Blue and black powder sparkled against the mid-morning light. The butterfly was a beautiful splatter on the windshield until Officer Diggit hit the windshield wipers. After a noisy city-funded whirr, it was just a brownish and gooey smear.

Officer Diggit was officially a killjoy.

Terra sighed. If any of the records about the New York Police department were to be believed, Officer Diggit would be injured on the job sooner rather than later. Harsh, but it gave Terra a strange sense of hope that her next partner might be a little more like the Police Chief and former head of Mutant-Related Crimes.

Ms. Myers may have just had a child, but the woman was something to respect. She didn't get to be head honcho by being stupid and that was probably the only reason Terra was out on the streets instead of behind yet another boring desk. She actually seemed to understand what an asset Terra could be. Maybe she got it more than Terra did. 'At least I have a route. I'm thankful for that and I hate to be picky, but I'm not asking for much.' Terra thought, 'I'd just rather someone a little less Diggit and a little more polite. How much does politeness cost?'

"You want coffee?"

Terra looked at Diggit as if he had sprouted a second face. Sometimes prayers were answered scary fast. "That would be great, actually. Yeah."

The car slowed at a corner not too far from Central Park where the portable coffee vendors were thick this time of day. "I like my coffee with one cream, one sugar."

Terra frowned very deliberately. "I'm not your secretary."

"Yeah and you ain't driving neither 'cause you could turn to dust or whatever. Look. Just be a doll and grab me a cup of coffee."

Terra counted to ten. And when ten wasn't enough she counted to 20 and got out of the car. No way he'd come around that easy. She'd been crazy to think he had. And she'd almost been crazy enough to physically lash out at him for his chauvinistic tendencies. Double crazy when she was trying to move up in rank rather than go back to stewing in paperwork.

Terra touched her gun to check the snap latch as she always did in public and made her way down the street toward the coffee. It was only dirty water and sugar and fake dairy, but it was her comfort drink. Just the smell made her think solace, dirt, home. That wasn't a very human thought, but enough humans liked the stuff that this certain joy passed under the radar undetected.

((OOC: I think I got NPC information correct? Help if it needs a change, please))

For once in her life Meld actually had a little money at her disposal. So what if the money had come from illicit means, in this case a recent jewelry store robbery. Not only had she gotten away with a good handful of precious jewelry, which she had exchanged for money earlier in the day at a local pawn shop she knew about that didn't ask unfortunate questions, but she had also managed to make the life of an anti-mutant supporter very very difficult. And she still had money left over from the bank heist she had been a part of a few weeks ago as well. Most of it, of course, would go towards the the creation of her tail, by far her most ambitious flesh meld to date, but she figured she had enough currently to indulge herself a little. Besides, she really did deserve it. Ever since coming to the city she had been doing little more than fighting the good fight for mutants everywhere and had had so very little time for herself. Today was going to be all about her. She would wander around central park, eat some good food, maybe do a little frivolous shopping. The fight, after all, would still be there tomorrow and for many days and weeks to come.

Meld wandered around the paths of central park, looking to find a decent coffee shop. It may have been her imagination, but she could have sworn that people were acting even more afraid of her than usual. It was nothing unusual to have people be afraid of her, after all she was a mutant and a visible one at that, but usually people didn't scurry out of her path like they had seen a ghost. At least, not so many people. She sighed, thinking, for once, that maybe it hadn't been the best idea to get her face featured so prominently on the news. The last time she was on the news it had only been her metal limbs, her face had been covered. It wasn't enough to prevent the cops from figuring out who she was, but at least most of the masses hadn't realized it.

More recently, however, her face and everything else about her was caught prominently and clearly and plastered all over the news. Not only that, but she had been engaging in some rather...unwholesome activities. It wasn't her fault that the police had decided that she was a part of an all-mutant terrorist organization and had tried to capture her with force. Nor was it her fault that Aura and Predator had come to help her out and that, between the three of them, they had killed easily a dozen cops or more. And at least a couple of civilians. She sighed again. It really was their own fault anyway. Had they not tried to attack and capture Meld she would have been more than happy to leave them alone to live their happy little lives. Well, so long as they didn't start trying to discriminate against or, even more seriously, do physical harm to her fellow mutants. She could never let that go.

Eventually Meld found herself a coffee vendor that didn't cringe in fear at her very approach. Either he didn't follow the news and was thus unaware of her more recent exploits, or he didn't care for some reason. Maybe he was a mutant supporter or, better yet, a mutant himself. Either way it seemed to be the best place to go for a good cup of coffee. "I'll have a large coffee, black no milk or sugar," she told him and payed the appropriate amount of money. Turning, she accidentally collide with a female police officer. "Oh, I'm so very sorry," she said, hoping that her tone of voice sounded authentic. In the best of times she didn't like cops and she was just hoping that, perhaps, this officer wouldn't realize that she was a wanted criminal. It really would be a waste of a perfectly good day.

(OOC: If Terra is not in uniform let me know and I'll change things appropriately.)

For the last few days Twyla had taken to leaving the Sanctuary early in the morning right after breakfast and wandering around New York City until it started to get dark. Usually her meanderings brought her either to the New York Public Library or to Central Park. Today Central Park seemed to be where her feet wanted to go. The park had become very familiar to her and Twyla had begun to feel more at home in the hustle of the city. Today Twyla carried her backpack with her and she was wearing a pair of her older brother’s old jeans and a plain green tee shirt. She didn't look like anything special and that's how she liked it.

Twyla was about to enter the park when the smell of something like coffee hit her. She wasn’t a big coffee drinker but it was still a little early and Twyla wanted something that would wake her up. Some caffeine could do me good AND it’s gonna be cheap. I think I ahve enough quarters to get a small cup. Twyla thought while suppressing a yawn. She hadn’t slept well the night before and was feeling the affects of that now. Her decision made, Twyla turned and walked down the street towards a cluster of coffee vendors.

Is that Meld? Twyla wondered when she saw a woman with unmistakable metal feet. This is the first time I’ve seen her since she brought me to the Sanctuary. Well, live that is. She’s been on the news plenty. Oh no, she looks like she’s about to- “Look–” Twyla started to yell before Meld turned around and ran into another woman. “...out.” Twyla finished under her breath. Wait...is that a police officer? That’s probably NOT a good thing. Twyla felt the color go out of her face as she took in the blue uniform, now stained with dark brown coffee. That is definitely a cop. Maybe she won’t notice. Maybe they’ll both just walk away and everything will be fine. Maybe she won’t notice al the metal. Twyla hoped as she began to walk more briskly down the street. She didn’t have a plan for what to do if the situation turned into a fight but she hoped that she cold be of use to the woman who had showed her kindness.

Standing in line wasn't much of an issue. All New Yorkers seem used to the idea and, even if Terra wasn't native, she was getting comfortable with it. When she finally got to the front of the line, the cart owner fidgeted and tried not to look at her. Everyone was guilty of something. It saved a lot of time for an officer of the law to just assume everyone was guilty and then to figure out what they were guilty of later. Because it was true. Everyone was guilty of something. Most people didn't fidget about it though.

Terra ordered her coffee and the irksome Diggit's coffee and was surprised by the total. Police discount, he said. Terra handed him what she thought she owed and then turned away to enjoy her cup. It smelled heavenly. The taste was bitter and underneath that was roast, berry, plant, earth, and dirt. Terra sighed. She was reluctant to go from the best part of her day back into the worst part.

She lifted the styrofoam cup to her lips again to have one last unadulterated and joyous sip. Somebody bumped into her. Hot coffee spilled on her arm, but worse hot coffee spilled from her cup down the front of her shirt. Her anger was back. The soothing coffee was no good to her now.

>> "Oh, I'm so very sorry,"

Terra was ready to growl at the woman who was apologizing. The scalding coffee made her tense and the tenseness and pain meant parts of her were leaking into stone. So far, only the parts of herself that were under her uniform were changing, like where the coffee on her arm was stinging and where the coffee on her chest was burning, but if she got angry enough or hurt enough there was no telling how far it would spread. Terra rounded on the speaker and looked as unhappy as she felt.

The coffee spiller was an obvious mutant. Guilty of something just like everyone else, but this one was worse. This one was someone even Terra recognized as the dangerous kind of guilty. They had passed her face around to add to the dangerous mutant list after she had robbed a bank. She was in the ranks of Aura and the huge dog, merciless killers. Maybe not as bad as Isabel Duskmoor, but definitely on the same page.

She couldn't let the girl know that she knew who she was. She needed to get her away from the civvies and into police custody. Terra went to get napkins from the vendor and slipped her handcuffs off of her belt and into her hand down by her pant leg. It would be hard to see if they weren't looking for it. After dabbing at her shirt, it was clear that a change of uniform was in order soon. Assuming she survived the next few minutes.

Terra let out a long sigh and let the tension run out of her body before she offered her hand to the woman.

"Officer Crane. No hard feelings."

What she wanted to do was try her mace on that metal eye for all the grieving wives and husbands she'd seen mutants like this girl prevent from going home.

"Do you happen to know Miranda?"

If the part metal girl shook her hand, Terra was prepared to bring her other hand around and slap that metal hand in one side of her cuffs. The other side was loosely on her own hand, just ready to slap shut. Miranda, of course, was not a person, but the Miranda Warning all police units were to recite to their arrest-ees. Terra could always chicken out and not try it. Of course, pigs could sprout wings and fly any day now too.

"A pleasure to meet you and again, I am so very sorry," Meld replied. It was a difficult thing to get out and more than a tad forced. She had spent so many years on the wrong side of the law and had so many encounters with unfriendly police officers that she really couldn't help but have a negative opinion of them. But she really didn't want any conflict this day so she forced herself to react in a civil manner.

Meld was about to turn around and go her way, relieved that she had apparently not been recognized, when she was asked if she knew Miranda. It was clearly an odd question. Why should she be expected to know this 'Miranda' person anyway? Perhaps, she decided, Miranda was a runaway or something and the officer was asking everyone if they knew Miranda. Either that, or perhaps Miranda was some sort of wanted criminal. "I'm sorry, I don't know any Miranda," Meld replied. She was tense, but then she was always tense when there were police present.

"Now if you will excuse me," Meld said, inclining her head slightly. She turned to move off in a different direction, keeping an eye on the officer in her peripheral vision. So far the other woman hadn't made any threatening gestures but she never liked to turn her back on the cops and that was especially true given the recent events of her life. If the officer so much as made the least threatening move, or even moved in Meld's direction in such a way that she didn't like, she would be ready. She hadn't gotten as good as she was by letting down her guard.

Twyla continued watching the pair as she moved closer towards them. She wasn’t close enough to hear what was said but from the looks of it, it was friendly enough. The cop looks angry, but I would be too if hot coffee just got spilled all over me. Meld didn’t shake her hand...but it doesn’t look like she’s cuffed or anything. Maybe the officer didn’t realize it was Meld. But, that doesn’t make any sense. She’s a wanted criminal. I’ve seen her on the news. Twyla never let her eyes leave the officer or Meld as she came closer. This became more difficult as Meld started to move away from the cop.

Twyla was close enough to Meld at this point to get next to her so she wove her way through the crowd of coffee drinkers until she was walking next to her in an awkward sideways gait. “Hi.” Twyla said while looking over her shoulder at the female police officer. “I saw your face on the news.” Twyla paused to look Meld in the face. “You’re lucky she didn’t arrest you. Maybe she’s going to call for backup or something? If you need my help or anything...I’m here, okay? Or I can ditch or whatever if I’m useless. I just saw you in the crowd and once you ran into the cop I thought there could be trouble and since I was here...” Twyla shrugged and looked back over her shoulder to hide her slight blush. I’m probably useless anyway. Either way, I needed to make sure. She’d help me if I needed it.

>> "A pleasure to meet you and again, I am so very sorry."

The girl didn't sound all that happy to have said it either. She shrugged off Terra's offered hand as if it were a bit of rubbish or perhaps a tumbleweed destined to be lonely. And then she started to walk off. Which was rude, but much less rude than random stabbings. She could have taken a host of the passersby hostage or worse, but she was trying to be incognito. Incognito was a little bit silly considering her appearance.

>> "I'm sorry, I don't know any Miranda. Now if you will excuse me."

"Afraid I didn't catch your name." But she was intent to disappear into the crowd. Another girl joined her, probably mutant, though Terra couldn't tell just by looking. Heck, most people couldn't tell about her just by looking either. Even now, under the two coffee spills were spots of hardened stone. She was lucky it wasn't dirt this time, but pain usually made her tense up. And tenseness equated to stone.

There was a moment when Terra hesitated. She could just let the girl walk away. No one would have to get hurt this time (Except her uniform, did coffee stain?) and they would all live to see another day, another violation of law, another death caused by a negligent officer who was too afraid to take on the bad guy.

Terra reattached the cuffs to her belt and clicked the walkie-talkie at her shoulder. "Code 100 see-muID: Xmetal."

It was weird to put out a criminal intercept code when she had just gone to get coffee, but there were stranger things in this life. Xmetal was Meld's Criminal Mutant Unit ID (see-muID for short) code. Since the police had yet to figure out who she really was, like Isabel Duskmoor, they had her down as X for female and metal for her obvious mutations. Rather than argue with an incredulous partner, Terra only added one comment before turning her volume all the way down. "Could use a little backup and a be a dear and let dispatch know." 'Yeah and a gurney for later.'

The girls were still chatting so Officer Crane casually picked up her two spilled coffee cups and put them in the trash can just behind where the girls were talking in hushed tones.

"I don't suppose you ladies would voluntarily come downtown to answer some questions, would you?"

But it didn't hurt to try to be polite. Hey, Terra hadn't shoved anyone out into traffic yet and neither had Xmetal or her friend. Wasn't everyone just being dandy? Now how long could they keep it up?

Meld smiled a little tensely at Wallflower as the woman introduced herself. Although it appeared as if the officer was going to leave her alone she still had her doubts and she certainly did not want the other woman to get injured because of her. She was a lot more innocent than Meld was and Meld did not want her to experience some of the uglier aspects of the world and of her life. "Thank you for your offer of help," she said, "but if it comes down to it...I would prefer you get yourself to safety." She smiled, hoping that the other woman didn't take what she had to say the wrong way. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the offer, she just didn't want anyone to get hurt because of her, least of all Wallflower who did not appear to be used to fighting.


"I don't suppose you ladies would voluntarily come downtown to answer some questions, would you?"

Meld turned around, giving the female officer a closer look, her gaze cold and hard. Carefully and deliberately she looked her up and down, meeting her eyes squarely when she had finished. So. It seemed as if she was going to have trouble with the officer after all. It was quite a shame, really, she had no desire to cause any death or damage this day, but if that was what she desired than so be it. Any casualties would be on the officer's head.

"I am afraid," Meld said coldly, trying to intimidate the other woman, something which worked very well on most people but she wasn't sure if it would work on an experienced officer, "that I will not be able to come downtown with you to answer some questions. Now, I don't want any trouble but if there is to be trouble the decision will be yours." She made no threatening moves, but she did subtly shift her body to a defensive stance. She also took a quick glance of the surrounding area, in case things did get messy, noting how many people were around, possible places to take cover and any other major landmarks. She hoped Wallflower wouldn't be caught up in the middle of this but it was looking more and more likely that she would be.

Twyla listened to Meld’s response with a sense of relief she didn’t dare express. You’re such a coward to be thankful for something like that. She didn’t say anything in response though, just nodded. If it comes down to it, would I be able to do my best, or would I run away? Hopefully we don’t have to find out. Twyla watched the officer throw away her coffee cups and she tensed up when the woman spoke "I don't suppose you ladies would voluntarily come downtown to answer some questions, would you?" the officer inquired.

Twyla felt ice slide down her back. It was naive to think she’d let a wanted criminal just walk away. I can’t go anywhere with a cop, I’m a runaway. Twyla managed to keep her thoughts under control–she knew she became useless when she started to panic. What she didn’t manage to keep in check were her lower legs, which had taken on the beige tones of the sidewalk. Just don’t look down, and she won’t notice. The teen reminded herself. Oh yeah, she asked a question. Twyla looked up at Meld to see her reaction and to gauge how best she should respond.

Meld’s tone was cold and she got her point across very well. Twyla thought it was a good answer, it was strong but at the same time it didn’t call for a violent reaction. Twyla sincerely hoped that this would deter the officer but she knew those hopes were naive and she began to look for an exit strategy. There’s a lot of people, it would be easy to get lost in the crowd, especially for someone like me. But Meld....I’ll help her if I can, if it looks like she can’t handle it. I was stupid to approach so soon, I could have been more help from a distance, or as a last resort...or something. I'm not very useful, I guess. She seems like the type that can handle herself, obviously since she hasn't been caught yet. She might have been better off without having to worry about me too...We’ll just see how this all pans out, I guess. Twyla was tense and she didn’t make eye contact with the female cop, she didn’t say anything or make any movements in response to her question.

When the metal spotted woman turned around, Terra was glad that there was a rubbish receptacle between them. If her skin could crawl, it would be under that cold look. A pearl of sweat rolled down her spine while she waited for back up to arrive and cut off pedestrian traffic. Yeah. She was going to get yelled at for this, but she never would have lived with herself if she'd just let the dangerous one go. The other one?

>> "I am afraid that I will not be able to come downtown with you to answer some questions. Now, I don't want any trouble but if there is to be trouble the decision will be yours."

"Bull. If you didn't want trouble you wouldn't have killed cops in front of witnesses or on freaking live TV." Definitely unhappy eyes now. Normally Terra would be invading personal space now, but the rubbish bin was there. "I think the decision was made when you tore up a bunch of my coworkers." Allegedly. But they both knew it was true. It'd been all over TV. Maybe this little chat was enough for back up to arrive. Maybe. Probably not, but maybe.

"I don't know your friend's face, but I know yours." And her eyes were looking less and less happy by the moment. Terra had to remember not to draw her gun. Not yet. She turned to the nervous girl. "You don't need to be bothered with our little conversation if you don't want, hun." Terra would let her go because she didn't know her and it was Terra's business to know which ones were running around slaughtering people.

"Unless you know something I need to know." Finally all her good nature was gone and all that was left were cop eyes, cop sense. Everyone was guilty of something. She gave a good stare down. It had made even a little sweet old lady squirm once.

Terra gripped the edge of the rubbish receptacle and was ready to upheave it at the smallest threat. If it came down to a fight, she was in trouble. Maybe the trashcan between them was a good thing even if it smelled bad.

"Bull. If you didn't want trouble you wouldn't have killed cops in front of witnesses or on freaking live TV. I think the decision was made when you tore up a bunch of my coworkers."

Meld sneered condescendingly at the other woman. "They really don't tell you the whole story do they? It wasn't I that attacked those cops. Those cops attacked me and I was forced to defend myself." True, at least mostly. The SWAT officer she had killed deliberately but even that wasn't entirely without provocation. How could she expect to allow such inflammatory anti-mutant propaganda to be promoted on live television without taking a stand? Maybe killing him had been a little extreme but it had gotten the point across, now hadn't it?

Meld was thankful that the officer was going to let Wallflower go, she just hoped that the girl was smart enough to realize that it was for the best, for her own personal safety. She wasn't involved in this and even if she didn't get hurt helping her could very well make her a target in the future. And Meld knew very well what it was like to be a target. She was forced, not only because of the police also because of certain enemies from her past, to constantly be looking over her shoulder, constantly be on the lookout for enemies. Wallflower didn't deserve to have to live her life like that. No one did, really. She nodded encouragingly at Wallflower for her to leave.

The entire situation was making Meld more and more uncomfortable. She didn't want to be here, didn't want yet another life or death battle with the cops. She had had enough of those lately, between helping to rescue Predator and her own near capture not long afterwords. Not to mention her recent battle with Davis and his gang of anti-mutants, though they were most certainly not cops. She was getting tired of all the fighting, tired of never knowing which day might be her last. All she had asked for this day was a day to herself, a day to recharge and prepare to continue the eternal battle for mutants everywhere tomorrow, but it seemed she wasn't even going to get that much.

Meld began to edge backwards, away from the cop, never taking her eyes off of her. She wasn't afraid, of course, she just wanted to avoid an unnecessary fight and, if it did come to a fight, she wanted a wall to her back. "You think I'm evil," Meld said, trying to reason with her as well as distract her from her movement. "And maybe in your position I would think the same, so I don't entirely blame you. But I'm not, you know. I'm just fighting for the rights of my people, just as you are. Occasionally there are casualties in this war, and I regret their necessity, but I cannot stop fighting for my people, no matter the consequences for me personally." The convinction was evident in her voice.

"You don't need to be bothered with our little conversation if you don't want, hun." The officer’s words echoed in Twyla’s mind. For a moment she didn’t understand what they meant. She couldn’t remember how to put the words together in a logical sequence."Unless you know something I need to know." The officer’s next words pulled Twyla from her shock. Quickly she shook her head, still not making eye contact with the cop. I don’t know anything that would be relevant in THIS conversation. Not really. All I know that a cop might want to know is that I recently ran from a group of your fellow NYPD officers, but that wasn’t my fault. I was having quite a good day until that guy, Dead, showed up and threw some human through a storefront. I just happened to be there and I happened to help him evade capture but that’s not really relevant. Oh, that and I ran away from home about seven months ago. That’s about all I know.

Twyla was torn between wanting to pay Meld back for her kindness in whatever was she could and her self preservation instinct but only for a moment. Meld nodded to her and it seemed like she was saying ‘It’s alright, go.’ Twyla bit her lip and started to back away from the officer and Meld. Looking up at the woman she had attempted to help she mouthed “Sorry.” before turning her back and weaving through the crowd. She didn’t realize she had been holding her breath until she almost passed out next to a coffee cart. It’s alright, breath...Twyla took a few gasping breaths. I don’t know if I’m a coward or smart.

Walking back towards the park Twyla saw a cop car parked with an officer in the driver’s seat talking on his radio. Maybe that’s her partner. Twyla let her stride slow as she passed the vehicle. The radio was blaring random things that made no sense to Twyla but she listened anyway. She stopped walking when she heard something about backup being sent to the area. The officer in the car looked up and Twyla quickly turned around and started walking back towards the coffee vendors. She knew she probably wasn't going to act and if she did she probably wouldn’t be much help to Meld but she decided to watch and make sure that the woman made it out of this encounter. Trying to make sure she wasn’t noticed by the pair she had just walked away from Twyla looked for a good spot to go camouflaged. She found it near an entrance to the park. It hardly took any concentration at all for Twyla to match the stone of the low wall and the greenery behind it. We’ll see how this pans out for sure now.

>> "They really don't tell you the whole story do they? It wasn't I that attacked those cops. Those cops attacked me and I was forced to defend myself."

She begged for an opening. Terra itched not for a fight, but she wanted dangers like this girl to repent or stay in jail. The squak from her shoulderbox afforded a mild distraction. Backup was here. Civilians were being rerouted. The girl's friend was gone. The street started to quiet down and the tension started to rise.

The perp started to edge backward. As if Terra were a large predator and only certain types of movement would set her off. In a way she was right. Her hands were tied about who, where, and when she could shoot. Very rarely did she begrudge those rules.

>> "You think I'm evil, And maybe in your position I would think the same, so I don't entirely blame you. But I'm not, you know. I'm just fighting for the rights of my people, just as you are. Occasionally there are casualties in this war, and I regret their necessity, but I cannot stop fighting for my people, no matter the consequences for me personally."

She was so quick to assume that Terra almost rolled her eyes. Almost. But she wouldn't let her out of her sight even for the millisecond it took to express her eye thoughts.

"You don't know jack diddly squat about me or my people. So why don't you just lay off the righteous act. If you were really so innocent and Just then you wouldn't be trying to get away from an Officer of the Law."

All it would take to prove to the girl that she was a mutant too was for her to pull up her sleeve and expose the area burned into stone by the coffee. But Terra didn't want a pass from her just because she was a mutant. She certainly didn't want anyone at the precinct to know that she got off easy in a fight because she pulled the Mutant card just like she wouldn't want off easy for pulling the Race card or the Gender card. Nope. There was no easy way out for Terra.