Summary:With Isis' move to M-Town, Piotr decides to check in on her. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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Isis Marik had been a troubled teen for the time she'd been at Xaviers Institute. Recovered from an AIM lab a few years ago, there'd been a lot of conditioning to deal with. Conditioning and natural tendancies. It hadn't endeared her to many of her classmates but there were a couple of older mutants who had taken an interest in her wellbeing.
It's been several months since the feline-like mutant left Xaviers and headed into M-Town to live. Several months since she's seen at least one of these … friends. Yes, she's been told they are friends.
Saturday afternoon in M-Town is often busy. Mutants scurrying to and fro as they finish errands or allow the younger ones to frolic in what passes for parks here.
Isis has found a patch of sunlight to linger in, watching the interactions with interest. Her grey/blue slitted eyes almost gleam as the light catches them. She's focussed but that doesn't mean she's not aware of what else is going on about her.
Sitting on a chair in the green space, Piotr has decided to enjoy some time in the sun. He's not in his massive metal form that he sports when he's on a mission, but the man is still a daunting sight. When he wants to be. However, at the moment, as Isis is in play, it has caught Piotr's interest.
So he has taken to sitting in a chair near where she's relaxing and lingering. He has set out an easel and some paints, and he's working on a piece of art. In paticular, capturing the way that Isis is currently. Curious, yet focused, intense yet at the same time, there's a wonderment about her as the light plays off of her skin and eyes. He's been quiet for the most part, not wanting to disturb her as his brush scrapes against the canvas.
"You came to visit?" The question is direct from the woman, her voice low, almost a purr. Dressed in jeans and a jumper that have seen better day and hang from her frame, it's not hard to tell she's slim. It's the first thing she's said to him since he arrived.
Stalking towards the artist, her head cants in a feline way as she rounds to look at the canvas. Just what Piotr wants, surely - a model that doesn't stay still.
Still she rubs her cheek against his shoulder, eyes narrowing as she takes in the subject. "You've been gone a long time."
"Why would I not visit?" Piotr asks the woman as he lifts his eyes to Isis, then considers her words. "I have had to take care of things back home." he explains. "I live very far from here. And my parents were ill. I needed to take care of them."
There's a blink and a blush as she nuzzles his shoulder, but the large man seems to take it in stride as he reaches to give her a gentle tossle of her hair. "You are learning to speak more. That is good. I was told that you are becoming more social. Though I think we may need on convincing you to eat." It's said lightly, a soft tease of her before he looks back to the canvas, where she has taken shape, but he's still working on it.
While he may never be one of the greats, his art is very good. He could be a professional at it if he chose. "What do you think?" he asks, as she takes in the art.
"You might be wanting me to go back to the … school." Comes the simple answer. It's no secret the Institute didn't want her to leave. She's not … stable … but they couldn't stop her.
"I suppose I am. I do not know. I have to be … nice… to people. Otherwise I don't get things." She allows Piotr to tossle her hair, ears flicking a little as he does. That's it though, one touch and she's distant again, peering at the canvas critically.
"I eat. I just need to eat more than others." That's true. They'd found that out early. Her mutation means she burns calories faster than most. Models might hate her. "Parents? Take care of them?" He knows that's foreign to her and the concept is confusing. The best she might have is 'pack'. Then she remembers "Are they …ok?"
The painting gets a chuff as she turns to look at him. "Is that how you see me? All soft like that?"
"They have passed on." It's the simple way of putting it, before Piotr frowns slightly at Isis' remark on the painting. There's a pause as he turns to study the artwork, and then he turns his attention back to the young mutant.
"I did not say that you needed to go back to the school. That is on you to decide. But I want you to be safe, and I do not want anyone to try to take you again." he points out to her.
Then he adds in a more thoughtful tone. "How do you see yourself?" he asks her curiously. And then he does something she might find odd. He offers her the paints and the canvas, making room for Isis to join him if she wants. "Show me."
Piotrs words get Isis' attention again. "I'm … sorry…" she answers. It's like she knows she should say *something* but can't quite parse the emotion assigned to it. He can feel the wash of curiousity against his mind as she tries to process how he's feeling.
"You did not say that. No. But they did not want me to go." Is she safe here? Nicks here, somewhere, so maybe? A.I.M still might be threat - she was an asset after all.
When the brush and paints are offered to her, she looks at them in utter confusion. She's no artist, that much comes clear as she puts to paint to canvas. What starts to appear is … something more stark than what he captured. More fierce with no redeeming qualities.
Piotr watches her as she paints. His mind seems rather calm, if curious about the young woman. "And you and Nick are close?" he asks her curiously as she works. As she starts to make more fierce strokes, ruining what was the painting of her - he takes it in.
"This is how you see yourself. Sharp. Yet vibrant." he notes the colors that she decided to use. "There is nothing for you to apologize for. Though I thank you for the empathy." Yes, he's sad about his parents. But there's worry there - his sister is missing, and he's not yet to make contact her with her second disappearance at Belascio's hands.
"Nick… " Isis shrugs in a very feline way. "… is good. He gives me work and lets me sleep there when I need to." It's not an answer but there's something akin to affection there. Much like the feeling Piotr gets from her, at times. "You are worried… yes? Not about your parents, I think."
"Hard. Sharp, I suppose." The feline-like mutant looks at the canvas and frowns. "Not vibrant. Loud, maybe?" Not in volume but maybe in presence. "I don't know. I find people respond to me … with difficulty."
"My sister is in a place where I cannot get to her. I worry." Piotr admits as he smiles at Isis. "It is good to have someone that is close to you." he points out to her, as he considers the canvas and taps his chin in thought.
"Perhaps loud in personality, but you are not afraid of who you are. Or showing it." he replies as he studies the canvas a little more. "People are not sure how to approach you. It takes time. And patience. On both sides. You, Isis, like to be very close to others, because you are curious as to who they are. Others are not as receptive to it."
It had, admittedly, been a problem at the Institute. Isis had no real personal boundaries. Part of it, a lot, was her nature due to her mutation. Some of it had been her upbringing and training. "You and Nick don't mind." It's a statement. "You don't mind if I curl in your lap or am close. Others don't like me close at all."
The definition of 'close' is probably in question and it probably doesn't help that she's an empath and picks up on nuances that others might miss or simply not care about.
"You see me as soft, though?" She comes back to that contrasting her rather childish strokes against his professional ones. "Your sister. You are very fond of her. I feel that each time you speak about her." She doesn't smile back but then she doesn't generally. Such a serious young person really.
"There are lots to dreams to feed on here. I … met some people the other night." Her other ability. The one that allowed them to find her.
"I do not mind because I was one of the ones that found you, and spent the time when you first were brought in. I feel it is the same way with Nick, though he is closer to you because you are staying with him." Piotr responds. "Yes, I am close to my snowflake - I helped to raise her when I was younger. She means a lot to me." he explains as he sets the paints to the side and turns his attention to her.
"Others?" he asks her curiously, with a lift of his brow. "You did not attempt to get too close?" he asks her, concern in his tone, he knows how easily she can draw others to her when she wants.
"I can tell. Snowflake? That's … not a nice term, is it?" It's not in general but that's not how Piotr means it. "Others? I tried. Too close? I don't know. Maybe." There's another shrug.
"They didn't like me on their beds or in their rooms." Piotr might imagine how that went down, given his own experiences with the young woman as she got used to being in 'company'.
"I don't know any other way to be, Piotr." His name. That's something. "It's easier with the Morlocks. They … accept what I am."
"What are you going to do now you're back? Stay with the … others." She doesn't call them the X-Men. She's been told not to - not in public.
"It is a nice one." Piotr counters. "I have called her snowflake since she was tiny baby, no bigger than snowflake." He may be exaggerating, but Isis can feel the warm regard that Piotr has for his sister.
"Those that ask you to be something different than what you are. They are missing who you are, then." he points out to her. "You are a sharp and loud young woman - but you are not without curiosity and a drive to be something more than what you already are. If you feel that you can do better with the Morlocks…" he frowns slightly, but he's not going to push. It's more worry of her than distrust of the Morlocks.
"I am going to teach at the school, yes." he explains. "I would like to teach art. To let young students express themselves, either in canvas, on paper, or though clay or other means."
"You were … older when she was born?" Piotr's not wrong that Isis is curious. Curious like a cat, really. The warmth she feels when he speaks on Illyana brings the faintest of smiles and it's like the young woman soaks it up.
"I am sharp yes…" Isis puts the brush down and shows her nails, letting the claws extend from them, one by one, mimicking swiping at Piotr when she does. "Very sharp. They do not like that either."
"You worry about … me. I don't know if I can do better with the Morlocks but they don't try and change me. I feel like I can breath out here." beat "I miss you though …"
"You will be a good teacher, I think. Will they let you teach Art? Or do they want something else?"
"I will try to visit more often." Piotr promises to the young woman, giving her hand a soft pat if she allows. "And yes, I was much older. Though the last time she went away, when she came back.. she had somehow advanced in age. She was no longer so young." he admits quietly, and that brings another one of those frowns to his features.
"And I do worry about you. You are a friend. And someone I care about. I want you to have the best you can have now that you are free." he points out to her as she brandishes her claws. "Yes, I remember those very well." At least he didn't turn to steel on reflex this time?
"I believe the Professor will allow it. There are other teachers. Ones that teach combat and defense, and all that. I do not want to do that. I want to teach something that allows a person to express themself."
It's clear that Isis doesn't understand about Illyana as she gives Piotr a searching look. "She was gone a long time, then." That's what she decides. It makes sense, doesn't it.
The comment about the claws gets a somewhat coy look as they're retracted again. "They didn't do much good against you…" It's almost a grumble but not quite. There's been more than one time in their history that she's used them - a reflex to 'steel up' is probably not uncalled for.
The pat on the hand is allowed as the young woman moves closer again and brushes against him. So very feline in nature. It's not hard to understand why others have trouble letting her close.
"That is good. Maybe I will come for those, if I'm allowed. You would be a good combat teacher though. You … try not to hurt people. Much."
"You will always be welcome at the school, Isis. Even if I have to open the doors myself. Morlock or no." Piotr responds firmly as she brushes up against him. There's a small chuckle as he gives her a squeeze, but lets go quickly enough - he knows that she doesn't stay close for long if she doesn't want.
"Yes, and she has been gone even longer this time - and she is out of my ability to get to her." he explains in the simpilest of terms.
"But this is not about me. This is about your future. You will be okay?" he asks her, mainly to reassure himself, as much as to know from her.
Isis doesn't pull away this time, just stands there rubbing her cheek against Piotrs chest. He can feel the start of a purr rumbling in her chest at the contact. "I'm not a Morlock, Piotr. I've not joined them. Just sometimes I … run with them."
"I will help you find her." That's to Illyana and there's sense of finality to the statement. "I am a good tracker and I can search in dreams … Maybe I can go to her, tell her you are missing her and to come home." It's so simple for her.
His concern gets another nuzzle. For her reassurance, or his? "I must be. I don't want to be at the Institute and I don't want to be what I was."
There's a soft chuckle at that as Piotr considers the offer. "I believe if there is anyone that could, Isis, it would be you." The rub against his chest gives him a slight pause, but he accepts it as Isis being consoling more than suggestive. Especially when the second nuzzle comes in.
"Then I will have more reason to come here more often. Once I have made a friend, they are a friend for life, Isis. I will not let you be hurt. Or taken again." he promises her, as he starts to put the paints away.
It's familiar, the contact. Not suggestive. Someone that Isis is comfortable with and really, the woman doesn't understand personal space like others do. Then again, Piotr might be forgiven if he had misinterpreted - and who knows what she would have done.
"I will find her if you want …" So confident. Does Piotr understand the full extent of her dreamwalking abiilites? Does she, even?
With the sun starting to dip, the feline-like mutant can't fault Piotr for packing up. "Food now?" Of course she's hungry.