To Err is Human
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Why was there BACON IN THE SOAP?"
---
Chapter 6 - The doll-house war of Greymalaykin Lane
---
"What did the police say?"
"What they usually say. A hit and run, why bother going into a murder investigation, there's no evidence otherwise"
"How is the girl?"
"Shaken, as is to be expected, Aenohe is looking after her"
In Montana, the Lame Deer tribal council were discussing the events which had happened but a few hours before. [1]
"The question is", said one of the members, "what do we do with her now"
"Well, she can't go to Dark Hollow to live on her own, she's just a child!"
"Well, we can't keep an unsupervised mutant roaming around the reservation!"
"Someone will have to take her in"
"Well, I'M not going to look after a mutant child!"
"Me either!"
"Think of the damage she could inflict!"
BAAAAMMMM!
The arguing stopped as the sound of a shotgun went off, leaving a hole in the ceiling. The council members all turned to look at the tribe's shaman, Naze. Despite his great age, Naze was still healthy and...well as fit as many of the younger members of the tribe. How he did this, he never said, just said he had a 'nack' for avoiding death.
"I really wish you'd find a better way of getting our attention, Naze", said the chairman with an exasperated sigh, watching as ceiling paster floated down, as the shaman went back to leaning on his gun.
"Mutants are not dangerous", he said calmly, ignoring the younger man.
"You WOULD say that, Shaman", said the youngest and newest member of the council, "your own grandson is one!" [2]
Naze narrowed his eyes, walking over to him.
"Forge is as harmless as Danielle", he said, "and you should know better than to speak up against a shaman"
The younger man lowered his gaze, falling silent.
"That's better", said Naze, before adressing the council as a whole, "look, if you are so determined to be bigoted against young Moonstar, then we can send her to the Xavier Institute, she has friends there, and will learn to control her powers, away from the tribe. Happy?"
The council murmered in approval, none noticing Dani evesdropping outside the room. She closed her eyes, turning her head away and biting her lip, before slinking away into the shadows, unable to bear hearing anymore.
----
Over in the Brotherhood house, Sidney had settled by the kitchen table, catching up on the events she'd missed while under the sewer.
"So, let me get this straight", she said, "before yesterday, the only member of this house with a girlfriend was Freddy?"
She blinked.
"I would have never expected that"
"HEY!", said Pietro, "I wasn't single...well, not at that very moment, anyway"
"Pietro, you don't HAVE steady girlfriends, you just have a stream of one- night stands", said Sidney pointedly, crossing her arms, "can you even REMEMBER the last time you slept in your bed alone?"
Pietro squinted his face.
"Last month, actually", he said, then paused, "....okay, that was half a night, but it still counts!"
"Man-Hussy", commented Wanda as she walked in, getting a bottle of water from the refrigerator, her eyes narrowing on Sidney, "Sidney"
"Wanda", replied Sidney just as coldly.
Wanda headed back out of the kitchen briskly, Sidney's tail flicking slightly. Pietro glanced between the two before blinking.
"Wow, this atomosphere's thick, don't you think?", he said, "wish I had a knife to cut it"
"Shut up, Pietro", said Sidney, giving him a shove, "I don't like her, she doesn't like me, thats how it is, and that's how it's always gonna be"
"Uh...huh", said Pietro arching a brow, "and I'm sure the fact that you both dated Todd has nothing to do with it....or maybe it's that whole alpha- chick thing"
Sidney gave a warning growl. Pietro squeaked, looking at his watch.
"Oh, is that the time?", he said, "I got a date, byebyenow!"
With a gust of wind, he'd vanished, soon followed by a yelp, the ground begining to shake slightly.
"PIETRO, WATCH IT!", snapped Lance as he stomped into the kitchen, blinking when he saw Sidney, "....wait....did I walk into the past?"
Sidney chuckled, shaking her head.
"No, I'm waiting for Todd", she said, "don't worry, I've got no plans for moving in again"
"Pitty", said Lance, taking a seat at the table, "those rats in the basement think they run the place, without you to eat them"
"I've missed you too, Lance", Sidney replied with a smile, before leaning on the table, "what's this I've heard about you moping around?"
Lance coughed.
"What? Who's moping? I'm not moping", he said, "nope, no moping going on here"
"So...you're not in the least bit bothered that Kitty's still dating Piotr?", said Sidney.
Lance frowned, hanging his head.
"She's probably better off with him anyway", he muttered, "he's an artist, he's living in the mansion, a good guy...and not a hood"
"But....don't you still love her?", said Sidney gently.
"I never stopped, Sid", said Lance in a whisper, "but I don't deserve her"
"Says who?", said Sidney, crossing her arms, before sighing softly, "look, take it from someone who's lost more loved ones than I'd like to count...you gotta give it you best shot, you'll regret it otherwise"
"That why you're back with Toad?", said Lance, frowning, "or are you just trying to fill the hole Morph left?"
Sidney visably winced, her ears flattening, making Lance instantly regret his words.
"Oh, geez, Sid, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"Kevin DID leave a hole behind", she said quietly, "and I did love him...but that hole will never be filled. Not even with Todd"
She hugged her arms around herself.
"The reason I'm with Todd again is that I didn't want to be haunted by that question 'what if?'. I wanted to be sure of my feelings for him before I made my next move"
"And?".
She shrugged.
"I don't know yet, all I do know is that there are still feelings there, and I need to know if it's friendship or love", she said, looking up at him, "which is something you need to know about Kitty, because you still very obviously have feelings for her, Lance".
"Well, I can't do much right now, can I?", he said, "she's dating the tin- man".
"I'm sure you can think of something", said Sidney patiently.
"If I talk to her, will you stop bugging me about it?", asked Lance defeatedly.
"Maybe", said Sidney with a smirk.
"Pussycat, pussycat I love you, yes I dooooooo", sang Todd as he walked in, wrapping his arms around Sidney, "sorry to have kept ya waitin'".
Sidney chuckled, leaning up to give him a kiss.
"That's okay", she said, "I got to do some catching up, some meddling, the usual"
Todd arched a brow at Lance, who opted to pretened he knew nothing, giving a shrug.
"Ooooookay", said Todd, smiling at her, "you ready to go?"
"Yeah", said Sidney, standing up, "you ready to tell me WHERE we're going?"
"Nope", said Todd with a sly smirk as he led her out of the house.
----
Meanwhile, Kitty had managed to dust off the victorian dollhouse she'd dragged down form the attic, and was currently trying to persuade Shortpack how much he'd REALLY like to live there.
"Isn't it GREAT?!", squeaked Kitty.
"It's kinda...big for one person", said Shortpack, cocking his head.
"Well, you can get Barbie or Thumbelina to bunk with you", said Bobby with a smirk.
"Oh, har de har har", said Shortpack, "keep your opinions to yourself, kebab skewer boy!"
Bobby frowned, tugging at the skewer still tightly glued to his head. Trust Forge to make a super duper super glue. It was then Kurt appeared, holding what appeared to be a bunch of shoe boxes glued together to make rooms [3]
"What in all things holy...", started Bobby, before shaking his head, getting up and walking out, "wait..no...I really don't want to know"
"It's a dollhouse for Shortpack", said Kurt proudly.
"Oh...gee", said Shortpack, trying not to visably wince, "....lucky me"
Kurt grinned, opening the 'house' to show the rooms.
"See!", he said, "it's got a slide, and a room made of liqourice, and a room vith cork furniture and this..."
He went to the lowest room of the house, where an linsence stick was burning, letting out a gass of scent into the 'room'
"THIS is the aroma room", said Kurt, "and vatch THIS!"
He pressed a button and bubbles started to float out of the chimney.
Bet my house is looking GREAT right now, isn't it? sent Kitty with a physcic smirk.
Shortpack coughed.
"Oh, gee, Kurt, that's really great", he said, "but I've already picked this nice, big, sturdy house to live in"
With that, he ran into it to hide. Kurt blinked, before picking up his creation.
"Fine, live in ze house of no imagination!", he said, "I'll take my house elsvehre!" [4]
BAMF
Kitty grinned at her victory, blinking as she heard the low hum of the hangar opening up. Curiosity, as they say, killed the cat, and Kitty couldn't resist sneaking out, only finding Roberto already there, his arms crossed, a frown on his face, very obvious in 'stubborn mode'. He was currently being stubborn with Xavier and Forge.
"What's going on?", she asked, running over.
"Danielle's grandfather has been killed", said Roberto bluntly.
"WHAT?!", squeaked Kitty, "is Danielle okay?!!"
Xavier sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, she is just very shaken, Kitty", he said, "the tribal council have decided that she may be better to come and stay here"
"Translation: They wanted to wipe their mutant slate clean", muttered Forge as he prepped the Velocity.
Xavier cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, anyway, Forge is going over to Montana to pick her...."
"Can I go?", said Kitty before he could finish.
"They won't let us", said Roberto, frowning.
"Bu WHY?!", whined Kitty.
"Because I don't want to be stuck on a long heli-jet flight with a whiny teenager", said Forge, "or worse, two"
"Good luck, Forge", said Xavier, "bring her back safe. You two will just have to wait until she arrives"
He gave Kitty and Roberto a meaningfull look, before wheeling off.
"But I'm her best friend!", protested Kitty, not giving up that easily.
"Hey!", said Roberto, "I'm her boyfriend!"
"So?", said Kitty, "she needs her best buddy right now, not her boyfriend!"
"That is so not true", snorted Roberto, "I deserve to go more than you to comfort her!"
Forge frowned, stepping between the pair, keeping them both at arms length.
"I couldn't care less if you were reincarnated from her dental floss", he said, "neither of you are going"
"But..."
"No, no and nooooooo", said Forge, climbing into the Velocity, "and that's my final answer. It's bad enough I have to go back there as it is"
The tennis courts opened up and the Velocity started off into the air.
"Well, I'm not letting him get away that easy", said Roberto, charging up, only to have Kitty grab onto his arm.
"You're not going ANYWHERE without me, buddy", she said, narrowing her eyes, "besides, I'm the only one that can get you into the Velocity without ripping the doors off",
Roberto frowned, before giving a reluctant sigh, shooting off after the Velocity, Kitty phasing them both through into it as they neared it. It was going to be a long flight.
----
[1] - Lame Deer is, indeed, the base of the Northern Cheyene tribal council in Montana. Obviously, my tribal members are fictional, but the place is real enough. I did my research :)
[2] - I've wanted to write Naze into my stories for a while, and now it is done, yey!. Naze is the shaman who trained Forge in the comics. I am just guessing that he is Forge's grandfather, as it has been hinted at a whole lot in the comics, but never said outright, he's often termed as Forge's foster-father, which I have, indeed, ajusted to fit Evo Forge. He is without a doubt my favorite human character in the comics, go Naze, you gun- toting womaniser, you!.
[3] - In case you're wondering, this is based on the house Phoebe makes in the Friends episode 'TOW The Dollhouse'...Friends fans can probably guess the houses fate.
[4] - Gotta love Phobes, I've wanted to use that quote for ages.
And there's another chapter done. What will be waiting for our mutants when they get to their destination...nothing good, that's for sure. Do review. Until next time...
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Why was there BACON IN THE SOAP?"
---
Chapter 6 - The doll-house war of Greymalaykin Lane
---
"What did the police say?"
"What they usually say. A hit and run, why bother going into a murder investigation, there's no evidence otherwise"
"How is the girl?"
"Shaken, as is to be expected, Aenohe is looking after her"
In Montana, the Lame Deer tribal council were discussing the events which had happened but a few hours before. [1]
"The question is", said one of the members, "what do we do with her now"
"Well, she can't go to Dark Hollow to live on her own, she's just a child!"
"Well, we can't keep an unsupervised mutant roaming around the reservation!"
"Someone will have to take her in"
"Well, I'M not going to look after a mutant child!"
"Me either!"
"Think of the damage she could inflict!"
BAAAAMMMM!
The arguing stopped as the sound of a shotgun went off, leaving a hole in the ceiling. The council members all turned to look at the tribe's shaman, Naze. Despite his great age, Naze was still healthy and...well as fit as many of the younger members of the tribe. How he did this, he never said, just said he had a 'nack' for avoiding death.
"I really wish you'd find a better way of getting our attention, Naze", said the chairman with an exasperated sigh, watching as ceiling paster floated down, as the shaman went back to leaning on his gun.
"Mutants are not dangerous", he said calmly, ignoring the younger man.
"You WOULD say that, Shaman", said the youngest and newest member of the council, "your own grandson is one!" [2]
Naze narrowed his eyes, walking over to him.
"Forge is as harmless as Danielle", he said, "and you should know better than to speak up against a shaman"
The younger man lowered his gaze, falling silent.
"That's better", said Naze, before adressing the council as a whole, "look, if you are so determined to be bigoted against young Moonstar, then we can send her to the Xavier Institute, she has friends there, and will learn to control her powers, away from the tribe. Happy?"
The council murmered in approval, none noticing Dani evesdropping outside the room. She closed her eyes, turning her head away and biting her lip, before slinking away into the shadows, unable to bear hearing anymore.
----
Over in the Brotherhood house, Sidney had settled by the kitchen table, catching up on the events she'd missed while under the sewer.
"So, let me get this straight", she said, "before yesterday, the only member of this house with a girlfriend was Freddy?"
She blinked.
"I would have never expected that"
"HEY!", said Pietro, "I wasn't single...well, not at that very moment, anyway"
"Pietro, you don't HAVE steady girlfriends, you just have a stream of one- night stands", said Sidney pointedly, crossing her arms, "can you even REMEMBER the last time you slept in your bed alone?"
Pietro squinted his face.
"Last month, actually", he said, then paused, "....okay, that was half a night, but it still counts!"
"Man-Hussy", commented Wanda as she walked in, getting a bottle of water from the refrigerator, her eyes narrowing on Sidney, "Sidney"
"Wanda", replied Sidney just as coldly.
Wanda headed back out of the kitchen briskly, Sidney's tail flicking slightly. Pietro glanced between the two before blinking.
"Wow, this atomosphere's thick, don't you think?", he said, "wish I had a knife to cut it"
"Shut up, Pietro", said Sidney, giving him a shove, "I don't like her, she doesn't like me, thats how it is, and that's how it's always gonna be"
"Uh...huh", said Pietro arching a brow, "and I'm sure the fact that you both dated Todd has nothing to do with it....or maybe it's that whole alpha- chick thing"
Sidney gave a warning growl. Pietro squeaked, looking at his watch.
"Oh, is that the time?", he said, "I got a date, byebyenow!"
With a gust of wind, he'd vanished, soon followed by a yelp, the ground begining to shake slightly.
"PIETRO, WATCH IT!", snapped Lance as he stomped into the kitchen, blinking when he saw Sidney, "....wait....did I walk into the past?"
Sidney chuckled, shaking her head.
"No, I'm waiting for Todd", she said, "don't worry, I've got no plans for moving in again"
"Pitty", said Lance, taking a seat at the table, "those rats in the basement think they run the place, without you to eat them"
"I've missed you too, Lance", Sidney replied with a smile, before leaning on the table, "what's this I've heard about you moping around?"
Lance coughed.
"What? Who's moping? I'm not moping", he said, "nope, no moping going on here"
"So...you're not in the least bit bothered that Kitty's still dating Piotr?", said Sidney.
Lance frowned, hanging his head.
"She's probably better off with him anyway", he muttered, "he's an artist, he's living in the mansion, a good guy...and not a hood"
"But....don't you still love her?", said Sidney gently.
"I never stopped, Sid", said Lance in a whisper, "but I don't deserve her"
"Says who?", said Sidney, crossing her arms, before sighing softly, "look, take it from someone who's lost more loved ones than I'd like to count...you gotta give it you best shot, you'll regret it otherwise"
"That why you're back with Toad?", said Lance, frowning, "or are you just trying to fill the hole Morph left?"
Sidney visably winced, her ears flattening, making Lance instantly regret his words.
"Oh, geez, Sid, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"Kevin DID leave a hole behind", she said quietly, "and I did love him...but that hole will never be filled. Not even with Todd"
She hugged her arms around herself.
"The reason I'm with Todd again is that I didn't want to be haunted by that question 'what if?'. I wanted to be sure of my feelings for him before I made my next move"
"And?".
She shrugged.
"I don't know yet, all I do know is that there are still feelings there, and I need to know if it's friendship or love", she said, looking up at him, "which is something you need to know about Kitty, because you still very obviously have feelings for her, Lance".
"Well, I can't do much right now, can I?", he said, "she's dating the tin- man".
"I'm sure you can think of something", said Sidney patiently.
"If I talk to her, will you stop bugging me about it?", asked Lance defeatedly.
"Maybe", said Sidney with a smirk.
"Pussycat, pussycat I love you, yes I dooooooo", sang Todd as he walked in, wrapping his arms around Sidney, "sorry to have kept ya waitin'".
Sidney chuckled, leaning up to give him a kiss.
"That's okay", she said, "I got to do some catching up, some meddling, the usual"
Todd arched a brow at Lance, who opted to pretened he knew nothing, giving a shrug.
"Ooooookay", said Todd, smiling at her, "you ready to go?"
"Yeah", said Sidney, standing up, "you ready to tell me WHERE we're going?"
"Nope", said Todd with a sly smirk as he led her out of the house.
----
Meanwhile, Kitty had managed to dust off the victorian dollhouse she'd dragged down form the attic, and was currently trying to persuade Shortpack how much he'd REALLY like to live there.
"Isn't it GREAT?!", squeaked Kitty.
"It's kinda...big for one person", said Shortpack, cocking his head.
"Well, you can get Barbie or Thumbelina to bunk with you", said Bobby with a smirk.
"Oh, har de har har", said Shortpack, "keep your opinions to yourself, kebab skewer boy!"
Bobby frowned, tugging at the skewer still tightly glued to his head. Trust Forge to make a super duper super glue. It was then Kurt appeared, holding what appeared to be a bunch of shoe boxes glued together to make rooms [3]
"What in all things holy...", started Bobby, before shaking his head, getting up and walking out, "wait..no...I really don't want to know"
"It's a dollhouse for Shortpack", said Kurt proudly.
"Oh...gee", said Shortpack, trying not to visably wince, "....lucky me"
Kurt grinned, opening the 'house' to show the rooms.
"See!", he said, "it's got a slide, and a room made of liqourice, and a room vith cork furniture and this..."
He went to the lowest room of the house, where an linsence stick was burning, letting out a gass of scent into the 'room'
"THIS is the aroma room", said Kurt, "and vatch THIS!"
He pressed a button and bubbles started to float out of the chimney.
Bet my house is looking GREAT right now, isn't it? sent Kitty with a physcic smirk.
Shortpack coughed.
"Oh, gee, Kurt, that's really great", he said, "but I've already picked this nice, big, sturdy house to live in"
With that, he ran into it to hide. Kurt blinked, before picking up his creation.
"Fine, live in ze house of no imagination!", he said, "I'll take my house elsvehre!" [4]
BAMF
Kitty grinned at her victory, blinking as she heard the low hum of the hangar opening up. Curiosity, as they say, killed the cat, and Kitty couldn't resist sneaking out, only finding Roberto already there, his arms crossed, a frown on his face, very obvious in 'stubborn mode'. He was currently being stubborn with Xavier and Forge.
"What's going on?", she asked, running over.
"Danielle's grandfather has been killed", said Roberto bluntly.
"WHAT?!", squeaked Kitty, "is Danielle okay?!!"
Xavier sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Yes, she is just very shaken, Kitty", he said, "the tribal council have decided that she may be better to come and stay here"
"Translation: They wanted to wipe their mutant slate clean", muttered Forge as he prepped the Velocity.
Xavier cleared his throat.
"Yes, well, anyway, Forge is going over to Montana to pick her...."
"Can I go?", said Kitty before he could finish.
"They won't let us", said Roberto, frowning.
"Bu WHY?!", whined Kitty.
"Because I don't want to be stuck on a long heli-jet flight with a whiny teenager", said Forge, "or worse, two"
"Good luck, Forge", said Xavier, "bring her back safe. You two will just have to wait until she arrives"
He gave Kitty and Roberto a meaningfull look, before wheeling off.
"But I'm her best friend!", protested Kitty, not giving up that easily.
"Hey!", said Roberto, "I'm her boyfriend!"
"So?", said Kitty, "she needs her best buddy right now, not her boyfriend!"
"That is so not true", snorted Roberto, "I deserve to go more than you to comfort her!"
Forge frowned, stepping between the pair, keeping them both at arms length.
"I couldn't care less if you were reincarnated from her dental floss", he said, "neither of you are going"
"But..."
"No, no and nooooooo", said Forge, climbing into the Velocity, "and that's my final answer. It's bad enough I have to go back there as it is"
The tennis courts opened up and the Velocity started off into the air.
"Well, I'm not letting him get away that easy", said Roberto, charging up, only to have Kitty grab onto his arm.
"You're not going ANYWHERE without me, buddy", she said, narrowing her eyes, "besides, I'm the only one that can get you into the Velocity without ripping the doors off",
Roberto frowned, before giving a reluctant sigh, shooting off after the Velocity, Kitty phasing them both through into it as they neared it. It was going to be a long flight.
----
[1] - Lame Deer is, indeed, the base of the Northern Cheyene tribal council in Montana. Obviously, my tribal members are fictional, but the place is real enough. I did my research :)
[2] - I've wanted to write Naze into my stories for a while, and now it is done, yey!. Naze is the shaman who trained Forge in the comics. I am just guessing that he is Forge's grandfather, as it has been hinted at a whole lot in the comics, but never said outright, he's often termed as Forge's foster-father, which I have, indeed, ajusted to fit Evo Forge. He is without a doubt my favorite human character in the comics, go Naze, you gun- toting womaniser, you!.
[3] - In case you're wondering, this is based on the house Phoebe makes in the Friends episode 'TOW The Dollhouse'...Friends fans can probably guess the houses fate.
[4] - Gotta love Phobes, I've wanted to use that quote for ages.
And there's another chapter done. What will be waiting for our mutants when they get to their destination...nothing good, that's for sure. Do review. Until next time...