Mutant Multiverse

Club Phoenix was especially popping on this fine Saturday night in Seattle’s. Drinking were flowing loosely, mouths and hips getting looser, and the hopeful Mayor was loving it all.

The Drag Show going on in the main area was, as always, hilarious and entertaining. And for an actively bisexual woman like Victoria, more than a little bit tantalizing.

She came out once a week, usually on Saturdays, she drank freely, danced openly, and no one ever remembered seeing her there.

Victoria found herself tiring of the thrumming beat and decided she would climb the stairs to the balcony lounge and bar.

Tonight the woman was dressed in a rich wine colored dress, made of crushed velvet and sitting off the shoulders. It should an ample amount of her dark olive collarbones, but her shoulders remained a mystery wrapped in a black leather half-jacket.

The skirt was short, much shorter than any skirt she would wear to the office, and instead of playing it safe with a pair of long boots, she was wearing dark black, suede ankle boots with an open toe. Her lips was a dark red, almost coal, and her eye shadow was dusk and smoke.

She ordered a Manhattan at the bar, with extra bitters, and then made her way to stand with her body leant over the balcony.

Victoria gazed out over the twinkling lights of the city, marveling as she always did how beautiful it was at night. It looked like a city nestled in stars and inky night.

From within her jacket, she pulled out a packet of clove cigarettes, the smell of whiskey, vanilla, tobacco, and clove filled the air as she sucked in deep from the glossy black paper.

Maybe she would spend the rest of her night out here.

Jessie was not having a great night, despite the energy of the club. It could have been entertaining to watch, the drag performers looking as they were having a great time, and the crowd jubilant conversating and dancing. Maybe if they didn't need to blast the damn music so that even with her earbuds she was struggling. And those lights! If they turned them all off, she may have been enjoying herself as she searched for her target. Instead, she was wincing at the noise, mentally thanking her goggles for protecting her sensitive eyes from the lights.

The veteran exhaled, shaking her head as she was frustrated at not being able to accomplish this hunt. Maybe she'd just grab a drink, and get some fresh air. Jessica was dressed in a normal outfit of blue jeans and a green teeshirt, that was seen from the red leather jacket that was open. She moved toward the bar, giving the bartender a nod to let him know she was going to finally order something. Finger tapped on the surface, as she made her order and waited, and when she paid and her rum and coke was in her hand, her feet plodded a path toward the balcony; taking note of the finely dressed woman that was already out there. Her observations of the woman was made quickly, before she continued to the railing, leaning her elbows on it, and letting out a sigh.

The cold air felt good on her skin, and what did she smell. Nose sniffed the her surroundings; getting the other woman's scent wrapped in the scent of the whiskey, vanilla, and cloves.

"Need a cool off from in there," she asked, turning her head in the direction of the brunette, with a mental kick for that line, taking a sip from her beverage.

A couple of drinks.. It's definitely all he needed, was a couple of drinks. Jerich dragged himself through the crowded club to the bar a hand brushing loose strands of that enviable dark chocolate hair out of his face. The rest was bound in a low ponytail at the base of his neck, pulled out of the collar of his leather jacket. A simple red shirt was worn underneath, with a pair of, surprisingly enough, clean dark jeans and a typical pair of boots. It was likely that he didn't own another style of shoe at this point, it seemed.

A whiskey double was ordered straight, cash pushed across the bar as he took his drink and turned to survey the landscape. It seemed that some of the only people he didn't tower over in this place were the drag performers, who he had to admit looked pretty fantastic in their get up. His said that his mom had always enjoyed raving over the drag artists she followed on social media, but he'd never really taken much notice until now how perfectly in place every little detail was.. Sheesh, no wonder mom had been so impressed. Mom.. Ever the topic of his mind these days it seemed, and he needed a distraction.

A good sip of his whiskey was taken as he wandered through the club, narrowly saving his drink from being knocked out of his hand several times. Were people always this inconsiderate and irksome at clubs? Is that what clubs were? Several grumbles managed to escape his lips as he navigated his way to the stairs that indicated they went up to a balcony bar and lounge.. Perhaps it was a little less crazy up there? It was worth a shot he clearly had decided, as he quickly found himself ascending the staircase and finding a quiet, empty, spot to stand and take in the view. A glance was given towards the women across the balcony with him, but he wasn't normally one to interrupt others first and so he would watch the city skyline and drink.

Everything looked so calm and still, even the blurred lights of the cars in the distance. Everything felt so muted. She sighed dreamily, feeling the warm embrace of alcohol deep in her belly, and the intoxicating buzz of nicotine rushing through her.

She swayed not quite drunkenly but merely with the distant music and the light autumn breeze.

Her romantic thoughts, however were interrupted by the woman coming up next to her. Her espresso dark eyes turned and appraised her, not sneering at her but definitely side eyeing the green shirt and red jacket combo.

“Go find a pond, then,” came her sardonic retort, voice deep and almost commanding. She didn’t do lines, even the unintentional.

Kohl lined eyes rolled as she turned around, leaning her back against the railing as she took a thoughtful sip of her drink. Her eyes found Jerich, because how could they not, and she appraised him very obviously for a long moment. Her rich chocolate gaze narrowed and her lips curved into a spider eyeing a fly.

Will you walk into my parlour said the spider to the fly... came the creeping whisper inside her mind.

You should really be paying attention to the girl... she has a connection to you... she had something of yours... cooed the voice of seduction into Victoria’s ear.

The politician simply tossed her coiffed bob back and took another drag from her cigarette. Her eyes were still on Jerich and they would remain on him until he felt her piercing gaze and gaze her the attention she craved.

Then she would motion him over with the two slender fingers that held her clove cigarillo.

Jessie was really not the best at conversations, opening them for her was like trying to open a door that was booked off. Of course, getting information of bounties sometimes required her to talk to people to get information. But that was about facts. Dealing with people over drinks and such was a lot more difficult. The hunt was a much better cause. Hearing the response, she turned her head toward and stared at the view of the city. Until that is, another scent came to her nose. One that was close. This caused Jessie's body to straighten, head looking until she was able to spot the man. He seemed to have height, she judged and he probably dwarfed her. Jess noticed the beckoning fingers, keeping an eye on the man. She looked from the womn to the man, leaning her backside against the railing.

Jerich was fully prepared to mind his own business up on that balcony until he noticed the put together woman beckoning him over. A perplexed look drifted its way across his face before he made his way over to the other two. They were each given a bit of a once over as he came to a stop a few feet away, sipping at his whiskey with a cool, calm, expression. Was there a reason this woman had summoned him? He didn't think he knew her.. To be honest though, he didn't really know anyone here yet. Coworkers and professors at school seemed to be the extent of his social circle at this point.

Jessie was right, he was tall.. Well over 6' it appeared as he approached, free hand shoved into the pocket of his leather jacket. "Evenin'."
There it was, the simple but polite Jerich greeting, ever appropriate for the awkward and socially inept. It was well mannered and friendly, and it allowed the others in the conversation to take some sort of a lead. Perfect.

Victoria seemed mollified yet surprised that Jessie didn’t even respond. She sighed, taking a sip from her cocktail and thinking on a different blond.

I wonder, does she like to dance... perhaps I should ask her out sometime... to dance...

Mixing business with pleasure? So unlike you Vicky...

The older, much older by like two decades and more, combed her fingers through her hair a casually and flirty move disguising her trying to wave the voice away.

Don’t ignore the girl, she is important... the voice chided.

Instead of sighing painfully, she took another hit from her clove.

“Good evening yourself,” she husked at the younger man, even in four each heels (bringing her to 5’8) she was diminutive under him.

Victoria offered him a full lipped smile, tilting her drink to him. “You have good taste,” she said coyly, letting the statement hang in the cool air before she gestured to his drink.

Her eyes glanced to Jessie and she leaned over the woman, sniffing delicately at the air. “Rum. I don’t do rum,” she murmured disagreeably.

The politician looked back to Jerich, commenting, “You look a bit out of place. New to town?” She asked, her intonation soaked in double meaning, as if her question had a deeper meeting.

Include her... get to know her. You won’t regret it.

“You definitely seem new,” Victoria added, then saying, “what is with the goggles?”

Jessie remained still, feeling she was still under embarrassment for her attempt of starting a conversation. She couldn't really remember this woman, but he thought of she was familiar. Like they had met, but when? She took a sip of her beverage, as she watched the tall man answer the woman's beckon, who's height seemed just shy of her own.

Left-arm crossed under her chest to gripped the upper arm of her right, her lips pursing some, as she tried to put the pieces together, but she was missing one valuable piece. It was a terrible feeling to figure this out! She definitely didn't recognize the man before. Least she could say, he seemed an okay fellow.

When the man had joined them in their part of the balcony, she offered him a smile and a wave, left hand lifting a moment, before she heard the woman's question.

"Yep, just showed up for work," she responded, her eyes shifted from one to the other in their group, "I'm a bit sensitive to bright lights, making parties like these," she indicated the drag show, "hard for me to take." Out here, the music was less intense for her but was still loud for her. Almost like listening to the radio for her.

Jerich gave a bit of a nod in turn to Jessie, acknowledging her greeting. His gaze took in her colorful outfit curiously, though he didn't seem to be judging as Victoria had been. For the time being he listened to the two of them, his pocketed hand clenching and flexing ever so slightly out of view of the others.

His attention was brought back to reality from the distant music that he had been vaguely listening to as Victoria spoke, bringing his gaze back to the well dressed woman in front of him. Unable to deny it he offered a shrug and a bit of a sheepish, crooked grin. "Yeah, that obvious huh? I've only been here since the Collision.. Guess I haven't really made myself completely at home yet." Then again, would he ever? He was awkward enough back in his own universe as well, not to mention one he didn't belong in.

The older one continued to smoke casually from her cigarillo, her dark lips a pout that pushed the smoke up and away from the two.

She could feel Jessie thinking, she didn’t even need her telepathy to feel just how loud the girl was thinking, forcing Victoria to snap her head and meet her eyes.

“Can I help you with something?” Victoria asked the girl, somehow managing to control the annoyance in her voice and just sounding bored.

She turned her head slowly back to Jericho, offering him a wry smile. “We all share that same look when we first come over,” she said kindly, winking up at him. The woman never seemed to mind outing herself if it put another EDE at ease.

“You’ll have to excuse my friend here, she’s not used to being around civilized people,” she said with a playful nod at Jessie, trying to turn her annoyance off so she could slip back into her vibe for the night.

If Jess had known that her thinking was too loud, she would have kept it down, or at least tried to keep it think softly; if she was able to. Normally the world was loud for her. Babies crying, dogs barking; whispered conversations about Shasha's sneakers not being real Adidas.
She took a sip of her beverage, eyes locking on the well-dressed woman, as she asked her question.

"Uh, just wondering where I knew you from. You feel familiar, but I can't place ya," she explained, as she observed the others again. This woman did wear a dress well. A small part of Jessie wished she could have pulled off wearing something like it almost as well, but the veteran could never get the hang of that stuff.

From under her goggles she blinked. A..Friend? Her? "Yeah, civilized folks usually listen to music louder than I can take."

Jessie studied Jerich, before she said, "I just fake it 'til I make it. Though I might not be making it, so I'm probably not the best one to get advice from." Her head shifted from one person to the other, as she figured she'd introduce herself to them, "I'm Jess, by the way."

Jerich listened to the two as they went back and forth somewhat, taking a good sip of his drink. It was almost gone at this point, and he was already debating going to get another. Still, he didn’t want to just walk away from the women. It would be rude to say the least.

His attention swung back from his drink to the two of them as they spoke to him, offering a bit of a nod accompanied by a shrug. “Never really felt the need to fake it.. If I’m awkward I’m awkward. It never really bugged me I suppose. I’m Jerich.”

Large hand was offered out to Jess first, and then to Victoria if she introduced herself as well. Awkward he was, but he was nice enough so far that it quelled the awkward from taking over the entire situation, thank goodness.

Victoria held a dainty hand out to Jerich, shaking it with surprising strength while still maintaining a feminine grip. “Veronica,” she introduced herself, deciding to offer her to Jessie as well.

“I suppose I have one of those faces. I wasn’t anyone important in y universe, but a humble and local politician based in California. Now I’m here,” and she offered up a surprisingly casual shrug, a lazy lift of one shoulder. She finished the cigarillo and put it out nearby, draining her drink as well.

“Looks like you could use another drink, Jerich,” she gestured to his. Her eyes glanced to Jessie, “Another for you, as well?”

She slid a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a fifty, handing it to Jerich. “Why don’t you get another drink for all of us, on me. To welcome you both here. I’ll have whiskey, neat.”

Jessica would reach her own hand out to Jerich's offered limb, and responding by giving it a firm shake, before she took the hand that Veronica offered. Having finished being used in introductions, the hand would find it's way into the pocket of her jacket, as her beverage would be lifted to her lips by the other, taking a gulp of the liquid.

Something tugged at Jess's mind, at the mention of being a local politian, like it was a clue to a puzzle she needed to know. Her mind immediately trying to search her memory for what she was missing in the moment, before she stopped herself. That would come later.

When it was made clear to her that Jerich needed a drink, Jess was caught surprised when Veronica was offering to pay for drinks as a welcome gift. "Uh," she started, taking a moment, before finishing, "I'm partial to rum and cokes." ANother moment passed, before she added, "Thank you."

Jerich seemed a little startled himself as the money was passed over to him. “Oh, uh, sure.. Thank you.” A smile was flashed in Victoria’s direction, waiting for Jessie’s drink order before he made his way off to the bar. His empty glass was returned and he watched the crowds as he waited for the return of his change and new drinks, being sure to leave the bartender a tip.

Change was put in his jacket pocket temporarily as he scooped up the drinks, having no trouble carrying all three with the size of his hands, and he quickly maneuvered his way back out to the ladies on the balcony. “One rum and coke, and one whiskey, neat.” Drinks were distributed before he returned the change to Victoria, settling in with his own neat whiskey.. though to be fair, his own whiskey was more of a rail drink.. but for Victoria? He’d gotten her top shelf. She seemed like a top shelf liquor kind of lady.

The older woman turned her eyes on the younger, eyeing her up and down. She knows your son... the voice taunted, which finally led Victoria to seeing what the fuss was about.

Oh.

Her eyes widened as she turned to face Jessie, eyes searching her face with barely restrained emotion. “You are his birth mother?” She hissed under her breath, unfortunately not quiet enough to slip Jessie’s notice, she was sure.

Her eyes dropped down again, lips rearing back into a snarl. She could see it in the girl’s face, the resemble now was unmistakable. Her ears began to ring as her vision turned scarlet, a child’s laugh echoing in her hazy mind.

Of course, she wouldn’t be able to do much more as Jerich came back. She took her drink and muttered, “Keep the rest. Consider it a welcome gift.” She tossed back eve drink and simply walked away from the two, throwing a haughty look over her shoulder at Jessie.

Jessie was trying to think of how to continue the conversation with Jerich heading off to grab the drinks, her silvery eyes taking in the woman's appearance again behind her tinted goggles, before she noticed Veronica's eyes widen. Jess righted herself so that she was facing the politician, ready to hear what she was going to say, but only heard the hiss that laid under her breath.

It was Jessie's turned to be surprised, an eyebrow raised in confusion before she titled her head, taking a step back when the woman took on an aggressive snarl. Birth mother? Puzzle pieces started fitting together, Jess wanting to ask questions, but Jess could smell a possible fight and felt it.

Her instincts were preparing her for a fight, planning out a defense if Veronica attacked, but then Jerich had arrived with the drinks. Jessie relaxed, noting that Veronica still seemed angered. She accepted her rum and coke, as she watched the angry soon to be mayor walking away. After that look she received, Jessica was sure she ought to wait to talk to that momma bear until it seemed she was calm.

He couldn't but but look startled as he was told to keep the change, only appearing ever so more started and confused as the woman stormed off. A quizzical look was thrown in Jessie's direction as he took a good, awkward, sip of his whiskey. "I, ah, don't suppose you know that that was about?" His eyebrow was raised as she watched the woman closely, free hand shoving back into his jacket pocket.

"Cause.. That was pretty awkward, and I clearly must have missed something. Are you alright?" Unsure how to continue the conversation, or if he should even try to, Jerich cleared his throat somewhat and resorted to downing a good portion of the rest of his drink. Thank goodness for his drink.. A good distraction when needed.

The gaze of the blonde woman would have been glued to the woman that was walking away but with her sense of hearing, Jerich would still be heard. Poor man, arriving back to the group when one realized the other was a possible opposing maternal influence.

"Yeah. That definitely was," she replied, her gaze finally losing sight of the fine woman, and shifting to the tall man, "sorry about that. That was wholly directed at me," feeling that she owed him some sort of explanation. She didn't want to put words to the rest of the situation, not until she dug into the matters to fully get details. She had a feeling she knew why the woman had lost it, so it would be necessary for Jess to carefully explain herself to Veronica.

"A long, complicated story," came the end of her explanation. Her glass lifted to her lips, and she took a gulp of the liquid.