She was a fixture that the Mansion couldn't seem to be rid of. Sure, Gina had graduated, but thanks to a work-study gig through the University, she managed to land herself a position at Xavier's. One of her majors was Social Work, and Gina especially wanted to work with displaced mutant kids, so being a T.A. at an all-mutant school would look really, really good on her resume. Besides, she just stinking loved being at Xavier's! Sure, she got paid for some of the time she spent there, but this movie night was off the books.

And, if she might say so herself, it'd be off the hook!

Pillows, check.

Blankets, check.

Enough snack-foods for a small battalion? Check, check, check!

She'd been advertising the movie night for weeks, and had even stock-piled a few worthwhile blockbusters. It was a thirteen-and-up event due to the presence of a number of PG-13 movies, and it also provided the opportunity for some of the students to break curfew. So Gina expected at least a few students to make an appearance-- at the very least, she hoped they'd make an appearance.

The gargoyle was busy putting together the last few bowls of snacks and fishing the gigantic bottles of soda out of her shopping bag, when she heard footfalls approaching. She was wondering who would be chaperoning with her! Since she was technically not a staff member, it was a liability for her to be by herself, so she was wondering which (*cough* brave soul *cough*) staff member had the joy of helping supervise. Gina righted herself, all smiles.

"Well obviously it should be you, Cafas. Who else! It's a movie night! Oh don't look at me like that, you'll be fine."

"Headmaster, you know I don't work here right?"

"Of course, of course, now off you go."

Cafas rolled his eyes and left the headmaster's office. Ruddy Kipperling was an impossible man to deal with. The clones had all of Cafas' impulsiveness without any of the tempering that came with an understanding of consequences. Hand were run through pinkermint hair before being slotted into the pockets of his slightly too fashionable to be comfortable jeans. At least he could get about in a t-shirt at the mansion.

I suppose it could be worse.

The X-man made the short journey to the lounge room at what could only be described as a languid pace. His own kids he didn't mind supervising, but this was different. This was a bunch of teenagers he'd never thought to get to know. Maybe the responsible thing to do as an X-man would have been to volunteer at the Mansion but he just had way too much going on for that.

As long as Dusk isn't played, I'll be fine.

All the hard work of set up seemed to be done as Cafas strode casually into the room. A smile lit his face as he spotted the mastermind behind the evening's activity "Well well, long time no see, I see you recovered nicely from that bullet wound. So, are those scales new? The blue suits you." The young woman was fully upright by the time he'd closed the gap between them, caught in sudden uncertainty with how to proceed with the greeting physically. Hugging seemed too familiar, though it was his go to. Handshake was too stiff, and it was far too late for just an awkward wave. "Er, I thought I knew where I was going with this," He waved his hands, hovering in a slightly awkward fashion, "As it turns out, I did not. Hi."

Charismatic movie star you are...

>> "Well well, long time no see, I see you recovered nicely from that bullet wound. So, are those scales new? The blue suits you."

The casual mention of the time she'd gotten shot sent ice down Gina's spine, and the young woman turned her attention to the familiar masculine voice that greeted her. Of course it was foolish to think that there was any danger to her safety in the Mansion, but the mention of bullets still knotted her stomach. That feeling was quickly replaced by a toothy grin, glistening canines and all. Cafas!

"Thanks! I thought it was dry skin," Gina said lamely, surveying the scaly patches that peeked out from beneath the sleeves of her t-shirt. Against her pale grey skin, the reflective undertones of blue were more apparent. At least her skin was still soft and smooth and not impossible to cover-up, "It's the absolute worst for heat sensitivity though..."

The cold-weather lethargy had begun long before the dry patches on her shoulders became defintive scales. It was an absolute bear for cold-weather flights and it sapped her stamina. Living in a more southernly place would have been the wiser thing to do-- but New York City was the place to be, if you were going into fashion. Gina really wanted to go into fashion...

>> "Er, I thought I knew where I was going with this. As it turns out, I did not. Hi."

Pffft. That earned a warm but nonjudgmental chuckle. Cafas was an old, familiar face, so in Gina's book he might as well have been an old friend. The gargoyle opened her arms, raising her eyebrows at the pink-haired man. It wasn't really a question (Gina was too much of a hugger to give a good friend the choice) but she would let Cafas think he had a say in it.

The gargoyle wrapped Cafas in a politely brief, yet warm, hug, giving him a squeeze (as much as her short arms were able, anyways-- god this guy was ripped). Catch-and-release, she stepped back still all-smiles.

"Good to see you, too!" the young woman said in a singsong voice, "I'm almost done setting up, so there isn't much left to do-- how've you been? How's life been treating you?"

Grateful to have the decision made for him Cafas smiled and leaned into the hug. His arms wrapped briefly around Gina before flopping against his sides, searching out his pockets for their safety. There, now they would not be found hovering halfways to an offered hug.

>>"Good to see you, too! I'm almost done setting up, so there isn't much left to do-- how've you been? How's life been treating you?"

Cafas shrugged, smile not shifting. "Oh you know, decent. Keeping myself busy between the X-men, acting, and training. Moved in with then subsequently broke up with Calley, now I'm dating Maya. Ghost Maya, not Mirror Maya. Managed to all but adopt a kid, and Maya comes with Rowan, so I'm starting to get some experience at playing Dad too. Honestly it's pretty much everything I never thought I'd end up doing." Not that he was complaining. It was a life with some pretty severe stresses involved, but he couldn't really see himself changing it.

I could do away with the store, but then what would Verdy do?

"How about you? What are you getting up to these days? You know, aside from running movie nights." Cafas looked Gina over more thoroughly, trying to get some gauge of how she was as if he'd ever been any good at that. All he really got was that she was quite attractive if you could get past the gargoyle features. Not something he had intended to notice. His cheeks coloured slightly as his eyes came back to Gina's face, but his features didn't shift to betray him at all, kept carefully still.

What is you problem dude? Seriously.

Abby had debated going to the advertised movie night as soon as she heard about it. While the idea of skipping curfew was fun in theory, the little sharkmaid didn't really have a reason to worry about her curfew. So long as she let Papa know where she was, if she wasn't in the Mansion, she didn't really worry. But there could be other people at the movie night. People she hadn't met before and making friends was always a good thing. She had more friends now than she knew what to do with honestly, but didn't see why she should stop making friends.

Peeking into the living room, the little blonde spotted the stranger first. Her skin was grey! Like her legs were! The stranger had wings instead of a tail... Abby stopped the thought as she spotted another appendage on the woman. She did have a tail, just not like Abby's tail. Glancing around to see if anyone else was there, she finally spotted Cafas.

"Papa!" she called as she skipped over to her father-figure. "Are you going to watch movies too?" Oops. She had probably interrupted the adults. Turning to the grey woman, the little blonde smiled shyly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm Abby."

>> "Oh you know, decent. Keeping myself busy between the X-men, acting, and training. Moved in with then subsequently broke up with Calley, now I'm dating Maya. Ghost Maya, not Mirror Maya. Managed to all but adopt a kid, and Maya comes with Rowan, so I'm starting to get some experience at playing Dad too. Honestly it's pretty much everything I never thought I'd end up doing."

"Good for you, though," Gina hummed, setting out a few more snacks, "I was adopted, you know? My mom found me-" there, that looked pretty good, "-I think you'd be an awesome dad."

>> "How about you? What are you getting up to these days? You know, aside from running movie nights."

The gargoyle rose again, smiling at Cafas. Gina, like most women, had a sixth sense when it came to wandering eyes. She pursed her lips slightly, arching her eyebrows. It wasn't the first time, it wouldn't be the last. But Cafas was taken, and a sweet guy besides, so she'd let it slide.

"Well, I've been going to school. Majoring in social work and fashion, of all things," the gargoyle reported, "And just been trying to keep myself busy all around. No boyfriend, no kids... unless you count my friends, they say I'm kind-of a Mom-friend!" Gina laughed. She did tend to keep her rowdy collection of friends in order. Small feet padded towards them and a shout interrupted their friendly conversation.

>> "Papa! Are you going to watch movies too?"

A warm smile touched Gina's lips. This had to be his all-but adopted kid. What a cutie. A little blond girl with doe-like eyes.

>> "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm Abby."

"No problem," Gina sang, "Welcome to Movie Night! I'm Gina. It's nice to meet you, Abby."

Those eyebrows knew. How could they know! Cafas was often left wondering exactly how people just seemed to know. His cheeks grew even warmer, and the tips of his ears quickly joined them, though he maintained his carefully neutral expression like a professional. "Mom-friends are invaluable members of society, especially in our largely unloved demographic; As are designers and social workers, though I guess I don't have to tell you."

Cafas nearly pirouetted he turned so fast, a great smile adorning his face. If he hadn't thought better of it, he would have swept his little girl off her feet into a hug. Abigail couldn't really do physical contact though. He straightened and beamed at Gina as Abby introduced herself politely. He hadn't taught her that, but he was proud of her all the same. "Yeah, it's fine sweetie, thanks for being polite and apologising though."

Possibly too old for that. I'm going to get an eye roll.

"It's nice to see you, by the way. Sorry I had to be gone so long. Next time maybe I can take you to the set, but this one was a little too dry and dangerous." Plus he hadn't wanted to interrupt school for the little time he'd get to spend with Abby during filming. While it was totally worth it for him, in the long run school was more important for Abby. He suspected she wouldn't respect that reason as much though.

"So, what's on the movie schedule boss?"

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Gina," Abby smiled. She would usually shuffle towards Papa because the person was new but Miss Gina had grey skin! Sticking out her leg, easily showing off their similar trait due to her sleep shorts. "Look! We match!" she giggled.

The small teen smiled as her Papa praised her. She liked making him and Momma proud.

>>"It's nice to see you, by the way. Sorry I had to be gone so long. Next time maybe I can take you to the set, but this one was a little too dry and dangerous."

She beamed at the idea of joining him as he worked. A mischievous smile wound up on her face. "That's okay. I don't think I'd like dry. Maybe the next one will be near water?" Then she and Papa could go swimming. She turned her attention back to Miss Gina as Cafas asked his question.  What would they be watching?

The paper advertising the movie night had looked girly, so at first Chase had forgotten about it all together. He was twelve years old. Practically a teen. Tween boys didn't go to stupid, girly movies. Subconsciously, however, his feet had brought him to the living room. Consciously, he'd wanted to play a video game, regardless of whether or not there were people there to play video games with.

He heard voices conversing as he meandered up the hall, not an uncommon occurence in the Mansion-- and he poked his head around the corner to see who it was. He would recognize Cafas's pink hair anywhere. Oh! And Abby! She was practically a big sister to the boy. But a good big sister! Chase slinked into the room and meandered towards the trio of people.

"Uuhhh, hey," the shifter child greeted uncertainly, "I, uh, heard there was amovie night?" The bat-winged lady made Chase more softspoken. She seemed vaguely familiar but he wasn't sure how. Chase pushed a hand through his curly black hair, grinning uncertainly, "It's okay for guys to come, right?"

The poster was really girly, after all.

"Hi Abby," Chase said, in a quieter tone and with a small smile in his expression. Remembering his manners, Chase also said, "Hi Mr. Cafas."

Mama had been working-on teaching the child some manners, one tenet of which was "To call grown-ups Mr. or Mrs. as a sign of respect." After the first failed attempt at calling him Mr. Johnson, Chase had been at a loss. Cafas wasn't a kid, so he needed to be called a Mr. something. but Cafas hated being called Mr. Johnson-- thus, Mr. Cafas was born.

The shifter bobbed his head to the grey lady, "I'm Chase."

"Oh, just Gina's fine, sweetie," Gina said with a grin, flashing her canid teeth, "You're so polite." The little girl excitedly showed-off her own grey skin, which earned a delighted gasp from the gargoyle, "And grey! Oo, welcome to the grey girl's club! That's awesome!"

Cafas lauded her aspirations and educational pursuits, which earned nothing but smiles from the gargoyle. Of course they were valuable contributions, that's why Gina was pursuing those careers in the first place. She watched the exchange between Cafas and his daughter, adding the last few finishing touches to the snack table.

>> "So, what's on the movie schedule boss?"

"I brought a few things to choose from," Gina said simply, going towards her backpack. She fished out nearly a dozen DVD's and gathered them into her arms, before meandering back towards the couch and fanning them across the cushions.

"Wasn't sure what kind of crowds we'd draw, so I just grabbed a bit of everything," the gargoyle admonished, "Anything strike your fancy, Abby?"

A small voice interrupted Gina's survey of the DVD's. A dark-haired boy with tan skin and freckles was approaching the trio, asking if it was okay for boys too. A flicker of recognition crossed Gina's expression. It was Gemma's kid! Gosh, he'd gotten so much bigger in the past three years. And he was talking now, to boot! Wonders never ceased.

"It's open to anyone who likes movies," the gargoyle sang, all a-flutter, "I brought a little of everything."

He greeted Cafas and Abby, obviously familiar. And we he turned to Gina, the gargoyle placidly said, "I'm Gina, nice to meet you Chase."

Abby took a look at all the movies Mis- Gina had. There were a few titles she knew, like Inside Out and Hunger Games. She giggled a little when she spotted one of Papa's movies in the mix.

>>"Uuhhh, hey, I, uh, heard there was a movie night?"

"Chase!" the blonde squealed, taking only a moment to check that she wouldn't touch his skin, and pounced on him for a hug. She giggled a little as he greeted her, Papa, and Mi- Gina. "Since we're first we get to pick," she chirped at her friend. Chase was her first friend in the Mansion. And though they weren't always together, they were still the best of friends.

Match indeed. That made one more role model successfully introduced. He was on a roll! Actually, Isabel probably counted for negative ten. Maybe he could get a hold of Kiera Knightley or Natalie Portman? He'd have to check their next movie dates, maybe he'd get a talk show spot with one while on the publicity tour. Grey mutants would be harder, but he'd keep it in mind.

"I'll let my agent know I want something beachy." Cafas winked and beamed his daddliest smile. That was an actual thing he could do, but without the smile it would just sound kinda pretentious.

Gina produced her stock of movies. Cafas leaned over and noted a particular title that would be disappearing as soon as possible. Wasn't it bad enough the movie existed without people watching it when he was around. "Quite the selection." He gave Gina a semi pleading look before turning back to heck out what else was there. Ooh, Mean Girls. Too sweary really, but maybe once the kids went to bed.

Guilty pleasures are important.

His movie browsing was interrupted by the appearance of a boy shuffling uncertainly through the doorway. Recognition tickled at Cafas' brain, and he tried to follow the feeling to a memory worth a damn. Lots of passing in corridors, and he was pretty sure he was meant to know the kid, but he just couldn't pick a name. He smiled and nodded as the boy greeted him. He also seemed to know Abby, so Cafas would make a special effort to remember his name from that point on. The kid's manners saved Cafas having to ask his name too, that was excellent.

Okay, Chase. Chase. Chase. Chase...

While the kids distracted themselves choosing a movie, Cafas leaned in close to Gina, voice low and laced with good natured teasing. "You brought Dusk on purpose didn't you?" He winked and shook his head, truly hoping Chase had more taste than to pick it. Abby he had no doubt would pick it just because he was in it. "Thanks by the way. With being cool about the whole matching thing. Abby needs a good role model among visible mutants."

Smooooth

Moving to a more personal space appropriate distance from Gina Cafas raised his voice back to a conversational level. "So Abby sweetie, is Chase a friend of yours?" Sure beat Panu. So much better than Panu. Infinitely. No matter who he was.

>> "It's open to anyone who likes movies. I brought a little of everything. I'm Gina, nice to meet you Chase."

Chase shyly moved towards the DVD's, shifting his gaze over some of the titles. A few were familiar. Others were not-- but his observations were interrupted when Abby all but flung herself at the unsuspecting shifter.

>> "Chase! Since we're first we get to pick."

Chase winced reflexively at Abby's hug-- somehow, he always forgot that she was a huggy one. But Abby was always very careful. She didn't like people touching her skin either, so she hugged carefully only touching the fabric-clad parts of his shoulders and torso.

"Y-you can go ahead," Chase said politely, "I'm good with whatever."

His eyes were drawn to a distinctly Cafas-like person, and he looked towards the pink-haired man. He and the grey-lady... Gina... were having a conversation. Grown-up stuff, probably.

"What movies do you like?" the shifter child asked. He did not touch the DVD's, expecting that they were personal possessions and (in a lapse of attention) he might trigger a shift.

>> "So Abby sweetie, is Chase a friend of yours?"

The shifter-child looked wordlessly towards his friend, imperceptibly and without moving his head.

>> "Quite the selection."

Gina's tail was flicking idly as she waited for the kid's to choose, and she paused mid-flick when Cafas murmured the observation and gave her a look. What was that supposed to mean?

>> "You brought Dusk on purpose didn't you?"

Ooohhh yeeeaaaah, that was a movie that Cafas was in, wasn't it? The gargoyle grinned toothily.

"Would you believe that I honest-to-god forgot you were in there?" she murmured back. There was not a single note of apology in her tone. He would just have to suffer, if that's the movie that the kiddos chose.

>> "Thanks by the way. With being cool about the whole matching thing. Abby needs a good role model among visible mutants."

Gina shrugged. She was used to it. Unsurprisingly, human kids and mutant kids alike were the most openminded about physical mutations. People learned shame, learned fear, either by experience or by their parents teachings. Gina was always super cool about any questions kids had or being that cool, supportive physically-mutated role model.

"No problem," Gina replied. When Cafas moved to talk to the kiddos, Gina moved towards the snack table. She would take one for the team and be the first to grab snacks. Someone had to do it.

Abby smiled at Chase as she looked back at the movies. "I like most movies. Just not scary ones," she admitted. "Or bloody ones." Shifting through all the movies, she tried to find one that looked interesting.

>>"So Abby sweetie, is Chase a friend of yours?"

The blonde girl beamed at her Papa. "Yup! Chase an' I have been friends since I got here. I met him the first day. We played legos." She glanced back over the movies. Papa's was the only one that really looked interesting. "Can we watch your movie, Papa?"