Issue 1 Downtime

Anika Sloan wrote:"Miss Szardos it is. So did you set this all up?"

"As much as I would like to claim sole responsibility it wasn't just me alone. The club's board comes together for these outings or else there would be the risk for bad blood and bruised egos."

"How many outings do you guys have? Just a yearly thing?"

"Ones that allow non-members? Usually only once a year."

Ryan, in turn, started turning along with them, trying to subtly prevent just that. A reach for a new drink here, offering one to Veronica there, convenient stretching of wings to partially block shots... any excuse he had to move to keep photographers from being able to get a really good shot of both their faces. "The pleasure is mine," he said, politely, starting to map out blog points in his head to make it abundantly clear that he had nothing in common with the separatists. "Today's a miracle for common ground, I suppose?"

"Oh, we're all friends here, aren't we? No room for bad blood with so many people here, right? A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."

"I'm glad that numbers clean our blood up so nicely," Ryan chuckled amiably, remembering the numerous times mutant blood had been referred to as dirty.

Veronica looks between Ryan and Nigel as they speak, then her eyes wander to Yui, watching her reaction to the interaction.

Yui looks vaguely amused by both sides attempting to put on a good show despite the fact that everyone present knows they probably hate each others guts. She herself seems to have no particular stakes in this.

"Anyway, old chap, I just wanted to welcome you to the party when I saw you. It's so rare to see an American in a place like this, that, you know, I had to be friendly, right old chum? A-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha."

"Well thank you, I know how concerned you get about making sure people feel welcome here," Ryan countered with his winningest smile.

"Very kind off you." Veronica adds with a smile. It was fake, of course, but it was there none-the-less. Noting Ryan's attempts, she did what she could to position herself to be in the way of the photographers.

"Well then, I see you're in good hands here." Yui says with an amused chuckle. "Now if you'll excuse me, there's someone else I should welcome to the party." she excuses herself and heads over to where John (and Bear?) are standing near the entrance.

"Mister Hino!" she greets him almost too friendly. "I am so glad you could make it."

"I couldn't very well pass up something this potentially interesting now could I?" he asked.

"Some people do. I don't understand it, but you never know. Oh well, it's their loss." she says before quickly adding, "Soshite, watashi no hōhō shitsurei! Watashinonamaeha Yui kumodesu."

**And how rude of me! My name is Yui Kumo.**

"A pleasure Miss Kumo," he said.

"And may I introduce my date, Byrna Cooper," he a dded with a smile directed at his girlfriend.

Nina steals a fork to analyze for later.

Trev Anderson wrote:"I...uh...well I'll be honest, sir, I have no idea. An invitation came in the mail, and it seemed like something that'd be hard to ignore."

"Good on you, kid," Henry says. "Most kids your age think they can ignore this stuff. Then they wonder why old assholes like me run the world."

"Thanks, sir. I'm sure you've worked your ass off to get where you are on top,"

"...not that I'm agreeing your an asshole. I mean, you did me a solid by helping me not stain this ridiculously overpriced rental," he chuckled.

Trev Anderson wrote:"Thanks, sir. I'm sure you've worked your ass off to get where you are on top,"

"...not that I'm agreeing your an asshole. I mean, you did me a solid by helping me not stain this ridiculously overpriced rental," he chuckled.

"I got lucky," Henry says. "Why do you think these people show off their wealth? Make their little rules? Insecure. All of this could go away like that."

Henry snaps.

"And they know it on some level."

Having finished distributing probes throughout the entire room, Nina went to get some punch,

Spying on a party was thirsty work.

"The rest of the year is for evaluating the new pawns that get captured tonight," Victoria mused.

Trev smiled nervously and nodded politely in agreement. "A little luck always helps."

Victoria Valentine wrote:"The rest of the year is for evaluating the new pawns that get captured tonight," Victoria mused.

"Now now, you're talking as if we didn't value every one of our esteemed guests." she says, smiling politely and raising her glass at one of the guests walking past them. "But yes, the rest of the year we spend on internal affairs."

Trev Anderson wrote:Trev smiled nervously and nodded politely in agreement. "A little luck always helps."

Henry pats Trev on his shoulder, "You're a good kid. Keep it up and you'll go far in this game."

"I need a drink. You want a drink? Where's the goddamn bar in this place?"

"Sure, I think I saw it over that way," Trev nodded in the direction of the bar

"I hope you'll forgive me, but I'm afraid I promised the lady a dance," Ryan said, giving Nigel his winningest (and most fake to date) smile. He smiled and looked at Veronica. "Shall we?"

"Off course." Veronica says with a smile, dipping her head to Nigel. "Eet was wonderful to meet you."

Trev Anderson wrote:"Sure, I think I saw it over that way," Trev nodded in the direction of the bar

Henry leads Trev to the bar and orders a bourbon.

"So, tell me, son. What's Xavier's interest in this little shindig?"

Trev ordered the same drink as Henry--it seemed a good lead to follow.

"I haven't got a clue," he said honestly. "I'm here because I got an invitation--probably by someone's mistake," he chuckled. "But this whole thing seems to be people who are powerful and important, so, would make sense that a place that has a lot of people who are pretty powerful might get some invites and be interested in seeing what's going on here."

Ryan glanced down at his hand as they made their way through the party to where the dance floor was. "I feel like I need to wash it with acid now," he muttered to Veronica.

John Hino wrote:John stepped out onto the red carpet next. Despite his mutation-mandated lack of proper footwear, he looked as fashionable as a lizardman could in his tailored, black designer suit and tastefully patterned blue tie. Giving the press every bit as calculated a regard as Ryan, albeit without the experienced ease, he held out an arm for his girlfriend before moving onward.

Bear had debated, but she decided to go with a look that would not be mistaken as hippie or unsophisticated. Her hair was up in a sultry style, accented with white flowers local to Maldon. Her makeup was impeccable, thanks to Victoria's guidance. She smelled of delicate spices and breezy oceans, and her dress was a light purple and corn, tight in all the right places, accentuating her athletes body while not overpowering the look. She slipped on her rarely worn heels briefly, but was so quick in her recovery nobody would notice.

She grasped her boyfriend's arm confidently, before turning and waving to the crowd with a very memorable smile.

She smiled, curtseying very politely to Yui.

"A pleasure to meet you."

Byrna Cooper wrote:She smiled, curtseying very politely to Yui.

"A pleasure to meet you."

"Indeed!" she smiles sharply. "I've heard of some of your heroic deeds, Miss Cooper. I'm very impressed."

"I just do what I can. Thank you, though."

Bear continued her smile, trying to access Yui's intentions.

Yui almost looks like she's evaluating Bear, sizing her up.

"Oh, it's more than that. Plenty of people are able but few are willing. Don't sell your accomplishments short."

She seems to have decided to play nice.

"That's exactly what I tell her."

Bear nodded with a smile in response.

"Thank you for the kind words, in that case."

She glanced at the dress, admiring it.

"I apologize, but I don't think I've come across your name before.. Are you local?" She asked, politely.

"I am now." she laughs. "But no, I was born in Japan and business took me here. There's more... room to grow in this city, so I stayed."

Ryan Gabriel wrote:Ryan glanced down at his hand as they made their way through the party to where the dance floor was. "I feel like I need to wash it with acid now," he muttered to Veronica.

Veronica chuckles quietly, muttering back. "Zee tension between you two was so sick ((thick)) I do not sink zee strongest off lasers could cut srough."

He couldn't help smirking. "If I get plastered all over the papers as a UKIP supporter now, I'm going to hear so many 'I told you so's about coming here," he joked quietly. They had to take a moment to make sure that there was room to slip in with his wings, but then again, he was used to that. He gave her a playful smile, then a bow. "May I have this dance?"