Déjà Vu [Mara | Sulley]

[Kita]

Kita paid little attention to the other two while her attention was focused inward. Mara and Sulley had moved off toward the river so there was no immediate danger to her person. The gamble had paid off better than she had expected. The woman had obviously recognized her, while Sulley seemed to, to some extent; he didn't seem to be the type to give his back around just anyone. At least he seemed to have some sense and wasn't a complete idiot.

It was only then that she truly noticed that both had used the river to rid themselves of the dried blood... In two different ways. Perhaps she had gotten the labels wrong in her mind when attaching them to these two. With the cool weather, she wouldn't have expected someone to jump into cold water with their clothes on. Mara had done so. Perhaps Sulley had more brains than he let on. It wouldn't be the first time she came across someone acting the fool in order to keep suspicions away from their actions.

Her brow raised in response to Sulley's expectant stare. By the way he looked at her, she no longer had doubts that he knew who she was. Or that he, at least, found some sort of connection between her and some past memory. It didn't matter if he remembered when they'd met, only that they had. Things always progressed much more smoothly when there was some familiarity involved. As long as that familiarity wasn't a hostile one, of course.

Kita's gaze moved to Mara. The woman seemed to be lost in thought while she sat there in her clingy wet clothes. Which meant that she wasn't paying attention to the situation at hand. In Kita's mind this was an excuse to garner some amusement from the situation. She flicked a small ball of light toward Mara's head. It was meant to set the other woman's hair on fire. Not literally, of course. It would all be an illusion, which Sulley should partially be familiar with, and wouldn't hurt Mara in the least. All Kita wanted was to startle the girl back into paying attention.

[Mara Ackart]

The silence was getting irritating. Mara figured Sulley probably wouldn't talk any time soon. He was quite content to remain silent. Maybe that was because he wasn't all that good with words. The man let his actions speak for him that much was certain. The other one she couldn't really tell that much about. She was frustratingly difficult to get a read on. That probably worked to her advantage. Mara's eyes drifted between the two even as she let a shiver from the cold run down her back. Jumping right into the river hadn't been the intelligent thing to do. Mara knew that well enough. Thing was she didn't care. The cold would be fleeting once her clothes finished drying.

Being as there was little else to do until someone decided to talk Mara watched the other two. Hence she noticed very swiftly the look that Sulley was giving their light controlling companion and part of her seethed with rage because of it. Yes the woman was attractive but Mara was loyal and mostly obedient. Did that mean nothing?! The rational portion of her mind said that those things had nothing to do with attractiveness and that Sulley seemed to check out anything breasts and legs that walked his way. Mind you this entire internal feud between reason and passion was conducted behind a facade of indifference. Not a whit of it showed on her face.

It was then that she noticed something was a bit off. Mara couldn't pin point it exactly but something had changed. It took a glance at the river to discover what it was. Mara's hand twitched and was halfway to her hair before she put it back down. There was no burning sensation to the flames she saw on her head. Merely a trick played by the increasingly annoying temptress of light. Mara commended her on the trick but between that and the amount of attention Sulley paid her Mara was inclined to be furious with her. A small frown was the only indication of this change in mood. Other than that Mara stayed silent and observant. Her thoughts were better companions than these two but she was stuck. Her loyalty to Sulley forbade her from leaving. Of course he hadn't commanded her to stay but she would until he dismissed her.

[Sulley]

Silence was never too stretching. The absence of words was a delightful treat for the man who could very easily do without. While it worked for him, apparently it didn't for this woman. She was either incapable of reading body language or she chose to ignore his by remaining silent and instead playing around with her mutation.

Sulley's blood quickened at the show of light involving Mara, but he just as quickly dismissed the idea of their "friend" being a threat. Obviously she was still one for immature pranks. Then again, it may have just been a girl thing. Sulley's understanding did not extend so far as to comprehend most intentions of the opposite sex.

With something like a sigh, he lifted his fingers to the back of his head to rid himself of a sporadic itch. Bad move. The moron, who had sharpened his body instinctively in response to Kita's light, had forgotten to unsharpen himself. The moment his fingertips touched his head prickles of pain shot through his skull. Strangely enough, he did not react. It was dark and he made no movement so neither of the women would have been aware. The mistake had happened to him often while growing up. The damage wasn't deep. He'd have to swing by the infirmity later on, but that was that.

Making sure his skin was safe, Sulley grunted and wiped the back of his head with the back of his hand. Turning, nonchalant, he crouched beside the river once more to rinse his hand.

[Kita]

The amusement provided by the light trick dissipated quickly enough. It was satisfactory to a high enough level that Kita was content to remain silent for another several minutes. Her eyes moved from one of her companions to the other, and didn't mind in the least that Mara had mostly brushed off her prank. Sometimes such things were needed just to keep one's sanity from taking a permanent vacation because of pure boredom. Mara seemed to be uncomfortable in the cold weather, but that was her own fault and Kita did not see the point in offering assistance. If anyone did that it would have to be the one Mara had come here with.

Sulley was again crouched by the river as if cleaning his hands. Perhaps not all of the blood had come off his hands the first time. Not that she cared any longer; the smell of blood was mostly gone now except for what still clung to the clothing of the others. Kita was still puzzled slightly over the look he had given her earlier. She was no expert at deciphering body language. Far from it, in fact. She had led a sheltered life when she was growing up and had only been out of its influence for a few scant years. There were several subtle hints people made that she still could not pick up on. Even if some of those hints were obvious to others.

Kita kept up her observation of Sulley until he finished at the river. How long that was she didn't know or care. Her mind was mostly focused on what he could have been expecting her to do only moments before. Interactions with people outside of her own clan had never been easy for her to navigate through like a normal person. She had never had the luxury of being normal and never would. The dilemma of what was expected of her would have to be put aside for the time being, in her own mind, at least until something specific was brought up. So, Kita spoke perhaps the one complimentary thing that was in her mind at that moment. It was a compliment in her view, anyway.

"You're not dead, I see," she spoke, only pausing a moment before attaching his name to the end of her sentence in a softer tone, "Sulley."

He had seemed mostly on death's door when she had dropped him off at the infirmary. Apparently the man had more fight in him than she had first given him credit for. That was good to know.

[Mara Ackart]

Mara watched Sulley in his actions. She honestly felt no need to keep too close an eye on the other woman. She was annoying, immature, and pressed all the wrong buttons for Mara. The thought dawned on her that if Mara could be sure that she wouldn't attempt to seduce Sulley she'd make a decent friend. Not that Mara thought she would be able to make a friend. Her disposition tended to drive off the sort of people that liked to make friends.

The encounter was becoming rather boring to Mara. At least until the woman spoke. Mara quickly became alert and attentive again at the woman's words. They indicated familiarity. Had Sulley met this woman before? It would seem that way. Not only that but from the sound of it he owed her for some help given. Why else would she have seen him in such a poor condition and survived? Mara's mind raced over the possibilities and came to one conclusion.

If the woman had truly done Sulley a service then she and Sulley were in essence screwed. Mara had yet to mention that she'd saved her as well. That meant that both the leader and second of the Rebellion owed this woman a debt. It was enough to make Mara want to swear. Since she couldn't be sure that she wouldn't be overheard by the others present she contented herself with swearing like a sailor or a gangster in her mind. It would have been more therapeutic to say it aloud but in such company she would rather err on the side of caution.

Outwardly Mara remained quiet and attentive. She wanted to see where this comment would lead before she jumped in with her own opinions and observations.

[Sulley]

The woman didn't speak until Sulley was finishing up. His neck hadn't stopped bleeding, but he had cleaned the fresh blood off as well as the cut. Whatever else managed to bleed out between now and when he got something to wrap around it, well, it would just have to stay there.

The man pivoted slowly, resisting the urge to glance at Mara, and came to a stop when he face her. Kita. The way she said his name struck a chord in him. The image of the devil raced through his mind, chased out by the pressure of a female body against his, fingers pressed against his arms, his legs, his…ass? Well that couldn’t be right. Unless…

Sulley couldn’t remember what had happened, but he was certain the two of them had met before. The only question was, under what circumstances? He didn’t doubt the possibility of them having been “romantically” connected at some point. Certainly not, judging by the way he appeared to her now, which he took full liberty of observing. But it was also very likely—and very unfortunate?—that their meeting had gone differently than what he’d like to imagine.

As it was, the best option seemed to test her with words and await her response. Hopefully he could draw conclusions from what she said.

“I guess I should thank you?” His voice cut the gentle atmosphere created by their womanly pitches with a deep tune hinting at slyness. Sulley’s eyes laughed, strangely enough.

[Kita]

Kita remained silent after Sulley spoke as she ran his question over in her mind again. Yes, the voice was the same, albeit less...angered and confused. Perhaps those were the words she was looking for. There was something else in his tone now, an uncertainty that didn't suit him. A man like this should be cocky, arrogant, sure of himself and the situation around him. Indeed, that's what he was probably like in front of a crowd or in the general public areas of Freakopolis. Yet here, in front of two women, he felt comfortable - or insecure - enough to try and fish for details instead of asking a direct question.

Which was just fine with her. Word games were fun.

“If you wish,” she replied, purposefully giving an unhelpful answer.

Kita crossed her arms across her abdomen, under her chest, and let her eyes slide over to Mara’s attentive form. It was apparent enough that the other woman was listening, and hard. Her memory, it seemed, did not so easily lose its contents. Mara’s body language gave hints that Kita recognized and processed. Yes, the little speed demon did remember her debt and likely had worked out that Sulley was in the same boat, so to speak. She seemed clever enough to do so. Her gaze went back to the man before her.

“Though words for one’s life is rather lacking, isn’t it?”

There. She’d let that be a hint to him about what had happened. It was the gist of the tale anyway.

[Mara Ackart]

Being a woman of wit and words staying quiet like this was difficult for Mara. She wanted to jump in and get the talking over with several times. With as slowly and as little as these two talked they might very well be here a year before anything important actually got said. However Mara knew that she needed to keep her composure. She'd wanted to see how they'd interact with her interference so remaining quiet was her task for now. Unless one of them asked for her input or something happened that required her to take action Mara would stay where she was and say nothing.

Mara wasn't sure just how much of what the woman said could be counted as truth. If she was telling the truth then Mara's suspicions had just been confirmed by her words. If not then...well that'd be Sulley's decision. Mara personally would love to beat the pulp out of the woman and dump her in the river. That was jealousy talking though and Mara knew it. Truthfully Mara questioned her own sanity for developing feelings for a man like Sulley. Though her demeanor might not say it Mara was very much the romantic in some ways.

So while Sulley attempted to wrestle answers out of the coy minx of a woman, Mara kept her attention on the two and let her mind wander where it would. It certainly didn't seem to wish to stay on topic at any rate. Though at current her mind was centered on one thought.

Damn this is boring.

[Sulley]

Sulley stared at the woman blankly. His mind had drifted from the topic at hand to her purpose beside the river. He and Mara had needed to be cleaned. What was her excuse? It was dark and chilly and there was only trouble to be found at night in Freakopolis. What was she doing?

However curious he might be, it was inconsequential information. They had met, nothing had happened, and the only thing to do now was make an exit. He moved promptly.

With a shrug Sulley stepped towards Mara, replying quietly,

"That depends on the value of the life." He offered his Second a hand, a subconscious action of unity which he inwardly felt the woman should be exposed to. Perhaps both women.

[Kita]

Kita watched as Sulley made ready to leave with his sidekick. Obviously he had dismissed her as no longer worth his time and attention. The details of their meeting didn't seem to be wanted so she felt no compulsion to share them. His own life wasn't worth much to him, judging by his words. Then what about the lives of others?

"If you put such little value on your own life, that is your own business." She gave a pointed look toward Mara then. "But how about hers? You are not the only one this is a second meeting for."

This night had become truly strange indeed. Why had these two crossed her path again? They hadn't been looking for her when they'd, that was obvious, even though this was where she could be found almost every night. There weren't too many mutants in Freakopolis she had come across on more than one occasion. Second encounters usually happened for a reason and Kita didn't believe in coincidences. Now, why these two?

[Mara Ackart]

Mara gladly accepted Sulley's hand up as she pondered his words. Did his own life mean that little to him? The thought passed her mind that such was not a good trait in a leader. He should not be too attached to his life in case he need lay it down for his followers this was true. However if he didn't value it enough it could lead to a sacrifice or death where one didn't need to occur. The Rebellion was Sulley's group, if he died or disappeared it would probably dissolve.

Yet there was Mara presuming to know what Sulley was thinking when the man was an irritatingly blank slate. Still, that blank slate had offered her a hand up. If Sulley's intention was to give Mara little puzzles to solve to keep her interested it worked. Mara doubted that was the case. All those confusing and sometimes down right infuriating actions were just Sulley being Sulley.

The other woman's words prefaced a sentence that Mara had known would be said in some form during the encounter. She hadn't expected to get away from this without her ineptitude at the raid being revealed. Now Sulley would know and that...well it just sucked. She was supposed to be his bad ass second, capable of whatever he told her to do. Passing out from overuse of her ability coupled with illness hardly fit that description.

Mara wouldn't speak just yet. Let the minx twist the situation how she saw fit first. Mara would step in and correct her after that. She'd been mostly quiet the entire time. Why break that silence now?

[Sulley]

Really, Sulley wanted to leave. He'd done what he'd come to do--as had Mara--and now that the act was complete it was time to move on. And yet this woman, Kita, proceeded to speak. So he paused, turning his attention to her once more, his eyes calculating.

"What do you want?" It wasn't said petulantly or with annoyance. It was flat out and to the point. There had to be an interior motive. Why had she not left when they'd come? Why had she approached them? Why did she keep talking and saying fractions of sentences as if baiting? The world would be a better place if everyone spoke simply and got to their points with minimal words. Sulley had never appreciated verbosity, and even though this woman's words were clipped they still held an air of irrelevance.

She had to want something. If she told him what it was, he might be able to provide it. Otherwise his time was being wasted. Seeing as it had been months since he'd arrived in Freakopolis and conditions were getting worse every day, Sulley didn't have time to waste.

[Kita]

Indeed, now the conversation was going somewhere. Sulley's open-ended question allowed her to ask for anything that her twisted mind could come up with. And her prices were known to be high, at times. In the cases of these two, however, to provide what she wanted would not be so hard, as it was just an answer to a question. A question that no one she had been asking could provide an answer to.

"Tell me: Is there a way out of this god-forsaken place?"

She had been informed of there being no exit upon her arrival, but this instruction had been ungently given by the guards. If anyone knew of some secret place of passage to the outside world that the guards did not, it would be the other mutants stuck here with her. And these two looked as though they got around; or, at least, they mingled with many more people than she did and would have better connections. If given a good enough answer, any debt they'd incurred could be forgiven. Maybe.

[Mara Ackart]

Even though Mara's face stayed as blank as ever inwardly she was grinning to beat the Cheshire Cat. So all the minx wanted was to get out huh? It was understandable. This place was horrid for anyone who valued their freedom. Sure the pathetic types could live here happily but anyone that liked freedom would feel trapped. They were trapped. As far as anyone knew their was no way out. Not that Mara would tell her that.

If the woman wanted out and thought that she stood a chance by siding with them and the Rebellion she could be useful. True she was willful and quite frankly Mara just couldn't stand her. Walking around like sex on legs and getting Sulley's attention like that. It was pure bitchy girl competition anger that made up Mara's bitter feelings toward her. Otherwise she'd admire her for her guile.

The question was however whether or not Mara felt like speaking. She wasn't entirely sure she felt like answering the question. In fact Mara was considering just leaving the entire deal to Sulley. Probably a bad move in some ways all things considered but he was the leader. Let the man do his own recruiting this time. Abilities aside it would be no big loss if the minx didn't want to join up. Maybe she'd get killed by a guard.