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Post by Pyro on Oct 30, 2006 11:29:04 GMT -5
For all his assumed air of nonchalance, Pyro was as excited about the opulence of the suite as Mystique was and joined in the bed-checking with gusto, throwing himself onto the vast bed like it was some sort of crash mat. He moved around opening cupboards, turning on lights, and generally exclaiming in pleasure the whole time.
He even remembered to do it in a German accent.
"This was a wonderful choice of hotels," came a voice and Aurora entered the room. Pyro turned to grin at her.
"It should be, for what it cost," he replied and laughed warmly. "Do you ladies want an ignorant male with you whilst you go jewellery shopping, or should I go try out the spa facilities downstairs? Or, indeed, simply ring room service and order up a five course dinner...because I can?"
He had never stayed anywhere so luxuriant. It was almost making him dizzy with delight.
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Post by mystique on Oct 30, 2006 23:55:04 GMT -5
Slipping an arm around Aurora's waist, Mystique laughed one of her slow, purring laughs.
"And miss you doing both? No leibchen, I think you should come with us." She drew a finger around Aurora's neck thoughtfully. "I think it's important, don't you?"
Smiling a bit at Aurora, she walked to the bed and sat down beside Pyro, fixing now golden eyes on them both. "It won't be long. He already has it made for you fraulein."
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Post by Aurora on Oct 31, 2006 9:59:24 GMT -5
"Spa?" Aurora quirked one slanting eyebrow; she'd heard of them, of course, on television and such, but she'd never actually been in one. "Yes--Wait for us and we'll all enjoy the spa together."
Aurora smiled as Mystique sat beside Pyro, her natural eyes revealing themselves. "Perhaps you will gather some gift ideas for my sister," she said mischievously, flashing a grin at Pyro before glancing to Mystique with a sparkle to her eyes. She sauntered to the mirror, near the door, and ran a finger down it's intricate frame. "Let's hurry. I can't wait to see it!"
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Post by Pyro on Oct 31, 2006 16:56:50 GMT -5
"Man, women and shopping," murmured Pyro under his breath. He got up off the bed and picked up the three-quarter length topcoat. It was far too warm for it, but he liked it. It made him feel like Johann instead of John.
He shrugged the garment on and checked his reflection in the mirror. "You have my total and undivided attention, ladies," he said, with a slight smile. "Where you lead, I'll follow in your wake. Let's do this thing."
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Post by mystique on Oct 31, 2006 20:31:04 GMT -5
Within minutes they were back in a cab. Mystique gave the man the address and toyed with the leg of Pyro's slacks as she dialed her phone.
"Michael, hallo liebling. Ja sind wir hier, das einzelteil aufzuheben." She laughed. "Gut, gut! Ja. Danke. Auf wiedersehen."
Hanging up, she kissed beneath Johann's ear. "He's ready to see us. Good."
The ride across the city took the better part of an hour, time they spent talking about the city, pointing out places they liked to one another and occasionally having to explain out loud why they, German tourists, would already know the places so intimately. Finally, they were in the industrial district, and Mystique reminded the cabbie to stop in front of the address she'd told him.
He had a bad memory. Could only do them favors.
"Gut, and will you wait here for us? Thank you." Getting out, she waited for the others.
An old man in a dirty lab coat stepped out of an aluminum doorway whose sign only said "Maxim Steelworks".
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Post by Pyro on Nov 1, 2006 2:24:40 GMT -5
John was thoroughly enjoying himself. He briefly knew a moment of guilt, worrying that he was actually having too much fun and wondered whether it was simply the recovery from the cabin fever staying on Genosha had caused him. Whatever it was, he excitedly pointed things out. His 'excuse' for knowing the city so well was that he had been an exchange student here.
When they stepped out of the cab and the guy in the lab coat approached, he remained a respectful distance behind Mystique. This was something she had set up and although he was pleased to be involved, he would wait until she introduced them before he spoke.
He cast a sideways glance at Aurora. "You doing OK there?" he asked, genially.
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Post by Aurora on Nov 1, 2006 9:53:19 GMT -5
On the ride through the city, Aurora listened to Pyro's tour guide act intently, asking him questions when they came to mind and commenting on the things they saw. When they arrived, Aurora eyed the man in the dirty labcoat. If she hadn't had trust in the way Mystique did everything she did, no matter how it seemed outwardly, she would have wondered if they'd gone to the right place for the deal. But she knew Mystique probably had an endless network of people she'd encountered and worked with in the past, and Aurora didn't argue.
"You doing OK there?"
Aurora looked to Pyro and nodded easily. "Yeah," she said, as though there were no reason to be less than okay. In fact, she didn't see one, and she was beginning to wonder if she should be. "We're not testing this thing, right?" she asked under her breath as they came closer to the man waiting for them.
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Post by mystique on Nov 2, 2006 8:48:43 GMT -5
She wouldn't introduce them; Michael knew the names she would give would not be theirs and if he knew, someone might ask someday. It was just the sort of thing they chose to slip past whenever they met.
Looking to Pyro and Aurora, she gestured for them to follow as the old man opened the door, politely sweeping an arm for them to go in first. "Please... and mind the step." He seemed kindly, gentle but very sharp. Those marble blue eyes assessed theirs as if he knew all their secrets without them even having to speak.
The warehouse was as dingy and cluttered as one might expect; no secret steel labratory existed inside, though occasionally on a table or counter stood a piece of machinery far too expensive for the likes of the industrial district. Cases of odd looking metal objects stood along one wall, things that seemed no more dangerous than a remote control or a television screen but, locked up as they were, could have been anything.
"Now you gave me the measurements, but it seems she's a little smaller than I might have guessed," Michael said, chuckling like an old grandfather to his granddaughter. "You always did have a problem with standard, Leni dear."
Pulling a key from around his neck he unlocked a thin drawer beneath a steel topped lap table. It pulled out and within it was another box.
Eyeing Aurora, he continued. "Your heart is in a good state I presume?"
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Post by Aurora on Nov 2, 2006 11:58:57 GMT -5
Aurora eyed the box and 'Michael' warily. She started to voice a drawn-out 'yeeeees' but remembered her accent at the last moment. "Jaaaaa..."
Ignoring how ridiculous it sounded to her ears, Aurora glanced to Mystique, then Pyro, then back to the box. "Will we be testing it, Sir?" she asked respectfully, masking any weak feelings as she usually did. It wasn't that she was afraid to test it so much as simply not wanting to do it. It would be a hassle for them all, with her being unconscious for who knows how long. Besides, she wasn't eager to find just how much of a punch the necklace could pack.
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Post by mystique on Nov 2, 2006 14:55:21 GMT -5
Michael chuckled, opening the box. Laying against black foam padding was a rather attractive necklace, only a quarter inch at the thickest sections and sparkling like polished steel.
“Well my dear, if you’d like to we certainly can. I assure you it won’t be necessary.”
Mystique looked at Aurora. “Wouldn’t it have the same effect if we used it now, it would… flip the switch, so to speak?” Her head tilted a bit.
For a moment her eyes darted to Pyro. He was their leader, and she wanted him here so that this entire situation was a Brotherhood matter- not one merely between Aurora and herself. She knew he found it distasteful, and to an extent it was… but it was going to save Aurora’s life someday. And Jeanne-Marie’s as well.
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Post by Pyro on Nov 2, 2006 16:29:39 GMT -5
Pyro caught Mystique's glance and considered Aurora thoughtfully for a moment or two. Then he shook his head. "Nein," he said, "We will not try it out without reason to do so." He looked at Aurora. "Understand, we do this because we want only to help you, not to hurt you. We will not try it out until we must."
He looked to Michael. "I for one trust in your abilities. If Leni trusts, then I do so too." He gave Aurora a smile that he hoped she could read fluently. It was a look that almost implored her to trust Mystique's motives and actions.
Glancing at his watch, he considered. "Leni, I have many jobs still to do today. If you and your - sister wish to remain here for any length of time, I may have to meet you later. No disrepect, sir," he added to Michael. "Pressures of business trips."
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Post by Aurora on Nov 2, 2006 16:55:49 GMT -5
Once she was reassured that they wouldn't be testing the necklace out on her, Aurora went back to being perfectly calm. She caught Pyro's smile and nodded once, giving him a small smile that said that she was fine. She trusted in not only Mystique's motives, but in Pyro's as well, and she had agreed one hundred percent with the necklace idea. If Jeanne-Marie popped up again, Aurora wanted somebody to knock her flat before she could run off and get Cured or something. "I understand completely," she said easily.
"And this will be difficult to take off, ja?" she asked, turning her focus back on Michael. She didn't want it to come off in a fight or something and leave her unprotected.
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Post by mystique on Nov 2, 2006 18:31:05 GMT -5
As he showed Mystique the locking mechanism they had designed together over a number of days of long distance communication, she nodded and Michael looked up from the box.
"Quite so, dear. In fact, it'll be nearly impossible to remove."
Of course someone with extraordinary strength or someone capable of destroying metal alloy might have, but they had both discussed Aurora's abilities and decided that it was unlikely she'd be able to do so.
Mystique picked up the piece, showing it to Aurora briefly on the palms of her hands. "It's rather pretty, isn't it mein sister?" She looked up at Aurora and let the yellow shine in her eyes for a moment.
Then she picked it up, and held the two ends separate. "You're certain about this. We understand you're putting your life in our hands, and won't forget it. But I don't want you to do anything against your will."
Though of course Jeanne-Marie's will wasn't being taken into account. Some thing, you simply couldn't get around.
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Post by Aurora on Nov 3, 2006 11:48:56 GMT -5
Aurora eyed the necklace as she thought seriously about her choice. Finally she lifted her eyes to Mystique's face again and spoke. "It may save my life someday," she said decisively.
"I have no fear that you will misuse it," she continued, looking between Pyro and Mystique. "It is my will that we do this."
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Post by mystique on Nov 3, 2006 13:29:37 GMT -5
Mystique nodded shortly and slipped it around her neck, looking Aurora in the eyes as she snapped it shut. Michael stepped forward behind Aurora and made sure it was secure.
"Now if you ever wish to remove it, you will need to return here. I suspect you will contact me in that event." He looked at Mystique. She nodded.
With a smile just a shadow on her lips, she looked to them both.
"Then I suppose it's time we moved on."
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Post by Pyro on Nov 3, 2006 15:07:50 GMT -5
"Absolutely," nodded Pyro, looking from Aurora to Mystique and back again. "And we're going to move on to this spectacular little Italian restaurant I know, where I am going to treat you two ladies to lunch - and then I personally want to go back to the hotel and shower and change. All those little things that are somehow more decadent when you're in a hotel."
He practically beamed at them. "Danke," he said to Michael. Then he threaded his arm through Mystique's and smiled at Aurora.
"To lunch, ladies," he said, cheerfully.
End
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