Scene #5242: Claws and Effect

Owner	Pose
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney had first stepped through the warpgate into the Multiverse two days ago. So far, she'd spent most of her time researching. Public libraries, newspaper archives, the internet. Soaking up any and all information available to her on the Multiverse. She'd found worlds where aliens and humans traveled across the stars together, ones where everyone had powers... and ones where disasters had torn the world apart. So far though... nothing that could help her with her own problems. Today though, was a break. You can only sit in libraries for so long, and the librarians start to get suspicious of teenage girls digging through microfilm archives. So here she is, in a park, eating a gyro from a street vender, and watching the world go by. Nothing out of the ordinary for a typical person, let alone an X-Man in training.
Eve	While Eve would happily sit in a library for days, she too lacks the nature to make that a full-time pursuit. She has other things to worry about and other duties besides. For now though, her duties in Paragon City are done and she's just strolling through the park seemingly admiring statues. Maybe as a member of the Watch she's supposed to be cynical of 'heroes', but she's still a kid and has a healthy respect for anyone who endangers their lives to help others. She also wants to live up to their image, and image is quite important to the little blonde. So much so that she's studying the costumes and decorations of the heroes more than the hero statues themselves. If you want people to treat you like you're on the side of the angels, after all, you don an angel's symbols. If you want to be a hero... well, if you're Eve, you study what makes people appear to be heroic.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney takes another large bite of gyro, before pausing in mid chew as something makes the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. There. That girl, over by the statue of the woman with the over-the-top helmet. She carries herself like Laura does; like a predator. She resumes chewing, gaze locked on the blonde girl. She's not going to speak up first though.
Eve	While Eve wouldn't call herself a predator, she's certainly no innocent victim. She's had her share of incidents over the last year or so, and she keeps an eye on her surroundings like someone used to trouble. Not paranoid sightings though. She just notes the position of everyone in the park almost casually, and refreshes that information with a calm deliberate casualness. One that'd probably scream to anyone used to fighting unknown and unseen enemies for her life. And of course while she checks on her surroundings fairly often, she does it with mere glances, spending most of her time actually focussed purely on what she's doing. Eve certainly doesn't look like much. She's too small, her body too much on the scrawny side to be that of a fighter without some form of supernatural advantage. And yet her calm readiness makes it obvious she's used to fighting of some kind. And while she's not exactly paranoid, someone staring at her can only do so so long before she feels something. She glances around once again, gaze flitting quickly, lightly. Eve turns, tilts her head in an odd gesture. She sniffs the air tentatively, like she might sense something important that way. Her eyes return to Laura's after a moment, locking on. It's obvious she's noticed SOMETHING... but what?
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney locks eyes with Eve, the contact feeling somehow... familiar. "You're like me. A fighter." She takes another bite of her lunch after finally speaking up, eyes drifting back towards the sky, although she maintains Eve's position with her other senses. She herself doesn't look like much, barely over five feet tall and 110 pounds soaking wet, but there's muscle under her skin, visible when she shifts her arms. "We've both been through more than anyone our age should. And survived."
Eve	Eve's eyes widen, a telltale of either fear or surprise. By the way she leans forward just slightly, it seems surprise wins out. Slowly she nods. Perhaps tellingly she doesn't take up any kind of battle stance, doesn't reach for a possibly-concealed weapon. She puts her hands on slim hips, considering Laura carefully. Finally Eve nods. "I don't think we're the same age." she notes in a quiet voice. Not exactly correcting Laura, just intending to clarify. "You're not intending to fight are you?" she asks, not quite casually. There's any number of things Eve can do when she's prepared to act, and the first part of preparation is to get a solid mental image of what needs to be done. For now all that needs to be done is to understand, but Eve's not terribly good at little things like socializing.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney shakes her head. "I am sitting here eating lunch. We are not enemies, you have not tried to attack me. There is no reason to fight. And yes, I am older than you, but... things happened." She's not exactly going to go into a ton of detail right now, and spending most of your life as a living weapon doesn't do wonders for your social skills either. "I am Laura Kinney. And... I just want to talk. I will even buy you lunch." She pulls a 20 dollar bill from her pocket, nodding to the food carts set up about ten yards away
Eve	Of course Eve wouldn't attack first, but then Laura has no way of knowing that. There has to be a measure of trust. Trust in the girl's ability to defend herself perhaps, but it's a start. "Of course I wouldn't attack you." Eve states, sounding somewhat miffed. She too has spent most of her life as a living weapon. She's just taking steps to become something else now, that's all. She pads forward, willing to extend trust. Much the same as Laura, Eve's content that this person hasn't attacked first. That, and the apparently friendly offer of food, is enough for the girl. "My name is Eve." she adds politely. "Good to meet you, Laura. The gyro smells good. But the smell of blood doesn't make me hungry." she says, a little cryptically.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney looks a little confused at that last statement. "I showered this morning, and I have not had to use my claws today. I do not know what blood you are smelling, but it is not mine." She's still holding the money out. "It tastes good too. You should buy one." She appraises Eve as she approaches the bench, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Eve	It's not literal blood Eve smells, probably. Something here smells of at least metaphorical bloodshed. She doesn't understand it herself, but she recognizes Laura as a kindred spirit of sorts. It sets her at ease, even if her body language is still somewhat awkward. Social awkwardness, too, is something they seem to share. Blood doesn't whet Eve's appetite, but then she is hungry. The reminder of food is a good one, and definitely welcome. She nods, going to the cart to place and receive an order. Using her own money though. Eve's not penniless, and she's not sure which offer is being extended here. Laura'd said she'd pay, but she also said Eve should buy one, so Eve prefers to err on the side of caution in this case at least. She returns with her own food, picking up the conversation as if it wasn't interrupted. "Claws?" she asks, peering at Laura's fingernails with a certain interest while flexing her own fingers lightly, apparently imagining talons of her own.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney had offered the twenty, placing it on the bench next to Eve when the other girl returns. She's covering the cost, she started the conversation after all. "Yes." She brings her non gyro hand up, forming a fist, and two silvery metal claws slip out of the skin on her knuckles, blood slowly welling up around them. "Two in each hand, one in each foot. Coated with Adamantium when I was seven, all while I was awake. With no anaesthetic. The man who did it is dead." The claws slip back in place, Laura bringing her hand to her mouth to lick the blood off her knuckles, the wounds already healed over by the time she lowers her hand again. Taking another bite of gyro, she stares across the path at the statue again.
Eve	Eve makes a face at the demonstration, evidently uncomfortable by the show, the explanation, or both. A kindred spirit indeed. She does seem fascinated by the claws though, and ponders the possibilities while taking a tentative bite of her gyro. "I've been through something similar." Eve finally says. She doesn't typically volunteer her past, but she doesn't have a problem with it either. It's just not something that typically comes up in casual conversation, though it seems natural enough here. She opens one hand, fingers extended. Her fingernails turn silver and lengthen, flowing like quicksilver, extending out a good six inches. Claws like Laura's, but unlike them as well. Unlike her, there's no blood. Eve gestures with a sweep of her hand, closing her fingers together and the claws melt and flow together, forming into a single short blade. Another dextrous move of the girl's fingers and the hilt of the blade seems to appear in her hand so she's wielding a weapon, not simply having one extending from her body. "The one who did this is in prison now." she claims. "Though this is the least of what he's done." she adds. With a sweep of her hand she causes the dagger to shatter, as if it were crystal rather than quicksilver. And yet, shards just don't hit the ground. The shards shimmer, breaking down into dust that seems to continue breakng into smaller and smaller pieces until too small to see.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney nods slowly, watching Even's own demonstration. "I... I have not seen or heard of powers like this. I am sorry if I upset you. I just..." She sighs, taking another bite of lunch although some of her heart's clearly gone out of it. "Some of the people who did this to me are still out there. Some of my family are in hiding from them. And the government itself is not the most helpful when it comes to mutants like me. I came through to see if I could find a way to help. To fix the problems of my world." She rests her hands on the wax paper in her lap, staring down at the half eaten gyro. "I do not think you would want me to explain everything to you. I was just hoping to find a place where people would not fear and hate me while I learned what I need to."
Eve	Eve nods. Her powers are hard to explain, and she has little desire to do so. "I was created to be a weapon." she explains. The possibilities of what she could do, being able to form weapons with her own flesh, are probably obvious. She doesn't bother going into details as it's not really all that relevant. "I know people who would help." Eve adds after considering a brief moment. For Eve, that's still a lot of hard and careful consideration. "Including one who freed me, taught me that I didn't have to kill if I didn't want to. And who inspired me to fight for those who can't." she says with a frank sort of affection obvious in her features if not her words. Eve faces Laura, having made a quick decision. She trusts easily, but there's more to it than this. There's the matter of Laura also sharing the blood on Eve's hands. Besides, even if her instincts here are wrong, wiser people than herself would make the final evaluations and decisions. "I can help find you a place you won't be hated." she says. "But if you want to fight, I can help find you a place you'll be wanted as well."
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney looks up again. "I was as well. People had tried to turn my father into a weapon as well, but failed. I was cloned from a sample of his DNA to serve as an Assassin. I escaped." And then Eve launches into her speech, and Laura's eyes wisen a little. She might finally be onto something here. "I will fight to protect people who can't protect themselves. I... I think I would like to meet these people." She smiles. It's very faint but... some emotion is leaking through her mask.
Eve	One day Eve will have to introduce Laura to her savior. Before that though, she'll be able to bring Laura to the attention of a Watch recruiter. The process isn't an immediate one. The Watch is careful, observing candidates through several channels before approaching them. With high tech and magical sources available, not to mention potential divinatory powers, it would be hard for a mole to be slipped into the ranks unannounced. Eve doesn't know the details but she's read enough accounts from various books. Some are fiction no doubt, but there's likely a few realistic biographies in the bunch. She doesn't need to know the details though. She's not a recruiter... she'll just put them onto Laura, and they'll make sure she's suitable Watch material. "They'll find you." Eve notes carefully. "If you'll let them." she adds. "If you give me a way to let them find you." Eve says. She pauses, and a faint frown comes to her face. She knows that might be a hard step to take. She glances around, and after a moment she moves aside to pick up a wood chip. Concentrating, she extends her writing finger into a stiletto and uses the tip to delicately carve a number. Seems her ability, whatever it is, allows for impressive sharpness and strength even in a seemingly-delicate blade. "Think about it. This is how to reach me." she says, extending trust first. "If you decide to let us know where to find you, I'll pass it on."
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney nods slowly. "I understand. I am familiar with spycraft and working undercover." She'd rather not go into the exact reasons but... She accepts the chip, staring at it before turning it over. She slips pops one claw a centimeter or so above the skin, and scratches six numbers, a decimal point in the middle. "I will monitor this radio frequency. I am sorry if the discussion has ruined your lunch." She does take another bite of her own mostly finished Gyro
Eve	Working undercover? Well, Eve supposes that's the truth of it. The Watch tends to not have good dealings with governments in general. She lets it pass, waiting and accepting the radio code Laura offers. She moves her shoulders in the hint of a shrug. "This was more important." Eve states. "Besides, I'm not the one who was licking blood." she adds, making a face. No, she at least can enjoy the gyro straight-up.
Laura Kinney	Laura Kinney shrugs. "It was the easiest way to clean my knuckles. The man at the food cart ran out of napkins. Saliva also helps prevent infection, not that I have to worry about that." Within three more bites, Laura's left with nothing but tin foil and waxed paper in her lap. "I am glad I met you, Eve. I regret making you uncomfortable. Hopefully we will talk again." She wads up the foil and paper, tossing it into a garbage can, before standing up and heading off.
Eve	It's a funny thing, discomfort. Eve doesn't regret it at all, and figures Laura regrets it more than she does. Still she appreciates the nice words, which she figures might well have been the important part. "I hope they contact you soon, Laura." she says carefully. "Thank you for the food." she adds.