Cuppa Coffee at Starschmucks

[Toni Craft]

"Well my dear," Dear? Sounds like Grandpa Luigi...only less stinky, and about 300 decibels quieter. Magneto leers at her as he sits between Toni and Terry, the small table becoming noticeably cramped. Hesitantly, she fumbles with her empty cup, trying not to look at the old man.

Not good....One of the first times that I might actually be in trouble, and Matty's nowhere to be seen! I hate irony. Toni's sure that if her brother was present, the walking magnet would probably be thrown through the giant street-side window without pause.

"The green tree ant is from Australia....not West Africa," Toni can't help the brief uncomfortable cough and a moment of fidgeting as she tries to come up with a suitable comeback.

"Well, there goes my whole argument. Now I suppose you're going to tell me that they don't eat people either. To think I had this great horror film idea." Even through her discomfort, Toni manages her casual smart-ass smirk. "Actually, the green ant may come from Aussie Land, but I know for a fact that there are man-eating white ants in Calcutta. Great Grandpa Greg got nibbled to death by them. True story." She points and waves her finger slightly, just daring him to contradict her.

Alright...play it cool, no need to panic just yet....Old guy probably doesn't know who you are, so let's try and keep it that way.

"So what brings a man like yourself to want to sit with us two young things?" Toni asks, leaning back in her chair as nonchalantly as possible, though she can't help the small wince as the seat groans and flexes under her prodigious weight.

[Magneto]

Erik couldn't help but give a smile laugh and smile at Toni's statement and expressions. He wasn't totally without humor or an easy going side, but being the world's most wanted mutant terrorist really didn't leave time for those things. It felt sort of good to just relax and enjoy such little things and Erik looked away from Toni, back down at the coffee cup on the table, a long vacant look in his eyes and a slowly dying smile on his face. He thought about a time when he used to laugh and smile like this all the time, but those days were long gone, so cruelly taken away by those who feared him because they didn't understand.

"I'm here," he said as he kept his gaze fixed on the cup in front of him and taking a deep breath, "because of what you are," he said, giving Toni a glance with just his eyes, his head remaining stationary, "and I would say your little friend here is one of us as well," he added, smiling now as he looked to Siryn, albeit just briefly, for right now, Toni was his main focus point. Erik let the silence at the table fill the moment, he himself remaining calm, just one of the ways he seemed to hold sway on a situation such as this. Erik let Toni's mind move in its own directions, letting her try to figure this moment out, hoping she would slip up and reveal more than she wanted to.

[Toni Craft]

"I'm here, because of what you are," Oh shiznaz. But instead of panicking, Toni lets her overly creative mind kick in again.

"Am I that obvious?" Toni grins and rests her elbows back on the table, shooting him a sly look. "I'm witty, charming, funny and undeniably gorgeous all rolled into one. Glad to see someone finally noticed." She hopes that's enough to delay him. The last thing she wants to do is discuss her mutation with the leader of the Brotherhood.

"And I would say your little friend here is one of us as well,"

"Oh please. Her? She's got about as much charisma as a parasite-infected dung beetle." Leave Terry out of this or else we're going to see how far I can shove my iron foot up your magnetized wrinkly old ass.

Okay, so maybe she's starting to get a little desperate. His presence had begun to wear away at her, making her increasingly nervous. Her verbal defenses would only last for so long.

[Magneto]

Erik gave a forced weak smile at Toni's smart answer, finding her sense of humor appealing as much as Pyro's sometimes. Youth seemed to breed such arrogance....such unfounded confidence in their untested abilities. Erik himself was an ego maniac, but unlike Toni or a few nameless others, he had already proven himself. Perhaps Erik needed to inform Toni and her little friend of just how bad any given situation could turn and how fast?

"Don't worry my dear, I'm not exactly looking for charisma at the moment," he said cutting in on Toni before she could really continue on with her rambling. Erik's eyes had that cold look about them now, the seriousness in his face matching them, a sharp contrast to the easy going attitude that Toni put forth at the moment. "So much metal," he said exerted a bit of pressure upon Toni's body, "I'd imagine it takes a great deal of strength to haul that skeleton of yours around the way you do," he rattled on, releasing his hold once again, "I would even dare say increased stamina as well, to give you that extra something to keep you going," he finished, smiling once again as he slowly and carefully analyzed Toni and her powers, after all, Erik had come across many mutants in his lifetime and had learned that some powers seemed to follow in line with others.

[Toni Craft]

[[OMG!! Something that vaguely looks like a post! Ahhhh!]]


"So much metal," Dammit! Toni had tried to keep him off topic, but Magneto had adverted her attempts without even a second thought. So much for that tactic. She shifts uncomfortably as he retakes his magnetic hold on her. Things were not looking bright.

It seemed as though she was being backed into a corner, and there weren't many options as to how to get out of the current predicament. Running was simply out of the question. For one, it would probably give away the fact that she knew who he was. And two, he'd stop her before her she'd even reach the door. Well, could always go through the window...

"I'd imagine it takes a great deal of strength to haul that skeleton of yours around the way you do," Of course...she could always humour him...couldn't she? Maybe she'd be able to talk herself out of this one, but through the use of much more subtle (subtle so far as Toni is concerned) conversation.

"I uh...it's not that bad. Definitely nothing I can't handle. I have a bad reputation with the furniture though." She leans back in her chair and lets the metallic groan speak for its self. Toni let her tone drop to avoid eavesdropping from other tables. Magneto knowing she was a mutant was quite enough, thank you very much. She didn't need the entire coffee shop breaking out into chaos.

"I would even dare say increased stamina as well, to give you that extra something to keep you going," Playing along is sooooo much easier than trying to yap my way out of this...

"Right again, mister. You know, I've been thinking about getting myself into some of those underground cage-fighting circuits. I heard the money's pretty good, and I'd kick total ass." Toni smiles lightly and thumbs her empty coffee cup again. Playing along also meant acting like she had no idea who he was. "Now I have to ask you; are you the source of this nasty case of muscle pain? Cause honestly, I haven't felt this strained since I accidentally got sat on by the elephant at the zoo. Apparently they mean it when they say don't poke the big things when they're hungry..."

[Magneto]

Toni's sense of humor began to grow a bit tiresome and Magneto figured either the woman was trying to annoy him enough to make him leave or that maybe she was just totally clueless to life in general, either way, the old man would see to it that Toni was well educated before he left her and her friend. Unused power, especially the sort that someone like Toni wielded was a great waste, especially when it could be used to further Magneto's cause and perhaps it was this simple act which annoyed the old man the most.

"Such potential power and strength and you sit here, mocking it...not utilizing yourself to your full potential. Wise cracks and smart retorts only dig very deep holes," Magneto began, not bothering to answer the last question Toni threw his way, and really why should he, she seemed to be smart enough to catch on by now. "While your sitting here drinking coffee and talking about elephants and ants, thousands of our kind are being rounded up and ushered into prison camps all over the United States......Will you still be joking when they finally find you?," he asked, turning his full attention to Toni now, curious if she even cared about the current mutant situation plaguing mankind at this particular point in history.

[Toni Craft]

"Such potential power and strength and you sit here, mocking it...not utilizing yourself to your full potential. Wise cracks and smart retorts only dig very deep holes,"

Toni grinds her teeth as she stops herself from snapping 'Oh yeah? And look at the hole you've dug for yourself mister America's Most Wanted!' Instead, she calms and continues with her normal banter, seemingly oblivious to his critique.

"They don't only dig holes, but they also scar children, scare my grandmother, and are a wonderful source of entertainment. My brother finds me utterly hilarious." Did I just say that? Fuck. Way to go motor mouth, now Mags knows about Matty.

"...Will you still be joking when they finally find you?," Ah, and there was the simple statement she had been predicting the whole time. The traditional 'the humans are going to kill us all' speech she'd heard wonders about.

"Absol-fuckin'-lutely! Nothing has ever shut me up." Toni grins wide and proud, "I'm no stranger to the fact that we're not readily accepted. Hell, I bet half the people in here," she waves her finger around the Starbucks, "probably wouldn't mind if I got hung out to rust, but that doesn't mean they're all against us." She hated the 'us' word. It put her on the same level as Magneto, the almighty bridge destroyer. "I know a lot of normal folk that don't mind mutants, so they can't be blamed for those that do. I've got no fight to pick with anybody, though it seems like you do." At least she didn't spill the beans on her family being entirely human.

He was trying to get a rise out of her, to see if he could persuade her to his side of the fight, but Toni was far too smart (and stubborn) for that.

[Magneto]

Brother? Now that is interesting, and while Magneto knows full well that just because one sibling is a mutant doesn't mean the other(s) will be as well, but that's the funny thing about genetics.....its so unpredictable. Toni's brother was more than likely a mutant as well, so Magneto chose to think on that route just to be safe, it never paid to underestimate. This little piece of family information was safely locked away in Magneto's limitless mind, as right now it wasn't readily important, educating Toni was.

"Believe me my dear," he said now, leaning in closer to Toni, still smiling that sick little smile of his, "Sooner or later, they'll all turn on us.....either by action or inaction. The ones who don't chain us up will sit by and close their eyes while the others do.....plain and simple. We're nothing but freaks and outcasts to them, nothing more than a sideshow attraction or some monster underneath the bed. We're not safe as long as those bigots are in charge and neither are our children.....," he said coolly, a bit of malice lacing his words now, as if he was speaking from sort of cold memory or experience from the past.

Magneto's little speech stopped for a moment as he sat back and eyed Toni carefully, something about the way she addressed this discussion was all too familiar, like she had already been briefed or had heard some sort of similar argument before.....an all to similar one. "If you don't mind me asking....Just what do you do young miss? I mean, you sound far too educated to just be an average young woman off the street," he asked, curiosity and assumption getting the better of him. The Institute had churned out its share of students over the years, but could Toni have been one of them....or maybe even a teacher?

[Toni Craft]

Our children? Why did that come off as kind of creepy?

But as Toni tries to conjure up an adequate response to counter Magneto's statement, her mind runs blank. No smart remarks, and no good argumentative points. There was a certain truth in what he said, and she knew it. Of course, she probably could shoot back that her entire family was human and would no doubt care for her no matter what the media or government said about mutants, but she strived to keep her personal life under wraps, especially after mentioning Matty...

Instead, she snaps her mouth shut and frowns before staring at her hands.

"If you don't mind me asking....Just what do you do young miss? I mean, you sound far too educated to just be an average young woman off the street,"

Toni clears her throat and looks back up. No need to lie to the old guy, but certainly, she wasn't going to tell the whole truth.

"I'm a student at Rowan University. Chem major, tryin' to be a teacher. I'm on a workterm in this asshole of a state right now though. These people just don't have the manners they used to." Toni specifically avoided saying where, exactly, she worked. Mags knowing about her role at Xavier's would probably not go over well...

[Magneto]

Magneto couldn't help but smile as he arched his eyebrow, giving Toni some sort of silent approval as she mentioned she was studying chemistry. Erik himself was quite the scientific mind and excelled greatly in chemistry, but he found his calling to be more of the biological nature. Erik had studied a great deal in the field of human genetics, researching the mutant x gene, even having gone as far as to tamper with natural biology in a vain attempt to alter it in some way (his failed attempt with Senator Kelly and back on Liberty Island). Yes, nature had indeed bestowed a great deal upon Erik Lehnsherr, his mutant ability and his grasp of the sciences and mechanics.....a very formidable set of gifts to grace upon one individual. Perhaps, if Erik's early life had been more....how do you say....'enjoyable'?, then maybe he might have used his talents for a greater and more peaceful good.

"Chemistry....quite the impressive subject my dear...quite impressive indeed," he said as he continued to smile, nodding his head to her now. "What just would such an individual as yourself be willing to do with an education like that? Save the world....or maybe just your brethren?," he asked her, testing the waters a bit more. Erik wasn't entirely certain where Toni's views lied at the moment, but he was curious if he could perhaps sway them to his side, even if just a little bit. Having another scientific mind around could only serve to help him and the rest of the Brotherhood, after all, he could always use another pair of skilled hands.

[Toni Craft]

Magneto seemed happy that she was in chemistry, which probably wasn't a good thing.

"What just would such an individual as yourself be willing to do with an education like that?" Toni cuts him off before he can continue.

"Teacher, dude. Them kiddies gotta learn. And chem teachers make a fortune nowadays. There's good money in the sciences, you know." Toni grins happily and leans back to cross her legs. Being a teacher excited her, so much so that she wasn't even bothered by telling Magneto, the Institute's arch-enemy.

"Save the world....or maybe just your brethren?" Ah, and the 'fight for you fellow mutants' crap continues.

"You know, I think your goals for me are just waaaay to high. Save the world? Please. I like to set realistic goals. I don't think I can save anyone. Help them, maybe. But not save them." A touch of seriousness betrays her normal goofy behaviour. It was a true statement. Toni had no reason to believe she could save anyone with a simple chemistry degree, but with all the number of metal and chemical-based mutants running around, herself and her brother included, she could at least try to help them. She'd taught a number of students the vital information behind their mutation; information that had stopped them from accidentally hurting someone when they underestimated themselves. Matthew surely would have pulled a Chernobyl and nuked half the Institute by now if Toni hadn't force-fed the dangers of radiation down his throat.

[Magneto]

Toni was quite adept at answering questions without really answering them, a defensive nature no doubt, but one Erik could appreciate all the same. His first impression of her was quickly fading away and he was beginning to see that behind all that goofy nonsense she seem to spout off, was a very intellectual mind....and one who cared for those around her, although Erik suspected she cared for the homo sapiens just as much as her fellow mutants. He let his mind drift for a moment, thinking back to Charles Xavier, and how much his old friend would have loved to have Toni as a student. The passionate ones were always Charles' favorites, whether he meant for them to be or not, but they were none the less. Jean, Ororo, Scott......all Charles' prized pupils and if Toni had been lucky enough, she might have found herself on that list as well.

"...Help them, maybe. But not save them."

Toni's comment snaps Erik back from his private thoughts, causing the old man to glance down at his wrinkled hands for a moment. Silence is all that greets Toni for a second or two and then the sound of the old man's chair sliding back, apparently on its own as Erik stood, letting his eyes drift to Toni. "Well put my dear...well put," he said, letting her have this little victory of words, for in all truth, no matter how much Erik wanted to save his kind, he knew he could only do so much and that mutants really had to save themselves. He reached out and laid his right hand on Toni's shoulder, stepping right beside her, "I've enjoyed our talk, perhaps we can continue it at some other time," he said, patting her know as he began to walk away, pushing his way through the crowd of people and toward the exit.

[Toni Craft]

Toni tries to hide the smirk as Magneto falters over her statement. She had to admit, that was really insightful, especially for her.

"Well put my dear...well put,"

Toni holds her breath, waiting to see what would happen next. She expected him to retaliate with another 'Join the Brotherhood now!' attempt, but instead he stood up.

"I've enjoyed our talk, perhaps we can continue it at some other time," Having him touch her was incredibly unsettling, but Toni would never let him know that.

As he leaves, Toni slumps and collapses onto the table, letting out her held breath.

"Not fuckin' likely, Mags."

[[The end.

...

Or is it?!

]]