we're so noir.

[shakeandbake]

WHO: The City's new X-Factor, original members & new ImPort recruits.
WHERE: X-Factor HQ aka some offices at City Hall.
WHEN: Tuesday, all day.
WARNINGS: It's X-Factor. All warnings apply, amirite.
SUMMARY: X-Factor members meet and mingle.
FORMAT: Whatever we want. We're X-Factor, gosh. Multiple threads within! It's a free for all, ya'll.

Comments

[shakeandbake]

Oh, great. My favorite.

[ It's weirdly comforting, how Monet in any universe still treats him the same way, unfazed by anything and everything. But he won't say that out loud. Instead, he reaches for the folder and thumbs through it. He could make a comment about how, with his powers restored in the City, she really should make someone else do it -- but eh, for old time's sake (or maybe for friendship's sake), whatever. He'll do it.

So, instead, at length, in the most casual way he can manage, he asks: ]

Is Shatterstar still here?

[ He's been avoiding checking. Just because he isn't sure yet how he'll respond if the answer isn't yes. ]

[insufferablysmug]

Perhaps not. [ dryly ] Still, punctuality is considered a virtue.

[acrossyourpath]

I'll keep that in mind for next time.

[cloud9]

[ She tries to look less nervous. It doesn't work. She's a fidgety girl, that Abby Boylen, even when she sits down to try and keep herself from fidgeting too much. She doesn't quite make eye contact, looking more at Monet's nose or mouth than her eyes when she speaks. ]

I-- have this extraterrestrial cloud that appears whenever I want it to. I can control the density enough so that it can carry a few people, and I use it to fly-- probably, um. Something like five hundred, o-or maybe six hundred miles per hour maximum? I-It's also pretty good as a defensive or escape maneuver, and I've used it for crowd control before.

[ A hesitation. ]

I can-- uh. Kinda use it offensively too. If I have to.

[insufferablysmug]

Yes.

[ If asked, she wouldn't admit his absence had affected her at all. And in some ways it hadn't. In many ways she was perfectly all right with him having gone and returned.

It hadn't been entirely comfortable, being almost by herself, though. However she protested, her team's absence was something she disliked. The more of them here, the better. She almost smiles at that question. ]

Unless he's been ported out in the past 24 hours, yes.

He'd probably appreciate you contacting him.

[shakeandbake]

[ Relief. It shows a little on his face. But he makes a save by clearing his throat lightly. Yeah, these uh, licensing papers. Very interesting. ]

Yeah. Probably. I should do that.

[insufferablysmug]

I'm sure you will.

Would you care to discuss business?

[insufferablysmug]

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

Should I pull out your communicator and dial the number, or are you feeling capable enough to do that by yourself?

[insufferablysmug]

Stop fidgeting. [ She has no intention of molly coddling anyone here. At all. ]

There's no need to.

That does sound like something that could come of use. What offensive capabilities does it have?

[acrossyourpath]

That's why we're all here, right?

[insufferablysmug]

It is.

I know most of your skillset, but if there's anything else I should know, I'd like to hear about it now rather than later.

[acrossyourpath]

Before I tell you anything, what do you know?

[insufferablysmug]

Highly skilled retrieval expert. [ h e h. Actually, she's just going to avoid mentioning the bad luck powers for now. In case it's not something she wants spread around. ] I believe that sums it up well.

[acrossyourpath]

That's about right. I always get what I want.

[cloud9]

[ Abby tenses and stills immediately, her spine straightening. ]

Yes'm.

[ She's still nervous. It shows in her face. She hesitates before responding uncomfortably: ]

Er. Well. I can-- uh. Choke people. With the gas.

[batmantled]

[ Experience says that success in gelling with a new team depends a lot on how your relationship turns with the person in charge. He stops by Monet's desk on the way out, taking care to give the space a wide physical berth in case she's territorial. ]

It's Monet, right?

[motherfucked]

I'm not very superstitious.

[It was too bad she couldn't smoke in City Hall, though.]

[acrossyourpath]

Just checking. Bad luck isn't always far behind.

[motherfucked]

I'll try to stay away from the ladders.

[acrossyourpath]

[ She smirks, and glances around the room. ]

How do you think this is going to go?

[shakeandbake]

[ His eyebrows pinch a little. Defensive and scathingly sarcastic: ]

I think I'll manage. Thanks anyway.

[ A beat. Then, ugh, because he knows it's just him being a turd and not really Monet's fault, reeling his tone in: ]

Besides, the leader of X-Factor probably has more important things to do than manage my dysfunctional relationship for me.

[insufferablysmug]

[ She looks up, eyebrows raising a moment, and then sets her papers down and folds her hands. ]

Yes. And you're Batman.

[insufferablysmug]

I'm certain that will be useful to us.

Did you have any questions about X-Factor?

[insufferablysmug]

[ Well at least she's stopped fidgeting. ]

Excellent. It's not unusual in our line of work to wind up in fights, and the more advantages you have the better.

Now do you have any questions?

[insufferablysmug]

I'm sure you will.

[ A dismissive wave as she starts to head back to her desk. ]

You're here again, that clears up my schedule immensely.