uncagedclaws-blog

[uncagedclaws-blog]

{ ✤ } » — “Hm. It is almost that time of year again. Let us hope that we will not be facing another zombie invasion. Though it certainly seems a odd thing to make an annual occurrence, it cannot hurt to be prepared, yes?”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

obligatory sorry fam, I’m not Dead. I’ve been hella busy because babies are a Lot of work!! but I am in the process of catching up on replies across the board, and I swear the hardest part of trying to get back into rhythm isn’t even writing. it’s the anxiety that comes with being away for too long because of people losing interest.

as an apology though, since I’m overdue for one anyway, I’ll leave a quick starter call here for the time being while I continue to play catch up. I’ll cap it at 3 for now, but cast mates are exempt from the cap. drop a like if you’re interested, I’ll get them going once replies I currently owe are caught up on (sometime over the next few days or so, depending on my work schedule)!!

[uncagedclaws-blog]

kineticcardtricks‌:

      In their time together, Remy had of course begun to really know Laura. There was a kinship there with her that he felt with hardly anyone else. They were both on the outcast level for a majority of their time– and she even moreso than him. She needed someone. And her words when she spoke this way only confirmed that. She just needed someone to care and be there for her. She wasn’t a monster, the people who treated her the way she had been were the monsters. Honestly, if left alone any longer like she had been, well… He didn’t have much faith that life would get kinder for her. He could only feel the world would continue to grow cold. Harsh. She needed help. That’s all he ever wanted to give her.

      “Our past is our history. Bad ‘er not, sometimes it’s… Good t’remember.” Just in the same way he still remembered the tragedy he had helped cause in the sewers. He couldn’t forget. He was certain their reasons for remembering were different, but… It’s just how it was. “I’m glad we found each other.” A soft smile crosses his face fondly, turning his attention up to the sky for a moment, as if in thought, “You deserve t’have someone care ‘bout you. I’m glad it’s me t’start it. We all care ‘bout you. Jus’ gotta give it some time.”

      The older can’t keep the soft expression for very long though, a frown slowly growing in place as she spoke. It was important to know what she was talking about but… The more he learned about how she was treated, the more he hurt for her. No one ever deserved to be treated the way she had been, Laura of all people did not. She was thrown into a cruel and terrible world with what she had to endure. Honestly– he’s not sure how he hadn’t been told about this sooner. “Oh Laura…”

      “You never deserved any of that.” His tone was almost stern when he said that, but there was a hint of softness in how he spoke not intending to sound like he was upset with her, of course. “These people are terrible. Jus’ a girl, not a weapon. T’use people against you like that…” He mutters quietly, turning his attention back to her and keeping his hand on her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, “I’m sorry if I caused you any concern, petite. It wasn’ my intention. I promise I ain’t goin’ nowhere anytime soon. I made it this far, ain’t I? I’ll always be here for ya.”

      Of course, the mood shifts and he can feel it when he’s interrogating her in her own specific way, finally removing his hand from her shoulder and holding it up in defense of himself, “Well— Yeah. I mean you got me there. It woulda been the best option.” A shrug, “I was jus’… Ya know. Thinkin’ about it a lil’ too hard I guess.” Okay, yeah. He probably deserved the way she was getting on him about this, and he can’t help but laugh a tad sheepishly, “I been here a lil’ too long, ‘fore you got here. I’ve mentioned you a few times t’her. An’ of course, I told her when ya got here… I guess I jus’ didn’ really know how t’bring her up to you, though. I ain’t had the best track record with people knowin’ my romances an’ all.”

{ ✤ } » — Gambit had always been the exception in her life. No matter how many times the rest of the world would seemingly turn her back on her, somehow, she could always trust he would still be there when she looked over her shoulder. He had seen her at her worst, yet his faith in her had never faltered. As such, it could only stand to reason that perhaps that was why she had been so concerned in his absence. To look over her shoulder and no long find him standing behind her, it was not a reality she wanted any part of. She had endured enough loss already in her sixteen years of life.

                 Even when her back was against a wall and she became her own worst enemy, he had become her voice of reason. Her reminder that there was more for her than a life of violence and bloodshed. And what’s more, he made her truly want to believe that was the truth.

                 “I still do not know if I can say that I deserve any of this, but I know that...I am glad we found each other, too,” Laura concurs, green eyes turning upward to follow his line of sight. She makes note of how beautiful the sky is today, something that she never would have thought twice about before he had become part of her life. Things like simply letting life happen, stopping to admire her surroundings, they were all foreign concepts to her not long ago. She only hopes that one day she might be able to return the favor for all that he has done for her.

                 It’s in an observant silence that she watches his expression shift, the heavy nature of her past no doubt settling it. Those first thirteen years of her life, the near entirety of the life she knew before their meeting, was not a subject she shied away from; it was part of her now. However, it wasn’t a topic she generally spoke of unless prompted. His reaction was well within reason, Laura knew her past wasn’t pleasant. It wasn’t the first time she had divulged part of it to him, either. But it was the first time he had commented on it--though that may have been due to her not giving him the chance to do so last time. His reopened wounds had taken precedent over allowing him to take pity on her.

                 “I was never just a girl,” she answers simply, her brow furrowing. “You already know better than most what I have done and the things I am capable of. I hurt you. I also hurt Logan and Jubilee, even when all you were trying to do was help me. That is not something just a girl would do, Gambit.” Disagree as she might with those who treated her strictly as a weapon, tried to use her as such, she was still unable to deny that it would remain part of her. The gentle squeeze of her shoulder brings her back, however, and her expression softens. For a moment, she appears at a loss. And it’s wordlessly that she proceeds to wrap her arms around him in an embrace that might help speak for her.

                 “There is no need for apologies. You are unharmed, that is enough.”

                 Alas, she is no stranger to reading the mood, and as quickly as the moment begins, her arms are falling back to her side. While it hadn’t been her intention to make him feel the need to defend his actions, it’s evident that’s what she’s done. Unfortunately, her tact required some work yet, and what had been meant as genuine curiosity had come off as hostility.

                 “Is that why I have overheard others warn you not to think too hard before you hurt yourself?” Laura goes on to question, the joke clearly lost on her at the time. The idea of him being too nervous to share such a thing with her leaves her feeling a bit perplexed. She had seen him nervous before, sure, but when questioned on it, he’d had no problem with telling her that he was going on a date. She knew how romance could complicate things, her own minimal experiences with it were indicative of that. But there’s one detail in particular he shares that stands out to her. “I do not understand. If you did not mind telling her about me, why were you hesitant to tell me about her? Were you fearing judgement because she is so much younger than you are?”

                 Shot unintentionally fired? Check.

                 In spite of it all, she ultimately sighs, hands resting on her knees as she turns to face him once more.

                 “I meant it. When I said I was not angry with you, I meant it. I am just trying to understand better, and...I just wish I would have heard it from you.”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

rcsputinaa‌:

‘do not define me by my relation to him, magik.’

that caused magik to pause, perhaps because she herself defined herself by her relations to others. sister to colossus, adoptive daughter of belasco, member of the new mutants, x-man, part of cyclops’ revolution. her lips pressed into a thin line but she gave a curt nod.

magik looked blankly at laura, silent for a moment before saying, “you do not like me. that is… understandable.” magik had never been good at being anything other than cold, aloof, or aggressive. she could do cold here, but aloof or aggressive would likely end with a fight. and she wasn’t stupid, reckless sometimes yes, but not stupid. fighting someone with the same powers as wolverine would not end well for magik, not in her current situation.

ugh, if she’d managed to apologize to kitty and piotr, she could apologize to someone who she wasn’t desperate to have forgive her.

she tried to relax her stance, open her expression, before speaking, but she likely failed. this wasn’t something she was good at. “i hurt your friend, pixie. i hurt many people after i came back. i could explain why i was the way i was, but nothing excuses my behavior.” she’d told pixie that she was acting like belasco and that was true. it made her queasy to think of just how much influence he’d had over her then.

“i have tried to make amends with those i hurt, including pixie. i will offer you my apologies if you want them, but if you wish for me to keep my distance i will honor that.”

{ ✤ } » — There was once a time where she would have allowed herself to be defined by such a thing. A time where her existence was reduced to solely that she was Wolverine’s flesh and blood. It was the way everyone else always looked at her, and as such, it had become the only way she could look at herself.

                 She was born of anger and hatred. An envoy of death.

                 It was a painful, lonesome existence. One that she would hardly even consider living. Not when living implied choice and freedom, neither of which she had. Not when she had escaped one prison, only to end up trapped in another. People saw her and didn’t see a young girl who was scared and confused.

                 They saw a weapon. A body count.

                 There was no Laura Kinney, just X-23: the human killing machine. And for the longest time, that was the only life she knew. One where nobody would ever care if she had thoughts or feelings of her own, and she had no desire to continue living. Yet in the most ironic of twists, despite all the lives she had been forced to take, the one she couldn’t take was her own. Not for lack of trying.

                 “I do not require your explanations,” Laura says. “I also have a past I am not proud of. I have committed terrible, unforgivable acts that cannot be excused either. I am not going to stand here and speak to you as if I am owed anything.”

                 Not long ago, she would still be suffocated by her guilt, unable to live with herself for the things she had done. Unable to live this life that was not her’s to control. To say that Gambit had saved her would be an understatement.  He had taught her a great deal, opened her eyes to the world around her, and steered her when she needed guidance. He had found her before she could wander too far down that spiraling road, and she had come to understand that not all were so fortunate.

                 Though her journey was still far from over, she had come a long way yet. There were answers she continued to seek, but there were also ones she had found. She had found friends, a family, and a strength to live her life as she saw fit. Laura was no longer the same timid girl who had joined the X-Men and craved the acceptance of her peers. She had grown to accept herself for who she was, and if others were not, that was their decision to make. She would not fault them for it.

                 But she also could not, in good conscience, fault another for making those same mistakes as she had. And it’s bearing that thought in mind, Laura extends a hand.

                 “I also do not wish for your apologies, Magik. What happened with Pixie is not for me or anyone else to forgive. I am sure you are aware of that much, as well,” she continues, everything about the other’s body language tell her that her words are sincere. These are not the words of someone wanting to deceive her. “I am only standing here right now because someone very dear to me knew of my past and gave me a chance when I did not believe myself deserving of one. I see no reason why you should not be given the same opportunity.”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

obligatory sorry fam, I’m not Dead. I’ve been hella busy because babies are a Lot of work!! but I am in the process of catching up on replies across the board, and I swear the hardest part of trying to get back into rhythm isn’t even writing. it’s the anxiety that comes with being away for too long because of people losing interest.

as an apology though, since I’m overdue for one anyway, I’ll leave a quick starter call here for the time being while I continue to play catch up. I’ll cap it at 3 for now, but cast mates are exempt from the cap. drop a like if you’re interested, I’ll get them going once replies I currently owe are caught up on (sometime over the next few days or so, depending on my work schedule)!!

[uncagedclaws-blog]

kineticcardtricks‌:

      Of course, he knows she’s come a long way. It was what she needed— she needed him and honestly, he needed her. Their time together, while his intention was to help her find herself and figure herself out just as he had to when he had first joined the X Men, she helped him along the way too. Past wounds he thought he had dealt with, he realized he never quite resolved them. He buried them and buried any idea that he could fully trust people. But Laura— she unintentionally helped him. Reminded him he needed to come face to face with his problems in order to fully help her. And helping her has been all he has ever wanted. Because he saw himself in her and knew she needed help.

      She just couldn’t ask for it.

      “All that time wit’ you— I can’t forget. If not for the mess we made, well…” He trails off when the statement of Tyger was brought to mind, red eyes shifting to the side. That wasn’t something she needed to know. No one else needed to know, so he simply shrugged, “Eh– thing of the past. Nothin’ t’really… Think ‘bout. Tyger and I known each other for a long while.”

      He would have given all of this a moments more contemplation if he next words hadn’t struck such a chord with him, his brows pulling together. It was true. There was always the thought of just… Not coming back one day. Sure– he was skilled and lucky enough to make it in his life this long– but he had almost died… Twice, at least. It was a risk taken with a life like theirs. He just didn’t have a healing factor. It was much easier for something to happen to him.

      Remy lived continuously in a reckless manner, if he died, then he died. Hopefully he could go out heroically. But her statements really made his chest ache suddenly.

      “Laura—” He starts, shifting to place a hand on her shoulder gently, a reassuring motion, “I can’t promise nothin’ bad won’t ever happen t’me– I ain’t immortal. But I can promise I ain’t gonna jus’ be gone wit’out a fight. I care ‘bout you, jus’ like anyone should. You ain’t a monster, you jus’ a girl. Someone who needs someone t’be there for ‘em. I needed that at one point, too. So if no one gonna see what a wonderful person you are, I will always be here for you— nothin’ gonna take me out for good for a long while.”

      Of course, a deep speech had to always be ruined some way or another. He shifts, turning himself away only slightly— as if he was embarrassed for a moment. God— it had been that long, since slightly after she showed up here? If he didn’t feel bad enough about not bringing up his girlfriend before now…! He reaches up, rubbing the back of his neck– and just why hadn’t he told her about Miriam yet? Just the idea made his thoughts race. Everyone back home knew how complicated his relationship with Rogue was. He didn’t want everyone to just think this was going to end up the same as that mess. but he knew Laura better than that. She would never think badly of him, or that he would mess things up, chide at him and bother him about when he would ruin things. He was just… Nervous to tell her. It was so new.

      “That– uh… S’been that long, huh?” A weak laugh, he turns his attention to the ground, slouching, “I been seein’ her for… A year? Somewhere longer. I jus’…” he gestures out with his hands, “I was gonna tell ya. Really. I was. Jus’ never seemed like th’right… Place t’say, I guess. I promise, I was gonna say somethin’, Laura! I jus’…” A shrug, “I was gonna have you meet her, but I guess that happened wit’out me.”

{ ✤ } » — To say that their time spent together had helped her was an understatement. When Gambit found her lost, alone and covered in blood that wasn’t enough of her own, she had no purpose and no reason to live. She was nothing more than what she was created to be, a soulless killing machine. If Paris had been anything to go by, Laura doesn’t even want to imagine what might have become of her had he not taken her under his wing when he did. Because though she might not have been able to voice her appreciation to him back then, and perhaps even now, it didn’t change the fact that she had always been grateful for everything.

                 For the longest time, it felt that he was the only one who believed she was capable of anything more than violence and bloodshed.

                 “I did not have many pleasant memories before that time. Even during that time, there were many...unpleasant happenings. But, I still would not want to forget them,” she says. Her eyes stare at the ground, arms wrapped around her torso to hug herself. “I had forgotten how it felt...to have someone care about what happened to you. I did not think it mattered to anyone if I was dead or alive. And I think...it is because of you that I am still here now.”

                 She’d had a great deal of time to reflect on things and herself during their journey together, and even during their time apart. Things that made her realize that merely because she was conditioned to be one thing didn’t mean that was all she could be, and that despite everything, she no longer resented her existence. Things that she never would have learned about herself had she been left to aimlessly wander down her twisted path alone. What’s more, she is appreciative of Gambit’s lack of tact with dodging a subject. Laura’s expression softens for the moment.

                  “You are still a terrible liar.”

                  His hand on her shoulder draws her attention back to him, and though it’s clear his intentions are good and his sentiments are sincere, there is a very major detail that he’s missing. And how could he not, when she had never taken the time to explain for a plethora of reasons. She but shakes her head before taking a breath.

                  “That is not quite what I mean,” Laura begins. “When I was raised in the Facility, nobody was allowed to show me kindness. To them, I was not human and I was not to be treated as such. X-23 was a weapon. My martial arts trainer, my sensei, he was the first to make that mistake. He was stern with me, but never cruel. I remember he would call me child during our lessons and tell me when he was proud of what I had accomplished. He knew it was not allowed.” She takes a brief pause, know he was already familiar with the part that followed. “...That was the first time they had tested the trigger scent. To make an example out of what would happen to anyone who showed me a trace of humanity. Even my mother was not safe from it.”

                  Her mother, the late Sarah Kinney, though the biggest loss, and the clearest beginning of her downward spiral, remained the part she had the most difficulty talking about. It was too hard, knowing how close they were and how different things might have been.

                  “I have already seen too many people die because of me, because they cared about me and did not think of me as a weapon. So when you disappeared like that...” She was worried. Afraid, perhaps. “I do not want you to become one of them, Gambit. I do not want to lose you, too.”

                  When was the last time she had spoken this much? It’s anybody’s guess. But she can’t help to note that emotions are rather exhausting, times were that much simpler when she had greater difficulty understanding why she felt the way that she did. And it’s on that note that she’ll accept the attention shifting of her as the other takes his place on the hot seat. One that’s long overdue, no less. Her position shifts, hand resting against the seat of the bench on either side of her.

                  “Yes, it has been that long.” He’s nervous, that much is painstakingly obvious. Why...she can’t say. There’d never been issue with introducing her to others before. Laura raises an eyebrow. “Would the right place not have been her residence when you brought me there the first night?” If the question comes off harsh, it’s entirely unintentional. “But what I do not understand is why did this woman know who I was when I had never heard of her? I am not angry with you, I just...do not know what to think.”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

rcsputinaa‌:

@uncagedclaws

there were a few x-men that magik had been hoping to see again, even if seeing them here meant them being in the same terrible situation as her. piotr, kitty, storm, any of the new x-men. x-23 was not one of those x-men.

their paths hadn’t crossed much in the years that magik had returned to life though she knew cyclops had respected her. magik knew that x-23, laura, had been one of the mutants dragged down into limbo soon after her resurrection, though not one of the ones magik had brought to her.

magik would not be surprised if laura hated her. while she had tried to make amends with pixie, ripping out part of a friend’s soul wasn’t something that was simply brushed under the rug. nor could magik blame laura if she did hate her. magik still hated herself for what she had done, even if she was unsure she’d have done anything different if given the chance (belasco had to be destroyed and only a soulweapon could do it).

“you are a mutant. related to wolverine.” if it came down to it, magik would let the younger mutant get in one free hit.

{ ✤ } » — There were a few things that Laura had left behind when she ventured out to find herself. The X-Men had been one of those things. Her reasons hadn’t been because of any one person in particular, but rather because being amongst them had come to feel like another prison. When Cyclops had recruited her as a member of the X-Force, she had learned that even now, she was still but a weapon in the eyes of her peers. Just as she always had been, she was either feared, or the subject of ridicule. And so she had silently left and never looked back.

                 Aside from Gambit and Jubilee, occasionally Logan, she hadn’t seen the majority of her former allies in some time. Julien was an exception, however, she didn’t much feel like recalling how their last encounter had progressed.

                 So while she held no ill will towards any of them in particular, there would always remain those unsavory memories. What’s more, simply because she did not harbor such feelings wasn’t to say such sentiments were mutual. It wouldn’t be such a stretch to say that she’d accrued more enemies than friends over the few years since escaping the Facility.

                 More often than not, it was easy enough to tell which category another fell under. She didn’t need her heightened senses to figure it out. Not to mention, last time someone had singled her out as being a relative of Wolverine, he had been adamant on trying to make her part of his collection.

                 “I fail to see how that is any of your business,” Laura responds, tone void of hostility but her posture is stiff, attempting to read the mood. Her eyes narrow, expression stern upon facing the owner of the voice. “I am my own person. Do not define me by my relation to him, MAGIK. You are aware of who I am, as I am of you.”

                 ( As if she could forget a face if she tried. Eidetic memories, who knew right? )

[uncagedclaws-blog]

firedlion‌:

          HEARING HER INQUIRE OF HIS own comment only causes a brow to raise whilst taking a drink from his own bottle. somehow he finds it strange that a space mall might be seen as questioning in light of her own statements, dropping the bottle top from his lips thereafter. ❝ What, so dragons in New York are more believable now? ❞ there’s no hostility in his retort, more so a tone of disbelief that she might differentiate either of the two situations. instead, he’ll taking another drink before swirling the cap back on.

          ❝ I mean. It’s kinda like a space station? It’s not just floating without oxygen, ❞ he explains soon after, trying to recall what little details there were. ❝ Look, all I know is you could go in, buy weird alien junk, and get out. I had other things on my mind. ❞

          listening in on this alien, there was a look of annoyance on his face at the prospect of adding a person to his collection. ❝ Dude, that doesn’t sound like a collector. That’s more like some weird hoarder making up rules. ❞ or at the very least breaking them and somehow managing to get away from them. ❝ But I feel that. I’d say it’s good you told him what’s what, but who knows if you’d still wind up here even if he managed to keep you or whatever, ❞ he muses, quickly glancing around the area as if to scope the island to accompany his words.

          any metaphorical bristles settle down when she elaborates. teasing, something he hadn’t encountered in a while without his usual team around—somehow he had almost forgotten what it felt like without the added derision to his character, from those who might have otherwise looked down on him. ❝ Yeah. It’s almost like they’re banking on us wanting to stay… I dunno. Maybe this is worse… making you feel comfortable and then ripping everything away. I’ve had a couple years to think about things like that and it doesn’t sit right with me. I doubt they even care about us, it’s probably just some ploy to make them seem better than others like them, ❞ he talks, eyes narrowing a little at the thought of simply being used as some toy and being expected to praise them for allowing it.

          ❝ Sounds about right, ❞ he mutters, recalling his own situation before having been brought to the last city and then here. ❝ But I’m heading over to the arcade like I said. I guess I’ll get food, too. If you, uh… wanna join, then it’s whatever. ❞ probably the best he would ever get inviting a random stranger he picked up a random conversation with.

{ ✤ } » — It was...strange. She was an intelligent girl, had ventured out into the world and seen many things. But just when it began to feel as if she had conquered one mystery of the world, a new one reveals itself. No matter how many books she read or details she could memorize, there was always something new, something she had yet to learn about. So when Keith reacts in apparent surprise when she questions about his space mall, Laura does something new for her as well; She laughs.

                The laughter is soft and subtle, but it is undeniably there.

                “I come from a world of mutants and super powered humans who wear spandex and swing from skyscrapers. One of my closest friends is a vampire. A dragon is not the strangest thing to ever happen to New York,” she explains, eyes alight with amusement. “Perhaps if I am ever in space for leisure, I will have to keep an eye out for your space mall. My friend quite enjoys shopping, I think she would be quite interested to see what space fashion is like.”

                In retrospect, maybe the idea of there being such a place didn’t sound so far fetched. She had seen aliens, knew of their existence. Why shouldn’t they have somewhere to shop as well? Regardless, she is rather impressed by how perceptive her new acquaintance appears.

                “I am in agreement with you there, yes. He calls himself The Collector, but his collection itself is rather...distasteful.” Reflexively, she flexes her fingers, staring at her hand where her claws would have once extended prior to arriving here. The very thing he had hoped to collect of her. “I would say anywhere might be better than that place, but you could be right.”

                Laura follows suit, taking an observant glance of their surroundings before returning her attention to Keith once more. Evidently everyone remained wary of this mysterious island. But at least she can take solace in knowing she isn’t alone here.

                “Yes, exactly,” she is quick to concur. “It is like...they are creating an illusion. A false sense of security before they conduct whatever plans it is they have in store for all of us. I do not like it. I have already spent most of my life as an experiment, I will not submit again.” Arms shift to hug herself at the thought of the past that continued to haunt her now, however, something he says causes her head to jerk up. Did he just say a couple of YEARS? This time, it’s her turn to look upon the other in disbelief. “...Keith, how long have you been here?”

                Come to think of it, she had never even asked Gambit how long he had been here for, either. The idea that someone could be held captive in such a place for so long was equal parts alarming and almost disturbing. She’s not so sure she would be able to remain as calm in his position. It’s admirable.

                So when he extends the offer for her to tag along, Laura is unsure how to answer.

                “Are...you sure that is alright?” Though she’s curious, both about the arcade and Keith himself, she wouldn’t want to impose. And would it really be okay to indulge in such a desire? To give their wardens exactly what they might very well want of them? Or...might it really be okay to allow herself to be a teenager just this once? “...I think I would like that. Thank you.” Stranger things had happened, right?

[uncagedclaws-blog]

hiatus end

first off, I apologize for the sudden hiatus with no prior notice. for those of you who follow me on my twitter, you might already know that my cat passed away last month after a three month long decline in his health. and when it became apparent that he didn’t have long, I requested a hiatus because I needed some time away. and as I feared, the morning after I had sent in that request, he passed. it’s been a rough month, and I didn’t expect to take as much time as I did. but I’ve realized just how much you don’t realize you need a break until you actually take one.

my time away was very much appreciated and needed, during which I’ve spent a lot of time with family and friends, and even been in the process of hopefully getting a nice shiny new job. pretty much just trying to get myself back to a better place after everything. however I’m back now, and ready to try and start getting back into the swing of things.

so my deepest thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding, and taking the time to read this. I understand a lot can change in a month, so while I get back into the writing groove and catch up on replies, please don’t be afraid to let me know if you’d prefer to drop one of our threads.

much love!!

[uncagedclaws-blog]

kineticcardtricks‌:

      “Thief, magician– same difference, eh?” It made sense to him. “At least, to me perhaps.”

      Yes, it was indeed a way of apologizing for his sudden disappearance. Remy wasn’t exactly bad at saying sorry, but he would rather… Show it than say it. Actions spoke louder than words, right? At least, he was certain that age old saying was true. Not that noodles would ever actually make him feel fully forgiven, but it was a start. He was a man that had a lot to be sorry for over the years, after all.

      “Perhaps I did.” A playful smile rests along his face. He knew she liked them, and he wanted to give Laura everything she liked. He wanted to do anything for her— this wasn’t the same girl he remembered seeing last, holding the name Wolverine and really discovering herself slowly. This was the girl he remembered who was just starting her journey. Who still had a long way to go. And all he ever wanted for Laura was for her to be happy. Even the Laura he remembered last. This was the girl who was still more fragile then she lead on. “I know you like ‘em the best. How can I resist gettin’ ‘em for ya?”

      “… I never meant t’not say anythin’.” The mutant is quiet for a bit, leaning back against the rest of the bench, folding his hands over the other to keep from fidgeting. “I guess I got caught up in my own paranoia. I felt young an’ dumb an’ foolish again— well, not sayin’ I ain’t a fool anymore but… Ya know.” A pause, he lets the air rest between them before turning his attention fully to Laura, “I’m sorry, Laura. I promise if I go into hidin’ like I did, I’ll let you know.”

      And there it was. The question of the century— which caught him off guard. Miri. She must have met her. A laugh– a slightly nervous one at that, “Now now, I was. Trust me. I’d never keep anythin’ like that from you. It jus’– ya know. I wanted to find the right time. You both are really important, ya know?”

{ ✤ } » — If there was one thing that Laura understood, it was the concept of not knowing how to translate her feelings into words. Despite having come leaps and bounds from the girl who first escaped The Facility, that much continued to be an ongoing work in progress. However, she knew she owed a great deal of how far she’d come to the apologetic man before her. He had accepted her when no one else would; Looked after her, guided her, and showed her kindness that she was undeserving of.

                Remy was a good man, that was never up for debate. It’s also how she knows that whatever this is that she’s feeling, she wouldn’t label it anger. 

                “So you do remember,” she says. As if either of them could forget that part of their adventure. Daken had quite a way of leaving a lasting impression on others. Thoughtfully, she stares at the carton of noodles for another moment before setting them down alongside her. “You never did tell me what was going on between you and Tyger then, either.”

                Of course she didn’t expect him to tell her everything, that would have been beyond unreasonable. At the end of the day, there was no true relation between them. He had no obligation to tell her anything, and it wasn’t as if she didn’t have secrets of her own. In her eyes, it’s enough that he trusts her at all, let alone to the extent that he does. Even Logan often felt as if he didn’t quite trust her, despite being his flesh and blood. Then again, perhaps that was exactly why he didn’t.

                 So when he attempts to apologize for leaving without notice, Laura finds herself unable to remain quiet.

                 “Gambit, I am not bothered that you left. I would have gone with you if I could have.” Her hands rest on her lap, folded together, as she begins trying to explain herself. And then there’s a lull, expression showing conflict while she struggles to say what she wants.

                 “...What if you did not come back?”

                 Loss was an inevitable part of life. It was a painful, harsh lesson that she had been forcefully taught time and time again in the form of the bodies piled beneath her feet. One that she could never seem to escape, no matter how fiercely she fought against it. One she often accepted without question, because what else could she do when they were her fault to begin with? Yet this was different.

                 “If something had happened to you, I would never have any way of knowing. You would just...never return. How would I accept something such as that?” Hands slowly shift from her lap to gripping the seat of the bench. “We both know that I am not a stranger to death. I have lost people before, I am certain I will again. But...you are the only one who has never treated me like I am a monster. You have cared for me, even though it was not your job and I have never understood why.”

                 Finally, Laura manages to raise her head to look at him.

                 “Everyone who has ever been kind to me has been taken from me in one way or another. My sensei, my mother...even Julian became hateful towards me. I do not wish to lose you as well, Gambit...”

                 Then comes the shift in topic and, while awkward, it’s almost welcomed. It offers an opportunity for her to reground herself. It also requires far less time to process her thoughts before addressing her fellow mutant on the subject.

                  “No, I do not know. That is the problem,” she points out, rather straight and to the point. There is no malice in her voice, simply offers an indiscernible look upon leaning back against the bench. “What I do know is that several days after my arrival here, I went back to that residence looking for you. You were not there, but somebody was. Somebody who not only knew who I was without having met, but who also informed me that she was not your roommate.”

                  Y’know, just in case he needed an idea of how long she had been sitting on this information for.

                  “...I was waiting to see how long it would take for you to tell me yourself. Then it became rather clear that was never going to happen.”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

compassionatefade replied to your post: okay, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while...

((this is a bit of a unorthodox way of responding to a call but! i would love to plot with you as soon as i app bigby wolf back in [which should be soon]))

no not at all, I would be happy to plot with you, friend!! c: (lord knows laura’s been lacking a logan-like figure in her life since coming to isola......)

[uncagedclaws-blog]

okay, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but between school, a sick cat and three blogs, I got a bit distracted. but the semester is winding down, so it seems like an okay time to finally post a proper starter call here.

I’m going to leave it uncapped for the time being, as I’d really like to get some new, longterm relationships building for laura. however, I do maintain the right to draw a cutoff point if I become overwhelmed (which I do apologize if that happens). so please drop a like if you’re interested, and I’ll see what I can come up with. alternatively, you’re also welcome to message me if you’re interested in actually plotting something.

[uncagedclaws-blog]

@mechanicalaura

{ ✤ } » — Though she was no longer a resident of Fibonacci ward, Laura often found herself wandering back there. It had become familiar to her, she had friends here, and in a number of ways, being here somewhat reminded her of the time she had spent in New York City. The buildings were tall, the residents weren’t always particularly friendly, and the streets could be extremely sketchy. But at least there were plenty of stray animals afoot.

                 The furry creatures here were more than a bit different to what she had become accustomed to back home, but simply because something was different didn’t make it bad, right? The cats, in particular, had come to often catch her attention. They were odd, perhaps a bit strange, however it was not their fault that they turned out that way. Or maybe she was just seeing a little too much of herself in these radiocats.

                 So when she stopped by the spot where she had been known to see them gather in the past, Laura is taken rather by surprise to see someone else has beat her here. A girl, to be more precise, with vibrant hair and, from what she is able to see, appears to be a teenager like herself.

                 “Oh, hello...” she meekly announces her presence. She never had been particularly good at making casual conversation. “Are...you here to see the cats, as well?”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

kineticcardtricks‌:

      “A thief don’t give his secrets out so easily.” A wink followed his phrasing, it was just his way to show up like this, anyway. He kept tabs on the people he cared for— and he should have spoken up to the people he cared about here too, but. The man made mistakes. Quite a few, really.

      “Made sure the place I found had that kinda spice ya like. You a girl after my own heart wit’ spice.”

       “Funny ‘nough, I heard that same phrase not too long ago either.” He passes off the container with a breathy laugh, leaning back on the bench with his own container of food for himself, not yet opening it. “Not a good look I got if people sayin’ I got some explainin’ t’do, yeah?” A pause, he turns his attention upward to the sky with a heavy sigh, “I shoulda spoke up, I know I know. Y’think at my age I know t’be a lil’ less careless, yeah?” Another pause, the mutant turns his attention to Laura, “Missed ya either way, petite.”

{ ✤ } » — "I thought that only applied to magicians.”

                It’s more an out loud contemplation than a quip, which she still continued to try gaining a better understanding of. All while she stares down at the carton of noodles, continuing to wonder if this is meant to be his way of apologizing for his minor disappearing act. Either way, it earns him a raised brow in response to the comment that follows.

                “I believe you accused me of trying to drive you away with spicy noodles when we were in Madripoor,” Laura points out. It was far from her favorite stop on their journey together, but it remained a memorable one to say the least. “Did you have a change of heart while you were away?”

                Things had been...quiet, not having him around. But even still, she was the last person who could hold it against him for falling off the map. Had she not done nearly the same thing prior to her arrival in the city? There was no logical reason for her to be upset with him. And yet, there was some inexplicable feeling that weighed heavy in her chest as she quietly played with her food, stirring the noodles in their container with the fork.

                “...Why did you not say anything?” she asks, staring down at the ground. “Before I left, I came to see you and Logan. But, you did not. You did not say goodbye, you did not even mention that you were leaving. Why?”

                There’s no trace of anger in her voice. Perhaps...betrayal is what this feeling is? Her brain continues to struggle comprehending it all. Gambit didn’t hand her over to an enemy, he didn’t cause her harm. It wasn’t as if he truly betrayed her. So...that couldn’t be it. Could it?

                She shakes the thought off altogether for the time being, though it reminds her that there is still another elephant in the room that the two need to talk about.

                 “What about the Miriam woman? Were you going to tell me about her, either?”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

antheiin‌:

Miriam pauses then, feeling a bit badly for how she had reacted. It wasn’t fair of her to act spooked, despite the nervousness that had overtaken her. Laura was far newer than her, knew far less about the city and its strange ways. Nevertheless, she felt a bit like an intruder. So she nods to the question, chewing on her lip. 

“Yeah, Remy told me a bit about you. I’ve got a kid of my own so it, made sense, I guess.” Rubbing the back of her neck, Miriam shakes her head at the other’s offer to leave. “I’ll message him, you can come in and sit down. Get tea or something. Uh and, he doesn’t live here, just spends about eighty percent of his time here. So I guess I’m not his roomate.”

There’s a lot to this, and she’s fidgeting, looking up and playing with her hair like someone trying to get away with trouble.

Eventually, she shrugs her shoulders, managing to spit her words out. “We’ve been dating for a little while now. Even if I didn’t message him, he’s be bound to show up at some point.”  

{ ✤ } » — It becomes evident that this chance encounter makes them both uncomfortable. For Laura, it’s because she’s unintentionally intruded, only to find the one she sought isn’t even here. As for Miriam, her only indicator is that she can practically smell the anxiety. Were her abilities fully intact, she’s near certain that she’d be able to smell the nervousness; just as she had with Gambit the last time he had mentioned having a date. 

                But that had been some time ago. Before she had ventured out to find herself. Longer yet before she had wound up on this mysterious island.

                So when this woman she’s only just meeting decides to set the record that SHE is dating Gambit, Laura isn’t sure how to respond to the situation.

                “He...told you about me, yet...” she says after a prolonged silence. It takes a moment of her mulling her train of thought over before completing her observation. “...He did not tell me he was seeing anyone.” And arms cross over her chest, her gaze drifting to the side. Could she be lying? It’s a possibility, though she can’t imagine what this woman would have to gain by such a thing. What’s more, it begs the question why he would fail to inform her of such a detail.

                “No.” Laura insists, turning her attention back to Miri with an unreadable expression. “There is no need to contact him, I do not intend to stay long.”

                Emotions and feelings were always something that had been difficult for her to understand. Her own were no exception to that, and especially not at this moment. Whereas the typical person might need time to process how they felt, she needed time to discern WHY she was feeling the way she was. Such as why she was suddenly feeling bothered by the idea that Gambit might be withholding things from her...

                But that is also not something she can hold against the other, who still seems to be at about as much of a loss as she is. She frowns. And despite her hesitance, Laura attempts to find a middle ground for both of their sake.

                “...So what exactly has he said about me?”

[uncagedclaws-blog]

this is literally the same post. I’m so glad tumblr is a functional website!!

[uncagedclaws-blog]

firedlion‌:

          HEARING THE REPLY IS NEW, something beyond what he expects in regards to the distrust he offers in her words. maybe, in some way, she understands the reasoning—that he’s not some punk with an attitude problem simply trying to cause a ruckus. ❝ Yeah, I get it. You don’t gotta tell me twice. ❞ after all, he had felt that terrifying rejection far too much when his heritage had become known by the others. yet even then there was a difference between this and that, feeling his underlying sense of lacking trust more to blame than anything else.

          lifting the drink to his lips, he simply listens to her escapades that many others might find far too outlandish. when it came to this much he could believe it, having witnessed things far beyond the realm of the norm himself. ❝ An alien hoarder, huh? Sounds like someone I ran into once, ❞ he replies, screwing the bottle top back on before crossing his arms over his chest, tucking it beneath his arm. ❝ I mean. I doubt it’s the same guy unless he’s some salesman from a space mall, too. But I’m pretty sure that guy’s never been to Earth before. ❞ not when he was stuck light years away pawning off earth goods with free cows attached.

          ❝ I dunno. I might’ve hit up the arcade or something. It’s not like there’s much to do when you’re trapped on some weird island with death mist, ❞ he muses, looking over toward the edges of the city where it lingers threateningly by. ❝ Dude. It’s not like I broke it or anything. Do you know how many people get away with vandalizing compared to that? ❞ arms fall to his sides as he steps forward, only glancing back to her when she finally introduces herself. right, they hadn’t even done that much.

          ❝ It’s Keith. And likewise. ❞ better than most so far, at least. ❝ What about you? Got any plans after saving it from being beat up? ❞

{ ✤ } » — Laura had long since grown accustomed to others not accepting her for one reason or another. Even among her fellow mutants, she had been an outcast whom others were distrustful of. And although she could not fault them for it, it had taken its toll on her. But to encounter someone who seemingly understands where she’s coming from? It’s a pleasant surprise. Especially when he doesn’t scoff or raise an eyebrow at her as she speaks of aliens and space dragons.

                 She stares at the drink in her own hand, giving it a curious glance as if she’s inspecting it before finally deeming it safe enough to take a sip from.

                 “A space mall?” she questions. “I have seen many things, but I have not seen a mall in space. Does the lack of breathable atmosphere not impact the patrons?”

                 While she can imagine a certain family who would easily be interested in the existence of such a location, her own experiences during her last visit seem to have quelled any desires to return in the near future if she can help it.

                  “No, the one I encountered was some sort of ancient alien collector living in a glorified junkyard. He tried to add me to his collection,” Laura elaborates, recalling the most disastrous babysitting gig in the history of babysitting. “I wish I could say it was the most bizarre thing I have ever dealt with...”

                  To be fair, it was pretty difficult to top adoptive father being taken over by a demon, and literally going to Hell. But it’s a hard knock life, right?

                  Her finger idly runs along the rim of her bottle cap as she listens to the boy (Keith, as it would seem) talk, and she silently notes how he seems to know a significant amount more about the island than she does. And also that she still needs to work on her “teasing”.

                  “I have heard of arcades, I have never been to one. But I do enjoy going to the boardwalk sometimes, the shooting games there are fun. It is...strange, though, to think that whoever brought us here has gone through the trouble of implementing such things. In my experience, captors are generally not interested in keeping their prisoners entertained. I suppose there are just many things about being here that I do not understand.” Her lips purse in contemplation following the outspoken thought for a brief moment before she shakes her head. “It is alright, I lived in New York City. I know very well the things that people do and get away with. And I have yet to see an authority figure around here. I was...messing with you? I believe that is the phrase.”

                  Quickness to go on the defense aside, he seems like a good person. And that’s something Laura can respect, regardless.

                  “Keith. I will remember that,” she affirms with a nod of her head. Though her brow furrows when he inquires about her plans, to which she shrugs her shoulders. “I...am not sure. Plans often do not work out for me very well. Last time I set out with a plan, I ended up here.”