Dani considered the brief phrases. "Your implication is quite interesting," she admitted after a few moments. "I will certainly speak to Magneto on your behalf. Unfortunately, we, too have our red tape." She rose. "I am surprised that you haven't asked my name."

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

"I already know your name Dani. You think a former Prelate wouldn't know the names of the X-Men?" she smiled.
"Now..how about you give me that visit I've been asking for since being couped up in here"

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"No, I wouldn't expect you to know all of us - there are so many. As for my name, well, not even I am sure of it. After all, what's in a name?" She smiled. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But do remember this: I am the intermediary between the storm and the steel, and it would greatly profit you to render all aid and assistance of which you are capable. Farewell, then. I go to consult with Magneto." Descending the stairs, she knocked on the door of Magneto's study.

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

She spoke up "So I take it no visit?" and wandered back over to sit on the edge of the bed.

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"Hmmm..." Magneto leaned back in his chair, considering the information and explanation Dani had just passed him. "Are you sure of your interpretation?"

Dani nodded. "Let me manage this, and I can confirm it."

"Very well, then. They've been behaving, so far. They may have some time tomorrow - I trust you know what to do? I leave the duration of the visit in your hands. "

"Thank you." Dani rose, eager to be off.

He sat forward, the faintest shadow of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What mischief are you up to now, Dani?"

"All work and no play makes Dani a dull girl," she replied, a roguish twinkle in her eyes. "The usual - spend a little money, spread a little rumor, see if the natives are getting restless ...that sort of thing."
She opened the door and slipped through like a shadow.

Once outside, she activated her earpiece. "icefire, this is Dani. Would you like to accompany me, or do you have more important things to do with your evening?"

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Kim sat in her cell. Sure that only the door guards remained, she lit up another cigarette. Inhaling it deeply, she relaxed a little. Hoping she'd actually get out soon, or at least be allowed to have John visit her.

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Icefire was in his mediation chamber with the scent from his candles wafting in the air. His earpiece was in the antechamber, turned to an emergency band that only Magneto and Icefire knew about. The rest of the X-Men would have to wait for Icefire to finish his reflections before communicating with him. Mostly Icefire just sat on the cushion, reminscenting his life and planning for the days and battles to come.

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I was cured all right.

Kim sat in deep contemplation. It felt like hours had passed since she indulged the information and asked for visitation rights. Still no-one had came to her. The room was stuffy and she was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. The fact that the window in the room was inexplicably boarded up wasn't helping matters either.

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Receiving no reply, Dani contacted Emma instead, convincing her to spend a night on the town. Running upstairs to her cream-tiled room, she searched her wardrobe for something suitable. Black, of course - black was practically a uniform for anyone not wanting to be identified as subversive - but definitely not the standard bad-guy tight leather. Too cliche, Dani felt.

Changing her everyday outfit for a knee-length dress in crimson-lined black silk, she swung downstairs to the garage. Emma arrived as she warmed up her silver Corvette.

"Remember," Dani said as she sent the car flashing through the streets, "don't be too conspicuous. We're just ordinary humans, fortunate enough to have money, looking for places to spend it. I think we'll hit the theatre first."

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Kim decided to try her luck again. Standing up from the bed she made her way back over to the door and knocked.
"Hello? Anyone there? I've been couped up here for hours." her voice was strained and tired.
"At least can I have something to eat and a drink"

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They enjoyed the theatre - but Dani had no idea what the show had been. She'd been too busy gauging the mood of the audience, picking up choice bits of rumor that might prove to be more than just gossip.

The next logical stop was a club. More specifically, Heaven, where she could be assured of finding mutant tongues loosened by alcohol.

Dani and Emma breezed into Heaven, allowing Karma to lead them to a table near the dance floor. "Where is Scarlet tonight?" Dani enquired, glancing at the piano, which was now surrounded by an ensemble.

"Still recovering," Karma sighed, "she had quite a shock." At her guest's questioning look, she continued, "She was abducted last evening by Sinister's mutants and reappeared this morning. She won't talk about it."

Feigning shock, Dani shook her head. "What are we coming to? Taken for no reason at all?" She leaned in toward the hostess conspiritorially. "Between you and me and the door-post, perhaps Sinister is getting too big for his boots." She'd phrased it confidentially, of course, but Dani knew that by evening's end, the comment would have made the rounds through the customers.

Leaving Emma talking to acquaintances, she moved off to circulate among the tables, ears alert as always.

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Kim still recieved no reply. Banging on the door again she called out "This is getting more than a little tedious." still there came no reply, not even a sound.
"Hello? Is anyone even out there? Someone at least answer me" she was growing more impatient with every stony silence.

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Half an hour later, Dani found herself being suspiciously inspected from a distance. Following the gaze, she recognized the barkeeper, who obviously remembered her and was anxiously examining his wine-list. She decided not to disappoint him.

"Good evening," she greeted as she glided up to the bar. "If you could find me a Petit-Vedrines Sauternes, I would be much obliged indeed. Remember, the year is extremely important."

He pushed himself away from the bar with a barely audible groan, again heading down cellar. But the request itself had caught the attention of another guest, who turned to Dani with piercing green eyes.

"Another connoisseur, I see." He raised his own long-stemmed glass in salute.

Dani flicked a flirtatious gaze at the tall man with the clipped, distinctly British accent. Black-haired and impeccably dressed, he was definitely someone she should get to know better. "It takes rare taste to enjoy a rare wine," she agreed, stepping closer. "I'm afraid I don't have the pleasure of your acquaintance."

"Well, then, we shall have to remedy that." He bowed very slightly over her proffered hand. "Ernest Reeves, very much at your service."

"Danele Ramos," she smiled, rolling the R. She felt the power roiling just underneath the skin of his hand. A mutant, then. But it was more than likely that he had no ideas she was also one.

He caught the lilt of her accent. "Madrid or Barcelona?"

"Madrid." She lifted the glass the barkeeper had returned with. "To old wine and new friends, then. Salud."

"Cheers."

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Kim's temper began to get the better of her. Frustrated at the lack of acknowledgement she took a few steps back and side kicked the door with enough force there was a small crack made in the wood.
"Now will someone answer me?" she yelled, her voice full of anger.
were there even guards outside? she thought.
Sliding down the wood, she rested her head on her knees, a tear fell from each eye and she harshly rubbed them away. The confinement was becoming too much.

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As Dani savored the taste of the Sauternes, her new acquaintance turned to make another inquiry. "Have you no escort this evening?"

"No, not this evening," she answered, following his eyes to the dance floor, where couples performed a sedate foxtrot to the light jazz of the band.

"Would you care to do me the honor?"

"My pleasure," Dani responded, but he withdrew before she could take his arm. She watched as he walked over to the band to request a different piece. Returning, Ernest took her hand and drew her onto the dance floor, pulling her into the taut embrace of an Argentinian tango.

The dance floor cleared as the other couples failed to keep up with the energetic rhythm, but Dani had been born to dance. Holding herself straight to maintain the tension between them, she pulled back with the long abrupt steps born in the slums of Buenoes Aires. The red-slashed black of her skirt flared in the turns, lunges, and dips of the dance, her pounding heart keeping time, her senses keenly aware of his right hand ridged under her bare left shoulder-blade.

The rest of the room shrank to a blur as the couple whirled and stepped in the sheer intoxication of the dance. And across the city, a long grandfather clock in Sinister's headquarters struck twelve lonely notes.

As the last gong faded, all of the security stations in the building activated simultaneously, the same message flashing across their green status screens: ESPERANZA VIDA

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<center>Nothing but the Rain</center>

Kim sat on the floor in front of the door, and tried to compose herself. She showed a sign of weakness in front of her jailors. She jumped as the hatch snapped open.
"What's with the racket?" a voice spoke out to her.
Kim looked up, too annoyed to stand and face whoever it was. "I'm bored. I've been waiting here for hours. I'm supposed to be getting out of here."
"You think I have any say in what Magneto does to you?" came the cold reply
Kim twirled her a long strand of her black hair around her finger and looked up with a smile. "You could take me out for a little while surely?"

"I can't. It's not my jurisdiction. I'm just here to guard your door." he stammered back.

Kim stood up and looked the nervous young man in the eyes "Oh, what's the harm. You'll be taking me to another room where I'm sure they're will be guards there too. Go on..I won't tell if you won't." she winked at him, and gave him a wicked grin.

He looked panic stricken "Look..I can't. I'm sorry" and the hatch closed over with a lonely thud.

"Ugh...I am never getting out of here" Kim grumbled to herself as she threw herself onto the bed.

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