nextgenerationmarvel | Going to the Club

Well, no retro dresses, and he wanted to ascertain that by club, she hadn't meant Hellfire.

She hadn't, clearly.

So there was Ryan, dressed casually but appropriately in a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, a dark grey button down shirt that was buttoned up just so, and his favourite midnight blue leather moto jacket.

He grinned at Alisa as he knocked on her window, having just landed next to her car. The air still sparkled with violet pulses of light due to the use of his powers.

Alisa smiled, reaching over to unlock the side door for Ryan to get in. She, however, had on a rather short black dress that had plunging neckline, and a pair of black knee high boots with three inch heels... on both legs? It appeared she may have upgraded her prosthetic leg for a cybernetic one of some sort.

"Hop in, darlin' ." She gave Ryan a wink before starting the car up. "I can' believe you t'ought I would take you to a Hellfire Club! Geez... I would NEVER be caught dead in one o' dere clubs ever again. Much less endanger your hot lil' ass by takin' you to one."

Ryan noticed the leg thing, but didn't mention it. He didn't want to make a big deal out of her leg, because he honestly wasn't sure how okay with it Alisa was. For someone as Ryan, it would be anything but a smooth transition, but Alisa was made of far stronger stuff than Ryan was. She'd survived things that he hadn't even come close to experiencing.

"I wasn't being entirely serious," Ryan winked. "But this girl I briefly dated told me that the throw some, er, wild parties." He slid into the car and gave Alisa a swift kiss on the lips before producing a flash drive. "I, uh, made you a playlist." Because those were totally the new mix-tape, right?

"Dey'd make Marie Antoinette blush." Alisa admitted. Alistaire could throw some wild parties. But the last Soiree was his Grandfather's doing, and her head STILL hurt thinking about it. "It's no place for a nice guy like you. You'd be eaten alive an' used like some pawn for someone to gain power. I'd never let dat happen to you."

When he gave her a swift kiss, Alisa honestly wished it could have lasted a bit longer. She enjoyed kissing Ryan, it just felt so natural and right. But then, he gives her a flash drive, making her eyebrows go up.

"T'ank you, Ryan." She truly was grateful for such a present. It wasn't something store bought, but something he made for her. No one ever made her something, before (well, that was not a weapon). Though, there was one small problem...

"Ryan, what's a "playlist"?"

Ryan paused. He'd been about to click his seatbelt in, but that question just made him pause. His eyes ticked up, catching Alisa's gaze, and his brow furrowed just ever so slightly. There was, he realized, still a good deal about Alisa that he neither knew nor understood.

But the last thing he wanted to do was to make Alisa feel stupid or inept. It wasn't as though she was the only one in the world who didn't know what a playlist was.

Though it was somewhat surprising coming from someone who was currently living in New York.

"It's a list of songs," he said. "To play. This way you can, you know, upload the songs to your computer or whatever. Also, I think it'll last longer than a CD?"

"Oh.... oh!" Wow, she just felt embarrassed. She placed the USB securely in her purse before putting her seat belt on. Her hands rested on the steering wheel, not sure what to tell Ryan about why she asked that question. "It's jus' ... no one made me one before. An' well... I don' know much about such t'ings. I spent so much time workin' or in school dat I'm kinda... behind. As in I haven' watched TV since I was ten or listened to any "modern" music since den, either."

Well, it felt good to clear the air. Now she only worried that Ryan would think she was REALLY strange. Well, more strange than usual. She forced a smile and turned the key to her car... only to have it not start.

"What de..." She cursed under her breath, turning the key again. Nothing. Now she was worried. Removing her seat belt, Alisa got out of the car and lifted the hood to check things out. Within seconds, Ryan was treated to some colorful words, in Cajun French and English.

"Someone cut my brake lines, an' my gas line! Someone's disabled my god damn car! We can' go anywhere, now!"

"We could always take a taxi," Ryan offered. "Except maybe we want to find out why your car's been attacked, first." He frowned. "This isn't that ex-boyfriend of yours, is it?"

"Try his grandpere." Alisa spoke flatly. "I went to his stupid Soiree where he revealed, surprise, surprise, he's alive! I was asked to leave, but stupid me stayed, because I woulda risked de loss o' clients."

She sighed, slamming the hood shut on her car and resting her forehead against it.

"I was told I was gonna pay for bein' dere. An' I've been payin' since. My gallery was fire bombed an' now dis. I can' prove nuthin' , an' if I go around makin' base-less accusations... well, I'll lose work an' be sued by Shaw. Because he'd do dat."

The idea of a taxi might make her look bad on the society pages (and something Brooke would mock her for at the school), but she wanted Ryan to have a good time. She finally offered him a smile.

"Okay, let's grab a cab an' go 'ave fun."

"Oh, whoa, hold up," Ryan said. "Why are they after you? It's not just because you didn't leave the party, right? Did something else happen between you and the grandkid?" He crossed his arms and leaned against the car, staring thoughtfully into Alisa's eyes. "What exactly went down to make you a target, Alisa?"

Shaking her head, Alisa pushed back a floor mat on the driver's side of the car, revealing a hidden compartment. She carefully opened it up, revealing a steel briefcase inside. She took out the briefcase, closed the compartment, put the floor mat over it, and then made her way back over to Ryan's side of the car.

"I used to be de personal bodyguard to his grandson, Alistaire Shaw. One day, I'm called into a meetin' wit' my Guild. Dey were takin' a "vote o' confidence". It's a vote to see where de Guild will stand wit' certain contracts an' people dey deal wit' . De vote showed dey lacked confidence in Sebastian Shaw's daughter if she joined de Hellfire Club." Alisa held on to the briefcase rather tightly.

"Bein' as I was one o' de higher rankin' members, I took it upon myself to reveal dis news to Sebastian Shaw himself. He didn' take it well, let's jus' say dat. Soon after, I discovered de vote was a fraud. Someone paid members to create a phony vote, knowin' I would report on it to Sebastian Shaw an' sabotage myself for gain' more rank or work."

"I kept tryin' to warn de man dat we were all bein' played, dat sumt'ing was up. But tellin' him dat only made'em even more angry at me. Enough dat I was banned from any Hellfire Club activities an' to be fired from my job o' bein' Alistaire's bodyguard. A mark o' shame in de Guild I worked for. By de time I figured it all out, I was attacked in my apartment. Dat "business man" who saved me? It was Sebastian Shaw. He told me I was pathetic an' to stay away from him an' his, or else."

"Either Alistaire really wanted me to go to dat Soiree, or someone forgot to take my name off de list. But my name was put on de list an' I got an invitation. Some clients were clamorin' about goin' an' sayin' dey wouldn' deal wit' anyone who wasn' invited. I went, Sebastian Shaw found out, an' now I am payin' ."

She placed one of her hands on her hips, looking at Ryan.

"You know, goin' to dat Soiree was a blessin' in disguise. I finally saw de REAL Alistaire Shaw. I put my foot down an' left'em. I can' be wit' anyone who plays wit' other people's lives like dat. While My gallery was burnt down, an' my car's been disabled... I'm more free den I ever was, Ryan."

"Free? I'm not sure that's the word I'd use, Alisa, what with people still, you know, trying to attack you. Maybe you're free of whatever weird obligations and ties you had, but you're not entirely free of your past. Not yet." He looked down at the briefcase and raised an eyebrow. "What's in that?"

"Dis is nuthin', Ryan. Dis is someone who t'inks dey can hurt me by takin' away my favorite toys for bein' a REALLY bad girl." She grinned. "T'ough I ain' 100% sure dis is Shaw's doin' . You gotta remember I am a mutant who lives out in de open. An' now dat mutants are more exposed den before... people may wanna act out some form o' hate. Really, it's "take your pick" at dis point."

His reaction to her suitcase just made her smile a little bit. Alisa was open to Ryan about anything he asked her.

"Retractable stun batons. My weapon o' choice when it comes to self defense." She placed a hand on his shoulder before giving him a quick kiss on the lips. "Are you really dat concerned about me?"

"Yeah, but this...doesn't read as just some random 'mutie-hate' attack," Ryan replied. "And I don't think you should look at it that way, either." His phone was out and he was dialing a number. Superhero or no, powers or no, there were still certain ways of doing things. "We gotta call the cops and report this, at least."

"Alright. But no droppin' Shaw's name as a suspect! I don' need anymore trouble from de man." She gave out a long sigh, moving to sit on top of her metal brief case on the side of the road as they waited for the police to come investigate. Being as they were NYC cops, it would take awhile before they showed up.

"You don' t'ink it's not safe for me to stay by myself, do you? I mean, dis shouldn' escalate anymore den it 'as. I got de point to stay away, so dey shouldn' do anymore harm to my property!" She looked exasperated. "I jus' ... I don' know what to do anymore. De old me woulda marched into de Hellfire Club an' taken out dere elite guards. But let's face it, old me made some REALLY poor choices."

Edited 2014-02-01 20:43 (UTC)

"I'm just gonna tell them it was rando thing," Ryan said simply. "This is just to alert them that somethings on the up and up." He reached out with his powers and created a shimmering purple bench made out of cosmic energy.

And then dissipated it.

Because they would look ridiculous sitting on one when the cops arrived.

"Honestly? I think you'd be safer crashing at Xavier's for a few days," he said. "Yeah, they get blown up with an alarming sort of alacrity, but they're a safer bet than being by yourself. Less chance of something terrible happening to you." Also, he was too well aware that no one at the Pier would welcome her in.

"I don' t'ink Xavier's school would house me, Ryan. Dey don'... trust me. Not yet, anyway." She placed her head in her hands. "Great, jus' great. I got nowhere to go until dis blows over, I got no allies... well no, no I got you, Ryan. But what I mean is no one who is willin' to house me over dis shit!"

She then looked up at Ryan. Probably for the first time since he met her, he saw she was truly upset.

"Ryan, dis is gonna sound stupid... an' way too fast, but would you mind stayin' wit' me for a few days. I got a spare bedroom if you would rather stay in dere. I jus' ... I don' know what to do. I got no ties to anyone who can 'elp me, no more. Goin' legit 'as cost me more den when I was some t'ug! I really don' know what to do, anymore."

"I think that's not a bad idea," he nodded as the police arrived. "I mean, I'd invite you over to the Pier, but the others...well, given your past..." Ryan licked his lips. "You're well aware, I know, and I'm sorry."

Before he could say anymore, one of the policemen approached them. Ryan flashed them his Future Foundation badge and explained what had happened, giving them as much details as possible.

He roped Alisa in to give her statement, too, but both were careful not to mention the Shaws or the Hellfire Club.

Mutant-related things needed to stay mutant-related.

When they were done, he turned back to Alisa. "Let's at least go and grab a bite. There's a taco truck that's stopping close by tonight that serves the best damn spicy seared pork kimchi taco that I've ever had."

She looked mentally exhausted from dealing with the police and everything else. It surprised her that Ryan was being so supportive, but he believed in her where no one else did. He was the only thing left that made her not want to give up on going legit and stay on the good side of the fence.

Alisa finally smiled. After getting off the ground, she held her suitcase in one hand as she wrapped her arm around Ryan's with the other. The mention of grabbing a taco sounded pretty good.

"Dat sounds pretty exotic. Probably better den de rabbit food at de club. 'ow can people live on dat stuff?" Laughing, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "An' you know... t'ank you. It's nice to 'ave someone in my corner wit' me, you know?"

"Hey, wanna go wit' me tomorrow to get a new car? I mean, I can handle any car dealer... but it could be fun."

"Believe me, everyone needs a friend in their corner," Ryan laughed. He stepped back and indicated that they head towards the left. "So, there's no one else who left the Club behind that you could team-up with? Maybe form an anti-Club that aren't necessarily the X-Men?"

"Stephanie Shaw will be nice to me, but not dat nice. Brooke t'inks I fell off a turnip truck, an' Alistaire is... Alistaire. If I so much as talk to him AGAIN, I will get t'rown outta de institute on my ear. Plus I told'em dat unless he grows a 'eart, I won' come back. An' dat means I'm NEVER comin' back to'em." She followed Ryan, making sure she stayed at the same walking pace as his.

"I don' got many friends, honestly. First friend I ever made was Alistaire Shaw. We kinda 'as some t'ings in common, or so I t'ought. He's jus' ... he can be charmin' , but he's terrible. People are playt'ings to him. De way o' de Hellfire Club I suppose." Alisa hated to admit this. It was like admitting she was a loser. Well... she was one.

"As an "Enforcer", I wasn' supposed to 'ave friends. I was jus' supposed to be a weapon for people to use... or some baby factory for a guy old enough to be my grandfather. What I t'ought, what I felt... it never mattered. I was only "allowed" to go to college to pursue Art after Sebastian Shaw saw "promise" in me. Now he t'inks I'm pathetic, an' I t'ink he's a douche waffle." She kicked a can out of her way. "It's funny, you know. You are more o' a friend den he was to me. You care about me... an' you get me to babble like some school girl."

That last bit made her smirk as she tried to get herself back on track and not so sad.

"So... I am STILL not allowed near your home? Wow... my rep mus' be REAL bad. I can only imagine what comes up about me at de dinner table! Man, at dis rate, I should hire de PR firm de White House uses." She made a joke... she made a joke! Get out your skates, because Hell just froze over!

Edited 2014-02-03 16:56 (UTC)

"It's not that you're still not allowed, it's that..." Ryan paused. "Okay, you're still not allowed," he cringed. "I'm sorry. I can't even...families are...family." He was flailing, clearly. "They'll come around. Since that's a thing that they also do."

That just caused her to smirk. At least he was honest.

"At least you got a family dat cares, Ryan." Was all she could say. Sure, it hurt she could not see his home, meet his friends and family, but she knew why and somehow respected it. "I'll jus' wait until dey come around is all."

Before they got to the taco stand, the two witnessed a mugger knocking over an older lady and running off with her purse. Tonight was NOT the night to do that in front of Alisa.

"Ryan, make sure dat lady is okay, I'm goin' after de douche bag who took her purse!"

She flicked her wrist holding the suitcase, causing it to open and expose her batons. With blinding speed, she took them out and started to chase after the mugger, running faster than a normal person (with two legs, in heels, and not in a short dress).

Edited 2014-02-15 06:08 (UTC)

Going to the Club

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