baby snikt

The compliment was surprising, yet wholly welcome. Elysia was used to the odd look or two, and even more used to the discrimination — and sometimes even to the violence that stemmed from those willing to dish it out. She wasn’t used to someone taking the time out of their day to say something nice about her power. But then again, she also wasn’t used to seeing what looked like a wolverine on a leash — maybe it was a day of new things?

“Oh,” Elysia perked up and looked between the younger girl and her… pet. “Thank you! They, uh, they were really needing some water,” she returned a little awkwardly and with a shrug. “Is he… Hm. Friendly?”

Gabby would never judge someone for who they are. She doesn’t like people that think that way about anything different. It’s one thing for something to be new or unknown to you. Questions are harmless but it’s tone associated with the words is what makes all the difference. People can string them together to form harmful sentences and sometimes it doesn’t take physical violence to hurt someone. Gabby is always fascinated about other people’s powers. All she has is claws and a healing factor. She wishes that she could do something cool like manipulate water.

“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you or anything like that . . .” She smiles, trying to appear approachable. Which comes naturally for Gabby at least. “You’re welcome. I think the work you’re doing with the flowers is important. We should take care of nature, you know?” Her eyes look to Jonathan who’s calmly sitting by her feet. “I promise he’s the friendliest. We rescued him from a laboratory . . . ”

[ OPEN STARTER! ]

Water droplets were pulled from the air to nourish and bring back to life a section of garden plants that were overwhelmingly droopy - and maybe even a little crispy. They looked horrible and no one in the neighborhood seemed to do anything about it for a week now; she wouldn’t have intervened seeing as it wasn’t part of the District, but the flowers looked parched and pleading for something, so she had to oblige.

With most of the terror of Star City gone, Elysia felt comfortable enough to use her abilities outside of the wall. Though there was always someone to exploit her, she felt confident enough to defend herself.

Gabby has been venturing outside of the district more and more ever since the terror has left the city streets. She knows everything about the district like the back of her hand but the rest of the city leaves much to be discovered still. Which intrigues her if she’s quite honest. She even brought Jonathan along, but attached to his harness since that’s the law or whatever. Well, pretty sure it isn’t legal to own a Wolverine but that’s beside the point right now.

[ DAKEN ] Thanks for reminding me. Seriously. I know I’m not ready to face Bobby yet. And if he never forgives me, that’s fine, too. At least we can both agree that you and your sister make great contributions.

[ DAKEN ] That’s good. I like spending time with you, too. 

[ DAKEN ] Was getting those weird burgers the only thing on your agenda? I have a lot more free time on my hands, munchkin. Just say the word. 

[ GABBY ] I understand. The situation hurt you and if you need more time to heal from all of that? You deserve to hold off on facing Bobby. I do hope that he’ll forgive you but if he doesn’t? You always have me. No matter what, I’m here. 

[ GABBY ] You better or I’ll let Jonathan bite your ankles! 😜

[ DAKEN ] It’s not that exciting. Let’s just say I have quite the history there. It’s not pretty. I did a lot of awful things I’m not proud of. Then again, what else is new?

[ DAKEN ] He’s a busy guy. Can’t blame really blame him. 

[ DAKEN ] Who said I was against excitement? Spending time with you is more than enough to keep me excited. Isn’t that right, honey badger? 

[ GABBY ] You’re more than all of the awful things you’ve taken part in. We’ve all done things we aren’t proud of but I know there’s good in you. I’ve seen it, brother. If i can be more than an assassin then you can also be whatever you want to be.

[ GABBY ] I know. He’s always needed somewhere but I wish he stuck around. 

[ DAKEN ] Madripoor. That’s when I first met Laura. She kicked my ass. If Bellona’s there, I doubt anyone will bother her. 

[ DAKEN ] If they don’t, then I’ll have some nice words to tell Scott. Or maybe Logan will. Can’t vouch for him. 

[ DAKEN ] Alright, don’t get too excited. You’re right about that, which is exactly why you don’t give any to him. It’s all yours. Try to eat all of it. I’m not eating the leftovers and wasting food is bad. 

[ GABBY ] They’ll regret trying to mess with Bellona. What’s Madripoor like? Why has everyone in this family seen it except for me?

[ GABBY ] It might have to be you. I haven’t seen dad in a while . . . but hopefully those kind of situations won’t even be necessary. I appreciate the sentiment though. I’ll keep you updates if anything changes. 👀

[ DAKEN ] It’s unfortunate I never got to meet them. I understand if you miss them. I’m sure they would have been great support, too. I get Laura and I aren’t always around. You know you’re never bothering us if you need anything. 

[ DAKEN ] Shit, the vast majority of the X-Men will go through hell and back for you. 

[ DAKEN - UNSENT ] You’re miles ahead of me and I’m over fifty years older than you. You and your sister have everything I will never have from them: validation. 

[ DAKEN ] Anyway, I’ll take you since I already offered and big brothers don’t do take-backs. You’re only getting one, though. No feeding it to Jonathan, either. I don’t care how much he begs or wants to bite my fingers off. 

[ GABBY ] They were all I had for a while. Only one of them is still alive but I’m not sure where Bellona is. I think the last known location was Madripoor? Maybe she’ll come back someday and you can finally meet her! She was the most angry out of us all. 

[ GABBY ] You think so? That’s kind of sweet actually . . . wow.

[ GABBY ] AHHHH

[ DAKEN ] You’ve already proven that you’re more than that. Otherwise, the X-Men wouldn’t have picked you out in the first place. 

[ DAKEN ] Let me guess…

[ DAKEN ] You saw that on Instagram and now you want to try it.

[ GABBY ] Thank you. I feel like sometimes I need that little reminder, you know? I’ve come a long way since being an assassin for hire.

[ GABBY ] I just wish all my sisters were still here. Zelda especially. 

[ GABBY - UNSENT ] I miss her.

[ GABBY ] HOW DID YOU KNOW?

When: Present Day Where: District X - Mutant School With: Gabby @gabbykinncy​

Bobby had been busy in the days following the Joker’s attack on the city; he’d made the escape bridge after all, he had to be the one to clear it. The job wasn’t exactly hard but it was time consuming. By the time he’d finished Bobby felt he deserved a lazy day at the school grading some papers; after all, the education system didn’t come to an end cause a radioactive bomb had been detonated outside the city. 

He heard a knock on his door and looked up, smiling when he saw Gabby there, “Well hey Baby Girl. Come to visit little ol’me?” he asked, leaning back in his chair and stretching. “I’d offer you food but we’d need to go out and get that.” Which, come to think of it, might not be a bad idea, “Actually, how bout we do that?” he asked, rising to his feet, “You can tell me about all the peeps you saved during out latest crisis.” he chuckled quietly. 

//

This is a rare occurrence when Gabby isn’t being followed by Jonathan. He was somewhere safe, deciding to catch up on some sleep after all the recent chaos surrounding Star City. Maybe this is something Gabby should be doing too but when has the teenager ever been known to take a moment to rest? She usually has some adrenaline going  . . .  but after helping evacuate the Mutants in District X, Gabby feels like she deserves to be lazy at least for one day. This doesn’t mean staying in bed though, no, she’s going to visit one of her favorite people.

Her hand knocks on the door, waiting to be given the okay to come inside of the office.  The youngest member of the Snikt family smiles when it appears that Bobby is only grading some papers. “I skipped lunch . . . well, actually I slept through lunch, so food sounds amazing.” Gabby doesn’t know what she’s craving but wants something greasy. “Can we get doughnut burgers?” She’s pleading with her facial expression, as if trying to convince Bobby that it’s an excellent idea. Once she sees her uncle figure standing up that makes her cheer in excitement. “Yay! I’ll happily tell you about how badass I was once we get there. I got to lead everyone to safety!” Each mission Gabby gets to go on with the X-Men . . . it just reminds her that this is exactly where she belongs.

[ DAKEN ] Atta girl. Show those X-Men what you’re made of. 

[ DAKEN ] I’m proud of you, Gabby. I know I don’t say it a lot but you and your sister are doing good. 

[ DAKEN ] Since we’ve made up now, what do you say I take you to lunch sometime? Your pick. I’ll pay for it. 

[ GABBY ] I can’t wait for the day I’m not a junior member anymore.

[ GABBY ] Thank you. I’m trying to be better than what Alchemax created me to do. I think being with the X-Men is the perfect way to do that.

Everything was so chaotic. People were screaming, other were crying, and some still found the time to argue with one another. The broadcast erupting into showers of confetti and an explosion in the distance only served to drive the madness into a worsened state. Had that been one of the bridges? Was there any safe way out of the city now? Mattias’ stomach churned at the idea that the bomb the Joker held the switch to had been a present left behind by NOVA. So his parents did know what was going on here - they had to - and they were choosing to remain radio silent with him? Another explosion farther out - much farther from the sounds of it - had the young man’s head turning in that direction.

The sudden voice of a young woman caught his attention and drew him back to the city. “Yes, I’m alright.” He answered with a small nod. “What’s going on? What were those explosions?” He asked. Maybe she knew more than he did? His eyes trailed the clothing that clad her body. She was from the District - one of the X-Men, from the looks of it. 

Chaotic situations aren’t new to Gabby but that doesn’t mean she enjoys them. She was desensitized to everything going on around her  . . . only in the way that the teenager won’t be screaming or crying like the civilians running around in the streets. Everyone dealt with these emotions differently and it’s understandable with explosions going off in the distance. Gabby worries though about everyone that’s out there and just hopes everyone is protected. She doesn’t know where her own family is but Daken has to be okay, right? The Mutant focuses on saving everyone around her . . . the main concern so not as many people get hurt. Although, Gabby doesn’t understand why some are arguing on the pavement.

[ DAKEN ] Appreciate it, munchkin.

[ DAKEN ] Don’t worry about it too much. Let’s focus on something else.

[ DAKEN ] Everyone in the District treating you okay? You training hard?

[ GABBY ] 🥰

[ GABBY ] We can change the subject and talk about whatever you want!

[ GABBY ] I’ve been training hard! I don’t want them to regret making me a junior member of the X-Men, you know?

Warren’s acute hearing was capable to pick up on Gabby’s conversation while keeping his gaze on his phone, watching the miles left towards their destination. The younger was wise beyond her years, mature enough that surely, her siblings would commend her. 

“Don’t worry, kiddo,” he said. “These wings are closed for business,” He then took another short breath before making the next right, narrowing his eyelids at the other car who dared to attempt to cut him off. “Now, flying itself may seem fun at first but it’s something you have to learn to control on your own. Like any baby bird learning to fly.” 

//

“Closed for business? You aren’t using them at all?” Gabby doesn’t understand that . . . if she had wings then she would be up there in the sky all the time. Maybe it never occurred to her that she only felt this way because she never had the same experiences Warren has lived with that made him decide to close his wings for business. “Are you alright, Warren?” She just wants to make sure . . . they’re friends too, right?

Ah, training.  Gabby actually likes to learn something new with the right instructors. She hated when someone underestimated her due to her age or size. She was an assassin and a pretty good one once before giving it all up. “Did it take you a while to learn how to control?”

[ DAKEN ] No, it just means you’ll figure it out long before I do. I trust that you will.

[ DAKEN ] I know you like hanging out with Bobby and all but after what happened, I can’t stand the thought of being in the same room as him. Besides, he told me to stay away. He’s not the type who would hold that against you, though. You’re not me. 

[ DAKEN ] It wasn’t much. Just a candle. I suppose I should give him credit for picking out a scent that I actually like. 

[ GABBY ] If I figure it out first I’ll share the secrets with you. 🥰

[ GABBY ] Bobby is nice and we watch Disney movies together. It’s very fun! I might be fond of him but that doesn’t mean I’d ever force you two to be in the same room. 

.

“Ahh I suspect luck has little to do with it.” he smiled, “I am a great believer in fate. Somehow the universe decided we were to meet one another and thus is has happened.” he chuckled lightly, “I know others may call it superstitious nonsense but I feel a great comfort in knowing the world has plans for us all.” This sorta of airy talk was all designed to make him see less threatening, less potential to know dangerous things if he seemed happy enough to let the world pass him by. Realistically, Chou did believe in forces beyond their understanding, he had to, he’d seen them, but he also believed in the power of the self to enact change. That was what he was doing here after all, enacting change to ensure Akihiro would remain by his side.

“You are most welcome,” he said with a more formal half-bow in Gabby’s direction. “Me?” he asked, blinking a few times, “I work close to the docks, dealing with imports and exports into the city. It’s all rather boring, lots of forms to fill out, but I do get to see all sorts of interesting things.” Again, half-truths were always the smarter choice, after all, he did work out of the docks and import product into the city. “And yourself?” he turned to Gabby, “Are you perhaps a student?”

Gabby doesn’t know much about fate, wondering if something like that really does exist. Which mean that it had played a hand in the reason why she existed. The scientists didn’t need to create her, the youngest of all the clones created from a single strand of genetic material. If it wasn’t for fate then maybe Gabby would still be a thought. She had named herself too . . . the name the laboratories gave her had been X23_4GAB. It wasn’t as catchy when you try to say that one. “I like that mindset . . .  that there’s something bigger than all of us helping influence our decisions. It’s only logical, right?” Besides it would mean maybe there’s a deeper reason for her being here . . . for existing. She doesn’t want to be just known as a copy. Gabby is more than a copy of a copy.

Needless to say, classes at the local college were canceled for the foreseeable future, which left Mattias with nothing to do but wander the streets of a City on the verge of a panicked chaos. Already people were starting to get antsy and on-edge, yelling at one another for the slightest things as the Joker’s face remained plastered on the billboard screens and other devices throughout the City. Despite everything, Mattias’ phone was glued to his hand as the other nervously held onto the strap of his shoulder bag for his life. The phone hadn’t gone off at all - not a single call or even a text message from his parents just to see if he was even okay. Surely they knew, right? Surely NOVA didn’t just turn a blind eye to this city anymore. It didn’t seem like it, though. 

A misstep and his shoulder bumped into that of another man, who immediately whirled around at him. “Watch where you’re going!!!” He shouted viciously. “I—” Mattias had no sooner opened his mouth to apologize than the man angrily dismissed him and stormed off. “–’m sorry.” The words fell flat. 

Gabby has been in charge of an evacuation team of getting everyone out of District X. She would do her very best to keep everyone moving forward, having a team of people with her to treat anyone who’s injured. She might not know anything about medicine but what Gabby does have experience with is working as a team. She was raised as an assassin and taught how to work with a group. Her main focus is on getting everyone to safety. Which meant trying to reach out to anyone that’s still in the city — and readying herself to direct them to a safe way out of the city.

[ DAKEN ] I don’t even know and I’m 74 years old. 

[ DAKEN ] You didn’t tell Bobby that you know, did you?

[ DAKEN ] The last thing I need is another violent confrontation with him.

[ DAKEN ] I thought he was going to kick my ass after I found out Kurt got me a Christmas gift.

[ GABBY ] So does that mean you’re telling me that means I’ll never figure it out?

[ GABBY ] I didn’t tell him, no.

[ GABBY ] I haven’t seen Bobby since I found out.