Summary:Allison arrives at Paragon Investigations for vetting for the Institute. Things get heated - literally Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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It's about midmorning and the front doors to Paragon Investigation are open. Through the doors though, the reception desk is empty. There's a bell there though.
Once inside, the smell of not quite burnt bacon and eggs wafts from the kitchen facilities and judging by the banging of pots and pans, she *might* be cleaning. Or having a tantrum. It could go either way.
Well, this is the place.
Allison takes a moment to compose herself before she goes into (the office of?) Paragon Investigations. She looks at the front for a couple of seconds, then adjusts the strap of the backpack she has attached to her. It looks to be loosely-filled. Dressed to travel — Canadian tuxedo with white t-shirt and sneakers — she takes a deep breath, and then pushes the front door open. And thereby enters.
"Isis?" she calls out quietly.
Paragon Investigations is presently occupying what used to be a mixed working and living space. In the front - the office part - as Allison comes in is a big, broad shouldered brown furred wolfman in jeans and a black tee shirt. He looks up when she calls out.
"Isis, your guest is here." The sound of clattering pots makes him wince. "She'll be out shortly. I'm Nick. Nick Gleason. I take it you're the one we were expecting? Sorry, Isis didn't give me a name but welcome."
He offers a clawed hand out to shake.
How many times as Illyana told them her codename is NOT 'Magik Schoolbus?' The answer is, apparently 'not enough'.
In the middle of the office space, without any sort of fanfare, a two dimensional circle of light flares into being about six feet above the floor and falls like rain to the floor.
In it's wake are a pair of women, one brunette and one blonde. The former looks in her late 20s and is rocking the 'professional' appearance in blouse and slacks and at the moment has very wide eyes and a slightly shocked expression. One almost expects her hair to be standing on-end. The blonde is dressed all in black with a lot of leather, a sort of metal/goth look with silver accents in the form of spikes and chains and pentagrams. Knee-high boots with thick soles and a lot of buckles complete her look. Her arms are crossed and she looks… well, a bit cross.
Illyana looks around the place and then over to the brunette. "This the place?" Her tone implies it damned well better be. Then she looks over to Nick and her annoyed look is replaced by a wicked smile as she steps up behind the large werewolf. She'll wait until he finishes greeting his guest, of course.
Like most felines, Isis heard her name but is slow to respond - it might be Nicks call that hurries her along, a bit. The feline-like mutant is just entering the reception area when Illyana appears causing Isis to jump onto the corner of the desk in a crouch.
hisssss/
Poor Allison must be wondering what sort menagerie she's walked into.
The brunette does indeed look dazed and nods vaguely to the blonde. "Thank you Magik. This is the place and oh, people …" She rolls her eyes at Isis's antics before holding her hand out to Nick first "Victoria Henessy, I had an appointment with … Allison, I believe."
Just like Isis to only give some of the information.
Allison then gets her regard "You would be Allison, yes?"
The appropriate acronym for Allison's reaction to Nick: JFC.
Mind, the look on the newcomer's face is sort of priceless. There's the instinctive fear. There's the incredulity of being face-to-face with a storybook monster. There's the eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. It's probably worth the price of admission, if one is looking for humor value in a first meeting. Oh, and, of coure, the obligatory exclamation. "Holy shit!" And nearly falling back on her butt.
Not everyone's got nerves of steel.
"Caesar's ghost — I'm sorry!" Allison catches herself, and her surprise. "I'm sorry. I just — " She lets out a breath. " — you don't bloody-well bump into a wolf man everyday, and you're the second person I've met today up close that look like they may pull my head off and eat it." Someone probably hasn't been around a lot of mutants in the past. "So, I'm — my apologies, Mr. Gleason, my — " Eyes shift to Illyana. " — I, ah — where did you bloody — ?"
It's going to be one of those nights, apparently.
There is a forceful sigh, and then Allison's attention is pulled to Victoria. Her name? She recognizes and holds to, like a rock of sanity. "Yes. Allison Crestmere, that's me." The newcomer looks about in confusion and just a smidge of suspicion. "I was invited by Isis, yeah?" Gaze goes to the feral cat. "Heard that a fellow by the name of Professor Xavier was looking for me." Beat.
"Ms. Henessy."
Nick jumps when Allison does, having not quite expected that reaction. Really he should have. He's been like this for years and yes, that is a reaction people have. Mutants, of course, may be a thing but Allison is quite right. One does not run into a wolf man every day. Well, unless you went to a certain school several years back. Then you might have, and stranger besides.
His back turned and Allison's reaction ringing in his admittedly sensitive ears, Nick missed Illyana teleporting in and the subsequent words involving her. Thus he also misses the wicked smile on her face.
"Hello Vicki. When did you get here? You look frazzled. Isis stop hissing, you invited Allison didn't you?"
That's not what she's hissing at though, not that he knows it. Oblivious to the fate awaiting him he takes a step forward and shakes.rr
"Nice to meet you. And don't worry. That happens. No head pulling, I promise. Sorry for the scare."
It's possibly a good thing that she's being exposed to weirdness right now, as if she winds up with Xavier, there'll be plenty of it. Nick, though. is just catching up to the fact that Allison is looking at something behind him.
Too late.
Nick is tall. And Illyana is not. But, she's used to having a very tall brother. So, she opens a small stepping disk at her feet and, as though it were solid, it starts to lift her upwards. Really, she's standing in Limbo and the disk is about a quarter inch off the ground. Portal tricks. One of the best things she picked up at Xavier's.
Once she's up high enough, Illyana looks over at Allison, still grinning, something that flashes way too many teeth and winks at the other blonde. Then she leans in so she can cover Nick's eyes, leaning in to whisper, "Boo!"
Isis does stop hissing but doesn't move from her crouch on the desk. Her slitted grey/blue eyes look even more wild and it takes a few moments for her to regain her compsure. "Ms Henessey…" Not Vickie for Isis, not like Nick.
"Just a moment ago." The telepath is still a little a disoriented and forgets to mention how she got here. Which means Nick still won't suspect what happens next.
"I'm sorry about the mode of my entry and I didn't mean to startle you. This was the best and safe place to meet you, though." Isis gets a look for mentioning Professor Xavier, a look that the feline-like mutant just shrugs off. If she had a tail, they might imagine it would swishing.
"Yes, we run a school for the gifted and the Professor located you and I'm sure Isis explained that we need to … assess … you. Nick, is there somewhere we can sit?" beat "And Allison, I'm sure you have questions."
When Illyana sneaks up on Nick, Isis lets out a low feline growl but refuses to meet the goth-blondes eyes.
"Assess me?"
Allison moves off to the side with Victoria, so she can have a somewhat more private conversation without the risk of being knocked over by a surprised Nick or a jumpy Isis. Damned cats and dogs. "I don't recall that, but I suppose I was a bit cack-handed when I met Isis. Might have missed it, among other things." She crosses her arms over her chest. "But I did bump into a Doctor Hank McCoy who said a lot of good things, and I've no reason to believe he passed Chinese whispers."
She looks at Victoria for a moment in silence.
"Is this assessment some sort of test or something? Like jumping through hoops?" She frowns. "I hope you're not meaning to have me show my powers here?" Scoff. "Because I'd make the dog's dinner out of this place if I weren't careful, and I'm still a bit dicey on keeping it all together, yeah?" She bites on her lower lip for a second, uncertain.
Maybe a little bit scared.
Nick's reaction to the surprise is thankfully not overblown but it might be rather priceless all the same. He his ears fold back in shock and he lets out a quite audible 'eep'. "Illyana." That's how Victoria got here. It all makes sense now.
That's all he gets out for a minute or so while his heart stops racing. "They roped you into playing taxi?" Is the next thing he manages. "Or are you just here scare the prospects. It's okay Isis. You know Illyana. Didn't you have breakfast for us? Or did that not go well?"
He can't move for a little bit, since he's probably going to be Illyana's ladder down but he seems quite willing to do this. He remembers her from when she was quite young.
"It's to make sure that you're sincere, Allison. The students at this place are like… us… possibly also you. Some of them have control issues. Some of them come from really rough backgrounds. The school is meant to be a place where they can learn and be safe and the Headmaster takes that very seriously."
Seriously to the point of having everyone who goes there telepathically scanned. Even Nick, though that was years ago.
"Isis can tell you. She went through the same. Coming down, Illyana?"
Illyana Rasputina chuckles, ruffling Nick's hair as he gets it right. Then she drops her arms to around his neck to hold on so he can put her down. "How's my favorite puppy?" It likely sounds terribly condescending. What's worse is that most who only know Illyana passingly would consider that totally in character for her. They wouldn't be far off the mark.
Once Nick's let her down, she looks over at the new person. She'll let the others make the pitch for the school, sketching out a short wave and then looking around for the kitty cat… She reaches into one of her jacket pockets and pulls out a little bell on a ribbon and jingles it lightly, smirking over at Isis.
"There's breakfast." Isis answers, her voice still slightly growly, in the break room, on the table. She gets down off the desk and gestures for the others to head through.
On the table is a plate of bacon and a chafing dish with eggs in it. It's edible but Nick cooks better.
"Assess yes. To make sure you are a … tree… no plant. Or going to do anything to the children that go there. Something about being safe. They had to … rehabilitate … me before they let me there."
She doesn't say it, but it took months.
"Isis and Nick are quite right, Allison. It's a safety thing for the school. Mutants are considered dangerous and there's those who would do more than 'register' us. Assessment is fairly easy and painless, if you don't mind me doing a telepathic scan."
The bell on a ribbon gets Isis' immediate attention and she pounces at Illyana.
"Oh."
Allison looks a little relieved, but still a little anxious. "You just want to rattle around in there." For whatever reason, that is more acceptable to her than manifesting her powers. "I don't mean to sound pissed about it, mind. I just mean that — well, I don't want this to get all pear-shaped, know what I mean?" Maybe, maybe not. Damned slang. "So — " She clears her throat, shakes out her hands and arms, and tries to relax, visibly. " — yeah, that's fine. Do what you must."
She closes her eyes, as if it were necessary for the scan.
Nick gestures for Illyana to go get food and since Allison and Victoria aren't moving he goes to get plates for them. They can all congregate in the break room when Vicki is done. It shouldn't take long.
"All of us here graduated from the place, so I can tell you it works. The whole control thing, the stuff they teach. All that." He doesn't mention more because he's balancing things. He arrives back in the room just in time to see Isis getting ready to…
"Isis are you sure you want-"
There she goes. He gives Allison an apologetic look. "School's not typically like this."
It's much more organized and at the same time MUCH more chaotic.
"Where are you from by the way, if you don't mind my asking?"
He holds that until after the scan is complete, keeping one eye on Isis and Illyana all the while as if worried that suddenly everything that's balanced in any way will suddenly come crashing down.
Of course, Illyana isn't going to make it that easy for Isis. As the feline girl is in mid-air, and now slave to gravity and physics, Illyana teleports away in a blink to appear near Koa at the table. The bell is dangled teasingly at Isis again before the blonde volunteers her own thoughts on Xavier's.
"They've had to deal with a lot of wildly different powers, so they've got experience at helping you at least get some control so you're not likely to hurt people. Depending on your power and how you feel about it, they can help you come up with some interesting applications." Illyana looks from Isis over to Allison with her eerily cold blue eyes, even if the other woman can't see her. "And if nothing else, it gives you a little rolodex of folks you can call on for help or favors." At that, Victoria gets a glare. "And NOT just a ride because you couldn't plan well enough to get somewhere on time."
"Illyana! How many times have we told you not to tease her like that…" Victoria sighs and gestures to the table. "Please sit down and help yourself, Allison. Nick, try to get her under control… "
"You have a right to sound annoyed. I can't imagine that Isis was particularly … warm … in her approach but when we find a new mutant, we need to be quick, in case they are in trouble or having trouble with their powers." It's not quite an apology. "And if you are ammenable, I'll start now. Just relax, it shouldn't hurt." Allison can feel the intrusion, it's smooth but there's a definite presence to it. Victoria starts working backwards through her memories, searching them for anything that might indicate Allison is compromised. She stops every now and then, digging a little deeper into one or two.
mrroew Isis actually turns in mid air as Illyana teleports, realising too late the ploy the woman just pulled.
smack She hits Nick as he stands there and tries to scramble over him to get to the bell. "They helped me live in … society." Such a pin up girl for the X-School.
Allison resists the intrusion.
Hers is a strong mind — stronger than most. Determined. But her mind has been compromised: the fingerprints of brainwashing are all over it. Images are apparent: a Roman society; a father; a position of privilege; and then falling into an open volcano. There are feelings: the comfort of privilege; the chill of despair; the heat of betrayal; and the stack emptiness of loneliness. Someone's been fooling around in her head, but the influence is gone. What remains is the chagrin of starting over in an unfamiliar world, and the shame of having to do things to survive.
Even seated, the newcomer is overwhelming and stressful.
It causes her eyes to suddenly erupt into light. Her hair seems to writhe above her scalp like living fire for a brief second, only to die down — and then flare up again as another memory comes to her. She lets out the strangled sounds of someone trying to retain mental control over herself, and she grits her teeth as if that would help a bit.
At least she isn't exploding.
Nick has all of half a second to realize that Illyana is using him as a canine shield before he gets bowled over and stepped on. For what is unquestionably the biggest guy in the room, he seems to get knocked around a lot.
"Hey!" He says as Isis steps on his snout. Control her? How exactly does Victoria propose he do that. Has she ever tried to pin down a squirming cat? It's hard enough when you're ten times the size, let alone when the cat has powers of her own.
And then he feels the wash of heat coming from Allison and gives her, and then the other two, a worried look.
"Um…" That's 'um, do we need to do something about that?'
He's still on the ground.
Illyana Rasputina is snickering, pleased with herself as Isis plows into Nick. Hey, she got stuck playing taxi, she's going to amuse herself!
At least until there's that flare of power from Allison. That has Illyana dropping the ribbon, the bell bouncing on the floor and rolling away as the leather-clad blonde steps towards the pair on the couch with long strides. "Vicky? We OK?" Her tone is serious now, and more than willing to take the situation in hand if things start to go south.
Victoria grimaces as she's met with resistance but she doesn't try to push any harder. In many ways, she backs off, teasing the memories, tickling them, letting them flow as she tries to make sense of this.
As the heat washes out from the blonde seated before her, Victoria slowly withdraws. "Breath Allison, we are done here." Illyana gets a curt nod of her head as she stumbles a little and sits down heavily.
"She is compromised but not in the way that would worry us for taking her to the school. Allison is very much in need of our help. She was brainwashed, discovered it and won her way free. She has a story to tell and then some." beat "Allison?"
"What?" Isis bats for the ribbon as uses Nick as a launching pad. That soon stops though when the heat is felt. By the time Allison is released from the telepathic probe, the feline-like mutant is watching her intently, claws extending from her fingernails.
The chair now has a burned silhouette in it.
Allison can shut her eyes again. Her body's temperature instantly cools down to a normal level, as it relaxes — and she relaxes — again. She takes in a deep breath, and sets her hands on her thighs. There, her fingers dig in hard and tightly. Breathe. Again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I — " She opens her eyes again, and looks at Victoria. " — I told Isis. I told her I was dangerous."
Indeed.
"And I'm from Manchester." Beat. "At least, that's what the people at SHIELD told me after they picked me up. Not that they were any bleeding help after that." She's British, by the way — definitely sounds like it. "They made shambles of the entire rescue, if you ask me, but I wasn't about to complain." She looks to Nick. "I mean, I didn't really have anything to complain about." Whatever that means.
With another sigh, Allison gets back up.
"I've seen worse. Nothing's on fire…" Things were very CLOSE to being on fire but nothing is presently on fire and that's a win in Nick's book. He picks himself up and grabs the cat ribbon hoping Isis won't notice.
"Easy, kitty." The big brown werewolf murmurs.
"Lots of things are dangerous Allison. I am. Isis is…" He gestures to Illyana, who may possibly be the most dangerous person in the room though he doesn't say that.
"How does it look, Vicki? Sounds like she could really use the help."
"Isis savaged *all* the houseplants at the school." Illyana says gravely, nodding as Nick talks about how dangerous people are.
The sorceress waves a hand at the couch. "Don't worry. The Prof will get them a new couch and he'll be better off for it. Thing looked like it was on its last legs. And yeah, looks like you're dangerous and lost." The smirk Illyana gives Allison is one the other Xavier alumns are too familiar with. "Sounds right up our alley."
Glancing over to Victoria, Illyana suggests "You might wanna take the train back. If I give her a lift back it might shake her up." Much like it did to the telepath.
"We're all dangerous, Allison. Well most of us. One or two have things like changing the colour of water by touching it." Victoria says, placing a hand on the womans shoulder to try and reassure her. "There's nothing to be sorry for, you controlled it, which is more than I can say for some I've assessed."
"Would you come back to the School with me? We can help you, if you'll let us." Isis had said that she wouldn't be forced but she would be mindwiped if she refused.
Isis doesn't notice Nick pocketing the bell, just rubs her ears against his arm when he tries to calm her. It sort of works, the claws retract but she's not taking her attention from Allison.
"Yeah."
It is acceptance made in exhaustion. Or resignation. Allison tries to shake it off, but isn't altogether successful. "Sure." She tries to play it casual. "That's what I pulled the pack for, yeah?" Her backpack. "Put some things in there for the trip. Figured that I — well, that I probably would be there for a couple of days. Even called in sick." She licks her lips; they feel dry. "And, ah — well, I figured I've give my friend a ring when I get there. Or, like — " She does this awkward finger-spinning-around gesture with both hands. " — you know, when I get the chance to."
Awkward.
"Thanks, Ms. Henessy." Allison looks to Isis. "And you, Isis." Then, to Nick. "And you, Mr. Gleason. I'm sorry again, by the way, I — I'm sorry." And then, to Illyana. "And, um — " She forgets the name. Or maybe she didn't get it? " — sorry. To you too." Still awkward. "And I sound like a bloody swot," she mumbles mostly to herself as she looks back to Victoria.
"You lead the way, then?"
"Vicki, Isis can drive you home." That is perhaps somewhat petty revenge on Nick's part. He knows how Isis drives. Victoria may or may not.
And then the big werewolf does something that one DOES NOT DO.
He hugs Illyana. "Good to see you, Illyana. Allison nice to meet you. Don't let 'em scare you too bad at the school. They mean well."
With Allison and Illyana leaving and Isis taking Victoria home there's a small chance that he might get some… work done?
Perish the thought.
"Isis. Take the shortcut."
Illyana Rasputina just pulls a face when Nick hugs her. Which is brave. He was around in Illyana's early days, where 'no touchie' might mean a broken arm. Like Isis, she's been civilized! Honest. "If you don't have ice cream in your fridge, you'd best beware I don't replace your shampoo with Nair." She threatens Nick blandly. He knows she's joking. That's why he's her favorite 'puppy'.
Turning towards Allison, Illyana sketches a wave. "It's a nice place. Room to be alone if you need it too." Because something in the way Allison is a bit lost kinda speaks to Illyana, and the sorceress figures she might need that time along on occasion.
Victoria blanches at Nicks suggestion. "That's alright, Nick, I'll call a Uber, it won't take long to get here." She eyes the feline-like mutant and then sighs. She'll be out of their hair in a moment, with Allison.
Isis sniffs regally now the excitement is over, forgetting about the bell now she's not being teased. "There's no ice cream. It got eaten." she answers Illyana, stalking over to the table to start eating the breakfast she'd cooked.
Nick will have work for her later, she's sure.
"Don't tell her that." Nick hisses. "Now we have to get more." It's a play hiss. He was going to have to get more anyway because Isis was going to want some if nothing else.
However, play threat or not it might be a good idea for Nick's sake to make sure there's some in the freezer for a little bit.