Aberrant: 200X - International Party

[Contessa]

Her plate was mostly filled with 'finger foods', small items she could pick away at while she tried to calm her mind. She was completely out of her element, but everyone, even Einherjar seemed relatively polite and good natured. Just relax, maybe some one on one conversation will be a good start... take it slow.

He talked and her eye brow quirked up a bit. "I'm not really going to be doing much frisbeeing in this outfit." she motioned to her white sweater-dress that not only looked fantastic on her it gave anyone in front of her a wonderful view a balcony fit to perform Shakespeare from.

The tail of a shrimp rested tightly between two fingernails of perfectly polished white. "To be honest, I forgot it was for three days. I didn't bring a suit, plan on frisbee, or anything. I kinda got Bravehearted into this. How'd you know I could fly?"

She took a petite bite from the shrimp and set the uneaten tail upon the rim of her plate, looking to Dozer for a response as she chewed slowly.

[Eingar]

Wow. Either Caitlin's kiss has aphrodisiac properties, or the rum's starting to work ahead of time.

Ein blinked as, between smiling at Caitlin as she kissed his cheek and turning back to the group in general, Contessa seemed to blossom. The girlish air was still there but more knowing somehow, the flush in her cheeks becoming one of interest and excitement rather than embarassment. Ein cast a second glance at her drink, wondering if the server had spiked it, then looked up to catch Contessa licking something off her lip.

Go to hell. Go straight to hell. Do not pass Valhalla and do not EVER get a young girl any sort of drink EVER again. He couldn't help it for a moment, his blue eyes fixed on her full glossy lips as distantly, he was aware of his heartbeat. Then to make matters worse, she glanced up at him through her lashes. Yeow! NO! She's eighteen at MOST. No, no, no. Bad Ein, no biscuit. He swayed, or was that the boat starting to move..? Then he managed to get control of himself, his cooler head prevailing. The entire process had taken maybe five seconds, but it had seemed a LOT longer to the Elite. He really hoped no-one had noticed. Especially Fianna. Gods above please don't let her think I'm a fucking pervert.

Then (and he could've kissed the man for it) Dozer came over and with simple politeness and charm whisked Contessa away from Ein's salivating hindbrain. The warrior let out a small sigh of relief, taking another belt from his bottle to help chase the last 30 seconds away.

"Eating. Yeah, eating sounds good!" He grinned widely at Caitlin and Jael. "Ladies, may I follow the example of our steelwart friend there and escort you to dine?" Giving them a charming smile, mixed with a little good-natured mischief, he offered them each an arm.

[Jael Carver]

Jael was a little surprised that Contessa had spoken civilly to her, considering that the last time they'd talked in chat, Contessa had been much less civil. Course, lots of people called Jael a psycho, so she was more or less used to it now. Normally, this would be the time to attempt small talk, but again, Jael hesitated - everyone was being nice and she didn't want to mess that up.

Contessa was an interesting girl, and she was almost sorry to see her girl. But the promise of food more than made up for it - as did the promise of Einherjar.

Jael took his arm with a smile. "Lead on, gallant sir," she said with a little laugh. As he walked her and Fianna into the room, she wondered where Daniel was. Mentally, she shrugged. If he didn't talk to her, he'd just never learned what really happened. And that wasn't really her problem.

[Dozer]

"I guessed. It seems that most of us can fly. Maybe you can ask one of the others for something else to wear? What do you mean Bravehearted? I'm not familiar with that term." Dozer was making an obvious effort not to look at the cleavage on display but with his angle of view, it didn't do him any favors. He couldn't look at her face without noticing her chest. He keeps his eyes looking at hers, but the reflective nature of his eyes betray when his gaze strays. Dozer smiles, and resumes noshing on the food that he chose as a small sheen of sweat beads on his upper lip.

[SalmonMax]

At the mention of food, Keiko perked up and made a quick detour in her cabin to drop off her backpack before heading in the direction the good Doctor's selves had all went.

That had been a really cool trick, she thought. Did he feel himself spread between all those bodies, or did each one have its own sensations? Did they recombine, or just fade away? She'd definitely have to ask.

But first, food. Running from LA to SanFran, slowtime or not, built up a healthy appetite.

Keiko started happily loading her plate up, then found a nice spot to sit someplace out of the way where she could see the novas in their complex social dance.

[Contessa]

"I suppose I could bend space and just head home and change, but I'm still a bit winded from warping twice already tonight." She smiled, trying to show the man she was interested in the conversation they were having. He seemed nice, even if he did need to take breaths between questions. She sighed inwardly thought as every time she looked up at him he was looking down at her chest, practically salivating. Right... in a bathing suit... in front of you... not gon' happen buster, no way, nu uh. All I need is for my dad to find out I have a price on my head, and a Colossus cast aside stalking me too.

"Bravehearting is a term my best friend Mixie and I came up with. I refers to the speech given in the movie..." She waved her hand to dismiss the explanation, but laughed sweetly. "Long story, trust me." She sighed softly as she ate another shrimp. Wow, he almost looked me in the eyes that time. Points for effort... but still a jerk.

"But yeah, I can fly, but certainly not in a dress like this." Contessa tried not to make a big deal of his ogling, she couldn't blame him for being, well, male. It unnerved her slightly, and embarrassed her slightly, but Dozer's willingness to just sit and talk and ask questions and reply to questions was enough for her to cast aside the small failures of socializing that came along with her eruption. Like never being looked in the eyes again. "So, why do they call you 'Dozer'? Do you have narcolepsy?"

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

He smiled as Saori took off with Daniel, both of them taking to the sky with a graceful ease he momentarily envied, before feeling the vibration underfoot as the boat pulled away from the pier. He leaned against the rail and just watched as the other novas My brothers and sisters, some of you. But which? mingled, chatted, and started to drink.

He noticed the large blond man he'd seen at the New Years party, an Elite if he remembered the face correctly, who seemed to have a liking for the women around him. Strong passions under those blue eyes, not all of them civilised. Perhaps... He drifted closer, his arm still around Kei, and narrowed his eyes with a faint smile as he lightly brushed against the man's mind...

And froze. This was a strange one: unnervingly so. In that mind was a core of glacial calm from which emanated a chill that didn't rise to show in his demeanour. The emotions were strong, true; but strong like a chained lion - a lion who had a key to his chains of ice and rime. Tomas had never encountered a mind like this. No, this one would not be a good plaything any more than the lion would. He communicated his concern to Kei, warning xem about the dangers of this one and to be careful around them.

He retreated from the surface of the big warrior's mind and turned to regard the others, still remaining a short distance away. Caitlin he remembered from New York: the woman he had made flee the party. He narrowed his depthless eyes as he considered her for a moment, then moved his gaze over Jael and to...

He smiled wider. The girl flushing and gazing up at Einherjar was an innocent, with no darker impulses he could feel. There was girlish attraction there, but lost in fear and near panic in her heart as she tried to hold a conversation with the Elite standing close by. Her mind, on the other hand, was by contrast very strong. Interesting. Then he caught her name.

*Contessa.* His mental voice was a sensual hiss in Kei's mind as he studied the girl. So this was the one who had called him a 'kook', mocking his world view shaped by tragedy and abuse with her flippant attitude. The daddy's girl who had a node and the power of the universe at her command, but logged into OpChat simply to find someone to play a video game with. The one who knew nothing of suffering, longing or shame. Or at least, denied it in their every word and deed. Oh, this was too rich.

He didn't approach, though. He studied her unobtrusively, noting her attraction to others rising as she became more agitated emotionally. *Very interesting.* he 'said' as he imparted this also to Kei. Finally, people started moving in to eat, and the large metallic nova clumsily escorted Contessa into the dining area.

He and Kei drifted in behind the crowd, watching as others helped themselves to food and drink. Taking plates, he did the same for he and Kei to better fit in. They circulated the room on the fringes, getting closer to where Contessa and the large one were sitting. She was very desirable indeed, and Tomas nearly laughed at the big man's reaction to the straining cleavage in the low-cut sweater-dress. Time for a diversion, perhaps?

"Excuse us." The soft voice made both Dozer and Contessa look around to see Tomas, his green eyes and black hair striking against the pale skin and white clothing. Kei was next to him, a study in darker, warmer hues, smiling with open-eyed friendliness. Holding a plate in one hand and a cup in the other, Tomas smiled charmingly at the girl before flicking his eyes over to Dozer with a nod of greeting. "I was wondering if we might join you? This is quite the gathering, and Kei and I were looking for someone normal-seeming to talk to in all this madness." He smiled wider, a friendly glint in his gaze.

"As I said, this is Kei. And I am Tomas." His smile was directed at Contessa primarily, an engaging, harmless expression of offered friendship as he stood waiting for them to ask him and his friend to sit.

[Ryusei Hideyoshi]

Ryusei for his part is the last to leave the deck. Alone again, the young nova sighs. "Things don't always go just as you plan."

Resigning himself once again to the role of gracious host he smiles again and enters the dining area, fixing a plate of sushi and grabbing a set of chopsticks and taking a seat at one of the empty tables, sitting back for a moment to just watch how all the others interact with each other.

[Contessa]

Despite his wondering eyes Dozer was very pleasant to talk to. She knew he wasn't narcoleptic and prayed her attempt at hit home, if only to lighten her own spirits. When Tomas approached her chewing slowed and she swallowed hard once he arrived and introduced himself.

Her heart beat a bit faster as the walking god of desire and lust made flesh simply stood and politely requested to join them. The time she'd spent with Sean living with her and her father, gave rise to the warmth and emotions that flooded her mind and sent a surge of arousing chemistry through her body. She recalled the feeling she was experiencing, but it seemed warped and twisted, for Sean she possessed a 'school-girl crush' for but Tomas was an entirely different monster; he was just flat out sexy as a man could get and Contessa's natural body chemistry did all the rest.

No way, nu uh, not a chance mister! Go on, shoo! she said, but it came out sounding more like: "S-sure, Dozer and I were just talking about um... movies and stuff."

She smiled politely at Kei, although it was obvious to all three present that her smiles were about as forced and fake. It wasn't that she was being rude, it was simply her body language betrayed her nervousness and self doubt.

[Vixen]

Roxanne set her things in Ryusei's room, and closed the door. She relaxed, and let quantum flow back into her node. The effects were striking, as she became covered in fur and sprouted tails.

She shifted uncomfortable, and there was a ripple of green light that washed over her clothes, opening up a hole for her tails. She readjusted her shorts, and nodded. "Yeah, this'll do fine. Can't dress up all the time." She took off her cap and sunglasses and stuffed them in her sack.

She climbed up the steps, and smiled as she mingled a little, taking it slow to start with. Getting in people's faces when you were orange and fuzzy tended to intimidate them. She preferred to let them come to her, as they inevitably - okay, probably - would.

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

The beautiful pair slid into the two remaining seats from Contessa and Dozer, Tomas to the nervous girl's left as Kei sat down across from her, to Dozer's right. Tomas took a sip of his drink, lips lingering unconsciously on his glass as he supped somewhat deeper on the emotions radiating from the tense Contessa. He nearly laughed in a combination of disbelief and malicious humor, neither of which showed in his soft smile.

*She is terrified of her own desires. Poor daddy's girl, so uptight in public, so full of bravado online.* he silently chuckled to Kei. He took a bite of a canape, turning to Dozer.

"You are the same Dozer from OpChat?" He smiled winningly. "I remember seeing your name there. There seems to be a few of us here who also frequent that place." He turned his gaze to Contessa. "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name." But if you choose to tell me, I will be yours forever and ever... his eyes seemed to say as they lingered on hers.

[Contessa]

Shards of shimmering green held her attention. Away from the safety of her solitude Contessa was starting to feel the world around her tug more and more in her mind. Things her body had gone without now seemed to be conspiring against her as nature and instinct slowly began working their magic.

It was simple attraction, nothing more, nothing less but she was so unaccustomed as to how to deal with it that is scared her. Sean was easy to handle, when thoughts like this crept close she'd just start an argument with him and he'd get mad and leave her alone, but this, this was more complicated.

Dozer was certainly handsome, and she was enjoying his company. He was being polite and genuinely kind, so her body simply let nature take its course, this is how friendships (and more) began and so it had been through out time. However, Tomas was another matter entirely. He was trying to be charming, trying to be seductive and alluring, he was being sweet and sexy all at once and despite Contessa's personality of 'men have cooties', the stunning blonde's body and mind worked in the opposite direction. Once his pheromones were on the radar, the body did what it was designed to do.

It turned her into an idiot.

"Conte-," As sapphires reflected upon emeralds she stumbled on her own name. His gaze was that intense. "Um, Contessa..."

It seemed like she was going to ad more, but it just never came out.

[BlackThorn]

Plates in hand, Ivana and Tessio stopped by the table with Dozer and Contessa. Tessio couldn't help but give the hot young teen a shy smile that reddened his dusky cheeks, but he smiled and waved to Dozer.

Ivana extended her own hand saying,

"Tessio says Hello. He remembers you from the lakeside meeting. He hopes you have been okay. I'm Ivana."

Her english came out with a heavy Russian accent that had it's own kind of sex appeal.

They would be gone by the time Skein and company had arrived, going to the end of the table and exchaning looks with one another while looking over the gathering.

[Doctor Aeon]

Well, one of Clones (wasn't it) sat down next to Kei, gave her a closed mouth smile (he was chewing at the time), swallowed too much food, nearly choked then offered his hand.

"Doctor Aeon ... hey, these chicken wings are good!"

He offered his hand to "xim", his eyes bright with excitement.

Another clone was sampling wines and seemed engrossed in finding the best one for his pallet. Another two seemed to hover constantly around the buffet, trying food and then sharing it with it's brother.

The last one sat at the table away from the others (as much as he could) with his own plate, saving a place for Keiko. This became obvious when he saw her. His face lightened up and he waved her over.

"Keiko, I saved us a seat," he all but shouted with his exuberance. He wasn't the most suave guy, that's for sure.

Another appeared close to Ruysei, hands behind his back and rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Just keeping an ear out for trouble, Captain," he explained to the troubled young man.

There was some comments that others were below decks, running around and poking thier noses into all kinds of things.

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

He feigned surprise, letting a faint heartbreaking sadness touch his eyes.

"Contessa?" He seemed to deflate, as though he felt pain in his core. He managed a bittersweet smile for her. "I... I am sorry. I did not know." She looked vaguely confused now, and he slowly picked his plate and glass up.

"I go by Skein, you see." He told her, barely detectable, bravely-concealed pain in his voice. "I know you didn't take to me very much when we spoke. I am sorry for bothering you... both." The last word was added as an afterthought as the angel-faced boy/man nodded to Dozer. He looked at Kei and smiled sadly. "Feel free to stay here if you wish. I will be fine."

With that, he stood up and slipped away, a slim white-clad figure with his head a fraction lower than it had been when he arrived as he disappeared into the throng, heading out onto the deck.

Click to reveal..

Rolling Subterfuge to simulate heartaching sadness: subtle, but noticeably there. :evil:

(19:36:56) ChatBot: (Skein) rolls (Manip 5 + MegaManip 1 + Subterfuge 3) 9d10 and gets [2],2,3,7,4,10,2,9,9

4 succs

[Adrian Moss]

Everyman kept his eyes peeled as the activity broke up around him. He watched the predatory way Tomas and Kei moved in on the innocent Contessa and her champion, the freak Dozer. He doubted those two had the level of healty paranoia to handle those two slick operators.

Mindbenders ... hey, wasn't Contessa a mindbender as well? I've got to keep my head on straight. I wonder what her game is anyway. What are her secret's like?

Keep your mind on the Game!

Everyman was able to split his mask open so that he could eat, though his bites were small and conservative.

[z017]

Kei smiled at the Doctor and tried to stifle a giggle as he took the man's hand. "Careful," he murmured, then a bit louder, "I'm Kei."

His brow furrowed in concern as Tomas got up and walked away, the young man caught (somewhat literally) between socializing with the new people at the table and going after his friend. He bit his lip and gave Contessa a pleading look to make things better.

Click to reveal..

No woogie, just pleading eyes.

[Contessa]

Her heart sank as Skein dismissed himself. He was right, she didn't take to kindly to him on the OpNet, but that was the interwebs... you're not supposed to take it personal, um, right?

"He seemed so sad..." she said softly to herself but still audible to those around her. She watched as he left, her mind quickly formulating what she should do to make amends for a slight that never occurred. "Uh, I should go apologize, I didn't want him to have to leave."

She looked at those gathered at the table and to the door where Skein had walked out. She stood, and as she did she never left her seat. The faint anima of blue could be seen in the eyes of the young girl who hastily walked after Tomas, while Contessa still remained in her seat.

Out on deck the echo of the heels on her white boots gave away her approach long before she spoke to him. She reached out and with an angles touch and gripped his arm to gather his attention. "T-Tomas... wait. Y-you didn't have to leave you know..."

Oh, this is just bad... price on my head, Colossus stalking me, and now the cutest guy I've ever seen just completely jets out on me. How was I supposed to know he was cute? It was the opnet, he was supposed to be overweight and living in his mom's basement. Just my luck... Mixie... I need you.

Click to reveal..

Clone, 1 duplicate.

Quantum Pool - 21/30

Appearance - 5/3

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

He turned sharply, surprised at Contessa's touch, his green eyes widening as he found himself face to face with her youthful innocent beauty. They were barely a foot apart from one another, angel and fallen angel, and both were lost for a moment in a whirling sapphire-emerald kaleidoscope.

He hadn't expected this. He'd expected his exit to fill her with guilt that would work on her over time, a slow acid eating at her conscience. But she had come right after him. He blinked, unprepared for the sweet innocence in her gaze this close and sudden. He was silent for a long moment as he regarded her, his face in repose, a single lock of his black hair feathering against his cheek in the sea breeze.

"No." He told her very gently, letting some truth bleed into his words and expression. "You were right, to an extent. My thoughts, my emotions... they are not like other people's. People who have had a happy, normal life before their eruptions. People who were loved before they became one of the New Gods of this secular age." He tenderly removed her hand from his arm, holding it for a long moment before letting it slip from his fingers. "By your standards, I was a broken little thing when I erupted. My anger and bitterness towards human society stem from that time. I have only recently come to understand my place in the world. I imagine that's hard for some to understand." He smiled again, a soft quirk of his lips. "But I bear you no malice, Contessa."

[Contessa]

She told her body to pull her hand away, as politely as she could, but for the love of all that was holy it needed to be pulled away! His touch was soft, his voice kind and sincere. The more she wanted her hand pulled away, the more it stayed right where it was... in his careful, loving grip.

The gentle pacific breeze swept between them, mingling their scents with the soft sea air. Contessa didn't do 'romantic' very well, regardless of how long she'd known a guy.

"Gawd I hope not," she snorted like a geek as she smiled, brushing aside the thoughts of Tomas flattening her with is powerful nova abilities. "That would totally make this trip suck."

"Look, Tomas," she still couldn't get that hand back! "Of course you thoughts and emotions are not like other people's; they're yours. I mean, it's okay to not like other people, Lord knows I wanna push Monica Bowman down an elevator shaft. People are allowed anger, we're allowed bitterness."

Gently she squeezed his hand. I did not just do that. I am not flirting, I'm not... or am I? What if he thinks I am when I'm not then we're thinking different things then we gotta have the whole long let's be friends talk and I've never given one of those... wow is he cute...

"Come on Tomas, we just met. Why don't we get to know each other before we go and decide we don't like the other. I don't want to bring sad faces to Ryusei's big boat, cheer up some, huh?"

Ladies and gentleman! The Nova Cruise's Prom King and Drama Queen awards this year go to...! He is so cute...

[BrokenSunlight]

Pasquale seated himself next to Kei as Tomas walked off and Contessa followed. That would be the incident in the chat room, if his guess was right, though he had not understood everything said. He turned back to face Kei, not because he felt any particular need to, but because he'd discovered staring blankly off into the distance while holding a conversation disconcerted some people. "I think your friend Tomas will be OK," he offered. "Contessa is very sorry for what she said." Here, again, that didn't quite come out the way he meant it to...."As it looks to me."

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

"Thank you." he told her simply, returning the hand-squeeze before letting go, his hand dropping to his side. "I think you don't fully understand. But you try to, and that counts." He smiled radiantly at her, the sun catching his eyes and turning them green-gold as he lifted his head a little more. "You have a good heart, Contessa." His lips formed her name as if it were a poem.

"And I would be happy to get to know you better. That's why I'm here, to meet other novas." He tilted his head with a small grin, crooked and charming. "I find the OpChat clumsy when trying to talk to people I've never seen. For instance, now I have a face and a smile to go with that colorful pink font."

[Contessa]

"Y-you noticed my smile..." she looked at him, her smile was tender as looked upon him impressed now with more than just how physically attractive he was.

"Wow." She spoke softly, her words just slightly above a whisper. "Most guys, well, all guys usually notice everything but my smile." Her hand sheepishly brushed behind her ear strands of blonde hairs that weren't there once more. "I usually get 'hey, you're hot wanna go out sometime', ugh, it infuriates me."

"Thank you," she looked to the deck, bashful and unsure exactly how this was supposed to go. "You know, for noticing."

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

"Well then, I suppose we are even." he told her lightly, his smooth voice gentle. "We have established that you are not as cruel as others, and that I am not like other guys." There was a sparkle of mirth in his gaze as he smiled. "I am sorry for dragging you away from your friend in there." He told her softly. "You didn't have to come after me... But I'm glad you did."

He offered her his arm in elegant imitation of Dozer. "Shall we go back in? Our friends are probably concerned for us."

[Contessa]

"Sure." She smiled back, accepting his arm rather calmly. "It's okay though, I left a place holder. I didn't want to be rude and leave them, but I wanted you to know... well, you know. So I left myself behind..."

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

Tomas smiled bemusedly, somewhat puzzled by Contessa's words as they walked back into the dining area arm in arm. "Left yoursel-" His voice faded as he saw... Contessa. Sitting in her seat. He looked sharply at the one next to him, his eyebrows shooting up as he realised the truth.

"Now that is impressive." He looked at her afresh. "Like the funny little man who has about seven..." he did a quick count of Dr. Aeon's many selves "... or more copies running around." He chuckled in amazement. "You can copy yourself. Must be handy."

They reached their seats as he finished talking, Tomas glancing at the Contessa in the chair, then at the one next to him. "Shall we get you another chair?" He asked with a smile.

[Caitlin Kieran]

Einherjar, sandwiched between a striking, athletic-looking redhead on one side and a striking, athletic-looking blonde on the other, resembled some ancient pagan chieftain ready to take his place at the feasting-table.

It didn't take Caitlin long to load up her plate, despite the wide variety of delicacies offered; grilled ahi tuna steak, a plethora of vegetables, and an enormous crab were quickly joined by lemon wedges and a pair of soft breadsticks. After all, wasn't this the kind of thing people ate on the west coast? She wasn't sure, but it was all colorful and it smelled fantastic, and she was much more comfortable eating things she actually recognized. ...Though there was a brief moment of uncertainty as she'd considered the crab, steamed in its shell with fragrant herbs and garlic.

Well... I guess the losers really shouldn't be passing on faulty genes, anyway...

Before she took a seat, however, she scanned the room for her unwitting ward, and, seeing the voluptuous blonde chatting animatedly with the relatively harmless-looking guy in the pirate getup, relaxed somewhat. She pushed her sunglasses up, letting them rest on top of her head, and gave Dozer a quick, encouraging wink.

[Eingar]

The pagan chieftain was certainly feeling somewhat ancient, and disgracefully so when he considered the two lovely, athletic and above all young women either side of him. He grumbled good-naturedly to himself as he helped himself to much the same as Fianna, adding half a chicken to the top of his plate which looked incongruous perched on top of the mound of other food. Nova reflexes had their uses other than in combat, though, and the large Elite managed to navigate to his seat next to Caitlin with ease despite having the precariously-piled plate in one hand and his rum bottle in the other. With a sigh of anticipation he dug in, eating with his fingers, yet somehow it was not crude, but as genteel as others using silverware, a sign of much practice eating thus in company.

After stripping a chicken leg in a matter of a minute, he took a swig of rum and relaxed a little, addressing Jael and Fianna. "So, what have you ladies been up to recently? Haven't seen you since last year, Caitlin. And Jael, it's been a couple of months. You both keeping well?"

Despite his relaxed air and his ready smile, the blond warrior's eyes were always slowly moving from the two young women with him to scan the room with deceptive idleness before returning to the objects of his conversation.

[Contessa]

"It's not so copying, as it is spatial manipulation. Instead of a 'clone' per se I just exist in two, or more, locations at once." I twas fun to talk about what she could do, in fact knowing what other could do and sharing her own talents was a topic she enjoyed immensely at the Rashoud Facility.

As she approached the table she looked at herself, Tomas in tow, she giggled a bit. "No, s'okay. She was just leaving."

"I was?" Clonetessa asked confused as she looked up to herself. "Ah, pooey..." and in a sparkle of golden, glittery motes quantum she sprinkled away on an unseen breeze like a Disney fairy.

Contessa sat back down, absorbing the conversation she'd missed while she was gone as her double transmitted information back to her. "Sorry everyone, didn't mean to run off like that."

[Ryusei Hideyoshi]

Ryusei nodded and ate in silence. When Roxanne reappeared he smiled, and gestured that she could join him if she wished. He looked to the Clone of the nova calling himself Doctor Aeon.

"That's a neat trick, copying yourself. I take it they're all autonomous copies?"

[Jael Carver]

Jael got some food and came back to the seat next to Einherjar. She had gotten used to the food on the West Coast and her plate was piled high with her favorites. She glanced around, still didn't see Daniel and curbed her impatience and irritation. She wanted this done.

"I've been good, Einherjar," Jael said, smiling as the big man asked how she was. "I trust you've been good?"

She listened to what Fianna answered his question to her. Jael sensed that she was as pragmatic as herself; there was a down-to-earth quality about her. At the least, Jael wanted to get to know her and see if that was true. She listened carefully to the woman as she spoke.

[z-Xiao Saori]

Saori glanced at a clock and saw it was past time for the boat to launch. "We should return," she said with a smile. "The boat is leaving soon, if not already. It will be harder to find, especially if it takes us until dark to finish talking." Her smile was all geisha - secretive, shy and suggestive, all at once.

[Mr Fox]

Daniel smiled in return, the mirror of hers. "Yes and I should really stow this new toy in my cabin so it doesn't get ruined. Perhaps we can have our chat after that? I can think of several activities that would be a great deal of fun." He was of course thinking of close contact naked swimming in the Pacific, close contact naked flying above the waves, close contact pretty much anything really.

[SalmonMax]

Keiko hurries over to sit by the Doctorclone with a big grateful smile. Not just for the seat, but for the attention in general.

"Thanks a lot," she says sincerely. "That was really nice of you. " She hesitates, then confides, "You know, I really have no idea what to expect. This seems so...normal, somehow. I mean, there's powers sure, but they don't seem important. People are all doing what regular people do at a regular party. Is this pretty much what nova parties are like?"

[z-Xiao Saori]

"It is a plan," Saori announced, lifting into the air again. She angled back over the bay, knowing that he would be following her. They spotted the boat easily, a white jewel on the blue water and landed on it without incident.

Before landing, she scanned the deck and saw Tomas walking arm-in-arm with Contessa. She is more lovely than I remember, she thought, wishing her lover luck.

Which left her alone with Daniel.

[Adrian Moss]

Too much damn cloning was going on here. Bad enough that God-awful teenage Goddess had done it - and wouldn't that make for interesting - Think Clean Thoughts! Think Clean Thoughts! ... but this wack-job Doc was doing something nefarious too. He had to be. No one needed that many outlooks on life. It wasn't healthy.

Everyman attacked a lobster claw as if it had personally offended him.

[Doctor Aeon]

"Oh, no probem Keiko. I rarely get out myself, though this isn't my first nova outing."

The normal little man, who only seems diminished in such august company, leans in and whispers to Keiko.

"Oh, the opportunity to be seen is greatly enhanced here, and then you look for who is watching ... and who they are watching and then you try to figure out why?"

He stuffs a small shrimp into his mouth and speaks while eating,

"Because it is important to figure out who is doing what to whom. The world isn't a safe place. People doing all kind of stuff."

Doc Aeon leans back then gives Keiko an conspiratorial wink.

Just then a another Doctor Aeon walks up and says, "You have got to try this," and melds straight into the good Doctor. A moment later, the clone re-emerges and heads back to the buffet table. Doctor Aeon doesn't lose a beat.

[Caitlin Kieran]

After downing another long draught of the black stuff in her glass, and noting with satisfaction the space between the rings it created, Caitlin settled back comfortably into her chair. There was a sharp crack as she snapped off one of the crab legs, and, casually, inserted a single thick black claw into one end, forcing the point upward until the shell split. The plump, succulent meat was removed in one piece, and was devoured in precisely the same way.

"I've been good," she nodded, smiling with unabashed pleasure. Good food, good drink, and good company. This might not be so bad, after all, she mused. "Busy, but good. Lots of coursework, presentations, demonstrations at work, that kind of thing." She shrugged, waving her free hand dismissively as she snapped off another segment of the poor crustacean's leg. "Got a couple of dogs, rented my parents' place upstate. Pretty tame stuff, honestly."

Inquisitive green eyes moved from Jael to Einherjar, and back again. The other woman hadn't given up much information, and it took shoving another bite of crab meat into her mouth to keep from prying. These are novas, Caitlin, she reminded herself as she chewed, not the new kid at school. You may not really want the answers you ask for.

"It's nice to meet you both. Officially," she amended with a grin.

[Jael Carver]

"Coursework?" Jael asked, perking up and stopping her attack on the shrimp tails that had been taking her attention. "Are you in school in New York? What are you studying?"

She wondered if she had more in common with her than she thought.

[Tomas Saint-Etienne]

Originally Posted By: Contessa

Contessa sat back down, absorbing the conversation she'd missed while she was gone as her double transmitted information back to her. "Sorry everyone, didn't mean to run off like that."

"No, I should be the one to apologise." Tomas's voice was soft as he held Contessa's chair for her, then moved around the table to sit at his old seat. "There was a misunderstanding. But thanks to Contessa..." and he smiled faintly at her, his eyes dancing, "It no longer exists." He smiled at the Aeon clone, then at Dozer. "Please accept my apologies."

He took a sip of his drink, his eyes lingering on the beautiful, blushing teen for a moment before casting his glance around the rest of the table.

"So, what did we miss?" he asked.