1963-11-17 - A Suitcase of Cash
Summary: Akihiro comes to warn Crystal about the man who approached him with a suitcase full of cash to find certain Inhumans.
Related: None
Theme Song: None
akihiro crystal 


The world has suddenly become a very complicated place. Not only did the president announce that aliens existed, then Loki had to go on television and make his own announcement. And somewhere in the Himalayas, there is an entire civilization of alien experiments under the control of a mad king.

Crystal has a list of people she'd like to speak with, a list of people who would make good connections, ways to keep the Inhumans from being pulled under this wave of change. But right now, none of those options are available. And Erik is otherwise occupied with things that are too important to risk her current agitation on.

So instead, she's moved to the rear grounds of the school, standing a good fifty yards from the school itself with her hands raised toward the sky and her senses unfurled around her. There's a faint breeze emanating from her, stirring her hair.

*

"Hey, Crystal!" Akihiro waves over, jogging out towards the woman. "You have a moment for some potentially bad news?" Apparently this isn't a time for subtlety. It doesn't take him but a moment or two to make it over to proper speaking range at a brisk jog.

*

Crystal half turns at the call, letting her hands fall. The smile that had started to form when she recognized the young man fades away at his words, though, ending in a sigh. "I'm beginning to think there's no other type of news lately," she says ruefully, the last remnants of the breeze ruffling through her hair before it dies out. "What's the latest?"

*

"Well, I'm thinking that I may just have the wrong person. I was at a bar last night when this blue-eyed man came in with a handful of other men. He popped a case down and offered me ten thousand dollars to find three people. Crystal, Medusalith, and Boltagon." Akihiro explains, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck.

"Being the nice guy that I am, I told him I'd get right onto it and took the couple hundred he offered me in advance. Didn't give me his name though, but he seemed a little out of touch with realitu."

*

The color drains from Crystal's face as he explains. She's almost always composed, usually more likely to tone down her abilities than to even step forward. But this? This frightens her.

"We've been in one place too long," she says quietly, wrapping her arms around herself. "And of course last night. Of course." She closes her eyes tightly, head dipping downward. "Did you truly choose to take the money, Akihiro? Think very hard about it. Or did you feel at all…pushed?"

*

"He left it, so I took it. I think they may have been watching me during my Weapon X assignments and figured I was a mercenary of some sort." Akihiro tries his best to offer a reassuring smile, but being found is one of his greatest fears too.

"You need me to keep a nose out for them, I can do that. Can also count on me in a fight if it comes down to it."

*

Crystal nods slowly, taking a deep breath as she looks back up to him. "The man. Did he have dark hair? Smooth-talking, but also a little bit arrogant?" She hardly waits for an answer before reaching a hand for his shoulder, grateful. "My cousin Maximus is…His powers are subtle. He can control people. Which is bad enough, but in truth, he's not just his powers. He's very intelligent. And he's not to be underestimated. Whether it was him or not, it means he's looking again. Now is- Now is the worst time for it, too. With everyone coming out into the open, he could…"

*

"That'd be him." Akihiro confirms. He reaches up to pat Crystal's hand, "It'll be fine. Think he held off on it this time. Probably won't if I run into him again though." A slight pause, "If you don't mind me asking, why's your cousin willing to pay that much money to get ahold of you?"

*

Crystal laughs weakly. "That is a long story, I'm afraid." She turns her hand to give his a squeeze back before letting it fall. "The short version is that my cousin Blackagar is the rightful king of the place we come from. But we've been in exile for the last ten years, thanks to the machinations of his brother, Maximus. So long as we live, we're a potential threat to his rule. Well." She tilts her head, glancing away. "Blackagar is, at least. And Medusa is betrothed to him. I'm collateral, I suppose."

*

"Ah, politics." Akihiro winces slightly. "I was hoping you just got mixed up with some criminals. Not that it matters, I'm positive I have better training than anybody they may throw at us." Cocky as always. "Any idea how we should go about handling this?"

*

"I'm going to have to speak with Charles first," Crystal muses, looking toward the mansion. "If there's anyone who can give me advice on resisting mental manipulation, it would be him. Other than that…" She shakes her head. "Other than that, we'll need to think further ahead than just escaping him. If he's here, if he's looking for us himself, then we need to take action. Step forward and make alliances before he can, or we'll never reclaim our home."

*

"Well, like I said before, you've got me. Not sure where to begin with forming alliances, but with all this space stuff going on, we'll probably want to hurry." Akihiro takes his lower lip between his teeth, thinking to himself. "Well, I do know some ninja and a few vigilante types. If you want the help of individuals too anyway."

*

"That's the other part of the long story," Crystal laughs, rueful, as she pushes a hand through her hair and turns in a circle. As if there's going to be some sort of answer in the woods outside the school. "You see, we're aliens. Or rather, the descendants of alien experiments involving their own DNA and proto-humans. I should speak with the Fantastic Four, they had the original body. And I suppose I should call Director Carter."

*

"Well shit. Then I imagine right now is even more stressful." Akihiro isn't unkind, apparently his acceptance of other's extending to aliens as well. "Shouldn't be surprised the Four knew about it. Not much they don't know it seems."

*

"Yes, things have been…difficult. And then there was Loki on television last night," Crystal snorts, shaking her head. "So I need to go and speak with Thor about his brother's choices, apparently. And now I need to do all of this while avoiding my cousin and whoever he brought with him. I don't suppose there was anything remarkable about his current crop of goons?" she asks, looking back with an arch of her brow.

*

"Wait, Louis seriously is Loki?" Akihiro looks dumbfounded now. Aliens he can wrap his head around, gods, he cannot. His brows furrow slightly, "In hindsight I'm not sure how I didn't see it. Louis King. Loki." A hand comes up to run at the nape of his neck once more, "I'll be damned. Asgardians."

*

"Oh. Yes. Sorry." Crystal at least looks a little bit sheepish. "The Asgardians are very real. I visited them, actually. There was talk of an alliance, though things didn't…exactly work out. Well, they didn't fall apart, it just didn't quite work out as we'd originally planned. And this seems very much to be more Loki's agenda than anyone else's, unfortunately."

*

"Well, that explains a lot." Akihiro suddenly gets excited though, "You think they'd be open to sparring a mortal?" But just as quickly as the excitement comes, it fades with a self-conscious cough. "Sorry about that, bigger things to worry about right now."

*

"Some of them, almost certainly," Crystal smiles crookedly, amused. "They seem to enjoy sparring for itself on a very regular basis. And if you promise to be on your best behavior, I can likely manage an introduction," she teases. For a moment she hesitates, then leans forward to try to catch him in a brief hug. "Thank you for letting me know, Akihiro. We knew it would be coming eventually, but…this gives us a chance to prepare, at least."

*

"I'd appreciate that." Akihiro doesn't object to the hug, actually returning it. "Of course, we're a family of sorts here. Not going to let trouble sneak up on you when I can help it."

*

"And it is going to be trouble," Crystal sighs as she pulls back. "Be careful, Akihiro. Please. Our people are like the people here. Many of us have talents, and you can't always see what they're going to be. We're stronger and faster than humans. Or mutants. I know you heal, but it won't matter if someone attacks you hard enough and fast enough and doesn't give you the opportunity to heal."

*

"And Maximus already knows how fast I heal. May have gotten shot in the face during our meeting." Akihiro admits sheepishly. "But I'll be careful. I'm not out there looking for a fight, at least not anymore."

*

Crystal quirks a brow. "How do you accidentally get- I don't know why I would assume it was accidental," she interrupts herself with a wave of her hand. "You know, just because you get better doesn't mean you should get…shot, and cut up, and whatever else all the time," she chides. "Take care of yourself. I know it has to still hurt."

*

"Well, it was an accident. On the part of the man that shot me." Akihiro doesn't deny that it hurts though. "Alright, I'll be around. Just give a shout if you need anything." He offers a warm smile and a slight wave before heading back off towards the school once again.

*

Crystal watches after him, smile faint. "Thank you," she calls after him. "At least go and buy yourself something nice with the money!"

*

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