Generally, when Magnum was in a car, she was racing. Which would also make her an excellent getaway driver, if ever life came to that. However, that would require having a partner or two - which was something she vehemently opposed. Partners made work infinitely more dangerous. To her query, he responded: "I know a place not far from here. The Jade Tiger. Food, drinks, dancing, something for everyone."

Although she’d never heard of the place, she felt like he was trustworthy.Trust was a dangerous thing in their line of work, but if he was willing to get into the car then the least she could do was drive to wherever it was that stirred what sounded like positive memories. And, she was fairly certain her current ID marked her as a few months over twenty-one.With the draw of alcohol and a good time, she used a slight shrug to dispel any of her other hesitations and asked, "Which way?"

The venue of Ty's choosing was several blocks away; on foot, it would have taken awhile, but by car...well, it was New York, so the ETA may have still been a little sketchy. As mentioned before, it wasn't the most jumping place in the city, but it was enjoying moderate success. The outside of the building wasn't overly flashy: blacked out windows, and a green-lit tiger on the sign.

Leading Magnum inside--and he had to admit, that was a pretty awesome, and fitting name for her--he was very abruptly met by a rather large bouncer, who was easily seven feet tall, and built like an armored car.

"IDs." The voice was quiet, but still intimidating, as Ty dug into his wallet and brought his card.

"Here ya go, Bruno."

"Hey, Fishy!" The mountain of a bouncer perked up. "Long time no see! You cut your hair though. Eh, I'm not your Ma, so go have fun."

Ty smirked, giving Bruno a friendly nod as he led her through the dominantly green-lit room, as wailing guitars, thumping basses, and pounding drums flooded through the speakers.

Once at the bar, the duo was met by a blonde sporting black leather and a pair of purple glasses.

"What can I get you, Hun?"
"I'll have a rum and cola, and whatever she wants," he motioned to Mag. "My treat."

Damn, when she let Ty choose the place she didn’t think that they were going to have to cross all of New York to reach his preferred joint. She shook her head, silently wishing he could have chosen a place slightly closer and saved her the gas. Then again, Mag liked the excuse to drive aimlessly through the city streets. Regret again flooded her thoughts when she saw where he’d steered her - a dinky shack of a club with a giant bouncer. However, he wasn’t phased. He walked up to the man and greeted him with a friendly hello, dragging her along behind. As Mag fished in her pocket for her ID, Ty flashed his at the door guard. At this point, something seemed to click for the bouncer, and he waved them through without even glancing at her ID. Well, whoever this man was, he had a reputation at the little shack.

Immediately, bass assaulted her ears. It was accompanied by a screaming guitar and what she thought was the beat of a base drum. This was unlike any club she’d ever visited before (and this was probably a good thing). Ty weaved deftly through the patrons, finding his way to the bar with ease - as if he’d been doing this for years. He sat down, immediately graced by the presence of a really sexy blonde. She offered drinks, and Ty jumped Mag to ordering before saying that he had her first drink covered. Jackass - she could pay for herself. That point would be argued when the bill came, though.

“I’ll take an IPA,” she smiled at the bartender.

The bartender gave a nod, smiling at the two of them before fixing the drinks, occasionally adding a little flair. At this point, she began getting more and more orders. Too many for a normal person with two arms to handle, as she sat down the pair of drinks, she gave a smirk at the crowd.

Suddenly, the gorgeous bartender sprouted another pair of arms, just under the originals, and began mixing several drinks at once. Ty was more than a little surprised at this. "She wasn't here last time I came," Ty explained. "Used to be a guy who could breathe colored fire." The ginger kept up the confident facade as the night drew on, and he juggled focus between his company and his drink. Though he didn't show it, he was a little worried; it didn't take a psychic to tell he was losing her.

Then again, he did seem to have a habit of picking up the harder to get ones, didn't he? At that point, the pair would feel a massive hand on their respective shoulders, and Ty's icy blue eyes to meet Bruno, his pale grey skin reflecting the green light.

"Got a treat for you two," the soft yet gruff voice of the mutant bouncer rang out. "Sort of a welcome back." He led the pair across the club and down a hall, up a set of stairs, and to a smaller, yet better lit room with a view of the club. It had a few booths, which were all empty, and its own dance floor, which was also empty. From this room, one couldn't hear the pounding music of the club below. In fact, it had its own sound system, with a digital jukebox in the corner.

"VIP room. Had a last minute cancellation, so I thought I'd treat my old friend in the hopes he'd come back sometime. Drinks are included, and you'll be well taken care of."

"Thanks, man. I owe ya."

The giant smiled as he turned to leave. This was great, but at the same time... maybe a little awkward.

Magnum was perfectly fine sipping her drink until the bartender sprouted an extra set of arms. That freaked her out, not in the sense she wasn’t aware the city was full of mutants, but that the mutant had so readily displayed her powers. This club - it wasn’t all that it appeared. This club was a mutant haven. The thing that reassured her was Ty’s shock. He explained that they’d changed servers since he’d last been here, but then went on to elaborate: the one here previously breathed fire. The Latina wondered how many other mutants were around her, sitting further on the edge of her seat than usual. A human fight she could handle; she didn’t have enough mutant practice to know if she could win one here before her powers took over. This in mind, she cut back her consumption a little. Alcohol interfered with her ability to suppress it, and being caught off guard was the worst possible option.

Which is exactly why she jumped when the bouncer grasped her shoulder, body tensing for a fight she definitely couldn’t win. As they were escorted across the room, her fear intensified, clouding the room with what could be excused as heavy humidity caused by excessive sweating - if only people on the floor were dancing in a manner to cause such a thing. Almost shamefully, she clung to Ty on their way up (not something she would admit to doing the moment they separated). The bouncer deposited them in a private room upstairs. With a cheery smile, she thanked him “This is great. You’re awesome Bruno!”

Forcing her muscles to relax themselves one by one, it took a while for Magnum to come down from her state of near-panic. It’s not every day a petite woman gets grabbed by a large man, and even less often that it turns out to be a good thing. “I need a drink,” she exhaled heavily.

Okay, so now it was just the two of them, and Ty felt his southern charm had worn thin. So here he was, grasping at straws and still trying to keep up the facade that he had everything under control, though by now it was probably obvious that it wasn't. He didn't mind her clinging to him--it was a start--but now that it was over and they were separate beings again. But now, she seemed even more on edge.

Well, maybe this was a start. Hearing her request, he stuck his head out the door, waving for one of the VIP room's servers. After chatting with him for a minute, there was a moment of waiting. When Ty came back, he had another rum and cola(This time he may or may not have had them hold the cola,) and a drink for her. He held it out to her, taking a sip from his own. "Here ya go," he offered with a small smile.

"Not gunna lie. Bruno kinda scares me, but he's a teddy bear, unless you mess up the bar or start a fight or somethin' like that. But hey, here, you can control the lights, music...everything. So if this isn't your style, you can adjust it here."

Maybe he was trying too hard to win her over, so by now, he relaxed again, reverting to what had gotten her to offer him a ride in the first place. He relaxed considerably, and he was just...himself. Even if those two things were the hardest two things to do as of late.

"So," he said as he slid into a seat closest to her, "What's your idea of a good time? I'm a simpler being who likes to sit around, drinking and listening to loud rock music, but....well that's not for everyone." He chuckled softly, interested in her answer.

Her fingers coiled tightly around the drink, taking it in thanks. She downed half of the beer before checking herself - it was more effective to get drunk on hard liquor, another reason to stick to softer alcohols for the evening. Nevertheless, the drink served its purpose. As she slid into the couch facing door, she felt her muscles unclench. Ty talked, telling her about Bruno - he was, like most other extremely large people, a big softie at heart. When one is that imposing, they really have to be teddy bears on the inside, if not they might encounter problems. Everyone just wants to be loved, after all.

Then, he offered her control of the music. She switched it over from rock to a slightly more alternative setting (though not all the way alternative). At the same time, she dialed the lighting from white to a soft blue. Her eyes slid closed as soothing chords with a slower pace washed over her.

“So, what’s your idea of a good time?” Ty’s asked, sliding onto the couch next to her. He went on to elaborate: “ I'm a simpler being who likes to sit around, drinking and listening to loud rock music, but....well that's not for everyone.” His voice had dropped slightly, noting to her ears that he was more relaxed. This in turn encouraged her to relax more. Then, of all things, he chuckled. It threw her for a bit of a loop, creating a small smile on the corners of her mouth. “To be honest, the last time I thought about having a good time, it consisted of Hide and Go Seek.” She punctuated the statement with a slight bitter tone turned inward. “I guess nowadays when I’m not drinking, I’m racing; and even then, sometimes the activities aren’t mutually exclusive. You could say that I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, but I’ve never really had anyone to be close with so I do what I must to survival.”

Her eyes were still closed. In the back of her mind, Magnum knew exactly what she thought was fun. Almost shamefully, all it really needed was a partner.Then again, she’d never had a relationship that lasted more than an evening to know if laying together and talking without having to worry about secrets was really her favorite thing - but this was her fantasy, at least.

As she spoke, Ty soaked in every word as he enjoyed the change in atmosphere. They really weren't so different.

"Yeah, me too. The car theft, cop chases, even getting caught while stealing...it was all for the rush."

He let out a sigh, remembering things that had been. But he couldn't talk about it. And what he could talk about, he didn't want to. He was only here right now because he'd turned his back on those he loved out of fear.

Good thing Mag's eyes were closed, because his facade of being in control was gone.

"Sometimes, it's good to have someone. Others, it isn't. The trick is finding that....balance." That was a trick Ty hunself had yet to learn.

Magnum knew that a portion of her wanted nothing more than to break into tears; she could feel it crying already. On the outside, she took another sip of her drink and continued sitting with her eyes closed and listening. “Sometimes, it's good to have someone. Others, it isn't. The trick is finding that....balance.” His words struck a chord within her, bringing back memories from her childhood. More of her broke off to cry inside, making it increasingly difficult to remain straight-faced without a steady stream of alcohol burning down her throat. If they kept this up, she’d definitely need something stronger than beer.

After a long silence, she found the words to articulate her thoughts without giving much away. “Having someone puts their life in danger.” She spoke softly, knowing that the words were deliberately cryptic but not willing to share more information.

"Having someone puts their life in danger...."

Those words echoed and swarmed around in his head like a nest of hornets. It gripped his very soul to the core.

"And that," he said with a slight shake to his voice, "is why I'm here today...you can't protect everyone all the time. I guess just...find someone you trust can protect themselves..."

That was when it clicked for him. He couldn't change the past, but he could affect the future. He knocked back his rum, savoring the flavor and the feeling it brought him.

"Wolves don't hang around with chickens. The powerful surround themselves with powerful allies. That's how the pack lives on." He spoke his revelation out loud, a smile coming to his face. That was the secret.

He sounded so.. happy, in that revelation. Like she’d helped him discover the key to life. And yet, he was missing that though Wolves run with other wolves, even wolves die. Considering how happy he was to have come to that conclusion, Magnum felt it best not to comment. Instead, she drowned the nagging thoughts in hoppy-goodness, setting the empty glass on the table with a hollow thunk. “I think the next glass should be whiskey, your pick on the make.”

The song changed, picking up pace and becoming a little more modern in the instruments. It almost annoyed Mag, who felt herself slipping backward in time instead of forward. “So how long have you been bringing poor, innocent women here?” she teased, having gotten the sense that she was neither the first nor the last of Ty’s interests to have visited this establishment. “And for that matter, why a mutant bar?”

Ty knew that everything had to die, but he chose to ignore that part for now. Making his way to the included minibar, he poured her a glass of whiskey then sat back down.

Then...the million dollar question.

He sighed deeply, fighting to stay strong. "My love for this place has nothing to do with it being a mutant bar. This is a safe place to me. Somewhere that...I feel I can't screw up."

He paused, sipping his drink again. "Actually, you're the first. No one I've been with has seen this place. I just felt you could use a breather as much as I did. Besides...none of my relationships have lived through the night. And the one that actually might coulda made it...I screwed up."

He sighed again, his eyes meeting hers. One look at his face would show that he was hiding something big. Something dark...

She sipped on the stronger liquid, letting it roll over her tongue. Ty had decent tastes, but this wasn’t the best drink that she had tasted in her years of sampling. While she judged his choice of drink, she listened to his explanation: the mutant bar was so obscure that not even a human could mess it up. This excuse seemed legitimate. Then again, anyone would feel safer with a guard like Bruno on their side.

At his mention of one night stands, she chuckled, raising her glass for a sip. Magnum understood relationships that ended in the morning. She spent plenty of time dabbling in them herself, after all. Usually, she was the one who ended them as well. It was always for the best, she gave the excuse. No random civvie needed to be drawn into her lethally convoluted world. As her lips curled into a smile, he continued his statement.

Ty had lost someone.

She also understood this, far better than he might imagine. First her mother, then her friend, next her friend… there was no telling who she would lose next, that’s why she kept her distance. Wherever Magnum went, death seemed to follow. Darkness descended on her face in the same moment that it did his, their eyes meeting in a mutual display of pain and times long lost. Curiousity got the better of her, pressing the question, “What happened?”

Ty let out another sigh, sipping on his drink. "Well, she was...volatile, to say the least, but I loved her with every fiber of my being, he began, a smile on his face but tears welling up un his eyes.

"Neither one of us were what you'd call innocent. Trouble seemed to follow us. But I had a nasty habit of running when the stakes were high. A year ago, I took the wrong job--and let's leave it at that, for all our sakes. I felt that I and everyone I was close to was in danger, so...I left. I'd thought it was to protect her, but now...I don't even know anymore. So...here I am."

He sat back in his chair, regaining his composure and sighing again. He finished his drink, then opted to cut himself off after that. To an extent, it helped to open up just a little. But he'd never open up completely. To anyone. Some things were best kept locked up.

Magnum judged him silently… and then the judging became not-so-silent. “You’re a runner too, huh? Seems like a lot of people I know are like that,” she grumbled, meaning herself more than anyone. His comment made her think about Blaze, though… how they both were runners trapped in a corner; how they found the courage to stand together, and one of them was shot because of it. For the most part, she registered what Ty was saying, but was lost in her own memories as well.

His smile. His arms. His laugh.

She downed her drink and immediately went to fetch herself another. It wasn’t often anymore that unlimited free drinks were offered. It also wasn’t often that she got sh*tfaced anymore. Then again, she’d been able to survive almost three months without thinking about him. Also, the minibar made her stand with her back to Ty, so he wouldn’t see the tears running down her cheeks.

She took the bottle of vodka and considered drinking it straight from the container, but decided that putting it in an over sized glass would be slightly classier. Before she could return to the couch, the train of emotions hit her, forcing Magnum to hold herself up using the bar’s counter.