Owner	Pose
Ford Benett	It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride since Ford's flight from the law, but he has taken a great deal of the trouble in stride... better than most would expect a cozy movie star to do, in fact. Of course, to his fans, Ford just comes off as being as much of a hero off screen as he is on it. Naturally, some critics still contest Ford was the true killer, but with the irrefutable video evidence and testimony of those present, as well as pointing things out from the investigation that prove his innocence, Ford has let the court rulings speak for itself and get back to what he does best: acting. And being a media hog. But mostly acting.     As it stands a few folks are gathered around the street corner as the film crews work on the shots for the next episode of Ford's well-loved TV show, "Morale: Earth's Mightiest Hero". Which may explain why, when Ford crashes through the prop window of the store front, people cheer for his arrival rather than recoil in shock. "Aaaaand cut! Good job, Ford! Much more realistic that time! Okay, everyone, take five! We've got to check the playback!" Standing up in his purple and white tights, Ford stood up as he brushed the sugar glass off his body before shaking his head free of the particulates. Cameras flash and people shout for his attention behind the barricades set up to keep the populace free of the filming.
Sibilance	There's a really strange figure behind the barricades that has been watching the whole time. This figure, probably female if the only barely visible body shape indicates that, is holding a bouquet in her arms. A fresh bouquet full of vibrant, amazing flowers, flowers of purple and white to match his costume even down to the color ratio. This fan spots him nearby, and her tail uncoils from her waist and--     Several people around her recoil in shock at the sight, and yet the figure ignores it.     "MORAAAAALE!!" the Spanish snake girl calls out, practically squealing with joy as she lifts up the bouquet for him. Since she seems to be a fan, too, but she looks really odd in all that heavy covering clothing, the other fans start to relax. They don't stop staring, though. It's just... really weird.
Ford Benett	Ford gave a few extras on the set a couple words of encouragement, advice, and praise, before blinking and twitching an ear at the sound of one call for him actually being for his stage name instead of his real one. It was... a bit surprising, actually! Turning his attention to the edges of the barricade, his eyes first caught onto the immaculately tended flower bouquet matching his costume, before turning his sights on the young... lady? Yeah, she looked like one. Sounds like one too! A curious sight, to be sure, complete with a... rattlesnake tail?     Despite her appearance (or perhaps because of it), he smirked that award-winning grin of his as he walked over to the barricade, a few fans backing up, but clearly a bit nervous that their idol was getting so close to a rather inhuman looking person. "Those wouldn't happen to be for me, would they?" he asked, folding his arms and tilting his head to one side. "Color me impressed. Must've taken forever to find enough flowers to make that. Bet you had to scour half the shops in Metropolis to get enough of each color." He offered his hands out to have a closer inspection. "Though, if you wanted to catch my attention, you should've come without the hoodie~"
Sibilance	"Oh, n-no..."     Sibilance instantly goes from excitement to her knees pressing together and her head lowering. Her long tail loops around her ankles and she peered down into the flowers uncertainly, a little intimidated by the approach of a movie star. Superheroes were a real thing, in real life, but movie stars fought for justice in entertainment mediums where she knew it wasn't real. It was comforting.     "I heard, uhm, I heard about all the trouble you were having, and..." She hands him the bouquet, "I grow flowers," she explains, "You could say I grew these ones just for you." Without her hands occupied, her arms cross and she just kind of tries to shrink in her spot. She looks extremely shy, especially now that it feels like there are a million eyes looking at her. She can hear the mental noise, too, which doesn't help at all.
Ford Benett	Some of the thoughts that go through her mind are probably not the kindest things one would think. 'Oh god, what is she doing here? Is she gonna hurt him?' 'Freaky girl... don't know what Mr. Benett sees in this... thing... nice of him to humor her.' 'Is she a snake? Is she gonna bite him!? Is she poisonous!?'     One in particular, however, might stand out to her. Namely, because it's the thoughts of the man talking to her. '...damn. Most I've ever managed are weeds. Wonder how she got 'em so... bright!' For all his double-talk, he sounds genuinely impressed with her work, taking the flowers and looking them over before turning and calling to some other folks on set. "Hey! Donald! Raphael! Check these out!" Two of the guys on set turn and take a moment to marvel at the display before turning back to Sibilance. His eyes drifted down to her tail for a moment before tapping his chin. "...hope this isn't too sore a topic, but... is that tail real?" Even as he pointed down, his mind seemed to be drifting other directions. 'Wonder if she'd give me the chance to follow it and find out for myself~... but, that does give me an idea... Mike was working on pitching that draft of the new season...'
Sibilance	Sibilance cringes behind her mask under the familiar thoughts about her naturally dangerous appearance. It's normal for people to be repulsed by snakes, but she feels... angry that they can plainly see what she's doing and yet assume she wants to hurt him. Instead, it makes her want to hurt THEM, though she feels bad about that hateful thought of her own.     But... Ford is impressed with her flowers, and she uncoils from her bashful posture, her arms falling down to her sides. She almost answers that surface thought in excitement, but realizes she may give away another repulsive trait among people that might cause problems for her. And then she perks up in a startle when he shows off the flowers to his coworkers, amazed by how positive and welcome a reaction it is.     Then he asks about her tail. That's normal. She lifts it up and curls it about in the air, but then he thinks something... unsavory and it just starts to shake and rattle with nervousness. Considering what that means in wild rattlesnakes, it might startle folks, but her hands both go up to her face when she feels blood rush into her snout for a blush he can't even see.     She mumbles flustered Spanish phrases to herself, and eventually calms down. A new season... does that mean he's considering getting her casted?     Becoming a movie star... tempting, but her skittish nature balks extra hard at the idea of being on camera.     "Si," she answers, "It's real, Morale." 'Mo-ral-ey' she pronounces it, out of habit. And then she reaches up to pull her coat's hood down, and pull the mask and goggles away to reveal... yes, she does in fact look like a snake all over. She flickers out her forked tongue and smiles up at him extra awkwardly. Her scales are probably a little shiny in the sunlight here.
Ford Benett	As the tail rattles, most everyone else in the crowd backs up a bit, unaware that the reaction is unintentional, but again, the only person who doesn't seem fazed is Ford himself. Either he's too curious or brave enough that the notion doesn't bother him in the least. "It even rattles..." So, odds were, she was nervous. He recalled hearing that those snakes tend to do so as a warning. Typically from fear or anxiety. He leaned in a bit closer and replied quietly and confidently, matching her Spanish with his. "<So are you nervous, or just happy to see me~?>"     The one thing most fans can count on is Ford favoring the ladies. So either his tastes get exotic, or the urge to be a flirt is enough to overpower any inhibitions he might be thinking.     As he leaned up, she took the hood and goggles off, revealing her actual self. 'Yeah, she looks it too... wonder how smooth those scales are to the touch~' For most, reading minds might be a boon. With Ford around, though... but he continues to speak in Spanish. Perhaps to try and set her at ease. "<...got a question for you: you ever considered being on TV? My producer is giving me a lot of say in the next season for the show we're making... and I've been wanting to do something with mutants. If nothing else, the effects with be incredible.>"
Sibilance	Sibilance is still young and she is used to the normal reactions of people recoiling in terror or shock when it's revealed. Instead, he asks her such teasing questions, and she has a hard time keeping anything close to her composure. She fights the urge to run and hide, her skittish nature plain in the way she flinches and the way she almost hides her face with one hand but only comes across as demure when she does that. It's real social anxiety built of real social issues, though.     She cannot stop blushing at his curious thoughts. She wouldn't be able to tell him her response and that just solidifies how nervous he makes her. She can't give away her ability to read minds in public.     "<... are you asking me to be a co-star? I have never acted before,>" she tells him, "<What if I'm not any good? What if people get angry about such a strange mutant being in their favorite show?>" Most mutants were just 'oh, they shoot fire or eyebeams' and were generally acceptable. For people like her, with such high-level mutations, it's always been harder to deal with.     She reaches to grab ahold of her tail... and holds it out at him, offering the smooth scales for him to examine, since he's had that thought more than once. He did ask if it was real, and maybe this will help him register how thoroughly snake-like she is.
Ford Benett	Ford smirked as she seemed anxious in the face of his questions. Typically, he didn't toy with his "prey" like this, but every once in a while, you come across one who makes you want to play with your "food". Poor Sibilance is one of those types. "<In a sense. Closer to an extra. He and I have been kicking around ideas for a special plot that would work really well if we had some mutants on screen.>" Not skipping a beat as she offered out his tail, his hand stretched out to run his fingers across it, actualy taking the time to appreciate the details he slid over, lightly prodding and resting over certain areas. Almost like how a masseuse seeks out knots under the skin.     "<We're still hammering out details, but the general idea is a secret group is kidnapping mutants for experiments. Obviously, you won't be ACTUALLY put through any of it, but having real, tangible mutants, especially with such openly physical mutations, would be awesome. You can't replicate details like this with make-up and special effects... well, not without a massive budget.>"     His fingers finally withdrew from her tail, curling up as if almost waving her towards him over the barricade and inviting her over. "<So what if you can't act? Acting is all about being yourself... just, in front of a camera. You do that, you'd outclass a few of the 'actors' I've worked with. And let someone just try and say something. I stand by my crew and their work, so long as it was their best.>"
Sibilance	Sibilance could tell he saw her like that. It was clear. But it was a kind of attention she actually enjoyed. It made her feel beautiful when most of her life she feels like a monster or a demon. It's easy to disarm her in this way and probably pretty dangerous, but at least she can tell when intentions are especially destructive in ... MOST people.     The tail is cooler than human body temperature, and it's full of powerful muscle that arches under his touch like a cat would press into someone's hand. The pressure of such a small motion is impressive, suggesting she could squeeze the air right out of someone if she wrapped it around them, but she treats the touch with such a gentle, welcome joy...     She climbs past the barricade to follow the motion he makes for her. The idea of bringing attention to the exploitation of her kind, the idea of working with a TV star, the physical attention she's received... She gazes on him with a hungry excitement, her mouth creased into a surprisingly expressive closed-mouth smile for a snake!     She tries to say more, but she is utterly speechless under the possibility that she'll finally get a chance for doing something that won't fill her with such rage toward herself and others, something pure and good, even if it's coming from someone that might mentally undress her without realizing she can hear and see it.     She wiggles her hips and clasps her hands in front of her, practically glowing with girlish excitement. Are... are her eyes watering?     He may not have realized how much such a possibility would mean to her.
Ford Benett	Ford smirked as she hopped over the barricade, nodding as she actually managed to form a smile with that face! Huh... so snakes CAN smile, if you try hard enough. "<I take that as a yes~>" he replied, before nodding and waving her along to follow with him. The shaking of her hips didn't escape his eyes - indeed, that's probably where his gaze was a fair bit of the time. 'Gonna have to see if I can get her to show off her... flexibility some time~ But baby steps, Ford. Business before pleasure.' At least he could maintain some focus on the matter. "<I'll get you acquainted with Roland, my producer. He's the man with the plan. I'm just the pretty face for the camera... but you have to admit, it's a pretty damn good face, yeah?>" He explained. "<Roland's gonna ask you a lot of things, most of which are gonna sound outrageous or contradict at times. Just nod along. He's got a lot on his mind, and odds are, he won't follow through with a single word of it.>"
Sibilance	Sibilance was unlikely to be able to ignore those thoughts as time went by. Part of it made her uncomfortable, but the attention still felt positive and like water in a desert of revulsion. She follows along with him, her boots thudding against the ground as she walks in a way that suggests she's surprisingly weighty, but if her tail's muscle density is anything to go by there are good reasons for that.     "<Yeah,>" she agrees, about his pretty face. She wishes she could tell him about some of the most outrageous thoughts she's run into, or about how he's thinking about unsavory things about her, but since she can't all she can do is smile awkwardly and tag along, feeling the pink in her nose all the more. Poor girl might faint if she goes on like this too long.     "<Is this fun?>" she asks him, out of the blue, since she has time to ask it. He always seemed to enjoy his role on-screen, but it's one thing to look a certain way... She knew that more than anyone. An actor is mostly image and illusion.
Ford Benett	Ford smiled, shaking his head. "<First time we worked together, Roland asked if I'd be okay being nude on camera. I mean, I said yes, but it caught me offguard. I never was, but that's how he is. He has a LOT to keep up with.>" Ford smirked, taking another whiff of his flowers given to him, as his mind thankfully seemed to be departed from the more lewd notions to something more genuine, silently noting details about the flowers as he studying them a bit. "<Hrm? Fun? Well... yeah!>" he replied, smiling as she actually seemed to hold some interest in his actual work. Most folks just assumed you did things on camera and went off to have snacks or something. It was... a genuine change of pace, and his mind reflects the appreciation and mild excitement in explaining his work.     "<I mean, it's not easy. It's hard. They'll ask you for takes over and over all day, and you're back the next day doing it all again, and that's to say nothing of the stunts you have to pull. And when you're finished, you have to head off to castings parties, or meetings, or grand reveals. Time is such a precious commodity, most folks don't realize how much having a few hours here and there to yourself really is worth.>" He paused a moment, calming himself before smiling with more composure. "<I mean, YOU won't have to have do all that, your role and those of the other mutants we pick up for casting will be relatively minor, so you'll have much more free time. But... yeah. It's hard work, but... as they say, love what you do, and you'll never work a day in your life.>"     Ford led Sibilance to a small tent set up with a number of screens, computers, and staff buzzing about. At the center sits a scraggly looking man with a head full of utterly messy light brown curls, poindexter glasses constantly being pushed up on his face, brown eyes staring at various screens. He spun around almost immediately, and like an explosion, his mind is racing a hundred different ways, thoughts coming and going through his head like freeway traffic. "Ford, baby, Ford, superstar, buddy, when we do physical damage like this, I need ya to get them done in as few takes as possible, do you know how much sugar glass plates we had to order, bud, listen, I love ya, but we can't keep up the budget like this!" He stopped as Ford placed a hand up to calm his friend. "Roland, it's sugar glass. Stuff is cheap, it'll fit. You remember that idea you and I were kicking back and forth for next season?" Roland blinked a moment, before finally noticing Sibilance and jumping back in his chair from fright. "Jeebus, Ford! Warn me next time!" After a moment, though, Roland collected what little composure he had and leaned closer to the snake girl. "That is... incredible! DId our make up folks do this? This is crazy good detail!"
Sibilance	Sibilance watched Ford as he started to show the bubbling, burning passion he has for his job and the emotions he feels for the sheer exhaustion he experiences day to day. She stares into his soul, in fact, and picks up on the intricacies there. It's all incredibly genuine, and it makes her eyes sparkle that a star is actually interested enough to explain it all to her.     Before she knows it, they're at the tent with Roland. The mental noise is astounding, though she gets a similar thing from certain personality types and disorders and it's not indicative of anything but someone who has to multi-task constantly or has just an energetic mindset. His manic exclamation to Ford about the glass has an earnestly amused look spawn on Sibil's face. It's an endearing exchange, to her.     Then he's startled by her, and she's startled by him, and her tail rattles rapidly and nervously... but soon he's calm again and she peers back at him. When she speaks, he gets a good look into her mouth, her tongue flicking out now and then as she speaks.     "I can promise that this has nothing to do with makeup," she tells him in her sweet Mexican accent. And then she approaches and pulls her tail around to offer it for Roland to touch, too. Maybe it'll help him grow comfortable with all of this, alongside her surprisingly expressive eyes and smile. She finds she's forgotten that she's afraid to make eye contact by this point.
Ford Benett	Roland recoiled a bit more, but mostly in surprise than actual fear. The flicking tongue has him move a bit further back, before looking at Ford and pushing those glasses up on his nose again. "...she a mutant? She's a mutant, ain't she? So, when you said you wanted mutants for the show... you meant, like, actually get real mutants to play the parts? That's... that's...!"     "Brilliant, I know. Meet Sibilance. She's the one who gave me these." Ford finished for him, holding out his hands as if to ask 'Am I not a genius?' while showing off the flowers. "Well... yeah! Actually! Like... are they all going to be as... pronounced as hers is?" Ford considered that a bit, before nodding and shrugging. "Why not? The more off the charts, the better. Not a problem with you, is it?"     And it's at this point Sibilance might catch something flit through Ford's mind that is strikingly odd. 'Shouldn't be. After all, you work with me, don't you?'