A Normal Lunch Where Nothing Will Happen

[Naku Futomi]

Who that was, Naku wasn't concerned with. The entire aspect about joining the X-Men had been lost on him. Right now, he wanted the nice Thai place to be safe, and to come back for some delicious noodles. Couldn't have the shop close down for some fight.

To Chaz, he offered a sympathetic smile. "Let's just talk about this outside, right? We'll figure it all out soon enough," he said before lookin to Dave. "Stay here a while, wont ya? Just until things calm down," he said before quickly moving to catch up with Chaz and Thrax. Hopefully not too much distance had passed.

He acted as if things were normal and calm when he did. The calm would return, but Naku could feel things may get out of hand for a bit after. Hopefully Thrax or Will would be able to step in. it would be a bit before Naku could switch gears on what he could interchange.

There was no telling what exactly would go down if Chaz got out of range for too long. Naku just hoped it would be kept away from the entrance of the store. "You got this, Thrax," he muttered, hoping the canines ears would pick him up.

Naku essentially only stepped so far out from the store, remaining as a barrier of calm between those inside and out. If Dave came running after Chaz, Naku could stop him at least. if Chaz dashed back inside, somehow breaking free of Thrax, Naku could probably trip him up to keep him from getting bac inside.

Surely everything would work out. Those no longer in his effect would feel their opposite emotions surging back in a burst, raging hot until it fizzled out. Hopefully that wouldn't be a bat thing... right?

[Narrator]

Dave was certainly not planning on running after Chaz, seeing as how Chaz wanted to break all his bones and take his money. That is not the kind of situation which makes one want to continue their association with someone.

Instead, he grabbed a duffel bag from the booth he and Dave had been sitting at, and started hightailing it towards the back of the restaurant -- into the kitchen, and beyond, perhaps?


Chaz, on the other hand, was still mildly peeved, but that was down from the rage he was feeling before, thanks to Naku's efforts. He did not seem to enjoy being detained by Thrax, but for now, he couldn't seem to generate the anger needed to actually try to break his way out of it...

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

The alien watched over the angry man, using his size to keep the man in check. He could, of course, use his powers to incapacitate the man but he didn't want to risk any harm unless the man tried something. "Now, why don't you tell us what kind of arrangement you had with Dave. If he really is the one in the wrong, we'll help find a fair resolution that doesn't involve grievous bodily harm. Deal?"

[Naku Futomi]

Naku stayed close, ready to intervene is needed. He fully recoiled his emotional Interchange in anticipation of needing to change up his physical body. This would take come time, but hopefully the fury wouldn't happen too suddenly. He watched and waited. That was until a new question popped up.

Where the heck was Will?

[Narrator]

The alien watched over the angry man, using his size to keep the man in check. He could, of course, use his powers to incapacitate the man but he didn't want to risk any harm unless the man tried something. "Now, why don't you tell us what kind of arrangement you had with Dave. If he really is the one in the wrong, we'll help find a fair resolution that doesn't involve grievous bodily harm. Deal?"

"His shit didn't work, man. It was fuggin water and food coloring. Took my money and gave me junk in return."

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

And Dave is a drug dealer. Great.

"Then what was with the whole 'buyer beware' thing? Shouldn't that be his line?"

He looked over at Naku. "Maybe you should check on Dave. We may have read this wrong."

[Naku Futomi]

Maybe they had. "Right. I'll go get him," he said before heading back into the restaurant. Dave was long since gone, least that Naku could make out. He found one of the workers and explained what the possible drug dealer looked like. With the indication that he went through the kitchen, and the small commotion her heard from in there, Naku thanked the worker and followed the sounds.

"Here to help. Looking for a guy who came through? Wasn't supposed to be here. See where he went?" he asked, ready to follow the lead best he could.

[Narrator]

And Dave is a drug dealer. Great.

"Then what was with the whole 'buyer beware' thing? Shouldn't that be his line?"

"Well yeah! It should! And he wasn't givin' me any of that, just stammerin' and tryin' to make excuses! So, like, beware the buyer, right?" he asked, a little confused.

[Narrator]

"Here to help. Looking for a guy who came through? Wasn't supposed to be here. See where he went?" he asked, ready to follow the lead best he could.

"Guy came in here looking like he was about to piss himself. Ran out the back that way; nearly knocked over a bunch of boxes we had stacked up over there. What the hell was going on out there?"

[Naku Futomi]

"Uh... just a situation. We're trying to handle it away from your establishment," he said, speaking louder as he moved along, carefully avoiding workers. "I'll get him!" he added as he made his way in the direction of Dave.

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

Now it was Thrax's turn to be confused. Did that phrase mean something different on this planet? "Well, he certainly is afraid of you, that's for sure."

"So! I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you were trying to get some of this Glooze that's been going around. Doesn't say much about Dave that he thought he could fake that."

[Narrator]

Now it was Thrax's turn to be confused. Did that phrase mean something different on this planet? "Well, he certainly is afraid of you, that's for sure."

"So! I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you were trying to get some of this Glooze that's been going around. Doesn't say much about Dave that he thought he could fake that."

"...Are you a cop? You have to tell me if you're a cop."

[Narrator]

"Uh... just a situation. We're trying to handle it away from your establishment," he said, speaking louder as he moved along, carefully avoiding workers. "I'll get him!" he added as he made his way in the direction of Dave.

Dave was not immediately visible when Naku left went out the back door, though the upturned trash cans to the left may give him a rough idea of which way he might have gone.

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"...Are you a cop? You have to tell me if you're a cop."

Thrax barked a loud laugh. It was true that as a full Stormsinger he would have outranked the constabulary but that was four Earth years and many brushes with the law in his past. "Not remotely. Besides, do I look like the kind of mutant that could pass enough to get hired?"

[Naku Futomi]

Dave was not immediately visible when Naku left went out the back door, though the upturned trash cans to the left may give him a rough idea of which way he might have gone.

Spotting the trail, Naku picked up the pace. Adding focus onto speed more than durability, he tried to make quick time to find Dave. As always, he was careful with how fast he could do it, but had much less practice with the physical aspect of his power than the emotional one. He tried to time himself, putting power and thus speed into his legs rather than his top half. Still, he looked for him where he could, mindful of sounds and randomly toppled garbage.

[Narrator]

Thrax barked a loud laugh. It was true that as a full Stormsinger he would have outranked the constabulary but that was four Earth years and many brushes with the law in his past. "Not remotely. Besides, do I look like the kind of mutant that could pass enough to get hired?"

"Nah, man, they're fuckheads. They'd say you were trying to join the K9 units and laugh you out of the office. Fuckin' flatscans."

[Will Stanton]

Dave was not immediately visible when Naku left went out the back door, though the upturned trash cans to the left may give him a rough idea of which way he might have gone.

Spotting the trail, Naku picked up the pace. Adding focus onto speed more than durability, he tried to make quick time to find Dave. As always, he was careful with how fast he could do it, but had much less practice with the physical aspect of his power than the emotional one. He tried to time himself, putting power and thus speed into his legs rather than his top half. Still, he looked for him where he could, mindful of sounds and randomly toppled garbage.

Naku's focused chi made him faster than a panicked drug dealer with a duffel bag filled with something, so the only trick was trying to figure out where Dave had went.

Dave's initial path was easy enough to follow, as he hadn't exactly been trying to be subtle. It was possible the disheveled state of the alley was just regular mess and whatnot, but even low-rent food places generally liked their trash cans to be standing upright rather than bowled over. Naku could be fairly certain he was going in the right direction at the very least.

That meant he was cutting into Dave's lead...at least, until he reached the busy high street, fairly jammed with people in both directions.

"Any luck?" Will said, coming up right behind him.

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"Nah, man, they're fuckheads. They'd say you were trying to join the K9 units and laugh you out of the office. Fuckin' flatscans."

"Exactly. I'm just a concerned citizen curious about the weird new drug on the streets. Does it really turn temporarily turn people into puddles? That seems like a recipe for disaster to me but who am I to judge what someone else is willing to risk to forget their troubles."

He was certainly a reckless soul but the monastery had instilled enough pride in him that, even in his darkest moments, he never relied on chemical relief. Well, except for the occasional drinking binge. He understood the desire, though. While he was taught that it was weak to succumb the promise of becoming numb to one's problems, It was the dealers he had issue with.

"Also, if I'm honest, I was planning on trying Thai food later and I can't do that if a fight closes the place down for the day. So, I didn't step in to play hero."

[Naku Futomi]

Naku's focused chi made him faster than a panicked drug dealer with a duffel bag filled with something, so the only trick was trying to figure out where Dave had went.

Dave's initial path was easy enough to follow, as he hadn't exactly been trying to be subtle. It was possible the disheveled state of the alley was just regular mess and whatnot, but even low-rent food places generally liked their trash cans to be standing upright rather than bowled over. Naku could be fairly certain he was going in the right direction at the very least.

That meant he was cutting into Dave's lead...at least, until he reached the busy high street, fairly jammed with people in both directions.

"Any luck?" Will said, coming up right behind him.

He glanced at Will before looking around again. "No. It just lead me here. Don't know if I can track him," he stated as he looked around for any disturbance. In not using his legs, he already could feel the equilibrium return within him. "Take it you're caught up then? On what's going on?" He added while searching, wishing that there was some eay of tracking the guy down.

[Narrator]

"Exactly. I'm just a concerned citizen curious about the weird new drug on the streets. Does it really turn temporarily turn people into puddles? That seems like a recipe for disaster to me but who am I to judge what someone else is willing to risk to forget their troubles."

He was certainly a reckless soul but the monastery had instilled enough pride in him that, even in his darkest moments, he never relied on chemical relief. Well, except for the occasional drinking binge. He understood the desire, though. While he was taught that it was weak to succumb the promise of becoming numb to one's problems, It was the dealers he had issue with.

"Also, if I'm honest, I was planning on trying Thai food later and I can't do that if a fight closes the place down for the day. So, I didn't step in to play hero."

"Man, it's a trip and a half. It's like your thoughts get all fizzy and float away It's a hell of a high, you should try it...

...assuming Davey boy hasn't scarpered with the real stuff and the money," he growled again, Naku's effect really wearing off now that he was no longer in the vicinity. "Man, that cost me 80 quid, that. Fucking bastard..."

[Will Stanton]

He glanced at Will before looking around again. "No. It just lead me here. Don't know if I can track him," he stated as he looked around for any disturbance. In not using his legs, he already could feel the equilibrium return within him. "Take it you're caught up then? On what's going on?" He added while searching, wishing that there was some eay of tracking the guy down.

"Yeah, I'm up to speed," Will said, looking around. "Though I'm not quite up to speed on what you do, yet. I don't suppose you have bad-guy-tracking-sense or something? Some kind of disturbance in the force? Or at least something we can use to pick him out of a crowd?"

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"Man, it's a trip and a half. It's like your thoughts get all fizzy and float away It's a hell of a high, you should try it...

...assuming Davey boy hasn't scarpered with the real stuff and the money," he growled again, Naku's effect really wearing off now that he was no longer in the vicinity. "Man, that cost me 80 quid, that. Fucking bastard..."

That was more money than Thrax had, that was for sure. He'd be angry too but not enough to attack anyone. His personality was too easygoing for that nonsense.

"Hey now. I wouldn't be happy either, and I understand having a reputation to protect, but it doesn't seem to me like he's worth bloodying your hands over. There's no doubt in my mind that my friends will keep him from getting away and that, together, we can figure out a better solution."

[Narrator]

That was more money than Thrax had, that was for sure. He'd be angry too but not enough to attack anyone. His personality was too easygoing for that nonsense.

"Hey now. I wouldn't be happy either, and I understand having a reputation to protect, but it doesn't seem to me like he's worth bloodying your hands over. There's no doubt in my mind that my friends will keep him from getting away and that, together, we can figure out a better solution."

"That solution better be me getting my money back, or I'm gonna pound him -- and if you get in my way, I'll pound you too, furball."

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

Thrax found himself unable to let the challenge go without comment. Despite centuries of peace, his people would always be proud warriors at heart, which certainly contributed to the end of that golden age as much as anything.

"I mean, you'll try," he responded with a teasing smirk. "Unless you're holding back a significant power, I'm much bigger than you."

That definitely couldn't backfire.

[Naku Futomi]

"Yeah, I'm up to speed," Will said, looking around. "Though I'm not quite up to speed on what you do, yet. I don't suppose you have bad-guy-tracking-sense or something? Some kind of disturbance in the force? Or at least something we can use to pick him out of a crowd?"

"I-..." he was torn, still yet to have a fast way to explain his ability. The other questions took precedence though.Could he sense a disturbance in the force? Had he ever tried? he looked around. "Chi and interchange. Can explain later, you gave me an idea," he said before bowing his head and trying to sense the emotions and such around him.

This was not something he did often. He was not telepath, so he couldn't sense what people were thinking, nor did he get bombarded with their moods. It was like a sea of vibes, and he was just looking for the stream that changed to some kind of surprise or aggravation. Something that might signal someone hurriedly making their way in a hurry. Panic maybe? He tried to recall what he felt of Dave from the Thai place.

[Narrator]

Thrax found himself unable to let the challenge go without comment. Despite centuries of peace, his people would always be proud warriors at heart, which certainly contributed to the end of that golden age as much as anything.

"I mean, you'll try," he responded with a teasing smirk. "Unless you're holding back a significant power, I'm much bigger than you."

That definitely couldn't backfire.

"Bigger they are, the harder they fall. You in this with Davey, then? That's what this is, a bait-and switch?"

[Narrator]

"I-..." he was torn, still yet to have a fast way to explain his ability. The other questions took precedence though.Could he sense a disturbance in the force? Had he ever tried? he looked around. "Chi and interchange. Can explain later, you gave me an idea," he said before bowing his head and trying to sense the emotions and such around him.

This was not something he did often. He was not telepath, so he couldn't sense what people were thinking, nor did he get bombarded with their moods. It was like a sea of vibes, and he was just looking for the stream that changed to some kind of surprise or aggravation. Something that might signal someone hurriedly making their way in a hurry. Panic maybe? He tried to recall what he felt of Dave from the Thai place.

Someone hurriedly making their way in a hurry? Hurried people in a hurry absolutely would leave some kind of psychic trail. It might be hard to pick out a specific identity from this -- there were lots of reasons someone might try leave an area rapidly -- but avoiding getting beaten down from a big guy angry at you for jilting him on an illegal drug deal probably was more intense than, say, being late for the tube. That may well leave something that Naku could zero in on, something that very vaguely headed off to the east.

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"Bigger they are, the harder they fall. You in this with Davey, then? That's what this is, a bait-and switch?"

Thrax snorted in surprised amusement. "What? First of all, I've been in London for all of a week and I think you would have noticed a two meter hyena around if I lived in Mutant Town. Secondly, he's clearly an idiot to try to pull one over on someone with your... fiery disposition, in a place where everyone has powers, with a drug that can't be faked. I may be impulsive but I'm no idiot."

[Naku Futomi]

Someone hurriedly making their way in a hurry? Hurried people in a hurry absolutely would leave some kind of psychic trail. It might be hard to pick out a specific identity from this -- there were lots of reasons someone might try leave an area rapidly -- but avoiding getting beaten down from a big guy angry at you for jilting him on an illegal drug deal probably was more intense than, say, being late for the tube. That may well leave something that Naku could zero in on, something that very vaguely headed off to the east.

He senses someone, a bit more rushed than others. "Follow me. May have got him," he stated as he started heading to the East. he tried to fold onto the source of that sensation, but it was far, and there was a good chance he would slow down. He cursed himself for never developing such a skill before, but hey, that's what college was for. "I either have him, or someone else in a big hurry. Mostly I can feel energies and tip emotions, cause healing or pain. It's hard to explain right now, other than interchange. Give a little, get a little... but right now I'm just trying to identify a source... not the best at this yet," he said as they moved along.

Focused on where they were going, he eventually glances to where William should be. Or where he thought William should be at least, just to make sure he was coming along.

[Narrator]

Thrax snorted in surprised amusement. "What? First of all, I've been in London for all of a week and I think you would have noticed a two meter hyena around if I lived in Mutant Town. Secondly, he's clearly an idiot to try to pull one over on someone with your... fiery disposition, in a place where everyone has powers, with a drug that can't be faked. I may be impulsive but I'm no idiot."

"Does it look like I know everyone in town? Ya think yer special 'cause you're big and hairy and got a tail growin' out yer butt. A dime a dozen, ya are. A dime a dozen!"

It was at least possible that Chaz had had something to drink before going to confront Davey.

[Will Stanton]

He senses someone, a bit more rushed than others. "Follow me. May have got him," he stated as he started heading to the East. he tried to fold onto the source of that sensation, but it was far, and there was a good chance he would slow down. He cursed himself for never developing such a skill before, but hey, that's what college was for. "I either have him, or someone else in a big hurry. Mostly I can feel energies and tip emotions, cause healing or pain. It's hard to explain right now, other than interchange. Give a little, get a little... but right now I'm just trying to identify a source... not the best at this yet," he said as they moved along.

Focused on where they were going, he eventually glances to where William should be. Or where he thought William should be at least, just to make sure he was coming along.

Will was behind Naku, alright, his eyes down on the ground, his nose twitching. He seemed to almost slip through the other people walking along the sidewalk, turning his body from side to side and squeezing himself nearly paper-thin to get through people walking the other way without losing his track. It was almost like watching a living cartoon character walking through as Will tried to stay in Naku's footsteps.

"It's OK, we've all got to start somewhere. If you can get anything solid, perhaps I can help winnow it down."

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"Does it look like I know everyone in town? Ya think yer special 'cause you're big and hairy and got a tail growin' out yer butt. A dime a dozen, ya are. A dime a dozen!"

It was at least possible that Chaz had had something to drink before going to confront Davey.

No, I think I'm special because I'm a space alien.

He put his hands up in a nearly universal placating gesture. "Fair enough. Guess I forgot for a second how many—" Ugh. "—animalistic mutants are walking around here. Some even bigger than me. Like that huge lion-thing I keep seeing. The student liaison or some-such."

He was positive that said mutant had a reputation around town and certainly a negative one with Chaz's type. The alien hated to make trouble for the guy but redirecting a little of Chaz's anger seemed like a good idea.

[Narrator]

"The narc, you mean? Yeah, those fancy-pants rich kids from the university can shove it up their rears," Chaz said, his anger fairly easy to redirect.

[Naku Futomi]

Will was behind Naku, alright, his eyes down on the ground, his nose twitching. He seemed to almost slip through the other people walking along the sidewalk, turning his body from side to side and squeezing himself nearly paper-thin to get through people walking the other way without losing his track. It was almost like watching a living cartoon character walking through as Will tried to stay in Naku's footsteps.

"It's OK, we've all got to start somewhere. If you can get anything solid, perhaps I can help winnow it down."

Naku was not as slippery nor agile. He had to squeeze his normal size body in between people and maneuver around like a real boy. "excuse me" and "pardon me" were real words he said often. He tried to follow the sense, but it was hard for him.

Until finally, he pointed. "There. Up there! I think he slowed and went down that alley,"

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"The narc, you mean? Yeah, those fancy-pants rich kids from the university can shove it up their rears," Chaz said, his anger fairly easy to redirect.

Thrax broke out laughing and it took him a few seconds to stop. "I'm sorry, is that what people really think? Wow, Minamida really needs to work on her messaging. I can't speak for everyone but my fuzzy ass is broke and I'm far from the only one. The way they hand out scholarships, the school is practically a charity."

[Will Stanton]

Naku was not as slippery nor agile. He had to squeeze his normal size body in between people and maneuver around like a real boy. "excuse me" and "pardon me" were real words he said often. He tried to follow the sense, but it was hard for him.

Until finally, he pointed. "There. Up there! I think he slowed and went down that alley,"

Will looked at the alley Naku was pointing at and cracked his numbers. His body seemed to twist and dwindle, stretching in places and scrunching in others, until Naku was standing there with a floppy-eared bloodhound. The dog -- Will -- sniffed at the alley for a moment or two, walking up and down the front, and then bounded off down the alley, quickly picking up speed.

[Narrator]

Thrax broke out laughing and it took him a few seconds to stop. "I'm sorry, is that what people really think? Wow, Minamida really needs to work on her messaging. I can't speak for everyone but my fuzzy ass is broke and I'm far from the only one. The way they hand out scholarships, the school is practically a charity."

"Yeah, to her chosen few. Good little soldiers who look good for the papers."

[Naku Futomi]

Will looked at the alley Naku was pointing at and cracked his numbers. His body seemed to twist and dwindle, stretching in places and scrunching in others, until Naku was standing there with a floppy-eared bloodhound. The dog -- Will -- sniffed at the alley for a moment or two, walking up and down the front, and then bounded off down the alley, quickly picking up speed.

Naku did a double take, but by the time he got a good look at the dog it was off. Had that been Will? Naku didn't question, but he just followed. He didn't try to put any extra power into his legs just yet. He just dropped his sensing and gave his mind and spirit time to rest while his body followed that dog.

[Thraxion Ord'Rakar]

"Yeah, to her chosen few. Good little soldiers who look good for the papers."

The blatant mischaracterization of his new home hit a sore spot. It was far too close to the things said about the Order as public sentiment turned against them. Eyes narrowed, he said, "Take it from a penniless drifter, they take practically anyone who asks. They barely even ask questions. I don't know why you're so determined to believe the school is some elitist club but I won't stand here and let you run your ignorant mouth unchallenged."

[Will Stanton]

Naku did a double take, but by the time he got a good look at the dog it was off. Had that been Will? Naku didn't question, but he just followed. He didn't try to put any extra power into his legs just yet. He just dropped his sensing and gave his mind and spirit time to rest while his body followed that dog.

The dog ran down the alleyway some, nose to the ground, until it came to a chain-link fence. It just kept pressing forwards, the fence passing through it like wire through clay, and kept going...