Attention grabbing 101 (Logan)

[Rei Filatov]

Certain things make the skin crawl; they're usually considered creepy or dark, but things like this weren't always what they seemed to be. A spider is not all bad if one looks at it logically, a spider is an eight-legged insect. What is so scary about an insect? Well, with spiders it's the fact that some of them are indeed deadly poisonous, and the idea of such a small thing being so malevolent is so scary. The thought of being bitten by one of these monsters makes the flesh crawl and tingle with fear that shuts down the logical part of one's mind. That is the reason that when one sees a deadly, vicious spider they are compelled to either run or those brave few attempt to kill it. Though some beings, sort of like cats, have more than one life. In retrospect, humans are so much like their insect and animal counterparts. They can fit into categories easily.

Reija Filatov. Some would consider Miss Filatov to be insane, loony, etc. Though, she wasn't. how could one person be considered loony or different or even insane if there is no actual definition for normal? People are just close-minded and they are afraid of the unknown, though with some human beings, Like Rei, the could accept the unknown and embrace it. Hell, with Rei she had even accepted that there is darkness. Every human being is capable of dark acts, it's within the human heart waiting dormant to be called upon. Though, I'm sure this would be something that most people would not, no, could not, accept at all. People wish to believe in innocence and the greater good within humankind, but did it really exist? Reija had been conviced, both by her way of life and upbringing, and by her experiences, that life was not always black and white, though gray areas... Did gray areas exist? Why aws there that incessant need for goodness when bad was oh so fun?

Reija had grown up with parents who weren't exactly what one could name good, but that wasn't something that had effected her as much. Every person makes their own decisions whether they have a real reason or whether they are weak minded and influence, either way, a decision is made. Rei's decision was her own, and she was never upset with any of her dicisions either. When she said something, or made a decision, she stuck to it. Sometimes one just didn't think about a situation, which must have been what Rei had been doing when she had agreed upon joining Hexus, though she wasn't exactly lacking in the skills to survive and she wasn't upset with the decision. Rei just wasn't one to sully her own hands or anything with physical labor, most of the time, or so such, unless there was some sort of prize she would recieve. Yes, you could call Rei a materialistic woman, but that would be an understatement and you would be quite off. Yes, you could call Rei insane once you saw her spill blood or something, but that would also be an understatment. She was so much more than one could ever see.

Insanity was something that Rei wouldn't ever deny, though, one would be hard pressed to get anything out of her about herself or any sort of information for that matter. Reija Filatov could be a cold and canniving woman and if she wanted something, she got it. There was more than one way to manipulate people, and for this woman it just came naturally. Whether it was her looks, her womanly wiles, her cleaver tongue, the way she held a sword threatning to spill her victim's blood like a spider catching its prey, or just for the fact that she was rather insane and crazy, Rei always got what she wanted. She was strange and she always would be, but that was the way she liked it and that was also the way that she lived. Rei lived on the edge of reason as well as the edge of sanity in the minds of some, which wasn't always a bad thing and she liked it that way. That was another reason that she had actually gobe through with her decision. Every action caused a new adventure.

Being so young yet so set in her ways may have been a drawback for any other person, but for Rei it suited her. The woman was cunning and when she was set on something there was no change. Miss Filatov could be anything she wished. She could play the seductress, she could play the damsel, she could play the harlolt, and she could play the man, the captain. She had no limits. She was probably the worst out of her siblings and family. That didn't bother her, though. She didn't exactly care what anyone thought. It wasn't as if she would have to listen to slander for long any way. Reija was quite handy with both a pistol and a sword or unarmed, or her powers; she was just all around handy. Though, women weren't supposed to be that way, were they?

Could Reija be useful in any sort of group? Most certainly! She wouldn't be useful with physical labor, but she could most certainly do it if only to prove another person wrong. Though, she would have her way overall. She'd be sure to everything. Reija Filatov couldn't be forced to do menial labor, everything she did was a decision upon her part. She should be saved for the most important of tasks, though it seemed Hexus wasn't getting far as of yet. She could steer a person to insanity, which would be useful being a torture artist and all, she had many skills. Rei was also so persuasive, scary, and canniving. She would be a most glorious asset to a any cult. She could lie, cheat, steal, and many other things without even blinking a lash. She could get away with it all too! Nothing phased her, seemingly. She had a shell around her that could never be broken for most. No one had really penetrated her shell. Though, she cared for her sibling and some of her family, she wouldn't go so far as to say that she would do anything for them, her parents, or give her life, but she would always care and she would help to an extent. She had her own code and her own set of rules, though, rules were meant to be broken...

Thick brunette almost ebony hair blew upon the wind, which smelled strongly of salt seeing as she had been at the beach earlier, and dove into Rei's face tauntingly. She realized that she should have tied it back, but that fact mattered not to her. She was standing upon the edge of the bank of the small pond prouding looking about at the water boredly.Reija Filatov had been with Hexus so long, but she was having problems with her thoughts...She could have just left, but this was something for her. She got what she wanted. Dark colors were adorned, which was fairly customary for Reija, and that was nothing new. A frown was upon her face, she didn't like waiting, though she was patient enough. Though, what was she waiting for? She was waiting for someone anyone...well, not anyone... She wouldn't wait much longer before she went off to find someone else to torment, whether it be to use her evil brain for torture or to just find someone she associated with to chat... She knew the park that the Wolverine came to. She was there for a reason. She looked a bit less put together than normal. Her hair was allowed free reign and she didn't swat it away when it flew into her eyes. She stood there, at the end of the bank. Waiting and watching for someone that she either recognized or someone who looked as if they fit in wither her in some way, though none really truly fit that description. Either way, she was waiting, biding her time for a while until she was ready to pounce. She could be just like a predator hunting its prey.... The captain ready to punish her crew.

Reija's clothing was different than normal. She was wearing pants that framed her waiste nicely, but instead of her normal colors the pants were blue jeans and her top was grey, with a black widow on the front. She looked normal enough,s tanding there in a pair of flip flops, though she wasn't trying to draw attention to herself. It wasn't hard for her to do that. She was often called beautiful, but either way she was meant to draw attention. Rei's eyes averted for a moment as she heard a scuffle of feet. Ah, there we go. This was all planned out. Rei didn't react as quickly as she normally would have, as one of the lower members of Hexus rushed at her and began to try and force her down to the ground. Reija wasn't planning on being a wimp or anything. She gave off a slight smirk before her acting came in. She gave off a fake grunt and a small scream, jerking away from Benjamin, which was his name. Reija was able to, though she could have killed him already, lift her leg and kick him in the leg, though that dragged both of them down. Reija wasn't trying to seem weak, she was getting attention.

She rolled over onto the top of him and punched him in the face before kneeing him in the groin and rolling away from him, getting up. She had scuffled. That wasn't the best. Reija had actually gotten a hit to the shoulder; it was horrid that Benjamin wore that damned ring. He had left a rather horrid wound on her neck. That sucked. She walked over to a bench, hearing Ben's groans as she flipped her hair to her right side and began to touch the area. She obviously had to have attention now...

[Logan]

Logan was walking through the park yet again. He was resteless lately, ever since his fight with Mystique. He growled under his breath as she crossed his mind yet again. He was trying to keep her off his mind, but he was doing a damned sorry job. He caught himself walking through the park almost every day since their little encounter, but he hadn't seen hide nor hair of her. Part of him was relieved, and part of him was disappointed.

He shook himself away from his thoughts of hers as he heard a small scream and the sounds of a scuffle coming from the other side of the park. He turned and jogged toward it instinctively, all the while trying to be inconspicuous as he did so. He saw a couple of people fighting by the lake. For a few moments, it looked like a young woman was in some trouble, but then she flipped the tables and beat the hell out of whomever had made the mistake of attacking her. It made him smile a little, his thoughts again drifting to Mystique, but only for a moment as he watched the young woman walk over to a bench and sit down, tilting her head and touching her neck as the wind blew her scent to his sensitive nostrils.

She smelled of salt, like the beach, a soft natural feminine musk, and he caught just a hint of blood on the wind too. Whomever had attacked her must have broken the skin on her neck, where her fingers were massaging and probing gently. He decided, with his chivalrous sense of honor in the lead, to walk over and make sure that the young woman was alright.

He approached, noticing that she was attractive, but something in him felt like he was betraying the two women who seemed to be constantly on his mind lately, even for lookign at her. Hell, Logan. You can only help yourself so much. You're human, for the most part, and you're a man.

Those thoughts did nothing for his stung conscience, so he resigned himself to being chivalrous and trying not to notice how pretty she was. He was only walking over there to make sure that she was alright. That's all. Nothing else.

Logan cleared his throat and looked down at her as he stopped walking, "Are you alright, ma'am?"

[Rei Filatov]

She had known he was there long before she had let out the scream, which hadn't even been that loud. Reija had connections. She knew pretty much whatever she wanted to. The woman was Mystique's equal in more than one way. She was a great actress, that was for sure. Her expression was that of surprise, and she seemed concerned enough as she continued to finger the rip in her smooth skin. It was bleeding a nice amount, but it wasn't too bad. She had obviously had worse as a fighter, but either way she had to act the right way.

She knew he was closer. His scent was on the wind a bit, and she could smell it well enough. He carried a scent and Reija knew her own scent was sensual; his was just musky and masculine. She knew he was there, and she made sure that as she fingered her wound this time, she made it a bit worse. The smell of blood would only be faint, but it did look bad enough, standing out on her pale skin. Her intention was to get his attention. She wanted to scope him out, knowing about his meeting with Mystique and a few other things about the two, and she also wanted to see what Mystique saw. She was studying quite a bit, she wanted to know everything. Reija had a large thirst for knowledge.

She knew he was there, stepping up was something she cold hear well enough. It wasn't necessary for him to clear his throat, but he didn't know that. Reija gave a fake bit of a jump and turned to Logan, making sure she didn't get rid of the surprised face. Such a great little actress...

"Alive. I guess taking those tae kwon doe classes weren't as worthless as I thought."

Reija said as if she were stuck by what had happened. The goal was to get her prey to bite the bait. It couldn't be that hard. Especially since Rei was pretty much as great as Mystique when she wanted to be.

[Logan]

Logan simply nodded, not knowing what to say. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief he kept for cases such as these and handing it to her. He was doing his damnedest to ignore the effect even the small amount of blood was having on him. Yes...Logan had an...affinity...for blood, shall we say.

His eyes traveled over her, making sure that there were no other wounds that might need serious attention. He found none. He shifted on his feet momentarily as he looked down at her, thoughts again drifting to the shapeshifter whom had dominated his thoughts for almost a week now.

"I just thought I'd make sure you're alright. If you're fine, I'll just be on my way, ma'am. Take care of yourself." He nodded to her politely, not needing the handkerchief back. He had a few more left anyway. "That is unless you want me to stick around for a while in case that creep who hit you comes back."

[Rei Filatov]

She had him. She could hear him inhaling. The blood had to have helped that on a bit. Reija noted that in the back of her mind, along with everythign else she was taking in about the situation. She was finding this to be easier than she had thought. Reija had thought that the great Wolverine, as he had been portreyed at times, would figure it out. There were too many signs to really ignore, but Reija was the best when she needed to be. The signs were there, though hidden to an extent. First, her muscles and body structure were that of a fighter. It was obvious that she did more than Tae Kwon Doe, but it was dark and her clothing covered what she normally flaunted. Second, Reija held herself differently. She didn't scrunch up, though she had a look of fear on her face, she seemed languid and stretched out. Third, she was affected by the pain, when most would, but Logan was around tougher people. He might not be as perceptive, but the last thing that might have given Rei away would have been the calmness, it was a bit eerie, but she was acting well enough. Her voice just didn't get in the way that much.

She took the handkerchief easily, slipping it onto her wound. She had him. She knew it already. HE was chivalrous. That was a lucky trait. Reija already knew it would take all she had not to act like herself. She could put that off for a bit, though. Control was a key element when gathering information. His eyes were easy enough to sense. She knew he was checking for other wounds. Reija wasn't that willing for this mission of hers. He offered... She gave what seemed a shy smile. Jesus, this felt stupid.

"I think I'm just a bit shook up. Feels odd..."

She bit her bottom lip in feined nervousness as she gave a small, almost pleading smile.

"Would you mind sticking around for a bit? I'd rather not have to go through that again..."

Cut the shit, jesus. Reija was already disgusted, but she played the damsel so well. She already knew the story to feed him if he asked. She knew everything. The only thing she hadn't decided was which alais to use, which wasn't hard, really. She had just made that decision. She left her right hand on the wound, holding the handkerchief in place as she held the other out, for a shake.

"I'm Brooke...."

A normal alias, how about that? Better than Nymphadora or Irene, huh? She had a few normal ones, but then again, several of her alaises she did act human. This wasn't one of them. That was all part of the fun to come...

[Logan]

Logan noticed that she seemed a little calmer than most women would have been after being mildly wounded in a fight, but he guessed that it might be because she was used to the abuse or something like that. She wanted him to stay. Did he really want to? No. He wanted to be with Mystique. Where the hell had that come from? Logan knew he had to stop thinking about her.

He gave a perfunctory smile and shook her hand firmly as she introduced herself. "I'm Logan. Listen...I don't know if you just handle things better than other women or you're used to abuse, but you seem to be handling this a lot better than most women might." It was an idle comment because he didn't know what else to say. He had no intentions of prying into her private business.

Something about her made him nervous, which seemed a little ridiculous considering the circumstances, but the feeling did not leave him. He fully intended to be completely on his guard at all times. Something was fishy here, and he thought it might just be his perspective, but he was keeping on his toes no matter what, that was for sure.

[Rei Filatov]

She was indeed calm, she looked shook up for the most part, but even the best of actors have a little flaw. Reija realized he noticed, and already knew he would ask. She knew what she would say and how she would act too. No need to give herself away until she was ready. He was on his toes now, but he could be expecting some sort of abusive boyfriend to come out. That was going to be the story anyway. Reija sniffled a bit, making sure her eyes watered an apropriate amouth as she looked down in shame.

"I-I suppose I am...h-handling it a lit-ttle better."

She replied as if she were nervous or even scared. She even moved as if she were looking around, peering for someone as if she might actually be scared. She could play this better than she had been. Getting into character wasn't that hard. Reija made sure to seem finicky. It made her more believable. This would get him curious, and we all know what that does.

"I...I'd say nice to meet you, but we're not exactly meeting under....the best c-circumstances, Logan."

Rei said as she looked a way and pretended to whipe at her eyes a bit. She was waiting for more bitting upon the bait she was setting....

[Logan]

Logan's mouth thinned into a disapproving line. She was implying that there was an abusive boyfriend. It irked his soul, the very fabric of his being, but something told him that he still shouldn't trust her. It didn't mean that he had to be a rude bastard, though. He could always play along with her...at least find out if she wanted something from him, and if so what that might be.

He crossed his arms and looked down at her, "If there's anything you need or want, just say so." Sure, he sounded like he was being his polite chivalrous self, but he was trying to feel her out as well. If there was something she wanted from him, she just needed to cut the shit and name it. He didn't exactly have all the time in the world to waste. There was a meeting of the teachers at Xavier's tonight, and that included Logan. He needed to be there for sure, or it would give Summers one more reason to ask Xavier to kick him out.

[Rei Filatov]

He was catching on quicker than Reija gave him credit for. She wanted to laugh at him. The things she wanted weren't that simple. No, she didn't want anything he could give that easily. Of course she was gathering information, but she was also doing several other things. By being near him at all she was examining what his fighting syle might be like just from how he carried himself. His style wasn't as complete as her own, but he had the brute strength and that little healing factor. Reija made sure all of her fake tears were gone, as she gave one more glace around, knowing that Benjamin was near by, waiting just in case. She allowed her power to scan out and she made the water ripple near where he was hidden. That was the agreed cue, though Rei had wanted to cause him to choke...

She shook her head at Logan and wetted her lips slightly as she pulled her legs up to her chest in a rather helpless looking position for the moment. It always seemed to work in different situations. She knew that it made one look smaller and more fragile. She had been planning things for a good amount of time and she knew this would go perfectly, and if it didn't go well with Logan, there was always Scott or someone else. She wasn't an idiot. She had a backup.

"You're already helping enough...If you have somewhere to be you don't need to s-stay around..."

Benjamin had caught sight of the water and was glad Rei hadn't decided to choke him like she had planned. He was really glad. He steeled himself and was ready. He knew he couldn't use his powers and he had to seem as if he were really going to hurt Rei, though he was bigger, she was the martial arts fanatic, not that Logan would know that. He stalked towards the benches that Rei and Logan were at and sent her a glare, he really was mad at her. She could have picked someone else to help her with her little bit of business, but she just had to pick him...

"Brooke! What the hell are you doing? Who's he?"

Ben spewed hatefully, though in reality he did that most of the time. It was agreed that he would have an alias too. He was supposed to be Lucas, the abusive boyfriend, and the wouldn't even lay a hand on her. Partially because it didn't need to be proved, only insinuated, and second, Reija wasn't going to let him hit her no matter what. Benjamin didn't have huge muscles, but he had enough. He had always taken care of himself and he was larger than Rei, but she held more than it would seem. She acted to flinch when he yelled and shrunk back a bit as he moved to grab her. This would be able to prove whether or not Logan was good, and several other things.

[Logan]

Logan loomed up into the supposed boyfriend's face, as if out of nowhere, blocking Rei's entire body from view. He stuck out a hand, planting it firmly in the middle of Benjamin's chest.

"Woah, bub. She's recouperating from your last bit of handiwork, and I'm here to make sure you don't bother her, one way or the other." He cracked his neck, and assessed the other guy quickly. Muscular, sure, but he didn't have an adamantium skeleton, Logan was pretty sure. Or claws, for that matter. Logan eyed him, staying neutral until the guy either left, or dared to make a move. If he did, Logan would be ready.

Logan would beat the hell out of him, just to take out his frustration from not having seen Mystique in a few days.

[Rei Filatov]

Benjamin knew what to do. He knew his role, and he knew that despite the great want he had to be himself, he had to play this part, Rei was a superior and she could kill him in the blink of an eye. It might be more difficult with Logan, but Rei was surprising either way. He gave off a grunt and eyed Logan hatefully. He was really falling for it, and Rei was playing her role well. Ben had always had some feelings for Rei, but was more scared than anything now. He just pushed his thoughts towards that. He'd use that old shit to fuel his acting.

"My handiwork can't be that damn bad! She's a fucking freak, man. Don't protect her!"

Ben spat out and glared at Logan assertin himself a bit. Reija flinched. Damn, Ben was good at this, but then again. She wasn't sure how much of her power to reveal, she'd keep it simple. She stood up and cowered a bit as she keep her arms crossed, in a defensive sort of position, any psychologist could tell you that.

"L-Lucas, please, just....just leave me alone....-"

Reija was too good at her acting, and Ben decided to step it up. He went around Logan in a quick movement and grabbed ahold of Rei's arms, shaking her a bit harshly, which caused her to get flared instantly. She had to keep her role, though. She jerked a bit as she feigned struggling before she let out a gasp.

"You're hurtting me!"

He was too, he had a tight hold, and Rei was ready to kill him at the moment, but she was keeping that role. This better be worth it, and Benjamin had better watch his damned back!

"Shut up, you freak! You kept it all this time you bitch! Can't believe I wanted to marry you!"

He was taking it too far and Rei's eyes were obviously angry. She was upset and she squeaked a bit as she aimed a kick at him, but he picked her up with a bit of ease. She was pissed off now, and she aimed a kick at his groin, getting him there, causing him to double over, but the bad thing was he fell over on top of her. She was ready to kill him, but she gave off a grunt, she could throw him off, but she wa splaying this game. He was whimpering in pain and Reija began to scramble out from under him as best she could. This game was getting larger in magnitude.

[Logan]

Logan just rared back and knocked "Lucas" in the sensitive part of the back of his head, forcibly knocking him out. Logan made eye contact with Brooke, "Listen, I'm sorry, but I have a meeting I cannot be late for. Get out of here and leave the son-of-a-bitch to wake up to one hell of a headache. In other circumstances, I'd see you to somewhere safe, but I really have to go."

He gave her a stern look that clearly said, get your ass out of here. Then, he was gone, walking as quickly as possible to the mansion, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. There had definitely been something wrong with that picture. When Brooke and Lucas had been fighting, he'd smelled not only anger...but feminine excitement too. There was something about that that didn't add up for Logan.

He let himself into the mansion, and turned out to be the second person who showed up for the meeting. The first was Jean. He gave her a nod, and rubbed his arms, trying to shake the feeling of something being wrong.

The End

[Rei Filatov]

She wasn't excited.

*cackles*

Just angry and ready to kill Benjamin.

*shrugs*

That's the end of this one, though. Don't worry, I think Logan will see Rei again when he least expects it.

*grins*