Out of Place (Desiree)

[Edward Frost]

Hot Topic was a store that Edward always seemed to avoid, even when he was a teenager. The kinds of people that hung out there - the dark, grungy, punky types - seemed to conflict with the shy and nerdy persona that he had formerly had while growing up.

Now, the twenty-one-year-old still looked vastly out of place in the dark chain store, but for an entirely different reason. Every facet of his clothing was white, from the short overcoat, to the buttoned-up vest that resided over an equally buttoned-up shirt, and his pressed and ironed slacks. Even his Nikes were a stark white.

The teenagers who were dressed in Tripp pants and Slipknot t-shirts had stopped looking at the overpriced skirts and CDs in order to glare at the man who was so obviously out of place in the store. He looked in disgust at how much a simple pair of pants cost before he made his way over to the register, where an overweight woman with multiple piercings resided.

"I'd like to buy everyone in the store a pair of these...pants." He motioned to the row of pants that resided against one wall while he pulled out a credit card - an American Express Centurion Card, labeled with the name 'Edward G. Frost'. Immediately, the staff went to the work, and suddenly the teenyboppers were on his side.

And to think, he didn't even have to use his telepathy to force them to be.

[Desiree Lebeau]

A young woman walked into the store a few moments later. She looked liked she fit into the place as she moved through the store with confidence. She wore a gray miniskirt with black ripped up tights underneath it. Her shoes were black knee high heels. Her shirt was a black baby tee with a blue dragon on the front of it. She had a few bracelets on her right wrist, while on her left was a nice feminine watch. her hair was pulled back into a ponytail with her white bangs hanging down framing her face, a pair of large dark glasses covering her eyes, that she never once went to remove.

Desiree heard a few people whispering about the guy who had suddenly decided to buy the entire store clothing and shook her head as she moved to the back where the accessories were. She slipped on a pair of fingerless gloves and held her hand up to see how they looked before moving around to another side and picking up many other accessories. She of course was not looking to actually purchase them, but knew she would be able to easily own them. The teen knew where the camera's were, where the blind spots would be and it made it easy on the young LeBeau girl.

Using her power she easily pulled off all the tags and any marking noting that they had not been bought. Glancing around the rack of clothes she was able to see that the staff was still occupied with the guy who had been showing off his money, which was perfect for her. As soon as everything was safely in her purse she continued to look at other things casually, as though nothing was happening.

[Edward Frost]

"Awful lot of room in that purse."

Behind the girl, Edward had made his presence known. The staff was busy charging the hell out of his card with each pair of pants. He didn't mind. It wasn't like it was actually his money, after all. He was still stealing it from his oh-so-generous genetic donor.

"I'm tossing out money like it's water, and you're stuffing your purse like the world's ending. So obviously, to me, it's really not about you wanting the items. It's about the thrill, isn't it?" He didn't need telepathy to see the girl's motivations. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, a flirty smirk on his lips.

"What say you and me get out of here, maybe grab some lunch? My treat."

[Desiree Lebeau]

Desiree turned as the young man spoke and looked up at him. She was small in size, only standing at 5'2. "Don' act lahke y' know meh." she said simply and turned her heals to make her leave. She glance back at him with a smirk, idea's racing through her mind after he asked her out. She lifted her finger and motioned for him to follow as she made her way out of the store. Desi moved to the railing and leaned against it, facing the store watching for him to follow.

She than turned where her back would be to the store and leaned forward on the balcony railing, watching people rush around on the first floor. All the emotions flood around her, the annoyance, the happiness, the sadness. Everything rushed at her but she always did her best to push it all the way, she didn't need it and she definitely didn't want it.

[Edward Frost]

At first, he was a bit shocked that she had just walked out of the store without taking his question into consideration. When the younger girl crooked her finger with a smirk, Edward couldn't help but grin. He grabbed his credit card right out of the hands of the cashier as he walked past the register. "I'm sorry, boys and girls. Bank's closed." Audible "aws" and "boos" erupted through the store, despite nearly everybody getting some sort of article of clothing at his expense.

The card was placed right back into his wallet, and then slipped deep into his inner vest pocket. After all, he was dealing with a retail thief. What would stop her from snatching his wallet right out of his pants pocket if he left it there? Finally, he leaned right next to her, his hand resting on the railing directly behind her waist.

"So, where do you wanna eat? The world's your oyster, my dear." He looked directly down at her with a smirk. It'd be more helpful if he could see past her sunglasses, though the white streak through her hair was enough to warrant his interest.

[Desiree Lebeau]

Desiree looked at up at Edward once more. "Cajun, an' not dat cheap shit in da food court. Ah know a place" she turns away from him and grabbed his wrist. "Dis is probableh meh favorite place. An' since y' offered sugah." she said pulling him along with out thinking about it. She stopped reaching the restaurant and standing in front of it. The smell of the cajun spices came out to the entrance and she took in the scent.

What she didn't tell him though was that they knew her better than any other customer, and if she really wanted to, the cajun girl could have gotten a free meal. She wanted to have her fun though, and if this guy wanted to buy her lunch, she would get the best lunch she could have. "Meh names Desiree beh da way."

[Edward Frost]

Edward allowed himself to be dragged along by the shorter girl, only able to grin as he was led through the mall. Hey, so as long as it wasn't actually his money, he'd buy her the world if she wanted to. It wasn't every day you met a girl with awesome hair who was robbing Hot Topic blind.

Before he knew it, they were inside of a Cajun restaurant, with the distinct smell of Louisiana cooking penetrating his nostrils. "And I'm Edward." He took her hand from across the table and brought it to his lips, lightly kissing it. "Believe me when I say that the pleasure is all mine, Desiree." Once more, a boyish grin spread across his lips when he released her hand. "Do you plan on taking off those glasses anytime soon? It's a little dark in here as it is..."

[Desiree Lebeau]

Desiree shook her head. "Well ain't ya a charmer" she said rolling her eyes behind the glasses as she pulled her hand away. She didn't answer the question immediately as she glanced over her menu. "Uh, non. Meh eyes are sensitive, so ah wear sunglasses all da tahme." she said using the same excuse she used for everyone. Self consciously she pushed the glasses up higher. It wasn't as though she was ashamed of her eyes, she loved the fact that she had the same eyes as her father, but they tended to get her into trouble.

"So, do ya often go aroun' showin' off da fact y' got moneh? Or am ah jus' special t' have seen y' buyin a bunch of wanna beh goths clothes?" she asked as the waiter walked up. Desiree smiled and ordered. "Ah'll 'ave a Pepsi." she said before slipping into fluent french and ordering her food rather quickly, listing off several items before stopping. "What are y' gettin'?"

[Edward Frost]

Edward didn't need to be a mindreader to know what she thought of him. The way she shook her head, the tone of her voice, even the muscles of her face indicating her rolling of her eyes. While others would have been frustrated by that point, he just smirked. It was too easy to get an average woman with his money or his powers. But this girl...she was truly special to not be swayed so easily.

"99 percent of women are willing to do anything for a man with a great fortune. But there's that one percent who can't be bought, the ones who truly desire more than wealth. Those are the women that are special to me." He followed his words with a sly smirk before the waiter showed up. His new acquaintance began to speak fluent French with the waiter, and so he believed he should continue with the language. He had picked up French when he was in Paris by directly downloading the language from a police officer who had attempted to arrest him. As a result, he was able to order his own food with the same fluency in the language as Desiree displayed, followed with: "And I'll have a Pepsi as well."

When the waiter walked off, he turned to face forward, never breaking eye contact with Desiree despite the obstructive sunglasses she wore. "So. The waiter had the surface thoughts of a plebian, while all I got off of you was static. So how about you tell me why you really wear those glasses?" A quick sip of water was taken, which had been brought as soon as they arrived. "We mutants are all friends, my dear. At least, that's what I believe."

[Desiree Lebeau]

The seventeen year old laughed a bit. "Why would ah want a man wit' moneh when ah can get dat mehself." she stated and leaned back crossing her arms. She listened to him speak fluently in French, somewhat impressed. It wasn't until he told her about the thoughts of the waiter did it click that he was a mutant, and visibly she tensed up. If it was one thing she disliked it was telepaths. She hated that they could invade anybodies privacy and know just about anything about anyone. It was a bit of a relief when he said all he got from her was static though.

When she had been with the X-men many of the adult telepaths had difficulty reading her. It had always been a relief for her because she was always getting into trouble. It was easier to hide the truth when one could hold out information. She leaned forward across the table. "Da reason ah wear glasses..." she started. "Is behcause meh eyes are vereh sensitive." Desiree repeated her same excuse as before. "As for mutants bein' friends...ain't always da case sugah...some mutants can beh vereh much enemies, jus' lahke not all normal humans are all friends."

[Edward Frost]

"I've never met a mutant that wasn't, well...like you, I suppose. Standoffish, always saying how there are some bad mutants and bad humans, hesitant to use their powers or revel in the very thing that..." He nodded toward her, specifically the big and thick sunglasses she wore. "...makes us who we are. It's our uniqueness that should be embraced, my dear, not feared."

Finally, the food came, and Edward only took a bite here and there. His interest was placed too much in the girl opposite of him for him to eat. "So many people speak of these bad mutants, or of the 'X-Men' or 'Brotherhood.' I don't know what on Earth any of that is. I received my powers when I was 17 and I haven't looked back. All I know is that my genes come from some rich, gorgeous woman whom I've never met, and it's close enough to access the accounts of her company...thus the extravagance that I flaunt." Another bite was taken before he continued. "I say embrace who you are, darling Desiree. If anybody looks at you differently...then to hell with them." He waited, hoping she would be comfortable enough with him to show herself without her glasses.

[Desiree Lebeau]

Desiree looked at Edward with a glare from behind her glasses. He didn't know her. He didn't know why she was the way she was. Why she was so hesitant to show her eyes. "Ya don' know nuttin'...y' realleh don' so don' try an' group meh wit' otha mutants. let meh tell y' somet'in. Da reason ah hide meh eyes is f'r meh own safety. Ah got a reason f'r continuin' on. Ah got meh own mission. Ah don' need nobodeh gettin' in meh way. Not y', Not da X-men an' not no brothahood!" she told him, her anger showing.

Ever since she had left the X-men she had changed quite a bit. No longer did she have the boundaries that they had given her. They trained when needed, they had their own missions. The death of their friend had changed all of them. She had to deal with that, she had to step up on her own and do what she believed in now. "Tell meh somethin'. Ya reveal ya a mutant ta everyone? Ah mean dere ain't no reason t' if y' jus' out f'r a stroll. Dere ain't no reason f'r it. Makin' a point maybeh. But not f'r no reason."

She paused and let out a sigh. "Y' realleh dat interested in meh eyes. Let meh tell y', ah am far from embarrassed of who ah am, ah am far from ashamed."

[Edward Frost]

"So you're going to hide behind impossibly large sunglasses simply for convenience? It sure sounds like you're embarrassed or ashamed to me." Another bite of the food was taken. Admittedly, it was quite spicy, but it had a taste all of its own. He sure wasn't going to complain. "Honey, I don't believe anybody who was given these traits naturally should have to hide them. This is who we are. If people don't like it, they can blow."

"As for this whole X-Men and Brotherhood business, I know nothing about either one. I only talked with people who openly said they were with one or the other, but I didn't ask about it. Not interested in the whole good mutant/bad mutant thing. I'm here to live my life to its fullest, my dear, as I think you should, too." By that point, the waiter had returned, presenting the small booklet that had the check inside. A quick examination revealed it to be nearly in the triple digits. No matter. A hundred dollar bill was removed from his wallet and placed in the booklet, which was then set back down on the table.

"Well, I've enjoyed our meal, my dear Desiree. I'd love to spend more time with you, but I don't think you feel the same way about myself. A pity, really. I find you to be a most intriguing individual." An additional hundred dollar bill was slipped across the table, directly in front of her. "Take care, darling." He stood out and moved out of the restaurant, back out to the street, though he made sure to take a seat on the bench directly across the doors. Something told him that she would follow him out - at least, he HOPED she followed him.

[Desiree Lebeau]

Desiree clenched her fist as Edward spoke to her becoming more and more angry. Her teeth were clenched together and when he slipped the money in front of her and watched as he left. Snatching up the bill, as well as the one in the booklet, she moved to the front of the restaurant and gave someone a hug, thanking them and kissing both their cheeks, calling him 'Uncle'. She stormed towards Edward and moved in front of him, showing hims slightly. "Y' got some nerve!" she yelled. "y' t'ink jus' cuz y' a no it all telepat' dat y' betta huh!? Not all of us can look normal Eddie!" she snapped. "Not all of us can jus' blend in!" She pulled off her sunglasses.

"Happy?" she asked. Her red on black eye glowing in anger as she glared at him. She squinted as the sun hit her eyes. "Ah ain't ashamed or embarrassed sugah. But afta bein hospitalized twice f'r havin' devil eyes y' maght beh a bit m're cautious oui?" she asked him shoving the money in his chest. "Ah don' need y' money rich boy." With that she turned heal and started walking away from him.

[Edward Frost]

As Desiree practically screamed at him, Edward merely smirked. She was giving into her emotions, and finally, it spurred her into taking off her sunglasses. Just as he suspected. Her eyes were exotic, even...beautiful. He couldn't help but stare into them for a few moments before she turned around and began to walk away.

"Your eyes are the most beautiful that I've ever seen." He called out a bit after her before he stood up and walked to catch up with her. "I...wow. I thought your hair was exotic as it was, but coupled with your eyes, you're..." He looked down into her eyes while an arm slowly came to wrap around her waist. "You're gorgeous."