Christmas at the Institute (open)

[Wyld Katt]

He smirked a bit and glanced over at Arik. He knew of him of course. The two had spoken from time to time but they weren't exactly friends. He couldn't help but laugh as he noticed how close he stood to Liezel. He really needed to get a life, it was kind of sad.

"Arik, looking as brooding as always."

He said with a laugh before looking to Liezel.

"Well, a lot of my men ended up turning into vampires because of the mission....long story. So aside from getting used to that they're doing just fine."

He said laughing a bit. He brushed some of his hair back before taking in the room.

"Arik you really need to get a girlfriend or something. Or maybe a boyfriend, I mean it's cool I don't judge."

He said with a laugh before then looking at the two of them.

"No way, the two of you aren't.......No way."

[Ghostrider]

She noticed the awkwardness when she mentioned Astra's name and sighed. She didn't know the story but was loyal to her leader, no matter what. She knew Astra had done or said what she did because it was the right thing to say or do.

"No drama tonight, it's Christmas."

She said nodding her head to Daniel. She then turned to Cam and smiled before turning around.

"Thanks. I normally don't do dresses but felt it was a special occasion."

She shrugged before glancing across the room and seeing Arik. She smiled and looked down, knowing who he was. She had gone to Xavier's but had been even shyer when she was there. Sure she was still shy but was doing better.

[Rain T'Challa]

"How is your mom doing Arik?" Ororo asked him. She had not meet his mom but knew that Arik was close to her and not his father. Which in a way she was thankful for since her father had a long history with the X-men and it was not a good history.

"How are you liking your job Liezel?" Ororo asked the girl. Ororo knew Kurt would be proud that his daughter and how she was leading S.H.E.I.L.D. into the future.

"The more the merrier!" Rain told Liezel before she went to the door.

"You are welcome. I figured it would be nice for our two groups to spend some time together. I thought it could build some new friendships and strengthen old ones," she told Superboy. "I had some help with the decorating. My mom is also here visiting," she told them.

"Welcome Cam. I am pleased you decided to come," she told and shook his offered hand.

"You can put the presents under the decorated palm tree. We did not have any every greens so we just decorated a palm tree," she explained to Superboy with a light laugh. She then notice Melody arrive in a dress and waved to her. "Hello Melody glad you could make it," Rain told her.

"You can add to the pile if you would like. I am sure we can find a nice place for it," Rain told Cam. Rain frowned when Superboy commented on Astra. She had talked to Astra herself about what happen but, knew that it was time to talk about it. She notice he put the presents under the tree at super speeds before returning to Cam's side. "Please enjoy some refreshments," Rain told them. Rain noticed Melody's shy behavior and smiled.

"Nice to know some things have not change," she told Melody before she walked to get herself some refreshment. She wished Astra would come since they were such close friends. She started munching on a cucumber stick and shook her head at Wyld's comment to Arik.

She walked over and stood by them. "I can tell you now that if she has a boyfriend it is not Arik. I can tell by their smells and body language," Rain told him. "But I am curious about who it could be Liezel," Rain told her with a smile.

[Karrl 'Camaxtli' Garm]

When Rain to his hand he brought it to his lips and gave her a gentle kiss on the back of the hand. He looked at her via her arm and winked just before smiling. That was Karrl for you, a charmer through and through. He was a new school kind of guy but some of his methods were rather old school as was exampled by the kiss on the back of the hand.

Looking around, he smiled a bit as he took his lips away from Rain’s hand as well as his hand. He really did like the look of this place, he wondered if they knew anything about his mother and her whereabouts. He did not care, but he never knew when one would need his mother. He noticed an older woman, maybe she would know. He decided first he would put the present under the tree and grab a drink.

So, with that in mind he walked over to the decorated palm tree and placed the painting under it. He then looked around and saw a table with food and drinks on. He doubted there would be any booze, but he decided to play the good boy, well, as much as he could, and leave the alcohol for one day, he would grab a stiff drink when he got back to the tower. He walked over and grabbed a glass of coke and began to drink.

After a few moments of taking in the place and just thinking he walked up to the older woman, Storm. He smiled and waited for the right time to speak, before he did so,

“Miss, I was wondering, do y’a know me mother? I believe she went by d’a codename Revanche.”

[Arik "Lucifer" Creed]

Arik smiled at Ororo when she spoke to him. "My mother is fine, Ororo, thank you for asking. She's been better... Father still runs off every once in a while, to do what, we don't know. Mother never asks," he said, shrugging his shoulders, grinning at her. Rain's mother had always been kind to him and as such, Arik was nothing but respectful to her and around her. Not only did he hold a lot of respect for Ororo, but for Rain as well. She had been more than the perfect leader for New X and was glad that she had taken up the mantle. Plus, the T'Challa family had been nothing but kind to Arik and as such, he was kind to them and loyal. Part of Arik's animalistic tendencies was his fierce loyalty. No matter what, Arik would be loyal to Rain and Ororo and New X as well as his mother. It was the way he was raised and the way he had always been.

Of course, another part of Arik's animalistic tendencies was his protectiveness over everyone close to him. He was extremely protective over his mother and his team mates and team leader. Especially when it came to other males. This wasn't saying that Arik didn't back down when he was told to or when he felt that the girls could handle themselves, it was just in situations like this with Liezel and Daniel. Arik's eyes narrowed and his upper lip twitched into a snarl when Daniel mentioned how he was brooding as always. When he mentioned that Arik needed a girlfriend, or a boyfriend, Arik opened his mouth to retort when Rain said something to Daniel instead. Arik looked at her a moment and grinned, thanking her with his eyes before he looked at Liezel eyebrow raised. "Huh?"

[Liezel "Nightprowler" Wagner]

Liezel smiled at Ororo and shrugged her shoulders. "It's a bit stressful sometimes, but it's not to bad at the moment. Had a little crisis run in with the BPRD but we got it all sorted out," she said with a nod and a smile before she heard what Daniel said to Arik. Liezel frowned. She didn't like that Daniel was taunting her friend like that. Sure, Daniel was...in a way a friend of hers, but she was much closer to Arik. Liezel's frown increased when he joked at Arik's sexuality. She shot Daniel a look of disapproval and then smiled at Rain and nodded her head in thanks before she blushed when she was called out by Rain.

Liezel knew that Arik and Rain and probably everyone else would be shocked and possibly ashamed of whom she had a crush on. "Uh, well...you see..." She was quiet until Arik nudged her. "Warren Worthington IV," she blurted out, her face turning a bright BRIGHT shade of red, making her purple fur/skin tone turn into a nice red violet. She wasn't quite sure what to say after that so she kept her mouth shut. She looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed. She had always had a crush on Warren, despite how he constantly wanted her dead and practically wanted her head on a silver platter. She didn't bother telling everyone about their encounter that they had on the beach a few weeks ago. There was no point. They would only tell her to be careful and to look out for herself. Liezel wasn't sure why she had a crush on a crazy, blood thirsty man.