Resize plot

[no_more_hiding]

 Hank comes in and feels a feverous tingle cascade across his body as he shrinks within his trench coat. Panicked, he doesn't think. Just leaps up into the shadows of the rafters. What was this, another mutation?!?!

Later, and somewhat nervous, he's down at the bar drinking hot chocolate and trying to figure out why everyone is a child and why his secondary mutation stayed in play when he was transformed as well.

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[i_am_your_host]

Emcee, who is quite small for his age, which happens to be around ten-ish, climbs up onto a nearby stool. His hair and eyes are very dark against his pale skin, and his elfin face betrays an unabashed curiosity in the blue, furry child.

"Hallo," he chirps at him with a friendly smile.

[no_more_hiding]

The furry child seems to be of a similar age, assuming a human standard to measure against. He doesn't quite start but does seem to pull into himself somewhat.

"Hello." He pauses to swallow his shyness. "Do you know why there are so many children here today?"

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee lets out a huffy sigh, shrugs, and spreads his hands out in a what can you do? gesture. "It's Milliways. Magic happens. This time, magic seems to have de-aged most of the patrons, or at least shrunk them down to child-size."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank lets out a relieved gasp.

"Thank God, then. It's not just me."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee lets out a bright, musical giggle.

"Oh, no, it's not just you. Usually I would be enjoying a glass of gin and a cigarette, but those are hard to come by for those our age if Madame Bar has anything to say about it."

He offers the boy a small hand to shake.

"Please, do call me Emcee."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank accepts the hand, being careful with his claws.

"I'm Hank," he replies with a tight lipped smile to hide his fangs. Then, since he feels his nervousness needs explaining, he adds, "I wasn't furry when I was a child. That's why I was worried. I feared my body was undergoing another metamorphosis."

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee notes all the pointy things but isn't fazed by them, and shakes his hand warmly. Or as warmly as a child can muster.

"Ohh," he murmurs, tilting his head as he tries to understand. "Perhaps whatever happened really is more of a-- a re-sizing, than a de-aging, because at least we appear to be having a perfectly adult conversation. If the magic had truly reverted you to your younger self, you probably would not have been furry."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank rubs his chin as he ponders this.

"A fair point. We also seem to have our memories as adults, assuming you're an adult as well. You did mention you drank gin and smoked."

[i_am_your_host]

"Very much so," he says with a dimpled little smile. "I suppose I shall have to replace my bad habits with milk and cookies."

[no_more_hiding]

"Or chocolate and cake?" Hank offers with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Why be predicable, right?"

[i_am_your_host]

"How true. Predictability is so grown-up," he quips.

"Speaking of which, would you like some cake? Perhaps the Bar can surprise us with something."

[no_more_hiding]

"Oh yes! And some hot chocolate for you? Or would you prefer chocolate milk?"

"Oh, and how about some Twinkies and Ding Dongs?" Bar, of course, answers by manifesting the cake and pastry-like products.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee's face brightens as only a child's can.

"I would love some hot chocolate, thank you!" His eyes widen at the bounty of sweets that appear before them.

"--Um, which are the Twinkies and which are the Ding Dongs?" he giggles. "I don't think such things with such names existed in Germany in my time. I would have remembered!"

[no_more_hiding]

"The Twinkies are the yellow cakes and the Ding Dong are the chocolate covered. Both are creme filled."

[i_am_your_host]

"Oh, how delicious!"

Emcee will make inappropriate jokes about this later when he's an adult again.

"And my hot chocolate has a giant marshmallow in it!"

Could be that Emcee naturally takes delight in simple things all the time, or could be that actually being a child again is making things more fun.

[no_more_hiding]

"I like the mini marshmallows myself." As if to punctuation, Hank takes a big bite of the Twinkie he opened.

[i_am_your_host]

Emcee takes a careful sip of his cocoa, and the melty marshmallow gives him a mustache that he licks off his lip.

"How decadent," he hums in approval. "I think I'll try a Ding Dong." He can't help another giggle at the name. They look like chocolate hockey pucks. Upon biting into one, the sweetness of the cake and creme is so overwhelmingly good.

"Is this a common snack where you are from?"

[no_more_hiding]

Fortunately for Emcee, these Hostess snacks come from a time before the waxy chocolate and other cost cutting measures.

"They are quite popular in the United States, though I couldn't say for certain about other countries."

[i_am_your_host]

A sugar high, and then a crash, is inevitable.

"I had a feeling that this was an American thing," he chuckles, licking chocolate from his thumb. "Where in the States are you from?"

[no_more_hiding]

"Was it the extravagance of the confections or the bright packaging?" Hank asks with a smile that shows more teeth since he's relaxed. "The East Coast, New York usually, though I am traveling at present."

[i_am_your_host]

"Both," he giggles, indulging in another bite.

"Oh, New York, I am actually hoping to make it there soon. Are you traveling for business or leisure?"

[no_more_hiding]

Hank turns serious, an expression that always close.

"I'm not certain. I originally went as a sort of adventure, but I feel like now it's more to find myself and see the world. I've had something of a sheltered upbringing."

Holding his arms up, he smiles ruefully. "Although blending in has proved a challenge. I am unique on my world and most are like you and not furred."

[i_am_your_host]

"Ah, to be able to see the world is a wonderful privilege and absolutely must be taken advantage of," Emcee remarks nodding with a smile both eager and envious. "I hope you find what you are seeking."

He then tilts his head at him with curiosity as he remarks on his appearance. And a bit of sympathy.

"Blending in was never my strongest suit either. Do you receive-- negative attention?"

[balancingminds]

Hank's mind has a familiar feel though his panic is worrying. Charles walks over to him, "Hank, its a Milliways' spell gone wrong."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank flinches at the strange boy's use of his name, but then his thoughts catch up to him and he makes a quick deduction.

(The feel on a familiar presence, almost there in his mind helps.)

"Charles?" he asks, hesitantly.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, I think I'm nine again," As he comes over he gives a sympathetic look, this is Milliways, it will get sorted out.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank clutches his chest in relief and teh gratitude at seeing Charles is evident beyond Charles' telepathy.

"So this is magic gone wrong? I feared I was changing again."

[balancingminds]

"You're not changing again though it is odd to see you with this size and blue," He smiles, Hank is rather cute this way.

[no_more_hiding]

The acceptance of Charles never ceases to amaze Hank. He smiles hesitantly, much like another blue face Charles knows.

"I am not certain I can believe that, but thank you. Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Have you heard anything about how long this is expected to last?"

[balancingminds]

"We'll both monitor how you're doing but I believe this is the spell. No, I haven't,"

Charles projects his own confidence in the belief that this will be fixed and that Hank is fine how he is.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank relaxes further and starts feeling foolish for his fears.

"Well, I guess we have a chance at a second childhood." Hank smiles to show he's making the best of the situation, something he's learning on the road.

[balancingminds]

"Perhaps, its not foolish to be worried. In Milliways, its good to examine all the possibilities."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank nods thoughtfully, seeing the wisdom in Charles' words and yet thinking how sometimes he wished he didn't see all the ways things could go wrong. The price of an active mind.

"It would be nice to see the possibilities more than the worries. At least from time to time."

[balancingminds]

"I know and you can. Its a matter of saying yes, I see what could go wrong but what can go right as well,"

Its something that takes work but isn't impossible.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank rubs at his lip in thought.

"Perhaps it's like a habit to develop. When I think of what could go wrong, remind myself to look for what could go right as well?"

"I like that and shall make the attempt to adopt it."

[balancingminds]

"Ask me for help if you need it. I know you'll be good at it," He smiles as he wants Hank to be hopeful too.

[no_more_hiding]

"I will." Hank is definitely cheered but then a sense of guilt develops.

"How are things at the mansion?"

[balancingminds]

"Good, things are coming together," Its not perfect but he likes seeing his home become a school.

[no_more_hiding]

A flash of relief and gratitude replace the guilt.

"I'm glad my travels aren't holding you back. I have been spreading word of the school as I move and have left business cards in some case, with promises of haven if the mutant needs. I haven't met many, but there have been more than I expected."

"It has been a revelation, seeing how our kind adapt to the world."

[balancingminds]

"Not at all and I think its wonderful for you to be out and seeing more of the world. Its something we're good at,"

Mutants and their ability to live and thrive amazing Charles, its why he has hope.

[no_more_hiding]

"I had expected to find us in the shadows and cracks of society, but I've found us everywhere. Obviously those with visible mutations, like myself, must hide. But others seem quite comfortable out in the open. They still hide but they live in less fear."

It gives Hank hope to see them living that way, though he fears for those with obvious physical traits that can't be hidden.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, well, we have to learn how to hide young. I know I did but there are various types of hiding."