The Dulcet Sound of My Voice: Old and new friends

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Hope makes plans with CJ, Ian and Cara...

"What?" A surprised look spread over her face as she opened the door, Cara and Cj still seated on the couch. "Ian! It's so good to see you again." Hope grabbed his hand in both of hers. "You didn't mention you were coming!"

Ian gave a sideways grin as he pulled Hope into a hug. "And ruin the chance to see you surprised? Never.". Looking around the room, he gave a friendly nod. "Cara, CJ. Good to see you too. Are we ready to get down to business?"

"We've already been working the problem," CJ said, her typical deadpan interrupted by a slight fluster.  "You are...welcome assistance though," she smiled awkwardly for a moment and then turned her attention back to the documents she was scouring for anything useful.

"It's more that we are worried about the future." Hope added, one eyebrow raised CJ's reaction to their friend. "Did CJ happen to mention Scanner and Garrulous were back... And where they are, the others cannot be far behind."

Ian nodded, almost grimly.  That was his first thought when Hope had contacted.  Maybe this time they could be stopped for good.

"Well, clearly we work well together," Cara chimed in. "Perhaps we can arrange to continue working together in the future? After all it never hurts to have more contacts, as we all know."

CJ nodded, not saying anything.  Seeing them again was causing a momentary rush of panic and joy that was overloading her abilities, making it hard to tell how genuine Cara was being.  "Should we get started?"

"We should..." Hope paused for a moment. "Scanner mentioned the name GenetiX, so I think they have reformed their group. But they probably are not the only ones we should keep an eye out for. We all are in spots where we can keep an eye out for certain developments. CJ and Cara are in Washington, Ian at a military university and I within The Xavier Institute. I know we have been keeping each other informed here and there, but I want to do it more structured." \

"More structure would be helpful," agreed Cara. "Having all of that information and a conduit through which to share it would be mutually beneficial to us all, yes? So let's come up with a structure." She clapped her hands together, her eyes getting a bit wider as well. "Ooh and a cool name, we'll need one of those too."

Ian rolled his eyes.  "Can we just get to the point please? We don't need cool names. We have names already.  I just want to know what we're going to do with this information."

Hope faced CJ and Ian intently. "All of us were trained by 'his Grace' to use certain skills. We all have been working to learn more. We all have connections we can use to do something. I say we turn what we learned against him and those like him. Along the way..." Hope nodded at Cara. "We might find friends who are willing to work with us. We can help each other be stronger in this world. At least be each others eyes and ears."

"Yes, I like this idea. I'm more than willing to take part," Cara said with a nod. "What say you all?" she asked, looking around at the rest of the room.

CJ hesitated, they were all completely genuine about their intent- it appeared the only one who faltered was herself.  With a sigh, she pushed down the feeling of dread that came with using the training she'd received in 'his' service, and nodded, "Okay.  I'm in."

Hope smiled warmly at her for a moment, then turned towards the other person left in the room. "Ian? At Norwich you at least have some contact with the military. We need eyes there as well..."

Ian hesitated. He'd half-expected this but still had no concrete answer. "I'll do what I can. Don' have the swing for that, but I can get some basic recon or info I think."

Cara looked around the room at all of them and then clapped her hands together, the sound of which she'd hoped covered up the little squee she'd emitted. "Then it's settled. We're really going to do this." The enormity of it all seemed to hit her then, and Cara blinked before looking to Hope again. "Aren't we?"

"We are." Hope agreed. She'd have to talk with Cara tomorrow again to make double sure this is not a game though. "And we might be able to help each other in different ways as well." She reached down and pulled bottle from her purse. "This is a special kind of hand coating. It creates a barrier between you and what you are touching. It will help you to prevent accidents from happening. You can easily remove it with a wet wipe."

"Seriously? Wow," Cara said, taking the bottle from Hope. She had some control over her power but it wasn't always easy, and something like that would definitely be useful. "Thanks so much, that's great. I definitely owe you one. Which is exactly why this is such a great idea," she added, waving out to the others.

CJ was certainly curious about what else Hope might have up her sleeve, but that would be a conversation for another time...in private.  "If we are serious about this, I can not stress this enough, but we will need to keep it as quiet as possible.  If either Cara or I were found to be part of an...erm, quasi-illicit, non-sanctioned intelligence network, we'd get black listed from every office in the Capital.  Not to mention what could happen to Ian in a military academy."

"Indeed we have to be as quiet as possible. And I think..." Hope nodded at CJ. "... we need a bit more security then the two of us have been using so far. I do not know enough about that though. Are you all okay if I at least talked with Doug about doing this in a more secure way?"

Ian looked at Hope for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah, I guess. He won't backstab us right? I mean, the less people that know the better," he trailed off.

"He has been my mentor for more then a year now, Ian. I trust him with my life." Hope explained simply. "And I trust him with this. Ask CJ and Cara what they think. They have been working with him over the past few days as well."

CJ covered her mouth to try and hide the slight smile that had involentarily formed at the mention of Doug's name, "He's.." she cleared her throat.  "He's quite qualified.  And more importantly, he's trustworthy- he's very devoted to Hope."

Ian caught the hitch in CJ's voice. He rolled his eyes. "So he's good looking too. Got it. I can't say I'm okay with blindly trusting someone I don't know, but you guys do so okay. I'm fine with it."

"You can meet him tomorrow if you want too, Ian. If you have doubts after that, just tell us. But now..." Hope went to a bag and pulled out two bottles of wine. "Let us have a toast."

... and then something more happens.


Cara had slipped off to bed fairly early and now it was just the three of them, catching up on their lives lately, two bottles of wine on the table.

Ian, after having poured generous glasses for them all, leaned back in his chair. "So," he began. "This is nice. I haven't had any downtime in a while. Being a student isn't as glamorous as it should be. Lots of crap tutoring to pay the bills. I hate other students now". He put the glass to his nose and inhaled, closing his eyes. "Better than malt liquor any day," he joked.

"It's a good wine. So many of my classmates seem so young to me." Hope reflected idly on her first weeks at Barnard. "I am barely a year older then many of them, but sometimes I feel ancient compared to them. Did you have the same when you went to college after... everything?"

Ian swirled his wine glass, contemplating the red liquid before finally answering. "Yes....and I felt a certain degree of envy. They're just kids, really.". He scowled. "It's lonely. Accept that now. Makes it all easier."

CJ wasn't used to the effects of alcohol, but found that she enjoyed this tastes far more than the whiskey or vodka she'd been offered by rival staffers in the pursuit of her goal of being more social.  Now two glasses in, she was giggling slightly and acting thoroughly un-CJ-like.   "Students can't be that bad," she interjected, finally mentally catching up to the conversation.  "And unless my powers are completely off base, you don't really hate them.  In fact..." she smirked, "There's a couple you kind-of-the-opposite-of-hate."  She giggled again and took another sip.

Ian had to smile at that.  He'd never seen CJ intoxicated before and it was definitely eye-opening.  He motioned towards Hope with his chin.  "How about you, Hope?"

Hope took a sip from her wine and grinned. "Of course there are some who look quite... attractive. What would I have to talk with them about though? My life is quite different from theirs."

CJ giggled again, she felt like dancing...she'd never danced before, but she felt like trying.  She took out her phone and tried to find some music, "You both find each other attractive," she said as a matter of fact.

A faint blush colored Hope's cheeks as she retaliated with a grin. "I think you must be looking in the mirror. I have seen you eyeing him many times."

Ian grinned.  "Ladies, please.  There's plenty of Ian to go around.  See?" He motioned to both of them with his arms.  "Two arms, two lovely ladies to drape them over."

During another giggle, CJ let out a small snort.  Slapping a hand over her mouth in embarrassment, she shook her head and took a long look at Ian before standing up.  Without a word, CJ approached him, reading the nervous excitement that he was now radiating- strangely aware that she too was also feeling the same way after catching a glimpse of herself in the hallway mirror.  Still feeling very light headed, she let herself fall onto the sofa next to him, then finished her drink.  She leaned in close to him, looked into his eyes and stage whispered, "You're so full of yourself, Ian."  Another giggle slipped past her lips, but the mood in the room had suddenly changed and it quickly fell away.

"But it worked," Ian replied with a grin. He tightened his arm around her and motioned to Hope again. "You sure you want to miss out? I'm super warm."

Hope looked back and forth between Ian and CJ a few times, sipping her wine thoughtfully. Finally, she stood up and took a seat next to Ian. "Well... now that you mentioned it... it is kind of chilly here, is it not?" With those words she moved closer, pressing against his side.

Ian took the opportunity to pull CJ in closer as well. It would have been nice to blame this on the wine, but in reality, he could have drank a lot more before feeling any effects. That being said, it was loosening his usual stoic mind. "It's nice to be with you girls again," he confessed. "I can just be myself. Thank you."

 CJ giggled again, reaching out to rest her hand on Hope's arm.  Her fingers slowly stroked downward, "Are we...really..." but fully forming the thought wasn't necessary, the three of them were most certainly about to do something that, at least CJ, wouldn't have done regularly.  "Oh, well," CJ leaned into Ian and continued to stroke Hope's arm, unsure of how to proceed.

Hope found herself relaxing more against Ian with the gentle touch on her arm. Her other hand found the seam on Ian's jeans and she stroked along side it idly. "Depends on what you think we are doing, CJ?" She spoke softly.

"Oh...something stupid," she sighed and brushed her fingertips up to Hope's hair, brushing it aside before leaning forward and pressing her lips against Hope's neck.

Ian leaned back, and raised his eyebrows. Did she just? And did she? And what? This was definitely not how he had envisioned the night....but he wasn't complaining. "Stupid is my middle name," he said, watching the two girls.

"Feeling left out, Ian?" Hope replied after a moment, having needed that moment to sort through some of the feelings that were raising through her about what was happening. A soft blush rose as she tilted her head back, both to give CJ better access to her neck and to give Ian access to her lips.

Taking the hint, Ian leaned down and brushed his lips across Hope's, tentatively at first before adding more pressure. Never would he had imagined that this would be an option, and he was still having a hard time believing this was happening.‎

Once Hope's neck tilted slightly, CJ leaned forward and nuzzled into the familiar scent of her friend.  Her heart was racing, a mixture of the alcohol and the taboo liaison just beginning.  Letting out a small sigh, CJ let her arm drift down Hope's arm until it was resting on her friend's hip.  CJ's lips slipped apart across her soon-to-be partner's neck, teeth gently sinking into the sensitive flesh before resuming more aggressive kissing.

She hummed happily, enjoying the feeling it evoked and pressed her lips a little firmer against Ian's. One hand found the hem of shirt and after a moment of hesitation she slipped her hand under neath it to explore his back. Her other hand covered CJ's hand on her hip.

"How about we move this to the bedroom," Ian suggested, barely lifting his lips off of Hope's. He shifted slightly, trying to relieve the sudden pressure in his pants. "At the risk of sounding cliched, we'd all be a bit more comfortable."

CJ stopped at the suggestion and giggled again.  Giving Hope's neck one last nibble, she slipped off Ian's lap, grabbing both of their hands as she did. A slight tug brought both of her partners off the couch as she guided them toward the bed.