(( OOC: Central park jogging paths, roundabout 8AM. Open to anyone. Sonya is in her Teresa body: www.harrycutting.com/view_imgs.asp?id=2742. Oh, and she's wearing a dark blue jogging suit with white stripes, but she's not aware of the fact.))

Sonya has, by this point, spent more continuous time in Teresa's body than any other.

This isn't a huge surprise, since this is the body she was wearing when she learned to "refresh" a template... also, it's the body she most recently used to introduce herself to the Order, and there's a limit to how many times she can do that. Still, it's odd... or, rather, what's odd about it is how it isn't odd at all.

If anything, the body is becoming disturbingly familiar, and developing its own quirks. Not only does it like to mix ice-cream flavors, she's learned, it also likes onions and peppers on its pizza and prefers tart apples to sweet ones and has a near-irresistable habit of bopping its head when it listens to top-forty music and it is apparently mildly allergic to anything pickled.

And it's a morning person. Which is convenient in some ways, since Sonya herself never really was, and it makes getting out of bed in the mornings easier. But it's weird. She never did like morning people much, and being one of them -- at least when she's wearing this body -- doesn't entirely sit well with her.

Oh, and it jogs. At least, that's the only explanation Sonya can give for the fact that this morning she not only woke up before dawn, but proceeded to stuff all her belongings into her backpack and start running, which she's been doing now for about half an hour. It seems to make her body happy, which is great, but Sonya herself is somewhat skeptical. Dammit, who's in charge here, anyway?

Nothing answers the question, which on some consideration Sonya decides is a good thing. If she's not careful, she may end up as crazy as Calley.

ooc: Hope you dont mind me jumping in with Navi! Hes profile is in the section but I'll give you a briefer since I don't have a link up yet. He's Raina's older brother come visiting NYC to convince her to go back to their home tribe with him and take it over as the new elders seeing as they both have mutant abilities. He's a bit power hungry and has a crazy ability: people do whatever he says. now there's a limit, he has to say it specifically with intent, and when he says it with intent his eyes glow red. That doesn't mean he can't have accidents.

I wont control your character or anyone elses without permission. But Yah, That's Naveed in a nutshell. Check out the profile section for more

ic:

Naveed was up at first light and found himself darting through a path in a local park. The area was vacant except for the odd person here or there but mostly Naveed didn't mind. He was enjoying the peace and quiet though he knew it woudln't last. He ran easily through the mucky trail taking huge breaths of icy air through his nose. It was December now- the snow hadn't fallen yet but he could taste it in the air.

Naveed was agile and quick in his run- years of being the tribes hunter did that to you. He was used to manovering through ice and wind so this mild winter was a treat to him. The sun was only breaking through the clouds when he stopped by a bench for a breather. He stretched and wondered about Raina and why he'd lost her scent. His theory of the camps was really starting to urk his stomach now that he knew it could be a real possibility.

he'd play it safe for now, but if it came down to it he knew he could walk right into the camps and tell them to let her go and then tell them to forget.

That's how Navi was. One look in his eyes, one listen of his voice, and Navi a stranger a moment ago could be your best friend of years if he told you so.

ooc: Feel free to bump in or anything of the sort!

Sonya's been watching the guy run for a while now.

What caught her eye initially was the way he runs... she doesn't know exactly what she's seeing, but her body recognizes, with the unconscious perception of long training, the marks of a superior. Something about the way he places his feet, the way he moves his hips -- no wasted energy, no unnecessary motion, no bouncing or jostling, just efficient forward movement... and at the same time, a sense that he's completely aware of his environment. Most of the people Sonya has seen jogging at this hour seem practically in a trance -- and the truth is that pretty much describes her, too. Not this guy, though.

So, of course, the gods of irony take this moment to illustrate the importance of paying attention to your surroundings, as Mr. Runner-Man stops for a breather and Sonya, jogging past and looking back over her shoulder to watch him, slips on a patch of ice she really should have seen and comes down hard on her ankle, which makes a very subtle -pop- sound rendered utterly inaudible over her entire unsubtle howl of surprise and pain.

Oh man..., she thinks to herself as she clutches her injured ankle and the initial howl of pain dies down to a more sustainable whimper, I think I sprained it!

It takes a moment for Naveed to look up even though he heard the cry of pain. He was used to being at home and being around people who obviously were used to ice. He waits a moment and hestitates, then decides he might as well help the girl out.

It's not that Naveed is heartless or uncompassionate, he's just rather self involved. That's how a hunter was. That's how Naveed had to be.

He looked down at the girl sprawled in pain. That was defenantly a sprained ankle. Without so much as a "tsk" he quite literally bent down and scooped the young woman up into his arms.

Now Naveed wasn't much for words considering his abilities- so he was just lucky there wasnt anyone around to see him carry a screaming girl or they might get the wrong idea. With a few short strides he was back at the bench and he placed the girl gently on it. He pulled his long black hair out of his eyes and reached down carefully for her ankle. It had to be popped into place and possibly splinted. He was no doctor- but at least that much was obvious.

"This could hurt" he said emphasizing the word 'could'. If Naveed said will or wont, then she wont most defenently listen and in her mind she would or wouldn't feel pain. He was careful about these things. He could tell her "you feel nothing" but that could lead to future problems so he decided to play it safe. "Take a deep breath" now that was an accidental order. He didn't ask her, he told her. (Ooc: Sonj, You can choose to listen to that one or not. Maybe she could write it off as feeling instinctive...) "Here we go." with one swift movement of his large hands her foot was back to looking the way it should look. Of course, that came with a loud cracking sound.
"We'll have to splint it and get you some place with some ice on it- though I'm sure ice is the last thing you want right now" he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wittling stick he'd been carrying around and tied it right around her ankle keeping the heel of her foot lined up.

"How does it feel?" he asked suddenly becoming aware of his size in comparison to the girl- feeling himself that he must seem intimidating.

ooc: Your post rocked!

Sonya can't quite decide what's more embarassing: spraining her ankle like that, or forgetting that she can heal herself. The latter is almost funny... she wonders how many other mutants forget that they have relevant powers in a crisis. Here lies George: fell off the roof and forgot he could fly.

Even more embarassing is the fact that by the time she'd remembered, Running Man had already taken over the situation, moving her off the path and taking care of her ankle with a cool, efficient professionalism that left her following his instructions with alacrity. But the real shock came when he grabbed her ankle to pop it back.

Sure, it had hurt more than the initial sprain had, but she'd expected that and managed to keep her reaction down to a stifled grunt of pain. And she wasn't even all that surprised when his genetic information flooded through her mind and she identified him as a mutant -- that's been happening a fair amount lately, after all, and she's become somewhat used to it.

The thing that really surprised her was how familiar his genetic pattern seemed. Not familiar the way Calley's had been familiar -- she'd eventually decided that that was due to the similarities in their powers -- but still, noticably so. He reminded her of someone, but she couldn't place it at first.

> "How does it feel?"

Would've hurt less if you'd just let me take care of it myself, she thinks, but doesn't say out loud... after all, he had no way of knowing she could self-heal, and it had been a nice gesture to take care of her. Instead, she nods gratefully. "Better... thank you. That was kind of you."

She carefully squeezes her splinted ankle back into her shoe and slowly stands up. "I think it will be OK. I'll, um, have a doctor take a look at it this afternoon, make sure it's not worse than it looks." She sticks her hand out in greeting, and adds "I'm Teresa, by the way. Nice to meet you."

"Naveed" he grunted stating his name not entierly convinced she was ok. She was trying to stand on it and he already knew that was a bad idea- but hey if she wanted to end up hurt again that was her problem.

He looked her over with an annoyed look that she would even fathom walking on it. "Why dont I get you a cab?" he asked. "Get you home in one peace." he did not look like a man who would take no for an answer. Then again, he wouldn't have to take no for an answer if he put enough thought into it.

There was something about him that was familiar. Maybe it was the odd paleness of his winburnt skin, or that slightly ethnic slide of his eyes...

"Do you jog often?" he asked bending down and scooping her up again deciding he was not waiting for the chance for her to protest a cab at least. If Raina found out he'd left an injured girl in the park his sister would have his head. "Most people say you need thick soles on your shoes but I prefer thin ones when the weather allows." he said reflecting as he broke into a sprint carrying her. "That way you can feel your environment better." and sure enough he anchored his body and easily manouvers across an icey puddle without so much as breaking a sweat. "I'd lay off the jogging in the winter. Doesn't look like the keep these trails very well maintained."

He was heading to the entrance of the Park where the traffic was now starting to build up on the early morning streets. He wasnt going to get away with carrying her for very much longer.

> "Do you jog often?"

"Well, I've been out of the haa----ack!" Jogger's small-talk turns into indignant shout as he scoops her up again, without waiting for permission. "What the hell? Dude, put me down!"

The guy's social skills definitely need work, she decides, although she doesn't get the impression that he's being deliberately rude... more like he's used to being in charge, or maybe to being on his own. She barely hears him as he continues talking about his preference in running shoes and the state of Central Park's trails and, for all she knows, the latest fluctuations in Venezuelan government bond prices, since she's not really listening.

On the other hand, the tone of voice does get through to her, as does the remarkable fact that he doesn't even seem to be breathing hard despite carrying her and running. Wow... this guy's in shape... she thinks idly, then which is so not the point! "Look, I realize you're trying to be helpful but put. Me. Down. Now." She pauses for a breath and adds "Not the way I want to be swept off my feet."

Meanwhile, she's trying to put her finger on what exactly seems so familiar about this guy. It's not just his genetics, it's also something about his appearance and his accent. It occurs to Sonya, somewhat disturbingly, that it might be Teresa who knows him. "So... this may sound like a weird question, but... have we met before?"

Naveed gives a sincere smerk and it's an odd scene. He sits her down on a bus stop bench and stretches. she's interesting, he's got to admit. He'd forgotten what modern women were like. "Ok, so no sweeping." he says "but I wont do windows!" his poor attempt at humor is a flop but he doesnt notice. It might have something to do with how monotone he is.

> have wemet before?

He looks at her face now for a long uncomofortable moment. "Nope, don't think so. I've never even been to this city before until the beginning of the week, Hell not even this part of the world." he added.

He's not liking the pony tail at this point and pulls off the elastic and puts it around his wrist. There's a tattoo there but it only flashes for a second under his many other bracelets of wood and bone and stone.

"Do I look familiar?" he asks suddenly hopefully and the enthusiasm in his voice is very noticible. "I have family here."

> "Ok, so no sweeping... but I wont do windows!"

Sonya has absolutely no idea what that's supposed to mean, but she doesn't really care -- whatever it is, it's better than being carried like a football through Central Park.

She takes advantage of Naveed's momentary distraction while stretching to shift into her Teresa template again, and quietly sighs in relief as the pain in her ankle goes away. She doesn't lean her weight on it or do anything obvious, though... no sense in giving anything away.

> "I've never even been to this city before until the beginning of the week, Hell not even this part of the world. Do I look familiar? I have family here."

"Oh! That's it!" Sonya snaps her fingers in sudden insight, his words and appearance and tribal jewelery triggering memories of her first encounter with Rupert and His Mutant Friends, and in particular of scanning Raina's genetic structure. "That girl, the redheaded singer -- she said she was from a tribe up north! Are you two related?"

Naveed turns on a dime to face her and now looks threatening. He doesn't mean to but he knows right away this girl can lead him to his sister. "Yes, her name is Raina, we are from the same tribe she is my sister." he tried to hold back the concern in his voice. "Do you know her well? I need to find her its quite important." He choses his words carefully but waits with baited breath

> "Yes, her name is Raina, we are from the same tribe she is my sister.Do you know her well? I need to find her its quite important."

Sonya backs up a couple of steps as Naveed whirls on her threateningly, forgetting her supposedly sprained ankle. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... slow down there, big guy. I heard her sing once and had breakfast with her and her boyfriend -- or, well, ex-boyfriend now, I guess, seeing as how he shot her and all. I don't know her well, though she seemed like a nice enough lady. But as for finding her, well, that's going to be difficult.. I'm pretty sure she's still locked up in the Camps, y'know?"

Naveed watches the woman get up and wonders if her ankle really is so bad. A few things started to happen then. The woman started to talk and everything felt slow.

I heard her sing once and had breakfast with her and her boyfriend

Naveed froze in horror. Raina was singing? How was that possible? He could barely register the thought when the word boyfriend followed.

Boyfriend? BOYFRIEND?! Raina was not permited to have a boyfriend. No man in all of the world could possibly be-

His entire body tightened and he could no longer control the expression on his face.

seeing as how he shot her and all

Shot.

Shot.

Someone shot Raina.

Naveed- a man very used to a cold climate suddenly felt very cold and pale. All the colour drained from his face and his hands began to shake. This was too much for one moment. And it got worse.

I'm pretty sure she's still locked up in the Camps

The camps. She sang- and he still wasnt sure how that was possible- she had a boyfriend who apparently shot her and is now in the camps?

He didn't think Raina could ever get caught for the camps= not with her cunning ability!

His shaking became more violent and then he let out a ferral growl that sounded more like a roar. Without realizing he'd grabbed the girl by the shoulders and brought her face very close to his. His eyes glowed red. He was resisting breaking her tiny little bones knowing that she was not the one to blame but finding it very hard to control his body and at this point his ability.

He had the look of a mad man on his face. "Take me to this boyfriend"

That was not a request.

ooc: Son I tried messaging you but I'm having trouble I dont think you got it. You cool for this one little order? if not i'll edit it out but I figure you're taking him there anyway...

(( OOC: Jumping to Rupert's apartment.

And, yeah, Raina, it's cool; this is basically what I had in mind -- Sonya/Teresa would not have gone to Rup's apartment of her own volition.

Also, FYI - Sonya will at some point soon let Syn know about Naveed's existence and powers.))

ooc: that's perfect