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It has nearly been a week since Raven sent Cain away. His mission for the day was to scout out things in Sacremento, to see how the mutant community there was fairing before she makes a decision to head out to the west coast. She hasn't been there in a while, and her visit has been a long time coming. With her dealing with Petreli's return, the safe movement of the gold bars, the brand new military base that she's secretly acquisitioned after the Brotherhood cleaned them out. She was a busy girl.
A busy black girl.. a tall bombshell Gabrielle Union-esque girl.
Raven so loves the skin she was in; and if she didn't think that anyone would be home at the moment she'd trapse around naked and dance to the blues. But as it stands, Six Alarm Fire was filled with life of her own making, the record playing some quiet jazz as she feels a little domestic. Thin slip worn, long dark hair curled, makeup not pressed to this visage so that the dark freckles could be seen upon happy cheeks. (She wasn't smiling).
The fridge was filled with beer and food for those who often reside there to cook, and now Raven? She settles into the role of den mother by cutting up a few slices of skirt steak to prepare for this mornings breakfast.
*
Cain arrived in the wee hours, walking from the airfield where his pal bivouaced him in. He can't exactly take commercial airlines, he doesn't even fit in the seats. Plus he's probably wanted by about a dozen agencies. He doesn't really blend in, after all.
He opens up the door and make his way in, raising an eyebrow at the domesticity of the woman going around the kitchen area. He doesn't know for certain it's Raven, but it isn't a bad guess as he settles onto a sofa and lays his head back. He's not exactly tired - he doesn't get tired - but long walks got real boring.
*
The big, thudded footfalls of Cain has Raven's eye on the door. There was a thought, only a few people have ever seen her in this visage. She could easily change back but.. nah. She's missed this skin, and this skin? Obviously missed her too. Hell, she was built like a brick shit-house; even without heels the woman was clearly stacked. And Cain's reaction to her was something of a normal thing, even as he settles into the couch, she continues to cook. Why not try something..
"Good morning!" She cheerily calls out, her cheeks puffing up with a grin as she turns towards the stove to light it afire. Oil was poured into the pan, and soon vegetables were gathered and sliced as well, for a nice little sautee to add with the steak. "I let myself in, I hope it isn't any trouble to you!" The hiss of the pan as the skirt steak, thinly sliced was sizzled. She did not leave it in the pan for long, a quick flip and a flop here, which was soon placed in a cast iron skillet and into the stove. "Hungry?"
*
Cain arches a skeptical eye at the good mood, although he doesn't mind the sleeve she wears in the least. Cain sits forward a bit, listening to the sizzle of the steak, "Wouldn't say no to a little sustenance, that's fer sure," he says. "Ain't no trouble, I ain't the sort to let much anything trouble me if I could help it."
*
There was a sneaking suspicion that Raven -did- not fool Cain. While she could keep up with the pretenses for fun, their relationship was a strange one. Of Big/Little Brother and Big/Little sister, though if anyone were to ask the behemoth of a man, he'd say that she was his little. And that was fine with her. The flavor from the meat created a nice coat to already seasoned vegetables, soon tossed into the fryer, steam hitting the ceiling as she continues to cook. Granted, everything was done a bit out of order, biscuits were already in the oven, hot and growing while the skirt steak creates a sear.
"Do you remember Mom?" She asks quietly. "How she'd sometimes take it upon herself to cook instead of allowing the help to do it?"
A reveal, a quiet measure of Raven given. The woman had many sides to her, and it seems that this current situation is what brought it about. Even though it wasn't her real mother, she considered her to be. She long, long forgot who birthed her, or even if she had parents to begin with.
*
Cain nods quietly, "Of course I do. Food was usually better that way, too. Might've bee the servants fault - some of 'em probably spit in the food pretty on the regular after my dad gave them the usual tongue lashing. He never did have any patience," he says.
He inhales slightly, catching the scent of steak in the air as he watches Raven with almost a wary gaze, "What's got you all nostalgic?"
*
"Mmhmm." Raven murmurs quietly, bending to open the oven to remove the cast iron skillet as the steak was seared, the biscuits which were soon set upon the counter top, as another skilled was produced so that she could begin to fry up the egg. "The holidays are coming." Raven states clearly, as if it were a big deal. While in their household, it was usually something for them, it's been a very long time since any of that was allowed. Given their stations in life.. after all.
"Tell me of Sacremento."
*
Cain arches an eyebrow, "Never took you much for the religious type. Especially since we usually get treated more like the animals in the manger," he says. "Big J showed up now, he'd get called a mutie and hit with rocks," he says.
"Speaking of which…I dunno, place is kind of a wreck. Humans went hog wild on the mutant town broken windows, graffiti. There were still police tapes up and a few chalk outlines. It was ugly and it seems like the city's more ashamed about it than anything. They don't want what happened to boecome their rep, even if that's exacdtly what the organizers intended."
*
"I've had my moments when I was a child. Though when none of it was answered.." Her shoulders lift in a shrug. Everything was assembled soon after, a plate designated for Cain which was piled full for the taking. The rest reserved for the others, they could come and take it if they will, though the eggs will be gross and cold. A beer was soon plucked from the fridge, the plate and bottle itself plopped down upon the table.
But she does listen, moving back into the kitchen, her own choice of brew was actually coffee for once. Someone must have left the Six Alarm Fire and went on a hellish bender. It happens, from time to time, the need to forget. "Final assessment? Do we need to move on this or let it simmer for a while?"
*
Cain considers, "I'm not sure where we'd strike back. It wasn't an organized oovement, more an event that anythkng put together. If there's an intelligence guiding the whole thing, they haven't made themselves known to me or the people I talked to," he says.
He casually picks up a piece of steak off the plate and tosses it into his mouth in properly animalistic fashion.
*
Raven leans against the counter top, one elbow hooked upon the surface as she listens. "True." She murmurs quietly. "But, there is something we -could- do. I need you to reach out to your contacts out there. Tell them to put their noses to the ground and sniff out the person who through the first stone, who said the first word. Needle in a haystack, I know. But it's good to ask someone to do something for you, it creates an open line of communication of give and take." Where, if Raven had her way? She'd be doing all of the taking.
"If need be, return there. We're settled as we are. We're out in the open now, though no one has taken a bite at us just yet. We have our money, we have our fall backs." She sips her coffee. But there was something stagnant in the air. Something.. looming. She didn't know what it was, obviously, but she was on guard.
*
Cain considers, "I'll see what I can do, although most o' my contacts ain't exaclty detectives. Old mercs who like to shoot first and ask questions later. But they can poke," he says.
He eats a bit more food, putting his feet up and patting a spot next to him on the couch, "So, I miss anything worthwhile? YOu had to punch Domino in her other eye? Has that Josh kid started crying about poor innocent people yet?"
*
Raven nods, it was settled then. The coffee, it was drained as soon as she pressed the cup against her lips again, swallowing the hot liquid down as the cup was soon placed upon the counter top. The pat to the seat gets a raise of her brow, and with a slow approach, she carefully settles in, though planting her ass right on the arm of the couch.
"Nothing so far." She states quietly. "It seems that they are getting along just fine. There are no more bulletholes or missing furniture, which is a plus. Everyone is fitting into their own lives as they had before. Though I'm sure that if something crops up, they'll return and ask for help." She purses her lips faintly, then shrugs. "So far, Domino and I are still on the shaky path. In some ways, I suspect that she'll make a great leader for the Brotherhood some day."
*
Cain snorts, "Not likely. I don't think she's outlivin' you anytime soon, that's for sure," he says. "Don't get me wrong, she's a good chick to have around in a pinch, but I ain't followin' nobody but you," he says.
"I figure you probably got somethin' stewin' around in the back of yer head. You usually do," he says. "For every plan you lay out in the open, you probably got ten sittin' on the back burner."
*
"If she keeps going down the same path, no. But I have a plan for her, something that'll keep her alive a lot longer than her designated course.." Raven slowly slips down onto the seats of the couch, it was clear that she was thinking. There were many plans of action to take as of late, moving underneath the radar of the assassination of the President, the reveal of aliens and Asgardians.. they seemed like such small potatoes that still do not matter.
"Yes." She says quietly. "I'm going to get a place in Mutant town, keep watch on them for the holidays. And after?" She shrugs. "I need another favor. Put ears to the ground for Winter Soldier. I put out a call, I have not received word as of yet. And he's usually punctual."
*
Cain raises an eyebrow, "That asshole again? I dunno. I guess he's yer pal and all, but he still made me want to rip his head out through his belly button. Smart ass little shit," he mutters.
"You think we oughtta get a Santa suit for Fred, maybe see if we can get him to go around passin' out toys an' shit?"
*
"You say that about every man I meet." Raven leans over, giving him a harsh nudge even though he does not move from it.. possibly doesn't feel it.. but it was given all the same. Though, Cain's idea was something that actually has her brows shooting up, her head nodding rather quickly as she snaps her fingers and points. "Good idea."
She stands from the couch, her mind already working a million ways from Sunday.. "Grab a bag and come with me."
*
Cain feels like he's already going to regret whatever he's inspired, but he does as he's asked, pushing up off the sofa and moving to follow her, "What kinda bag? What's happening? I'm not wearinmg no fucking costume…" he mutters.
*