[sup][h1][center][img]Banner[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] M A R T I A N  M A N H U N T E R[/color]
[color=green]M A R T I A N  M A N H U N T E R[/color][/center]
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[color=gold]The Therapeutix Gala[/color]
[color=green]New York City, USA[/color]
[@King Kindred][@ThatDeercat]

Of all the times J'onn wished he could smoke, this was one of the more tiresome. Here he was, outside the truly gorgeous venue, watching the guests within truly seem to have a marvelous time, and yet his heart clambered to just head home then and there. Truly, he was most likely being paranoid. People wanted to honor their heroes, and the new superheroes were the newest form of such. That could be all that this was. Just a way to honor the heroes and make a little money as a bonus.

However, the words 'cutting edge genetic research' kept circling around his head. Therapeutix was known for it. It was also one of the fields of study [s]Mal[/s]-the Doctor had been most involved in, even in college. He could still recall long nights in their shared dorm room of hearing the rants about how the Green Martian genome would be so much improved if only...No use dealing on the past, even when the past was the culprit behind those specific words sounding so sinister. Pair that with the fact that many of the heroes he'd met seemed to have genetically inherited their powers though and he could get at the root of what he feared. Still, that was all it was, a fear. And if other heroes didn't fear it, then he could just go home or push himself to join in as the Green Guy so that he didn't let the fear control him.

On the other hand though, perhaps some caution would not be amiss...But he couldn't just wait out here for something to go wrong. If something went wrong (or if it turned out just to be a splendid party where he could just relax and hear the praise of the other heroes, which it could always end up being), he would need to be on the inside. But what would be the best way to get in without an invitation?

Just then a car drove up front with another guest, dressed in a suit and tux with an eye-catching golden haired woman in red at his arm. J'onn kept out of sight and observed the valet as the pair were escorted into where the man could flash his invitation and the car was driven away. That gave him an idea.

In mere moments, he took on the form of the valet, then waited a minute before coming in to seem to await the next car. The others barely gave him a second glance as they awaited the next car. A quick excuse let him slip away to the bathroom before the real valet showed up, which with any luck would just be excused as Deja Vu. (He really did not want to have to erase memories. It was dangerous on the target's mind and, always a hassle to get right). Then once he'd ascertained where any cameras were and that there were no witnesses within, he then adjusted himself to take on the form of a  non-descript gentleman of means, then withdrew into the ballroom to mingle with the rest, helping himself to one of the canapes a waiter was serving. He was a guest after all. He may as well indulge in some of the pleasures. As he looked around, taking in all the beauty, he couldn't help but smile. It really was a gorgeous gathering. Perhaps, he could allow himself to enjoy tonight after all.

[hr]

The splendor and opulence of the ballroom was truly spectacular, only enhanced by the charm and general good humor of most of the guests within. As Cay'an looked around, she realized that not even the High Chairman's New Year's Gatherings, where attendance was a prestigious honor worthy of only his inner circle, were half as wonderous. And it turned her stomach. How [b][i]dare[/i][/b] humans be so prosperous while Martians were forced to scrouge in the dirt for crumbs! Their planet was a divided one with near-constant wars and the people, so mentally deficient. Yet their elites could enjoy such festivities [i]annually[/i], for little to no reason at all! As a fundraiser! Where was the justice in that? The fairness?! Visions of the hall burning while those within were carted off to the fire or to serve their betters in manual labor danced in her mind. But she forced it down. Now was not the time to indulge in such fantasies. 

She grabbed a glass of champagne then started looking around, taking sips. Her other arm was still around her current pawn, who had gotten her in here as his 'plus-one', so now she needed to keep on the look out. From all that she'd studied and learned about Thor, he was sure to either be here or to arrive at any moment. She knew there would be competition from the other women of the room, but she was in her best disguise tonight. She would have him wrapped around her finger in no time. And given that it seemed like he was becoming friends with 'Green Guy' as the papers tilted him, Thor might also be able to lead her to Manhunter as well. Everything would go even better than she'd dreamed, as long as she didn't fail to draw him in.