The Shard: Checking out the new digs

[Chloe Grant]

"I could get used to this." Chloe said, looking around admiringly as she stepped off of the elevator into the penthouse.

[Justin Halloway]

The door to the bathroom opened, and out walked a man who looked like he'd normally be well dressed, if he were dressed. "Oh. Oh my," he said, making sure his towel wasn't going to fall off. "Pardon me, I didn't think anyone else was set to arrive today."

[Chloe Grant]

"Oh, please excuse me." Chloe said, averting her eyes "I didn't mean to surprise you."

[Justin Halloway]

"Oh, it's all right. If we're all going to be living here, we'll have to get used to stuff like this, right?" he said, offering his hand.

[Chloe Grant]

"I suppose so." she said, holding out her hand, keeping her eyes firmly at his feet-level "I'm Chloe, Chloe Grant, although you must already know that."

[Justin Halloway]

He laughed a little at that. "Well, that would mean that they tell me anything, so... no, I didn't. I'm Justin Halloway. And... I should go finish getting dressed. Yeah, that'd be a good idea."

[Chloe Grant]

"Yes it rather does." Chloe said "I'll be waiting in the lounge."

[Justin Halloway]

"What do you m- nevermind. I'll... yeah. Dressed."

At which point he moved off to his room. A few minutes later, he was walking into the lounge in a deceptively nice looking shirt and pants. "Sorry about that. You know how it goes... no one will show up until it's a bad moment for them to walk in the door, right?" he said as he started pouring a drink.

[Chloe Grant]

"Yes, it does seem that moving in to a new place is always awkward." Chloe replied "Have you chosen your room yet?"

[Justin Halloway]

"They all looked good. I took one of the beds in the end room, the one with the big balcony."

[Chloe Grant]

"I'll leave that one for the blokes, then." Chloe said "Its all the same to me, as long as it has a balcony, or at least a window that opens."

[Justin Halloway]

"Yeah, I'm starting to wonder why they bothered putting an elevator in here," he laughed. "Drink?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Water is fine." Chloe said "I want to go flying once I get my kit stowed away."

[Justin Halloway]

Justin shrugged, pouring out a glass for her as well. "Not wasting any time, I guess? Careful out there. Last thing we need is to be making a big scene. People are seeming touchy lately."

[Chloe Grant]

"Not to worry." Chloe said "I'll just be another bird."

[Justin Halloway]

"You... a bird? Well. That's different, I guess."

[Chloe Grant]

"I'm a shapeshifter." Chloe said "Are you a mutant as well?"

[Justin Halloway]

"Mu- Oh! No," he said, chuckling a bit. "Nothing special like that about me."

[Chloe Grant]

"Oh" Chloe said, sounding a bit surprised "Thats all right, my Mum isn't a mutant either, it takes all kinds to make a world. Have you been with the Avengers very long?"

[Justin Halloway]

Justin looked suspiciously at Chloe, bu answered easily enough. "Not very long. Captain America calls, you come. Put me through my paces last week, got to get bored to death by Tony Stark to get equipment I only debatably need, then I got sent along here."

[Chloe Grant]

"This is only my second assignment." Chloe said, "So I'm quite new as well."

[Justin Halloway]

"Guess they didn't want anyone with a history here," he said. "No baggage that might set this mess off."

[Chloe Grant]

"New group of Avengers, new city, new base." Chloe replied, nodding "Sounds about right."

[Justin Halloway]

"So what was your first assignment, then?" he asked, pouring out his drink and walking over to hand her hers.

[Chloe Grant]

"Just a spot of undercover work." Chloe said diffidently.

[Justin Halloway]

"Oh come on, don't be like that," he said. "What was it? We're teammates now, right?"

[Chloe Grant]

"It really wasn't much." Chloe said "I was shifted, so all I really had to do was sit on a perch and listen. I did get to have dinner with Mr. Stark when the mission was done. That was nice."

[Justin Halloway]

"And that sounds like the Tony Stark I've heard about," he chuckled. "So you're the sneaky one of the team, then?"

[Chloe Grant]

"That I am." Chloe said "I'm pretty fair in a scrap, too. And yourself?"

[Justin Halloway]

"Oh, I do a little of everything. We can't all be supersoldiers, but we can all do our best, right?"

[Chloe Grant]

"Exactly." Chloe said with a determined nod "How do you find London?"

[Justin Halloway]

"Got on the plane. Ate a disappointing in-flight meal. Got off, and there it was."

[Chloe Grant]

"No, no." Chloe said, smiling "I meant to ask if you like the city or not."

[Justin Halloway]

"It's not bad. Hard to find a good steak, but you take the good with the bad."

[Chloe Grant]

"I wouldn't know, I'm afraid." Chloe said "I'm a vegetarian."

[Justin Halloway]

"Cousin of mine tried to talk me into that. All my trainer said they'd disown me if I did." He took a sip of his drink, leaning back in the chair. "So what's the situation here, anyway? I know what this looks like over the water, and I know what the briefing said, but... what's it really like here?"

[Chloe Grant]

"For mutants and superheroes, you mean?"

[Justin Halloway]

"Well, I'm more worried about the people in general," he said. "Superheroes can take care of themselves."

[Chloe Grant]

"We've had a bit of trouble with the usual weirdness, but people seem to cope." Chloe said "Lots of stiff upper lips and being reminded that it isn't as bad as the Blitz."

[Justin Halloway]

He made a face at that as he took a sip of his drink. "Not a very reassuring comparison," he mused. "No wonder this is getting used to justify the party lines Stateside."