01 . action

[calmbeforethe]

[ Her last memories of Luceti had been of snow. Looking around the forest and sensing the patterns of weather upon waking, however, told her it was now early autumn. Either she'd been gone several months or at least a year this time, she figured. Ororo wondered idly if there was a reason that she came and went like this. Something to ask the veterans of Luceti, she thought. ]

[ When she felt well enough, Storm took to the skies of Luceti: she knew her abiliities were dampened here in the enclosure, but she needed some time to reacquaint herself with Luceti's nature before looking for the village. She needed to calm herself, too; less powers also meant less control, and it would probably be better if she kept her emotions from starting an off-season monsoon. The random flashes of thunder and lightning from her annoyance at finding herself back in Luceti might attract unwanted attention, and how embarrassing would it be if someone noticed... ]

[ As soon as she centered herself, she changed course and headed for where she knew the village was. She remembered where the little house she'd stayed in previously was located as well, and checking the journal's callbox had let her know just who was still around and who from her world had arrived while she was "back at home." She figured there would be no harm in dropping by the house unannounced. Hopefully there was someone in House 16 to greet her! ]

[ Storm's first order of business after moving back into her old room at House 16 was to visit the stores for some essentials: the clothes shop being her first stop. As soon as she'd changed into and picked up some familiar clothes, she stepped back outside - and when it was safe, Ororo called down a bolt of lightning from the sky to strike the damned New Feather dress into ash. Subtle? Not in the least, but she had to vent somehow, right? Right. ]

[ Her next stops include the Item Store, and the grocery (to re-stock the house's food supply with some vaguely nutritious food), but her final stop of the day, despite the groceries and other items in her arms, would be Cloud Nine. Some of her clearer memories of Luceti were of the quaint little club, and Ororo rather hoped it would jog a few more of her memories... ]

[ Anyone in town is free to recognize or even bump into her as she makes her way around the village! Storm will be all over the place in general, seeking to re-familiarize herself with the town again. ]

Comments

[calmbeforethe]

[Meanwhile Ororo is looking at some bottles of maple syrup. There's the organic stuff, but then there's also the sugar-free, and then the low-fat... Which would be better? Hmm hmm...]

[They're in the same aisle long enough for Ororo to realize that she had an audience. She glances at the young man standing a few feet away curiously, then at the chocolate sauce in his hand.]

... Can I help you?

[halfnhalf]

... Huh? Oh, sorry. [He'll just. Put the chocolate sauce in the bag and grip the handles of it like an awkward thing. Oops, he stared a little too much there. Let's recover a little:] I just haven't seen you around here before. New here?

[calmbeforethe]

[Smiling all friendly-like.]

In a manner of speaking. I arrived a few hours ago, but this isn't my first time in Luceti. [She's pretty composed for a New(ish) Feather.]

[halfnhalf]

Seriously? How long ago was the first time? [Because he'd just. Die. If it was while he was still here and he didn't even notice.]

[calmbeforethe]

The first time? [Puts a hand to her chin. It was a long time ago, alright.] Perhaps a year, a year and a half ago? I'm afraid I can't quite recall...

The second time, however, was about half a year ago. Eight or so months, I'm led to believe. [Smiling wryly.]

[halfnhalf]

So this is your third time here. They must really like you if they keep changing their mind about you. [He gives a wry smile of his own; and really, who wouldn't like Storm?]

[calmbeforethe]

So it seems. I wish they would make their minds up, however. Going through the New Feather process is getting very tiresome. [She gives him a half-shrug of her shoulders. Yes, she's kind of mad about the whole thing, but she spent all her anger out already earlier. So she's rather chill about the whole thing.]

[halfnhalf]

Believe me, I was there just a couple of months ago. I know how it feels.

[He keeps the smile up as he moves the bag to his other hand, moves closer, and extends a hand to shake.]

My name's Teddy.

[calmbeforethe]

[Takes his offered hand and shakes it gently, smiling warmly.]

And I am Ororo. It is nice to meet you, Teddy. [Glances at the chocolate sauce he'd been gripping, earlier.] Just an average grocery run, I'm assuming?

[halfnhalf]

[Be still my heart, you're very gay, you don't need to thump a little faster. Though maybe that's because oh my god I'm shaking hands with Storm of the X-Men.

Once Teddy lets go of her hand, he looks down at the bag before he gives her a sheepish smile.]

Yeah, mostly. My roommate loves this stuff, so I thought I'd surprise him with it. He ran out this morning.

[calmbeforethe]

That's sweet of you. [Pauses,] Ah, no pun intended, of course.

Have you and your roommate been in Luceti very long? [It sounds like he's familiar with the place already.]

[halfnhalf]

[Pffft, he still snorts when she comments on the pun. He didn't even notice it until she said that.]

Not really. My roommate's been here for about four months, and I've been here for two. I arrived when the last batch of newbies came along. [He gives a sheepish little grin.] I still feel a lot like newbie, though.

[calmbeforethe]

That's understandable. It's easy to fall into routine here in Luceti, quiet little village that it is. But just as you feel like you've adjusted enough to life here, an experiment crops up and throws most people off balance.

[halfnhalf]

These people have it hard enough, having to deal with being away from their home and loved ones... Then they have to throw experiments into the mix.

[He frowns and looks off to the side, a thoughtful sort of look on his face.] I don't even see how they're experiments.