Layla stood casually, hands in her pockets and greeted the people with a smile. It was for the better that they all assumed she was just an ordinary girl. The woman, whom Layla very found fascinating, looked at her, an eyebrow arched. She did not seem the least pleased about her presence. Layla, on the other hand, was more than pleased with the company.
She had been looking for them. There was a... a situation, and it was something she needed to take care of.
If Rowena had been a dog, her hair would have bristled. As it was, she limited herself to a glare and a flash of teeth. "Miss Miller," she said, managing not to growl.
The immortal had lived through things that would have driven a lesser person mad (and many would gladly argue as to the state of her sanity), and she had some very well developed instincts.
Every last one of them told her that Layla was trouble.
She was well aware of the girl, though finding things about her was almost impossibly difficult. She put Rowena in mind of an old T.S. Elliot poem about a cat who was never to be found when bad things happened. But somehow, this girl was at the center of so many events.
Rowena was oddly protective of her adoptive home in Mutant Town. She understood all to well being different and hated for it. And she didn't like things that could cause more trouble for Mutant Town.
Though she kept her appearance unfazed by Rowena's reaction Layla Miller couldn't help but be very, very annoyed. The ability to cloak ones feelings and thoughts was one she would prefer to keep exclusively for herself, and the fact that Rowena was just as good as her at this - if not better - was... well, annoying.
However, she was there for a reason. The teen pushed some of her blond hair away from her face and began probing for information.
"So, what's- what's going on here?" she asked slowly, looking around. It truly wasn't every day she saw both the immortal and Captain America together.
The reaction she received didn't shock her at all. She was quite used to it, much thanks to Rictor; Looks of skepticism and, she was certain, thoughts of "Shouldn't I be asking you that very question?". Had it been Rictor, though, the thoughts would have been very much voiced. Loudly.
Silently, she hoped she would get an answer anyway.
"Just the monthly alien invasion," Rowena said sweetly, stepping right around Captain America. Ignoring him, in fact. "Shouldn't you be tending the home fires, Miss Miller? I'm sure you're needed somewhere else."
Somewhere far away from my grandchildren and me.
Cap took a step back, his eyes switching from the blonde to the brunette. There was far more here than meets the eye, and he had the impression that he wanted as little to do with it as possible.
"Nah. Jamie said could have day off," she replied with a grin, digging her hands into her pockets. "So.. Were there really aliens?"
Throughout the years Layla Miller had realized that manipulation was the best way of achieving what you wanted in life. Sure, there were days she wished she didn't have to lie all the time to get things to go her way, but usually she didn't mind. It was like a little rush every time. As such, she put as much effort as she could into putting on her best "ZOMG! That would be so awesome!" face as she turned to Captain America.
"Are they still here? Could I meet them? Could I?"
"They've all gone home," Captain America said, eyes still switching between the blonde girl and the dark mass of trouble that was pretending to be a girl.
"I'm sure there are still a few bits of them laying about," Rowena said thoughtfully, toeing a peice of wreckage in Layla's general direction. She was absolutely, positively not going to let this girl get to her. "Captain, I believe you were going to check on the status of the search?" she suggested. Her tone was light, but there was no missing the 'Get out of here' look she flashed him.
Steven Rogers was no fool, and every one of his instincts was screaming that there was something wrong here, even if he couldn't place just what it was (outside of short, dark, and pissy). "I won't be long," he said, directing his own silent warning at Rowena before leaving the two girls in hopes of finding the missing children and getting rid of the whole lot.
"Bye Cap!" Layla shouted at the retreating hero, who seemed to cringe at the sound of her voice. Not that she blamed him. Inside, she was sighing with relief. Finally, he had taken a hint and left them. She really wouldn't have wanted to go through with the rest of her plan with him there.
Rowena was still eyeing her suspiciously and Layla forced herself to flash a sickly fake smile at her. Then she balled up her fist, still in her pockets, and walked up to the woman. Layla was very aware she had just crossed the invisible line over into the immortals personal space, but it didn't faze her. Not much did.
Cocking her head to the side, she looked up at the woman, a smile still on her face.
"Now, I really do respect you, Rowena, and that fact that you feel there are certain things you need to do to protect yourself. Your family. All I hope is that you don't get in my way while you're at it. Because there are certain things I have to do, that go beyond you," she paused, taking in the woman's reaction. "I know stuff, Rowena. I think you
( ... )
Rowena watched the girl, the impertinant little chit, walk away, her eyes narrowed. She could eliminate the threat the creature posed. She could do it right now. It'd be easy, and she'd just be one more body... if she bothered to leave a body.
Slowly, the young seeming immortal smiled a strange smile. "So this is how the game's to be played?" she asked nobody. "Very well, Miss Miller. We'll play." She turned on her own heel, mind working quickly.
It'd been a long time since someone had actually dared to challenge her, outside the Mantis, and as her Eldest Sister often said, the greatest problem with immortality was the boredom.
Penance was, by nature, a curious. It wasn't something that had served her in good sted when she had been one of Emplate's thralls, or when her body had played host to the St. Croix sisters.
But now she was her own person, free to investigate this strange world she was a part of.
She watched things. She paid attention.
She watched the pretty blond girl and the not-pretty dark girl who Jono had told her was Mrs. Xanathos. She liked Mrs. Xanathos. She teased Jono and actually managed to make him laugh, and she always had an apple for Penance.
Mrs. Xanathos did not trust the pretty blond girl.
Penance had long ago learned to distrust pretty girls.
Layla stood casually, hands in her pockets and greeted the people with a smile. It was for the better that they all assumed she was just an ordinary girl. The woman, whom Layla very found fascinating, looked at her, an eyebrow arched. She did not seem the least pleased about her presence. Layla, on the other hand, was more than pleased with the company.
She had been looking for them. There was a... a situation, and it was something she needed to take care of.
Reply
The immortal had lived through things that would have driven a lesser person mad (and many would gladly argue as to the state of her sanity), and she had some very well developed instincts.
Every last one of them told her that Layla was trouble.
She was well aware of the girl, though finding things about her was almost impossibly difficult. She put Rowena in mind of an old T.S. Elliot poem about a cat who was never to be found when bad things happened. But somehow, this girl was at the center of so many events.
Rowena was oddly protective of her adoptive home in Mutant Town. She understood all to well being different and hated for it. And she didn't like things that could cause more trouble for Mutant Town.
And she really hated mysteries.
Reply
However, she was there for a reason. The teen pushed some of her blond hair away from her face and began probing for information.
"So, what's- what's going on here?" she asked slowly, looking around. It truly wasn't every day she saw both the immortal and Captain America together.
The reaction she received didn't shock her at all. She was quite used to it, much thanks to Rictor; Looks of skepticism and, she was certain, thoughts of "Shouldn't I be asking you that very question?". Had it been Rictor, though, the thoughts would have been very much voiced. Loudly.
Silently, she hoped she would get an answer anyway.
Reply
Somewhere far away from my grandchildren and me.
Cap took a step back, his eyes switching from the blonde to the brunette. There was far more here than meets the eye, and he had the impression that he wanted as little to do with it as possible.
Reply
Throughout the years Layla Miller had realized that manipulation was the best way of achieving what you wanted in life. Sure, there were days she wished she didn't have to lie all the time to get things to go her way, but usually she didn't mind. It was like a little rush every time. As such, she put as much effort as she could into putting on her best "ZOMG! That would be so awesome!" face as she turned to Captain America.
"Are they still here? Could I meet them? Could I?"
Reply
"I'm sure there are still a few bits of them laying about," Rowena said thoughtfully, toeing a peice of wreckage in Layla's general direction. She was absolutely, positively not going to let this girl get to her. "Captain, I believe you were going to check on the status of the search?" she suggested. Her tone was light, but there was no missing the 'Get out of here' look she flashed him.
Steven Rogers was no fool, and every one of his instincts was screaming that there was something wrong here, even if he couldn't place just what it was (outside of short, dark, and pissy). "I won't be long," he said, directing his own silent warning at Rowena before leaving the two girls in hopes of finding the missing children and getting rid of the whole lot.
Reply
Rowena was still eyeing her suspiciously and Layla forced herself to flash a sickly fake smile at her. Then she balled up her fist, still in her pockets, and walked up to the woman. Layla was very aware she had just crossed the invisible line over into the immortals personal space, but it didn't faze her. Not much did.
Cocking her head to the side, she looked up at the woman, a smile still on her face.
"Now, I really do respect you, Rowena, and that fact that you feel there are certain things you need to do to protect yourself. Your family. All I hope is that you don't get in my way while you're at it. Because there are certain things I have to do, that go beyond you," she paused, taking in the woman's reaction. "I know stuff, Rowena. I think you ( ... )
Reply
Slowly, the young seeming immortal smiled a strange smile. "So this is how the game's to be played?" she asked nobody. "Very well, Miss Miller. We'll play." She turned on her own heel, mind working quickly.
It'd been a long time since someone had actually dared to challenge her, outside the Mantis, and as her Eldest Sister often said, the greatest problem with immortality was the boredom.
Reply
But now she was her own person, free to investigate this strange world she was a part of.
She watched things. She paid attention.
She watched the pretty blond girl and the not-pretty dark girl who Jono had told her was Mrs. Xanathos. She liked Mrs. Xanathos. She teased Jono and actually managed to make him laugh, and she always had an apple for Penance.
Mrs. Xanathos did not trust the pretty blond girl.
Penance had long ago learned to distrust pretty girls.
And what did you do with people you didn't trust?
You followed them, of course.
Penance was very good at following people.
Reply
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