Who: Mewtwo and Mystique Where: a concert What: just chatting When: tonight Warnings/Rating: G, there's not even a swear in this Status complete
Monica listened to music to unwind. She had big plans for Sunday, so Saturday night she bought tickets for a local orchestra. With any luck she’d have living subjects within a month or so, and then she wouldn’t have time to go out.
She was dressed up, as one was expected to do for a concert. She felt quite beautiful and strong. It was a feeling she enjoyed. Her heels didn’t make a sound on the carpet as she paced a little, polishing her opera glasses so she could see the orchestra at work.
Raven had been plagued by dreams. Dozens of them in rapid succession over the past few nights. Everything from Colonial America to the wild west. A woman she’d loved who called herself Destiny. A man named Logan.
When she’d woken her skin had been blue and her hair a shade of red that shouldn’t be natural. It had taken several minutes of shrieking but she reverted back to her normal shape.
And then she’d spent several hours trying on different faces and different shapes. So many shapes. So many faces.
Taking the face of a brunette woman from Germany she’d met many years ago, she decided to test it in public. She went to the orchestra.
Monica smiled at the new woman, tucking her opera glasses away. “You’re alone as well?”
“Unfortunately,” she said, glancing at Monica and giving her an appraising smile. “But what is good music without ears to hear it?”
“Interesting question. Deaf people can enjoy music, actually, if the program is set up for them.” She smiled and offered her hand. “But everyone seems to enjoy things more with company. I’m Monica.”
“Valerie.” she took Monica’s hand and gave it a firm, but hardly memorable handshake.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Monica said with a smile. “Do you come to the symphony often? I have not been here long enough to know if this one is any good or not.”
“Nor have I. I suppose we shall learn about it together,” Valerie replied, ducking her eyes slightly as she tried to determine which way Monica swung.
Monica didn’t really swing. She had other desires which were more important to her. “I suppose we will. What brought you to Orange County?”
“The same as any business woman. Opportunity,” she replied smoothly, stopping to order a drink from the bar.
Monica joined her and ordered a soda. She didn’t like to drink, she found it to be uncomfortable. “You’re a businesswoman. How interesting. What business?”
“Information consultation,” Valerie replied, picking up her drink and taking a sip. Virgin Mary without the Virgin.
“Hmm.” Monica noted, sipping her soda. “Sounds fascinating.” That sounded like a cover job for something more interesting. Was she a spy? Monica wondered if she was law enforcement. That would be a pity.
“Mostly the stock market,” Valerie clarified. “Really boring stuff. Really.”
“Ah.” Monica nodded. That made sense as well, but she resolved to keep her guard up, anyway. “I’m a scientist.”
“What do you study?” She leaned forward a bit, clearly curious. “I dated a geologist once, it was really boring.”
“Medicine.” It was close enough. “I’m a research scientist for a pharmaceutical company. Right now I’m working on gene therapies.”
“That’s fascinating. Really.” She glanced around like she was just trying to be polite, but it triggered something from her dreams. Gene therapies. She was suddenly a lot more interested. “I’m sure it’s more exciting than it sounds.”
“Not really.” Monica shrugged. “The results are interesting, but the work itself is mostly tedious. That’s why I need to get out and relax.” And not at all to brace herself for an insane fight with one of the most effective killers she’d ever seen. It would be worth it, she just had to remember that.
She nodded her head. “I won’t pry, unless you want to talk. Our seats our over here.” She pointed.
That was perfect, because Monica had no intention of talking about it. She finished her soda and followed Valeria. “Are we sitting close to one another?” She looked at her ticket, to see what seat she was in. It wasn’t a great seat, but there was no need to pay out a lot of money to be close to the orchestra.
“I think we bought ours close enough to each other that we’re stuck with each other. I’m not sure I mind.” She gave Monica a flirty smile.
Monica smiled back, but there were not flirtatious overtones. “I have no complaints. Would you like to get coffee and dessert afterward? Assuming we don’t irritate each other during the concert.”
“Dessert and coffee sounds grand, thank you.” Valerie took a long swig of her drink.
Monica found her seat and settled in, putting her program and opera glasses in her lap. She hoped this concert would be worth the effort. She didn’t like leaving her subjects for too long. Once they began to fade they were often gone within the hour.
Valerie was more interested in the company, but the concert sounded like it would be passable at least. She had been to several, usually on the arm of some diplomat or congresscritter. They were usually boring people, but boring people gave information.
Their seats were close to each other, and once the lights dimmed Monica hopped over the empty seats to sit next to Valerie. She wasn’t rude enough to talk during the concert, but she smiled widely when they played songs she knew and liked. It wasn’t the best orchestra ever, but it was still an amusing night out.
There were songs Valerie actually knew, and the ones from German composers she feigned greater interest.
Despite her political leanings, Monica could enjoy all composers. She was reluctant to leave when the concert finished. It was a very pleasant evening so far. She smiled brightly at Valerie when the lights came up. “Did you enjoy the concert?”
“More than I thought I would, to be honest. It wasn’t perfect, but that’s the fun of a live performance, isn’t it?” She tilted her head at Monica.
Monica nodded. “Perfection is an admirable goal, but it would be quite stifling if it were achieved.” She waited until almost everyone was gone, then stood. “I’m ready to go if you are.”
“I don’t know. I like to think I’m perfect. At least at some things.” She got to her feet and offered her hand to Monica.
Monica eyed the hand, then shrugged and took it. “What are you perfect at, if I may ask?”
“Conversation, dance, and poker,” Valarie replied innocently.
“Really?” Monica asked with a laugh. “I am not skilled at any of those, I will have to take your word for it.”
“I could give you lessons in all three,” she assured her.
“I don’t know if I need to learn to gamble, but I have always wanted to learn to dance.” Monica smiled at the idea. She was not a graceful creature, by any measure.
“Dance isn’t learned. Dance is absorbed. It’ll be fun?”
“Are we dancing, now?” Monica asked, a little bewildered.
“We could,” Valerie replied. “If you wish.”
Monica thought about that for a minute, then nodded. “Alright. I am willing to give it a try.”
Valerie smiled brilliantly, but she knew she had to beat an exit before she reverted her shape. She wasn’t as strong as she dreamed she was. “Splendid, I know just the place we could meet. It depends on what kind of dancing you’d like to try...”
Monica shrugged. “I don’t like most modern music, and I don’t know what kind of dancing goes best with the music I do like.”
“What kind of music do you like. I can find just about anything, for anyone.” Raven’s smile was fond, and a little playful.
“Oh, I love the Romantic period.” Monica gushed. “Liszt is a personal favorite, but you can never go wrong with Wagner.”
“Of course you can’t,” she replied with a laugh. “Because that’s my last name. No relation.”
“Really? How fascinating.” Monica said. “Your family is German, then?”
“They are, yes.” She smiled at the woman. “I was born in Leipzig, but emmigrated here when I was a girl.
“I’m from Vienna. Did you grow up in California?” She headed toward the doors, there was a cafe across the street.
“New York, and a little bit of Pennsylvania.” Valerie grinned at her, and wondered if she’d used too much truth with Germany.
“Ah, so you’re from the east, then.” Monica said with a nod, pulling her wrap a little higher up her shoulders. “The evenings are chilly, now.”
“It was distressingly muggy, I’ll be happy when things have cooled down enough to wear a jacket. I enjoy the chill. It’s easier to warm up.” She winked.
Monica nodded. “I like to wear sweaters. It is harder to help the body maintain homeostasis when the external temperature is very high.”
“It really could be worse. I was stuck in Phoenix for a summer.” Raven made a displeased face.
“I don’t think I could stand that kind of heat, and the landscape in the desert is quite boring.” She made a small face as she approached the counter of the cafe. “I think a latte will be nice. I have some work to do when I get home. I haven’t cleaned in some time.”
“Depends on where you go,” she replied. “I visited the painted desert. It was pretty.”
“The what?” She moved down the counter and waited for her latte.
“It’s this area where all the natural colors make it look like a painting, with a thousand beautiful colors.”
“Where is that? It sounds very lovely.” Monica could appreciate art as well. She’d considered minoring in art history back when she was young and foolish.
“The North-east part of the state. Near the petrified forest and the four corners state park,” she replied, without needing to really think about it.
“Hmmm. I’ll have to visit it sometime.” Monica said with a smile.
“I wouldn’t mind going back sometime,” she mused aloud. She took a look at her watch. “But I should go, before I turn into a pumpkin.”
Monica nodded. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled and went to take her seat. She was going to enjoy some time alone with her latte before heading home.
Raven waved, and then headed off in another direction. A block later she reverted back to her normal shape, and wiped sudden sweat from her brow. That had been close.