What Pizza? (Marv & Ziggy)

[Gummy]

(This is an interlude from Reveal while two people discus what they want to do)

Ziggy followed the smell of pizza into the 'livingroom/lounge/space for relaxing and sat down looking at the boxes curiously. Over the past few... well she wasn't sure how long it had been... her life had got flipped upside down. Having explored so much and managed to get a lot of things done. At least she hoped there was possibly some hope out there? Was there?

Kris made her feel hopeful, excited and several other feelings she didn't understand. Just shifting on the sofa while thinking about him made her smile a little more. What was going on with her? She looked at the pizza boxes hopefully then up to Marv and finally to the mid distance where Kris came to her mind. The lab was fantastic and perhaps she would be able to work with him in so many ways. Yet, was Genosha a pipe dream or was it something that could possibly work? Was Xavior keen on the idea?

At least with these thoughts and the soft smile on her lips, distant gaze and steady breathing she was looking a lot better than she had when they had first met her. Her head was still hurting a little but she had managed to replace the large cumbersome bandage with a smaller one. She had also discovered it wouldn't need much further attention. All she needed to do was keep an eye out for concussion or more serious symptoms that something might be wrong.

She thought of finally being back on Earth and how those here were so oblivious to out in space events it made her chuckle. Tucking her legs up onto the chair she finally reached for the pizza box. Then paused. She wanted to wait for Kris, or was it a case she was waiting for permission to start? Her hand hovered there with her fingers flexing slightly as if debating if she could open the box or not. Surely it was impolite not to wait for her host? Her hand closed and she moved it back to her lap, the soppy expression grew on her face further.

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

Marvelous wasn't going to wait for the host. What did he care about offending Kris? He hated him. He also feared him, but he knew enough about the kid to know that he wouldn't kill Marv over some pizza.

Disregarding everything else, he walked in with a glass plate, pulled open the box, and took two slices out for himself.

"You can kind of help yourself, I think," he told Ziggy.

Marv kept his slices on a glass plate. Had Ziggy been paying attention, she would notice that he'd placed half a shaker of salt on one slice, and two large spoonfuls of sugar on the other. He pressed the two pieces of pizza together to create some sort of demented grease sandwich.

"I think I'll make some hot chocolate. You want any while I'm up?"

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Ziggy sat there and smiled that smile. It was only when Marv spoke that she came to her senses.

"Well, no use letting it get too cold."

Then he did something that really made her frown. Salt and sugar!

"WHOOOOOOAAAAHHHH! Are you wanting a heart attack?"

She looked worried at the artery clogging gunk which now made her feel really really sick! Was it the concussion talking or something else? Reaching forward she smiled at Marv.

"Sorry it's just that is a LOT. I mean there is one at school who requires certain nitrates in order to stay fuctional. Although I don't think it is to that extent. Do you need that combination for something you can do? Why don't you leave? He said I could leave if I want. I got to say this to the Collector he knows what you need nutritional wise. I just hope I can get used to Earth foods again. Some of the things I tried were lovely but then some were ... not quite to my stomach! Does Kris like anything in particular? Do you think it would be nice to go shopping? I'm a bit worried about going outside. Do you think the Collector is looking for me?"

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

"Well, I just like this food, I guess..."

Marv briefly looked at the girl with annoyance, but quickly and awkwardly turned away. He wasn't really sure how to answer her, other than squishing the pizza slices together. He was going to eat an unhealthy meal just to spite her... Even though he was going to do so regardless. Look, he just didn't like being called out.

Now to answer her onslaught of questions. "Kris likes being a self-important jerk, belittling people, threatening strangers and manipulating others. I can't leave because... I just can't, it's complicated. The Collector tried to enslave me, so he's marginally more than Kristoff. If I had to guess, the Collector is looking for you, and will probably vaporize us once he finds out you're with us. Alien food is nasty, especially if you got take-out from Knowhere."

Well, those answers was quick, concise, and only slightly out of the order in which she asked them.

"No offense, but I don't think you understand just how royally screwed we are right now. A space-villain is after you. We're shacking up with Doom's son, and he's simping for you. He's also dealing with Mister Sinister right now. We're going to die slowly and painfully, we just don't know which of the three is going to be the one to get us."

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Ziggy let out a large sigh as her stomach grumbled like mad and the smell of the contents of the pizzas got the better of her. Taking a pizza slice she started to eat it. Her stomach felt like she hadn't eaten for a long time. At the tried to enslave him she wanted to laugh but it came out more of a choked cry. One where she didn't know if it was to cry or laugh. The weight of everything that had happened to her was heavier than before. The threat she was to everyone. People all over wanted her for different things but she knew she wasn't back to normal quite yet. Her mind was starting to catch up with everything that had been said and well.... she knew fully well the risks she was in.

She knew it was her mind people wanted her for but then he said something which made her blush fast. The hot pizza held in her hand drooped and started to threaten to collapse onto her lap. Her eyes locked onto Marvs (if he made eye contact) and her pupils went wide. Her mind had been working on several things but now, now it had frozen mid thought with just a dribble of what she was thinking. Her mouth spoke the single thought with squeaks.

"He's.... simpering.... for .... me?"

The pizza finally gave out to gravity as it collapsed and fell onto her lap. A smile grew just as slowly into a huge grin as her eyes grew wider again.

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

"My advice is not to date him," the man offered. "But if you do, you could Macbeth your way onto Latveria's throne, maybe. Show those Europeans how an American runs things."

She really didn't notice? The pizza falling, but also Kris having a crush on her? Teenagers were either so insecure about themselves, or so self-absorbed that they didn't notice these things; either way, he was shocked, but not surprised, that Ziggy didn't notice the obvious.


"Let me get that for you."

For Ziggy, she'd notice her pizza suddenly vanish from her lap. It would appear on a nearby surface, supported by a plate. napkins then teleported onto her lap in an untidy pile.

"So here's a fun fact for you: If you rearrange the letters in Kristoff Vernard, you get 'drives Frankfort.' Which would explain why he has a base in the city: as a political party from a different country, he wants to subvert American values by manipulating the politics in Frankfort. You see why you can't date him, right? He's attacking our way of life. Well, more yours, since I only American by inherited citizenship. But that's beside the point."

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Why was it that adults were ohhh so good at telling people what to do. She was her own person. At the request of not dating Kris she raised an eyebrow. Then at the thought of being in Macbeth she shook her head. Then her mind moved to other things. It was catching up once more. Her hands went into her pockets as she pulled out three smooth metal balls and she started to juggle them in mid air as the plates and things vanished and reappeared.

"You're a magic user?"

It was a calm collected question. Her headache was starting to come back and she took a module and started twisting it in her fingers and suddenly a watch appeared. Looking at it she frowned.

"Is there any chance at some more pain medication please? My headache is coming back."

She took the slice of pizza and pulled the napkin off of the slice, in doing so the 'watch' turned back into a module and started to rotate around the others as she juggled them with her fingers. It wasn't as smooth as she could normally do it but she wasn't worried as no doubt it was the headache that was causing the issue... if not Sinister or something else.

"As for dating...."

Her heart panged in her head. What did she feel? He was kind to her but so had the Collector been. She was free to leave but she was afraid. She was so annoyed at everything that was going on she started to get angry. Snatching the modules out of the air with one hand she clenched them hard together. Wait wasn't mood swings part of concussion?

"That's it! I have had enough of people telling what I can and can't do! Advice is one thing but to tell me not to date someone when I am capable enough to..."

She opened her palm up and the modules left her palm as she reached to the back of her head where she had whacked it. Even she was intelligent enough to know she was out of character. These people didn't know her though. They had not long met her. Touching the plaster even a little made her wince. Taking several deep breaths and closing her eyes she tried to calm herself. Her other hand fed her pizza as the modules floated around her head.

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

Teenagers. On the one hand, Ziggy was defiantly protesting against his very logical and reasonable ideas. But on the other hand, she was challenging authority and refusing to accept things at face value. 

There were these strange, floating blobs around her head. Alien tracking devices? Her mutation? Her soul made manifest? 

"You okay there?" he asked. "Maybe you're still messed up from getting brained. And there's weird splooge floating around your head. I don't know if that's supposed to happen, I think."

... Or maybe they were traps. Maybe Ziggy was a trap, herself. Maybe she was still with the Collector, and she arranged to meet them on Titan so she could spy on them! 

Okay, now he was on to something. All he needed now was some time to rearrange the letters in her name and discover any hidden messages.

"Yeah, it's magic. Sinister messed with my X-Gene and gave me a wizard's power. If you're interested in dating villains, you'll probably like him, too."

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Ziggy looked at Marv as she quickly grabbed the 'splooge' that in the least made her smile a little bit. She carried on breathing. Meditating with what she had been taught. Peace and calm. Tranquility. Centre herself to see what was... silence. Opening her eyes she breathed in a long breath.

"They are not splooge. They are Modules. Part of my mutation. Quite neat. That is their state when I am either not holding them or using them. I could have a lot more of them but before I was found by the Collector I could only surmise that the Skrull had done something to me to stop me using them or remove them from me. I am slowly regaining strength after well... lets just say I had to find a missing part of DNA in order to retrieve them. So no I'm not ok. I have a headache. I am stressed. I don't know what I feel...."

At that she tried not to smile.

"... I'm scared. To top it all off, there is someone being me wondering around with more of my power than I do. Plus every bad person or another is after me for what I can do. Then to top it all off, no one seemed to have noticed I was gone. I don't like Sinister he creeps me out. You are right I should leave but if I do, where would I go? I need to regain strength and rest as much as I can. The Collector had me working on all sorts. I couldn't help any of those who were captive, only make the cells I was working on more comfortable for each ... specimen."

She hated that word but it was the only way that she could separate herself from the ones who were trapped until who knew when. She just knew that they were there and she was out here. Then she remembered the entity she had discovered. Sick, lonely and scared. Now just another weapon for The Collector.

"Sir was right. I should just concentrate on my work. He was saving them for after the universe imploded. Wasn't he right in creating an ark for each of the specimens?"

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

Marv dropped his pizza-sandwich and slammed his hands against the table. "First off, don't trust villains; the Collector was probably playing on your empathy to get your help. Second, go back to the Skrull thing, please!"

She wasn't connected to Skrulls, as far as he knew; he couldn't rearrange the letters in hr name to prove it. Ziggy Karst. Ziggy... Stark. She has dark hair and is very intelligent; Tony is an infamous playboy who probably has a lot of illegitimate kids running around. And of course he'd want to keep his daughter a secret, if she was a mutant.

Putting that aside for now, this girl mentioned Skrulls. It was possible this was a trap, and she was secretly a mind-reader who picked up on his own hunt for them. But if she was telling the truth, then they had a mutual enemy.

"I happen to know a bit about Skrulls. And my advice is to kill that Skrull and take back what it took from you. Your home, your friends, your powers - whatever. I think I can help you fight it."

K. Zigg Satyr. Maybe she was a mythical creature, and not a mutant? Remind him to check her legs later, to make sure she's not part-goat.

"Hey. I know you're scared right now, I think. I can tell how overwhelmed you are. But if you calm down, we can work this out together. Take one thing at a time, think of a way to keep our heads above water, kill a Skrull, and get out of this mess. We can do it, I think."

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Ziggy flinched at the slam and partly cowered away. Another thing happened at the same time. The modules shot to her and a shimmer of light appeared all over her but it fizzled within seconds and her body relaxed as she realised he wasn't going to hit her. None of the modules reappeared. Letting out the held breath she looked at Marv. She was listening to him, heeding his words but part of her thought about what was being said. Tucking a lose strand of hair behind her ear she spoke.

"I know the Skrulls took me. The collector found me floating in a cryo pod in space after one of their ships was attacked. I have very vague memories of flashes of images a few sensations... nothing much. Only when he got me out of the pod I was ill, I didn't know I was ill until days later. When I had chance to examine my structure and his... doctor checked me out it seemed a part of my DNA strand a bit of the X-Gene was missing. The part that makes me creates my modules. I don't know what happened but I do know that something triggered the affects to accelerate. I only know that I was able to take a sample of me after searching countless multi universes in order to make my DNA complete."

She shook her head.

"I don't want to fight me... I know what that will result in or at least I can theorise what the results would be. A fight is something we want to avoid. I just need to get my strength back whist keeping hidden and then deal with me. If my calculations are correct and my body heals well it will only be a few days. That is if I don't over do it."

She then frowned as a doom bot brought her some pain relief which she took to ease her massive headache.

"Think of them as muscles, don't use them they get weak, use them a little at a time and get stronger."

At least that is how far she could simplify them. Truth be told, she had no idea how it worked just that she could do things, understand things and make new things adjusting quickly when needed.

"Get better, deal with Skrull and then move on."

She paused with an expression which only told of there was more she wanted to say.

"Just tell me, what has he done to make him a villain? I mean Kristof. You can't just say he is the son of Doom for a child is not a parent."

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

The girl... flinched. It was something a little too familiar for Marv's liking; some unpleasant thoughts about his own past was bubbling up. But he wasn't going to deal with those now. Or ever, hopefully.

First off, onto Kris. "He's sort of complicit in his father's tyranny of Latveria, for one. When you're complicit, when you let bad things happen, that's pretty bad. If anything, I think he seems more interested in surpassing his dad.

Then there's the fact that he bought be from the Collector, kinda. Sounds nice, until he basically forced me to work for him. And there was also the time he was openly racist to an alien. Well, maybe not racist - more like ignorant and uncaring. But he was pretty rude to the alien, even if the guy was trying to rip off Kristoff's face."

Uh huh... Not a lot to go off of, and not particularly evil, per se. Admittedly, he was the lesser of three evils, the other two being Sinister and the Skrulls.

And speaking of Skrulls, "But we do need to confront your Skrull as soon as possible. They're going to sabotage your life, hurt your family, and replace your friends. ^{Ziggy... Trask, maybe? Is she a Trask?} Take all the time you need to heal, but something has to be done. "

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me

[Gummy]

Ziggy listened but it made her feel worse. Words rang in her head. 'when you let bad things happen, that's pretty bad.' She had let bad things happen. She had no choice. She had to try and help the others but they were all still prisoners. Even the ones that had been 'relocated' without their will. Or if they were the last of their kind. Her heart weighed more than she could tell. She was near tears by the time he spoke about being rude. It definitely didn't count as a bad thing. Surpassing his dad... now that was interesting. There were different ways of doing that: become better than them or become stronger or eviler? Too many different ways to go. Despite her mind working on a new maths formula she wasn't paying much attention to what she was being told. No wonder she missed the Trask comment. She didn't make eye contact but just absentmindedly ate pizza.

"Arn't we all guilty of allowing things to happen that are bad?"

Marv was making her feel worse by the second.

[Gordy]

'cause I'd give anything
To never once see

---

Ziggy's words were brief, yet entirely true. It sort of applied to all three of them, in a way. They were all messed up people in messed up situations.

"... But if you keep letting those bad things happen, then it's not just a mistake," the man said quietly. "His father is bad, but he's fine with letting him hurt whoever he wants."

Marv felt a twinge of guilt in saying that. But he knew what he was talking about. At the same time, he suspected that Ziggy might have experience with that, given how she lived with the Collector.

"Kristoff just cares about what he wants - money, power, respect, fame. I think the only way he'd care about the people his dad hurts, is if his father got in his way. Because otherwise, he'd be watching everything burn from his lab while working on his robots...

But I guess that makes us both complicit, right? If we're not making Kristoff do the right thing?"

---

Your pretty eyes
filling up with tears
because of me