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Post by Nadia Davich on May 28, 2009 15:22:24 GMT -5
Nadia was glad for the brief respite the server afforded her when she came to gather their orders and menus, dropping of their drinks. She needed to figure out how best to describe what she did, how much to reveal to this man. A man who was basically a stranger to her but obviously held some kind of interest in her.
When the server left, she folded her arms, leaning them on the tabletop in front of her. Nadia decided to stay vague; she didn't want to give out too much until she knew who this man was. "Well... I suppose you could say I'm somewhat of a humanitarian. And my clients are people who need help."
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Post by Odin on May 29, 2009 22:54:59 GMT -5
::That vagueness struck a chord with Odin, in that he was similarly coy regarding his past occupation. He checked her powers, reading into her gene to confirm whether she shared his powers, or bore a similarity to his. She did not, although it did not rule out the mutant-assistance business, particularly with how coy she was. He gave a half smile.:: "In this city, that could be anything from rescuing wayward youth to drug running, although I'm fairly sure it's not the latter."
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jun 1, 2009 15:32:39 GMT -5
She smiled back at him. "'Rescuing wayward youth,' yes, I suppose that's a good description of what I do, actually." Nadia hadn't expected him to get such a lucky guess, but she wasn't about to deny the fact that her work dealt with lost and confused mutants, usually preteens and teens, helping them to come to terms with their new-found powers.
"Especially in big cities like New York. And Chicago. There are so many kids and teens out there that just need some kind of mentor to help them on their way. After they've been lost for so long."
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Post by Odin on Jun 3, 2009 23:00:56 GMT -5
::That certainly confirmed Odin's suspicions, and he gave a knowing smile; as he had told so many others in the past, like recognized like. And having benefited from a mentor, he knew how valuable at experience it could be.:: "I can't argue with that logic; teenagers often need someone to guide them down a road previously traveled."
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jun 5, 2009 15:30:10 GMT -5
Nadia nodded at him in agreement. "Yes, they do. Or sometimes to be led down a road they had never thought of before. To somewhere they can be free."
She stopped then, as their server returned with their meals, placing the plates in front of each of them. Waiting a moment or two, Nadia started on her food, saying, "Looks good."
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Post by Odin on Jun 21, 2009 14:09:34 GMT -5
"It does," ::Odin agreed with a nod. He was glad to have gone to a Greek restaurant, as he'd been in the mood for souvlaki recently, but hadn't had reason to order it. He let her get settled with her food, while he contemplated her phrasing. "To be set free" was how he had always described his powers, and the thought brought a smile to his lips. Though he knew her abilities differed from his, he was...reassured and somewhat pleased to see that someone else had felt the same calling in life.
After a few bites, he decided to set aside the coyness for the purpose of a deeper discussion. He asked,:: "May I be frank?"
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jun 22, 2009 15:58:38 GMT -5
She swallowed and took a sip of her drink while she considered his request. Nadia decided she didn't really have anything to hide. Though her organization was more of an underground one, its purpose was not exactly a hidden one. And besides that, she didn't really have anything to hide in her personal life as well. Yes, she was willing to hear anything he had to say. Or ask.
Nadia put down her glass and smiled at him. "Go ahead."
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Post by Odin on Jun 26, 2009 7:56:01 GMT -5
::Odin's hand remained around his glass, not for comfort, but because there was a sense of finality in setting aside a glass when conversing, and what he had to say was hardly show-stopping. He lowered his voice as was appropriate, lest their conversation be overheard and trouble arise, and he said more than queried,:: "This service you render, is for mutants, isn't it?"
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jun 29, 2009 15:30:26 GMT -5
Wow, that was the first thing that came to her mind, but luckily she didn't let her face betray any of her surprise. Here was this stranger, this man she just met... and just because she mentioned helping kids with problems, he automatically assumed she was helping out mutants? Yes, he was right, but it seemed to Nadia that it was more than just a lucky guess.
Was he sent to follow her from California? To find her when she made it to New York? Maybe it as no coincidence that she bumped into him in the street just an hour before. Nadia was wary now about revealing too much to this man now, when before she had been almost carefree, indulging in mild conversation and good food.
She kept her smile but now it was slightly strained and put-on. Nadia let a little surprise enter her voice. "Mutants?"
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Post by Odin on Jun 29, 2009 15:35:13 GMT -5
::Perhaps it was the luxury afforded by Odin's powers that he would know if someone mentioned mutants in his company whether or not they belonged to their ever expanding ranks but were their positions reversed, and she mentioned it, he would not play coy. Then again, it was a luxury of his powers that gave him that knowledge, and as time passed, and he grew more reserved and cautious, he came to appreciate that more fully.
Either way, he hadn't expected her to pretend to be clueless. He knew the rhetoric, for a moment expected she might be a kindred spirit in that way, and as he needed to pursue a hypothesis, he would not let this slip through his fingers. His voice still low so as to avoid attracting outside attention, he repeated,:: "Mutants. Keepers of the so-called 'mutant gene,' often young, wayward youth in need of examples from a country or countries who try to repress them. They are who you help, aren't they?"
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jul 1, 2009 16:02:44 GMT -5
This was almost getting out of hand, and Nadia didn't know how to deal with this man's inquiries. He didn't seem like someone who was working for the other side, but looks could be deceiving. And although she didn't like to teach her kids to hide their talents, she also was smart enough to maintain her organization underground for now. She had quite a predicament here.
He obviously knew something about her, or he wouldn't have pressed her for information. The only thing Nadia wasn't sure of, was whether to keep denying it, or acknowledge what she was truly doing as her life's work. Denial, however, could just make things worse, especially if he was working for the others. She could be captured and tortured, or worse, experimented on.
Nadia cleared her throat, wishing that one of her own powers was ESP as she addressed him, and sighed lightly. "Yes. Yes, they are..." She smiled a small smile. "I'm sorry for lying before. I-I had to make sure that you weren't one of those mutant phobes..." Nadia still wasn't sure if he wasn't one, but it was best to be honest now.
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Post by Odin on Jul 4, 2009 10:17:45 GMT -5
::Caution grew ever more necessary, a fact which Odin needed the occasional reminding for his own safety and the safety of others. He had a tendency to fall into old habits for security's sake coupled with his tendency to project. Her initial distrust was objectively understandable, as she didn't have the security of his abilities to differentiate between their kind and the humans around them.
He nodded, his attempt to reassure both understanding and a lack of ill-will. Setting his glass down, he replied,:: "Far from it. I work for a mutant-run magazine, and thus I recognize both the concerns and the rhetoric."
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jul 7, 2009 15:48:12 GMT -5
Nadia felt relief now, having gotten her secret out, that she helped young mutants on their way to understanding how they were different, and how to find their place in the world amongst those who may find them less than human. She was glad that this Odin seemed to understand the plight of those she was helping. Perhaps this magazine he worked for could be some help to her in the future. For advertising her little company or for other purposes.
However, she still had one more secret: her own mutant status. And that was something she was willing to keep to herself for now. Though she told her students not to be afraid to use their gifts, she wasn't one who believed in using them 24/7. There were times when one needed to blend in or to do things the old-fashioned way. Mutant powers were just that; they were gifts to be used when ultimately necessary, not playthings to be abused. That was another thing she taught them. What she hoped to teach here in New York City.
"That sounds very interesting," she said in response to his comment. "It's very refreshing to meet something who is... not mired in old-fashioned thinking. Who is willing to help those who are different."
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Post by Odin on Jul 13, 2009 15:20:08 GMT -5
::Odin reached for his glass to sip. He had a fair sense of when people told the truth, although as nobody else was as bound to the truth as he was, he had to keep his wits and analytical skills sharp. She was telling the truth now, as far as he was concerned, and that was what he wanted, to have a dialogue about mutant protection with another mutant.
Setting down the glass, he replied,:: "One thing I've never been accused of is being old-fashioned. Differences should be fostered, and certainly children and teenagers shouldn't find themselves targets; puberty is more than enough wouldn't you say?"
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Post by Nadia Davich on Jul 14, 2009 16:13:20 GMT -5
She leaned back in her chair and nodded in agreement with what he said. Yes, the young ones especially should not be targets. They had so much else to deal with that they didn't need to have to run from everyone because they were thought of as being more different. Or weird. Or even labeled as a mutant, said in a not-so-nice tone of voice.
"Yes, I would say so," Nadia said. "In my experience these kids need to be embraced, not shunned." Not exiled like I was when my parents found out about my special... talents. "With everything else going on in their young lives, they are already under enough pressure."
She paused a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking again. "And that's part of what I hope to accomplish here in the city. Give these kids somewhere to go to, friends to talk to, other kids who are going through the same things. So they can feel just a bit normal for once, if even for a couple hours a day. Feel like they... matter."
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