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[hinahqs]

   “oh, hey.” hina started, raising her eyebrows as she approached. “are you alright here alone?” she perched on the side, close but not too close, to give the other some difference. “is dancing not your thing? it used to not be my thing and then... well... yeah.” the professor had had a little too much but it didn’t really change her personality, she was just more likely to actually voice her thoughts (more likely than normal). “it;s been a tough time, i get it.”

@hollandbright​

[hinahqs]

     “matteo!” hina quickly approached the other, drink seemingly in hand and half full. “how are you enjoying yourself? i’m absolutely loving it, there’s so much to do and it’s a really, really, very much needed change!” the woman, slightly tipsy, was very enthusiastic about the event but she had to be. if she couldn’t even have fun at a party, she had truly lost her younger self. hina was an open person, one that liked to experiment with different environments - or at least she used to before feelings of inadequacy and worry had plagued her at the institute. when it came to being a professor, hina honoured the title as much as she could but she had taken everything far too personally. “are you enjoying herself?” she repeated, unknowingly.

@matteo-emerson​

[hinahqs]

          “this is just the best!” after complaining that she didn’t enjoy much anymore, this would be the perfect night for hina to re-set herself. she couldn’t recall the last time she had gone to a party. still, she would only have so much fun. tensions were still high and the woman had seen first hand how the tone of a day (or night) could turn into something fatal within a few moments. after seeing students and her colleagues trying to recover from the atrocities of june 1st, she wouldn’t let anything take her by surprise again. despite her emotional temperament, hina was a steady individual that could handle crisis in the moment when presented with it.

“it’s been a while since i actually danced. i don’t claim to be a good dancer, not had enough to drink yet, but it’s more about the energy exchange, right?” she bopped her head to the music and took a sip of her drink. “it just feels so good to get out and do something crazy. not that dancing is taking it to extremes but it’s definitely against the norm. are you having a good time?”

@viictorious​

[hinahqs]

musas-muse​:

Sela’s smile stayed in it’s natural place, while her voice flowed smooth and cool as she echoed the other’s chuckle. With a nod she turned just enough so a gloved hand could lift a glass of champagne that’d already been pre-poured and offer it the kind looking woman. “Well then,” Sela starts with a pleased hitch, her smile turning a smidge smug. “Allow me to provide some context: The Gorgon’s Lair is a gallery that features sculptures from one artist, exclusively.” She gestures to the marble depiction of a terrified Adam, important bits covered by marble foliage seemingly carved with meticulous attention to detail. He’s her get-them-through-the-door attraction that’s been proving to be quite useful. “I am the gallery’s owner, featured artist, and Gorgon herself:” A pause, and Sela turns back with a wide, award-winning smile. “Medusa.”

    hina listened intently to what the other was saying, eyes wide and nodding as the other continued to explain. however, somewhere along the way she had got lost. she was aware of the story but couldn’t help but think if there was some sinister undertone to it. no. she knocked herself quickly out of thinking like that - it was art and the tale of medusa seemed to be misunderstood as it was so perhaps this was a mutant message piece? the woman would admit that she knew nothing about art despite liking it and sometimes it was joyous to not understand something as easy as the science. “that’s quite the introduction.” hina pulled a smile. “you must be very prideful to own such a lovely place to display your own work, no?”

[hinahqs]

thalassofins​:

         expressions aren’t his strong suit by any sense of the word, but humans are easier to read than some. than himself, even. at least as far as people are willing to look. that said, he picks up on the fact that she seems less upset. it’s not often that he can point out a moment where he’s helped someone, least of all with an improvement in their mood, and the idea has him glowing. it gives him something to cling to. something he can look at and consider when times are hard, when people refuse to tolerate his presence. “i’ve always liked water,” he says, bobbing his head in a nod. perhaps an obvious statement, although he doesn’t recognize that himself. “do you not?”

       hina had come from a mutant family where each individual had their own thing going on. her parents were for the most part supportive but they didn’t like how drenched things could get so quickly if she was having an off day. the two never asked her why, only for her to stop it. for years, the woman saw it as a bad thing but the sooner she accepted herself, the easier it felt to be her true self and explain it. however, there was bound to be an occasion where she’d doubt herself. “it just causes a lot of people inconveniences, not to mention i mess up my own hair on a daily basis.” a slight chuckle followed. “you would have thought i’d be used to it but maybe that’s the problem.”

[hinahqs]

thalassofins​:

         bobbing his head in a nod, fins offers a noise of agreement. he has always preferred things to be damp rather than dry, but has found that difficult to manage throughout his life—particularly when it comes to the over world. there’s more water up here, but not in the air. people, it seems, prefer to keep that contained to smaller, manageable areas. “sure,” he adds, suppressing the urge to display a smile. “i was going to sit anyways. i don’t usually get to enjoy the rain like this.” not during the middle of the day, at any rate.

    “oh.” hina looked across towards fins. it was a comforting feeling to think that someone actually wanted to sit with her when her ability was in a less than preferred state - it just proved her point she had been lecturing, that there was always someone willing to accept you. “thank you for sitting with me.” the woman looked visibly less upset but managed to keep the rain at the same density. “you like it? it can stay that way for a while, if you’d like.” the woman limited her range slightly with that phrase - she was beginning to take back some control over it and herself with this unintentional vote of confidence.

[musas-muse]

Who: open What: the grand opening of The Gorgon’s Lair When: September 17th, 1998 (a whole month later than originally advertised, and that’s definitely not my fault)

The opening of the large doors causes a brief flash of light at the gallery’s entrance that catches Sela’s attention, which in turn has her politely excusing herself from a pair of long time clients that had come to show their support. With a smile, she makes her way to the newcomer; the hem of her long, white gown swaying gently with each step. “Hello there! Allow me to welcome you to The Gorgon’s Lair!” Her gloved arms spread wide with an artful flourish, each pointing to their own elaborate archway– the two true entrances to the gallery itself– as she comes to a stop a safe distance away. “Can I offer you a glass of water or champagne while you wander?” 

[hinahqs]

    hina had always been very adamant that one could be both a scientist and an artist. she wasn’t particularly great herself but the point still stood and she would let her professor scientist self enjoy it. however, she wasn’t really looking to buy. her walls were full of bright coloured paintings to match the otherwise quirky decor and items so had around her apartment. “oh, thank you so much.” the woman nodded towards the other. “i’ll take champagne, if that’s okay, thank you.” hina smiled but then her brow furred. “it’s an interesting name for a gallery but one i can appreciate without knowing any context.” she chuckled, mainly to herself.

[hinahqs]

volitants​:

“i mean… my dad died. assassinated, to be specific. because, you know, over political stuff.” it’s probably the understatement of the year, and it’s probably even more inappropriate for him to say in that specific way—but what’s anyone gonna do about it? “yeah. keep on keepin’ on. and, well… sometimes people do just suck. plain and simple. but i don’t think that means—” and then it starts raining. river’s quick to pull his hoodie down to shield his wings, “—uh… ms. nakayama? is this you?”

hina’s eyes automatically widened at river, the bluntless of events catching her off guard. it had been a shock to everyone but couldn’t imagine what the family must have gone through, for river to have to deal with the fact that someone purposefully killed his father due to his politics. fortunately, that was something hina would never have to experience. “keep on keeping on...” she mumbled to herself and shut her eyes. “sorry. it’s really annoying, i know.”

[hinahqs]

thalassofins​:

         it’s a little disappointing, hearing that there are people that don’t like rain. understandable, of course—everyone is different!—but fins’ appreciation for water ( particularly rain ) is unmatched. “i prefer it when it’s rainy,” he says, voice soft. he doesn’t know if that’s what hina needs ( or wants ) to hear, but he offers the opinion nonetheless. “maybe some of them would be okay with it, too.”

     “really?” her pitch raised a little bit with a smile beginning to form. the woman nodded as she looked away. it was good to know that someone not only minded her ability but appreciated it. that didn’t mean that others didn’t utilise her when they could, just that they never wanted to deal with it when she was emotional or it wasn’t convenient for the task in mind. “perhaps you’re right.” the woman nodded again as she kept her eyes looking forward. she turned to fins again and pulled a smile. “will you sit with me until it clears up?” the rain was already lighter but feelings still lingered.

[hinahqs]

adamrhm​:

Adam laughs, he finds her theatrics amusing, “Well, at least you’re being funny right now, Hina. You know what you need, you need to let loose, don’t you enjoy anything these days?”

    “i’m not sure what i’m supposed to do with a crisis at every turn.” the woman was taking it all far too personally and was putting the whole weight on her own shoulders when it wasn’t even there to begin with. “i guess i might as well laugh because otherwise i might start crying... again. what do you do for fun? maybe i’ll try that.”

[hinahqs]

thalassofins​:

         the explanation makes little sense to him. annoyed? students? the only thing that he can properly figure out is that he’s right that she’s responsible for the downpour—a good thing, in his mind. he’s missed the rain desperately. ever since his first experience with it, it’s difficult to get enough… a shower at the ring will suffice, but it’s not the same. he doesn’t like feeling closed in. “why would they get annoyed?” he asks, choosing to ask the less embarrassing ( he thinks ) question. the way she says it, everyone would know what students she might mean. feelings are more volatile.

    fins was just someone else she had let down - she still remembered being quite late to their lesson so she didn’t give him his deserved time. still, it wasn’t the time to carry on apologising for it. “the weather there... sucks. and that’s not what they need after the most recent events. while they need to recover and prepare so it doesn’t happen again, they need sunshine and i’m taking that away from them.” hina sighed as the rain still poured on the both of them, their nearer perimeters a slightly lighter fall. “i’m trying my best but sometimes i think its best if i’m just not there.”

[hinahqs]

volitants​:

“aw, c’mon, ms. nakayama. if i’m the one who has to tell someone to cheer up, then you’re kind of in dangerous territory,” chuckles river. “i’m fine, really. or, like, as fine as i’ll ever be given that everything kinda sucks. but you gotta keep on keepin’ on, right?”

    “you know... maybe it’s a good thing to swap roles every once in a while, within reason, of course.” the woman sighed again. “i understand. it’s a difficult time, one i’d take away if i could but i can’t so here we are. perhaps your strange pep talk will do wonders for me.”

[hinahqs]

volitants​:

“aw, c’mon, ms. nakayama. if i’m the one who has to tell someone to cheer up, then you’re kind of in dangerous territory,” chuckles river. “i’m fine, really. or, like, as fine as i’ll ever be given that everything kinda sucks. but you gotta keep on keepin’ on, right?”

    “i know. what happened? is this was a crisis feels like?” she groaned but then a stern nod followed. “keep on... keepin’?” one eyebrow raised. surely that meant just keep going or something but she didn’t want to assume. “everything does suck, i’ll give you that. who would actually attack here. i mean, a lot of people would after it’s true form is known but still, who would actually go through with it? i’ve tired to look for the good in people but it’s not looking so great, like it’s missing.” then the rain started. “urgh!”

[adamrhm]

location: anywhere status: open

“What’s a fun thing to do around here?” 

[hinahqs]

   “oh, i’m not really sure. there’s a lot but my mind is going blank.” the woman sighed, a slightly frustration with herself visible. “i’m usually so good at being a welcoming host type of person but current affairs must have ruined my spirit.” she stopped. “okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic.”

[hinahqs]

nicholxswalker​:

“That is true.” The students had more expectations unlike the professors and staff. A lot of pressure and things that needed to be achieve… it was too much really. “Nor do I. They’re still the same people as before, just… with some edge to them.” And trauma.

     “i just don’t think i can be the same person as before for them.” all that time she had spent entertaining them making fun of her ‘naive’ approach that she could have been talking them up. she had tried to give life lessons by not shying away from herself, hoping that they’d gain inspiration, but that wasn’t enough. “i have been a joke to them and while that was fine before, we can’t be joking anymore. i can’t change who i am but i feel like i need to be a bit stricter now.” she was unsure how they would respond to that.

[hinahqs]

volitants​:

he quirks a smile at her, “…i was joking, ms. nakayama. am i really that much of a bummer that everybody’s taking me so seriously? i’m not a flight risk or anything—literally,” he says, pointing at his bandaged wing with his lips.

   “oh...” she repeated, this time with less shock and less passion. “i wouldn’t say it’s just you. a lot has happened.” things looked different to her now. hina had been the professor that hadn’t mind the students laughing at her whimsical nature but she now felt flat as she continued to think about what had happened, that a place of education was attacked... but perhaps it wasn’t a place of education at all and that made her uneasy. “i would laugh in a normal situation but i don’t find it funny.”

[hinahqs]

anamikxha​:

“Oh, my.” Such an amazing and possibly powerful ability and yet this woman couldn’t control it. How embarrassing, she thought, though she gave the woman a look of understanding. “Is there always a cloud above you or just on days where you’re feeling down?” 

    “my parents say i’m too sensitive.” she did miss them though. everything had got her thinking about her priorities and family was important, just not when she’d be ridiculed for her emotional disposition. “a thing that comes and goes, i suppose. sometimes you just have to let it hang to prevent a storm.”