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Richard sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. He hadn't shaved in a few days, then again sleep had been rather hard to get recently. Making a mental note to do so, though he did carry the ruggishly handsome look rather well with his slightly unkempt hair. A far cry from the crisp business persona he had carried when working for the Brotherhood. Long stride carried him through the halls as he consulted his mental map of the place, for the certain lab he was looking for. Finding the correct room, he knocked at the doorway. Leaning a arm against the frame as he watched the occupant. He had caught her alone, that was good. A sly smile on his face, though the slitted eyes were lazily looking about. Richard did like one to one conversations to be one on one. While he wouldn't mind Pietro being around... He still wanted to slug the brat in the face for smashing onto his back.

Guin glanced up from her desk, setting down a fried circuit that she had been attempting to repair. "Richard?" Guin said, frowning a bit in confusion. There were a few people who regularly stopped by the lab to chat whenever she was working on something - and Richard wasn't one of them. "If you're looking for Ayita, she isn't here - probably try outside somewhere."

The man gave an apologetic smile, letting himself in as he took a long draw from the cup of dark coffee he carried. It was a horrible drink, but the former killer needed it. Former being the operative word. "Ayita is currently with that 'Damon' fellow." Stretching with a groan and his spine popped. "And avoiding me. So I was looking for you." Taking another drink from the mug, he winced at the pure black flavor. "Disgusting."

"Mm, while I'm flattered, you're a bit old for me," Guin quipped. She had an idea as to why Richard might be seeking her out - but it wasn't something that she felt needed discussing. She had lied to Fury for him. And while some might have expected a favor in return, Guin didn't. If anything, she expected that it would not be discussed. "So what can I do for you? If you want me to build you a girlfriend, I'll need a cash advance. Fifty grand."

Richard coughed as he had been in mid sip. Giving Guin a raised brow and a dry look. "I pity your father. You are by far more deadly to that man than any assassin that could ever be sent after him." His voice was filled with that fact he truly felt this way. This young woman had the wit and the tongue he would expect from Stark's daughter. "And if I ever need a woman like that, I'll ask you to shoot me." Rubbing at his forehead, Richard chuckled. "Or let Ay. As for what you can do me... You've done it. So it's more along the lines of what my sister and I can do for you."

Guin paused for a moment, pulling out a stick of gum from her pocket and unwrapping it. While it was generally a horrible idea to eat in a lab, after a certain amount of time working in one, certain safety precautions became a little bit irrelevant. She chewed thoughtfully on the gum for a moment, wondering what Richard and his sister could do that she couldn't simply do for herself. "Do you have something in mind or are you fishing for suggestions? Because if so, I'd love to have them remake the Harry Potter films with Peeves in them."

"You'd want Allison for that from what I understand from her powers. I agree though, Peeves missing was a tragedy. The other is that my sister- the local Amigus- has not seen it." Richard chuckled at the crack the mutant powers. He had read the books and watched the movies while on buses, staking out targets or on the rare down time. Drinking from the coffee mug again, the Adder looked at the beverage with a look that was one of disgust and sheer 'I don't want to'. "Though I'm putting the fact out there that we do owe you. Though I do have a question- What's the tattooed punk's relationship with my sister?" Richard gave Guin a innocent look, as if commenting about the weather. Though his tone was just the same, there was a flinty look to his eyes.

"Funny, I thought you just said you owe me but you're the one asking for information," Guin observed with a smirk. She didn't know much about Damon and Ayita but she wasn't stupid. There was something going on between them - or something would soon be happening between them. Of course, the prospect of messing with Richard was amusing. "I think they're getting married somewhere soon - Allison's the Maid of Honor. Surprised you didn't get an invitation."

Richard's eyes snapped to the young Stark as he let loose a savage hiss. One hand pinching the bridge of his nose. "Cute. But Ayita wouldn't understand a thing about marriage and it's not exactly legal. She's seventeen and it's not All Hallow's Eve yet." Breathing out, Richard shook his head. "Then again... mating is not marriage and I doubt. Oh, Hell." Coffee abandoned on the table, the tall man began pacing back and forth. Sorting out if it was possible the man he shot and his sister were together. Was this the reason Ayita defend him so viciously to Richard when the brother made a crack at the boy's expense? "That bastard better not..." His velvety voice was a deep growl. Very much like her sister when she was annoyed by someone. Or rather her's was like his.

"She's seventeen. And it's Ayita. I doubt anyone pressured her into prom sex," Guin pointed out. She picked up the circuit she had been playing with an adjusted a few of the wires, spinning around slightly in her chair. "But why do you call it mating, anyways? Unless you're Tarzan, it's a bit weird," Guin then commented. She wasn't exactly sure what Richard expected from her in this situation. Was she supposed to reassure him that Ayita and Damon hadn't done the deed? Guin hardly saw the problem if they had, anyways. It was a free country. Ayita could do what she wanted.

"Ooh Ooh." Mimicking a gorilla Richard rolled his eyes. "I may have only been around for a few weeks, but I have been talking to my sister." The assassin poked Guin on the forehead, picking up his coffee again. Taking a drink, he rubbed his jaw. "She's not the type to hold a grudge- or at least be silent about a grudge." Richard chuckled dryly. "At least with me. Though she might just be trying to kill me when she isn't trying to beat me. My sister is horrible abusive." Richard winked at Guin, with a wiry smile.

"That's deeply offensive to gorillas," Guin quipped. "You should be ashamed of yourself," she then wrinkled her nose as Richard poked her in the forehead. Ever since she had discovered her mutation, she had become a little bit apprehensive about physical contact with others. She wasn't nearly as terrified of it as she had been the first few days, but even now, she preferred to avoid unexpected contact. While switching with Mary would be alright, she didn't want to have the Adder swap minds with her. "Now while I'm sorry for your clearly horrible life...Are we done here? Or did you need something else?"

The Adder shook his head walking towards the door. "Adorable." The man paused, glancing over his shoulder with a cocky smile. "And we are done. Just remember... A Laine pays their debt. Though I'm not sure about a Dyrkin." The man gave Guin a cocky wink before continuing off down the hall with a false evil laugh. Though there was a inkly thought in his mind he ought to make sure to keep his aim sharp just in case anything were to happen.

"Actually...There is something you can do for me - and my family," Guin said, her eyes widening as the idea came to her, almost fully formed. It wasn't something that she had thought about very often. When she first joined S.H.I.E.L.D., she had pulled the files out of a morbid curiosity. She had expected to find the intimate details of a car accident - instead, she noticed glaring inconsistencies and questions. "There's a lot of conspiracy theories out there - but this one might just be true. My grandparents died in a car accident - the other driver was never found and the security footage was damaged beyond repair. Now sure, granddad was old...But he flew planes into Nazi occupied territories. For him to die in a car crash is a little weird - especially with those other details."

Guin hesitated for a moment, setting the circuit she was repairing aside. "If you could find out what exactly happened that night - that'd be great. If not, I don't really care if you repay me or not."

Richard paused, glancing back. A frown etched about his mouth but interest in his eyes. "Other driver missing and your grandfather a former pilot? I'll admit my interest is piqued." Laine paused, seeming thinking very heavily with himself. "You may not care if I pay you back but I do. I'll look into it. However-" Snake slitted eyes watched Guin for a moment. "Don't expect a miracle. That's a old case and I am good, but my first duty is to see to Ayita and her needs. But I promise you, I will look into it. I have plenty of long lonesome nights ahead of me." Richard winked his serious nature dissolving. "Au revoir mon cher."

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It had been about a year since they had managed to takedown the Brotherhood, Cassandra got into a routine of doing a few one on one training sessions with a few of the other members of the X-Men. Whoever approached her, if she wasn't busy filing reports for SHIELD Cass would hold a few training sessions during the day. Cassandra wore a grey tanktop and a pair of black sweatpants, she started to make her way towards the woods. Her usual spot when Ayita wanted a sparing match. She ran a hand through her hair as she walked into a small clearing, she was far enough to see the mansion in the distance, they were still on the grounds as she waited patiently for Ayita to show up.

A leg was dangling from a tree. A boot with black jeans and a long black silk sleeve from a man's shirt with a pale hand. Amber eyes watched Cassandra as the woman shifted. Landing on the ground with a light thump. Ayita had changed. It was a subtle thing but it was there. Just like the size too large black silk shirt. Or the longer and more cared for hair. Unbuttoning the shirt with careful fingers the now woman tossed it over a branch. "Are all men annoying, overprotective, and completely unreasonable?" Ayita answered, looking rather irritated. As she joined Cassandra in the glen.

Cassandra turned her head slightly when she saw Ayita appearing from behind her, letting out a slight sigh she did at times get a bit jumpy, she walked over and leaned herself up against a tree. "Do you mean your brother?" Cassandra asked crossing her arms over her chest, she still hadn't forgiven her brother since the mission against the Brotherhood for holding a gun to Carolina's head. Since then she had been mainly giving him death stares and just avoiding him in general.

Ayita voice a noise between a grumble and a growl. Her eyes narrowing as she paced back and forth in agitation. "He took my clothes! And replaced them with this!" Ayita raged, her eyes snapping with cold amber fire. Though she was wearing a delicate black camisole under the silk shirt that obviously was not hers... The clothes fitted her like a glove. Making the shifting look for all the world like her actual age of 18, and not some frugal street child. "I can take care of myself. I have taken care of myself perfectly fine!" Ayita shoved a hand through her hair. Unconsciously mimicking her brother's habits.

Cassandra watched as Ayita paced around, hearing the low growl as she looked at her for a few moments. "You could always just rip them apart, or get your old clothes back." She said giving a slight smile as she stood up and started to stretch somewhat Cassandra started to crack her fingers. "So are we going to spar, or just bitch and moan over your brother?" Cassandra said teasingly as she got into a fighting stance and eyed her, letting Ayita to make the first move.

Ayita lunged, aiming for a high kick as she kept her fists close to her body. "I did rip them up! At least some of them up. Then he got more, and smiled and patted me on the head!" Ayita snapped, yanking her foot back on the last second. Changing the kick from high to low in a feint that Richard had taught her. "And he said my old clothes went to an army! How am I suppose to fight a army for my clothes?!" Muttering darkly, Ayita still was paying fast attention to the fight.

Cassandra instantly took a step back from Ayita when she lunged forward using her hands to block the kick the moment she changed it, she then got into a fighting stance, going for a punch to the stomach. "I think you mean the Salvation Army, that's where he probably sent your old clothes to." Cass said as she went and tried to kick Ayita in the leg to throw her off balance, letting out a slight breath, even though Cassandra truly hated the guy's guts he was probably just trying to make up for the lost time. "I think hes just trying to make up for some lost time as well." Cassandra said.

"He could have said that. Where did he think I got that stuff in the first place?" Absorbing the punch via catching it with her hand. Though, the younger woman stumbled topping to the side as Cassandra kicked her leg. Something the Alaskan would have normally leapt over. Rolling as she hit the ground Ayita swept a leg out to bring down the SHIELD agent as well. Bouncing herself back to her feet. Ayita slowly began circling her. Preparing for another strike. "Have you killed anyone before, Cassandra?" The question was a odd one, and the shifter was hesitating with her attack.

Cass landed on her back with a rather loud thud, laying there for about three seconds before quickly getting back up onto her feet blowing a bit of hair out of her face, and tucking it behind her ear as she noticed Ayita hesitating her next move. And quickly used that to her advantage and aimed a kick towards her side. "As a field agent, I have when out in the field we are trained for just about everything, and to expect anything as well." She answered, it was true she had killed a few people but in self-defense.

Ayita blocked with an arm and grabbed Cass's leg. Her body twisting about as she pulled the woman off balance. "You're not even a mutant," The woman gasped and punched for Cassandra's side. "You're a beast. A mindless animal." Even a year later, Ayita could quote her technically first kill's last words. Wonderland. Dropping Cassandra's leg she tried a second punch.

Cassandra wasn't sure if it was either a compliment or an insult, she didn't want to kill unless it was the absolute last option. "I don't enjoy it." She said calmly as she stumbled and started to lose balance somewhat before grabbing Ayita's arm and shoved her backwards towards a nearby tree. She remembered reading the report that Ayita did end up killing a member of the Brotherhood a year ago, she wasn't sure how Ayita did feel about that.

Ayita grabbed the tree, using the grip of the bark to advantage. Lashing out with a kick, Ayita shoved off from the sturdy perch. "Nor did I. Yet she keeps haunting me with those damned words." Throwing a series of punches at Cass, the amber eyed shifter frowned. Her lips drawn tight together as she aim for a low kick while her punches distracted the other woman. Ayita pivoted and lashed out with a high kick. Ayita growled to herself, she didn't know why she was talking to the Agent. But if this woman had killed... Perhaps her brother wasn't just lying to her for no reason.

Cassandra started to back up, grunting occasionally as she got hit a few times by Ayita's punches, stumbling back some more, but managed to block the kick, going on the defensive now. As she took several deep breathes as she continued their little sparing match, meeting Ayita's gaze. "It takes a very long time to get through it." Cassandra said, when she saw an opening, she side stepped and landed a kick to Ayita's back.

Ayita turned too late and the kick landed square. Knocking the wind from the mutant as she tumbled forward, rolling with her momentum. Laying on the ground, she paused for a few seconds catching her breathe. "But you never forget, do you?" Ayita flipped to her feet, crouching as she seemed to be thinking out for things. "Do you fear me? Trust me, Cassandra?" Looking up at the other woman, amber eyes wary.

Cassandra watched as Ayita stumbled and fell to the ground, she wondered slightly if she had actually hurt her sparing partner who was now on the ground, shook her head slightly. "Sometimes memories like that do occasionally come up." She answered softly, Cass watched Ayita quickly getting back up to her feet once more, raisng an eyebrow slightly at her question and nodded. "I do, why?"

Amber eyes closed, the slight bags under them prominent. "Memories... Brother calls them horrors." Ayita looked off to the side. Shaking her head, the shifter sprung up and shot a punch at Cass. Several other punches following after the first. A frown planted firmly on her face.

Cass was blocking about every punch, and would occasionally get hit by Ayita and stumble back after landing a few good hits towards her. "For good reason, no one really wants to see them constantly over and over again." Cassandra said letting out a sigh as she held her hand up and took a little bit of a breath and whipped away a little bit of sweat. "I think we can call this session a day?" Cassandra said feeling herself a little bit winded.

Ayita nodded slowly, her body still standing straight and strong despite her winded breathe. Plucking her brother's shirt from the tree, the shifter shrugged it on. "We should." Hesitating the shifter looked back at the human. "Don't- Only Brother knows about the nightmares. Those words. Don't- tell anyone?" Her voice became gruff as she buttoned the front of the shirt close over old scars that covered her torso and arms. Not waiting for a reply, she shifted into the form of a raven and shot into the sky.

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The sun was getting higher, Richard noted as he exited the search engine on his phone. Genius devices really. Humanity had progress so far through his life that they know had what they always wanted and were throwing it away. Foolishness, was his other thought. Clicking his pen he jotted down a note in a small journal that sat on his spare side recording his progress and questions. He loved his drink, women and life. A little bit of detective work for Guin was merely his sort of crossword puzzle during the morning hours. Or the morning coffee. Given that he wasn't one to laze about for hours on end. Looking down on his occupied side, the man ran a hand through his slightly longer black hair. Slicked back from the shower he had taken a good deal earlier. Stretched out over the bed, lay a woman just turned adult officially. The auburn hair cast about her head and his leg in a wild tangle that still couldn't fully be tamed. Her face was still hard during her waking hours. But asleep she looked almost innocent. If it wasn't for that twitch of her lips, or the slightly clawed position of her hands. But she had grown from merely a dangerous predator into a beautiful one as well, though Richard Laine did not want to admit it. Brushing the hair from her cheek, he studied the nicked ear where a hunter's arrow had missed. A little bit to the side and she would have been dead. Possibly eaten and he would have never had known. Leaning down he kissed his sister's forehead, his snake slitted eyes closed in bliss that the foolish hunter had missed. "Awaken, Sister." The deadly assassin withdrew as he felt the younger shift and stir with that certain slowness that marked her awakening from a deep slumber. Something she'd only been doing the last year or so. Having deemed it too dangerous before hand. She had been raised the harsh North and tossed to the bitter winter as their thrice cursed mother had tossed her out of the house for her mutant.

Stretching lazily, Ayita wrapped a arm about her brother's torso. Which the bastard ignored as he stood up and crossed to the closet. Tossing out a choice of shirts as he tried to decide about what to wear, Ayita watched with narrowed amber eyes. "Brother, why did you not wake me sooner?" It was late in the day and the woman was used to using drop of day light. Something her brother understood but dismissed. It irked her. But she roused herself, snatching a deep green button up that Richard had tossed out on the bed. Pulling it on over her own camisole. She had came by far earlier in the morning, seeking out the protection she had missed for years. Not that she would admit it.

Or he would tell anyone. Richard chuckled deeply, his voice a dark velvet against his sister's quiet tone. "Because you need your rest, mon cher." The truth would make the younger Laine growl behind him, but no deny came. It wouldn't. Killing someone had left scars on Ayita. But the last words of 'Wonderland' had left deeper scars on her psyche. His fist tightened on the knob of the wardrobe. He had been there, stared at her and not seen his sister. Not known her name. It enraged Richard that he could do nothing about it now. Closing the doors, the man turned about to see his chosen shirt stolen away. By Ayita. Who was wearing it. Arching a brow the Adder hissed. "Can I have my shirt back?"

"No." Ayita stated simply, sliding from the bed. Shaking out the auburn hair that had grown since their reunion, the woman gave a sharp growl as a hand smacked her shoulder. Though heeding the unspoken command, the younger abandoned the space in front of the bed as the elder Laine slipped a set of boots. The younger mimicking is actions though next to the window. Had anyone else thought to deal her such an action, they would be dead or facing a furious woman. Richard arched a dark brow at the woman and offered his arm which she ignored. Smirking the elder Laine moved down the hall of the Manor, his shadowy of a sister behind him. Newspaper under one arm.

Their features were not so similar but the traits were there. Tall, both shared the sharp features of their mother. Though Richard had the hair and eyes of his father- minus the slitted pupils. Ayita possessed the air of wild nature that haunted her own eyes. Her hair from their mother. Though with a certain predatory grace they moved. Trained fighters, harden veterans of hard life. Richard glanced over his shoulder at a cracking of bone and rustle of feathers a raven landed upon his shoulder. Lifting a hand to preen the black feathers, the Adder pushed the door open to the gardens. The black beak of his sister already preening through his hair. "Too lazy to open a door." The deadly assassin chuckled, noticing Marygold working in the garden.

The man claimed a bench, the raven quite literally reading on his shoulder. Ayita would go her own way in a bit. She was contemplating where to go exactly while she got the lay of the situation of the world. Richard had insisted it was important, though the younger did not see why exactly. "Get your bloody beak out of the way, feather duster." The said beak pecked the newspaper. Eager for the bastard to give up reading between the lines and turn the damn page. "Go get your own and read it, if I'm reading too slow." Ayita glared with beady black eyes at her brother. She was tempted to peck him. Hard.

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Allison was bored.

Life moved on since the events of last year. Plenty happened. She went back home to be with her parents for a time. It took convincing on her part to allow Professor Xavier to allow that, given how she reacted during the mission, but she assured him she could keep her emotions in check. She was sure he had some way of monitoring her as she went away, but that didn't bother her.

What bothered her is what she dealt with when she came back. Oshea's funeral was held. She didn't catch anyone, but she knew they were looking at her. Seeing how she would react. No one spoke anything other than to offer condolences to his friends.

Friend. Sure, she was a friend of his. But there was more to it than that. More she never got to say. More she regrets never saying. She thought long and hard and she blamed herself. But she also blamed others. She knew no one could have prevented it, but she could have prevented it. What good is seeing the future if you can't prevent things like this? Marygold also separated the teams. If she hadn't, would he be alive? Deep down, Allison knew it wasn't her or Marygold's fault, but she let her mind wander to the idea that it might be.

And not to mention this Mutant Registration thing going on. She didn't want to think about that.

So here she was, pacing down the halls of the mansion, looking for something to do. The newbies were being trained so it was near empty. She wanted something fun to do. She wanted to let out this energy that wanted to burst out of her.

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When Sara was allowed to come to the Xavier Institute, she was excited. She maintained this though. It wouldn't have been cool to jump around her room shouting. But she felt hopeful. Excited even! Her parents were worried, but that was their job. She wanted to control her power. Use it to help.

So when she was told she would be training fairly soon into her introductions with Wolverine, she was anxious but excited.

That quickly died down.

Wolverine was no pushover. He worked them hard. Sara thought it was because he was sadistic and liked seeing the newbies squirm. It probably didn't help matters that she copied his powers and grew her own claws out of her hands and started mocking him as he talked. She was punished, along with the others.

Now she sat on the ground, ready to pass out. The other new guy, William, she didn't know all too well. Nice enough, she supposed, but she was curious about him. It was a shame she was too tired to even breathe a word out. She would have to get to know him later. Perhaps during dinner. Or as she collapsed in her own bed.

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As gruelling as the Danger Room Session was, it had been rather enjoyable. Well, perhaps not enjoyable, but when all you could focus on was the fire in your lungs, the ache in your muscles, and the sting of sweat in the corners of your eyes, the troubles of the world seemed to melt away, just old cardboard in the rain.

Now it was over, and sure enough, that familiar ennui settled, like leaves in a gutter.

His breathing was ragged, much like everyone else’s. Will sat with his legs bent in front of him, forearms rested across his knees. Sweat soaked his hair and brow. A thin rivulet tickled the left side of his face, making its way to his chin before dripping off. Stretching would help ease the aches in the long term, but everything felt too sore and tired for that right now. Seeing Sara’s impersonation had been worth it though, totally worth it.

Only Rahne’s name eluded him in present company; he was truly awful with remembering them, but even so, he knew it began with an "R".

Still not entirely comfortable, especially not with that certain unease creeping back into his mind, Will would stare at his heels, waiting for anyone else to talk.

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Carolina had just left her room, carrying her drawing notepad in one hand as well as her pencils in another, as she started to head down the hallway. She still couldn't really believe that it had been a year since their last mission which was successful, and took down Magneto. She didn't have classes at least as far as she could tell, as Carolina walked into the common area of the Mansion seeing one other person sitting on the couch. Carolina gave Mirembe a friendly smile and wave towards her, as she decided to start randomly doodle on the notepad there.

Then she paused for a moment, her attention turned towards the TV seeing that the news was playing the news reporter doing a story on the MRA. Which made her blood run cold, and seeing the presidential candidate Alexander Jakobsen's face on the news, Carolina really and truly hated OMEN. Carolina blamed both herself and the two agents that killed her friend in Coventry, which she managed to kill one of them as well. "Can you change the channel please?" Carolina asked, looking over towards Mirembe as much as Carolina liked to watch the news, all that was being played on there was the MRA as well as the election coming up.

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Cassandra spent the last few minutes doing her routine of exercising as she made a run around the mansion, she had been with the X-Men since this assignment had started. So far she enjoyed working with the team, and working alongside her sister more closely now as well, Cass was running around, when she made it towards the front of the mansion on her third lap now. When Cassandra noticed a car coming up to the front of the building. Cassandra stopped for a moment as she watched rather closely, seeing a young guy coming out of it, and spotted Marygold tending to the plants there.

She watched the two make a few pleasantries before the boy turned and started to make his way towards the inside of the mansion, she shrugged slightly. However Cassandra was a little bit curious and started to make her way over towards Marygold and gave her a quick wave and smile. "Hey Marygold, who was that you were talking to?" Cass asked, she assumed that he was actually just a new student, but she couldn't help but be a little bit curious.

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Cassandra sat in her room in the Xavier's Mansion, she was leaning back in her seat as she started to go over some of her SHIELD reports to Director Fury. It had been a few weeks since the last mission, which she was still very proud of everyone involved with the mission. The managed to take down Magneto and prevented the virus from being released. When she was finished sending the last of her reports, Cass went to go and tend to her suit. There were a few holes and tears that she had been meaning to tend to for awhile now, she did a small patch up with her encounter with Sabertooth at the Hanson Powerplant, but it wasn't the greatest fix up job she had done to it.

There was a soft knock on Cassandra's door. "Cass? You wanted to talk to me?" Guin said. Her paperwork had been processed the week before and she was now considered to be an inactive agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. until she completed her studies. She was in the midst of her final semester of undergraduate education and hadn't made any plans to apply for graduate school just yet. Truthfully, she wasn't sure what she wanted to do with her life.

Cassandra turned her head when she heard a knock on her door, seeing Guin she gave her a smile and waved her in, she had gone over Guin's paperwork and helped her send them out to S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ. She understood and respected her decision to put her S.H.I.E.L.D. career on hold, and she was pretty sure that Mr. Stark was happy about that. Cass set her suit aside for now and leaned back in her chair. "Just wanted to see how things have been going for you, and catch up."

Guin nodded, before taking a seat on Cass' bed. "Things have been great - really. I mean, it's stressful doing the labs, but I love driving so it works going back and forth from NYU," Guin said. "Plus whenever I'm too tired, Pietro gets me there and back in under a minute - which is fucking amazing. I can't imagine what the world must be like for him sometimes..."

Cassandra gave Guin a soft smile as she started to listen to her, as she started to think of her time at MIT, all of her courses were really hard for her. "I remember my studies back at MIT way back when, and just binging on ramen noodles, fast food and coffee." Cassandra said with a light laugh. "It must be great having your super speeded chauffer to get you there and back again."

Guin couldn't help but chuckle - yeah, that was pretty much her life right now. It was a frantic mess of lab reports and exams and problem sets, with the occasional break to eat, sleep, and maybe even watch a bit of a show if she was lucky. "Way back when? You're not that old, Cass. You haven't even started to go bald yet," Guin then teased. It was nice, just talking with Cassandra - and it reminded her of how things used to be just a year ago, when Cass started to train her to be an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. "So...anything new with you?"

"True I haven't had a grey hair yet." Cass said with a light laugh as she ran a hand through her hair and stood up and reached for something under her bed. She pulled out a can of soda and tossed it over towards Guin, and grabbed one for herself before settling back down in her chair, Cassandra liked Guin a lot when they worked together back in S.H.I.E.L.D. "Not much really to be honest, just reports, the occasional sparing match with Ayita, or my sister." She answered. "Hows the ability training coming along?"

Guin raised her feet up as Cassandra reached underneath her bed, careful to keep Cassandra from accidentally brushing up against her. Despite Professor X's insistence that she could get her powers under control, she hadn't been able to do so just yet. It tended to be flares of emotions - so for Guin, almost all the time - that ended up kicking them off. She caught the soda that Cassandra tossed with a gloved hand, sighing a bit as Cassandra asked her how ability training was going. It wasn't that great. For once, Guin was actually struggling with something - rather than just getting it straight away.

"It's hell," Guin admitted. "I mean, part of it is whenever I try to switch, it doesn't work. And when I try not to, it always seems to happen...Plus, it's weird - have to find someone you trust enough to switch with. And I really don't trust a lot of people...But then, if I switch with someone who also has a mutation, I can use their mutation. Like...Like last week, I got into an argument with my dad about something stupid and Pietro was trying to cheer me up - and I fucking switched with him. I didn't even notice how fast I was pacing around the room until Pietro told me to slow the fuck down." She sighed a bit. "I've been working on upgrading my A.I....It helps a bit as distractions go. Hopefully I'll be able to control this fucking thing soon."

Cassandra look a sip from her can as she listened to Guin as she started to answer her question about her ability. "It does sound difficult, if you ever feel like practicing. I could help if you want to try switching with me that is anyway." Cassandra said as she ran a hand through her hair, as she thought about it for a moment. "You know Carolina's is a little bit similar to yours in a way, she could also help out with that as well to. You are one of the smartest people I know, i'm sure you will find a way to control and master it." She suggested and gave a slight smile.

Guin nodded, hugging her knees to her chest. That was pretty much what everyone was saying - practice and you'll figure it out. But that wasn't always true, was it? There were some mutations that couldn't be controlled - ones that just happened. Like Wonderland, her mutation was completely involuntary when it came her hallucinogenic touch. She bit the inside of her mouth for a moment before glancing out Cassandra's window. "And what if I'm not as smart as people think I am?" Her voice was very quiet. It was something she hadn't confessed to anyone else.

Cassandra looked towards Guin for a moment before setting her can down, and moved over to sit down on her bed looking at her and gently rested a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I believe in you, you are probably smarter then I am." Cassandra said looking towards her. "You had a full ride to NYU, and you finished it in no time and you are the youngest SHIELD agent as well." Cassandra said trying to cheer her friend up.

She took a deep breath, trying to stay as calm as possible while she was making physical contact with Cassandra. It didn't help that she tended to be an emotional person and her powers were activated by strong emotions. She then shook her head. "Is it because I'm smart or because of my last name?" Guin pointed out. "Let's face it - I could have gotten a full ride to almost any school, just because my dad is fucking Tony Stark. That's the same reason S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited me as well - not for me but because of him."

"It's not because of your last name Guin." Cass pointed out. "Besides you could have turned down the offer to join SHIELD and yet you stayed, you always have choices and I will support whatever choices and decisions that you make, even if you decide to leave SHIELD permanently. We will always be friends no matter what you choose to do."

"That's just kind of it - I don't know what to decide," Guin admitted. She took another deep breath, feeling a little less anxious at Cassandra's words. It helped to hear that one of her insecurities wasn't real - to have her self esteem brought up a notch. Yet just as her eyes started well up slightly, Guin blinked and found herself in Cassandra's body. "Fuck, I'm so sorry...It'll wear off. I'm not very good at switching back...But um...longest was a few hours, I think? Please don't be mad."

"Give it time Guin, you are still young and have a whole life ahead of you to decide what you want to do." Cassandra said, as she gave Guin another pat on the shoulder. Then all of a sudden she felt weird, feeling like her position had suddenly changed she felt a hand on her back, and heard her own voice next to her. Cassandra looked and saw herself, then looked at the mirror in her room and realized that she was now in Guin's body. "Well, this is a little bit awkward." Cassandra said, looking towards Guin. "It's alright, just you know don't ding up my body to much." Cass said jokingly.

Guin hesitated for a moment, before breaking out into a huge grin. She then just started to laugh - it wasn't a sad or pathetic one, but an earnest one. Something had just clicked in her head. Sure, it felt weird to be in Cassandra's body...but this wasn't something to be terrified of. She could switch back whenever she wanted, as long as she controlled her power - and didn't allow her power to control her. "Thanks, Cass. You're the best fake older sister ever."

Cassandra looked towards Guin, seeing her starting to break out into a grin and started to laugh, which she started to do as well, it still felt a little bit weird. But at least she would get her body back in a few hours, or if Guin managed to get it down and they would be able to change back. "I try to be the best older sister I can be." Cass said with a light chuckle, looking back at well herself.

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"We keep losing people left and right! There has to be something we can do to stop all of this chaos. No matter what we do, they are always one step ahead of us."

"Hey, you can't prevent everything, sometimes we don't see things quickly enough to prevent them. I honestly wish we could have done something, but some things are out of our control."

<mild panic> "He's right. We can't...we can't keep on going like this. At this rate we'll...we'll...we're not going to make it. No matter what we build, it gets smashed to shit. It'll be us next - maybe we go to space or some shit. Live on the moon. Anywhere...anywhere is better than here."

"There is something we can do...We can change the past."

"But if we go back in time, would it cause more trouble. Like if we met our younger self wouldn't we both just disappear or something like that?"

"Actually, probably not. Should we run into our younger selves, we should still be able to exist simultaneously. Both would be fine, no need to fear destroying the timeline or something, that only happens in fictional stuff."

"So, if we could go back in time, far enough back. We might be able to prevent everything. Think about it, everyone we know who has died, could still be alive. How would we do it though? It can't be that easy."

"I know this is going to sound mad...but I promise I'm not mad...not now, anyways. I've traveled through time before. Some being of extraordinary strength ripped a hole in time."

"You want to fucking rip a hole in the fabric of reality? That sounds like a terrible idea. Even Hawking wasn't able to figure out the impacts that would have - it could destroy the entire universe as we know it. We'd have an easier time trying to find a way to recycle oxygen enough to actually go live on the moon."

"So how was your previous jump back into time then? Did you see any weird things like dinosaurs running around in the present or something? And you know OMEN probably has some shit pointed at the moon right?"

"There was so much chaos back then, but as far as I know, nothing bad ever came about. Things like what your describing, as I said before, are things from TV shows. I generally try to avoid messing with time though, since one change could potentially change the entire future as we know it, for better or for worse."

"That still leaves the question of how we would go about this. And let's face it, the world we're in, there isn't really much we could do to make it worse than it already is. I'm in to try this crazy plan, we are all out of options. There is nothing more we can do, we can't just keep on running."

"...Beast had an idea." <pause> "The serum that we use to medicate her - it could be tweaked in order to increase someone's mutant abilities. It'd take a few years to synthesize it and ensure it will work...But it could make a mutant with the ability to time travel strong enough to make the trip feasible."

"How long exactly is a few years, and what kind of stuff do we need? I'm already down for this plan, i'm tired of having to run around and just trying to survive on a daily basis."

"By strengthen someone's time travel abilities, I'm guessing you mean me? I'm the only one we have at the moment who could potentially travel back with more than just one person, and I would not want just one person to have to deal with pulling this off."

"I can time travel a little bit too you know."

"Yeah, but as I said before, you can only go back by yourself, I could potentially take a group with me."

"Two, maybe three years. We'd need some rare isotopes. Iridium to stabilize it. A working lab...It won't be easy."

"But it will work. I caught a glimpse of a future long ago - one where this didn't happen. I... I think this is what we're meant to do - to change the past."

"If I can get a hand on some people who know where to get the stuff I can easily persuade them to get what we want. I'm sure Beast can get us a working lab up in no time."

"Alright, let's do it."

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@FantasyChic@jdh97 Bobby looked at all who were there. Everyone was tired, that much was obvious. "So, note to self, try to avoid having any more Danger Room sessions with Wolverine, since he likes to put everyone through the ringer apparently." Jubilee and Kitty both managed to let out a laugh, while Rahne just gave him a smile. He did have a point, doing anything with Wolverine was generally one of the worse ways to train, hopefully they wouldn't have too many sessions with him.

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Mira looked up when she heard Carolina's voice. She hadn't heard the girl come in, and there weren't many people around in the room, the only noise coming from the TV. It surprised her to realize that she had been paying attention to the point where she didn't even notice Carolina's footsteps. The news was a little bit depressing, so changing the channel seemed like a good idea. "S-S-Sure," she managed to say, before grabbing the remote, but she stopped when she heard the next thing that the reporter said.

"This just in, it seems that someone managed to do what was to believe to be impossible. A mutant named Raven Darkholme, better known to the world as Mystique, managed to break into the Raft, SHIELD's top security prison, and free Magneto and the rest. After over a year in prison, it sounds like Magneto is back on the streets again."

"Wh-What? Magneto managed to escape?" Mira said, to no one really in particular. Though it was a bit concerning. After what the Brotherhood had pulled last time, and the precarious situation of the country right now, this could prove to be a problem. No doubt OMEN would jump on this, declaring SHIELD to be unfit for just about anything. The two organizations have always had problems coexisting together, and now it looks like it is about to get a lot worse.

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She heard Cassandra call to her, and she gave her a smile as she got up from where she was working. The new kid was definitely an interesting one, that was for sure. Though a friend of Guin's seemed good in her book, and he seemed to know her well enough to know she was here. The kid didn't even hesitate to ask about where he could find her. It made her wonder what happened down in the lab when he walked in.

"Oh, him? His name is Lance, Lance Banner, or Calrissian. Depends on who you ask since he technically has both names, though I don't remember which one is his actual last name. Professor X had mentioned to me that he was coming, so I'd thought I'd go greet him when he showed up. He did seem very interested in finding out where Guin was though." she said, looking back towards mansion where he had disappeared off to. The facts that she did know about him were limited, since Xavier liked to have the students tell others when they wanted to.

"Before you say anything, yes he is related to Bruce Banner of the Avengers, if you want to know anything more about him, ask Guin, sounds like they know each other."

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Well, that was definitely awkward, he thought to himself as he left the lab. Tony had mentioned that Guin was dating Quicksilver, but walking in right then was probably the worst timing ever. He needed to hurry up though, odds were that Xavier knew he was there already, and he had wanted to talk to him about something. What that thing was, he had no idea, it was hard to predict what Xavier ever thought.

He hadn't been paying attention to where he was going once he was on the main floor. While walking down a hallway, he ran into someone. With a thud, both Lance and Allison are on the ground. "Oh, are you ok? I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going," he said, managing to keep his voice steady. He was up on his feet rather quickly, and held out his hand to help Allison up off the groud.

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Guin giggled contentedly, putting her head on the crook of Pietro's neck. The lab was blissfully quiet, with Beast likely off somewhere teaching some of the younger students at Xavier's Institute. They were sitting on the ground, leaning up against a deck - well, Pietro was leaning up against the desk and Guin was leaning on him. "That was fun," Guin mused, fixing her hair slightly. "Permission to talk about something serious?"

The instant Guin asked about something serious, his mind started racing even faster than it already was. What would she want to talk about? It was strange, trying to think about what she could be referring to, but after a moment, he decided that it was best to just dive right in. "Well, if it is something I don't want to talk about, I can just choose to ignore you right?" he said, giving her a grin.

She rolled her eyes at him - he was completely ridiculous. "You can - free country - but then you're sleeping on the couch tonight," Guin pointed out to him. She turned her head so that way she was looking up at him, without losing her comfortable position. "The Mutant Registration Act...Jakobsen...Does it scare you too?" She bit her lip slightly. Guin wasn't the type of politics but the MRA was everywhere. Everyone knew about it that hadn't been living under a rock. And while she had talked about it with Tony once - he shot down her idea of running to the moon if things got bad - it had been weighing on her mind slightly.

Pietro thought for a moment, trying to think of how best to answer her question. The truth was, he was afraid. He had no idea what to do if all of it did happen. Everything would probably go to hell, but he'd try to keep Guin safe at least, no matter what happened. "To be honest, I kind of am. Everything that could happen, I don't really know what to do."

Guin nodded, but her heart sank slightly. It was one thing to be afraid oneself - another to have someone else be feeling the same way. As far as history went, things like this didn't end well. With registration would come forced relocations - the designation as second class citizens - and eventually the death camps. She shuddered slightly at the thought, and as she didn't want to even think it, she wondered if maybe Magneto hadn't been so crazy after all. "I don't know either...I want to say that Jakobsen'll never be elected...But people like him. And they're scared," she sighed a bit. "I guess part of me thought...This would work, y'know? But...I don't know."

"Hey, don't worry too much about it. I bet Xavier is working on coming up with something. Besides, I'll stick with you, no matter what ends up happening. Alright?" he replied, and he meant it. It was strange, thinking that about someone. The only one he ever said something like that to was Wanda, and that was because she was his sister.

"Even if I build a murder bot by accident?" Guin then joked. It was partially an attempt to lighten the mood, but also to steer her own mind away from this topic. She used humor as a defense mechanism. But Pietro's words did help her to feel a little bit better. Xavier had a lot of experience with this type of stuff - and then there were the Avengers. They'd help them if they needed it. Worst case scenario, they'd go to Canada (or the moon. Guin was still keen on the moon idea). "You don't have to answer this if you don't want to...But do you ever regret leaving the Brotherhood?"

Well, right when he started thinking about his sister, Guin brought up the one question he had been avoiding for months. Or close to it anyway. He had his reasons for leaving, reasons his family members didn't seem to understand, or even want to understand. "Well, sometimes I do, but not for the reasons most people would think," he finally said, choosing his words carefully.

Guin took Pietro's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She had been practicing at not switching and had gotten pretty decent at it. Case in point, despite the emotions running through her mind at the moment, she was staying firmly in her own body - no Freaky Friday'ing. She had a guess as to why Pietro regretted leaving the Brotherhood - he had abandoned his family. They were held up in the RAFT, one of the most secure facilities on the planet. Odds were, he'd never see them again. "What do most people think?" Guin then asked carefully.

"Well... Most people think that it is either because of my love for my father, which by the way is getting close to non-existant there. Or that I agreed with everything that was going on there, breaking the law, plotting mass-genocide. Things like that. I care about my father, don't get me wrong, it's just he wasn't exactly a father figure until I was around 13 or 14 years old." he said, looking at Guin.

She could relate to that. While Tony had raised her on paper her entire childhood, it wasn't until after he was kidnapped by terrorists in Afghanistan that he began to actually raise her. She didn't know her father until she was around ten years old. It had been an odd time - being told her father was likely killed by terrorists and she would be inheriting the company to finding out that he was alive - and a superhero. "It's Wanda, isn't it?" Guin asked, her voice soft and her tone low - just in case anyone happened to walk back the lab. "I'm no expert in family structures...Hell, I'm an only child...Maybe I have some half-siblings out there - probably do, knowing my dad and how careful he was back int he day - but if there's one thing I learned from the Disney Channel, it's that twins have a special bond."

"Yeah, it is. Though I didn't watch much TV as a kid, so there is probably some sort of reference in that last thing you said that I don't get," he replied, looking away from her, before continuing. "The problem is... Wanda and I, we've always been close, ever since we were little back home in Serbia. At least we were anyway."

Guin wasn't quite sure how to proceed here. She knew that she had a tendency to just blurt out her mind and not realize the repercussions of what she was saying - she had gotten into a lot of fights with Mary that way. And Tony. Hell, even Pietro once. But what could she possibly say to make him feel better? There wasn't anything she could do. Her family had power, yes, but not enough power to get Wanda sprung from the RAFT. It'd be hard enough to arrange a visitation for Pietro with her - and unlikely to ever be approved. "She's probably wondering why you left her...I think she misses you too."

"Ha, maybe. Though I highly doubt it. Wanda never really was the type to care about those things. If she did I never knew about it. I remember, right after we left Serbia, we settled in a small village. This was right before our father found us, and things were great for a while, but then her powers started acting up and I raced us out of there. The village wanted to burn her at the stake, thinking she was a witch."

"Ugh, I don't blame her...Her powers are nuts. I couldn't even open a damn door properly," Guin said, reminiscing on the time she briefly spent trapped in Wanda Maximoff's body. "But people thought she was a witch - so she said fuck it and went by Scarlet Witch? That's pretty badass. If she didn't hate my guts, I'd so be friends with her. Think she's more likely to want to kill me - probably thinks I'm the reason you left, just like about everyone else."

"Uh, actually, that isn't how she got that name," Pietro said, looking away from Guin, trying to hide the fact that he was tearing up a little. Talking about Wanda was hard for him, the reason he didn't really want to talk to Guin, or anyone for that matter, about leaving the Brotherhood, and his family. "When we were little, our mother Natalya Maximoff, had powers too. She died, when Wanda and I were about 3 years old. A group of people, were frightened of her powers, similar to how they had called Wanda a witch. She managed to get us to her brother's home, before she went out to face the mob. She died, but she went by the name Scarlet Witch. That was what our uncle told us about her anyway. I don't really remember her."

Guin was at a loss for words. Normally, she'd just make some sort of awful joke to try to cheer Pietro up - but his mother had died. She looked down at the floor for a moment, wondering if there was anything she could say to cheer him up. Did she tell Pietro that she understood the pain he felt? She remembered when she was ten and was informed that her father had died - even if it wasn't the case, she spent three months living under that assumption. Or about the time when she was twelve and her father had nearly died again, flying into a wormhole? She decided to just let the silence hang - anything she said, she was certain, would only make it worse.

The silence was getting to him, but he wasn't too sure what to say. The fact that somehow he had managed to make Guin be quiet was impressive, but the reason for her silence was a little unsettling. He decided it was probably best to break the silence. "It doesn't really matter now, she's been gone for over 18 years now. I always thought it was nice that Wanda took up the name Scarlet Witch in her memory."

"Sorry if that was insensitive of me - I didn't know," Guin finally said. She let go of Pietro's hand and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. It had been falling into her eyes during their conversation and she was getting sick of it. Plus, it was a problem that she could fix. She couldn't bring back Pietro's mother from the dead and she couldn't spring his sister from prison. "But of course it matters - she's your mother," Guin said, even though the words felt a little hollow to her. She wasn't on speaking terms with her own mother.

"No, it really doesn't. The only thing that really matters to me at this moment is the fact that my only family is a father who has tried to destroy the human race a lot, Wanda, who is right there beside him. Not to mention my other sister who I only met a few years ago. Talk about family issues, they generally are the reason I don't like talking about my family," his voice sounded partially choked, and he still didn't turn to look at Guin. The whole thing just made him want to race out of the mansion, to be by himself for a little while.

"I feel that. My family shit isn't nearly as bad as yours but... Well, my dad didn't even acknowledge I existed until I was ten - and that was after I thought he had been dead for months. Then there's my mom - she's a piece of work. She sleeps with anything that moves, which I could tolerate - but everything to her is about getting her five minutes of fame," Guin hesitated for a moment. She hadn't told anyone this - only Lance knew this had happened. "I was sent to rehab when I was...I think 16, going on 17...And she said she wanted to come visit me. I was so excited - thinking that I'd have a normal relationship with a parent - but then she showed up with a camera crew. Sold me out to about any tabloid that would pay her for the recordings and photos."

"That, is really cruddy. Our families are both pieces of work you know. That is one thing we clearly have in common. You know, I stuff like that never really bothered me, though all of that stuff shoots through my system so fast nothing works anyway," he said, turning to look at Guin, giving her a smile. "Come on Guina, we can't sit around here feeling sorry for ourselves all day. Let's see what the rest of the mansion is doing, since being down here by ourselves just talking is probably going to make us cry a lot more."

Guin glanced up with surprise at Pietro's non-reaction to her past. It was something she wasn't proud of - and certainly not a period of her life she wanted to go back to. She had convinced herself that if anyone ever found out about it, they'd look at her differently. That they'd only see her as a former user - and not as herself. "Psssh. You haven't made me cry yet," Guin pointed out. She rested her head back on Pietro's shoulder, not really feeling like getting up. "I don't just cry for any boy, you know," she then teased.

"Well, you better move or your going to wind up on the floor in the blink of an eye," he said, kind of starting to move like he was trying to get up. Being down in the lab was getting a little boring to him, not to mention the fact that they had both seemed to have gotten a lot off of their chests.

She smirked and then wrapped her hands around his arm, mockingly pinning him down. "Sounds like a challenge, Piet," Guin pointed out. She knew that he could easily wriggle out of her "grip" if he wanted to, but her laziness had been threatened. It was time to take a stand. And she loved labs - they always had been her happy place. Well, labs and nearly empty movie theaters. Jury's still out on which one she preferred. "But if memory serves, I kicked your ass first time we met - and I got that electrical tape I needed. So my calculations say I'm about to win."

"I did try to warn you Guina," he replied with a grin, and a moment later, he made good on his threat. Guin was now on the ground, and Pietro was standing over by the door. "As I recall that is because I wasn't actively trying to stop you, also, last I checked you blew the place up and I had to save everyone."

"Why weren't you actively trying to stop me?" Guin then asked. "It's because of my wicked good looks, right? My sharp tongue? My Einsten-like intellect? My fashion sense? Or my taste in music? Any of those are acceptable answers," Guin teased. She was perfectly content lying on the floor of a lab. Sure, safety protocol likely outlined that this was something you should never do - but it wouldn't have been the worst violation of safety protocol she had ever done. "Hmmm. Or were you just so starstruck from meeting me, Piet?" she added on. She lifted a hand up, as if she was trying to use the Force to pull herself to her feet. It obviously didn't work - but Guin took it as a sign from the universe to stay on the floor a little while longer.

"That is for me to know, and you to never find out!" he said, still grinning, before he started heading out. The lab was a little bit cramped in his opinion, he preferred more open spaces than that, like the main floor of the mansion. It also was getting a little boring there, and with him leaving, maybe Guin would stop being lazy. He was hungry anyway and he needed to restock his pocket supply of Twinkies.

"Ruuuuude!!!" Guin called out, knowing that it was entirely possible that Pietro was already far enough away that he wouldn't hear her. She then glanced up at her computer, noticing her glasses blinking weakly as P.H.I.L.'s protocol was being reset to its last save point. She imagined it'd be about another hour or so before it was done. "C'mon, Silver Balls! No piggy back ride?" Guin then snickered, before pushing herself up off the floor, kicking her body up in the process and landing on her feet. She grabbed her phone from the table and put it in her pocket, before heading over to the lab's light switch and flicking it off. No point in running the lights when no one was working in there.

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While his friends his age were off in a training session with Wolverine, Dean had been asked by Professor X to get the flyers handed out for a new tradition at the school. Every other high school in America had some sort of formal dance - usually a prom - for their graduating class. There was no reason why Xavier's Institute should be any different. He had been planning the dance with the help of Jubilee and Bobby. The theme they had chosen? Under the Sea. He was going to DJ it if he was lucky - just needed to convince the others.

Dean really didn't want to be that awkward guy going stag - and he had no idea who he'd ask to the prom. "Hey, ladies, we're having a prom in two weeks - you should come," Dean said, handing flyers to Carolina and Mira as he entered the lounge. His eyes flickered over to the TV, catching the last bit of the report about the Brotherhood escaping. He wasn't too sure how to feel about it. They had good intentions - just horrible ways of acting through with them.

"I'm Dean, by the way," he said, holding his hand out to both Carolina and Mira. "I've seen you guys around before, never got a chance to introduce myself...which I realize makes me a bit of a jerk," he said with a smile and a bit of a laugh.

He glanced over his shoulder, stepping to the side just in time for Pietro to whizz on by. While to other people Pietro moved in the blink of an eye, Dean was able to see the speedster and carefully move out of the way. Pietro set down Guin and Dean gave a friendly wave at the pair - he recognized both of them from around the Institute, as well as tabloid headlines.

"Prom?" Dean offered, holding out flyers to the pair of them.

"Eww, gross."

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The paper crinkled and lowered as Richard looked over the top as Marygold explained the boy he had seen earlier. Then registering the name, the man completely lowered his morning reading. The latter- Cassandra- most likely wanted to run a knife through his heart. Not that he blamed her. In her shoes (and looking better in them than she did), Richard would do the same thing. Standing he ignored the raucous caw of his sister as she was jostled from her perch on his shoulder. "Pardon me. But Bruce Banner- The Hulk- has a son? A mutant gene carrying son?" Disbelief filled the former associate of the Brotherhood's voice as he crossed the lawn to the two woman with long strides. "Well, bloody hell. Good for him!" Richard chuckled a rich sound.

Ayita on the other hand knew not who this 'Bruce Banner' was. But apparently the boy she had spotted earlier was Lance Banner. Though the younger of the siblings did recognize the name Hulk. Swooping low over the grasses of the lawn as her balance was upset by her brother's sudden lurch to find out information, Ayita shouted a few choice words at him in the ways of raven and crows. Winging in a large arc, she gave a back wing as talons fastened onto Cassandra's shoulder. Careful not the prick the woman- the human did not have the healing abilities of her brother who was frowning at her. Clacking the deadly black beak, Ayita flipped her tail feathers in insult that the Adder well understood as a universal bird for the bird.

Richard inclined his head slightly two both woman as his younger sister landed on the SHIELD Agent. "A good morning to you both. Though it pales to your beauty." He gave a charming smiled to both former enemies. Though with the SHIELD agent that enmity might not be so former. "Sister, do not land so unexpectedly on people." He chastened the raven, as it hopped to his shoulder than the ground behind him with a bone splintering crack. Richard did not need to look back to know she had taken her human form, his shirt now strewn with raven feathers.

Ayita gave a nod to both woman before turning back to the manor. Perhaps Allison would know something more about things, Richard was occupied with his groveling with forgiveness. However, a hand seizing her fingers stopped her for a barest second. Amber eyes met the worried blue-green of her brothers, as Ayita nodded wordlessly. Reaching up the once captured hand patted Richard's cheek, her body to lay her own cheek on against his shoulder. "I will not wander far, Brother. Not alone. Marygold, Cassandra." Nodding, the shifter turned once more and bounded away to find her friend. Richard watched the retreating form for a second longer, before turning a charming smile back to the two women. Though worry still gnawed at him, she wandered from the manor from time to time. On wing, hoof, or paw. But it was some relief to know she would not no go alone at least. Less of a chance for her to go missing once more. Though by worse accords.

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Amni lies in the bed as he slowly started to shift his body. Waking up he opened his eyes revealing the darkness around the room. Only dim lights shining from some of the electronics. Reaching over to the side table and grabbing his phone. Turning it on caused his eyes to shut as he opened them slowly. They seemed irritated from the digital light. Reading the time which was four fifty-six and he nodded his head. Propping himself up on his left elbow to face the side of the bed and his closet. “Four fifty-six” He mumbled to himself as his fingers went up to hi temple area and started to softly rub the area as he yawned. Fluttering his eyes a bit more before he pushed himself up and let his feet drop to the cold hard wood floors. “Mhm…” swallowing the dryness in his mouth as, he stood up and made his way towards the closet.

Opening the dark sliding door of his closet he started to look through the different clothes. The dim light that was peaking inside of his shades from the windows of his room helped him see what was what. “Do I work today?” His brows furrowed slightly as he asked this question. Not remembering fully if he had to or not. Though, Amni knew he left his schedule somewhere around the house. Paying attention to the closet again he ended up grabbing black dress pants, a vest and a tie along with a darker-medium shade blue dress shirt and a braided black belt. Setting the outfit on his bed as, he went to the bathroom flicking on the light. Causing himself to tense slightly for his eyes were sensitive from light. Shutting the door and turning on the shower. Amni started getting ready for the day.
After, the shower and getting dressed Amni went in search for his work schedule. Finding it in the kitchen on the counter closest to the fridge he rubbed his eyes as he focused on the sheet. The dates pouring down the page as he kept reading the days he has already worked. His finger slid down the black and white colors as he stopped on a date. The date of today and he read the schedule. “I do work today…” Amni stated as he nodded his head and went to the fridge. Checking on what he had. There was a one fourth dozen of eggs, juice, a stick of butter, some vegetables and bowl of fruit. Amni grabbed the bowl of fruit and went on his way to the living room turning on the television and listening to the politics debate about the different topics they did not like to agree about.
The T.V. flashed blue and white light on him as he watched the politics and other individuals getting heated over different subjects. None of them wanted to meet in the middle and the one’s that did were instantly pushed out of the way and out of thought. Amni always seemed to be slightly amused by how animalistic politics would get with each other and how the average civilian would either choose a side or just ignore the whole thing together. Staring at, the T.V. as he got comfortable on the couch eating the different pieces of fruit from the bowl. The bowl included three different types of melon, mango and grapes. Today the main thing on the news was the MRA and their interesting views of so many different things to do with people just like Amni.
About an hour after sitting down on the couch. The phone started to make a noise which was in his bedroom. Amni was somewhat out of it and as he heard the noises the electronic made he glared around and realized his politics have been changed to an adult cartoon and the bowl of fruit was gone and set on the coffee table. Not really wanting to get up Amni made himself as he hurried to his room to answer his phone. Answering it he heard the familiar voice of Professor X of the X-Men. “Why are you calling me this early?” Amni asked as he rubbed his fingers through his hair holding the phone in his other hand. “I see…” He bit the inside of his cheek as the Professor asked him to come to the mansion. “I’ll be there.” With those words Amni hung up the phone and knew the whole thing was because of the MRA and what they were trying to do.
This caused Amni to call work and tell them he might not make it on time. His work was fine with it as he spoke with the chief and the chief told him he has already worked almost sixty hours this week and he should not of been planning to come into work anyways. Though, they did appreciate he was scheduled for that day and told him to take the day off. Amni was always over working himself. Which the chief loved yet yelled at him for as he would work himself to ‘death’ they always said.
Turning off everything in his house before he left Amni grabbed the leather jacket that hung by the door and his car keys as he exited his home and locked the door. Amni walked down the street a little to where he parked his car and pressed the button once he got close. The dark car beeped a few times stating it was unlocked as he got into it. Starting the engine and pulling out of the parking spot.
It took him about forty-five minutes to get to the mansion of the X-Men and that’s because he drives fast. A little more quickly then he should but he never seemed to care on what speed he went unless somebody said something about it. Amni stepped out of the car shutting it and locking it. Stuffing, the keys right into his jacket pocket as he walked up to the doors of the mansion. Glaring around and not feeling completely welcomed here. Maybe internally this feeling was arising because he denied Professor X’s offer years ago about joining the X-Men or maybe it was because he did not know what was in store for him this time.
Stepping up, the few steps to the mansion as he knocked on the door not knowing if he should just walk in since he was invited or if he should wait for somebody to answer. Either way he would enter after a few minutes.

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With the danger room booked yet again (Although with Wolverine in charge of training, Charlie had happily avoided the entire area lest he be dragged in as well), Charlie had spent the last couple of hours in the gym, working out. Although it didn't do much for his powers training, he'd found that after a few bouts of yoga (very messily done yoga, as he wasn't all that great at it) and some cardio and weight training, he was finding it a lot easier to focus his mind when it came to his mutant abilities. Whether it made him more in tune with his body, or just helped work on her perseverance, he was improving with his fire and ice. His body was thanking him for it as well; after having a growth spurt over the past year, he'd been looking very lanky and bean like before finally putting some weight on his muscles. Although hardly ripped, his trips to the gym were certainly showing.

After hitting the shower and his room, Charlie was heading down the stairs when he caught sight of Guin, Pietro and Dean - the former pulling an interesting look at whatever Dean was holding. Mira and Carolina were sat on the sofas, and he gave them a wave as he noticed the object of Guin's "Gross" comment.

"Prom? I didn't know we had that here." He said, running a hand through still damp hair to dry it. Hot hands were real useful for when hair dryers were in short supply. "Oh man, "Under the Sea"? Are we in a Back to the Future movie or something?" He said with a laugh, peering closely at the flyer that Dean was holding out. "Just make sure you don't get someone playing a Johnny B. Goode solo - prom's cheesy enough as it is without that." Charlie had never been one for school dances and such. Back home it was just another way for his bully's to torment him more, even after Charlie had landed himself a pretty good-looking and popular girlfriend. He sometimes wondered what she was up to these days, but not in a pining way. It was cruel, but back then she'd been a typical teenage distraction from all the crap that was going on his life. He was pretty sure that he was just a distraction for her as well - they never acted like love-struck high-school sweethearts, destined to be together forever.

Whatever the case, Charlie silently pondered over whether he'd take part or not. He had no idea where his poor ass would get a suit, or a date, for that matter. Deciding that it was an issue for another day, he planted himself on the sofa with Carolina and Mira, pulling a face at the news.

"Oh, great." He muttered, seeing the last few bits of news that detailed the Brotherhood prison escape. How many more times were they going to lock these guys up before they disappeared again? That shape-shifting creep Othello probably helped them out as well. Shaking his head, Charlie tilted his head back over the sofa to look at Guin, who now appeared upside down alongside Dean and Pietro.

"You want to blow up some zombies, distract ourselves from the shitty real world?" He asked with a grin.

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Carolina turned her head to look up at Dean seeing him appearing behind her, she gave him a smile as her eyes then wondered over towards the flyer that he held out to them. Then Carolina met his gaze and smiled at him, she had never been to her high school prom, but then again it really wasn't that much of a normal school. It was a little bit similar to the Institute after all, she didn't really miss Alucard, however she did really miss October quiet a bit. "I haven't been to a prom before, i'm down." Carolina said smiling at Dean, as she looked towards Guin seeing her coming in along with Charlie who plopped down next to her on the couch. She was certainly going to be looking forward to it. "I'm Carolina Reed, my sister is the SHIELD agent taking residence here as well." She said introducing herself to both Dean and Mirembe, the two new faces that she had yet to get to know.

Then Carolina's eyes wondered over towards the TV screen, seeing the new header that was there, she froze and grumbled slightly to herself. With the MRA being on the news a lot and SHIELD was most likely going to be hurt a lot by the news that Magneto and some of the members of the Brotherhood had escaped. "I was really hoping that they would still be locked up forever." Carolina said as she stood up and started to take out her phone to text her sister.

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Cassandra raised an eyebrow when Marygold said that was Bruce Banner's son, she didn't even know that the Hulk had a kid running around somewhere. "I didn't know that Dr. Banner even had a kid." Cassandra said as she rubbed the back of her neck, as her attention turned towards Richard, she gave him a death stare and glare. She still didn't like the man even if he did compliment her, she'd really rather Ice his ass then deal with him. "Don't make me have to Ice you Richard." Cass said looking at him, as she watched Ayita flying over and perching herself on her shoulder. Feeling the talons lightly digging into her bare skin, since she was wearing a tank top her usual go to when working out but surprisingly it didn't hurt.

Cassandra watched Ayita fly off and shift back to her human form, and gave her sparing partner a friendly smile, as she watched the two interact with one another. Then she walked off to go and meet up with probably Allison, Cass then turned her attention back towards Richard and Marygold. "How have your hands been healing up by the way?" Cassandra asked, when she felt her phone going off, she took it out and inspected who texted her, and saw that it was her sister seeing the badnews that was there. "Looks like Magneto escaped the RAFT."

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Allison had been lost in her own little world as she traversed the hallways. There was a lot going on, so who could blame her when she wasn't watching where she was going? She collided with the unknown figure and fell on her butt. More embarrassed than hurt, she couldn't stop a blush from coming up to her face. "Oh gee, I'm sorry! I'm such a klutz! I didn't see where I was..."

Allison caught a glimpse of the figure she ran into. It was someone she hadn't seen before. A new face, was he a new student? He was cute though. Allison mentally chastised herself for thinking so and took his hand as he helped her up. "No, it was my fault. I'm sorry. My name is Allison and you're cute. I mean you're fine! Not in that way! I mean, you are fine and you are also fine! Oh my God I am so red right now! Start over? Hi! I'm Allison, what's your name?

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Sarah groaned. Probably louder than she intended, but no one told her to avoid Wolverine like the plague. "How about next time they tell us that at orientation? My blisters have blisters and my feet want to separate from my body and run to Mexico." She sat up and looked at the others.

She nodded at William, "You doing ok? That was a lot and I was too busy poking fun at leather claw man. Name's Sarah. What are you in for?" She joked, because they were all here by choice. But still, she couldn't help herself. If she couldn't joke around she would die. Literally die.

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“I’m okay,” he mumbled, with a nod. It was too much; he was too exhausted to deal with people. Couldn’t they all just go away? What did they want from him? As soon as they realised he was a freak, he’d be alone, whether he wanted to be or not. That wouldn’t be so bad. Please make it so it wasn’t so bad.

No, he told himself, hanging his head. Hair draped around him like a thick mourning veil, hiding his scrunched-up face, like another letter he’d failed to write. Unmistakeable iron pangs filled his mouth after biting down on his tongue. Just try, please. He let out a long, steady breath. He looked up and brushed the hair from his face by running both hands through it.

“I don’t think he noticed,” he was completely deadpan, though the ghost of a smile suggested he might be trying to joke. Eye contact was uncomfortable, so he only kept it for a few moments. His gaze flitted to his upturned palms, now resting on his knees. “I, uhh… My name is Will. I heal things? I guess.” It was too tricky to explain in full. He licked his lips with a parched tongue.

“What about you?”

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"Man, that was not what I expected, ugh, that is definitely not what I'm use to. Hey, does anyone know where we are? It doesn't look like any place I've been. We also need to know whether we landed in the right year or not."

"Well, we could see about finding a newspaper, that would probably solve the date question, as to where we are, well... That might take a few moments of looking around, so I'll get back to you on that one."

"Palla latchi...This is where my mother...my father...they died here...I almost died here, too. Just over there in the field - that's where we pitched the tents. And a few miles from here...there's the cemetery where they buried my mother."

"Damnit.. out of all of the areas, it had to be here? I was hunted by a pair of OMEN agents here a close friend of mine was murdered by them on the road here."

"Wait, where are we?"

"Don't even ask. We have problems here, you've never been. Too much happened here to really talk about it. Now, let's see if we can find out when we are."

"Massachusetts. We're in Massachusetts. If we go into town, we can find a paper..."

"A whole lot of bad memories here, something I don't want to bring up, ever. It shouldn't be that far though, unless Speedy Gonzales wants to go and grab us a newspaper?"

"Wait a minute, no one needs to do that. Looks like there's one in the mud, it isn't much, but we could probably see if at the very least it has a year that is readable."

"I've got it... The main text isn't readable, but according to this, It is May 24th, 2020. Problem is we don't really know how current this is, so we don't know the exact date. At least we know one thing, we are in the right year."

"Then...Then I guess we go to the Institute, then."

"That's good, then we are in the right time, so should we you know travel by train, snatch up us a ride, or speed us on over there?"

"Yeah, using a train would probably be best, at least for the moment. Not everyone can just zip over there."

"It would also give us a chance to figure out what the exact date is. Anyone know where the closest station of any kind nearby?"

"It's in Salem."

"Actually.. could we instead just like uh call an Uber or steal a car instead? I don't want to go anywhere near the station.."

"Uh, ok then. I say no to stealing a car, since we don't really want people to try to get us arrested or anything."

"We also don't have phones that work here for us to be able to call Uber, so, any other bright ideas?"

"I...I can call in a favor, if we can get a phone. There should be a pay phone nearby."

"We would need money for train tickets anyway as well. If your okay with calling in that favor then go for it."

"Alright then, that sounds like our best option at the moment, let's get to that pay phone then."

"Alright. Just...Just don't listen in on this conversation. I'm not proud of this."

"...Superbia? Yes, this is Ira...Yes, I know...Yes...Of course...I need transportation from Coventry, no questions asked...As far as you can get me...New York...Yes, I will stop by...I know...Yes....Thank you..."

"A car is being sent for us. It will have tickets that will get us to New York City. From there, we're on our own."

"Awesome, thank you remind me to buy you some beers when we get there, also what are we gonna do when we actually see our younger selves at the Institute?"

"I have no idea, but this whole mission isn't very clear. Last I checked, we weren't even positive this was going to work. We'll figure it out, eventually."

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@Zora No one arrived to open the door up, the door is unlocked, however, there are a few people standing in the garden, talking. Amni isn't able to hear what they are talking about though.

@FantasyChic@jdh97 "Yeah, they don't tell you these things when you sign up," Jubilee said, looking around at the others. "Well, I don't know about you, I'm heading back upstairs, taking a nap sounds like a good idea," she said, before walking away. The other three nodded their heads in agreement, and followed her out.

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"A prom? That sounds like an interesting idea. It would probably be fun," Mira said, kind of quietly. "I'm Mira Adebayo," she said, introducing herself to Carolina. She generally didn't hang around with these people, except for Guin, and seeing her there made her feel a little bit better. The TV was still spouting things about the Brotherhood and what they had tried to do the year before, nothing new. She was about to change the channel, when someone new popped on screen with an interview. "Uh, Guin? Isn't that your mom?" she asked, looking at the screen.

A woman was on the screen, and was introduced as Maddie Le Fay. "Now you see, Hank, my daughter and I used to be incredibly close. She shared everything with me. I just want my baby girl back. Ever since that mutie no good, Peter Maximo, she hasn't been the same. I consulted a doctor and they agree with me - my baby girl's been brainwashed. Guinevere, sweetie, if you're watching this - please call! I'm just so terribly worried about her. The things he's making her do...It's shameful. No woman should ever have to do that against their will, Hank."

Pietro stiffened next to Guin, staring at the screen. He was probably more unhappy with what she had said than Guin was. Mira looked at him, wondering what was going through his head. "Keep your eyes on the screen," he said, before he raced off. She had no idea where he had gone, but she decided to listen to what he had said, and turned back to look at the TV screen.

The man conducting the interview gave a confused look to someone off camera, before he started speaking. "We have heard from several sources that what you just said is untrue, and that you don't actually care for your daughter at all, doing all of this for the publicity." Maddie gave him a look, and anyone watching would be able to tell that something was off with what she was saying. "What are you talking about? Th-That isn't true."

A moment later, sounds could be heard coming from off-camera. Voices shouting, yelling to get out of the way, or where the hell did that come from? No one was able to stop the bucket of paint that fell on Maddie's head, drenching her and probably ruining the dress she was wearing. The screen switched quickly to a commercial, and Pietro cam zipping back into the room. "Now that was fun."

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"Not many people did, I only learned a few hours ago when the Professor told me he was coming. The only thing that is weird is that he has a kid, not that the kid is a mutant. That part actually makes sense compared to the rest," she said, ignoring what Richard had said afterwards. Marygold had learned it was best to ignore comments like that. Anything that bugged her for that matter, she tended to not give the person the benefit of a response. Though if anyone knew what her old nickname was when she was younger, especially Guin, it would be very hard to ignore. It did help that most of those who called her that weren't really around anymore. She hoped no one ever heard her called that, ever, except those few who had given it to her, they would have a free pass on that one. It would be one of the worse things possible, and she wouldn't be able to ignore it for long.

When Cassandra asked about her hand, she just gave her a nod. "Just have some scars, nothing more." Cassandra looking at her phone didn't set off any alarms, until she spoke again. What she said was not very comforting, though she knew it was inevitable. It always happened like this, even to before she had joined the X-Men. The Brotherhood escapes, and the fight to stop them is repeated, until they are caught again.

"Well, looks like we're going to start this fight all over again. That's how it has always worked. They escape, we put them back, a never ending cycle. Would be nice if things were different for a change."

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The girl he had ran into was certainly, talkative. She kind of was rambling a bit, but she seemed nice enough. Her words sort of jumbled together, but he was able to understand what she was saying. A few of the things she had said, made him blush slightly, but he was able to shake that away as he helped her up. She looked kind of cute, but he wasn't one to generally say so out loud if he couldn't help it.

"Uh, ok then. Anyway, I'm Lance Banner, just got to the school. I was just coming back from saying hi to Guin when I ran into you," he said, not too sure what to say. He wasn't the best in social situations, and the things he said usually reflected that. After a moment, he had to stop himself from hitting himself in the head as the way he had said things did not sound the best.

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“A place so crowded…you would think somebody would answer the door.” Amni huffed, a bit as he knocked once more waiting five more minutes. About a half hour passed since his first knocked arrival to the door. His brows furrowed and he nodded his head. He hated just walking into people’s places especially places he was not familiar with. Checking if the door was unlocked as it opened and he stepped into the mansion. Amni peaked his head in and glanced around quickly the entrance room was empty and it did not even sound like one person was walking in the halls at the moment. “This place does not have good security does it?” Questioning himself as he stepped in fully and shut the door behind himself. Amni kind of felt slightly awkward just standing there. Maybe Professor X called a meeting and just called Amni to tag along in it.

Knowing Professor X wanted Amni to come and talk about the MRA and figure things out. Everyone that had powers would be considered endanger if this legislation passed in the MRA’s favor. Most did not want the bill unless they were on the line of question or behind it safe because of paid money. Just as the government and politics work. Only a few are purely safe when it comes to situations but they are not always safe for long. They can avoid being trapped and caged like animals but something will always come up and wrap a rope around their neck and drag them to the pound. “Hello! Is anyone here!?” Amni called out as he took a few steps on the floor which his dark dress shoes lightly tapped upon. Shifting his body he rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced down the hallways. Choosing the left one to, go down.
Instead of just waiting there for somebody to come and drag him to where he thought he needed to be. Amni started to adventure around staying cautious and on his feet. Keeping his eyes moving place to place, everything that moved his eyes darted to he felt like he walked into some type of trap.

Amni’s dominant hand was raised as the fingers twitched slightly as if he was counting one, two, three, four, five… and he seemed to be in thought. He was trying to remember how Professor X looked. He mainly only could sum up the thoughts of him being in a wheel chair, older and no hair. “Professor X where are you?” Amni whispered as he kept observing everything. Coming down a hallway with windows he stopped and looked out noticing a little crowd of people in a garden area.
“They probably would know where Professor X is…hopefully.” Amni sighed and found his way down the hallway and into the garden. Walking out onto the grass as, he watched all of them. Feeling like an outsider pretty much. “Hey! Do any of you know where Professor X is?” Amni raised his voice a little for he was far away but quieted the closer he got. His tone was stern and calm. Amni was trying to come off opened and communicative but he knew he sometimes had difficulty talking to people in situations as this one. But, he seemed pretty comfortable at the moment.

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Carolina gave Mira a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you Mira." Carolina said, as her eyes then wondered over towards the TV when she noticed that the woman on TV was indeed Guin's mother. She never really asked much about Guin's mother with her, it really wasn't her place to talk about it anyway. Her eyes then wondered over towards Pietro when he said he would be back in a second, Carolina turned her attention back to the TV screen as Maddie Le Fay made her stupid lies about Pietro. Carolina then could hear the people in the background talking, then just seconds later Carolina watched paint get dumped all over the woman.

Carolina then started to bust out laughing seeing the reaction on her face before the screen was quickly cut to a commercial, she'd definitely should have recorded that on her phone, as Carolina turned to see Pietro coming back into the room. "Remind me if I have someone who I hate a lot and I call you and you can dump paint over their faces." Carolina said with a light laugh as she looked over towards Guin to see her reaction.

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Cassandra set her phone back into her pocket as she turned her attention towards Marygold once more as she spoke, it was true that the Brotherhood and people like them did tend to get out. However, things have been getting a little bit different between both SHIELD and OMEN. "OMEN will definitely use it against SHIELD since they were detained in one of our facilities. They are certainly going to be having more backup since one of their own is running for office. It's just not going to look well for any of us." Cassandra said with a slight sigh.

Cassandra eyed Richard once more before turning her attention towards Marygold once more. "Should probably inform Professor X as soon as possible, see what he wants us to do along with SHIELD." She said looking over at the grounds, it had been over a year since they had put Magneto and the Brotherhood behind bars, and started to wonder how hard it will be to put them back in the RAFT again.

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Bethany woke up and stretched out in her bed looking out at the window before getting up, putting on a black tshirt and a pair of black jeans. She hadn't been at the Institute for that long as she grabbed her phone and a pair of headphones putting them over her ears as she started to make her way out of her bedroom. She made her way down the hallway, as she walked down listening to her own music when she came into the common area. Her eyes wondered around the room as she noticed that there was already a group in the room, overhearing something about a dance.

Scoffing at the thought of being put into a frilly girly dress, she shook her head and shuddered at the thought of wearing one in front of people that she didn't know. Beth made her way over towards the corner of the room, where there was a little bit of shade as she sat down in the chair looking down at her phone while listening to music. Her eyes then turned towards the TV seeing what was going on and the man named Quicksilver running out of the room, and dumping some paint on some actress or whatever she was. Beth didn't really know who the woman was she rarely ever did watch any movies or TV shows so she didn't know the woman, but couldn't help but smirk seeing the woman being covered in paint.

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Richard winced mentally at Cassandra and Marygold's dismissal. He had made some mistakes sure, but he was trying to make things right. Perhaps go about it by being his charming self wasn't the best option. "If it makes you feel better dear, go right ahead. I won't say I don't deserve it." He admitted to the SHIELD agent. Listening to the two chat about the escape of Magneto and the threat of OMEN. The world was a mess, and Richard gave a sharp hiss under his breathe. He wanted Ayita back in his sights, the only reason he wasn't quite literally wound about her neck was the fact she was in the manor and thus safe. Well, as safe as a mutant could be in the Institute. If the school was attacked, mobbed or something. Richard rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"And before you say it, Agent. I very well know my presence here isn't a help." His voice was bitter and there was a twinge of anger in his voice. If he could he would lodge a bullet or bit of poison in Jakobsen or hunt down the OMEN members. But that would leave Ayita open to Magneto and Richard knew what he would do in the man's shoes. But Magneto wasn't him, and the metal mutant held grudges. The Adder didn't want his sister to bear more pain for his sins, especially at the hands of that man. Making a note to himself, the hired gun- formerly at least- decided to talk to the Professor and older teachers about going off to kill Jakobsen if it became necessary.

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Bare feet padding quietly on the polished wooden floors of the mansion, Nina crept into the kitchen as silently as she could. It was late, but with most students in bed asleep, she wouldn't be disturbing anyone. As was common with her lately, Nina had spent most of the night awake, tinkering away on her personal project in the labs. It was likely not going to be finished, but it was something to keep her mind occupied. However, the night was growing late, and her hand had been reaching more for her bourbon than her screwdrivers. One needed ice with bourbon, and so here she was, quietly getting some from the fridge in the kitchen. She just hoped an older student that was still awake didn't bother her - she wasn't really in the mood for a midnight chat.

Unbeknownst to Nina, she wasn't alone in the kitchen. A member of the X-Men was inside Professor Xavier's gigantic pantry, looking for a fresh jar of peanut butter. Guin always enjoyed peanut butter dipped Oreos. Whenever she decided she had had enough and ran away from home, it was her go-to meal. And to anyone who ever dared to claim that it was unhealthy - there was protein in peanut butter. Finding a jar on the top shelf, Guin jumped up slightly before managing to grab it. Peanut butter jar in hand, as well as a ziploc bag filled with Oreos, she opened pushed the pantry door to the side, only to see Nina grabbing ice from the fridge. Fuck. I know I don't believe in you...but why do you punish me like this, god? Or whoever the fuck is out there?

Nina had been ready to take a mouthful of the now frosty liquid in her hand before she caught something moving out of the corner of her eye, jumping lightly before realising it was just her number one fan grabbing a midnight snack. It didn't look too healthy, but Nina couldn't judge considering her own consisted of ethanol.

"Hello, Guinevere." She said quietly, closing the fridge with her foot and turning towards the counter behind her, regarding a fruit bowl as her own appetite reared it's head. "Burning the midnight oil?" Grabbing a pear from the bowl, Nina looked back to Guin. The two didn't get along, but it would have just been rude to completely ignore the girl. As for why she too was awake, that was really none of Nina's business. She could only assume Pietro had something to do with it, but then again, Guinevere could just as likely be working on a project as Nina herself was.

Guin wanted to gag - why did Nina always insist on calling her by her full name? It made no sense. In fact, it added to Guin's dislike of her. She was only called Guinevere whenever she was in trouble - and no one enjoyed being in trouble. She opened up her ziploc bag, took out an Oreo, and then unscrewed the peanut butter jar without saying a word to Nina. She then unceremoniously dunked the Oreo into the peanut butter and then promptly put it in her mouth. She chewed it slowly, as if hoping that Nina would decide to burst into flames or leave the room if she just gave her a little more time to.

"None of your business if I am," Guin said moodily. A pair of safety glasses were clipped onto her shirt and a rag with some grease stains on it was hanging out of her back pocket. "You getting ready to seduce someone else's father? Or did you decide to take the day off from that?" She then dipped another Oreo in peanut butter.

For the most part, Nina put up with Guinevere's petty comments about mistakes of the past without much retaliation. Both for the sake of making working together easier, and Nina painstakingly reminding herself that Guinevere was an immature brat for the most part, and didn't know how else to react. Tonight however, Nina's temper flickered. She was tired, stressed, and had a good few shorts of whiskey settling in her stomach that made it hard not to have the last word here.

Swallowing a mouthful of her whiskey, Nina regarded Guin with steely eyes.

"I really can't work you out, Guinevere. Most children would dislike thinking about their father's sexual partners, yet here you are, bringing it up at every possible avenue." She took another mouthful of her drink, the ice clinking against the glass. "Maybe you should see a therapist of some kind. It's not healthy, obsessing over the women who've slept with your dad."

The Oreo she bit into gave a resounding snap. "I prefer to think of it as studying what not to do," Guin quipped. "I suppose I should be thanking you, really. You're a terrific example of a fuck up," she snapped. "Really, bravo. You want me to give you a review on Yelp? I'll do it. Hell, you can even quote me. Looking for someone who ruins lives? Look no further than Nina. Five stars. I bet you could even qualify to win a Darwin award one day - what an honor. You truly deserve it."

"You're one to talk about fuck-ups." Nina snapped as soon as Guin had finished talking. She was really trying an already frayed temper. "It didn't take much digging on you to discover your own mistakes of the past. Awful of your mother, really, to sell you out to the press during a rather trying time. How long were you in rehabilitation for? A week? A month? Didn't really matter how long it was, it just proved that you're prone to 'fuck-ups' just like that rest of us." Downing the remainder of her drink, Nina placed the glass on the counter, now empty apart from dregs and slowly melting ice-cubes. "But of course, if we're talking about fuck-ups in the department of romance, you're not exactly innocent yourself. Pietro may be charismatic, but he's been partly response to assault and most likely murder thanks to the Brotherhood. At least when I slept with Tony I thought I was doing it for a good cause. You just opened your heart to a villain because he looked pretty."

"If you did your research on me properly, you would have known how long I was in there for," Guin shot back. Was it a weird insult? Sure. Did Guin care? Not at all. While Nina's insult finally struck a nerve - or a deep emotional scar really - it was her callous treatment of Pietro that fueled Guin's anger even more. She had to consciously keep herself from throwing a punch at the woman with super strength. And who the hell was Nina to make broad statements about why Guin had decided to date Pietro? "He's a better person than you," Guin said. "I don't give a shit what he's done in the past. I don't care. He's a good man. And fuck yes he is pretty - but that just shows how shallow you are to think that's the only reason you date someone."

"Of course he's better than me!!" The statement came out in a shout, and the glass in Nina's hand shattering accidentally. Thanks to her powers, the glass hadn't cut her, but it was another mess to clean up. Taking several deep breaths, Nina closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at Guin.

"He is. He hasn't made the mistakes I have. But my God, I've spent years trying to make up for it." She paused to brush the glass shards away from the side of the counter, hoping none had scattered on the floor for someone to stand on. "Do you honestly think that I was happy with what I did? The outcome, the consequences of it? Nobody with good in their heart would." She knew that Guin likely didn't know the full story, but even if Lou had survived unscathed, she would have been guilty for her actions. Falling silent, she turned to one of the cabinets and pulled out a new glass, then filling it with ice, ready for more bourbon back at her workstation.

"Ignore what I just said. I just lost my temper. I shouldn't have." She added dully, the fire gone from her voice. There was no point in fighting. Not when everything Guin said was true.

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Pacing quietly in a closed classroom at the institute, Nina began chewing at her lip nervously as the phone line rang, worrying the skin in anticipation. She equally dreaded and looked forward to these interactions over the phone, and if it weren't for the work she was currently doing, would be there in person instead. Talking on the phone was always more confusing for him.

"Hello Dad! It's Marina. How've you been?" It was always strange, saying her full name out loud. Nobody she had ever met barring her grandparents and Father had called her Marina, and for her dear old dad's sake, she kept it up. Chances were that he didn't remember her more used nickname.

"Marina! I'm fine, just fine... it's bloody boiling here, but I'm fine. How are you? It's been a while since I've seen you." He sounded chipper, which was nice - but he wasn't wrong about her last visit. After seeing him over Christmas, she'd only managed to see him again in January, for his birthday. She tried to visit him at least twice a month, but it was harder now. With working for S.H.I.E.L.D and still doing her own private investigations in Valkyrie, it had been hard to journey to another continent very often. She knew he was well looked after though; her money made sure of that.

"I'm doing alright."

"Anything new?"

"Um... I.. got a new job." This wasn't technically untrue. She was working with the X-Men now.

"Oh! I hope it pays well. What is it you're doing?"

Nina paused again. "I'm working in... anti-terrorism. And volunteer with school kids now and again too." Again, not technically untrue. Just twisted a good deal.

"I hope you're staying safe, Marina. You're only little, and the world isn't as safe as it was when you were younger." She couldn't help but laugh at this, considering the context. For one, she was plenty capable of looking after herself, regardless of her size. Secondly, she'd lived in South Africa as a toddler, when terrorist attacks were bombing the hell out of the place, and for the rest of her childhood lived in England, when IRA terrorists were bombing the hell out of the place. The past may not be as dangerous, but it certainly wasn't any safer.

The two chatted idly for a good twenty minutes, and just as Nina was beginning to think it was a particularly lucid day for her father, her heart sank at his next question.

"When are you going to come and visit me then? It's been ages since I've seen you both. Is your mother there?" Closing her eyes slowly, Nina rubbed her forehead as it creased. This wasn't the first time she'd had to have this conversation.

"Mum isn't around anymore, remember? She died when I was three, back in South Africa." She replied softly, leaning against the door as if needing support. There was a moment of silence before he continued.

"Oh yes... of course! It had just slipped my mind, somehow..."

Hearing the hesitation in his voice, she decided to move onto another topic swiftly. Nina forced a smile, just as she would if she were with him in person.

"How are you getting along with the nurses? Been chatting them up?" Her smile became slightly more genuine as her father barked out a laugh.

"Don't be so daft, Marina. I'll tell you what though - they still haven't discovered our little stash of whiskey." He chuckled, and Nina rolled her eyes. Of course. He remembers where he keeps his prohibited alcohol, but not that he'd been widowed for decades. She could almost imagine his conspiratorial grin and winking at her.

"Well, good! They'd have my head if they knew I was smuggling in banned goods just so you can have a nightcap." She replied with a grin, hoping that he could hear the smile in her voice. One of the first things that she'd been told after his diagnosis was that although people with his condition may not remember conversations, events, or people, the emotions nearly always stayed with them. She tried to keep their conversations happy and humorous, so that even if he forgot, he could think about it with a smile.

After another 20 minutes of talking about his various activities at the care home, Nina could tell he was beginning to get tired and more confused. They kept cycling back to the same conversations, and he'd asked for her mother three times now - and Lou once. It was hard, to keep breaking the news over and over again, and she couldn't imagine it was easy for him either. To keep forgetting and having to be reminded so often... it was awful. But he kept soldiering on, just as she would. For now though, it was best to give him a break.

"I've got to go now Dad - you make sure you rest up, all right? And don't do anything silly while I'm not there. I know what you're like." This got another warm chuckle from her father. He'd always been an adventurous spirit, breaking more bones from accidents than she could recall. She took after him - and would have in injuries if it hadn't been for her mutation.

"Look after yourself, love. And next time you visit, bring a fan with you! I'm bloody sweltering here."

"Tell those nurses to get you one! I'm paying for a care home, not an oven." There was a pause on the other end as noise came over the phone - a door opening, and the familiar chatter of jovial care workers with a rattling trolley and clinking china.

"Ooh, tea time! Love you sweetheart - Mum loves you too."

Nina closed her eyes again, not bearing to correct him this time.

"Love you both too." She whispered, before ending the call and slumping against the door.

Where was she? Ayita was tempted to slip into the form of wolf or cat to scent out her friend. Friend. There was a word she rarely used. Giving a slight twitch of her lips in a humored smile, the shifter blamed her less standoffishness to her brother. Dearly beloved Brother. Oh, she did love him, but that didn't mean she didn't give him the hardest time of his life for his crime. The abandonment at her mother's hands still stung but he had came back. He did not fear what the innocent child had become. He embraced the predator without fear- save the hawk or eagle which was understandable for a snake. Her feet were light upon the floor, her boots soft enough to cause little sound as she bound through the halls. Following routes Allison might have taken that day. Little as she would admit anything, Ayita would admit she enjoyed the hunt for the Seer. Pausing she noticed a door was not fully closed. It was closed enough she supposed for the general idea of a closed door. But not enough to secure it properly. Laying a hand upon the handle she paused as she heard noise. Sliding it open a bit. She peered into the dim interior. Only the door did not open all the way. Pausing she tilted her head at the door. Considering shifting and kicking it in.

Nina had took a deep breath while leaning against the door, steadying herself and clenching her fists. It was never easy to keep up that kind of conversation with her father, no matter how much she loved him.

Lost in her own thoughts, Nina gasped lightly as the door pushed beneath her. Skittering to one side, she looked through the gap in the door; paranoid thoughts littering through her mind as she wondered who exactly had just listened in her on very private and vulnerable conversation with her sick father. But then she remembered that she didn't have enemies in this building, and even those who disliked her wouldn't use such information against her. It wasn't in their nature.

Composing herself, Nina opened the door and saw who it was.

"Ayita? Is something wrong?" She asked, shoving her phone back in her pocket.

Ayita jumped back as the door opened. Her feet automatically moving to a fighting stance before she remembered that it was the Institute and this wasn't someone out to kill her. Though her thoughts flashed back to her brother and his constant worry. Always being on your guard was no bad thing. If you needed to be off your guard, then let another be on guard for you. Or so was Ayita's view on that. Something she suspected Brother agreed with. Eyeing Nina warily, the younger woman peered past her into the room and shook her head. "Allison." Turning away from the woman, Ayita did not completely turn her back to Nina. She didn't trust the woman that much to show such a vulnerability. Only to pause as she noticed a figure pass further down the hall. A stranger. Ayita's eyes instantly narrowed. "Who is he?" Her voice was barely a whisper but clearly directed to Nina.

Judging by the lack of haste in the young woman's voice, Nina guessed that Ayita was simply searching for Allison as opposed to something being wrong regarding her. Before Nina could reply in stating that didn't know where Allison was, her eyes followed the same stranger as Ayita's clearly did.

"I don't know." She murmured, stepping forward as she watched the man stride down the corridors. Too old to be a student, yet too lost to be an X-Men. He was new around here, and judging by the current climate of the world for mutants, that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Eyes going back to Ayita, Nina stepped fully out of the classroom so that she was beside the younger mutant.

"How about we find out?" She suggested with her eyebrows raised suggestively, beginning to trail the man's footsteps. Ayita was already stalking through the halls. Her foot falls near silent.

The man was looking around him, though he hadn't noticed Nina or Ayita on his tail. Nina only paused as he entered the garden, beginning to yell at the others gathered there; Cassandra, Marygold, and Richard. Clearly the man was happy to be seen, and was looking for a certain individual. Professor Xavier, to be exact.

Stepping forward, Nina spoke before any of the others could.

"I can take you to the Professor - though I'm eager to know what your business here is." She asked in a clear voice - no intimidation present, but enough strength there for the stranger to know that she wasn't asking out of mere curiosity. Ayita leaned against the wall, her amber eyes narrowed at the man. Never wavering as she kept an impassive expression, a slight frown as she studied him like a predator looking at particularly plump prey.

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Guin had gone to her school prom - and she didn't enjoy it. She had pretty much ruined any popularity points that being Iron Man's daughter could get her by her senior year at MidTown Tech. And she didn't even spend much of her time at the high school. Her previous school had allowed her to accelerate her curriculum as much as she wanted and by the time she transferred, MidTown ended up offering her a lot of Independent Study - STEM courses to take. She had been allowed to tinker in the lab, head to a local college and take a course there - pretty much do whatever she wanted, as long as she had something to show for it.

Lance and Peter had ended up insisting that she go to prom. The only benefit to it had been that she had managed to get a hold of a tux that fit her quite nicely. She never was one for dresses. "Proms are boring - they're just an excuse for people to hook up afterwards," Guin pointed out. Though as she heard herself say that, she had roll her eyes at the small part of her that said maybe that's not too bad after all. She then looked at Charlie with a grin. "Fuck yes. I'll kick your ass anytime, Smokey."

"Nice to meet you both," Dean said with a grin. "And if you don't like it, don't gotta come," he added at Guin. "But it should be fun. It'll give us the American high school experience - people can bring dates too if they want, get their photos taken. Might even see if Xavier'll let us make a yearbook."

As Mira called Guin's attention to the screen, Guin gritted her teeth slightly. Her mother hadn't spoken a single word yet and already, Guin was on edge. It had been almost four years since she had last seen her mother - the infamous Maddie Le Fay. She crossed her arms, before Maddie's latest tirade hit her like a load of bricks. She knew that her mother had been going on and on about Guin's personal life to the tabloids - which in itself wasn't new. But ever since word got out that Iron Man's kid was dating Magneto's son, her mother had gotten worse. It just gave her more things to blab on about. She clenched her hands into fists as Maddie continued prattling on about things she knew nothing about.

Her mind couldn't help but wander back to the last time she had seen her - as painful as it had been. She had been boarding a flight from Boston to New York to head home when she decided to skip the plane, instead purchasing a train ticket to Salem and running away. Then there was an entire twenty four hour stretch that she couldn't remember. They assumed that she had been abusing substances again and making good on his previous threat, her father had sent her to rehab.

That in itself had been okay - she could manage it. In fact, she remembered very clearly being told that her mother had come to visit - she had been so excited, her stomach feeling as if there was a swarm of butterflies. She thought that maybe she could have a relationship with her mother after all - it was like Christmas had come early. She closed her eyes, remembering the round brown table she sat at while she waited for Maddie - the cool texture of the wood under her finger nails - the white hospital bracelet that was around her left arm. She could even remember the sound of the heater trying to beat the December chill.

And then the successive flash of cameras - the microphones shoved into her face.

Tears welled up in Guin's eyes and she blinked them away, trying not to dwell on this too much. Her mother had sold her privacy in order to get her five minutes in the spotlight. Tony had tried to stop the photos and videos from leaking - but even he couldn't stop them all. "Right, because watching Maddie prattle on and on about her bullshit is just what I want to do," Guin said a bit dryly. She wasn't sure what Pietro was up to - but decided to humor him for a little while and continue watching the train wreck. She was glad that she did. Not only did a reporter finally call Maddie out on her bullshit, she watched with a bit of amazement as paint was dumped all over her, ruining the already hideous dress.

She was cackling, applauding Pietro's display of boyfriend-ly awesomeness. "That - that was beautiful. Truly inspired. I think you have a future as a painter," Guin said jokingly. She then gave Pietro a quick kiss on the cheek - comically having to stand up on her toes to make up for the height difference.

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Dean's eyes widened. Although he could see Pietro as if he was moving normally, it stunned him to see the distance Pietro was able to cover in a flash. Dean himself could only do quick bursts over short distances. While some of his teachers at the institute seemed to think that he had the potential to be a true speedster at one point, he never managed to sustain a run. Dodging was his specialty. He also enjoyed running up and down walls on occasion - just because he could. "Damn man, you gotta help me get up to that speed one day," Dean said, clearly awed by Pietro's skills.

He turned in a flash as Beth entered the room, throwing her a cheerful wave, despite not knowing her. It was just the sort of person he was. He then held up a flyer towards her - after tossing one over towards Pietro as well, figuring he might talk his girlfriend into going - "Prom?" Dean said as an explanation to Beth. He couldn't help but wonder what everyone would be up to for the rest of the day. And luckily for him, he had almost handed out enough flyers to justify taking some time to just hang out with some cool people.

"Y'know - why don't we play a game as a group?" Dean suggested.

"Truth or Dare?" Guin asked, her eyes lighting up mischievously.

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Amni stood there with a slight smile still plastered on his face and his brows just becoming lightly furrowed. He was trying to keep an approachable appearance and did not want to offend anyone or cause any damage to the bridges he has not even made with any of these people. Feeling ignored he stepped back a foot and started to turn. Stopping right in his tracks when he noticed the two brunette female’s behind him. “Hello…” He stumbled on his word a little. Seeming slightly surprised he did not realize they were behind him. But, he was not watching closely or taking too much caution here. Since, he did not feel the need too.

“My business might just be with Professor X and not anyone else Miss…” Trying to hint he wanted to get a name without just intruding on the conversation they were having. He just let his works range out a little more especially when he said ‘Miss…’ Shrugging his shoulders he did not think it could hurt anything if he just explained his situation. “Professor X called me about five or six in the morning asking me to come here and speak with him. I had to take off work to go to a place I have only been once and drive forty-five minutes to the place. This early in the morning.” Amni spoke with calmness and a laid back tone. “I have the whole day off now. So, I would appreciate it if you could just take me to him.” Smiling a little more with these words he stepped closer.

Amni glanced at the other mute female who was leaned up against the wall and gave a slight head nod for respect. Taking his eyes back to the female who was speaking to him he let his eyes go up and down. Not giving off an, I’m-checking-you-out vibe but showing that he was observing body language and her uniqueness to remember her. His dark eyes glided around them observing both the females. “I’m Dr.Amni Clayteer by the way.” Introducing himself as he let out his hand for a shake to the female who spoke with him.

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Allison mentally punted herself across the mansion for being so stupid. She really needed to learn to think about her words before she opened her mouth. It seemed Lance knew Guin. Did that mean he was a new student or was he just visiting? "Oh. Well I hope you found your way around ok. Guin is great. Only got to know her last year during that mission and..."

She paused when her brain collected the necessary information that was just passed along. What did he say his last name was? "I'm sorry, did you say your name was Lance Banner? As in...Bruce Banner's son?" I mean, Banner wasn't a super common nickname was it? Was he The Hulk's son? Allison's mind went everywhere but the most important question she didn't want to voice was:

How the hell did someone sleep with the Hulk?!?

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Sara took a minute before she stood up. A nap sounded much needed right now. Will seemed a bit awkward, but it was a new school full of people that had weird things about them. It was pretty easy to understand the hesitation. "Well, as I so cleverly displayed a momnet ago, I have the ability to copy abilities as I see them. Comes in handy sometimes, especially when you want to impersonate someone, even if that means they torture you in what they call training."

Sara would wait for Will to follow before she continued and made her way out of the training room. "So what brought you here? Did you come on your own or were you scouted? Some part of me feels like we are all scouted, but the Professor doesn't bring anyone in unless they truly want to. I've wanted to for a bit now and only now was able to get in."