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xp_logsMarie-Ange and Vanessa take a little cruise, they flirt, and Vanessa is very obsessed with smuggling in weapons.
Getting to Genosha had gone more smoothly than Vanessa had expected. She and Marie-Ange had boarded the cruise ship one stop before Genosha with tickets for Indonesia. While everyone had deboarded to play tourist for the day the pair had buried themselves in the throng of people so they could get off the ship and stash their belongings. They key was watching security and what appeared to be police who were monitoring those who were debarking for good at this port. Their scrutiny likely was meant to keep "undesirables" away from their little island paradise, but it wouldn't last forever. Eventually they were satisfied everyone who was coming off had and they went off to do whatever it was they were going to get up to until boarding happened for those newly coming onto the cruise from Genosha.
Vanessa made sure the pair were out of view before she reached over and closed James' hand over Marie-Ange's across the table. "C'mon, I believe we've found our window." They had supplies to extract from the ship now that the only authority milling about would be ship crew.
"What is the term, a nooner? So much more interesting than endless art museums and historical monuments." Marie-Ange said, dry tone totally out of place against the flirtatious look on her face as she squeezed "James'" hand. "My love of art museums notwithstanding, even I can become sick of them." Especially when they had the air dry and stale enough to make her yawn and want to go to sleep, which seemed to be the case for half the places she had gone.
A smug little smile appeared on James' face in that typical good guy fashion his face was so accustomed. "If you really loved museums I don't think we'd be going back to the ship for our 'afternoon delight,' would we?" The smugness disappeared as his expression morphed into a much more charming smile and James stood with Vanessa shifting her borrowed hand to clasp the redhead's more securely. "Should you really work on sounding more enthusiastic about getting me naked. I'm a little worried people won't buy it." Laughable, of course, considering how Vanessa knew Marie-Ange could turn up her flirtation whenever she wanted.
"Oh no, that was your cue to suggest that if I wanted to draw adonis-like naked men that you could see fit to accommodate me." Marie-Ange said, with a genuine laugh. "Of course, if we have downtime and you would like to pose for me, I would not object. I am sure I could find an art store somewhere in this city." She tilted her head, assessing Vanessa's borrowed male body, and smiled. "You, me, a box of charcoals and you having to sit very still for an hour and a half. It could be fun."
"I'm not sure that's such a great idea," Vanessa began, leading Marie-Ange back toward the boat. James' hand slipped out of hers and his arm slid up around the redhead's shoulders as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I've seen me naked and I would hate to give Adonis a bad name, but he's really got nothing on me." She laughed, the sound warm and friendly from James' throat. "And I wouldn't want to ruin you for other men."
Marie-Ange's pout was genuine enough, because quite honestly drawing "James" actually sounded both entertaining and artistically challenging, and it served the cover story well. "Oh, I am certain that you would not ruin me for other men. For other life drawing models however, you may be correct. Mine in university were always quite average, which is excellent for learning to draw in a class, and not so very excellent for any other reason."
What would have been a smirk on Vanessa's own face came off much more good-natured on James'. "I appreciate your optimism. I'll just conveniently not mention to your other boyfriend how you wanted to get me naked so much that you were using art as an excuse." Vanessa winked at her companion and pressed an affectionate kiss to Marie-Ange's cheek.
"So is that a yes?" Marie-Ange's attempt to look innocent and honest was marred by the impish smirk. "You could frame it, and hang it in your office." Because wouldn't that just be entirely inappropriate, a charcoal and graphite sketch of a naked man right behind the front desk of X-Factor Investigations.
They closed the distance to the ship's ramp on the dock casually, with a look of consideration on James' face. "It could serve as a nice ice breaker when I've got this body on, don't you think? Sometimes people are so anxious when they come in..." Vanessa grinned and did a last visual sweep to be sure no one was lingering around who might find them suspicious before they stepped up onto the ramp.
* * * * *
"First." Marie-Ange said. "First, I did not actually pack my entire closet, two of those suitcases are empty but for cheap clothes no one cares about, and second if I did not bring three suitcases and a bag for shoes, someone would wonder why such a well dressed young woman had no luggage." She was backed up against a bulkhead, shirt half-unbuttoned and hair quite mussed, keeping watch for any cruise employees who might be passing by. Anyone asking would hopefully believe the "came back to the ship to have inappropriate naughty time" excuse. She looked the part anyway.
"They wouldn't wonder," Vanessa told her with a casual air even as she unscrewed the base panel of the wall which served as access to replace wiring when such things were needed. "They would see me and know that you had no intention of wearing clothing whilst on board. Besides, you only need one article of clothing to sunbathe." A cheeky good-guy grin flashed over James' shoulder and the metamorph pulled the panel free. Inside it was the typical hollow space in a wall, wires running along the bottom, bundled together to keep the clutter down. And stashed carefully were three bags with various weapons and first aid supplies. The last thing they needed was to wind up in a hospital because they couldn't stitch something.
"A bikini is technically two articles of clothing." Marie-Ange said, cheekily. "Three if I include sunglasses, four if I have sandals on, although I do try to avoid tan lines on my feet." She took the first bag as Vanessa handed it to her and set it down. "Besides, I could tease you about your bags. Guns, guns, guns, knives, guns? Or is it a higher ratio of knives to guns?"
"Higher ratio of knives to guns, but it's mostly ammo. Firearms do you no good without something to fire out of them. Knives have infinite use." Vanessa handed over another bag with a little bit of a smirk. "Besides, I had to pack for you as well and I know you've got a preference for blades as well. A firearm isn't much use in close combat, though I've got silencers for them all." The last bag was pulled out and set down beside her. All she needed was to get the panel back on and they could get out of there...which was unfortunately the easy part. "Though I think you missed my point about sunbathing only requiring one article of clothing. Why would you want tan lines on your shoulders or back either?"
"I am a red-head. I burn." Marie-Ange noted. "And I am not sure Genosha has very liberal laws about topless beaches." She handed Vanessa back the screwdriver the other woman had set down and started handing over the screws. "I do prefer blades, but I tend to make my own. I do not like cleaning weapons. It ruins manicures, and I cannot make my own guns. Too many moving parts, and I cannot make fire." She was teasing, a little, even though it was entirely accurate. Blood ruined manicures. "So, knives, knives, guns, bullets, bullets, bullets, bullets?"
"Aye, something along those lines for inventory. Real blades take less concentration and don't ping you as a mutant, so you're going to have to deal with your manicure problems this trip, I think," she replied and held out one of James' hands for another screw. "And I think next time we should pick a better destination for vacation. A place without topless beaches is no place worth travelling to. Besides, they make powerful sunscreen these days and I promise to help you slather yourself in it." Vanessa grinned, finger crossing over James' heart. "So you don't burn. Scout's honor." She even flashed what she was pretty sure was the Boy Scout's sign and took up the last screw.
Getting to Genosha had gone more smoothly than Vanessa had expected. She and Marie-Ange had boarded the cruise ship one stop before Genosha with tickets for Indonesia. While everyone had deboarded to play tourist for the day the pair had buried themselves in the throng of people so they could get off the ship and stash their belongings. They key was watching security and what appeared to be police who were monitoring those who were debarking for good at this port. Their scrutiny likely was meant to keep "undesirables" away from their little island paradise, but it wouldn't last forever. Eventually they were satisfied everyone who was coming off had and they went off to do whatever it was they were going to get up to until boarding happened for those newly coming onto the cruise from Genosha.
Vanessa made sure the pair were out of view before she reached over and closed James' hand over Marie-Ange's across the table. "C'mon, I believe we've found our window." They had supplies to extract from the ship now that the only authority milling about would be ship crew.
"What is the term, a nooner? So much more interesting than endless art museums and historical monuments." Marie-Ange said, dry tone totally out of place against the flirtatious look on her face as she squeezed "James'" hand. "My love of art museums notwithstanding, even I can become sick of them." Especially when they had the air dry and stale enough to make her yawn and want to go to sleep, which seemed to be the case for half the places she had gone.
A smug little smile appeared on James' face in that typical good guy fashion his face was so accustomed. "If you really loved museums I don't think we'd be going back to the ship for our 'afternoon delight,' would we?" The smugness disappeared as his expression morphed into a much more charming smile and James stood with Vanessa shifting her borrowed hand to clasp the redhead's more securely. "Should you really work on sounding more enthusiastic about getting me naked. I'm a little worried people won't buy it." Laughable, of course, considering how Vanessa knew Marie-Ange could turn up her flirtation whenever she wanted.
"Oh no, that was your cue to suggest that if I wanted to draw adonis-like naked men that you could see fit to accommodate me." Marie-Ange said, with a genuine laugh. "Of course, if we have downtime and you would like to pose for me, I would not object. I am sure I could find an art store somewhere in this city." She tilted her head, assessing Vanessa's borrowed male body, and smiled. "You, me, a box of charcoals and you having to sit very still for an hour and a half. It could be fun."
"I'm not sure that's such a great idea," Vanessa began, leading Marie-Ange back toward the boat. James' hand slipped out of hers and his arm slid up around the redhead's shoulders as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "I've seen me naked and I would hate to give Adonis a bad name, but he's really got nothing on me." She laughed, the sound warm and friendly from James' throat. "And I wouldn't want to ruin you for other men."
Marie-Ange's pout was genuine enough, because quite honestly drawing "James" actually sounded both entertaining and artistically challenging, and it served the cover story well. "Oh, I am certain that you would not ruin me for other men. For other life drawing models however, you may be correct. Mine in university were always quite average, which is excellent for learning to draw in a class, and not so very excellent for any other reason."
What would have been a smirk on Vanessa's own face came off much more good-natured on James'. "I appreciate your optimism. I'll just conveniently not mention to your other boyfriend how you wanted to get me naked so much that you were using art as an excuse." Vanessa winked at her companion and pressed an affectionate kiss to Marie-Ange's cheek.
"So is that a yes?" Marie-Ange's attempt to look innocent and honest was marred by the impish smirk. "You could frame it, and hang it in your office." Because wouldn't that just be entirely inappropriate, a charcoal and graphite sketch of a naked man right behind the front desk of X-Factor Investigations.
They closed the distance to the ship's ramp on the dock casually, with a look of consideration on James' face. "It could serve as a nice ice breaker when I've got this body on, don't you think? Sometimes people are so anxious when they come in..." Vanessa grinned and did a last visual sweep to be sure no one was lingering around who might find them suspicious before they stepped up onto the ramp.
* * * * *
"First." Marie-Ange said. "First, I did not actually pack my entire closet, two of those suitcases are empty but for cheap clothes no one cares about, and second if I did not bring three suitcases and a bag for shoes, someone would wonder why such a well dressed young woman had no luggage." She was backed up against a bulkhead, shirt half-unbuttoned and hair quite mussed, keeping watch for any cruise employees who might be passing by. Anyone asking would hopefully believe the "came back to the ship to have inappropriate naughty time" excuse. She looked the part anyway.
"They wouldn't wonder," Vanessa told her with a casual air even as she unscrewed the base panel of the wall which served as access to replace wiring when such things were needed. "They would see me and know that you had no intention of wearing clothing whilst on board. Besides, you only need one article of clothing to sunbathe." A cheeky good-guy grin flashed over James' shoulder and the metamorph pulled the panel free. Inside it was the typical hollow space in a wall, wires running along the bottom, bundled together to keep the clutter down. And stashed carefully were three bags with various weapons and first aid supplies. The last thing they needed was to wind up in a hospital because they couldn't stitch something.
"A bikini is technically two articles of clothing." Marie-Ange said, cheekily. "Three if I include sunglasses, four if I have sandals on, although I do try to avoid tan lines on my feet." She took the first bag as Vanessa handed it to her and set it down. "Besides, I could tease you about your bags. Guns, guns, guns, knives, guns? Or is it a higher ratio of knives to guns?"
"Higher ratio of knives to guns, but it's mostly ammo. Firearms do you no good without something to fire out of them. Knives have infinite use." Vanessa handed over another bag with a little bit of a smirk. "Besides, I had to pack for you as well and I know you've got a preference for blades as well. A firearm isn't much use in close combat, though I've got silencers for them all." The last bag was pulled out and set down beside her. All she needed was to get the panel back on and they could get out of there...which was unfortunately the easy part. "Though I think you missed my point about sunbathing only requiring one article of clothing. Why would you want tan lines on your shoulders or back either?"
"I am a red-head. I burn." Marie-Ange noted. "And I am not sure Genosha has very liberal laws about topless beaches." She handed Vanessa back the screwdriver the other woman had set down and started handing over the screws. "I do prefer blades, but I tend to make my own. I do not like cleaning weapons. It ruins manicures, and I cannot make my own guns. Too many moving parts, and I cannot make fire." She was teasing, a little, even though it was entirely accurate. Blood ruined manicures. "So, knives, knives, guns, bullets, bullets, bullets, bullets?"
"Aye, something along those lines for inventory. Real blades take less concentration and don't ping you as a mutant, so you're going to have to deal with your manicure problems this trip, I think," she replied and held out one of James' hands for another screw. "And I think next time we should pick a better destination for vacation. A place without topless beaches is no place worth travelling to. Besides, they make powerful sunscreen these days and I promise to help you slather yourself in it." Vanessa grinned, finger crossing over James' heart. "So you don't burn. Scout's honor." She even flashed what she was pretty sure was the Boy Scout's sign and took up the last screw.
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