>> “Where else would I offer it?”

“Craigslist,” Jack offered, half-joking and half-serious.

>> “Mind you, might need to have an official interview but I think you’d be a good fit. Xavier’s sister school. I call it mutant manor though.”

Jack took the business card that was offered to her between her thumb and primary finger, surveying it closely. The card did, in fact, list the name of the school—Xavier’s Sister School—and included the contact information for Sam. Jack tucked the card into her wallet, and slipped her wallet into her pocket.

The two mutants hastily left the store—away from the registers, to the exit, and into the parking lot. Jack had expected to part ways, here. Thank C.S., go home, maybe plow through half of a container of ice cream. The possibilities were endless.

Jack had noted the three men, but hadn’t expected them to want anything from her and Sam. Not until one of them addressed them, raising his tone to a loud timbre. He was issuing an ultimatum.

“You shouldn’t shop here anymore.”

>> “Shoo flies.”

Sam looked to Jack. The prawn, who’d previously been keeping a hunched profile, rose, squaring her shoulders.

“Dat’s not sore you to decide,” Jack said flatly. “We don’t want any trou’le,”

Grocery bags, which the prawn previously held in both of the prawn’s primary hands, were switched into her non-dominant hand. Neither mutant wanted trouble, but they weren’t so foolish as to not expect it. Jack settled a hand lightly on Sam’s shoulder.

“Let’s get outta here,” she reiterated, loudly enough for Sam to hear. Jack turned and began to leave. Whether or not Sam followed her was up to him. She had walked maybe two strides when the rush of footsteps was upon them. Taptaptaptaptap- some people just didn’t take a f__king hint.

Jack turned to see that two of the three men had singled her out, metal glinted in the hands of one. He was carrying a pipe. The man brought it down like a sledgehammer, Jack slid her right heel back, dodging the swing. Momentum carried him towards her. The prawn dropped her groceries. One hand grasped the back of his shirt. The other tore the beam free of his hand. Jack dropped the man as his friend rushed her, dodged a punch, punted him between the legs. The kicked man crumpled and reflexively threw-up. 

The first man scrambled to his feet, dealing a quick one-two punch to Jack's abdomen while his friend rolled on the ground. *Thock*. No damage. Slightly lower. No damage. Jack grabbed the man’s head, pulling him away from her and holding him out where he couldn't reach her. He dangled like a plushie in a claw machine, though he was putting up significantly more of a fight that one such plushie.

“Can’t you just ice dere ankles and wrists?” Jack groused. The man in her grasp was still grappling her arm ineffectually, whilst his buddy was still on the ground, hands pressed hard against his pelvis, as he rolled about, “Like hand-cuss or sun-ting. I just wanna go hone.”

She looked towards Sam, to see how he was fairing. Rumbling to the man in her hold, she complained, “Can’t e-zen go to duh store wit-out a**holes like you trying to start a sun-ting.”

Sam appreciated Jack’s lack of aggression but Sam was itching for a fight. Sam started to walk with Jack until he felt them coming Sam stepped back and out of the way saving the booze as someone tried to tackle him to the ground. The guy slipped on some ice a few inches in front of Sam as he turned to see Jack dropping his groceries to the ground. A few punches were thrown between the two as Sam was watching Jack work. Sure he could step in but he was curious to see what Jack was capable of Sam did offer a job in security and while there wasn’t much fighting going on in the mansion there was the occasional order raid when things like this did happen.

The kick to one of the man’s groin made Sam flinch and cringe. ”Guys shouldn’t do that to other guys!” Sam called out as he reached into one of his bags and cracked a beer. By this time however the man who was charging him before was back on his feet. He started to swing at Sam and Sam ducked out of the way and pivoted still drinking his beer. That was when he heard Jack again, ”Yeah, I could.” Sam said with a shrug, ”I kinda feel like hitting something though.” the beer still in his hand he dodged another punch and another kick with ease. Sam rounded a punch to the guy when he missed again and the guy dropped to the ground with a thud. Another sip and Sam sighed. ”Fine, guess that’s good enough.”

The air started to get colder as ice started to form on his open beer, with his free hand Sam pointed to the guy he just hit and blasted a beam of ice at him. ”You have the right to remain silent!” Sam turned and shot at the other one that Jack had already taken care of. ”Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney,” Sam shifted and turned towards the one that Jack was holding and Sam aimed for the legs then to the ground with the beam of ice freezing him in the air. ” if you can’t afford one, one will be appointed to you. You can decide at any time to not say anything.” Sam wavied his hands as he summed up his version of the rights and them sipped on his beer.

”Supposed to be off duty today.” Sam said as he walked over to Jack with his bags. ”Really though.” Sam looked to the guy who was covered in ice as he continued to hold his groin, ”You know how much that hurts so why would ya kick him there?”

Jack was, admittedly, holding back. Sure, a kick in the baby-maker wasn't "fair", but punching these guys would do a whole lot more damage. Jostled junk was a lot easier to handwave than a few broken ribs. She arched her eyebrows when Sam protested, though.

"It was easiest," Jack said simply. She waited until Sam had his fun, inclining her head as he began reading them their rights. Was he a cop? He could've mentioned that earlier. But he worked for a school... he had even given her a business card for the school where he worked. Maybe he was just being corny.

Once the man's feet were enclosed in ice, Jack unfurled her fingers and left him suspended there. The prawn went to grab her grocery bags, allowing her newfound friend to voice his discontent.

>> ”Supposed to be off duty today. Really though. You know how much that hurts so why would ya kick him there?”

Should I tell him, Jack asked herself? Sam had made the same assumption that many before him had, and over the years, the prawn had grown sick of correcting people. The wryest of smiles curled at her maxillipeds, though, as she hoisted the bags over a shoulder.

"Jack," she said simply, "Is short sore Jacquelyn."

A chuckle burbled out of her, " 'sides which, you can't attack s-run 'ehind and ex'ect a clean sight."

Not that this wasn't fun, but Jack was eager to make herself scarce, lest a bystander had phoned for the police. The prawn wasn't exactly inconspicious. She started walking away from Sam, tossing a casual wave back at him as she retreated.

"We'll 'e in touch," she assured him.

((OoC: Feel free to conclude with your next post, hun.))

When he said his full name Sam realized finally that he was in fact a she. Sam’s jaw hung open for a second before he smirked and tried to play it off. ”Duh?” Sam said shifting his eye. Sam did give her credit though, she was right they were stupid and were asking for a beating.

”Looking forward to it ma’am.” Sam said waiting for the police as he opened another beer.