Time of Day: 12:30 pm
Place in the Timeline: January 13th
Location: Cafeteria

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Piotr made a face as the pile of reddish-brown, room-temperature sloppy-joe mix hit the bottom bun sitting on his tray. To the strapping Russian, it looked less than appetizing, reminding him of something sitting out in a field that he might come across while mending fences or bringing in the cows for milking. He leaned in to take a quick whiff of it; the stuff even smelled suspicious, making him wish he could take on his armor form just so he could refrain from eating... maybe he would test to see exactly how long he could actually maintain it. Depending on the type of food they served in the CAGE, he hoped indefinitely.

Unfortunately, that just wasn't going to happen; the null field and cuffs made sure of that. If he could though, the last thing he would do was use his abilities to stave off hunger; he would get himself and a few others out of this god-forsaken prison and make for the Institute.

“What? You want the trout in white wine instead? We got that in the back,” the prisoner pulling server duty said behind the counter sneered at Piotr's face. The Russian merely ignored him, getting out of line and making his way to the tables, his eyes scanning the area in hopes of finding... and there she was sitting at a table by herself, looking quite small amidst some of the beefier inmates sitting at tables close by. As Piotr neared her, he couldn't help but notice some of them eyeballing her like a piece of candy; they would leave her alone in the cafeteria though. All the guards watching them to make sure they didn't shank someone with a plastic fork made sure of that. The fact that a large, well-muscled Russian was going to ask to join her was just a bit of extra icing on the cake.

As he closed the distance between him and the young woman, Colossus gave her a friendly smile, trying to come across as a man with no ill intent, “Would you mind if I join you?”

Meal of the day: slop. Slop a pig wouldn’t eat. Yet there she was, sitting alone staring down at her tray of ‘grub’ as the server called it. She noticed the other inmates staring at her, but ignored them. She poked at her food with a fork as the Rage bringer thought of the therapy session. The hazel eyed girl hated it, and wondered how many time she would be forced to go. She gave a sighed and rubbed her temple at the mere thought.

Suddenly she heard a voice, “Would you mind if I join you?” Looking up Tina saw it was the Russian man from the therapy session; Peter. Briefly she looked side to side to see if she wasn’t mistaken and that he truly was talking to her. Most people had never given her the time of day. But with being at the C.A.G.E. and getting all the looks she was getting from the other inmates, she should have expected it. It didn’t mean the Rage bringer was used to it.

The hazel eyed girl motioned to the seat that was across from her and said, “Please.” Peter seemed nice enough. Tina felt like he could trust him. She didn’t think about appearances being deceiving. It felt a little awkward to have someone willingly sit with her. The mutant was sure everyone had instantly hated her. It felt strange. The small talk crept up and left her lips, “So… that doctor was insufferable…”

“Please.”

The young woman motioned to the seat across from her to indicate where he would be welcome to sit and Piotr obliged, grateful that the seemingly reserved woman was allowing him a chance to talk to her. She could have easily turned him down, and he would have respected her wish for privacy... as much privacy as one could afford in such a horrible place. However, two reserved people now shared the same table; Piotr was about to mention the therapy session that they had both attended to earlier today when the young woman beat him to the punch.

“So… that doctor was insufferable…”

“Indeed,” Colossus replied with a nod, giving her a quick glance before looking down at the sloppy joe mix sitting on top of the bread. Finally he decided to pick up the other half of the bun, stick it on top, and get to work... he needed to keep up his strength. He took a bite of the burger; the tangy mixture between the buns wasn't quite as bad as he though. Peter put it down and wiped his mouth with his napkin as he swallowed the mouthful before continuing, “I do not like the sessions at all and do not wish to be there. Unfortunately, it is required to attend in order to gain all of these ridiculous points needed to purchase candy and cigarettes.” Piotr shrugged, giving the girl an apologetic look, “I do not get them for myself, but for my friends who help me try to keep the dogs off of some of those who cannot fend for themselves in environment such as this.” Pete's english was pretty damn good, having spent over seven years at the Institute, but he still occasionally left a word or two out of his sentences. It didn't help that the last three years of his life had been spent in a Hydra testing facility.

He gave the young woman a quizzical look, “You do not seem the type to fit in with many of the svinoyeb in there. I do not appreciate the way that doctor was talking to you. He says he is trying to help, but you can see the judgment in his eyes, yes?”

He spoke of how much he didn’t like the sessions either. When Peter said it was only for the points to get cigarettes she didn’t take him for a smoker, but that thought only lasted a mere moment when he said it wasn’t for himself. He spoke English very well, Tina was impressed.

He then told her that she didn’t seem to fit in with whatever it was he called the other inmates. Then more about the doctor, “He says he is trying to help, but you can see the judgment in his eyes, yes?” His eyes and words spoke volumes of what the ‘doctor’ wasn’t saying. It was nothing new to her. He believed what many would if she had ever told the story. Sure there were choices she made that she did not regret that would have landed her in C.A.G.E either way, but there was one crime the hazel eyed girl felt she wasn’t guilty of.

“He believes what anyone else would believe. Never mind the truth. To him I am just as much of a… svinoyeb, whatever that may be, as the rest of them. There are a lot of things I am guilty of. Things that… are morally wrong in most eyes. But there is one thing that I didn’t do willingly. I have my reasons for the choices I made, and people will believe what they want. I can’t help that, but for people to tell me what I know is true is what they feel to be false or not what they believe…” She didn’t want to finish her sentence. In all honesty no matter how she finished that sentence it wasn’t as though she was strong enough to change their opinions.

Tina knew she wasn’t strong, and that her voice was a small as she was. There really wasn’t much she could do, or threaten to do. But the Brotherhood was a loud enough voice, and all the strength she needed was with them. “Some of the things I’ve done, I can see how I would be deserving of the C.A.G.E. But you… you don’t belong here. He shouldn’t have bullied you to talk.” She surprised herself, sighing while looking down at her tray for a moment. Her hazel eyes re-met Peter’s. All the while that she talked she kept a normal toned calm voice, but the last part she spoke was a softer more quiet tone.

Piotr listened with genuine interest to what the young lady had to say as he took a few more bites out of his sandwich. She was lovely, soft-spoken, and held a decent conversation without being rude, but Colossus was no fool; she had not denied being a member of Magneto's organization, and she readily admitted to having done horrible things. She even admitted to belonging here in the CAGE. Pete found it hard to believe, but wasn't about to challenge a claim like that.

However, was he so different? She was accused of being a terrorist working with Magneto; he was accused of being a Russian terrorist. They said she had killed... and though she never outright said it in the therapy session or sitting across from him, he suspected that it was fact. Did that matter though? He had killed too... more people than even the Russian government were willing to admit to. Did that make him a bad or evil man? No. Would he have spared the lives of all those men that made the last three years of his a living hell? Likely not. Peter did not believe in God or divine retribution, but he did believe that crimes should not happen without a punishment being administered – his murderous rampage would leave him with a taste of satisfaction for the rest of his life, but the aftertaste would be bitter, haunting the dark corners of his mind for years.

No... he would not be so quick to judge those accused of horrible wrongdoing... not without first hearing their stories. “Thank you for your kind words, bez lerevoda,” he said as he returned her stare with a gentle one of his own, “Despite what you say, you do not seem made of the same mettle as many of the others... say Lucian or Sack. You are too... nice.” He hesitated before asking his next question, wondering if he was being too forward too soon, but he did want to hear this girl's story and he wanted news of his friends.

“I apologize if this is too bold, but are you really a member of the Brotherhood?”

Tina smiled warmly at his compliment. That she was nice, and kind. She didn't think she could be any of those things. Disconnected from the world she kept her emotions to herself not feeling much of anything. It was her attitude and how she acted around others that made Razorback hate her so. He asked, "...Are you really a member of the Brotherhood?” She looked at him warm smile had faded so slowly that unless you had a keen eye it wouldn't have been noticed. Without hesitation she replied, "I am."

The de-powered Rage Bringer was not ashamed of being a follower of Magneto's. The words that were spoken by Amelia made sense. His opinions and ideals were understandable. History would make him out to be a monster, but in her eyes, especially after the therapy session, it was humans who were the monsters.

Whether he would think less of her now than before in all honesty Tina didn't want to think about if it did. Before she wouldn't have cared but Peter's kindness made her think that maybe there was some people whose opinion she could value along with Magneto's. Just because she was a part of a terrorist organization didn't mean she had to be colder than ice. Or maybe some people were just worth listening to.

A few years ago, someone claiming that they were a member of Magneto's Brotherhood was grounds for Colossus to simply leave, disgusted that someone could commit such atrocities. The would have been the naive Russian who had not experienced and survived three years of hell on earth. Now... things were not quite so black and white; Piotr could not bring himself to immediately dismiss the reasons a person like her could have for making such a decision. Unlike Pete, who had a good childhood, it was possible that she was raised by abusive parents or guardians or had no one like the Professor to guide and help master her mutant abilities. He saw her no differently than he had before she admitted to that cold truth; Piotr merely nodded in response and took another bite of his sandwich.

He decided it would be better to not pry into her reasoning behind such a move, thinking that if they got closer, he might have an opportunity to discuss it at another time. He pressed on with his original line of inquiry, “I am wondering... have you had any dealings with the X-Men or the Institute? In another life, I belonged to both. Unfortunately, I was... my captors did not allow me to receive any news of the outside. I would be in your debt if you had any news on my friends,” he said with a pleading, almost desperate look in his blue eyes.

He had asked her if she had any dealings with the X-Men and told her that he was once apart of it. Tina tried to remember if she had heard anything from the other Brotherhood members or newspapers. So far any missions she had been on didn’t involve the X-Men. But the others did talk, and the media did spin the news.

“I’ve not had to come face to face with the X-Men… but I have heard of some things. I recall an article that said something about an Angel being kidnapped. I’m not sure how that turned out though. Haven’t heard much after that. I’m sorry.” Tina apologized? She had never apologized before. The hazel eyed girl never before felt she had to. But she felt, guilty for not knowing more information. He seemed so desperate for some sort of news. It was in his eyes.

She looked down at her food and took another bite. She didn’t know what she thought of it, the rage bringer never really had sloppy Joes’ before. The girl could recall her mother making some when she was a kid but had forgotten the taste. Taking a quick glance over at the food server then back to her plate she determined that even though the hazel eyed mutant couldn’t remember what her mother’s food tasted like, it was still better than what she was eating.

Tina, after swallowing her food, said to the blue eyed Russian, “I think they are doing well though, all the other members have been complaining about them.” It sounded like a joke, she wasn’t but the way she spoke could have easily been taken as one.

“I’ve not had to come face to face with the X-Men… but I have heard of some things. I recall an article that said something about an Angel being kidnapped. I’m not sure how that turned out though. Haven’t heard much after that. I’m sorry.”

Peter's eyes fell to the table upon hearing the news; she had almost no news to share with the man aside from the possibility that Warren had been apprehended. That in and of itself told him a few things, but none of them good; had his wealthy friend been outed as a mutant after all this time? Piotr knew that it had been something of a constant threat to the youngest Worthington. He hoped that the Angel was ok.

He pushed his plate away from him, suddenly unable to finish his meal... his blood family was dead. The only people he had left were his mutant one, but with what information he had, Piotr couldn't determine for sure whether they were still active or not. If so, why had they not come looking for him after months without contact; he had always been good about keeping in touch with those he cared about. Maybe they had and Hydra had spirited him away too well, shielding him from Jean's telepathic abilities and throwing Logan off his tracking skills.

“I think they are doing well though, all the other members have been complaining about them.”

Piotr looked up at the young woman who had placed the seeds of hope in his chest; the world needed the X-Men, and Xavier would not disappoint. He gave the young woman a grateful little smile and a small nod of appreciation, “Spasiba.”

How strange was it that inside a prison built to hold a specific race, he found someone he could possibly consider an ally. Outside of this nightmare, they might have been enemies. Would she have tried to kill him or his friends – Magneto's people had been capable of such things. However, he could not see this young lady doing something like that; perhaps she just needed someone to listen to her, or merely sit there in silence, or just be a friend. She had given him hope; he would try to be that for her.

“I am Piotr Rasputin,” he finally said, offering a smile and extending a friendly hand to the young woman, “Also known as Colossus.”

She didn’t know what ‘Spassiba’ meant. Assuming it meant a thank you of some sort she gave him a single nod. Tina didn’t like that she didn’t know more. She noticed he didn’t eat any more but it didn’t stop her from taking another bite of her Sloppy Joe.

He spoke again, “I am Piotr Rasputin,” Peter offered his hand while he continued, “Also known as Colossus.” Tina finished chewing her food and after swallowing she returned the hand shake. The hazel eyed girl looked into his and replied, “I’m Tina James.” She paused for a moment. “Also known as Rage.” That was her, the little Rage Bringer. She wasn’t ashamed but Peter seemed to hold a higher picture of her. No one had ever done that for her. None that she could recall, maybe her parents.

Tina was proud to be Rage, to make people angry enough to kill. It was sad, and unfortunate that the first time she learned that was with the blood of her parents. Yes she had caused it, but she regretted that it happened to her blood relatives. Still every time she had used her powers, it felt good. The hazel eyed girl wasn’t interested in being a hero, what she cared about more was surviving.

“Rage,” Colossus repeated as he squeezed her hand lightly before releasing it. Stroking his jaw, he thought on the name, thinking that it was such a hostile name for someone so withdrawn and quiet. He wasn't sure he liked it... Tina suited her much better as a name. However, he also knew Magneto and the Brotherhood to realize that continuing to call the woman by her birth name could be considered offensive – something Piotr didn't wish to do.

Finally, he dropped his large hand back to the table's surface and bet her hazel eyes once again, “An interesting name... if you do not mind me asking, why did you choose that name? I am assuming it has something to do with your abilities, much like mine.”

The girl hadn't left yet; she hadn't stood up, picked up her tray and told him to fuck off before storming away, so hopefully she didn't consider Piotr too nosy or prying. In all honesty, however, members of the Brotherhood had been known to be one extreme or the other – either they wouldn't shut up about what they had done with their lives or they would just as soon kill you instead of actually answering a question. He would have normally fit Rage in with the latter group, but the young lady had freely answered any of his questions. Perhaps it was prison that helped loosen her tongue... after all, it helped whittle away the hours of boredom to share life stories.

The Russian asked her why she had chosen that name for her. True she wasn’t the type to lose her temper or fly off the handle. But there was a reason as to why she chose such a name. “You’d be right.” Explaining her power was always so much more of a chore than it was to demonstrate it. “I have… had the ability to bring out anger, rage, hate, ect in people.” Tina didn’t like saying she had powers. But with the nullification technology that hinders all of their abilities the hazel eyed girl couldn’t say she has powers.

She began to think and couldn’t remember if he told her what his abilities were. “What power comes with the name Colossus?” Maybe it was prison lightening her mood. Maybe it was the fact no one ever went to her willingly to talk to her. Interaction with others normally wasn’t on her list of things to do, but she could give being social a chance. It couldn’t hurt after all. Plus Peter seemed okay.

Tina didn’t interact with the other members much, but thinking back on it she felt maybe she should have. She could learn things from them that would make her prison life a bit more easier. Even Buford, even though he hated her by what ever his reason was.

Piotr brow furrowed at the explanation behind her chosen mutant name; she could bring out some of the worst humanity had to offer by mere thought? What kind of awful power was that? Surely she felt that it was a curse... something not to be proud of. No wonder the young woman was slow to make conversation. Had she grow accustomed to stirring up some of the more distasteful emotions within people? Did her mutation make it hard for her to find people to confide in? Were it not for the prison's security measures, would he himself be angry at her for no apparent reason? The farmer's son was glad there wasn't an opportunity to find out.

“What power comes with the name Colossus?”

He ran a hand over the stubble that capped his head as he thought about his own powers... how they had first manifested and proved to be so much of a blessing that it had made Piotr actually question God's existence. He had been able to build fences in a matter of hours that would have taken three men days to do, and on over the next two years, he had been able to save the community tractors much wear by single-handedly pulling the commercial-sized plows over the acres of farmland. There was no negative impact... until neighboring farms caught wind of the mutant freak performing the work of twenty men. Once attention began to spread, the Professor showed up, offering refuge, training, and a solid education... an offer a poor boy like Pete couldn't begin to refuse.

“Eh... it was given me by the man who took me in, nearly two years after my powers manifested. I confess... I did not like it for a long time. It sounds arrogant, but I kept it to honor the man who treated me as a son, and have since grown to love it. The Professor named me Colossus because my ability to change my form into that of metal. It gives me the strength of many men and has allowed me to bear the brunt of explosions and gunfire. I am grateful for the ability to step in front of danger to protect the ones I love. It is how my abilities first manifested themselves. It feels strange to not be able to use them, yes?”

He hesitated before finally deciding to probe further, “Did you find yourself using your abilities often in the Brotherhood? Do you consider them a gift, or do you – like many others – think them a curse?”

Tina sat in silence as the Russian spoke. There was a good meaning behind his name, his codename. She gave a small nod in agreement to his statement about it being strange not to use their powers. But then he asked if she used her powers much while she was in the Brotherhood. And if she found them to be a curse or a gift. The hazel eyed girl took a moment to reflect on his questions, and took in a small breath of air before she spoke.

“I use my powers when necessary. I have a few times while being with the Brotherhood. When I wasn't, I used my powers more often, to survive. It might not have been for the best reason that others would think.” Tina reflected on his second question for a moment.

“As for my powers being a curse or gift... If I didn't have my powers my parents would still be alive. But if I didn't have them, there would be no way for me to survive. I'm not exactly top dog out in the world. It goes both ways for me. A blessing and curse.” Perhaps that wasn't much of an answer, or a cliché of an answer, but it was partly how she felt. The other part being that she'd rather have her powers than for them to be nulled away by the humans technology.

Piotr frowned at her mention of her powers being the reason her parents were dead. How many mutants had lost loved ones because their abilities manifested at the wrong moment or due to a lack of understanding of how they worked. It was something Colossus had a specific burden for... not because his own manifestation was tragic, but because it had saved a life. Perhaps that was the reason he'd never considered his own mutation much of a burden. He hadn't accidentally shifted into his armored form and crushed someone. He had saved his little sister from a wayward tractor.

“Had we met five years ago, I would have not seen your ability as anything other than a curse, svyet, but I have learned to look beyond the obvious. You see yourself as someone who can anger people, but I do not believe that is all you are capable of. Perhaps you could use it to inspire people... give them a fire to live and love and create for everyone. Perhaps you mistake passion for anger, yes?”

He wasn't demanding anything of her, only suggesting that her abilities might be able to be used in more peaceful ways. He hoped that she didn't take offense to the suggestion.

He shrugged, “I do not mean to offend. It is something to think about, yes?”

She listened to the Russians' words. Wondering if it was passion she inflicted on others. “I'm not offended.” But she thought about his words. In no way was her power for passion. She had seen what her powers do, there was no way to mix up what she could do. What she was capable of doing. The hazel eyed girl didn't think her next words would be something he'd want to hear but it had to be said.

“Piotr... my powers are not what you think. I have turned the best of people into murders. My powers can't ever be used for good. They aren't.” It was hard to tell the Colossus what needed to be said, but she continued. “Remember how I said my parents death was an accident? ...It was. But I created it. My powers manifested and I was looking at my parents at the time. I couldn't control it, and I inflicted so much hate and anger that they killed each other.”

She grimaced at the memory, all that blood. “I killed them with my powers. It was an accident. But I never candy coated what I could do. It's not good. I even remember what we were doing when my powers came to. We were rehearsing for Caesar. I was casted as one of the people who had a part in stabbing Caesar. I didn't want to be in the play, but it was a small part that would have made my mother happy, so I went with it.”

Rage paused for a moment, recalling the thought she had right before her powers came up. “Last thing I did for them... before I killed them. I don't inspire others. It's not passion I inflict on others.” Her voice was not raised, or lowered, or changed in any specific words used. It was simply talk. As if it was a casual conversation about the weather.

Piotr merely gave her a friendly smile; this was what Xavier had taught them... to accept mutants no matter what their gifts were. Some might consider what they could do a curse... some abilities might actually be curses. Evolution and mutation weren't easy; sometimes they were even detrimental. The key was to help everyone – regardless of their abilities – to cope and deal and grow in their powers and find ways of living with them.

“I am sorry if I have offended you with my suggestions. I only wish to help...” He hesitated a brief moment. “If you are having trouble with your abilities, I know a wonderful place that will help educate and explore them with you.” His blue eyes searched hers, making sure he wasn't overstepping himself, “You may not have heard many good things about Xavier's from your mentor. I do not know where the school stands with Magneto, but despite their differences of opinion, there is no place better equipped to help all mutants.”

He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was in earshot before leaning forward and lowering his voice several decibels, “We will not always be here, svyet. As soon as an opportunity presents itself, I will leave this place, and welcome you to come with me. I will introduce you to the Professor and the rest of them if you like, or you can return to your master. Either way, no one should be forced into a place such as this because of what they can do, and no matter what you have done in the past, I believe in second chances these monsters will not give.”

He sat up straight once again, so bothered by their predicament that he couldn't finish his meal; he stood up, tray in both hands, “But I must get to the laundry room. Please think on what we have talked about. I hope to see you again.” He gave the young woman a nod and a small smile before turning to leave.