Summary:Meeting in the park, Keiko might be warming to the Institute Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
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"Bella!" There's a blue glowing demon-wolf dashing through the park with what looks like a metal 'stick' in it's mouth. "Bella! Give that back." The accent of the dusky skinned, tattooed woman who is following is a mix from South America. Nothing specific to give her origins away. "Come back here you damn hairball."
The glowing demon-wolf lopes lazily in a circle, drawing close to the woman, darting away and drawing close again.
"Don't make me, make you disappear Bella!" Keiko threatens - though she doesn't sound *very* serious about that.
Standing nearby with their daughter, Piotr is watching Keiko with — well, amusement. "She only wanted to play with us, solnyshko!" he calls out to Keiko. But is he going to help her? Nope. Instead, he is holding a gyro wrapped in foil, munching on it as he watches the woman chase after her spirit wolf.
Elena has finished hers, but she's already asking. "Is it time for ice cream yet?'
As for Hank, he's in the park because he happens to enjoy nature, even when the weather is hot and sticky. At present he's simply walking about slowly, dressed in knee length khaki's and a Hawaiian shirt of rather dubious taste, the thing is quite frankly an eyesore, but he loves it! Comfy. Barefoot, he walks along with arms folded in the small of his back and is doing a fair amount of people watching.
And the sight of a glowing demonic wolf…well, um…yes, that's interesting enough to divert the man to investigate. Fortunately he soon sees two familiar faces, one an old friend, the other the friend's offspring.
"Privyet, Piotr! Privyet, Elena! How are you both doing?" He notes that Piotr is talking to someone, and then includes her in a genial wave of greeting as the Bouncing Beast closes to conversational range.
Catseye is currently in human form, or at least as human as she can get. She is in a blue sundress and sandals, carrying a small backpack rather than a purse. She spots Elena and waves at the small group. "Hello!" She is always glad to see the human kitten, and the demonic wolf gets a interested look, though not a frightened one.
"Why did she chose now to play?" Keiko shoots back to Piotr, not falling for the wolfs ploy of move in and dart away. "Bella, give me my staff back …" That's what Beast and Catseye will hear as they approach.
Bella looks up, runs past Keiko and drops the staff at her feet - putting herself between the newcomers and Elena.
Picking up the staff, Keiko makes her way back to the group. "Friends, mi amante?" she asks the big Russian carefully.
"Privyet, Doctor McCoy!" Piotr starts to offer in response, when Bella responds in defense. Elena, on the other hand, is looking curiously at Sharon. "You are not a lion?" she asks the woman curiously.
"Da, friends. Doctor McCoy.. Hank.. is a long time friend from the Institute, and a science teacher. I have met his friend before I think…?" he asks, looking at Elene curiously.
Reaching up to rub Bella, and calm her, Piotr's eyes move to Keiko to hopefully suggest she come closer. "I would like you to meet my partner.." Meaning Elena's mother. "…my solnyshko, Keiko Kurita."
"Because even exotic creatures need to play, miss." Hank says with a toothy grin. The man is very much an example of the exotic himself. Nearly six feet tall, close to four wide, very long limbs and blue-black fur. Definitely qualifies as exotic, assuming anyone can see through the ugly of his shirt, of course.
He is careful to stop his approach when the demon-wolf goes into guard mode, very still, he crouches to make himself seem a bit smaller. "Don't worry, I mean no harm." He definitely doesn't scent as aggresive, and his voice is soothing, deep.
Cat's arrival gets another grin. "Hello, Catseye." His welcome is clear.
The intro to Keiko, however, that turns his baby blues to the oriental woman. He inclines his head very politely. "Honored to meet you, Keiko Kurita-Sama."
Catseye goes down to one knee, not making eye contact with Bella, addressing the wolf softly, "Wolf guards littleElena? Good wolf." She smiles at Elena, not showing teeth. "Catseye not supposed to be lion in public, scares people. School is safeplace, so Catseye stays in furform as much as Catseye can there. Still have tail though." And if Elena is close enough, she will tickle the girl gently with the long fluffy lavender appendage. She nods to Keiko, "Glad to meet you. Catseye goes to littleElena's school."
Keiko eyes Hanks shirts as Bella keeps the family safe. "I am Keiko, yes." Her social skills really are quite lacking. She's a small woman - Hank will tower over her, though Piotr does more. Her tattooes are clearly visible - covering her arms and shoulders, as is the brand that spans her stomach and torso.
There doesn't seem to any part of her that isn't marked.
"You are … Hank and you Catseye." The shirt gets eyed again "Do you need a new shirt? I can make one from demon leather, it will last a long time." Piotr may well facepalm at that.
Elena giggles a little as she's tickled and makes a grab for the tail.
"Unfortunately, Catseye, most people can't cope with furryforms." Though…that doesn't stop HIM from running about in public! Of course he can't change out of HIS fursuit, so that's a point in Cat's corner. Well, another, she is Cat, after all. He laughs softly as Elena is tickled, now that's one thing he has never had - a tail.
Noting Keiko's…err, 'fondness' for his shirt, Hank beams. "Oh my stars and garters, no thank you. The shirt, this -beloved- shirt is an old friend, I could not possibly part with it. It was a gift from a friend." Really? A -friend- did that to him??
Catseye lets Elena catch her tail. "Gentle, tail is attached, yes? And is important for cats, extends spine, helps balance and jump." She looks between Keiko and Piotr. "When at school, can Catseye give littleElena ride around grounds sometime? Promise not to go too high in trees." For a cat's definition of too high of course! And Elena's small enough she could ride Catseye's lion form like a horse. Well, a pony.
"If you say so…" Keiko doesn't look convinced at the shirt. "It is very …" Piotr gets a look as she struggle for the word "brillante" in Spanish and then "yarkiy" in Russian. Her grip on the english language is fleeting, it seems.
If she realises there's anything wrong with her approach, it's not obvious.
"You are a teacher at Elena's school?" Catseye draws her attention and Bella decides these people might be ok. The huge demon wolf starts to sniff at Hanks leg, sniffing and snuffling at the hair there.
Thank goodness Bella is a girl.
"A ride? You shift, yes? I don't know. She must be safe." Now they're closer they'll see the black leather collar that has melded with the skin on her throat - with silvery pink lines running through it - and her catslitted pupils.
Piotr /sighs/. It's a light one. Though his hand does move to caress Keiko's shoulder. There's affection there, even if it's hard to read. The question that Catseye asks? He's not going to answer it - she's Keiko's daughter, and he's going let her have say over her daughter's actions at school. "Hank is a teacher, yes. Though I am not sure if Elena is ready for his classes yet."
Hank's smile as he watches Cat and Elena is very fond, the man clearly has some strong paternal instincts. It is a measure of how much he trusts Cat that he turns to speak with Keiko once more. He KNOWS that Cat would gnaw off her own limbs before letting Elena come to harm, and far worse would in store for anything that tried to threaten the girl!
"Oh, I am well aware that the shirt is perhaps..a tad, no, I'd daresay a -smidge- loud, but I love it all the same." And yes, his eyes are aglow with barely contained mirth.
The sniffing of the wolf doesn't really surprise him, he'll take the opportunity to scritch at the ruff behind her shoulders if permitted.
Catseye smiles, "Catseye is student, taking calculus, physics, English, programming classes. English hardest, Catseye… does not think human, yes? And yes, shift to very large lavender lion. Furform better than smoothskin, more fun. No one hurt littleElena when Catseye is around." Seriously, Elena would be on the back of a lion! Catseye doesn't understand how she could be safer, except snugged between Piotr and Keiko. Because parents are supposed to protect, yes? The cats that raised her certainly did.
Bella is spirit, the 'fur' appears to be as much leather as it is fur now and the texture is strange given the creatures composition.
Piotrs sigh gets a glance from the peruvian as leans into the caress on her shoulder. It's strange how she doesn't demonstrate much affection to either of her family members and yet, she's clearly fond of them.
"What do you teach? Hank, yes?" She always has trouble with getting people's names. "And why would Elena not be ready for such classes?" This from a woman who never went to school.
It takes Keiko a moment to translate what Catseye has said. "You want her to ride on the back of a lion and you … won't go high? I don't know. Piotr is this safe?"
"As long as Elena listens to her, it should be." Piotr gives advice, but not permission, instead, his attention is on the others. "Hank teaches science classes." But he'll let Hank to discuss that further. Instead, he moves his hand to brush the back of her neck as she leans into the caress. He's clearly the affectionate one of the dynamic between the two.
"Incorrect, Cat, you're an EXCELLENT student." Hank admonishes with a huge smile.
He nods to Keiko. "Hank, yes." He looks to Elena, and then back to Keiko. "As Piotr has said, I teach science. And math. And tutor in History, or the arts. Literature. Mostly sciences though…computers too, especially programming." Okay, so, Hank is sort of a Swiss Army Knife of teaching goodness! That's not a bad thing, right? "As to Elena, I can always come up with a custom educational plan if you'd like, set the parameters, I'll make it happen." He will too!
Catseye looks at Keiko, "Lion is me, not let littleElena fall. Be fun for both of us. And only if littleElena wants to, has been good at school. Has been working hard, yes? Deserves to play too."
Keiko shakes her head to Hank and gestures to Piotr "Piotr understands school, I never went to one. All my learning was done in the compound. We trained all day, worked and slept." She can barely read or write English and Spanish and certainly nothing in Russian, even she can speak all three passingly well.
Catseye's comment has the peruvian considering. "Fun. I … if they want to do this, I do not mind." Fun. Does Keiko even really know what that is? "To me fun is watching two demons flay each other."
There's a look to Piotr as his hand brushes her neck. "SHIELD will have the house re-warded by Sunday and we can move back in. They don't want it empty too long." Re-warded? Move back in? Something happened? Maybe it has to do with the dressings they can see under her shirt. The ones on her shoulder and torso.
"Of course. I know that Illyana is keeping it in check." comes Piotr's response as he keeps close to Keiko, but not too close to her to crowd her. When she grants Elena's permission to play with Catseye, there's a nod, acepting the idea as it is. "The bed where we are currently.. is very small." Of course, he's seven and a half feet tall - so any bed he needs probably has to be custom made.
Which of course gives Keiko the benefit of a lot more bed to take over.
Looking to Elena, Hank offers a hand. "Would you like to play with Catseye sometime, little one? She's a very good friend, and it would make her very happy." He grins Cat-wards, then looks to Elena. "Just remember she's purple, or lavender - not pink, she's very particular about that." Oh man, he's in for it now!
"With no basis of comparison, Keiko, then just tell me what you want in her curriculum, and that's what we'll do." Simple enough! Tell him what you want, get it - easy-peasy! He can't help but grimace a little at the thought of 'Demon Flaying for Giggles n'Snicks', but then he nods. "Well, there's a lot of options that don't involve flaying. Perhaps you should sit in on a play session sometime for examples."
Hank notes the bandages, and the mention of repairs and wards. "Miss Kurita, are you in need of medical attention? I have ample expertise, if you want or need assistance." And of course she gets more bed, steals the covers too, probably! Piotr being Piotr he'd likely just accept, roll over onto his side, and deal. He's a good man, and quite forgiving - but hell itself on those that would harm those he loves. No matter how much time he spent in Limbo, that's too much a part of him for Hank to picture otherwise.
Catseye's head tilts. "For Catseye hunting is fun, but so is teaching, playing with kittens. Even human shaped kittens. LittleElena too young for hunting, does not have claws or fangs so would need training, weapons. Would not take kitten hunting, but school is safeplace to play." Catseye is cat, even in smoothskin form. Kittens are to be protected, taught and played with. It's what kittens are FOR. Even human kittens.
"Elena can hunt. With me." It's very direct statement. "She began her weapon training when she could walk." She's serious too. Given where the child spent the first five years of her life in Limbo. "But Piotr and Illyana say she needs to be a child. To play and have fun. I am not a good judge of this." Such, hard, hard mother. "If you can play with her like I do not …" It's admission and a shift to try and make accomodation with the shifter.
"SHIELD have asked me to check out some of those places, Piotr. I would like for you to come with me, in case there is trouble. Can you do that?" It might mean Elena needs someone to sit with her. "We need to do it soon, given everything."
"Keiko." She corrects Hank without thinking about it. "I was released from SHIELD medical yesterday. The injuries will heal. Your offer is appreciated." No please or thank you, but there's another small shift in her language. The injuries had to have extensive for the dressings she's wearing. "Someone ran me through with a sword."
"The bed is small? I had not noticed." Of course she hasn't. "As to curriculum, I do not know. I don't read or write. I'm not fit to even comment. Elena reads better than I do."
"I will come with you, Keiko." As if she even needs to ask him. Piotr frowns slightly as he considers the situation. He's not going to mention that said soul was possibly the missing part of his soul.
"You are her mother, you are fit to comment." comes the response from the large Russian backs up his lyubovnik. "But yes, if you can come up with one, it would be appreciated, Hank." he finally agrees.
"Well, there you have it then, hunting can be on the playlist." And really, if the girl hunted in LIMBO, um…yeah, most game on Earth is probably doable. He relaxes his extended hand, not at all upset, Elena has a lot going on righ tnow, and frankly — Cat is far more interesting than Hank moste likely. She wants to PLAY, he wants to TEACH. Easy math right there!
When it is plain that they might need a sitter, Hank offers. "Well, if you should need to take some time away, I would be happy to keep an eye, BOTH even, on Elena in the interim — assuming she is okay with that, of course." He looks to Elena. "If your parents were out, would you like to stay with me for a while?"
He turns back to Keiko when she speaks of her injuries, and then nods. "Well, when it is time to change the bandages, please don't hesitate to contact me. Piotr has my numbers and I'll be happy to help if any complications or concerns arise."
No mention of the bed is made. Nope. Not a single solitary one!
"Piotr, it would be my pleasure to plan a curriculum for Elena, just give me some parameters - email is fine."
Catseye nods solemnly, "If KeikoEleana'sMother says littleElena only hunt with Keiko, then only hunt with Keiko. Is rule. Maybe Catseye join sometime." She considers Keiko, "Birthmother abandoned Catseye when born, Catseye shifted, grew up cat. Not shift human for longlong time. Sixteen years, maybe? Had to learn smoothskin, speak English, read, write, maths. Still learning, will always be learning human."
"You want to take her hunting?" That's interesting. Keiko looks to the girl and then to Piotr. "If she wanted, you could do that. Maybe you will make it more fun than I can." Bella licks Hanks hand and goes to sit on Catseyes feet, sniffing at her a bit before pushing her shaggy head into the womans hand.
Elena, who has been quiet for now, raises her arms to her father. "Yes please! If Catseye comes too! Mama says we can play!" Keiko rolls her eyes but look at the child fondly enough.
Piotr might object to the hunting. He's been big on ensuring that Elena can be the child that Keiko never seemed to be.
"You speak well, Catseye. I ran from the compound when I was about 21, made it to New York a few years later and … then Limbo …" Until now, she's never really been able to settle down. "I will contact you, Hank." No mention on the fact that SHIELD want to see her again. That's just disturbing.
"What do you do for fun?" These two are … bubbly, she'll admit that.
"No killing. You hunt. But you hunt to find. Not to kill." Piotr is going to put his foot down at some point, and he finds that this is his spot. The large Russian sets his lips into a thin line as he lifts Elena to settle her at his hip easily. She's /tiny/ compared to him. Of course, most things are small. Especially the child's mother.
"If you want to stay and talk, you can, Keiko. I will take Elena to get some ice cream and then head home. It is close to her bedtime."
Catseye's thick nails find their way through Bella's fur to scratch. "Fun? Catseye spends times with cats, with human kittens at the school. Stalk people sometimes, but just watch, not hunt, not hurt. Snuck up on Spiderman once! Was very funny." Her tail loops with amusement at the memory. "Yes, littleElena has been good, deserves ice cream." She smiles at Elena. "We play soon."
"No killing." Keiko looks marginally amused. As amused as the serious peruvian has ever been. "It sounds like you are a very accomplished. Elena should enjoy that."
Keiko might too. In a way. If she wasn't busy chasing rogue mages that were trying to kill her family.
"We will need some assistance with Elena this week. I need Piotrs help in investigating a location. If you could … " She can't say please or thank you. Maybe one day she will.
"I would like ice cream." She sounds nearly affronted. Though Piotr was going to get her some too. "It is good to meet people who go to the school. I can not go there." And now she knows four people, five including Piotr, from there. "I will go with Piotr though. You … might come with us if you want ice cream too."
That seems all there is though and she heads off with the big Russian as well.