driftfleet | it's not our fault it's an april mingle

[She manages not to look on edge even with the growling. She gets what has him mad and it's actually on her behalf.]

Well, if it makes you feel any better I was dead without the assist. [Wow, that was a thing to say. Especially since there are some other people she should probably tell. She moves on like it was no big deal. Like discussing her favorite flavor of PopTart.] It wasn't so bad most of the time. Just can't go taking away someone's freedom and then messing with them. Like here. [Even if there was a lot less messing here.]

And it was definitely something like that.

[that WAS a thing to say. And it gives him pause - but as she continues as if it's no big deal, he just sucks in a breath and files that away for another time]

"It wasn't so bad most of the time" is . . . the impression I get from a lot of the other multidimensional places out there. Kyriakos was the same way. Mostly, it's that the people make it not so bad.

[that was certainly the case for him.

He huffs out a sound, amused and incredibly fond] He's ridiculous. Don't let him fool you into thinking that - I'm the one who owes him.

[It's easier saying it to strangers. Just this side of casual. And he does feel more like a stranger than he really feels like the Dark Beast.] It was definitely the people.

...And the food. There was so much food. None of it was actually real, but it tasted real. [Why protein gel hell? Why?]

Okay, I get it, "No, I love hiiim more." I knew him at the prison.

I can't say food was one of the appealing parts of Kyriakos, but a teammate of mine could cook really well. And we were allowed to quest for different things, like twinkies.

[he suddenly really misses twinkies] But mm, I heard the food here is . . . questionable.

[he blinks, and barely stops himself from laughing] You did?

That's quite a quest. [Actually, that sounds like something that would have happened back home.] Very questionable. The most questions.

[Nodding.] I think so. Unless he was from another reality. He was a little younger, clean shaven, shorter hair. [Thus the Jesus reference. He hadn't started a school yet, but he had it in mind.] We were friends. [She didn't hit it off quite as well this time around.]

Something about paste, and . . . I smuggled as much as I could from the main ship that wouldn't get easily destroyed. [he nods to a cabinet, off in the corner] Feel free, if you want.

[there's a pause, and he tilts his head, something unreadable on his face] Was he able to walk?

[He surprises her again by offering her the Marsiva's better treats.] Thanks. I'm okay. [Which is actually less about suspicion and more not feeling deserving of his generosity after the way she treated him.]

Yeah. [Something she hadn't managed to bring up with him.] ...What happened?

[it just seems natural to offer; he nods] Okay. It's there if you want to, though.

[at her question he noticeably pauses, uncomfortable, before he shakes his head a little] It isn't my story to tell. It's . . . if you asked him, he'd likely tell you. It's . . . easier now, with certain things resolved.

But that's around when I met him. Eleven years ago, give or take.

Good point. [She brushes back her hair.] Do you, um, want to sit or something? [Since this talking is a thing and all.]

Shouldn't I be offering you a seat?

Do we have to argue about who asked who to dance? Find a chair, McCoy. [On the verge of teasing. It's a weird feeling.]

[he huffs, but it sounds amused. And then he just hops up onto the counter to sit, and raises his eyebrows at her. He sat, now you sit]

[She follows suit just out of arms' length.]

Have you met Kurt? The adorable one, not the scary one. [Not that she thinks of her Kurt as scary, but she imagines that's how he would have come off to Hank if they did meet.]

[he sure did come off as scary, which is why Hank just shakes his head]

I've only met - the one you know. [but he'll still be polite about it]

The other one has a device. An image inducer. It doesn't actually change him, but it does create the illusion that he can...pass for human. [She figures this might be something Hank cares about even if she thinks it's better to be yourself. She knows that's easy for her to say when she naturally passes for human.]

[it is, but her putting it out there actually surprises him. He's more used to people telling him to be himself than giving him options to pass for normal]

Ah - like a hologram?

[She also knows other worlds aren't as open about mutations. Not that hers was open in a good way exactly. But it was what it was. She didn't know how she'd feel in another set of circumstances.] I guess so. I didn't really get a chance to study it. [Though she was curious just from a tech standpoint.]

Ah. Well . . . I'll keep that in mind, if I run into him. [he's good at tech, maybe he'd be able to duplicate it. It would certainly be a lot easier than making the serum over and over, if that's even possible here]

I - thanks. For mentioning it.

Sure. I mean, you know, good to accept yourself, but you're the one who has to make those calls of how far to go.

I know. Honestly, this much is a huge improvement on what I used to do. [the old him would've locked the door, practically starved himself until he was able to recreate the serum. That he's sitting here talking to anyone is a huge leap for him]

I'm just used to hiding. [he shrugs a shoulder, but he does smile] I hid it from my boss for years until Charles outed me right in front of him.

That...sounds like kind of a dick move. [Especially because she assumes he could read how much Hank didn't want that.]

[he actually laughs and shakes his head]

It wasn't like that. Mutants weren't . . . well-known, back then, but my boss always believed we were around. He was helping Charles and when he introduced us, Charles assumed he was being introduced to another mutant. Which he was, but. [he shrugs, the grin widening at the memory] He was mad I was hiding and didn't prove him right first.

Okay, less dickish then.

I've never really lived through a time when mutants weren't well known. [But when she was really young but what would she have known of any of it as a pre-schooler?] And feared.

It's . . . hard to explain what we are right now. [a claw lightly taps against the table as he searches for what he wants to say] But I can't really imagine growing up in a time when mutants are well-known at all. Let alone feared.

I don't think I could recommend it. [Though she was sure there were some advantages.] Definitely not for you. [Because obviously.]

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