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Laura Kinney      New York. Laura had been here before. Hell, she'd basically lived here for a few years, as much a home as any place she'd ever stayed. That is, not very much. This one though... is different. No Mutant Town. No Sentinels. So, it was a chance for a girl to take a bit of a break. And maybe see if that one food cart with the chili dogs so hot they made you tear up existed here.
     Amidst all the 'feeling off' of this place though... the feeling of being followed certainly is something she knows. Laura ducks down a narrow alley between buildings, mostly filled with dumpsters and AC units, stopping about twenty feet in. And about thirty seconds later, there he comes. Nondescript clothes, nose that looks like it's been broken a few times, leather jacket with one hand tucked in the pocket. "Hey Sweet-cheeks. That was a pretty flashy motorcycle I saw you riding. Girl like you on a bike like that, she's gotta have some money. Hand it over. And the keys." The hand comes out of the pocket, a switchblade snapping open as the man advances toward her.
     Laura waits until he's about five feet away before she suddenly blurs into motion. The man's wrist breaks with a crack, a grunt of pain escaping before he flips over her shoulder in a judo throw, landing on the ground just in time to see a pair of silvery claws aiming straight for his eyes, point on. "You will not be getting any money. Or hurting anyone else."
Toph Beifong     As the would be mugger slams into the ground, Laura might notice something as the pavement seems to become alive. Parts of it shifts, molding itself to restrain the man. Nothing is trying to keep Laura in place, though a clear female voice can be heard speaking up.

    "Calm down there, Princess."

    Should Laura look behind her, she might notice the owner of the voice. A teenage girl about the same height as herself, jet black hair that's put up into a bun, an unamused expression on her face. Her clothes are casual; dirty jeans, and a tank top with a rock band logo on it. A green messenger bag is flunger over her shoulder, and in the hand she's not holding out towards Laura and her attacker is holding onto a fancy looking bag with cartoon animals upon it. "Let me handle this. You're an Elite, right?" she asks, arching an eyebrow over a milky eye.
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney spins around, her own eyes locking onto the newcomer. "I am completely calm. I do not know what you mean by 'Elite', though. If you mean I have powers, yes." She reaches over with her non clawed hand and scoops the switchblade off the ground, a pass of the blades smoothly slicing it apart, before she slits open his opposite jacket pocket and pulls out a small handgun, which gets a similarly destructive treatment. "I did not require your assistance, but I am greatful that I do not have to restrain him in a more inventive way." The teen stands, claws slipping back into her knuckles, the wounds healing over within seconds.
Toph Beifong     The blind teenager attempts to roll her eyes. "Then you're an Elite," she states with a small degree of snark to her voice. When Laura slices apart the switchblade, the jacket and the handgun, Toph frowns. "HEY. That's evidence, and I need that in order to get this guy where he belongs. And this isn't about assistance, you're obviously not a little runt who can't take of herself."

    With a fluid motion the girl reaches into her pocket and pulls out what looks like a... badge? "Toph Beifong, of the Paladins. Multiversional law enforcement. I'm hereby taking you in to the local authorities on the charge of attempted armed robbery. You may be quiet, anything you said can be used against you. You have the right to an attorney, yadda yadda I assume you know the spiel..." With that said Toph kicks the pavement with a bare heel... wait, who goes barefoot in New York of all places...?! The next send Laura's assailant is forced upright as a pillar shoots up from the ground, then disappears back into the pavement. His arms are still restrained as the concrete is wrapped around his waist, pinning his arms to his sides. During this the blind teen has stuffed the badge back into her pocket, and she then reaches out, moving her fingers... and the switch blade and the handgun connect, becoming repaired again before they move through the air towards Toph's waiting hand.
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney shrugs one shoulder. "He is all yours." She does narrow her eyes a little at the sight of the badge though. Paladins. Like SHIELD, but more weidespread. And she didn't have the best history with SHIELD, or the cops. Mutants in general didn't either. The going barefoot would ordinarily be puzzling, but you're talking to a girl who was trained her entire life to be an assassin, has adamantium claws, and has been blown up and recovered more than once. The repairing is a nice trick though. "As you wish. I should go. I have something to do." She gives Toph one last nod before starting to walk past the earthbender. She's still got that chili dog to get.
Toph Beifong     Even as she puts the evidence into her bag, Toph is still observing the other girl. "I'm just doing my job. I'm glad you were able to handle him, but even so, you gotta do this right. So... what faction you in?" Toph asks, even as she fiddles with the radio to call in for backup. It only takes a few seconds, and then she turns her head slightly towards Laura. "So what you got to do in this city? You going to beat up more wannabe robbers?"

    Seems like somebody is curious.
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney stops again, turning to look back. Can't just outright say you're in the Watch. If it was legal, they wouldn't need safehouses. "I do not have a faction, I simply defend myself, and others. I came here because in my world, there was a man who ran a food cart around here. He made the best chili dogs I have ever tasted. I... was hoping he would be here." A hint of emotion actually sneaks into the Mutant's voice, almost nostalgia. Depending on how well developed Toph's body language interpreting skills are, she might be able to tell that the girl doesn't quite trust her. Not yet.
Toph Beifong     A pensive look rests on Toph's face as she listens, clearly intent on every word that leaves Laura's mouth. Eventually, she nods. "Different New Yorks all over... if you want chili dogs, then I know a place not far from here. I can show you if you wait here until I've handed this dunderhead over to the cops," she offers and jabs a thumb at the criminal where he stands, still struggling against his earthy restraints. "Heck, I'll even pay. If you're new and about to hang around in this world, then I might as well fill you in on stuff."
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney nods. "This is acceptable." She brings her hand up to one ear, fingers brushing over the earpiece there, before dropping them back to her hips. "His wrist will heal. It is a clean break." She leans forward a bit, gauging the cop in front of her. "You are a geomancer. You manipulate stone and metal. I have read about others with those powers." She still hasn't given her name... and hopefully she won't have to. Secrecy, and all.
Toph Beifong     Okay, that went better than expected, and Toph nods with a genuine grin crossing her lips. "Yeah, I can tell... and it was in self-defense, so I'm not going to bother with that." As for Laura's assessment of her, that seems to amuse Toph as she leans back against the building behind her, shifting the large bag she's got with her to the other hand. "I'm an earthbender. And I invented metalbending," Toph explains as if she's just discussing the most casual of subjects. "There might be others, but nobody is as good at it as I am. I'm not from this world though, I moved here about... three years ago? Yeah, three years ago. Where I come from lots of people can manipulate the four elements."

    At least it looks like the police are arriving now as a car pulls up next to the sidewalk, and two police officers exit, heading on over. "Miss Beifong? It's been a while since you've been active in this city...?" one of the cops asks, looking down at the girl with some surprise. "Yeah, with the Paladin training and all it's been hard to find time to come here, I focus on going back home." The other cop looks at Laura, then nods. "You were the one he assaulted, miss?" Toph meanwhile raises her hand, waving it off. "I saw it all, I'll write the report after I've debriefed her over some chili dogs. You guys just get that guy into custody, okay?"
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney nods. "There are many people with similar abilities in my world. Elemental powers are relatively common among those who have abilities." And then the fuzz arrive. Well, the for-serious fuzz. Toph kind of doesn't count. Laura maintains a neutral expression, watching as the groaning would-be mugger is loaded into the car. "He attempted to rob me, I subdued him. Then Toph arrived." Simple, just the facts, nothing else.
Toph Beifong     Simple enough, and since Toph stated she would deal with the paperwork/interrogation if you could call it that, the cops take the criminal with them, fumbling a bit to get him into the car with the earth around his waist restraining him. "Also, here are his weapons," Toph informs them, handing the weapons over. With that dealt with, Toph turns towards Laura again, nodding. "Okay, let's get going. It's a few streets away from here... so, what kind of world do you come from? Are there many people with abilities? Are they known in the world?" Might as well try to learn something. Both about the world and this girl herself.
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney starts following, keeping up easily as the pair weave their way through the crowds. "It is... a lot like this one. There are Avengers. I... do not believe I or my race exist in this world though. There are two species of people where I come from. There is a particular gene that decides if you have powers or not. And if that mutation existed here... I would have seen signs." She blinks a few times, before increasing her pace a little. It's better this way, safer. You can't hurt your friends if they don't exist where you are.
Toph Beifong     There are Avengers in that world...? Now that catches Toph's attention, and she arches an eyebrow where she walks, keeping her face facing forward as the other girl talks. "What do you mean, race? You're human enough, right?" Even if she has those weird claws, so to speak. But that doesn't really matter. Instead Toph listens as Laura explains, nodding once to show that she understands. So it's genetics." The blind teenager steers them along the street, keeping a steady pace as they walk along the busy sidewalk. "Well, there are many versions of the same world. Heh, funny story... somebody told me about a version of me who was chief of police! Kinda why I decided to join the Paladins, really," Toph grins. "So... you still haven't told me your name."
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney shakes her head. "I am not human. Scientists decided mutants were a seperate species. Homo Sapiens Superior. Baseline humans are Homo Sapiens Sapiens. It is complicated, and many fear and hate us for our powers, including some government figures." And that's all she's going to say about that. Not until she knows Toph a LOT better, and can trust her not to sell her out to the Avengers or Paladins. "I am Laura Kinney." She really /does/ need some sort of 'hero uniform'. But that's a worry for another time.
Toph Beifong     At that comment Toph cants her head a bit. "Hmmm, kinda a stuck up name if you ask me," she says with a shrug regarding 'homo sapiens superior', clearly not seeing the point in dwelling on it. Instead she keeps on walking. "My best friend isn't a bender, but that doesn't mean he's inferior or anything. People can do various shit, and with the multiverse it makes stuff even more complicated. Like it matters..."

    Arriving at the hot dog stand, Toph digs into her bag. "So how many chili dogs you want, Laura? I think I'll start with two myself," Toph explains, then hands some dollar bills over to the guy running the cart.

    "If people hate you for your powers, then they're complete morons," Toph states with a snort. "If they were smart about it, they'd try to butter you guys up so you would actually want to use your powers to help them. I mean, I don't mind building stuff for people if I get to show off and get some ego stroking." At least she's being honest!

    The chili dog seller hands both of the girls a chili dog each, and Toph begins eating hers. All while she continues talking. "There's a register of people with powers in this world, but it's okay. Most worlds love people with powers, especially if you help them out."
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney once again shrugs. "I did not decide on it. And I would also like two." Once they receive their food, she takes a few steps away and sits down on a nearby bench. Easier to eat when you dont' have to hold the spare dog. "People hate and fear the unknown. They worry that mutants wish to rule the world, becuase it is what they would do in the same position. Some mutants do. But the X-Men just wish to protect people from those who would hurt them." Nomfnomf. Girl's got an appetite considering her build. Needs it for her healing factor. "The humans built Sentinels, giant robots designed only to kill mutants. The X-Men destroyed most of them. Many mutants died anyway. A registry would only be a list of targets for SHIELD." Omnomnom. First dog is done.
Toph Beifong     Toph isn't slow to follow to follow Laura, sitting down next to her on the bench with her chili dogs. "Oh yeah, people are stupid like that," Toph agrees. X-men... that's something to remember. Overall Toph looks rather at ease, leaning back where she sits and chews her first chili dog. It certainly sounds like Laura is telling the truth, and she didn't seriously injure the guy. So that answers the major question she had to find an answer to by talking more with the girl. "And yeah, I get where you're coming from if you went through crap like that. But hey, follow the laws and people won't bother you here. If they do, then lemmie know. I can be like, the friendly neighbourhood cop or something. Or you can handle it non-violently if you wanna do it yourself, I guess. Us girls with powers gotta use them responsibly and all that crud that the adults tell us, am I right?" Soon Toph's first dog is gone too.
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney omnomf. These are okay, but not quite as good as she remembered. "Thank you again for lunch. These are good." She snags a plastic spoon, using it to scoop up a bit of chili that had slipped off of her second dog and replace it. "Laws are all well and good until the people making them turn against you. I do not think I will have problems around here though, I do not plan on coming back often." By now, assuming her vision is fine, Toph may have noticed that the entire time, Laura hasn't relaxed. She's constantly alert, her eyes flicking to track passersby, her body poised to move at a moment's notice.
Toph Beifong     Even if she relaxed enough to give her a name, to talk a bit about herself, it appears that Laura's still tense. Not that she can blame her if she's been through all that crap she mentioned... Toph nods when she's thanked for the lunch. "Told you they were good. Not gourmet, but they have taste and don't have shit in them like some other stuff you find around the city," Toph says with a straight face. As for laws... Toph lets out a groan. "Sometimes laws make /no sense/," she laments. "Or some places have stupid laws. I can't argue against stuff that's true."

    So Laura isn't planning on staying here for long. Well, that's both good and bad, she guesses.

    Unlike Laura, Toph appears to be completely at ease, confident and relaxed where she sits. "If you haven't joined it, you should get on the StarkNet radio channel. It's open for all. If you ever wanna talk or if you need help then just let people know. I'm on there all the time, considering it's my dad who runs it."

    With that Toph rises to her feet, then offers a brief two finger salute to Laura. "See you around."
Laura Kinney Laura Kinney cracks the slightest hint of a smile. "I will remember that. And yes, I am sure we will encounter eachother again. We may have different methods, but we seem to be in the same business." ...hang on. Dad. StarkNet. HER FATHER IS IRON MAN. If Laura was already on edge, this is worse. "Your father is Tony Stark. Interesting. I should go." She stands up, having finished the rest of her dog during the discussion, and heads off down the street, her vibration signature soon disappearing in the background rush of New York.
Toph Beifong     "Yeah, we will. I mean, I found somebody to eat chili dogs with," Toph grins. Okay, it sounds like she's smiling. That is, until Toph brings up StarkNet. Blinking at the reaction, Toph turns her head a bit, observing Laura. Okay, Tony might be an asshole, but still... there's something behind that reaction there that shouldn't be ignored.

    And the blind metalbender lets the girl go, not chasing her, merely observing. So she knows Tony, or at least another version of him. Well, that could have gone better. It could also have gone worse, but still... Hopefully that tenseness won't interfere and make things hard. Either for her or the people around her.