I’ve traveled all this way for something

[maskormods]

WHO: YOU.
WHERE: Eden East's cruiseship
WHEN: Saturday February 15th, around 5 PM EST
WHAT: Registration in motion... among other things.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; let us know if this should be edited.

" The new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises -- it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them. It appeals to their pride, not to their pocketbook -- it holds out the promise of more sacrifice instead of more security. But I tell you the new frontier is here, whether we seek it or not. "
( from jfk's speech "the new frontier," 7/15/1960. )

The sun hasn't set yet and the temperature hovers somewhere just below 70 degrees this evening; imPorts, both recently arrived and not, will have been escorted to this event so that they can meet each other, have a good time, and of course officially state their registration status. Or lack thereof. It's your decision, they emphasize, even though the unspoken "but" is always there.

It's an elaborate spread, certainly much more elegant than last time. Eden East herself, elegant in her backless champagne-colored dress, meets and greets each and every imPort as she flutters to and fro. She'll find you and chat for a few moments, shaking your hand and complimenting your dress. She'll know your name, and she'll have an entourage of aids and cameras following her wake. Captain Holiday, in contrast, maintains the energy of someone who feels out of place holding the Swear-In ceremony somewhere so extravagant. As imPorts arrive he tells them where to be for the ceremony part of the evening, but that they are free to enjoy themselves until then and after.

( Please state your character's official status -- REGISTERED or UNSETTLED -- in the subject header of your thread. Characters who are UNDECIDED may be contacted later in the week for their decision via their IC contact post. )

Comments

[noifsandsorbubs]

Logan catches his scent through the haze of smoke and sweat and booze before he hears him, but he doesn't look around—until Frank's voice comes from the wrong height, and it makes him curious. "Haven't smoked in years," he says, turning, "they tell me it's bad for your—lungs."

Ordinarily, it'd be good to see him—or on the positive side of neutral, anyway. Logan's a realist with many idealist friends, and Frank's one of the few people he knows who understands that some pieces just don't deserve a place on the chessboard.

And that's why it's shitty to see him like this. It's like watching the guy next to you in the trenches, a guy who figures he's just doing his job, get his hand blown off. Frank's not a friend, but he's down in that same ditch.

None of this shows on Logan's face. He doesn't say Jesus Christ, Frank, with sympathy in his voice. He eyes the wheelchair and takes a drink of whiskey. "What the hell happened to you?"

[fronttowardenemy]

If Logan is being honest about not smoking, or just being an ass, Frank can't tell. It isn't as if he spends enough time in the man's company to notice whether or not he's dropped the habit -- but only that one, since he drinks easily enough. Although it's doubtful that alcohol really gets to him, given his mutation. It is admittedly tempting to follow suit and order something himself, but unlike Logan, Frank has the risk of dulling his senses.

Since he's already laid-up, he can't afford any further damage to his system -- even if it's just a bit of buzz.

"End of the world," he supplies simply. "Just missed it."

[noifsandsorbubs]

It takes him a second to process that—this world. Or the world that came before it. Whatever.

"Yeah, I heard the abridged version." He's calculating while he talks: when was the last time he actually saw Frank? How long ago was the end of that other world? (It doesn't take him long to abandon the whole question. Timeline bullshit never gets less irritating.)

"Kinda surprised you're here," he says, moving casually away from the bar—and the bartender, and the other guests. There's nowhere in the room that's as quiet as he'd like, but at least they can mitigate the eavesdropping a little.

[fronttowardenemy]

Frank follows Logan's lead when he leaves the bar. Considering his condition, it isn't as easy for him to find somewhere for a private conversation. Privacy may be a laughable idea here anyway, considering the whole affair; it's all probably watched far too closely.

"Couldn't say the same," he dully replies. He's given up surprise with anyone who suddenly turns up or vanishes just as quickly. A soldier adapts quickly, and after this long it's been clear that precious little is off limits now.

"Been almost a year," he adds belatedly. "Only about a month of that was here." A nod outward, indicating the space around them: this world.

[noifsandsorbubs]

"Ain't what I meant." He's looking out at the guests, searching for familiar faces, noting the ones that aren't. "I mean here," he gestures to the room with his glass, "where they're busy provin' Tony Stark right." Not that it's much less strange for him, being at a registration party—but the X-Men are, by some unspoken agreement, playing the game. For now.

"I tried to cut it out," he adds. "Went all around where it shoulda been. Came right back." His tone is flat, pessimistic: of course it did.

[fronttowardenemy]

"Easiest way for recon," he says simply. If he doesn't attend, it's harder to know what's going on. He isn't in a position to intimidate answers out of anyone properly, and they're no one he trusts to do the work for him. So, he's here: reluctantly sitting through the show.

The next statement earns Logan a dull glance. "Should've expected that," he tells him, but he supposes it's nothing lost for Logan.

[noifsandsorbubs]

"Yeah, well. Either they're not as smart as they think or they're pretty sure nobody's gonna put up a fight. They got me in a house with Emma Frost." He says it the way someone might say yeah, he was messing around with a gun and he shot himself in the foot. "If they were careful, they woulda scattered everybody. Kept us apart and in the dark as long as possible. Guess they figure since it's just these," he glances at his wrist, "and they haven't done anything yet, we'll all just roll over."

He pauses. "Have they done anything?"

[fronttowardenemy]

"Maybe," is his reply and that's all he offers for a moment. It seems too simple, and it doesn't line up with his militaristic line of thinking. If they wanted heroes, it isn't exactly the same as keeping soldiers, but the manner of discipline involved should be similar -- but their practice seems entirely removed. It looks as though they simply expect cooperation, for whatever reason that may be.

"Nothing yet," he says, before belatedly adding: "at least, hasn't been heard of."

With people coming and going, is it hard to imagine someone particularly disobedient being made to disappear?

[noifsandsorbubs]

The same thought had occurred to Logan. It didn't click with what he'd seem, up until now—but then, that was the purpose of a facade.

"Yeah, well." Clipped and cynical: nothing else needs to be said about that. He looks down at Frank. "You stayin' in town for a while?" If certain things have to happen, for whatever reason—and in his experience, good reasons always come up—Frank might be the only one he knows who'll be good with it.

[fronttowardenemy]

"Not in much position to travel," he observes flatly. Even so, he knows there's another edge to Logan's question: asking without asking. The two of them aren't completely in agreement with one another, but they do align in enough ways that matter.

Allies are important. Frank operates as a singular machine, but there are certain forces that require more than one pair of hands. If there is anyone to trust, it's Logan: Frank knows he won't get invested or mistake alliance for something deeper.

He also has a convenient resistance to injury.

"Depends," he adds, "whether or not they're good on their word."

If he goes back to war, they may call arms up against him. Unlike New York, there may not be greater threats for the 'heroes' to concern themselves with.

[noifsandsorbubs]

The obvious response—I wouldn't hold my breath—is right there on the tip of his tongue, but it's not that easy. They'll break every positive assurance they make, in his experience, but if they only make one rule, one promise they can use to screw over their new toys, that's the one promise they'll keep.

"Guess we'll find out," he says instead. "I'm gonna see if I can't find a tech guy to rig up some communicators that ain't standard-issue." The asking-without-asking part of this is more of an offer: if you want one, you got one.

(Not that he expects Frank to do something that might drag him into teamwork with a bunch of people he doesn't really know, but—allies are important.)

[fronttowardenemy]

Frank nod his head to that. The unspoken offer comes through, and it doesn't register with any smugness or require any falsely sly elbow-nudging to get through. Layers of communication come easier between them, Differences aside, he and Logan are similar in enough ways for it to matter.

"May not matter much," he warns, nodding towards his branded forearm, "if they keep tabs on you."

He won't say anything stupid, like careful who you go to, or any other blanket warnings. Someone else, someone with cleaner hands, he may find it necessary, but with Logan it would be unnecessary -- and idly insulting.

Not that the two of them aren't beyond a little of that, here and there.