Jun 15 - Homecoming in Moscow

[Lora Zalesky]

Lora moved closer, sliding her arms around Gideon's neck.

"Do not ever think that you cannot tell me your feelings."

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon wrapped an arm around Lora's waist.

"Just missing what I had a long time ago," Gideon said, "My family was the worst kind of flatscans, but I remember what it was like, eh? Siblings, parents, family meals. Madrox, Bobby, you all family. Just doesn't feel the same sometimes."

[Lora Zalesky]

"I can be nice, but sometimes, but is not all that it is always cracked up to be. I am used to my dad being around only as often as not, and Mom is usually pretty busy too. It was easier when Oleg was still around, but..." Lora sighed. "I guess that is not helping any, is it?"

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon chuckled dryly.

"Not particularly," Gideon smiled. "I was a ward of the institute while I was in school. No bossy parents, or brothers skipping out, eh? Just lonely summers at the institute."

[Lora Zalesky]

She closed hey eyes and lay her head on his shoulder. Lora knew it wouldn't do much good to make all sorts of promises to him; they had only been together a few months after all, and she had already gone through her own share of significant others. So she decided to do the next best thing, and just be there for him.

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon held Lora quietly for a moment then. He didn't want to make any promises either though they certainly sounded good as they ran through his head. But life as an X-Man was dangerous how do you make promises when you might be fighting Galactus or some other agent of destruction? When you could die on a mission by being in the wrong place at the wrong time? He'd certainly had close calls. You travel halfway across the world with a girl though so maybe it was the right time or maybe not. You never know, eh?

"Я...тебя люблю," Gideon said softly.

[Lora Zalesky]

"And I l-"

Someone was clearing their throat at the door. It was Mrs. Zalesky, of course.

[Gideon Rede]

Well, Gideon may have been a bit too focused on other things and Mrs. Zalesky talking may have made him leap back trip over something and crash onto the bed.

[Lora Zalesky]

And Lora, who still had her arms around him, followed suit.

There was a brief moment of confusion for her before she turned around on the bed.

"Mom!!"

Mrs. Zalesky just smirked, her arms crossed. "Yes, leave their luggage right here, Yuri."

The driver was also out in the hall, hauling their suitcases and bags. When he saw them over Mrs. Zalesky's shoulder, her gave Gideon a thumbs up and a grin. Gideon could also see now that the driver's eyes, both the iris and the sclera, where a deep, slightly lambent tangerine color.

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon didn't miss the gesture and gave the man an awkward looking smile.

<"Thanks, Yuri,"> Gideon said in competent sounding Russian. <"I suppose that ends our Kodak moment.">

[Lora Zalesky]

Mrs. Zalesky looked over her shoulder. Yuri cleared his own throat and walked back down the hall, waving to both of them.

<Better luck next time, yes?>

"You would be well-advised to close the door next time you have a 'moment,' I should think. Is there anything else that you need right now, Gideon?," she asked, more seriously.

[Gideon Rede]

"Nothing at the moment," Gideon said as he began extricating himself from Lora so that he could get to his feet. "A shower after the long train ride and a few seconds to try and forget what just happened."

[Lora Zalesky]

"Mmm, very well. We'll have a homecoming dinner in a few hours, but there are snacks and drinks in the kitchen if you need anything. I'll go check on your sister." Though, with the parting look Mrs. Zalesky gave to Lora, it appeared that she wasn't sure Lilia was the one who needed checking in on.

"Well, that was awkward..."

[Gideon Rede]

"Well, there were worse things that could have been happening, eh?" Gideon asked with a smile. "I'm thinking your mother is going to put a lock on my door."

[Lora Zalesky]

"No. She will tell Dad about this, and he will." She flopped back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. "Man, I have missed this bed."

[Gideon Rede]

"Really?" Gideon asked leaning against a wall.

[Lora Zalesky]

"Yes. I mean, you know, dorm beds never compare to when you get back home and...err, right. Never mind." Awkward again.

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon chuckled.

"No need to dance around it," Gideon said, "I got a mattress pad for mine back when I went to the institute. Makes it a lot more comfortable, but I'm sure there's something special about a childhood bed, eh?"

[Lora Zalesky]

"I guess there is." She looked over at him, smiling.

Since I was so rudely interrupted... "I love you too."

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon smiled genuinely. For a moment Lora could feel his happiness like a physical thing before it stuttered and was gone though the smile on Gideon's face said the feeling was still there.

"Quite the scandal we are. An Acolyte and an X-Man in love," Gideon said, "Your mother's reaction says she doesn't really approve."

[Lora Zalesky]

"Of you being in the X-Men, or us about to make out in my bed room? I am sure she's really fine with the former, and she can just get over the latter," she said, smirking.

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon chuckled.

"Good because I don't either of those things is going to change anytime soon," Gideon said.

[Narrator]

((A couple of hours later...))

Gideon and Lora would be disturbed from whatever they were doing at the time by a lot of ruckus coming from the entryway to the house. Loft. Whatever you call it.

[Lora Zalesky]

"Sounds like the gang is all here."

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon was pulling on a shirt after getting out of the shower when the noise started.

"Not much for subtlety, eh?" Gideon asked.

[Lora Zalesky]

"Adleida is not one for subtlety. Come on, I will introduce you."

As they walked into the living room, a girl burst in through the door to the entrance hall. She looked like she was about twelve or thirteen, but it was kind of hard to tell. Her mutation was very extensive. Her body was covered in dark chitinous plates, and even though she only had the standard four limbs, she definitely had an arthropod-esque appearance. Insectoid, maybe arachnid. Somehow, though, all of that still didn't take away from her broad, jolly face, which looked human other than the dark, slightly iridescent skin tone. She made a beeline for Lora, giving her something like a tackle and a hug all in one.

"Oof! Hah, and this would be her."

<"Lora! I've missed you so much!">

<"Right back at you, sis,"> Lora replied, smiling as she hugged her back.

<"Oooh, and this must be your boooyfrieeend~">

[Gideon Rede]

<"Last I checked,"> Gideon said smiling at the exchange. <"I prefer to be called Gideon though since it's shorter.">

[Lora Zalesky]

<"Nice to meetcha, Gideon! I'm Adleida!">

Back at the doorway, another girl walked in, this one a few years older. She looked kind of boring when compared to her younger sister. Not that she looked plain; she was tall and though and very skinny, she had a pretty face and long, straw-colored hair. It's just that she looked so human, even compared to Lora's easily concealed physical mutations.

She also looked disinterested and aloof like only a teenager can. She gave Lora a vague finger-wave and a <"Hey."> from across the room.

"...And that would be Susana," Lora mumbled, still smiling, mostly at Adleida.

[Gideon Rede]

<"Nice to meet you as well Adleida,"> Gideon said before looking at the next arrival in line. Given the terse nature of the greeting between Lora and Susanna he simply nodded in her general direction unsure of how to proceed.

"Do you two get along?"

<"If I'd known I'd have such lovely company I would have dressed nicer. You just came from school?">

[Lora Zalesky]

"She does not get along with a lot of people. My mom calls it a phase. I have another name for it, but I guess that is just semantics."

<"Yep! My dad picked us up himself today.">

And finally, not too far behind Susana, entered Mr. Zalesky side by side with his wife, who were both already deep in some discussion. Behind them were the driver, Yuri, and another gentleman who looked about twice as old as him, maybe in his early to mid fifties, lacking any obvious physical mutations.

"And that would be my father."

As soon as Mr. Zalesky saw Lora and Gideon, he stopped in his tracks, ending whatever conversation he was having with Mrs. Zalesky. <"Ilarion, Yuri. I will see you both in the morning.">

Both of them understood what Mr. Zalesky wanted very quickly, and said their farewells for the day.

Just as advertised, Mr. Zalesky was a big, muscular, anthropomorphic crocodile. As door closed behind him from the other two leaving, there was a moment of awkward silence before Mr. Zalesky smiled. His face was fairly emotive, considering so much of it was taken up by a reptilian snout. <"Lora. It is so good to see you.">

<"You too, Dad.">

They both crossed the room to meet in the middle, embracing in a strangely heartwarming way.

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon didn't want to interrupt the reunion between Lora and her father, so he stayed silent watching the exchange with glowing eyes.

[Lora Zalesky]

<"How was your trip here?,"> he asked once they had released from the hug.

<"It went off without a hitch. We got here faster than I expected, and it helped that I had good company.">

Mr. Zalesky now looked over Lora to Gideon, regarding him with slitted green-gold eyes. The smile faded, but it didn't look like he was displeased, either. <"Gideon, yes?">

"Mhmm. Dad, this is Gideon Rede. Gideon, Dad."

"Marko Zalesky." He extended a scaled hand.

[Gideon Rede]

"It's very nice to meet you Mr. Zalesky," Gideon said as he shook Marko's hand.

[Lora Zalesky]

It was a tight, strong handshake. Very strong. And yet, Gideon could still get the sense that Marko wasn't using anywhere near his full strength.

Once that was done, there was a moment of tense awkward silence before Marko turned to Katrya. <"So, we're have having a big welcome home dinner, right?">

<"Of course. We can have it on the table in about an hour.">

<"Excellent, that's just enough time to make my borscht! Lora, watch over your sisters for a bit while your mother and I made dinner.">

"In other words, let my sisters watch you and I while Mom and Dad are busy," Lora directed at Gideon, rolling her eyes a bit. Then she put on a chipper smile. <"Of course! Susana, Aldeida, let's go to Lilia's room. I'll find the deck of cards.">

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon most certainly couldn't match Marko's grip, but he tried to at least have a firm handshake.

"Well, X-Men and Acolytes have been known to get into quite a bit of trouble, eh? Sentinels, aliens, things from other dimensions." Gideon joked back as he walked over to Lora.

"Hopefully we're going to play a game I already know, eh?" Gideon said aloud.

[Lora Zalesky]

"Russian-style All for One and One for All Poker, Moscow rules." She smirked. "Actually, I was thinking Go Fish."

[Gideon Rede]

"What's the ante?" Gideon smirked.

[Lora Zalesky]

"I would suggest cookies, but since dinner is close at hand, that is probably not a good idea." she said, heading back into her room as she checked the drawers.

<"Those just make you fat, anyway.">

<"...right, but it would be good incentive for Lilia.">

"Too bad it is not just us, or I would suggest the stakes be a little more interesting."

[Gideon Rede]

Gideon chuckled softly.

"A wonderful idea for later," Gideon smirked. "Guess we'll have to make do without bets then, eh?"

[Lora Zalesky]

"Mmm, yes. But later, definitely," she whispered.