Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "So what you're saying is you have a problem that is totally your problem but you'd like to find a way to make that problem my problem, but here's the problem, Newbie, it ain't my problem".
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Incidentally, I took great liberties with Hrimhari, in the comics, he had no human form, and could change at will like Rahne, he was also the prince of Asgardian wolves (it's long and complicated) This is basically an evo-ised version of him.
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Chapter 12 – Instinct
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"I'm gonna kill Mr. Sakano"
Sidney chuckled, giving Todd a gentle poke.
"Aww, don't be so gloomy", she said, "Mr. S says this guy is the best wedding planner in the world. He had him flown in specially from LA for us"
Todd looked at the man smiling at them. Actually, it was more like a manical grin.
"…In which world?".
The man laughed. It was a very bizarre laugh. Slightly nasal, yet it seemed to come from the throat too. It sounded like he was chocking on something.
"So you are the happy cooople?", he asked, clapping his hands together, "oh, I do lahve happy cooples"
His accent was one of the most mangled either of them had heard. Where this man originally came from was anyone's guess.
"I agree", smiled his assistant, apparently, this man was an old college friend of Mr. Sakano's, hence why Sidney and Todd got this so called 'best' wedding planner.
"Oh but how rhude of me, I have not been doing the introdooktions", said the planner, then smiled at the pair, "Haello. My name is Franck Eggelhoffer, and this is my assisant, Howard Weinstein" (1)
"How is this man gonna co-ordinate our wedding?", whispered Todd, "with subtitles?"
"Now, you haven't got a vehnuue yet", said Franck, looking though his notes, "and you vahnt a wedding before seehx months? Is not mooch, but I'm sure I cahn hahndle eet"
"Huh?", blinked Todd.
Sidney smiled, seemingly able to understand the man's every word.
"Great, I know it's a tall order in a short time"
"Ahh, no worries", said Franck with a flourish of his hands, "now, I soogest ve phick the cahke first. I alvays phick the cahke first, it gives the veddingk a theme"
"Pick the what?", asked Todd.
"The cake, Todd", said Sidney, rolling her eyes.
"That's vhat I say, cahke", said Franck.
Howard smiled, handing Franck a brochure as Franck moved to sit between Sidney and Todd, opening it out and flicking through it.
"Ahh, now theeese one is gauhgeous", said Franck, "vhat you tink?"
"Oh it's beautiful", smiled Sidney.
"Is that…thirteen hundred dollars?", asked Todd, pointing at the price sticker on the page.
"Vheel, yeahs", said Franck, "eet's more of a vork of ahrt than a cahke, really"
"Then ya can put it in the gallery fer that price", said Todd pointedly.
"Todd", said Sidney, giving him a pouty face, "I earn enough for a nice wedding, and enough for that cake. Don't be stingy"
Todd opened his mouth, as if to argue, then sighed defeated.
"Okay, fine, we'll have the cake"
"Excelent", grinned Franck, "now vhat about the menhu? I can get a top-notch chef in, a geeneus. We cahn have a lohvely seafohd plahter but eets a leetle more expahnsive than the cheekin"
"The chicken", said Todd.
"But ve may not get this genus chef", protested Franck, "he may not vork for joost cheekin"
"I'd like the chokey chicken", said Todd determinedly. (2)
Franck sighed.
"Ve vork on this"
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Elsewhere in New York, Rahne had stormed over to Hrimhari's dorm room, and was pounding on the door. No one, and absolutely no one ever attacked her like that. Like Roberto, Hrimhari was 'well off' and has his own, separate room all to himself. He smiled charmingly at her as he opened the door.
"Ahh, Rahne, how nice it is to see.."
Rahne growled, pushing her way in, giving him a glare.
"What do ye have tae say fer yeself?", she asked.
Hrimhari blinked closing the door and sitting down, gesturing for her to do the same.
"No pleasantries?", he asked, "Just..straight to the point?"
"You better believe it", snarled Rahne, "ye attacked me last night, Hrimhari. I know for a fact ye not a mutant, a friend of mine detected no mutant lifesigns on ye"
"That would be the T-Rex, I take it?", asked Hrimhari, arching a brow.
"Aye, that would be the T-Rex", growled, Rahne crossing her arms.
Hrimhari sighed, picking up his cane and looking at it.
"Okay, I shall explain", he said, "you see, I am not a mutant, as your… friend correctly assumed. I am a werewolf"
"You...you're a werewolf", blinked Rahne, "a.. real one?"
Hrimhari shifted uneasily.
"It is my family's curse", he explained.
He looked at his stick, turning the wolf head in his hand
"This tip was forged from the three silver bullets shot at my great-great grandfather, the first of our kind", he explained, "my great-great grandfather was cursed with the.. change when he upset a group of travelling gypsies"
He gave Rahne a smile.
"It is not passed on with a bite, as the movies will tell you", he said, "it is passed on genetically, much like your mutations. Every full moon, I give in to the wolf, my instincts being given form. Sometimes I… forget myself. Hence why I attacked you"
He gave her a smile.
"I would never attack someone as beautiful as yourself if I had all my wits about me"
Rahne frowned, narrowing her eyes.
"Ye are aware I have a boyfriend, right?", she asked, "ye can charm me all ye like, but my loyalties, and my heart, lie with him"
Hrimhari chuckled, standing.
"You and I both know what it is like to have the wolf within us", said Hrimhari, "pacing like a caged animal, wishing to be free"
He chuckled low, it sounded almost like a throaty growl. He paced over to her, getting close, deliberately invading her personal space.
"You have to admit", he said, his breath by her ear, "I am getting under your skin. You can not tell me your wolfen side doesn't want me. Just for the sheer animal lust of it all"
Rahne tensed, growling low, her green eyes flicking to yellow, her teeth becoming more pointed…fang like.
"I already have my mate", she said, "and I warn ye, unlike ye, I dunnae need the full moon tae change, so I'd back off if I were ye"
Hrimhari shook his head, breathing in the scent of her hair.
"You are bluffing, you wouldn't hurt me", he said, then smirked, "it does not have to be anything deep, you know? Just something wild and untamed, purely…. physical"
"I'm nae interested", said Rahne, turning her head away from him.
Hrimhari smirked.
"No, but maybe next month, you will think differently", he said, sniffing at her neck, "that's when the wolf is at its strongest for you, is it not? When you are…least in control of your instincts"
He gave another growling chuckle.
"I know that is when you come on heat too, little wolf", he said, "I smelt it on you last night. Do you honestly think you can resist me then? When the wolf within you will be seeking out a strong, healthy male of her own kind? I doubt it"
"I'll have a bloody good go of repressing it", growled Rahne, stepping away from him, her eyes flashing angrily, "ye just keep away from me, Hrimhari"
Hrimhari smirked.
"If you are so sure you can resist me, why do you wish me to distance myself from you?", he asked, then gave a soft wolfish whine, smiling at her, "…Run with me, the next full moon, Rahne, feel what it is like to give into your instincts completely"
Rahne narrowed her eyes, walking to the door.
"No", she replied, "and dunnae even think of tryin' anything. Ye may think ye something, Hrimhari, be ye nothing compared tae Sam. Nothing"
Not giving him time to reply, she stepped outside, slamming the door behind her. He smirked to himself.
"We shall see, little wolf, we shall see"
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In Roberto and Sam's dorm room, the Not-So-New Mutants had gathered. Roberto and Ray were playing on their new Playstation, which Sam had brought home with him. Stuck to the side of it was a number 4….apparently there had been a lot of weeping at the Baxter Building.
"You are so losing this race, DaCosta", smirked Ray.
"Gimmie a minute and you'll be eating my dust", retorted Roberto.
"My hero", said Dani sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "when you've finished being macho and competitive, you can join in the conversation"
"Bobby saved my butt back there", said Tabby, from where she sat on Ray's bed, "I'm telling you"
"He probably only did it to make himself look good", muttered Roberto.
"I am just glad that you have forgiven him", said Warlock, smiling at Tabby, "I was beginning to feel the odd one out"
"Warlock, you'll always be the odd one out", said Dani.
"Bobby has to do a lot more than play hero to win ma'h trust back again", muttered Sam.
"Aww, you're just crabby because you're worried about Rahne"
Yes, a'hm worried", said Sam, "it looks like this guy is a real-deal werewolf"
"He is not a mutant", said Warlock, "he showed no mutant life-glow, so he must be"
He paused.
"Though I am still… a little confused on the subject"
"We'll let you watch The Curse of the Wolfman", smirked Tabby, "then you'll get the idea"
"Can you believe it? A honest-to-God werewolf", said Ray, shaking his head, "it's like something out of the Twilight Zone, mega weird"
Tabby blinked at him.
"Ray, we personally know a fire-breathing dragon, an eight-inch-tall man and an extra terrestrial. I really don't think we can say anything is weird"
"So, you afraid wolf-man will sweep wolf-girl off her feet?", asked Roberto.
"Well, yeah. How can a'h compete with this guy?", asked Sam, "he's from a wealthy family, he's well bred, he's a werewolf"
Sam hung his head.
"He's perfect for her", he said, "what am a'h? A'hm just a farm-boy, a'h haven't got any riches to give her, a'hm almost penniless. A'h could never be anythin' fancy like him"
"You're forgetting the fact that you're also the person she's been in love with since she was fourteen", said Tabby
Sam sighed.
"..A'h hope you're right"
Suddenly, Roberto cheered, standing up, his arms held aloft in triumph.
"Ladies, Gentlemen and Warlock", he said, "I, Roberto DaCosta, am the winner, and so, better than Ray!"
"…I really, really wish you hadn't won that Playstation", said Dani, looking at Sam, "it brings out the competitive demon in him"
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Over in Dark Hollow, Alex was lying on his surfboard in the middle of the reservoir. He wasn't actually doing any surfing, of course, it was just how he thought best. Even when he was back in Hawaii, he would paddle out a little form the land and just..lie there. It was how he got his alone time…of course, that's before he met anyone who could fly.
"Hey"
The voice had pulled him sharply out of his thought, causing him to very almost fall off his board, he glanced up to see Lorna hovering at the side of his head, her legs crossed. How long had she been there? He hadn't heard her arrive at all. Then again, he really hadn't been feeling one hundred per cent the past few days. His headaches were worse, and his hands ached constantly, so really, he wouldn't have noticed if a herd of elephants had passed by. Alex blinked in confusion, then glanced around.
"…Are you voluntarily talking to me?", he asked, "and starting a conversation at that?"
"Hah hah", said Lorna dryly, "if you're going to be like that about it, I'll just go"
"No, I didn't mean it like that", said Alex, propping himself up on his elbows, "it's just last time you talked to me, you made it pretty clear you didn't care about me, at all"
Lorna frowned.
"I'm going to meet him", she stated, apparently choosing not to answer Alex's comment.
"You're meeting who?", asked Alex confused.
Lorna looked at him pointedly.
"Him", she said, "Magneto. I organized a meeting with him".
"Oh", Alex paused, trying to think of a reply that wouldn't result in him being killed, "…err…good?"
"Dunno, kinda-maybe", she shrugged, "but I..I don't want to go alone"
She ran a hand through her green hair.
"I was wondering if you'd come with me?", she asked, "'case…y'know, you've dealt with Magneto before, and all that"
Alex arched a brow at her.
"I won't be much good as protection, you know my powers have been on the blink", he said, then sighed, lying back on his surfboard, looking at the sky, "Why not take Lucas, or Japheth? Someone who could actually make a difference?"
Lorna bit her lip, before giving a frustrated sigh.
"Okay, okay", she said, "it's cause I want you with me, okay?"
Alex arched a brow.
"If this is some really evil joke, it's not funny", he said, closing his eyes with a frown
He was..tired. Tired of vying for affections she wasn't interested in giving. Tired of her putting his hope up, then dashing them in that cold-hearted way she had. Just… tired. He'd come close to giving up on her, she obviously wasn't interested in him.
It was that train of thought that caused him to be extremely surprised when her lips pressed against his. It was a quick kiss, swiftly given, swiftly taken away, but a kiss it was. He blinked, sitting himself up on the board, slightly bewildered.
"Wha?", he asked.
Lorna sat on front of him, or rather hovered slightly over the board, her legs still crossed.
"So..will you come with me?", she asked.
"Blah huh?", blinked Alex, then coughed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, "uhh..yeah…sure. I'd love to"
Lorna smiled, nodding.
"Thank you", she said, then arched a brow, "um…unless your hands blush as much as your face… I think you're about to burn a hole in your surfboard"
Alex blinked, then looked at his hands, which were, indeed, glowing. He squeaked, quickly aiming them across the reservoir, away from the both of them and the town. The action was done just in time, as a plasma blast shot across, burying deep into a nearby mountain.
"If you were going to carve my name in that, you did it wrong", chuckled Lorna, then glanced at Alex as he held his hands with a wince, "Alex…what's wrong"
"I'm okay", said Alex, gritting his teeth through the pain, "really..I'm fine"
"You don't look fine", said Lorna pointedly, crossing her arms, "how long have your powers been giving you problems?"
"A couple of months", Alex shrugged, "no biggie"
"Yes biggie", said Lorna, "you should talk to Lucas.. or even go see Xavier…"
"And go crawling back to my brother for help?", Alex snorted, "hardly likely"
"But you're in pain", said Lorna.
"I'll be fine", said Alex determinedly, "it'll pass. It' probably just a phase. I had them when my powers were developing"
Lorna frowned, uncertainly.
"If you say so", she said quietly.
Alex frowned, rubbing his hands, trying to get rid of that arthritic-like pain, before giving her a smile.
"So, when are we meeting your creepy 'ol Dad?"
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(1) – Franck Eggelhoffer is the wedding/ baby shower planner from my favorite movie of all time, Father of the Bride, played by Martin Short. What his nationality actually is has never been revealed, you'd have to hear him just to appreciate how wacky his accent is. Howard Weinstein is indeed his assistant (Obviously, I made up the Sakano part). Expect a few wacky scenes from the movie to appear in new context in this chronicle. Oh yes. Indulge me, I love this film.
(2) – Grins and waves at L1701E, see I promised ya. ;)
So, there we go, another chapter done and dusted. Do review. Until next time…