Iris

I'm Iris Jones, 25 years old and I was born and raised like a princess - but that's not important. What is important is the fact that I'm mutant, and I could probably kill you. Abilities: Fire manipulation and voice mimicry ________ “But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”

[hackermanjock-blog]

"A’right. Just stay away from my computers if you’re still feeling firey."

"Want some coffee? I can put on a fresh pot since I now have company." Jock led the way into the small living room which was cluttered with various pieces of computers and parts. There was a space on the couch for Iris to sit but just barely. Jock shuffled to the kitchen which was open-plan with the living room. He started to make fresh coffee but something beeped, eliciting an excited response from the hacker. He grinned as he rushed back to the table that was groaning under the weight of computer equipment. "Finally!" He exclaimed as he began to tap away at the keyboard.

[dxngerirxs]

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere near those things."

"You're finding this so bloody hilarious aren't you? And yes please. Coffee would be appropriate. Sorry for bothering you by the way. Were you sleeping?" She followed him into the living room and only just appreciated how small and cluttered it was. "Cosy," She smiled as she perched at the end of the sofa, removing a keyboard from behind her back. "But it really needs a clean!" Iris called after him. The beeping noise gave her a shock and her palms heated up in defence, but they quickly cooled when she realised it was just one of the computers. The speed in which Jock came rushing back into the room was slightly alarming, and curiosity replaced all senses as she tried to lean over his shoulder to see what was causing his excitement. It's none of your business, She thought, and instead Iris removed herself from the cluttered space and headed towards the kitchen. "I'll make the coffee then." She sighed in weariness, but she wasn't really that bothered.

[hackermanjock-blog]

"You did what? On purpose? Why would you do that? And it’s only 6? Huh. I could’ve sworn it was closer to 4 but a’right. Wanna come in? Promise not to burn anything?"

[dxngerirxs]

"It's not funny Jock!" She hissed, but she couldn't help a slight smile tug at her lips. "No, not on purpose. I kind of had a nightmare and spontaneously combusted in my sleep," Iris folded her arms over her chest, avoiding his eyes. She didn't have her contacts in because she left them in the fire, so they were a ring of purple with soft flecks of lilac. "I contained the fire so it would be only in my flat. I could've called the fire brigade but I kind of freaked and ran to find you." Iris nodded and edged around him to enter. "Thanks. And no, I can't promise I won't burn anything."

"And it's definitely six!"

[changeyourstature-deactivated20]

"Well no one an exactly tell you to stop that, can they?" She smiled before continuing. "I mean you can’t be too prepared what with everything going on these days." She sighed, letting her shoulders sag and leaned against the wall behind her. "Oye! These have been tough weeks." She muttered under her breath.

dxngerirxs

[dxngerirxs]

The conversation went from light to dark in a matter of seconds. The weariness on the girls face suddenly made her look unnaturally older. "Is this the...S. problem?" Iris said, not knowing if she meant the Skrulls or not. She wasn't sure whether this girl was well informed of the issue, or if she was completely oblivious. Even if she was part of it, Iris wouldn't risk saying the name out loud; especially in a public place.  "When I say I'm an fitness freak, that's kind of bad. I exercise when I'm stressed or anxious so we're kind of on the same boat. Maybe you should find some kind of escape too. I can help you if you'd like. If you're going to catch these guys, you need to be relaxed and focussed."

[changeyourstature-deactivated20]

Cassie giggled at the comment. “No problemo.” She smiled back at the woman. The blonde shook her head. “I come here sometimes but I usually alternate between this gym and another gym that I go to.” She shrugged. “Really depends on my choice.” She didn’t feel like mentioning that the other gym was the gym at SHIELD. She hadn’t met the woman before so she could never be too sure.

[dxngerirxs]

"There's another gym? Cool." She shrugged, taking another sip of her bottle. Iris nodded in agreement as she was speaking as a thin line creased her forehead in concentration. "I would probably call myself a little bit of an exercise freak."

[hackermanjock-blog]

"Iris? What’re you doing here? What time is it?"

[dxngerirxs]

"Um," Iris bit her lower lip anxiously. "Well, I kind of maybe set fire to my flat," She puffed up her cheeks as she internally cringed. "And it's six in the morning."

[dxngerirxs]

"Shoot." Was the first word that tumbled out of her lips before her bruised body had time to even fully regain consciousness. She didn't remember much; only her walking through the woods, then an electric pulse shocking all her senses to stumps. She guessed it was some sort of taser gun and they must've managed to sneak up on her. Why a taser? Why not a hit to head or - "Oh seriously?!" The woman groaned from the leaves. Her phone had been taken, and her purse. It was midnight when she was having her walk, but now sun split through the leafy branches and highlighted her body with soft golden light. It seemed pretty early (she couldn't tell because her watch had been taken too) because nobody had seemed to come across her yet. It turned out that the mutant was also in a ditch. Perfect. That explained the massive throbbing pain on the top right of her forehead.

[changeyourstature-deactivated20]

"Yeah, staring is looking at a person like an idiot and just looking at them because you want to." She reached forward picking up the water bottle and handing it to the woman. "While observing is looking at the person and seeing what they are doing and not just looking cuz you want to."

[dxngerirxs]

Iris's eyebrows raised into a bemused expression. "Alright smart-arse, and thanks for the water." She grinned, taking the bottle from her hand and smiling as she took one long sip. "I haven't seen you here before," Iris frowned, tilting her head to one side. "Or do you go here all the time and I'm just being ignorant?"

[savagescholar]

Hank grinned back at her. “We ought to form a club of some kind then. The Society For Those Who Unintentionally Unnerve Others, we shall call it.” The mutant acrobat descended from his perch on the ceiling and extended his hand to the woman. “I am Dr. Henry McCoy. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

[dxngerirxs]

Iris chuckled at his suggestion. "Hmm, yes. It's a good name, but it's a mouthful. Make it the S.F.T.W.U.U.O for short." She joked feebly, looking down as she gave a short chuckle. Her head lifted as he jumped down. Iris though it incredible how agile he was as he dropped from the ceiling. She took his hand and politely smiled. "A pleasure to meet you too, Dr. Henry McCoy. I am Iris Jones. Do you go to the gym often? Or do you just like watching people run in your spare time?"

[dxngerirxs]

Iris moodboard 2/?

[dxngerirxs]

►Reminiscing in the Flames◄ Iris + Natasha ◄

[poisonouswidow]

Delicate sunbeams had replaced the precipitation that had cascaded downwards from ominous thunderclouds in the shape of enormous, abundant raindrops that morning and now continued to illuminate the streets. With one expeditious movement, Natasha repositioned herself within the most minimal amount of distance of the woman she followed as a shadow would do as was possible without being noticed. She’d been camouflaged within the darkness of the night when the storm broke loose, ever observant as a lioness in preparation of the assassination she was about to commit, but the shades had disappeared as the sun had made its appearance at the horizon.  Besides, the performance of an assassination was not the reason of her presence there and then, she acknowledged once more as she watched the woman enter the house, nor was it the reason for her conservatism. She wasn’t there to kill the florist, she was there to ensure that no one else would. Especially not an extraterrestrial creature that possessed the ability to imitate their victims without fault.  

Natasha considered each movement she made as she moved towards the desolate quarrel. A cacophonous exhalation escaped from her crimson lips when she was certain it wouldn’t be audible to Iris. Her intentions weren’t to frighten the woman either, but the quietness of her approach was comparable to a game that she had to succeed in, even if losing would have no consequences whatsoever - except for, perhaps, a wounded pride. If she hadn’t been as stubborn, she might have admitted to her friends that she was exhausted, though then the dark purple circles under her eyes - which were now disguised by a thick layer of concealer, of course - and the amount of yawns in combination with restless sighs that emerged from her mouth without permission were enough evidence.

The seductress was pleased with the location. The conversation she was about to have with the exquisite woman before her was one to be held inside anyway. Patiently, she made her white knuckles connect with the nearest surface, which created an eerie reverberation. Nonetheless, she never once looked around from the flames in Iris’ hand. It brought back a lot of memories. None of all too pleasant.

[dxngerirxs]

The floor boards beneath Iris felt damp and unpleasantly warm against her bare legs. She was almost tempted to use the heat in her hands to dry the wood, but she knew that that would be a folly act. What was left of the roof would only let in more rain later on and she doubted anybody would use this abandoned pile of mould and moth eaten carpets anyway. She continued to watch the flames slowly envelope her hand with hypnotizing grace; fire always calmed any appearing nerves in the fabric of her thoughts. Would Iris say she’s scared? Probably not – or at least she won’t admit it. To her, Fear isn’t a thing; it’s a living breathing force. Fear, in the opinion of Iris, is a shapeless form, but it moulds itself into your strongest weakness. Iris’s weakness is failure. How Fear could fashion itself to fit this trepidation she would think impossible. Then again, failure is so broad, Fears’ choice of attires are endless. The silence in the building was so deafening that Iris knew that if she extinguished the crackling fire, her ears would be ringing. In some ways the old mansion had some value to her, as she had grown up in one a similar size and stature.  She felt her throat tighten at the memories of her parents. They were cold and cruel to her, but not as cruel as Iris’s sudden sentimental emotions. She was so desperate to hate them; so desperate to believe that they deserved to die, but all her mind did was make her miss them.

The sound of knuckle against wood made Iris flinch and the flames momentarily expanded at least two feet in length on her palm, licking at the air hungrily. Her head turned fast over her shoulder and when seeing the woman, she closed her fingers to rid the violet flames and she stood up in a fluster. “I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean to – I mean I didn’t know that this place was closed I-I was just...looking around.” Iris stammered, cursing her lack of confidence.

[dxngerirxs]

►Reminiscing in the Flames◄Open►_____◄

It wouldn't have surprised Iris if she'd received a couple of grey hairs during the week. Despite her not wanting to get involved, her efforts seemed to be in vain. The ability to manipulate fire alone is enough to turn a few suspicious heads, and let's not mention her gift for mimicking voices. It wouldn't take a genius to realise that SHIELD were out of their depth. You'd ask them, and they'll say they've got it all under control; but the worried, frustrated mutters always seem to leak through and soon enough, even the most positive of people realise that this is worse than anyone could imagine. Peace and quiet was a luxury many people couldn't afford, and so when Iris found a run down mansion on the outside of town while going for her morning jog, she almost sighed with relief. The house was dressed in tangled weeds and vines, and the windows which were once clear and transparent, were now smothered in a thick layer of dust and grime. Iris would never admit that she was the adventurous type, but something drew her to this old and sad looking building. Taking one more glance behind her, she approached the house, nudged open the door with her foot and stepped inside. Ten minutes later, she was sitting in one of the bigger rooms with her back to the wall. Some of the peeling wallpaper was scratching her bare shoulders through her vest top but she was too engrossed in the dancing flames in her palm to really notice. Iris always found fire fascinating, even before she discovered her powers. She sat there, making the violet flames waltz and weave through her fingers.  But Iris was so deep in her own thoughts, she didn't notice the figure approaching her.

[changeyourstature-deactivated20]

"I’m not staring! I am merely observing."

[dxngerirxs]

"Is there a difference between the two?" Iris frowned, before hopping off the running machine. "Could you pass me my water bottle? It's by the punch bags."

[savagescholar]

"I do apologize wholeheartedly. I have often been informed that I can be perceived as rather unnerving."

[dxngerirxs]

Iris gave an apologetic smile and she hopped off the running machine. "It has nothing to do with your looks, it's just the staring. I can also unnerve some people too; so you're not alone in that respect."

[dxngerirxs]

"Please stop staring. It's kind of unnerving."

[agentzakir]

“Ebn el sharmoota! Can you..not do that?”

[dxngerirxs]

Iris's eyebrows raised in amusement, but she extinguished the flame all the same. "That's new. Never had anyone swear at me in a different language before. Congratulation sire, you're the first." She flashed a quick sarcastic smile. "What do you have against mutants anyway?"

[dxngerirxs]

aarp writing challenge #2

Fear is an emotion that everyone feels. It can make the bravest of heroes freeze on the spot, or the strongest of villains break down. Nobody is immune to it, and everybody reacts in different ways. Be it something big - like death - or small - like mice - it is personalised in ways that only those tormented by it know.

For this prompt we would like you to put your character into a situation like this, including their senses (sound, sight, smell, etc.) in your writing.

An eerie silence fell after the contact between skin and skin; even Fear was holding its breath.

Since then, Fear decides to take other forms: a bad report card, her flowers weltering, the look of betrayal in a friend’s eyes. It squeals with delight at the choices of costumes on display.

Life is a theatre production and Fear is only waiting backstage for its’ scene to play.

[agentzakir]

"There’s not much we can do at this point, and in the unlikely scenario that we currently can, then either boss has not seen it fit to tell me, or it’s above my paygrade, But if anyone does figure out how to deal with Skrulls? It will be SHIELD. Not a civilian.”

[dxngerirxs]

Iris's eyes flickered with a mix of pain and anger. For a moment he reminded her of her parents who would remind her on a daily basis that she was never good enough, pretty enough or clever enough. Iris was a failure. She looked down and swallowed as painful memories clenched at her heart.

"Of course it wouldn't be me," Iris said, before clenching her teeth. "I'm just a completely normal person who runs a completely normal floristry. You SHIELD people think you're all so goddamn special. Well, can you do this?" She opened up her hand and summoned a violet flame, letting it dance around her palm.