Issue 12: Helping the Maria Stark Foundation (All)

[dakota]

With a snuff, Tabitha wiped at her her before putting on a brave face. " I've done something really...., " she swallowed hard," Maybe it would be better if I went home.., or back to the Exiles. I..., everything is so different. And..." Steve had seen the look on her face before, she hadn't been sitting on the rail just for the view. And he had been in the building enough times to know that she was perched 6 stories up.


Tally felt a little odd suddenly, going a little light headed. It wasn't an overpowering sensation, just enough she knew something wasn't right. Paul smiled, " I'm an artist. I was in the country looking for inspiration when a friend got me a invite tonight. And you? What do you do?"

[doc]

Steve's eyes widen. "It's alright. THere's no need for anything drastic. Why don't you just tell me about it?"

[dice=100] (To inspire trust)[rand=76424159763992975689163388461305978776228959457932827230270677665]

[dakota]

Tabitha started to say something, then nodded as she turned and slid off the railing to stand in front of Steve. She adjusted her skirt uncomfortably, then wiped at her face again with a snuff. Luckily she hadn't listened to Janet and wore no makeup. " I... I wouldn't have done it." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as well. " It's just... I don't belong here. My parents looked at me like I'm some sort of ogre. Logan is the closest I've had to family since they were killed and he looks at me like I'm just another body to annoy him. and now I just ran into Ms. Watson, or she's still Mrs. Parker here, and her husband. I didn't know he was still, you know, him, and I treated him like crap after what... " She started to sob and wrapped her arms around Cap," Please, kick me off the Avengers and send me home before I screw anything else up here."

[Dome]

DD reaches up and pushes the door slightly open. He then paused as he heard Tabitha speaking with someone. Holding the door partially open he can't help but over hear the conversation. He decides to give them their privacy and steps away from their conversation allowing the door to close.

[sasqaricious]

"I feel weird, but yes what do I do. Well I..." She trails off knowing that with the illusion up she was supposed to keep what and who she was secret. "I guess I am a student. I don't really have anything I do actually. I was just kinda rescued off of the street and hang with," She pauses looking around to see where everyone is and not spotting them, "Well I don't know where anyone is."

[doc]

Steve returns the embrace. "It's alright. Nothing's wrong that can't be fixed." His voice quivers slightly, and his voice speaks with an earnestness many have never heard from him. "I understand; you wanted it to be just like home." He looks over the skyline. "It looks almost the same, it smells almost the same. Every sense, every instinct tells you you're home, that you know exactly how things work and how they are supposed to be. And then you find out the hard way how wrong you were. The last things you expected to change are gone, or so changed you can't recognize them. You just want to hide, or run away from it all - after all, you've done your part - and it's not fair that you don't get the welcome you hoped for after so long. You try to express it, but the words catch in the bottom of your throat. And they wouldn't understand. They don't know - no one who hasn't experienced it can. But..." He pauses, a slight smile on his face as he looks Tabitha in the eye.

"...that's not all there is. Yes, it's a learning curve, and it's going to be a painful adjustment. Telling you anything else would be a lie, and I won't do that to you, Tabitha. You are going to make mistakes, big and small. You'll make them, and then you'll make up for them; it won't be easy. But you will learn from them and over time-" He turns her to face the lights of the city. "-you'll find a home here, and a life, and it'll be richer and fuller than anything you could have imagined. It'll be yours because you worked for it, you struggled for it, and you made it yours."

[dakota]

As Matt backed away, he nearly bumped into Sharon Carter. "Sorry," she said, "I was looking for someone. He came," her voice seemed to drop as she was looking passed Matt, " this way."


Tabitha tried to put on a brave face, " I've made nothing but mistakes since I got here. It's just..., I know everyone and recognize things, but they aren't who I remember. How would you know what it's like, you're one of this world's most recognizable heroes. Me, I'm just a nobody that may never exist in your world, considering my parents are my age and still goofy kids. There's an optimistic outlook, huh?" She looked at the balcony, and put on a bit of bravado," I wasn't going to jump, you know. Besides, what could you have done if I had?"


Paul chuckled," Prehaps you have had too much to drink already if you are starting to forget things. So you are here with friends, would you like me to help you look for them?" He offered

[doc]

[dice=20+2] (Perception)

"For the first three weeks after I was thawed out of that block of ice, I was convinced there was an evil global secret society called "the Dark Side" commanded by a "Lord Vader" after hearing about it on the street. I scoured Brooklyn looking for them. Jarvis eventually rented the films for me." Steve lets out a low laugh, hoping to diffuse the tension.

He walks back to the door with Tabitha, and responds to her question without a second's hesitation. "Oh, that? I would have leapt after you, caught up to you in midair, and then relied on you to phase us both through the street before impact." His voice is entirely matter-of-fact as he opens the door, and sees Sharon.

"Hi Sharon, this is my teammate, Tabitha. Sharon, would you mind telling her about the time your chute didn't open in that stolen F-15?" Steve asks as though he were recalling a pleasant sunday picnic.

[dice=100] (Trust)
[dice=100] (Charm)

[rand=5341699643416973589180213052713747404756019255699146520989262108]

[sasqaricious]

Tally quickly scans to see if she can see them before responding to Paul. "No. It is ok. I am actually not sure why they brought me to this party anyway as it is not what I would normally consider. It is actually my first party let alone my first party of this caliber and I do not feel like I fit in at all." Subconsciously she reaches for another glass of champagne but does not take of it at all. Just holds on to it for the moment. "Do you know what I mean?"

[dakota]

Tabitha looked at Steve in disbeleif, and shook her head slightly. " No wonder Clint comes up with insane tactics, he was taught that way." She let him steer her inside, started to try to back away when Sharon was introduced " Uh hi, I'm one of the new kids." she forced a smile and stepped to the side, clearly in Matt's path " Oh, sorry," she apologized.

Sharon gave Steve an odd look, " Are you sure you want me to tell that story?" She made it sound like she had no desire to tell the story. " Nice to meet you Tabitha. You remind me of someone."

Tabitha shook her head," I doubt it. I'm not from around here."


" Your first party?" Paul said in suprise," Mon dieu, what do your friends do, keep you locked in your room?" He chuckled. " If it makes you feel any better, this is not my sort of event either. But one has to make sacrifices."

Tally could see across the room to where Cap and Tabitha were talking to another man and woman.

[Dome]

Matt smiles at Sharon, "No I am sorry, I didn't see you there."

When Cap and Tabitha come out he steps back to make room. Matt says to Tabitha, "no need to apologize," motioning to Sharon, "either of you really. I'm the one in the way, I was just looking for some fresh air, but I think I changed my mind."

He extends his hand palm up to Tabitha, "excuse me Miss could I interest you in a drink? I believe she is looking for him."

[sasqaricious]

"Only time X-ee locked me in a room was when she first found me and was doing these things that she told me not to listen in on. Not to look. And watch TV! That happened a lot when she first found me but not so much when time went on." Noting that Cap and Tabitha were talking and not wanting to disturb them she continues to stay here and talk to the Paul. She takes a gulp of her drink but stops her self from upending it when she realized Paul's warning. "I am glad you do not like these either. I just wish I could be myself!"

[doc]

"Mr. Murdock, good to see you again. I trust all is well." Steve smiles, and then looks to Sharon. "Has Nick recovered from that incident up north yet?"

[dakota]

" Yes he has, other than a wicked cold and upset over losing his toys." Sharon replied, her brow furrowed as to where the conversation was leading.

"Should have taken out insurance then. I doubt Stark enterprises have a warranty to cover mishaps like that." Tabitha took Matt's hand with a smile. Her tone gave away she didn't recognize Matt as DD, " Umm, sure ..., Mr. Murdock." She gave Steve a puzzled look before accompanying him. " My name's Tabitha."


" X-ee? What sort of name is X-ee?" Paul asked, rubbing his chin. " go ahead, be yourself. What is the worst that could happen?" He smiled as he switched his full glass for her partly emptied one. (Tally, the alcohol is starting to affect. -10 on any rolls involving focus)

[yendor]

Sniffs the air some more as he gets a drink. "Could swear I smelled Bullseye..." Looks around, sipping, instead of chugging, his drink.