Issue 1 Downtime

Natalya looked at the boxes stacked in the hallway outside her apartment door. It wasn't a lot of stuff as there never was a ton of space, even in the quarters of an agent of her pay grade. Still, it was more than she'd expected to receive. She pondered for a bit and then her hair turned white as the freezer door in her kitchenette opened and a squat figure made of ice got out and waddled out into the hallway. It lifted one of the boxes and carried it into the apartment slowly. Natalya leaned against the hallway wall, watching the construct work.

((Open))

"You know," Samantha said with a smirk, "you could have just asked if you needed a hand getting moved in."

"Does that sound like me?" She asked, looking up. The construct came back out and picked up another box, carrying it in. Natalya didn't seem to be expending much concentration on it.

"Your powers certainly seem to have bounced back alright."

"This is small potatoes. I haven't tried creating anything bigger than this. Figure I'm straining my system enough walking around and doing the little things."

"I certainly wasn't expecting the whole glory of the ice queen for moving day," she teased.

"Sorry, no giant ice dragons or Japanese mecha right now," she smirked. "I'll get back up to the good stuff eventually. The grounds crew will probably love me once winter's in full swing."

"Looking forward to it. I take it the accommodations are working out?"

"Still need to replace some of the furniture, but that'll happen with time. Otherwise, the AC is quite good."

"I was surprised at how well they managed to retrofit the place, myself."

"I am wondering how they managed it. I haven't gotten around to looking at the plans for this building yet."

"I'm sure you know, the campus itself is a bit odd."

"Still, good to know you won't melt."

"But melting is what witches do," she said with a snort.

"We're all a bit fanciful here," she smirked.

"Fanciful is not the word I would have selected, but it will do. Let in a new student yesterday. Quite an interesting case."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Her father's an individual of particular interest. Does the name Maynard Tiboldt ring a bell?"

It took Sam a moment to process, but by her face-palm, it was evident that she did recognize the name.

"...honestly?"

"She claims to be his daughter. We're running down the background check now, but so far it's checking out. She says her parents are bad about dragging her back, so I had the lawyers start working on that as well."

"They're the bloody Circus of Crime. Even they're not that stupid."

"If she is his kid though, that could change the equation for him," Natalya pointed out. "We're checking angles. She asked me to keep it as quiet as I could. Says she doesn't want the first thing that the others hear about her to be about her parents. I agreed to that."

"I don't disagree. That's rather fair."

"You want to brief Mike on this or do you want me to chase him down? I figure the two of you are the most likely to notice unauthorized hypnotizing on the grounds."

"If you don't mind. I've a few things I'm going to need to tend to soon."

"I can do that," she said, "You know, if I'm honest, I think I'm taking such an interest in her because I see some of myself there."

"Second chances, aye?"

"If I thought I had a shot at it, I'd almost put myself forward to be her guardian, but even though I don't know how that system works over here, I know I really don't have the sort of background that endears one to family court judges," she said with a slight chuckle. "Mostly wishful thinking anyway," she said, "I think I can settle for being a bad-ass big sister-type."

"Aye. It's funny, anyone who saw us at their age would not have predicted we'd be in charge of all this."

"Psh. I'm not in charge of anything," she smirked. "That's all you."

"Of course, of course. Plausible deniability."

"The buck has to stop somewhere," she nodded. "So what are you checking out?"

"Do you recall back when we were at the Institute? That telepath that Professor Xavier rescued Dom from, that left me in a bad way?"

"Not off the top of my head. I remember something vaguely about it, but I think I may have been otherwise occupied then."

"I've since had... other encounters with her."

"Once the hooks have been set once, huh?"

"Entertained notions of making me her plaything, managed to make other shapeshifters into proxies for me. It's a sick affair."

"Ugh," Natalya made a face.

"I suppose she didn't plan on my telepathy developing to rival hers. I was more capable when I found her again."

"People underestimate the cute redheads," she said with a sage nod, obviously attempting to lighten the conversation a little bit. The construct carried the last box inside. "I take it this has to do with her then?"

"Aye. We've got her at Muir."