Sparks

Diana Taylor, 27, Model Electrokinesis

[dxtaylorxarchive]

xlukeharvey:

“You got it,” he replied, getting started on the drink. He could tell something was keeping her on edge. Her body language was tense, almost fidgety. Luke wondered if she was in trouble. Lately, mutants got themselves into trouble with The Initiative, especially since they had arrived in L.A. Even those that supported mutants often got into the same sort of trouble. Maybe she was ducking into the bar to hide from them. Maybe something else was bothering her. Could have been anything. Either way, Luke didn’t like to see her so on edge.

“First drink’s on the house,” he said, nudging the glass toward her. His hands rested on the bar top, his gaze briefly taking in their surroundings. The other staff in the bar could take care of the other patrons. Not that Luke didn’t care to; it was about to be his break after all. “You here by yourself?”

“Thank you.” The smile she gives him is tentative and shy but there’s no masking the warmth in it as it plays on her lips. From then on she’s curious, wondering if she screams helpless or damsel or if he’s just a nice guy. It’s something she’s hesitant to find out but at that moment the blonde is just thankful for the free alcohol that might calm her nerves. Though if she were being honest  his company would probably have more of an affect on her than the colourful drink she sipped from.

At his question blue eyes are downcast, trying not to look too embarassed about the fact that she was here by herself. She wondered what sort of light it would paint her in, what he’d think of her for it. There were two options, to either allow herself to look pathetic or make light of it and still try to savalge something of an image. “Yeah but don’t worry, I promise I’m not weird or anything.” The words are said lightly, accompanied by a laugh as she tries to push away the thought that while she’s maybe not weird she’s definietly not normal.

[livxwolf]

Work had been keeping Liv busy. She always was busy, especially since The Initiative had transferred her to LA. She had been there for almost a year now, aiding in the search for more mutants to bring in for questioning. Rumors of a rebel group stationed in LA have become less of a tall tale and more of a reality, a much bigger threat to the organization than they bargained for. And while most agents were eager to put an end to the mutant uprising, Liv wasn’t as thrilled. Fortunately, her calm and collected nature was a good cover for her less than enthusiastic approach to the mutant suppression.

But that night was one of very few where Liv didn’t have to worry about keeping up one of her masks in front of The Initiative. She had gotten a text from her cousin, Di, that she was free that night for a few drinks. It had been a while since she got to see Di, especially with work keeping her so often. Even on her night off she was on call. But no calls were sent her way, so Liv was able to let loose at least a little bit. She arrived at the bar, having just sent her cousin a text that she was there. But as soon as she lifted her head, Liv spotted Di at the end of the bar. Her posture appeared somewhat rigid, looking more like she was going to take off. Had she been waiting long?

“Hey you,” she greeted as she approached Di’s seat. Liv smiled and opened her arms for her cousin, who may as well have been her sister with how close they were. “Finally get to see you in person instead of through a phone screen,” she teased, hoping that the small jokes would help ease Di’s alleged concerns a bit.

[dxtaylorxarchive]

It never mattered how much she moved around or how many new people she met, there were jst some bonds that couldn’t be replaced or replicated. Her cousin was without a doubt the person that she was closest to, the one she knew she could always count on. Even her own mutation being at odds with Liv’s profession hadn’t been enough to drive them apart - something she’d forever be thankful for, for more reasons than one. 

So when the text came through that she’d be joined by the red head, her shoulders dropped slightly in relief and she found her eyes drifting over the room to try and locate her cousin. The blonde was on her feet swiftly, unable to stop a smile beaming from her face. There was little to no hesitation in putting herself in her cousin’s arms. “So much better in person.” Just because they talked all the time didn’t mean that it was a good substitute for time spent together in the flesh. “Those front cameras don’t do you any justice, Liv.”

Pulling back, Diana took in the other woman’s appearance. “You look great, as always.” The sincerity of her words was quickly glazed over as she couldn’t help but continue with a glint in her eye. “Still haven’t grown any though.” There weren’t that many inches between the two of them but seeing as they were practically sister, she saw no reason she couldn’t play up the irritating younger sibling’s role every now and again. “What you drinking?” A spring was back in her step as she took her seat once more, leaning in slightly to try to get the bartender’s attention.

[xlukeharvey]

It was a busy night at the bar. Luke had been working almost nonstop since he opened the bar, but he didn’t mind that in the slightest. The busier it was, the more money that came in by the end of the night. And more business meant it was easier to cover up any Syndicate meetings in the back room. Not that there were any that night; the room was vacant of the mutants. But that didn’t mean the bar was. Luke welcomed the group, or any mutants alike. Anyone that came around asking too many questions were only met with smart remarks and implications to get the fuck out of his bar. Maybe slightly more polite than that, though. Just slightly.

Luke was about ready to head on his break when he spotted a young woman enter the bar. Her face was vaguely familiar, but not around the bar. Did he know her? If not, he wanted to. But something about her seemed anxious, tense. Well, she came to the right place to loosen up. Luke returned her smile and made his way down to the end of the bar where she took he spot. “What can I get started for you?” he asked.

[dxtaylorxarchive]

The hustle and bustle of the bar around her was deafening. and only served to add to her feeling of claustrophobia. It was irrational, there was nothing about this place that should be making her feel so on edge, not when she usually loved the distraction and noise of a place like this. It took her out of her own head. But tonight she was tensing at even the slightest brushing of contact against her skin and all it had taken was one missed called from Daniel to set off her discomfort. Despite leaving New York behind her she hadn’t been able to shake off the memory of him.

Before she could get too caught up in the very thing she’d come to avoid, the bartender made his way over. His smile alone was just enough of a distraction that she did finally forget and it put her at ease far more than anything else had so far. Blue eyes danced over him briefly before she gave him an answer to his question, albeit it with some question in her voice. “A cosmo?” If she were being truthful something stronger wouldn’t have gone amiss but on the spur of the moment it was what had sprung to mind.

[dxtaylorxarchive]

LA might have become her new home but with her work still taking her away a little more than she’d have liked, she hadn’t done nearly as much exploring as she’d wanted. When you’d been lucky enough to see as many places that she had, albeit briefly with how her schedule usually panned out, it was rare for her to feel attached to somewhere. Places tended to just blur into one colourful haze, it took a lot to catch her eye but there was a bar in Venice that had done just that when she’d indulged herself with a trip to the beach.

Hesitating for a moment, Diana decided that she might as well go with her gut and go in for a drink. A quick second was spent to fire a text off to her cousin with no idea of whether of not she’d be available to keep the blonde company in the new location or not. Before, she could back out, the model forced herself to walk inside, though she couldn’t stop the way her eyes glanced around the other customers as she walked up to the bar as though she had some purpose. She’d never been blind to the way she could draw people’s gazes but she’d never once welcomed it and maybe that was why she chose a seat at the end of the bar, more shrouded by shadows. Sliding onto the stool, she gave the bartender a small smile and tried not to look like too much of a flight risk.