Every living thing pushed into the ring

Entry tags:

Every living thing pushed into the ring

Who: Bethany Hawke (

ivehadbetter) or OPEN
Where: Anywhere in Genosha, including the human district
When: Aug 5 - Aug 9
Rating: PG-13, probably
Summary: Bethany has always had a soft spot for humans. Want someone who can create Eldritch abominations to save you? Want to gawk at the freak?
The Story: [OPEN] [Unlike some of the other mutants who are part of the human resistance, she's never hesitated. They trust her more than Cullen -- understandably, even as far as she's concerned -- but unfortunate.

She knows her powers are horrifying, knows that they have the potential to ruin the lives of anyone who happens to run into her conjured creatures, but she knows too that she can keep them on a tight leash and that sometimes it's easier to just scare the enemy into submission.

Plus, having some flying Mi-go scouts had never hurt their odds. Today she's walking the streets of Genosha alone, for now, no creatures associated with her. She's wrapped in a cool grey cloak, eyes scanning in front of her constantly. She's looking for humans who look scared as much as she's looking for mutants who might recognize her for what she is: their enemy.]

[ISABELA] [She doesn't know why she agreed to meet with the other woman. Unlike her, she's never cared much for humans -- and although Bethany understands her reasons, she doesn't condone her actions.

The coffee shop is neutral ground for both of them, run by a decidedly unmotivated mutant who isn't going to turn away any customers. The coffee she sips is terrible, but she'd made the woman a promise that she'd at least hear her out.

She rests her cup against the table, noting the ring it makes on the surface of it.]

So let's hear it, then.

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Nageki isn't a scared human but a sick mutant wandering the streets who could also use some help. A mutant who looks like a very large mourning dove.

Normally, Nageki's older brother would forbid him from leaving their house in this state, but he had to leave for the week. Without anyone around to ensure Nageki took care of himself, he's pushed his body too hard. His fever, a mild irritant only a day ago, makes him shiver now. He leans against a wall while he catches his breath, a recent coughing fit having knocked all the air out of him.

If he'd realized he was this sick, Nageki wouldn't have left his home.

There was a well-popularized myth about mutants who were a part of the resistance that stated they had forsaken their mutant brethren so much that if they had passed a dying mutant on the street, they'd shoot them rather than assist them.

Fortunately for Nageki, this is nothing more than a myth in Bethany's case. She stops in her tracks once she realizes the mutant ahead of her isn't getting up from his leaning spot right away, brows knitted together.

"Ah -- sir ... ?" She hoped she'd guessed right, gender not being all that easy to discern from a winged creature such as this. "Sir, are you injured? Do you need assistance?"

He is male and - at fifteen years old - still young, even if he insists that he is no longer a child. Nageki doesn't often leave his house as he is sick more often then he is healthy. He looks up and frowns uncertainly at Bethany when she speaks to him.

"I'm fine," he says and winces at the way his voice croaks. He coughs lightly to clear it.

His eyes are dull with fever and his feathers are more ruffled then they should be, but Nageki forces himself to stand up straighter and resists the urge to lean against the wall again.

"You don't look fine," she says quietly, not yet moving to touch his shoulder. She knows that mutants, especially those who can't hide their form, are a little skittish. She can't say she blames them.

"Is there at least somewhere I could take you to?"

He nods. "My home is close by."

It's an apartment and is where he was heading as soon as he realized just how sick he was. But he'd pushed a bit too far. Getting back home is a lot harder than leaving it was, especially since he doesn't feel up to flying now.

"Then we'll get you there quickly." She'd have suggested they go to the hospital, but since he's already hesitant to take her help ... well, better to at least have him in a familiar place.

She offers out her arm to him.

"I'm Bethany."

"Nageki," he awkwardly takes her arm with his wing, unsure what the best way to go about that would be. He holds her arm lightly. "Nageki Fujishiro. It's nice to meet you."

She hadn't known what way to offer her arm either, so at least they'll be awkward together. She makes an attempt to support him through the wing in a way that won't make him fall over.

"And you, though I'm sure the circumstances could've been better." She pauses, venturing cautiously, "Were you feeling ill when you left home?"

"A little," he admits. Nageki's weak immune system means that he's often sick and often with worse symptoms than what others would get. His body has slowly weakened over the years, which makes his illness even more frequent and with even worse symptoms than he'd had when he was younger.

Nageki uses his free wing to point. "We need to go that way."

Bethany steers them in the direction that Nageki points, nodding.

"Was there something that you needed to do today? I can always assist you if that would help." Although she did have Resistance business to deal with later, she couldn't just turn a blind eye to a person in need, mutant or not.

"I don't need to do it but I wanted to buy groceries," he says. That and a few other household chores were supposed to be a pleasant surprise for Nageki's older brother.

Groceries. Well, that was simple enough.

"I would be happy to take a list to the store for you, if that would be easier. I'd hate for you to run yourself down." And besides, she probably should pick up something to eat for herself. She had a habit of ignoring that kind of thing when she was -- working.

"I'd like that," Nageki says gratefully. It's really kind of her to offer that, especially since she's already taking the time to make sure he gets safely home. She has no real obligation towards Nageki after all.

He takes out his list and hands it over to Bethany. It isn't a very long list: millet seed, rice, fish, fruits, vegetables, and paper towels (which he'd been planning to buy from the same store). Nageki also gives her the money he'd brought with him to buy the items with.

See, the fact he's giving her the money he'd brought with him without her asking -- well. It means she was right to trust him, and it means he wasn't just some anti-human agent trying to lure her into a trap.

She nods.

"It's no trouble, really."

"That's good." Even if he ends up doing it because of what his body is like, Nageki doesn't want to trouble anyone.

He continues to lead her to his apartment. He's taking deeper breaths by the time they arrive to the building. The journey away from and to his home has tired him. Luckily, he only has to climb one flight of stairs.

"It's right there," he points at the door, then fishes out his key.

"Do you live here alone?" It isn't that she's being nosy, but that she's worried a roommate might get the wrong idea about him being brought home by a strange woman. She doesn't want any trouble, for obvious reasons. Drawing attention to the resistance was the last thing she needed.

"No. Normally, my older brother is here, too." Said older brother had to leave for the week, which is why Nageki was able to leave the house at all. Otherwise, he'd have kept Nageki from going outside when the mourning dove was already showing signs of illness.

"Ah, but he isn't now?"

She waits for him to open the door before venturing in, making sure not to step too far inside without invitation. For all she knows, he'd like to just pass her the list and then have a rest.

"No. He had to leave for work." The door opens.

A telephone is near the entrance, with a long list of instructions of what to do in an emergency. Anything from the sink breaking to a hurricane coming through to the entire city sinking into the ocean. A bit further in, there's a couch with a blanket spread out across it. A stack of books sit on a coffee table next to it. Math books are in a bookshelf furthest from the door. The kitchen is to the left. Clean dishes are drying next to the sink.

[ Isabela frowns at the woman that was once a very good friend, until the difference of opinion pushed them apart. She took another sip of her coffee before speaking. ]

Now, now, darling, can't we just have a cup of coffee first?

[Bethany pushes out a breath, planning to say something to the effect of not having much time to keep herself so out in the open, and then decides against it.

It was true that they'd been close, once, and she didn't need to be -- rude.

She's just tense, is all.]

-- I suppose so. Just don't expect me to say it's good coffee, all right?

[She makes an effort at a smile.]

[ Isabela gives a short laugh at that. ]

I never asked you to lie, darling.

[ She smiles back and leans her chin on her hands. ]

How is your brother doing? I haven't been able to visit in a while.

I haven't been able to visit him much, either.

[She knows it's her fault because of the position she was in with the resistance, but it isn't something she can just -- drop.

She pauses, though, shrugging her shoulders. The way Isabela looked at her had always made her feel both at ease and more tense in turns.]

He's well, though. So I've been told.

[So she's been told by her Eldritch horrors.]

[ She nods. Hawke is probably the only thing that still hold them somewhat together. And her loyalty to him is what brought her here. ]

Listen, darling, I'm not going to sugar coat it. I'm hearing rumors. Something big is coming and I don't want you to get caught in the middle of it.

[She can't help the slight furrow of her brows, followed closely by a slightly harsh bark of laughter.]

So you're worried about me.

[And not all the humans, she doesn't say.]

I'm -- fine, Isabela. Warning me about what's to come isn't going to change what I'm going to do.

[ She frowns. ]

Of course I'm worried about you. We were friends once.

[ Which is one of the reasons she doesn't try to use her powers on Bethany. ]

No, I imagine it won't. What am i supposed to tell your brother if something happens to you?

[And Bethany is glad about that much, at least -- she half-smiles, a little bit relieved.]

You can tell him I was doing exactly what he expected me to do. He knows me well enough.

[She pauses.]

Or you could join me, and then not have to worry about telling him anything.

Why? Because we would both be dead?

[ She raises an eyebrow at her and crosses her arms. ] You know me, Bethany, I like to chose the side that is going to keep me alive the longest.

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Every living thing pushed into the ring

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