[ OoM ] Exploring Milliways

[donthidemycigs]

Grace has been meaning to do this for a long time. The grounds are expansive, follow no set rules that she knows of, and don't appear to make any topographical sense. She's heard about interesting native flora and fauna that subsist on a likewise implausible biological organization, but has never seen them. For a xenobotanist, this is Candyland.

She has looked around the gardens and greenhouses before, but they are the clear property of someone else. As much as Grace loves plowing in and taking over, she knows better than to disturb someone else's work. At least until she's been properly introduced.

So. One scientist, out on the fringe of the lake path, taking readings and notes on the forest. She's finding a surprising amount of flora seemingly native to Earth, mostly from temperate/oceanic climes. This doesn't make sense, and right now that trumps taking notice of the beady red eyes peering at her from the bushes.

"... And just what the hell are you?"

Someone walking by might see the belch of fire.

Or they might just hear the echoing, "FUCK!"

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

There is a faint splashing sound from the lake, kind of like what one would hear if a swimming person were to launch herself out of the water and take off at a brisk run.

Cold weather is clearly someone else's problem.

(At least X is wearing a wetsuit?)

snikt

"Do not run."

At least do not run away.

[donthidemycigs]

Is she shitting her? How is a dripping surfer with knives in her hands in any way an improvement on her situation?

"Are you fucking kidding?"

You would think her voice could scare off woodland creatures. Alas.

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not sigh.

"If you run, the demon rabbits will chase. That is usually bad."

[donthidemycigs]

"I can see how that would be a problem," she gripes, getting back to her feet. Her slacks are caked in mud. "What now? Invite them to a tea party?"

Who the fuck swims with knives, anyway?

[cutting_edgex23]

"No. They do not like tea."

Probably, anyway.

(X refuses to think of demon rabbits who drink coffee. Nope.)

"You stay here. I will be back."

She doesn't dive into the bush, just takes a few steps toward it and swipes downward with her claws.

shhhhkt

[donthidemycigs]

Oh, well, now Grace feels better. There's nothing the least bit psychopathic about this broad at all. "Don't damage my sample kit! Those needles are a bitch to replace."

Yes, Grace, reason with the violent stranger. That will work out well.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Bar will help," X says, matter-of-factly.

"If replacements are required. I have a tab."

Here she flicks a look back over her shoulder at the scientist.

"And I am good at being careful."

[donthidemycigs]

"Yeah, I bet you do," Grace mumbles. She probably has to replace a lot of things. Broken tools, damaged property, severed limbs...

Shit, Grace likes her limbs. "Who the hell are you, anyway?"

[cutting_edgex23]

It helps if you are able to reattach your own. Or regrow them.

"I am X."

Her response is matter-of-fact, even as she scents the air to make sure the demon bunnies are on their way out of town. (For now.)

"I am on Security. Here."

Beat.

"You did not know about the rabbits?"

[donthidemycigs]

"You are on Security?" She doesn't know whether to be relieved or to ask the sentient Bar what the fuck she was thinking when she made that call. Then she realizes she's thinking about talking to a sentient bar. "What, wasn't Freddy Krueger available?"

Is X even a real name? Or is that some sort of gang name? Or maybe it's indicative of what happens when you cross paths with her; she X's you out. Jesus Fuck. "To tell you the truth, X, I was hoping to catch one."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's nostrils flare again.

"You are not wearing flame-retardant pants. Or body armor."

Clearly X thinks this is an oversight of extreme proportions.

"I do not think anyone named Freddy comes here."

Alas?

[donthidemycigs]

"You really don't know how to take a joke, do you?" Grace arches an eyebrow, looking at her own disheveled clothes. "The fucker caught me by surprise. I was taking some readings on the plant life, and didn't expect to see any animals until dusk."

She looks up. The sun is setting.

"Oh."

Well, shit.

[cutting_edgex23]

"Potentially fatal burns are not funny," X says, steadily. "Unless you are immortal."

What?

"And the rabbits are demonic, not nocturnal. Or crepuscular."

[donthidemycigs]

"No, I meant the Freddie..." she begins, but narrows her eyes instead. "Now you're fucking with me, right?"

Great, she's funny, too. "When do they feed?"

[cutting_edgex23]

Grace should get a gold star for picking up on it so quickly! Most people take longer.

"They graze. Sometimes they hunt."

And sometimes people are stupid enough to walk right up to them and say 'fricasee me'.

"I am not sure they sleep."

[donthidemycigs]

Yes, well, she is a fucking genius.

"In packs? Interesting." She'll deny walking right up to one until her last breath. The bastard approached her. The only fault she has is not running away, which she wasn't supposed to do anyway. "You mean they don't have a consistent sleeping pattern, right?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"No. I am not sure they sleep at all. Some things don't."

A pause.

"Some people do not, either."

Fortunately none of them are involved in this conversation.

[donthidemycigs]

That's not the inference Grace is getting. She arches her eyebrows.

"That isn't some kind of threat, is it?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X shakes her head, just the once.

"No."

X does not threaten, usually.

"But it is a reminder. That Milliways is not like your world."

This woman seems like she might need one.

[donthidemycigs]

As Grace bends down to collect her equipment, she never turns her back on X. Just in case.

"Trust me, lady, Milliways isn't like any world I've ever been," she grouses. "That's part of the reason why I'm out here."

Without standing, she thrusts her hand at X. "Dr. Grace Augustine. If you'd put down the knives before shaking my hand, that would be fantastic."

[cutting_edgex23]

"They are not knives," X says, sheathing the adamantium in her own flesh, per the usual.

"They are claws."

Beat.

"Hello, Grace. You have been on many worlds?"

[donthidemycigs]

"Holy shit."

Yeah, because that's just a casual thing people do. "Are those implants?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"No. They are genetic."

Except for the metal part.

"I am a mutant. Your world does not have them?"

[donthidemycigs]

"Genetic!" This time she does stand. "On my home planet, no. But I have met one here who could manipulate electricity. Would you mind...?"

She gestures at X's forearm. She would like to take a closer look, if possible.

[cutting_edgex23]

X looks startled for a second.

"Elle?"

A pause.

She takes a step closer, holding out her hand.

snikt

The claws pop out of the space between the first two and last two knuckles on her hand.

Did Grace follow that?

[donthidemycigs]

Interesting reaction.

"No, a teenaged girl named Noriko," she says, digging her glasses out of an inside pocket. "Is controlling electricity a common mutation?"

She gingerly reaches for X's arm just as the claws come out. Rather than startle, she laughs. "Amazing. Eight to twelve inches, and they don't tear the palmar metacarpal ligaments? They're sharp. When you retract them, do they rest inside the interosseous membrane, or snug against the radius and ulna?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh," X says, looking startled again. "Surge. She is from my world."

X watches Grace study her arm -- and her claws -- for several long, silent moments.

Then --

"They tear. But I heal. Quickly."

She offers a shrug, one-shouldered and quick.

"They are snug to the bone. Bones. There have been X-rays."

Many of them.

[donthidemycigs]

"Surge?"

Cute.

"Doesn't it hurt when they come out?" she asks, squinting over the top of her glasses.

[cutting_edgex23]

"It is not relevant."

Her response is perfectly matter-of-fact.

(Plus she's had worse.)

"Pain."

[donthidemycigs]

Grace arches an eyebrow. "Yeah, no, I feel the same way. Of course, I have to be high to feel the same way, but."

Whatever gets her boat to float.

She backs off, pulling her glasses from her face. She could ask questions all night, but her work was interrupted, and she's aware their situation isn't the best for idle chitchat.

"So how fast are we talking?" This isn't idle. This is important. "When you heal."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Seconds for most wounds."

X has gone over this before.

"Limb reattachment is slightly longer."

A pause.

"Regrowing limbs takes days."

[donthidemycigs]

"Regrowing limbs? Shit!" Grace is a kid in a candy store right now. "You said there are x-rays? Any other test results? And I don't guess I'd be able to take a look at them, would I?"

What a leap in genetics! What if whatever makes this chick heal so fast could be passed on to the rest of the human race? What if?

"So the little shits in the forest don't bother you at all, huh?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X stiffens.

"Why?"

Beat.

"Do you want them."

That's the most important thing. To X, anyway.

[donthidemycigs]

Oh, right.

"I'm a scientist," she says. "Right now my work deals closely with the study of alien plant life in curing disease. I'm not a biologist by trade, but I take an interest in special cases. Your rapid healing is right up my alley."

[cutting_edgex23]

"I do not want you to experiment on me."

X's delivery is flat and rapid.

Some things are important to establish right off the bat.

[donthidemycigs]

"Well shit, kid, I'm not that kind of scientist," she says, taken aback. It hasn't even occurred to her that someone else might have asked before.

"You said there had been x-rays. I assumed your mutation had been studied, and I'm interested in the research. Now that I think about it, it's probably not the sort of thing you ask a complete stranger."

There might be an apology in there. Somewhere. If you squint.

[cutting_edgex23]

"I understand," X says, after a moment or two of silence. "Why you want to know."

But this is the real crux of the matter.

"The people who did the research were that kind of scientist. All of them."

Beat.

"I do not want there to be more of me."

In more ways than one.

[donthidemycigs]

"But--" For a minute the scientist battles with the rational side of her brain advising her not to piss off the person with the eight-to-twelve-inch knives embedded in her fists.

"I'm sorry, kid," she says, with a controlled sigh. "That's rough. I guess I should keep my nose out of your business, huh?"

Fuck, she needs a cigarette. She pats her pockets, glaring into the forest. "Which would make this a shit time to ask if you could catch one of those things, wouldn't it?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"You can keep asking," X offers, after a momentary silence.

"Maybe I will tell you more. When I know you better."

If she can use the information to help people --

Maybe it would be worth it.

"What will you do with it? If I caught it."

[donthidemycigs]

She continues patting around until she locates her pack, eyeing X curiously. Smart kid. Grace can't help feeling a little amused.

"Quid pro quo, huh? All right, I can work with that," she says, sticking a cigarette between her lips. Now, to find her lighter. "I'd study it. If you're asking if I plan on eviscerating it, I don't. I'm more interested in what their habits are than what they're made out of."

For now, anyway. "You don't mind me gathering samples, do you?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X does not frown. Not quite.

"Observation and release?"

Beat.

"You you will take tissue samples. And administer chemicals."

[donthidemycigs]

Grace hadn't planned on committing herself to the 'release' part, but it's an easy enough condition to agree to. She still doesn't want to piss this X kid off.

"Sure," she nods. "What I'd administer is pretty innocuous, nothing gene-altering or experimental. I've been mostly gathering samples of plant life to determine their point of origin and species, but the little chupacabras are a mystery to me in particular."

[cutting_edgex23]

X studies Grace for a few more minutes, silent and intent.

Then --

"Okay."

Beat.

"You will let me know when you release it. And what results you have gotten."

It is best to be safe. And thorough.

[donthidemycigs]

Grace, forever the example of professionalism, taps two fingers to her forehead in a salute.

"You got it, kid," she says. "I'm always happy to share my findings."

She stuffs her cig between her lips and slings her kit over her shoulder. "We going in together?"