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The trip to the World's Fair did not go as planned. There was a good deal more fire, death, and destruction than Crystal counted on. Despite her command of the elements, her bright sundress still shows a few marks of the event. As much as Crystal can remove soot and dirt, there's just not much she can do about the actual burn marks where sparks landed on the material before she could put them out. Soon she'll return to Westchester. But right now? Right now she's stopped at a pleasant little cafe, sitting at one of the outside tables as she waits for a drink.
*
Rumors fly faster in the city than anything else. Whispers about some awful event in the World's Fair are sure to either destroy its future visits or boost them considerably. Vesper is trudging to the cafe up the sidewalk. A mildly troubled expression pinches her face from the conversation overheard on a city bus. Wide brown sunglasses perch on her nose, the day's cheery sea-green scarf flowing around her neck at a much too jaunty angle for her current mood. Coughing into her handkerchief, the hoarse pangs make her shoulders jump. Steps slow without stopping, the shuffle losing its steam. She reaches for the door, meaning to pull it open, but catching her breath first takes a moment.
*
Maximus arrives from Midtown.
*
Maximus has arrived.
*
Luckily for Vesper, the waiter who's bringing Crystal's drink and cheese tray is on the way out to the patio when she pauses by the door, pushing it open and holding it for the girl with a friendly smile. Crystal perks up a bit at the arrival of something to settle her nerves and her stomach alike, pushing a hand through her hair…and finding a few flakes of ash shaken out.
*
Fighting back the reflexive spasms of her diaphragm nets Vesper a visible shudder and burning lungs. Through old habit she stands straight up instead of curving in. Well-acquainted to coughing, she dabs her mouth with the handkerchief and puts on the social armor befor entering through the door held by the waiter a little too long. "Merci beaucoup." Her soft, friendly voice is a bit hoarse after that bout. He can go past and she looks for a sign suggesting she may seat herself wherever she likes or be assigned a spot. Waiting around politely will only last about two minutes. No one responding to her will see her headed out to the terrace.
*
It's a strange day for the cafe. Normally there'd be someone to seat Vesper any moment, but today, most of the staff is distracted with news and radio broadcasts of what happened at the World's Fair. They're not as attentive as usual, leaving the hostess stand empty. Meanwhile, Crystal takes her martini from the waiter with a look of profound gratitude, taking a much longer drink than is probably technically appropriate. But it's been a long day.
*
The breezy day outside beckons Vesper to search for a chair directly into it. Forget her coughing, any warmth on her face and air on her cheeks is welcome. She lands a little heavily in the seat she chooses near Crystal, at least heavier than someone so slim really might be. The purse in her lap has something to do with that, or rather, the dense book squashed inside. Menu will follow, but she signals the waiter with a raised hand. "Water, please? And a stiff shot. Brandy."
*
Maximus is hunting Crystal. Cuz Cous. Also he just seems to be interested in persistently being in her face, of late. Lonely, maybe. The Fantastic Four are crappy company.
The waiter says rather rudely to Vesper, "I am sorry, Miss, but we cannot serve underaged people here, unless you punch the woman to your right." Which is Crystal.
*
Crystal pauses mid-sip at the waiter's words, a brow rising until she realizes just what the comment likely means. Sighing, she pinches the bridge of her nose between her fingers, head dropping. "Maximus," she says firmly, without looking up. "It has been a very long day, and I would very much appreciate it if you would keep your mind to yourself, please." She reaches for a piece of cheese, settling it onto a slice of toast before she finally looks up in Vesper's direction. "Please don't mind him."
*
Vesper frowns at the waiter's response. The Gallic accent must be responsible, thoroughly and wholly so. With two fingers, she unzips the purse and pulls out a small floral wallet. From that comes a card stamped with her picture and birthdate. "Monsieur, I am proper age. Oui?" The calm tone mostly matches the smile. Big sunglasses conceal anything else. Her expression doesn't change at Crystal's reply.
"Non, it is a job he must do. I am not upset." Her smile ticks up a little. "Thank you, though. People here are generally very kind." Her eyes move to Maximus, stranger in a strange land, and she politely nods.
*
The waiter stares blankly for a minute, highly confused, looks at the woman's ID, and then nods to head back to his work.
Maximus comes up behind the two women and smiles ever-so-sweetly. "Good evening, Crystal…mystery lady." He squints his eyes at her some. "I am Maximus. Are you a relative of the…Magnetic crew?" Perhaps confusing her accent for something relevent to Erik and Lorna's family quest.
*
"It is…not exactly a job he must do," Crystal says ruefully, turning toward her cousin as he approaches. "But I do appreciate you not taking him up on the offer," she adds with a faint smirk, lifting her glass to take another sip of her drink. "I'm afraid if she's one of Erik's family, we haven't met yet. I do apologize," she adds as she sets her glass down. "I'm Crystal," she introduces herself. "And this is my cousin, Maximus. Quite a day in this part of town, no?"
*
Gorgon has arrived.
*
Vesper slips her card back into the sleeve of the wallet among its other plain cards assigning authority and access to the highest places in the land. Or at least libraries, several libraries of academic nature. Looking into her purse would clearly reveal pens, a notebook, and a book — The Feynman Lectures on Physics — no doubt responsible for weight it down. This matters when she looks up to 'mystery lady.' Those sunglasses really don't help, but she slips them down with a wrinkle of her nose.
"Magnetic crew?" She shakes her head. "Non, the double helix team. But a very good guess. Do you work on the faculty? I am Vesper Mezieres. It is very good to meet you, Madame Crystal, Monsieur Maximus."
*
At the entrance to the cafe is a voice — a deep, resounding, not-altogether American male voice. Maximus would know that voice… Crystal too… and to perhaps a lesser degree, even Vesper. It goes something like this.
"Excuse me — excuse me…" A grunt. "What is it with humans and their bags… all over the floor…? Excuse me… I hate this place already…"
Gorgon wends his way through tables, stepping over handbags and the like, walking in a manner that most humans would consider very strange. He wears a long coat over his back, uncomfortable pants on his legs… but no shoes.
He spots Crystal with Maximus — and smiles. She's alive. She's safe…ish. If that Maximus tries anything… and then there's Vesper. Gorgon frowns. If Maximus is using his twisted abilities on that young innocent…
"I'll kill him…" he grunts aloud, not quite realising he has spoken just as he comes up to the table. "I mean… what was a I saying? Greetings." A pause. "I see you've met."
*
Maximus is loose, Gorgon, loose! He's here, harassing normal people and also Crystal! "Double Helix? Hmm." He lifts his hand to rub against his cheek. "That makes you sound like a geneticist." He casts a look to Crystal, amused, and then just barges on in to place an order for a fancy drink. He can hear Gorgon coming a mile away, practically, and he looks up at his new roomie with a crooked smile. "No need for any killing. I am making friends and not doing anything questionable at all. Have a seat and order something to drink." Its a command, but its not a forced one.
*
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Mezieres," Crystal smiles warmly to the other woman, dipping her chin politely. She watches the woman for a moment longer, as though trying to place her, but before she can land on anything there's another familiar voice. "Gorgon?" She turns, abandoning her drink in order to rise and throw her arms around the new arrival's neck, laughing. "Gorgon, it is you," she laughs cheerfully. "Oh, it's good to see you!" Poor Max. He doesn't get that greeting.
*
How does one politely answer such a question without sounding like Maximus? Or too proud? Pride is something Vesper is nearly as allergic to as diesel fuel, humans at a population density higher than two hundred people per square kilometer, and apparently everything volatile and inhalable. "A researcher into biogenetics and biophysical sciences. Late of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge." In scientific terms: 'I know my stuff about twisty stuff and squishy bits due future Nobel Prizes for guys who steal my work.'
She freezes up a little at the stamping and tramping, the little color her face has fading out entirely. Napkin is put to lips. The brandy still isn't there. And now, now she has to cough again, which she hides by turning her face. A crooked smile from Maximus is met with an almost sympathetic look before she pushes those sunglasses back up.
*
Gorgon puts his arms briefly around Crystal and lifts her off her feet — this isn't the Royal Court after all… even if there is a deposed king-slash-usurper in their midst. When he puts her back down again, there's a rare smile on his lips.
"You're safe," says he to Crystal with relief — followed up quickly with a mock-imperious grunt. "I never doubted it for a second, Cousin." Then, very deliberately ignoring Maximus, the big man nods his head to Vesper, wincing faintly as she coughs into the napkin.
"It's good to see you too, Vesper. How is the research?" Gorgon glances back at Crystal, then at Vesper, lifts his eyebrows and tries to give Crystal a surreptitious, knowing nod.
*
Maximus crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes at the delighted greeting that Gorgon receives and all the willing touching and hugging and so on. "You sound like a woman who knows what she's talking about. I can deeply appreciate genetics…since that is what made me the man I am. Now now, do not try to steal any of my hair." responding to the bruise of ego with…bragging and trying to soothe himself. "Just imagine a strand of DNA that is perfect, and that would look like mine."
*
Well, to be fair, Crystal smells a bit like smoke, ash, char, and…other unpleasant things. And there is a smattering of small burn marks on her otherwise bright and cheerful sundress. But she seems to be all right, at least. "Of course I'm safe," she grins broadly up at Gorgon. "I learned from the best, didn't I? Though I could wish I'd had less opportunity to use that training lately." Her smile fades a bit at the last, and she steps back with a curious look at Vesper. "An interesting study of late, to say the least."
*
This public display of joy is still reason for Vesper to avert her gaze, probably out of embarrassment, because the stoic French are known worldwide for never succumbing to indecencies. Her cheeks briefly turn rosy, and she hides in the security of the most familiar of topics that have nothing to do with flagrant exhibitions involving lots of arms and wandering hands. "A fan of Watson and Crick? They are in vogue since the prize awarded last year." Maybe a bit prickly about those towering fellows in the field, just a bit. "Though the X-ray crystollography does not give the fine precision of any photograph you may care to sit, oui? I have been trying to look at the structure of an enzyme. The amino acids have proved difficult. But if I can crack the crystal study…" She waves her hand slightly, caught talking a little too far on the topic likely to put people to sleep. "A very active field, and one not so bad to practice. Safer than Marie Curie, at any rate."
She coughs again, handkerchief covering her mouth.
*
Gorgon smiles at Vesper. "I won't pretend to know most of what you're talking about, little one," he tells her. "But… you should keep it up." He takes a look at the chair, then steals a glance at his legs (hopefully without anyone noticing as it would closely resemble a human male checking his fly to make sure it is done up), and frowns. He has always had a bit of an issue with some chairs… not all, just some.
"Uh, thank you," says he to Vesper, and he takes a step toward the nearest seat… which just happens to put his hoof very close to Maximus' foot. "Careful, Cousin," he mutters. "Wouldn't want to damage that 'perfect DNA strand'…" Then he smiles. No warmth. Just ice.
To Crystal, Gorgon nods his head just as he sits down. It is an effort not to kick anyone in the shins as he does. "I heard rumours about a fiasco," says he, before looking pointed at Maximus. "What did you do?"
*
Maximus holds up his hands. "I have done /nothing/. I have been busy having our new apartment decorated in a suitable fashion." He answers with a surrender gesture. Then he looks to Vesper and seems…weary. "You drone on like the genetics council. You would fit in well with that lot. Though, crystallography is sure to lead to pharmaceutical applications of whatever you are doing. Hmmm…trying to cure something?"
*
Crystal seems to be able to follow along with Vesper's explanation, at least somewhat, which is unusual enough in this society. "I can imagine it's frustrating at times," she says, sympathetic. "But I hope that the science, at least, is rewarding. And it wasn't him," she adds belatedly to Gorgon. "There was some group that set off explosives at the fair. Many of them, with…something to keep the fire from going out quickly. And someone took a shot at Captain America. It was a mess." She leaves out the part where she absolutely let someone blow themselves up.
*
With that, the waiter comes back out with the long overdue brandy. The glass spends not much more than three seconds on the table. Soon as the man's back is turned, Vesper picks it up and sips the contents. Throwing it back would be terribly louche. Dainty sips, here, though progress inevitably gets to the very bottom of the glass soon. She stays dead silent.
*
Gorgon goes quiet for a bit.
Whatever happened at the Fair, he is not really all that worried about his cousins — they can take care of themselves — but there are other details about it, from the papers, and Crystal's own account, that have him frowning.
"Sloppy," he grunts after a while. "I read it took them far too long to have the incident contained… These hu — erm, these people — are woefully inept at this sort of thing." And he gives Crystal a grave, knowing look as if to say, 'we have things to discuss — later.' A sidelong glance at Vesper should suggest that she might be one of those things.
It's a guarantee that Maximus will feature in whatever the big, hoofed man has to say. "What's that?" he inquires after the brandy, sniffing a bit. Nope. Sniffing doesn't help. "Is it strong? I could use something strong."
*
Maximus wets his lips. "Wellllll, I should /go/." He rises from his seat. "Please, do not try to convince me to stay." Max owns it, instead of letting them not ask him to stay, making sure he can walk out with some dignity.
*
"They don't exactly have the resources we're accustomed to, Gorgon," Crystal points out, reaching for her own glass once more. "But they're trying. And I'm helping where I can, but things are complicated here. The mutant issue is likewise complicated, and they hardly…" She trails off, clearing her throat with a glance to Vesper. "Have you looked at the mutant genome? I understand that line of research is in its earliest stages."
*
Vesper's silence endures as she finishes the brandy discreetly. Or as discreetly as one can with eyes averted to the road and the return of that blush creeping over her cheeks. It's a sin to be a cerebral or talkative woman. Point made, with flagrant detail. She keeps her fingers around the glass, possibly as a projectile to hurl at the back of someone's head if forced to defend herself. Flight may be wiser, in her experience. Every sense screams run.
"I am not sure." A non-committal answer at best, it gives her a chance to think about how to hide under the table or flee inside without being seen to actually flee.
*
"You have the head for it," chimes in Gorgon as helpfully as he can. Genetics always went over his head — at least, this side of the genetics issue. Bringing out hidden genetic potential in training… that's more his forte.
"Look into it." He watches Maximus leave, eyes narrowing a bit, and gives a faint shake of his head. "My assignment," he grunts laconically. It would stand to reason the Genetics Council would give him a job to do, rather than just kick him out… but then, they gave a 'job' to the whole Family-Royal in their exile.
Gorgon meets Crystal's eyes, lets out a breath and glances back at Vesper too. "I should keep an eye on Maximus; he's prone to… walking into things." Or causing things to walk into — 'trouble', in any case. "Stay safe, Vesper," he tells the young scientist. "And, Cousin…" Gorgon turns back to Crystal and smiles broadly.
"It is good to see you again."
*
"That does explain a few things," Crystal says ruefully as Gorgon explains what he's doing with Maximus. "Take care, cousin," she says, reaching over to give his hand a squeeze before he leaves. Once the other two are gone, she turns a faint smile on Vesper, shaking her head. "Boys," she murmurs. "I'm sorry about Maximus. I seem to say that…more often than you would imagine." She rubs a hand at her brow at that, reaching for her glass once more. "If it's any consolation, he's an ass to everyone."
*
A second brandy in succession would not go over well. Nor is there a chance to bury her nose in that book she's carting around. Seeing Gorgon off after Maximus so quickly does not ease the pink in her cheeks or Vesper's sense of wronged something. "He is not wrong," she murmurs. Safer that way, staring at anything behind those big sunglasses. "Most of the staff would agree with him." Does that make them all asses?
*
"Well, it isn't as though being an ass is a trait exclusive to my cousin," Crystal snorts softly, answering the unasked question as she finally turns her attention back to her cheese plate. "It's foolishness, of course, that women are somehow unable to do the very same things that men can do. And yet here we are. The way I see it, we do what we can to change it, but in the meantime, we use it to our advantage when we must."
*
"You see for yourself. It is not good to speak too much or loudly about those subjects," Vesper says, still as small as she can make herself in her chair. Shoulders roll in and her chin dipped, she is not out to draw attention at a conscious or unconscious level. Oh well, not as though that is new in the world in any way. "It is not different here or in Britain, but you take the attitude in better stride. C'est la vie."
*
Crystal's lips quirk, a rueful smile for an unexpected moment of introspection. "I take it in stride because I know it doesn't matter what they think of me. I am still myself, with every skill, power, and bit of knowledge in my mind. They can't take that from me simply by thinking it otherwise. I very much doubt many of them even have the temerity to try, honestly. Learn what you can, madame. All knowledge is worth having, whatever someone may think of you for having it."