mod and npcs. (resets) wrote in thedepartment, @ 2010-01-23 22:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | mystique, timebomb |
big girl (log: mystique and timebomb)
How had she gotten here again, exactly? Tabitha Smith looked out the passenger side window as the car she now found herself in sped along the highway. Not much more than an hour ago she was sweating about being investigated by the police over a little money she'd "borrowed" from her place of employment. She was going to pay the money back, even the portion she'd used to bribe the security guard, that idiot she'd had to flirt with - and a little more, but not much, thank god - to pull the job off. All of that was going to be taken care of now, however, according to the driver of the vehicle. Which should make anyone glad, but for Tabby there was now a lump in her throat, accompanied by a huge knot in her stomach, at the thought of what this might cost her. The last time she'd been involved with Mystique... Tabby looked over and put on a brave face, giving the other woman a slight smile before quickly turning around and eyeing the scenery again. She wanted to ask Mystique exactly what she had in plan for her but couldn't bring herself to brave that question, not yet anyway. What was that line from the Godfather movies again? Just when you thought you were out...
This was really a feather in the cap for Mystique. She could actually sympathize with Tabitha, not that she was going to say that or recognize it, but she kept thinking she and Irene could take their retirement. But you couldn't retire from your mutant powers, and Destiny kept having her visions. Big events. Events that had already made her reunite the Brotherhood once, and now she kept an eye open for other previous members. She wanted to keep them all on her radar, and if they'd help her in the process, it was even better. Not that Tabby had a choice. She was going to join the DMA and keep her eyes on things for Mystique, whether she wanted to or not.
"I'm sure you'll love working for the government." Mystique gave her a wide grin before turning her eyes back on the road. "You don't have to worry about breaking laws anymore."
She turned back to Mystique when she'd started speaking, nodding a little at the words. It was hard to sound enthusiastic about working for the government, of all things, holy crap, but she was doing her best to try. Tabby definitely didn't want her to change her mind and drop her off at the nearest police department, after all.
"I... yes, it'll be a change of pace, to be sure." She mustered a little giggle at that because it really was, given all that she'd done in the past with the Brotherhood and all. "I don't know if they'll want me, but if you say so. Anything's better than..." Facing up to what she'd done? Being responsible? "...thanks again. Really." She looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingers together, a nervous habit of hers. Once she realized what she was doing she stopped and tried to keep the conversation going. "So, who all will I be working with? Or so you know yet?" Hopefully it wouldn't be with all non-mutants, maybe she'd recognize a face or two there.
Other people aged, but Mystique had stayed pretty much the same in the past ten years. And that smile of hers was pure plotting. "Boom boom, you're one of mine. I take care of my Brotherhood."
She changed lanes, keeping one eye on the traffic. "The Department of Mutant Affairs. Secretary Cooper is...entertaining. I've met the agents, but can't say as any of them made too much of an impression..." Another flash of a smile. "But several of our teammates ended up there, so I'm sure it will be much more refreshing than that sapien work you used to be doing."
She did have that going for her, which made Tabby a little jealous. Tabby had looked after herself and, in her not-so-humble opinion, was holding up pretty well in that department too, but Mystique had a distinct advantage. Her words made Tabby smile a genuine grin, albeit a small one. It was encouraging to know she still had that sort of family, even if they'd disappeared for the better part of ten years or so.
"It's Timebomb, now, actually. Or, well, it will be." She'd actually thought about that over the years, and how she'd prefer Timebomb to Boom-Boom, that sounded kinda juvenile to her now. Not to even get into the psychological reasons behind wanting to shed the old nickname and all, which she probably wasn't even thinking of herself. "Ah, that's good to know. I was wondering what happened to some of them, the ones who didn't, you know. Disappear." Or those that had died, but she didn't want to think about that at the moment, nope.
"Ah, Timebomb. Of course." Kids and their ever changing codenames. "Most of them have gone onto other things, but a few have found their way back." Like it or not. "Funny you should mention that, though." The disappearing. Of course, Mystique, being Mystique did not explain why that was funny. It hardly seemed amusing.
"It's... I don't know. Boom-Boom isn't me anymore, I guess." For a number of reasons, and just saying that aloud made her feel a little emo or something, which she hated, rar. Tabby shook her head to herself and listened to what Mystique was saying. Wait, did she say found their way back? And what was so funny? "What? What do you mean by that?" She was in no position to demand information from Mystique, not ever and certainly not now, but she had to know what the other woman was talking about.
Maybe one benefit of aging was changing quickly. Ten years was not that long for Mystique to reinvent herself, but she didn't think she'd ever change who she was. Might as well let the girl ramble, though. She smirked at the question, though. "You want me to spoil the surprise?"
Tabby had tried to reinvent herself, it's true, but here she was again, in an almost identical situation that she found herself in a little over ten years ago. She was rambling, yes, a lot, and were it anyone else but Mystique she'd probably be shouting or yelling at them to spill the beans already, omfg come on! "Yes! I mean, yes, please." TELL ME OMG WOMAN.
"Our good comrade Pyro will be one of your coworkers," Mystique informed as if that wasn't a shock. She knew it would be. "But that's not what I want you to pay attention to. Remember, I'm going to be very interested to hear how you're doing." That is, she would be liking a statue report often.
"..." If it were possible for a speech balloon with ellipses to come out of one's head, then Tabby would have a huge one hanging over hers right then and there. Possibly followed by several exclamation marks. "Pyro? He's alive?" She hadn't heard that he was dead, she'd heard nothing at all and had just assumed the worst. Not to mention she'd had nightmares on more than one occasion that maybe one of her big explosions had done him in or had somehow helped lead to his demise. Hearing that he was alive, well. That was fantastic! "I... how I'm doing? I'm just fine." In the aftershock of that bombshell she hadn't quite grasped what Mystique meant, oops.
Well, if nothing else, she was still not a master of subtlety. Mystique could not care less how she was feeling. She stopped herself from rolling her yellow eyes, but she did sound a bit more impatient. "That's what I just said. But there are other details about your job I'd like to know." That was a bit blunter.
Tabby tried to compose herself a little better, not wanting to tick Mystique off or anything. "Oh, yes, I can do that. That won't be a problem, as long as there's a way to contact you." Hopefully that wouldn't be a problem for this Secretary Cooper that she'd mentioned earlier, but Tabby wasn't going to question Mystique about that just now. Besides, she'd more than likely already had a way in mind for them to keep in touch, or else she wouldn't have brought it up. "It sounds good. I'm looking forward to it." Not that she had any real say in the matter at this point, but she was excited to see Pyro again and whoever else they'd managed to wrangle up.
"That won't be a problem." Mystique had enough contact information that there would be plenty of ways for Tabitha to send updates to her. "Good. My daughter will be there, too. Let me know how she's doing. She's terrible about keeping in touch." Rogue. So ungrateful after all the things Mystique had done for her.
Tabby should've known better; of course Mystique had contacts everywhere. Or, hell, she could just use her powers and show up herself, for all Tabby knew anyway. "Alright then, that sounds good. And I will, I can do that, I mean." Oh Rogue. Maybe she'd make up for it with a nice Mother's Day gift? Don't hold your breath, though, Mystique. She nodded her agreement and looked back out the window. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all, and she couldn't wait to talk to John and anyone else that was there.
"Good." If Mystique didn't think Tabby could do it, she'd have already rethought her plans. But as it was, it shouldn't be a problem. Val's offer for new agents was still open, so Tabby should be let right in. If Mystique weren't busy doing other things, she could check up with everyone by herself. But she did have other things to do, so she'd make Timebomb owe her this much. "Any other questions?"
It was a minor debt to repay compared to what she'd be facing otherwise, and Tabby knew it. Game, set, and match to Mystique, to neither of their surprise. "No, ma'am, just say where and when and it'll get done." Well, on the brighter side of things, she'd get to blow things up on a much more regular basis. That was a good thing, right?