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<< XS >> Living Room - Lv1
Despite the rich Victorian reds of the walls and the dark colour of the hardwood half-panelling, large floor to ceiling windows brighten the room into something warm and inviting. Several couches are present here: two face a large TV set, along with an armchair or two for individuals, while the others form conversation circles in other corners, complete with coffee and end tables. Against the walls are tall and leafy plants. Fake or not? It's hard to tell. Exits leading away from here lead to either the great hall or the hallway, or even the classroom, and the central unifying feature of the room is a large fieldstone fireplace, both elegant and cozy.
[Exits : [H]allway ]
[Players : Aquilla ]
Aquilla, starting to fall true to tradition so far, has come to settle in the Living Room rather than being upstairs at this time of the evening, more to keep track of current events than anything else. She takes up one of the room's sofas, the telly turned to the local news for the time being, though nothing in particular's really gotten her attention about it just yet.
Quark appears in the living room in a *bamf* of smoke, yawning. He has removed his contacts for the night, opting instead for a spare pair of glasses. He has lounge pants and a white sleeping shirt on, as if getting ready to go to bed--just not quite yet. He blinks and spots Aquilla, giving a start before taking a seat in the other, empty sofa. Offering a small wave, he smiles politely and says, "Sorry to disturb you. Don't think we've met--my name's Chris Parker. Or Quark, if you prefer. Whatever."
The little sound resulting from Quark's teleportation is enough to get Aquilla's attention, turning to look just as her own presense seems to catch him off-guard. She blinks a bit, but then offers a smile in turn, nodding to him as he takes a seat. "Amara Aquilla..." She tilts her head lightly, then shakes her head. "I don't think I've seen you around either, but then, I haven't been around for very long."
Quark shares that awkward smile, nodding at the given name. "Amara Aquilla it is. Nice to meet you." He tilts his head to one side and studies her again for a moment, as if pondering whether or not he actually has seen her before. "...Yeah, you're right. I don't think we've met before. At least, you don't look particularly familiar." He turns to the TV and yawns again, making conversation by asking, "So, what're you watching?"
Aquilla MIGHT'VE seen him around at Hank's little party some time ago, but she can't remember it. In any case she sits up a little more, looking toward the television as she's asked... "Just seeing what the news has to say is all. I suppose Leno or something will be on in a bit though."
Quark might've seen her there, too, but his rented Easter Bunny costume for Hank's pool party probably threw her off guard. "There have been a lot of political things on the news lately," he comments with a small frown. "All this crap about what humans should or shouldn't about mutants...the MRA...all that stuff. I hope stuff doesn't keep escalating like this, or things might start to get pretty ugly in the city." Another yawn, and he finds himself wondering why again it is that he's still awake. Oh, that's right--it's still summer, and he doesn't /have/ to go to bed. "I like late night TV. Leno sounds fine," he smiles.
Yeah, it's still summer, but Amara's well aware that Classes are just around the corner... For the moment she shows Quark the remote before gently tossing it his way, letting him change it if he'd like. She nods a little to what's said though. "Yeah... The thing is, there seems to be a bunch of mutants out there that are causing some trouble. It's kind of scary thinking about it. Still, not all of us are bad..."
Quark blinks and turns to Aquilla in time to see the remote coming, stretching a hand out to catch it. He glances over at the TV, channels flicking as it passes to some random late night talkshow. Because they're funny. He nods without turning back to her, a small grimace on his face at her comment. "I know," he replies quietly, the conversation topic contrasting the laughter and applause coming from the show. "Society has a tendency to use its minorities as a scapegoat, or so it would seem. I just wish more humans would understand the good some mutants are doing to try and keep the peace. The Brotherhood--" He scowls at the word, shaking his head. "--thinks they're going to win against humans, but all they're doing is making life for us worse."
Aquilla keeps her eyes on Quark for the moment and just allows herself to listen to what's said in silence, though she's brought to frowning. Brotherhood... She's heard about the Liberty Island incident as well as the prison break, but other than that, she's a bit unfamiliar with it all. "What are they, exactly.. Just some group of mutants? Terrorists?" Like the world doesn't have enough terrorism to worry about.
"Mutant terrorists, to be exact," he nods. "They're a bunch of mutants who operate under one group and are trying to gain mutant superiority by flexing their mutant powers through terrorist acts. Or so it would seem, based on the Liberty Island attack a while back. And the prison break not too long ago," Quark nods, the same incidents vividly running through his head--even though he wasn't present for either. He smiles slightly in spite of himself as Leno makes a particularly funny joke. "Not exactly a friendly group. Not to us, at least."
Aquilla nods.. "I can imagine." Human terrorists are scary enough. Mutant terrorists? Even scarier... She eyes Leno with a bit of a smirk. He's alright, but in her opinion Monty Python could still run circles around him. The chin, however is classic. "Must be tough for the police to deal with," she quietly adds...
Quark blinks and bites his lower lip, a worrisome thought passing through his mind. He replies aloud, turning to Aquilla with a deep frown. "The part that scares me the most is that I'm not sure any of us can imagine how true that might be." A small shiver passes through his spine before he squashes that emotion of fear, turning toward the light-hearted television show in hopes that it will calm his mind. "The cops have a hard enough time with /regular/ crooks. The Brotherhood is something else entirely. And it's not just them, either--there are lots of mutants in this city who're starting to act in similar ways. I wish more people would realize that violence isn't the only answer."
This conversation is quickly going down a bad road, and Amara certainly knows it... For a moment she settles back, slowly lifting a hand up, letting a couple of her fingers splay out.. With a little concentration, she manages to conjure heat up above her without directing it toward anything in particular, just enough to cause a wisp of flame to spark to life, at first taking a somewhat sphere-like shake, then roughly shifting into different shapes up above her while she stares. "Too many bad people thinking bad thoughts... People have reasons for doing what they do.. They just need to realize what you said.. Some people just don't want to understand, though.." Going from basic shapes, she focuses a little moreso, the flame above her starting to resemble something not so unlike a butterfly. It even 'flaps its wings'.
Quark nods and opens his mouth to reply, but blinks and smiles curiously in her direction at the display. Huh. Well, that's interesting. Offering a low, impressed whistle, he comments, "That looks really neat, Aquilla. I didn't know there was another pyromancer here." Although, with John gone now, there probably isn't. Hah. "How do you do that, anyway?"
Aquilla can't stop herself from smiling a little at the whistle, glad to see that the tricks are appreciated.. She looks over suddenly at Quark, blinking.. "There was someone else here that could do this?" She wants to ask more, but she suddenly seems to 'feel' the flame getting bigger, and sure enough it is. She has to turn her sights back on it and focus, letting it simmer back down until it becomes slightly bigger than a tennis ball, drifting down toward her hand. "Well, I haven't figured it all out, but whenever I see fire, if I concentrate enough I can control it. I'm not really sure why I'm able to create it. It's wierd though.. It's like I know how to, but don't know why..." She can't help but ask.. "So... Where did John go?"
Quark nods as he gazes over at Aquilla, replying, "John Allerdyce could control fire, as well. Well, he couldn't create it, but he could shape it and control it while it already existed." Although, inevitably, thinking of John brings the subject back to the Brotherhood. He frowns and glances back to the television, pausing for a moment before replying in an even tone, "John left the school. To join the Brotherhood, it would seem." He tries to hide his disappointed frown with a half-forced yawn, then stands up slowly from the couch with a stretch. "Huh...I'm a lot more tired than I thought I was," he comments aloud. Offering a small smile and a shrug, he carefully tosses the remote back to Aquilla. "All these long days and late nights are wearing me out."
Aquilla gasps lightly... Someone from this school went to join the terrorists?... That's awful! She's not able to hide the frown on her face, looking down at the little fireball in her hand, letting it begin to dissipate into a thin wisp of smoke, whatever lingers seeming to channel itself back into her palm... "I'm sorry to hear that.. She does half-smile at the rest of his commentary, trying to keep the subject that was brought up out of things now. "Well, classes will be starting, so we'll have an excuse to get to bed sooner, heh...
Quark manages a grin and a mock-laugh, replying, "Classes? Hah! I graduated, and I'm taking this semester off to help Dr. McCoy out with some things he's been meaning to do. School is the last thing on my mind." Another fierce yawn temporarily cuts off the conversation, and then he adds, "I'm sure you'll have a great time, though. I really did love going to this school, and I'm glad I can still be a part of it even though I've graduated. It really does become another home to you, after you've lived here long enough." He smiles and, fighting off another yawn, waves. "Anyway, I'm going to hit the sack for the night. Enjoy yourself. I'm sure we'll see each other again, Aquilla." And with that, he disappears in another sudden *bamf*, back to the quiet, restful atmosphere of his room.
Aquilla oh's.... "Well, I'm still taking them, so I guess it applies for me... Uh, see you later -" Whoa, he's gone! ".... Quark."
A short scene with Aquilla, as I began to realize I was more tired than I had first though. Oh well! It was still an enjoyable scene. Quark and Aquilla have some small talk, and watch Leno.