Wanda and Jennie

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

While training in the city, Jennie and Wanda manage to somehow let chaos get a bit out of hand.



For all that New York was hustle and bustle, there were some quiet parts of the city. Parks were great for this and even better for doing some subtle training without anyone taking notice. It was getting colder but it wasn't so bad and Wanda had wanted to take advantage of the fact that in a few weeks, there wouldn't be much going out without some serious jackets. Tilting her head back, she watched the squirrel shriek at them from above as it ran from branch to branch. "Rats with bushy tails," she sighed.

Jennie took a sip of her coffee and eyed the squirrel, following a line that threaded overhead. With a subtle flick of her wrist the line sharpened and the branch on which the squirrel was scurrying snapped, dropping the offending rodent in a trash can.

"Now that was worth the trip out here," Wanda said, applauding Jennie as the squirrel tried to scramble up and out of the trash can. "Follow the bouncing rodent is a fantastic way of keeping entertained."

"And, y'know, keep in shape," Jennie titled her head and wiggled her finger cheerily as the squirrel squeaked murder and revenge. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Being subtle and reactions," Wanda replied, stretching her legs out in front of her. "The trees above us are the targets -- trying to shake the remaining leaves off without bringing a giant pile down on our heads. And every once in a while, I will be tossing in a counter action for you to react to."

"Alrighty, I can do that," Jennie said, setting her coffee on the bench next to her. For the next fifteen minutes, Jennie pulled leaves down from the trees, not always successfully. She dumped a large pile on a group of rowdy teenagers for one, but that may or may not have been intentional.

After a while, Wanda started to add a touch here or there, either in an attempt to disrupt what Jennie was doing or right before something would happen. It was a game of there the moment, not there the second in regards to the strings they could both see. Things could change at a seconds notice, altering the probability field in a way that could be either surprising or dangerous and keeping that reaction time sharp was a valuable lesson.

A year ago, Jennie would have struggled with the pace, but now she was keeping time admirably. However, probability is a fickle thing, and it can change in an instant. Jennie was concentrating on keeping up with Wanda and let her attention slip briefly. So when the telltale pressure started in on her temples, it was almost too late.

Jennie's eyes widened suddenly. "Wanda--" Then there was a loud screech from the street, and the lines of probability rippled.

The lines shuddered and changed in a ripple effect and Wanda's head snapped towards the direction of the disturbance. Experience had taught them there wasn't much she could do to stop an active luck snap outright but she could work with Jennie to contain the damage.

Several cars had already piled up but by pulling against the flow of the ripples, Wanda was able to prevent the dump truck from joining the mess -- he ended up with his nose in a wall but there was considerably less amount of damage then if he'd ended up in the jam. "Jennie, work against the flow, it should help disrupt the snap."

Jennie shut her eyes and gritted her teeth, trying to re-route the flow of traffic. In the end, both women were able to stave off the worst of the damage. The girl opened her eyes. It didn't seem like anyone was hurt.

"What the hell?" Jennie said, "Where did that come from?"

"I have no idea," Wanda replied, frowning as she studied the lines as far as she could reach. Things were as quiet and as normal as they usually were so after a few moments she dropped the sight and shook her head. "There really was not any reason for that. How's your head?"

"Fine," Jennie said automatically, massaging her temples. There was some Tylenol in her bag. "I mean, I know better, and we weren't doing anything big, just teeny weeny stuff that wouldn't cause one." Her last statement was punctuated when a hubcap rolled by.

They stared at it for a second and Wanda gave a tired snort. "Some bloody butterfly in China probably flapped its wings at the wrong time," she said. "The hubcap has informed me that it's time to draw this to a close. Let's stop by the meat on a stick place on the way out. Though, Jennie, keep an eye on things on your side, would you? This was probably a one off happenstance but just in case, we should keep a closer eye on the probability around us."

"Yeah," Jennie said, shouldering her bag. "Yeah that sounds like a good idea on both counts." She picked up her empty coffee cup and flung it into the trashcan, garnering another enraged squeak from the squirrel still trapped inside. Something was most definitely off, and Jennie knew it was going to make her twitch for the rest of the day.



After their near-accident, Wanda and Jennie come across something more sinister. Mimes.



"Peanut?" Wanda offered the small bag to Jennie as they dodged an elderly couple shuffling their way to the crosswalk. She smiled -- they reminded her of some of the older members of the family back in the caravan. The wedding she'd attended had made her realize it was time for a visit home. But that was for the future. Right now was for walking off the several pounds of meat they were in the process of digesting.

"God, no," Jennie said. She was already sleepy and lethargic from the food. "I'm afraid I'll pull a Monty Python and explode from 'Ze wawffer theen meent'" They dodged a group of skateboarders and progressed up the street at a leisurely pace. Until.

"Oh crap," Jennie said, "Mimes."

Wanda had a similar look of horror on her face. "When I was in Paris once, I was harassed by a mime while I tried to enjoy the Eiffel Tower. Sadly, as he kept following me, a rogue skateboard appeared right under his feet. I was amazed at how much air he got before he landed on his head."

"This is what we would term as Karma," Jennie said. "Anyway, don't make eye contact, they're like puppies or very aggressive homeless people."

As the women approached, one mime pantomimed pulling himself up a ladder, while the other made a show of silent laughter, kicking the invisible ladder away, his partner falling to the pavement. In silent irritation, the offended performer sprang to his feet, hands circling comically in an exaggerated boxer's posture. With a shrug, the other mime leaped forward, fist lashing out to smack against his partner's face with a very real, untheatrical thud and one white-faced mime slumped to the ground.

That got them to pause and Wanda stared for a second before sighing under her breath. "I really hate mimes," she muttered, starting forward. "Are you two gentlemen okay? And for the love of God, you'd better answer with words."

Jennie rolled her eyes. "If they want to punch each other out, that's fine by me," the girl muttered , but followed her mentor. Until something gave her pause. There was nothing around the mimes. Literally nothing. It was like they were blank spots in the probability field.

"Hang on a tick--"

The first mime staggered to his feet, using his partner's arm for stability. As one, both turned to the two women, giving a simultaneous wink and thumbs-up, then each plucked a large flower off their shirts.

With a muted 'puff', the flowers sprayed out a thin vapor, engulfing Wanda and Jennie.

There was a gasp of surprise and then choking as Wanda inhaled a mouthful of the gas. Already the world was starting to turn black and though she tried to grab one of them by the throat, all she managed to get was the feeling of cloth slipping through her fingers as she passed out at the attacker's feet.

Jennie coughed and gagged, and as the edges of her vision went black, she could only thing one thing:

Fucking Mimes...