|
     |
The gazebo is a pleasant affair near the rear of the mansion nestled amidst topiaries and crawling pleasantly with honeysuckles. Recent evenings it has been visitted by humming birds, though in middle of the day it is more likely to see the occasional bumble bee. Fortunately, the present is not such an occasion.
Cassandra is parked in the middle of the gazebo, legs parted slightly more than shoulder width and formed into near perfect ninety degree angles by the half crouch she has presently assumed. Precisely how long she has held it is anyone's guess. She is holding what martial artists refer to as the Horse Stance.
Cassandra's breath is even, almost normal. This isn't a new thing for her, though now it's likely known what she does with her personal time. Her fists are balled at her hips, traditional for kung fu practitioners as part of proper noncombat posture along with a rod straight back. Her attention is off at the clouds. It's a lovely afternoon, after all.
Cassandra's attire is a pair of flaired bottom jeans and a blue and red Xavier's tee. Her feet are adorned with her usual street shoes.
*
Logan comes down from the treeline, pushing a wheelbarrow of firewood. No axe seems to be in evidence - his claws cut through any tree far more easily than any axe in the woodshed.
He puffs away on the cigar at the corner of his mouth, catching sight of the little kung-fu chick as he makes his way towards the house.
He pauses and watches the stance for a while, flaring his nostrils as he takes in the scents on the wind. New perfume coming from the house. Something high end.
"Hey there, kid," he says casually enough. "Peek in any interestin' windows lately?"
*
Emma makes her way outdoors, heading for the gardens, and the gazebo. As she steps out onto the grass, she's happy she chose to wear wedges, today, instead of pumps. It's not easy to walk on grass with pointy heels. So, as she nears the gazebo, where a young girl is doing martial arts, she catches sight of Logan. She knows him, though not very well. "Good afternoon," she says politely to both of them, offering a pleasant smile. "Is this a tutoring session of some kind?" she asks, looking back and forth.
*
Cassandra Wu-San raises a brow as she notices Logan pushing his wheelbarrow along. Then he comes over puffing away at his cigar to strike up a convo, to which she replies,"No."
Whether she hasn't looked in any windows, or just not any interesting ones is anyone's guess.
Then along comes Emma. Someone she doesn't know at all. She'll blink up at the tall woman, being only five foot even herself, then slide her feet together while rising from her stance. She inquires in halting fashion,"Is this…what?"
*
Logan takes a moment to try and remember the little punchy-kicky girl's name, "Cass, right? This here's Emma Frost. She and the Professor run the place. Least, that's the way I heard it?" he says, looking to Emma for confirmation.
"No tutorin' goin' on. This kid don't need no lessons from me, I don't think. She got moves even I ain't ever pulled. O' course, I got a few moves o' my own. S'just most o' mine end up leavin' a body bloody an' finished," he says. "Don't exactly seem like proper schoolin'."
*
Emma cants her head slightly at Cass' strange way of speaking, and then it clicks for her. About the same time that Logan says the girl's name, actually. "Oh, yes! Charles mentioned you, Cassandra," she smiles. "I am, in some ways, like the Professor. I have telepathy abilities, which might be of use to you, if you'd like," she explains, offering a gentle, psychic addition to what she's saying, so that it's more easily understood to the girl. If she resists the psychic assistance, Emma won't press the matter. Looking to Logan, Emma nods her head and smiles, "Yes. Since the merger of my Frost Academy with his Institute, Charles and I agree that it's only proper that we share the administrative duties as co-headmaster and co-headmistress." Then, she nods her agreement. "I wasn't thinking you'd tutor her in murdering techniques, but perhaps help her maintain her physical routines, so she has a bit of…stability. After all, it seems that physicality is where she is most at home. But, I can understand it isn't your field of expertise."
*
Cassandra Wu-San doesn't resist, but Emma might notice an utter silence about her consciousness when she reaches to her. It is as if there is a lack of inner dialogue. Her mind clearly isn't wired the same way as others. There is the occasional referencing of words, which takes effort on her part, but the rest is utterly visual.
Cassie's brow knits as she observes the telepathic pantomime of an introduction. She then glances between them as she attempts to follow the conversation. The point about murder conjures a memory for her. A memory of her bloody fingers removing a man's larynx to open his throat, and understanding every detail of his subsequent drowning and suffocation through her gift of body reading.
Cassie says,"I don't need that…it's bad."
*
Logan sits on the pile of wood in his barrow, propping a booted foot up on the edge as he draws the cigar from his teeth, "I"m more of a doer than a teacher, true enough. My job around here is to keep the kids safe and help out when we go out into the wider world to slap down trouble," he says. "I generally leave the educatin' up to others," he says.
He can tell something dark flickered across Cass' face - he's seen that look often enough. But he's not one to judge either. He focuses his attention on Emma, instead, "So, now that you're one of the head honchos around here, you think things are gonna change much? I mean, other'n the scenery bein' improved that is," he says with a wink.
*
Emma wasn't using words with her telepathic communication. It's hard to explain how telepathic stuff works, but it's not solely words. It's sensations, emotions, pictures, concepts… It's how the brain works, and it's not as clean and concise as wordswhich is why it's often hard to put things /into/ words. It's how Emma can communicate with someone who speaks a language she doesn't knowbecause it's not just words. But, if Cassandra wishes to struggle along on her own and figure things out for herself, Emma won't extend that helping hand, again. She smiles tightly at Cassandra, very clearly seeing the graphic image that pops into the girl's mind before she withdraws from it. "No, you don't need that," she agrees.
Looking to Logan, the white-blonde woman nods, again. "I can certainly respect that. Excellence requires those of us to do what we do and to do it well, and that is all I require of both students and teachers, or protectors, I suppose," she says graciously. "As for changes," she smiles at the wink, "I don't know, to be honest. It depends on how things currently flow. I will be the 'bad cop' to Charles' 'good cop,' as it were. I won't hesitate to make changes, if necessary, though. Do you have any suggestions or complaints?" she asks, rather taking it seriously.
*
Cassandra Wu-San squints as she follows along with Emma's help, finding much of it weird. She's slow to make sense of it all. Her head tilts in avian fashion as it gradually clicks and she grasps the notion that Emma intends to be a sort of benevolent antagonist in the school.
Cassie will stay silent for the moment, not having anything to interject at the moment. She folds her arms loosely, lips quirking to a side as she plays audience to Emma and Logan's conversation. Her gaze is unblinking as she follows as much by their body language as by the words that Emma's telepathy translates.
*
Logan snorts and shrugs, "Schoolwise, I got nothin'. As for X-men business," he says. "Well. Probably be good if we had some. Truth is, most everybody's been busy chasin' their own tails and sniffin' their own…" he pauses and looks over at Cassandra for a moment. "Trails."
"Probably more of an issue for the Professor than you, though, Miss Frost. Unless yer plannin' to be headin' out to do a bit o' fightin', too? In which case, maybe you oughtta be the one learnin' kung fu."
*
Emma dropped the psychic connection a while ago, so Cassandra is on her own, again, the way she wants to be. But, Emma does still try to include the girl in the conversation, looking at her and smiling occasionally. To Logan, she shakes her head, "No, I don't have any plans to do anything of the sort. Though, you're not entirely wrong, I'm sure. It could always benefit one to learn how better to defend oneself," she agrees. Looking around the grounds, she exhales. "It's very nice, here. Very peaceful. There's not the loud hum that New York has. I'm thinking of getting some real estate in the area, since I'll be at the Institute more regularly. It's going to take getting used to, this quiet."
*
Cassandra Wu-San blinks at the mention of kungfu, a phrase she knows. She will take a seat in the gazebo rather than continue to stand around since it's apparently rude to work out in public. She smiles modestly in reply to Emma's gesture towards her.
Cassie's arms unfold to rest on her knees as she watches the two, only blinking when registers something familiar. She offers,"Quiet…good. For sneak."
*
Logan shakes his head, "Nah, bad for sneak. Big noisy places give you cover. Out here, I can hear every damn cricket rubbin' his ankles together," he says.
"But I'm a country boy through and through. Cities are loud, smell bad. Only place you can get good Chinese food, though, unless ya got a cook from Shanghai," he says. "I know the Professor owns most of the land around here. Was nice enough to lemme build a cabin on it," he says, gesturing towards his modest shack near the edge of the woods, by the lake.
*
Lorna has arrived.
*
Lorna wandered out from another part of the backyard, she wasn't wearing her training sweats, or anything particularly nice. But a simple affair of a swishing skirt and tank-top of blues and purples that off set the green of her hair, which was carefully braided back without the addition of hairspray for once. She looked comfortable, and it was the first time that she'd ventured outside of her room since the fiasco the other night.
She offered a wave toward Cassandra, a hesitant wave and a smile following as she approached. "Hey Cassandra," A pause as she glanced toward Logan and Emma. "Hello Miss Frost, uhm, Mister Logan." She bit her lower lip, fidgeting.
*
There's something charming about how rustic Logan is. Anyone who can appreciate that aesthetic would certainly agree that Logan embodies that outdoorsy, L.L. Bean kind of person. Emma smiles and nods, "Yes, but building a residence will take quite some time. I was thinking about something already built. Although, I must say, lakeside property is very desirable." She looks at the little cabin, which is nice enough, but not quite Emma's brand. "You built that yourself?" she asks, just as Lorna arrives. "Good afternoon, Lorna. And, how do you feel, today?" she asks, casting a weighty glance to the young woman.
*
Cassandra Wu-San offers a little wave and smile to the approaching Lorna. She recalls their last encounter keenly, having to help her up the stairs and rescue her lamp from errant magnetokinesis then being repaid with chocolate. Was a bit of an adventure.
Cassie looks back to the conversating duo then. She points out to Logan, having not understood everything he said but enough to know he was arguing,"But…I sneak you."
*
Logan nods, "You managed to sit out my window fer a while, but it ain't like you laid a finger on me, kid. the country quiet probably cost ya, kiddo. You might not have gotten caught at all in a city full o' fumes an' chatter. But I get it, you're all Tarzan the Ape Girl," he says, a little irritated.
He nods to Lorna, not knowing the girl particularly well. "Lake's pretty good," he says in response to Emma's statement. "I can show ya the good fishin' holes.'
*
Lorna shrugged weakly to Emma's questioning gaze, and practically slunk in a slouch over toward Cassandra. The young woman might not be a mutant, but she had helped her out the first time she'd ever been drunk and hadn't ratted her out. Which made her scores better than awkwardly standing there under Emma's gaze. "I'm okay Miss Frost, thanks." She mumbled, pushing a stray strand of green hair behind an ear. The emotional wreck she'd been not too long ago still lingered, but it was muted to a dull ache at least.
A glance was spared back toward Logan and she offered a cautious smile as she glanced back toward Cassandra. The thought of Miss Frost fishing widened her smile to a grin and she tried to hide it behind her hand.
"You know there are people out there that can smell too, like smelling super powered mutants. I met a girl in the city that's pretty good with it. Bet that's easier there too.." She mused, picking up the thread of conversation quickly enough.
*
Emma's brows lift high on her forehead at the mention of fishing holes, but she smiles politely and nods. She can't imagine herself actually fishing, sitting, holding a pole… She shakes the image free of her imagination and laughs softly at how silly it was. "Thank you. I might take you up on that, some time."
Looking to Lorna, she smiles softly, "I'm glad to hear you're doing somewhat better. There's no need to be so timid." Then, she adds, "Actually, for people with the supersense for smells, I'd think that the country might be better. But, really, I don't really know anything about that, since those aren't where my talents lie. I'm just guessing."
*
Cassandra Wu-San grumps slightly at Logan's irritation, not intending to push the issue or have an argument. She then looks to Lorna as she takes a seat next to her under the gazebo and offers a smile her way, picking up the melancholy hanging off of her like moss on a swamp tree. She'll slink to her own side rather than crowd her.
Cassie looks back to Emma then as she notes something new. Amusement…and words that don't match it. She's fibbing about something. Too bad she has no idea what this fishing is that they speak of. Dumb words. Why does everyone have to make so many of them? She'll blink then at the talk about smelling and whatnot. She's mildly curious what this is all about now.
*
Logan snorts, "Cities stink. Enough said," he says.
He can read something's going on with Lorna, both from her own posture and the way Emma's reacting to her. He may not have Cassandra's talent for body language, but he's been around trouble enough to get a whiff of it easy enough. "Somethin' goin' on, kid? Anybody whose ass I need to go kick?" he says.
*
Lorna squirmed, and pulled her knees up to her chest to wrap her arms around them. "Err.. I meant that it's easier for her to sneak in the city if people could smell. I mean, then you couldn't smell her, right? I dunno. I don't have that power." She mumbled, "I just know a friend that can always smell me whenever I go around Central Park. It's how she's found me even when I dyed my hair brown." She shrugged.
A glance was spared toward Cassandra as the young woman shifted away and her smile faded somewhat. Surprise flitted over her features as Logan asked after her and she flushed, and looked down at the ground. "It's nothing. S'okay. Pretty sure my father is already off to kill someone over it.." She mumbled softly, biting her lower lip.
*
Emma nods, "No, it's a simple misunderstanding. I was saying to Logan how I'd have to get used to the quiet of the country, since I'm so accustomed to the hum of New York. And, then, Logan was trying to explain that it's easier for people to sneak around in the city, because of all the noise. And, you mentioned scent…" She trails off, shaking her head and laughing softly, "It doesn't really matter. I think we all understand the gist. Except maybe Cassandra, whom I think we've only confused further with all this chatter." She smiles lightly to Cass, at that.
*
Cassandra Wu-San smiles modestly when Emma smiles her way after noting Lorna's expression of disappointment at her shying from her. She scoots back over to her, hoping that somehow rectifies things.
Cassandra swallows as she collects her very modest vocabulary and asks in a meticulous manner,"Why father kill?"
*
Logan raises an eyebrow, "Got your daddy on the warpath, must be for a good reason,' he says. "Man tries to hold his temper when he can. Don't always work, but I know how that goes," he says.
"Part and parcel of being around here - we're all tribe. Somebody messes with you, they mess with all of us. Spill it, kid," he says.
*
Lorna squirmed, and looked down at her lap, then shot Emma a pleading look. She didn't want to explain what happened. Not again. "It's … really stupid. I-I .. it's my fault." She mumbled, and bit her lower lip. Her gaze shifted to Cassandra as the young woman shifted back her way, a strained smile tugging at her lips faintly in response.
A flush crossed her cheeks as she lowered her gaze again and fidgeted on her spot on the gazebo. "I don't think you've met, Maximus before? He's come on the school grounds a few times.. But uhm.."
*
Emma sighs softly at the pleading look from Lorna. Looking to Logan, who's demanding the explanation, she says, "Basically, she was struggling with some lingering sadness over someone who hurt her. A fiendish individual named Maximus saw that she was in pain and smoothly offered to take it away." She pauses a moment before continuing, "It ended up with her losing most of her memories, which put Mr. Lensherr through undue amounts of consternation and worry. Both he, and the Professor, are very, very upset about this. I, too, am outraged that someone would do something so reckless with an innocent young girl whose only crime was wanting to stop feeling sad," she frowns.
*
Cassandra Wu-San doesn't quite get the explanation from the looks of things. Her brows are knitted as she looks between everyone, seeing them get it where she was failing. This is nothing new to her. She sniffs mildly and folds her arms loosely as she just considers the little bits and pieces she thinks she grasps.
Cassie asks,"Who…Maximus?"
*
Sophie Rousseau arrives from Front Lawn <FL>.
*
Sophie Rousseau has arrived.
*
Logan shakes his head, "Can't say I met the man," he says. "Doesn't sound like I'd enjoy the experience, from what I'm hearin'. O' course, now that I know 'bout how he treats folks, he probably wouldn't enjoy meetin' me much either. Not if he likes stayin' unpunctured," he says.
"Sorry that happened to ya, kid. I had my head messed with, lost my share o' memories. Makes ya angry, makes ya lost, makes ya crazy," he says. "Miss Frost can probably be a good help fer that, with her powers an' all. Jean an' the Professor, too," he says.
"An' if the powers that be determine somethin' needs to be done about this fella…get me somethin' with his scent. An' I'll do what I do."
*
Lorna exhaled a grateful breath as Emma spoke over the basics of what happened and she glanced toward Cassandra as the young woman misses the bulk of the conversation. She scooted toward Cassie and offered a weak smile, "It's okay. He's not a nice man. He enjoys messing with people's minds." She mumbled.
Then her attention shifted back toward Logan and she fidgeted, rubbing her upper arm. "The Professor helped me put everything back in my head. It still feels like it's my fault.. I shouldn't have agreed to anything he said. I knew better.. but.." She shrugged, and hung her head. There was the guilt again.
"But yeah.. pretty sure my father is out trying to track 'im down."
*
"Considering he seems skilled at messing with people's heads, as you put it, it might be best if you didn't go up against him," Emma points out to Logan. "The last thing we need is for you to be turned against us, and I'm sure you don't relish the idea of having your brains scrambled, considering you've been through it, before," she adds, not unkindly. She really is trying to be nice.
Looking back to Lorna, Emma is firmer in tone as she reiterates, "Do not blame yourself, Lorna. You did what practically anyone else would have done. You are not to blame for being taken advantage of, especially in your current state of mind. He exploited you and abused your trust. He will answer for his actions in one way or another," she says, sounding imperial, regal.
*
Cassandra Wu-San is seated next to Lorna in the gazebo, whereas Logan is off seated on a wheelbarrow filled with firewood and Emma is standing not far from the two girls conversating and being regal. Cassie notes the shift in Emma's demeanor with a slight widening of her gaze. She appears approving of this transition.
Cassie sits upright a bit, being adjacent to Emma's line of fire. She quirks a brow at Lorna then, curious how she responds. She'll unfold her arms to weave her hands across her lap instead at this point.
*
Logan shrugs, "Last anybody tried to mess with my mind got left in ribbons," he says. "But I get what yer sayin'," he nods to Emma. "Be better if I had one o' you brainwizard types around to watch my mental back," he says.
"Same applies to your Daddy, by the way," he says to Lorna. "If this guy really does have that kind of mind power, better to let the Professor an' Emma handle it. Last thing we need is him gettin' wrecked. He's already had issues in that area, if I remember right."
*
Lorna shrugged weakly, rubbing her neck as she looked down at her lap. It was clear that she'd blame herself regardless of Emma's words, and that guilt wasn't about to let him lightly anytime soon. Still, she didn't argue it at least, as she sat there. A glance was spared for Cassie, meeting the young woman's gaze aimed her way with a sheepish look.
Logan's words earned another shrug and she bit her lower lip, reaching up to fidet with her braid. "Miss Frost tried to get him to stay, but I've never met anyone besides Miss Crystal that can convince my father of anything if he sets his mind to it. And he was really, really angry. He's been that way before when someone sent some guy after me. Last time though he hid me with my sister Wanda for like three weeks. So yeah.." She mumbled.
Poor Lorna was most definitely Daddy's little girl whoever had targeted her that time, knew it. While she never found it out, though Miss Frost and her father most assuredly had, but it had been Maximus that time as well.
*
Well. Emma didn't try her /hardest/ to get Erik to stay, to be fair. If she'd wanted him to stay, she could've forced the issue, but she's trying not to be so fast and loose with her abilities, lately. So, though her instinct is to defend her ability to make someone stay when she wishes them to stay, she keeps her pretty mouth shut. She looks to Logan, "If it comes to it, I will be there to help whomever might need it. I don't appreciate people screwing with my students' minds, and I take great umbrage at the audacity, considering this institution houses three of the world's greatest telepaths. It's like a slap in the face," she says spicily. "So, while I do feel that cooler heads would be better when working on this problem, I don't blame Mr. Lensherr for going after the cretin."
*
Cassandra Wu-San doesn't understand the talk about messing with memories and minds, but she knows perfectly well that Lorna is upset and this Maximus person has a lot to do with it. She'll smile reassuringly at Lorna as she rises to her feet then.
Looking over at Logan and Emma, Cassie cants her head a bit. Her expression is questioning and curious all at once. She asks,"Find?"
*
Logan picks up his wheelbarrow, grabbing the handles, "Well, I'm gonna make myself useful and fill up the woodbox for now. I'll hold my play for now. But if it comes time to start huntin' humans, you folks know where I live," he says, starting to push his load of logs up towards the mansion.
*
Logan heads to Logan's Cabin <LC>.
*
Logan has left.
*
Lorna squirmed under Miss Frost's words, but as Cassie stood and spoke, a smile pulled at her lips. "It's okay Cass, really." She sighed gently, settingly her gaze back toward Logan as he turned to grab the handles of the wheelbarrow and hefted the load back toward the mansion. Well, that certainly explained why there was always wood for the fireplaces. She hadn't particularly paid attention to that. A wave was offered toward his departing figure and she glanced back to Emma and Cassandra.
"Thank you Miss Frost for last night.. I don't think I thanked you for being there for me." She offered lamely.
*
"Thanks are unnecessary, as I am your headmistress and it's my duty and pleasure to be there for you in your time of need," Emma says primly. "But," she adds in a warmer fashion, "I do appreciate your gratitude. I never meant to make you feel as though you needed to do something so drastic in order to avoid disappointing me. Everyone hurts. Everyone deals with it differently. You're going to be okay, your heart /will/ mend. It's just a question of when. You just need time to work its magic on you—as it does for everyone who's ever had their heart broken," she says gently.
Then, realizing she's been standing around for a long while, Emma checks her watch and makes a clicking sound with her tongue. "I've got a meeting with my real estate agent in an hour. Will you girls be all right if I head out to get ready?" she asks of Lorna and Cassandra. She doesn't want to leave if they're in need of a shoulder or otherwise.
*
Cassandra Wu-San sees people starting to leave, and decides to get back to what she was doing when they got here. It's started getting dark out, so she steps out from under the gazebo, but doesn't go far before she lowers into her horse stance. Standing straight, she spreads her feet apart toes first then heels then repeat until the proper distance before lowering.
Cassie starts running through her drills. Stalking forward a step, she executes a series of breathing and tension exercises with her right arm before backing up and repeating with the left. Then does her drill commence in earnest. Hands bared like claws, she flies through a series of choreographed attacks and defenses. Her body mimics the tiger as her muscles seem to bloom with the earnest effort of proper technique.
The latter half of the form, after a series of conventional punches and kicks, she transitions into something else entirely. Fingers joining together to a singular point like a hook or a bird's beak, she goes through a series of maneuvers involving precision strikes. Her stancework becomes intricate in a different manner entirely as well, emphasizing balance and grace. Then, it winds to a close. Fist into palm for the salute towards the setting sun.
*
Lorna watched Emma and bit her lower lip, nodding before she turned her gaze to her lap. "We'll be okay Miss Frost. I'll stay here with Cassie for a while I think." She murmured, at least with the young woman she wouldn't have to worry about awkward conversations. Baseline human or not, Cassandra was easier for Lorna to get along with for the moment than other students.
As Cassandra gets up and starts going through her routine, Lorna remained, her legs crossed as she watched closely, with interest. When she stopped, Lorna grinned and clapped. "Ooh! Cool! Super cool! You're like a ninja or something!"
*
Emma nods to Lorna and Cassandra, smiling lightly at them before she turns and walks back toward the building. She isn't sure how Lorna will actually handle her heartache and guilt overloads, but there can't be any hope for her unless the girl can learn when to ask for help. It's laudable that she wants to handle so much on her own, but worrying that she won't ask the right people for help. Still… It's better to let things play out, for the moment. Fussing over things will impede progress. She has every faith in Lorna. Now, to see about checking in with Charles before heading out to meet her real estate agent. Blush. Ahem.
*
And, in a fit of terrible timing, it's just after Emma has gone inside that a momentary swirl of mist familiar to Lorna and Cassandra forms, quickly clearing to reveal Sophie standing there in somewhat dressy civilian clothing. "I am very glad that that is over," she comments, as much to herself as to anyone, before she smiles slightly at the other two girls. "Hi. I am sorry to have been a bit grumpy, there. I've just come from an interminable dinner party that I was obligated to join my mother at."
*
Cassandra Wu-San smiles somewhat embarrased towards Lorna at the applause. Yes, there's a slight blush. She'd thought people were leaving. Then, there's a mist coalescing and she resists the urge to go into a combat stance by remembering where she's at. Good call, that voice is Sophie's.
Cassie offers a light wave as the Changing of the Blondes comes to a conclusion. She raises her brows a bit, having trouble getting used to that. She asks,"A..what?"
*
Lorna glanced over to the swirling mist as Sophie formed and she settled back onto the gazebo's steps. "It's cool. I can at least say that my father never drags me to dinner parties at least." Magneto at a dinner party? Perish the thought. It nearly brought a smile to her face. That would be the most awkward dinner party ever depending on who went.
"Cassie and I were just hanging out. You just missed Miss Frost though. She's probably making eyes at the Professor though." She shrugged, and tossed her braided hair back over her shoulder.
*
"I suspect he appreciates the attention more than I enjoyed spending the last three hours in the company of Sergei Vasilevsky," Sophie replies. "He is the son of a member of the Soviet delegation, and a privileged and boorish brat. He seems to believe himself to be far more attractive than he actually is."
*
Cassandra Wu-San blinks as she hears more big words. Soviet sounds familiar. She quirks her lips slightly and cants her head as she inquires,"What is So-vee-yet Del-uh-gay-shun?"
Cassie figures if she doesn't ask, she'll never be sure. Probably true.
*
A blink and Lorna's brows lurch upwards. "Woah, that's super fancy. Geeze. And I thought going to a fancy French resturant for a date was a big deal." She muttered and glanced side long toward Cassandra.
"It's a group of Russians here to talk about how they'll get along or not with our country." She offered simply, hoping that the language was easy enough for the language learning young woman to understand.
"What was he doing at your mom's dinner party? Wait, is your mom someone like in the government or something? Cause if so, I totally missed that before, and I feel so dumb."
*
At the news that she's missed Emma — again — Sophie sighs in mild frustration, and shakes her head. But the questions from the other two girls quickly divert her from that. "Yes, what Lorna said, Cassandra. You know the United Nations? The UN?" She's not sure if Cassie will be familiar with either phrasing, but. "People from all different countries meeting to try to be friends." If only it truly was that simple.
Turning to Lorna, Sophie explains, "My mother is a deputy to the French ambassador to the UN. I do not so often talk about her work. I often cannot, either because I do not know myself or because I know things that others outside our delegation should not. But that is why my family is here in New York, which turned out to be a fortunate thing when my powers first emerged."
*
Cassandra Wu-San 's eyes glaze over at Sophie's explanation, though her nod at Lorna indicates that she somewhat understands at least. She holds her hands behind her back as she shifts her gaze from one to the other, regarding each in turn as she tries to divine the new subject at hand. Cassie eventually asks,"Where is Soviet? What is French?"
*
A stretch of her arms above her head as Lorna yawned and stood. "Woah, that is totally fancy. Cool. I knew you were French, but groovy, does that mean you have diplomatic immunity if you like broke a law or something?" She arched a brow and grinned before she glanced back to Cassie.
"The Soviet Union is on the other side of the world. Almost completely like.. opposite of us. And France is on the other side of the ocean from here." She smiled and shrugged, "They're far away. I'll show you on the globe in the library sometime." She glanced between the two.
"I hate to be lame and all, but I think I should go lie down. Still not quite up one hundred percent and the Professor told me not to over do it. I'll see you guys around." She murmured, waving as she turned to go back inside.
*