentially a gift and part of you seems...ill fated and wrong. If you are not able to learn your powers you always need those," she motions to the gloves and tsks, shaking her head.

    "I hate them too, very much." She admits and offers an understanding look. "They want to tether all that they do not understand but..I would like to think I could offer you the freedom to explore and learn how to use your powers safely. Well...really your powers should not be leashed but you will never become master of them like this. I am sorry that you must carry this burden."

Surge has posed:
Noriko watches Mystique like something is tickling at her brain, but she can't quite put her finger on it. Potential suspicion that's not all the way formed, but then quickly slips away into the nether, "I guess, yeah..." Looking at her gauntlets with the palm opened wide. "They're not meant to tether me or... it's just that I nearly killed a bunch of people, so they thought maybe I should..." Her thin shoulders bounce upwards, then droop down into a sag.

"It's whatever, man.. I'll figure the shit out and I'll take these fucking things off and I'mma beat them with a mother fucking bat until they're broken.. I have pretty hands and I use to have pretty arms... now I've got body builder arms and fucking shitty skin from wearing these fucking things all the time." Her fist comes up and slams against the table with far more force than she likely intended.. toppling glasses ofw ater with a glaring sigh.

Mystique has posed:
    When she angrily slams her fists on the table, a slow exhale is given and Mystique nods her head. There is an intent focus on those hands and she reaches out to place her own over Noriko's. "This is unfair," she simply says. "You are made to perfection, all you need is focused guidance but I suspect you are among many students and thus they fear you might be the cause of an accident." she strokes her hands along Noriko's forearms. "So beautiful. You have every right to be angry. Every right to wonder how they are failing you. I want to help you."

    There is an earnest honesty there. "No one should carry this burden. The question is, do you wish for help?" She slowly keeps her hands there, gentle but present.

Surge has posed:
Noriko swallows hard and looks down at her balled fist on the table, a small hand sized indentation in the wood when she pulls it away. She is wholly unconcerned wth the furnishing, however. More she just looks angry, which isn't at all a difficult thing to achieve. As boisterous as Surge can be and almost childlike, she's quick to temper, like a live wire left too close to a pool of water.

"They... I.. guess." She breaths out a steady sigh from her nostrils like a bull and rubs a hand across the back of her neck, then snaps it away when it's cold metal rather than her own flesh. "I /really/ fucking hate these things... I just can't.." Breathing, closing her eyes, even trying to grab hold to her chair to force a little more calm into her demeanor.

Mystique has posed:
    Mystique lets her have room to collect herself and in the moment she takes to breath, the blue elder mutant grasps the water and extends it towards her with a lean. Her leg brushes Noriko's. "Noriko," she begins gently and offers a smile that has a rather intent strength behind it. "You should hate them. They were and never will be a part of you and yet you are forced to live with them. Do not let the anger overwhelm you."

    "Tell me. What is it you want form your time at the school? Eventual freedom of your shackles or something else? Acceptance by society?" Mystique tilts her head, glancing down at her hands. "Let me help you." She urges gently, concern still in that gaze as she keeps the water extended.

Surge has posed:
'The School'.

Noriko pops her eyes open and glances over at Raven, now with far more intent than anger, "You know about the school?" This is like asking about the smoking gun. Her brown eyes glance around at the interior of the club, mutants aplenty, some of them with far more obvious mutations than hers, likely more useful too... and her lips press into a fine line.

She doesn't recognize any of them from Xavier's though.

Brown eyes look back at Raven, "You were here looking for me, weren't you?" Nori is a lot of thing.. a deliquent, a trouble maker, a party girl, and a moron... but she's not stupid. Especially once her anger burns through some of her intoxication.

Mystique has posed:
    "I do." Mystique remarks as the water remains offered and her yellow eyes search Noriko. "No, not you in particular. I was here to help those mutants that have no place to go and you...and your shackles caught my attention. No mutant would have the wish or want to wear them, it would have to be suggested to them and I only know one place that would restrict someone from their natural gifts. I have know about Xavier's for a long while."

    Her voice is low, her gaze intent as she watches the young woman. "You deserve better, consider that and drink water. You deserve to be you and nothing less and nothing else," she starts to draw back, either handing over the water or setting it back on the table as she starts to rise. Two fingers reach into the dress near her breast and pulls out a card to set it down. "Call this number if you wish to speak with me again. It is your choice as is everything else."

Surge has posed:
Noriko watches Mystique a moment more, then looks down at her gauntlets. Instinctively curling her fingers beneath her own scrutiny, she slides them off the table with a metalic whirling sound as the metal brushes across wood to hang heavy at her sides.

"I guess, yeah.. you do sort of have that connected vibe about you.."

Half glancing up, she watches the card being held out to her, then raises one hand to capture it between two fingers and turn it over so she can read it. "I'll think about it." Which isn't necessarily an agreement, but it's clear Raven is speaking her language. Brow furrowed, then smoothing after a moment. "Thanks." The card disappears into one of her big pockets.

That same hand then grabs one of the glasses of water to guzzle it down, grin starting to slip back into place as a new song comes on. "Oh shit, this is my jam.."

Mystique has posed:
    "Think on it. I am rather connected," Mystique remarks, smoothing her dress down into place as she watches the young mutant quickly adapt to her surroundings. "Be well, Noriko. Enjoy your 'jam'." The slender figure of Mystique is soon parting the crowd for the door, most giving her room as she departs but the moment she is in the night air her figure changes and she becomes her 'human' self. Hiding. There is a faint sneer for the charade but continues walking down the street to the corner where a sleek car waits.

    She climbs in and taps the window when she is ready to go. She lifts a manicured hand to clean beneath the nail. "Seeds have been planted. May the flourish in electrically charged mutant flesh," she chuckles and reaches down for her phone she presses the button as her now blonde hair is pushed back from her face. "Have the helicopter ready. I need to see to the project. My overnight bag." Click. The phone dies and she sits back, watching the street lights flash by.