ooc: So this is continued from Rupert's apartment whilst he and Raina are on a date, but now that the Jazz club has been created, feel free to also join in. You dont have to interact with us if you dont want too, lol you can do your own thing!

ic:

The jazz club is a little hole in the wall in New York City. It's comfy, and small looking like an old irish pub with an overhaul. It's mainly a resteraunt with tables in the middle of the room, a bar to the left, and a stage at the front. It's a smokey hard looking atmosphere, but despite it's look it's a friendly place. There are a lot of mutant staff, as the place is very mutant friendly. it's main focus is jazz, but musicians of all sorts make their way.

Raina was so happy holding Rupert's hand she walked past the Jazz Club twice. Finally on the third spin around she managed to get her foot in the door. The welcomer gave Raina and odd up and down look at her outfit- he was a tall African man with an intimidating look about him despite being dressed so beautifully. but in seconds that stern face melted away into a sincere smile.

"Miss Raina, Why the heck are you in men's clothing?" and then he spyed Rupert and things suddenly made sense.

"Ahh Joe it's not what you think!" beamed Raina letting go of Rupert momentarily to hug the tall man. "Rupert, this is Joe. He helps out here. We met in a few different places- he's a bit of a wonderer...." she laughed

"That I am, but I think i've set roots down here in New York now with the baby on the way." Replied Joe eyeing Rupert.

"Wanda IS expecting?" exclaimed Raina "That's fantastic, when I saw you last week you were waiting on the test results. Well big Joe, you're going to be a daddy!"

Raina and Joe conversed for a little while, and finally Raina turned back to Rupert. "Sorry," she apologised. "I got a little carried away." she confessed.

"Well, why don't you two find some seats Miss Raina. If Louis realises you're here he may steal you on stage." he eyed Rupert again in a father-like way. "I do believe you're glowing today Miss Raina."

Raina turned on her heels a little embaressed but thought up a quip rather quickly. "that's because I actually bathed today." she tried so hard to say it with a strait face but once Joe cracked so did she. They laughed.

She took Rupert's hand again and led him into the dark little place.

"Joe was the one who inspired me to come to New York." she explained. "He told me about the... center."

She lead him to a little corner table. "The band wont be playing for a while... but here we can get something to eat that isn't green!" she said giving a young waitress a wave.

The woman walked over to them- at a distance her hair seemed a dark black, but by the time she reached them it was a stunning red like Raina's. Raina mumbled something about a copy cat and gave the girl a sincere smile. "Can my friend and I have some menus?" she asked.

"I don't know, can you?" joked the girl with a half smile. her hair was now shifting from red to a soft brown. "Sure, I suppose you can." she smiled handing the couple some Menus. She winked at Rupert. "This girls a crazy one, watch out for her." and with that she went off to serve another table.

Raina's face was a little red. "Sorry, that's celeste. Shes really the crazy one... I hope she didn't make you uncomfortable. The place is rather mutant friendly." she looked at Rupert with her big bright eyes.

Michael had been wondering around New York for a while and was getting hungry. Looking for somewhere to eat he spotted the Jazz Club. It looked like a nice place to eat so he headed inside. After being greeted by the tall man on the door he looked about for a place to sit. Spotting Raina he thought he’d go over and say hi before sitting himself down.

Slipping through the crowd he got to her table and tapped her on the shoulder. “Hi Raina,” he said with a grin, “Didn’t know you were out roaming New York as well.” He gave the man she was sitting with a pleasant smile before asking, “So you gonna introduce me to your new friend?” Looking back at Raina he spotted she was wearing mens clothes. Thinking that he was interrupting he decided that after being introduced to her friend he’d leave them to their meals.

Damian was walking with his son in his arms. He was hungry and he guessed that Aaron was too. He knew a place that was nice and mutant-friendly so he decided to go visit. He was walking down the crowded New York streets, although everybody seemed to move out of his way as if pushed by an invisible force. He smiled to himself and looked at Aaron. "Heyy buddy, we're going to go grab something to eat, would you like that?" he said in that tone that people use to speak to little children.

As Damian approached the club he saw a large spanish man and laughed. "Hey Enrique!" he said to the bouncer. He had been to the Jazz Club enough to know that the bouncer, and his friend, Enrique was actually harmless. He smiled and shook the guy's hand. Enrique laughed and said his Hello's. He smiled again and walked into the club.

Raina looked up as Micheal Appeared. "Shei... er... Micheal!" she smiled. The last time she'd seen micheal was her freak out over Iris. She looked away blushing a little ashamed, and honestly a little woried. She shot Micheal a look begging him to find the hidden meanings in her words.

"It's nice to see you. This is Detective Rupert, we met earlier today." She motioned to Rupert. "Rupert, this is Micheal, he's, uh, a student- who comes to our center for runaways..." she stared intensly at Micheal hoping to God he'd follow with the story. Rupert was a detective- and would likely be suspicious.

She swallowed hard feeling very nervous in the situation. She looked between the two men.

((ooc: Continued from "Rupert's Apartment".))

Rupert had made the mistake of assuming that this club of Raina's was neutral ground--a public place neither of them could claim as their truff. From the second the bouncer started staring at him like Raina was his daughter and this scruffy looking man had best have her home by curfew, he knew better. Urk. Well, fair was fair--he took her to his apartment, so she could take him to her club. It was a big relief when Joe there seemed to accept him. Tip to a sucessful relationship #46: stay on the good side of your girlfriend's muscle bound male friends.

Rupert watched their mutie waitress approaching. He watched Raina and the freak having a nice little chat. He watched her walk away.

"Sorry, that's celeste. Shes really the crazy one... I hope she didn't make you uncomfortable. The place is rather mutant friendly."

Rupert shook himself slightly, and looked to Raina. "Oh, no, I'm not... uncomfortable. Just, ah, not entirely... comfortable." He laughed, and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry, sorry. I admit it: I'm not the most mutant friendly person in New York. But a friend of yours is a friend of mine." Unless they tried something stupid. "Can you bare with my xenophobia a little? I'm trying to get better, I swear." His anger management teacher had practically made curing him of his various phobias a pet project. He was also rather unfriendly with clowns, and crack dealers.

He saw the young man approaching, but only paid him attention when it became obvious that he was coming to their table.

"Rupert, this is Micheal, he's, uh, a student- who comes to our center for runaways..."

Rupert stood, and offered his hand to the kid. "Nice to meet you, Micheal. Rupert Kelly." The boy seemed clean-cut enough. He wondered what his past was, but wasn't about to ask. He also wondered what Raina had been about to say before she'd said "Micheal"; probably a nickname of some sort. Probably a street nickname. It was just as well that Rupert didn't hear it; there were quite a few open files concerning gang members, and he'd feel pretty bad if Raina had said that nickname and it had rung a few bells. Tip to a successful relationship #1: don't arrest any of your girlfriend's friends on the first date.

Fortunately for Raina Michael was pretty good at reading people. First she had declined to use his mutant nickname. Second she’d called the mansion a centre for runaways. Third, she was giving him imploring looks. Fourth, she was out with a detective. From all this Michael deduced that the detective wasn’t a fan of mutants and Raina hadn’t told him she was one.

Michael gave Raina an understanding smile before taking the detective’s hand, “Pleasure to meet you Rupert,” he said with a smile before turning back to Raina, “Oh, Rayne is feeling a lot better now, the whole centre was in a bit of an uproar when she fell ill out by the entrance, but everyone’s calmed down now she’s been seen to by the doctor.”

He hoped that disguised explanation would answer Raina’s unasked question. “Well,” he said smiling politely at them both, “I don’t want to interrupt, three’s a crowd and all that. I’ll go and find my own table, leave you two to your meal.”

Raina blushed a bit as a look of relief washed across her face while Micheal picked up on her hidden meanings. As he spoke of Iris Raina's eyes went wide.
"Oh Thank God! I didn't handle that situation very well," she admitted.
"One of our students fell ill..." explained Raina to Rupert. "The situation itself was under control quickly enough, but I was a little shell shocked when it finished- being new at the center and all."

She gave Micheal a wave as he strode off. "Good Kid." she commented. She turne dher attention back to Rupert. "Can I suggest the chicken wings?" she laughed. "I know it's probably not great first date food... but they're so good!"

In the background a small quartet band was setting up. There was a drummer, a bassist with an upright bass, a steeley old looking guitar player, and a sultry looking singer that without hearing her voice- you knew she'd sound like smoke.

The lights were starting to dim, and the place was filling up.

"I imagine your job's got a pretty steep learning curve." Rupert reached over, and touched the top of her hand lightly. "Don't stress about it--you've learned, and you'll know what to do next time, right?" He sat himself down as Micheal walked away. He did seem like a good kid. Gave off sort of a "wholesome" vibe. "So, the chicken wings, huh?" He peered over the top of his menu, and winked. "Well, if you can't eat finger food in front of a person, it wasn't meant to be."

As the first practice chords started strumming through the air, Rupert looked over to the quartet. He was reminded of all those bands and singers you see in the backgrounds shots of movie resturants--the ones that sound amazing, but you never find out their name until you cave in and buy the soundtrack. Even before the first song started, he knew they'd sound good--just the look of them was perfect for a joint like this.

He turned back to Raina. "So how'd you find this place? I must have walked past here a hundred times without ever coming in..."

ooc: calley, I wish I was half the writer you are! I enjoy your posts so much!

Ic:

Raina beamed when Rupert touched her hand. Her eyes darted about feeling a little twitterpated. "Of course..." she replied to his comment about the wings. Just thinking about them as a couple had her stomach doing flips.

She waved down Celest and gave her their order- Celeste now looked like a bit of a punk with her greenish hair. She smiled seductively at Rupert and with a wink went off to the kitchen.

"Actually, Joe told me about this place." she answered. "When I first came to New York City. This is a special kind of place- for me at least. One of the few places I can be myself." she admitted. "Everyone here is just so kind, they don't care what you look like or where you're from. No one makes fun of my silly accent or my crazy hair." she laughed.

The truth was, this place was was more than just special because they accomodated Mutants... this was a place, where Raina... could sing without freezing people to death.

She made small talk with Rupert about her first meetings with Joe, when he suddenly appeared, "Miss Raina!" he called striding across the empty dance floor. A few customers looked annoyed at his loud booming voice drowning out the beautiful music in the background. "Raina!" he exclaimed again reaching their table. "Louis really wants you to sing."

Raina's eyes darted to Rupert and then away. "Joe... you know I can't..." she thought of the story she had told Rupert, and stared at Joe hoping he'd read her thoughts- afterall, that's what his mutation was. "I'm forbiddon." she looked away embaressed and obviously feeling a little hurt that the subject was brought up.

"Ah, but I know your loop hole." said Joe with a smile not about to give up. "Casey is here."

Raina's eyes went wide. Casey was a mutant, but one with the subtle ability to give off heat. He could also calm the emotions of those around him. Raina had met casey before, a few years back when she was having issues with her powers. He had his ability down to an art form now- and Raina was surprised she hadn't thought of him when she entered the resteraunt and realised how warm it was.

As if on Queue, a white haired older man gave a wave to Raina from the bar. Raina's eyes widened. She tried desperetly to think of a story to make sense. She cleared her mind and then focused her thoughts hoping Rupert would buy it, and Joe would follow.

"Casey came to my tribe once, saved one of the young girls. He's got power like an elder now whenever he's around us. That was our way of thanking him. If casey says I can sing- then I can sing." she explained to Rupert.

Raina felt a little torn. She was very nervous about the prospect of singing- afraid something wouldn't go right... but the opprotunity so rarely presented itself, and Casey was sending her such a warm smile, and Joe looked so hopeful...

Celset appeared and placed the wings infront of them.

"How about after you eat?" asked Joe.

Rained turned to Rupert. "What do you think?"

Michael sat down a few tables over from Raina and her new friend. After ordering some garlic bread for starters he turned to watch the band up on the stage. Even though they were only doing their warm up Michael knew they were good.

He spotted the tall guy from the door coming over and talking to Raina. While he wasn’t paying much attention, he did hear something along the lines of her singing. He really hoped she would as she had an amazing voice. It was well worth it getting a little cold to hear her sing.

Damian looked around the club. Nobody he knew was there. He shrugged and turned around. His face was turned to the outside light and he smiled to Enrique. He then watched as Enrique motioned towards a cab. Damian nodded and pulled Aaron up higher on his hip and walked towards the cab. He got in and left.

Rupert took in a deep breath, and let it out. Any trace weirdness he had over that Celeste mutie's smile and wink was washed away with the memory of a beautiful voice that had breifly filled his apartment. Since he still wasn't sure if he could admit to hearing that, and since he definitely wasn't about to pretend that he understood the laws of her tribe (they seemed complicated, to say the least), he tried not to look as pleased by the idea as he really was. "Yeah, I would be fine with that. I'd love to hear you sing." He smiled at Raina. "Just as long as your hordes of fans don't carry you off the stage after you're done."

"Well that all depends on what your intentions are Detective." said Joe in Reply to the fans comment.

Raina smiled from ear to ear. "O-k, if you all want me too... then I will!" she said happily picking up a chicken wing as they arrived. She munched away for a while, despite the fact she was eating chicken wings she seemed to glow with the oncoming chance of getting on stage.

She made idle chat with Rupert stealing looks at him from across the table. Once or twice she looked up to see that Micheal was still there and she smiled to herself. This date was going far smoother than the first attempt. Joe had left them alone for a while- and Raina had to admit her new found confidence made her much braver around Rupert, acting much more like herself.

The band continued on in the background and people came and went. As the last song came to a finish and the smokey room was filled with clapping, Raina watched as a few muties set up infront of the stage to watch her. Casey gave a wave and made his way over to the table.

Casey looked like a kind old man, with warm eyes and smelled faintly of peppermint. He seemed so unthreatening compared to Joe. "Joe tells me your a detective." he said To Rupert extending a hand. "I'll confess, I've heard about the horrible massacre that happened a short while ago. I'd like to offer my condolences. What a tragic waste."

After a brief moment of quiet he turned his attention back to Raina. "Miss Raina, You've grown." he smiled. Raina stood up and hugged the grandfatherly figure. "Always so cold though," remarked Casey with the hug. "too much time up north." he winked. "Raina, if you're ready i'll accompany you on percussion." Raina's eyes lit up again as she tossed her red hair back. It would be best if Casey was on stage- he'd be able to cancel out her cold from right there.

Raina leaned over the table impulsively and planted a quick kiss on Rupert. Her eyes widened when she pulled away and realised what she'd done, but she shrugged it off. 'wish me luck!" she whispered.

She made her way to the stage and people instinctivly began to clap. It wasn't anything crazy, most people were still eating their meals. But the occasional mutie was propped up in a chair closer.

Raina got up and picked up the nearest acoustic guitar and began to tune it at casey took his seat. Instantly the crowd would have felt a wave of calmness and relaxation as casey used his special ability.

While this was happening, Joe decided to sit right next to Rupert. "Hmmm..." he said puporsely out loud. "I wonder if Louis will have a go with any special affects,,, he's such a trickster that way." Joe decided to nip it in the butt in case anything did get a little crazy. He smiled at Rupert. "Wait, until you here this. A forbiddon voice- is the best kind."

Raina stood at the mic with the guitar looking very oversized. She looked a little mismatched in the spotlight wearing Rupert's clothing- but she beamed anyway.

"Ok, well what do you all want to hear?" she asked a little embaressed and darting looks around.

"Sing the sad one m'lady." came Casey's responce. Raina fiddled with the strap.

"Ok." She took a deep breath, and Casey prepared. As she let out that first note, and the first guitar chord hung in the air, the temperature dropped for a split second. It would have felt like a short breeze. But then, Casey took over. Steadily drumming away his heat cancelled out Raina's cold, though the occasional whisp of air could be seen lingering on her lips, and more then once a little frost formed around her feet.

"Let it die, and get out of my mind... we don't see eye to eye, or hear, ear to ear....

The song was a heart wrencher. The lyrics fit a low class bar where men would sit on stools sobbing into their drinks, but the melody matched this place perfectly- adding to the already errie atmosphere.

don't you wish, we could forget that kiss... and see this for what it is? that we're not in love

Joe rocked back and forth a little bit tapping his fingers in time. 'beautiful, ain't it? almost spooky." he smiled.

"The saddest part, of a broken heart... isn't the ending so much as the start

Raina continued to sing her way through the song, her eyes closed as she moved around the stage almost ghost like. It was as if she was in a trance, dancing some long lost movement. It was easy to see how spiritual music really was for her, and you didn't have to be someone who knew her to know what a rare occurance this really was.

She floated about, but as she neared the end of the song her lips began to feel numb, her face was cold, and her fingers ached

the tragedy starts from the very first spark, losing your mind for the sake of your heart... the saddest part of a broken heart isn't the ending so much as the start...

and with that she ended the song. She stood for a moment, cherishing one of very few moments she'd been able to sing since she left home, and then gracefully as ever put the guitar down.

ooc: I thought people might want to hear the song, or get an idea of what i want Raina's voice to sound like. Ironically enough, someone made an x-men video for it on youtube. so here it is just assume she sang the whole thing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j418wtrEjaQ

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Michael had been munching on his garlic bread when he saw Raina get up and head towards the stage. He set the last piece of bread down and turned to watch her in what looked like the good detective’s clothes as she picked up the guitar. An old man had accompanied her to the stage. As the old man took his seat he suddenly felt very calm and relaxed, not that he’d exactly been hyper and stressed before.

When Raina began to sing Michael was captivated by the words. Some part of him was curious as to why it wasn’t getting colder, but most of him was listening to her beautiful voice. The girl sure could sing. It was a heart wrenching song, and the beauty of her voice fit it perfectly. When she finally finished Michael applauded along with the others, giving Raina a big smile. He’d happily but on some warm clothes and turn up the heating to hear Raina sing at the mansion.

((ooc: Sorry for the late reply! Had my own B-day party to plan & attend. And thanks for the link! I’m gonna have to download that song now, lol.))

While Rupert enjoyed the small talk and the chicken wings—hard to say which was better, actually—what he was looking forward to through their whole meal was hearing Raina sing. From that obvious glow she was carrying, he doubted it was far from her mind, either.

Though Rupert clapped with the rest when the band finished, he had to admit he was happy to see them leave the stage. It was a shame, almost: they’d been really good. But in light of what was coming… he wished their set had been about five songs shorter. And he felt guilty for wishing it. Guilty enough that he fully intended to buy their CD on his way out tonight, so he could listen to them properly.

"Joe tells me your a detective. I'll confess, I've heard about the horrible massacre that happened a short while ago. I'd like to offer my condolences. What a tragic waste."

Rupert was more than willing to shake Casey’s hand. “Thank you, Sir. On behalf of the force; we all appreciate that.” Months later, and still there were people like Casey here who remembered what had happened at the Sanctuary. It was good to know that it hadn’t faded to the back of everyone’s minds like so many other tragedies seemed to. Now if only there were some mutants who were willing to offer their sympathies about the whole thing, maybe he’d actually start to feel better.

…Alternately, Raina could spontaneously plant kisses on him. That made him feel better, too. And alarmingly flustered. He was actually blushing as he flashed her a thumb’s up, and called, “You don’t need luck! Just sing!” to her back. Just seeing her up on the stage made him feel calm and relaxed—he really was looking forward to hearing that voice again, wasn’t he? He smiled back at Joe’s comment about forbidden voices. “I think you’re on to something, there…”

Before she started singing, she looked radiant.

With her first words, it was like a chill went down his spine.

After that, he was spellbound.

"Let it die, and get out of my mind... we don't see eye to eye, or hear, ear to ear....”

Something whispered in his mind—why did she pick this song? Casey picked it for her, he answered himself, and let it drop.

“Don't you wish, we could forget that kiss... and see this for what it is? That we're not in love”

But I am in love, he admitted to himself. And he couldn’t imagine anything the future could bring that would make him want to forget that first, spontaneous kiss. As her song went on, he didn’t even hear Joe talking. There was only him, and Raina, and that voice.

"The saddest part, of a broken heart... isn't the ending so much as the start”

There was nothing in the world that could make him regret meeting Raina. It had been haphazard and crazy, but it had been—and it still was—wonderful. For the first time, he wondered to himself it this might actually be the start of something. Was he the sort of guy that could commit to a long-term relationship? You don’t hit twenty-seven with the crown of bachelorhood because you can quickly return a ‘yes’ to that.

But there was that voice. And the way she moved with her own music; it was a part of her. Anyone watching would understand that. It seemed almost like she was casting a spell on herself, like her own words where numbing her to the world, and taking her somewhere else—something that Louis’ ice effects were only emphasizing. He picked his way past tables and chairs and applauding audience members to meet her as she came off the stage. “You were great,” he said softly, and wrapped her in a warm hug.