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Life after the chaos of the ice giant's and fire giant's invasion of Earth had been interesting to say the least. Lorna had yet to re-dye her green hair back to brown, but neither did it matter overly. Not with a purple knitted cap pulled over her head and a scarf wrapped around her neck, with a thick wool coat on with mittens and the alike.
The young woman was back to helping those less fortunate in the places of NYC that had been the heaviest hit. While she had a home to return to in Upstate and another in Westchester County, she still made a point to drive down and help out where she could.
Even if that didn't necessarily mean using her powers, but rather was focused on handing out water bottles and helping to serve food on the street to those that came trickling out of rubble buildings or the alike.
*
Seth had dodged the bullet that was Lorna's kindness at the refugee center, slipping out shortly after she realized which one he was at with a few bottles of water and the new warm clothes. For a man like him, it wasn't difficult to survive with nothing, and he made a point of returning to the city as soon as possible so as to take advantage of those who had something. While looting had been curtailed by the presence of super beings playing at hero with their spare time, there were still goods to fence, rubble to sort through, and apartments left abandoned and unlocked in the haste to flee.
Thus it was that he found himself on the outskirts of the neighborhood where relief was being dispersed, casually strolling up to townhouse doors and trying the handles while whistling pleasantly. He almost looked respectable in the donated threads, though a glance at his sallow features promised a hard life and even harder resolve to survive. Still, his tune was cheerful and his step jaunty as he hopped up a third or fourth flight of stairs, pretending to deliver a little slip of paper with nothing on it while a quick flick of the hand tried the lock.
*
Warren has doing his part to help those affected by the giants and the weather that came with them. Part of this is financial, as Worthington, Inc sends out emergency supplies, and that is what brings him to this part of town today, as he goes out to see that the supplies are actually making it where they should be. There are other things he's been doing, but given the time of year most people don't quite know what to make of the stories of a blonde angel dressed in red and white. Even fewer would associate that with the man in a trench coat and some very pricey winter boots who is walking down the street towards where relief tables are being manned. He watches from across the street as Seth runs up to a door, then frowns. He can see that the paper is blank.
*
Lorna smiled, offered cheerful greetings to those she handed supplies to at the table. Green eyes of matching hue to her hair caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye and she spotted Seth. A frown marred her expression then and she excused herself from the relief efforts to jog after him.
"Seth! Hey!" She waved a hand as she called out to him, her breath clouding in the cold air around her.
"Seth, what are you doing here? I thought you'd stay at the relief center? They have beds and food and everything else." A pause, "How'd you get all the way back here? Did you walk?"
*
The door opened with an easy click, admitting the youth into the hallway of a pristine hallway. Or it would have, if the sound of Lorna's voice didn't cause him to shut it as quickly as he had opened it. How? She was everywhere. The momentary disgruntled expression at being interrupted in his chores smoothed easily into a smile, as if he were happy to have his thieving paused by the well-meaning mutant. Maybe he was.
Leaning back against the closed door, he shrugged, "Got a friend this way, figured he may be home and I could stay with him for a bit."
A lie, it rolled off his tongue convincingly as his blue eyes flickered with good humor. He stepped down off the stoop of the porch to greet her down the steps, shifting back on his heels as he considered her other question and answered that one honestly. There was no change in his tone. He was practiced at balancing falsities with truth in the same breath.
"Walked a bit. Hitched a bit. Somebody left a bike with a flat so I patched that and took it in the rest of the way. Not a big fan of places with lots of people and I do alright out here. Told you that before. You still playing Girl Scout?"
*
Warren watches for a moment as he sees Lorna trot across to talk to seth. He's about to turn his attention to the volunteers left at the table when he spots something, just by chance. A curl of green hair escaping from her cap. While it's not enough to immediately recognize her, it's different enough to catch the attention of someone who is very conscious of hiding visible differences. Hands in the pockets of his trench, he crosses the street to the side the pair is on.
*
The green haired young woman settles her hands on her hips as she stares Seth evenly, as if unsure whether to believe him or not. "Yeah, I am helping. You know.. besides the obvious.." She gestured at the buildings around them, arching an eyebrow upwards and canting her head to the side.
"Please don't tell me that you spent the nights outside. It's too cold." And then she considered him again, folding her arms over her middle.
"You rushed off really fast the other day. Why? Was my tata /really/ that scary? I swear, between you and Jean! What's so scary?" She wrinkled her nose up, and lower lip sticks out. She didn't notice Warren's approach, her intent clearly focused on Seth. "I mean, all he said was that you /shouldn't/ be on the streets and that you should take me up on that offer. I mean, c'mon the Professor is a good guy. He'll take you in, I'm sure of it."
*
While Lorna was oblivious to the approach of the well-dressed man, Seth was not. And this certainly didn't look like someone he shared a circle with. Glancing between the woman as she continued her rant and the stranger, he licked his lips and muttered something really non-committal. It wasn't a clean attempt, obviously rushed, as he turned and said something about 'An appointment' and 'fifth street' and 'really gotta go.'
Turning without much grace, and a lot of obvious guilt, he made to slink off before the final distance was closed. For all Seth knew, this was that guy's doorstop and he wasn't about to be caught in the act of stealing.
*
Warren hears one key word that really gets his attention from the Green-haired girl as he approaches. "Professor." As for seth, Warren may not be the most street smart person in the world, but he does know highly suspicious when he sees it. He gives a good natured smile and says pleasantly, "What's the hurry? Were you looking for…" He glances towards the house, and the name printed in small letters by the doorbell. "Dr Loefler? Don't think he's home. Don't think most people around here are."
*
Confusions colors Lorna's expression and she lurches out to snare Seth's wrist and prevent him from fleeing again. She had learned that when Seth got quiet and mumbled, that the young man was obviously looking to escape.
"Hey! Seth! Wait!" She rolled her eyes, and whether or not her grip managed to hold him, her gaze swung back toward the voice behind her. Green eyes landed on Warren and she furrowed her brows, sure that the young man looked familiar, if not sure entirely where to place him. Her gaze swung between Seth, the blonde and back to Seth.
"Seth?"
*
Seth wasn't going to put up a fight. It wasn't in the scrawny cuss, and as soon as Lorna grabbed him, he immediately slowed and looked down the line of his extended arm at her. Perhaps his excuse would have become more elaborate, if not for the quiet introduction into conversation that the genteel stranger wove his way into their space with.
"S'too bad. Said he had a package for me, was all. Kind of need it and figured I'd grab it. I'll come back later though."
So as not to leave his arm dangling outstretched, he stepped back towards Lorna with a scowl and shook her off grumbling,
"I ain't going to sit around waiting for hand-outs. Gotta keep workin."
*
The blonde with his blue eyes and movie-star looks is certainly memorable. He gives a small, dubious nod to Seths' statement, "I see." Then he addresses Lorna, "Saw you handing things out over there. It's good of you, in all this. Especially in this weather. Good to see help getting where it's needed."
*
A faint huff was offered toward Seth, and another eye roll as Lorna kept hold of his jacket sleeve for a brief moment, waiting till he stepped back toward her and didn't look to be running off again. Then her gaze returned to Warren and she flushed, a sheepish smile on her lips as she adjusted the knitted cap over her head.
"Oh, eer.. thanks. I just.. I really wanted to help out. That's all. Sometimes it's about the little things. And I'm on Winter Break from college, so it's not like I don't have the time." She bit her lower lip, and shrugged, slinging her hands into her pockets.
That and her father had dragged her around as basically a battery to combat other worldly creatures, and that was well above her scope of feeling in control. He had been on /television/ for it after all.. Handing out warm soup and supplies? Much more her pace.
*
Seth is beginning to feel a bit more like an accessory than a person. Heel, Seth. Look at this wayward puppy I found. I am going to help him and make sure he is warm. I'll write it off as volunteer work for college credit. Seth swallowed the sneer he could feel welling on his features and said nothing of consequence.
From his languid speech to his filthy features, it was evident that he did not belong in the current company. Opening his mouth would only serve to make that more obvious. He fiddled with a watch and a few neck laces in his pocket that he still needed to drop off at a pawn shop for cash when they re-opened, his mind drifting to more important things than Good Samaritan work in his silence.
*
Warren slashes a smile, "I'm a big believer in putting ones resources to work for others, miss. He pauses, then adds, "I just wanted to make sure everything I sent out was getting where it was meant to go." His eyes slip towards Seth for a moment. His blue eyes are piercing, giving the distinct impression that he cans see right through the young man, whether or not that is the case. He looks back at Lorna, then adds, "And after the giants and all the fighting, people need all the help they can get."
*
Lorna glanced toward Seth, briefly noting the various little metal objects on him and mentally frowning at him. Yet her smile remained on her lips as she shifted a foot forward and put herself slightly between the two males. She was well aware that Seth was uncomfortable, but was unwilling to let the young man go wandering off into the cold alone again.
"Oh wow, you donated those supplies?" A blink, "Uhm.. yeah.. and it's the holidays and to have lost everything is.. tragic. Couldn't have happened at a worse time." She bit her lower lip, pushing away a green lock of hair from her features.
"I'm Lorna by the way, and this is Seth."
*
A more masculine individual would have noted the careful way Lorna placed herself between him and a possible threat and been offended, but Seth had seen the young woman bring down a building. He had no qualms with letting her divide the path of that intense gaze, his own looking at everything but Mr. Rich Guy. As far as he knew, this stranger just had nice shoes and a fat wallet. The beautiful watch around his wrist could be constricted with a flick of Lorna's hand to cut through skin and bone if she so deigned it necessary. They'd dealt with worse.
As he was introduced, he bumped the woman with a hip in an amicable way, smirking at her need to include him in the conversation. He greatly doubted that this individual had any interest in what or who he was, but since Lorna's attentions had seized around him like a steel trap, he swayed in place and did his best to smile. His teeth were yellowed from cigarettes, one of which he pulled from a chest pocket and set between his lips. He turned to smoke it, not walking away, but distancing himself politely as he knew the acrid stench of cheap slims burned into the woman's nose and she made a fuss about it.
*
Warren nods seriously to Lorna,'s words, "I couldn't agree more." To her introduction he smiles and reaches up as if he were going to tip his hat. But it's too cold to do so, and the wrong kind of hat. He introduces himself, "Warren." Which just might be enough to make something click, as he has occasionally been in the papers and some of the supplies did come with a notation that they were sent by "Worthington, Inc." Of course, it's also entirely possible dad may have mentioned him in passing.
*
Lorna's father had mentioned a great deal of others from the mansion. Most frequently the Summers brothers, Logan or Jean. There had yet to be mention of Warren—which may or may not be good in the case of Erik's judgement on who Lorna should or shouldn't spend time with. Yet that didn't mean that she missed the connection, too many little details had been noted and it clicked who she was speaking to.
Her smile remained though, "It's nice to meet you, Warren." She stepped forward, offering her glove clad hand in an easy manner.
*
Warren answers, "Likewise", and takes the offered hand. His own are also gloved, but the movement makes the gold watch at his wrist catch the light for a moment. He looks over towards the tables where people have been lining up for supplies and ask, "Anything that's been in particularly desperate need? I can see about getting more donwn here tomorrow." He pauses and shakes his head, "This whole thing's been a lttle crazy. I've been flying around the city just trying to help get a handle on the situation." An entirely truthful statement that most people would assume is figurative.
*
Seth continues to do what he is best at, which is fade into the background of the conversation. That wasn't to say he wasn't listening. Despite his eyes being on anything but the two at his back, he had a keen ear sifting through whatever details were offered. Names mostly, so many names, but Seth's mind tended to be rather good at cataloging such things since he'd never had use of pen and paper to assist. The grey tendrils of tobacco joined with his breath, nicotine soothing his nerves though something stronger would certainly be welcome at this juncture.
*
Considering that her father, and by extension, she could literally fly, perhaps Lorna could not be infact included with 'most people'. Still, she had yet to make the connection to the Xavier Institute, and as a result merely assumed what most people would. A tild of her head followed and Lorna pursed her lips together in thought.
"Well, I think we have most of what we need. It's hard to say. There's too many people that have been displaced and just want their lives back. Over here it's not so bad since the destruction wasn't really as .. dense as it was in other parts of the city. Hell's Kitchen was pretty bad I heard.." She chewed her chapped lower lip, folding her arms and rubbing them faintly to maintain warmth.
She noted Seth's movement, and if the things in his pockets were given a little tug, well Lorna wasn't always in complete control over her powers.
"I would ask the coordinators though, I'm just a volunteer."
*
Warren chuckles, "I know what the people running things have been telling me, Lorna. What I'm interested in is if you've been hearing any thing from the people. Gaps that aren't being covered. Sometimes things don't get passed up the chain. A very good man, a teacher of mine, taught me to be mindful of how people think in a crisis. Things get overlooked when there are so many problems."
*
Lorna shifted, and glanced toward Seth briefly and back when he questioned what people /needed/. "Well, I think, from what I've heard that people are mostly concerned about getting back to their homes. Heating has been an issue, since not everywhere has electricity. It /is/ rather cold and most buildings don't exactly have fireplaces or something that will run right now." She chewed her lower lip in thought.
"But that's mostly what I've overheard." She tilted her head to the side in thought, green hair spilling over her shoulders.
*
As the metal in his pocket pulled just a tad back to the two conversationalists, Seth grumbled out a curse and something that was probably Lorna's name, the tone reproachful. Whatever, he got the gist of it. With the cigarette nothing more than a butt, he ground it out on the pavement and strolled back to rejoin the conversation with a quiet,
"Wool. There's a lot of donated stuff that's cotton. Get it cold, wet, sweaty. Cotton kills. Least till heat gets back on, might be worth askin' more specific for wool."
His weight moves from toe to heel as he sways into position next to Lorna, the suggestion offered amicably enough but with a confidence that suggested experience.
*
Warren seems surprised by the sudden imput from Seth, then nods, "That's good thinking. Thank you. My company is trying to help, but we're hardly experts in disaster relief. I'll see to it that any blankets and things that get sent can stand up to a little wetting."
*
A smile was offered toward Seth, beaming and bright. "Maybe the army has some surplus? I know that army blankets are exactly soft, but I'm sure that there have to be more available and ready to be shipped to people.." She tapped her chin and glanced back to Warren.
A sneeze followed and she sniffled, either from the cold or perhaps feeling the start of an illness. Who could say?
"Ah, uhm.. well, if I think of anything else I'll let you know?" Her brows shot upwards as she rocked her weight back onto her heels, feeling the cold seep up through the soles of her shoes.
*
Seth shrugs at the gratitude with a glance to Lorna, noting her discomfort with a little twist of his lips that could have been compassion but was probably judgmental coming from him. Who could say? Seth couldn't remember the last time he had been truly warm; cold becoming a constant presence in the winter months for the vagrant. All the same, he nudged a shoulder into Lorna and leaned in to mutter in her ear something about needing a better jacket, laughter twisting his lips. His breath was a mix of cigarette smoke and old alcohol. It was early to be drinking.
*
Warren startles at the sudden sneeze, a motion that makes his trench coat move extremely oddly foor some reason. He says automatically, "Bless you." He smiles at Lorna, "Something else my old Professor taught me: Rule one of trying to save anybody is make sure you don't end up needing saving yourself. You should go warm up, get yourself something to eat." He nods to Seth, "Take him with you. Looks like he could use a hot meal." He looks again at Seth and says honestly, "Really was a good call about the clothes and blankets though."
*
Lorna offered a faintly sheepish smile at the gentle remind to take care of herself. "Yeah, been running a bit ragged with everything happening.." She grimaced faintly, helping out those displaced had hardly been the whole of it.
"C'mon Seth, lets go get something hot to eat, yeah? I know there was some soup and I know the ladies in the kitchens, they'll let us cut in line if we go into the back and help with dishes." She beamed at Warren and then Seth in turn and back.
"Also it was nice to meet you, Warren. Thanks." She waved, turning round to catch Seth by the sleeve and tug him along gently.