It was sad to say but River was being a bit of a pain in the ass the last couple of days. Unfortunately her audition for Harpist II didn’t go as well as she thought that it had. Agnes could remember when her fiancée came home after the audition, she was so sure that she had done well that there was practically a song on her lips. The second she passed through the threshold of their apartment, the young woman had taken Agnes up in her arms and proceeded to lead her into a an elegant ballroom dance around the room, toting how happy that she felt. The feeling was quite infectious and reminded the insect queen what it was that had attracted her to the young Sioux to begin with. Her smile and her adventurous behavior had been a big draw for Agnes; it was nice to see that rekindled again.

Sadly the good feelings wouldn’t last. About two days ago Agnes witnessed the good nature and sweet disposition of her fiancée vanish from her face. She could almost remember the exact moment that she saw the heartbreak tear through her lover’s chest: she didn’t get the job. She had been so sure, so ready to finally be able to contribute to their life together. Of course Agnes never accused of her not contributing, as it was more a personal notion that River felt she needed to uphold.

Of course Agnes was there for her fiancée and tried to be the voice of reason. She held her close, she squeezed her, she kissed her, and while there were small breaks in River’s demeanor, it was clear that it wouldn’t be enough. In the days that followed River moped and frumped about, feeling as much like a failure as she could convince herself that she was. It was heartbreaking to watch but try as she might, she couldn’t get through to her. And then she did it – River crossed a line.

The argument had started simply enough. The both of them trying to prepare for dinner when River started to get annoyed because Agnes was taking calls from work. The orchestra had a last minute change in program and were trying to pass the news along to the rest of the members. As she jotted down notes and expressed her surprise at what had occurred, it was clear that River was great displeased. Whenever the two would lock eyes, River would eye her a bit distastefully before rolling her eyes. So tragic and so hard to combat.

The shouting match that followed was a harsh one that ended with River storming out the front door and saying something along the lines of that they should have stayed with the traveling orchestra because then at least the both of them could be happy. Oh it was a harsh sting. Agnes turned off he stoe top and her burning dinner and just slipped back into her bedroom to have a good cry. While there she eyed her phone. Rebecca was surely up. Maybe she could talk her through this? However, even before she could think about it her phone “PING’D” with a text message.

Agnes wasn’t really sure if she wanted it to be Rebecca but there was a small sense of relief when she saw that it wasn’t. It was another woman, a flutist by the name of Allyson. She was texting randomly to see if Agnes wanted to go out to a nightclub. Agnes resisted at first. The flutist was a good friend and knew that the violinist was a mutant. She explained that she had just recently molted into her latest,, and least attractive form, the carapace. During this time would have a hardened layer of armor-like skin raised in ridges along her body. And iridescent, almost greenish hue was now attached to her skin and could be quite eye-catching if someone saw her in the right light. However, Allyson assured her that where they were going, it wouldn’t be an issue.

Agnes really didn’t want to spend the evening alone, assuming it would be hours before River would cool down enough to feel comfortable returning. What was one dark night where she looked partially like an insect? Wasn’t as if anyone was really going to notice her; this was New York.

---

It was strange being out in some of her best. She was dressed comfortably in a sequin, amber-colored dressed that was low cut and with a half skirt that revealed much of her upper thigh. She only wore this dress out when she was trying to keep her sweet River impressed but right now she was willing to bend a rule or two. Tonight wasn’t about River but it was about her trying to feel good about herself again, even with her mutation. So though her skin was partially hardened, her amber dress still hugged her curves perfectly. Allyson had commented that she didn’t even see her carapace and thought that Agnes was stunning.

The club was called Chrysalis and, apparently, was a growing hangout for the mutant community. Agnes was happy that Allyson had chosen such a place because it meant that she didn’t have to worry too much about being singled out. They were let in right away and Agnes found herself at the bar, chuckling as her friend danced with another woman who could light her hair on fire at will. Agnes shook her head, whistling and cheering on her friend as she turned back around to the bartender:

”Another Wildflower Honey Punch, please,” Agnes beamed sweetly. She turned to grab her purse, little realizing that in her rapid turn she had accidentally nudged into another individual walking by. She squeaked in surprise as she looked up at them. ”Oh! Pardon! Deepest apologies! Are you okay?”

Weekend nights were rough to work, particularly when Jack had a shift at Xavier's just prior to showing-up at Chrysalis. Jack went from corraling kids to corraling drunkards. She also went from well-kempt street clothes to the club uniform, which entailed a bottom-up shirt and tie, a semi-fitted vest and black slacks. The black surgical mask to conceal her grisly mouthparts were an addition of her own. Altough these formal, masculine clothes accentuated her figure, the prawn didn't exactly look forward to dawning them. She wasn't looking forward to this night as a whole, as a matter of fact. Jack also wouldn't call-out unless she was on her deathbed, however, so here she was suffering in silence.

Jack was returning from chaperoning a particluarly blitzed young man out of the nightclub, and making her return to the shadowy perimeter of the room, when a young woman unthinkingly moved back, and elbowed the prawn. It was a dull sensation, thanks to Jack's carapace, but she felt the faint thud, and heard the young woman's apology.

>> "Oh! Pardon! Deepest apologies! Are you okay?”

It was directed at her. The prawn turned, raising a dismissive hand. She closed her eyes, in her sembleance of a smile, and said, "Yuh. I'n nade uzz radder sturdy stu-ss. You okay?"

The prawn turned her gaze to the apologetic young woman, and was greeted with a strange sight and awesome sight. For starters, the reflective emerald sheen of her skin was dazzling in the low light. The neon pinks and purples of Chrysalis's ambient lights refracted off of her carapace. There were occasional hard ridges at the seams in her armor. Someone like her.

And yet... someone unlike her. The young woman had an attractive, definitely female face and physique, and a whole head of hair. No antennae. She was beautiful. Jack realized, a little too late, that she had lingered for a moment too long, and was (for lack of a better word) staring the young patron down.

" 'scuse nee," Jack rumbled, abashedly retreating to her station at the edge of the floor. She didn't even await a response. It wasn't as though there were anything carnal behind her prolonged stare. It just wasn't everyday that the prawn came across someone like her-- however unalike this fellow mutant was.

It wasn't fair. The prawn pressed her back to the wall, now at the edge of the room, and leveled a gaze at the young woman from afar. Absolutely stunning. Ugh.

She felt bad now. She knew that it was just an accident, but still, she should have been more careful. Agnes normally was very aware of her surroundings but her need to get out of the rough space that she and River were in, the young woman was notably a little distracted. Of course the music was fun and her friends were having a grand time on the dancefloor, but Agnes herself grumbled as she tried to not think about her home situation. She loved River, but lately her mood swings had just been exhausting. If it weren’t for obvious reasons, she’d wonder if her fiancée was pregnant. However, none of that was an excuse to not mind herself.

Agnes squeaked, feeling her elbow dig into someone who was behind her, however they were extremely sturdy, almost surprisingly so. Curiosity and an apology turned her gaze to the individual whom she had assaulted – and she was more than surprised. The individual there was unlike any she had ever seen. They seemed both insectoid and somehow crustacean, dressed in a loose clothing over their massive frame, with a mask covering their face. Anyone would have been terrified by the appearance but Agnes wasn’t. When you spend your life around insects (the epitome of terrifying for most people), you learn to not become so easily startled.

Thankfully it seemed as if she hadn’t hurt the mutant too bad, as she was assured (through a rather tough accent) that they were made of sturdy stuff and could take it. The question as to her own well-being was tossed back to her and Agnes nodded, her green carapace bouncing a rainbow of light off her rigid surface. She too was made of some heartier stuff so she felt little in the way of pain or discomfort from the encounter.

She offered the other a kind smile as she assured that she was fine, but was puzzled when the other stared at her for such a long time. Agnes blinked, looking closely at the other, then turned and looked behind her to see if there was something going on in the back but when she saw it was nothing, looked back to see that the other was startled from staring. The mutant excused themselves as they slipped away and headed for a more secluded part of the club, remaining in the shadows and somehow avoiding the rays of neon lights that swept across the room. However, even in the darkness, Agnes couldn’t help but catch those gazes thrown in her direction – she wondered what was going on with that.

A glance out of the dancefloor showed that her friend was still dancing up a storm so there was no way she was going to interrupt that. Feeling a bit of boldness take over her, the young insect queen slipped off of her stool, firmly clasped her purse, and smoothed out her amber sequin dress before making her way over to the lonely individual. Her Wildflower Honey Punch still in hand, Agnes took a sip as she casually made her way over, until she was standing next to the rainbow-skinned mutant.

Another kind smile was offered to them as she stood there, by their side, waiting until they made eye contact with her again. When they did, Agnes smiled a bit more warmly. ”I know you see me,” she teased. As if on cue, a passing ray of light lit up the reflective carapace that protected her cheek. ”Kind of hard not to.” Idly she took another sip of her drink before she caught the mutant’s eye again. ”Are you sure you’re okay? I only ask because, well, you were staring at me. I really didn’t mean to hurt you, if I did.”

Jacks' shoulders stiffened when the young woman locked eyes with the prawn once again, her gaze cutting sideways abashedly. The prawn's gut roiled with one part jealousy and one part awe and admiration. Oh sh-t, she was getting up. An anxious glance was cast the other direction. The young woman took a moment to adjust her dress, and then-- oh, f-ck, here she comes-- drink and all.

Jack kept looking at the dancefloor, reassuring herself that the patron couldn't possibly be walking towards her. She had to be going to the bathroom! Yeah, the bathroom! Everyone does that. But the young woman closed-in on her. There she was, right in Jack's bubble. The prawn looked down at the young patron, whose smile widened at the acknowledgement. The prawn’s gaze darted away again.

>> ”I know you see me.”

Antennae flattened, the prawn ground her mandibles wordlessly from behind the surgical mask.

>> ”Kind of hard not to. Are you sure you’re okay? I only ask because, well, you were staring at me. I really didn’t mean to hurt you, if I did.”

"I, uh," the prawn blanched. Her nervous tic of grinding her mandibles together persisted momentarily until she quieted herself, in order to finish her train of thought. Sure, Jack was gigantic, but being put on the spot like this made her feel very small.

"D-didn't nean to," Jack said apologetically, "Just don't see a lot uzz nyu-tants like nee around. And I see a lot uzz nyu-tants.” The prawn tapped her nametag, which clicked against her armored fingertip. Her lavender eyes found their way back to the young woman.

“Caught nee oss guard,” the prawn continued, “Your shell is really...” beautiful? Mesmerizing? Dazzling? “Re-slective.” Yup, that’s the word she went for. Reflective. Whereas Jack’s shell was shiny like the hood of car, the patron’s carapace was reflective like tinted mirror.

Agnes didn’t want to make the mutant uncomfortable, but at the same time, if she had hurt them, she didn’t want that to be the last impression of her that they get. Besides, in her carapace form, unfortunately she didn’t always know her own strength. What would have just been a simple tap to her, would have seriously injured someone else. Thankfully it seemed that this mutant’s carapace was thick and rigid like her own, meaning that it was probably barely felt. Still, it wouldn’t do her any good unless she tried to check on them.

Once she had first caught the mutant’s attention, she had to smile a little when she saw the antennae droop; that was adorable. Once she was sure that they were in her line of sight and wouldn’t be escaping, she spoke up, merely clarifying that she wanted to really make sure that they were okay since they had been staring at her so much. This seemed to make the mutant nervous as a strange clicking sound could be heard grinding beneath the surgical mask. Only after a weakened “Uhh” did they finally explain.

Apparently they weren’t used to seeing a mutant like themselves, even though a lot of mutants come through these doors. After first Agnes had just assumed they were a regular, but the nametag on the clothing seemed to indicate that they worked here. Jack, she thought to herself; a nice name for a nice person (so far). Lavender-shaded eyes drifted back to Agnes as Jack simply stated that they were caught off-guard.

Agnes could understand that. Mutants were starting to grow in numbers throughout the world but powers and abilities were so varied that it was not entirely common to run into someone who could do the same thing you could. For Agnes, she had rarely, if ever, met another insect-themed mutant. Maybe once or twice in her lifetime, but other than that every encountered turned out to be a surprise to her. Even right now she had to admit that she was surprised to see someone who looked like her too, though there were some clear differences.

This was one of Agnes least favorite forms. The thick carapace made her heavier than she wanted to be and a bit more stiff to move around. On the surface it could be quite beautiful, but everyday life was extremely difficult. She was lucky she could still play the violin, but she had gone through a few of them before she managed to hone her skills. Still, for as tough as it could be, it was clear that she was blessed with some remaining femininity to her frame, only marginally affecting her face with a thick ridge across the forehead and cheeks like a gladiator’s helmet, as well as maintain a head full of hair. Others weren’t as lucky.

Taking a sip from her drink, she smiled sweetly to Jack as her carapace was complimented. Jack said it was reflective, which was true, so the violinist took that as the compliment she was sure it was meant to be. With a nod, her eyes drifted over the rainbow-colored carapace of her fellow mutant and felt that such compliment should have been returned in kind.

”Same to you, Jack,” she said, her breath tinged with the scent of sweet honey. ”I love the rainbow colors. Absolutely beautiful.” She paused and suddenly remembered that she knew their name, but they didn’t know her own. So, holding her drink down by her hip, Agnes lifted her free hand towards the mutant and waited for them to shake. ”My name’s Agnes and its lovely to meet you, Jack.” She nodded in a way to show that there was no arguing that this was pleasurable for her, despite whatever protests the prawn may have. ”So you work here?” she confirmed, glancing to the nametag. ”DJ? Bartender, maybe? Or just a professional flatterer?”

>> ”Same to you, Jack. I love the rainbow colors. Absolutely beautiful.”

The prawn stiffened, gaze cutting sideways towards the crowded floor. Getting hit-on by patrons was an entirely different experience when they were very obviously sloshed and very obviously joking. The sort of indescriminate proclamations that often found their way towards unsuspecting staff were easy to brush-off without much of a second though. Jack could endure such impersonal trifles all night long. It was the personal, softspoken compliments that the prawn couldn't handle. A hot flush ran down Jack's neck, and in that moment she was grateful that her carapace would hide the blush from view.

"Shanks," the prawn grunted, "Dey're dee, uh, a'solute worst sore uh... not standing out."

That and being seven feet tall-- also not conducive to trying to blend in.

>> ”My name’s Agnes and its lovely to meet you, Jack.”

Jack's heart stammered in her chest, and an involuntary chirr began to rise in her throat. Nerves, probably.

"N-nice to neet you," the prawn trilled. She extended one of her massive hands and gingerly clasped Agnes's hand in her own, exchanging a careful handshake. The chirr in Jack's throat persisted.

>> ”So you work here? DJ? Bartender, maybe? Or just a professional flatterer?”

Sure, Jack still envied Agnes, but the sentiment was quickly fading as the prawn found herself more and more endeared with the young woman. Agnes certainly was attractive, but she was also kind. She was also making Jack's head hum, though perhaps that was the anxious trilling that was filling the prawn's throat.

"Security," the prawn reported simply. A DJ would be in the box, and a bartender at the bar. Wasn't that obvious? Belatedly, the prawn realized that Agnes might have been teasing her. Her gaze meandered back, "'ut dey only usually call on nee 'en dey need to haul sun-one out."

Plot twist, Jack was the muscle.

"'ut do you do sore a lizz-ing?" the prawn returned the question, tilting her head. It was always interesting to hear what clubgoers did during daylight hours. Sometimes it was an absolutely unexpected surprise.

Agnes didn’t know why but she found herself now bonded to this rainbow-colored mutant who had spoken to her at the bar. The mutant was nice, though she wished it was easily to decipher a gender from it so she knew how to identify when speaking to them. But it would have been rude to ask so it was safer just to keeps comments about it at the minimal until somehow the information slipped out. In the meantime, thee mutant gave her someone to talk to, a distraction that Agnes could more than appreciate at the moment.

After she paid a sweet compliment about her carapace, not one of the violinist’s favorite forms, she returned the favor in earnest. The shimmering array of colors that bounced with the light off of the mutant’s shell was absolutely gorgeous in her eyes. However, she could imagine how it could be overlooked by other people, those intimidated by the size and scale of the creature next to her. This point the mutant seemed to know well as they imparted the fact that it made it difficult to blend in with everyone else. She gave her a small, sad but understanding smile.

Agnes introduced herself after this, offering her hand and a sweet smile to the mutant. The sound that emitted from the them was…interesting to say the least. At first Agnes wasn’t sure it was coming from them at all, she figured it was just a strange part of the song that echoed all around them. However the sound was too low and seemingly coming from someplace nearby there. She could only surmise that it was a pleasant sound as the mutant didn’t seem all together irritated with Agnes’ presence; that was good to say the least.

They greeted her in response and stated that it was nice to meet her too. That brought a warmer grin to the young mutant’s lips as they stretched into a grin. The pair of them shook hands, gently, before Jack retracted her grip and nestled both hands back into the pockets of her hoodie. So far so good, Agnes hadn’t managed to offend or scare her off. Maybe she would have a friend for the rest of the evening – so why not strike up some conversation?

Turning to face the dance floor, Agnes smirked as she watched her friend wilding dancing with her mutant partner with the flaming hair and just snickered a little bit. Her friend was usually so reserved but whenever they went out like this, she definitely liked to party it up. Once she was sure she was still safe, Agnes turned back to her new friend Jack and inquired as to their job. Of course she teased, just a little bit, but she definitely wanted to know.

The mutant seemed taken aback by her question and thought for a moment before they responded: security. That was too obvious an answer, one that Agnes would have eventually realized as it made the most sense. The mutant explained, however, that they were only around until someone needed to be hauled out of the club; that was good to know. In Agnes’ experience, you always make friends with security at venues like this.

”Well I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job,” Agnes beamed. ”No one should want to mess with you.” her compliment delivered, Agnes glanced to the dance floor again. Friend still in sight, she turned back just as the giant mutant returned her question back to her. That was fair. ”OH, um, nothing nearly as exciting,” she admitted, taking a sip from her drink. ”I play the violin.” She then awkwardly mimed playing the violin with her hands, even though one still held a drink. She sighed and chuckled. ”Not on the street or anything. I play for the New York Philharmonic. Ever gone?”

>> ”Well I’m sure you’re doing an amazing job, no one should want to mess with you.”

"Key'ord, 'should'," was the prawn's droll response, a tired smile touching her eyes. The slow progress she made through her trashy paperbacks was testament to the contrary-- there was always some nitwit in need of getting hauled out, or looking for a fight with the tallest, burliest person in the vicinity. There was no shortage of poor choices being made in Chrysalis. Though Jack supposed she wouldn't have it any other way, since that was her livelihood...

>> ”OH, um, nothing nearly as exciting, I play the violin. Not on the street or anything. I play for the New York Philharmonic. Ever gone?”

"Not nearly as exciting", she said. How was playing for the philharmonic "not nearly as exciting"?! Her trilling had quieted as the prawn fixed the young woman with a stare, which was the epitome of "Really? Not interesting? Are you for real?"

"Ne'er has gone," Jack admonished. She wouldn't fit in the seats, that much was certain. What more, she couldn't afford the seats. Not on her pittance of a wage that she earned from bouncing and working security at Xavier's. She could make ends meet, but there wasn't exactly enough wiggle-room to spring for tickets to the motherf***ing New York Philharmonic.

Even if it was a hoity-toity sort of position, Agnes seemed nice and it was really cool to be in the presence of an actual musician from the orchestra.

"How long has you 'layed?" Jack said, "I'd sink dat it takes a lot to get to duh orchestra?"

Jack knew plenty of buskers of various sorts who visited Chrysalis every now and again. Sometimes on Acoustic night (typically held on Tuesdays, one of the slowest nights of the week) they'd even come in and perform. They worked hard, and were really talented, but somehow still busked on the street day-in and day-out. (Though one charismatic guitar-and-cajon duo insisted that there was a good money to be made, especially in prime locations and times.) Jack imagined that anyone who made it to the Philharmonic had to be a very accomplished musician-- perhaps even a God-status musician. This notion likely stemmed from the fact that she held musicians from all walks of life in fairly high regards.

Agnes was not a bragger. She wasn’t someone who liked to tote around what she did for a living just because she knew what it was like to have nothing. She lived on the streets for years before she found the Xavier institute and turned her life around, but she never forgot where she came from. Agnes always donated to charities, worked in soup kitchens wherever she could, and she never made her job sound as exciting as many would assume it to be. People would have probably given their left arm to play for the New York Philharmonic and while the fact that she did both pleased and terrified her, the young woman was not going to brag.

She passed off her occupation, when asked, as being rather boring. However Jack seemed to think otherwise. Though Agnes couldn’t really read their face due to the surgical mask, their posture and the quiet that overtook their voice was enough to show that they were actually impressed by Agnes’ achievements. However the mutant didn’t outright call Agnes out on that and simply repeated Agnes’ choice of descriptive words. Though when inquired if they had ever gone, the mutant revealed that such a trip had not been taken.

Though the mutant didn’t give a reason, Agnes could guess what a possible reason was. It was very clear from just a single glance that Jack was a mutant. Massive in build and lacking any concept of the standard idea of what “human” was. Going out to someplace like the New York Philharmonic may have seemed impossible for them, but Agnes wasn’t even sure if that was the true reason. It could very well be something else that she couldn’t think of. Still, an invitation was necessary.

With a sweet smile on her lips, Agnes gently touched the larger mutant on the arm until she caught their eye. ”Well, Jack, if you ever want to go, I can get you a ticket.” she said firmly. ”Trust me, the more people we have their, the better we look.” She giggled. Agnes wasn’t a giggler. Though she didn’t sound intoxicated, another drink and Agnes could probably find herself there. Still, she was coherent enough to sound and appear as sober as anyone else. ”But I’m serious, you ever want to go, just tell me.”

With a contented sigh, she turned back to survey the rest of the club. The mutants here came in all shapes and sizes, dancing and having a great time. When she was younger, she couldn’t even conceive of a place like this, and yet here it was – perfection. She was glad that mutants had a safe place where they could just be themselves and have fun. Agnes was pulled from these thoughts, however, when her new friend inquired as to how long she’s played for the orchestra.

Turning back she thought for a second as she took another sip of her drink. She chewed on her lip in thought before she replied. ”Oh, not very long. About four months or so,” she said. ”I used to work for a traveling orchestra for a couple years and then when I saw that the New York Phil was having open auditions, I couldn’t resist,” she shrugged her shoulders. ”So I moved back and am making a go of it here.” She gave a beaming smile to her new friend. ”What about you? Have you worked here for long? I tell you, I last I lived in New York I was nineteen and I don’t remember this place being around. Is it recent?”

Agnes lightly touched Jack's arm, a gesture largely unnoticed due to the thick carapace. In fact, Jack didn't notice the sensation at all. She only noticed when she looked back and saw the ivory skin of Agnes's arm against her own, iridescent carapace.

>> ”Well, Jack, if you ever want to go, I can get you a ticket.”

A flush crept its way into Jack's neck and, for the moment, the prawn thanked her lucky stars that her physiology would hide any inkling of a blush. Her heart stuttered.

>> ”Trust me, the more people we have there, the better we look. But I’m serious, you ever want to go, just tell me.”

"H-hate to trou'le you," the prawn grunted, though a smile flickered in her eyes. If Agnes was serious, what seat did they have that would fit a behemoth like Jack? The operative word was "if". Jack had recieved many-a promise from people at various degrees of inebriated. Anything from taking her on a cruise to making her some sort of mutant fashion-model. Typically the only proposal that usually got followed-through on were business arrangements. The sort of arrangements where big-wig mutants needed a bodyguard that looked like they could rip a phonebook in two, whose business dealings may or may not be entirely legal. It wasn't Jack's responsibility to assess the legality of it all, however-- she just liked the payment that accopanied such services.

>> ”Oh, not very long. About four months or so. I used to work for a traveling orchestra for a couple years and then when I saw that the New York Phil was having open auditions, I couldn’t resist. So I moved back and am making a go of it here.”

So she played for at least a few years. Jack gave an impressed and warbling whistle. She had no musical skill, thus gave musicians major props for what they did.

>> ”What about you? Have you worked here for long? I tell you, I last I lived in New York I was nineteen and I don’t remember this place being around. Is it recent?”

"Don't know how long dey 'een here," Jack admonished, "I 'een here in New York and at Chrysalis sore a see-ew years. Cane sun Cali-sor-nia 'e-sore, did construction dere. Lotsa... jaweds 'iss duh hands."

"I 'ork at Xa'ier's, too!" Jack rambled. Agnes seemed genuinely interested, which encouraged the prawn to speak a little more than she was typically inclined to, "You know, duh nyu-tant school? 'een dere sore a little too. On security."

Agnes may have been only the slightest bit tipsy (she’s been worse) but she was completely honest about her invitation for the gigantic mutant. Agnes was a kind hearted person that only wanted to spread the gift of music to the world. The fact that this mutant had admitted that they had never gone to the philharmonic was criminal! Though it wasn’t all that unlikely since so few people made time for music anymore, this one Agnes would ensure would go. She would make it her personal mission and even pulled out her phone to write herself a reminder for when she got in for rehearsal tomorrow.

Though Jack seemed unsure, Agnes persisted. With her sweetest smile and kind light in her eyes, she again informed her new friend that all they had to do was ask. It seemed that her tactic was working as the much larger mutant grunted some comment about not wanting to be any trouble but the young violinist simply waved the comment off.

”Absolutely no trouble!” she said with a beaming smile. ”Just remember to give me your number before the night is out, okay? Everyone deserves a nice night of classical music.” She nodded firmly at this. There was no backing out for Jack now.

With her reminder set, Agnes sighed. Her drink was good but it was becoming diluted with time. That was probably a good thing as the violinist didn’t want to get herself plastered before she left. Instead she just smiled to her new friend when they seemed to want to continue conversation. They asked how long she had been playing? She hadn’t been playing with the philharmonic for long, but there had always been a violin in her hand.

An impressed sound rolled out from behind the mutant’s mask. That made her smirk a little in satisfaction. Agnes didn’t like to be braggy, but she liked that people were impressed with how long she played. It was good to know that she had managed to make people awestruck by the dedication that she put into her craft. It was a good feeling.

No her friend’s turn to be interview, Agnes inquired after them: how long had they been here and was the club new. Apparently Jack had been in the city for quite a few years, but had originally hailed from California. Agnes knew the state as she moved out there when she joined the Traveling Orchestra Co., but found that she didn’t get to stay long on the coast; her work had her traveling everywhere. She nodded when Jack explained about her previous work.

However that wouldn’t be the end of her surprises. Jack would admit that she worked at Xavier’s too. That made Agnes’ eyes widen and her smile grow. She really needed to visit there at some point as she missed it dearly but finding the time between rehearsals and River’s whole ish, well, she would make it work. After all, if she really wanted to, she’d make the time, right?

”Oh my god, that is where I went to school!” She was all smiles. ”That’s so crazy that you work there. I mean, it’s a great school and they always have good people working there. When I was a teenager I used to go to school there and I had a part-time job as the school gardener. I planted those gardenia bushes along the back wall. Please don’t tell me someone removed them?” She sighed. She suddenly felt homesick for that school, for her old room, for her old friends, for…she blinked away the thought. She needed to keep herself distracted so she turned back to Jack. ”Here’s the deal…I get you into the philharmonic to catch a show and you give me a tour of the mansion.” She held out her carapace covered hand. ”Deal?”

>> ”Absolutely no trouble! Just remember to give me your number before the night is out, okay? Everyone deserves a nice night of classical music.”

Jack nodded dumbly, the heat remaining in her cheeks. Now, Agnes's invitation was seeming more genuine-- phone numbers seemed slightly more committal. (The shut-in in Jack's heart argued, however, that she could still slip-off silently and not leave her number with the young brunette.)

>> ”Oh my god, that is where I went to school! That’s so crazy that you work there. I mean, it’s a great school and they always have good people working there. When I was a teenager I used to go to school there and I had a part-time job as the school gardener. I planted those gardenia bushes along the back wall. Please don’t tell me someone removed them?”

That was only slightly surprising to Jack. Xavier's was a renowned mutant school that a number of mutant children attended (on the East Coast, at the very least). She listened attentively as Agnes explained her own experience with Xavier's, nodding her head up until the inquiry about the gardenia bushes along the back wall.

She didn't know what gardenias were. There were definitely some bushes, though.

"Don't know 'ut gardenias are," Jack admonished, "Dere are... 'lants... 'y duh 'ack wall, doh. Night 'e your gardenias?"

Jack just didn't pay attention to plants in general.

>> ”Here’s the deal…I get you into the philharmonic to catch a show and you give me a tour of the mansion."

Neither of which Jack was keen-on. She couldn't fathom being a welcomed fixture at the orchestra... nor could she fathom being neccessary to give Agnes a tour. If she went there, they'd just let her in, right? There were people whose job it was to give tours, why would Agnes want to get a tour from, of all people, a big lug like Jack?

>> "Deal?”

Agnes's hand was outstretched. The prawn eyed the hand, her own hesitation churning behind her gaze. There wouldn't be any harm in it. Besides, most people who made the arrangements never followed through, once they sobered-up.

Jack nodded, exchanging a careful handshake.

" 'sa deal," the prawn agreed.

To Agnes it seemed like a great deal. She would get to walk around her old school with her new friend, and she would be able to expose the mutant to some great, classical music. It was the kind of deal that Agnes loved to make. Though she wasn’t normally this outward with people, tonight had proved to be quite the trip for her. She was open, talking, meeting some good people, and most of all she didn’t have any of the anxieties or fears about her current relationship. It was one of those nights that Agnes felt like herself again and she was determined to keep it that way.

Her drink finished, Agnes set it aside on a nearby, empty table and sighed as she remained stubbornly at her new friend’s side. This wouldn’t have normally been Agnes’ style in making acquaintances, but alcohol and her on-the-rocks relationship were doing wonders towards her inhibitions. So what if the mutant next to her decided that she didn’t want to talk anymore? If that were the case then Agnes could easily move on without hurt feelings. But, thankfully, her friend the bouncer decided to stay.

With a smile on her lips, she proposed her idea to Jack: a tour for the music. Just watching them, the mutant seemed a little suspicious of everything that Agnes was saying. Of course she didn’t point any of that out for fear that it could be taken the wrong way. Instead Agnes just held out her hand and waited for the much larger mutant to make a decision. It really wasn’t that serious but it was something that she wouldn’t have minded doing.

Besides, as Jack said, they didn’t know if her gardenia bushes were still there. The fact that there were still bushes should have been proof enough, but they could have been replacements. In a school full of mutants, she wouldn’t have been surprised by that; after all, students set fire, froze, sliced, and ate everything on campus – her gardenias could have just been another casualty. Agnes wanted to see for herself and give Jack a tour as to the types of flowers that she planted.

When Jack had finally made a decision, the mutant reached out and took Agnes’ hand with their own. Jack’s dwarfed Agnes’ hand pretty severely, but the young mutant didn’t show any fear. She just smiled as she felt her friend’s hand take hers and give her a shake. It was official, they were going to see the mansion together and, from there, be entertained in a show of music. All was right with the world.

”Perfect,” she said with a smile. Once she let go of her friend’s hand, she turned back to her friend who was still on the dance floor, dancing with the mutant who head was alit with fire. Her friend really knew how to pick ‘em. But seeing how much fun she was having brought another idea to Agnes’ head. She turned to her friend, all smiles upon her lips. ”Do you dance?”

>> ”Perfect.”

Jack returned her attention to the dance floor, her own thoughts confused and vague. The friendliness of strangers was still a novelty, for her. And this one seemed genuine about it. It was a slow night, a quiet one, she hadn't been called to any other part of the club, which was not a standard evening. Thus she was afforded the opportunity to keep Agnes company.

>> ”Do you dance?”

"N-no," the prawn said simply. Last time she'd danced, her partner nearly burnt down the jazz club that Jack had been frequenting. One handcrafted table and a brief exchange later, and Jack still hadn't been able to return to Looking Glass.

Of course, it hadn't been the dancing that'd burnt the place down. It'd been the subsequent fight. Victor had only been defending her. What a night it had been. Jack had never been given the chance to dance with someone bigger than her.

She glanced down at Agnes, a hesitant smile touching her eyes.

"You go ahead," she assured the young patron, "I has to 'atch duh dance s-loor any'ays."

There. Plans had been set. All Agnes needed to do was remember to make sure to get Jack’s phone number so that they could properly set up their outing. However, that was going to wait, right now, Agnes felt her limbs loosening. Watching her friend on the dance floor, the violinist suddenly got the idea in her head that she wanted to dance as well. She wasn’t the best dancer in the world (River was increasingly better) but she could hold her own to a certain degree. With alcohol in her system and a need to have fun, it was only a matter of time before she found the dancefloor to be appealing.

And she had a new friend, so why not? She was young, life was short, and she wanted to get out there and move. With the idea in her head, Agnes turned back to Jack, a sickeningly sweet smile on her lips. She inquired if Jack danced.

Her inquiry seemed to cause the mutant to pause. She could almost see the nervousness in their eyes. This was quickly followed with a stammering “No”. Just a look at the prawn seemed almost made it seem as if Agnes had asked them for a kidney or something. It really wasn’t all that seriously, still, anyone would have respected the mutant’s answer and left it at that – well, anyone except for a slightly buzzed Agnes Nicholas.

Her head tilted and her hands on her hips, she turned and looked at Jack square in her gentle eyes. Jack implored her to go ahead and dance, as they had to watch the dancefloor. Jack really should have known better than to attempt that logic since it left a perfect opening for Agnes to be just a bit more bold than she normally would have.

”Well, if that’s the case,” Agnes said. She sounded almost like she was going to just let the matter drop and step away from Jack; but she wouldn’t. Instead she reached over, taking one of Jack’s hands with two of hers and started to pull the mutant towards the dancefloor. ”What better way to keep an eye on it than in the middle of it?”

Agnes was not taking no for an answer. While it was true that the much larger Jack could have probably easily pulled away, Agnes’ determination and need to dance were a powerful force as well. Before the both of them would realize it, they were on the dance as a rhythmic beat rolled around the both of them. Agnes, appeased by this sound, nodded her head in tune as she looked at Jack, grinning from ear-to-ear and dancing in front of her.

”Come on,” Agnes implored her. She placed a hand in each of Jack’s moving her new friend’s arms in tune with the song that played all around them. ”Like this, see?” She giggled. She was having fun.