Archive Mutants & Masterminds: Future Imperfect - Dangerous Curiousity [Complete]

[z-May Allman]

Lena was on a mission. Fortunately, it wasn’t one of the missions that she got paid for, because those were never as much fun as what she had planned. No, this was personal, and she was using the ‘credit’ she’d acquired helping Ronnie to have this Others-free night. And the fact that she was going to piss Ronnie off using it was just a bonus.

For five years, Lena had been intensely curious about Travis’ supposed prowess in bed; she’d be inclined to think he’d been lying, but she’d heard some girls mention it, too. So the unknown had become a near-obsession for the psychopathic young Other, and was why she pushed Ronnie on it constantly. If the giant purple bitch had so much as winked at Travis, they’d have known a long time ago, but Ronnie had funny hang ups about sex and intimacy. Lena had no such compunctions.

But she was running out of time. She admitted a certain interest in Sly, and possibly he in her, and that meant that he would likely push her to a point where she had to be interested in him alone. That hadn’t worked well in the past, but she was always willing to give it – or someone – another spin, and she thought that she might be willing to spin it with Sly.

Which was why tonight, she was determined to satisfy her curiosity about Travis, before she couldn't. The fact that Ronnie and The Others had agreed to “retreat” far enough back in their head so that she had some privacy meant that she could pull this off before Ronnie realized what was wrong.

Most people who saw the cute young woman of mixed Asian heritage wouldn’t have looked twice at her. She was pretty but ordinary, wearing a sexy red dress and idly swinging a purse of a similar hue. Lena could walk in a room and not draw undo attention, unlike the Lavender Landmark. Travis never even saw her coming.

He was playing – cheating, actually – at craps when she stepped into the empty space next to him, watching quietly. She didn’t make a move on him; she was pretty and close to his type. He’d come to her, with a bit of patience.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis had the dice, as they say he was the "shooter". That meant he wasn't cheating. He only cheated when somebody else threw, it made it much harder for him to become the suspect. The point was a six, which made him happy, he liked to win without cheating and a six was an easy point to make. Not like a four or a ten. The croupier pushed the translucent red dice back to him, their white pips were smoothly flush with the surface of the dice and were showing a seven. He hated that. Sevens were bad when you were trying to make your point. Travis picked up the dice and dropped them in front of him a few times. As he did he tossed a twenty-five dollar chip down and called "yo" to the croupier.

He was about to throw went a rather cute mixed race woman ambled up beside him. He hesitated, the dealer asked the woman if she wanted to place a bet and she declined. Travis had thrown the dice before the dealer reminded him. Six. The table burst into cries of joy, the sounds of winning that would turn heads from every table within earshot. Craps was like that, generally everybody at the table won or lost at the same time, the result was an experience like no other.

Travis looked at the woman, in her "come hither" red dress and smiled, "Miss, I do believe you may be good luck."

[z-May Allman]

"Oh, I am," she said, smiling at him. "Many men find themselves lucky when around me." There was no advice, no catcalls or derisions in her head, and Lena felt herself loosen up a bit more. She wondered if this was what it was like for single-minded women; this blessed silence where you were the only one who mattered.

She glanced at the table and then back up at Travis. "You seem to be very good at this game. Will you teach me how to play?"

"You're in Vegas and haven't played craps?" he asked her, arching a sexy eyebrow. Why the hell hadn't Ronnie hit that already?

"I just arrived," she said coyly. She did know how to play craps - but it was elementary to know a lot more than she let on, and her expression was guileless. "I wanted to see some gambling done before I spend my money on it. How about it? Care to take me on? As a student?"

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis nodded, "Sure, I can do that. First thing you want to do is bet on the pass line. That's here. That means you win when ..." Time ticked by as Travis laid down the basic rules of play to the young woman. Eventually she seemed to have the hang of it. "...and that is pretty much that until you start getting into the real odd bets, hopping hard ways, and stuff, but those are sucker bets for the most part." His stomach gurgled quietly and he stole a look at his watch. It was well past eleven and he'd not eaten yet. Do it, she's all grateful for the help, and the winnings no doubt. Easy pickin's. Travis knew that he wouldn't have even given it thought before, but he looked down at the nearly faded indentation from a ring and wondered for the thousandth time whether he has somebody missing him, waiting for him, wanting him. He looked at this young woman, Lena, she had called herself, and knew that with a little effort he could make the last happen, and that with a little more effort he could help her ease that want.

"Hey, I haven't eaten yet, would you like to have dinner with me? I know it seems late but none of these places close until like three am, and I hate to eat alone." Or go home alone, or sleep alone, or ...

[z-May Allman]

It was an unpleasant surprise to see the faint ring marks, but Lena shrugged away the disappointment. Clearly, he was very attached, if he'd managed to forget her so cleanly. Ronnie would have a nice fit though!

When he invited her to dinner, Lena smirked to herself, feeling a stab of victory. She was halfway to her goal now, but it wouldn't do to be too eager. She wiped away the predatory smile, replacing it with one of pleasant surprise. "Well, I guess I could," she said. "Why do the restaurants remain open so late?"

"For the gamblers, of course," Travis said with a smile. That smile widened when she casually took his arm.

"And they say Vegas is a family-friendly town," Lena giggled as they walked into the restaurant and were shown to a table. "Do you live here? Or are you a lonely visitor, like me?"

Click to reveal..

Lena's Perc+Aware: 4 sux

1d10=7, 1d10=10, 1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=7, 1d10=7, 1d10=6, 1d10=4

[Travis Kincaid]

"A little of both I suppose." Travis ordered a bottle of red as their waitress came by and randomly selected an appetizer as well, skewered Thai style beef. "I moved here recently," he lied but it didn't matter because there was no way she would know. He was beyond caring anyways; he honestly could have just moved back to the area for all he knew. "And you? Where are you from? What brings you to Sin City for your vacation?"

[z-May Allman]

"Isn't it one of the places to see before you die?" she asked eagerly. "I mean... you have to go to Sin City, right?"

She felt a stirring and stifled a frown of irritation. Sometimes, things filtered down, and if Ronnie had heard Travis' voice, it might ruin everything. Time to spin a tale and bore the purple nurple back to sleep. "I just woke up... well, have you heard the song 'The Way?'" When Travis shook his head, she said, "Wow, I thought everyone knew that. Anyway, it's about this retired couple that just wake up and hit the road, leaving everything behind. And I felt the same way, like I had to just get up and go. So I did. I took my savings and just... went. I still have to see Hollywood, so that's my next stop." She smiled, the image of a careful young woman instead of a manipulative sexual predator.

"Why did you move here? Is the city that good?" she asked, propping her chin on her elbow. She was playing with him a bit, she would admit.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis chuckled, "No. And yes. Honestly I'm not sure why I moved here. I guess it was just the right place at the time, and it has continued to be. But, come now, you don't expect me to believe a pretty young thing just up and sells off her life to travel to Vegas and Hollywood do you?" He gave her a suspicious glance, enough that to Lena it became less a seduction ploy and more a concern. "You want to be an actress don't you. You have that dream to go to L.A. and break into show bizniz." Travis nodded, "Yeah, you want to get away from your humdrum life and make it big in a glamorous industry. I can see the headlines now, and the Oscar buzz..." Travis wove such a convincing load of bullshit that he wondered what would happen if he actually met a girl who was going just that. Flattery would fall into fiction and the resulting tangle would be ... exquisite. She's no actress, real or imagined, but every pretty young thing likes to play pretend.

"So, Ms. Lena, what's your first role going to be?"

[z-May Allman]

"I want to play a bored young heiress who loses everything when her family is killed by a gang of Triads," she said, apparently weaving an elaborate tale. In truth, it was based on her own life - or the life that had been made up for her years ago. "So she fights her way to a position of respect in another gang so that she can get her vengeance!"

Lena stopped with a dramatic gesture, then dropped her hand. Smiling with a hint of self-consciousness, she added, "Or something like that. Then I'd like to play a spy." Show that purple broad how it's done.

[Travis Kincaid]

"Haha! Of course, and after that a roll in the big summer movie as the incredibly hot no nonsense cop who saves the world from ... from ..." He snaps his fingers and feigns like he cannot find the word.

"From alien invaders?" she supplies.

"Yes! Aliens, invading New York, and only you can stop them!" He leans back in his chair and laughs. The wine arrives and the appetizer shortly thereafter. "So. Other than gambling and eating dinner with a rakishly charming man, what are your plans while in Vegas? Are you planning to see the dam and the Grand Canyon?"

[z-May Allman]

"Of course," she said, smiling before testing the wine. He has always had good taste. Again, what was wrong with Ronnie? "Have you seen them? Or have you been too busy teaching craps to exotic strangers?"

Across the room, Lena saw Foo Huang end the room, carrying a bussing tray. He saw her and his eyes narrowed. She smirked at the acne-pocked young Triad for a second, then turned her attention to Travis. When Huang hovered in her vision, trying to get her attention, she turned her head away from Travis slightly and used her middle finger to scratch her cheek. Huang got the message and left, and she returned her full attention to Travis.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis sees Lena looking past him and uses his spoon to look behind him without having to turn. He sees a young oriental man in the tiny upside down image. Fuck me. I'm being conned. The spoon slips out of his hand and lands on the floor drawing her attention suddenly back to him. Turning red he mumbles an apology, "Right. Well I do what I can. I've been to Hoover and the Canyon. Canyon sunsets, best way to melt a girls heart." He grabs a skewer and takes a large bite ending his end of the conversation for the moment, How do I get out of this safely?

Click to reveal..

(16:00:24) (Travis_Kincaid): awareness 8 +1

(16:00:27) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 8d10 and gets 3,7,4,10,3,10,5,1.

(16:00:30) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 1d10 and gets 1.

(16:00:53) (Travis_Kincaid): pop the 10s (observant)

(16:00:59) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 2d10 and gets 9,1.

Result = 4 sux

Legerdemain 5+1 to hide his action

(16:05:41) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 5d10 and gets 2,4,2,3,1.

(16:05:44) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 1d10 and gets 2.

Result = Botch!

[z-May Allman]

"Maybe a girl shouldn't trust herself on the edge of a canyon, with butterfingers like that," Lena chuckled, while inside red flags went up. Did he catch me looking at Huang? If Huang had fucked this for her, he'd have to wait a lot longer to get that thousand back from her. "Though I might feel safe with you away from the canyon edge."

Damn it, damn it... how to recover? "Would you... um, mind if we switched restaurants? There's this guy... he was on the same plane as me, and he kept hitting on me. I think he works here, and he keeps staring, and it's really freaking me out," she said, biting her lip in the perfect mixture of concern and embarrassment.

Click to reveal..

Lena's little white lie: 4 sux

1d10=5, 1d10=1, 1d10=7, 1d10=5, 1d10=7, 1d10=10, 1d10=8, 1d10=2

[Travis Kincaid]

The smile, the bit lip. OK I was wrong. Paranoia is normal when you were thought dead and can't remember your past ... Travis looked where her eyes led him, "The little asian dude? Him?" Travis frowned as he saw the waitress come out with their entrees. "Our food is coming out right now, are you sure you want to go? I doubt he'll do anything while we're here. While I'm here... but if you want, we can go, just say the word."

Click to reveal..

(16:26:02) (Travis_Kincaid): Subterfuge 6

(16:26:06) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 6d10 and gets 9,6,6,2,7,2.

result = 2 sux

[z-May Allman]

Again, she bit her lip and appeared to think, then visibly relaxed. "Oh, it's ok," she said, running the tip of her finger over the lip of her wineglass, "I think you're right. It'll be ok if you're here." Her smile was a bit warmer, with a touch of 'my hero' goofiness in it. Men ate that shit up for breakfast, but Lena was careful to not overdo it.

Their conversation became more sporadic and non-eventful as their food was brought, and some attention was paid to dinner. Lena ate a careful amount, determined not to eat too much or too little.

Leaning back as the waitress cleared the table, Lena decided to test the waters. "Thank you for dinner, and for the craps lesson. And of course, for saving me from pestering men. I'd like to do something for you - can I get you a nightcap?"

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis sat back and regarded Lena for a moment. It hit him suddenly. She'd been playing him just as he had her. Her story was weak at best but designed to allow him to use his own lines easier. "Ok, why don't we cut the whole tango here. You've been working me as hard as I have you. Why don't I pay and we go back to your hotel room to see if we can't break the furniture some?"

Click to reveal..

(17:02:53) (Travis_Kincaid): Seduction 5

(17:02:59) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 5d10 and gets 3,8,2,7,9.

Result = 3 sux

[z-May Allman]

Break some furniture? Ronnie asked, her bass-voice suddenly thudding in the back of Lena’s head. She felt the Other woman peek out, and the gig was up. Figures; that was a common adage from Old Travis.

"Sure," Lena agreed as she stood up, even as a shitstorm broke out inside. Good thing she'd arranged for a hotel room!

You fucking cunt! Ronnie wasn't one for the c-word, but today she was using it within three words. Lena laughed to herself. This was better than she thought it would be.

Still, it was a struggle to maintain her calm as Ronnie ranted and raved at her. It only got worse when the others got involved, following along the old lines. Baara was sure it wasn’t right of Lena to upset Ronnie so, while Celeste thought they were both childish, Nana was trying to keep the peace and Rebecca Lee just wanted to be left alone!

She held until the hotel room. Ronnie was really losing it, and Lena felt her control begin to slip. Wincing, she fought back, somehow holding on.

Click to reveal..

Lena’s Manip+Sub to show no struggle: 3 sux

1d10=7, 1d10=5, 1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=8, 1d10=6, 1d10=9, 1d10=4

Lena’s Willpower check: 3 sux

1d10=6, 1d10=8, 1d10=3, 1d10=8, 1d10=4, 1d10=1, 1d10=10

Ronnie’s Willpower check: 2 sux

1d10=3, 1d10=2, 1d10=10, 1d10=5, 1d10=7, 1d10=5, 1d10=6

[Travis Kincaid]

Originally Posted By: May Allman

"Sure," Lena agreed ...

Well damn, I guess she really did just want to get into my pants all evening! Travis smiled and quickly paid the bill, in cash, before they left. As they exited the quiet of the restaurant the sounds of the casino flooded back over them once more calling out the exaltations and devestations of the patrons therein. "You'll have to lead the way, I can't read minds after all." To his surprise Lena's room was in the Luxor, the very hotel he had a near obsession with. As they rode the glass elevator up the side of the black pyramid Travis managed to say, "I love how this ...mmpff" As Lena's mouth pressed to his, her hands already sliding up beneath his shirt.

Conscious thought took the evening off and instinct came on for the night shift. Travis' hands slide over Lena's body with no hesitation. One slide up under the hem of her dress and found that she was wearing stockings and not pantyhose, Love it. The other quickly busied itself at the nape of her neck where his fingers caressed the sensitive skin there. They burst into her room as Travis picked her up, Lena's legs circling his waist. A flick of power and the door closed even as they collided with the bed.

[z-May Allman]

There was another surge within Lena as they hit the bed, the mental equivalant of getting curb stomped by a large, angry, purple-haired woman. You cock-sucking gutter slut! Ronnie roared in fury, you're doing this just to fuck with me!

Actually, I'm fucking him, Lena laughed. Don't think so highly of yourself, Grape Ape. This is about me getting to take the Travis-mobile for a ride. Pissing you off is a bonus.

Unacceptable, Baara said suddenly, pushing against Lena as well. With a gasp of outrage, the battle was lost.

Travis was just getting into the horizontal dance when everything changed. Lena's body began to move, muscles twisting and bones popping. What would have been unnerving to watch was downright creepy when it was wrapped around him. Lena gained a foot and fifty pounds of muscle, her ivory skin darkening to a sun-kissed olive. The dress audibly groaned under the pressure of the transformation. Her black eyes became glittering green jewels of color. Lena's long black hair pulled itself into a short, almost military cut. The face of the woman below him became handsome rather than beautiful, with a hawkish nose and firm features.

"Mr. Kincaid, please get off of me," the stranger said, in a firm, even proper voice. There was a hint of a Middle Eastern accent in her words. "The situation has changed. I'm afraid you'll have to find new company for this evening."

Click to reveal..

Lena's Willpower: 4 sux

1d10=6, 1d10=1, 1d10=9, 1d10=9, 1d10=4, 1d10=7, 1d10=8

Ronnie's Willpower: 2 sux

1d10=2, 1d10=6, 1d10=4, 1d10=9, 1d10=3, 1d10=9, 1d10=5

Lena's Willpower: 1 sux

1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=3, 1d10=5, 1d10=6, 1d10=9, 1d10=3

Baara's Willpower: 4 sux

1d10=7, 1d10=10, 1d10=6, 1d10=10, 1d10=6, 1d10=7, 1d10=5

[Travis Kincaid]

"Holy shit!" Travis stumbled backward, his pants, and underwear, already pooled around his ankles, and fell to the floor. The woman in front of him got an unobstructed look at his (mostly) naked body before he pulled his legs up. "Jesus ... oh, Jesus ... what the hell!" Travis couldn't recall it now but he would later ask Ronnie and she would confirm that he had never been terribly articulate in the face of surprise and pressure. He stammered and words would start in his throat only to die on his tongue. Finally he simply closed his mouth with an audible click of his teeth and waited while he tried to shimmy his pants back on.

[z-May Allman]

Meddling bitch! You fucking goat-cock-sucking piece of shit! Lena could be verbose, and now was no exception. I'll fucking kill you! I'll burn out your eyes! Somehow, someday! Watch your back, you cum-gargling kyke!

Baara politely turned her eyes away as Travis got dressed, composed herself as well. Lena cursed again as she caught the barest glimpse of what she had sought tonight. "My apologies for startling you," Baara said simply, "but something wrong was happening, and I felt the need to intervene."

With no warning, Baara's brilliant eyes widened and then her body shifted again, resolving itself into Lena. "Sorry about that," she said, smiling placidly at Travis. "I don't..." She sighed. "I supposed you're going to want some questions answered, now."

Click to reveal..

Lena's Willpower: 1 sux

1d10=2, 1d10=1, 1d10=6, 1d10=4, 1d10=4, 1d10=10, 1d10=3

Baara's Willpower: 0 sux

1d10=3, 1d10=4, 1d10=3, 1d10=4, 1d10=5, 1d10=5, 1d10=6

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis was on his feet and closing his pants in a flash. "Shit," Travis shook his head, "yeah, you think? Maybe you can start with how you are a mutant and you turn into a butch lady when you get it on." He backed toward the door but also kept an eye on the window that looked out into the hollow interior of the Luxor's pyramid.

Click to reveal..

(11:39:24) (Travis_Kincaid): Willpower 3

(11:39:27) ChatBot: (Travis_Kincaid) rolls 3d10 and gets 8,7,2.

Result = 2 sux

[z-May Allman]

"Baara's just a killjoy," Lena said softly. "I'm the one who's fun." She stood up and stripped off the dress, heedless - or perhaps flaunting - of him being able to see her undergarments. Walking to a closet, she dug around inside and pulled out another dress.

I am not butch. Baara sounded oddly put out.

Yeah, right, sister. "There's nothing wrong with being a mutant, Travis. I don't recall you closing our door; I remember your hands being otherwise occupied. And before you give me shit about 'lying' to you, forget it. I am Lena, not Baara. I don't change into a butch woman, she becomes the one in charge."

What the fuck are you doing?! Ronnie gasped.

I'm answering his questions. Don't worry, I won't out you. You can still be the special butt of all of his off-color jokes.

She looked at him, wondering how he was taking it so far. "Does that make sense?"

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis stammered for a second as he felt the lust begin to slowly creep back as Lena once more appeared and stripped down to her undergarments. Blacks stockings, bra, and panties that were small enough to be barely more than a wide string. Yummy.

She called him on being a mutant. And he blanched, "That's ridiculous, I kicked it shut with my foot!" Oh crap! Shit. shitshitshitshit... Travis bumped into the door, the paddle style door lever dug into his back, he fumbled a hand towards it. "You aren't making any sense. Who the ... WHAT the heck are you?"

[z-May Allman]

"I'm a mutant," Lena said simply. Her dark eyes latched onto him, traveling up and down his body before she sighed and rubbed her face. "I'm also very, very interested in finishing what we started-"

Over my dead body, ass-blister.

I can arrange your death, somehow. Lena was serious. She'd love to kill half the fuckers in her head.

"-without any further interruptions." She rested her hands lightly on her hips, accentuating their curve. "Interested?"

[Travis Kincaid]

"Yes, but ... no, how can I know who I'm ... it's ..." Travis frowned. She was beautiful and she wanted him and physically he was more than willing. What if this IS a trap? How many enemies do I have that I can't even remember? "It complicated, and I think its probably best if I avoid complication." She frowned and he felt so bad for making so much hotness feel bad. Brains over balls dammit... "I can't believe I'm doing this," he said as he pulled the door open and stepped through it into the hallway.

[z-May Allman]

Lena sat on the bed for a long moment after he'd left. Then she disappeared, another woman surfacing to take her place. This woman was petite, with generous curves. Dark-skinned and dark-haired, she had an implied mixed heritage, but it was hard to say exactly what.

For the next six hours, she lay unmoving until her body rippled and changed. Sea-green eyes and long blond hair heralded Celeste's return, and she stirred, wincing at how stiff and cold the body was. Shivering, she rose and stripped out of Lena's clothes, heading for the shower.

After the night of mental in-fighting, she deserved a bit of pampering.

[Travis Kincaid]

Dawn. Sunlight blasted around the edges of the window shades and illuminated the room beyond. Travis opened an eye and grumpily mumbled something about nothing good happening before noon. However he tried to fight it thought he could not escape the simple fact that he was awake. That and he needed to pee. He stumbled into the bathroom and then the kitchen where a carton of OJ was appropriated from the fridge before he slumped into the chair in front of the TV. An hour later he was finishing the last of the OJ as he watched the news. He'd been avoiding thinking about the night before but it kept coming back. The hot and horny Lena, her body rippling beneath his hands as she transformed into somebody else. "Shit, why couldn't that have just been some fucked up dream."

He stuck to his routine for another two hours before he realized how bored he was. He grabbed the phone and called Ronnie, "Hey there, you got plans for lunch? Good, meet me at the In & Out on Sahara Ave. You won't believe the fucked up date I had last night."

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie had had better days. Right now she was slumped at a picnic beanch at the In & Out, smoking a cigar and ignoring the table of high-schoolers staring at her. They couldn't know that she was watching them because of the thick shades she was wearing. Fucking kids. Should be in school, she growled to herself, forgetting it was the weekend.

Travis appeared at the door, and she gave him a tired wave. "What's up?" she asked, as he dropped onto the bench across from her.

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis plunked down a tray that was heaped with food; four burgers, two massive orders of fries, and a pair of thick shakes. He shoved a pair of the burgers toward Ronnie and one of the shakes. "Sorry they didn't have grape," he said mirthfully. Her return glare felt like it had blistered the eyebrows from his head and he laughed, "Comon, you know I'm kidding." He paused and gave her a second, longer, look as he dumped the fries out and slathered ketchup over half of them. "Wow, but don't you look like crap. Rough night?" She nodded silently as she unwrapped the first burger. "Well it still couldn't have been as fucked up as mine. Get this, I was playing craps at the Mirage and ..."

He laid out the story between bites of burger and fries. By the time he finished he was sucking the shake down and the sad remains of their lunch were little more than greasy foil wrappers and ketchup stained paper. "Pretty fucked up right?"

[z-May Allman]

He was talking about her. Pretty fucked up right? "Yeah, sounds it," she said, dragging a hand through her hair. And it almost got more fucked up, bud.

Fuck you. That had been all that Lena had said to anyone since Celeste had resumed control of the body this morning.

At least you're consistant, bitch, Ronnie thought, taking a drag on the stogie and blowing out a cloud of smoke in the next breath.

"So," she asked casually, "what are you going to do about it?" He gave her a look and she quirked an eyebrow over the glasses. "What, funky mutant with MPD targets you for sexxins and you're not going to check it out?"

Ronnie... darling... have you LOST your MIND!? Celeste's normally calm, purring voice was harsh with anger.

Yeah, fuck Lena, she growled to Celeste. He'll never be able to actually get her, but I don't give a fuck if he tears down every contact and friend she has looking for her. Twat deserves no less.

You should mind your own businesses, Lena snarled. I can make you just as miserable - I know as much about you!

Ronnie took a drag on her cigar before grinding it out in the ash tray. Bring it, bitch.

[Travis Kincaid]

"Do?" He was looking at her like she had sprouted a second head and started speaking in Shakespearean prose. "That chick had another chick inside her. I dunno if she was off her rails crazy or what but ... no, hells no, I got enough trouble with my own head thanks, I don't need to get involved with a fruit loop like that!" He looked at the shake in his hand, "Fuck I need a beer." And a lay wouldn't hurt, but I don't think that's worth bringing up right now.

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie froze, a stricken look flashing over her face. Due to the way that she and the other personas had been built, considerations of their sanity had never been an issue. They knew what they were: separate personalities forged from May's own aspects of herself. While they may have acknowledged that most single-minded people may have thought of them as crazy - or more accurately, they may have thought May was crazy and they were nothing really - they knew that they had evolved beyond what they had been made to be. They were people, separate people forced into a desperate, crowded time-share situation.

But to have Travis decry her as crazy, no, as a fruit loop, hurt beyond measure. She was only dimmly aware of standing up, looming over Travis as he blinked up at her. She was in pain and confused, but Ronnie really only had one outlet for either of those emotions: anger. "This fruit loop won't be bothering you again," she snapped. "Fix your god-damned memory by yourself, jerk." And then she turned, stalking away from him before he could see the hot tears that were about to fall.

Oh, my god... Celeste moaned in her head. I can't believe how terribly you just messed up.

Whatever. Her outburst was already becoming regret. She didn't even see where she was walking anymore; her tears were blinding her, and she let out her first choked sob as she cleared the front gate of the restaurant.

[Travis Kincaid]

Asshole, look at that, you pissed her off. The one person on this god forsaken rock that cares about you at all ... that I can recall. Wait ... What? This fruit loop? No. Oh, no, no. Shit. Travis hated to do what he was going to do, to use his powers against a friend. He hated himself for even thinking about doing it but he did it. He rose and took off after her, and as he did he willed her to stop. Ronnie froze in mid step, unable to move anything below her neck. "Don't you dare. Don't you dare even try to run dammit!"

Travis caught up with her and moved around to see her face. Her tears were like a slap in the face. He looked into her eyes, almost level with his own. "What is this? What the hell is going on!?" He thought he was angry, he certainly sounded angry, and he knew he wanted answers but what he said next surprised even him for it was something that neither of them knew to expect. "I'm sorry Violet. I didn't know." He voice carried genuine sadness and regret, and kindness, it was wholly unlike Travis.

[z-May Allman]

I couldn't have messed this up more if I tried to, Ronnie sighed to herself. She was more sad than anything, now. Travis had been her partner for six years, and somewhere, he'd become her friend. Granted, not the kind of friend you took anywhere you didn't want to be embarrassed at, but he was still her friend.

And then he proved he wasn't really that guy, either. His apology choked her up again, because it was the last thing she'd expected. "Please let me go."

"Depends. You going to run?"

"No," she sighed, but boy did she want to.

"You going to hurt me?"

She shot him a 'c'mon' look. "No, you paranoid dofus."

"Ok," he said, and the invisible power holding her fell away.

"I hate it when you do that," she mumbled.

"I know," he replied.

She bent over and pulled up the edge of her shirt, using it as a makeshift towel, removing the moisture from her eyes. For a moment she crouched, thinking about how easy it would be to leap beyond his reach. But she didn't, and she slowly straightened up. It was apparent she'd been crying; tears still clung to her purple eyelashes. But the lines were gone from her face and the gesture had made her feel better.

"Thanks," she said and sniffled. Then she stood there, not sure what to do next.

[Travis Kincaid]

This isn't awkward at all ... Travis and Ronnie stood there quietly for a moment before he finally folded. "Need beer. You come with." He stuck out his tongue briefly and sighed. "You can't run, not from me. So you can either have a drink and explain all of this or ... I dunno, or something." They found an out of the way bar, a neighborhood pub type place. It was empty and the bartender looked bored as they walked in and ordered beers. "Ok. You'd better lay it out straight and clean. Cause my head can only take so much of this."

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie sat miserably in her bench. "I can't tell you anything unless you promise me you'll keep this secret," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "If you don't, you'll get me dead. I'm not joking. I'll be killed, and it will only be a matter of who gets me first." She lifted her purple eyes to his and he could tell that she was dead serious.

Nana's voice was filled with disbelief. You're telling him?

I don't have a lot of choice, Ronnie said, failing to mask a certain amount of relief. If anyone had to find out, who better?

"What do you say, Trav?"

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis sipped his beer. After determining it potable he downed it quickly and ordered a second. "Well technically I'm already dead and misery does love company. But since you haven't sold my ass up the river I think I can probably keep your secret. Tit for tat as it were." He considered for a moment before quickly continuing, "Plus I just know that there must be some nookie in it for me, that Lena chick was ready to put out." He grinned wide and Ronnie could tell he was being a dick on purpose to try and put her at ease. Of course he wasn't also looking forward to sex, but then he was Travis.

[z-May Allman]

Ronnie sighed and slouched into her seat, kicking one foot up on the bench across from her, next to Travis' leg. It was typical Ronnie, and Travis eased his leg away from her dirty boots. She took a draw of the beer and he patiently waited. She was gearing up for story time, and he had to admit it was a doozy of one.

"I time-share," she finally said. He gave her a look and she nodded, continuing. "There are six of us, well, seven. Remember how I said I work for BND?" Travis nodded. "Well... they all work for someone different. I'm not gonna say who. But I've got a bunch of spies with highly-treasured secrets crammed in my head, and if you tell anyone, I'm probably worse than dead. I'd be tortured until they could wring every drop out of me. I'm NOC with five of those six organizations, so if I'm exposed..." She sighed. "I don't need to tell you that."

She paused and he said, "That's it?"

"What?" she asked.

Travis took another drink of beer and said, "Just, oh... maybe why there are seven of you in there."

"Really just six," Ronnie said, then sighed. "Ok, starting at the beginning. May was the first, the orginal. She became a inflitrator, and being a mutant was good at it. No one know it was because she was able to become someone else so completely. Problem was, after a while, she couldn't stop being them, but she was still herself. And so was Celeste born. I was second, when she needed a kickin' meat shield."

She glanced at him. "Following me?"

[Travis Kincaid]

Travis blinked and shook his head, an amused expression on his face. "Travis had one hell of a fucked up life before he became me." He took a long pull from the bottle and set it down, "So all my teasing and flirting with you and some other part of you, Lena, got all hot and bothered and decided to jump my bone? I thought you said we weren't involved ... or did you just mean that I was not involved with this persona?" He shook his head again and reached for the beer once more.