Rummy grinned as he finished tucking his red dress shirt into his tailored black slacks. aligning, his gig line perfectly. Folding his collar down; and tied his skinny black tie in to a loose Windsor. Indeed he was a handsome devil, he couldn't help but admire himself as he combed his hair back; grabbing the matching black blazer he checked himself once more.



Walking out of the mall fitting room, Rummy presented all the tags and security devices he had removed while inside. The last thing he wanted was to be considered a petty thief. That would be insulting.



"If you could just ring these up please I' greatly appreciate it. Oh and keep the change." Dropping just short of eight hundred dollars to cover the four hundred dollar total; before exiting the store. The young cashier attempted to wave him back during the transaction, but his stride remained unbroken. He needed no receipt or bag therefore her service as no longer required. He exited the story melding with the other patrons going about their shopping. It was Monday evening so the wasn't really a crowd, one could actually more through the aisles without having to bump or "excuse yourself" while passing someone. Not that Rummy had an issue with getting space, a Red man in and black and red suit; plus a tail? Yeah, most people keep their distance; whether out of fear or religious belief his appearance usually got him stares and distance. But this never bothered him, in his eyes it was respect of what h could possibly do...and considering what he was capable of they were right to stay away. Before long he had reached the mall exit.



The thunder roared loudly but luckily the worst of the storm had seemed to pass, most likely while he was shopping. Two flashes of lighting followed seconds later giving Rummy confirmation he was correct. The heavy downpour that had plagued the city, exhausted to nothing more than a steady drizzle. The enjoyment of a summer rain was definitely one of life's small pleasures; one that Rummy enjoys deeply. His time in New York so far has been eventful to say the least. In his few days in town he had been able to procure cash, weapons, and obtain large amounts of "bio-fuel". This city was becoming more to his liking but there was one key factor he needed to investigate. Something that any handsome, wealthy man would concern himself with. The night life and yes he was well aware it was Monday, but in the city that never sleeps there was bound to be something happening, right?



Flagging a taxi it was off to the nearest bar.

[OOC: Feel free to start at said bar, or not. ]

Torrential downpour had cornered Lori into a bar.

Yeah. That was totally it.

Part of it was also nostalgia. The day she had decided to stop pretending she wasn't a mutant she went to bar like this one, intent on raising hell.

Lori sat back on her bar stool and crossed her legs at the knee. After a long day of work, it was nice to kick back with a beer. Funny, how much some things changed while other things never did.

She spent her days dressed to the nines now and having taken shelter from the storm after she'd had a long day of meetings meant she didn't quite fit in with the usual bar crowd.

Sure some girls were dressed up, but no one exuded richness quite like Lori.

She was striking in a sleeved white shift dress that was almost too short, diamonds in her ears, and her hair twisted up to expose her elegant neck. The elemental had the confidence that came with personal power and control and it was that confidence that kept empty chairs on her either side. Not that she minded. She was here to relax, not make new friends.

Relaxing also meant this little bar hadn't been struck with a suspicious amount of lightning.

It had been nearly and hour since Rummy began his journey, and so far he felt as though he had visited every low-bottom, hole in the wall this side of the city. His driver, a man with an accent thicker than tar, continued to deliver empty promises.



"Na 'orries friend... I fine yuh goo' bar no prob. Mos beautiful gyals in da city I promiss.."



Rummy nearly nodded as he frustrations continued to grow, while making a mental note to kill said drier should he fail once more. Though as the car pulled up curbside, Rummy had to admit it the outside, looked far more appealing then their previous stops. "You know the drill, if I'm not back in seven minutes leave..." He reminded the drive before slipping him two hundred dollar bills.



The brightly lite sign read "Ramone's", with a little martini glass in the corner. 'Cute' Rummy though as he adjusted his tie and blazer before making his way through the double glass doors. It was the nicest place he'd been in but far from the worst. Now don't get the wrong idea the place was nice, black leather seats at the booths with tinted privacy glass, stools with gold running along the trim and edges. Alternating black and white marble floors polished just enough to reflect the lighting above. Definitely a "after work drink spot".



Rummy proceeded to make his way further into the establishment, his eyes cautiously scanning over everyone he passed. Noticing that most of the patrons still seemed to be in their work clothes. Plain and mundane suits and, pencil skirts lined the bar, most seeming like they dreaded going home. If nothing else was certain, he was the best dressed guy here.



Then he settled on her. If he was best looking guy, she was definately his equal if not more so, sure she was lovely, hell maybe even boderline beautiful...but something else about her had captured his attention. He eyes her studiously, as a predator would do with prey, mentally taking notes. 'Blonde, toned legs getting clues to her physique, posture a sign of elegance. And diamonds. Definitely a woman of power and taste. And although this place was nice she was out of place amongst the fodder. Or more likely his infatuation was giving her more credit than she deserved.



Taking up a stool two down from her her turned to face her direction. A charming yet sinister smile resting on his face. "Tell me why do you intrigue me so, and what are you drinking?"

Lori turned, fully intent on telling a guy off for his cheesy pick up line, but... it was Mars. She'd gotten as far as parting her red painted lips when her eyes roamed around his face and then figure.

No. Not Mars. Another devil.

One glance at the way he looked at her and Lori knew exactly what he was. A lethal habit, she thought. The accelerator on a race car. Jumping out the window on a clear day. The best possible rush with the worst possible consequences.

"Because I'm a walking, talking billboard for deliciously irresponsible behavior." A curious expression crossed Lori's face. She didn't quite trust her reaction to this man because of how he looked. And, not for the normal reasons girls would usually plea to a red-skinned mutant. Would he believe that he was a dead ringer for her ex? Yeah. Probably not.

She chugged the dregs of her beer so he could buy her another. "Dale's Pale Ale." Which was not a terribly classy drink, but she wasn't feeling terribly classy at the moment.

Thunder rumbled distantly.

Her response had caught Rummy off guard, although he would show no signs of it. After all he was an experienced liar, but has was very impressed with her banter. Most woman became less attractive when they opened their mouth, this woman was obviously not one of them.


"Sounds deliciously, entertaining. You mind?" Grinning as he reached across grabbing her glass, lifting it to his nose he sniffed lightly. "No, no, my dear this will simply not do.." He signaled the tender and order two Diablo Mojitos and fireball shots.



Rummy's eyes would then divert from her to one of the televisions posted round the bar. A news teaser temporarily interrupting whatever was playing before. "Excuse me can you turn that up?" He would address the tender, the screen displaying a transit bus and a blurry black and white photo of a man in a hood and jeans. The display was crap at best and hardly offer no real detail. But Rummy knew and the grin morphed to a smile seeing his work on display.



"...authorities believe this man could be responsible for those fifth-teen passengers hospitalized. MRC detectives are asking for anyone with information to step please forward..."



Returning his attention back to her he continued to smile.



"I just hope you as irresponsible as advertised." As if on cue the tender returned with their drinks, two glasses for each of them. Rummy would then pour the cinnamon whiskey shots into their respective glasses, stirring gently, sliding the glass back to her.

He snubbed her drink. "Some people just don't appreciate the simple things." She lamented.

Lori wasn't offended. She didn't come in here to get drunk, just to pass the time. This fellow, on the other hand...

She watched him as he zeroed in on the news. Was that a hint of pride she detected in his rapt attention and posture? He was either proud or covering, she decided. That put him involved, if only tangentially. Curiouser and curiouser.

Tequila rather than rum in this one, she'd seen the bartender put the bottles away. And, of course, cinnamon whisky. She could handle that much alcohol. There was no accounting for the taste, though. "Really pounding in that theme aren't you?" Lori teased him even as she accepted her glass with a bar napkin in hand. It wouldn't do to have the condensation ruin their cordial conversation.

She sipped lightly at first. It was heady with the spice and blackcurrant together, but she liked it and let that show on her face and in her eyes. "This one's new to me." Which was impressive considering it hadn't been too many years ago that she'd been the one behind the bar serving drinks.

"You got a name, stranger?"

Her appreciation of his drink of choice pleased him. She indeed grew more and more impressive. Part of him could only hope the night wouldn't end with her blood on his hands. Though the thought did intrigue him.



"Quite the opposite, I've come from meager and humble beginnings." He lean in closer as he started to speak. "Now, the touch of another person, the feeling of a summer day on your skin. Those are simple things, beer is for peons. Far below our level of sophistication." Hinting at her earrings and attire, before withdrawing back to his original position.



Raising his glass to his hips he would take a more than eager sip. Grinning as the amber liquid burned its way down his throat. "And as for the "theme" as you call it. Everyone appreciate a good gimmick. Makes us memorable." Resting his glass on the bar top he would extend a red hand.



"Rummy. And you are?"

Physical touch seemed high on his priority list, she noted, since he'd invoked the imagery twice now. But those images appealed to her as well. She was no pale maiden to be locked away in a tower, or a board room. She was a woman of summer and all things hot even if she preferred the temperatures of fall.

"Are popsicles too cheap? Snoballs? Don't tell me a Snoball's got no chance. It'd cheapens the authenticity." Just a little devil humor. She had a million of 'em.

Lori slanted her gaze at the man, this Rummy, rather than facing him full on. Rummy didn't sound like a name, but beyond a reference to the alcohol, she couldn't peg a meaning to the word. "But if you're going for memorable, sure. I could see that."

Savoring every swallow, Lori rolled the liquid in her mouth before drinking it down. She treated the experience like it might have been a fine brandy rather than Fireball and Tequila mixer.

"Eloise." Sounded fancy and once familiarized down to Elly, wasn't a far cry from an endearment one might use for Lori. While it might have been a long time since she'd used a pseudonym, Eloise's delivery was spot-on without any hesitation.

Eloise. It was a bit of a spur of the moment decision, but she rather liked it.

"Please tell me your real name's Ramiel." Thunder shook the windows of the bar along with her smile. Wouldn't that just be perfect? The angel of thunder, come to collect?

"Are popsicles too cheap? Snoballs? Don't tell me a Snoball's got no chance. It'd cheapens the authenticity."



Her denial at his gesture was disappointing to say the least, and his face stiffened slightly as his hand withdrew. Replacing itself on his glass. "I'm more of an ice cream and snow cone guy myself although; a little playful aggression is never a bad thing." Tossing a wink in her direction before finishing off his glass. His eyes watching her closely. 'She isn't going to be the easiest of prey.' Rummy though to himself. The more they spoke one thing was becoming clear. This wasn't your average rich, blonde bunny.

She was engaging, yet cautious. And dare we say, unmoved by his charm? I mean who turns down a hand shake?



"And of course I'm going for memorable..." He would motion, for another round with his hand as he spoke. His words filled with confidence, and passion. "...wouldn't you? Or be lost in the subconscious or your peers and history as an afterthought? No my dear Eloise. Since my arrival here I feel great thing are in my future. After all so far I've found you."

Smiling in her direction, he would begin stirring their new glasses. "Close, my full name is Romell. I prefer Rummy, has a certain edge to it don't you agree?" The sound of thunder caused Rummy to pause. "Seems we might be in for more rain.."

His disappointment amused her. She didn't go around touching known mutants. Not with the things she knew. Not until they'd earned it first. Just because he had the face of a devil didn't mean that was his only genetic aberration. She'd been trying to crack the what and why of the x-gene for a couple years now. Well, her team was the squirrel with that nut. She just told them where to dig.

Eloise touched her neck, an unconscious gesture. "I'm not worried about the history books." If she could achieve what she wanted then her work, if not her name, would be immortalized. The work was more important. She wasn't in this for the fame. In fact, "I prefer to work behind the scenes."

She had about two fingers left in her glass when Rummy started mixing their next. Lori was too busy dissecting his words to worry about the speed with which she'd downed the first. He must've been new to New York. She could think of a few reasons why he wasn't a seasoned veteran of the mutant population already.

Hn. Romell. She studied his features without the lens of his skin color to try and weigh his potential genetic origins. Full lips? Wide nose? Occipital sloping? Was she staring now? Hm.

"Rummy is a card game. Not really all that edgy." She teased as she finally put together where she'd herd that word before. "C'mon. Does Elly sound edgy? Or childish?" Better to know now before she suggested it for real.

Lori groaned at the continued thunderstorm and slid her empty glass toward the tender as he passed with other empties. "Ugh. I wish it would let up already." She wasn't dressed, for one. The thunder really raked on her nerves also. Though, the more she drank, the less control she'd have. And that would be bad. Really bad.

Hmm. Choices, choices.

"You really know how to kill a man's cool. you know that?" He would joke, glaring at the useless stools between them.

"Behind the scenes, not concerned with history? Surely there is something you wish to leave behind as a legacy. A life without purpose is no life at all." Rummy stated confidently, his tail would uncoil itself from around his waist, (its been stepped on to many times) before snaking forward removing the stools between them, placing them to the side. Scooting himself closer, as he felt her eyes study him. His mind shifted to old cartoons of snakes hypnotizing prey, but was he still the cobra? Pulling himself from his thoughts he forced a playful smile. He was at a disadvantage...

"And a name is merely a surface of a person. We know each other's name, but know nothing of one another." Hinting at the coy nature of their conversation. " Which raises the question, what do you do? I mean elegance isn't cheap. Or are you the take what you like type?"

The bar's crowd had shifted to a more relaxed and comfortable group, rather than the unwinding working stiffs that had previously occupied the area. Raising his refreshed glass, he would take a another generous swallow. "So tell me, is being beautiful your only ability? Or do come with more "unique" talents? Maybe a little show me yours and I'll show you mine?" As if on cue, his words would be followed with a loud crash of thunder, shaking the very structure. 'The storm was on top of us now' Rummy thought, lifting the now less-than half full glass.


"And I though the worst of it had passed. Don't you enjoy the rain?"
Mocking her obvious annoyance.

Well, other people may enjoy it, but Danny hated the goddamn rain.

He'd been wandering, really, growly over the fact that he'd been shot in an alley during one of New York's many lovely muggings, and while his attacker had to have been injured somewhat in the blast, the rain had almost immediately extinguished any fire, leaving Danny soaked on the vaguely scorched ground and his attacker, sadly, intact. While he knew on a logical level that the best course of action would be to return home because nothing make conversation awkward like having to conceal a rather obvious spatter of three bullet holes and ominous copper stains in his clothing, yet possessing no visible wound, but it was pouring and he'd rather wait the storm out than endure it and return home. Which was why, as soon as he found the not entirely sleazy looking bar - Ramone's - he dodged inside, swiftly slipping into the nearest booth.

A woman materialized almost instantly, scanning him down rather disapprovingly before asking if he was there to get a drink or to scare off patrons. Danny glared at her, almost offended, but he really couldn't blame her - his shirt was a light blue, after all, making the bloodstains disturbingly visible, and he so he wrapped his coat a little tighter around himself - even though three neat holes peppered the back of the jacket - and asked politely for a Coke. He didn't want the extra scrutiny that came with getting carded at the moment, so he settled for a non-alcoholic drink, glancing around the bar as she swept off.

Immediately, a couple sitting at the bar caught his attention - a man and a woman, both clearly dressed up much more than the rest of the occupants of the bar. The woman's outfit exuded wealth and seemed tailored to make every woman within a mile radius seethe with jealousy, while the man's - though clearly expensive and quite nice - did only so much to distract from his obvious mutation. Danny peered at him, trying to discern whether or not he knew the man, but his physical mutation, while distinctive, was actually relatively common, and so Danny immediately gave up. The two almost seemed to be dancing around one another - flirting, sure, but the woman seemed distant all at the same time.

A loud peal of thunder shook Danny out of his reverie, and he jerked his gaze away in time to see the woman returning with his drink.

"Thank you," he said, never one to be rude, even as the woman glared once again at his bloodstained shirt and left. With her departure, he focused in on the couple again, finding something inexplicably fascinating about the dynamics of the two.

> "You really know how to kill a man's cool. you know that?"

Eloise laughed, an unexpected sort of bark of a laugh that was unmistakably real. She put her hand over her mouth to cover her smile. "I may have heard something like that before." An uncanny talent, that. Useful in all kinds of situations.


"Not every purpose is flashy, Rummy." She leveled an eye at the man as he eased closer, a nonverbal warning in her tone. But he went fishing anyway.

"I work in the medical field." She spoke dismissively about her job. Lori didn't want Rummy walking outside to put her face and pharmaceuticals together with a name other than the one she'd given him. That was the problem with lies. Just one could spawn a few more.

The blonde visibly cringed when thunder crashed again. She had a dirty look to spare for whoever had opened the door, but she wasn't really looking back there. Her attention was on the man next to her.

"Would you be so brazen if you were as soft and pink as rest of...?" He'd gotten close enough now. Lori could feel the buzz. She could also feel... something else.

The next peal of thunder was so loud, the building rattled in its windows. Eloise paused with her hand hovering between herself and Rummy, her eyes squeezed shut tight and her mouth a hard line to keep herself from whispering some choice words.

"I do not like it at ground level. I do not like it with a devil. I do not like it Romell, my man. I do not like green eggs and ham." She muddled out a smile and took a swig. So not helping, but at this point her nerves were shot.

[OOC: Let me know if you want anything changed]

Thunder, the chink in her armor, Rummy noted taking another swig from of his drink as Eloise struggled to retain her facade. Her answers were general and lacked the prideful detail most people give abut themselves or profession. The deeper he dug, the more she deflected. Rummy grew up around people who made a living of lies and cons. He was well aware he was being toyed with, he didn't seem to care though. The exchange was entertaining, the company attractive, her wit even paralleled his own if not exceeding it; although Rummy would never admit it, not to mention he was drawn to her.

Yes, that subconscious urge that grew the closer he moved to her. Not lust, or simple infatuation. No, this was something deeper almost magnetic. A hunger, since the moment he entered the bar he could feel it, a controllable yet, annoyingly compelling urge to feel her energy run through him.

Indeed, the force was strong with this one.

"Would you be so brazen if you were as soft and pink as rest of...?" She started, pausing her hand inches from his chest. The hunger rising, growing, he pressure like a weight on his chest.

He could see her lips moving, but he words were meaningless; falling on deaf ears, drowned out by the overwhelming sensation of her proximity. Nothing else was relevant at this point, he had to have this feeling... he needed more. Instinctively his right hand would more from his glass to her's, swallowing it up in his grasp. There was a slight arc display, flashes of red, blue, white bolts of energy cackled and hummed at their union. His hold growing tighter, the feeling was exotic, euphoric...addictive.
And he hadn't even started to drain her yet.

The thunder continued it, sonic barrage. The familiar sound of lighting crashing not seconds after.

((OOC: talked with Danny. He'd like to wait until after my response to go so we're shuffling the order a bit. Hope you don't mind, Rummy!))

He touched her.

If Lori had to describe her power, she would say it was like a fist that she kept tightly closed on the inside of her chest. If she let her grip loosen, power leaked through the fingers of that fist and out of her skin.

When Rummy touched her, her power responded.

This wasn't like water or other things that made her grip slip. Her power simply... opened. It was marvelous and entirely terrifying all at once.

Outside, the lightning strikes became so frequent that it no longer looked like the sun had set. Thunder rolled at a continuous low level, building toward a crescendo. Inside, the lights began to flicker bright, bright, and brighter before bulbs started bursting, echoing the now deafening roar of thunder claps. Glass sprinkled around and all the lights from the bar dimmed in a (not-unheard of for New York) power outage.

Seeing the lights go out was enough to break the spell for Lori. Bar-goers squealed from the thrill of the experience, but Lori simply yanked her hand back from Rummy.

"I have to—" The elemental stood, knocking her bar stool over behind her, and slapped her hand over her mouth where little arcs of electricity were jumping between her cheeks, teeth, and tongue. In an otherwise pitch-black room, a glowing mouth was terribly conspicuous.

The eyes. The eyes would be next. Lori made a mad dash for the door, completely forgetting that there were other tables between her and it. She clattered directly into an occupied chair, touching the patron and eliciting a hair-raising scream. The chair's occupant curled in on themselves, seizing.

After that it was chaos. The atmosphere changed from one of casual tension to actual panic. At least now Lori wasn't the only one.

Rather than trying to get through all the hubub around the door, Lori tucked herself into a nearby booth. She covered her ears and closed her eyes. This was too much like being a kid again. Locked in the back room of the trailer. TV blaring full blast to drowned out the arguing and the thunder both.