[[M_M]] In which Jack Hart escorts two promising young persons to New York.

[sonotlahire]

When they step through the door, they're on the roof of the Avengers mansion. It's a spectacularly beautiful spring evening, the sun just setting in a pastel painted sky that tapers to gaudy pinks, violets, and reds towards the western horizon; the air is warm and carries the complex and typically evocative odors of New York City

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[playsthestrings]

As they step out, Eliot and Fiona keep close together for support. To be honest, Fiona had thought they'd walk into a wall but now they were out of the doorway and here, in an entirely different world

[sonotlahire]

"Quite a few," Jack answers promptly, watching both of them with hawkish intensity. He's prepared himself for any eventuality that he can think of after what could be a very jarring transition. In fact, he's holding out both of his arms, ready to grab hold and support them if necessary, just in case they trip, stumble, collapse, scream, wail, vomit, or gnash their teeth.

But they don't. In fact, they're quite the picture of composure.

Jack realizes that one of his cognitive weaknesses, one of his eternal failings, is not being able to completely understand what his world -- any world in his corner of the multiverse, for that matter -- might seem like to someone not used to seeing giant robots, two alien invasions, and Mutant Town all before their morning coffee.

That is precisely what Jack's Earth, and in particular his New York City, is like.

"The pool's behind you," Jack notes, pointing. There is indeed an Olympic-sized pool on the roof, on the lower main level. They've come out on one of the wings of the mansion. "The

[playsthestrings]

Eliot smiled to Fiona just a little. Fiona smirked in response at whatever silent joke he had just made. Neither of them spoke for a moment as they looked around

[sonotlahire]

Jack is a perceptive man, and Jack is very familiar with the fear that comes with a perceived loss of freedom, with constriction, with someone forcing you to do something when all you want is to simply wander unobstructed.

"Hey," he says, gentling his tone. In fact, he puts a light hand -- very light, so hopefully they won't bolt -- on both Fiona and Eliot's shoulders. "You will get clearance. These people inside this house will never let anything happen to you, and they will not try to hold you against your will when you decide to leave."

Unless it's to prevent the kids from rushing headlong into certain death. In that case, the Avengers will very much step in, but if that happens, they will simply deal with it. The Avengers always win, always find a way to fix things in the end. On more than one occasion Jack has found that comforting