United Heroes MUSH - User contributions [en]

9055/Clown is Around

2019-09-03T20:18:43Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/09/03 |Location=Drew Residence - Greenwich |Synopsis=Spider-Woman and Captain Quaid talk about Duela, vigilantes and Spider-Woman's past. |Cas..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/09/03
|Location=Drew Residence - Greenwich
|Synopsis=Spider-Woman and Captain Quaid talk about Duela, vigilantes and Spider-Woman's past.
|Cast of Characters=7620,1028
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' A very late dinner lies in ruins. Sushi from a place not far from Jessica's home was sacrificed on the altar of dinner in. And for now hungers were sated. Frank is standing at the sink. His suit jacket is draped over a kitchen chair. His sleeves are rolled up. Frank is washing dishes by hand, standing beside the dishwasher. "Won't believe who I talked to today," Frank says. He glances at Jessica and then back to the plate in his hand. He rinses it carefully. "I ran into the clown from the subway by the East River." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "No...seriously??" Jessica is gathering anything worth keeping, sealing it up in containers, and sticking it in the refrigerator. But she pauses, one container in hand, to look at Frank. She looks him over briefly. "It doesn't look like she did much damage. Was she a handful? Could she help with what happened that night?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "She did help, believe it or not," Frank says with a shake of his head. "See if IA uses it. You should hear here, she's completely insane. Multiple personalities kind of crazy. But might be enough to tip the scales since nobody's screaming for El's badge." "So this call comes in. Mutant playing with lights or something by the river. I was right there, so I stopped. And there she was, these lights in the air, going up, dropping into the river and going around," Frank recalls. "Wasn't until I got up around 30 feet I realized who it was. Not a mutant at all, it was the clown woman with a bunch of drones." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "The hell did she want with a bunch of drones?" Jessica's brow creases. "You don't think she's gonna use them for some sort of attack, do you? She looks like Quinzel, from all indications. That sounds like something /SHE/ would do." Jessica puts away the leftovers and wipes down the table and counters. "So she say why that guy charged? Why he was attacking?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank shrugs unknowingly about the drones. He pulls the plug to drain the sinks then dries his hands with the dish towel. "She said he was on Hook and was trying to stab her. She had some kind of gash on her side all sewed up. Said it was from him. And said El saved her," Frank explains. "She's downright crazy though, I didn't press for any more. Knew if I pushed at her delusions she'd turn into a pain in my ass. Hits the points I needed though. The clown was being attacked with a weapon, El stopped the attack." Frank hangs up the dish towel and crosses his arms. He leans back against the counter. "We'll never know what the real story was that night. And that clown is unreliable as hell, but I'll take what I can get to put El back in the office. Can sort the drone thing and the rest out later. Just hope to hell she doesn't kill anyone before we do. Know what she calls herself? Nobody. The Joker's daughter. Duela. And says God tells her what to do." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Oh God..." Jessica rubs her face. "That's just what we need. A delusional religious zealot-slash-supervillain. Just wait till she will only deal with you, out of the whole force. I can feel that comin', Frank. The whole world's gone crazy. Joker's Daughter my ass. There couldn't be a woman crazy enough anywhere to let that Joker creep get within throwing distance of her hoo-ha." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Guys like him take, they don't ask or take no," Frank observes dryly. "Doesn't matter anyway, she's a nut. We all deal with them, she won't be the first dangerous nut that decided I was the only cop they were going to deal with," Frank says with a shrug. "Just part of the job. We get a lot of people obsessed with us for different reasons. They're crazy, they think we're their personal hero," Frank snorts. "Won't change anything for her, we don't give out personal police officers. She starts something she'll get taken down hard. Just hoping she's one of us humans and not a mutant or meta or something. Then she's not my problem!" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica caught that. The slight sting of "us humans" versus the rest of it. She flinches slightly and turns back to rewipe the table. "Maybe she'll just be a harmless nutter and nobody will have to worry about her. Long as she can function on her own and doesn't cause problems..." She trails off at that. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "I'm not betting on it, she's all made up like the Joker or Harley Quinn, wires up a bunch of drones to work with a pair of gloves or something," Frank says with a shake of his head. "She's too smart, too crazy and was too happy about El showing the 'dead boy' he was already dead by putting rounds in him. We'll see that woman again. I just hope she sucks and ends up in the Tombs and then a max instead of Arkham when the time comes." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "So...why not Arkham? Isn't that where they put the worst of the worst? Wouldn't that mean she would be gone forever, instead of going through your system?" Jessica is leaning back slightly against the back of a chair, with her hands resting atop the back of it, behind her rump. "I guess none of it matters, as long as Elaina can get back to work" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Yep. Arkham's not my problem, even if they're setting records for escapes," Frank agrees with a snort. "Be a lot easier to do my job when El gets back. Her team is good, but they need her." "Things'll roll on," Frank says with a shrug. "What're you working on? You're not in the news as much, 'cept when you're making out with guys in the street." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Just laying low a bit at the moment, really," Jessica replies. She is noticeably dressed down, in black running shorts with white trim, and a black sweatshirt bearing the Avengers logo at the upper left of her chest. "I guess Tony is making good on his word to keep my Avengers workload light. It has been quiet on that front, of late. I have scarcely seen the rest of them around, so I really don't have any clue if they're currently working on anything. So...going a little stir crazy, to be honest." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "I believe it," Frank says. "You're not made for sitting around watching cooking shows. Gonna go back and tell Tony to start handing you stuff? Or go out and be classic roughing up random criminals?" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Seems like I'm kinda on my own," Jessica says, straightening up to stand again. "So wherever I can be used, I'll go. I don't know what else to do. It's what I did before Tony approached me. It's what I'll do again. But I hope ya know it goes without saying that I'd like to help you and the NYPD whenever I can. Wherever I can." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Thanks Jess," Frank says and smiles a bit. "Means a lot to all of us. Feels good for rest of us knowing you're out there. Some of these guys we try to take down these days... We're gonna need a full mutant/meta tactical team one day. Could already use one. Some of this stuff we just can't do anything about." "If I hear of anything you could get on I'll let you know," Frank promises. "Fact, there might be something coming down the pipe. Not sure yet." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica tilts her head, listening to Frank. "So what if one gets built? A mutant/meta tactical team, I mean. Even if they're not ready to employ a team like that, what does it matter? It could be a liaison group. Not like we get paid to do what we do, anyway. Unless we're Avengers." She pauses for a moment. "Active Avengers. With assignments. Not those being peeled off the team a layer at a time..." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank shakes his head. "No disrespect to everything you do, but the last thing we need is another vigilante team. It's great we've got all these heroes helping out, a lot more people would be dead if we didn't," Frank says and crosses his arms. "But it's also bad. Superheroes are breaking laws just the same as supervillains, but helping people. It's eating at our institutions," Frank asserts. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica nods, lowering her gaze to inspect her sneakers as she leans back again, this time against the countertop. "Right, right. Well of course, we don't need that. Broken rules, laws..." She trails off thoughtfully. "That wouldn't be helping at all." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank shifts his hands to his pockets. "Know what I hope I see? 5% mutant or meta in NYPD before I retire. That's how things chnaged for my people. We worked our asses off to take positions that should've been open to us all along. We became people the young bloods can look up to. Only way it's gonna change for mutants and metas. Like for women, Jews, gays, transgender... All the same." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Nodding again, Jessica finishes considering her sneakers, and crosses her arms. "Well, if you get a big enough bite of the metas and supers out there, then vigilantes can be forced out. The police can take control again. People like us won't be needed anymore, and we can be retired on a farm in Wisconsin. I can web cows instead of rope 'em." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank snorts. "Well they gotta figure out something. Like El. She uses her legal authority to shoot someone to save a life. But we've seen cops go bad and know we gotta investigate every shooting. Make sure the cops stay clean. Because we're responsible to the people of New York. We screw up, we're fired," Frank says heatedly. "Heck, before we screw up, we're screened, tested and trained to make sure we don't turn into just another gang. Who's doing that for random vigilantes? Do we want some kid with PTSD and telekinesis hunting people down he /thinks/ are criminals? No court, nothing? I sure as hell don't. Avengers work with the government and screen their people sure, others? Who do they answer to? How do the people make sure they're supporting our democracy insted of rotting it?" Frank exhales noisily. "Damn," Frank says quietly. "This stuff gets me going. Love you guys, but wish things were different." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "I get it. I do. Any number of us could have gone any number of ways. Hell, /I/ could have." Jessica looks back up at Frank, finally. "I was trained to be an assassin. I was a weapon of destruction. Until I figured it out. Got outside my head and realized where I was versus where I needed to be." She shrugs. "If I hadn't figured it out when I did, I could be a whole different person right now, and we could have been on opposites sides." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank blinks. "You were what?" he asks. The effect is immediate. The cop in him comes to the fore. Alert, impassive. Wary. "Did you just say you were an assassin?" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica looks up at Frank, and blinks dolefully before taking a slow breath. "Hydra killed my parents and took me. Locked me in stasis for...years. Raised me. Weaponized me. When I was old enough to know better, I /did/ better. I found out what they'd done to me. Done to my family. I escaped them. Made a new life. But I live in fear of them trying to take me back every minute of every day." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit, Jess," Frank breathes. "That's horrible. Did you escape before they made you.. Kill people? Who the hell are these people?" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Everybody's worst nightmare," Jessica replies. "And I don't know. I don't remember anything before I came to my senses. It was like a fog that I finally fought my way free of. Sometimes I wish I could remember. Sometimes I'm glad I can't." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Christ... That's insane... Do you know anything? Where this all was? Who they are?" Frank asks. He looks stunned and at pains to believe what he is hearing. "When'd you..." Frank blinks. "That's why there's no family anything here... You never talk about growing up, high school, old friends... There aren't any." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Several years ago," she replies, beginning to sense her tragic mistake. "I know it was HYDRA. I don't know who, specifically. I don't remember - anything - before I became what I am now. I don't remember growing up. I don't remember being trained. Being held in stasis. I don't remember whether I killed. Or whether I had a happy childhood before they killed the parents that I don't remember. Everything I know about myself before that moment, I learned by reading it." She senses defeat long before it's spoken. "But hey, no need in dredging all that up now, huh?" She offers Frank a faint smile. "Lemme get your coat. And the stuff upstairs. You'll have work early tomorrow. And I wouldn't want you to forget anything when you leave." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' The veteran cop is speechless. He just looks at Jessica for a moment. But when she turns from him, Frank reaches out and pulls her to him. Frank holds her close to him, cupping the back of her head with one hand and pressing his cheek to hers. "I don't need my coat," he says quietly. "Sorry, I just... Didn't know. But it makes sense now. It all makes sense." Frank leans back a little to look Jessica in the eyes. One hand touches her cheek. "I got you, okay? I got you." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "I..." Jessica can only blink for a moment. She tenses, caught completely offguard. Slowly, and by degrees, she begins to relax. And everything that's been caught up with the breath she could not exhale begins to settle. "I guess I thought you knew. I thought the NYPD knew everything." Jessica's eyes search Frank's for a moment, and she takes the hand that touches her cheek, holding it in both of hers. "I felt you leaving." And finally, she can wrap her arms around him gratefully. And finally, she remembers to exhale. 
}}

8786/Undercurrents: The Missles Matter

2019-08-14T01:09:12Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/13
|Location=Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay
|Synopsis=Polaris pleads Genosha's case to Atlantis. King Orin II and Princess Mera warn Polaris of the danger to her people and present her with a difficult choice.
|Thanks=Polaris, Mera
|Cast of Characters=100,128,1271
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' At the appointed time that day, an Atlantean woman wearing a water mask and blue dress of distinctly Atlantean cut from the Atlantis Embassy is at the Oyster Bay embassy dock to meet Lorna. She is greeted with great courtesy. Lorna is led aboard a sleek Atlantean vessel, which takes takes her across the rolling waters of Oyster Bay to the floating, half-submerged Embassy without a pitch or roll. On arrival, Lorna's escort leads her into the main entrance of the Embassy, telling her politely about the architecture and symbolism since it is her first visit. The walls are white and gold, with lines of flowing water inset and kept in place invisibly. She is taken up a lift, which is really a pedestal of water that is somehow hard underfoot. She is shown into to the throne room on the third floor. The room is a nearly glowing white pearl with gold inset in delicate patterns on most of the floor. But the strip of floor leading from then entrance to the dais is a strip of dark seawater that roils just beneath an invisible field one's feet cannot distinguish from the rest of the floor. The stormy waters flow from beneath the King's throne, form part of the dais steps and right to the entrance to the hall where they disappear abruptly. Beside the King's throne a second throne is set, just slightly lower. The hall's roof is a glass dome clean enough to be difficult to see, held up by curving white pillars that are set into and support the roof. The walls are glass as well which lets the sunlight from the summer day to colour the room. There are ornate chairs set in two columns along the length of the hall on either side of the throne. Today the chairs are empty. "His Majesty King Orin II of Atlantis and her highness Princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa of Xebel," Lorna's escort tells her. "Her Highness Princess Lorna Dane of Genosha," Lorna's escort announces to the King. Then the woman bows toward the King and leaves. Arthur is seated in the dais in his green and gold armour. His hair is tied back behind his head. He leans to one side, resting his elbow on the arm of his throne. The other hand holds the Trident of Poseidon. He watches Lorna from under dark brows. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Formal meetings had been something Lorna had tried and practiced over the past year or so since she'd moved to Genosha. She had had lessons, practiced and researched and tested herself over and over. Yet nothing in practice was enough to prepare her fully for meeting someone of royal stature in all diplomatic seriousness. No other countries had had their leaders meet with her, or were rather, willing to meet with her. Despite her pleas for aid against the Sentinel threat, or even trade deals, most of her attempts had been met with cold, if not polite silence. The young Princess had donned her most formal attire for the affair, her hair combed back into a high ponytail wreathed in shiny, metallic combs that fanned out around her in a halo, nearly a crown, but not quite. She wore a romper of shimmering, deep sea green, with a plunging 'v' neckline. More metal, almost to the point that it would appear gaudy on anyone else, but was more of a silent show on the magnokinetic, was draped around her wrists, neck, and ears. All of which was painted gold, but was likely ferrous in scope. Over all of this, she wore a loose fitting, thin and gauzy, nearly translucent cape of a softer silver color, pinned at her shoulders with matching pauldrons. Otherwise, she appeared unarmed, and unarmored. As difficult as it was for Lorna not to gape at her surroundings, she restrained herself, though just barely at the achingly lovely sight of the otherworldly architecture. Her green eyes traveled about, searching the glittering throne room, to land on the King and consort. At least in comparison, it seemed Lorna matched the general decore, and ascetic of the Atlanteans rather than matching the usual of surface dwellers. Perhaps it was all on purpose. Perhaps not. Either way, she dropped into a curtsey, just as she had practiced a million times over. She was //not// an equal to the King in the least, but neither was she of no standing at all. It was a polite bob, bent at her knee and straight up. She waited to be addressed, her gaze politely aimed at the two before her and her hands clasped before her. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "The Kingdom of Atlantis welcomes you, Princess," Arthur says after Lorna curtsies. "The protection of the sea is over you." The water under Lorna's feet brightens and calms to a miniature windy chop over sea green waters. "This is a first, we have never had the honour of receiving your royal family," Arthur says and smiles a bit lopsidedly. "Though we did meet your sister on other matters in her other capacities." Arthur tilts his head curiously. His casual, arrogant posture is a sharp contrast to the perfect poise of the Atlantean Princess seated beside him. "What brings you before the King?" Mera inquires. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna ventured a soft exhale from her lips as Arthur greets her, her gaze remaining on him even as her attention shifted half to the calming waters beneath her feet. She was not her father, had to remind herself, not there to threaten or posture. She had quite literally, no ground to stand on here. The nerves that spun her spine straight and kept her posture stiff, remained even as a smile curved at the corners of her lips at the mention of Wanda. "I thank you for your hospitality and your willingness to meet with me." She spoke, and at least to her own ears, sounded even and polite. Even if her heartbeat hammered wildly in her chest. "It always seems people meet my sister first in her other capacities. It would seem to be prerogative as the elder of us." A slow, measured inhale and exhaled followed as Lorna attempted the vague humor and continued onward at the prompting from Mera. She nodded and shifted her weight upon her heels. "I realize that my business here comes unduly late. I should have made attempt to contact you, and meet with you both at an earlier time. Before my father acted and pushed the world to such a state." She paused, taking measure of how her words were regarded before she spoke again. "I wish to speak in to you regarding the missiles that landed near to Genosha." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur smiles at the comment about the elder sibling's perogatives, but otherwise his expression changes little from the curiousity he showed earlier. He spins the Trident of Poseidon slowly in his hand. "Of course," Arthur says and seems to ignore Lorna's apology for not coming sooner. "We welcome a dialogue with Genosha. " 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna stifled the urge to fidget, to shift and squirm under Arthur's gaze. She maintained her posture, straight backed with her shoulders firmly held in line, but her hands were a network of nerves as she shifted her grip on one hand in a tight clutch in front of her. Her throat was dry, but she spoke her words with care and clarity. "It would be my dream, and my country's honor, if you and yours might consider an alliance of some measure. Be it in trade, or a mutual agreement of peace between us. I speak on behalf of Genosha's people, and council. My father's actions do not speak for Genosha, or her people. We were ignorant of his plans, or his intentions." 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' "His actions may not reflect the desires of the people of Genosha, or the council. But his actions remain an act of those people, if by association only. It must be extremely difficult for you to garner diplomacy with other nations for this fact alone." Mera, clad in a bodysuit of what appears to be modified iridescent turquoise scales, and a golden tiara bearing a chevron akin to the one at the yoke of her waist, looks pensively toward Lorna, her brow slightly furrowed, but she continues, in her distinct and unique accent, harkening toward not only another place, but perhaps another time. "The complication arises in that such actions, continuing unchecked and unopposed in any manner other than words, may still pose a threat to any nation or people to whom you have appealed." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur's eyes narrow at Lorna's offer. He continues watching the young, green-haired mutant when Mera speaks the exact thoughts on his mind. "Unless you are telling us your father is no longer King," Arthur adds. "He is Genosha. Or he is not." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna exhaled a shaky breath, her gaze lowering, though not completely dropping from the royal couple in front of her. Rather, she seemed to be collecting herself, or her thoughts. She paused for a beat, two, as she considered her response to frankly, exactly what she had expected. "I understand fully the complications that tie any alliance with my people, and Genosha as a result of my father's actions. He is still King, if he has not completely abandoned us to his crusade." It was something Magneto had done repeatedly throughout his life. Wanda. Pietro. Herself. And as Lorna spoke those words, she felt it. The sense of betrayal that had been boiling in her chest since her father's announcement. A returned sense of hurt and abandonment. "But I would beg your majesties' mercy on my people. Genosha is not at war as my father is. Genosha's people wish for nothing more than to live out their lives in peace and safety. We are a nation of refugees. Not a nation of soldiers." She murmured, her voice becoming impassioned the further she went on. 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' "As are all people beneath a ruthless dictator, yet diplomacy with those nations benefits only those who are allowed to partake of its spoils." Mera looks to Arthur with a conflicted expression, for what seems like a long moment, and then back to Lorna. "It is clear that the people of Genosha need aid, protection, and peace of mind. Of course the decision ultimately rests with my Betrothed," she says as her glance slides to Arthur. "But you must understand that such offers come at the risk of creating an enemy state, because it would need to somehow circumvent the ruling hand, and such undermining creates a rift that cannot be undone except through complete and utter defeat of that ruler." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Well said," Arthur says evenly, affirming Mera's words. Arthur lets go of the Trident, which remains up right in its place. He leans forward, arms braced against his legs. "Atlantis has friends it /will/ help, and enemies it will demonstrate its great strength to," Arthur says sternly. "We have the means to remove the threat your King poses to world peace. No matter how noble protecting mutants is. Both of you must understand this. The sea is merciless once riled, and so am I." Arthur straightens. "I would prefer a friendly Genosha, ruled by one I could respect. But as it stands there is nothing to discuss. Your King has been warned. The world is watching," Arthur says. He pauses a moment, as if carefully considering his next words. "I pray to the gods further deterrence is not need, or you will find the might of Atlantis upon your shores ensuring the peace and security your King has so recklessly threatened. If that day comes, it would be wise not to resist the driving winds, but to bow before Poseidon. Those who do not will be swept away and set adrift." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna's clasped hands trembled in her grip, her grip which was white knuckled by now with the tension running through her hands. Mera's words held her breath in sway, which was only cut off completely by the King of Atlantis' own. She exhaled a rough breath, her shoulders rising and falling with it as she met his gaze evenly with her own as he leaned forward. Her own gaze was a mirror of the sea in the tropics, of electrical currents in the night's sky. In one smooth move, Lorna's frame lowered, sweeping out the translucent cape that fluttered behind her as she lowered herself to her knees. Her hands still clasped before her in her trembling grip. "My people already fear the skies, they watch daily for the Sentinels to wipe us out. Regardless of my father's actions of late or not.." She swallowed a lump that formed in the back of her throat and choked her breath. "We have no safe harbor beyond Genosha's shores in any country on this planet. Please. I beg your mercy. Do not throw your wrath and anger on my people for my father's actions. Do not make us fear the seas as we do the skies. Do not drown my people in the one place they've made to call home." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur smiles a bit and tilts his head. His look is more patient than threatening. "None dare attack the territory of Atlantis or its armies wherever they find themselves," Arthur observes. "Your people would fear nothing from the skies under our possession, and we would not relinquish possession while Magneto remains your King. Not after the affront to our friends." Arthur leans back. "I imagine such an invasion would be a very brief, even peaceful thing if Genosha's wise Council were to yield. We are not savages. Of course, if there is nobody ready to succeed Magneto and lead Genosha into a peaceful future," Arthur spreads his hands. "Then the whole discussion is moot. And the warning I have given stands." 
}}

8782/By The Light of Day

2019-08-13T23:42:51Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/13 |Location=Drew Residence - Greenwich |Synopsis=Spider-Woman and Captain Quaid wake up hungry, happy and complicated. |Thanks=Spider-Woma..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/13
|Location=Drew Residence - Greenwich
|Synopsis=Spider-Woman and Captain Quaid wake up hungry, happy and complicated.
|Thanks=Spider-Woman
|Cast of Characters=1028,7620
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica opens her eyes in the darkness. Only, it doesn't /feel/ like it should still be dark. She stirs slightly and finds herself nestled beneath the comforter, and she wriggles free with some difficulty, then sits up. The hopeful rays of morning sunrise are beginning to spill over the horizon, long before the sun; the mockingbirds are still calling it from the depths of its earthly grave. Memory begins to surface in Jessica's foggy mind, and she rakes her fingers through her hair, sniffles, and hastily looks back toward where she just disentangled herself. Maybe that wasn't all just a comforter.... 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' The older man, his skin a sharp contrast to her own, lies sleeping beside Jessica. He lays on his stomach with his arms tucked under his head beneath the pillow. Despite his nose, he breathes quietly. The dawn finds Frank still there. The comforter is half drapped over him and was likely not the comfort. Because Frank slowly stirs, aware on some level that something has changed. He makes an indistinct noise. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica breathes a sigh, and memories now flood back as the night unfolds in her mind. Jess wiggles back down under the comforter again, and presses into the warmth of Frank's barely rousing form, kissing his shoulder once, softly. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Hmm?" Frank murmurs. He reaches for a phone on the nighttable that is not there purely out of reflex. He gropes for it and then pushes himself up on his elbows to look. And notices he is not at home. There is a moment of confusion that passes when his mind catches up with the delicious feeling his body already enjoys. Frank rolls in place onto his side and props his head up. The other hand slides under the comforter over Jessica's waist. "Morning?" he says quietly. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica smiles and tucks in against Frank's chest. "Mhmm...Morning. Sleep okay?" she asks, tilting her head back far enough to look into his face. Her fingertips trace down over his bicep. "Once you finally slept, I mean...." Jessica's hair is tousled and brushed back from her face, as her eyes seek his. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank smirks just a bit. He rubs the small of Jessica's back with his thumb, just holding her gently to him. "Once I slept," he nods, meeting Jessica's eyes. "It's a comfortable bed. Good mattress, good comforter. Good company." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Good..." Jessica smiles. "I'm glad you stayed, Frank. I think of I'd had to endure one more night of...." She shakes her head. "I think we needed last night..." She has the back of his shoulder cradled in her hand, her breath warm against the top and front of it. "Do you have to be anywhere early?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Frank shrugs a bit in response and pulls Jessica just a little tighter to him. He brushes her neck with his lips. "Let me guess, you know a /great/ breakfast spot," he says lightly, just breathing in the smell of the woman pressed up against him. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "You know me too well, Frank," Jess replies with a squirmy laugh when he kisses her neck. "I can /make/ breakfast. It just isn't as good as they make. Little mom and pop cafe, hole in the wall. Best breakfast in the known world. And I'm betting you're starving." She nestles her chin against his forehead and kisses it warmly. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Lucky guess," Frank says and closes his eyes when Jessica kisses his forehead. "I am pretty hungry... Missed dinner or something." He rolls over, gently but firmly pushing Jessica onto her back. "When do they stop serving breakfast?" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica grins and looks up at Frank, shaking her head. "Not till noon, why?" she asks innocently. "You have other ideas for this morning?" She rubs his back lightly as he presses her back onto her pillow. "You're industrious today..." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Always said, enjoy a good thing while you got it," Frank says. He smiles and settles over Jessica. "This is pretty damn good." Frank leans down to kiss Jessica. It some time later when Frank steps out of the shower with Jessica. No false modesty or bashfulness, comfortable with himself and openly admiring Jessica when she reaches for a towel. He towels himself down. Something about the idea of leaving soon gets his mind working again. "Gotta check in," Frank says to Jessica. He goes back to the guest bedroom and gathers up discarded clothing, his and Jessica's. Frank brings them back to the master bedroom and gets dressed quickly before turning on his phone. The ever-present near frown returns with its well worn lines on Frank's face. But not completely. He scans his messages and sends a few quick replies while Jessica gets dressed. "This place nearby?" Frank asks. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "It's about four blocks up from the gate," Jess replies, her brow furrowing a little at Frank's new expression. "Something wrong? Work stresses you, I can see it in your face," Jess observes, wrapping an arm around him and squeezing as she adjusts a red tanktop where it twisted as she pulled it on. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Hmm?" Frank asks distractedly while looking at his device. He casually deletes a message on his phone from Elaina and switches to his mail. He opens the first bright red one. "Nothing wrong, the pile's bigger than normal is all. Didn't make it into the offce last night," Frank says dryly. "Or first thing this morning. Imagine that." Frank looks over to Jessica and gives her a half-smile. "Thanks," he says quietly. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Looks like we made it another day, even with a contract on our heads." She winks and gives his tush a little swat. "I can't say I mind keeping you away from work for a little while. As long as it doesn't overwhelm you. I kinda feel like you can skip the gym, though, y'think?" 
}}

8783/Undercurrents: Cleaning Up

2019-08-13T23:42:30Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/13 |Location=Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn |Synopsis=Magik has had enough of Hook dealers in Bushwick. Pixie sees Magik at work and meet..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/13
|Location=Bushwick (Mutant Town), Brooklyn
|Synopsis=Magik has had enough of Hook dealers in Bushwick. Pixie sees Magik at work and meets MD12. A message is sent.
|Thanks=Magik, Pixie
|Cast of Characters=356,145,248
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' The thing with crime in Bushwick is that it is brazen. The cops are too busy, too few, too scared or too uncaring to venture through the neighbourhood outside of emergencies. Especially these days. So walking through at night is both asking for trouble and good for spotting it. The young mutant woman does not have to go far before she sees an all too common scene in Bushwick and cities across America. An aging row of brick faced buildings lines the right side of the street. Without air conditioning, the apartments above the dirty little shops are open to the summer night. They spill out the sounds of music, television, sex and yelling into the street. A handful of people are gathered outside the lobby of The McClintock, just one of the shabby apartment buildings here. The men and woman, some obviously mutants and some night, are in a loose group. They wear a mix of clothes that were fashionable 20 years ago, creating some sort of retro montage that is lost in the greying and dirtying of everything that lives outside too long. They are all quite thin and look sickly. The few on their feet shamble along in an ungainly way, uncooridinated. Most have open sores. The ones laying or sitting on the ground seem obvious to the world around them. Two young men, one with green skin and the other brown scales, hustle across the street to The McClintock in jeans, loose t-shirts and ballcaps pulled low. The door lock is long since damaged so they let themselves in and disappear past the elevator into the first floor hallway. They are only around the corner for a moment or two, then they come back and hustle back out across the street. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana Rasputin It wasn't hard finding one of these Hook dens. She needn't go very far at all. A few Demons sent out into the night to make sure there were enough dealers inside to get someones attention and then she was ready to make an appearance. Illyana is not a woman who desires or enjoys dramatics. These pieces of human filth had killed Doug. Poisoned Mutants all across the city. Killed an unmeasurable number of people with their drug. And now they were attacking her friends? The white-blonde haired mutant appeared and she's already holding her massive soulsword and black/silver armor as she ascends the steps of McClintock. "Anyone who is not wishing to be hurt... should leave." Quietly to those mutants covered in sores. Every shadowy corner of the street looks ready to spit out darkness like and spill evil upon the neighborhood. The Queen of Limbo is out to hurt people. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn had been enjoying the nightclub not far away, still dressed up in a shimmery silver dress with a slightly flaired skirt and pink pumps that match her hair, she doesn't look like she's ready for trouble as she wanders out on the street, spying the group of people outside the McClintock building. She pauses, biting her lip, wondering if she really wants to get involved in what's going on here..And then she spies a flash of blonde and that large soulsword and she frowns. "Illy? What's going on...?" 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' A couple of the people out front of The McClintock back away from Ilyana a bit. One watches her pass with dull curiousity. The ones on the ground do not even notice. Headlights flare across Illyana as a little green rental Ford compact comes around the corner. It slows approaching The McClintock. The driver gawks at Illyana from behind and then drives off. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana pauses her steps up the stairs only to gaze over at Megan with a fixed, pale blue stare, "Vzdayaniye... Retribution." The sword hefts up from her shoulder to point easily in an outstretched hand at the drug den, "I am going in here and I am killing anyone who is selling Hook until someone who knows who is sending hitmen talks... and if this does not loosen tongue.. I will find another one and kill everyone there. Time for games is over." With that, she kicks open the unlocked door and strolls purposefully into the dingy drug den with her body shimmering a faint, ghastly green. She is not here to sell Avon. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn blinks slowly, following after her. "Heeey, you can't just go around killing people!" she frowns, "Even if they are baddies..." with a sigh, she follows after her, determined not to get left behind..Or to let her get herself killed. Not that that woudl ever happen.. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' Passing through the lobby and its aging, worn carpet leads to a t-intersection. Most of the apartments are off to the right. There is only one door tucked to the left in the direction the two young men went and returned from. The number on the door is 101 and there is a little 'Manager' sign underneath it. There is a wireless web camera pointed down from the wall just past 101 that should pick up on anyone coming to the door. For the moment the only sounds coming from the apartment are a too loud racing video game of some sort and some unintelligible male voices barking back and forth at each other. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana isn't ignoring Megan's concern, but neither is she backing down because of it. "If you are here to stop me, you should go get more people.. You will need them." She's not cruel about it, just matter of fact. She's angry and has held herself back because that's what Xavier would want. That isn't working. Someone said; Eventually you have to let the Illyana loose and let her do what she does. She's just made that decision for them. Walking into the dingy darkness of the apartment, the white-blonde haired Russian stops in the t-section and points her sword to the right.. from every conceivable shadow a demon is materializing as if summoned to their Queens aid. "Anyone tries to come this way, change their mind." Turning on clicking heels, she walks directly towards the left door with her head canting slightly up towards the camera pointed down at her as she approaches. She wants them to know she was here: whoever runs this place. She wants them to know the righteous indignation of the forces they're playing with. A booted foot comes up without stopping to stomp at the ''managers'' door. The demure, small framed woman might not be carrying much in the way of weaponry, but she still came loaded for Bear. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn knows better than to try and stop Illyana. But she's not about to leave her to get killed either. Or to do something she might regret later. She bites her lip, following after her, although she keeps her head down from the cameras, not too keen on being recognized herself. "Manager?" she frowns, pausing behind her at the head door. Well of course, she wants to cut this off at the head. For now she just stays back, uncertain of how to act, or react, until she knows more. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' The door goes down with a bang. "What the fuck?" "Cops!" "Shit..." Come the voices of three men from the main living area at the end of the little hallway from Illyana. A muffled woman's scream of alarm and indignant male voice come from the door down a short hall to the right. The door the female and male voice came from is closed, the other is open and reveals a bit of a bathroom. In the main room itself, one man is busy scooping small baggies of white or tan powder off the low glass coffee table into a backpack. Another beside him has turned to look wide-eyed over the couch toward Illyana. In the kitchen on the right, another male brings up a handgun to start shooting at Illyana. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Hardly the cops, Illyana is probably a lot worse by comparison. She certainly has no concern for due process and little regard for bringing anyone here back... well she might not actually kill all of them... but she has no problem in maiming them. Her pale gaze falls on the man scooping baggies off the table and she starts in that direction until a bullet ''PLINKS'' off her skull... Her Eldritch armor eating the small calliber round with just a little jerk of her head... and the full scope of her attention turning threateningly towards the person who pulled the trigger. "There is always one." Her hand snaps out, the opposite to the one holding the Soulsword, and hurls a throwing knife with fairly deadly accuracy in the gunmans direction. She's not /trying/ to kill him, but she's not trying not to either. Her foot comes up and kicks the couch, trying to push it across the floor towards the man scooping up baggies. "If you want to help..." Back at Pixie, pointing her sword at the doorway where the sounds of the man and female were heard. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn's eyes widen as she hears screams coming from one room and she starts to head that way..Before one of the men starts to shoot at Illyana. "Watchout!" she calls out, but of course the bullet is harmless against Illy's armour. She makes a face. "Show-off!" but right now is not the time for petty banter. She nods quickly and darts off towards the closed door, attempting to kick it open, and if successful, she peers around for the two people. "Hey, are you guys okay..?" Pixie is a little cautious as she enters, only peeking in a crack through the door at first, just in case they have a gun pointed at her or something. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' The man with the gun, of middling complexion with tattoos covering all visible skin, including a big 'MD12' on his forehead, takes the knife in-between the ribs. He drops his gun and looks down the hilt sticking out of his chest in shock. His blue sleeveless basketball jersey starts to look damp. The other man with tattoos and MD12 branding was the one trying to dump the drugs into his backpack. The couch catches the back of his legs and knocks him forward. He hits the cheap tempered glass table in front of him with an audible 'oof'. The man on the couch, a weasley looking 20 something year old Caucasian guy, goes sliding with the couch the short distance it moves until it his the coffee table. His shins are rammed into the edge of the table. He curls up and yells in pain. Megan peeks into the room. It darkened but she can see. A rough looking woman in her 20 or 30 looks alarmed and is busily trying to pull on her panties. A tattooed MD12 man is standing on the other side of the bed just getting his boxers up. "Be quiet," the man in the bedroom whispers harshly to the woman. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana doesn't engage Megan in banter. This should be a clear indication of where her headspace is... there are only a handful of things she delights in more than petty banter with Pixie. Right now is the season of agony. The Soulsword might not be able to cut these men, unmagical beings as they are, but it can still hurt them as a bludgeoning weapon. Swung around in a sharp his of half-demonic strength at the side of the seated MD12 20 something on the couch like a baseball bat designed to kill infernals. "Someone is going to talk... Someone is going to tell me where is Hook coming from.." She glances over towards the gunman, satisfied with the growing dark brown wet spot on his jersey, she instead steps over the back of the couch to try and push a booted foot down against the 'tabled' gangsters shoulder-blade so as to push him painfully into the coffee table. "Maybe I give you drugs... I let you see how it is feeling to be addicted to your product? Maybe then we go to hell for a year... and you learn about real pain as I systematically destroy your soul and will to live. So you tell me anything I want to know, just so I will kill you." 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn doesn't hesitate to flick on the lights, although she's already caught a glimpse of things she'd rather not see. "Oh. Ew. You guys...Seriously?" she clears her throat, evading her gaze as she waits for them to (hopefully) get dressed. "Look, just hurry and get dressed and get out of here. You can use the back door. This place isn't safe.." she does look 'em over briefly, only enough to ascertain whether they are high on drugs too, or if there is any powder in this room as well. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' The flat of the Soulsword smacks into the head of the man on the couch. It makes a wet crunching sound on impact. The man is knocked over half-over the armrest of the couch but his legs are still trapped between the couch and coffee table. His body twitches and jerks. "What the fuck? Crazy a cadela," the man stuck over the coffee table shouts and lapses out English as he struggles to get out from under Illyana. "Eu vou te transformar em minha prostituta e cortar sua porra de garganta!" His right hand goes into his jeans pocket for something. The woman in the bedroom freezes as she bends over to pick up her yoga pants. She just stares at Pixie. The man snarls. He steps onto the bed and charges for Pixie. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' The heel of Illyana's boot grinds into the section of the back above the shoulders, but below the neck, pushing painfully downward against the glass, "Is it necessary to stress your swearing words in English and then talk in spanish?" The tip of her Soulsword jabs down towards the elbow on the hand going for whatever's in his pocket. "I need you to be thinking very long and very hard about implications of word: Nemesis. The inescapable agent of someone's downfall... in this case, specific to your circumstances, is you..." She might not be heavy, but she puts all her weight down on both the sword pushing at his elbow and the foot against his shoulder blades, kneeling closer so her long white-blonde hair is dangling like a pin-straight curtain. "Do not making me work for this, human.. I am not lazy... I am very willing to take you to very bad places and do very bad things to you, but for your sanity, and your soul... just tell me what it is I am wanting to know... or they will not find enough parts of you to identify." 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn narrows her eyes as she focuses upon the MD12 tattoo on the man's face. "Seriously, what's with the tattoos, anyway?" and then suddenly he's charging at her. Pixie yelps, attempting to dart to the side, quickly summoning her glowing pink soul dagger - not nearly as powerful as Illy's own sword, but still quite effective when needed. She attempts to stab him with it, wherever she can. It can't kill him or seriously harm him, but may just give him a bad headache, or stun him if she's lucky. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' Illyana's Soulsword clinks against something hard in the Drug's pocket. His answer is a snarl. He tries to jerk himself onto his side to loosen Illyana's boot and grabs for her sword arm at the same time. Megan's swipe at Boxers connects and she steps sideways out of the door way into the hall. Boxers comes out of the bedroom right after. He is grimacing and his left is closed. He presses one hand to his shaved head. "Cadela!" he shouts and charges Megan again. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana breaths out a slow sigh when the gangster grabs her wrist and she doesn't even try to prevent him doing so. It gives an illusion of control, which he does not actually have and could not actually take from her. The weapon would vanish in his hand, even if he were able to wrench it from from hers, which she doubted... Not with her other fist swinging in a dropping down punch aimmed from the exposed side of his jaw. "Does this make you feel in control? Do you think maybe you will escape me?" Her fist swings down at him again, whether either hit is immaterial to her. She literally has all day to beat on him. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn stumbles out of the bedroom and frowns. "Geez, so bloody persistent.." she mutters. As he charges her, she brings up her dagger to attempt to block his next strike, countering with a well placed kick aimed at his groin. "I guess we'll have to do this the hard way then...!" 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' Illyana lands a truly solid punch to Drug's face that leaves blood pouring from his mouth. Several teeth clatter to the coffee table. And he absolutely loses his business. Pure, animal, blackout rage strikes him. He tries to drag Ilyana down off her feet toward him and thrashes. He yells without any words at all. Just incoherent rage. Boxes tries to tackle Megan in the narrow hallway. Her kick catches him squarely in the groin. He trips over his own feet at the point and topples into Megan out of control, clutching already at his injured member. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Good, let him get his licks in. Illyana rolls with the tug of her arm, twisting her shoulders across the surface of the coffee table where Drug's might get his half pound of flesh, all the while she's laughing in near hysterics. When she's had enough humor from this wretched gangster, when she's laughed herself past the point of intoxication, then she pushes with the foot she was kneeling upon him with to hurl him away. She pulls herself up off the table and stalks after him, "Alright, you do not want to talk here... This is understandable. You think you have control, that your rage can somehow stop me.. that you are not just a human and I am not a Queen of Hell... how could you know?" She doesn't have to touch him. She doesn't even have to be in the same room as him. She just has to know where he is to teleport them both. Teleport him and herself to Limbo... where he has no control. Where his rage is laughable in the face of the power she commands in her own realm. It is going to be a very long couple weeks for him. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn's eyes widen in surprise as Boxer guy stumbles into her. This time, she is unable to dart out of the way in the narrow hallway, and she stumbles to the ground, her dagger skipping across the floor, just out of her reach. "Heey, no faiir!" Megan struggles to climb out from under him, stretching for her dagger. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' Boxers is doubled over on the floor. He makes no move toward Megan but his face is turning quickly redder. His eyes more murderous than sane. He is held back the pain and the instinctual need to protect his manhood. For now. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Time does not flow in the same way in Limbo. Days are seconds, weeks a collection of them, and years meer moments in time. Illyana left at 8 and came back thirty minutes later 16.. There is no real explanation for it except that eternity is a very, very long time. When the pair appear in the dark realm of the Darkchylde, Drug's is beset upon by the full visage of th Demon Queen. Standing tall in her black armor, horns sprout from her pale flesh, and claws capping each thin finger... what he learns there is the definition of pain and suffering. Addiction? Childrens stories. Loss? Small glimps of things he'll never be able to appreciate again. For a week she shows him all of it. Tears him down to his base parts, (physically in some instances) and rearranges him into a servant of her own designs. About as human as he ever was moral... When the pair of them return only seconds after they vanish, she's clutching his neck like a woman holding back a hound. "You will let your boss know that I am coming to find him, da? If you make me find you, next time it will be a month... a year... six.. What is three minutes to me?" She shoves at him and glances down the hallway at Pixie struggling with Boxers.. "Stop playing with food and DO something about him... or I will." 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn climbs quickly to her feet and summons her dagger back into her hand. "Alright, that's enough of that.." She assesses boxer guy's injuries, which don't seem very serious. But geez, he just keeps on coming. With a frown, she quickly darts towards him as he struggles on the floor, and attempts to grab him by the shoulders if she can, and slam his head against the wall before he can get his bearings again. "Sorry, one way trip.." Summoning her souldagger to reappear in her hand once more, this time she goes for a direct attack, attempting to stab the dagger right in his head. It's not very solid really, and wont *kill* him, but with a direct attack to his head, it may just cause even more pain, or if she's lucky, it may just knock him out cold. When Illy vanishes and reappears in a matter of seconds, she just eyerolls at her. "Heey, whaddaya think I'm doing, playing here?" she arches a brow at her guy however, shaking her head. She'd better not get on *her* bad side.. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' Drugs looks down. "I understand," he says quietly, meekly even. Something in the man's eyes makes him look shattered. A sad mockery of a former member of one of the world's most savage narco-death gangs. Boxers is starting to push himself up but is not recovered yet. Megan smashes his head into the wall and then stabs him with her blade. He goes limp instantly and collapses to the floor. "What the fuck did you do?! Holy fuck, holy fuck, they're gonna kill all of us!" says the woman from the bedroom. She is starting at Megan from the doorway, now dressed in her yoga pants and a dirty yellow tanktop. 

:'''{{#var:145|Illyana Rasputin (145)}} has posed:''' Illyana stalks away from her broken puppet in the direction of Megan, looking in the room at the collapsed gangster in his boxers and the screaming woman on the bed... She fixes this woman with a hard stare.. a withering stare. "Shut up." Then looks to Pixie, "We should go now. Message is sent." Holding out a hand to lay upon the pink haired mutants shoulder, unless she jerks away. Prepared to teleport them both back to the mansion. 

:'''{{#var:248|Megan Gwynn (248)}} has posed:''' Megan Gwynn sighs, relaxing as the man collapses. Hopefully he just zonked out and her somewhat unpredictable dagger didn't do something worse, as it's prone to do from time to time. "Relax, he's just taking a nap.." she shrugs and smiles, "You should probably get out of here and never come back to this place again..It's not safe. You're lucky you didn't die or something worse.." she glances over at Illy and nods with a slight smile. "Alright, mission accomplished! Let's go.." she could teleport herself, but her skill with that particular spell is still pretty new and unpredictable.. 

:'''{{#var:356|Wilson Fisk (356)}} has posed:''' The two mutants vanish from the apartment leaving behind a very confused woman, a broken Drugs and an unconscious Boxers. The body on the couch has stopped twitching. It is several hours before anyone calls the police. By then, the drugs, Drugs and the woman are gone. Boxer is found on the floor and taken to hospital. 
}}

8735/Undercurrents: Rocket Rogue Ice Cream is Best

2019-08-11T05:07:03Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/11 |Location=Baskin Robbins, Salem Centre, Westchester, New York |Synopsis=Rogue is ambushed while out for ice cream with Psylocke, Jubilee..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/11
|Location=Baskin Robbins, Salem Centre, Westchester, New York
|Synopsis=Rogue is ambushed while out for ice cream with Psylocke, Jubilee and Negasonic Teenage Warhead. It goes badly for the attackers. The mutants learn someone is taking out contracts on a bunch of them.
|Thanks=Rogue, Jubilee, Psylocke, Negasonic Teenage Warhead
|Cast of Characters=1798,16,281,18,59
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' It is not the nicest of nights. The day had been rainy, for the first time in weeks. The rain let up, but the streets are still wet. The slightly cooler temperatures mean Baskin Robbins is not as crowded tonight as usual. The four from Xavier's were more than able to get a table. The two girls working behind the counter spent more of their time talking than doing anything else. And the flavour of the month is butterscotch tart. "Check your rounds, and count off when you're ready. You know the target," says a man's voice with a British accent over the comms. "The one with the goggles is on the list, too. Don't waste ammo on the others if they're not in the way." A series of voices call back by number. "Okay. Give her the cherry on top," the British man says. There is a single, massive gunshot that echoes through the streets from a second story window across the street from Baskin Robbins. A single .50 calibre round flies through the front window, over the heads of a pair of teens on a date and slams into Rogue's temple. "Damage report?" the British man calls out on the radio. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue is putting her empty ice cream cup into the trash can when the attack comes. She's got a smile on her because of some of the banter that had been said, or been in the process of being said, and when the window cracks and the bullet slaps the side of her head? The damage is... her hair wafts a bit around her shoulder, and the bullet clatters to the ground at her feet and rolls over toward the counter where the register is. Rogue just looks up and over to the window. She sees the hole in the glass, then she looks over to her friends at the table. "Someone just shot me." She says to them in disbelief. "Someone actually just shot me, in the head..." With that said, Rogue starts to move toward the front doors, with a purpose in her stride! 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' Ellie was up getting a second ice cream to go in shake form, because hell if she isn't taking advantage of being off the grounds and not getting more ice cream. The snarky angry teen actually was laughing at the witty commentary when everything goes pear shaped. Why do people say pear shaped, where did this metaphor come from, why are pears bad shapes. Her shake gets thrown in alarm right on of the girls working behind the counter, seriously not on purpose as she wanted that shake pretty bad a moment ago but it is better than her throwing an explosive charge anywhere. "They what...?" she looks around at the window and then at Rogue marching out. "... oh." though to her nonbulletproof credit she ducks and moves to the side in case the sniper is after all of them. Letting Rogue make a target and go first. 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' " - swimsuit edition," Betsy Braddock is in mid-rant, or as much of rant as someone speaking with such a refined accent can muster, "But it's all about ''instagram'' followers, if you'll believe ''that'' - ridiculous, I know, but they don't - " Her head jerks to the side as the window shatters and Rogue declares she was shot at, all at once. Her immediate response is to fall into a crouch, not quite so bullet proof herself and half-expecting more bullets to start flying. The air about her shimmers as she erects a hasty telekinetic shield, maintaining cover even as she tries to stick with Rogue and move towards the doors behind her. She doesn't pause to check if anyone is injured, nor does she try to help out anyone in danger. Her first instinct is ''fight'' as the assassin within (or without - semantics!) focuses her mind. "Can you see where it came from?" Does Rogue have super-vision or something? Betsy doesn't quite know, but it seems like something she'd have with the flying and strength and invulnerability and what not. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee is dangling a cherry above her lips by the stem and lowering it slowly into her mouth when the sound of the bullet interrupts her. She looks around, her hair bouncing in an array of curls around her brass goggles atop her head. "Ladies. Get down, don't make yourself a target!" Her cherry hits the table uneaten, and bounces, then rolls away. She quickly looks up at the hole in the window and pulls down her goggles to protect her eyes. "Showtime! Avert your eyes..." She sends a single flickering white plasmoid out through the bullet hole in the glass. She lifts her hands quickly, and the glimmering spark explodes into a blinding light in front of the shop. People outside are warned away and sent running in other directions, and partially obscures the parlor from anyone trying to target Rogue. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Damn it," whispers the sniper in the darkened second story window across the street. "Looks like she's pissed now!" He readies another shot for Rogue's chest. The sudden blinding light causes him to jerk just as he was pulling the trigger and the bullet goes wide. It glances off Betsy's shield and wedges itself into the wall. "What the hell?" the first young lady behind the counter yells at Negasonic in shock. Then Jubilee is yelling. The second grabs her shake covered compatriot and pulls her down to the ground behind the counter. The handful of other people in the shop do the same. "Right, cue it up, she's at the doors, 3... 2... 1... Fire in the hole!" the British man says over the comms. Shaped claymores go off just after Rogue steps or flies out of the store. There is a huge fireball that blows out from the against the ice cream parlour walls, sending concussive force lobbing anything loose over the row of parked cars into the street. The explosion envelopes Rogue. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue looks back over her shoulder after seeing and 'feeling' things outside, her Seventh Sense (actual +sheet skill) was tingling for her own safety. "Everyone, get down!" She shouts behind her, knowing Betsy was coming with her though and thats the only one she knew likely could if something bad were really about to happen like she felt it was. When the next shot rings out and zips past her, Rogue looks back to Betsy and the shield, then Jubilee's plasmoid explosion and she shields her eyes from the bright light of it. "Psylocke." Rogue says, her eyes looking out across the way. "We got incoming." Its then that the big explosion happens, it wraps around her and truly does envelope her in flame and debris! The chaos is like a true warzone in the middle of the otherwise sleepy city of Salem Center. But to the likely great dismay of the men (and women?) who just fired that explosive weapon at her, she emerges from it. Like an Arnold movie, Rogue walks right out of the fire with nary a scratch on her. Just her clothing on fire and burning up around her shoulders and legs. But she's ignoring the flames on her clothing, her eyes are forward on the source of the attack. Out of the explosion fully now, she starts to advance toward the people who just shot at her, lunging up into the air with both of her fists forward she shoots straight at them like a bullet out of a gun herself. 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' Rogue does not have to tell her to get down. She was already getting, going low and trying to get out of the view of those gloriously big windows so people can look in at all the ice cream. She also does not apologize to the person she threw her shake on. This counts as mitigating circumstances. "Think it is just one shooter?" Which is when everything blows up in a fireball out front where Rogue just stepped. The concussive force is not cool to watch hit a friend. Not cool at all. You would think Ellie would be use to it, but she isn't since when she does it the force is all directed outwards at people she wants to blow up, not teammates. "Mugglefucker." Someone is going to be very sorry once she figures out what to blow up. 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' "Rather!" Psylocke calls back to Rogue, opening her mouth to say something else when her friend is suddenly engulfed in an explosive ball of flame. Her shield strengthens momentarily around her, protecting her from the debris even at so close a range. About her fist, a blade of what looks like violet energy begins to manifest itself. She can't reach out to sense where the enemies may be without lowering the shield, so instead she simply climbs to her feet and charges out through the clearing smoke to follow Rogue into the danger zone. She's still blinking away the residual sparklies in her eyes after Jubilee's fireworks display, but that doesn't make the shadows any harder to spot. She darts for them quickly, looking to stay out of sight even as they begin to swallow her up. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee keeps the light burning in front of the store, but she moves toward the doors, looking for a shot at whoever is shooting. As the explosion detonates, she pauses only briefly, her eyes already shielded from the brightness of the blast, and she charges outside in its wake, tearing off her goggles to try and spot a shooter, looking up the the windows across the street for any clue. The brilliance of the light flickers but holds, as she looks for Rogue through the fire, then up and down the street, bewildered. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "You should see the look on sweetie's face," the face sniper chuckles into the radio. He drops the rifle, backs up from the window and drops flat on the floor with his hands covering his head. "Rifles!" the British man orders. Six men pop up from cover behind parked cars, three on each side of the store about 25 feet out. They are carrying bizarre looking white and blue rifles. Professionals, they are already sighting when they pop up. Blue plasma blasts lance out from the rifles at Rogue. They are bright enough to give their own added shine to the street. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue knows that Betsy is likely with her, but she's also aware that the others are likely a bit jammed up behind the other side of that fireball in front of the store. But ultimately, she's just seeing red now (like the song says) and she's rushing at the men who are coming up from behind the cars with their fancy nerd guns. One thing about the Southern Belle, she's not that interested in what kind of cover these Call of Duty fanboys think they have. So she just flies right into the car that the nearest group is hiding behind, her intention is simple, slam the car into them, crush them if she has to... Rogue teeters on the 'no killing' rule as it stands, and when there are armed gunmen putting other people at risk? She starts to slide further and further toward the 'well they had it coming' answer to that rule's question. She slams right into the car they're hiding behind, and then lands on her feet, the fire on her clothes mostly out now, as the plasma blasts from the other gunment start pelting her body knocking even more of her clothing off, but otherwise doing absolutely nothing to her. She turns, toward those left standing now... 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' Ellie has been in a lot of danger room simulations and this isn't that different. Also several actual fights. I mean this is better than Sentinels right. It is the first ice cream themed fight though. She edges along to the windows, pretty much blown out from the explosion even if it was aimed outwards. Okay while those odds are probably still in Rogue's favor, it is kind of a jerk move to gang up on her like that. She dips her hand down, counts to three and hurls a kintetc blast at one of the guys and the cover he is behind. That is only a few tons of explosive blast in the snoot. "Eat shit asshole" mouthy. 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' In the flickering firelight left behind by the sudden explosion, Psylocke makes good use of the gathering shadows. She keeps a low profile, ducking out of the way of the gunfire that seems to be aiming entirely at Rogue, anyway. She'll have to buy another expensive bottle of bourbon for her favourite bullet sponge. As she approaches a particularly thick shadow, it seems to grow even darker around her and after a moment she disappears into it entirely. She moves through it, transporting herself somewhere a little more advantageous. When she emerges, it's behind one of the fancy rifle-armed gunmen. Her shield lowers as she lifts her fist, driving the point of the telekinetic blade in her fist directly into the small of the man's back. "Surprise." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Moving to Rogue's left, Jubilee lifts her hands, gritting her teeth with a visceral scream as a plume of blue plasma the size of a Volkswagen engulfs another car, and the shooters behind it. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' These mercenaries are professional soldiers, that much is clear. But they are not metahuman hunters. None were prepared for the ferocity of the counter-attack. Rogue flies into a Tercel. The struts snap and the wheels fold in when it hits the curb and keeps going. The man on the other side fired right over Rogue before the impact and had no time for anything else. He is lifted off his feet by the car moving sideway. There is a wet crunch when the car hits the concrete wall of the building behind him, with the mercenary in between. Blood drips out onto the sidewalk from between the vehicle and wall. Ellie's explosion is similarly unexpected. The mercenary behind the white Civic is tracking on Rogue when the explosion hits the car. The car lurches sideways, hits the curb and rolls over. It lands on top of the mercenary who screams and scrabbles helplessly at the sidewalk with his hands, but gets nowhere with the Honda on the lower half of his body. The spinal nerve root, between L5 and S1. Psylocke knows it well. Her blade cuts through the back of the man's tactical vest just above his belt and severs the nerves. The mercenary arches backwards then drops as his legs completely fail him. He drops his rifle on the way down. "My legs! I can't feel my fucking legs!" he yells, panicked and in pain. Jubilee's plasma... Mass... does not so much hit the Ford pickup truck the mercenary is using for cover. It washes over it like a searing tide. The plasma melts through the near side of the truck and its interior. The mercenary, his top half exposed over the truck bed, takes blue plasma to the side and falls smoking and half melted to the ground. "That about proves that. Clear out," the British man says over the comms. The man on the second floor of the building across from the ice cream parlour, crawls out of the room he is in on his belly, not daring to make a sound or pop his head up where it can be seen through the window. The remaining shooter on the right of the store turns and makes a run for an alley a few feet away. The other drops his rifle and puts up his hands. He backs away slowly from the car in front of him. "Pussy," the British man mutters over the radio. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue watches her teammates deal out the damage to the others and although she has a great suspicion that Scott and... Xavier, aren't gonna like the reaction they just gave to this surprise attack, it can't be argued that their reseponse was effective in getting these people... stopped. When the last man standing close to her drops his weapon and raises his hands, Rogue walks right over toward him and she grabs onto his clothing by the collar/chest and just throws him onto the sidewalk so that he'll slide across it several feet before she walks over toward him. She straddles him and crouches down to sit down on his stomach. The Belle then leans forward, her own attire all manner of tattered, her gloves even burned clean off. She tugs the man up by his shoulders and looks into his eyes, her wild two-toned hair blowing in the wind. "We're gonna be best... friends. You'n me." She says to him then, her smoky voice matching the thick smoke in the air all around them. 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' "Okay. That maybe should have been a one or two second charge.. they aren't giant robots." she is mostly talking to herself as she peers out the window. Okay it looks like the remaining people are captured now from her vantage point. It is probably not a good idea to throw more explosions out onto the street. Honestly thank goodness for all the smoke and people running away. Maybe no one saw what just happened or has it on cellphone cameras. 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' "Quiet." Betsy's words are less a request and more a telepathic suggestion to the man currently screaming at her feet about his severed spinal cord, finding that 'on' switch in his brain and flicking it to 'off' so he can just sleep through the worst of the pain. That done, she lets her telekinetic power ebb into the background and instead stretches out telepathically to try and locate anymore minds with hostile intent. Around her eyes, a purple butterfly begins to shimmer into view - the hallmark of her abilities. <They look like they're retreating,> her voice speaks directly into the heads of her fellow mutants, she glances down at the man at her feet, <we might need an ambulance.> 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Dude...calm down. You act like you never saw plasma before," Jubilee chides as she approaches the plasma shooter whose armour is melted on one side. "Uh...dude?" She approaches the guy, still smouldering, and toes him with one boot. "Dude? Please don't be dead." In her head, Jubilee hears something like a staticky CB radio. <KsshhhLook ksshhh treatingksshhh.> She looks up and around for Betsy. "I don't care who's treating, I can't think about ice cream at a time like this..I mighta just killed a guy..." She toes him again. "Melty. Dude. Get. Up." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The merc Rogue throws skitters across the ground to a stop some distance away. He groans in pain. His eyes widen when Rogue pulls him toward her. He grimaces and turns his face away. He makes no attempt to do anything to the super mutant or try to get out of her grip. Behind Negasonic, the two girls working in the store are telling the few people inside to come with them out the back door. A quick glance over the shoulder is enough to confirm that taking pictures is the last thing on the minds of any of these people. They want /away/. The man pinned under the rolled over car passes out. The one at Psylocke's feet goes quiet instantly at her telepathic command. Sadly, the man behind the pickup truck is truely baked. If he is alive, he will not be for very much longer. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue stands up and takes the Mercenary up with her. She turns to Betsy and drags him over to her where she drops him off. "Psylocke." She says. "Get everything outta their heads that ya can. I'm gonna go..." She looks back over toward the one that she hit with the car. "I'm gonna go see if that guy is still breathin', if so I'll take'im t'the hospital. Its just a few blocks from here." Rogue then rights herself, and with her tattered clothing all kinds of a mess, she looks over to Negasonic. "N.T!" She gets Ellie's attention. "Is that guy you hit a goner?" She asks as she starts to jog to the one she'd downed first. "Check his pulse!" She says further then. 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' "I mean.. he may be in a wheelchair but I am sure he isn't dead." she hopes. She slides out of the icecream shop through the whole no window .. window .. and jogs to check on him. "He is going to need a lot of morphine but he is just unconscious.. definitely needs medical attention. Also cops are likely coming right..." she finishes checking the pulse. 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' "Right-o," Betsy says almost nonchalantly, crouching down alongside the unconscious man at her feet and placing a hand over his face. Immediately she begins to dig through his brain, using the benefit of the subconscious rising to the surface to pull out whatever useful tidbits about their identities and associations to the surface. The butterfly about her face beats its wings in time with her heartbeat, her eyes closed as she focuses intently on the task assigned her. She glances up after a moment. "I'd rather not be on the evening news. I've got a career I'm trying to reinvigorate." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Dude?" This time is is more of a plaintive plea as she toes Half-Baked one last time. "Well, shit." She gets down on her knees beside him and feels for a pulse. It's there, but faint. She pulls out her cell phone and hits a contact, and sits staring at the man blankly for a moment, then perks up. Then looks crestfallen. "Hi, Josh...It's me. Um...we got ambushed. It's contained now. But it's...I think this guy is dying. He tried to kill Rogue. They all did. But this guy, I hit...and he got melty. And I don't know if you're up to this, or if you need some time, or...like I don't know what to do. And I hate calling you. But I know if I don't then you'll ask why I didn't. But y'know...if you want to, or feel like you can...he could use some help. I know he's a bad guy but...I mean I don't know what to do. If you get this in time...We're over in front of the B--" There is a beep and the call disconnects. "Damn it!" She calls again, and waits...then quickly says "Baskin Robbins!" and hangs up. Quick and to the point was never her strong point, either. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Betsy has no trouble rooting through the minds of the mercenaries they have that are alive. Their stories are all the same. Devon Johnson, a merc they have each come across over the years, took a contract through Mr. Wilks at the Continental. Mr. Wilks is old as dirt and acts as a middle man and escrow. The Continental is in Gotham and comes with a whole host of forebodding and rules and stories of very powerful people disappearing for breaking the rules inside the place. Betsy probably already knows all about it from her previous days. The Continental has hotels in major cities all over the world and is one of the few remaining neutral grounds in the age of superheroes. The job was to test Rogue, and take out anyone else on a list of target they have seen if seen anywhere in town; Josh Foley, Doug Ramsey, Jubilation Lee, Wanda Maximoff, Hank McCoy, Samuel Guthrie, Armor. They have no idea where to find these people other than that Rogue has been seen often enough in Westchester. They have been staking out the area for a week waiting for a sighting. The rifles were the main point of the test, to see if they would work on Rogue. The contract included instructions on where to find them, a dead drop in Port Newark. In the distance, sirens start up. It sounds like the police have finally got the message. Jubilee's guy needs a lift to the hospital if he is going to live, and even then. The nearest is Salem Centre. The others who are alive will survive until ambulances arrive. 

:'''{{#var:281|Negasonic (281)}} has posed:''' Having finished checking her guy out she stands, stretches... pauses... ducks back down and comes back up with one of the plasma rifles. "Yoink." turning it over slowly in her hands. "Okay right. These are totally Atlantean.. also I'm keeping it... and that sounds like the fuzz we should splitzky." 

:'''{{#var:18|Betsy Braddock (18)}} has posed:''' Betsy furrows her brow as she pulls forth the information from the unconscious mercenary, disseminating it telepathically amongst the rest of the group even if Jubilee's shields do rebuff a chunk of it. Someone needs to invest in a telepathic antenna or something. "Come on, come on," she beckons quickly to the rest of the group as she nears some particularly thick shadows. Who needs a fuzzy blue elf when you have a body-swapped purple Englishwoman for all your teleporting needs? Once they're close enough, the shadows are suddenly a door leading back to the safety of the Mansion. 
}}

8733/Undercurrents: Striking Stockholm

2019-08-11T05:06:25Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/11 |Location=Arkham Asylum, Gotham |Synopsis=A plan to free and hunt down Stockholm goes sideways when Batman and Batgirl show up. Batgirl..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/11
|Location=Arkham Asylum, Gotham
|Synopsis=A plan to free and hunt down Stockholm goes sideways when Batman and Batgirl show up. Batgirl and Stockholm take out mercenaries who are after Stockholm. Batman squares off against Bane!
|Thanks=Stockholm, Batman, Batgirl
|Cast of Characters=100,7698,104,1134
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Do not waste my time," the large man in the metal mask says to the assembled group. "I will have Stockholm. If she lives that long." The four men, all seasoned mercenaries, nod to their commander. One stays on the roof with a clear view of Arkham, the other three follow the masked man through a rooftop door and down the stairs. The masked man climbs into the passenger side of a black sedan. One of the mercenaries gets into the driver's side and they drive off out of sight. The remaining man jogs down the dark, poorly lit street. The roads are damp from an earlier rain and this area of Gotham receives little traffic at this time of night. Too many have learned the cost of being near the infamous Arkham. This last man, in brown fatigues and a tactical vest, judges his distance from Arkham and drops a glock in the street. Further up the road, he hops into a old, rusty pickup truck and pulls it into the middle of the road. He climbs out, leaving the keys in the ignition and the driver's door open. After that he runs back down the block, around the corner of a brick building and leans against the wall. He checks his watch. 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... A rocket leaves a smokey trail through the night from the rooftop to a point on the second storey of the asylum. It explodes, ripping a hole that exploses a cell containing a lone woman. A charge goes off under the nearest point of the wall and a second later, a lamppost. The asylum wall crumples in a section four feet wide. The lamppost creaks and falls toward the asylum, slamming into the edge of the hole ripped into the building. A small dust cloud rises into the already misty air from the wall. Alarms start to go off inside Arkham. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Julia hasn't even been back twenty four hours at this point but she is back in her old cell. Routines is something the Doctors encourage. Routine. Stability. Heavy doses of drugs. You know Asylum life. Which honestly is only made worse when you have a concussion. It was not very exciting that someone was waking her up every two hours to make sure she didn't die in her sleep. Sure it was better than the alternative but come on, that is not restful and how are you supposed to recover from a broken arm and a concussion when you keep getting woken up. Also the painkillers and sedatives make you sleepy. How can you tell if you are waking up easy ... okay so basically Julia has a lot of complaints. She is in her cell though when the explosion detonates the wall and showers her with shrapnel and debris. "Sweet Ceasers fucking ghost people..." she yelps in alarm as she is thrown off her bed and into the wall by the blast, coughing in the dust there. When she gets a clear view of the lightpole having neatly fallen through the hole now in the wall and presenting a method of escape she actually pauses. "This is .. way too precise to be Harls... I mean the luck involved in pulling that off could be Domino.... maybe it is Mr. Shadowy backlit guy..." it is interesting enough that she sluggishly gets to her feet and wipes some blood with her only good hand off her face. She is going to need some more stitches from the rocket. Also while she is talking to herself, it isn't like her ears aren't ringing. She edges along to peer down the lightpole and then around, really she is looking for someone familiar while she gives herself at least a moment to stop coughing. 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' High above Gotham City, using the smattering of rain clouds as cover, an aircraft painted in black with no obvious registry number circles in a holding pattern. The red low-light glow of the instrumentation is cast against and empty pilot's seat as the plane's sophisticated on-board computer takes control of the stick and makes the course corrections required. In the cabin itself, an LCD screen displays satellite footage of Arkham Asylum in real time - smoke curling skyward from the sudden explosion. Batman turns away from the screen, wearing what amounts to his normal batsuit save for a few additions. The cape itself has been drawn up and tied into place about his waist, and over it is a canvas backpack that looks to be a parachute of some sort. The lower half of his face is concealed as well, a breathing apparatus of some sort connected by a hose to a miniaturized tank affixed tightly to the straps across his chest. As the underside of the cabin begins to open, the wind roars as it rushes out and the alarm klaxon announces the sudden depressurization. It's a jump he's done a thousand times, but he turns his eyes momentarily to Batgirl as his voice rasps out through the apparatus'. "Open on my signal. If you have trouble, say something. Don't try to fix it yourself. On my mark. Three. Two. One." And just like that he steps backwards, falling through the opening in the bottom of the plane and plummeting down towards the Asylum far below. 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl had recently taken her first airplane flight of her life courtesy of Batman. Actually it probably should not count as an airplane ride given that Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet is more of a adaptable space ship than it is a plane. But it was fun. There was nothing about jumping out of said vehicles included though. So when the alert went up with Batgirl there at the Batcave, and the Batwing was the fastest way to cover the distance, she'd run with Batman to board the futuristic looking plane before it took off, climbing high into the night sky. The short time of the flight was spent familiarizing herself with the equipment she would be wearing for the first time. Yes she'd done the simulation. Twice. If you count the one that was aborted by the arrival of pizza. Batgirl fits the mask from her HALO rig over her face and checks the air. "Right," she replies to Batman, keeping it simple. She walks over with him to where the bottom of the jet seems to just open up into dark space. "I got this. Jumping off things is sort of my specialty, so how much different can jumping out of really be?" she says before forgetting to mute her comms. As Batman steps into the hole, Batgirl does as well. Buffeted by the wind at first, she immediately begins using her hands to control her direction, and soon orients herself head first. From the sky above Arkham, the two dark figures rush towards the ground at mind-numbing speeds. https://i.imgur.com/Hqdhssu.jpg 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' From her cell, Julia can see the lamppost is propped against the rubble of a section of the exterior wall and leads right to the pavement. There is nobody in sight. She can just make out a handgun lying in the street near the lamppost, and a 100 feet further on, a rusty mocha brown Nissan pickup truck. It looks like it had spent the last few years of its life sitting in someone's yard. The overhead imagery from the Batplane is spotty with the clouds, but it is clear enough in fits and spurts. A hole in the wall. A lamppost down to the ground from it. A truck in the street with its door open. IR is useless from that height with the amount of moisture in the air. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' "Is this Ed's work?" referring to Enigma her head cocked to the side as she looks around. "Well no stupid riddles..." there is a dark frown at the damp lightpole. "Crap." inhaling a deep breath her ears still ringing. "This could have waited a few days until I am not so damn dizzy and vague..." she chuffs angrily. Only someone crazy would be pissed about a breakout. Then again she is not anywhere near her tip top shape. She carefully tests the lightpole with her Arkham slipon 'sneakered' foot, no laces or ability to make them weapons. "Don't shoot me .. don't shoot me... don't shoot me." is her mantra as she nimbly hops up on the lightpole and starts down it. This is when the fact she is an Olympic level gymnast and practiced parkourist pays off, not to mention a bit of a metagene she isn't aware of. Which means she gets to the street without dying, well unless she is shot by a random guard. She hops off the pole, crouches and starts to head towards the gun and truck. "Who the fuck did this..." reaching up to wipe more blood out of her eyes from the scalp wound. Stupid sharp stone walls. 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' As the Bat plummets down from the firmament, he draws his arms close to his sides to provide as little resistance as possible against the onrushing air. The eyelets of his cowl whir, cycling through multiple light spectrums to find the one most ideal for the environment. If he weren't used to it by now, the rush might be too intense - thermographic, low-light, low-frequency all flicker as the cowl's lenses sense and adapt. Finally, a match is found and as the clouds part before him the battlefield is laid out like it were bathed in the noonday sun. "Looks like an escape attempt," Batman relays over the comm to Batgirl, "Rocket-propelled explosives. Suggests military-grade hardware. Plan of attack?" Even as they freefall towards Arkham below, the Dark Knight puts the onus on his student. Graduated she may be, the lessons never stop. 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl drops through the black of night like a missile, a little above and further to the side of Batman. She has her comms off for the moment, so the goofy giggle of delight isn't picked up by anyone. Well, anyone except Oracle possibly, who probably has comms on her suit that Stephanie cannot turn off. She does stuff like that. Batgirl flips her comms back on as she hears Batman. "Vehicle probably has more military gear inside. You take it while I go after the escapee," she says after a moment's thought and deciding which seems likely to be the larger threat at the moment. She starts guiding her dive to take her over towards the escaping figure that is just starting to become visible to them. The height is being eaten up by the seconds, her HUD altimeter showing how quickly they are near the point to deploy their chutes. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' There are no yells from nearby residents. Nobody pokes their head out of their windows. They know all too well what can happen. A few lights actually flick out. The man up against the wall nearby looks at the building he came out of, another 50 feet further away from where Julia is and nods. He brings his handgun up and moves quietly in a combat combat crouch along the sidewalk in Julia's direction. She is about 100 feet from him and he is 200 feet from the truck in the middle of the street. There are parked cars, some with impound boots on their tires, on the street. The crack of a single rifle shot echoes down the street. The man who shot the rocket to blow open the cell wall is now inside the lobby of the decript apartment building he used as a firing position. He has taken out the lights in there and fires through the glass from behind a wood and iron bench. There is a zing and hiss about a foot away from Julia where the round hits the concrete. She cannot miss it. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Did you know concussions can cause haloing around lights at night partially messing with your ability to see great in the dark. Julia could tell you about that. When the rifle round zings and hisses away from her like that, she is not entirely convinced that was a miss vs. just fucking with her. She has pretty good instincts. "This is not funny! I totally called don't she me earlier ..." like the mantra was some sort of binding rule of reality, it isn't. This is good for the dump of adrenaline though. She is not bullet proof or super endurant. No she is super agile and fast. Well not super like super human but still she is not bulletproof. She is may be out of her batgirl pajamas after intake last night but the standard Arkham issue uniform is not bulletproof. She jigjags to make herself a harder target trying to keep one eye on the gun left in the road and the other to spot the shooters. She is honestly doing as best she can with her arm in a cast in a sling and tries to close the distance to scoop up the gun left on the road, god damnit it is probably a trap but she is unarmed. "This Better Not be Kraven or Castle!" she notes alarmed. 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' "Got it." For all the time Batman spends giving orders, when he receives them he manages to follow along without complaint or suggestion. He put Batgirl in command of this op, and he has no intention of undermining it. Nevertheless, he wordlessly brings her mask-cam feed up as a picture-in-picture on his HUD - if anything goes awry, he's not too far from stepping in. Near enough to the ground now, his parachute opens. There's nothing ostentatious about it. Simply grey-black silk that almost matches the hue of the Gotham night sky. There are no lights or other indicators that he is coming, only the sinister glow of his cowls eyepieces. The parachute catches enough air to grow taut and his fall slows suddenly, leaving terminal velocity. He continues to fall until he is close enough to the ground, the backpack suddenly unhooking as he undoes the knot of his cape and lets it suspend him for the remainder of the fall. The breathing mask still attached, he plummets towards the car to land atop it with the screeching, crunching protest of metal. First step, check if there is anyone still inside. His thermographic sensors activate with a whine, peering down beneath him at the car. In his other hand he draws a small black explosive device from his belt, planting it firmly on the roof but not arming it just yet. The whirr of the bullet draws his attention, and he barks through the sub-vocal mic. "Shooter down the block. Don't make yourself a target." 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl's oxygen mask retracts once her altitude is low enough, and then her chute pops almost in tandem with that of Batman. She steers it towards the figure who is quickly becoming recognizable. The cape crimefighter's jaw sets in a determined way as she confirms it is Stockholm. The beating that was taken saving the bank teller is on her mind, but Batgirl pushes it to the back of her head as she shot ricochets off the pavement. Still gliding in, Batgirl swings to the right, so when she reaches with her hand to her utility belt and it tugs the chute back left, she'll still be on course. She can't throw well as she guides the chute in, but the height makes up for it as a handful of flash and smoke pellets are distributed around Stockholm. Hopefully stunning the woman, but also creating smoke cover against the shooter. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Stockholm finds the handgun is not a trap, mercifully. From its weight, it even has an extended magazine carrying 15 rounds instead of the usual ten. Batman lands on top of the cabin of the old pickup truck and the roof caves almost comedically far in. Nothing explodes. The axles protest loudly though. "Oh shit, it's Batman. And... some chick," the man with rifle says. He sights in on Stockholm but then she is gone in a flash of light and smoke. He the man swears and fires into the smoke. "Finish the contract, if you want to get paid. Leave Batman to me," comes the metallic voice of the man in charge over the radio. The man doing the combat crouch opens up with his handgun at the unexpected woman who fell from the sky and uses one of the parked cars for cover. A man in green fatigues crouches just around the corner of a building about 50 feet past Batman from Stockholm's point of view. He fires blindly into the smoke surrounding Stockholm using a semi-automatic rifle, with the corner of the brick building. From that same corner, another man walks out. Tall, in non-descript grey pants, heavily built with a barrel chest. He is wearing a padded brown jacket with a high collar. He holds the lapels of the jacket as he walks into the middle of the street. He breathes through a mask covering his mouth and nose, held into place by straps over his bald head. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Honestly Julia is thinking she should have just stayed in her cell. Maybe asked for a new one without a window as big as her current cell has. Four walls are nice. At least this pistol seems real with a full clip. It better not be blanks. That would be cruel. She is just starting to kip to the left towards those parked cars when Batman lands on the 'getaway' truck "I'm pretty sure that is a trap!" she shouts over at him and then gets hit with a lot of smoke and flash pellets "Damnit!" she was already seeing halos and stars around lights and not the equivilant of a flashbang. At least the smoke is providing cover for her. Not enough cover honestly as she gets shot in the shoulder, of her broken arm, insult to injury but not taking away any more functionality than she already has lost. Which is when Stockholm goes very flat on the pavement and starts to crawl towards the parked cars away from the shooters under the cover of smoke. Also under the cover of a lot of bullets thankfully going over her head since she dropped. This is not good she thinks as she scrambles to slide under a car. 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' The Bat remains atop the car for the moment, cape pooled out around him so that there is little more to him than a malevolent spreading shadow. He regards the battlefield with a clinical eye, the three gunmen are a threat but the large man in the mask is the obvious fulcrum of the entire operation. His eyes narrow behind the mask, and he draws a batarang from his belt with the glide of metal across metal. When he flings it, it isn't at the masked man but rather at the man in the green fatigues. Fifty feet is a long throw, but the Dark Knight throws his entire body into it as he hefts the thing full force like a throwing knife. At closer quarters his goal might have been to simply knock the gun from the man's hand, but at this range the best he can hope for is that a bladed weapon suddenly embedding itself in his shoulder is enough to stop the shooting. He turns back to the masked man, dropping off the top of the car to the asphalt. His boots crunch across the scattered granules of broken glass, his shoulders squared and hands balled into fists. The breathing mask he wears retracts from his face, revealing a rather vicious looking cut along his jaw that appears to have been only recently stitched up. His teeth bare in a snarled, wordless challenge. 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl was planning to tackle Stockholm to the ground. Really hard. You know, for her ''safety''. But she sees the blood that sprays from the bullet hit, and then Stockholm is down in the smoke. Batgirl gets low herself, pulling some equipment from her utility belt while flicking her mask over to thermal vision so the gunman hiding behind the car will stand out through the dark smoke. Batgirl tosses a metal spherical object towards the gunman. It bounces twice before rolling across the concrete, emitting a soft beeping noise. As soon as the spherical distraction is released, Batgirl pulls out an electric batarang, adjusting her grip so she can bend it in an arc and throws it off into space, aiming it so it should curve in a big arc and come in at the man from his side of the car. Two chances to take him out, either the batarang hitting him directly, or else striking the car and zapping him through the metal body if he is touching it. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Christ, what the hell?" The man with the assault rifle yells. He pulls the batarang out of his shoulder with a grimace and pockets it. He drops the rifle and starts to draw a handgun from a drop holster with his good hand. "Grenade!" The man with the handgun yells. He drops into the fetal position on the concrete. His handgun skitters to a stop a little over and arms reach away. He does not even notice the batarang whizz past where he was a moment before. "Come on, where'd you go?" the man with the rifle mutters. He keeps scanning for Stockholm but she seems to have disappeared from view. Bane watches Batman throw the batarang and its connection with the semi-auto merc in green. He turns his attention back to Batman and stands there astride the yellow line some 10 feet away. "It's the Batman," he says, clearly articulating each word. Even with the mask he has an odd accent. "The protege of R'as al Ghul. The traitor." Bane pulls off his jacket and tosses it to the ground. He walks forward casually toward Batman. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' This car is really nice to hide and bleed under, hopefully whomever had the rocket launcher doesn't decide to blow it up. Popping the clip to verify there are real honest to god bullets then reseats the clip and peers around from laying on the ground level towards where the gunman were. "Oh hey." squinting at the guy across the street who is trying to avoid grenades behind the car he is using for cover, she sights and fires several shots from her ground cover under the car he is hiding behind. She is an incredibly deadly shot thanks to her purlioned skills and metahuman ability, though she is nowhere near top marks right now. "Look at this. Teamup!" 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' "Traitor?" growls the Bat, a voice like bare flesh raked over gravel, "If you call not turning my back on the world for the sake of a megalomaniac's dream a betrayal - " He jerks his head back a fraction of an inch in the direction of the smoldering Arkham Asylum, "You belong in there with them." Even as he speaks, the Dark Knight sizes up the mercenary in the mask. Size and strength are easily superior to his own, just from looking. It is one thing to be at the pinnacle of human perfection, but there is still a great deal to go beyond there when you plumb the depths of amoral science. But he's fought stronger opponents before - even opponents quicker and more deadly than him. He's made a habit - a life - out of it. There's a fight coming and he has to fight it. There's no choice there. As he darts in towards the man, now done with words, a small matte-grey sphere clutched in his palm is flung with force at his opponent's feet. The Batman's cowl already seals off audio and visual receptors as it is flung, protecting him from the brunt of the sudden flash of blinding light and bang of deafening noise. He pushes through the overture, driving both fists one after the other at the masked man's torso in a pummeling motion. 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' A few smoke pellets replenish the smoke around Batgirl, not trusting Stockholm to not make use of that gun on her once there isn't an armed assailant shooting at her, though the sight of the shots that may have killed the assailant make her rail inside. But she has a teammate to protect first. A small launcher is pulled from her belt as Batgirl turns her optics towards the man in the lobby. His image stands out clear enough, the heat of his torso clear enough,a nd his head. The gun itself with the barrel starting to heat up is rather visible as well. Batgirl lies down for a better angle and aims along the launcher and sends a trio of sticky devices launching towards the man. Batgirl's aim is high, the devices that she shot hitting the ceiling in a triangle around him. Batgirl rises to her feet, launcher going back to her belt. She activates the detonator and the sticky bombs she shot explode where they hopefully drop a sizeable enough chunk of the ceiling on the man to disable him and keep him pinned. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "So little vision," Bane replies, sounding amused. He catches the sphere under his boot. It goes off and the effect is driven out the sides and forward, but not upward toward him. It does not even make his leg jump. Punching Bane in the torso is like punching a wall. He moves backward with the first few to absorb Batman's momentum. Much faster than a man his size ought to move, he times an overhand right fist to the side of Batman's head after Batman has already committed to a left punch. Bane drops a bit with the blow to give it added momentum. Then he rises with a knee toward the infamous crimefighter's face. Julia may be in bad shape right now, but even on her worst day she is still pretty good. Her shots pass cleanly under both cars, not far from Batgirl, and slam into the mercenary. The first two track down the back of his tactical vest and the last catches him in the ass. With the wind knocked out of him, the man cannot even yell as he reaches back to clutch the bullet wound with one hand. In the lobby, the rifleman smiles. He sights in when Batgirl shoots and her shot goes over the rifleman's head. "Can't shoot for shit," he grins. The crosshairs line up between Batgirl's eyes. Then ceiling caves in. Plaster, joyces and an entire kitchen table and chairs fall through the hole on top of the rifleman. He hits his head on the bench on the way down and is out cold in the rubble. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Some part of Julia is very happy she shot the guy reight in the ass and knocked the wind out of him. I mean part of her also wishes she had shot him in the head but other parts disagree. This street is messy right now with Bats and that actually is kind of throwing her game off a bit. Also to be fair she is working with what she has, she does not have sticky explosive launchers, or batarangs, or such. She has a glock with an extended magazine. "Okay. I relunctantly admit that was cool." as the ceiling collapses on the guy. "Ceiling collapse guy. Big masked guy. Ass shot guy. Batarang in the shoulder guy." she rolls a bit and crawls to use another car as cover then pops up and fires at the guy who still has a gun in this fight, aiming carefully at the guy who took batman's batarang to the shoulder and pulled a pistol. He has pretty good cover so she takes her time to line up the shot with her good arm braced on the car. 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' Although armor and years of training absorb any potential injury, the Batman's gloves connecting with muscles like reinforced concrete is enough to elicit a frustrated growl from him. But then his fist swings through the air, missing its target as the strike cracks against the side of the cowl. His head jerks, a flash of sudden adrenaline momentarily masking the pain that only hits him when Bane drives his knee into his face. "Hnh!" It's hardly a cry of pain - little more than a grunt - but the fact that he made it at all marks his surprise. He staggers backwards, arm still raised defensively to ward off any attacks that may follow it. When he glances up, the exposed part of his face is smeared red-black as blood pours from an obviously broken nose. When he launches himself at the opponent once again, it is without the fury or frustration of a normal fighter. He does not let the pain guide him nor the adrenaline bolster him anymore than biology insists. The torso is insurmountable, so he goes for the head. He springs through the air with deft ferocity, driving the point of his elbow down against the space between shoulder and neck. 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl sees the remaining gunman go down, though his gun coming up. Her gaze swings to Batman and sees him in the thick of the fight with Bane, and she winces at the blow he takes. A pair of batarangs slide out of her utility belt and are taken in hand and sent flying from out of the swirl of smoke that rise from the pellets on the roadway around her. One batarang is aimed for the back of one of Bane's legs. The other is shaped to make it swing in a tighter circle as it releases its payload of smoke, as Batgirl tries to give Batman and his optics an advantage in his fight. The batarangs released, the caped crusader pulls a pair of batons from her belt, one in each hand as she turns back towards Stockholm and the gunman who are exchanging fire. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "I expected more," Bane says when Batman is forced to take a step back. He does not close on the caped crusader, does not press the advantage. Instead he waits. He sees Batgirl past Batman and steps to the side just enough. He batarang tears through the fabric of his pantleg and carries on to clatter in the concrete. Bane also brings an arm up to guard his neck. The blow from Batman is jarring and the big man staggers back a few steps. Then smoke goes off. Batman's damaged optics give him no help through the smoke thar fills the air. "Ah, theatricality and deception are effective against the uninitiated. But we aren't uninitiated, are we Bruce?" comes the voice of Bane. Stockholm is among the very best. But she is not at her very best. Her shot lands dead center line on her target, but too low. Instead of in the face he takes it in the vest. The man falls backwards but keeps his head up. He opens fire at Batman now, just emptying the clip toward the man. Up the road, a patrol cars drifts around the corner on the wet streets, light and sirens going. As the smoke starts to clear, Bane is just not there. With her attention focused on the last fighting merc, Steph did not catch where the big man went. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Son of a bitch, fine you jerks. Julia thinks about taking a shot at Bane now but he seems to have vanished. Muttering a curse under her breath she aims again and fires at the guy she hit in the vest, honestly if she can nail two of these assholes in the ass before she runs out of ammo tonight it will be a pleasure. Once her gun clicks empty she tosses the piece over by the buildings wall and raises her good arm over her head. "I give up." yes she directs that right at Batgirl not giving her a reason to hit her with those batons. "Good team up though!" 

:'''{{#var:104|Batman (104)}} has posed:''' The optics in Batman's mask change with the motion of his eyes, allowing him to change his view and pull up video feeds without so much as pushing a button. But the two blows to his head have done something to jar it, and he can already see the feed beginning to stutter as lines of static pass through it. A hand raises to his temple, deactivating an artfully concealed switch that prompts the white glowing eyepieces back into the cowl and leaves only his own blue eyes visible. As the smoke rises, he turns suddenly. Unable to find the man with his unaided eyes, although he already understands that even with them he could not. As the sirens sound and the man vanishes, the Bat turns his attention fully back to Batgirl and Stockholm. The last mercenary firmly within Batgirl's control, he turns to Stockholm. He stares at her critically for a moment, face streaming blood and his eyes visible for a change instead of the cowl's white optics. "You're okay?" Then, he turns to Batgirl: "We need to go." 

:'''{{#var:1134|Stephanie Brown (1134)}} has posed:''' Batgirl darts out of the smoke, batons swinging first towards the wrist the final gunman is holding his gun in, and then another towards his head to send him to sleep. She scowls as she looks towards the prison and then she rounds the car, heading for Stockholm. She holds her baton like she wants to use it on someone. And that someone being the one who administered the beat down to her a few weeks ago. However she kicks the gun away and then lowers the baton finally as the police are pulling up. The batons go back on her belt as the blond caped crusader turns back towards Batman. "I'm good," she confirms to him. The flash pellets are slipped from her belt deftly and dropped to the ground resulting in a tremendous flash of light. When it clears, the Bats are gone. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Julia answers Batman, her own blood still covering her face from the scalp wound and bleeding from the gunshot to her shoulder. "I think I need a vacation?" Then they are gone. She rolls her eyes "Good job team!" she calls into the night and sits well away from any guns with her hand on her head and waits for the cops. When they arrive she notes "Not resisting. I've been shot and blown up." pause "Also not with those assassins I shot in the butt over there." pause "They were trying to kill me for some reason so it was totally self defense and a big guy with a mask, not Batman, got away. He sounded like an asshole." Finally she adds "Oh and Batman stole my dog." as she waits for someone in GCPD to probably tackle her to the ground and cuff her violently. Those guys really hate her. More medical attention will be needed than just the gunshot. "Aww fuck." thud. 
}}

8701/Saved: The Day Josh Foley Died

2019-08-09T01:08:37Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/08 |Location=Williamsburg, New York |Synopsis=Elixir is confronted by his past. Scarlet Witch loses something precious to her. Both witness..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/08
|Location=Williamsburg, New York
|Synopsis=Elixir is confronted by his past. Scarlet Witch loses something precious to her. Both witness a miracle.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,70
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is in the basement of the Avengers Mansion in medical working on a series of experiments with animal models. He is joking with Dr. Inuzuka Rumina, one of the staff doctors, as they work. She has been one of the people working most closely with Josh and is a patient, thorough mentor, supervisor and teacher. The short, middle-aged Japanese woman wears casual office wear under her lab jacket. Josh, much taller and blond, is in a Giants jersey and jeans. They make an odd looking pair, but they seem to work well together. When Josh's phone rings, he ignores it at first. The phone rings immediately after the first call, and that gets Josh's attention. "I should check," he says apologetically to Dr. Inuzuka. He carefully puts the white rat in his hands back into its cage and locks it. Then he picks up his phone and answers. "Hello?" "Josh? Thank god," comes a female voice. It takes Josh a moment, but he recognizes it. Susan, an EMT. "We need you, there's an industrial accident," Susan says quickly. She sounds stressed. "A bunch of people are hurt inside the Kollor Metal Works in Williamsburg. They were decommissiong it and something happened." "Okay, I'll get there, are you there, how many people?" Josh asks. "We're not there yet, Josh, you /have/ to go," Susan says. The young woman sounds almost on the verge of tears. "Yeah, I'm going, don't worry, I'll see you there," Josh says. The line clicks dead without anything else from Susan. "Dr. Inuzuka, I need to go, there's been an accident," Josh says apologetically. He is already heading for the door. "I'll clean everything up when I get back!" Josh runs upstairs and heads for the library. Wanda said she would be studying to prepare for the protective spell at Xavier's school. The young man bursts into the library at full tilt. The librarian startles slightly and gives Josh an odd look. "Wanda?" Josh calls. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda is going over her notes for the umpteenth time. This kind of magic, to last so long and over such a huge area, will not be easy. And it has to protect against so many different forms of spying, the sheer variety of magics being employed in the protective circle are themselves prohibitive. She's walking through everything in her mind's eye when she hears the footsteps running down the hall. Not Pietro. Those she wouldn't hear until after he'd arrived. No, she senses who is coming, and also something of his alarm. Wanda swivels in her seat to look towards the open doorway as Josh rushes through. Wanda hops up, "Yes, what is it Josh?" she asks, voice displaying her concern. She closes up her notes and looks to the librarian member of the staff, who nods and comes over to take the things away for Wanda as the auburn-haired woman looks back to Josh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hey," Josh says, breathing a little hard from his run. His voice is urgent. "There's been an accident at a factory they're taking apart in Williamsburg. Ah, Kollor something, " Josh says and snaps his fingers. "Kollor Metal Works. Bunch of people hurt, can you get me there? EMTs aren't even there yet. Sounds bad." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves over to Josh, listening as he explains about the accident. "Jarvis, can you bring up Kollor Metal Works?" she asks. Wanda rests a hand on Josh's back and nods with her head for him to move with her, over nearer to a monitor. Jarvis responds, "I have the location right here," as the monitor brings up a split screen with a map of the location on one half, and a zoomed in satellite feed on the other. "Is this sufficient?" Jarvis asks. "I am trying to access cameras in the area now." Wanda waves a hand briefly as she studies the map. "This should be enough Jarvis, thank you." She turns to look towards Josh and gives him a nod of her head. "Ready?" she asks, and gives him a chance to respond before she begins gathering her magic. The red glow gathers about them near the ground and then rises like a cylinder, shutting out the view of them from the rest of the library. Then the glowing red light drops back to the floor, and they are gone. "I don't find any records of calls for first responders to the area, Wanda," Jarvis' voice adds, a second or two late. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh nods to Wanda and takes a breath. When the red light clears, Wanda and Josh are in a poorly lit factory. The high windows they can see on one wall are grimy and yellowed. There air cool and smells of rust and damp concrete. The blast furnaces are dark. There are no voices or sounds. The dirt and dust on the floor is thick and undisturbed. "Where are they?" Josh says to Wanda. "Hello?" he calls and starts further in, toward a partially opened large steel sliding door. There is a clang of metal hitting the ground, like a heavy tool. "Hey, we're coming!" Josh looks to Wanda and keeps going. There is just more empty factory. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' After Wanda's chaos magic has deposited them in the factory, she turns to look about the area. "It doesn't look in very good condition," Wanda says quietly, though foregoing inspection of the building to aid Josh in looking about for the people in need. "What was it they said was happening? What kind of accident?" she asks. Wanda is looking one way while Josh heads in the other. Leaving them separated by a bit of distance by the time he is nearing the door and that resounding clang draws both of their attention. As Josh starts forward for the door, Wanda takes a few quick steps, not quite catching up, but keeping Josh's pace as she glances about, but heads for the door, intent on following the golden-haired mutant to find the people in distress. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I dunno," Josh calls over his shoulder. "Susan just said industrial accident. Some people trying to decommission this place?" Josh peeks around the corner and there is another noise. He breaks into a jog and disappears around to the other side of the metal door. "What the /fuck/?" Wanda hears Josh exclaim. All Wanda feels is shock through their bond. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda is taking slightly more time, looking around and making sure they didn't miss anyone in need. But generally she is following along behind Josh. The sight of a rat scurrying across the floor across the room brings a slight wrinkling of Wanda's nose, but her attention swings back to Josh as the second noise is heard. As he hurries forward, Wanda quickens her step as well, temporarily losing sight of him. The sunlight in this room is coming in through the windows up near to the ceiling. Dust motes seem to float in the sunbeams, as if not even that bit of cleansing sun will be allowed to be untouched by the disrepair of the factory. She hears Josh's exclamation, and feels his shock. Wanda hurries forward finally, rushing towards the corner that Josh just disappeared around, and rounding it to see what he is reacting to. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is standing stock still not far from the door. Not twenty feet ahead of him is another man, about the same age as Josh. This man has short dark hair and glowing, LED bright red eyes. He is taller than Josh, more heavily built. He stands there with a sneer, looking at Josh, arms crossed and dressed in black fatigues and boots. "Richie?!" Josh breathes in shock. He takes a couple of steps toward the man who had been his friend and stops. "Oh my god.... What are you doing here? What did they do to you?" The face is unfamiliar to Wanda, but not the name. Josh had told her about Richie. A boyhood friend he went all through school with, went to church with. Joined the Reavers with. Who Josh healed when their attempt to assassinate Andrea Jackson went wrong. Richie who beat Josh bloody, threw him out of a moving van, and told Josh's parents their son was a mutant. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda rounds the corner, her boots sliding to a stop as she sees Josh is standing there a bit ahead of her. She looks past Josh, seeing the man that is before Josh. Wanda's gaze focuses on Richie's glowing eyes and then dart to Josh. "Josh," she says softly. "I don't think you should go near," she says, taking another step forward. That Josh seems familiar with him takes away Wanda's immediate worry that it might be some kind of Sentinel. But knowing Josh's past, that leaves plenty of options that are very worrisome to Wanda. The Scarlet Witch moves slowly closer, not wanting to cause something to happen by moving too quickly. She holds her hands down to either side to draw on her magic. The feeling of turmoil coming through the bond adds to her own, and for a moment nothing comes to her. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Ah, you stay there," Richie snaps at Wanda and levels a finger at the Avenger. He tenses visibly at her presence. "You do anything and the chick that called him dies," Richie warns. "What the fuck, Richie?! She's just a paramedic, she's /human/! Let her go!" "I don't even know where she is," Richie says with a smirk. "I hear she caved right away. You're not important to her or any of them, Foley. Just a useful freak." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Anger clouds the bond as Wanda hears Richie. She looks about, darting her glance this way and that, but not really expecting to find that the paramedic is in the area. "Why are you so willing to hurt people? Even this girl who did nothing to you, who just tries to save people?" Wanda says, shaking her head. She feels the magic within her again finally, though doesn't draw those visible signs of it yet. Wanda walks slowly, off to the side rather than at Richie. Giving herself a clear shot at him, making sure that Josh is not in the way. Wanda slips a hand into a pocket, turning on her communicator so the conversation will start making it out to Jarvis. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Because he couldn't just fucking disappear!" Richie shouts back at Wanda. He stalks toward Josh. "I should've killed you in that goddamn van!" Richie snarls at Josh. "You should've disappeared when I gave you the chance. "You humiliated me! Your family can't even go to church. Because you think you're some kind of messiah?!" Josh holds up a hand toward Wanda. She can feel the tension radiating from him, and the hurt. "Richie... I'm just helping people, humans, too..." Josh says, trying to placate the dark haired Reaver. "Jesus, you let them make you a /borg/? Richie... Just let Susan go, you got me here. Wanda won't do anything, I swear." "You swear? You want me to take the word of a mutie?" Richie asks quietly. "Know what I think of your word?" The motion is superhumanly fast. Josh does not even see it coming. His mouth is half open when Richie springs a blade from his right fist and rams it open under Josh's chin. Richie's face is twisted in hate and triumph. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda doesn't remember drawing the magic, or doing anything to make her will happen. Just one moment Richie is there plunging the blade up into the bottom of Josh's chin, and the next he's sailed away, smashing against the wall of the factory with bone-, even metal-, crushing force. She doesn't remember traveling the space between herself and Josh. All she remembers is the feeling through the bond they share. "NO!" she says as she catches Josh, watching blood pouring out of the wound. "No," she says again, her voice cracking as she sinks to her knees, holding his body and cradling it to her chest. She turns his face up to her, seeing the wound is too great for her healing, "Josh, heal yourself," she croaks hoarsely, her eyes filled with tears. "Heal yourself," she says, taking his hand and guiding it up to his head to where the blade went upwards towards his brain. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Richie's body falls to the ground, mangled and crumpled. He leaks blood and other more cybernetic fluids onto the floor. The red eyes flicker and go out. Josh stares ahead unseeing in Wanda's arms. His body twitches and spasms. Blood pours out of the wound, down his chest, onto Wanda and the floor. He does not even try to breathe. The young blond mutant's hand is limp in Wanda's hand. For just a moment there is a flash of recognition in his blue eyes. And then Wanda feels nothing. No fear or shock. No pain. No worry or hope or love. No presence. Just a yawning absence where there used to be another spirit. The twitching stops and does not start again. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's voice is tiny. "Josh," she says, her cheeks running with tears that fall one after another. "Josh," she says hoarsely, her hands starting to shake. She reaches her hands up to his head then when he doesn't do anything. Her hands draw energy that radiates red as it gathers about her fingers and about Josh's head. She wants to tremble but tries to hold steady, to pour what healing she can do into him. But his heart doesn't pump and his lungs do not breathe. "Josh. Josh don't leave me," she says, tears spilling to drip on his face. Wanda tries to smooth them as if they've marred him, but her hands are covered with his blood, only making matters worse. And then there is nothing. No emotion. No pain. No love. The bond. It is dead. He is dead. And her world explodes. A dome of of red energy engulfs the factory, so bright it leaves an after image that fades only slowly from the eyes of those who saw it. The scarlet energy burns bright and then it rushes into the ground with a tremendous noise of destruction. The noise of Wanda Maximoff's pain. There is nothing left of the factory, of anything, anywhere within the radius of her magic. The ground is perfectly flat to within a millimeter. Anything that was within that magic is compressed flat into the ground. Anything, but Wanda, and Josh's body. Alone they remain. Wanda crying, her head sunk over the man she loved as she cradles him to her body. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Nothing moves in that space. Everything is stilled by Wanda's grief. With the building gone, the outside air sweeps through and tugs at the Avenger's hair. The sounds of the city are out there, but seem far away and dimmed. Without the building around them, the shadows are gone. The blood, the vacant look in Josh's eyes, the smears on his cheeks are all there in stark, unavoidable relief. Plain as day. No smile or smirk, just a rapidly greying pallor. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff's shoulders shake, her body shuddering. With her head down it is the only sign of her crying. Her heart feels split apart. She can't stop hugging his body. Can't stop holding him. The faintest of whispers. "Josh. No." Her arms tighten around his body and then she lets out an agonized cry. The staccato sound of a helicopter in the distance can be heard. Lights on police cars stand out at great distance, responding to calls about a massive light. Surely it was an explosion. None of it is noticed by Wanda. The center of her world is gone. She closes her eyes and the magic comes. Swirling about the two of them chaotically as the police cars pull up and the helicopter reaches the site. Swirling and then vanishing. Leaving the police to stare at that perfect, circular clear space, where even the concrete was obliterated to leave only dirt behind. Atop Wundragore Mountain... The Scarlet Witch did not consciously choose this place. But the vortex of her magic left her here. Kneeling on a rocky promontory atop the Transian mountain. Look out not just over her homeland, but from near to her birthplace in the complex atop the mountain not far away. She holds Josh close in her arms, cradling him and just looking out towards the horizon. She's jumped them from mid day, to near sunset. The sky starting to turn the most beautiful of colors. But it is all lost on Wanda. The world is grey and dark, and the light has gone out of it. She holds him. Time passes. And she holds him. Nothing else matters but not letting Josh free from her arms. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The setting sun draws its crimson colours in the lady Avenger's hair. It lays lengthening shadows behind Wanda. And as the sun gets lower, the light catches Josh's skin and sparkles tears left on Josh's face. Then here and there. On Josh's faces. His hands. It is the sort of thing that creeps in so gradually that it is hard to tell when it began. But inexorably, Josh's skin changes from pale grey to dull bronze. Then slowly to a sparkling, metallic golden shine. The light weakens further, but the sparkle from Josh does not. The glow is too faint to see until the sun is nearly set, but then Wanda sees it clearly. The whole of Josh's body is glowing gold in Wanda's arms. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Leaden emotions numb Wanda's sense. Even the magic sense that might have noticed the change that is happening literally before her eyes. She sits quietly. Slowly rocking and staring with red-rimmed eyes at a world that has grown dark for her. The wind stirs her hair, blowing tendrils in front of her eyes and finally causing her to reach up to brush it aside. Her eyes fall back on Josh- Wanda's head turns seeing the slight sparkle. Here, and there. She touches his skin with her hand, the blood having most dried in the time that has passed. He always sparkled like that to her. Didn't he? Wanda's grasp on the moment may not be at her best. More time passes, the hue of his skin changing and finally Wanda starts see clearly again. She moves, her head turning to gaze down his body, her arms moving out of her own way in seeing him better. Though she keeps him there, resting across her lap, his face towards her. "Josh," she whispers. Her hands tremble as they move to his body and she opens herself to her magic senses. Chaos energy gathers around her hands and she sends it gently probing through him as she once did before. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' There is little to feel at first. Slowly though, Wanda feels... Lifeforce. It grows and creeps out of the center of the being in front of Wanda. It spreads into every fibre and cell. In the dark now, lit only by the golden glow, Wanda sees the wound under Josh's chin knit shut. Smooth over with the metallic gold skin that feels normal to the touch, but shimmers. Everything comes together in a flash of golden light that is almost blinding. It fades away and Wanda feels Josh's body arch suddenly. Josh gasps and his eyes flare open, unfocused and not yet seeing. Startled, confused and scared he looks back and forth, almost panicked. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff's voice is hoarse. Cracking as if with the worst case of laryngitis from hours spent quietly sobbing. "Josh," she whispers, her normal soft, pleasing accent broken by her voice. "Josh..." she whispers again, reaching her hand to cup his cheek. To stroke his face as she watches the wound closing. You would think she could hope it closed for the way Wanda's being clings to the sight of his body healing. Josh's eyes flutter open and Wanda's breath explodes from her in a strangled cry. "Josh!" she says, her arms going about him to hug him. "You're ok," she manages in her hoarse voice. "You're with me. You came back to me," she tells him. She's so overwhelmed she hasn't notice the lack of feeling through the bond. If she had, it wouldn't matter. He's alive. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Wanda?" Josh asks, confused at first. "Oh thank God," Josh gets out. His arms close around Wanda and he holds her desperately as though one or both of them might suddenly slip away. "I couldn't find you, you were gone," Josh says, his voice cracking with emotion. "I kept looking... Thank God." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's arms are wrapped around him, curling up towards his shoulders from below as she tightly hugs his sturdy form to her. "I was here," she says to him, trying to speak normally but the worst a hoarse whisper. "I was here. And you came back to me," she tells him. Her red eyes fill with tears again. She'd thought herself all cried out of every last bit of moisture. But even as she cries she's smiling and smoothing her hand over his face. "How do you feel? We can go to medical," she tells him. Her fingers move down below his chin, feeling at the wound, but gently as if afraid the wrong touch could somehow unknit the healing. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I did, and you're here," Josh whispers. "We're okay, we're together." Josh catches Wanda's hand and brings it back up from under his chin to his cheek. He turns and kisses her palm. "I'm fine now, I don't need medical. Just you," he says. The golden-skinned mutant sits up, cups Wanda's face in his hands and kisses her. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff has seen her share of wonders. But none has affected her like this one. She cannot stop touching Josh as he sits up. As if every sense is needed to confirm that this is real. That she hasn't fallen asleep while holding him and is just dreaming this. As his lips come to hers, she kisses him back. Kissing him deeply, the touching of lips fueled by great emotion, if not as much of it the passion he would normally inspire. Something is different about the kiss. Wanda finally notices the lack of emotions that normally echo back and forth between them via the bond until Wanda cannot tell what parts are her love for him, and which are Josh's love for her. She realizes the bond is gone, but it is just a minor thought. Josh is alive. That is all that matters. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' When their lips part, the two sit with their foreheads touching. There is a hollowness to being so close to each other but not feeling as close as they did. It tinges the relief of being reunited and makes it bittersweet. Death severed the magic that joined their spirits. But not the feeling that once sustained that magic. The moon rises over the two mutants. They sit holding one another, not willing to let each other go or given in to the cool mountain. The crunch of boots on gravel not far away breaks the reverie. Neither of the lovers are prepared to share each other with anyone else. There is a flash a gold and crimson lights intertwined that lights up where the pair sat. When the light dies out the night enshrouds the empty lookout once more. 
}}

8667/Saved: Closer

2019-08-09T01:07:10Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/05
|Location=New York
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir spend time together browsing antiques. Elixir tells Scarlet Witch about wanting to foster a girl from the Dominican. The two decide to buy a home and make a family of three. With a dog.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=70,1798
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' There were a number of interesting feelings through the bond recently. Nothing about it has gotten old, but by now Wanda has stopped asking Josh about specific things she felt unless they were particularly noticeable, instead just asking about his day like normal people. Today, she'd suggested going out for a walk through the city together. Perhaps just sensing there was something that maybe a chance to get out and away from his books or whatever was on his mind might help. For Wanda? She just wants the time to be with the man she loves. So today finds them just wandering through the streets together, Wanda's hand in Josh's. Stopping here and there to look in a store if something catches one of their eyes. Occasionally stopping to talk to people in general. Four times someone recognizes Wanda, and twice they recognize Josh as well, getting selfies or autographs, but no one really distracting from the pleasant day otherwise. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' After the last few days, just walking and being with Wanda feels luxurious and it is like a balm that settles his spirit. As they walk, Josh steals looks at the beautiful Transian woman and enjoys just simple things about her. The way she talks. Her smile. The way she brushes her hair out of her face with her fingers when the breeze catches. It is so much more settling than the roil that had been in his mind. Something had come alive in him in the Dominican Republic, some shrivelled or dormant part of his spirit suddenly blossomed. And he felt energized by it, in a way that radiated to Wanda. But this? This was a sacred time to just enjoy being with each other. Josh peeks through the window of an antique store and comes to a stop. In the window is an old sewing table. Its black metal push pedal looks like it saw use in its day. The wood is oiled but shows some cracks in the legs. The sewing machine inset into the table is there, too. "Huh, look at that," Josh says to Wanda. He points at the table through the window. "My mom has one, from her grandma. Never used it, but she kept it in the basement, just because, I guess. Weird what make you think of home." For once he does not look sad or angry when he talks about his family. Just a little wistful, remembering something almost from another life. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The energy from Josh only helps fuels Wanda's good mood. And a good mood she has been in, ever since the visit to the Atlantean embassy. (And It has nothing to do with Arthur's abdominals or Steve Roger's derriere, either.) There are plenty of those moments for Josh to observe his woman during the walk. Her smile is prevalent, and there are no shortage of glances over at him. Each of which only further to heighten her smile and often result in a little squeeze of his fingers by hers. Wanda stops at Josh's side, releasing his hand so he can shade his eyes as he peeks in the window. Her hand drifts to rest on the small of his back as he does. "Oh my poor mother had to sew everything by hand. And expected me to learn," she says, giving a gay laugh that suits her mood. "It looks like a nice little place," Wanda says with a smile. "Come, let's go inside?" she offers. If Josh agrees, Wanda moves over to the door, letting him open it for her if he chooses, before she passes in and smiles to him then looks about the quaint shop. Wanda moves over first to the sewing table. She runs her hand over the oiled wood. "Is it something you might like to have some day?" she asks him, turning to look over towards the handsome younger man. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smiles his agreement to the woman who has captured so thoroughly. Thoroughly enough that the women in their summer best walking past them in the other direction do not register in the way they always used. His eyes wander over Wanda from behind when he holds the door for her and then follows. That smell is there. That /old/ smell of an antique store. It is like a signal that one has travelled back in time to when things were different. Not all AI infused, hyper-connected, automatic and just plain easy to use. And the quiet. And the stuffed feeling, as if too many things were brought into too small a space but somehow fit. Josh trails after Wanda with his fingers from one hand hooked into hers. He slides his arm around Wanda when she stops to look. "Maybe," he says thoughtfully. "I don't have anything from home. Dunno." Josh touches the sewing table with a smile. It feels comfortingly real. "I wanna have our own stuff that we keep around, because we do," he says. His smile is a little sheepish, a little embarassed. "Like just happens in a family. Wouldn't fit in the apartment though!" Josh leans in to give Wanda a kiss on the cheek. Just because he can. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda draws in a slow breath. "So pleasant in here. None of Tony's robots running about underfoot," she says thoughtfully, whether feeling the same as Josh, or perhaps picking upon his mood and finding it pleasing and appropriate as well. Wanda looks over the table and says, "We could have a house. I'm not without money. I just... honestly, I was so focused on other things, I never really thought about it," she tells him, turning to face Josh fully. "Getting my own place. Just somewhere close to the rest of the team was all I focused on." She tilts her head to the side a little bit, which always presages a little smile. And there it is. "Though now... I have something that makes me think about these things more." Her smile grows, eyes shining warmly. Wanda finally pulls her eyes away to look around the store more. She moves over to a wall where some instruments hang. She takes down a child-sized guitar, plinking the strings which are dreadfully out of tune, but making her smile. She sets it aside and then stops to look at cello. She runs her hands over the smooth wood. "I have always loved these," she tells him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smiles and something is there in his eyes when they meet Wanda's. She can feel unusually clearly how /much/ he wants a home with her when Wanda mentions it. And then the moment passes. The young man clears his throat. "Yeah? Do you play that, too?" Josh asks and leans on the counter beside Wanda to look. "Viola?" he asks. "If we had our own place, you could have like, a whole collection. Saw this thing in a YouTube video once, this guy had like, all his instruments up on the wall like decorations," Josh says and gestures as if to show where they would go on his imaginary wall. "Or something. You know. Wouldn't even have to worry, I could totally carry my share now, too. The lawyer got back to me about the negotiations with the hospitals. Just the announcement is bringing them huge new business /and/ other hospitals have talking to my lawyer about trying to get me to move," Josh says. It comes out easily, as if it had been on his mind. "So looks like they're going to pay out /really/ big to keep me here. Between the two of us, we'll be totally fine. Could get a big place, somewhere quiet, you know?" Josh looks away and his face brightens. "Sweet," he says. He moves around Wanda, trailing his hand over her back from one hip to the other as he goes. Josh stops in front of a display case filled with uniform patches from World War II. Josh grins. "How cool is that? Love this stuff." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda replies to the question about playing the instrument with a shake of her head. "I do not. But... I would really like to learn," she says, as if the question has made her realize that fact which she didn't before. "The sound of the guitar is what drew me to it. And the same with the cello," she says. "I don't know how difficult it is to play. But I could give it a try." She glances at the price tag, though it is more just to check and not seeming like whatever number is there is significant. She turns back to Josh, walking over towards him and stopping beside him as he looks towards the display case. "I'd like somewhere quiet. Away from the city noise. If there was a lake or something, even better," she says, nodding slowly. Wanda moves up to press softly behind Josh, resting her head on his shoulder as he looks over the patches. "Maybe get a porch swing. With thick cushions. And a fireplace for those cold winter days when the windows frost up?" she asks. Wanda's eyes are caught by one of the patches. "I think that's Steve's old unit," she says of the Howling Commandos patch. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Big porch, like, wrap around or something," Josh agrees. He smiles when Wanda leans against him and keeps peering at the badges. "Enough bedrooms for guests and stuff, or like, staff. Probably have a couple people working for us," Josh says and swallows. "And a hot tub, of course. Think we could get a big garage? Like, big enough for a shop? So I could restore some cars? That would so fun!" Josh looks closer at the patch Wanda points out. "Yeah! Oh man, it's hard to believe he was really there. Like, actually. I've watched /so/ many movies and documentaries... But he lived through it," Josh says with a shake of his head. "Amazing. I mean, horrible, horrible stuff happened. But it was like, normal guys without powers, just out there fighting for their country. That's a crazy kind of brave. I dunno if we'd see that today if we had to throw down our phones and hit the trenches, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stays there, resting against Josh's back and her arms resting about his waist in a gentle hug. "I like to think people today would step up if it mattered. Though I also can see questioning that," Wanda says slowly, thinking about how many people they saw living off their phones on their walk today. "I like to believe in the goodness of people though." she says. Her arms slide upwards to wrap about Josh's shoulders instead, hugging him tighter. "I think the garage, with a work space, sounds like a wonderful idea. I don't know too much about cars," she says in her softly accented English. "But I'll happily hold the... axle in place while you... um... replace the... pistons?" she asks, laughing warmly. And perhaps joking a bit as she knows a /little/ more about engines than that statement suggested. Wanda lets out a happy sigh. "I'm going to get it for him. For Steve I mean. I've never been quite sure what would bring good memories for things like this. But, maybe this will," she says with a nod. "And perhaps the cello too. If I won't drive you away while I'm learning still," she says with a warm laugh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs at Wanda's offer to hold the axle. "We can figure out which is the axle and which is the pistons together," he says with a grin. He squeezes Wanda's waist in a gentle hug. "Be really sweet to get the patch for him," Josh agrees. "He's gotta miss his old life too, sometimes. The cello though... I dunno...." Josh says with mock indecision. "You know how much I hate spending time around you no matter what you're doing... I /guess/ I could suffer through it..." He breaks into a broad grin. "Let's get it, I'll carry it for you," he says gives Wanda a quick kiss. "It'll look great in our new place." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda grins over to Josh and shares the soft kiss with him. "Have I ever told you that I love you?" she asks him, the word slipping out slowly as if each taking their time. "If not? I just might some day," she says, her eyes twinkling with small amounts of mischief. She leans in for another small kiss and then finally lets go of Josh to move over to peer towards the back room. "Hello?" she calls softly. An older woman comes out. "We wished to get a couple of things. The patch here, Josh can show you which. And the cello," she says, Wanda turning to go over to the wall to carefully take it down, bringing it over along with the bow. The woman looks to Josh and then Wanda. "Aren't you the cute couple?" she asks them. "Don't get too many your age in here anymore. Less appreciation for older things every year, it seems," she comments as she moves over the display case. "Which one now?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smirks and shakes his head at his girlfriend's banter. He smiles for the woman who comes out to help them. "Come on, what's not to like? There's a lot of really nice pieces in here," Josh comments brightly. "Uh, we'd like to get that one, Howling Commandos, please. That'd be great." Josh nods when the woman points to the patch and pulls it out of the case. "Thanks," he says when she passes it across the counter. He looks down at the patch, wondering what it must have been through and runs a thumb along the threads. He carries it carefully over to join Wanda at the register to have everything run in. He idly rubs Wanda's back while they wait and just lets his eyes roam around the antiques and curiousities. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles as she feels Josh's hand upon her back. She looks over to him and there's a sense she's just soaking in the moment. Buying things together at an antique shop. The kind of experiences she always heard other people had, that never seemed to have a place in her own life. She leans over against him as she uses her phone to pay for the purchases. "This has already been a lovely day," she tells the blond-haired mutant as she smiles over to him. "I can't imagine what else it has in store for us, but I have good feelings about it," she says. The older woman smiles at Josh and Wanda, and then moves over to one of the shelves in the store. She looks about for a bit and finally finds what she's looking for. She goes back around the counter, and sets the object down on the counter. It's a little stand with an intricate lover's knot on it, done in gold. "I think you two should have this," she tells them. The elderly woman reaches down pulls gently on the lover's knot. One half of it comes away. A gold ring, the top portion showing the gilded knot. She picks up the other half from the stand then, another ring, this one a little larger. "For you to wear when apart. And join back together when you're together," she says, with a smile, passing the smaller ring to Wanda and the larger to Josh, and then sliding the stand over for them to take. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hmm," Josh agrees happily with his love. He raises an eyebrow when the older woman goes looking behind the counter. And then he reddens. "Oh, wow, that is so thoughtful, but we couldn't just, let me buy them," Josh offers without looking up. He turns the ring over in his hand and turns to Wanda to try joining them together with her. "That's...." Josh says and just nods. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans forward with interest to see what the woman has brought them, her expression curious. "Oh, that is so precious. Yes, really we couldn't," she say, shaking her head, and pulling out her phone to pay for them. Wanda looks over to Josh as he brings his ring over to hers, and she gives him her ring so she can fit them together. It's easy enough to see how to do it when they are apart, though once together you'd think they were one solid piece of gold jewelry, though easy to slide apart in reality. Wanda looks up to Josh and smiles to him. She leans over to brush a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, they are a lovely thing," Wanda says to the woman. The old woman waves a hand, but lets them pay something for the rings, if not what they are worth. "It's sweet to see young love. Been a long time. I hope you two kids do well together," she says. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, I have a feeling we will do just fine," Josh says brightly to the old woman. "And we'll treasure the rings." Josh shoots Wanda a grin and then carefully scoops up the cello for her. With a last goodbye, he makes his way out of the store, this time letting Wanda hold the door for the cello's sake. "That lady was adorable," Josh chuckles once they start walking. "Almost like people can tell how bad I've got it for you just by looking, you know?" He inhales and sighs happily, just strolling with Wanda. Josh bumps the auburn haired woman gently with his hip. "So, we're talking about getting a place. Like a big place. More room than we need for just us. Uh, this probably sounds weird to ask since... Well, you know. We're crazy together, but also like, just together," Josh says, hedging. "But like, do you ever think about having kids?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the older woman, who comes around the counter and Wanda takes her hands in her own. Though the woman doesn't notice it, there's a faint bit of scarlet aura around Wanda's fingers as she holds the woman's hands. "Thank you so very much. Blessings upon you," Wanda tells the woman, that tiny bit of scarlet light diffusing into the woman's hands. She moves with Josh to depart, smiling and resting her hand on his back as he has the big cello in the case to carry. "She really was sweet. I gave her a blessing, she should have some good luck in store for her," Wanda says as they walk. She's fine taking her time alongside Josh. The trip is far more important than the destination when she is with him. She looks over, grinning at the hip bump and listening to him. Wanda gets a soft smile. "I would like to have kids," she says. "I have even thought about it a little more than normal since you came into my life," she admits. "Just that it would be something special to have someone we could share this love we have with. But, don't let my saying that worry you, ok?" she says, smiling at the last part especially. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "No! Doesn't worry me at all," Josh says with a grin and some evident relief. "I'd be lying if I said it hadn't crossed my mind... I always just figured I'd have kids, and, God, I'd give you my everything. I can't even think of us not together," Josh says earnestly. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles over to Josh, also looking relieved that she didn't scare him off with her answer to the topic. Her hands rubs on the small of his back as she walks at his side. "I think being without you would be like losing an arm," she tells him as they walk slowly together along the sidewalk. "Worse. I could get by without my arm," she says, looking over to Josh and reaching up to brush her hair back to the other side so she can see him better. "I don't think I would do very well without you in my life, after what we've felt for each other," she tells him. She walks along with Josh at the slow pace. The rest of the city rushes past, but there is no need for Wanda to hurry. All that she really needs or wants, is right here at her side. She stops and buys them both a small slushy against the warmth of the day. "The talk about the house. Do you want to start looking for a place? Or was it just wishful thinking?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks over at Wanda when she talks about how she would do without him. He does not say, anything but she can tell. He feels exactly the same about the idea of being without her. "I wanna start looking, right away actually," Josh says. "Something happened in the Dominican and... I've got something really important I need to tell you. Like, really important." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda glances over with open curiosity at Josh's mention of something to talk about. She motions up ahead where a park is opening up halfway down the block. "Let's go in here where we can sit?" she suggests. It isn't a long walk, turning in and getting away from the street noise and the people who are so busy, rushing about the sidewalks. Up ahead there is a statue of Benjamin Franklin, his extended hand currently being used as a pigeon roost. There are some park bench situated around the edges of the open area, bushes and trees breaking up the sight of the rest of the city. Wanda sees if that works for Josh, taking a seat and smiling at him for having been carrying the cello case. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah," Josh agrees and walks along with Wanda into the park. He sets the cello case down gently and settles in on the bench with his slushy. Josh stirs the melting ice of his drink with his straw. He glances at Wanda and studies her face for a moment. "You're too beautiful," he says with a soft smile. Josh looks toward the statue and watches a pigeon come back to its nest. "So, after the Sentinel thing, Jess asked me to come to the Dominican. This village called Altagracia? And we packed a bunch of medical supplies, you know," Josh says. His eyes are faraway. "Really poor there. No power usually, huts, not a lot of food. It was really... Never saw that before. Anyway, Jess sponsors this girl there, Anna. She's 5. And she was really sick. She got a fever and they..." Josh stops and swallows. His eyes water a bit at the memory. "Sorry," Josh says and wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda breaks out in the most beautiful of smile to go along with Josh's comment. The words make her feel good, but so too does feeling what Josh feels when he looks at her. It makes her heart quicken, feeling his emotions through their bond. Wanda reaches over to rest her hand lightly on Josh's leg. Just needing to touch him as she listens to what he has to say. Her expression turns a little concerned at the mention of the sick girl. "Josh, you were able to help her, right?" she asks softly, the question more that she would be surprised if he hadn't been able to, so perhaps misunderstanding the emotion he is feeling. She reaches up to gently rest her hand on his shoulder, then slide it up to his cheek as she leans a little closer. Letting him feel her there while the memory is affecting him. She waits quietly for him to be able to go on, just shaking her head when he apologizes. It's never necessary with her. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, we got there in time. Just," he says quietly. "She was strong, held on. They just... they stopped feeding her or giving her watering. They wanted her to just die, alone in this shitty little hut. She already lost her parents, and they were just gonna let her die," Josh says. He goes to take a sip from his drink but his hand is shaking. He puts the cup with its plastic dome lid on the bench beside him. A tear escapes his watering eyes. "Fuck," he says to himself and wipes his cheek. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves the cello case aside from where it sits on the ground, making more room so she can slide the rest of the way over to Josh. Her arms both go around him and draw him against the soft warmth of her body. Wanda shakes her head sadly. "That is horrible. I'm glad you were able to help her," Wanda says softly. She slides one of her hands up to softly brush through Josh's hair comfortingly. Not saying anything for a little bit, just giving him time before finally she asks, "What are her circumstances now?" Wanda asks him gently. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh swallows and takes no small comfort from Wanda holding him. "She's at the US Embassy, probably terrified. Jess is staying with her for a bit," Josh says. He looks over to Wanda. "They wanted her to die because she's a mutant. She... Heh. She can float and turn these beautiful colours. And they were gonna let her die for it." "I couldn't leave her there. And, she calls me her angel," Josh says and swallows again. "I'm bringing her here," Josh says, apologetically. He watches Wanda carefully.. "To live with me. Jess, she knows Jess, Jess can't. And I... You can feel it," Josh says, not having the words. "I'm so sorry, I /have/ to do this. But, I mean, we just... I want a house to make a home with her. I'm gonna be her family." Josh's face is twisted in some conflicted mask of conviction and fear as he looks at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' There is a momentary surge of sharp worry and angst through the bond about the time that Josh is apologizing to Wanda. It lasts for a trio of seconds and then starts to diminish as Wanda takes a slow, deep breath. "For a moment I thought..." Wanda says before trailing off and shaking her head. Wanda takes Josh's hand and holds it with a tighter than normal grip. She clears her throat, some of the worry lessened, but not all. "That sounds like a wonderful thing to do," Wanda says softly and slowly. "I don't suppose, there would be place for me in this new family?" Wanda asks, her words near the end a bit choked with emotion. "Because I would really like to be, if you'd have me," she says. She clears her throat again, and now she's said the words, the tension in her rises in those moments before she gets a confirmation from Josh, though there's also hope. Such strong hope, her trust in Josh is so strong, but he also means so much to her, she cannot help but have some fear of losing him when she sees he himself is so tense. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The tension melts in Josh immediately. A smile erupts across his face. His eyes water again. "Oh my god, yes, yes, always yes," Josh gushes, relieved. He throws his arms around Wanda and pulls her to him. One hand cups the back of her head. Wanda feels a dampness where their cheeks touch. "Thank you. I didn't know if you'd be okay with it. But I don't know what I would've done if you didn't... God I love you so much, Wanda. I can't even say it enough." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' It is good that superhuman strength is not one of Wanda's powers, for Josh might be crushed by the tightness of her hug when he throws his arms around her and Wanda does likewise. Even as she is, Josh might need to use his healing touch on his ribs. A pair of tears trickle down the woman's cheeks during the sudden release of her fears, but she's smiling and there is nothing but love felt through the bond between their souls. Her hands brush slowly over his back, and then up into the hair on the back of his head as Wanda buries her face against his cheek. "You just worried me for a second when you tensed up," Wanda tells him. "I love you, and I can't think of anything better than to share the love we have with someone who needs it like it sounds like Ana does," the woman says softly. She keeps clinging to Josh, not willing to let him go so soon after the emotional moment. "We should get a dog as well. Kids should have animals around them, to know what it is to care for and nurture another in that way. You aren't allergic are you?" she asks, making her tone more light-hearted. Wanda wipes at her cheeks with the back of her hand, then finally leans back enough to look to Josh's face. She gently wipes his cheeks as well. Her lips move, forming the words, "I love you," but without any sound. Knowing he doesn't need to hear them to know her feelings. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Oh love, I would never leave you," he whispers quietly while they cling to each other. When Wanda wipes his cheeks, Josh just smiles and nods. He leans back against the bench and pulls Wanda close to lay her head on his shoulder. His head rests on hers in turn. There is nothing he can say. And part of him knows there is something almost unnatural about the strength of his feelings for the woman beside him, something supernatural. The spirit bond created a path between two hearts that let them feel and be felt in a way just not part of normal experience. It felt like living a fairy tale or a dream. So Josh says nothing. Instead he holds the most precious woman he could have met. And he watches as a second pigeon flutters down to join its mate in the nest cradled in Benjamin Franklin's outstretched hand. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda nestles within the arms of the man she loves. The feeling of his embrace flushes away any lingering physical remnants from her earlier worry. The soft breeze stirs the leaves of the trees overhead, and Wanda's hair. The sounds of the city are distant and mutant white noise. The world feels right. Wanda watches as the pigeon rejoins its mate in the nest. She smiles at the thoughts it gives her, and her arms which are snuggled back around Josh shift a bit, her hand sliding up to his shoulder. Fingers curving to cradle where his neck and shoulder meet. "So tell me about Ana. You said that she's five? And she floats and turns beautiful colors. What is she like? She must be something special to have touched you like this," Wanda says, her voice already warmed towards the girl she hasn't met yet. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh fishes his phone out of his pocket and hits a few buttons. He brings up a picture of Anna. Dark hair, light brown skin, a big grin. She is cute even in her condition. She holds a half-burnt Spider-woman mask to her chest. Her skin is drawn to her face and she is too thin. In the picture Anna is lying in a little bed just off the dirt floor of the hut the villagers left her in to die. Her eyes sparkle though. Even in the picture. "She is," Josh nods. "I felt it when I helped her. The life in her is so strong... She just, kept fighting even without anyone to help her. Kept hanging on. And when I told her I was a mutant," Josh smiles. "She was very excited to tell me she's a mutant too. Red and yellow just like Spider-woman. She likes school. And she's so hurt... She knows the villager didn't want her. Everyone she knew turned their backs on her, just for being special." Josh shakes his head. He taps his phone to keep it from turning off the screen so he can keep looking at the picture. "I want her to have something completely different, with us. And a dog," he says and chuckles. "Just, please not like a purse dog-rat thing." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda keeps her head on Josh's shoulder but turned to look at the phone as he brings up the picture. She reaches over, not so much steadying his hand as just making an excuse to touch him there as she looks at the photo. "She's darling," Wanda says, while a gentle warmth can be felt building through their bond. "We'll probably want to add a... what are they called in English? With the bars to hang from and swings. Like at a playground?" Wanda asks him. "And if on the water... oh. I was going to say a fence to make sure she doesn't end up going in. But, then she can fly, so I suppose that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? Plus she won't have an issue with swimming if she can just fly through the water or above it." Wanda laughs and smiles to Josh. "You do realize what we're getting into, right? The trouble children can get into, even who ''can't'' fly," she says in a light-hearted tone, no reluctance in the words, just a bit of humor at what they will have to deal with. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Monkey bars," Josh says and laughs. "I have no idea... She's gonna be a handful. Can you imagine trying to get her to go to bed? Ana, come down off the roof...." Josh laughs and puts his phone away. "I never had a sister, either, so this is gonna be all new. I hope you know how to like... Braid hair or something." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda sits up a little bit. "Get out," she tells him in surprised disbelief. "They aren't really called monkey bars are they?" she asks before accepting it, laughing and saying, "Now whenever I see kids on them I'm going to be picturing them making monkey noises and scratching their sides," she says giving another warm laugh. The mention of getting her off the roof makes Wanda catch her breath. "Well, she can fly. Hopefully she won't let herself fall," she says. "And maybe a golden retriever or something like that. Something she can play fetch with, and that usually have a good temperament." The Eastern European woman smiles and looks over to Josh, slipping a hand up into his golden locks. "I can definitely do a braid. I can show you tonight if you want," she says, but looking at him as if debating if she can work his into a tight braid. Maybe cornrows. Wanda smiles and rests her head back to Josh's shoulder as she looks over at the two pigeons, sitting together in their nest side by side. "Do you speak Spanish? And does she speak English?" Wanda inquires. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I only speak a bit, I took some in high school, but not enough to like, parent," he says and laughs. "Oh man, parent... This is nuts. Um, she doesn't speak much. Just a bit. She's probably behind in school, too. Jess's sponsorships were all that was bringing schooling for the kids in Altagracia." Josh tilts his head and considers. "I'll talk to Ms. Frost or Quentin. I know they've like, copied languages and all kinds of stuff from one mind to another. I wouldn't wanna do that with Anna, she's got enough to adjust to, you know? But if they can do it for me, it'd be a huge help," Josh says and looks thoughtful. "Ah, do you speak Spanish? Or is it one of the like, three languages you don't speak?" he asks with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives a slow nod of her head and says, "It would be helpful, probably every little bit of normalcy would help at first." Wanda smiles and tells Josh, "Si, hablo la mayoria de los idiomas. Or, yes, I speak the majority of languages there are. Part of my training, made easier with my power. I could probably help you there too, though I've tried that with someone else. So if your telepath friends have, that might be the better route," she agrees. Wanda moves her hand to find Josh's. Lacing fingers, then bringing his hand to her lips so she can kiss the backs of his fingers. "We should be prepared for American bureaucracy. Especially with it being a foreign minor. They might not let us actually adopt at first. If not we could at least try to become foster parents. But, would you be able to live with that, should they eventually award her to some other couple?" Wanda asks, a little concern in her eyes. She's not been through such things herself, but has heard about them happening. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh makes a face. "I don't really wanna think about that," he says. "One step at a time. The lawyer that's doing my stuff with the hospitals has a partner who does immigration. And we're getting stuff from the elders saying she has no family. I dunno." Josh squeezes Wanda's hand. "As long as I can be there for her anyway. I guess. I mean, no matter what she'll be safer and better off here. I don't know much about immigration. If I'd adopted or fostered her or whatever in the Dominican that'd have been easier. Then she's like, my kid, I could bring here and sort residency out after. I'm American after all." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda looks over into Josh's eyes and agrees, "This is a wonderful thing that we're doing. We'll make it work whatever it takes. And what matters is that she has a good life and is happy." She smiles over to him and then gives Josh a little gentle side-bump. "So you've been walking all around New York with me, figuring out when to say something?" she asks in a slightly teasing voice. She squeezes his hand. "I appreciate you caring to see how I felt about it. But there really wasn't any other answer but that I'd want to be part of sharing her life with you," Wanda says warmly. "So, we really do need to start looking for a place quickly. I really don't do much with my money so I have stored away a fair amount. If we don't worry about haggling for price too much, we can probably get something together quickly if we start now." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks a bit embarassed. "I might've been," he agrees with a chuckle. "It's kinda big thing, and... I shouldn't have worried. But I did. You're like the center of my world. Which is gonna be a bit bigger now with Anna." "But yeah, quick would be good. I'll bug my lawyer so if we have to hit the bank... I don't wanna just, I dunno. Probably sounds dumb, but I don't wanna mooch off you, you know? I wanna cover half, even though I know it means a mortgage or whatever. I don't wanna just take from you." Josh purses his lips and considers. "Where do we go? If we wanna a house and lake or something, that's not close to the mansion or the hospitals. Up Long Island or something? Or north, I guess, too." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives a small shrug of her shoulders at the talk of mooching. "I'm not worried about the finances, Josh. I've not paid for a home out of my pocket in years. And while I don't really call on Genosha's treasury, it's there as well. Whatever would you make you feel happiest about it, I am fine doing. But you needn't take on debt over it for me." She smiles and gives Josh a little side nudge. "Somewhere close enough to the city to be convenient. I can't teleport us everywhere though that would be the easiest way back and forth to the mansion. Would you like to be out close to the school? Or prefer to be nearer to the hospitals so it is a shorter trip to them?" she asks. "I'd like to be on the water somewhere, but I'm also flexible," she says. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I'll think about it, maybe I'll just pay you back my half or something," Josh says, relenting a bit. "A royal loan from your highness," he says and winks. "Water, we should do the water. I'd love that, too. And quiet... I'm more worried about the mansion and the hospital than the school. I mean, you're an Avenger and I'm on staff, we gotta be able to get there. If they really need me at the school they can send someone to get me, you know? Still. We need like, a magic door or something!" he says. "Or broomsticks? Like Harry Potter? That could be cool. Except when it rains," Josh considers, teasing Wanda. "Or a helicopter!" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda lets out a warm laugh. "Well, magic doors are possible. Though it would require a long talk with Tony seeing as it would be a weak point in the Mansion's defenses. And I think if we made you a broomstick that we'd end up having to field a Quidditch team before long," Wanda says, breaking out in more warm laughter. "I suppose you might want to put some thought into travel then, in picking which hospitals you work with. Like I said, I'm happy to teleport you around, but there will be times it just isn't feasible for every day things," Wanda says. She sits looking around the park thoughtfully. "I feel so comfortable with you," she says, sighing. "Josh, what I did to let you control my magic? I think in most cases it should have faded weeks ago. There was something special about the two of us that it persists on its own like this. And not just persists. Sometimes I think it's stronger now than it was that day in the school saving Sarah." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, good point. Maybe near the school then. Easy enough to get around from there," Josh says and shrugs. Josh nuzzles Wanda's cheek and nods. "It is, it totally is," he agrees quietly. "And it should be like, terrifying. But it isn't." The Queens' boy straightens and gently brushes Wanda's face with the backs of his fingers. "You just... Fit me." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda soaks up the nuzzling and the caress of his hands. "Maybe it wasn't just chance, that I happened to walk all the way to Bushwick from the mansion that day. That you happened to be in the area. That the woman caught my eye going into the church. I don't think how charming you were was a coincidence though," Wanda says, grinning over to Josh as she adds, "Though I did worry maybe you were a bit of a ladies man. So good looking? And that charming smile? Oh, I was ''on my guard''," she says with emphasis, grinning at him warmly. "But you're just amazing," she says. "I'd like to go dancing again when Dream is around. I'm curious how it would feel, with what we already share now." Wanda smiles. "I think Evolution is back open from what I saw in the paper. Maybe we can catch her there some night. After we get a baby sitter." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh reddens and laughs. "Yeah, sitter, full-time nanny, something," Josh says and shakes his head. "I'm lucky my well honed charm and irresistable looks were enough to get through," Josh says dryly. "I was just... Curious. Then excited to talk to you, you were just... Not what I expected. Just, you. I was expecting the great hero, but she turned out to be someone else." "Who obviously used /her/ feminine wiles to entrap a poor innocent younger man," Josh teases with a big grin. He sighs happily. "You believe in fate? Or God, or... Something that makes these things happen?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda laughs and holds up her hand, extending her little finger and then taking Josh's hand to wrap him about it. "I'm just teasing. I'm hopelessly... what is the English word. Besotten? Besotted? Yes, besotted, with you," she tells him. Wanda leans over to gives Josh a long, slow, tender kiss. "What do you say we get back home and start pulling up some real estate listings? And nanny services. The way our lives are, we definitely need someone live-in," she says. If that sounds good to Josh, she stands up, getting their cups to throw away in a trash can. "And I can start cello lessons," she says with a grin towards the case. 
}}

8667/Saved: Closer

2019-08-09T01:06:52Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/05
|Location=New York
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir spend time together browsing antiques. Elixir tells Scarlet Witch about wanting to foster a girl from the Dominican. The two decide to buy a home and make a family of three. With a dog.
|Cast of Characters=70,1798
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' There were a number of interesting feelings through the bond recently. Nothing about it has gotten old, but by now Wanda has stopped asking Josh about specific things she felt unless they were particularly noticeable, instead just asking about his day like normal people. Today, she'd suggested going out for a walk through the city together. Perhaps just sensing there was something that maybe a chance to get out and away from his books or whatever was on his mind might help. For Wanda? She just wants the time to be with the man she loves. So today finds them just wandering through the streets together, Wanda's hand in Josh's. Stopping here and there to look in a store if something catches one of their eyes. Occasionally stopping to talk to people in general. Four times someone recognizes Wanda, and twice they recognize Josh as well, getting selfies or autographs, but no one really distracting from the pleasant day otherwise. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' After the last few days, just walking and being with Wanda feels luxurious and it is like a balm that settles his spirit. As they walk, Josh steals looks at the beautiful Transian woman and enjoys just simple things about her. The way she talks. Her smile. The way she brushes her hair out of her face with her fingers when the breeze catches. It is so much more settling than the roil that had been in his mind. Something had come alive in him in the Dominican Republic, some shrivelled or dormant part of his spirit suddenly blossomed. And he felt energized by it, in a way that radiated to Wanda. But this? This was a sacred time to just enjoy being with each other. Josh peeks through the window of an antique store and comes to a stop. In the window is an old sewing table. Its black metal push pedal looks like it saw use in its day. The wood is oiled but shows some cracks in the legs. The sewing machine inset into the table is there, too. "Huh, look at that," Josh says to Wanda. He points at the table through the window. "My mom has one, from her grandma. Never used it, but she kept it in the basement, just because, I guess. Weird what make you think of home." For once he does not look sad or angry when he talks about his family. Just a little wistful, remembering something almost from another life. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The energy from Josh only helps fuels Wanda's good mood. And a good mood she has been in, ever since the visit to the Atlantean embassy. (And It has nothing to do with Arthur's abdominals or Steve Roger's derriere, either.) There are plenty of those moments for Josh to observe his woman during the walk. Her smile is prevalent, and there are no shortage of glances over at him. Each of which only further to heighten her smile and often result in a little squeeze of his fingers by hers. Wanda stops at Josh's side, releasing his hand so he can shade his eyes as he peeks in the window. Her hand drifts to rest on the small of his back as he does. "Oh my poor mother had to sew everything by hand. And expected me to learn," she says, giving a gay laugh that suits her mood. "It looks like a nice little place," Wanda says with a smile. "Come, let's go inside?" she offers. If Josh agrees, Wanda moves over to the door, letting him open it for her if he chooses, before she passes in and smiles to him then looks about the quaint shop. Wanda moves over first to the sewing table. She runs her hand over the oiled wood. "Is it something you might like to have some day?" she asks him, turning to look over towards the handsome younger man. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smiles his agreement to the woman who has captured so thoroughly. Thoroughly enough that the women in their summer best walking past them in the other direction do not register in the way they always used. His eyes wander over Wanda from behind when he holds the door for her and then follows. That smell is there. That /old/ smell of an antique store. It is like a signal that one has travelled back in time to when things were different. Not all AI infused, hyper-connected, automatic and just plain easy to use. And the quiet. And the stuffed feeling, as if too many things were brought into too small a space but somehow fit. Josh trails after Wanda with his fingers from one hand hooked into hers. He slides his arm around Wanda when she stops to look. "Maybe," he says thoughtfully. "I don't have anything from home. Dunno." Josh touches the sewing table with a smile. It feels comfortingly real. "I wanna have our own stuff that we keep around, because we do," he says. His smile is a little sheepish, a little embarassed. "Like just happens in a family. Wouldn't fit in the apartment though!" Josh leans in to give Wanda a kiss on the cheek. Just because he can. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda draws in a slow breath. "So pleasant in here. None of Tony's robots running about underfoot," she says thoughtfully, whether feeling the same as Josh, or perhaps picking upon his mood and finding it pleasing and appropriate as well. Wanda looks over the table and says, "We could have a house. I'm not without money. I just... honestly, I was so focused on other things, I never really thought about it," she tells him, turning to face Josh fully. "Getting my own place. Just somewhere close to the rest of the team was all I focused on." She tilts her head to the side a little bit, which always presages a little smile. And there it is. "Though now... I have something that makes me think about these things more." Her smile grows, eyes shining warmly. Wanda finally pulls her eyes away to look around the store more. She moves over to a wall where some instruments hang. She takes down a child-sized guitar, plinking the strings which are dreadfully out of tune, but making her smile. She sets it aside and then stops to look at cello. She runs her hands over the smooth wood. "I have always loved these," she tells him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smiles and something is there in his eyes when they meet Wanda's. She can feel unusually clearly how /much/ he wants a home with her when Wanda mentions it. And then the moment passes. The young man clears his throat. "Yeah? Do you play that, too?" Josh asks and leans on the counter beside Wanda to look. "Viola?" he asks. "If we had our own place, you could have like, a whole collection. Saw this thing in a YouTube video once, this guy had like, all his instruments up on the wall like decorations," Josh says and gestures as if to show where they would go on his imaginary wall. "Or something. You know. Wouldn't even have to worry, I could totally carry my share now, too. The lawyer got back to me about the negotiations with the hospitals. Just the announcement is bringing them huge new business /and/ other hospitals have talking to my lawyer about trying to get me to move," Josh says. It comes out easily, as if it had been on his mind. "So looks like they're going to pay out /really/ big to keep me here. Between the two of us, we'll be totally fine. Could get a big place, somewhere quiet, you know?" Josh looks away and his face brightens. "Sweet," he says. He moves around Wanda, trailing his hand over her back from one hip to the other as he goes. Josh stops in front of a display case filled with uniform patches from World War II. Josh grins. "How cool is that? Love this stuff." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda replies to the question about playing the instrument with a shake of her head. "I do not. But... I would really like to learn," she says, as if the question has made her realize that fact which she didn't before. "The sound of the guitar is what drew me to it. And the same with the cello," she says. "I don't know how difficult it is to play. But I could give it a try." She glances at the price tag, though it is more just to check and not seeming like whatever number is there is significant. She turns back to Josh, walking over towards him and stopping beside him as he looks towards the display case. "I'd like somewhere quiet. Away from the city noise. If there was a lake or something, even better," she says, nodding slowly. Wanda moves up to press softly behind Josh, resting her head on his shoulder as he looks over the patches. "Maybe get a porch swing. With thick cushions. And a fireplace for those cold winter days when the windows frost up?" she asks. Wanda's eyes are caught by one of the patches. "I think that's Steve's old unit," she says of the Howling Commandos patch. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Big porch, like, wrap around or something," Josh agrees. He smiles when Wanda leans against him and keeps peering at the badges. "Enough bedrooms for guests and stuff, or like, staff. Probably have a couple people working for us," Josh says and swallows. "And a hot tub, of course. Think we could get a big garage? Like, big enough for a shop? So I could restore some cars? That would so fun!" Josh looks closer at the patch Wanda points out. "Yeah! Oh man, it's hard to believe he was really there. Like, actually. I've watched /so/ many movies and documentaries... But he lived through it," Josh says with a shake of his head. "Amazing. I mean, horrible, horrible stuff happened. But it was like, normal guys without powers, just out there fighting for their country. That's a crazy kind of brave. I dunno if we'd see that today if we had to throw down our phones and hit the trenches, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stays there, resting against Josh's back and her arms resting about his waist in a gentle hug. "I like to think people today would step up if it mattered. Though I also can see questioning that," Wanda says slowly, thinking about how many people they saw living off their phones on their walk today. "I like to believe in the goodness of people though." she says. Her arms slide upwards to wrap about Josh's shoulders instead, hugging him tighter. "I think the garage, with a work space, sounds like a wonderful idea. I don't know too much about cars," she says in her softly accented English. "But I'll happily hold the... axle in place while you... um... replace the... pistons?" she asks, laughing warmly. And perhaps joking a bit as she knows a /little/ more about engines than that statement suggested. Wanda lets out a happy sigh. "I'm going to get it for him. For Steve I mean. I've never been quite sure what would bring good memories for things like this. But, maybe this will," she says with a nod. "And perhaps the cello too. If I won't drive you away while I'm learning still," she says with a warm laugh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs at Wanda's offer to hold the axle. "We can figure out which is the axle and which is the pistons together," he says with a grin. He squeezes Wanda's waist in a gentle hug. "Be really sweet to get the patch for him," Josh agrees. "He's gotta miss his old life too, sometimes. The cello though... I dunno...." Josh says with mock indecision. "You know how much I hate spending time around you no matter what you're doing... I /guess/ I could suffer through it..." He breaks into a broad grin. "Let's get it, I'll carry it for you," he says gives Wanda a quick kiss. "It'll look great in our new place." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda grins over to Josh and shares the soft kiss with him. "Have I ever told you that I love you?" she asks him, the word slipping out slowly as if each taking their time. "If not? I just might some day," she says, her eyes twinkling with small amounts of mischief. She leans in for another small kiss and then finally lets go of Josh to move over to peer towards the back room. "Hello?" she calls softly. An older woman comes out. "We wished to get a couple of things. The patch here, Josh can show you which. And the cello," she says, Wanda turning to go over to the wall to carefully take it down, bringing it over along with the bow. The woman looks to Josh and then Wanda. "Aren't you the cute couple?" she asks them. "Don't get too many your age in here anymore. Less appreciation for older things every year, it seems," she comments as she moves over the display case. "Which one now?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh smirks and shakes his head at his girlfriend's banter. He smiles for the woman who comes out to help them. "Come on, what's not to like? There's a lot of really nice pieces in here," Josh comments brightly. "Uh, we'd like to get that one, Howling Commandos, please. That'd be great." Josh nods when the woman points to the patch and pulls it out of the case. "Thanks," he says when she passes it across the counter. He looks down at the patch, wondering what it must have been through and runs a thumb along the threads. He carries it carefully over to join Wanda at the register to have everything run in. He idly rubs Wanda's back while they wait and just lets his eyes roam around the antiques and curiousities. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles as she feels Josh's hand upon her back. She looks over to him and there's a sense she's just soaking in the moment. Buying things together at an antique shop. The kind of experiences she always heard other people had, that never seemed to have a place in her own life. She leans over against him as she uses her phone to pay for the purchases. "This has already been a lovely day," she tells the blond-haired mutant as she smiles over to him. "I can't imagine what else it has in store for us, but I have good feelings about it," she says. The older woman smiles at Josh and Wanda, and then moves over to one of the shelves in the store. She looks about for a bit and finally finds what she's looking for. She goes back around the counter, and sets the object down on the counter. It's a little stand with an intricate lover's knot on it, done in gold. "I think you two should have this," she tells them. The elderly woman reaches down pulls gently on the lover's knot. One half of it comes away. A gold ring, the top portion showing the gilded knot. She picks up the other half from the stand then, another ring, this one a little larger. "For you to wear when apart. And join back together when you're together," she says, with a smile, passing the smaller ring to Wanda and the larger to Josh, and then sliding the stand over for them to take. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hmm," Josh agrees happily with his love. He raises an eyebrow when the older woman goes looking behind the counter. And then he reddens. "Oh, wow, that is so thoughtful, but we couldn't just, let me buy them," Josh offers without looking up. He turns the ring over in his hand and turns to Wanda to try joining them together with her. "That's...." Josh says and just nods. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans forward with interest to see what the woman has brought them, her expression curious. "Oh, that is so precious. Yes, really we couldn't," she say, shaking her head, and pulling out her phone to pay for them. Wanda looks over to Josh as he brings his ring over to hers, and she gives him her ring so she can fit them together. It's easy enough to see how to do it when they are apart, though once together you'd think they were one solid piece of gold jewelry, though easy to slide apart in reality. Wanda looks up to Josh and smiles to him. She leans over to brush a soft kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, they are a lovely thing," Wanda says to the woman. The old woman waves a hand, but lets them pay something for the rings, if not what they are worth. "It's sweet to see young love. Been a long time. I hope you two kids do well together," she says. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, I have a feeling we will do just fine," Josh says brightly to the old woman. "And we'll treasure the rings." Josh shoots Wanda a grin and then carefully scoops up the cello for her. With a last goodbye, he makes his way out of the store, this time letting Wanda hold the door for the cello's sake. "That lady was adorable," Josh chuckles once they start walking. "Almost like people can tell how bad I've got it for you just by looking, you know?" He inhales and sighs happily, just strolling with Wanda. Josh bumps the auburn haired woman gently with his hip. "So, we're talking about getting a place. Like a big place. More room than we need for just us. Uh, this probably sounds weird to ask since... Well, you know. We're crazy together, but also like, just together," Josh says, hedging. "But like, do you ever think about having kids?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the older woman, who comes around the counter and Wanda takes her hands in her own. Though the woman doesn't notice it, there's a faint bit of scarlet aura around Wanda's fingers as she holds the woman's hands. "Thank you so very much. Blessings upon you," Wanda tells the woman, that tiny bit of scarlet light diffusing into the woman's hands. She moves with Josh to depart, smiling and resting her hand on his back as he has the big cello in the case to carry. "She really was sweet. I gave her a blessing, she should have some good luck in store for her," Wanda says as they walk. She's fine taking her time alongside Josh. The trip is far more important than the destination when she is with him. She looks over, grinning at the hip bump and listening to him. Wanda gets a soft smile. "I would like to have kids," she says. "I have even thought about it a little more than normal since you came into my life," she admits. "Just that it would be something special to have someone we could share this love we have with. But, don't let my saying that worry you, ok?" she says, smiling at the last part especially. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "No! Doesn't worry me at all," Josh says with a grin and some evident relief. "I'd be lying if I said it hadn't crossed my mind... I always just figured I'd have kids, and, God, I'd give you my everything. I can't even think of us not together," Josh says earnestly. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles over to Josh, also looking relieved that she didn't scare him off with her answer to the topic. Her hands rubs on the small of his back as she walks at his side. "I think being without you would be like losing an arm," she tells him as they walk slowly together along the sidewalk. "Worse. I could get by without my arm," she says, looking over to Josh and reaching up to brush her hair back to the other side so she can see him better. "I don't think I would do very well without you in my life, after what we've felt for each other," she tells him. She walks along with Josh at the slow pace. The rest of the city rushes past, but there is no need for Wanda to hurry. All that she really needs or wants, is right here at her side. She stops and buys them both a small slushy against the warmth of the day. "The talk about the house. Do you want to start looking for a place? Or was it just wishful thinking?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks over at Wanda when she talks about how she would do without him. He does not say, anything but she can tell. He feels exactly the same about the idea of being without her. "I wanna start looking, right away actually," Josh says. "Something happened in the Dominican and... I've got something really important I need to tell you. Like, really important." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda glances over with open curiosity at Josh's mention of something to talk about. She motions up ahead where a park is opening up halfway down the block. "Let's go in here where we can sit?" she suggests. It isn't a long walk, turning in and getting away from the street noise and the people who are so busy, rushing about the sidewalks. Up ahead there is a statue of Benjamin Franklin, his extended hand currently being used as a pigeon roost. There are some park bench situated around the edges of the open area, bushes and trees breaking up the sight of the rest of the city. Wanda sees if that works for Josh, taking a seat and smiling at him for having been carrying the cello case. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah," Josh agrees and walks along with Wanda into the park. He sets the cello case down gently and settles in on the bench with his slushy. Josh stirs the melting ice of his drink with his straw. He glances at Wanda and studies her face for a moment. "You're too beautiful," he says with a soft smile. Josh looks toward the statue and watches a pigeon come back to its nest. "So, after the Sentinel thing, Jess asked me to come to the Dominican. This village called Altagracia? And we packed a bunch of medical supplies, you know," Josh says. His eyes are faraway. "Really poor there. No power usually, huts, not a lot of food. It was really... Never saw that before. Anyway, Jess sponsors this girl there, Anna. She's 5. And she was really sick. She got a fever and they..." Josh stops and swallows. His eyes water a bit at the memory. "Sorry," Josh says and wipes at his eyes with the back of his hand. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda breaks out in the most beautiful of smile to go along with Josh's comment. The words make her feel good, but so too does feeling what Josh feels when he looks at her. It makes her heart quicken, feeling his emotions through their bond. Wanda reaches over to rest her hand lightly on Josh's leg. Just needing to touch him as she listens to what he has to say. Her expression turns a little concerned at the mention of the sick girl. "Josh, you were able to help her, right?" she asks softly, the question more that she would be surprised if he hadn't been able to, so perhaps misunderstanding the emotion he is feeling. She reaches up to gently rest her hand on his shoulder, then slide it up to his cheek as she leans a little closer. Letting him feel her there while the memory is affecting him. She waits quietly for him to be able to go on, just shaking her head when he apologizes. It's never necessary with her. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, we got there in time. Just," he says quietly. "She was strong, held on. They just... they stopped feeding her or giving her watering. They wanted her to just die, alone in this shitty little hut. She already lost her parents, and they were just gonna let her die," Josh says. He goes to take a sip from his drink but his hand is shaking. He puts the cup with its plastic dome lid on the bench beside him. A tear escapes his watering eyes. "Fuck," he says to himself and wipes his cheek. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves the cello case aside from where it sits on the ground, making more room so she can slide the rest of the way over to Josh. Her arms both go around him and draw him against the soft warmth of her body. Wanda shakes her head sadly. "That is horrible. I'm glad you were able to help her," Wanda says softly. She slides one of her hands up to softly brush through Josh's hair comfortingly. Not saying anything for a little bit, just giving him time before finally she asks, "What are her circumstances now?" Wanda asks him gently. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh swallows and takes no small comfort from Wanda holding him. "She's at the US Embassy, probably terrified. Jess is staying with her for a bit," Josh says. He looks over to Wanda. "They wanted her to die because she's a mutant. She... Heh. She can float and turn these beautiful colours. And they were gonna let her die for it." "I couldn't leave her there. And, she calls me her angel," Josh says and swallows again. "I'm bringing her here," Josh says, apologetically. He watches Wanda carefully.. "To live with me. Jess, she knows Jess, Jess can't. And I... You can feel it," Josh says, not having the words. "I'm so sorry, I /have/ to do this. But, I mean, we just... I want a house to make a home with her. I'm gonna be her family." Josh's face is twisted in some conflicted mask of conviction and fear as he looks at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' There is a momentary surge of sharp worry and angst through the bond about the time that Josh is apologizing to Wanda. It lasts for a trio of seconds and then starts to diminish as Wanda takes a slow, deep breath. "For a moment I thought..." Wanda says before trailing off and shaking her head. Wanda takes Josh's hand and holds it with a tighter than normal grip. She clears her throat, some of the worry lessened, but not all. "That sounds like a wonderful thing to do," Wanda says softly and slowly. "I don't suppose, there would be place for me in this new family?" Wanda asks, her words near the end a bit choked with emotion. "Because I would really like to be, if you'd have me," she says. She clears her throat again, and now she's said the words, the tension in her rises in those moments before she gets a confirmation from Josh, though there's also hope. Such strong hope, her trust in Josh is so strong, but he also means so much to her, she cannot help but have some fear of losing him when she sees he himself is so tense. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The tension melts in Josh immediately. A smile erupts across his face. His eyes water again. "Oh my god, yes, yes, always yes," Josh gushes, relieved. He throws his arms around Wanda and pulls her to him. One hand cups the back of her head. Wanda feels a dampness where their cheeks touch. "Thank you. I didn't know if you'd be okay with it. But I don't know what I would've done if you didn't... God I love you so much, Wanda. I can't even say it enough." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' It is good that superhuman strength is not one of Wanda's powers, for Josh might be crushed by the tightness of her hug when he throws his arms around her and Wanda does likewise. Even as she is, Josh might need to use his healing touch on his ribs. A pair of tears trickle down the woman's cheeks during the sudden release of her fears, but she's smiling and there is nothing but love felt through the bond between their souls. Her hands brush slowly over his back, and then up into the hair on the back of his head as Wanda buries her face against his cheek. "You just worried me for a second when you tensed up," Wanda tells him. "I love you, and I can't think of anything better than to share the love we have with someone who needs it like it sounds like Ana does," the woman says softly. She keeps clinging to Josh, not willing to let him go so soon after the emotional moment. "We should get a dog as well. Kids should have animals around them, to know what it is to care for and nurture another in that way. You aren't allergic are you?" she asks, making her tone more light-hearted. Wanda wipes at her cheeks with the back of her hand, then finally leans back enough to look to Josh's face. She gently wipes his cheeks as well. Her lips move, forming the words, "I love you," but without any sound. Knowing he doesn't need to hear them to know her feelings. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Oh love, I would never leave you," he whispers quietly while they cling to each other. When Wanda wipes his cheeks, Josh just smiles and nods. He leans back against the bench and pulls Wanda close to lay her head on his shoulder. His head rests on hers in turn. There is nothing he can say. And part of him knows there is something almost unnatural about the strength of his feelings for the woman beside him, something supernatural. The spirit bond created a path between two hearts that let them feel and be felt in a way just not part of normal experience. It felt like living a fairy tale or a dream. So Josh says nothing. Instead he holds the most precious woman he could have met. And he watches as a second pigeon flutters down to join its mate in the nest cradled in Benjamin Franklin's outstretched hand. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda nestles within the arms of the man she loves. The feeling of his embrace flushes away any lingering physical remnants from her earlier worry. The soft breeze stirs the leaves of the trees overhead, and Wanda's hair. The sounds of the city are distant and mutant white noise. The world feels right. Wanda watches as the pigeon rejoins its mate in the nest. She smiles at the thoughts it gives her, and her arms which are snuggled back around Josh shift a bit, her hand sliding up to his shoulder. Fingers curving to cradle where his neck and shoulder meet. "So tell me about Ana. You said that she's five? And she floats and turns beautiful colors. What is she like? She must be something special to have touched you like this," Wanda says, her voice already warmed towards the girl she hasn't met yet. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh fishes his phone out of his pocket and hits a few buttons. He brings up a picture of Anna. Dark hair, light brown skin, a big grin. She is cute even in her condition. She holds a half-burnt Spider-woman mask to her chest. Her skin is drawn to her face and she is too thin. In the picture Anna is lying in a little bed just off the dirt floor of the hut the villagers left her in to die. Her eyes sparkle though. Even in the picture. "She is," Josh nods. "I felt it when I helped her. The life in her is so strong... She just, kept fighting even without anyone to help her. Kept hanging on. And when I told her I was a mutant," Josh smiles. "She was very excited to tell me she's a mutant too. Red and yellow just like Spider-woman. She likes school. And she's so hurt... She knows the villager didn't want her. Everyone she knew turned their backs on her, just for being special." Josh shakes his head. He taps his phone to keep it from turning off the screen so he can keep looking at the picture. "I want her to have something completely different, with us. And a dog," he says and chuckles. "Just, please not like a purse dog-rat thing." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda keeps her head on Josh's shoulder but turned to look at the phone as he brings up the picture. She reaches over, not so much steadying his hand as just making an excuse to touch him there as she looks at the photo. "She's darling," Wanda says, while a gentle warmth can be felt building through their bond. "We'll probably want to add a... what are they called in English? With the bars to hang from and swings. Like at a playground?" Wanda asks him. "And if on the water... oh. I was going to say a fence to make sure she doesn't end up going in. But, then she can fly, so I suppose that would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? Plus she won't have an issue with swimming if she can just fly through the water or above it." Wanda laughs and smiles to Josh. "You do realize what we're getting into, right? The trouble children can get into, even who ''can't'' fly," she says in a light-hearted tone, no reluctance in the words, just a bit of humor at what they will have to deal with. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Monkey bars," Josh says and laughs. "I have no idea... She's gonna be a handful. Can you imagine trying to get her to go to bed? Ana, come down off the roof...." Josh laughs and puts his phone away. "I never had a sister, either, so this is gonna be all new. I hope you know how to like... Braid hair or something." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda sits up a little bit. "Get out," she tells him in surprised disbelief. "They aren't really called monkey bars are they?" she asks before accepting it, laughing and saying, "Now whenever I see kids on them I'm going to be picturing them making monkey noises and scratching their sides," she says giving another warm laugh. The mention of getting her off the roof makes Wanda catch her breath. "Well, she can fly. Hopefully she won't let herself fall," she says. "And maybe a golden retriever or something like that. Something she can play fetch with, and that usually have a good temperament." The Eastern European woman smiles and looks over to Josh, slipping a hand up into his golden locks. "I can definitely do a braid. I can show you tonight if you want," she says, but looking at him as if debating if she can work his into a tight braid. Maybe cornrows. Wanda smiles and rests her head back to Josh's shoulder as she looks over at the two pigeons, sitting together in their nest side by side. "Do you speak Spanish? And does she speak English?" Wanda inquires. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I only speak a bit, I took some in high school, but not enough to like, parent," he says and laughs. "Oh man, parent... This is nuts. Um, she doesn't speak much. Just a bit. She's probably behind in school, too. Jess's sponsorships were all that was bringing schooling for the kids in Altagracia." Josh tilts his head and considers. "I'll talk to Ms. Frost or Quentin. I know they've like, copied languages and all kinds of stuff from one mind to another. I wouldn't wanna do that with Anna, she's got enough to adjust to, you know? But if they can do it for me, it'd be a huge help," Josh says and looks thoughtful. "Ah, do you speak Spanish? Or is it one of the like, three languages you don't speak?" he asks with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives a slow nod of her head and says, "It would be helpful, probably every little bit of normalcy would help at first." Wanda smiles and tells Josh, "Si, hablo la mayoria de los idiomas. Or, yes, I speak the majority of languages there are. Part of my training, made easier with my power. I could probably help you there too, though I've tried that with someone else. So if your telepath friends have, that might be the better route," she agrees. Wanda moves her hand to find Josh's. Lacing fingers, then bringing his hand to her lips so she can kiss the backs of his fingers. "We should be prepared for American bureaucracy. Especially with it being a foreign minor. They might not let us actually adopt at first. If not we could at least try to become foster parents. But, would you be able to live with that, should they eventually award her to some other couple?" Wanda asks, a little concern in her eyes. She's not been through such things herself, but has heard about them happening. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh makes a face. "I don't really wanna think about that," he says. "One step at a time. The lawyer that's doing my stuff with the hospitals has a partner who does immigration. And we're getting stuff from the elders saying she has no family. I dunno." Josh squeezes Wanda's hand. "As long as I can be there for her anyway. I guess. I mean, no matter what she'll be safer and better off here. I don't know much about immigration. If I'd adopted or fostered her or whatever in the Dominican that'd have been easier. Then she's like, my kid, I could bring here and sort residency out after. I'm American after all." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda looks over into Josh's eyes and agrees, "This is a wonderful thing that we're doing. We'll make it work whatever it takes. And what matters is that she has a good life and is happy." She smiles over to him and then gives Josh a little gentle side-bump. "So you've been walking all around New York with me, figuring out when to say something?" she asks in a slightly teasing voice. She squeezes his hand. "I appreciate you caring to see how I felt about it. But there really wasn't any other answer but that I'd want to be part of sharing her life with you," Wanda says warmly. "So, we really do need to start looking for a place quickly. I really don't do much with my money so I have stored away a fair amount. If we don't worry about haggling for price too much, we can probably get something together quickly if we start now." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks a bit embarassed. "I might've been," he agrees with a chuckle. "It's kinda big thing, and... I shouldn't have worried. But I did. You're like the center of my world. Which is gonna be a bit bigger now with Anna." "But yeah, quick would be good. I'll bug my lawyer so if we have to hit the bank... I don't wanna just, I dunno. Probably sounds dumb, but I don't wanna mooch off you, you know? I wanna cover half, even though I know it means a mortgage or whatever. I don't wanna just take from you." Josh purses his lips and considers. "Where do we go? If we wanna a house and lake or something, that's not close to the mansion or the hospitals. Up Long Island or something? Or north, I guess, too." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives a small shrug of her shoulders at the talk of mooching. "I'm not worried about the finances, Josh. I've not paid for a home out of my pocket in years. And while I don't really call on Genosha's treasury, it's there as well. Whatever would you make you feel happiest about it, I am fine doing. But you needn't take on debt over it for me." She smiles and gives Josh a little side nudge. "Somewhere close enough to the city to be convenient. I can't teleport us everywhere though that would be the easiest way back and forth to the mansion. Would you like to be out close to the school? Or prefer to be nearer to the hospitals so it is a shorter trip to them?" she asks. "I'd like to be on the water somewhere, but I'm also flexible," she says. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I'll think about it, maybe I'll just pay you back my half or something," Josh says, relenting a bit. "A royal loan from your highness," he says and winks. "Water, we should do the water. I'd love that, too. And quiet... I'm more worried about the mansion and the hospital than the school. I mean, you're an Avenger and I'm on staff, we gotta be able to get there. If they really need me at the school they can send someone to get me, you know? Still. We need like, a magic door or something!" he says. "Or broomsticks? Like Harry Potter? That could be cool. Except when it rains," Josh considers, teasing Wanda. "Or a helicopter!" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda lets out a warm laugh. "Well, magic doors are possible. Though it would require a long talk with Tony seeing as it would be a weak point in the Mansion's defenses. And I think if we made you a broomstick that we'd end up having to field a Quidditch team before long," Wanda says, breaking out in more warm laughter. "I suppose you might want to put some thought into travel then, in picking which hospitals you work with. Like I said, I'm happy to teleport you around, but there will be times it just isn't feasible for every day things," Wanda says. She sits looking around the park thoughtfully. "I feel so comfortable with you," she says, sighing. "Josh, what I did to let you control my magic? I think in most cases it should have faded weeks ago. There was something special about the two of us that it persists on its own like this. And not just persists. Sometimes I think it's stronger now than it was that day in the school saving Sarah." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, good point. Maybe near the school then. Easy enough to get around from there," Josh says and shrugs. Josh nuzzles Wanda's cheek and nods. "It is, it totally is," he agrees quietly. "And it should be like, terrifying. But it isn't." The Queens' boy straightens and gently brushes Wanda's face with the backs of his fingers. "You just... Fit me." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda soaks up the nuzzling and the caress of his hands. "Maybe it wasn't just chance, that I happened to walk all the way to Bushwick from the mansion that day. That you happened to be in the area. That the woman caught my eye going into the church. I don't think how charming you were was a coincidence though," Wanda says, grinning over to Josh as she adds, "Though I did worry maybe you were a bit of a ladies man. So good looking? And that charming smile? Oh, I was ''on my guard''," she says with emphasis, grinning at him warmly. "But you're just amazing," she says. "I'd like to go dancing again when Dream is around. I'm curious how it would feel, with what we already share now." Wanda smiles. "I think Evolution is back open from what I saw in the paper. Maybe we can catch her there some night. After we get a baby sitter." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh reddens and laughs. "Yeah, sitter, full-time nanny, something," Josh says and shakes his head. "I'm lucky my well honed charm and irresistable looks were enough to get through," Josh says dryly. "I was just... Curious. Then excited to talk to you, you were just... Not what I expected. Just, you. I was expecting the great hero, but she turned out to be someone else." "Who obviously used /her/ feminine wiles to entrap a poor innocent younger man," Josh teases with a big grin. He sighs happily. "You believe in fate? Or God, or... Something that makes these things happen?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda laughs and holds up her hand, extending her little finger and then taking Josh's hand to wrap him about it. "I'm just teasing. I'm hopelessly... what is the English word. Besotten? Besotted? Yes, besotted, with you," she tells him. Wanda leans over to gives Josh a long, slow, tender kiss. "What do you say we get back home and start pulling up some real estate listings? And nanny services. The way our lives are, we definitely need someone live-in," she says. If that sounds good to Josh, she stands up, getting their cups to throw away in a trash can. "And I can start cello lessons," she says with a grin towards the case. 
}}

8634/Saved: Surprise Visit

2019-08-09T01:06:13Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=The Sailor, Bushwick
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir return to where they had their first drinks together to carch up on the last few days. The Russian mobs ruins it. Scarlet Witch sends a message to Morozov.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=100,70,1798
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Strangely enough, it had been one of the longest stretches Wanda and Josh had gone without really seeing each since they started dating. Josh went out to deal with a Sentinel attack with Spider-Woman unexpectedly. Josh texted Wanda afterwards and went straight to Xavier's School to get a couple of hours sleep before morning training. He spent the next two days running between meetings at different hospitals, then helping in Pediatrics at each until early. Josh kept in touch by text, but it was hardly the same. In the afternoon, he texted Wanda to ask if she wanted to meet him at the Sailor in Bushwick for dinner and then head home after. Josh is in a booth, the same booth he and Wanda sat in when they went for their first drink. He looks tired but Wanda can feel her boyfriend is happy and excited, and even more so when she comes into view. He slips out of the booth, wraps Wanda in his arms and kisses her, not at all concerned about people looking their way. "Oh my god, it's ridiculous, I feel like I haven't seen you in /forever/," Josh laughs and gently pulls Wanda into the booth beside him. "I really missed you." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda had kept in touch with Josh as well. Not really a maven when it comes to cell phones or social media, there were probably a few chuckles to be had now and then. Darn auto-correct. But she was starting to get the hang of it more now that she had someone worth texting frequently. There had been mention of heading to the embassy. Which one was made clear when Wanda sent him a picture of herself and Steve Rogers on the quay next to the ocean, and the golden domes of the Atlantis Poiseidonis embassy glittering in the background as they rose above the waves. Her acceptance of the invitation included more exclamation points than Josh had seen from Wanda before. And her arrival at the familiar little pub came with a warm smile and eyes searching the room quickly before spotting him. Recognizing the booth, Wanda crossed the room to join him. She moves into the offered hug, holding him back and letting the kiss express just how much she missed him. Wanda smiles and reaches a hand up to his face. "I think our relationship has somehow broken the time continuum," she agrees, shaking her head as it never seems like the passage of time fits her perception since they first met. She happily lets Josh guide her down next to him, sitting close enough their legs touch. "You too," she says. "I can tell you've been busy, but something is good," she says, smiling over at him. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "You're here, that's what's good," Josh says. He pushes one of the two beers on the table to Wanda. "What we had last time. Wasn't that great, but... That day was," Josh says with a grin. "Hey, hey, you gotta tell me what happened at the freaking Atlantis embassy! Who'd you meet? That's seriously crazy, I'm dying to hear about it! What was it like in there? Did you go underwater or like, see dolphins or something?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives one of her nods that is so slow starting out, giving her eyes and smile plenty of time to convey how the memory of that day strikes her. "It /was/ a great day," she agrees, finally letting the smile grow fully, cheekbones full and rosy with the thought. Wanda picks up the beer and takes a sip of it. "The embassy was beautiful. As much like an aquarium as you might think, with less focus on sea life. And more exotic. The elevator was a tube of lifting water with a solid water floor underfoot. Very impressive," Wanda tells Josh with a smile. She sips the beer again, ending up with a bit of beer foam on her lip that the Avenger doesn't seem to have noticed is there. "Their king received us. Very down to earth sort," Wanda says, then pauses. "Down to water sort? Well, anyway. He was quite upset to find out about the connection. I'm gathering medical staff to go work on it at their main hospital. Though the number of magically trained people that can go is limited, most likely just me. His court magister looked ready to chew nails over anyone from the surface being allowed there," she says. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Whoa, whoa, wait! You met Aquaman /and/ you get to go to Atlantis?! That's like, so cool! When do you go?" Josh says. His face lights up in response to hers. Her smile is infectious, and he just loves seeing Wanda so happy. "Did they let you take any pictures in the embassy?" he asks and then clears his throat. "And yeah, that's cool they're gonna help. That's the important part.... But did you get a selfie?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves a hand to cover her face for a moment. "I didn't even think of it. I did think of you on the dock, but once we got there, I am afraid my thoughts were mostly business. Well, that, and that Steve discovered an alternative to coffee. The possibility of which is mind-boggling, as you'll understand when you see how he always has a coffee mug with him at the mansion," she says. Wanda turns a bit more sideways in the booth to face Josh, an arm sliding along the back of it, hand brushing his back. "I'm curious to see Atlantis. Though to be honest, this magister worries me. I am going to be cautious about making sure the effort does not get derailed," she tells him. "Also, I said I would try to keep the connection to Atlantis quiet, to avoid causing them embarrassment. So please show appropriate care with the information," she tells him. Wanda smiles and asks, "So, you have been very happy, but tired. What all have you been doing?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs. "I'm sure they were all business. America's Ass and King Aquaman of Abslantis in one room happens all the time," Josh teases Wanda and bumps her shoulder. "I dunno what a magister is, and won't say a word, but just..." Josh stops himself, and the worried expression that crept onto his face fades. He smiles. "I won't say it." Then the 1000-watt grin returns full force when Wanda asks what he was doing. "Okay, okay, so I went to that Sentinel attack in East Harlem, and it was brutal. Friends of Humanity just turned the thing loose /and/ they shooters." "And like, Jess swoops in and blows up the Sentinel /on her own/, and it was just, like, a mass casualty scene after that. I knew one of the EMTs from the bus attack and we got triage going and it was crazy! Gunshot wounds, this lady with like four feet of rebar through her leg, this kid with a gash down his head and neck... It was /nuts/. And took hours, but so cool!" "Except, Jess got hurt really bad. Like, mangled by the Sentinel. She's crazy though so she's was still breathing, barely, when they found her for me. So she's okay now, but I was worried until they found her." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff gives a soft laugh at the bodily descriptions and tells Josh, "I honestly did not notice. There's only one man that I have eyes for." She smiles and leans her head over against his for a moment, fingers going to rest along the far side of his neck before leaning back as he begins to describe his latest events. Wanda looks concerned as she hears about the outcome of the Sentinel attack. "I'm sorry that I wasn't aware of the matter," Wanda tells him. "I'm glad you were able to heal everyone. Jessica is quite resilient. And talented. It's good you were able to assist her," Wanda says, beaming a warm smile to Josh. "I do worry the Sentinels might target you though. I have wondered, if you knew you were about to be hit, could you heal yourself even as you were being hit by something?" she asks him curiously. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh thinks about it and shrugs. "Maybe? I dunno? I mean, I got tossed in the explosion and in the bus attack and got myself fixed and up fast. Maybe?" Josh muses but does not sound confident. "Sentinels just vapourize stuff or use nullifier beams. I'd be kinda screwed, you know? We practice evading them a /lot/ in training. But it was totally okay you weren't there, we just won't be at all each other's missions, right?" He clearly does not like that fact but accepts it. They have different responsibilities to different people, and offer different skills to the world. Josh's hand settles on Wanda's thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans her head forward, resting it against Josh. The bond pulses with her emotions, the love that has grown within her for the blonde-haired mutant. "We can't. But it isn't easy to accept," she agrees with a soft sight. The waitress comes over and Wanda straightens her head to smile over to her. "Hello, nice to see you again," she says, recognizing her from the last visit. "What was it we had Josh? Some kind of burger. I got the same one as you as I recall. Was it the bbq burger?" she asks, straining to remember the meal. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh wears his heart on his sleeve in general, and is an openbook to the Transian mutant. She can feel the depth of Josh's attachment to her, and how purely happy it makes him to know how she feels. It is like some glorious but subtle echo chamber in the spirit. "Hey," Josh says to their server. "Yeah, that was it, let's get those again." Josh chats for a minute with the server, catching up in the briefest way before she heads off to keep working. "We'd be a super boring superhero pair though. It's be all like, oh no the world is ending because of ultramegaevilmastermonster! And then magic everywhere and roofs peeling off and yay! It's over! And I'm like, drinking a beer on sideline with a Wanda's #1 foamie!" Josh jokes with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the woman and asks after her. She inquires about Mutant Town, and the answers cause Wanda's smile to slip a bit. Fear of the Sentinels in the wake of the FoH raid on the factory. Where else would they send them, but here, the waitress says, sharing the words on everyone's mind before she goes off to work. Wanda turns back to Josh and says, "I think you have it backwards. I'd be the one ferrying you around, healing the world. In fact I might have to get a chauffeur's hat," she tells him, helping him return a little levity back to the conversation. Wanda leans back in the booth, relaxing and taking a deep breath as she looks around the pub. "This is a special place to me now," she tells him. "We have memories here. I want to make sure this place is protected," she says quietly. She looks back to him. "Kiss me?" she whispers. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh's smile tells Wanda the place has become special to him as well. He touches Wanda's cheek gently. The kiss is slow and soft, a moment to savour in its tenderness. After their lips part, Josh rests with his forehead touching Wanda's. The moment is interrupted by Josh's phone ringing. He sighs and scrambles to pull the phone out of his pocket and stop the ringing. "Timing," Josh says with a smirk. He opens his mouth to say something when his phone rings again. Josh looks at his phone again. "Let me get this," Josh says with an apologetic look. "Hello? Yeah, who's this? K. Slow down... Who? I can't hear you..." Josh says. He holds up a finger with another apologetic smile for Wanda. Josh wanders toward the door and out into the evening. Everyone in seats near the windows hears the screech of tires. There is yelling in Russian about 'come with us now' and Josh yelling to get off him. Some people at the other side of the pub near the windows give a collect 'Ohhhh' at something out of view. Josh is alarmed and angry, fighting angry. Then a black, panneled van screeches it tires and comes into Wanda's view through her window. It is accelerating fast and there is no doubt to her that Josh is in that van. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Fate is a cruel mistress. No more than speaking of Wanda's wishes to see the place protected, than the door suddenly blows outwards, the wood shattered to kindling. A figure zooms out of the door, with a red aura trailing from her hands and feet and carrying her up into the sky above the street. Her eyes glow red with the power that gathers about the Scarlet Witch, wreathing her entire body before her arms move. The van's tires suddenly burst and the axles are torn off the vehicle. The bond is filled with more emotions than can be counted, chief amongst them worry and anger. Wanda's form flies through the air above the disabled van, her hands gathering together and then suddenly thrust apart. The metal roof and walls of the van suddenly peel open like a banana, or maybe like a flower opening to let in the sun. Only the sun never shown with the wrath in Wanda's eyes as she looks down from above on those inside. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Car horns blare and tires screech as other avoid driving into the van. People on the sidewalk yell in alarm and move back as fast as they can. The men inside the van are yelling in fear, anger and confusion in Russian. Josh is in the back of the van hooded and thrashing with his hands bound behind him. The two men in the back with him are picking themselves up off the floor after the sudden stop. The driver, perhaps the only sensible one, climbs out of the van and starts to run. The front passenger turns in his seat and fires a pistol up at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' What used to be the van's back door lurches into the air in front of Wanda, sparks flying off it as the bullets impact it. The gun sudden is lined with red light and then it crushes, the bullets going off and burning the man's hand as the gun literally implodes on itself. The van door flies aside and Wanda's arms move as if shoving everything around her aside. The men are thrown to both sides of the street and pinned against the walls of the buildings there. As Wanda floats down to the remains of the van, those men are groaning in pain, as if slowly being crushed into the building by the scarlet aura that still enfolds them. Josh's bonds rip off and the fabric of the hood splits and falls aside. Wanda lands in front of him, hands moving over him. The emotions are starting to change in the bond, her love and caring rising again. "Josh... Josh are you hurt?" she asks, moving a hand over his body, searching him for any hurts. Meanwhile his would-be kidnappers are writhing in pain, Wanda oblivious to them. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit," Josh says. He is flooded with relief at the sight of Wanda. "I'm good, I'm good. Fuckers kept yelling about Morosov and someone hurt. Thank God you were here." "Oh my God!" someone on the sidewalk yells. "What's happening to them?" someone else shouts "Where'd they go?" Josh asks as he catches his breath. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's attention is so on Josh, on touching his face and assuring he is alright, that it takes her some time to finally take notice of the would-be kidnappers. There will be some sprained joints and a lot of bruising, but mostly it was just pain as they were each compressed against a wall. The anger in Wanda slowly fades to a duller level, and Josh will note pangs of regret as she sees what her power was doing to them. She makes a lowering motion and the men slowly sink to the ground, and gently enough. Wanda looks back to Josh. "I think it is time we pay him a visit then," she says. She swirls a hand about and the men fly back to the van's remains and are dropped, mostly gently, on the ground nearby. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People move back further from the kidnappers as the men are put down. Swearing, the would-be kidnappers pick themselves up off the ground trying to scramble away. "Fuck," Josh says. "You think?" Josh pushes himself and starts dusting himself off. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The two men don't make it more than a step or two before they are dragged back. "I was... very worried," Wanda says softly. Understatement She looks around, as if finally realizing how completely she took the van apart. Wand slides her arms around Josh and holds him, her fingers going through her hair. Just drawing strength from him, her fright diminishing, replaced mostly with her feelings of relief and love. "I think... this was a very stupid thing for you to do," Wanda says to the kidnappers. "Where will we find him?" she asks them, her voice cold enough they might wonder if they are about to be crushed against the wall again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh hugs Wanda tightly in the wreckage of the van. When she speaks to the two men, Josh runs a hand through his hair. He cannot help but feel a little uneasy. "Go to hell," the first one yells at Wanda and spits toward her. "Max! He is at club!" the second stutters out. The first launches into a tirade at the second, with some unlikely ideas about how Morozov will kill him for being a coward in face of the red bitch. "Figures," Josh says quietly. He is not at all certain about what to do and she can feel it. "You sure about this? They'll know they can't fuck with me now, won't they?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stalks over towards the first man who spit and castigated the one who cooperated. The magic whose color is the source of her name gathers about her hands. She reaches one over towards the first man, and some of the energy flows into his head, his eyes flashing red for a moment and then fading away. "What did you do to him!?" the second asks. Wanda just glances to the man and then turns back to the first. "Morozov," she whispers to him. Then a second time, "Morozov." Wanda turns and walks away from the first man, who has a bit of a stupefied look on his face. She returns to Josh, slipping her hand into his. "I need to go deal with the door of the pub," she says, giving a soft sigh. "I worry this may not be enough of a notice for him," she says. 
}}

8634/Saved: Surprise Visit

2019-08-09T01:05:40Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=The Sailor, Bushwick
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir return to where they had their first drinks together to carch up on the last few days. The Russian mobs ruins it. Scarlet Witch sends a message to Morozov.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=100,70,1798
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Strangely enough, it had been one of the longest stretches Wanda and Josh had gone without really seeing each since they started dating. Josh went out to deal with a Sentinel attack with Spider-Woman unexpectedly. Josh texted Wanda afterwards and went straight to Xavier's School to get a couple of hours sleep before morning training. He spent the next two days running between meetings at different hospitals, then helping in Pediatrics at each until early. Josh kept in touch by text, but it was hardly the same. In the afternoon, he texted Wanda to ask if she wanted to meet him at the Sailor in Bushwick for dinner and then head home after. Josh is in a booth, the same booth he and Wanda sat in when they went for their first drink. He looks tired but Wanda can feel her boyfriend is happy and excited, and even more so when she comes into view. He slips out of the booth, wraps Wanda in his arms and kisses her, not at all concerned about people looking their way. "Oh my god, it's ridiculous, I feel like I haven't seen you in /forever/," Josh laughs and gently pulls Wanda into the booth beside him. "I really missed you." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda had kept in touch with Josh as well. Not really a maven when it comes to cell phones or social media, there were probably a few chuckles to be had now and then. Darn auto-correct. But she was starting to get the hang of it more now that she had someone worth texting frequently. There had been mention of heading to the embassy. Which one was made clear when Wanda sent him a picture of herself and Steve Rogers on the quay next to the ocean, and the golden domes of the Atlantis Poiseidonis embassy glittering in the background as they rose above the waves. Her acceptance of the invitation included more exclamation points than Josh had seen from Wanda before. And her arrival at the familiar little pub came with a warm smile and eyes searching the room quickly before spotting him. Recognizing the booth, Wanda crossed the room to join him. She moves into the offered hug, holding him back and letting the kiss express just how much she missed him. Wanda smiles and reaches a hand up to his face. "I think our relationship has somehow broken the time continuum," she agrees, shaking her head as it never seems like the passage of time fits her perception since they first met. She happily lets Josh guide her down next to him, sitting close enough their legs touch. "You too," she says. "I can tell you've been busy, but something is good," she says, smiling over at him. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "You're here, that's what's good," Josh says. He pushes one of the two beers on the table to Wanda. "What we had last time. Wasn't that great, but... That day was," Josh says with a grin. "Hey, hey, you gotta tell me what happened at the freaking Atlantis embassy! Who'd you meet? That's seriously crazy, I'm dying to hear about it! What was it like in there? Did you go underwater or like, see dolphins or something?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives one of her nods that is so slow starting out, giving her eyes and smile plenty of time to convey how the memory of that day strikes her. "It /was/ a great day," she agrees, finally letting the smile grow fully, cheekbones full and rosy with the thought. Wanda picks up the beer and takes a sip of it. "The embassy was beautiful. As much like an aquarium as you might think, with less focus on sea life. And more exotic. The elevator was a tube of lifting water with a solid water floor underfoot. Very impressive," Wanda tells Josh with a smile. She sips the beer again, ending up with a bit of beer foam on her lip that the Avenger doesn't seem to have noticed is there. "Their king received us. Very down to earth sort," Wanda says, then pauses. "Down to water sort? Well, anyway. He was quite upset to find out about the connection. I'm gathering medical staff to go work on it at their main hospital. Though the number of magically trained people that can go is limited, most likely just me. His court magister looked ready to chew nails over anyone from the surface being allowed there," she says. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Whoa, whoa, wait! You met Aquaman /and/ you get to go to Atlantis?! That's like, so cool! When do you go?" Josh says. His face lights up in response to hers. Her smile is infectious, and he just loves seeing Wanda so happy. "Did they let you take any pictures in the embassy?" he asks and then clears his throat. "And yeah, that's cool they're gonna help. That's the important part.... But did you get a selfie?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves a hand to cover her face for a moment. "I didn't even think of it. I did think of you on the dock, but once we got there, I am afraid my thoughts were mostly business. Well, that, and that Steve discovered an alternative to coffee. The possibility of which is mind-boggling, as you'll understand when you see how he always has a coffee mug with him at the mansion," she says. Wanda turns a bit more sideways in the booth to face Josh, an arm sliding along the back of it, hand brushing his back. "I'm curious to see Atlantis. Though to be honest, this magister worries me. I am going to be cautious about making sure the effort does not get derailed," she tells him. "Also, I said I would try to keep the connection to Atlantis quiet, to avoid causing them embarrassment. So please show appropriate care with the information," she tells him. Wanda smiles and asks, "So, you have been very happy, but tired. What all have you been doing?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs. "I'm sure they were all business. America's Ass and King Aquaman of Abslantis in one room happens all the time," Josh teases Wanda and bumps her shoulder. "I dunno what a magister is, and won't say a word, but just..." Josh stops himself, and the worried expression that crept onto his face fades. He smiles. "I won't say it." Then the 1000-watt grin returns full force when Wanda asks what he was doing. "Okay, okay, so I went to that Sentinel attack in East Harlem, and it was brutal. Friends of Humanity just turned the thing loose /and/ they shooters." "And like, Jess swoops in and blows up the Sentinel /on her own/, and it was just, like, a mass casualty scene after that. I knew one of the EMTs from the bus attack and we got triage going and it was crazy! Gunshot wounds, this lady with like four feet of rebar through her leg, this kid with a gash down his head and neck... It was /nuts/. And took hours, but so cool!" "Except, Jess got hurt really bad. Like, mangled by the Sentinel. She's crazy though so she's was still breathing, barely, when they found her for me. So she's okay now, but I was worried until they found her." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff gives a soft laugh at the bodily descriptions and tells Josh, "I honestly did not notice. There's only one man that I have eyes for." She smiles and leans her head over against his for a moment, fingers going to rest along the far side of his neck before leaning back as he begins to describe his latest events. Wanda looks concerned as she hears about the outcome of the Sentinel attack. "I'm sorry that I wasn't aware of the matter," Wanda tells him. "I'm glad you were able to heal everyone. Jessica is quite resilient. And talented. It's good you were able to assist her," Wanda says, beaming a warm smile to Josh. "I do worry the Sentinels might target you though. I have wondered, if you knew you were about to be hit, could you heal yourself even as you were being hit by something?" she asks him curiously. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh thinks about it and shrugs. "Maybe? I dunno? I mean, I got tossed in the explosion and in the bus attack and got myself fixed and up fast. Maybe?" Josh muses but does not sound confident. "Sentinels just vapourize stuff or use nullifier beams. I'd be kinda screwed, you know? We practice evading them a /lot/ in training. But it was totally okay you weren't there, we just won't be at all each other's missions, right?" He clearly does not like that fact but accepts it. They have different responsibilities to different people, and offer different skills to the world. Josh's hand settles on Wanda's thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans her head forward, resting it against Josh. The bond pulses with her emotions, the love that has grown within her for the blonde-haired mutant. "We can't. But it isn't easy to accept," she agrees with a soft sight. The waitress comes over and Wanda straightens her head to smile over to her. "Hello, nice to see you again," she says, recognizing her from the last visit. "What was it we had Josh? Some kind of burger. I got the same one as you as I recall. Was it the bbq burger?" she asks, straining to remember the meal. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh wears his heart on his sleeve in general, and is an openbook to the Transian mutant. She can feel the depth of Josh's attachment to her, and how purely happy it makes him to know how she feels. It is like some glorious but subtle echo chamber in the spirit. "Hey," Josh says to their server. "Yeah, that was it, let's get those again." Josh chats for a minute with the server, catching up in the briefest way before she heads off to keep working. "We'd be a super boring superhero pair though. It's be all like, oh no the world is ending because of ultramegaevilmastermonster! And then magic everywhere and roofs peeling off and yay! It's over! And I'm like, drinking a beer on sideline with a Wanda's #1 foamie!" Josh jokes with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the woman and asks after her. She inquires about Mutant Town, and the answers cause Wanda's smile to slip a bit. Fear of the Sentinels in the wake of the FoH raid on the factory. Where else would they send them, but here, the waitress says, sharing the words on everyone's mind before she goes off to work. Wanda turns back to Josh and says, "I think you have it backwards. I'd be the one ferrying you around, healing the world. In fact I might have to get a chauffeur's hat," she tells him, helping him return a little levity back to the conversation. Wanda leans back in the booth, relaxing and taking a deep breath as she looks around the pub. "This is a special place to me now," she tells him. "We have memories here. I want to make sure this place is protected," she says quietly. She looks back to him. "Kiss me?" she whispers. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh's smile tells Wanda the place has become special to him as well. He touches Wanda's cheek gently. The kiss is slow and soft, a moment to savour in its tenderness. After their lips part, Josh rests with his forehead touching Wanda's. The moment is interrupted by Josh's phone ringing. He sighs and scrambles to pull the phone out of his pocket and stop the ringing. "Timing," Josh says with a smirk. He opens his mouth to say something when his phone rings again. Josh looks at his phone again. "Let me get this," Josh says with an apologetic look. "Hello? Yeah, who's this? K. Slow down... Who? I can't hear you..." Josh says. He holds up a finger with another apologetic smile for Wanda. Josh wanders toward the door and out into the evening. Everyone in seats near the windows hears the screech of tires. There is yelling in Russian about 'come with us now' and Josh yelling to get off him. Some people at the other side of the pub near the windows give a collect 'Ohhhh' at something out of view. Josh is alarmed and angry, fighting angry. Then a black, panneled van screeches it tires and comes into Wanda's view through her window. It is accelerating fast and there is no doubt to her that Josh is in that van. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Fate is a cruel mistress. No more than speaking of Wanda's wishes to see the place protected, than the door suddenly blows outwards, the wood shattered to kindling. A figure zooms out of the door, with a red aura trailing from her hands and feet and carrying her up into the sky above the street. Her eyes glow red with the power that gathers about the Scarlet Witch, wreathing her entire body before her arms move. The van's tires suddenly burst and the axles are torn off the vehicle. The bond is filled with more emotions than can be counted, chief amongst them worry and anger. Wanda's form flies through the air above the disabled van, her hands gathering together and then suddenly thrust apart. The metal roof and walls of the van suddenly peel open like a banana, or maybe like a flower opening to let in the sun. Only the sun never shown with the wrath in Wanda's eyes as she looks down from above on those inside. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Car horns blare and tires screech as other avoid driving into the van. People on the sidewalk yell in alarm and move back as fast as they can. The men inside the van are yelling in fear, anger and confusion in Russian. Josh is in the back of the van hooded and thrashing with his hands bound behind him. The two men in the back with him are picking themselves up off the floor after the sudden stop. The driver, perhaps the only sensible one, climbs out of the van and starts to run. The front passenger turns in his seat and fires a pistol up at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' What used to be the van's back door lurches into the air in front of Wanda, sparks flying off it as the bullets impact it. The gun sudden is lined with red light and then it crushes, the bullets going off and burning the man's hand as the gun literally implodes on itself. The van door flies aside and Wanda's arms move as if shoving everything around her aside. The men are thrown to both sides of the street and pinned against the walls of the buildings there. As Wanda floats down to the remains of the van, those men are groaning in pain, as if slowly being crushed into the building by the scarlet aura that still enfolds them. Josh's bonds rip off and the fabric of the hood splits and falls aside. Wanda lands in front of him, hands moving over him. The emotions are starting to change in the bond, her love and caring rising again. "Josh... Josh are you hurt?" she asks, moving a hand over his body, searching him for any hurts. Meanwhile his would-be kidnappers are writhing in pain, Wanda oblivious to them. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit," Josh says. He is flooded with relief at the sight of Wanda. "I'm good, I'm good. Fuckers kept yelling about Morosov and someone hurt. Thank God you were here." "Oh my God!" someone on the sidewalk yells. "What's happening to them?" someone else shouts "Where'd they go?" Josh asks as he catches his breath. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's attention is so on Josh, on touching his face and assuring he is alright, that it takes her some time to finally take notice of the would-be kidnappers. There will be some sprained joints and a lot of bruising, but mostly it was just pain as they were each compressed against a wall. The anger in Wanda slowly fades to a duller level, and Josh will note pangs of regret as she sees what her power was doing to them. She makes a lowering motion and the men slowly sink to the ground, and gently enough. Wanda looks back to Josh. "I think it is time we pay him a visit then," she says. She swirls a hand about and the men fly back to the van's remains and are dropped, mostly gently, on the ground nearby. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People move back further from the kidnappers as the men are put down. Swearing, the would-be kidnappers pick themselves up off the ground trying to scramble away. "Fuck," Josh says. "You think?" Josh pushes himself and starts dusting himself off. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The two men don't make it more than a step or two before they are dragged back. "I was... very worried," Wanda says softly. Understatement She looks around, as if finally realizing how completely she took the van apart. Wand slides her arms around Josh and holds him, her fingers going through her hair. Just drawing strength from him, her fright diminishing, replaced mostly with her feelings of relief and love. "I think... this was a very stupid thing for you to do," Wanda says to the kidnappers. "Where will we find him?" she asks them, her voice cold enough they might wonder if they are about to be crushed against the wall again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh hugs Wanda tightly in the wreckage of the van. When she speaks to the two men, Josh runs a hand through his hair. He cannot help but feel a little uneasy. "Go to hell," the first one yells at Wanda and spits toward her. "Max! He is at club!" the second stutters out. The first launches into a tirade at the second, with some unlikely ideas about how Morozov will kill him for being a coward in face of the red bitch. "Figures," Josh says quietly. He is not at all certain about what to do and she can feel it. "You sure about this? They'll know they can't fuck with me now, won't they?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stalks over towards the first man who spit and castigated the one who cooperated. The magic whose color is the source of her name gathers about her hands. She reaches one over towards the first man, and some of the energy flows into his head, his eyes flashing red for a moment and then fading away. "What did you do to him!?" the second asks. Wanda just glances to the man and then turns back to the first. "Morozov," she whispers to him. Then a second time, "Morozov." Wanda turns and walks away from the first man, who has a bit of a stupefied look on his face. She returns to Josh, slipping her hand into his. "I need to go deal with the door of the pub," she says, giving a soft sigh. "I worry this may not be enough of a notice for him," she says. 
}}

8645/The One About Mrs Garcia's Leg

2019-08-04T13:51:40Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=New Lots, Brooklyn, New York
|Synopsis=Josh Foley heals an elderly woman in Vanessa's building who suffered an accident
|Thanks=Vanessa Carlysle
|Cast of Characters=8143,1798
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Evening has come to New Lots, the hour late enough that most people are off the streets. The buildings here are mostly projects. Slums of the sort Hollywood likes to depict in movies. A rain had fallen earlier in the night, leaving puddles here and there where underfunded infrastructure projects result in insufficient drainage. When undisturbed, the water has that mirror-like quality, reflecting the city lights and seeming to try help give the area a more wholesome feel. One such reflection is disrupted by a foot splashing through, a youth in his late teens, wearing old ratty sneakers, jeans, and a tank top and running quickly towards one of the buildings. "Hey. Vanessa!?" he calls up towards the building above. One of the windows on the third floor is lit, and open, and before long the face of a brunette woman appears in it. "Did you get her!?" she yells back, at a volume that echoes along the streets for a good distance, and if kept up is likely to get the expected negative New York response from other residents. "No, they said Claire's doing a double in the ER!" the youth calls back. "What about 911?" he calls up. The woman, Vanessa, shakes her head. "Called twice. Still no one and they don't know how long it'll be. I'm afraid to move her, there's some artery in the leg, if it gets hit," she says. "But she's losing a lot of blood. Shoot, better come back up," she says, closing the window once the kid waves an acknowledgement and starts for the slum's doorway. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is sitting in the back of a good old New York cab riding through New Lots. He has the rear windows down to clear out the smell of air freshner and is watching closed or empty storefronts pass by. He runs a hand through his hair. A small paper bag of samosas sits beside him. He looks at the bag and a smiles a bit. They are stopped behind another car when the teenaged boy runs past and starts yelling. Josh watches curiously and catches most of the yelled conversation through the window. "Hey, hey, hold up here," Josh tells the driver. The middle-aged Lebanese man looks in the rearview mirror at Josh and shrugs. "You guys alright? Someone hurt?" Josh shouts out the window to the teenager and the brunette woman. 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' The Latino teenager hears the voice and turns back to see who it is. "Yeah. Mrs. Garcia. Feel through a broken stair and the splintered wood it's-" he says and using his finger to indicate a stabbing motion into his thigh, "-pierced right into her leg. Tried to get this nurse lady down the street to come, but she ain't home," he says. The light turns green and the car in front of the cab pulls forward. The Lebanese cab drive says something in his native tongue before swiveling his head around to look at Josh. "No bleeding people in my cab," he says, waggling a finger at Josh as if he figures he needs to forestall the passenger trying to turn the vehicle into a makeshift ambulance. "No bleeding people. No chewing gum," he says. Rules to live by. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, don't worry about it," Josh says. He grabs his wallet and stuff too many bills through to the driver in a hurry. "You can the samosas, too." Josh piles out of the taxi, waits for a cube van to pass by and then runs over to the teenager. His sneaks squeak a bit against the wet pavement and splash water onto the leg of his jeans when he steps too close to the gutter. The NYU t-shirt marks him as not likely from around here. "I can help, where is she? Up there?" he asks and looks up toward Vanessa then back to the youth. "Get me up there, man." 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' The latino seems fine accepting any help he can get. He's kind of undersized for his age. Some people have rough faces that seem intent on sending a meesage of their toughness to the world. Others have mild expressions and seem intent on just getting by. This kid seems the latter. "Sure, she's in the stairwell," he says, motioning for Josh to follow. He unlocks the security door and leads Josh inside. Several of the mailboxes are held shut with strips of tape as if their locks do not work. A sheet of tile is broken, the ground beneath visible, the whole thing a tripping hazard. The elevator has a sign on it, "Out of Order". Beneath it someone has written in marker, "You ever going to fix this!?". "I'm Gabriel," the teen says, "Come on, stairs are over here." He leads Josh over to a stairwell. The bottom level is dark, the bulbs burnt out and lit only by light from working bulbs above that filters down. The stairs are wood and creak underfoot as Gabriel pounds up them quickly. As they near the third floor, they come to a small group of people, standing on the landings both above and below an elderly Latina woman who has one leg sunk to the top of her thigh into the hole of a broken board from the stair steps. The broken wood is jagged, and a wicked looking piece at least two or three inches across is stuck into her thigh, dangerously close to where her femural artery would be. Most of the people are standing back on the landing watching. The Vanessa woman is over on the step below her. "We may need to try to get you off of there. The paramedics haven't shown up," Vanessa is saying. With more than just her head and shoulders visible, from Vanessa's attire it looks like she probably works the streets. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh glances around when he comes in and his nose wrinkles a bit. "Josh," he replies to Gabriel and takes the stairs two at a time. "Ah, that sucks," Josh says reflexively when he sees the scene in front of him. He runs a hand through his hair and considers for a second. He comes on the step beside Vanessa and smiles for the elderly woman stuck in the stair. "I'm Josh, I'm gonna help you, I promise, I work at the hospital. But it's gonna hurt a bit first," Josh says reassuringly to the woman. He looks over to Vanessa and the people he squeezed past on the landing behind him. "I need help getting her out of the hole," he explains. "Everyone else get off the stairs just in case." 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' The brunette woman looks over to Josh as he introduces himself. "He said he could help," Gabriel tells her. "Thanks Gabe, you did good," she tells the teen before focusing her attention back on Josh. Mrs. Garcia is a small thing, reaches a hand with slender fingers over to grasp Josh's arm. She says something in Spanish, and Vanessa says two or three halting words in the language, before Gabriel jumps in and responds to her. "Ok, she just wants to get out of there," Gabriel translates. Vanessa nods to Josh at his mention of needing help. She looks up at those on the landing. There are a couple of men there and she says, "Luis, come on and help." The man backs up a little bit and holds up his hands. "Blood makes me queasy," he protests. Vanessa's expressive, large eyes both widen and glare, the look enough to make Luis relent with a sigh and move down to the stair above Mrs. Garcia. Vanessa backs away, giving Josh and Luis room, while Luis looks to Josh with a blank expression as to what to do. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Awesome, k. You're gonna be fine soon," he tells Mrs. Garcia and pats her hand. Josh looks up at Luis. "We're just gonna pick her straight up. When her leg's out, pass her to me. Once you got a hold of her, just close your eyes and don't look," Josh instructs Luis. "She's gonna yell. She might go limp. Just don't drop her. K?" "Alright, you're getting out," Josh says to Mrs. Garcia. He glances back to make sure Vanessa is out of the way behind him and then looks up to Luis. "One, two, three!" Josh says. Josh gets his hands under Mrs. Garcia's arms and starts to lift the injured woman. 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Luis takes hold of the small, elderly Latina and lifts. The wood jabbed into her leg starts to slide out as she is lifted, blood leaking around it. Mrs. Garcia cries out in obvious pain as it does. When the jagged bit of wood is about halfway out, the amount of blood suddenly triples, running out of her like a faucet that has been partway on. Luis didn't listen to the advice and is looking. He sees that increased flow of blood and his eyes start to roll up in his head. His help in lifting is suddenly removed as he falls forward, passing out and faceplanting to the side of Mrs. Garcia and sliding a few steps downwards. Vanessa rushes up the stairs, grabbing Mrs. Garcia with Josh and helping lift her again. Together they manage to lift her free of the jagged bit of wood, and get her leg out of the hole, though it hangs limply, and the blood is continuing to drain out at the renewed pace. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Shit, a hand?!" Josh says when Luis loses it. The mutant moves quickly once he sees the venous bleed. "Don't slip," he warns Vanessa. "Hold her up." Josh and Vanessa prop Mrs. Garcia up on the wood step. It is already slick with blood. Josh's white sneakers are painted red. He slaps a hand down on top of the puncture wound and closes his eyes. He is tired but the golden glow comes easily enough and has soon engulfed Mrs. Garcia's leg. Her pain vanishes and the bleeding quickly stops. Under Josh's hand, the wound knits back together and closed. "See? You're fine now," Josh says with a broad grin. He lifts his hand off Mrs. Garcia's leg and smears the blood away from where the wound was with his thumb. "All better." Josh wipes at his forehead with the back of forearm. "Someone check on this guy? Make sure he didn't hurt himself on the way down?" 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa shifts the elderly woman, getting a better grip under her arms to hold her up as Josh frees up himself to address her wound. The volume of blood has Vanessa's face split by a severely worried look. That expression gives way as she sees the golden aura form around Mrs. Garcia's leg. Vanessa's mouth hangs open, and a few people who are watching gasp. Two of them make the sign of the cross on themselves. As Josh completes the healing, Mrs. Garcia's soft cries come to an end. She pats Vanessa on the arm, but it takes several more pokes to tear Vanessa's eyes away from what she saw and notice. She gently sets Mrs. Garcia down, clear of the hole. "Feel good," Mrs. Garcia says in accented English. She smiles over to Josh gratefully. Luis just lies there, drooling on the steps. Finally Gabriel snaps out of it enough to check on him, but he seems fine. A few people on the landings watching are murmuring amongst themselves. "El es un angel," one murmurs in Spanish, and a few others nod their agreement. Vanessa finally snaps out of it. "Ok, we're not doing any good standing around. Mark, Rudolpho, get Luis back to his room? And... Gabriel, can you get some people to clean up and board over the hole? And, everyone, let's keep this to ourselves. Last thing we want is Mr. Laskey using this against us somehow," she says. The last bit draws some frowns and nods of agreement. Though as people start to wander off, many keep looking back at Joshn. Un angel. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh grins at Mrs. Garcia and chuckles. "Hombre," he says and reddens a bit. "Ah... mutant. Mutante." Josh wipes his hands on his already soiled jeans while Vanessa sets the others in motion. He relieved that Luis is fine takes a breather for a moment. Once the other are starting to get going, Josh gently helps Mrs. Garcia to her feet. "Let's get her home," Josh says to Vanessa. "She live close?" 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' The word is repeated a few times. Spoken softly by people as they slip back into hallways and up and down stairs. Hombre. Vanessa helps with Mrs. Garcia, though the older woman shoos away both of their attempts to assist her. "I am feeling... good," she says, and even bounces on her legs a little bit, showing more dexterity of movement than Vanessa has ever seen. It draws a glance towards Josh from the sloe-eyed woman. Mrs. Garcia moves over to Josh, grasping both of his arms. "Que buen chico. No chico. Hombre. Vendrás a mi departamento y te prepararé sofritas." Vanessa looks back to Josh and says slowly, "Um, I think she invited you for dinner some night. My spanish has never been the best," she says as she watches Mrs. Garcia makes her own way up the stairs, leaving the two of them there on the landing. Vanessa looks over to Josh, both of them having some of the woman's blood on them. "I'm just here, on the floor. If you want you can get cleaned up there," she offers, motioning towards the door to the hallway. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh suppresses a smile when they are shooed away. He looks to Vanessa. "Better than my Spanish," Josh says to Vanessa then to Mrs. Garcia he says. "Si. Another day." He watches the woman go with a smile. "Um, yeah, ah, if you don't mind that'd be great," Josh says and spreads his hands. He looks at little bit uncomfortable at the offer for some reason but is covering it over. "Don't think a cabby would let me in like this." 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa gives him a nod of agreement. "They try to avoid the serial murderer look, I've found," she tells Josh, taking a few steps towards the door on the stairway landing, before pausing. "Ok, I haven't actually /found/ that as I don't go around with that kind of look," she says. "I just figured, that would be the wrong kind of image to send before walking into a strange apartment with me," she tells him with a small grin and a shrug. Vanessa is wearing some thigh high stockings with black short shorts, and then a top which clings to her figure. Probably too risque even for nightclub wear, thus giving the feeling of it being occupational attire. She leads the way down a hall which is in disrepair. A light is burned out, and a trash chute is missing the cover for it. She opens an apartment door after unlocking the handle and two deadbolts, moving into make way for Josh to follow. Inside the apartment has had an attempt made to make it feel comfortable. The walls are painted a cool color, though the sheet rock is missing in one place, the pipe that is exposed suggesting it was the reason for the hole. The furnishings are simple and inelegant. But there are flowers in a vase, and printouts of artwork and Ansel Adams photos on the walls to give it a more comfortable feeling. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Sweet, thanks, l was worries the horror music was gonna start, you know?" Josh replies with a chuckle. The blood on the bottom of his shoes had worn off on the hall before they got to the apartment. All the same he takes them off when he gets inside. He glances around. "Looks nice in here," comments. "Ah, kitchen sink okay?" Josh turns on the tap. The water comes in spits and gurgles before it runs smoothly. Before he cleans the blood off he takes a second to focus on himself. He glows very briefly while he checks there was nothing in the blood to worry about. Then he starts the slow process of a careful washing. "So who's Mr. Lanskey?" he asks Vanessa. 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa removed her shoes as well, waiting while Josh came in and then closing the door. She locks the handle and the two deadbolts, plus a chain, before moving further into the room. "Sure, the kitchen is fine. Let me get you a towel," she says. Vanessa pauses, watching as Josh turns on the water as if that is something worthy of being watched. When the water finally starts coming she gets a relieved look and finally then carries her shoes into the bathroom, setting them aside there to be cleaned later. She calls from in there, "Laskey. He is the personification of hive and villainy who owns this building." Vanessa goes through the door into the bedroom. "Who does every last thing he can to avoid incurring any extra expenses," she says as she comes back out. She brings Josh a towel. "Don't worry about messing it up," she says. She sets a folded shirt on the tiny kitchen table. "Here's a clean shirt, should fit you," she says. It's a men's button up shirt, deep blue. Vanessa motions to the gaping hole in her sheet rock. "Only sent someone to fix the water pipe when we went to the city to file suit. And then they left that behind," she says with a sigh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Nice guy," Josh says with a sigh. "Should be a special place, you know? Dollars to him but people gotta live. Think he'll pay Mrs. Garcia to keep her from suing?" Josh looks down at his shirt when Vanessa brings one in and makes a face. "Hey, that's really nice you," he says. "You sure though? I can just turn this one inside out or something. 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa heads back for the bedroom. "We haven't had much luck at all with suing. He caves on the small things which seems to be viewed by the courts as evidence he's doing things. But anything that really matters? Nada. We haven't been able to have a lawyer so, we're kind of relying on the city's commission representing us," she says. Vanessa pops her head back out from the bedroom to say, "Go figure, apparently the best lawyers don't go work for city housing commisions." She disappears back into her room. She continues to talk though, just raising her voice to be heard. "Nah, you can keep the shirt. It was... someone left it. Was just sitting here," she says. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Shitty," Josh calls back. "Sorry the guy's such an ass." Josh scrubs down his hands and then strips off the shirt. "Gross," he says to himself of the blood that seeped through to smear on his stomach. He uses a clean portion of the shirt to wipe it off and looks around. "Is there a garbage I can throw this in?" 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' "Under the sink!" she calls. Vanessa passes back into the bathroom quickly, and the sound of water running in there can be heard as well. She didn't need quite as much cleanup plus was able to change fully. So it isn't long before she comes out wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt which says 'Greedo shot first' with an image of a green-headed alien holding the blaster he tried to use to kill Han Solo. She walks over to the kitchen to join Josh. "So, um, you do that kind of thing a lot? I mean, healing people and everything?" she asks him, running fingers through her hair briefly. She goes over to her fridge to take a look inside. "Would you like a beer? I have a couple of Bud Lights. Which, granted, is more beer-adjacent than beer, but...?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thanks!" Josh calls back. He ditches the shirt and pulls the other over his head. When Vanessa comes back out, the college age man is working at getting some of the blood off his sneakers. He looks over at Vanessa and tilts his head a bit at the shirt. The reference flies over his head but it seems incongruous. Like something Kitty would wear. "Ah, it's okay, I won't stay long. Supposed to be on my way home," Josh says with a grin for Vanessa. He looks back to the shoes, which will probably always be a bit pink now. "I work on the medical staff for the Avengers, and at a couple hospitals," he replies to her question while still scrubbing with his fingers. Blood and water mingle and swirl in the sink and down the drain. "So it happens. I was a few blocks up helping someone with a lung thing. Glad I was passing by, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa's eyes drift across Josh's torso briefly while he's focused on his shoes, though her appreciation is kept brief as she digs in the fridge to pull out two of the light beers. The fridge door swings shut and she opens the two bottles, setting one within easy reach of Josh as she grabs a rag and heads back into the living room. It is a short trip, the place is not very large. "Wow, the Avengers?" she asks, pausing to look back at him as if confirming what he said. She continues on over to the space in front of the door, wiping the tile in front of the doorway. "I think that must be the coolest job I've ever heard of," she tells him. Before Vanessa returns, she unlocks and then relocks the doorknob, the two deadbolts and the chain. She walks back over, washing the rag out and then taking it to the door of her room, tossing it into laundry hamper for the wash. She returns finally, getting her beer and sipping it. "We're really grateful you came by. The emergency services aren't very responsive around here. Especially lately. That earthquake we had awhile back? A cop and a paramedic got hurt in the looting and it seems like they leave us last in the list now when there is a problem." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is mid-sip of the beer but nods in confirmation when Vanessa looks at him. "Yeah, it's amazing, I'm pretty grateful." He catches himself looking when Vanessa gets down to wipe the floor and looks away. He takes another pull from the beer. When Vanessa goes through the extended door locking ritual again he looks a little sad. "It's no problem, someone was watching over Mrs. Garcia I guess," Josh says with a shrug. He leans sideways against the counter by the sink in the little kitchen. "Can't believe you can't even get an ambulance here. I mean, I lived in Bushwick for a while and even it wasn't that bad. I mean, I guess I always heard about Brooklyn growing up, but never came out here. You lived here a while?" 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa leans against a kitchen counter and says, "They would have shown eventually. I hope? Just not sure it would have been in time, yeah. So, you were a god-send. Who knows, maybe literally?" she says with a soft smile. Vanessa sips her beer, gazing over at the slightly younger man who works with the Avengers. She looks about halfway between Josh and Wanda in age, just a few years older. "And you really should take her up on those sofritas. She's an excellent cook. The people in the building here, lot of good people. But it's tough. Most are stuck in here, unable to find anywhere comparable. We have rent-control, you see," Vanessa shares. Probably why the landlord isn't spending any money on the building since he can't make anything new off improvements. Vanessa nods her head then to say, "Yeah, been here a couple of years now. From a mud patch outside of Cleveland originally. Bounced around a little once I got to New York," she says, her eyes drifting away and something in her eyes making those the kind of memories one doesn't speak of with glowing terms. "Got lucky to get in here when I did," she says. Her eyes fall on the gap in the sheetrock. "Or, you know. So I figured. How about you? You from here?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh rolls his eyes good-naturedly at the mention of being a literal God send takes another pull from his beer and sets it down. "Me? Queens, born and bred. Never lived outside the city," Josh replies. He crosses his arms. "It was nice. Lived in Bushwick for a bit and now Manhattan." Josh's phone buzzes and he fishes it out of his pocket. "Crap, sorry, just have to answer this," he says to Vanessa. Josh quickly texts Wanda that he is running a bit late and will be home soon, skims through a stack of other messages and pockets his phone. "I should get going," Josh says apologetically. "Am I safe enough in the lobby till my ride comes? I'm not like one of the actual Avengers, kicking ass isn't my thing." 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' Vanessa moves away a little bit for Josh to check his phone, sort of the illusion of privacy. Though she cannot read his messages so perhaps it counts. When he is done though, she turns back to him. The young woman has a certain grace to her. A bearing that one doesn't find in places like this very often. And she doesn't really hide the small look of disappointment when Josh says he has to go. "Of course," she says, "It was great of you stop like you did. Mrs. Garcia, great lady. You really did a good thing," she tells him. "And yes, you'll be safe in the lobby. The lock on the security door seems one of the few things that works," she says, blowing in exasperation, sending a few stray hairs along her cheek back towards where they belong. Vanessa moves over to the door, unlocking the quartet of locks. She pauses there. "Josh," she says to him. "I don't suppose... maybe you'd like to go out on a date sometime?" Vanessa asks. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is caught off guard by Vanessa's question. He blinks and then smiles broadly. "I wish I could," he says and reddens a bit. He covers the mild embarssment with a chuckle and runs a hand through his hair. "Figures, meet a beautiful girl just after I get serious and move in with my girlfriend. I'll give you my number though. If something ever comes up, give me a shout. And thanks, I'm flattered, seriously," he says and touches Vanessa's arm. He pulls his phone out again and zips Vanessa his contact information. Josh squeezes his feet into his wet sneakers and straightens up. "Be safe, huh? Good luck with the landlord," Josh says. 

:'''{{#var:8143|Vanessa Carlysle (8143)}} has posed:''' The mutant has done more than one kindness today. Giving Vanessa his number is a small one, and maybe one Josh himself will overlook. The amount of acceptance it conveys makes a difference. Vanessa is not left thinking he turned her down after noting earlier her profession, as she would have otherwise. And the rest of the night will not be spent trying to avoid thinking about it. About what that says about her as a person that she was ruled out by someone so obviously generous and caring as Josh. Vanessa isn't conscious of the difference either. She gladly accepts his number and says, "I'll try to be. And thank you. Thank you for everything. And best of luck to you," she says, smiling to him before he departs. The locks be heard, clicking back into place. Before he's back to the stairs, they can be heard clicking open again, only to be locked a second time. 
}}

8643/Undercurrents: Cattaneo Catastrophe

2019-08-04T13:50:53Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/03 |Location=Cattaneo Estate, Hempstead, New York |Synopsis=The Punisher assaults the Cattaneo estate outside New York and does heavy damag..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=Cattaneo Estate, Hempstead, New York
|Synopsis=The Punisher assaults the Cattaneo estate outside New York and does heavy damage. Rave shows up to find out what is going on. A misunderstanding stalls the assault and everyone withdraws to let the police clean up the mess.
|Thanks=Punisher, Rave
|Cast of Characters=100,1140,8680
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Cattaneo estate in Hempstead is a large Italian villa on expansive manicured grounds. The estate is gated decoratively with black wrought iron. There are fountains and lovely gardens. The sightlines to the edge of the property from the two storey villa are clear. Tonight there are a lot of people there. Cars are lined up by the large garage and carriage home. Surveillance ahead of time shows there are four guys in slacks and dress shoes openly carrying assault rifles and wearing body armour over dress shirts wandering the grounds. Others come in and out of the back on the large patio to smoke. It is dark and the villa has had time to cool down so FLIR is useful again. There are a couple of people working in what must be the kitchen. There are two clusters of five men with the partially blocked shapes on FLIR that suggest body armour in two rooms on the ground floor, sitting around. There are four above the garage in the carriage home, also armoured. Two are in the hallway upstairs. There is a knot of four people, only one in armour, sitting on a couch together in one of the upstairs rooms toward the back of the house. Ten more guys in armour are spread between two rooms upstairs, one group toward the front of the house and one to the back. There is no traffic out here at this time of night. Other estates line this road and it is quite open. Probably why they chose it. Estimated police response emergency response time is about seven minutes. There are other Maggia homes out here, but none of the really important families, so none would have more than a couple of bodyguards that are not going to leave to help anyone. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' Of course, being on high alert doesn't matter to The Punisher in the least. He's taken his time to set this up. He's one of the best at this, and is very, very patient when it comes to his setups. It also helps that his partner is one of the better technologists and weaponsmiths around... with the distances involved and the strategic situation, it's meant that Punisher and Microchip had to go an extra mile to make sure this worked. Drone operated grenade launchers with frag bombs were to be flown in around the Cattaneo estate. It was a pain in the ass to set them properly, to be sure... but given how many people were around for this one? Going in through the front door would draw far too much attention than it was worthwhile. In a nearby two story building was The Punisher, having setup his sniper nest after sneaking in. A tricked out M24 with numerous vision modes and an angle/ballistic system tied into the overhead drones gave Punisher plenty of line of sights to attack, and the Battle Van along with a rigged up car were both on standby. If he needed to, he was more than happy to kick in the front door with that car bomb. With the way the 'Hook War' was going, it was a solid possibility. Scoping out the area from afar with his rifle, Punisher had a headcount. While still looking through the rifle, he grunted, "yeah, these assholes are all setup for a war. The Fuckin' Foot weren't bad enough?" Punisher mused over the transceiver, "I know Frank, but something about this doesn't sit right. Suddenly everyones sucking at the Hook tit? Somethings going on behind the scenes, I'll bet you anything." Microchip replies. "Only one way to find out. Hit it, Micro." Punisher ordered. Time to go to work. Multiple things happen almost all at once. First, the power substation for this section of the city goes up in flames. Pre-placed C4 charges detonate, and a fireball lights up the night sky. Seconds later, and multiple grenade launchers from multiple angles start getting dropped into the area around and near the villa. Flash, gas, fragmentation, concussive grenades start getting launched in a coordinated, overwhelming manner... it's a well coordinated attack, with the only rooms where the non-lethals hit being the kitchen and the room upstairs with the kids and woman... everywhere else that Punisher can get to with launchers is saturated with the sudden salvo. Seconds after /that/, The Punisher gets to work, a silenced M24 starting to create new holes in the various guards he can find as he takes out the trash from afar. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' Rave had gotten herself a little taste of the 'Hook' war last night, encountering the thugs of one party that had wanted to find a way to control the 'game' for himself. It had been confronting, it it was yet another thing that reminded her the drug was more than just something new for the club scene to be chatting about. With the memories of rather brutal violence fresh in her mind and no performance tonight? Rave was taking a break to simply enjoy herself and 'run' the town or the streets. Unlike a certain spider? The open ground wasn't something that bothered the neon bluenette speedster. It wasn't a wall to run up, but it was certainly traversable. That sudden explosion however? That has her skidding to a stop. The young woman in shorts and a hoodie over her crop-top didn't exactly cut an intimidating figure, but her attention certainly does draw towards the source of the blasts. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Grenades going in through most of the windows in the estate. Flash grenades go off in the carriage home above the garage and the second storey room at the back of the house with the Maggia men. On FLIR from a drone, they can be seen stumbling around in those places and starting to grope around. A frag grenade goes off in the second storey room at the front of the villa with five men in it. Three men just slouch over where they are, two fall to the floor and roll around. The man, woman and girls on the couch startle. The men in the upstairs hallway go in opposite directions to check on the upstairs rooms where the men were. On FLIR from a drone, frag grenades go off in the first floor rooms with Maggia men in them. It looks like one lucky SOB is unhurt. The others are dead or on the floor. The people in the kitchen startle and turn about in place as explosions go off. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' Damn, not nearly as many as he'd like. "Too many stragglers still. Gonna have to thin the herd before I go all in." Punisher whispers over the transceiver. "There are at least a dozen on the feeds still Frank, with more on the way I'd bet." Microchip notes as he monitors the drones, "The one shots actually did quite a bit of damage. I don't think they were expecting this sort of attack all at once, which is good." "One Batch." Punisher whispers as he fires a round at the one outside he can see, aiming right for the temple. "Two Batch." Slight adjustment, *pop*, another round to the head to one window. "Penny and Dime." *POP*, another round flies through the night air against another head. It's only been seconds, and already the villa looks like a warzone. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' Holy. Crap. Off in the distance, the explosions had drawn Rave's gaze, but after a few moments she's left standing outside the burning explosions and blood. What the hell had happened here? She's left to consider the chaos she's left looking at and ponder if she should be calling the cops or diving into the chaos for herself. More gunshots start blasting out into the night and the girl gives a muttered curse before she makes to follow her way into the front door and try and get a glimpse at what was going on. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The last man standing on the first floor falls, as do the man in the window in the carriage home and the man out front drops to the ground with a hole in his head just as Rave arrives. She sees it happen. Microchip sees from the drones that the guards on the sides of the villa are running for a back patio door, as the guard at the back. Microchip can tell the three remaining men in the carriage home are still recovering from the flash grenade, as are the five in the rear upper floor. The man in the hallway that checks on the front room stops when opens the door. The man man checking on the flashed room is gesturing. As soon as she goes through the front door, Rave can hear that man upstairs yelling in Italian. Microchip can see the man with the woman and kids is ushering them into an adjoining room. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' "We got everyone we could out here. Micro, I'm going in. Switch to perimeter monitoring." Punisher grunts out slightly as he jump down from his position, the rappel rope grabbed as he climbs down effortlessly. Soon, he's dashing along towards the villa, going for the large bush with his close quarters kit stashed for a switch out, even as he keeps an eye out with his rifle for anyone coming out. It's gonna take him a moment to get there... 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' A speedster does have -one- advantage at least, it didn't take all that long for her to search through the building. The downside? It meant that she could see all the death in long slow motion. Moving room to room, her glowing wake is easily visible enough for Frank to spot through the darkness. Coming to a skidding stop, she ends up at rest right before the yelling men upstairs. "What the hell is going on here?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Che cazzo?!" the Italian man in front of Rave yells when the woman appears. He is in his 20's and nicely dressed, aside from the assault rifle and ballistic vest. He jumps back and brings up his rifle. "Who the fuck are you?" he demands in accented English. The man at the other end of the hallway turns and brings his rifle up as well. He is pointing it at Rave's back from 20 feet away. Professionals would never create crossfire possibilities like this. Punisher makes it to the curb across the street from the villa. Microchip sees the men in the carriage home are starting to recover. They are hunched down and picking up their rifles. They move like drunks. Rave (standing right at the doorway) and microchip can see the five men in the upper floor room who were flash banged are also starting to recover. They are getting to their feet, grabbing rifles. Some are holding a hand to an ear and taking it off, as if testing their hearing. They also move clumsily. Microchip also watches the man upstairs with the woman and girls open a door where a wall should be and vanishes from FLIR. A repositioned drone using low-light sees only a wall with a lamp on it. The room is the master suite. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' It takes a few seconds, even for the seasoned vigilante... but the rifle is exchanged, swapped out at a large fake bush near the curb. In its place comes a custom designed man-portable microgun, his traditional trenchcoat and white skull vest, and a gear web loaded for war. There's no mistaking The Punisher as he walks clear into sight, using his head gear to keep an eye on the windows and doors as he starts to head right for the Villa. Rave will easily see him too. The Punisher isn't trying to hide anymore as he approaches, the ammo drum on his backpack feeding into the microgun at his side making his intentions clear. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' There's a gun pointed at her, Rave's hands come up reflexively. There's even a sudden flicker in the lights as she does so. "Whoa whoa whoa, I'm just trying to work out where the hell the explosions were coming fr-..." she begins, but there's a sudden pause from the girl. She hadn't seen Frank or the impending hell of the minigun, but the armed men and the bodyguards has her eyes widening a little. She'd seen enough movies to make an educated guess. Had she just ran right into the damn mob's house? 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Inside, right now!" the man in front of Rave says. He waves the muzzle of his gun into the room with the five other Maggia men. The one at the other end of the hall lowers his gun and runs to the stop of the sweeping staircase into the front entry. He uses a corner of the wall for cover and takes aim. The three men that were outside and came through back burst into the lobby as well. One looks up. "Where is he?" the man asks. "Safe room? How the fuck should I know?" the man doing overwatch on the entry snaps back. One of the men in the carriage home peeks out of the window carefully and ducks back. Safe bet those four know Punisher is coming now. In the distance, a lone siren starts up. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' Well, he's dead. The Punisher had been waiting for someone to peek their head out (the longer he could wait before firing, the closer he got, after all), and when they do, he opens fire right for the head... then for the lower half of the carriage as the high RPM of the microguns .50 caliber rounds begins to simply shred right through the carriage. The sound of the gun -and the material being destroyed- is loud and obvious. He keeps right on walking towards the Villa as he fires, watching for anyone else popping their head up. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' Was it concern? A redeeming quality, or perhaps the thug was hoping to use her as a hostage. Either way, the shouting from the Mobster has Rave opening her mouth to speak only to suddenly gasp as the shattering of drywall and concrete brought on by the rain of .50cal bullets forces her perception into hyper-focus. There was so many of them flying through, too many for her to safely move people out of the way...instead she disappears in a brilliant flash of light between the individual sounds of each shot, only to reappear beside the man in black and then a sudden bolt of laser energy slams into the barrels of the weapon. "Alright what the hell?" Seems she hadn't recognized Castle just yet. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' There is no sound or movement from the carriage house above the five car garage. The sound seems to bring the five stunned men upstairs out of their torpor. They run out of the room through the space Rave was just a second before. The man who was pointing his gun at Rave stands there, too surprised at her disapperance to move. The man doing overwatch of the foyer stays where he is at the top of the stairs. The men in the foyer split up. One takes the frame at the edge of the blown out window on the right of the door, and the other two take the left. They all open fire with assault rifles at Frank and Rave. "Punisher!" one of them shouts, but nobody at all hears him over the sound of them shooting. In the distance, more sirens start up. Elapsed time is about 90 seconds. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' There's no sound, no raging scream as he destroys the carriage. There's only the focus of a man on a mission as Punisher walks on. Then, Rave gets in the way, knocking him and the microgun to the side, sending stray rounds all over the place as Punisher is immediately unbalanced and is knocked over onto the ground, the wind half knocked out of him from the ground /and/ the sheer weight of the gear on him crushing his chest. Punisher wasn't expecting a speedster to get in the way, and in moments, it may cost him his life as his opposition open fire on him. "FRANK!" Microchip shouts in distress over the transceiver, seeing the situation from above. Microchip didn't expect this at all. Nothing in the intel suggested there was a meta on scene. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' "Wait. Punisher?" Oh. Oh crap. Now they were shooting at them regardless of the fact she was standing out there. They were even aiming at both of them! Clearly, she'd read things wrong and helped the wrong side. Fast as she was, there was no way that the blue-haired girl could carry Frank out of the way with that Minigun strapped to him. Instead? There was another bright light and Rave was left standing there holding both hands raised towards the house, that same light seeming to strobe in time with each gunshot heading their way and forming a barrier to stop the incoming rounds. "I uh...sorry?" Tonight was not Rave's night! 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Bullets slam into Rave's shield. Encouraged by seeing the Punisher on the ground, the men on the ground floor call the others down. Six of the seven from upstairs start to run down the stairs toward the front door. The three at the windows keep shooting. There is a lot of yelling unkind things in Italian, about mothers, killing people and doing horrible things to Rave. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' "Still alive." Punisher croaks over the transceiver. There's an audible sigh of relief from Microchip that only Frank can hear, and Punisher slowly starts to get up, having gotten his bearings again. The Microgun is adjusted again as Punisher double checks the feed and receiver assembly visibly. "You're obviously not a Maggia bitch, or I'd be dead." Punisher grates out as he looks to Rave, "as you heard, you can call me Punisher. Right now, we only have minutes before the cops arrive, and I need to finish this attack before they start bringing in the heavy hitters." Punisher aims the Microgun again, "either knock them all out, or get us both to some cover." 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' "Or you could...run away...?" Rave manages to talk back, but the effort of keeping and timing the shield up was...more than a little bit. Finally, she gives one last little grunt of effort before she starts to walk -slowly- towards the driveway. "Find something to get behind then!" she calls over the noise of the gunfire. "I can cover you, but not forever!" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Maggia men scent blood in the water. The six from upstairs pour of the front door. The first two start shooting toward Rave and Punisher. The others are spreading out to the sides to get room to shoot. The three men in the front windows run their clips dry and there is a lot of swearing. It seems they were not practising tactical reload drills on their spare time. Sirens are getting slowly louder, but Microchip can tell Frank he still has about five minutes. Frank will know that is not enough time to crack a commercially built safe room. 

:'''{{#var:1140|Punisher (1140)}} has posed:''' "Your shit cost me too much time. I can't get in their panic room without bringing in the ram now." Punisher grouses, audibly pissed off as he backs away back towards the Battle Van. Now that they're adapting, Punisher has to adapt too, and he drops the microgun, letting it hang from the harness as he pulls his backup MP7 from the gear web. A lot more controllable so he can keep suppressing people who try to get around the shield. "Gettin' out of here now. If you want some answers, get in." Punisher grates as he heads for the street. As they move, Microchip is already getting the Battle Van ready for them, moving into the drivers cabin and flooring it to go and meet Punisher halfway. He presses a button to set the turrets to standby as well, in case they're followed. 

:'''{{#var:8680|Rave (8680)}} has posed:''' Rave knew who the Punisher was, or at least she knew the stories. There was some serious noteriety out there...but she'd still just had to witness the violence and get a close look at just what that sort of weaponry did to a human body. It was going to be another 'long shower and don't think about it' night. When she's getting growled at and offered a lift? There's a moment of consideration before she shakes her head. Rides from heavily armed strangers and all. "I'll run." Those two words are given, then she's already wrapped in a corona of bright glowing light and then streaking away in a burst of speed out into the night. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Battle Wagon screeches into the driveway and up to The Punisher. Bullets riccochet off the ground and Rave's shield. Then Punisher is in the van and the mysterious young woman is just... gone. The Maggia men keep shooting at the Battle Wagon until hits the street and peels away. Then they stop and stand there, stunned by the ferocious assault, the magical woman and the fact they are still breathing. Minutes later the police arrive and begin to take stock of the warzone on their hands. 
}}

8642/Undercurrents: Guerilla Warfare

2019-08-04T13:48:59Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/03 |Location=New Hope Housing Project, Bushwick, New York |Synopsis=Revenge isn't a cold dish; it burns the man it's fed to. |Thanks=Cypher..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=New Hope Housing Project, Bushwick, New York
|Synopsis=Revenge isn't a cold dish; it burns the man it's fed to.
|Thanks=Cypher
|Cast of Characters=1126,1798
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Somewhere in New York. There's the sound of dripping water from a faucet that hasn't been fixed yet. It's not hard to break into an apartment, if you have an eye for how things are put together. A glowing flash of light, and then a single figure steps out of the portal and inside. A dog growls, and there's the click of a flashlight beam onto a scarred and angry pit bull. "...Hello, boy. Man, you've had a bad time of it." A few hours later, Doug is sitting on the couch, drinking a glass of Hennesey after having raided the stores of the guy who lives here. He lazily scratches the happily panting dog behind the ear with techno-organic fingers, as he waits, watching the door. Occasionally he glances at his phone. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People go back and forth in the hallway outside. There is shouting and fighting in a nearby apartment followed by someone crying. The music is loud from another. It is quite late when Doug hears a familiar voice coming down the hall talking loudly about how he is going to fuck the shit out of 'you', who is presumably the woman responding to him. The door opens and Baldie is making out with a young Hispanic woman in a much too small dress. "You ain't gonna walk right for a fucking week," Baldie says. He closes the door behind him with his foot and pushes the woman up against the wall. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "Well I'm flattered." Doug says, "But I'd prefer it if you bought me dinner first. I'm just a big romantic at heart, really." Then he looks up, and swirls his drink. "You should probably leave, miss." His eyes are fixed, posture relaxed, stare hard. "And don't even think about going for your gun. My boy Hemingway here," He flicks his gaze down to the man's dog, "Wouldn't like it if you did. You know, it's a really *garbage* thing to do, beating and starving a dog to make him mean. Take your gun out and set it on the ground." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "What the /fuck/?" Flattop shouts, startled. He looks unbelieving at Doug. "You're fucking /dead/!" Flattop reaches behind his back slowly, but Doug can read it. There is no way in hell this guy is going to listen to this punk white boy in front of him. Flattop whips the gun out and opens fire at Doug. The young woman screams and drops to the floor, covering her ears with her hands. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' He's already vaulting up and behind the couch *before* Flattop's got the gun around to start firing. BAM BAM BAM BAM. The dog *jumps*, and goes for his wrist, and then Doug says, "And the clock starts running. God, why do people always have to pick *stupid*." He quietly counts shots fired. Each one the guy wastes is one that isn't in the clip. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Flattop yanks his arm out of the way of the jumping dog and turns sideways. It lands and slides into the door past Flattop. "Fucking bitch!" Flattop snarls, but it is more lip reading than hearing for Doug. The noise in the confined space is deafening. Flattop pumps two rounds into the dog, his attention turned away from Doug. The young woman screams again. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' 'I planned for this. This was expected. Poor dog, he didn't do anything wrong. What kind of guy shoots his own dog? I drilled for this in the Danger Room. I can do this. It's not something you're supposed to do, but you can do it. Why oh why couldn't I have had a healing factor or something else cool.' 'Ok, he's off balance. Come at him off his blind side.' He moves from behind the couch, and lunges. 'Disarm. Get control of his wrist.' He moves to grab at Flattops wrist and slam it against the wall, twisting it at the same time as he aims a kick up at his stomach. 'Trust your senses, you can see the appropriate reaction to the way he moves. Adrenaline is your friend, here... use it-' 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Flattop does not see Doug coming until the very last instant, and is very kindly swinging his arm back around to try and find Doug. The man is much bigger than Doug, but is disarmed quickly when hit without warning. All he manages to do in return is throw his bodyweight toward Doug to try and slam him into the other wall in the narrow entryway. The young woman at their feet scrambles further into the apartment on her hands and knees. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Flattop is bigger than Doug. Stronger. There were drills for that, too. Remember Logan's lessons. The impact into the wall jarrs bones and leaves Doug in a daze, except that suddenly that black and gold arm reaches up to scrabble at Flattop's shirt, before he's reaching up to latch silicate fingers around his neck and squeeze, digging fingers in. "You killed my FRIEND." Doug hisses, spitting blood. "You don't get to just walk away laughing!" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Flattop's eyes go wide and he starts choking immediately. He grabs at Doug's techno-organic hand but certainly does not have the strength to match it. His only response to Doug is a gagging grk. The bedroom door slams behind the young woman. There are shouts in the hallway, calling people out. But no running feet yet. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug looks down, and says, "I'm not going to kill you--" His eyes narrow. "I'm not even going to send you to jail." His fingers tighten. "I want to, but that's not me." Then he says, "Instead, I'm going to pull the trigger on the one thing that *defines* your life." He plucks at Flattop's orange colors with his other hand. "This." Then he breathes, "Actually I already did it. Just before I got here. You know, a gang, like any social group, relies on a sense of belonging and trust. So... I took those away. Every time somebody stole money, every time somebody creamed off the top, every time somebody narced to the police, every time somebody stepped out with somebody else's wife, girlfriend, sister, *whatever*... I collected that information in a god-damn *afternoon* and now I've put it out in the open where all of you can *see* it. Everybody's dirty little secrets, all the ways the people in your *family* have betrayed each other. That includes YOU." "You killed my friend. So I killed your family." His fingers relax, slightly, letting air through. "The people here are good people... I'm sorry for what's about to happen, but I needed to make a point." "Even if you can salvage something from this? Do not. EVER. Fuck. With. Me. Or. Mine. Again. Because I'll die for them? But I'll also *break worlds* for them. DO YOU HEAR ME?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Flattop stands there gagging against the wall while Doug looks up and rants at him. As soon as Flattop can get some air he gasps it. Then he pushes forward with a rasping, hiss of a snarl. He reaches out to try and encirle the smaller man and tackle him to the ground with simple size, reach and body mass. There is no elegance to it. It is the instinct born of a life of beating and getting beat on the street. "Yo, it was in Bigsy's, come on!" someone shouts in the hall. There are at least four people running toward the apartment. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug hits the floor, with a bone-jarring thud. He's not a big guy, that's just the way it is. But he can take a lot of pain. Once you've died... what's a beating? 'You're not as big as they are. So if you get into a fight, you *have to make it hurt*. Remember what Tim taught you...!' He slams his forehead into Flattop's nose. Then he does it again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Arrrhhhh!" Flattop yells in wordless pain. His eyes flood with tears, blood flies and his hands shoot to his face. He rolls off Doug and against the door. He swears incoherently in pain. The door opens a fraction of an inch and slams into Flattop. "Bigsy! The fuck is going on! Bigsy!" yells whoever it is pushing at the door. But 200+ lbs of gang banger with stars in eyes is an effective doorstop. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug gets to his feet, and he looks down. He's been through the war. He holds his flesh arm with his techno-organic one. "Live with it." He looks over at the still form of the dog, and then reaches down to gently touch the animal's throat with his metal hand. "Yeah. You are a fighter, aren't you. Thank you. I'll keep my word, and if I can't, I'll bury you someplace green." He glances back up. "When the time comes, let loose a tiger and a devil; but wait for the time with the tiger and the devil chained - not shown - yet always ready." "...I'm done here." He says, to nobody present. "Can you please send me to the infirmary." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' By the time the door to the apartment opens, Flattop's brother and cousins can only wonder at what happened. The dead dog. Flattop sitting with his back against the wall bleeding from the nose. Some bitch in the bedroom crying. A gun on the floor. Bullet holes in the furniture. "The fucking dead guy, the fucking dead guy was in here!" Flattop yells. His reply is confused and concerned looks from the men at the door. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug, long gone, strips off his bloody shirt, walks into the infirmary, and begins to tend to battered limbs and bruised ribs. He sits, quietly, his techno-organic right hand bunched into a fist as he puts his weight on it. "God, doing that could get addictive. I'll need to watch myself more carefully. Wonder what'll happen next?" As if he hasn't already seen the pattern spread out before him. 
}}

8634/Saved: Surprise Visit

2019-08-03T17:09:15Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=Saved
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir return to where they had their first drinks together to carch up on the last few days. The Russian mobs ruins it. Scarlet Witch sends a message to Morozov.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=100,70,1798
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Strangely enough, it had been one of the longest stretches Wanda and Josh had gone without really seeing each since they started dating. Josh went out to deal with a Sentinel attack with Spider-Woman unexpectedly. Josh texted Wanda afterwards and went straight to Xavier's School to get a couple of hours sleep before morning training. He spent the next two days running between meetings at different hospitals, then helping in Pediatrics at each until early. Josh kept in touch by text, but it was hardly the same. In the afternoon, he texted Wanda to ask if she wanted to meet him at the Sailor in Bushwick for dinner and then head home after. Josh is in a booth, the same booth he and Wanda sat in when they went for their first drink. He looks tired but Wanda can feel her boyfriend is happy and excited, and even more so when she comes into view. He slips out of the booth, wraps Wanda in his arms and kisses her, not at all concerned about people looking their way. "Oh my god, it's ridiculous, I feel like I haven't seen you in /forever/," Josh laughs and gently pulls Wanda into the booth beside him. "I really missed you." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda had kept in touch with Josh as well. Not really a maven when it comes to cell phones or social media, there were probably a few chuckles to be had now and then. Darn auto-correct. But she was starting to get the hang of it more now that she had someone worth texting frequently. There had been mention of heading to the embassy. Which one was made clear when Wanda sent him a picture of herself and Steve Rogers on the quay next to the ocean, and the golden domes of the Atlantis Poiseidonis embassy glittering in the background as they rose above the waves. Her acceptance of the invitation included more exclamation points than Josh had seen from Wanda before. And her arrival at the familiar little pub came with a warm smile and eyes searching the room quickly before spotting him. Recognizing the booth, Wanda crossed the room to join him. She moves into the offered hug, holding him back and letting the kiss express just how much she missed him. Wanda smiles and reaches a hand up to his face. "I think our relationship has somehow broken the time continuum," she agrees, shaking her head as it never seems like the passage of time fits her perception since they first met. She happily lets Josh guide her down next to him, sitting close enough their legs touch. "You too," she says. "I can tell you've been busy, but something is good," she says, smiling over at him. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "You're here, that's what's good," Josh says. He pushes one of the two beers on the table to Wanda. "What we had last time. Wasn't that great, but... That day was," Josh says with a grin. "Hey, hey, you gotta tell me what happened at the freaking Atlantis embassy! Who'd you meet? That's seriously crazy, I'm dying to hear about it! What was it like in there? Did you go underwater or like, see dolphins or something?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives one of her nods that is so slow starting out, giving her eyes and smile plenty of time to convey how the memory of that day strikes her. "It /was/ a great day," she agrees, finally letting the smile grow fully, cheekbones full and rosy with the thought. Wanda picks up the beer and takes a sip of it. "The embassy was beautiful. As much like an aquarium as you might think, with less focus on sea life. And more exotic. The elevator was a tube of lifting water with a solid water floor underfoot. Very impressive," Wanda tells Josh with a smile. She sips the beer again, ending up with a bit of beer foam on her lip that the Avenger doesn't seem to have noticed is there. "Their king received us. Very down to earth sort," Wanda says, then pauses. "Down to water sort? Well, anyway. He was quite upset to find out about the connection. I'm gathering medical staff to go work on it at their main hospital. Though the number of magically trained people that can go is limited, most likely just me. His court magister looked ready to chew nails over anyone from the surface being allowed there," she says. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Whoa, whoa, wait! You met Aquaman /and/ you get to go to Atlantis?! That's like, so cool! When do you go?" Josh says. His face lights up in response to hers. Her smile is infectious, and he just loves seeing Wanda so happy. "Did they let you take any pictures in the embassy?" he asks and then clears his throat. "And yeah, that's cool they're gonna help. That's the important part.... But did you get a selfie?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves a hand to cover her face for a moment. "I didn't even think of it. I did think of you on the dock, but once we got there, I am afraid my thoughts were mostly business. Well, that, and that Steve discovered an alternative to coffee. The possibility of which is mind-boggling, as you'll understand when you see how he always has a coffee mug with him at the mansion," she says. Wanda turns a bit more sideways in the booth to face Josh, an arm sliding along the back of it, hand brushing his back. "I'm curious to see Atlantis. Though to be honest, this magister worries me. I am going to be cautious about making sure the effort does not get derailed," she tells him. "Also, I said I would try to keep the connection to Atlantis quiet, to avoid causing them embarrassment. So please show appropriate care with the information," she tells him. Wanda smiles and asks, "So, you have been very happy, but tired. What all have you been doing?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs. "I'm sure they were all business. America's Ass and King Aquaman of Abslantis in one room happens all the time," Josh teases Wanda and bumps her shoulder. "I dunno what a magister is, and won't say a word, but just..." Josh stops himself, and the worried expression that crept onto his face fades. He smiles. "I won't say it." Then the 1000-watt grin returns full force when Wanda asks what he was doing. "Okay, okay, so I went to that Sentinel attack in East Harlem, and it was brutal. Friends of Humanity just turned the thing loose /and/ they shooters." "And like, Jess swoops in and blows up the Sentinel /on her own/, and it was just, like, a mass casualty scene after that. I knew one of the EMTs from the bus attack and we got triage going and it was crazy! Gunshot wounds, this lady with like four feet of rebar through her leg, this kid with a gash down his head and neck... It was /nuts/. And took hours, but so cool!" "Except, Jess got hurt really bad. Like, mangled by the Sentinel. She's crazy though so she's was still breathing, barely, when they found her for me. So she's okay now, but I was worried until they found her." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff gives a soft laugh at the bodily descriptions and tells Josh, "I honestly did not notice. There's only one man that I have eyes for." She smiles and leans her head over against his for a moment, fingers going to rest along the far side of his neck before leaning back as he begins to describe his latest events. Wanda looks concerned as she hears about the outcome of the Sentinel attack. "I'm sorry that I wasn't aware of the matter," Wanda tells him. "I'm glad you were able to heal everyone. Jessica is quite resilient. And talented. It's good you were able to assist her," Wanda says, beaming a warm smile to Josh. "I do worry the Sentinels might target you though. I have wondered, if you knew you were about to be hit, could you heal yourself even as you were being hit by something?" she asks him curiously. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh thinks about it and shrugs. "Maybe? I dunno? I mean, I got tossed in the explosion and in the bus attack and got myself fixed and up fast. Maybe?" Josh muses but does not sound confident. "Sentinels just vapourize stuff or use nullifier beams. I'd be kinda screwed, you know? We practice evading them a /lot/ in training. But it was totally okay you weren't there, we just won't be at all each other's missions, right?" He clearly does not like that fact but accepts it. They have different responsibilities to different people, and offer different skills to the world. Josh's hand settles on Wanda's thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans her head forward, resting it against Josh. The bond pulses with her emotions, the love that has grown within her for the blonde-haired mutant. "We can't. But it isn't easy to accept," she agrees with a soft sight. The waitress comes over and Wanda straightens her head to smile over to her. "Hello, nice to see you again," she says, recognizing her from the last visit. "What was it we had Josh? Some kind of burger. I got the same one as you as I recall. Was it the bbq burger?" she asks, straining to remember the meal. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh wears his heart on his sleeve in general, and is an openbook to the Transian mutant. She can feel the depth of Josh's attachment to her, and how purely happy it makes him to know how she feels. It is like some glorious but subtle echo chamber in the spirit. "Hey," Josh says to their server. "Yeah, that was it, let's get those again." Josh chats for a minute with the server, catching up in the briefest way before she heads off to keep working. "We'd be a super boring superhero pair though. It's be all like, oh no the world is ending because of ultramegaevilmastermonster! And then magic everywhere and roofs peeling off and yay! It's over! And I'm like, drinking a beer on sideline with a Wanda's #1 foamie!" Josh jokes with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the woman and asks after her. She inquires about Mutant Town, and the answers cause Wanda's smile to slip a bit. Fear of the Sentinels in the wake of the FoH raid on the factory. Where else would they send them, but here, the waitress says, sharing the words on everyone's mind before she goes off to work. Wanda turns back to Josh and says, "I think you have it backwards. I'd be the one ferrying you around, healing the world. In fact I might have to get a chauffeur's hat," she tells him, helping him return a little levity back to the conversation. Wanda leans back in the booth, relaxing and taking a deep breath as she looks around the pub. "This is a special place to me now," she tells him. "We have memories here. I want to make sure this place is protected," she says quietly. She looks back to him. "Kiss me?" she whispers. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh's smile tells Wanda the place has become special to him as well. He touches Wanda's cheek gently. The kiss is slow and soft, a moment to savour in its tenderness. After their lips part, Josh rests with his forehead touching Wanda's. The moment is interrupted by Josh's phone ringing. He sighs and scrambles to pull the phone out of his pocket and stop the ringing. "Timing," Josh says with a smirk. He opens his mouth to say something when his phone rings again. Josh looks at his phone again. "Let me get this," Josh says with an apologetic look. "Hello? Yeah, who's this? K. Slow down... Who? I can't hear you..." Josh says. He holds up a finger with another apologetic smile for Wanda. Josh wanders toward the door and out into the evening. Everyone in seats near the windows hears the screech of tires. There is yelling in Russian about 'come with us now' and Josh yelling to get off him. Some people at the other side of the pub near the windows give a collect 'Ohhhh' at something out of view. Josh is alarmed and angry, fighting angry. Then a black, panneled van screeches it tires and comes into Wanda's view through her window. It is accelerating fast and there is no doubt to her that Josh is in that van. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Fate is a cruel mistress. No more than speaking of Wanda's wishes to see the place protected, than the door suddenly blows outwards, the wood shattered to kindling. A figure zooms out of the door, with a red aura trailing from her hands and feet and carrying her up into the sky above the street. Her eyes glow red with the power that gathers about the Scarlet Witch, wreathing her entire body before her arms move. The van's tires suddenly burst and the axles are torn off the vehicle. The bond is filled with more emotions than can be counted, chief amongst them worry and anger. Wanda's form flies through the air above the disabled van, her hands gathering together and then suddenly thrust apart. The metal roof and walls of the van suddenly peel open like a banana, or maybe like a flower opening to let in the sun. Only the sun never shown with the wrath in Wanda's eyes as she looks down from above on those inside. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Car horns blare and tires screech as other avoid driving into the van. People on the sidewalk yell in alarm and move back as fast as they can. The men inside the van are yelling in fear, anger and confusion in Russian. Josh is in the back of the van hooded and thrashing with his hands bound behind him. The two men in the back with him are picking themselves up off the floor after the sudden stop. The driver, perhaps the only sensible one, climbs out of the van and starts to run. The front passenger turns in his seat and fires a pistol up at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' What used to be the van's back door lurches into the air in front of Wanda, sparks flying off it as the bullets impact it. The gun sudden is lined with red light and then it crushes, the bullets going off and burning the man's hand as the gun literally implodes on itself. The van door flies aside and Wanda's arms move as if shoving everything around her aside. The men are thrown to both sides of the street and pinned against the walls of the buildings there. As Wanda floats down to the remains of the van, those men are groaning in pain, as if slowly being crushed into the building by the scarlet aura that still enfolds them. Josh's bonds rip off and the fabric of the hood splits and falls aside. Wanda lands in front of him, hands moving over him. The emotions are starting to change in the bond, her love and caring rising again. "Josh... Josh are you hurt?" she asks, moving a hand over his body, searching him for any hurts. Meanwhile his would-be kidnappers are writhing in pain, Wanda oblivious to them. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit," Josh says. He is flooded with relief at the sight of Wanda. "I'm good, I'm good. Fuckers kept yelling about Morosov and someone hurt. Thank God you were here." "Oh my God!" someone on the sidewalk yells. "What's happening to them?" someone else shouts "Where'd they go?" Josh asks as he catches his breath. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's attention is so on Josh, on touching his face and assuring he is alright, that it takes her some time to finally take notice of the would-be kidnappers. There will be some sprained joints and a lot of bruising, but mostly it was just pain as they were each compressed against a wall. The anger in Wanda slowly fades to a duller level, and Josh will note pangs of regret as she sees what her power was doing to them. She makes a lowering motion and the men slowly sink to the ground, and gently enough. Wanda looks back to Josh. "I think it is time we pay him a visit then," she says. She swirls a hand about and the men fly back to the van's remains and are dropped, mostly gently, on the ground nearby. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People move back further from the kidnappers as the men are put down. Swearing, the would-be kidnappers pick themselves up off the ground trying to scramble away. "Fuck," Josh says. "You think?" Josh pushes himself and starts dusting himself off. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The two men don't make it more than a step or two before they are dragged back. "I was... very worried," Wanda says softly. Understatement She looks around, as if finally realizing how completely she took the van apart. Wand slides her arms around Josh and holds him, her fingers going through her hair. Just drawing strength from him, her fright diminishing, replaced mostly with her feelings of relief and love. "I think... this was a very stupid thing for you to do," Wanda says to the kidnappers. "Where will we find him?" she asks them, her voice cold enough they might wonder if they are about to be crushed against the wall again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh hugs Wanda tightly in the wreckage of the van. When she speaks to the two men, Josh runs a hand through his hair. He cannot help but feel a little uneasy. "Go to hell," the first one yells at Wanda and spits toward her. "Max! He is at club!" the second stutters out. The first launches into a tirade at the second, with some unlikely ideas about how Morozov will kill him for being a coward in face of the red bitch. "Figures," Josh says quietly. He is not at all certain about what to do and she can feel it. "You sure about this? They'll know they can't fuck with me now, won't they?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stalks over towards the first man who spit and castigated the one who cooperated. The magic whose color is the source of her name gathers about her hands. She reaches one over towards the first man, and some of the energy flows into his head, his eyes flashing red for a moment and then fading away. "What did you do to him!?" the second asks. Wanda just glances to the man and then turns back to the first. "Morozov," she whispers to him. Then a second time, "Morozov." Wanda turns and walks away from the first man, who has a bit of a stupefied look on his face. She returns to Josh, slipping her hand into his. "I need to go deal with the door of the pub," she says, giving a soft sigh. "I worry this may not be enough of a notice for him," she says. 
}}

8634/Saved: Surprise Visit

2019-08-03T06:29:41Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/03 |Location=The Sailor, Bushwick, New York |Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir return to where they had their first drinks together to carc..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/03
|Location=The Sailor, Bushwick, New York
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir return to where they had their first drinks together to carch up on the last few days. The Russian mobs ruins it. Scarlet Witch sends a message to Morozov.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=70,1798
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Strangely enough, it had been one of the longest stretches Wanda and Josh had gone without really seeing each since they started dating. Josh went out to deal with a Sentinel attack with Spider-Woman unexpectedly. Josh texted Wanda afterwards and went straight to Xavier's School to get a couple of hours sleep before morning training. He spent the next two days running between meetings at different hospitals, then helping in Pediatrics at each until early. Josh kept in touch by text, but it was hardly the same. In the afternoon, he texted Wanda to ask if she wanted to meet him at the Sailor in Bushwick for dinner and then head home after. Josh is in a booth, the same booth he and Wanda sat in when they went for their first drink. He looks tired but Wanda can feel her boyfriend is happy and excited, and even more so when she comes into view. He slips out of the booth, wraps Wanda in his arms and kisses her, not at all concerned about people looking their way. "Oh my god, it's ridiculous, I feel like I haven't seen you in /forever/," Josh laughs and gently pulls Wanda into the booth beside him. "I really missed you." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda had kept in touch with Josh as well. Not really a maven when it comes to cell phones or social media, there were probably a few chuckles to be had now and then. Darn auto-correct. But she was starting to get the hang of it more now that she had someone worth texting frequently. There had been mention of heading to the embassy. Which one was made clear when Wanda sent him a picture of herself and Steve Rogers on the quay next to the ocean, and the golden domes of the Atlantis Poiseidonis embassy glittering in the background as they rose above the waves. Her acceptance of the invitation included more exclamation points than Josh had seen from Wanda before. And her arrival at the familiar little pub came with a warm smile and eyes searching the room quickly before spotting him. Recognizing the booth, Wanda crossed the room to join him. She moves into the offered hug, holding him back and letting the kiss express just how much she missed him. Wanda smiles and reaches a hand up to his face. "I think our relationship has somehow broken the time continuum," she agrees, shaking her head as it never seems like the passage of time fits her perception since they first met. She happily lets Josh guide her down next to him, sitting close enough their legs touch. "You too," she says. "I can tell you've been busy, but something is good," she says, smiling over at him. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "You're here, that's what's good," Josh says. He pushes one of the two beers on the table to Wanda. "What we had last time. Wasn't that great, but... That day was," Josh says with a grin. "Hey, hey, you gotta tell me what happened at the freaking Atlantis embassy! Who'd you meet? That's seriously crazy, I'm dying to hear about it! What was it like in there? Did you go underwater or like, see dolphins or something?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda gives one of her nods that is so slow starting out, giving her eyes and smile plenty of time to convey how the memory of that day strikes her. "It /was/ a great day," she agrees, finally letting the smile grow fully, cheekbones full and rosy with the thought. Wanda picks up the beer and takes a sip of it. "The embassy was beautiful. As much like an aquarium as you might think, with less focus on sea life. And more exotic. The elevator was a tube of lifting water with a solid water floor underfoot. Very impressive," Wanda tells Josh with a smile. She sips the beer again, ending up with a bit of beer foam on her lip that the Avenger doesn't seem to have noticed is there. "Their king received us. Very down to earth sort," Wanda says, then pauses. "Down to water sort? Well, anyway. He was quite upset to find out about the connection. I'm gathering medical staff to go work on it at their main hospital. Though the number of magically trained people that can go is limited, most likely just me. His court magister looked ready to chew nails over anyone from the surface being allowed there," she says. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Whoa, whoa, wait! You met Aquaman /and/ you get to go to Atlantis?! That's like, so cool! When do you go?" Josh says. His face lights up in response to hers. Her smile is infectious, and he just loves seeing Wanda so happy. "Did they let you take any pictures in the embassy?" he asks and then clears his throat. "And yeah, that's cool they're gonna help. That's the important part.... But did you get a selfie?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda moves a hand to cover her face for a moment. "I didn't even think of it. I did think of you on the dock, but once we got there, I am afraid my thoughts were mostly business. Well, that, and that Steve discovered an alternative to coffee. The possibility of which is mind-boggling, as you'll understand when you see how he always has a coffee mug with him at the mansion," she says. Wanda turns a bit more sideways in the booth to face Josh, an arm sliding along the back of it, hand brushing his back. "I'm curious to see Atlantis. Though to be honest, this magister worries me. I am going to be cautious about making sure the effort does not get derailed," she tells him. "Also, I said I would try to keep the connection to Atlantis quiet, to avoid causing them embarrassment. So please show appropriate care with the information," she tells him. Wanda smiles and asks, "So, you have been very happy, but tired. What all have you been doing?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs. "I'm sure they were all business. America's Ass and King Aquaman of Abslantis in one room happens all the time," Josh teases Wanda and bumps her shoulder. "I dunno what a magister is, and won't say a word, but just..." Josh stops himself, and the worried expression that crept onto his face fades. He smiles. "I won't say it." Then the 1000-watt grin returns full force when Wanda asks what he was doing. "Okay, okay, so I went to that Sentinel attack in East Harlem, and it was brutal. Friends of Humanity just turned the thing loose /and/ they shooters." "And like, Jess swoops in and blows up the Sentinel /on her own/, and it was just, like, a mass casualty scene after that. I knew one of the EMTs from the bus attack and we got triage going and it was crazy! Gunshot wounds, this lady with like four feet of rebar through her leg, this kid with a gash down his head and neck... It was /nuts/. And took hours, but so cool!" "Except, Jess got hurt really bad. Like, mangled by the Sentinel. She's crazy though so she's was still breathing, barely, when they found her for me. So she's okay now, but I was worried until they found her." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff gives a soft laugh at the bodily descriptions and tells Josh, "I honestly did not notice. There's only one man that I have eyes for." She smiles and leans her head over against his for a moment, fingers going to rest along the far side of his neck before leaning back as he begins to describe his latest events. Wanda looks concerned as she hears about the outcome of the Sentinel attack. "I'm sorry that I wasn't aware of the matter," Wanda tells him. "I'm glad you were able to heal everyone. Jessica is quite resilient. And talented. It's good you were able to assist her," Wanda says, beaming a warm smile to Josh. "I do worry the Sentinels might target you though. I have wondered, if you knew you were about to be hit, could you heal yourself even as you were being hit by something?" she asks him curiously. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh thinks about it and shrugs. "Maybe? I dunno? I mean, I got tossed in the explosion and in the bus attack and got myself fixed and up fast. Maybe?" Josh muses but does not sound confident. "Sentinels just vapourize stuff or use nullifier beams. I'd be kinda screwed, you know? We practice evading them a /lot/ in training. But it was totally okay you weren't there, we just won't be at all each other's missions, right?" He clearly does not like that fact but accepts it. They have different responsibilities to different people, and offer different skills to the world. Josh's hand settles on Wanda's thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda leans her head forward, resting it against Josh. The bond pulses with her emotions, the love that has grown within her for the blonde-haired mutant. "We can't. But it isn't easy to accept," she agrees with a soft sight. The waitress comes over and Wanda straightens her head to smile over to her. "Hello, nice to see you again," she says, recognizing her from the last visit. "What was it we had Josh? Some kind of burger. I got the same one as you as I recall. Was it the bbq burger?" she asks, straining to remember the meal. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Josh wears his heart on his sleeve in general, and is an openbook to the Transian mutant. She can feel the depth of Josh's attachment to her, and how purely happy it makes him to know how she feels. It is like some glorious but subtle echo chamber in the spirit. "Hey," Josh says to their server. "Yeah, that was it, let's get those again." Josh chats for a minute with the server, catching up in the briefest way before she heads off to keep working. "We'd be a super boring superhero pair though. It's be all like, oh no the world is ending because of ultramegaevilmastermonster! And then magic everywhere and roofs peeling off and yay! It's over! And I'm like, drinking a beer on sideline with a Wanda's #1 foamie!" Josh jokes with a grin. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles to the woman and asks after her. She inquires about Mutant Town, and the answers cause Wanda's smile to slip a bit. Fear of the Sentinels in the wake of the FoH raid on the factory. Where else would they send them, but here, the waitress says, sharing the words on everyone's mind before she goes off to work. Wanda turns back to Josh and says, "I think you have it backwards. I'd be the one ferrying you around, healing the world. In fact I might have to get a chauffeur's hat," she tells him, helping him return a little levity back to the conversation. Wanda leans back in the booth, relaxing and taking a deep breath as she looks around the pub. "This is a special place to me now," she tells him. "We have memories here. I want to make sure this place is protected," she says quietly. She looks back to him. "Kiss me?" she whispers. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh's smile tells Wanda the place has become special to him as well. He touches Wanda's cheek gently. The kiss is slow and soft, a moment to savour in its tenderness. After their lips part, Josh rests with his forehead touching Wanda's. The moment is interrupted by Josh's phone ringing. He sighs and scrambles to pull the phone out of his pocket and stop the ringing. "Timing," Josh says with a smirk. He opens his mouth to say something when his phone rings again. Josh looks at his phone again. "Let me get this," Josh says with an apologetic look. "Hello? Yeah, who's this? K. Slow down... Who? I can't hear you..." Josh says. He holds up a finger with another apologetic smile for Wanda. Josh wanders toward the door and out into the evening. Everyone in seats near the windows hears the screech of tires. There is yelling in Russian about 'come with us now' and Josh yelling to get off him. Some people at the other side of the pub near the windows give a collect 'Ohhhh' at something out of view. Josh is alarmed and angry, fighting angry. Then a black, panneled van screeches it tires and comes into Wanda's view through her window. It is accelerating fast and there is no doubt to her that Josh is in that van. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Fate is a cruel mistress. No more than speaking of Wanda's wishes to see the place protected, than the door suddenly blows outwards, the wood shattered to kindling. A figure zooms out of the door, with a red aura trailing from her hands and feet and carrying her up into the sky above the street. Her eyes glow red with the power that gathers about the Scarlet Witch, wreathing her entire body before her arms move. The van's tires suddenly burst and the axles are torn off the vehicle. The bond is filled with more emotions than can be counted, chief amongst them worry and anger. Wanda's form flies through the air above the disabled van, her hands gathering together and then suddenly thrust apart. The metal roof and walls of the van suddenly peel open like a banana, or maybe like a flower opening to let in the sun. Only the sun never shown with the wrath in Wanda's eyes as she looks down from above on those inside. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Car horns blare and tires screech as other avoid driving into the van. People on the sidewalk yell in alarm and move back as fast as they can. The men inside the van are yelling in fear, anger and confusion in Russian. Josh is in the back of the van hooded and thrashing with his hands bound behind him. The two men in the back with him are picking themselves up off the floor after the sudden stop. The driver, perhaps the only sensible one, climbs out of the van and starts to run. The front passenger turns in his seat and fires a pistol up at Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' What used to be the van's back door lurches into the air in front of Wanda, sparks flying off it as the bullets impact it. The gun sudden is lined with red light and then it crushes, the bullets going off and burning the man's hand as the gun literally implodes on itself. The van door flies aside and Wanda's arms move as if shoving everything around her aside. The men are thrown to both sides of the street and pinned against the walls of the buildings there. As Wanda floats down to the remains of the van, those men are groaning in pain, as if slowly being crushed into the building by the scarlet aura that still enfolds them. Josh's bonds rip off and the fabric of the hood splits and falls aside. Wanda lands in front of him, hands moving over him. The emotions are starting to change in the bond, her love and caring rising again. "Josh... Josh are you hurt?" she asks, moving a hand over his body, searching him for any hurts. Meanwhile his would-be kidnappers are writhing in pain, Wanda oblivious to them. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit," Josh says. He is flooded with relief at the sight of Wanda. "I'm good, I'm good. Fuckers kept yelling about Morosov and someone hurt. Thank God you were here." "Oh my God!" someone on the sidewalk yells. "What's happening to them?" someone else shouts "Where'd they go?" Josh asks as he catches his breath. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's attention is so on Josh, on touching his face and assuring he is alright, that it takes her some time to finally take notice of the would-be kidnappers. There will be some sprained joints and a lot of bruising, but mostly it was just pain as they were each compressed against a wall. The anger in Wanda slowly fades to a duller level, and Josh will note pangs of regret as she sees what her power was doing to them. She makes a lowering motion and the men slowly sink to the ground, and gently enough. Wanda looks back to Josh. "I think it is time we pay him a visit then," she says. She swirls a hand about and the men fly back to the van's remains and are dropped, mostly gently, on the ground nearby. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People move back further from the kidnappers as the men are put down. Swearing, the would-be kidnappers pick themselves up off the ground trying to scramble away. "Fuck," Josh says. "You think?" Josh pushes himself and starts dusting himself off. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The two men don't make it more than a step or two before they are dragged back. "I was... very worried," Wanda says softly. Understatement She looks around, as if finally realizing how completely she took the van apart. Wand slides her arms around Josh and holds him, her fingers going through her hair. Just drawing strength from him, her fright diminishing, replaced mostly with her feelings of relief and love. "I think... this was a very stupid thing for you to do," Wanda says to the kidnappers. "Where will we find him?" she asks them, her voice cold enough they might wonder if they are about to be crushed against the wall again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh hugs Wanda tightly in the wreckage of the van. When she speaks to the two men, Josh runs a hand through his hair. He cannot help but feel a little uneasy. "Go to hell," the first one yells at Wanda and spits toward her. "Max! He is at club!" the second stutters out. The first launches into a tirade at the second, with some unlikely ideas about how Morozov will kill him for being a coward in face of the red bitch. "Figures," Josh says quietly. He is not at all certain about what to do and she can feel it. "You sure about this? They'll know they can't fuck with me now, won't they?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stalks over towards the first man who spit and castigated the one who cooperated. The magic whose color is the source of her name gathers about her hands. She reaches one over towards the first man, and some of the energy flows into his head, his eyes flashing red for a moment and then fading away. "What did you do to him!?" the second asks. Wanda just glances to the man and then turns back to the first. "Morozov," she whispers to him. Then a second time, "Morozov." Wanda turns and walks away from the first man, who has a bit of a stupefied look on his face. She returns to Josh, slipping her hand into his. "I need to go deal with the door of the pub," she says, giving a soft sigh. "I worry this may not be enough of a notice for him," she says. 
}}

8547/Undercurrents: The Butterfly

2019-08-03T00:50:26Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/28 |Location=The Butterfly, Bushwick, New York |Synopsis=Cypher, Jubilee, Rogue, Scarlet Witch and Elixir take down The Butterfly and the g..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/28
|Location=The Butterfly, Bushwick, New York
|Synopsis=Cypher, Jubilee, Rogue, Scarlet Witch and Elixir take down The Butterfly and the gang members that ran it.
|Thanks=Cypher, Jubilee, Rogue, Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,70,1126,59,16
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Jubilee got the word out that Captain Quaid came by the school that morning and left a gift; the address where they could find the people who were prostituting the students in the Nachesko Building. It was not hard to find people interested, especially among those with a close connection to the situation. Some information gathering found that the address was a two-storey commercial building in Bushwick. The bottom floor were just shops, all closed at this time of night. The top floor was the domain of The Butterfly, a 'massage' parlour that had been around some time. A check of the website, with pictures on it for entertainment purposes and not solicitation (perish the though) had pictures of some suspiciously young looking women. All 19 in their profiles of course. The place is busy even late on a Saturday. Or perhaps especially. Men of different ages come and go to the back, go up the stairs and are buzzed in. From the city plans, the floor has a reception area, four massage rooms along a hallway and a big room at the end of the hall. A few rental cars show up, stop, are met by a guy from inside The Butterfly and then drive off. Being a 'legitimate' business, police did not often have cause to go in and harass places like this. And by just how infrequently they get taken down, one has to wonder how many sex crimes investigators are either on the take or customers. Of course, nobody can ignore the aftermath of certain kinds of events that may happen to an unsuspecting brothel. The group is assembled a couple of blocks away in the underground parking of an office building. Josh was eager to come when Jubilee told him and suited up. He let Wanda know since they were together when he got the information and she was there when the overdose happened at the school. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda donned her uniform going with one with darker colors, and pulled an extra dark coat atop it to better avoid notice for the time being. Rather than teleport over, a town car with tinted windows drives up. Wanda and Josh emerge from the back doors closing them and letting the car depart. "I've made a call ahead to let a friend within the NYPD know there may be a lot of arrests coming their way tonight. Also alerted a facility to care for the girls if we find what we expect we may," she tells Josh as she walks around the car to join him. "So any thought on how you wish to pursue this?" she asks him when she's rejoined his side. If anyone else is there already, they move over to greet them. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug looks up. He's holding his phone in his left hand, and tracing the fingers of his techno-organic arm along it. "I'm into every cell phone and computer in the building." He says. He looks up, and gives a slow blink. "Nobody's going to be making calls or sending texts to get a getaway ride." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee is uncharacteristically quiet tonight. She has seen these people in action. The thought nauseated her then, and even now there is a roiling rage at her center. Two of their own - and possibly even more - have been broken by these people. And Jubilee wants to break them. To show them a modicum of the pain they have inflicted, and will undoubtedly inflict even when they are removed from the equation. And from free society as a whole. If she is quiet, it is only because her internal voices are screaming. Raging. She has to find a way to quiet them if she is going to survive the night. Or if /they/ are. Dressed in a black leather full body suit, palmless and fingerless black gloves, and boots, she stands in silence, with fire in her eyes. Jubilee /sucks/ at poker. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue is wearing her green and gold, standing in a corner and staring at her phone. She's trying to keep herself calm, not wanting to go murderous tonight on people ven though the desire is strong. She'd listed those puppies up on her social media page though, so staring at their little fuzzy faces was a surefire way to keep her anger down... A glance is given up to the others, she's listening to them, but... she's her to be told where to go and what to punch. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh has a look at the faces of the others and takes Wanda's prompt. He may not be the senior person here, but from the looks of Jubilee and Rogue, they were more interested in laying waste than anything else. "Perfect, thanks for thinking ahead," Josh says to Wanda. The two join the others. "So, they're a mutant gang, Jubilee saw that in the Nachesko Building. Sonic powers and strength are all that was in the report. So I guess, you could find anything, you know?" Josh says and runs a hand through his hair. "Probably they're mostly gonna be in the back room. Say Rogue and Wanda, go through the walls or the roof or whatever back there and mess them up. Uh, so I guess that's Jubi and Doug through the front. I'll follow them. Wreck their night, round up their crap and turn them over to the cops, and make it so they're not opening again, right?" he says, the last with a sideways glance to Jubilee. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda greets the three X-men with nods rather than the friendly looks they would usually get, as if the events of the coming night are dominating her thoughts. "The more evidence that survives, the easier time the police will have with incarcerating them," Wanda comments. She rests her hands on her hips, glancing over to Rogue. The smile that is comes isn't one of her friendly ones, but more suggestive that she's thinking about what they likely get to do to those subjecting the women to such horrors. "What do you say, Marie? Roof or wall?" Whichever Rogue's choice, Wanda will accompany her when it is time. Cuffs of her coat pulled down low over her hands to help hide the telltale glow of her magic as it lifts her into the sky, flying over to the building until she is ready to carve a hole in it for entry. Once overhead, she drops her coat, letting it flutter down to the roof, and nodding to Rogue that she's ready to go when the X-man is. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "Oh, there'll be plenty of evidence." Doug says, "I'm making backups of everything digital inside, from here." Having done that, he sets the phone he was using aside, and then gets up He checks his sleeveless uniform, makes sure his tool belt has everything he needs, and then gets to his feet. He puts his hand on a baton on his belt, and then says "Ready. Let's make it fast." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee nods to Doug, and looks to the building they're targeting. "Through the front it is," she replies matter-of-factly. She takes the lead with Doug, and she's off. "Silence whoever you have to silence. We dont need more company. Just whatever you guys do, DON'T get directly in front of me. Fair warning," she says, as she departs for the Butterfly. As they reach the upper level near the door, they meet a young man in his twenties coming up from the other direction. He looks nervously at Jubilee and Doug, then to the door, grasping the sweaty wad of cash in his hand more tightly. Jubilee gives him an "Ah ah ahh.." finger, and a shake of her head, swinging her sleek ponytail side to side as she does. The man blinks, turns in his heel, and walks hastily away in the direction he came from. "Ready, set..." And Jubilee calmly pushes the door and walks inside where neon lights bathe the foyer. Her calm facade would be enough to terrify anyone who knows her at this point. Unfortunately for these guys, they don't know Jubilee. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' "Personally, I'd like t'just fly right through the building a couple'a times. Get'im all shook up inside, then I'd like t'come up behind it and just push until it falls over..." Rogue says all of this while she walks to join up with Wanda. "But... I ain't heard whether or not there's civilians inside... or rather, innocents or whatever? Plus, I mean... 'not supposed t'kill folk'." She air quotes that last part, as though in this instance she doesn't take it very serious. "Either way, Witchay Woman. I'm on your tail for this, I'll keep ya safe'n clear t'do whatever it is ya want. I figure you're probably better at not killin' than I am. I mean... I can smash people squat like they're made outta egg yolks. Not easy controllin' all this power, especially with folks I kinda would like t'see dead." Rogue's with Wanda on this one though, she'll follow her lead because she's quite frankly worried she will kill if she goes at this in her own gut-instict sort've way. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Doug has a wad of data from the phones of the people inside. Clients call histories showing them calling The Butterfly. Text messages to wives and girlfriends saying they will be late, or to friends saying they were off to get a massage. Texts back and forth between the young women working inside and their friends, families, girlfriends, boyfriends, each other and regular clients. Text messages between eight people inside complaining about being stuck there all night, talking about getting their freebies, complaining about some of the girls, not complaining about others and doing refills for a couple of people acting as dial-a-dopers for them. Doug can put it together that there are two of these guys in the reception area and the rest are in the back. With the phones of girls and clients in the massage rooms. When Jubilee opens the front door, a woman in her mid-thirties looks up from behind a desk. She frowns in confusion. A guy in his mid-twenties sitting beside her also looks up from his phone, looking bored. Another guy is sitting on the couch to the right. The room is deep maroon walls and tacky carpets with blue, green and red neon lights, like some acid dream of opulence gone horribly wrong. It smells of perfume and a cheap water feature tinkles away on a side table. 'The Butterfly' is written in neon on a sign behind the woman at the desk. "You gotta get buzzed in," says the guy on the couch. "Make an appointment like everybody else." The soundproofing is at least decent. They don't have to hear whatever is going on in the rooms. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The Scarlet Witch looks over to Rogue, her eyes glowing with the same red aurora as emerges from her hands. "There are likely innocent girls in there," she tells Rogue. "But I understand your feelings about the rest." Doing something when you have anger seething through you feels good. So when Wanda takes the roof of the building and rolls it back like she were opening a giant can of sardines? That feels good. It gives she and Rogue a view of a good thirty feet long swath of the back part of the floor. At least three small 'bedrooms' are revealed to the night sky suddenly. The one on the end nearest to Wanda has two people on the small bed. The man on top is suddenly lifted, leaving a plume of red light behind him as he jets up into the sky. The Scarlet Witch might have an urge to just jettison him off into the night, but instead she causes him to descend to the rooftop. A little harder than strictly necessary. Part of the building material she peeled back shifts over to rest on top of him and pin him there as Wanda descends into the room. "It's alright, you're going to be safe," she tells the girl who covers herself. "Stay here, keep your head down," Wanda says as she blows the door to the little room off its hinges, bouncing it into the hall as she steps forward behind it. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug looks over at Jubilee, and then inhales a deep breath. He hears the explosion, and then raises his eyebrows, and says, "Avon calling." Then he shrugs off his coat, revealing that blakc and gold metal arm, and pulls the baton off his belt. He snaps it open with a flick of his wrist, and the taser on the end of it crackles to life. "I'm the good cop." He says, before he gestures to Jubilee. "She's the bad cop. And man, does she have some things she wants to bring up to everybody here." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Lady and Gentl--Oh, who are we kidding here? As you may have noticed, your establishment has been breached. It is my advice to peacefully retreat to this corner," she instructs, "kneel, and place your hands behind your heads." The man from the couch begins to hasten toward that corner instantly. "Ah ah...Slowly. Slooooowly. Make me forget my troubles..." Jubilee chides. Her hands are still at her sides, until he slowly meanders past her toward the corner. Unfortunately, he makes bad life decisions. As he passes by her, what seem to be horns and spikes begin to rise from his flesh, and an energy vortex begins to form around him. Jubilee lifts a hand toward him without taking her eyes off the other two, and a volley of roiling pink balls of plasma become sucked into the vortex. Her demeanor remains calm, however, as she is still focused intently on the other two. "Always trust the Good Cop..." 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' While Wanda rips the roof off of the building and sends a guy flying out of it, Rogue descends out of the sky and lands on her wedge-heeled yellow boots within it. She lands right in front of two big dudes who just grin at the sight of her and start to walk toward her telling her some very derogatory things. One of them is sent flying over her shoulder out toward the roof of the building behind her like he were a discarded bag of styrofoam and this leaves his partner gaping for a moment, then getting angry. He raises his hands up and points his fingers at Rogue... And thats when his fingers start to shoot at her. Like literally detaching from his hand and firing fingers at her only to instantly be replaced by new fingers and then those new fingers shoot out at Rogue too! They bounce off of her chest whilst a disgusted look spreads over the Belle's face. "Gross." She says to the man. "Fingerguns! Lets go! We gotta get out of here." Another voice yells from deeper inside the building under siege. The man shooting his fingers is apparently named Fingerguns. He looks down at his hands and stares in disbelief as his fingers didn't shred Rogue to pieces like he must've been used to them doing. He's not long for the waking world though as Rogue lunges forward and delivers a punishing fist at his jaw. She's control enough of her powers now after nearly daily Danger Room routines to know how much force she can apply to a man's face and successfully knock him out, versus knock his head off of his shoulders entirely... or just make it explode into a fine red mist... Nope. Fingerguns just gets knocked the fuck out. She then steps over his body (and all the discarded fingers laying on the floor) and starts to walk her yellow-long-booted legs through the open building now, hunting for her next target, sashaying her hips as she goes... 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh follows Doug and Jubilee into the establishment and stays by the door. He certainly has nothing to offer this stage of things other than zap-strapping fools after they are handily dealt with. By now there are startled shouts coming from the other massage rooms. The doors to each open one after the other with men coming out in various states of dress. The winner has to be the guy with his jogging pants on backwards, and his shoes and shirt in his hands. Regardless they gape at the hole in the roof and break for the front entryway. The woman behind the reception desk is remarkably calm. She stands up, backs against the wall behind her and puts her hands up. When the fighting breaks out she stays there and just does her best to avoid getting caught in any crossfire. "It's like a bad movie set in here," Josh says wryly. "So gross." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The Scarlet Witch stalks through the hallways, pulling doors off one by one. Men inside the rooms who don't give any sign of resistance find themselves restrained with whatever objects in the room can be bent about their wrists. Lorna would probably be proud of the number of metal chair legs that get ripped from furniture and used as makeshift cuffs. Those who do resist? Well the same thing. Just with more bruises. Wanda reassures a young woman, causing a robe to fly over to her. "Stay in here until the police come," she says, then steps back out into the hall. The wave of sound that is waiting for her sends Wanda flying backwards to smash into a wall, caving the drywall in a vaguely body-shaped depression. Hair flying around her from the barrage of one wave of sound after another, Wanda raises her hands, making a wall of scarlet energy and send it racing back down the hallway. The man shouting towards her sees it coming, pushing his own sound back at him. When he hits a wall, it doesn't just break the drywall, but flies through it bodily. Wanda drops back to the floor, stalking down the hall to secure the man, bending some beams from the wall about him to keep him from moving, and another as a gag. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug turns and looks around, and then as the guy with the guy in just his jogging pants comes out, he taps him on the side with the tazer, which makes his body go all jell-o jiggler. Dig that wobble. "EVERYBODY IN THE *CORNER*." He says. "ON YOUR KNEES. *HANDS ON YOUR HEADS*." He looks around, and says, "You are all complicit in this. Every one of you. The women back there had their right to consent taken away, and you took advantage." "Is that all we are to you?" He asks. "Things?" A guy breaks for the door, and before he even DOES it Doug is moving to trip him and zip-tie his hands behind his back, before he drags him to the corner. "You should all be ashamed." He touches his ear, activating his radio. "The front room is under control. I'm going to zip-tie these guys and truss them up as a present for the police." He looks toward Jubilee and Josh, "...I've got this, go take care of whatever business you need to. X-World is starting to sound better and better..." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee watches Doug in her peripheral vision, as others come flooding into the foyer from the back. Jocko the Vortex Boy, meanwhile, takes a handful of plasma balls to the flesh, and he drops, screaming and writhing, to the ground. Jubilee sighs impatiently and steps over him to the front door. "Please learn from this man's bad decisions, and calmly approach this corner," she gestures. "Kneel, and place your hands behind your head. Resistance is not advised, and will be met with a swift response." She steps in front of the door and locks it, turning to face all comers. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' While Wanda is getting tossed about, Rogue seemingly isn't fairing much better. As she'd entered into a room to break up a party inside and a man who was previously only around 5'0" suddenly grew to about 7'0" and started to rush at her. He has her by the throat now and is yelling as he crashes through walls with Rogue in front of him. Smash after smash, furniture and walls crumble to pieces while Rogue's hands are holding onto the man's wrist and trying to pry it from her throat! He must be insanely strong! As they reach the back wall and he slams her through it, he holds her out over the alleyway and grits his teeth staring at her as she's prying his hand open with her right. "Pathetic." He says to her. "Time to crush you now." But Rogue's left hand comes up and touches the side of his face, she cups it almost lovingly, with no glove on. He instantly starts to drain weaker... and she leans in then, no longer held by her throat, and places her lips against his forehead. "Night night, sugah." She whispers to him then as he drops from the smashed-out-wall and down toward the ground below where he impacts against the alley floor like a wet bag of meat. Rogue's hand then goes up and brushes at her own forehead. "Mmmm... you got an interestin' powerset indeed. Or rather, I guess I do now." The southern belle flies back into the building to go find Wanda now! 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Resistance crumbles quickly then as the most powerful of the mutants are put out of the fight. Seeing bits and pieces of various fights convinces the others to give in to Doug and Jubilee's demands at that point. Josh helps zapstrap any who remain free and then picks his way carefully down the hall. "R? W? You two alright?" he calls down the hall. "That was a lot of crashing." Josh pokes his head into one massage room after the other to check on the young women. They are understandably terrified, and two have minor cuts and bumps from flying debris when the heroines were fighting their respective mutant foes. He assures each in turn that he's there to help and repeats what the others said to them; wait for the police. And that goes well until the last one. "What the fuck is wrong with you people?! This is my fucking job! What the fuck am I gonna now?" the last young woman yells at Josh. Thankfully dressed, at least in a nightie, she pushes and swings at Josh. "Calm down, for fuck's sake," Josh says. He catches the young woman's wrists and spins her around against the wall to zap strap her. He looks more than slightly embarassed at having to do so. "I'll fucking kick your ass!" the young woman yells. Josh quite happily makes an exit from that room and goes to look into the back room where Wanda and Rogue went in. There are some baggies around, suggesting the police will find their share of drugs hidden around the place. He puts his hands on hips and looks around. "Saturday night in Bushwick." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff is standing over a beautifully coifed older man whose pants and dress shirt are folded over a nearby chair, leaving him in boxers and a t-shirt. There's no 'masseuse' in the room presently, but from the way Wanda's eyes are blazing with scarlet fire, there most likely was. "Look, I didn't know they weren't doing this on their own! For the money!" he protests. "I always tipped well!" he says. "Tipped well? With what you did to her!?" Wanda exclaims. "You think that makes up for it!?" Her fingers clench into fists, straighten, then clench again. Finally they spread and a red aurora gathers about them as Wanda leans forward and takes the man's head in both hands. The red light flares around him and then she turns and stalks away out of the room to meet the others. The man lets out a sigh of relief. "Thought she was going to do something to me," he says, breathing more easily as all of his thick hair begins falling off his head to either side of him. Wanda looks about at everyone else. "I'm well. Just a little banged up," she tells Josh. He'll have felt the little surge of pain, but know it has faded to what will be some nagging bruises. "Jubilation Lee, Douglas Ramsey, all is well at the front?" she asks them. Rogue will be given an approving nod at the former Avenger's handling of herself. Wanda looks back to Josh, giving him a softer smile and he'll sense what words don't need to say. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee is up front, with everyone ziptied. She is pacing amongst them with her hands folded behind her waist. "I suppose you wonder why I've called you all here," she begins. A few of the "management" roll their eyes, while the patrons just stare in abject horror. Sweat Pants has pissed himself, and is kneeling in the puddle. "What we have here is an unfortunate situation brought about by your own bad life choices. And you're being given a second chance." A few hopeful eyes look pleadingly up to Jubilee as she continues. "Because to be honest, there are quite a few people around who just wanted to kill you all. But NOW you have the chance to consider your--" One of the patrons, in his growing panic, attempts to trip her by swinging a foot out in front of Jubilee. She fingerguns (not Fingerguns) a blazing gold ball across the top of his scalp, giving him a reverse mohawk, and he falls screaming to the ground to writhe. "As I was saying, you have the opportunity to consider your--" "Jubilation Lee, Douglas Ramsey, all is well at the front?" Wanda calls out. "Oh for the love of...WE'RE FINE, THANKS FOR ASKINGGG." Jubilee will have words with Wanda for using not only real names, but FULL names in front of known members of organized crime. That shit just is NOT gonna fly. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue appears in time to see the man complaining and to see his hair fall out. It makes her grin as she turns and trails after Wanda now. She puts her glove back onto her hand and then runs them through her two-toned hair since the collision through the walls had puffed it all up and made it all kinds of crazy looking, with bits of drywall and other dust and debris dotting it. She releases a light sigh then and pops her neck muscles by turning her head left and right. "I feel like I'm about t'just bust right outta my clothes." She quietly says then for a number of reasons. Partially because she just absorbed some of that man's personality too and although she's been training actively to fight that stuff off, its still one of the harder things to do surprisingly... people's personalities just kinda soak in like butter on warm bread. All the same, Rogue keeps a look out for more targets who might want to tangle with her as she's feeling even more aggressive than she was before... 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee sighs. Screw her speech, anyway. Not like she's gonna get through to them. "I'm calling it in two minutes, firm. You have approximately four to vacate the premises before badges arrive. Elixir, please come up front and get clear of the building with Doug and myself." Jubilee says quietly into her comm. "Scarlet Witch, I trust you'll see the girls safely into the hands of the authorities." She unlocks and opens the front door, and Doug exits hastily ahead of her. Jubilee, squinting, fires blue plasmoids at the various neon lights, taking them out of commission, permanently. Then she steps out the front door, looks at her watch, and on her mark, she fires a pink plasmoid skyward. It hangs in the air for an unnaturally long time, like a flare, but it does not drift. It does not waver in the night breeze. After a few minutes, it explodes into a large pink butterfly, then catches fire, and dies in a fiery blaze. By the time the police stationed nearby can respond, all they will find are handily ziptied perpetrators, a half-demolished massage establishment, and Scarlet Witch, guarding a handful of girls who now have their entire lives ahead of them to heal. For some of them, that's how long it will take. 
}}

8619/Undercurrents: Atlantean Connection

2019-08-03T00:49:35Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/01 |Location=Atlantis-Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay, New York |Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Captain America visit the Atlantean embassy. The..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/01
|Location=Atlantis-Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay, New York
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Captain America visit the Atlantean embassy. The learn the magic in Hook is from the underwater realm.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch, Captain America
|Cast of Characters=100,70,112
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' At the appointed time that day, an Atlantean wearing a water mask and blue dress of distinctly Atlantean cut from the Atlantis Embassy is at the Oyster Bay embassy dock to meet Scarlet Witch and Captain America. They are greeted with great courtesy. Scarlet Witch and Captain American are led aboard an Atlantean vessel, which takes takes them across the choppy waters of Oyster Bay to the Embassy without a pitch or roll. On arrival, Scarlet Witch's and Captain America's escort leads them into the main entrance of the Embassy, telling them politely about the architecture and symbolism since it is their first visit. The walls are white and gold, with lines of flowing water inset and kept in place invisibly. The two are taken up a lift, which is really a pedestal of water that hard underfoot. They are shown to a second floor observation room with a long conference table and big window with a view toward the open ocean. There is also low table, some soft chairs and a nice view of the water. Scarlet Witch and Captain America are offered refreshments, served and left to wait for the King. Fifteen minutes later their escort returns preceding the Atlantean King. Arthur arrives dressed in some kind of casual pants and shirt combination in a deep, deep green chased in gold. "His Majesty King Orin II of Atlantis," the escort announces, bows and leaves. "Welcome," Arthur greets his guests. He comes over to shake hands. "Just Arthur when nobody else is around. The royal stuff gets old fast." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda wore her Scarlet Witch attire, it being a safe choice when meeting a monarch for the first time, and especially when doing so on Avengers business. That she's also technically royalty (even if she rarely brings it up), daughter of a king who at this moment is flying a castle towards the US after making brash provocations of war? Another reason to reinforce that she's here in capacity as an Avenger. "Your Majesty, it is a privilege. Thank you for seeing us," she says. Wanda shakes his hand when offered. "Arthur then. I'm Wanda Maximoff," she says in introduction. "Thank you for seeing us. I wish it was better tidings that brought us," she tells Arthur. She will have sent ahead some information when she arranged the meeting, so he will have an idea the reason for it. Though she has brought a tablet, and also a sealed transparent container that looks like it probably holds a sample of Hook. Though she doesn't jump into the subject yet while the introductions are underway. 

:'''{{#var:112|Steve Rogers (112)}} has posed:''' In the fifteen minutes passed since their arrival at the Embassy, Steve has lapped the waiting room at least twice. While he didn't err on the necessity of his dark-blue, silver-spangled stealth suit, he is dressed finely in a button-down beneath a dark blazer and equally dark jeans. Even if the Captain appears to be ready to entertain diplomacy, his state of dress doesn't take from the breadth of his shoulders and the quiet attentiveness of his wandering gaze. The king's arrival pulls him from looking out one of the windows. Turning, he travels back to Wanda's side and shakes the royal's hand with proper firm pressure. "Captain Steve Rogers," says he by way of introduction. A nod echoes the Witch's sentiments. "Given the connections found through Miss Maximoff's research, we felt it best to address this sooner than later." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "I'll help if I can," Arthur says after introductions are made. He gestures to the low seats by the window and takes one himself. "So you said you think there's some connection to Atlantis with this drug problem on the surface? We sell some pharmaceuticals through one of the big three pharmaceutical companies, but we don't make drugs. It's never been a problem below," Arthur explains, neglecting to mention that magic has neatly filled the niche drugs would have occupied in Atlantis. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The information Wanda had sent over mentioned a potential connection to Atlantis and her search for more information, but hadn't gone into details on what that connection was. She moves to take one of the seats, crossing her legs and setting the tablet and the case down next to her, fingers lacing over her knee. "I'm not certain of the connection, but I believe so," Wanda says. "I first came across the substance in the form of a girl who was overdosing on it. I could sense a very distasteful magic quality to it immediately. It seems to amplify the addictive qualities of the drug. Quite potent. Even magical healing is only temporary. If the drug is still in their system it will immediately re-affect the pathways of the person's brain to addict them again," she says. The shake of Wanda's head, couple with her expression both troubled and distasteful, gives some impression of what it was to experience. Wanda glances over to Steve before going on. "After investigation into the magical properties, I found similarities in some old accounts of Atlantean healing magic. I'm afraid my efforts to investigate further, to figure out a source, or a treatment, have crawled to a near standstill. I thought if this is indeed related somehow, you or your people might be able to assist in it?" 

:'''{{#var:112|Steve Rogers (112)}} has posed:''' Steve finds his own chair set midway between Arthur and Wanda after fetching himself a small cup of coffee. It's of a blend he's never tasted before and even after seating himself, he has a semi-distracted air of mulling the flavors over his tongue to see if he does like it as much as he thinks. Comparing it against other roasts continues in a subconscious bleed for his busy mind and he makes a note to ask after it nearing the end of this discussion. "We do appreciate any help you can offer." Otherwise, the Captain remains quiet, content to listen and be present as the Witch's accompaniment. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur listens attentively to Wanda and"You'll have it, Captain. Can't believe we haven't met before," Arthur muses and notices the famed Avenger's distraction. "Lemurian, from a plant they grow. Dried, ground, brewed, you'd think it was coffee," Arthur comments with no small amount of pride. "Get me Carella," Arthurs speaks up to nobody in particular, then turns his attention squarely back to Wanda. "Whoever made this is sick," Arthur adds without hiding his disgust for whoever is involved. "I don't believe anyone in my realm would do that. Not for long," he rumbles. "You have some with you?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda can't help but give a faint smile over towards Steve Rogers as he is made aware of a coffee-like substance that is not coffee, yet is close enough to catch his notice. The possibility of Tony setting up multiple dispensers for the testing different blends of the Lemurian and coffee can be foreseen by the woman. Followed close after by claims Steve loves the new brews more than he does Janet. It's almost a script at this point. But there are more serious matters to attend to. Wanda nods her agreement to Arthur and passes over the sample. "I've included a sizable quantity, if more is needed, well, it's flooding the streets. Unfortunately it is all too easy for us to acquire more," she says, memories of the 'massage parlor' they raided setting her jaw in a hard line. Wanda unlocks the tablet and pages across it to a few displays she has prepared. "Some of my investigations are detailed here," she says, the notations done in a form that most magically trained beings would be able to decipher without too much work. 

:'''{{#var:112|Steve Rogers (112)}} has posed:''' "Wish it were under better circumstances," replies the Captain quietly in regards to meetings. Steve's brows lift in plain interest at the explanation of the brew's origins. A glance down at its oil-sheen-bright dark surface is thoughtful and bemused, his lips curling at one side at the novelty of the experience of enjoying it. Wanda may as well have a modicum of prescience to her internal musings. "Lemurian. Hmm. Have to look into it." Given he's long since been privy to the //lack// of standard Terran-grade coffee-based caffeine's effect on his boosted physiology, the Captain does look forwards to seeing if this stuff packs more of a punch. World, get ready for a hyped-up Captain America -- apparently, he'll sleep when he's dead. "Whoever made Hook needs to be brought to justice for it. I wasn't privy to the mission where Miss Maximoff acquired it, but it is indeed sickening." The firm set of Steve's jaw accents too the harder glint in his eyes. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Looks like something Mera would get right away," Arthur says with a chuckle when he sees the script on the tablet. He takes the sample and looks at it thoughtfully. "We'll send you home with some, Captain," Arthur adds off-handedly and nods in agremeent with the Captain. The door swishes open behind them. "Magister Carella, your Majesty," the woman who escorted the Avengers announces. A stately looking Atlantean middle-aged seeming woman in a shimmering dress sweeps toward them. There is a faint haze or warping of light around her head, which Wanda feels as an unfamiliar magic. "Majesty," the woman says softly and bows. "Honoured guests," she adds and inclines her head to Wanda. Then she turns her attention to Arthur. Arthur leans back and passes the Hook sample and tablet to Carella. "They say it might be magic. Might be ours." "Carella is my court magister. Second only to Mera in skill, twice her in knowledge," Arthur explains with a wink. Carella smiles gamely but is focused in the tablet. "Next time bring the shield," Arthur says to Steve with a big grin. "I want to see that thing." After a while, Carella returns the tablet to Wanda. She has a look of supreme indifference to the sample in her hand, clearly feeling this is beneath her. She passes a hand over it slowly. Her expression changes to something studiously impassive. She leans forward and whispers in Arthur's ear. He scowls. "This is what is causing all the news above?" Arthur asks the two Avengers sharply. His mood has shifted fast as the weather at sea and he is furious. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda turns to greet Carella, offering her a gentle smile of greeting. Her magical senses note things about the woman. Perhaps some of them even tug on her memories of her mentor. Curious. She hadn't even known Agatha knew much of Atlantis, yet there is something familiar in the magical aura. Though it is just a passing thought, something filed away and likely forgotten until the next time she sees her old teacher. Wanda is focused on the present, watching Carella's face. The magical aura of the drugs is so strong, Wanda imagines the court magister must be controlling her expression to remain so impassive. Working around it made Wanda feel the urge to want to shower. Wanda smiles over to Cap, not surprised that he and Arthur seem to get along well. She turns back to Arthur to nod her head at the question. "Yes. It isn't just small amounts of the drug either. Whatever the source, it is being produced in large quantities." 

:'''{{#var:112|Steve Rogers (112)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, Arthur. I'll enjoy the new blend in the mornings." Steve can be seen to relax further back into his chair. Booted feet are still left soles flat to the ground even if his grip about his cup is loose. He looks between the Atlantian ruler and the tablet, his eyes too sliding towards Wanda and then away again. When Carella arrives, the woman is given a polite, lingering nod of his head. "M'am," the Captain greets quietly. Arthur does get a small, amused smile for his request. "We'll see if I can't fit it in the back of an Uber rental. Figured it'd make the wrong impression if I did today." After all, the vibranium shield is a weapon in itself. His smile fades in tandem with the shift of emotion within the room itself and he silently grits his molars once more. For now, the Captain chooses to remain quiet and listen as the conclusions as well as plans are drawn. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "That is..." Arthur starts. "Majesty," the magisters interjects simply. Arthur waves off the objection. "It's Atlantean alchemy," Arthur confirms. "Supposed to be used for healing but someone's twisted it." "I want to know where this is coming from. I want know quickly," Arthur says. "But I can't just send my people into the US to fight criminals. Are you looking into it?" he asks. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda looks unsure whether to be glad or not. She was half afraid this might turn out to be a dead end, leaving her with no leads to pursue. Yet hearing this is the source does not put her any more at ease. She leans forward, the leather in her outfit shifting softly against each other at the movement. "We are trying to find the source. And also seeking treatment for those affected," Wanda starts. She gives a small nod and says, "So far it has mostly been law enforcement, and a few independent interests given some of the other issues happening at present." She doesn't go further into the topic that includes her father bringing a fortress of war towards the shores of her current adoptive home. Wanda glances over to Carella and back Arthur. "Assistance on the treatment in particular would be most helpful. One who is familiar with this alchemy would have a great leg up on our efforts, I should think. Also more understanding of the nature and means might help us track it backwards. Not even counting if you might have any idea of those capable or likely to be involved?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Nobody! Nobody would do this. But you'll have the help," Arthur promises loudly. He pushes up and paces. "I don't want this getting out, not yet. Not until we know who it was. By the gods if they're under the sea they won't live long. If they're above it, I want to know how they learned our ways." "Magister Carella will get you someone, more than someone. The Royal Hospital. Get me a couple of your best minds. They will live like kings in Atlantis and work with my people," Arthur says decisively to Wanda. Carella's expression goes from impassive to openly disapproving. Arthur does not seem to notice. The King is ranting as much as conversing now. "I /will/ find out if anyone in my realm is involved. Bring me the name of whoever is doing this on the surface and I'll crush them, too." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's hands return to lace together and rest upon her knee as she stays sitting up more upright than the relaxed posture before. "Thank you, the assistance will be very appreciated," Wanda says. "Tens of thousands are being affected, and treatment has proven difficult," she adds, her eyes going to Carella as Wanda elaborates the impact. "Would it be better to focus on those with magical, or medical skill? Or is both required for this sort of alchemy?" Wanda inquires, eyes between monarch and magister equally. "Medical skills will be easier to come by, but we'll find enough with magical skills, myself included if necessary," she replies. Wanda considers pulling up the projections on her tablet of the expected spread of the drug, but does not. Arthur doesn't seem the kind of monarch who requires assistance with his people. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Carella's head shake is a thing measured in fractions of an inch. "Medical," Arthur replies. He turns to face Wanda and crosses his arms. He works his jaw for a moment. "You can observe, or the Sorceror Supreme. Nobody else with your skills." Carella's look for Wanda when Arthur is not looking becomes downright venomous. It vanishes as quickly as it appeared when the king looks in Carella's direction. "You will be given a way to get a hold of me directly. Keep in touch on this. I will be briefed by my people on our progress daily." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' If Wanda had spotted the look given to her, it doesn't show on the woman's calm expression. "Thank you," Wanda says, omitting name or title rather than having the use of one or the other cause more issues than might already exist. "I will see that we get some of the best people for it, perhaps members of the CDC or those they recommend," she says. Wanda looks over to Carella and gives her a gentle smile. "The help saving the lives of so many is greatly appreciated," says to the woman in a pleasant tone. Wanda looks back to Arthur. "We appreciate your assistance in the matter. I will do my best to keep the nature of the matter close within my team," she says. "And if additional samples are needed, I can bring them," she offers. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Carella remains impassive, as if Wanda had not spoken. "The Magister or the Master Artificer will let me know if we need more," Arthur says. He walks over and holds out his hand. "We will make this right together." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda rises to her feet and shakes Arthur's rather sizable hand with her own, far smaller one. "Thank you again," she tells him. "If I may be of assistance to you down the road, I hope you will reach out to me," she says. Wanda glances over to Carella again and gives her a pleasant enough inclination of her head. "Magister. Thank you," she says, as if not realizing the woman's feelings on the matter. Wanda will depart then assuming the attendant comes for her, leaving Arthur with the rather displeased member of his court. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "I will," Arthur says. He folds his arms across his chest as Wanda walks to join the Avengers' escort who has appeared again at the door. "Maximoff," the king says gruffly. His face is furrowed in a frown and his gaze locks on the eyes of the lady Avenger. "If the US asks for Atlantis' help, we will give it. And the Justice League may not wait to be asked." Arthur turns to Carella without another word and they begin talking in Atlantean. Carella's tone is reserved but reproving. The king's is aggressive and stern. The Avengers are led back through the embassy by their escort. Two human embassy employees dressed in green are waiting for them in the main lobby. Steve is presented with a gift of the Lemurian grind and instructions on how to prepare it. Wanda is presented with a new-looking leatherbound tome that discusses at a very high level the Atlantean schools and disciplines of magic. They are both given, of all fancy things, a phone number for the king. Then it is back to a waiting vessel and the duo are whisked ashore. Their escort is there one moment as they start to walk back along the pier. When they look back the empty vessel is there but their escort is gone. 
}}

8610/Fire in the Promised Land: Peril

2019-08-03T00:48:47Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/01 |Location=East Harlem, New York |Synopsis=Jessica and Josh go on a motorcycle ride. Make new friends. Blow things up. And make generally..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/01
|Location=East Harlem, New York
|Synopsis=Jessica and Josh go on a motorcycle ride. Make new friends. Blow things up. And make generally bad life choices.
|Thanks=Spider-Woman
|Cast of Characters=1028,1798
|Tinyplot=Fire in the Promised Land
|Tinyplot2=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' The call came through Jessica's comm, just as Josh was coming in the door of the Avengers' mansion. She, of course, is already dressed for the occasion by the time she dashes down the main staircase, nearly smashing into Josh in her haste. "Sorry, no time!" Jessica utters quickly. "I need you. Will you come?" She doesn't go into details. He won't require all of the facts the make a decision. The one he needs, she has already provided. And there isn't a doubt in her mind that it's enough. "Do you need to change? It's dangerous. I'll protect you." Never a moment's thought for the possibility that he might decline. Never a doubt that he's willing to help. Jessica is in her crimson and gold bodysuit, her gliding apparatus draped like silver gossamer beneath her arms, and attached to her sides, and she carries her mask as she waits expectantly for Josh to process her request and reply. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh blinks at first and then shakes his head. "Yeah, shit, one sec, I've got a uniform up in Wanda's... our place," Josh says, already jogging to the lift. "I'll be right back!" he calls. Josh sprints to his apartment and ditches his bag on the floor by the door. Just minutes later he tears back out in a black X-Men uniform and sprints back toward Jessica. "I'm back!" he calls before he even gets to her. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica is waiting outside on the circle drive on a low profile black Ducati sports bike. The darkened windshield bears a holographic spiderweb stretched across it, that is visible only from the front of the bike. Jessica sits astride the bike, and a helmet sits on the seat behind her. For her part, Jessica is wearing her mask, which holds her hair back away from her face, and shields her eyes with white reflective lenses. She wears no helmet. "I'm out here!" she calls through the open door when she hears Josh announce his re-arrival. "It's either this or web-swinging. And I'd rather your first time not be en route to a situation." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh comes running outside and cannot help but give an appreciative look. He skids to a stop beside Jessica, still pulling on one of the black gloves to go with the black and dark grey uniform. "Wow. Okay. So my first time on a bike instead," he says and pulls on the helmet. Josh swings a leg over the back of the back and hangs on. "I'm good!" 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Rule number one, hold on tight. The tighter the better. You can't hurt me." She says as the bike begins to roll. "Rule number two, lean with me on the turns. If you forget rule number two, see rule number one." She isn't much afraid that he can throw her off balance. She speeds out of the driveway and into traffic. Her headlights, beset with a silver spider, strobe brightly as she weaves easily through traffic. Some drivers, familiar with the area, pull over when they see her coming up on them, whether meeting her or from behind. Windows roll down, and curious heads poke out to watch the two pass. A few even shout some cheers of encouragement. They don't know where the two are headed, but they recognize the bike, and know that it's someplace important. Others just gawk as they get sucked up and passed. Jessica speaks at a normal level as they speed and weave through the streets like a hot knife through butter. "Sentinel attack in Harlem," Jess relays. Multiple casualties. FoH suspects assisting. Neighborhood torched in Spanish Harlem. Emergency personnel en route. They'll beat us there, but they're aware we're coming. Multiple active shooters and arsonists. Exact number unknown. Sentinel still active. Stay clear of it, Josh. Do you understand me?" Jessica's voice comes through the helmet loud and clear as she briefs Josh on the situation. "Self sacrifice helps no one." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yes ma'am," Josh says with a grin inside his helmet. He wraps arms around Jessica's waist just in time for them to speed out. He laughs when they first start cutting through traffic. Jessica feels the slight tug on her from Josh when he is not in synch with her on the first turn. After that though, he follows the Avenger's roll well enough to not to be noticed back there. "Yep, not a fan of nullifier beams or bullets," Josh acknowledges calmly. "You go down, make sure it's outside 25 feet from the Sentinel, I can't go near it. Unless you need combat medic, I'm perimeter till you lock it down." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "That'll be perfect," Jessica replies, as she turns onto another main thoroughfare. Here, there aren't so many who recognize the bike itself, but some still recognize at least one of the riders. The shouts are less forgiving for the bike speedily rowing through traffic with ease. At least until the bike passes and they see who it is. Still, with the strong headlights, there are plenty of gawkers. At the next turn, smoke is visible, billowing above the skyline. And here, the traffic is thin. Something terrible has happened. That much is clear from the sheer volume of smoke ahead. People have begun to go home to shelter in place, or simply leave the city. And soon, there is no traffic at all, giving Jessica leave to press speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour. As they close the gap between the smoke and themselves, Jessica begins to slow, and she finds a side street. Here she parks the bike at the edge of a sea of emergency responder vehicles. Police and fire personnel back away to give Jessica a wide berth as she lets Josh dismount, then does so herself. A number of them crane to get a look at Josh. As the smoke begins to filter thickly through the alleys and over the buildings that transition into a residential area, Jessica is approached by an African American police officer who seems quite familiar with her. They talk for only a moment, as he points over rooftops in various directions. Them everyone ducks and shields their head as a deafening explosion rocks the entire block from somewhere on the far side. A fireball billows into the air a couple of blocks away. "We'll stage here," Jessica says, handing Josh a comm with an earpiece. "Keep your eyes open, whatever you do. And let me know if you mov--" The sentinel, thirty feet of massive death robot, rises above the building before them, sending responders scattering as some of the police fire upon it. "MOVE!!" Jessica shouts to Josh, as she fires a web toward the rooftop and catapults herself toward it. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is off the bike as soon as it is stopped and the helmet is left behind. He runs over to the fire and EMS vehicles, scanning for a familiar face. He gets some looks from the personnel gathering there. "You, hey, blondie!" he shouts and points to one of the EMS. That turns a few heads, but the EMS medic he points to brightens when she sees Josh. "That's the healer guy!" she shouts. Josh comes to a stop in front of her and some of the others. "Fill them in, same drill as the bus attack," Josh tells the medic. He sees Jessica coming back and runs back to her. Then comes the explosion and the Sentinel. "Clear out! Go!" Josh shouts. He ducks and runs at full tilt toward one of the EMS trucks to cut line of sight between him and the Sentinel. "One, two, three, four," Josh counts to himself. Then he breaks cover the short distance to the next truck, making a jagged line forward to make it harder to hit him. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica looks back toward where Josh stood when she hit the roof. There is a sigh of slight relief when she sees no trace of him. The sentinel raises its palms in the direction of the emergency vehicles, bathing them in an orange light, in the shadows of the buildings. The sun is beginning to set, and with darkness, the search for the human assailants is going to become exponentially harder. But right now, the sentinel is scanning. A young EMT tech turns when the light washes over him, and the sentinel fires a laser in his direction. With lightning fast speed, he hurdles his way clear of the beam, and scrambles along the side of the building to get out of the sentinel's line of sight. A bolt of plasma follows, decimating a large chunk of the building where the young man clings, and the tech leaps to a rooftop on the other side of the street. Another bolt sends the corner of the rooftop and the tech crumbling to the ground, burying the man in a pile of rubble. As the sentinel keys another target Jess cannot see behind the vehicles, she shoots a glob of webbing toward the sentinel and uses the adhesion and remaining filament to slingshot herself onto the sentinel itself. A clear "HOLD YOUR FIRE!" can be heard from somewhere below. Clinging to the sentinel's underbelly, she fires two more webs, one at each of those hands, and she leaps up to the head and clambers onto its back to pull with all her strength, raising those hands up toward her. Beyond their range of motion, with a creak of bending and scraping metal. Then, drawing every ounce of charge she can from the machine to which she clings, she moves the webs to one hand and places her other onto the top of the sentinel's head, discharging a blast of green electricity into the behemoth. The sentinel shudders for a moment, then rumbles, faltering in midair. With one more massive shudder, the sentinel self destructs, sending a shockwave through the buildings on the block and shattering windows as emergency personnel who had been firing on it also flee the scene. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh slides in behind the next truck and is relieved, selfishly, that the Sentinel is shooting at someone else. He gets ready make the next run when the Sentinel self-destructs. The shockwave is brutal. The fire truck beside Josh slams into him while the rush of air passing under the vehicle takes his feet out from under him. Josh hits the ground hard. His body gets a golden aura though and he is back on his feet seconds later. "Ms. Drew? Ms. Drew?!" Josh calls into the comms. "You there?" He sees some of the medics and fire fighters picking themselves up off the ground. Some are fine, others injured, one bleeds from the ear. He waves them over to him. "You, get comms and set up a new command point a block that way," he shouts at a fire fighter. "Grab one of the cops and get more people here. Stay down, the shooters are still somewhere. You three gather up everyone who can move and regroup!" Josh sends them on their way and turns back to face the direction of the explosion. "Ms. Drew?" he calls into the comms. He breaks into a low run through the smoke and kneels down beside an unconscious police officer. Josh works his gun loose and grabs one of the mags from his pouch. Josh starts moving cover to cover listening for gunfire, back toward the explosion. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' There is no response from Jessica when Josh tries her on the comm. Gunfire erupts from somewhere a block or so away, but it is scant, and short-lived. Farther away, more gunfire, then one solitary shot closer again. Police, no longer facing down a sentinel, are seemingly torn by the fact that they're receiving orders from someone they've never seen. One cell of officers, guns drawn, begin to move off to one side, and around the buildings, toward the gunfire. The rest, watching them narrowly, look to Josh, and look around for their captain. A woman, racing between the buildings, meets up with the police who left, and one of the officers escorts her quickly back toward where Josh and the others are. She carries in her arms a child who looks to be about four, and is unresponsive. A blanket is thrown about the woman's head to cover her, but also to cover the child. The officer, taking directions from an EMT who worked alongside the blonde, points them in the direction of Josh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh sees the woman heading his way when he peeks out from cover. He stashes the gun and magazine on the running board of the ambulance, then breaks cover to wave the woman over. "Hey, over here," Josh calls to her. He gets her behind cover and snatches a glove off with his teeth. "Let me check, I'm gonna help, k? You hurt too?" he asks. His eyes are on the child. If she lets him, he reaches in to take the child's hand in his. The glow comes while he gets a feeling for the child's condition. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' As Josh moves aside the blanket, he finds the child ashen in color, with ribbons of blue and green that ripple through his flesh like banners. He is breathing, but shallowly. The blankets around his head are blood-soaked, and the woman begins to sob, chattering wildly in Spanish, as Josh uncovers the source of the blood - a large gash down one side of his head, revealing the skull. The gash continues down his neck to his shoulder. "Help. Him." The woman manages these two words in English. And she adds, "Please." Her breath is caught in a sob of such grief that she can hardly breathe at all. There is a volley of gunfire on the other side of the buildings, and a radio blares to life somewhere amongst the uniformed officers and techs behind Josh. "Two assailants down." Embers float through the air, drifting over from the burning houses on the other side. More gunfire, farther away this time, and another update on the radio. "OFFICER DOWN. OFFICER DOWN." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Si, si," Josh assures the woman while he gets a look and feel for the injuries. "He'll be fine, ah, muy bien." The glow from Josh extends around the child. The exposed skull is closed over by skin as is the rest of his wound. The skin melds together into a scar, then smooths out completely. Finally colour returns to his face and his breathing eases. The glow fades. Josh exhales and smiles. "Muy bien, vamos," he says with a grin, exhausting his high school Spanish. The woman bursts into tears and craddles her child close. Josh leads her the first responders behind him. "Blondie!" he shouts. The EMT turns and comes over. "Send this one on, I heard the officer down. The getting him out? Got a triage site?" "How fast do you think we can go?" the young woman answers. "Triage is going to be in that building," she points at a copy shop where fire fighters are currently pushing everything out of the way to the back to make room. "Fire is gonna bulldoze a lane for the ambulances. Whoever you can't treat gets shipped. You ever done mass casualty?" "Sure," Josh says. "Usually they're shooting at me at the same time. This'll be alright," Josh says. He waves to the woman as she is taken away by another EMT. She waves back with tears in her eyes. "Spiderwoman? Come in?" Josh tries on the comms. He looks to blondie. "You gotta get someone on the air and find out if they got eyes on Spiderwoman." "She's Spiderwoman, she'll be fine," blondie says. "She's also my partner," Josh says fiercely. "Get me the wounded, get eyes on Spiderwoman." "Okay, chill," she says and turns to head back toward the new makeshift command point. She turns to walk backward a few steps. "It's Susan. Not blondie." Josh smirks and walks into the copy shop. He and the EMTs there get themselves set and start triaging people as they are brought back out of the danger zone. Josh keeps trying to raise Spiderwoman. Some semblance of order is returning to the first responders. With a new command post in the back of an ambulance they are getting people organized to find the wounded. Police partner up in fours and head out in diamond formation contact teams to find any more assailants. And sirens are screaming from all directions. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Before long, a gurney bursts through the door, bearing a police officer, shot in his left side and thigh. He's gasping for breath and coherent, but moaning. Behind him, an officer enters the copy shop carrying two children, both crying. Tears streak their soot-covered faces as the officer's face tells a story of loss. "These two seem okay, but they need a place. Their mama." His visage darkens, and he shakes his head. "We got a lot more wounded over there. Mostly burns. A few shot up. We're just now gettin' hoses over there." "Lieutenant," another officer says, shooting a look toward Josh as he steps up to the man holding the two children. A dark-skinned man in an EMT t-shirt steps up and takes the children as the officer says something into the Lieutenant's ear. "Shhhhhhit. Handle it, Dan. Take Susan with you, and report back." More victims begin to pour in through the doors, both on their own, and with assistance. Every age. Every race. Some clearly mutants, some seemingly human. In one corner, the child Josh healed is sitting up in his mother's lap, chattering away, and waving his hands around, leaving streamers of light behind them as he does. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "If they're not hurt, get them out of here, we need the room," Josh tells the EMT directly assisting him now, a man named Jorge. "Find their mom, if there's any chance, get her in here," Josh tells the officer who brought them. "And somebody tell where the hell Spiderwoman is!" Josh says. Josh cuts away the clothing around the wounded officer's side. He puts one hand beside the wound and uses forceps with the other. "Whoa, hey, man," Jorge says, looking alarmed. "Trust me," Josh says. Jorge looks uncertain. Mercifully, Josh is more than able to keep the officer from feeling any pain when he uses the forceps to retrieve the bullet first from the officer's side and then his leg. Josh only partly heals the officer, enough to ensure he will be fine, but one look at the rush of people coming is enough to know he has to conserve his energy. "They're minor wounds now, he'll be fine. Wrap him and move him on," Josh tells Jorge. "Who's next?" "You in charge?" Josh asks the lieutenant as the next patient is brought to him. He does not look at the officer, his focus is on the patient. "Where's /my/ partner?" Josh and the EMTs start to fall into a rhythm and it sounds a lot like an ER. People become conditions and injuries and triage numbers. Josh focuses on getting people stable enough for transport and it is still tiring. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' The Lieutenant blanches as Josh demands to know where Spider-Woman is. His eyes cut toward the door, averting from Josh, as he works on a patient. "We're working on it. Should have a report in momentarily." Shots are heard in the distance. He looks back toward the door, as a voice breaks in on his radio. "Third assailant down." There's a pause, and then, "That should be the last of them." "Lieutenant. We have--" another voice breaks in on the radio, as he steps outside the door and closes it behind him. He's talking animatedly, but the sounds of the patients in the room drown out anything he might be saying outside. "Goddamn it, I mean NOW" can be heard as someone opens the door, carrying an elderly woman with an oxygen mask on, and her nightgown half burnt-off. The Lieutenant has taken off in a dead sprint, somewhere beyond Josh's line of sight. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Fuck, fuck, fuck," Josh says to himself when the lieutenant goes outside. "She's Spiderwoman, I'm sure she's fine," Jorge says, reassuringly. "Swear to God, next person to say that to me gets throat punched," Josh grits. A couple of the EMTs look up at Josh and then to each other. "Come on, get moving," Josh snaps and gets back to work. "Didn't mean nothing, man," Jorge ventures after a few minutes. They finish pulling a length of rebar from a woman's leg and Josh restores the artery. "Jesus.... She'd be in an OR for hours." "Forget about it," Josh says. "Sorry." The others relax a bit. Gradually they are all using each other's names and trapped in the vortex of emergencies everywhere that reduce the world to the immediate. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' "Josh?" A voice behind him sounds as though the man is trying /very/ hard to downplay complete panic. "Lieutenant wants you outside." He hesitates, looking at the work Josh is doing. "Uh...Quick as you can, you're gonna want to um...get out there." When Josh exits the building, he finds the Lieutenant in a spirited conversation on his phone. "Right, on our way," he says, and he ends the call. "Walk with me," the Lieutenant says to Josh, spinning on his heel and stalking toward what used to be the building beneath where the sentinel exploded. "How good are you?" he asks, looking up to Josh to regard him seriously as they walk. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Fuck," Josh says under his breath. He glances up at Jorge. Jorge jerks his head to the door. "Don't let anyone die while I'm gone." Jorge just nods and takes over. Josh grabs one of the surgical towels and starts wiping his hands. His lips are pursed and he blows past the officer at the door to get outside. "I'm the best hope anyone's got," Josh says, trying to muster all the confidence his meager 21 years can bring forth. He swallows against the lump in his throat and tries to ignore the knot in his stomach. He keeps wiping his hands. "Look, what's going on? I can't help standing here." 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' As they walk toward the gutted building essentially flattened by the explosion, Josh can see Susan and an officer standing stock still in the rubble, watching Josh and the Lieutenant approach. The man and woman are pale. Susan's face is drawn. "We couldn't move her," she says apologetically to Josh. "Not without knowing..." She trails off as Josh approaches close enough to see for himself. Spider-Woman is lying in a crumpled and unnatural position, mostly on her side. But her shoulders and head are facing up. What was a mask with lensed eyes is now melded and fused with flesh. One side of her face below the mask is unmarred - the delicate curve of lips slightly agape, and the upturned tip of a feminine nose. The other side has been ripped away. Her suit is charred, melted to her body. One forearm is broken at an odd angle, the bones protruding from flesh and fabric. Her ribs are crushed on that side. She is breathing, likely by the grace of her healing factor, but a light froth of blood bubbles between her lips with each laboured breath. "I'm sorry," the Lieuteant says simply, the words laden with implication. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Jesus," Josh says. He touches Susan's arm as he passes her. He crouches down beside Jessica and looks away for a second, fighting the urge gag. He takes a breath and looks at the Avenger more clinically. "Get the light on her so I can see better, bring a gurney up," he says to the others. "Hey, it's me, you're gonna be fine. Don't let go." Josh wipes the dust off one hand on his X-Men uniform and touches the untouched skin on the one side of her face. He closes his eyes and the glow returns. Josh takes his time to feel the extent of Jessica's injuries, especially her brain, heart and lungs. The strength of the lifeforce inside Jessica surprises him. It is driving her healing, he can feel cells repairing themselves and fighting to keep her going. "Tension pneumo, cardiac compression, level 4 concussion, intra-cranial bleed, C3 and C4 fracture and compression," Josh rattles off. "Susan, get me a thoracostomy tube." "Shit, how the hell did she even survive? Are you sure though, that's ALS stuff," Susan says. She looks torn between wanting to believe they can help and risking a procedure usually only done by ALS and ER doctors. "She's going to be fine as long we stabilize her. I've done it dozens of times," Josh says with some urgency. "I can feel every cell in her body, okay? I know where to find the 5th intercostal." Susan bites her lips but nods. She rifles through the large EMT bag she has with her and brings the wrapped tube. Josh and Susan work bare Jessica's chest. All modesty, shame or allure is long since gone as the two kneel beside the Avenger's ravaged body. Susan preps the tube and holds it out to Josh. "This won't hurt but it'll feel weird," Josh says for Jessica's sake. The glow around his hand flares slightly and he plunges the thoracostomy tube in between Jessica's ribs into her lung. Josh nods to Susan, who turns the valve. There is an immediate hiss of escaping air. Jessica's breathing is shallow and laboured still, but stops frothing. "Don't worry about the c-spine, I'll sort it out later," Josh says to Susan. "Lieutenant, get in here. You and Susan are gonna lift her on the gurney. We get her back to triage and keep working, one step at a time. I can't do her one shot or it'll knock me out for sure. You're gonna stay with her though, okay?" "Okay," Susan says. She still looks unsure whether to believe they can actually help this woman. Soon though, Jessica is lifted onto the gurney. Josh keeps her from feeling any pain as he mangled bones shift and grind from the movement. Her limbs hang unnaturally and she is almost more a pile than anything else. They strap Jessica down loosely and get moving. "You can really do this?" the lieutenant asks Josh. "Long as she's not dead," Josh nods. "We just gotta keep her alive." At triage, everyone stops when they see Josh, Susan and the lieutenant wheel in the famous Avenger. Josh ignores them. When they park Jessica, he concentrates. Capilliaries throughout Jessica's brain repair themselves, knit back together, reabsorb blood lost into the tissue. Her neck visibly straightens. Josh wobbles a bit. Susan steadies him. "Scratch the inter-cranial and C3/4," he says. Then he notices everyone is still looking at them. "She's going to be fine," Josh says and gives a faint wry smile to Jorge. "She's Spider-woman." Jorge nods slowly, then claps his hands. It breaks the spell and the team gets back to it. Between life-threatening injuries, Josh returns to Jessica. First to manage her cardiac injury, then the strengthen the one good lung she has working. Susan remains by her side. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' There's a soft moan from Jessica. So slight it might not have been there at all. Susan, uncertain of her own senses, looks up to Jorge, who is looking at Susan with the biggest "Oshit" eyes he is capable of making. "Uh...Josh? She's--" Jessica twitches as some form of sentience finally surfaces. She breathes a sharp gasp, and her body shudders. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Oh wow," Josh says and comes right over. He grins. "She heals really fast on her own, it kept her alive. Man, anyone else would've been out for a week!" Josh touches Jessica's face again and grips the gurney with the other hand. Any pain fades from Jessica again. This time it's her arm. The bone straightens, melds together, fractures disappear. Tendons regrow, nerves become whole, muscle spreads over and then smooth, unblemished skin. And for Jessica, no pain. Just liquid warmth throughout her body. Susan guessed what was coming and was right behind Josh. When he finished she already had a chair and guided him to drop into it. His forehead is beaded with sweat. "I hope their paying you as much as a neurosurgeon, orthopaedic surgeon and a hospitalist combined," Susan quips. "Something like that," Josh says. He gets back up after a moment to look down at Jessica. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' Jessica's newly repaired arm moves up to her face, feeling for whatever it is that's rendering her blind. She tries for a moment in vain to pull away the mask, then her arm drops again to her side. Her breathing slows, and she seems to have slipped into unconsciousness again. More likely shock than anything else. But her healing factor is hard at work, reconnecting tissues wherever they need it. Closing the gaps. From her seemingly unconscious state, a tiny sound comes, as her lips part to push breath through. "P..." Like she's trying to say something. "Pop Rocks," she breathes. Of course. They get paid in Pop Rocks. And then, she's out again. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs and looks relieved. "Funny," he says. "Inside joke?" Susan asks with a raised eyebrow. "Something like that. Let's deal with the melt. Won't be that bad." And it is not, thankfully. New layers of skin force damaged ones attached to melted uniform to slough. It is gross to peel off, but underneath is the fresh, healthy and beautiful face of Jessica Drew instead of a charred mess. Even her lips heal over and return to what they should be. 

:'''{{#var:1028|Jessica Drew (1028)}} has posed:''' It's some time before Jessica stirs again, allowing Josh time to finish dealing with the triage - new patients stopping coming in some time ago, and no more are expected. More importantly, it's given him time to rest, When Jessica does stir again, she wakes with sudden urgency trying to sit bolt upright. "No!! JOSH!" The cry was meant to be much louder and more desperate than /that/, but it was all the strength of voice she had. Jessica tries to raise up a little in the bed, her hands scrambling to find a way to get the bar down on the side. She has to get back out there, come hell or high water. That sentinel was gonna get Josh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is sitting with Susan and Jorge. They are talking and drinking coffees some merciful soul brought in for the triage team. All three start. Josh puts his coffee down in and runs over to Jessica. "Hey, I'm right here, it's okay," Josh says with a grin. "See? All good. I'm fine. You did it. You stopped that thing." 
}}

8617/Saved: Training

2019-08-03T00:47:39Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/08/01 |Location=Salem Centre Hospital, Westchester, New York |Synopsis=Shannon and Josh do some training at Salem Centre Hospital. |Thanks=Sha..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/08/01
|Location=Salem Centre Hospital, Westchester, New York
|Synopsis=Shannon and Josh do some training at Salem Centre Hospital.
|Thanks=Shannon
|Cast of Characters=1798,8765
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh had a flood of calls and text messages after the Sentinel attack in East Harlem the night before. Among the ones he was able to answer was an invitation from Dr. Emil Brandt to come to Salem Centre Hospital, get acquainted with the facility and talk about some opportunities to work together. He got the same calls from Mt. Sinai and Bellevue, but had agreed to come by Salem Centre first. After meeting quite a few people, it occurred to Josh this would be a great opportunity to talk with Shannon. So he phoned the school, spoke with Shannon and made the arrangements. Shannon was either given a school pool car to drive or driven by staff to meet Josh at Salem Centre. When Shannon arrives, Josh is in the lobby, standing around talking with two well-dressed women in their early 50's. "Oh my goodness, she's an /angel/," says Dr. Karen North with a delighted smile. "In and out," Josh assures them. He waves to Shannon. "Hey Shannon," he says with his usual 1000-watt smile. Josh is dressed in jeans, loafer and a green golf shirt, and his hair is a mess as always. "This is Dr. Karen North, she's the Medical Director here. And this is Dr. Grace McKinnon, head of Pediatrics." Both women are genuinely pleased to meet Shannon, offer to shake her hand and tell her to call them by their first names. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Oh, goodness. An angel, really? Well, there were worse appellations, and perhaps there was a chance that to even one person, Shannon could -be- that angel. Still, the crowded hospital, the new faces, meeting with people who were well her senior in both years and training, it did bring the color of roses back to her face. It's a visible struggle for her to keep eye contact with Karen and Grace, and to keep her wings behind her instead of wrapped around her body in a protective shield. Her cream colored poet's blouse, and blue jeans with ribbon embroidery are clothing de rigeur for the day, but instead of flip-flops, she's had the good sense to put on a pair of white sneakers to prevent slipping.      Shannon's smile is warm, if a little bit on the tentative side. Just what had Josh told them about her, if anything? She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders, and extending her hand to both women. "Shannon Lance... a pleasure to meet you both." Her voice is a little on the soft side, but still audible. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Josh tells me you're interested in medicine, is that right" Grace asks Shannon with a smile. She and Karen seem to be genuinely pleasant people, but are also obviously doing their best to put a good foot forward. "I'm gonna show Shannon around, show her a few things. And then we can come up to Pediatrics?" Josh asks. "Just have the attending page me when you get there," Grace says. They make their goodbyes and walk off together. "Wow, okay. They're not intimidating at all, right?" Josh says with a grin and runs a hand through his hair. He shows Shannon a blue and green hospital ID badge. "I can go like anywhere with this. Isn't that crazy? You want a coffee? Something else?" Josh offers. He leads the way over to the Starbucks in the lobby and buys Shannon her drink of choice, getting an Americano for himself. He looks a bit tired and sighs contentedly when he sips the drink. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon nods, and brushes a stray bit of hair out of her face, tucking it away behind her ear. "Yes, ma'am... sorry, Grace. If Someone Up Above has seen fit to give the gift, it makes good sense to learn as much as I can about it." She glances pointedly heavenwards, and smiles some. "We'll see you in Pediatrics shortly, then?" After goodbyes are made, she allows her wings to relax, though still keeps them drawn in so as not to knock anybody about by mistake.      Turning to Josh, she breathes a little sigh of relief, and runs her fingers through her hair. "I hope they're not looking for miracles just yet. There's still so much I don't know about these gifts of mine, and the last thing I want to do is put someone in a worse way than they were before. Or to frighten them just being what I am." At least Starbucks is something familiar, and a welcome treat. Shannon opts for a pumpkin spice latte with whipped cream and caramel--not a healthy treat, but perhaps a small vice one could allow themselves on occasion. She curls her hands around the cup, enjoying the warmth and the aroma before taking a sip. "So what did you have in mind for today? I'm kind of curious." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Nah, I just told them you were someone I knew interested in medicine, they're not expecting anything. They're trying to get me to work or consult here so they were totally cool with me calling you," Josh explains as they walk away from the Starbucks. "And, Westchester is super pro-mutant. Part of why the Professor kept his old house and made the school here, you know? You're good, you can relax, I promise." "Soooo... First I'm really sorry I didn't call you sooner. It's been a little crazy, so just making morning training has been hard," Josh says apologetically. "Second, I wanted to hear about what you want to learn and more about your own ability, so I kind of get a better idea how to help, you know? I mean, I'm not Hank, he's like, master of everything medical, so stick to him like /glue/. And he's really cool. But we're kinda unique, you know? Different perspective." 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon shakes her head. "I haven't seen much of him or miss Munroe since coming to the school. It's really kind of disappointing, it would be nice to get to know them a little bit better... they were so kind when I got here. Did get a chance to meet Jean, though." She rolls her eyes and laughs, shaking her head and pausing to take another sip of the latte. "Peter made something of a rude remark at the birthday party, and not only did I splash him for it, but so did she. She's definitely a spitfire with a heart."      Josh's question renders her silent for a few long moments, brows furrowing as she tries to consider an answer. "There's a lot I don't know about my ability. The short list is that I seem to be able to absorb injuries on physical contact, and what I take in, tends to heal fairly quickly. Ask Megan about that. She was taking me flying and took a bad landing, I had to help her with a sprained ankle. It only took a day or two to heal on me." She traces little circles idly on the side of the cup, over the store logo, pausing to give some thought to her next answer. "I'm not very good at controlling where and when it happens, so that's something I need to learn. And I'm not sure just how much I can handle before it becomes a problem. So there's that to work on. Also, I was hoping to maybe learn more about conventional methods of healing, so maybe I can still be of some use out there, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I totally get it, and like, Scott's always on about it. Don't rely just on our powers," Josh says. "Sorry you haven't seen the others much. They're pretty busy." "Um, so can you feel what's wrong with someone by using your abilities? Or when you're healing them? Or does it just happen?" Josh asks curiously. He takes a sip of his coffee and slowly leads Shannon towards the ER. A few people notice Shannon walking through the lobby and smile, or watch with open curiousity. A little girl who looks to be all of seven, breaks away from her mother. She runs up behind Shannon and tugs gently on her wing. She is dressed in purple corduroy pants, pink shoes and a blue top with a cartoon hippo on it. She is missing a couple of teeth and has big brown eyes. "You're really pretty, can I have wings too?" she asks. "Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry," the girl's mother says apologetically when she catches up. "She kept saying you were very pretty and ran off. Come on, leave the nice people alone." 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Before she has a chance to answer Josh, Shannon's definitely taken aback by the little girl coming up to her like that, but it's not in an unpleasant way. She's never had anyone do that to her before, and it's a nice change. She sets her coffee down on a nearby side table in the lobby, kneeling down to be on eye level with the child. "Thank you... don't know if you can have wings, but if it's okay with your mom, you can look at mine. Just don't pull on them, okay?" Taking a quick look to either side of her, she extends her wings so the little girl can see and touch them if she wants, and if her mother allows it. She looks up at the woman and smiles. "It's okay, nothing to be sorry about. It's actually kind of nice." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The girl's mother smiles her thanks and nods to her daughter. The girl is delighted to see Shannon's wings and asks her mom to take their picture together. If Shannon allows it, they are very grateful, if not they are understanding. And her display definitely draws some attention from others in the lobby. Josh stands aside and smiles broadly. He winks to Shannon and sips at his coffee, with his other hand in his pocket. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      It's impossible to resist that winsome smile on the little girl's face, and for the photo, Shannon gives the little girl a warm, gentle hug. One wing is half curled around the child to otherwise leave her in plain sight for the picture. "You're such a sweetheart. Please don't ever lose that, okay? And be good for your family." She lets the child go and stands slowly, folding her wings in behind her and stepping back. She smiles to the woman. "You have a wonderful little girl there, ma'am. Thank you for letting her say hi." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thank you so much," the girls mother says. The girl waves to Shannon as she is led away. "You're a hit," Josh says with a grin. "You could probably do selfies with people all day here. That happen a lot?" 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon shakes her head, blushing a little bit but smiling from ear to ear. "No, that's actually a first. I'm more used to people running from me, not to me." She watches the little girl leave, reaching for her coffee to find it cooled to the perfect temperature. "I hope the kid learns not to be afraid of us... and if by some chance years down the road, she turns out to be one of us, to not be afraid of herself. That's a pretty lousy feeling."      She thinks back over the past few minutes, and smiles. That little girl was bound to be a highlight of the day she wouldn't forget anytime soon. But there was something else, too, and she's lost in thought for a moment. "I haven't really -tried- to feel what's wrong with them, so I don't know yet. If I can, or could learn to, that'd probably be a big help. So far, it just kind of happens. So far." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hey, you gave her a headstart in the right direction no matter what happens to her," Josh says. "I think she'll remember that forever. Like meeting your favourite character at Disneyland by 10 times better!" Josh pushes open the doors to the ER and the two are hit by its hum. People talking, monitors beeping, the overhead PA going periodically. It is busy today and there is the mostly coordinated chaos and bustle of emergency rooms everywhere. "If we can hone your skills on diagnosis, that's gonna be huge," Josh says. "Think of it like, going halfway, or holding back. Or like drinking pop through a straw, but tasting it in your mouth instead of swallowing." Josh approaches one of the nurses who recognizes him immediately. They talk quickly, then the nurse leads Josh and Shannon to bed three. A teenage boy about Shannon's age is sitting there holding arm. He has a bit of a cut, big enough to need a few stictches but nothing serious. "Darren, Mr. Foley is working with us and can take care of your cut without stitches," says the nurse. "He has a student with him today, can they examine you?" Darren looks at Josh and his eyes linger on Shannon. "Yeah, sure, that's coool," he says, a little too hastily. "Hey Darren," Josh says. "Shannon's going to check that cut out, okay?" Darren nods and looks to the rather striking winged sixteen year old mutant expectantly. Josh nods to Shannon encouragingly. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon does at least have the good sense to reach for a bit of hand sanitizer nearby, offering an apologetic smile to the nurses. "I'm sorry for not using gloves, but my gift depends on direct physical contact." Which, to Darren, might be a good thing indeed, the way he's quick to accept the help!      She smiles to Darren and reaches out to lightly cup her right hand over the wounded area, keeping most of her palm away from the open gash. Closing her eyes, she attempts to rein in her gift, focusing instead on assessing the extent of the injury. "It feels like they did a good job of cleanin..."      She hisses softly, a matching area on her arm first turning red, then opening up as if being sliced by some unseen scalpel. It looks as if her gift has been triggered, as her body begins to absorb the boy's injury. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh watches curiously as Shannon sets to work on Darren. Darren reddens a little when Shannon touches him. The nurse is standing there watching with her arms crossed and head titled. When Shannon hisses and her arm reddens, the nurse looks to Josh with concern. Josh just smiles and shakes his head. "Good, you had it for a sec," Josh says reassuringly to Shannon. "Finish it. You've got it." It hurts, obviously, but not a lot. Soon Shannon has a cut exactly matching the one Darren had. Darren's arm is now smooth and unblemished. "Holy crap, you fixed it!" Darren says, and only then notices what happened. "Oh, ah, hey, you gonna be okay?" "She'll be fine," Josh says with a grin. He offers his hand to Shannon. When she takes it, Josh's hand glows with a golden aura. "It's shallow, just into the dermis. No infection, clotted. A clean cut, probably something sharp," Josh describes after a moment. The nurse nods and smiles a bit. Then the glow spreads up Shannon's arm to her cut. It feels like liquid warmth moving up inside her. The pain is gone immediately. The dermis knits back together, capilliaries rejoin, the epidermis closes. And then smooths. The glow fades and Shannon's arm is just as it was. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon offers an apologetic smile to the nurse and Darren, drawing her hand away. "I'm sorry if I upset or startled you." Her smile is a bit smaller, pained, but still there, by way of reassurance. "Don't worry, it heals quickly."      She had no idea just how quickly in this case, having never seen Josh use his healing abilities before. When he offers his hand, she accepts, tilting her head and trying to somehow feel what he is doing to her, to try and understand it. Her gaze unfocuses as she attempts to direct her attention to what Josh's gift is doing to heal her body, tilting her head. "That feels kind of like when things heal on me after I absorb an injury, just... sped up. A lot." Was there enough similarity, perhaps, to work with? Only time would tell. "Thank you. Are you sure you're not the angel here?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I'm just a guy from Queens," Josh replies wryly. He thanks Darren and ushers Shannon out as Darren says thanks and opens his mouth to say something more. The nurse chuckles. "You had it there, I could see it," Josh says to Shannon and asks the nurses if they have anything similar. They do of course, this time an elderly woman named Doris who cut her scalp when she fell. She is fine otherwise. They go through the introductions again and Doris is quite happy to let Shannon do her thing, dearie. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon smiles softly at the elderly woman, reaching to hold her hand. "Hi... thank you for letting me help, ma'am." She closes her eyes and very gingerly touches the area around the cut, taking a deep breath and forcing herself to focus. The way it felt when Josh healed her arm is fresh in her mind, and allows her to have a better sense of what she's aiming to do. "Well... the cut feels clean. And I'd check with the doctor, but I'm not feeling injury beneath it, either." Once again, there's the soft hiss, as she begins to absorb the injury. However, this time, the sound is a little bit softer, as if perhaps there is less pain for her in the process. When she moves her hand away, the cut on the older woman's scalp has sealed, and if Josh were to check, an -almost- matching one has opened on Shannon's scalp in kind--just a little bit smaller. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Doris is immediately concerned for Shannon. The nurse promises her everything will be just fine. Josh heals Shannon's injury. "You learn fast," he says with a smile. He thanks Doris and they move on to the next. And the next. After the fifth, Josh thanks the nurse and walks with Shannon out of the ER. "So? How was that?" Josh asks. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      "Well, I was really glad you were in there, or I'd be one big mass of cuts right about now." Shannon laughs a little bit, shaking her head. "Seeing everyone suffering in there just makes me wish I could heal every last one of them. And that little girl, when we first got there... oh god, she was just too precious for words!" She glances back towards the ER, then down at her hands. "Sooner or later, I'll get the hang of this. Somehow. But enough of that... what about your thoughts?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, if you were any cuter I might've like, gagged or something," Josh jokes. "I know how you feel though, about healing them all? I mean, we can't, and that sucks so bad, you know? I don't like that part." "My thoughts?" he says. "I think you're gonna be great. Like, you've got the ability, you've got the heart for it, you seem pretty sharp. Practice hard and study hard, and you got it," Josh shrugs. "You don't have anything to worry about. Except like, maybe Darren tracking you down to ask you out or something." 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Shannon's face goes flame red inside of two heartbeats, and she ducks her head, wrapping her wings around herself in a protective cocoon. "Oh god... what is it with boys? I'm not all that pretty but they're being so nice and it's just... I don't know!!" Oh, dear. Was someone running into boy trouble already?      "Practice. Study. Right, got it." She coughs lightly, trying to compose herself again. "That's going to be the hardest part... not being able to help everybody. You're right. That sucks. Badly." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, totally not pretty," Josh laughs, merciless. "Must be why that girl was saying it over and over, and Darren had to pick his jaw up off the ground." Josh sips from his lukewarm coffee with another chuckle. "I'm told we figure that helping everyone thing out. Eventually. Make peace with it or something else stupid someone our parents' age would say," he says, suppressing a smile. 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      "The only one who really gets to help everyone, sort of, is someone in my dad's profession. I mean, everyone sees the undertaker sooner or later." Shannon shivers a little bit. "Now that's a profession I'm not sure I could handle."      Squealing with pretended outrage, she swats Josh on his shoulder with the flat of her hand, albeit very gently. "You're evil! If it's not someone's jaw dropping in the ER, it's either been flowers or a kiss to the back of the hand... and I'm not even trying to do anything!" Still, she can't help a light giggle, the tips of her ears starting to go red by now. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "The curse of being pretty. You don't /have/ to do anything. Good luck with that!" Josh says with a laugh. "Come on, let's get something to eat and go up to Pediatrics." 

:'''{{#var:8765|Shannon (8765)}} has posed:'''      Nodding, Shannon smiles, squirming a little at the somewhat embarrassing rumble in her general vicinity. "I think my stomach agrees with you!" With that, she follows him to the cafeteria, enjoying a quick bite to eat, before heading up to Pediatrics; hopefully, the pair will be able to heal some wounds, and perhaps some little hearts as well. 
}}

8602/Undercurrents: We Might Be Friends

2019-08-01T00:04:09Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/31
|Location=Mutant Town, New York
|Synopsis=A member of the Family in Bushwick talks with some X-men about working together.
|Cast of Characters=95,1798,169,1233
|Tinyplot=City Fall
|Tinyplot2=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy has become aware that people are now being attacked in Mutant Town expressly as a message to himself. After some quiet contemplation of things told to him by Cyclops, by Jubilee, and others, he decides to come to town. Asking those around for help, he drives Josh and Kurt into town with two aims: to approach those attacked for offers of medical and financial assistance to them as needed, and to post flyers offering rewards for information leading to the capture of members of the New Hope Project gang. Beast is in a suit, freshly cleaned and trying to look as immaculate as he can, as he strides slowly, with purpose, down a city street, leading Kurt and Josh to the next attack site. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is watchful as they walk along, but in a decent mood. There are not many things he enjoys more than getting to use his abilities to help people, and this is a good cause. Perhaps a tiny bit of redemption, too. He is dressed casually, jeans, a golf shirt and loafers. He does not actually own a suit, so this is about as good as it gets. "I think people get it," Josh says and runs a hand through his hair. "I mean, New Hope have been dicks before. And you're like, Dr. McCoy." 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     In the blacked out suit, kevlar and plates, Kurt follows behind. Tail hanging and only shifting as needed for balance. The news of the ganger killing himself, because of what Kurt did to him weighing heavily on the acrobat's mind. He lingers at the rear of the group, walking in his customary slouch, eyes on the ground. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nods to Josh. "Thank you. They know who I am, but I don't think the gang knows who I am yet. They task me. They task me and I shall have it. I shall chase them round the moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round perdition's flames before I give them up." He makes a fist briefly, before slowing his stride just enough to drop back with Kurt, who gets a hearty slap on the back. Fortunately Kurt's wearing Kevlar. "Don't beat yourself up. I know you're going to anyway, but it's not your fault he felt guilty about what he's done." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh gives Kurt a sympathetic look. He heard about what happened and felt for his fellow X-Man. "He was going to Hell way before he met you," Josh adds quietly. "Fact he checked in early? Not your fault, man." 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Ever feel like you're being watched? Well, they are being watched. Just behind them, from a diner, the old bell rings as a large man opens the door. He's about 6'8" and built like a tank. Fittingly, he has a tank top on, and the spikes that protrude from his shoulders indicates that he probably tries to go with this type of shirt often. He has a close buzzed mohawk, and he winces a little as he calls out. "Hey, blue buddies," he says. He is carrying a sandwich in one hand that only has a few bites left in it. His knuckles likewise show spikes. It's clear that he's a mutant. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     "He killed himself, any life can be redeemed and be welcomed to the kingdom of heaven if they seek it. He can't. I drove him to it." brows knitting, Kurt looks to the others, face pinched. "How -" he pauses at the big man stepping out, turning and canting his head to the side, expression changing little. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy will want to talk more with Kurt later. But for now, Hank gives Kurt's shoulder a squeeze, before he steps right up to the tank of a man addressing them. Fixing his jacket, he steps right up, and offers a hand. "Hank McCoy. Good to meet you buddy," the blue professor takes the lead to grin. "That gang been giving you any trouble? My friends Josh and Kurt are with me this morning to help out anyone they hurt." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh turns and and his eyebrows go up at the size of the man coming to talk to them. He takes his cue from Hank though and smiles. Even if he moves aside just a little so he and Hank are not in reach of a single charge. Josh stuffs his hands in his pockets and watches. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     The large man smiles, a clear limb to his gait as he tries to quickly catch up to the trio. "You guys, you been lookin' for the New Hope Gang, right?" he asks. "Heard about ya, good on you guys, I've been wishin' I could run into you." He starts to extend a hand, wait, it's holding a sandwich. He passes the sandwich to his left, then brushes crumbs and any mustard off on his jeans before holding it out to shake. "Rocko," he introduces himself, glancing at Josh a second. "Oh man, you're that healer guy from the news, right?" he says with an approving grin. "Good stuff." He seems the friendly and bouncy type, perhaps contrary to his appearance as a big intimidating musclebound man with spikes on his shoulders. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Flinching at the shoulder squeeze, Kurt's glaze flashes to Hank and then to the big man, head tipping to the side. Not sure what to expect yet, the bavarian keeps on edge, as if expecting things to go suddenly down hill and fast. Tail flicking he only bobs his head to the big man, trying to look friendly despite his actual feelings. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy will shake hands with no problem, though he's going to be careful not to get any of the remaining crumbs on his jacket. Discreetly though. "Rocko. Yeah, that's why we're here today." Going into a jacket pocket he pulls out one of the flyers, and unfolds it. "I'm offering a reward too, for information leading to their capture." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh shakes hands with the huge man after Hank does. "Thanks, just glad to help anyone I can," Josh replies to Rocko with a grin. He takes a distinctly second position to his mentor though, letting Hank lead the conversation. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Hey, I think that's fantastic," he says, "You aren't just waiting for the Family to deal with it, but you're going out there and becoming a part yourself. When this first started, we were able to handle the usual riff raff, the streets were a lot safer, but our allies that kept the Sentinels out, well, with all the stuff in the news, it's kinda called on a lot of their attention to keep us safe. I guess we gotta give'm a break, giant robots are definitely a priority over street thugs." He gives a chuckle, as if everyone should know what he's talking about. "But anyway, we could use guys like you. Who will stand up for the community. We are trying to get as many mutants on the same page, all organized so that we can stand against the oppression and bigotry." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nods to Rocko. "The Family, huh? Maybe we ought to have a chat, and coordinate our efforts. I'm hoping to resolve this as peacefully as possible. After all, we have to meet the standards we're trying to establish. Just let the people in this neighborhood live ordinary lives." 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "My dad was a preacher," Rocko says. "He used to quote Romans 12:18 to me all the time. As far as it depends on you, live peacably with all people." He tilts his head. "But some people don't want peace. Some people just want to sate their fears." He points down the street. "Cultural Museum, that's where we're based in the neighborhood. I volounteer there on my days off. Dunno if you've been in it yet." The museum is new, a reclaimed building wedged along a brick line of structures. "Oroku Enterprises put it together when he did that job fair at the beginning of the year. You won't find any FoH or New Hope Gang members going near that. I'm all about peace where we can," he says. "Sometimes resolving things quietly is the next best thing, though, right?" 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     "FoH? They're the other gang causing trouble... do you know where they typically gather?" Kurt pipes in, head tilting as he makes his inquiry. It would be a step towards clearing things up, Family or no. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy listens intently to everything Rocko has to say. "We hadn't been that way this morning, no. But I do think it's a good idea for us to go that way. Thank you Rocko, and I hope to talk with you again soon." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Totally," Josh says with a smile. "And you okay? You've got a real limp going. Can help you out if you want." 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Rocko finishes his sandwich to free his hands, a bite a little larger than what might be considered appropriate. He chews for a second, giving a nod as if to indicate that he has a response for Kurt. After he swallows, he speaks. "Gather? Well, thanks to our friends, they have needed to be pretty discreet around here. Guess they get a little shy when their congregation disappears." Ominous, perhaps. "When we first started, they were the big obstacle, but in the neighborhood, there aren't any actually living here anymore, not that I'm aware of. Then again, if I was, they wouldn't be, so catch 22, right?"     He doesn't push the conversation when Hank makes the move to close it, but he does respond to Josh. "Oh? He smiles a little. "Yeah, just got shot a couple weeks ago, still buggin' me a bit." He arches his brow, "But it was worth it. Totally got an autograph from Alison Blaire. Some dickheads tried to kill her. Playin' the hero has its perks. Pretty nice lady." 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     "So then it's only New Hope Gang then?" Kurt inquires, watching the man's limp, studying his stance and expression. "And this 'Family' is the group that did it... Doesn't that make it just another gang?" his woes forgotten for the moment, concern for the shift in the cycle growing as he approaches a step or two. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy leads the group from Rocko, looking back for a friendly wave after Josh does his thing. Once out of earshot, he leans to Kurt. "The Family does sound like a local gang. I'm not going to sanction anything they do that's out of bounds, but we at least can get information from them. Let's ask?" And it won't be that long before they make their way to the Cultural Museum to start nosing around. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "You were the guy that jumped in to save Blaire? I heard about that! Dude, least I can do is help you out," Josh says with a grin and offers his hand to Rocko again. When he takes it, Josh's hand glows golden and Rocko can feel a sort of syrupy warmth spread through him and gather around his wound. First any soreness or pain disappears and then... It feels just fine. "Thanks for looking out for her. She means a lot to everyone, you know?" Josh says to Rocko after. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Angry Angels were a gang," Rocko points out. "I mean, by that you'd have to call every neighorhood watch program a gang. We look out for each other, we communicate, and move problems that are above us up the ladder for attention by people who can do something we can't." He laughs, "Heck, you could say the Avengers and X-men are gangs, too. We may not be as well financed, but it's the same idea. I'm not out to see anybody get hurt that doesn't have to, we're just trying to stop people from getting bullied by the bad guys." He shrugs, unapologetic.     "Not gonna make anybody take part who doesn't feel it," he says. "So don't think I'm gonna be that guy that hounds you all the time, but you wanna get stuff done, you wanna find that gang? Puttin' our heads together can make it happen."     As Josh heals his wound, Rocko seems to recognize it immediately. "Oh snap," he feels his gut, and then raises his t-shirt to reveal the bandages that cover the wound. He presses on it a few times, then pulls off the bandage with an adhesive rip. No wound, just some rock hard abs underneath. "Look at that! Oh man, thanks! Yeah I just did what I could Was right there, had to act, y'know?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy watches as the two talk business. "You could say, Rocko, that we have our own, uh, family going. Based up in Westchester. Man named Chuck is in charge. Very powerful with his mind." Tapping his forehead. "But I'm here on his behalf since he's in a wheelchair and can't always get out here easily. I'd like to arrange a meeting so our organizations can work together. Is that something you could help us with?" 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Oh yeah?" Rocko seems encouraged by the idea of there being another group like theirs. "Yeah, that'd probably be great!" He smiles a toothy grin, and tosses the old bandage into a public trash can as they pass it. "Oh, this could be really good. I just figured you moved here recently and I didn't know you. Up in Westchester, huh? Nice area." He opens the door for them at the center.     It isn't fancy. The building was once a small apartment structure above a store front. The first level has a desk which is currently unmanned, and a guest registry facing the door. A donation jar for admission, and past that, a series of displays that talk about the history of the X-gene, it's presence and the development of mutant culture, oppression, and other such factors. There's even a torn piece of an old X-man costume in a glass case, probably from some long forgotten battle. He leads to the second floor of the building, which has been opened from being an apartment, only leaving the necessary pillars to support the roof. In one corner is a small office, which he takes them in. It's not fancy, cheap but new office chairs.     "So, Family works like a network. Cell groups. So it's hard to squash it, think of Fight Club. Except we don't beat each other up for fun, and we aren't terrorists."     He grabs a binder with a simple series of explanations. "Unlike a cell group, we got some help. They aren't mutants, but they support mutant causes. I'm not EXACTLY sure about all that they have their hands in, but they are all over the Hook problem in NYC. They got their hands in a lot, but they help us, because they want a clean New York. Unlike the cops, they don't have a bunch of red tape."     "What we do, is we ward off people that mess with mutants, help get information and pass it on. We enforce it some, sure, but sometimes we got stuff above our paygrade, y'know? So we call our friends. With me so far?" Sounds like his standard introductory speech for a recruit. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does mess with his phone a bit, out of habit. A speech by Magneto in the press gets his attention, brow furrowing, as he saves that for later. The jar for admission gets a 20 from Hank after the phone is put away. "Yeah I gotcha. And Westchester is nice. Chuck's rich, and he has a nice house up there, so we go where he is. You don't know who everyone is, and I don't need to know who everyone is. I wouldn't ask you to breach your security, and I wouldn't want you to ask to breach ours. It's a dangerous world, and you're right in the thick of it." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh gives Hank a slightly alarmed look, but defers to his mentor and senior X-Man and puts on a polite smile for Rocko. "Makes sense to me so far! Nice to know we got people on our side, you know? Seems like everyone else is against us," Josh says. He goes to look at the X-Gene history display while they are talking. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Rocko nods. "Yeah, but it works out. The folks that help us, they are a bit more..." he searches for the word. "Cautious. They have to fight the seedy underbelly of what goes bump in the night. Glad I don't do that myself. But if your buddy Chuck wants to talk about joinin' up, they'd probably want to meet with you guys. I'm gettin' the vibe that you are more interested to see if we could team up rather than merge, and that's completely fine with me. But trust me, they are gonna want specifics before they go down that road." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy folds his arms and leans on a wall, as Rocko continues to explain. "That's right. We've been at this a long time. We're not looking to merge. But we're all mutants to a man, and we care deeply about making sure mutants are treated correctly. If we have to prove ourselves to your bosses, we can find a way to do that. I mean, it should say something when that gang is that mad about us, right? We want to put a stop to the attacks." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh shifts uncomfortably but keeps quiet. He inspects the literature some more and watches the conversation out of the corner of his eye. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Hey, that sounds pretty good. You might even teach us here a few things, so good on ya." Rocko grins broadly. "Okay, so I can get with their people and see what time works." He opens the drawer on the basic desk, and pulls out a business card. Rocko Michaels, and it has the contact of the Cultural Center under it. He grabs a cheap pen off the desk and flips it over, writing a new number on it. "Okay, so this is my cell," he says, "Find me a few times, I'll let people know on this side, and we can find something out, how does that sound?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy will take the number looking at it, then putting into an inside jacket pocket. "Thanks a lot Rocko. Some folks in this neighborhood have nothing else going for them, nad nobody else to speak up for them. This matters." 
}}

8586/Undercurrents: Dangerous Dealers

2019-07-30T17:20:12Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/30 |Location=Clinton, New York |Synopsis=Selene tells Captain Quaid that lycans are dealing and using Hook. |Thanks=Selene |Cast of Charact..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/30
|Location=Clinton, New York
|Synopsis=Selene tells Captain Quaid that lycans are dealing and using Hook.
|Thanks=Selene
|Cast of Characters=761,7620
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' The roar of Selene's bike ceases as she rolls to a halt, looking around, watching the streets of Hell's Kitchen. She's been looking for the lycans who had got away from the warehouse. At least, that's why she'd initially set out, and she got sidetracked by one of her Death Dealers being hurt fairly bad. She's figured that this needs dealing with, personally, though Hell's Kitchen is dangerous Selene has found that out first hand. She's blended into traffic, and followed a pair of four legged friends. Selene's keeping to the shadows. It's just her. No Death Dealers, but a highly agitated and bloodthirsty Selene. The four legged lycans, in their wolf form, have led her to a drug deal. Hook's being handed over to be moved. The wolves are going for it, apparently even the local lycan populous isn't immune to Hook. Instead, the wolves get gunned down, but not before, since there's no silver, mauling the Hook dealers, and leaving their throats torn out and necks torn out. Selene's about ready to jump in, when a passing patrol car (brave, really in this area, Selene thinks) stops to check it out. After all, gunshots, dead werewolves, and Hook out in the open? That's not normal. Selene's thankfully blending in well walking down the street to her bike. A bike that's.....not yet been stolen. Then again, Selene's not entirely sure anyone wants to tangle with her. She's maybe not the most dangerous predator at a little after half eleven at night, but she's a force to be reckoned with. Shde hears muffled radio traffic, apparently that officer was calling it in, or.....something. Selene doesn't care, not her problem. The dead wolves? Those are a problem. Especially if Hook's involved. There's plenty of bits of paper and torn up things from the dealers, a phone's laying on the ground, the back of it's come off to reveal a folded up bit of paper, Selene's thinking that may be useful. The howling wolf wallpaper gives her little doubt who the phone belongs to. A wolf, naturally. The dead Hook guys also intrigue her. They.... The wolves stir. Selene's immediately ready. They're healing too damn fast, andd shifting back into their human guise. "What the hell. Don't kill us!" the taller one, who shakily says his name is Mike, yells. Selene watches, "Mike" she says. "What were you doing here?" "Oh God I just killed a guy. Tavis is going to freak....we...we needed get our boss his fix. he..he won't come out himself. Lives over by the fire house down by that Alias detective people" Mike says, stepping closer to Selene. Selene@s not about to kill two innocent lycans. Is she going soft? Maybe. Even so, Selene warns them to stay back. "There's a cop over...." she starts, Travis is only half transformed, going for the cop as Mike's puking his guts up, Selene looks unimpressed at this turn of events, leaping back to avoid the puddle of puke that's threatening to get on her shoes. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' The patrol officers, thankfully, were not fools. They had stayed in their car to call for backup instead of play the hero and jump out. Watching the black clad woman walk up and start talking to what they thought were dead people get up and start charging them vindicated their good sense and training. The patrol car tires squeal and the vehicle lurches backwards. It accelerates sharply. When the oncoming attacker starts to morph, they realize discretion is the better part of valour. The driver pulls a textbook flying turn and continues to accelerate forward now, outpacing the lycan. The officer in the passenger seat calls in a 10-33, officers in distress, with a meta that looks like a werewolf. She calls for tactical team support. 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' Selene watches the cop car leave, she's not far behind since she's worried. Dead werewolves mean trouble, lots, usually. This time...she didn't do it...yet. The smell of puke's in her nostrils as she's looking at the lycans. Mike, the one that was on two legs, was running away. Selene watches a SUV pull in, with Hook visible through the tailgate window. She's not a happy Selene, first her Death Dealer gets hurt. Then Hook shows up. She's not wanting the NYPD to chase Mike through the area. Instead, Selene's got Mike sat on a dumpster, giving him $10 food and drinks. Looking over at him, Selene's decided to spare the lycan. If trouble's headed her way it may be unlikely allies. And all that. Never did she think she'd....actually team up with a lycan as Selene tells Mike to wait for the officers, and tell them what happened, not to play the hero. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' It will be 10 minutes before the police move in. Police sirens start up in the distance in all directions. The patrol car stops a good block and a bit away, blocks most of the road and the officers stay in the vehicle watching. No doubt anyone with any drugs in their vehicle like SUV has the good sense to drive off seeing blood on the groud and a lit up patrol car on a block away. For now, the officers in the patrol car wait for their backup to get set up, coordinated and move in as a group. 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' The SUV should have driven off. If, that is, the guys in it had sense and weren't passed out high on a mix of Hook and cheap alcohol. Amusingly, or irritably for Selene, the horn is not a pillow. Selene's spent those ten minutes finding a spot to hide, just outside the blocked off area. Moving in a blur is helpful at times really. Mike not so much, he's gone to the patrol car and turned himself in. Not Selene's problem any more. Instead she's found a spot to sit and watch the blockade. She's trying to blend in, then again she's distinctive. For better or worse that is as she's sitting there, pretending to smoke and doing her best blending in bit. She's no desire to tangle with the NYPD's finest, thank you very much. Looking at the blockade, Selene feels nothing but anger and bitternesss toward the Hook people. Shaking her head, Selene's waiting, o. Waiting to tell the officers what she saw and found out. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' The streets are blocked off by additional patrol cars in all directions first. Then eventually, two armoured SUVs roar in with tactical response members hanging on to the roof rack and standing on the sideboards. They step off onto the street when the SUVs stop and begin to secure the immediate area of the crime scene. The guys inside the SUV are pulled out unceremoniously and zip-tied on the ground. Patrol officers move in shortly afterwards to pair up with tactical response members and clear the alleys and what not within the perimeter. 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' She's outside the permiter and watches, watches it all. She can't help but 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' She's outside the permiter and watches, watches it all. She can't help but smirk at how the SUV guys were thrown out and dealt with. Nothing more than they deserve, she thinks. Looking over, she stays put. If the cops want her, she'll talk to them peacefully. On the other hand, if they get aggressive, Selene may well return the favor. She gets up and goes over to one of the cops, asking after Captain Quaid, saying she needs to speak to him, and it's urgent. She's doing her best to persuade the poor officer to to either get Quaid here, or tell her where Quaid is. Something something lycan something Hook something something warehouse boom, hostages, something. Quaid apparently should know about this. Like. Now. Plus she needs his help with things. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Lady, I don't care who you are. You wanna talk to the Captain you call the office an' leave a message, same's anyone," Officer Lewis says, looking supremely annoyed. "You got an emergency? Call 911." One of other patrol officers, Officer Kennedy, comes over seeing how persistent this oddly dressed person is being with his colleague. "Y'all okay here?" Kennedy asks Lewis. "S'fine, this broad thinks the world's endin' an' she needs t'talk with Cap'n Quaid," Lewis says with an eyeroll. Officer Kennedy asks a few questions and asks Selene to hang on. He steps away and makes a phone call. "Hey Sarge, it's Kennedy," Selene can easily over hear. "Remember that werewolf briefing note? Yeah. Got a female here saying she wants to talk with Captain Quaid about 'lycans' and Hook and a warehouse... No, they're not here yet. She might be a crank, I don't know. What's she look like?" Kennedy looks back to Selene. "Caucasian, 5'7", black hair, wearing black leather or something. I know, right?" There is a long paused while Kennedy waits. "Really? Huh. Good thing you checked. Yeah, I'll tell her." Kennedy walks back to Selene. "Miss? Captain Quaid is coming down to talk to you. Just wait here." Officer Lewis gives Kenney a disbelieving smirk. Kennedy shrugs and walks off. About 20 minutes later, a unmarked black Tahoe rolls up to the perimeter with its hidden police flashers on. Elaina Bever is driving and Frank can be seen using his Blackberry in the passenger seat. He looks up, sees Selene and gives a wry smirk. He no longer has the nose bandage, but his nose is very obviously broken and does nothing for his looks which were average at best to begin with. Frank waves Selene over and thumbs toward the back door of the SUV. "Selene," Frank says when she gets into the back of the Tahoe. There is no prisoner area in this vehicle, it is just a normal passenger area in there, so Selene is not at all trapped. The simple truth is that the only people at any risk in that SUV are the two cops in close proximity to a Death Dealer. "Not exactly surprised to see you here. What's going on?" 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' Selene gives Quaid a wry smile. "What's going is I was looking for the lycans who ran away from that exploding warehouse. I got distracted by a pair of lycans I didn't recognize, and followed them. THey led me to a Hook deal. The two lycans killed the dealers, but the dealers were shooting them. Both survived, One of them turned himslef in. The other? No idea. That SUV that got found.....I saw plenty of Hook in it" Selene says, her blue eyes fixed on Quaid. "Werewolves, Selene, and Hook. Impressively, nobody's dead by my hand. But" she says with a fierce look, "I wanted to talk your brains and ask why werewolves would take hostages, then blow up the warehouse?" she asks. She knows what would happen to the hostages, but....she's wanting to put her head together with Quaid to figure this out. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "What are you even talking about?" Frank asks. He looks to Elaina who shrugs unknowingly. "Are you talking about that MD12 thing in Metropolis? That was lycans?" Frank asks with a frown, trying to puzzle out what the vampire it talking about. 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' "No, the snippet in the DBC. Late one night. NYC, warehouse blew up. That was lycans" she says, explaining it. "I found lycans there, human hostages. Once they got what they wanted, the lycans blew up the warehouse" Selene says with a quiet sigh. "Those are the lycans I was tracking, the one of my people got hurt so I came out here to deal with it personally" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "DBC is full of all kinds of stuff, Selene," Frank says dryly. "I didn't hear about that all. So you're saying it was Lycans and was about Hook? A lot of that going on, Drugs and Organized Crime is run off their feet with the gang war going on. Thank god that's not my beat." "Did the hostages get freed?" Elaina asks. "If we've got hostages somewhere right now, that's a big problem." "Yeah, would be," Frank agrees with a sigh. "We'd need to know about that." "Look, everyone who deals is dealing Hook right now, so I'm not surprised some Lycans are dealing it. If you've got some specific info, I'll pass it on to Drugs and OC to follow up on if they can. Can't promise anything. They're up to their asses with this crap right now," Frank says and gestures out the window toward the crime scene. "It's like the 80's all over again. We're picking up dead bodies every night. Homicide is working nothing but Drugs and OC targets." 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' "I'm not shocked either" Selene says, "I'm more worried with lycans having access to Hook, and in the meantime, taking hostages. How about if I help out by looking into it and feeding you what I find?" she offers. Of course there's strings attached, loose as they are with her. "That being said dead humans aren't my problem. I got my own problems" she says, her blue eyes glittering. She looks like she really doesn't care much about dead humans on Hook. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Don't we all," Frank agrees with Selene dryly and shrugs. "Lycans on drugs, humans on drugs. Hook's just the latest thing. Remember the opiate crisis 20 years ago? It'll something else in another 20. Sad, but what can you do?" "So you're saying there aren't any hostages?" Elaina asks with a confused frown. "If don't know, we would appreciate any help you can give us about it." 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' "I'm saying, I got into the warehouse and the lycans rigged it to blow up and killed the ones that were in the warehouse. There was one who got out. I don't kno what happened to that hostage. But all the others were killed. The lycans ran off and I've no idea where they went" Selene says calmly. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Okay, now I understand, thank you," Elaina says with a bit of a smile. "I'll pass on that it was Lycans to Drugs and OC," Frank says. "At least they'll know what they're up against if they do any takedowns. Appreciate the tip," Frank says, tapping away on his Blackberry again. "We armed up like you suggested, by the way. Appreciate the info. Tactical Response has taken down a handful of lycans in the last couple of weeks during operations. They probably would've been slaughtered if they didn't have the right rounds. You saved some lives with that intel." 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' Selene nods. "You're welcome. It's the least I can do to help" she offers. Plus, less lycans, and help....is good. She nods, "I'd suggest each officer carries silver or UV rounds as well" she says, a...blunt suggestion from the Death Dealer, as she nods to the two officers. "Like these two" she adds, watching Quaid and Elaina. "I'm willing to help you out more. But like I said, I can't leavve a paper trail. It'd put you at risk" she says. By 'you' she means everyone else in the SUV. Selene's used to killing lycans. At this rate she'll start offering classes, or something equally silly if she's not careful 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "I'll keep that in mind," Frank says. "We'll take what we can get, so if something comes up, call me." Frank passes Selene his card with a wry grin. "Easier than bothering some rookie on the road." 

:'''{{#var:761|Selene (761)}} has posed:''' Selene takes the card with a smile, her fangs showing. "Where's the fun in that?" she asks. "Poor officer, I was....insistent I spoke to you both, but you've been helpful" she says with a curt nod. "Very, very helpful, so thank you" she says reaching for the door. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "We're here to serve," Frank says dryly. "Be safe out there." 
}}

8535/Saved: A Special Moment

2019-07-27T20:21:39Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/27 |Location=Suzann'es Apartment, Queens, New York City |Synopsis=Jubilee and Elixir visit a woman with esophageal cancer and heal her. The..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/27
|Location=Suzann'es Apartment, Queens, New York City
|Synopsis=Jubilee and Elixir visit a woman with esophageal cancer and heal her. They get to share a special moment with the woman and her daughter, and enjoy a homecooked meal afterwards.
|Thanks=Jubilee
|Cast of Characters=1798,59
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh asked Jubilee to come with him on a trip into Jackson Heights and asked her to meet him at the Queens Subway station. He waited near the western staircase for Jubilee with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He decided to wear a stunningly clever disguise since Queens was his old haunt. A pair of sunglasses. Josh the super spy. He watches people wandering back and forth going about their weekend activities while he sits on the stone wall of a garden planter. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee wasn't entirely sure what Josh needed her for, so she opted to go at least a little better than cutoffs and a tanktop. She is wearing a black sundress with a red satin sash, tied in a bow at one side of the waist, and a red bead necklace. Her hair is done in an old-fashioned pinup style, and she has a pair of red heels that keep her from looking quite so short. As she approaches Josh, she nearly doesn't recognize him in his disguise. But she sidles alongside him and hops up on the wall to sit, exposing layers of red crinoline beneath the hem of her skirt. "Hey," she says, noncommittally. Playing it cool. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "The honeybee lands on the flowers only in spring..." Josh says, looking the other way. "We need secret spy code phrases or something. That would be cool," he grins to Jubilee and bumps her shoulder. "Thanks for coming. I'm supposed to go help this girl's mom cause she's sick or something. But I didn't wanna go on my onw, and well... You're like the only kind of friend I've got at Xavier's. Hope you don't mind?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, I dunno, I think we should work monkeys into the code, but it's totally your choice," Jubilee adds with a grin. "Hey, so I'm always here for ya, Josh. You're my friend. Always here for ya, no matter what." She squeezes his shoulder and smiles reassuringly. "I'm with ya, whatever you need to do. Do you know what's wrong with her mom?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Monkeys," Josh snerks and smiles at Jubilee's reassurance. He stands up off the planter and points down the sidewalk in the direction they need to go. "Esophageal cancer, apparently it's spread a bunch," Josh says with a shrug. "I was having lunch with Lorna, trying to get to know her. And then this guy hurt himself, so I helped him, and then the server slipped me her number and asked for help. So that's where we're going." Josh walks along easily with his hands in his pockets. "I mean, I know what we talked about in the campsite, but... With Wanda, and the videos and people needing help. I wanna be like you guys, like with the bus, or Lorna. I don't wanna keep hiding like from the Reavers. It's eating me." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Then by all means, don't hide." Jubilee smiles, her hands on her skirt and swishing it a little, subconsciously, as she walks. "You have to be happy. You just also have to be careful. Anyone with powers can be weaponized, somehow. Some are just more valuable to the bad guys than others." Jubilee watches up ahead as they walk. "You think you can do this one, then? You're ready for it?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, it should be alright. Cancers aren't that bad, actually. I mean, they standout and then it's just changing them, just a little. And they die. It's kind of neat," Josh says with a slightly abashed smile at his own nerdiness. "If you're into that medical stuff." "I'll be more careful though, I promise. I just couldn't live with standing near people like you and Hank and Lorna and Wanda, heck even Doug, if I'm too scared to man up and do my thing," Josh says. "I can almost /hear/ my dad telling me not to be chickenshit and get out there, like when I started playing football. Except, he'd never say that about this. But you know." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee nods. "I know. But I'm proud of you, for everything you do, and everything you've done. And...for everything you /will/ do, because I just know you're going to do amazing things. Truly." She looks back up at Josh and grins, just pleased beyond all reason that he considers her a friend. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thanks, Jubi," Josh says, with a grin back to her. "Means a lot to have you in my corner. You've always been really cool with me, even when I first got to the school. Still remember you bringing out fudgecicles at your place in like almost the middle of the night," he says and chuckles. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "I was worried about ya. And to be honest, I was a little bit enamored of ya, back then. 'Course, that was before I was an /actual/ teacher, and before you met a woman who could - and wouldn't hesitate to - kick my ass into a different dimension." She looks down at the ground for a moment as she walks, stepping over a crack with an almost imperceptible hop-step. Her natural stride almost always sets her up to step over the cracks, if she times it right. But theres always that /one/. "Anyway, that's all like way back when, and now you're this...awesome person who is about to do what 99.9999% of people in this world cannot. And I'm in awe." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "You were not! Now you're just teasing me" Josh says with a laugh. He colours a bit and looks in Jubilee's direction. "You were like this totally confident, kickass X-Man! With terrifying freaking plasma powers, talking of things most people can't do. You destroyed those borgs on the bus, it was so badass..." Josh shakes his head with a grin. "I wish I was that badass, seriously." The young man looks at the address on the building coming up on their left and checks his phone. "Yeah, this is it," he says. He scans down the list on the old metal buzzer board at the front of the five-storey brick apartment building. He buzzes 203. "Hello?" answers a young woman's voice through the tinny speaker. "Hey, it's Josh," he answers. "Come in!" the woman replies, sounding excited. The lock buzzes and Josh holds the door for Jubilee. In the elevator, Josh taps his fingers against the railing while they up one floor. "I don't have enough style for someone like you anyway, you're way unique," Josh teases Jubilee lightly. "Actually, I dunno anyone who's just, fuck it this is my style, like you. Like you just don't care what other people think. It's really cool." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "You'll be that way, too. Eventually. When you've become comfortable with who you are, and what you do. It'll come to you, like it does to the rest of us. Just keep believing in yourself." Jubilee smiles, then looks to the doors as the lift opens. "Guess this is our stop...Ready?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "When I grow up a bit, you mean," Josh jokes with a chuckle. "You sound like my old coach." "I'm good, let's do it," Josh says. The carpet and fixtures in the hallway are old and tired, but clean. The hall smells faintly of smoke in that way you can never get out of the paint, carpets and ceiling. Ahead of them, the door to 203 opens and a young woman with short brown hair steps out. She is in yoga pants and a pink t-shirt that has 'sassy' written across the front. She is all of 18 or 19. "You came!" she says with a big smile. She gives Josh an enthusiastic hug around the neck, which he returns a little awkwardly. "I did! I brought a friend with me, her name's Jubilee. Jubilee, this is Laura," Josh introduces the two when he is released. "Hi!" Laura says brightly to Jubilee. "I love your dress. Come in, my mom's in the living room." Inside, the apartment is cosy, and aging the same way as the building. The walls are cream coloured and covered in pictures of Laura at different ages and what are presumably other relatives. Laura's mom, a woman in her early 50's, is pale, drawn and very thin. She is sitting in an easy chair near the television. An oxygen bottle on a wheeled dolly sits next to her, and she has tubing that runs up under her nose to deliver it. She is dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt despite the heat. "Mom, they're here!" Laura says, excitedly. "This is Josh and his friend Jubilee!" Josh steps out of his shoes at the door and comes in, glancing around. He smiles when introduced. "I'm Suzanne," Laura's mother rasps quietly and holds out a hand for the two to shake. Josh shakes her hand and steps aside for Jubilee. Suzanne smiles, but it stops well short of her eyes. She looks tired and even suspicious, unlike her daughter's obvious excitement. "Can I get you anything?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Thanks so much," Jubilee replies to Laura, before they're ushered into the apartment, and then the living room to meet Laura's mother. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Suzanne," Jubilee replies, taking the woman's frail hand warmly and patting it, rather than shaking it heartily. "Don't bother yourself for us, we're here to help you," she offers brightly in response to the woman's question. "Josh is an amazing young man, and we're lucky to have him among us. Just watching him work astounds me..." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh rolls his eyes a bit "So Laura tells me," Suzanne replies with a polite smile. Laura stands nearby bouncing a little with a big smile on her face. "So, what do you need for this.. Miracle procedure, Josh?" Suzanne asks, unable to keep her incredulity out of her voice despite her best efforts. "Ah, nope," Josh says. He crouches down in front of Suzanne and holds out both hands to her. Suzanne gives Laura a tired a look and gets a smile and nod in return. The frail woman puts her in hands in Josh's and looks at the young man with slightly raised eyebrows. Josh just smiles. He closes his eyes. His hands glow with a golden light which spreads up Suzanne's arms after a moment. "Oh my goodness, it's warm!" Suzanne rasps in surprise. She watches Josh with wide eyes now. Josh does not move except to breathe and minutes pass. There is nothing much more to see for a time, just the glow that fades up Suzanne's arms. But then colour starts returns slowly to Suzanne's face and arms. She takes a deep breath without realizing at first and is startled. She breaks out in a smile and looks to Laura then Jubilee with wet eyes. "It doesn't hurt anymore," she says wonderingly in a clear voice. The glow fades and Josh lets go of Suzanne's hands. He grins and stands up slowly, looking a little wiped but no worse for wear. "You'll be fine," he says. "Get your doctor to check, but you'll be fine." "I knew it!!" Laura squees and runs over to hug her mother. Suzanne puts her arms around Laura and mouths a thank to Josh. He nods and grins to Jubilee. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee has seen Josh work before, but she has never seen him cure cancer. She has never seen him change a life forever this way, and it gets to her, too. Misty-eyed, she turns away from Josh to fan herself. She wasn't warned to bring a tissue. She didn't even know where they were going, after all. But turning back around, she is all smiles. "Congratulations, then, Suzanne. I'm so very happy Josh could help you." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Laura turns from her mother to give Josh another hug and big kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she says and squeezes him agian. Josh colours and looks embarassed. Laura launches off Josh and squeezes Jubilee as well. Suzanne wipes at her eyes. "Come here," she says to Josh. Josh chuckles and moves closer to get a hug from Suzanne as well. "You've got something very special. Thank you." "Glad I could help," Josh says when he straightens up. "We should go, let you rest. It'll take a bit to build yourself back up, so don't push things too hard." "Go? I won't hear of it," Suzanne insists. She gets to her feet and Laura comes over. "You're staying for dinner!" Josh protests politely but Suzanne is adamant. He looks to Jubilee and shrugs. If she is okay with it, he nods. "Alright, but only if you let us help." Suzanne, it turns out, is a librarian and has been off work for the last six months since she fell ill. She is an independent, intelligent woman who has raised Laura on her own since Laura was very small. Laura is much like her mother, with plans to become a veterinary assistant and travel. It is clear the two are very close and their relief and happiness at getting time back they thought they would lose is palpable. Dinner is nothing special, but the two women were extremely proud to put it together to say thank you. At the end, Josh makes their excuses and this time they are able to escape. A few more hugs and tears later, Josh and Jubilee are finally back in the elevator. "Hey," Josh says with a smile to Jubilee. "Thanks for coming with me." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee can only shake her head. If she tries to talk at this moment, she'll start to cry, so she just stands beside him in silence with tears welling in her eyes. "I wouldn't have been anywhere else," Jubilee finally says, quickly, and quietly. She sneaks a sidelong glance at Josh and smiles. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh catches Jubilee's look and smiles. He puts his arm around her and gives her a squeeze. When the elevator doors open he walks out with her into the lobby and they disappear back into the weekend flow on the sidewalks of Queens. 
}}

8520/Saved: Listening to the Elders

2019-07-26T18:15:27Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/26 |Location=Hank's Lab, X-Men Base |Synopsis=Beast asks Elixir for a favour. Beast and Elixir talk about being a public mutant. Beast, Jub..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/26
|Location=Hank's Lab, X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Beast asks Elixir for a favour. Beast and Elixir talk about being a public mutant. Beast, Jubilee and Elixir talk about school security and helping Hook addicts.
|Thanks=Beast, Jubilee
|Cast of Characters=1798,95,59
|Tinyplot=Saved
|Tinyplot2=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh comes out of the changerooms after morning training. He checks the time on his phone and sees it is a bit yet before he has to. He heads into Medical to check on the patients, now through withdrawal but still wanting out and their next fix. Then he heads down the hall to Hank's lab. "Hey Hank," asks the young man when he comes inside. "You got a sec?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy is in his suit, with a white coat over it, goggles over his eyes as he does a routine blood test on one of the patients on a lab bench. "Good morning Josh. I wanted to run something personal by you anyway, so if we've both got a moment... Let's sit at my desk." Taking off the goggles, he covers the samples, and goes to sit. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "By me?" Josh asks. He glances curiously at what Hank was working on. Then he moves to join Hank and at the desk. "What's up?" he asks the older X-Man curiously. Josh slouches back in his chair a bit as he tends to do. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy sits back, and folds his hands on the desk. Yes, his arms are long. "Josh, I wanted to ask a personal favor of you. I have relatives... who are coming out to visit with me. It's an impromptu family reunion of sorts. A lot of older aunts, cousins, and such. And a few of their kids and grandkids." He inhales. "I know this is a big ask, and if you say no, it's no problem. But they have terminal or chronic illnesses, and they'd like your help." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Oh, man, I'm sorry Hank, that's awful," Josh replies with a sympathetic look to the X-Man he looks up to the most. He rubs the back of his neck. "I'll totally help, no big deal. It's what we do, right?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy sighs in relief. "Thank you. I didn't want to assume anything, but I told them I'd ask. They all hit me up after the TV coverage of the bus attack. So you're going to be treated to meals that whole day. And what can I do for you?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh colours a little. "Yeah, it's okay, really. Just glad I can help." "Ah, I kind of wanted to talk about that day. I mean, you were right out there, right in the cameras, standing up for us. Did you always want to be out in the open like that?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy shrugs. "Not really. Before I got mixed up with the Professor, I didn't have any plans like that. It just happened. With the Nobel and things, it just turned out there were opportunities to be the Mutant Doing Good." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "But people are like, after you all the time aren't they? You know, every mutant hating lunatic and their dog? And you're a super famous doctor, so you gotta have lineups of people wanting help there, too? And mutant charities... I mean, and that's not even with the team. How do you... deal?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy takes a deep breath. "Well. First off, if you didn't notice, I'm very big. The uh, the Friends of Humanity and their ilk rarely have the guts to stand up to my face and try something. But as far as the rest... that is the price of fame. The things I do keep private,I have to work hard to keep private. IT's mostly family members and friends who have that kind of access to me. And so..." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Heh, yeah. And like, /nobody/ wants to mess with you after that clip went viral. It was seriously badass," Josh grins. "Would you do it again if you had the choice? Like, stay out of the public eye?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does laugh, but his eyes get a brief pained look. But he sits back, folds his arms behind his head, and sighs. "That was pretty good. It's hard to answer that. My life is what it is. If I didn't attempt to cure my mutation. If I didn't become an activist. A lot of things would be easier in my life, but a lot of things I cherish would be missing, too." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Right, your whole life would be different," Josh muses thoughtfully. "I guess I'm asking cause it's happening to me. Like dating Wanda, then the bus thing. I get seen a bit, you know? It's weird." "Had to move outta my apartment cause people were coming to the door all the time. Then Wanda and I got surrounded the other day by people asking for help. They almost started fighting. Went for lunch with Lorna and one the staff cut his hand really bad. So I helped him out and then our server was asking for help for her mom... I mean, I wanna help, more than anything. But there's so many people and then the Reavers are still after me. I dunno, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy sits up, leaning forward, riasing a finger. "You don't have to. It's not too late. Are you worried? Or is this an opportunity you want to milk?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh blinks at Hank, not comprehending. "Milk?" he asks. "I don't understand." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy laughs. "Josh. Josh. Fame has its costs, but it has advantages. I often try to take advantage of it. I have access. Reporters, politicians, businesses. I can make arrangements, get deals done, and frankly sometimes people send me free stuff, in the hopes that I'll be seen using it. And I do so." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Oh," Josh said. "No, I didn't really think about that. I mean, Doug was asking if I was gonna open a clinic and start healing the hightest bidder or something but that seems wrong? I didn't think about this being a good thing?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy snickers. "You know, Josh. You could uh... we could get you an agent, then I could introduce you to somebody, and you could be an impromptu trainer, and get the Mets starting rotation back in good health. Your agent's phone would be ringing off the hook." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "That'd be crazy! Or the Giants! I'd totally get to go to all the games," Josh beams. "That'd insane." "You're not being like serious though, are you? That would be amazing... How do I decide who to help though?," Josh asks. "Wanda and I were talking about going overseas to do an MSF thing cause of a disease outbreak, you know? But... I dunno. Like, how does the team decide who to help and to who to just. Leave." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy pauses. "I'm perfectly serious. But Josh, let me be perfectly clear. Once you take this step, it's not easy going back. You will be a public figure. You will have the crazies coming after you, sending continuous death threats. You will have people pestering you, floods of people asking for help. And you will have to learn to say no. As you say, you'll have to choose who gets help." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh chews the inside of his cheek and is quiet. "But if I don't I'm just hiding," Josh says thoughtfully. "Saying no would be the hardest part. I'm sure how I'd choose? Triage? But I gotta eat, too. Though, not such a problem now. Um, that was the other thing I wanted to mention. I moved in with Wanda. I'll still be here, I really wanna work with /you/, actually. I'll just need Wanda or Illyana or someone to get me if something happens." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy sits back again, and chuckles. "Well congratulations. She a bit old well, not my problem. I take it she has plenty of income to take care of you both." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "She's only eight years older than me!" Josh protests with a grin. "Well, okay. Sure," he admits and laughs. "But she's amazing. /And/ I needed to move anyway. I don't want people coming to look for me here, cause they need help or they're Reavers. It's not safe for the students." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy is seated at his desk, talking with Josh. A bench away is a set of blood samples being tested. "Don't underestimate the level of security we have at this school. I mean, we have the headquarters of the X-Men right here, beneath it. If security is your concern, don't let that bother you. This school is more secure, the more power we have living here." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' There's a light knock at the door, and a head appears in the doorway. Jubilee peers inside, having heard voices. "Ooh, it's Josh..." Jubilee slips inside and leans back to shut the door behind her, with her hands behind her waist. She's dressed down, clearly enjoying the summer lack of dress code. A white baby tee bearing the words "Talk Nerdy to Me," with red piping on the sleeves and neck, shows off her toned midriff, along with her low cut jeans and boots. Her hair's pulled up into a ponytail, sleek and straight. She isn't privy to the whole conversation, but she tosses in her two cents. "Yeah, this place is as secure as anywhere you could ever devise," says the girl who just walked into a private conversation in a secure laboratory. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hey Jubi," Josh greets with a grin. "Yeah, you're probably both right. I'd feel so shitty if something happened because of me though. Or like the school got exposed. Anyway, I'm all moved in and the food is /amazing/! Seriously, you'll have to come visit." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy shakes his head. "Josh, what makes you thnk this school isn't already a prime target for all sorts of crazy people? You did see the bus attack, right? Hey Jub, come on over, have a twinkie." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee sidles over and sits on the corner of Hank's desk nearest him. She accepts the Twinkie, and unwraps the end, nibbling it slowly. "You moved out, Josh? In with Wanda, I suppose..." She pauses for a moment, considering the conversation at hand, and she watches between Josh and Hank. "Most of the time the danger comes more from within the school than outside of it. But y'know, after that bus thing...Well I always just figured it was a matter of time till someone started tryin' to beat down our doors." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah," Josh agrees. "It's been pretty amazing this place has stayed a secret. I mean seriously, if Pierce ever found out? He'd send an army. I really hope the bus thing isn't the start of that. We haven't seen cyborgs since last year until lately. The Professor, the bus, Dazzler." Josh smirks. "You'd think Pierce learned his lesson by now." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy grabs a twinkie himself, and starts dunking it into cofee to nibble. "I suspect we have more defenses than anyone realizes. The students are never safer than they are here. But Josh, let's be honest. Your moving out is more about where you're moving to, rather than where you're moving from, right?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee frowns slightly, hiding it behind a nuclear-shielded, cream-filled pound cake-esque tactical quantum snack food, which would have survived longer than cockroaches, if she had not begun to lay waste to it. "Yeah, you're always 'hanging your hat' there anyway, so what did it really matter which place ya called home? Home is where your hat gets hung." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Well, yeah, it's got a few benefits. Wanda, no rent, no students glaring murder at me, and the safety thing," Josh says, colours a bit and grins. "And more Wanda. I like the base though, this is like my other home. The School, not so much, but I like it down here." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy chuckles. "Well most folks don't want to spend time at high school more than absolutely necessary. So that's natural. Some folks want to make a career here. Others are X-Men and use this as cover. But you're allowed to have a life outside of Xavier's little world." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "That's true. I'm not so fond of so much of what's out there beyond this place. I like the students. I like the faculty. I guess...I found everything I want right here, for now. But I could see wanting to branch out and go elsewhere," Jubilee observes. She hands over the last third of her Twinkie to Hank, silently mouthing the words, "Twinkie butt?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Different strokes, right? I mean, look at Lorna. She's got an insane amount on her plate," Josh says. "I should probably get back on those labs before I take off for the day. I checked on the patients again? They're out of withdrawal now, but unless someone fixes their brains they're just gonna go after more. And they're going /insane/. They've been in there a long time. Are we gonna let them go soon? Or maybe have someone like Jean look at them and see if they can help them first?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does take the twinkie butt and nudges Jub on the arm. "Why don't you like the twinkie butts anyway? Prefer the filling?" popping it into hs mouth aferward. "Talk to Jean, or if she's busy with school stuff, Emma. She may be willing to help." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee grins when Hank nudges her. "Nah it's fine. I don't eat all the filling either. But if I eat a whole Twinkie every time you feed me one, I'll be too fat to fly, and if I can't fly on the bars, life won't be happy anymore. And I really don't think you want a Twinkie body sittin' here on yer desk." Jubes winks. "So I give away the last third if anything I eat that's sweet!" She kicks her foot out a little, letting her calf run against Hank's shoulder as her leg swings. But there is something more serious than twinkies at stake with the conversation. "So d'ya think the addicts can be fixed?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh gets up and nods to Hank. "Will, do." "I dunno," Josh replies to Jubilee with a shrug. "But the telepaths can change pretty much anything about how a person thinks and stuff, right? Which has to rewire the brain. I can't do that yet, but hey, if they already know how it's worth a shot. Not a large-scale fix, but takes care of them," Josh gestures toward the medical lab. "I'm gonna run," he says with a smile to the two. "But, uh, thank Hank. I'll think on it and get back to you about the agent thing... But it sounds like a great idea. And just let me know when your family thing is." With that, Josh makes his way out of Hank's lab to get a few things done. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Bye Josh," Jubilee chimes. "Just be safe. Be careful out there. Especially with those sentinels running amok again." She hops down off the corner of the desk and gives him a quick hug before he goes. 
}}

8511/Saved: Lunch Questions

2019-07-26T01:32:20Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/25 |Location=Which, Tribecca, New York City |Synopsis=Polaris and Elixir have lunch and talk family, being public mutants and saving lives...."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/25
|Location=Which, Tribecca, New York City
|Synopsis=Polaris and Elixir have lunch and talk family, being public mutants and saving lives.
|Thanks=Polaris
|Cast of Characters=1798,128
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh did not exactly think it through. It just ocurred to him that he ought to get to know Lorna better, so he texted and asked if he could buy her lunch. Details like where princesses actually eat, asking Wanda first and what you even wear did not really occur to him until he was already sitting at Which, in Tribecca. The place was, true to the online reviews, one of those ridiculously trendy places right now. They made a huge deal out of producing a range of odd takes on sandwich favourites and other lunch food. But apparently they did it well. By no small miracle Josh managed to snag a table inside and sat waiting for Lorna. Grey shorts, flip flops and and a green t-shirt made him look like what he was. Yet another college student out for lunch. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna was well known by appearances to those that cared to know. The general population by and large didn't equate green hair with royalty, and by and large, outside of Mutant Town the general populace just didn't recognize her. Still, she wore a pair of oversized sunglasses, and a pair of skinny jeans and a loose fitting band T-shirt. Her green hair tumbled down around her shoulders in a messy tangle of curls. She entered with a swung of the door bell's chime and a click of her heels. She flashed Josh a smile as she approached him, sliding into the booth with all the confidence of a woman that rarely met a problem she couldn't beat into submission one way or another. "Hey Josh, I dunno if I ever got to thank you for the save back on the bus, but thanks." She paused, and pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh beams a big smile at Lorna when she arrives. He stands up until she sits and then sits as well. "Hey, seriously, don't worry about it. Glad to help!" he says with a grin. "Thanks for coming. Was it hard to find? Hope you don't mind the food. It's supposed to /really/ good, you know? Please don't tell me you hate artisan sandwiches!" 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna grinned and shrugged lightly as she settled her purse on the edge of her seat. "Hey, I like sandwiches as much as the next person. You really can't mess them up that much." She leaned back, crossing her legs as she glanced around the little restaurant and she hmm'ed partly to herself as her focus returned to Josh across from her. "How did you meet my sister anyways? I didn't get the whole 'how' from her last we talked about you. Mostly, I think, 'cause Pietro was there and practically vibrating into a million pieces as he usually does." She glanced at the menu then, plucking up the folded bit of stylized paper on the table. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I saw her across the street going into the church in Bushwick, you know? And I figured, like, when was I ever gonna get a chance to see Scarlet Witch again? So I went in, too," Josh says with a chuckle. "Honest, I was gonna sneak a look and leave, but there were people coming in and I was in the way so I sat down..... And then realized I was an idiot and sat next to her." Josh colours a bit while he looks over the menu. "I don't usually hit on people at church, but in my defense, she started talking to me!" he says with a grin. "And then we went for a drink. Kinda weird story, you know?" 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna laughed softly, a gentle smile on her lips at the story. "That's oddly normal for the both of you. I'm happy to hear it. I was mildly worried there was some horrible fight and she'd been injured and you had to rush in to save her or something." She shrugged lightly, and eyed the menu curiously, flipping it over once or twice as she read over the various sandwiches on offer. "..Josh, have you ever met my father? What are your thoughts on him, by the way.. I've known people that run the gambit when it comes to him in general..." She trailed off, green eyes lifting to study him as she spoke. It was a sudden flip of the conversation, one that she'd obviously planned to try to throw him off. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks up over the top of the menu and sets it down. He runs a hand through his hair and makes a bit of a face. "Yeah... Your dad. I dunno, I mean, he was one of The Evil Mutants, you know? And I've been trying not to think about him too much," Josh admits. "I'm worried about what he's gonna think about me. I don't wanna step foot in Genoshan and end up in jail." "Hi! My name is Laura, I'll be your server today," a young man with short dark hair says to the two. Her eyes light on Lorna and she brightens, and tries to hide it. "What can I get you?" Josh looks to Lorna for her to order first, before he orders a maple apple reuben and a drink. "Alright, I'll be right back with your drinks," Laura says. She lingers a moment and then beams at Lorna. "I love your hair. I've always loved your hair, it's gorgeous," she gushes, just short of squeeing. She looks like she might ask something but then clears out. "Going for lunch with you is like going anywhere with Wanda," Josh comments. His phone buzzes. He checks the text message out of habit and stuffs the phone back in his pocket. "Sorry, just making sure it's not the team." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna arched a brow at Josh, eyeing him from over the top of the folded paper menu, it hid the lower part of her face. "I dislike the tagline of 'evil'. Evil is an easy way to ignore the problems and flaws of something. Messed up, deeply obsessed, and many, many issues.. yes. Evil no." She murmured, lowering the menu finally as it revealed a dry looking smile to the curve of her lips. "My father won't throw you in jail. You're a mutant, and you make Wanda happy. That'll be enough for him. Trust me." She murmured, and anything further broke off as Laura came over with a chirp and Lorna rattled off her order with a gracious expression on her features. She hadn't expected anyone to recognize her, but it happened often enough that she managed easily. "Thank you, Laura." She offered and glanced back to Josh with a tilt of her head. "Don't worry about it. And seriously, this is nothing. You should be prepared for what would happen if you and Wanda get serious and you both visit Genosha. People there... are extremely proud of being mutants and most feel strongly about our family." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Well, I guess we'll see. I was worried I'd be like a terrorist or war criminal in Genosha," Josh says and rubs the back of his neck. "I mean don't get me wrong. I hear what your father is saying /now/. But I grew up in the Church of Human Potential, so all I heard about him was... Well, what they wanted to tell us," Josh says with a shrug. "Now? I dunno. Mutants need somewhere safe, because people like the Reavers? They will never, ever, ever stop. They'll kill us all if they can." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna shrugged lightly, folding her hands on the table top before her. "I'm never going to say my father is perfect, or infallible. He's a man however, no matter how much he wants to claim that mutants are superior or whatever. He makes mistakes. He's flawed. He struggles from extreme to extreme. He's a flawed man. Just the same as anyone else.. He just happens to have power and position now." She rolled her eyes slightly at that. "He's not that protective over my sister or me. He has no right to be. He didn't raise us, and it's frankly insulting to think we need protection from whoever we choose to date." She reached for her glass of water and sipped at it. "Don't get me wrong, there are threats against us and Genosha is absolutely needed. But I wouldn't worry too badly about my father." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thanks for that," Josh says with a smile. "How do you work through it all? I mean, people assume things because of who you are, but then there's also the team, public duties..." Josh shakes his head with a smile. "That's a lot to juggle. I mean..." "Oh my god!" Laura says. She looks concerned and horrified. "Just get me a towel..." one of her young male co-workers says. He is standing behind the counter and bleeding quite a bit from his hand. "Ahh..." Laura scrambles around to find something. Her co-worker has obviously gashed himself very badly. Josh is about to get up but he stops and looks uncertain, frozen between moving and not. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna arched a brow, "How do I deal with it? I just have to. It's not like I have a choice to avoid who and what I am. I will always //be// Polaris. Always be 'Daughter of Magneto'. One way or another, that's what people will assume about me, that I'm just like him. How I present myself, how I act, and what I do with all that? That's really who I am." She shrugged lightly, and pushed her hair back from her face. "It took me //years// to figure out that anything else doesn't really matter. People will hate or love me, they'll scream and try to kill me. Or not. Balancing the team and Genosha is something I'm still trying to figure out though.." She exhaled a breath, and looked as if she'd say more until there was the gasp and cry from the server behind her. Immediately, Lorna shot Josh a look. "You gonna try to help him, or should we just sit here like you can't do something about it?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh makes a face. "I should help him, right?" Josh asks, acutely aware he had done the very same thing for a smaller cut for his lunch companion. "But? Wanda and I got cornered by people who wanted like, their cancer healed," Josh says in a hurried whisper. "Do we risk it? I don't wanna get mobbed but I dunno I could eat if I sit here." Laura's co-worker is wrapping a bar towel of something around his. The two argue about what to do for it." Two guys in their late 20's get from their table offer a hand. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna shrugged once and glanced over her shoulder again and back. "I can't do anything for him. It's not my gift. If he needed I dunno, his heart jump started from an electromagnetic burst. Sure. I could do something, but that's it. Or maybe if he was crushed under a steel beam, or a car. I could do something." She reached for her glass of water, completely unruffled looking as she sipped at it again. Even as Josh leaned forward and whispered. "Then don't do anything, if you're worried about what people will do. Or heal him part way so he doesn't need an emergency room visit. He'll live, I'm sure either way. But you need to decide what you want to do. It's your life. Your powers. No one can make that choice for you." She took another slow sip of her drink. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Would you? That's a stupid question. You do it all the time, right out in public," Josh says and makes a face. "I'll be right back." He gets up and goes over to the four behind the counter. He says a few things quickly and disappears into the back with the young server. About five minutes later, Josh walks back out. He has plates for each of them with their orders and carefully sets Lorna's in front of her. "Well, it got our orders done first," he says and casts a glance back toward the kitchen. "I wish I was where you are with this stuff," Josh says and shakes his head. "It's like, either I have to hide all the time or be right out there. Though I guess hiding's not a thing anymore. There's always people around the Avengers Mansion. I had to walk through like a crowd of tourists just to get out of there." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna arched a green eyebrow in challenge as Josh asked 'would you', and immediately answered his own question. Of course she would. Lorna didn't have the ability to hide who she was without effort on her part. She simply sat there, her magnetic senses alight as she used them to sense what was going on in the backrooms as much as possible. It was a mixed bag, but the lack of knives flying their way was a good sign. The green haired woman simply sat there and sipped her water until Josh returned with plates in hand. She smiled, and reached for her food with a one armed shrug. "I didn't have a choice. Once my powers manifested people started judging me. Before I even knew who my father was, people at the school made assumptions about me. When it got out who he was to me? Well, people talked. Once word got out there was no stopping it. My options are to own it, or run away from everyone and everything and be scared. I made my choice, it wasn't easy. It took //years// to get where I am Josh." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh sighs a bit and nods. "If you've got any extra of that wisdom kicking around in your purse or something, hook me up," he says with a wry grin. "You're just so... Settled about it." He picks up his sandwich, waits for Lorna to take a bite of hers and then does so himself. "Huh, this is pretty good, how's yours?" he asks, covering his mouth. One of the line cooks pokes his head out of the kitchen, looks in the direction of their table then disappears. "I guess we don't pick the cards we're dealt," he adds with some resignation. "Anyway, you were gonna say about balancing Genosha and the team?" 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna chewed in a thoughtful silence, tilting her head slightly as she ate and considered what Josh had to say. She smiled faintly as he asked about little crumbs of wisdom she might have kicking about. She paused, swallowing as she took a sip of her drink. "Settled is one way to put it, I guess. Trust me, I was a wreck for a long while after the truth of things came out. I couldn't use my powers, I hated everyone and everything. I tried to run and hide from the team.. everything." She sighed and with a glance at the food she nodded. "It's pretty good. I mean, hard to mess up a sandwich in my opinion." She shrugged again, and as Josh prodded her to talk about balancing the team and Genosha she pursed her lips. "People know where my loyalties lie. I've made no secret of it. Will I support the team? Of course. However if it came to fighting to protect people here or people in Genosha, my people will always hold my heart. Most of them can't protect themselves, and I have a duty to protect them. I'm their Princess, and with that fluff and wealth and everything else... I owe them what I can give." She swallowed hard, and glanced down at the glass in her grip. "It's something I still struggle with. My father isn't someone most want to make alliances with. Even for the good of Genosha's people. And I have to think long and hard about my life and committing it to Genosha. Wanda and Pietro...? It's obvious to everyone that their loyalties aren't to the island. I can't blame them for that. Our father really did a number on their trust." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, well they're lucky they've got you to help balance things out in Genosha then," Josh says soberly and then grins. "And raise hell if it's gotta be done. I mean seriously, just with you and your father it'd be insane to attack the island." "Speaking of which, I hope you don't mind me asking but.... How are things going? Have they figured out what's been happening yet?" 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna finished off her sandwich and seemed content to just sip at her water still. She swirled it around with the straw, the ice slushing back and forth as she considered what Josh had to say regarding someone wanting to attack the island. "It's a fear I have. All those mutants in one place. My father can probably stop nuclear bombs. Maybe. I dunno. Really don't want to test that. People want to send mutants away, Genosha is currently, an easy way for countries to do so. But it makes a target." She exhaled a breath, "And with things like Sebastian out there.. I don't know." She shook her head and grimaced faintly. At the question regarding 'things' she shrugged again and heaved a sigh. "I don't know, there's been nothing. My father's past has always haunted him. He doesn't talk about it. Ever. Him having to confront it like this.. I don't know." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, I guess," Josh thinks about it for a moment and shakes his head. "You need to be a PhD in political science, military strategy, communications and who knows what else for all this. Geez. No wonder Genosha needs so much of your time. I'm probably the last person with a right to say this? But thanks. For what you're doing," Josh says, and sincerely so. When he finishes his sandwich Josh wipes his hands on a napkin. "I'm glad there hasn't been anything else. I don't know what I could do that your entire country can't, but if you ever need anything let me know. And not just cause of Wanda," he adds with a grin. Josh looks over as Laura comes back. "How was everything? Looks like you're finished. My manager wanted to let you know that everything's on us today," she says with a bright smile and looks a bit sheepish. "Could I... get a picture with both of you?" she asks, pulling her phone out of her waist pouch. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna flashed Josh a faint twist of a smile on her lips, "I have a master's in geophysics, I had been working on my PhD before. And since then I've had a bit of a crash course in everything else. It's definitely kept me on my toes." She murmured, and shrugged once as she downed the rest of her water. "It's why I say that coming back here is more of a vacation than anything on Genosha." She exhaled a breath, and as Josh murmured a thank-you, she smiled again faintly. "It's fine, and I appreciate it.. No one ever actually says that." She nodded as he offered to help out where he could. Anything else broke off as Laura came over and spoke. Lorna smiled, and rose as she pushed away from the table. "It was amazing, thank you so much. And of course you can take a picture with me. I'd be honored." She murmured smoothly, that veneer of 'royalty' sliding over her expression and her tone of voice. It was a completely different Lorna, for her jeans and T-shirt, she was suddenly more poised, more confident and graceful. It was a mask, one that Josh likely hadn't seen her present before him previously. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Geez, you and Wanda are legit intimidating," Josh says with a wondering smile and shake of his head. Josh tilts his head and suppresses a grin when her royal highness emerges. He leans back to get out of the way but Laura apparently meant both when she said it and waves him over. He shrugs to Lorna and comes around the table for the selfie. "Thank you so much!" Laura says with a big grin. Josh just chuckles and takes his seat again. Laura passes him the folded bill, for a meal covered by the house, and a meaningful look. Then she smiles and walks off. "Okay, that doesn't happen very often," he says dryly to Lorna as they get up. He waves to Laura and her co-worker, who is back behind the counter. He waves back with the hand he hurt and grins. "I guess that royal charm of yours rubs..." Josh starts to say with a smirk. He stops talking when he flips the bill over to look at what Laura wrote. Her number is there but no hearts or smiley faces. Josh hands the bill to Lorna to have a look. <My mom's really sick, can you help?> "Once you're out, that's it. The demands never stop, do they?" he asks Lorna. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna smiled for the camera, and once that was done, she waved to Laura and her co-worker in the back. She dug into her purse as she swung it up over her shoulder. A healthy chunk of change ended up tucked onto her table, a tip, and one that was more than twice the amount the meal had cost. She reached up, adjusting her sunglasses on her head to slide down the bridge of her nose as she made to head to the door. As Josh flipped the paper back around and showed her, her lips pursed together. "Genosha has more advanced health care than here in the US. Free too. We have mutants that can help. You don't have to carry the burden entirely by yourself." She reached out a hand toward Josh's arm, leading him out of the shop. "You can't save everyone. Just do what you can." 
}}

8490/Undercurrents: Below the Surface

2019-07-25T05:49:15Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/24
|Location=Security Center, X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Wolfsbane and Cyclops face off over the attack after Cypher's shooting. They find there is more to all of it than just reason.
|Thanks=Wolfsbane
|Cast of Characters=114,1251
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott is sitting in the Security Center of the X-Men base. Live feeds of the evening news are being projected on one wall. A map of Bushwick is on another with various annotated markers. The layout of Evolution is in a small window along with detailed information about the New Hope Project in Bushwick. The beginnings of an operational planning document are up in another projected window. He has a salad in front of him that he is eating from. A half-filled cup of coffee sits nearby. Right now he is reading from a tablet. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' The door slides open, some quarter hour or so since Sam Guthrie was in this very room, before this very man. She saw him in passing after the time in the medlab with Doug present, but she didn't say anything. She didn't need to. She could tell. She could also follow a scent, so she knew who was in the Security Center itself. So, when Wolfsbane arrives, in civvies this time but still that blend of human and wolf - mostly human in appearance - the Scot stands just inside the door and says, "We need tae talk." The tone is a hard one, little hint of the normally meek, timid young woman people around the place have been used to. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott looks up from his tablet and raises an eyebrow slightly when he sees the form Rahne is in. He flicks off his tablet and the projections of the news. "Have a seat," Scott says. He gestures to the chair in front of him and leans back a bit in his own. He looks tired, or maybe more worn than tired. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' "Ah'll stand for noo," Wolfsbane answers, shaking her head as she paces briefly near the door. One might get the idea she can't sit still just yet, that in some way, she's prowling. In fact, she's spent a lot of her time around here over the last few months in her midform, so that alone should not be much of a surprise. She considers Scott's body language, but only in a cursory way. Hers reveals someone filled with emotion, brimming up to the surface. "Whit's this Ah hear about ye threatening tae kick people off a team?" is how she begins. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "I thought I made it clear. Anybody takes further action related to Doug's shooting is suspended," Scott says with a slight frown. He pushes his tablet aside. "The group of you are compromised. Until you reign yourselves in and /think/, you are going to do more harm than good." 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' "Then ye do something about it, an' them." Wolfsbane challenges the leader of the X-Men, pointing a finger at him as her voice raises a level. She continues, as if what he said was what she expected to hear, something pent-up beginning to escape. "Ye know Ah just moved tae Mutant Town because Ah thought Ah needed a change in muh life, a way tae help people more directly than staying here most o' th' time an' only going oot when something called for it. Sam visited me an' asked me if Ah'd consider helping a' th' club because o' th' Hook problem, an' before Ah could even make a decision tha' gang went in an' shot Doug up. Have ye even looked in on him? Ah couldna bring muhself tae do it until today, an' he's stuck talking tae us through a screen. Whitever's going on in his body, he still may no' make it. He said he /knew/ tha' would happen if he told them nae, an' he still did it." Staring him down from across the table, Wolfsbane is far enough from Scott that she's not in his face or anything like that, but the words are no less sharp from where she stands. "Ah said Ah was going after th' ones who shot him. Ah owed it tae Doug tae stand up for him somehow. Sam, Kurt, an' Henry volunteered tae stand wi' me. Where were ye when Ah needed some help? Just waiting for th' right time? Th' perfect moment? Tha' thing doesna exist, Scott. We had tae send a message an' they put themselves on th' line for me, for Doug." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott picks up his coffee mug and holds it in his hands. "I have been in to see him, and I get all the updates on his condition. I'm planning to go see Doug in a bit, since he can at least talk now," Scott says and takes a sip of his coffee. "Did you stop to consider what would happen with your particular approach?" Scott asks. He is serious, as always, and sounds as he does in training when he pulls apart a team performance. The frown is deeper, but this is CO Scott through and through. "I won't say plan, because as far as I can tell there wasn't one. Did you consider their response and how to mitigate it? Other ambush locations that didn't have civilians in it that Sam had to save from getting shot? Did it occur to you to come to the team leader to figure out as a /group/ how we should respond?" 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' He remains so calm, at least on the surface, while the emotions and passion in her are on full display. Hands press against the table, claws touching it. She looks down, catching herself before they press into or scratch the surface. Wolfsbane says, "Doug asked us tae slow doon, it's true. He's finding oot things about th' suppliers, an' he's right tha' we need tae go after them mainly. Ah thought we could scare th' gang intae leaving us alone, but it didna work an' noo someone else is dead because o' it. Ah didna know him, but it hurts tha' it happened, tha' we failed." It shows she feels it, is thinking about it, but there's more beyond just that. "Th' Sentinel thing scared me, Scott. It's been scaring me since it began. But ye told us whit we do is dangerous, an' innocents die sometimes. Ye said we have tae learn from it an' support each other, an' continue on an' get better. We do things like this. It does no' always work th' way we hope. But Doug /died/ once, trying tae keep me safe. He almost died again trying tae keep people he does no' even know safe. He might be th' biggest hero oot o' all o' us right noo, an' ye're sitting here making threats an' telling us how dumb we are for doing whit we thought was right a' th' time." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "I am not questioning your intelligence, Rahne. I /am/ questioning your judgement," Scott says. The muscles in his cheek tighten and loosen before he speaks again. "I wish you had listened to Doug." Scott takes a breath. "The Sentinel mission was a disaster. I was extremely disappointed, but I hoped the people involved would learn from it and use better judgement. Instead, we have the same thing. Provoking a predictable response from the enemy and others paying the price. This is the /exact/ same thing. Acting impulsively, without thinking one or more steps ahead," Scott says. The fingers of one hand curl tightly around the handle of his mug. "Take a moment to think. Really think. Did what happen honour, Doug? Is it what he would have wanted?" 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' As emotional as Wolfsbane can be, as passioniate as she can be, she can also be quite stubborn at times. This may be one of those times. "He had nae idea whit was going on until after it happened," she points out, and it's clear she's focusing on some deeper breathing to keep herself in check. It shows in a little more control over her accent. "I..know our judgment was off, but we didna think they would retaliate further..obviously. We didna know how..scared, I guess, they might be o' whoever's supplying them. We canna go back an' change tha', ye know." Running a hand through her hair quickly, she says, "I'm no' part o' a team, so ye can do whitever ye want wi' me, tell me I'm nae longer welcome here, tha' I'll never be an X-Man. I dinna much care right noo. Maybe Sam's going through some things trying tae find th' right decisions tae make, but Henry an' Kurt dinna deserve th' reaction they go'. If we're gaunae judge everyone by their worst moments, none o' us will look verra good. An' th' Sentinel mission had a bad thing happen, but it was far from a disaster." Her chin lifts somewhat. Not so much in defiance, but in an attempt to show the inner strength she frequently forgets. "Maybe..Doug wouldna ha' wanted it tae go this way, but it did. We can all still make it right, whether tha' means I just send back word o' whit I see or something else. Whitever ye do, I'm no' gaunae stop trying tae look oot for people in Mutant Town if it's gaunae be muh new home. But promise me ye're gaunae find these people an' put a stop tae it, an' do it soon. Promise me tha'." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott gestures expansively to the displays around the room. The building plans for Evolution and the New Hope housing project near where. the fight happened. An operational planning document. A map with markers of tactical or strategic interest. He tilts his head and looks at Rahne for a long moment. With the glasses hiding his eyes complete, his expression is always so difficult to read, so easy to pass off as impassive or uncaring or whatever one projects on him. The biggest feature of his face is the rose coloured reflection of Rahne. "Henry and Kurt are senior X-Men. They know better than to let it get personal," Scott points out. "I expect a lot from you and Sam. I expect even more from those two," Scott says. He shifts in his seat and puts his elbows on the armrests. "You're the second person today to tell me to kick them out if I want to. I'm not sure why you and Sam jump straight to that. We need you both, always have. You both have places here.. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Even from where she is, perhaps some twenty feet away from Scott, it's easy for Wolfsbane to see herself in the man's rose-colored glasses. She sees in that reflection a troubled person, conflicted, struggling with the weight of what's pressing down on her. Which means the weight on Scott's shoulders must be multiplied further. Eyes cut away from him, passing over the screens. She sees the apartment complex she's moved into, sees Evolution itself, and more in the area. "I've never known strategy verra well. I'm no' tha' smart," she admits, frowning whether it's true or it's her slipping back into a self-defeating attitude. "But one thing I do know is Sam, Kurt, Henry, me, ye over there? We're no' perfect. We all make mistakes sometimes, an' tha' makes us human. It's how we deal wi' it tha' makes us who we are." She stops long enough for both of them to consider that, then she adds, "We said tha' because tha's how it came off tae us. Suspending anyone is no' th' answer. Helping us understand and helping us do better is." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "You're missing the point. I said anyone who acts further is suspended to get you back under control, before you do anything else you might regret or come up with a plan," Scott corrects, perhaps more sternly than he meant to. The next comes out more evenly. "And to make you come to the rest of your team and let us help you. I don't expect perfection from any of you. I do expect good judgement, and you said it yourself; this is very personal. So you more than most need to reign that in so you can be /effective/. That is my primary concern after your safety. Feel your purpose, plan your objective. I've said it over and over in training." 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane waves off the talk of missing the point, whether she is or not. There's still enough stubbornness in her that she replies to that with a brief, "Fine. Have a better plan. I get it." It's the rest of what he says that sees her piping up again, raising a brow as some of that emotion seeps out once more. Seeps out, or bursts forth? "An' I /did/ tha'. I /asked/ for help, an' those three said they would. We had a plan we thought was fine an' it went bad afterward. Do ye think I'm no' kicking muhself over it? Do ye know how many times I replayed Doug's death in th' Danger Room, looking for different ways I could ha' prevented it? Seventeen. I found seventeen." This is something few people know about. Scott might have heard of it. "Aye, it was verra personal. Whit ye might as well as say from noo on if tha's whit ye really mean is naebody does anything about anything unless they come tae ye first so ye can tell them how it should be done. Ye know everything about planning an' seeing things doon th' line th' rest o' us miss, aye? Ye know all about good an' proper judgment, aye? Because ye never let people see yuir emotions because ye keep them bottled up deep in here, aye?" She smacks her chest with a hand, hard enough for the sound to reverberate around the room. "We canna all be Scott Summers, ye know. We canna all meet yuir high standards, an' I'm sorry for tha'." She chews at her bottom lip, almost hard enought to break the skin, and that's not difficult in this form. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Christ, I'm /not/ talking about what happened in Bushwick!" Scott snaps, and nearly slams his fist on to the table. He catches himself, purses his lips and takes a moment. The frustration is evident in his voice. He leans forward and puts his mug aside. "I threatened to suspend people to deal with what will happen /next/. You went to Beast and Nightcrawler, it didn't go well. That's on them. So I said no more action, until you come to me. And if it goes bad again, that's on me, isn't? This isn't about controlling the team, this was for your protection until you cool off," Scott says, pointing a finger at Rahne. Scott exhales sharply and stands up. He waves a hand and the projections go dark. He moves to the same side of the table as Rahne, a goodly distance from her, and sits against it with his arms crossed. He looks squarely over at Rahne. "You don't see me going through these things, because I don't bring them to you. You're 18. You're someone I'm responsible for. How I deal with losing people doesn't involve you. I've lost friends. I've screwed up and got them killed. I've sent friends to die. So you don't /get/ to turn this back on me," Scott says levelly. "This is about you." Scott looks away toward the blank metal wall in front of him. "You can't stay in the past, Rahne. You can't fix it," Scott says more quietly. The heat is gone, replaced by something melancholy. "There's no way you can fix Doug dying. You can't do anything different. You can rage, or drink, or give up, or do whatever you want. But there's not a fucking thing you can do to change it. There just isn't." 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' For a moment or two, Wolfsbane reacts with the look of someone who's been slapped. Interestingly, it leads to her head tilting toward one side. Scott Summers, finally showing some emotion? Not even she is foolish enough to point that out. "Whit I'm saying has everything tae do wi' Bushwick, though. Ye want us tae ask for help an' whether it's then or noo, I'm saying I did. I'm saying unfortunately we didna count on them doing whit they did after, an' for tha' I'm truly sorry. If there's anything I can do for Claude's family tae make up for it even in a small way, I owe tha' much tae him. I'm no' talking about running off an' inviting more violence." She focuses again, deeper breaths so she can try to articulate what she's trying to say, what she might not be conveying well, what could be getting lost in the stubborn nature she shows clashing with Scott's measured, calculated side. "An' I'm okay wi' nae more action tha' doesna involve ye." Eyes track his every movement, following him all the way while she stays put. 19, she wants to say, for a birthday just came and went with little fanfare, but it might not bolster her cause so she leaves that aside. "I've kept a lot o' things bottled up tae, Scott. It eats a' ye. Doug dying nearly killed me, an' I'm so glad he's back. Tha's why I was ready tae bring doon th' heavens on th' ones who shot him. I understand it was a mistake an' one I'll try no' tae repeat. I learned ye canna change th' past, but as much as I..go off by muhself sometimes, I dinna give up. I still have hope in th' Dream. I'll still fight for it." She doesn't even flinch at the language. She actually swore the other day, herself! "I'm sorry I upset ye an' let ye doon. I'm sorry I didna make better choices, an' I'll run things through ye if I find oot more, but I'm gaunae keep an eye on Mutant Town in muh own way. I'll be more careful about it," she vows. The wolfen mutant stops short of approaching him, conflicting thoughts at war. Should she? Would he even accept it? Probably best to stay where she is and speak instead. "I know ye have much more difficult decisions tae make, an' I'm sorry we made them harder on ye. Sam can take all th' responsibility he likes, or Kurt, or Henry, but this was all because o' me." In that, in saying 'This is about you,' Scott is right. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "It's okay, Rahne," Scott says and sighs. He looks over at the younger woman. "I don't need an apology for what happened, or a pound of flesh," he adds quietly. "I'm not trying to punish or shame you or say you should've done something different. I'm really not. I want you to be alright. I just... Want there to be something left of you when this is all over." 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' "It'll be better once we've stopped th' Hook," Wolfsbane says, and that's all she says about it after everything else. Now, she makes the decision to come over and just briefly touch his arm with a hand. In contrast to the way she's been since Doug was shot, full of anger and aggression in search of something or someone to direct it at, to focus it on, the contact itself is as gentle as they've known her to be. Then she backs away, turning for the door. "I'm gaunae get oot o' yuir hair noo." 
}}

8492/Undercurrents: Three Strikes

2019-07-25T05:48:50Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/24 |Location=MD12 Warehouse, Metropolis |Synopsis=Lex Luthor, Stockholm and The Darkness assault the base of operations for the MD12 leader..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/24
|Location=MD12 Warehouse, Metropolis
|Synopsis=Lex Luthor, Stockholm and The Darkness assault the base of operations for the MD12 leadership in Metropolis. The sky lights up with a warning of what's to come.
|Thanks=Lex Luthor, Stockholm, The Darkness
|Cast of Characters=100,92,1410,7698
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' MD12 is one of the three major drug importers in Metropolis. The market is shared by MD12, the Maggia and the Magic Triad. These three feed all mid- and lower-tier drug gangs of note. With global connections of different sorts, they act as the effective heads of their respective gangs in the city. MD12 itself is a Brazilian/Peruvian narco-death gang. Their senior people have all come to America after stints in South American jails. They have prominent MD12 tattoos, often on faces, foreheads of the backs of hands. That tattoo always stands out from the rest of their ink. Membership is for life and they compete in the global drug market based on two primary advantages; a broad and tight community, and complete savagery. In Metropolis, the gang operates across the full vertical space. They have street dealers, mid-level dealers for neighbourhoods and finally, Diabo at the top with his men. Diabo's crew operates out of a large warehouse near the container port in Metropolis. The building is located next to, ironically, a warehouse for a major online retailer. It operates 24/7 receiving, preparing and shipping orders. On the other side is Coren Chemicals, a mid-sized importer of chemicals used in pharmaceuticals. Coren Chemicals is owned, not surprisingly, by a Brazilian business magnate. To the north is the container port itself, with row upon row of shipping containers stacked four high. The MD12 building is a huge warehouse. It is wired and plumbed off the city grid and has no independent power supply. The warehouse is surrounded by a high fence topped with razor wire. Camera coverage of the concrete warehouse lot is complete. It is well lit and tidy for a warehouse with direct port access. The inside of the warehouse has been modified. A second floor has been added over one section, and it seems Diabo and some of his men live there. They certainly do business from there. The truck bay are under that part of the building. The main area has three metal walkways that span it and metal walkways around the perimeter. FLIR suggests these are used by armed guards to oversee work below, which lately has been non-stop. Thirty or so people work in the large space at tables and makeshift workbenches. With the recent events in New York, there are a lot more MD12 onsite than usual. The area inside the truck bays has five people in it. The front office area has the same. There are five roaming the gangways above the main area. And there are about 20 people on the second floor. Eight seem to be in some kind of meeting, while the rest are sitting around in various rooms. Observations from the satellite and surveillance by the team beforehand suggests the MD12 people have armed up. Typically there had been a mix of handguns and a few assault rifles in the building. Now, everyone other than the eight in the meeting seem to be carrying assault rifles. Whether they know how to use them or not is another question. Criminals are not usually know for their aim. Previous experiences and news stories suggest there will be a lot of knives as well. They tend to like knives. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' With everyone on the ground team wired into the warsuit sensors via wrist tablets, it would be easy to pick off resistance. Thanks to recon, they knew exactly how and where to cut the lights, and where to hit first. The ground team was false flagged (though they had night vision goggles and other standard support gear), but the support team around the building had snipers on each side of the building, covering all exits, and they had equipment to get inside quickly if possible. Not that Lex expects this attack to go badly, with Jackie here. He had high hopes for the mafia enforcer, and was eager to see him in action. Lex himself was out of sight a block away, multitasking as only he could with the sensors and communication gear.... and once everyone was in place, Lex brought up the operations network, designating initial targets with his mind. Then... "Support team, cut power, take out cameras and lights, set jammers and take out snipers. The only people who should be able to talk are us. Soon as the lights are out ground team, you have a go. Remember, any lights you see are priority one to be snuffed out. We want as much darkness as possible." A couple seconds pass as the teams set up their breaches, "Ground team, you go as soon as the power goes out. You have a go." As soon as the patrols are about to switch out to give the teams a few precious seconds to do their takedowns quick... "Support team, you have a go." Hopefully they won't need to bring in the technological heavy hitters.... but Lex had prepared a heavy armored response if something came up, including himself. 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' Say what you will about organized crime, there's always room for aggressive protions from within. These kinds of power struggles and turf wars are key to turnover among the more fraternal of career criminals. Jackie understands that all too well. Loyalty is important. As is a paycheck but in the end, it rarely goes with you... which leaves one Jackie Estacado in a recent evolution, so to speak. Looking for direction, for inspiration, for growth. He may have found it. Of course, it will be at the cost of others. Isn't it always? Given a team of tactically intelligent soldiers isan interesting thing for a man used to working on his own or with his own. These unknowns, while accepted as the tools of the trade, are left untrusted. Unconcerned for the men under his charge, Jackie listens to radio chatter with only half the interest one would expect or demand from a strike team leader. "As much darkness as possible." He chuckles under a breath before taking a final deag off his cigarette. Leaving his jacket draped over a bus stop bench, the light above long since burnt out, he watches as men move through the night like well oiled machines. Practiced. Unified. Professional. Unbuttoning his collar, the contract killer makes his approach. Tie pulled loose, his face twists into the visage of a man he killed not twenty minutes ago. The facial tattoos bleeding to the surface as he forces his very flesh to mimic his intended targets. "-One of us. One of us.-" "-One of them, you mean?-" "-One of a kind, baby! You know the boss!-" Mishappen shapes, goblin like creatures skirting the shadows in his wake chiming in as Jackie temporarily disguises himself as their prey. Approaching the warehouse, he can't help but chuckle as lights go out. One. By. One. "You know the score, boys. Nobody out." That said, Jackie Estacado, wreathed in the form of an MD12 street corner pusher, approaches the front freaking doors. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The lights go out and there is movement inside. Admirably, the hesitation from the guards is minimal. Anyone with good thermal optics with see the men in the front and rear spread and hunker down. The men on the gantries kneel down where they are. There seems to be some consternation in the meeting room judging by the agitated movement, but the guards waste little time. Most start moving for the stairwell, some for the meeting room. If there are any transmissions, it doesn't matter and it is impossible to tell. Jamming works by drowning it out, after all. But certainly nothing is getting out. The lights at Coren and the package warehouse flicker but come back on. Nothing really changes at the package warehouse, other than the addition of the loud sound of generators. Nothing at all appears to change at Coren. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "Support team, take down perimeter guards, clear the way." Lex barks over the commnet, his concern mainly for keeping an eye for active reinforcements coming out. "Ground team, push in. You're going to want defensive positions for the guards incoming." 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' What once was a tall, dark and handsome gentleman has become bit of a a short, squat latino stereotype. Complete with too many tattoos, white undershirt and black denim shorts. The Darklings, hideous little ghouls that they are, are nowhere to be found. Having faded like smoke into the abyss they come from. Leaving Jackie to his own devices. Humming cheerily enough to himself, he approaches the most obvious entrance. The gate to the fence. Warehouse beyond in his sights. Taking a wrinkled paper bag from out of nowhere, he's got what looks like a greasy takeout bag. Let the seasoned military squad do their manuevers and plays. Jackie, from the occupation of mafia contract killing, employs his own style. Forward. Brutish. Soon to be spectacularly violent. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Stockholm takes jobs, all sorts of jobs, and this job is one of those maybe moving on up sort of jobs. Maybe it is a getting shot job though and she is wrong about it all. In any regard she is here posing as one of the Ground Team decked out in the finest of Magic Triad disguises, which is a great excuse to cover her face in a culturally appropriated manner. Not to say she isn't strapped though, because she is definitely packing two advanced high caliber pistols on her rig and an automatic rifle with suppressor in her hands. The wrist tablet is barely visible out of the cuff of the jacket she is wearing over the body armor she brought. She doesn't intend to end up gut shot on this job really. When Lex gives the order for the ground team to move in she perks up "Excellent." and then pauses watching Jackie for a moment as he .. does his thing over yonder. Then the young woman just shakes her head and starts to move in with the rest of the tactical team. Ducking through the very fast professional cut one of them did in the fence. Once through the fence though Stockholm breaks a little more to the left from the others. she is letting the trained soldiers do their thing. Really she is hoping to loop around towards the side of the warehouse and seems confident enough on her own. Which maybe she is as she is moving with practiced precision, eyes on the target building and gun up as she moves like a professional ready to show off how well she can shoot. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' There is no obvious reactions outside the MD12 building as people approach. The people in the online retailer warehouse go about their business in the next lot over, quite some distance. If Lex is patched into the switched telephone system and the local switching hubs for internet providers, he will notice that an alarm has been sent out from Coren. Someone is trying to call in but the line just rings. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' Lex is indeed monitoring local telecommunications, and when the alert pops up on his HUD, Lex brings up the local grid in a PIP. "Alarm just went out. We have ten minutes to handle this." Lex informs the operations channel. On the ground, the Ground Team begins to move into the warehouse perimeter, moving from cover to cover. Once they're in range for quick and silent kills on the perimeter security, Lex tags targets... and the support and Ground Teams start opening fire with suppressors, trying to take down hostiles. Watching the exchange, "Ground 6 and 7, move to flank on either side, take them down while they're pinned." 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' Jackie Estacado, professional that he is, has a flair for the dramatic. Call it a passion for excellence. Really, he's just a show-off. The reviled and feared hitman, wreathed in the guise of another man entirely, cheerily approaches the warehouse with a bounce in his step. That paper bag in his hand? He tosses it upward, the heft in the greasy paper bag shifting and landing with a meaty thud and a muffled curse on the edge of the roof. Darklings come in all shapes and sizes, you see. As the ground team circles and draws the proverbial noose tight, Jackie finds himself at the front door. With a heavy heel, he kicks the door inward. Already shouting as he enters, drawing a nickel plated Glock in a familiar pull. Smooth. Easy. Practiced since before he could drive. "The Magic Triad want a bigger cut! They want YOUR cut!" Quick and observant, he takes in his surroundings... making quite the easy target while he's at it. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Woof. Okay things are heating up over the comms. Stockholm puts on some speed, leaping over some of the random crap one finds in a dockside warehouse and moving towards the back of the building even as the ground team is told to flank. Honestly Julia is hoping to come in the back and light them up that way but there is a lot of ground to cover. The way she covers it is pretty impressive, fast, low, trying to stick to the shadows and keep her gun up in case she runs into any of the MD12. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' There is nobody outside to target or take out. No security outside the building. And no cover to use. The lot is just bare concrete surrounded by fence. As soon as Jackie starts to open the door, the assault rifle fire begins. Not even fully sure of where he is, the five guards open fire into the door. The sound is ridiculous in the small space of the front office area. The MD12 men are using old unusued wooden desks for cover, but really it is difficult to see anything amid the flashes of gunfire. Beyond them is a door into the warehouse proper. Anyone with thermals will see the workers in the middle of the warehouse are on the move toward the back of the warehouse in a big group. Bay doors open and they start to spill out onto the concrete running for the unlocked rear fence. The eight men from upstairs and most of their guards disappear into the big heat bloom that is the drug workers. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' As soon as the door opens and Jackie basically turns himself into a giant target on the sensors, Lex takes on an amused smirk in his armor. "Excellent distraction." The Ground Team meanwhile gets into position on either side of the door Jackie just opened, and wait for the gunfire to stop. Once it comes down to a minimum and it becomes clear Jackie just drew their fire, a frag grenade is tossed inside the door by one of the soldiers. Over the commnet, the soldier whispers, "fire in the hole." A few seconds later, and the soldiers start to walk by the door one at a time, taking shots at those inside as they use Jackie as living cover, before ducking back out of sight. It's a slow, methodical assault. Since rushing in is a bad idea and Jackie is taking the hits... they're grinding down the defense. 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' It's like a surprise birthday party. Happy Birthday, Jackie! BULLETS! Just your size too. He barely had time to even get the words out before the assault rifles started shredding him into meat confetti. "Hua-aaahahahaHAHAHAHA!" In the age of the superman, this sort of display can be met with jaded stares. When bullets bounce. The show the gunmen recieve is not nearly as flashy. The guise of an MD12 thug is ripped to pieces. Blood and black, tar like splatter frame the doorway as Jackie falls to a knee. Brief as it may be. The Darkness asserts itself. The black, oil like spatter congealing like a web on concrete and steel. Tendrils of shadow human hair thin race outward, seeking targets. Then it hits. BOOM. A snarling roar escapes the mangled mess of flesh and shadow that vaguely holds the shape of a man. The grenade was... not pleasant. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' "Son of a bitch... the workers and leaders are pulling a rabbit out the back door." and Stockholm skids shedding the speed she was running with and ends her slide keeping the side of the warehouse as partial cover. She lets her automatic rifle drop to the sling and quickdraws those two fancy pistols and opens fire with just one of them, indiscriminately into the fleeing warehouse workers and MD12 gang members. Though really it is their lucky day, that particular gun is loaded with tranqs. The unfired one, not so much. She is reserving that for when someone decides to shoot back and out themselves. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The men in the front reception area were prepared for many things but they expected people to die when shot. There is a lot of swearing in Portugese and then clips run dry. The grenade was also unexpected. Two voices yell in pain, and start swearing. The other men reload their clips and fire at Jackie more. Their aim is not the best and increasing rage at the horror in front of them does not help. Bullets rip through the walls around the door as well. One of the support team members takes a bullet in the leg and another in the vest, taking the wind out of him for a moment. Still the action of the team grinds them down and soon the room is quiet. All but one of the men disappeared behind their cover. One man, visible only from the waist down, moans loudly. Tranqs fly into the group of bodies as they come out of the loading men. Five people are hit, stumble a few steps and fall to the ground. The others keep running toward the back fence yelling in Portugese. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' A nearby team member pulls the sniper out of line of sight, and takes the rifle up. "Support 6 hit, Support 7 taking position." Support 7 isn't a crack shot like his partner... but he's good enough to tag targets with the sensor data the warsuit provides. Meanwhile, the Ground Team starts to advance inside, two soldiers keep cover on either side of the doorway, shooting anyone that pops out of their cover, while two move in and around Jackie, heading inside as they leapfrog into more cover. As the ones in back start to run towards the back fence, Lex frowns slightly, "Stockholm, tranq as many of the runners as you can, but the priority is neutralizing resistance inside to get to the Hook." 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' Bones crack, skin hangs loose and blood drizzles off shattered, darkness animated remains. Croaking out a single word, one of the Ground Team, trying to keep his lunch down at the sight of the man before him... flips the light switch. God help anyone with night vision. It's instantaneous. The dark and shadow is filled with -creatures-. Disturbing, ghoulish beasts with needle fangs, baleful glowing eyes and giddly grins as if the violence before them was a gift for Christmas morning. The man flips the switch back up, startled. Before him was a mangled mess. Now? Pristine. Whole. Jackie. Smoothing that ebon hair from his face, he lets out a contented sigh while buttoning his collar once more. Not a speck of blood or bone marrow on that crisp, white button down shirt or black slacks. "Boys. Watch the corners." Stepping away from the doorway now, The Darkness among them, oil slick black tendrils of the void search along the floors and walls. Up. Up. Toward the catwalks. Hunting guards with slithering, eel-like horrors in the dark. "And mind the shadows." He says while taking out a new pack of menthol cigarettes before chiming in over comms. "Sweeping. How many survivors you want? What's worse? That question or that I had to ask it?" 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Stockholm notes helpfully there. "Will do. It sounds exciting inside. Is it exciting. Someone better be recording this for me." still she doesn't forget the mission objective that she seems to be the only one who is on top of. She starts to hmmm to herself. o/~ Why... are there so many.. song's about rainbows... and what's on the other side? o/~ as she slams a fresh clip into the pistol loaded with tranqs and continues to fire into the fleeing workers and gang members. o/~ Have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name. o/~ which is about the point she fires a few times with her other pistol for good measure. "How is it going in there?" Okay maybe she is a bit unstable. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Ground Team moves in. One of the lead members cuts the pie around a desk and is rewarded with a spray of gunfire and Portugese curses from someone on ground who is very much still alive. The Ground Team member returns fire but gets knocked back against the wall when he takes a few rounds in his tactical vest. Then the lights flare on and off. And the screaming begins in the front office. Swearing in Portugese from other men on the ground, injured but ready to take more with them. And in English from the Ground Team member who was pushed deep into the shadows by the hits to his vest. The men on the gantries go down one by one. They cannot see the darkness creeping toward them and it might be a mercy. They scream, fall with a burst of gunfire and go silent. The remaining shout. It happens again. And again. The last runs instead of shouting but it does not save him. The group running toward the back fence is catching the floodlights of the port now. Some are clearly drug workers, others are clearly gang members. It is difficult to count them in the bad light and bustle. The first hits the gate and starts to swing it open. That is little comfort to the unlucky. Six go down to tranqs. Another two go down gurgling blood. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "This is a 'Magic Triad' hit. They're unpredictable. Take down resistance, leave the rest." Lex informs the team, "if you want to toy with your victims, go for it, but leave a couple alive so they can spread the word." As the Ground Team moves in, one of the others moves to get the hit squad member out of the way, "Got another hit in here, taking care of it." the squad member notes. Meanwhile, Lex is scanning those leaving. "Ground Team, take some of the Hook supply, then plant the bomb on all of it. I want the entire supply torched." Lex orders as he watches the Darklings on sensors. Fascinating. 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' "We're all aware that 'Magic Triad' is a ridiculous name, right? All in agreement there?" Jackie muses into the comms as he begins to walk. See the sights. Secure the warehouse. Mostly so doesn't take another grenade to the chops, really. "Toy with my victims? Who am I, Sabretooth? C'mon." Jackie chuckles smugly before pausing to draw his glock and put two in a still breathing guard. Blamblam! He carries onward, remorseless. Frankie Franchetti didn't raise no soft boy. As his Darklings dispatch and devour, Jackie Estacado smokes his cigarette and pauses here and there to check a pulse. "I'm not partial to survivors. It's bad for business. But you want 'em? Looks like your crew has 'em. How's the situation in back?" 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Julia figures the 11 she tranqed and 2 she shot should provide a good mix of intel for Lex on the drug operation and such. Which means she switches her empty tranq clip for a real clip and straightens watching them all run for the hills. "It is a ridiculous name." she agrees over the comms "Uuuh... 11 bagged and tagged for interrogations and I think... mmm two dead.. no idea yet which are gang members or drug workers..." she walks over to investigate now. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The main room is a gigantic drug processing room. Brazen even. There would be no possible way to save what are probably millions of dollars of drugs if the police raided. Which apparently MD12 thought they would not. The odours of cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin are in the air when Jackie and the Ground Team move through. But so is something else. Something pungent. Even just the amount in the air is enough to pull at the back of the mind, a faint longing for /more/. Some of the darklings rush ahead of Jackie toward the loading dock area and begin to absolutely lose their minds. They are scrabbling at the floor in the pitch in the pitch black room. The group of fleeing MD12 gang members and drug works break into the light of the port proper and scatter among the stacks of containers. Stockholm walks up to her catch. One of the tranq victims is an obvious MD12 member wearing a bullet proof vest. His handgun is still tucked in the back of his pants. Another MD 12 member wearing a bullet proof vest is tranqed as well. His assault rifle skidded across the concrete when he fell. They both caught the tranqs in the arm. The rest are a mix of men and women, late teens to middle age, all South American of some description. One of the two that was shot looks at Stockholm pleadingly. The bullet caught him in the chest and every time he breathes, his chest expands further. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "I didn't create their name, and I've always thought it was ridiculous myself... but that's what they call themselves." Lex agrees, "Get your masks on now, you're getting close to the source. Set the bombs and get out. The police will have probable cause to sieze the stockpiles of drugs from the blaze." At Lex's order, the Ground Team stops and places their drug masks on as they head for the stockpiles, starting to place the charges all around. The MD12 bodies will burn with their drugs. "Support Team, pull a couple of the workers and enforcers to the fence for extraction." 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' Amidst the drug bonanza, Jackie Estacado is u swayed. Drugs have never played a large role in his life, the Franchetti family frowning on such business. All he sees is waste. Hell, the man doesn't even drink... nevermind the cigarettes. Nasty habit. "Smells like somebody lit a cocaine snowman on fire in here." Jackie complains as the Darkness creeps like mold up his throat, concealing the lower half of his face in blackened armor. The Darklings going berserk is one thing, that? What they are doing now? That is entirely different. Brows furrow, Jackie flicks his cigarette at the mass of scratching, clawing beasties. They don't notice. Digging frantically at the floor, their superior strength and deadly talons start to rip up concete. "Hey. Something weird. Know of anything under this joint? Call it a hunch." He lies. Hunch? Lex can clearly see the demonic looking creatures. Even if Jackie steadfast refuses to admit they exist. 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Stockholm "Rodger Dodger" not too respectful, but very effective. "Oh hey, make that 12 alive.. though he is gurgling blood." she shakes her head "shhhh" and bends down covering his mouth and nose with her gloved hand. "Shhhhhh" and once he is still she looks at the approaching support. "Make that 11 again." Always the helper Stockholm snags one of the workers and the one tranqed gang member and hauls two of the eleven along for extraction. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Darklings tear open a pair of metal doors inset into the concrete floor. There is a stair case leading down about a floor to a wood plank floor dimly lit by LED's every so many feet. It heads straight toward the Coren property. One of the satellite operators reports to Lex that a lone patrol car is heading into the area and is about four minutes out. The pleading look on the 12th man turns glassy and he lays still. The only sound while Stockholm drags the catch back for extraction are the shouts in Portugese of the escapees, growing steadily fainter. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "I can see it. It's not important right now. The police are four minutes out." Lex informs Jackie. The Support Team starts to grab captured subjects and brings them over to the extraction vans, securing them and blindfolding them. Meanwhile, the Ground Team finishes placing the charges around the drug stockpile, "Ground 1 reporting explosives in place. Extracting now." The squad leader states, two other members grabbing their casualties on the way out. Lex temporarily switches to a more secure channel, to Mercy and Hope who are heading their own operations, "Mercy, we're ten minutes from finishing here. You have a go in twenty minutes." Then, Lex muses to himself, "Another mystery..." He starts to access the LexCorp network, pulling information on Coren in his HUD display as the whole operation winds down. 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' "Bravo, boys. Keep up the good work and we'll go to Tijuana for Christmas." The city of Tijuana would adamantly refuse such a holiday if they had a say in the matter. The doors flung wide, Jackie peers down into the tunnel. Ashes his cigarette and considers his own options. "Hrmph. Unimportant means pro-bono. Screw all that." While he may have been dismissive over the comms, curiousity still held sway. A snap pf the fingers and his little legion of horror fades into shadows. A few remaining behind to chatter and goad their current master. "Magic word. Cops? No thanks." Looking back over tbe warehouse, the ground team dragging away their fallen and leaving behind carnage and explosives. "I may end up liking this gig after all." That said, Jackie starts to sink down into the shadow cast by an overturned table. Lowering into the void only to come out of the other side of whatever nightmare realm he draws power from... only to reappear outside the warehouse. Taking a drag off his smoke and watching the structure. The teams vacating. Shadow teleportation is -neat-. "I'm out. There was a tunnel. Burn 'er down whenever." 

:'''{{#var:7698|Stockholm (7698)}} has posed:''' Stockholm will gently place the unconscious folk in one of the extraction vans and then hop up inside herself. She checks her guns and makes sure everything is loaded and safeties are on. "In one of the vans, ready to roll out." she notes on the comms. "Wait... is it an interesting Tunnel?" okay she sounds like she may want to go back and see. 

:'''{{#var:1410|Jackie Estacado (1410)}} has posed:''' "It wasn't an -un-interesting tunnel, to be honest." Jackie chimes in, knowing full well the charges were set to go off. Would she go back in? He smiles coldly in the dark by his lonesome. Face illuminated by the orange glow of his cigarette. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The teams pull out of the property and drive away. There is no hurrying, no screeching tires. They simply drive away in different directions and disappear into Metropolis' nighttime flow. A lone patrol car pulls up to the gate of Coren. He gets out of his car and flashes a light around. The beam traces its path along windows and doors. The officer shakes the gate, but finds it locked tight. And then the night sky lights up. The warehouse bulges. There is no other way to describe it. When it gives way, fire billows out and upwards into the night sky casting orange red light everywhere. The sound is next. A deafening roar and shockwave that rattles the fences and nearly knocks the officer off his feet. The MD12 warehouse collapses in on itself. The untouchable is burning in Metropolis. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' The explosion would be deafening, if Lex was nearby. Luckily, he has the suit keeping the sound under control. Even from this distance though, the light show requires some dimming... and Lex watches for a long moment. "People think they can come into /my/ city and dictate terms?" Lex turns around, starting to walk away as he prepares to take flight, "This isn't South America. You're dealing with Lex Luthor, amateurs." "And I'm just getting started." 
}}

8476/Undercurrents: Talking Past Each Other

2019-07-25T05:47:58Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/24 |Location=Security Center, X-Men Base |Synopsis=Cannonball and Cyclops talk about the attack on the gang that shot Cypher. |Thanks=Canno..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/24
|Location=Security Center, X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Cannonball and Cyclops talk about the attack on the gang that shot Cypher.
|Thanks=Cannonball
|Cast of Characters=114,1258
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott is sitting in the Security Center of the X-Men base. Live feeds of the evening news are being projected on one wall. A map of Bushwick is on another with various annotated markers. The layout of Evolution is in a small window along with detailed information about the New Hope Project in Bushwick. The beginnings of an operational planning document are up in another projected window. He has a salad in front of him that he is eating from. A half-filled cup of coffee sits nearby. Right now he is reading from a tablet. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie comes walking into the room looking for Scott. The young man seems tense but he does not seem fuming as he was earlier. He will look to Scott, and says "Ah do hope, Ah am the first to talk to you in person. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Yes, you are," Scott says. His face is impassive and he gestures to the chair across from him. "Have a seat." Scott takes a moment to close down his tablet, turn off the news feed and silence his phone. "So, I read your report." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie looks to the man and says "First and foremost Ah lead the team, you want to bring the boom down on someone Ah am the one who gets it. No ah did not plan it as possibly should have and if anyone is to be blamed for Claude it is me. Not them. " He stands and looks at the man and says "And while I will take that blame, Ah chose to handle this not as the X-men no costumes but I do believe protecting the community where many mutants and humans are living together fits in the x-men's mission. Ah thought we could go in and put enough fear into them, they would be afraid to strike back Ah was wrong. But Ah will say, Ah believe you suspending any X-men who are willing to help with this in future is wrong as well. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "That is big of you to take responsibility," Scott replies and leans back in his chair. "And I do hold you responsible for participating in what was, as far as I can tell, a poorly thought out revenge attack. But you were not responsible overall. The senior X-Men member there gets that honour." Scott considers Samuel. "Why did I threaten to suspend anyone who took part in further action?" 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie says, "Why? Well that depends on if you want the answer I would have given you a couple hours ago or the one that I will give you after talking to Doug for a bit "Logical unangered answer is your wanting to make sure any more actions taken in this event are thought out and planned more than seat of the pants. Mind you your words in the reply did come across a bit cross purpose with the come to me for any future plans but the if your involved your suspended from the team." He moves to a bit closer position still standing and says "And while there was some revenge retaliation to the situation, that was not all of it. There were other things that led me to this course of action." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Doug is awake? That's a relief. How is he?" Scott asks, putting the rest aside for the moment. "Will he be alright?" 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie says, "He is sorta awake, and he will be eventually. Currently the Techno virus inside him has developed a semi consciousness. It is sorta like a young warlock mixed with Doug. Sorta a super antibody. It is trying to protect him, and right now it wants to convert him to a full techno being. Doug is telling it no, and trying to find a happy medium. He has been able to talk via the monitors around him. I hooked him up to the internet today." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "I'll go visit him, thank you for letting me know he's coming around. I don't know much about that stuff, but if anyone is going to come through that, it's Doug," he says. "Doug's answer is the right one. That whole unit lost perspective. I put a stop to it until you can all get yourselves together and /think/. Then act," Scott says firmly. There is a hint of a frown. "You're a good guy, I'm sure you thought you were doing the right thing. But you were compromised and it showed. Even in your AAR." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie looks to him, and says "Ah aint going to deny Ah was personally involved, but that gang, and the mutant one encountered both need to be take out of Bushwick to make the place a safer place for all. Ah stayed up high to watch the situation. It is why when Ah saw danger to the civilians, I flew in to protect them. We have more information on the leadership of the orange gang now, nothing new on the mutant one to my knowledge. I want to see who we have that can find more about them, and then take them out. We need to find out who is brinigng the drug into the community as well 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "You could have found all of that out in five minutes by taking Rachel within a half mile of New Hope Project," Scott says impassively. "You could have stopped their leader with one intervention by Jean. You could have set them up for arrest and had them locked away for life. You could have negotiated. You could have waited five minutes for any civilians to leave. You could have ambushed them away from their base of operations in a civilian area. You could have black flagged them and had their retaliation fall on any of our other enemies. You could have set the Family on them." "The point, Sam, is that you considered /none/ of these things," Scott says evenly. "You planned nothing. The fact you engaged with civilians near enough to /be/ in danger just makes it even more obvious that your judgement was compromised. The fact you do not seem to understand this concerns me." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie looks tot he man and says "Ah did think of some of that. Setting their enemies on them could have worked, but it would have resulted in deaths for sure, as well, as more potential civilian casualties. Putting the police on them, aint going to do a lot of good as if the police could have taken them out and held them, they would have already. Taking a telepath, no Ah did not think upon that one, Ah am still not used to having access to one for missions, The Professor is the only one we had around semi regularly mission wise, and that was just monitoring. Negotiations Ah don't think would work, they were willing to kill to sell their drug, Ah don't see a way of talking them out of it. Then as ah said there were other reasons. Rahne needed to go in there and have a chance at them. She needed to learn some things about herself and Ah needed to see her actions. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Rahne needed to go in there and learn things by doing what?!l Scott says incredulously. "Sam, I'm deeply concerned about your judgement and ability to /actually/ take responsibility for your actions. Team members nearly resigned over the Sentinel factory, now this. And what I'm hearing from you are a lot of excuses that frankly make no sense. There was no reason you needed to go out last night the way you did. And your attempts to justify it on the grounds you're choosing are only making me more concerned." "I don't want you leading any missions until further notice," Scott says. "I expect your cooperation and assistance in sorting this mess out. We will review your status as a trainee on the team in three months based on your performance in the interim. Is there anything you would like to add?" 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie looks to him, and says "Rahne has blamed herself for Doug's death, even with him coming back, she needed to go out and see if she was going to go to far or not. Ah was there to make sure she didn't. Ah am taking responsibility for this if you don't think Ah am, then you and Ah am not seeing things the same way at all. Ah should have done better Ah do not deny that, but while some of your complaints are justified not all are. Ah am not making an excuse for my decisions. I am explaining to you part of what went into them. And yes when we make mistakes it is not always us who pay for them, but Ah know for a fact, Ah feel every one of them, and strive to make better each time. You look me in the eye and tell me you made no mistakes in your past, you don't feel each and every one of them on your soul? You see it as justification, Ah see it as Ah am trying to let you know what was in my head. You can kick me off the team, hell you can kick me out of the school if that's what you feel you need to do, but do not tell me, I am not taking responsibility for my or my teams actions. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "We are not talking about me, Sam. I think you misunderstand our relationship here. I am not your friend. I am not your peer. I am the commander of this team and responsible for everything you and the others do while you are associated with us," Scott says sternly. "Since we do not seem to be communicating well right now, we will leave this for another time. It will help me see that you understand what you are taking responsibility for if you submit a report to me outlining your mistakes and what led to them. Do you have your tactical analysis of the current situation with you?" 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will bit back any reply he wants to give the man. It can be seen that it is taking some willpower. He was taught to respect his elders, but he was also taught to stand up for himself and what he believes. He will hand the other man, the report he needs "Am I dismissed... Sir." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Yes. Get some rest. We have our work cut out for us," Scott says. "Fact is it's started now, so you're right. We have to finish it." 
}}

8466/Undercurrents: Making a Point

2019-07-23T21:31:08Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/23 |Location=MD12 HQ, Mid-Town Manhattan, New York |Synopsis=Shredder, Bebop, Rocksteady and the Foot go to send a message to MD12's leader..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/23
|Location=MD12 HQ, Mid-Town Manhattan, New York
|Synopsis=Shredder, Bebop, Rocksteady and the Foot go to send a message to MD12's leaders in New York. Shredder and MD12 reach an impasse and declare war!!
|Thanks=Shredder
|Cast of Characters=100,1233
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Little Brazil is a stretch along 46th Street in mid-town Manhattan lined with Brazilian shops and restaurants. Apartments or businesses fill the top floors of buildings. It also happens to be the heartbeat of MD12's operations in New York. It is here that import and mule operations are coordinated with the larger global MD12 network. The shop fronts are colourful and the streets are busy. Between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, there is an alley to the south that leads in between Capital One and Bookoff. Large men with swarthy complexions stand on the both sides of the entrances to the alley, with delivery trucks parked blocking the way. The alley itself turns east midblock and runs behind the Cambria Hotel to the Philippines Consulate General and Bank of America Financial Centre. It also leads to the back of a building with a Mexican restaurant and four stories of apartments above it. MD12 had long ago walled off the front entrances to the residential part of the building, making the alleyway the only access. How they kept the city inspectors from complaining was a mystery, but knowing MD12 it probably involved beatings, rape and money. Corvo, the guy in MD12 in New York, and his men would be found down that alley and up two floors. This was the nexus of their power in the city, and the proximity to a consulate and major bank was no coincidence. Neither was their location in the Brazilian heartland of the city. They were protected here. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Midtown. The start of the Foot's operations in NYC. The area at large has increased in scope, but this is where it started. Now that the Foot has spread across the entire city, this is still the nerve center for their operations. Several operational bases are set up in both legitimate and illegitimate facilities. MD12 didn't want to be part.     That didn't concern Shredder much, as long as they didn't get in the way. Their muggers and rapists had undoubtedly found that the police and heroes weren't the only ones they had to look out for, as Foot ninja squads also roamed the rooftops and alleys now.     Now they are creating problems. The illusion of control has been broken in NYC. It jeopardizes his control of the governmental agencies. Some he could bribe, but others...they turn their heads because the Foot made life easier for the average citizen. The Shredder is bringing likeminded people tonight. People MD12 might resonate with. The giant warthog and rhino accompany him as he exits the stepvan that reads 'UPS'. High above, a four man team of Foot Elite have been dispatched. Given the potential numbers, the Shredder is expecting this to turn violent. So he's bringing force. The elite are on the rooftops, the rice hats and dragon masks hiding their identity as they leap into position, eyes from above.     There are times that Shredder is subtle. There are times when he arrives without someone ever seeing his approach. This is not one of those times. The bladed figure walks openly down the street, flanked by the monstrous mutants he's brought for muscle as he heads toward the heart of MD12's operations. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Shredder's people up above find the rooftop of the building they are interested in is already occupied. A half dozen men sit in lawn chairs up there in pairs. They joke and talk in Portugese, or sit quietly. There is a scoped rifle per pair and they watch the streets below. They call in the approach of Shredder and his mutants on their radios. Some more men step out of apartments on upper floors to lean on their balconies overlooking the back alley. "Turn the fuck around," says a jacked man with a heavy accent dressed in jeans and a wife beater. He steps in front Shredder before they get off the 46th Street sidewalk into the alley mouth. "Alley's closed, cadela." Behind him is a cube van blocking the alley. Four other men are back there, may six feet away. Seeing Shredder and the mutants, they all pull out hand guns and spread out. From surveillance, Shredder will know there is another group the exact same size guarding the alley from the 45th Street side. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''      Shredder doesn't stop walking, and he doesn't even slow down to address the inhibition. He lets Bebop and Rocksteady respond instead.     "Hey, you don't get to talk to the Shredder that way," Bebop responds, looking down at the man. "This is our turf, shrimp," he says, taunting the strong man. He reaches out to try to take the man by the gun hand, and consequently swing him like a bat at the next gang member as they fan out.     "Beebs, they got pea shooters, isn't that cute?" Rocksteady snorts. commonly, ninjas wear a sword over their shoulder. Rocksteady carries a 20 lb two-handed sledge hammer. He doesn't need two hands. He pulls it free, and takes a swing at one of the other two gang members wildly.     Down at the other end, the elite are far more discreet. They move across the roof, signaling with hand gestures as they get in place. Then as one unit, they drop, each of the four to their respective targets, a single strike as they land both with a crushing force of their fall, and their naginatas which pierce through the backs of the unsuspecting gang members. Quiet, coordinated, clean. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The MD12 men on the roof have no chance. They do not hear death falling from above like an owl on its prey. They just die, none the wiser. Bebop grabs the man in front of him and swings the man around. The group start swearing but their reactions are admirably quick. They always assume violence. One of the four clipped by the feet of Bebop's human club, who is screaming murder at him in Portugese. The other three pour semi-automatic gunfire at Shredder and goons. They are reckless and uncaring as to whether they hit their compatriot at this point. When gunfire erupts there is shouting in Portugese from the far side of the alley and men on the balconies. The men on the balconies, a good five or six, duck back into their apartments and come out again with a variety of firearms that they aim toward the back alley junction with the crossways alley Shredder is in. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Shredder tucks to one side as a gun goes off, ducking low and bursting forward with a speed that might seem unnatural, his tekko-kagi claw coming up in an uppercut toward the man's chin.     A few rounds land in Rocksteady, who shouts, "Not fair!" The faux shock is replaced by a chuckle. "Don't ya know I'm ticklish?" He takes another swing to bring his sledgehammer down upon the man who shot him.     Bebop continues to swing his human club, bringing him around his head and then chunking him at the man who was clipped.     The Foot Elite remain silent from their striking point, pulling free their blades. They look over the edge at the fighting below, and as the men come out onto their balconies, they pulls smoke pellets from their sashes, and fling them at te respective locations to blind them and prevent an engage. As it happens, it masks their own engage as they follow up with their grappling hooks to swing toward the various additional targets. There may be more than one target for each, but one step at a time. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The man in front of Shredder backs up and keeps firing, yelling wordlessly. The sound is cut off and replaced by blood and gurgling when Shredder finds purchase with the claw. The man shooting at Rocksteady goes down with a last minute scream and a sickening crunch. Before he can recover, the man Bebop hit the first time is bowled over by a flying gang member and they go down in a heap. A gunshot goes off under the heap when they hit ground. The remaining MD12 tracks on Shredder and just keeps pumping out rounds toward him while Shredder fights. Smoke pellets go off on the balconies while the MD12 on them are looking down the alley waiting to see who comes. A couple stand and swear, waving their arms. The other three are at least sensible enough to back into their apartments. The yelling in Portugese from the 45th Street side of the alley has stopped. There is a long loud whistle now instead. If Shredder or any of his men have spent time in favellas, they will know. People are being called to come out into the street. The whistle is picked up by men loitering in the streets on 45th and 46th. There are some voices yelling in Fillipino from the embassy at the end of the lengthwise alley overlooked by the balconies. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Shredder hears the whistle, and narrows his eyes. This neighborhood's alliances are strong. It's time to break that. He spins, holding the limp body of the dead man from his claw as a shield to block the incoming rounds. The moment he hears the last round expended for a reload, he pulls a shuriken from his sash, and flings it toward the man's throat to eliminate their last immediate engagement.     "Bring me a child," he says into his comm. The Elite land, those who are on the balcony find themselves tossed over it quickly, sending three bodies raining down to the alley way with sickening crunches, while the last tosses another pellet into one of the apartments before entering.     All four enter through the balconies to the respective apartments to find the requested hostage. Meanwhile, the Shredder bursts into movement. "Rocksteady, Bebop. With me." He starts to move down the block rapidly, making his way for the final destination. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The men that backed into their apartments open fire the moment the ninja land amidst the smoke. A shotgun in one apartment and a handgun each in the other two. The ones on the balconies go over into the street and those ninja find either nobody else or someone's girlfriend in the apartments they enter. Except for one. A short, slim woman Brazilian woman with a pockmarked complexion screams when the ninja throws her man over the balcony. She runs for the bedroom, grabs her five year old son and huddles on the floor beside a dresser. There is shouting in Portugese in the hallways of all floors now. Lights are coming on in more apartments. The last immediate shooter clutches at the shuriken in his throat and falls to the ground gurgling. When Shredder and his goons pass the cube van in front of them, they are met by a hail of semi-automatic gunfire from the five MD12 men from the 45th Street side. They are using their cube van for cover. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Godan, the art of sensing danger. As Shredder passes the van, he senses the incoming bullets, and slides down to the pavement feet first below the first volley of gunfire. As he does, a flash pellet is pulled from his sash, and thrown into the alley, the bright spark enough to temporarily blind, particularly in the dim lighting of the alley.     Bebop and Rocksteady charge blindly, quite literally, down the alleyway. "Boss! You gotta warn us! We can't see!" yells Rocksteady.     Bebop snorts. "Just run, Rock! One on the rear, and one on the front, they plow toward the van, trying to use it as something to squash the squad on the other side.     Meanwhile, the ninja who finds the the boy wastes no compassion, giving a swift kick toward the mother's face so that he can take the boy, then return toward the alley, looking to rejoin Shredder. "I have found one," he reports.     The other three disengage, the one who entered into the shotgun taking a pretty good shot to his shoulder and right arm. True to Foot fashion, he makes no noise, but instead stumbles back, and leaps back out, gripping the balcony with his left so he can inspect the injury. It's pretty bad. He should probably retreat, if he's given the opportunity. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The man with the shotgun hurls obscenities at the injured Foot soldier in Portugese. He moves forward to try and get another shot. "Nooooo!" the woman screeches in abject terror as her son is ripped from her arms. The Foot with the boys makes it most of th way to the balcony before he hears a wild and enraged scream behind him. Blood streaming from her face, the mother is charging at the Foot soldier. The men near the second cube van swear and shoot blindly after the flash. Bebop and Rocksteady run through the gunfire and plow into the cube van. It slides and rolls, scattering or crushing the shooters. Dozens of people are starting to pour out into 46th and 45th. Many armed. Sirens have started up not far away and armed men are now standing on the roof of the embassy. When Shredder rounds the corner, several armed men come out of the MD12 building a quarter block down. Two have shotguns and another uses the doorjamb as cover and holds a semi-automatic rifle. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     The two unoccupied Elite soldiers climb back to the rooftops to get a vantage point.     "Darken the street," Shredder commands. In response, a few flings of shurikens begin to whistle through the air, dousing the lights in the alley one by one.     "Are the officers under our command?" Shredder asks back to his headquarters. "If so, tell them that we are locking down one of the Hook suppliers, and that they should assist. If they are not, then send a distraction. Koya. I need you in the air." Shredder walks forward casually, disregarding the Embassy soldiers.     To the men with the guns at the end of the alley, he announces. "You may surrender now if you wish to live. I am the Shredder. You know who I am, to resist is to die. We also have one of your children, whose life will be forfeit if you resist."     The Foot Elite with the boy simply flees, spending no extra time with the charging mother. He takes hold of his grapple, and swings to the ground, chasing the trail to where Shredder is to prove the threat.     The last one, hanging from the balcony, shakes his head so that his rice hat falls back over his back by its teher, and looks up at the man who is trying to get a bead on him. As the gang member comes forward, he swings his feet, back, and then forward as he uses his good hand to pull himself up feet first, throutgh the bars of the balcony to try to kick the shotgun goon up and over the edge of the balcony.     "Who, Beebs, that was some stuff, wasn't it?" Rocksteady laughs, looking at the truck.     "Damng straight, Rock. My man." They give each other a fistbump, and turn back to watch Shredder on his advance, casually strolling up behind him, chatting with each other about their recent exploits. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "The embassy called the police. They are sending many units. Tactical teams are enroute," is the report Shredder gets back. Nobody messes around when an embassy reports a large gun battle nearby. The woman nearly throws herself off her balcony chasing after her child. She reaches out screaming in inarticulate rage and despair. Several armed men run out onto the balcony with her. People from 45th and 46th streets are entering the alley with the cube vans now. "You will die," calls Corvo after he comes out of the building and stands behind the shotgun men. Three more come out and take aim down the alley. Others come out onto the balconies, also armed. This is looking less like Bushwick and more like a Rio favella every moment. "And so will all your men. And your family. And their friends. Until nobody remember your name." The woman on the balcony keeps screaming for someone to go after her boy in Portugese. Corvo gestures. The woman screams one last time before going silent when her head hits the pavement two stories below. The alley is quiet save for the yelling of the approaching people around the alley corner and sirens. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     The scenario is not advantageous. Shredder, though his expression is hidden beneath his mask. "You will not know the morning," he promises Corvo. With the incoming police, the massively outgunned state, and the apparent lack of regard for even the children of his members, Shredder realizes that he is not dealing with a warrior, but with a monster that needs no quarter, and will receive none. It's time to test out a different method, a scientific one.     "Regroup at the warehouse," he commands Bebop and Rocksteady. "And don't go through the Embassy."     Koya arrives, circling above. "Koya, extract me." The falcon takes a dive, her blinding speed picking up, and just as the last light goes out, she enters the alley, talons reaching out to catch Shredder by both arms.     "Boss?" Rocksteady asks, a little slow to pick up the change in direction. "He wants us to get out, Rock, let's go!" Bebop turns, and rather than face the trucks and armed men, he plows through the brick, landing in the back kitchen of a hotel. "Pardon me," he snorts, "Do you have any grey poupon?" The resulting screams and desertion of post earns a chuckle, and Rocksteady follows in, grabbing a steak from a plate ready to as he passes through. He takes a bite, "Whoa! That's hot!" he exclaims. "It burned my tongue!" The two keep running, smashing out into the lobby of the hotel, plowing through tables, knocking over wine, and make a bull look good in a china shop in general.They burst through the front doors out and onto the street, heading for home.     The elite looks at the boy in his arms, then back at the woman who was pushed. He seems to consider something for a moment, and then, throws down a smoke pellet. They are both gone when it clears. As for those who had taken up residence on the roof, They fade back, moving into the shadows from whence they first arrived. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Kill them!" Corvo shouts too late when Shredder is scooped into the night. The men in the alley and above pour fire down at the empty spot where Shredder had been. The two massive mutants charge through the hotel when the shooting starts, eliciting screams and panic from the people inside. People are knocked flying, covered in their own entrees, stumbling over their luggage, caught by flying furniture. The ninja, which the MD12 as a group never really understood were there, fade into the night. The shooting stops. There are four bodies in the alley, three men and one woman. A small mob reaches the head of the alley and stops. Corvo's men walk down the alley to talk with them. "Call Florida," Corvo says to Ceifeiro, his number two. "We have war." 
}}

8454/Undercurrents: Revenge

2019-07-23T04:41:49Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/23 |Location=Hecksher Park, Bushwick, New York City |Synopsis=Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Beast and Nightcrawler exact revenge on the gang bange..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/23
|Location=Hecksher Park, Bushwick, New York City
|Synopsis=Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Beast and Nightcrawler exact revenge on the gang bangers who shot Cypher.
|Thanks=Beast, Cannonball, Nightcrawler, Wolfsbane
|Cast of Characters=7620,1251,95,169,1258
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' The sun has set, but not that long ago. The heat certainly has not faded. That sticky, sweaty heat that glues your clothes to you the moment you step outside. People move from air conditioned oasis to air conditioned oasis or under fans in the growing dark. Some driving and walking around and some asking questions was enough to find out about an African-American gangbangers in orange shirts. Laughably easy. It helped that most of them seemed to live in the Hope Gardens project on Wilson Avenue. These were local men and youth. They grew up on these streets, owning these streets. Word was they were virtually all human, their parents having lived in the area before mutants exploded onto the world stage. They were tough, violent and proud. Tonight, a group of five are in the parking lot of Hecksher Playground beside the project. They are lounging around outside a white Lexus and a white Pathfinder. In orange shirts and with their music playing, they are easy to spot and hear, bantering back and forth. "The fuck you doing out right now? Get back inside before I kick your ass /and/ tell your momma," one of the yells at a boy of about 13 on the basketball court. The boy catches his ball and yells back something about how he is going to be Michael Jordan. The men laugh and the boy runs off with a grin. The man who yelled looks like what the Evolution staff described. Over-muscled, heavily tattooed with a shaved head. Another has a flattop and beside him is Dreds. These are the men the staff described. They are with two others. The first is stocky with diamond stud earrings and the other has a big scar across the left side of his face. They are just hanging out drinking in the summer weather in the lit parking lot. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane moved to Mutant Town. Kurt helped. Sam soon visited and talked her into considering a bouncer position at Club Evolution because of some problems with Hook. She learned Doug was also serving as a bouncer. Before she could even fully weigh her thoughts on the idea, gang members entered the club and Doug ended up shot, ended up hard to heal, ended up potentially on his death bed. Again. In the past, it might have caused Rahne to shrivel up and retreat somewhere to hide from the evils of the world, all the bad things. That was then. This is now. Angered, but no less worried, Wolfsbane went to Club Evolution as soon as she could but it was useless trying to get a scent. Turns out, they wouldn't need that after all. The identities of those who shot Doug up were not that difficult to learn after a little asking around. They got descriptions. They got a location. Now, as Wolfsbane, Nightcrawler, and Beast gather to do something about it, they find the parking lot. They find the vehicles. They find the perpetrators. On foot, Wolfsbane's eyes narrow from down the block and she points a clawed finger ahead. "There they are. I see th' bastards," she growls. If she's swearing, it's serious. She's also got more of the wolf visible in her, adding to a threatening, menacing appearance. She's no killer, but they can only hope she remembers that tonight. It's hot, but it's about to get hotter. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does not mind in the least suiting up in this weather. A little singlet BREATHES like a suit does not. DRessed accordingly, he's here to back up Wolfsbane on the scent. "Do we just.. rush them?" he asks simply enough, sizing them up. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Anger was a strong emotion in Kurt. Anger at injustice, bigots, cruelty... he almost brought his swords, he almost wore his suit, but this was something he ought not to associate with Charles's team. Walking at her elbow, dressed like a man going out to lunch rather than a paramilitary operative.     "I can draw their attention und sen you rush... Keep them from having time to draw down, ja?" incensed, his accent is thicker, eyes narrowed. "Unless you have better ideas..." hands flexing, tail whipping back and forth, the Bavarian looking more like a demon than he might prefer. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' "Aye. Distract them," Wolfsbane nods to Kurt, knowing he'll be good at that. "An' dinna pull any punches. They didna show Doug any mercy." At least, talking about punches suggests something non-lethal. "An' we'll rush them, send them a message." A strong one, if the way she's talking and acting is a sign. Nightcrawler will get them into a state of confusion, then Beast and Wolfsbane will jump in to take advantage of the opening. And, they have someone else watching from above, ready to join in as soon as the sign is given. Wolfsbane may be no leader, but in this attempt to seek retribution, she's taken the point as she lowers herself closer to the street, using a few vehicles as cover to bring her nearer to the side of the Lexus and Pathfinder. From there, she waits for Kurt to make his move. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy claps his hands together, but muffles the sound. "Alright. Whenever you're ready, Kurt," he rumbles, digging his toes into the pavement, like a racer at the starting blocks. "I'll go left, you go right, so I can bring my right shoulder in." 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Eyes slitted, Kurt's body suddenly lengthens out as he takes off on all fours, though he moves the opposite direction of the thugs, getting to speed before BAMF! the clouds of smoke and sounds practically simultaneous as he comes from the side of the gangbangers at full quadruped sprint.     Dragging his smoke with him in the wake of his movement, Nightcrawler's momentum is preserved to keep his speed, tail snapping wherever he can - though the last of them he aims a closed fist for their knee, aiming to pop the joint. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Kurt appears close to the gangbangers and they do not notice him until he is on them. "The fuck is that?" Dreds says. The all start backwards out of the way as Kurt runs between them. The real surprise does not happen until he is nearly past them. His tail lashes to one side and catches Studs in the knee. He crumpes to one side and barely catches himself on the Lexus. Kurt's tail lashes out the other way and catches Dreds in the knee as well. There is an ugly popping sound. Dreds swears and clutches at his knee. "What the fuck?" one of them yells. "Shoot that motherfucker!" Baldie barks. The three that were not hit by Kurt pull out their guns and start to aim after Kurt, one-handed. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' As Kurt attacks, there is a sudden *PSSSSSHHH* sound from one side of the Lexus, just before Studs uses the car for support. The tires on one side have been slashed. The reason why is revealed in the next moment. "Yuir worst nightmare. Ye shot our friend, an' noo ye're gaunae pay!" Wolfsbane's distinctly accented voice is heard as she vaults over the vehicle, a palm pressing against the back of Studs' head as she drives it into the side of the car, following with a knee to the stomach before she grabs and throws him at the closest gang member coming up with a gun. "Ah'm only gaunae say this one time! Yuir drugs're no' welcome here, an' neither is yuir gang!" The accent is getting stronger in her state of anger and aggression. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy may be inspired a bit by Wolfsbane. He sprints, coming at them from BEHIND when they look Wolfsbane's way, and shoults "FREEDOM" just before attempting to bowl one over with his shoulder. IDeally one into another, but really, flashy tricks rarely work. Knock one down, grab for any gun he can reach, is the best he realistically hopes for. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie is up on a rooftop watching. He is ready to charge in, but knows the benefit of surprise, and lets the melee people start the uproar, waiting for the best time for his apearance. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Disappearing in purple smoke once past the thugs, expecting guns pointed his way, if not fired right away. Leaping straight up as he goes, with the intention of appearing with his foot tucked into the chin of onr of those whom he knee-capped, preferably the second before he BAMF!s once again to disappear through the fabrics of reality. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Gunshots go off, but Kurt is just not there anymore. Rahne's blows to Studs leave him senseless and he flies like a ragdoll into Dreds, who goes down under the weight of his fellow gang member. Hank rams into and essentially through Flattop. Flattop flies forward and is sent pinwheeling into the ground when his leg hit Dreds and Studs who were piled on the ground in front of him. Kurt appears out of nowhere. It is like a sudden glimpse of a dance. Kurt is spinning through the air, his leg extended. He strikes ScarredFace (he is not cool enough to be the other guy) in the face and disappears. ScarredFace pirouhettes into the side of the Pathfinder and slides nervelessly to the ground. Baldie whirls around and fires wildly toward Hank and Rahne. His eyes are big as dinner plates. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane does not stay in one place very long, nor does she even stay as she is. Bullets begin to fly in random directions, potentially putting innocents in danger, so it becomes paramount to put an end to this as quickly as possible. "Beast! Get doon! Sam! Noo!" That's the only thing further said for the moment as she whirls toward Baldie, a bullet passing by close enough that she can hear the sound as it cuts through air. In her eyes is a predatory look few have seen before. Then she's in motion, charging toward Baldie. However, it's not as he saw her, for as she breaks into her run her form flows into that of a wolf, leaping at the man with a jaw full of sharp fangs set to close around his gun hand, grabbing hard enough to bite into the skin and draw blood. His blood. Blood for blood. She lands with her weight crashing into him, a snarl all but roaring in his ears. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy groans when a bullet shoots into his shoulder. He rolls the shoulder grimacing, and , and well. He was going to take down Baldie with prejudice, but Wolfsbane took care of it first. So he growls "Drop your weapons, and get on your knees, hands behind your backs, and nobody else gets bitten." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie sees the stray gunfire, and will start to jet, but oddly not towards the fight but towards the basketball court. He blasts through the fence and scoops up the kid who was playing moments ago. Bullets impact on the shield surrounding Sam and the kid. "Your gonna be ok ." Sam tells the kid, and hovers there a moment, before letting the boy down but making sure he is hovering between the fight and as many civilians as he can. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     "Ha--" almost using his real name, Kurt leaps in, all razor fangs and glowing eyes as he glares at those still conscious. Shoulders humped and snarling, rage boiling under Kurt's surface. He's on all fours, like some nightmare creature, coiled and ready to leap and teleport if he needs, for offence or defense. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane can hear Cannonball coming in, but she doesn't see exactly what he's doing except for catching him in motion out of the corner of an eye. As Baldie recoils from the pain in his hand, the wolf morphs back to the half-form from before, blending human and animal. The mouth comes off his wrist, but she shifts position to effectively pin him to the ground, one hand at his neck so he can feel the claws from her thumb in front, and the fingers around the side and back. The other hand grips the top of his bald head so he's forced to look up into her eyes, narrowed to slits. A bare foot presses against his stomach, the other over an arm. "Listen up an' listen well because ah'm only gaunae say this one time. Yuir guns're no' welcome here. Yuir Hook is no' welcome here. This is for whit ye did tae muh friend, trying tae spread yuir disease around here. If ah find any sign o' ye stirrin' up any more trouble, ye're gaunae wish ye were never born because ah'll no' rest until ye're run oot o' here for good." The claws press against the skin they touch, enough to emphasize the point multiple times. "Are. We. Clear?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy walks with a slight limp, transferred pain and all that, stepping behind Wolfsbane. He nods, letting her words speak for them all. His hand on his shoulder, keeping pressure on the wound. Kurt gets a smirk, sine Hank knows Kurt almost said Hank. "No I don't have a handkerchief," he smiles. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Looking chagrinned at Hank, Kurt moves to Rahne's side, brows knitting. She's still showing restraint, his mouth is open, but he doesn't speak - waiting to see what she does. He moves close enough for his presence to be felt, but he doesn't interfere - yet. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will start to move towards the fight now that the fight has stopped. Once he gets closer to the group he will add "We want to know where they got the drugs too." He adds. Sam does not plan on letting this stuff be here with them or others. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "What the fuck?! Yeah, sure, whatever!" Baldie stammers out to Rahne, eyes-wide and trying to press away from her. "Just fucking get away from me you freak ass bitch!" There are groans of pain and mutters of vengeance from the other orange shirted men. Or at least those still conscious. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Good thing Sam is there to remind everyone of one of the main things. Wolfsbane releases the man's head with her right hand, only to strike him across the face with an open palm. "Tell us where ye go' th' Hook from!" she warns, still keeping him pinned in place. She is stronger than he is in this form. The same hand sweeps out toward the others as they threaten vengenace of their own. "I told ye whit'll happen if ye keep this up! Dinna be stupid!" Later, she'll have to help Hank to make sure his wound is cleaned properly, even if he can do it himself. It's the least she can do to thank him for coming to aid her. She'll owe Kurt and Sam as well, even if they might have already been thinking of doing something. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Baldie looks Sam up and down with a sneer. "Fuck you. And fuck your bitch. And your big ass blue bear looking motherfucker! We gonna fucking find you! Find your fucking families! You're dead! You think you can pull this shit on /our/ block?!" Baldie gets more and more angry, louder and louder as he goes. He is practically vibrating with it. "You got no fucking idea what you started! Dead!" 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     "Wolfsbane..." Kurt flinches when she strikes the man. Staring down at the figure pinned beneath Rahne, the acrobat X-Man's brows knit closer, "We won, they're down." murmuring so low the next words that only someone like Rahne or Logan could hear him. "A righteous hand is also merciful and is quick to return to peace." and then Baldie had to do that. Kurt growls, "Verdammt..." expecting the worst. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' When the man, even in the position he's in, gives his answer in such a definitive way, Wolfsbane's expression darkens. "Ah gave ye a chance. Ye just made yuir last mistake." Enraged by the man's indifference to what he did to Doug, angered to the point of seeing red by his defiance, she draws her hand back as she pins his head to the ground. There is no mistaking where the claws will go in the next second or two. Kurt's words of warning don't get through, or if they do, they come too late to get her to stop. Someone else will have to act. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will reach down and grab her arm to stop her. "We did not come to kill." He will say. He looks down at Baldie, and says "So your telling me, that Ah should just let her kill you and your guys here. Well you see Ah don't play that way. Ah am here to protect all folks, even pieces of crud like you. You should know something very important now. You hurt one of mine, we will pay you back ten fold. Death can be a release, you harm one hair on mine or the people in this neighborhood, and you will pray for death, and I will make sure it does not come. I will see you in a bed shitting yourself, and begging someone to clean you. I will make it my business to make sure every night when you fall asleep you will pray you do not wake up. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Eyeing Rahne, brow knit Kurt moves to rest a hand on Baldie's shoulder "You don't haff to die to see hell." playing on Sam's words while still looking at Rahne, his expression sad before BAMF! he disappears with the man, and is gone for several long seconds before they return, a few feet away, smoking of the atmosphere of the Brimstone dimension. Long enough for it to hurt, but not so long as to render the man unconscious, while Kurt himself looks strained from it.     A long, yet still fleeting, journey - one that Kurt can never quite keep permanent - yet. Only seconds to see where his father comes from. On the return he looks to Rahne, lips in a line. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane's potential killing blow is intercepted by Sam's sturdy hand, and when his hand closes around her arm he'll feel a tremble mixed with the tensing of her muscles. She's trying to resist, to fight herself, and it takes a combination of Sam's words and then Kurt's intervention with Baldie himself to accomplish it. "This is no' yuir block any more," is all she can add, growled out through a clenched jaw. Sam's warning is cold enough, and she knows what will probably be happening in Kurt's dimension. Wrenching herself away, she turns and looks for something, anything to take her aggression out on. She finds it in a much safer form. Stalking the stationary vehicles, she crouches and lifts the Lexus up from one side, strong enough to roll it over onto the hood before she tears into the doors with both hands. The same thing is repeated with the Pathfinder. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Baldie is /shaking/ when he is brought back. He gibbers something incoherent. He scrambles backwards on his hands and feet, then turns and breaks into headlong flight. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will just turn away a sadden look in his face. that threat came from a dark place, a place Sam does not like to think about. Sam saw the man he considered the strongest he would ever know in that hell. And threatening to put someone even this scum there almost sickens him. He does what he must though to try to help keep people alive. 

:'''{{#var:169|Kurt Wagner (169)}} has posed:'''     Doing what he can to keep upright after dragging a man through the Brimstone dimension as he did. Kurt stumbles towards Rahne, face drawn, eyes dim.     "We don't kill... we don't. We're better than that." he stops a hands breadth from her, whether she faces him or not, "No matter what they do, or who they are. We are not the ones who judge, we are not the ones who deign when a life is over. That is not up to us."     Kurt stares, shifting as if he wants to reach out, but give Rahne her space at the same time. Conflict raging across his features, he just took a man to the realm that half of his soul cries out for... and called it hell. Tail snapping back and forth in agitation. 

:'''{{#var:1251|Wolfsbane (1251)}} has posed:''' Wolfsbane's shoulders heave after she's finished decorating the vehicles in her own way, not out of overexertion but out of something else, likely trying to focus enough to get everything back under control. Kurt's words don't quite hit the proverbial wall but they don't generate much of a reaction either, her back to him as her fingers flex and curl a few times. Barely above a whisper, she says with eyes squeezed shut, "Aye. Better than tha'." Right now, she doesn't sound so sure of it. She came closer than ever to breaking that rule, a personal one or not. Had the gang members actually killed Doug - though he may not be out of the woods yet - what might she have done? "I'll be.." She nods down the block, in the direction of the apartment complex she's taken up residence in. "I need some time before anyone comes by." That is, if they wish to. Without waiting for a response, she runs off, not as she is now, but as the wolf following one more shift. She was ready to be the judge, the jury, the executioner, and that frightens her more than any threats the gang could ever make. 
}}

8455/Saved: Walk in the Park

2019-07-23T04:22:58Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/23 |Location=Apple Park, New York City |Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir go far a walk in the park. They are both recognized. It goes bett..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/23
|Location=Apple Park, New York City
|Synopsis=Scarlet Witch and Elixir go far a walk in the park. They are both recognized. It goes better for Scarlet Witch than Elixir. Elixir realizes he cannot help everyone.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,70
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' After the day he had, Josh did not feel like hanging around inside. He wanted to be out and moving. And he wanted Wanda nearby. He called her after getting back to Xavier's mansion. As luck would have it, she was busy then, but they met up later in the day after dinner. Josh suggested going for a walk and they did, hand in hand. They just walked aimlessly, the way Wanda had done so many times on her own. Josh had been unusually quiet. He was not prone to ruminating or thinking overly long on things, but Wanda could feel how preoccupied he was. When they found themselves at Apple Park though, Josh smiled. The park was one of the many places in New York with small bronze statutes of oomycetans. Josh guided them toward the one in this park. It was in the middle of a grassy patch. "So weird. I haven't been here since the mushrooms. First place I fought one. Well, I didn't fight it, the others fought, I helped the kid it tried to grab," he says and smiles a bit at the memory. "That was like my first... Okay this sounds stupid... But like my first hero moment. Before I joined the team or anything." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' There is a certain enjoyable sound to listening to your own footfalls on pavement. Especially in a pair of boots like Wanda is wearing. The click of her steps is just soft enough to not distract from one's thoughts if they don't wish it, yet loud enough that pleasant little staccato rhythm accompanies the pair as they wander through the park. Wanda hasn't asked him too much. She sensed something from earlier through the bond, and asked how he was, but let Josh speak about it in his own time. Wanda smiles over to him though as he reminisces about the park. "You've had many hero moments since, I think," she tells him softly. "And more to come." Wanda laces her fingers with his as they hold hands. "There is a wonderful feeling when you help someone," Wanda says, her face gaining a radiant smile at her memories of how that feels. "It's far better than any drug. And it's so easy to come by, too," she says. Wanda lets out a soft laugh. "I sound like a public service announcement, don't I?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "You would if I didn't get it," Josh laughs. "That'd be pretty cheesy. It's true though! It's like, you do it and then you want to do it again and again." He shoots Wanda a sly look. "Sounds like something else, too," he jokes. "You know something I like you about? I mean, there's a ton of things. But I can just be quiet with you, you know? Some people, I'd never get all the way here just being quiet. It'd be a million questions and on and on. But, you're just really... Patient. It's cool," Josh says smiles brightly at Wanda. He squeezes her hand. "So, did Lorna get a hold of you about this morning?" Josh asks. "Tell you what happened?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff's head tilts back and she lets out a warm, loud laugh. "Like something else?" she asks him. "I can't imagine what. Perhaps when we get back later, you might illuminate me on the subject," she tells him. Wanda grins and squeezes his hand back, but then lets it go so she can slip her arm about his lower back and lean against him gently as they walk. "She did not, actually," Wanda says of her sister. "I had a few minor matters that were occupying me. Nothing too dangerous," she tells him. The next day there will be a blurb in the paper about about a bank robbery foiled by the Scarlet Witch. The robbers disarmed and lifted into the air before they knew she was there. Wanda looks around at the beautiful park, smiling as a warm breeze stirs, blowing through her hair which she's left to hang loose about her shoulders and down her back. "Something happened then?" she asks him quietly, her hand that is on his far hip rubbing gently. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Yeah," he says. "Everyone's okay now, though. I went on a field trip to a museum to help supervise some kids from the school. Some fucking cyborgs came out of nowhere and attacked the bus. They flipped it over and everything, you know? Then tried to get at the students. A bunch of people got hurt. I think Lorna got knocked out when the bus flipped? She had a really bad concussion and was doing weird things to everyone's phones lights. But she's okay now. Hank, Mason, Jubilee and Lorna, even when she couldn't see straight, took out the cyborgs." Josh stops and Wanda can feel the shudder pass through his body and being. "Yeah. They took them out. We fixed everyone up, the paramedics were awesome. They helped me out. We skipped bumps and bruises and stuff, you know? I was wiped. But all the serious stuff we got." He looks over to make sure Wanda is assured. "Lorna's fine though. Totally good. I took care of her." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The sound of their steps on the gravel of the path they are crunches softly with each step. Wanda's brow slowly furrows with concern as the tale of the attack plays out. She doesn't ask him to jump ahead, but lets Josh tell the tail fully as he will. "Thank you for taking care of her," Wanda says, her expression grateful. "And what about you?" she asks. "Did you take any hurts?" she asks him. Wanda stops and looks over to Josh, her fingers glowing a gentle crimson as she reaches over to rest her hand along his head, trying to probe and make sure he doesn't have any hurts that he wasn't aware of. "So they were Sentinels, you believe? Or, the spider robots I heard about. Do you think they might be associated with them?" she asks as her touch gives him a warm sensation. And through the bond he can even feel a little of what she is feeling, her sensitivity far less than his own for this. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Not really. I got tossed around but it doesn't hurt long," he says with a wry smile. "Healing me is easy!" "Maybe? I don't know. Or maybe Reavers? Reavers sent cyborgs after us last year, but these ones were different. They didn't have blades coming out of their arms," Josh says gesturing to wear they would be on him if he were a Reaver cyborg. But he stops and lets Wanda check him over, acquiescing to her concern. Thankfully, there is nothing wrong with him. He is preternaturally healthy as always. Tired, but healthy. "Holy crow, look at that! It's the Scarlet Witch!" a young man's voice calls out from a short distance away. A few people stop and look and see the famed Avenger, picking her out perhaps more because of her trademark magic than noticing her in this unexpected place. Talk ripples outward through the park. Soon a dozen people are coming up to them, with more looking on curiously. "Are you more powerful than Superman?" "Can the Hulk lift two buses at once?" "I gotta get a picture with you, my wife won't believe it." "Oh my god man, she's so fucking hot." "You're like, my idol." "Why were you holding that man's hand? Does he have a crush on you?" Josh laughs as they get croweded by people eager to meet and talk to the Scarlet Witch. He shoots Wanda a grin and stuffs his hands in his pockets. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda lets the magic fade from her hand after she confirms Josh's hale health. "I think you are good enough to go a few miles," she tells him. "Or, well, we can discuss other types of physical fitness activities," she says, trying her best to come off as all coy and sultry. Possibly succeeding some, though Natasha Romanov she is not. The voices of the people in the park draw Wanda's gaze over, before she looks back to Josh. "Uh oh," she says, eyes darting about guiltily. "Busted." If he doesn't pull away though, she'll stay there with him. "I would put my money on Superman," Wanda answers with a nodding smile. "Hulk could probably lift more than two. And yes, of course," Wanda says, posing for the picture. There's a little color in her cheeks at one of the comments, her eyes going back to Josh as she smiles to him. "This is my boyfriend," Wanda says at the final question. "I can't speak for anyone else...but I definitely have a crush on him," she says, flashing a smile over to the blond-haired man and returning her arm back around his lower back. "It's a beautiful day out, I hope you all have a chance to enjoy it as much as we are," Wanda will say, lifting a hand to wave to them and starting to walk forward if Josh is ready, and no one is pressing the issue of them staying. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Whoa, what?!" "Scarlet Witch has a boyfriend?" Josh just smiles and shakes his head good-naturedly. He does colour a bit himself though. He turns to leave with Wanda, and most people are respectful enough to let them go. Even if they sneak in a photo or two. "Whoa, hey, hold up... I know you!" says a man in his early 30's. The man obviously had a cleft palette repair. "You're that guy from the bus thing. It was in the papers. You healed all those kids!" the man says and pantomimes laying on a hand. That gets renewed murmur. "Hey... He totally is...." "He just healed them?" "Yeah! You gotta see the video, it was sick. This kid's leg was all screwed up and then boom. Fixed." The first man puts a hand on Josh's arm. "You could fix this, right?" he asks and points to the scar on his upper lip. "Please man, you don't know how much it would help me out. "My brother's kid has a broken leg, he's over here, can you help him?" "My mothers..." ".... I've got...." Josh looks bewildered and taken aback by the attention and the people closing in focused on him. "Uh, I mean, I could, it's just..." "Do it! Please you, gotta," the man with the cleft pallette pleads. He is pulled aside suddenly by an angry looking woman in her mid-twenties. "No way, my baby's got pneumonia and I can't afford anti-biotics. Your face can wait!" "My mother could die /any day/, she needs him way more than your baby!" "Are you crazy?!" More people are drawn by the commotion brewing around Josh and Wanda. Josh is wide-eyed and looks to Wanda. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda glances to Josh, smiling softly as they start making mention of his healing. Though as matters quickly devolve, Wanda raises her voice to try to cut through it all. "Everyone! Please," she says loudly. "Healing doesn't just happen. It comes at a cost, it isn't something that can be done endlessly," she says, "And there were a lot of people as you mentioned," she says. Wanda tries to create space for him. If it seems to have succeeded, she glances over to him to gauge what he wishes to do. She looks from his eyes and over, down at her hand where it hangs by her side now. Little flickers of her power glow briefly at the end of her fingers, and Wanda looks back up, expression offering. Letting him use her power if needed, for she isn't sure if she may not have spoken the truth of his exertion already. But there is also the sense she'll support him if he wishes to leave instead. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh puts on a smile but Wanda can feel how weirded out he is right now. Some hear the word cost from Wanda and little else. A few start shouting they can pay. Josh just shakes his head. "Shit, Wanda, we gotta, we gotta go," Josh says, starting to back off. The people around the follow and there is more shoving and yelling. Faces have gone from surprised and delighted, to angry, outraged and even desperate. "We really gotta go," Josh says, starting to sound agitated. He grips Wanda's hand. "Please." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda hears the voice rise and she shakes her head, saying loudly, "It isn't a matter of money," She moves to Josh and slips her arms around him. Not looking at the people. Just looking into his eyes, trying to hold his gaze as the red glow gathers about them. It blocks out the people and the park, and then it fades away. They aren't back home, neither at the school nor at Avenger's Mansion. Instead they are standing on a grassy stretch along the edge of a lake. Rugged rocky hills rise up around them, with pine trees and grass growing here and there wherever there is enough soil. The lake is placid, reflecting the stars in the sky and the moon overhead, as they have gone from afternoon to evening, wherever she has taken them. But above all there is quiet. Peace and quiet. Nothing but the sound of crickets softly chirping as Wanda reaches up a hand to stroke along Josh's cheek. Not saying anything. Just being there for him. https://live.staticflickr.com/8422/7698740150_efdac3016f_b.jpg 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks around, momentarily disoriented. His breath slows and his shoulders settle back down. He looks at Wanda, bothered and pained and sad. He pulls Wanda into him and his eyes glisten in the dark. "I'm not gonna be able to help them all," he younger man says, as if this is a revelation to him. An unwelcome one. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda is several inches shorter and her torso is decidedly lacking the thick, muscular build of Josh. Yet her arms seem almost magic as they are just able to fold about him and hold him like they can shut away the rest of the world. "You're not," she agrees softly. "But you'll do the ones that you can. And you'll find a balance in your life. It's tough to see what it will be now. But you'll find it. We all do in the end," she tells him, her cheek resting alongside his. Until once she's done speaking, she pulls her head back so she can look into his eyes. "I could find somewhere that could use my help. Every moment of the day. But no one can live a life like that. To try would be worse," she tells him softly. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh wants to resist the comfort Wanda offers but he needs it and relents to her embrace and her steadying warmth. "Yeah, I guess," Josh says. He lets out a ragged breath and looks his 21 years. He blinks away the dampness in his eyes. ".... thanks. I'm really glad you were there." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' "Always," she tells him quietly, brushing stray wisps of hair from his forehead as the wind blows gently, ruffling the water of the lake to cause the smallest of waves across its surface. The pair settle into the grass, lying together with their arms around one another. They don't need more words. Only to be together. To lie beneath that field of stars, undimmed by any nearby city lights. The Milky Way stretches across the sky like a light show for just the pair of them. Eventually their eyelids droop and close, and they nestle together. Their bodies pressing against each other is all the warmth they need on this summer night in the Swiss Alps. Leaving the rest of the world behind. Basking for a night in togetherness. 
}}

8449/Undercurrents: Striking Back

2019-07-23T04:01:49Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/22 |Location=Drug Stash, West Side, Gotham |Synopsis=Orphan takes down the Hook stash house of a Gotham biker gang. The costs of justice ar..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/22
|Location=Drug Stash, West Side, Gotham
|Synopsis=Orphan takes down the Hook stash house of a Gotham biker gang. The costs of justice are not small.
|Thanks=Orphan
|Cast of Characters=100,1129
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The West Side Club was not hard to track down. They have operated in the area for as long as anyone can remember. Members came and went, busts happened, people went to jail and got out. But the WSC kept on bringing extortion, drugs and prostitution to area. As can be expected, they were tight-knit, careful in selection and almost gleefully murderous. Recently, prices for cocaine, heroin and other hard drugs had skyrocketed in the tri-state area. The whole eastern seaboard, really. And Hook started appearing at the same time, at prices that put crack cocaine to shame. It put a lot of people to shame as well. Powerful and exceedingly addictive, overdoses were a growing problem and so was drug-fuelled petty crime. Street level gangs were fighting over turf as they had to adjust to the new supply dynamics. It was uglier than usual in Gotham's streets. Patience and observation, and good intel, led Cassandra to be watching the WSC chapter house. It was a two story wooden house with eight-foot chain-link fences topped by barbed wire. There are cameras on the building. A rottweiler wanders the fenced yard and barks savagely at anyone who walks by. If Cassandra pulled the city plans for the building, she will know it has a two storey basement. If her intel is good, she will know it is called the bunker and is where the WSC keeps its real valuables. Drugs, weapons, unlaundered cash. Best as she can tell, it looks Grimey, the sergeant at arms for the chapter, is inside with a half-dozen full patch members. There are probably a couple of girls in there as well, but if so they are not let out in the time Cassandra is there observing. Coming up from exclusively poor and working-class roots, the gang members favoured classic weapons. Knives, bats, handguns and shotguns. Heavy weapons and explosives were a rarity for the WSC and a sign that something had gone truly wrong. After all, nobody wanted to attract the attention of the Bat Family. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' It is at once a blessing and a curse that the particular Bat Family they had attracted was the mysterious Orphan. The small asian vigilante crouched in the shadows of a nearby buildings fire escape, watching the the WSC for hours without so much as adjusting her position or needing to relocate unless she had a suspicion that she had been seen, which was unlikely etal, but it's always best to stay aware regardless of that fact. The dark hood of her costume is pulled up for now and she's fixed a black domino mask above the cloth worn across her mouth so that she's access to the bat-computer through the sophisticated onboard built into it. Schematics for the club, city planning, and contracts dug up by one fo the greatest Hackers in Gotham, if not the planet. She goes over the details while she waits, letting time slip past, midnight come and gone. She's no interest in fighting an entire gang, at least not alone, even as cavalier and self assured as she might well be in her ability to the task. At just past 3 in the morning, she finally makes her move. A silent hiss of her grapple launcher brings her over the chainlink in a rolling low crouch run towards the exterior wall, cutting seemingly at random, but precisely to keep herself in the several inch wide section between cameras acting as a near unseen blind spot to anyone who is NOT a literal ninja. Waiting until the guard dog has patrolled to another section of the compound and careful to remain upwind so as not to let her distinct scent alert them to a potential intruder. The wall itself should prove no challenge, leaping to grab a ledge and kicking with her left leg while simultaniously pulling herself aloft towards an upper story window where she's less likely to immediatey engage an entire coven of bikers in the main club area. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The window is propped open in the heat to let the night air in. It leads in an empty, musty smelling guest bedroom. There is a lot of dust but no furniture. Some guy is grunting and swearing in the next room. He is either watching a porno or with a girl who does her level best to sound like she is one. Some laughs and the sound of a football game echo up the stairs. There are no signs of anyone. Outside, the dog barks near the front of the house. "Fucking dog, yells a man from floor. There is the muted sound of door opening. The voice yells at the dog again. The door slams shut and there is muttering. From the sounds of it there are three men downstairs. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan twists her body through the window and drops down inside the room into which it opens. Listening quietly where she's crouched with her eyes closed to put together a topography of where voices are in relation to where she currently nestles. In her mind, she's formulating a plan of attack that makes the best use of what she knows about the building itself. Natural blinds, cover, and potential on hand weapons. Despite having a host of useful gadges at her disposal, two of which she removes from her belt in the palm of her hand as she stands and slips up against the door leading out to the hallway behind. She's less concerned, for now, about the man in the next room grunting, but she's keeping him in the back of her mind. He'll almost certainly be last. The front door opens, but her count remains the same for having heard him return to his earlier revelry. After a clipped ten count, the door is pulled ajar and she stalks out of the room, clutching a pair of smoke pellots, ready to let them loose if there's a threat beyond or as soon as she hits the first step leading downstairs. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nothing changes in the patterns of sound in the home. The floors make no sound under her experienced feet. There is some muttering about the game between the men downstairs. "What time is it?" a female voice asks groggily from among the male ones. "Shut up, the game's on," grunts of the men. The woman does not speak again. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan descends into the room amidst the bikers and scores her eyes across them like Robocop tracking targets. The pellets are let loose from her palm in a roll across the floor, moving with them, but in a different direction. Her own intent towards the shadowy recesses on the side of the stairs, while the small rolling explosives are intent for the group engaged with the football game on television. She's mentally steeled her mind now, not that conversation was ever going to be paramount. There will now be violence. The switch flips and Cassandra Cain goes becomes a weapon. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The people in the room have no clue anything is wrong until the smoke pellets go off in their faces. "What the fuck?" "The hell is this?!" "Is it the fucking cops!" Wherever she is in the room, the woman with them makes no noise. The men are coughing and getting to their feet. The tallest of them gropes for the baseball bat leaning beside his chair and bumps into the television. Another, clearly ingesting his bodyweight in steroids each week, fans at the smoke with his big meatpaws. The last has pulled a handgun out of somewhere. He his coughing into his arm and and looking around. His gun is pointed at the floor. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Steroids Orphan moves like a shadow into the thick white smoke produced from the pair of smoke pellets. Barely a breeze as she shifts into the immediate area occupied by the massive human being waving his giant paw like a fan with her center of gravity lowered upon a crouch as she comes in at him with the kind of ruthless efficiency of a bullet in the dark. Her fingers straighten out as she nears him, like a knife extension of her wrist, jutting forward through the momentum of her low run towards the inside craddle of his testicles with such vicious intent as to leave any indication that her purposefully life altering shot was meant to permanently change the pitch of his voice from that day hence. She follows, whether the strike succeeds or not, with a full weigh elbow at the inside curve of his thick knee. Should the first blow succeed, even enough so that it shifts his weight away from that leg, she's hitting in just the kind of way that seperates a petela from the nestle against femor and tibula, if not snapping the ACL etal. POP-POP. Each strike turns her body a little, giving each successive blow a little extra umph, the final a side to side strike towards the oposite side of the knee to the first to, hopefully, complete the task of destroying the big man's knee completely. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Completely undefended, Orphan's first strike hits home cleanly. The man /screams/ and crumples over. Orphan has destroyed his knee before he falls all the way over sideways to the floor. "What the fuck?!" shouts the man with the bat. He swings wildly in the smoke, which is starting to thin out. "Fucking someone in here," growls the coughing man with the gun. He brings the gun up and scans with it as he backs out of the worst of the smoke. "Oh my.... <cough>" says a female voice from the direction of the couch. A female voice is yelling in protest upstairs. There is the thunk of heavy feet coming quickly down the upstairs hall toward the stairs. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Handgun Orphan disengages from Steroids before he's even touched deck. It is entirely likely he's gotten testicular tortion from her initial strike, tactical assessment indicates he'll be ineffective in a fight, even if he attempts to reengage, with unreasonable pain in his groin and a destroyed right knee. The small woman moves on to the next threat, likely the most dangerous to the women/other bikers, as he is to herself. She's a little more visible as the smoke begins to fade, but she moves with an uncanny alacrity, leaping steps making her a difficult target to track as she clears the couch with a hand pressed against the back cushion out of one such hop to her right. Her left foot comes around to kick at the outside portion of the hand clutching the gun being waved about haphazardly. Her toes pointed in so it can, if connecting, snap the joints of the metatarsals just above the plantar aspect of the hand. With any luck, the gun should go flying as she twists into a forward roll out of her kick, palms down into a forward spring over the table between big couch and busted television. One of the bear bottles flipping up into her palm whistling at the side of the gunmans head like a shuriken. Right at his temple. Might not knock him out, even if it hits, but it might give him a better appreciation for astrology for all the white hot stars. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Fuck!" the man with the handgun yells when Orphan's kick connects. The gun flies out of his hand and skitters across the floor. He clutches at his injured hand. It is reflex and luck that keep him from catching the bottle full in the head. He flinches slightly and it glances off the side of his head. Still he stumbles backward swearing. "Get out of the fucking way!" yells a higher pitched man's voice from the stairs. A fairly scrawny man in his 30's is standing on the stairs in his boxers with a sawed off shotgun pointed toward the melee. He is trying to get a line on Orphan. "Holy shit! What the fuck is happening?" the woman on the couch yells after Orphan leaps right over top of her. It is more the noise than anything that alerts Orphan. The sucking whoosh of air of an object moving fast. The man with the bat has seen her and stepped into a full swing toward her side. He is big and his body weight is in the swing. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Basball Bat Orphan notes the newest arrival at the top of the stairs leveling a shotgun with a quick scan, moving low behind coverage of the couch with a hand slipping beneath the same table from which she grabbed the projectile bottle. It's sent upwards with a shove of her palm to give her a cover against any shots fired, but does little to prevent the baseball bat coming in at her side. Mid turn to send another sharp kick, she eats the blow on the right flank, but locks her elbow down against it and falls with the blow to defuse some of the kinetic impact. Twisting as she tumbles in a bent knee cartwheel to jerk the weapon in the thugs hands, hopefully disarming him, with the potential benefit of off-setting his balance. Which she capitulates by bring her foot in and around towards the lowest portion of his knee. With the table only a temporary solution to the shotgun, and with any luck on her own part, she'll now have a human shield. Her own calf pinning his knee to the ground with her forearm wrapped tight around his throat and carotid artery like a vice, slowly starving his brain of oxygen. Her ribs hurt, probably cracked, but she's had worse and ignores it for now. Breathing slower and shallower until the pain ebbs. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The roar of the shotgun is defeaning in the confines of the room. The man on the stairs sends a shotgun slug through the couch. He misses Orphan completely, but the woman on the couch gurgles blood. He dirty pink shirt quickly stains red in the chest. The eyes of the man with the bat light up and he grins when the bat connects with Orphan. It does not fade at all when the bat goes out of his hand. Instead he charges forward, grabbing after Orphan. "You're gonna beg for me t...." he growls but is cut off by a groan of pain when she hits his knee. He is heavy, easily over 250 lbs, and his momentum is downward after Orphan's strike. He goes down all the way to the ground under his own inertia and it is too much for Orphan to hope to stop. He lands in front of her. The man with the shotgun racks the action, but he is not a trained shooter. Just like in the movies he points the shotgun up to rack it instead of keeping it on target. He starts bringing it back down to find his aim. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Baseball Bat With the bat removed and the wielder falling forward towards the deck, Orphan has lost her human shield. The report of the shotgun blast draws her attention with a snap and her eyes alight with fury when she sees the gurgling blood oozing from the front of the woman's chest... New Target: Shotgun Bringing that shotgun up to rack the weapon was a mistake. Orphan is on him like flies on hot garbage. Her palm slams down towards the back of her falling targets head, intent to slam bounce his face off the hard floor, moving instantly away from him like a coiled vipor. A pair of batarangs clutched between her first and third fingers as her foot steps up into the foot of the couch, then onto the back, and sailing through the air at him with her wrist snapping out forward to let them whistle his direction. A single batarang might have been more on target, but it's still clear she intends to disable the weapon, trying to get one of the sharp edged projectiles into the bottom chambering slot on the shotgun to keep it from racking up another cartridge, the other could just as easily go towards a forearm or shoulder. But her foot is purposefully aimmed at the center of his chest with a stomping jump kick fully meaning to shove him back and down onto the stairs where she have nothing, but horrible intentions for him should she succeed. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The first batarang glances off the side of the shotgun and embeds itself in the wall. The second sticks into the back of the man's right hand. He swears, lets go of the shotgun with that hand and tries to shake the batarang off. That just makes it hurt worse. It also opens him up wide to the kick. He takes it full in the chest and is pushed back into the wall. His hands arms splay outward with the momentum and slam against the wall. The shotgun drops out of his left hand. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Shotgun Orphan recoils from the kick into a downward roll spin charge back at the walled opponent and strikes out with the flat of her palm, pushing upwards with her free hand to keep any grasping hands away from him. Intent on doubling over, she carries her elbow up at a descending head towards bottom angle of his jaw, grip twisting to grab at the back of his head to pull it back towards her jumping upward knee strike for the bridge of his nose. Like a vicious animal out for blood. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The man with the shotgun is pummeled in a vicious flurry from Orphan. Whatever his role in the gang, street fighting was not it. His nose explodes in a shower of blood as he sinks to the ground against the wall. A woman screams at the top of the stairs. Orphan had no idea she was there. The woman is disgustingly thing and has sores on her body. She is wearing a black tank top with a Playboy bunny on the front and what were probably once white panties but are now just dirty and gray. "Don't fucking move," snarls someone across the main room. Orphan can hear them now, her hearing is starting to clear from the shotgun blast. Two men, heavier and cautious by the sound of it. They stop. "Take off the mask, bitch. Slowly." The second man, several feet away from the first. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Shotgun Long after there's a reason to be, Orphan is pummelling the man. Fending off his attempts, feeble as they are becoming, to stop her with swatting hands followed by savage strikes. She wont kill him, but she's definitely leaving him a bloody mess on the stairs.. It really only stops when she hears the voices from behind her. Palm up ready to slap back down flat against the front of his forehead, out right ignoring the woman at the top of the stairs after a threat analysis indicates she's no more harm to her than a stick of bubblegum to a nuclear warhead. Those two men, however, are different. The bloody gloved fist lowers and she releases the back of her mess of a targets neck from her iron grip as she stands, back to the two men. Turning a little so that she can see them just out the corner of her eye where her hood bends outwards against her shoulder. "Make me." She says matter-of-factly. Reading their body language, sizing them up, and taking them apart in her head. They have the drop on her, but if they were hoping for fear... they picked the wrong orphan. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The woman at the top of the stairs keeps screaming as blood splatters against the wall from the savage beating Orphan deals to the man she was just fucking. She backs away, stumbling and screaming with her eyes fixed on the mess below her. The two men stand there with handguns pointed in Orphan's direction. Arrogant, cocky, angry. And like so many criminals, not marksmen. It shows in their stance, the way they aim. They oblige Orphan without argument or comment. They open fire. Semi-automatic 9mm rounds streak from their guns toward the stairs where Mercy is. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Dodging bullets isn't about being faster than bullets. It's about dodging the person holding the gun. Moving before they can react or in a manner that keeps the target hard to track, let alone hit. Orphan can read their lack of experience with weapons in their stance, she can also predict with an uncanny certainty how they will respond to every step she needs to take to close the distance between them. And she acts accordingly. Dropping another pellet at her feet as she turns sharply, the area directly around her becomes a smoke-screen. Her burst of motion in sudden, a half hair before they begin pulling the trigger to unload thier handguns in her direction. She's not adept at firearms, but she understands how they work, and she knows that the recoil grows increasingly more complicated to control with successive shots fired. She's fast, dodging down and near a table in a roll as she comes out from the spreading cloud of thick white smoke, and comes up with a chair hurled in one of their direction to try and take him even further off target so that she can focus entirely on reading one of them at a time. As she closes, her right palm comes in at a cross slap for the gun, left forearm snapping upwards towards the bottom of the wrist holding the weapon, trying to yank it out of his hand. Her shoulder is tucked down and back to prevent herself from being fired, never letting that barrel point in her direction, it very well may ''appear'' like she's dodging bullets... and that can be pretty damn intimidating. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The two men fire in Orphan's general direction one-handed until the first guy's gun goes into lockback and Orphan grabs the second's gun. The walls are decorated with bullet holes. The man Orphan reaches is strong and does not loose his grip on the gun. He does hammer the fist of his freehand down at Orphan. The other stops shooting, closes the distance between the men and lashes out at her with a boot. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Over confidence is a weakness. Orphan will kick herself for that later, amongst other things and it will definitely net her a black eye from the massive hammer fist slamming down against the side of her face temporarily rendering her vision a blur and dislodging her tenative grip on the weapon when she brings both hands up to to protect her face. Fists clinched, one forearm up to absorb any further blows directed at her face while the other cranks up and back slightly to protect the more vulnerable portion at the base of her skull. A little armored cave for her hooded head between the gauntlet she's wearing while her senses have a chance to comp. It's not a slow turn over. The kick comes at her and she punches for the center of the shin, just below the knee of the offending assailant. It likely wouldn't break it even if it did connect, but those fists have metal barbs on the knuckles by way of her gauntlets and applied directly at the nerves below the petela, it could be an agonizing recoup period and make him think twice about trying it again. Rope them. Let them tire themselves out with big lobed punches while she either eats them on her armored forearms or out right moves to let them pass by close, but harmlessly, over shoulder and the side of the face. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Jesus Christ, you fucking bitch!" the man kicking shouts when Orphan's barbs cut into skin. He lashes out in pure rage but the pain in his leg flares when he puts it down and stumbles toward Orphan instead. "You're gonna love what I got for you," the man who punched Orphan says with a leer. He leans forward and tries to get his arms around Orphan, trying to pick her up and crush her to him. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan lets herself be grabbed, dropping her arms down to her sides when those arms begin to loop around her, and immediately slams the curved part of her forhead - literally the hardest bone in the body - forward towards a relatively unprotected face. Simultaniously, her foot cranks back and comes forward with the toes pointed straight in the vague direction of her assailants groin. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Orphan explodes forward into the nose of the man grabbing at her. "Fucking /bitch/!" he shouts. His hands shoot to his nose and he reels backwards. As Orphan goes to kick him, the stumbling man todders into her and before catching himself on the edge of the couch. The bump sends her aim a bit wide and she kicks nosebleed in the thigh instead. He swears more. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan finds herself back under her own control and sans, at least temporarily, one of the pair of men to concern with. The other draws full attention and she rushes at him, dropping her shoulder slightly to bullrush at his solar plexus with the curve of her arm. Fists up to protect her face in this less than advantageous positioning. It's been a longer than usual fight and while she's plenty of gas left in the tank, she's definitely starting to sweat and breath a little harder for it. Time to end this. Just wait for the right opening. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nosebleed takes the hit in his ample gut and continues to stumble backward. He swipes blindly through watery eyes at Orphan with a bloody hand. Knee tries to stand and finds he cannot. He falls on his good knee and tries to aim through the pain with one hand while holding himself up against the couch with another. But Nosebleed is directly on the other side of Orphan so he does not shoot. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan continues to press the attack, circling around nosebleed to keep him between herself and knees with his pistol. A foot plants on the arm of the couch as a pivot point in a snap around kick aimed for a the broad side of Nosebleeds face out of an elevation hike into an aerial kick over side flip that ends in her ducking down behind the same couch. A hand presses temporarily against her heaving left flank for a second, groaning quietly at the pain of her breath coming in a little ragged against obviously broken ribs. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nosebleed staggers under the assault. The kick to the head spins him to the right and he stumbles to his hands and knees. Blood drips from his face to the floor. He snarls, looks over toward Orphan and starts to get up. His vision is clearer now and his look is pure fury. Knee gives up waiting and fires three rounds in Orphan's direction once Nosebleed goes down to his hands and knees. "Fucking die already!" he yells at Orphan. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Typically this would be a compromised position. Orphan is anything if typical. The small black clad figure circles off her seated position and wraps around the arm of the couch in a low crouch run that gets her out of direct line of fire of the handgun and Nosebleeds direct line of sight. A black clad hand grips her gapplegun with her fingers laced over the triggering assembly and she comes over the back of the couch at Nosebleed from th otherside with it swinging out in his direction to fire the high powered air-launch hook directly towards the center of his chest. She finishes out her leap by wrapping the high tensil strength cord around her right upper arm in a twisting whirl. Pivots on her back leg to wrap more around her waist, steps in to grab another hoop around her left thigh, and ducks her head to scoop up a little more. The hook is left dangling about three or four feet out from her thumb in a cutting side to side turn that crosses it over her body with the whole length bundled up around her like a coiled spring. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nosebleed takes the grapple full in the chest and lands on his back as his feet are suddenly moving forward faster than his top half. He lands heavily and gasps for air like a fish out of water. Knee hobble turns and points his gun Orphan's direction. "Who the fuck /are/ you?! The hell do you want?" he asks. He tries to look tough, but the quiver gives it away. He is in pain and has fired most of a clip at this woman and nothing stuck. For all he knows, everyone else is dead. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan is a black smear against the dark flicker of lights in the club house, twirling that hook back and forth in a methodical motion that crosses over her chest. She takes a single step towards knee, but advances no further than that, nor does she say a single word. Quiet, no visible face beneath her hood because of domino mask and cloth wrapped over her mouth, she could just as easily be the vengeful spirit of the clubs victoms as a real woman. Certainly she's the violent tendencies and quickness to suggest it. She also understands fear. Fear is a weakness. She does not have that weakness. "Drop. Gun." She tells the lone remaining conscious biker. Prepared to release that grapple at him like a snapping cobra strike if his finger twitches towards the trigger. She's completely done screwing around. She hurts. She's having trouble breathing. She feels a deep guilt for the woman laying dead on the couch. But she's focused.. ready to make good on the unspoken promise of violence despite all of that. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Orphan sees the fear cross the man's face, the near compliance. And then the anger. The bitter rage at being bested. Knee's finger starts to clench on the trigger. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' The hook is flung forward, Orphan's body straightening to release all of the coiled cord out along the length of her body like a spring. Immediately yanked back enough to grab a length, plenty to swing it around like a hook bat in a lobbing side swing just incase the first missed. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The first does not miss. It strikes true. The only sound left is Nosebleed still gasping for air. The football announcers calling plays on a television with a broken screen. A woman whimpering and fighting back mewling cries upstairs. 

:'''{{#var:1129|Cassandra Cain (1129)}} has posed:''' Orphan presses the retraction button on her grapplegun and fixes it back to her utility belt as she stands in the flickering darkness of a concophanous sounds assailing her. She hears it all, drinks it in, and lets it soak her down to her bones. With a suddenness like she's going to immediately spring back into action, she moves to try and collect as much information as she can, a sample of this new drug Hook, but once she has.. she sits down on the couch with the corpse of that young woman, lifts her head, and lays it in her lap. Tears build up behind her brown eyes, but never really fall, and slowly... silently... she weeps. 
}}

8444/Saved: Best Intentions

2019-07-22T22:41:23Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/22 |Location=American Museum of Natural History, New York City |Synopsis=Cyborgs attacked a busload of Xavier students. Beast, Jubilee, Pol..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/22
|Location=American Museum of Natural History, New York City
|Synopsis=Cyborgs attacked a busload of Xavier students. Beast, Jubilee, Polaris, Mason and Elixir are forced to respond.
|Thanks=Beast, Jubilee, Mason, Polaris
|Cast of Characters=1798,95,1776,128,59
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The trip to the American Museum of Natural History was carefully set up. A charity that offers mutant children educational experiences chartered the school bus. The students, all from Xaviers, were brought to the pick up site in different groups. There was no way to tell this group of students were all from Xavier's which was as it should be. The trip was mandatory for quite a few students and staff were along of course. Josh volunteered for a chance to get out of the lab and do something normal. He sat up front in the bus texting and reading on his phone as they trundled through New York Traffic. The students were as kids were anywhere on field trip. Mostly loud, carrying on their dramas and glad not to be stuck in a classroom on a nice day. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy considers it a treat to go with the kids to do this. He's not driving, but he's also in the front, leading the excursion. "Good to have a little break, Josh? Jub's right. We have to avoid going too hard, as much as we want to give it everything. It doesn't help anyone." Though right after that, he makes a round walking down and back up the bus asile, policing the kids. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     Sunglasses. Mirror lenses. Ball cap. Less trendy clothes. There. Perfect disguise. His blonde hair splays out beneath the Dodgers ball cap. He leans over the back of seat behind Hank. Is there lipstick on his face? Not unlikely. "So. Doc." He glances out the window and back to the teacher. "You're SURE nobody knows," he glances at the bus driver. "I mean..." he lowers his voice. "What about her?" His paranoia of discovery is at an all time high. the lipstick is probably an indicator of why he agreed to go on the trip in the first place. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' It was all in the name of getting Lorna to not fixate on the issues Genosha's royal family was facing. (Notibly the country only needed one magnokinetic to obess over details at once) So the green haired Princess was put on Chaperone duty at the last minute to keep her from sulking about the Mansion. A field trip was safe, or at least, supposed to be, and she needed a day away from it all. Mason's comment had the green haired young woman grinning, as she leaned over the chair to face him. "If anyone figures out anything it'll be my fault. And then they'll be screaming about my father, and either it'll end badly or amazingly. Just chill." She shrugged, and sat back. The young woman was dressed in a pair of slacks, and a loose fitting silk blouse and an oversized pair of sunglasses. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee is sitting next to Henry in a soft pink sundress and sandals, her hair put up in a neat twist held in place by a pair of yellow chopsticks, crossed and speared through her hair. She's turned and looking out the window, fidgeting next to Henry. Then leans against his shoulder. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Dude, seriously, stop freaking out. If nobody figured it out when you were all up in Andrea, they're not figuring it out now," Josh chuckles. Josh gestures meaningfully to the side of his neck. "Thank god that mess is over...." The bus rounds the corner approaching the museum. Traffic is relatively light for once which is a gift. "What the!" the bus driver gets out and slams on the breaks. Everyone is pitched forward suddenly. The bus screeches toward a heavily built man with buzz cut hair standing in the middle of the road. The man drops his shoulder, braces himself and the bus, almost done braking, drops from 5 mph to 0 against his shoulder. The front fender of the bus bends around the man like tin foil with a screech of metal. Before the shock wears off, a tall blond woman and a broad shouldered hispanic man charge off the sidewalk into the right side of the bus. The bus leans, then tilts, then falls on its side. Students scream and yell. Cars screech and honk outside, crashing into each other to avoid the bus. The rear emergency door of the bus is torn off and thrown casually a good 20 feet by a a beefy Asian guy. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy comes up behind Mason. "Relax, all you're doing is bringing more attention to yourself than you would. Nobody's going to recognize you unretouched unless you make a scene of it." Yeah, he went there about the truth of publicity photos. And then it happens, he skids forward, right up with the driver and sees everything. Once the bus is getting tipped, he climbs out, and starts swinging at ^one of the people responsible for tipping over the bus. So much for that jacket. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     "Yeah but-" Whatever Mason was going to retort with is never finished as he jolts forward, chest first into the seat in front of him. "What the heck?" he starts to clamber as the bus tilts, and then as it falls over, he finds himself hanging from the seat next to the window. "What hit us?" he asks, joining in the panic of the other students. He looks down, other people below him, and reachs a foot out to brace it against the luggage rack of the ceiling so he won't fall and land on anyone. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna pulled out her Genosha made phone, shrugging to herself as she tapped away on the glass thin screen and seemingly losing herself to whatever business occupied her for the moment. So when the bus suddenly ground to a halt, she was jammed forward against the seat. She stood, to look out at whatever was the cause of the bus's sudden halt. "What the hell...?" Was all she got out before the whole bus went flying to the side. Lorna was thrown hard against the other seat, and bounced against the ceiling as the side slammed against the pavement. Her head cracked sharply and the world went black as she was knocked out cold. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee finds herself squashed by a backpack full of books, sitting on what should be the wall of the bus, but is now the floor. "Ow,' she breathes with a groan. She climbs up the floor and pushes herself out a lowered window on the bus, looking down at the ones who tipped it, and Beast, who came out punching. But for the moment, she watches, hoping they don't notice her sitting there. She doesn't want any undue attention until she has a game plan. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The bus is lying on its left side. There are students yelling and crying. The ones on the ground side of the bus are trying to pick themselves up off the windows, many of which broke. One that were on the right side of the bus, now the top, are trying to lower themselves down without falling on friends. Some are helping each other up, others are frozen in place or just bewildered. Josh was jolted against the seat in front of him, then slid out across the aisle and landed in a heap with two other students in the row behind the driver. There is a golden glow from in there, some swearing, then Josh and the two students with him untangle themselves slowly. "Lucy, help me find the hurt ones. What the hell is going on?" Josh demands. "Oh shit, everyone back!" he shouts with wide-eyes staring at the back of the bus. The short haired man at the front of the bus smashes the windshield with a punch, drags the driver out and tosses him out of the bus like a ragdoll. People on the sidewalk scream. At the back of the bus there is more screaming. The beefy Asian guy makes a grab for one of the students, a kid that looks suspiciously like a frog. He leaps backwards into the crowd of students in various states of picking themselves up behind him. The others yell and crowd backwards away from the man. Above on the right side of the bus, there is a thump as the man who helped push over the bus jumps up and lands there. He smashes one of the windows and looks down into the bus. Hank explodes up through the bus doors and lands on the street. The underside of the bus is exposed beside him. The woman who helped push over the bus starts to turn but is caught in Beast's first swing. She is too heavy and too hard for a human. She is lifted off her feet and slams into a storefront, breaking bricks. She peels herself out with a sneer of pure hatred and lands on the sidewalk. Her eyes flare red and she advances on Hank purposefully. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy tilts his head Jonathan Frakes style and bellows "Rrrred alert. Josh, Jub, Lorna, Protect the kids." He obviously didn't know Lorna was already knocked out. The jacket is torn off, and the tie, as he begins charging right at the dense woman over there, shoulder first. A feral look in his eyes. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     Mason flinches away as the window above him breaks. He clambers down one seat to try to get away, and then slips, falling and joining the rest of the students on the new floor of the bus. Fortunately, he landed on his feet with the help of steadying himself agains the ceiling. "There's somebody coming in through the top! He announces, and then looks toward the screaming in the back. "And through the back! What's with these psychos?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Seeing the back door open and the kids backing away from it, Jubilee makes a purposeful drop back into the bus, and she begins swinging from the now top seats two at a time, over the heads of the students like they were monkey bars, and she drops directly in front of the door, lowering her hands to aim them out the door, toward the Asian man, letting loose a near primal scream as an anger-driven plume of blue plasma the size of a piano billows out that back door, and directly into his face. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' The woman facing off with Hank feints and lashes out with a jab, followed by a roundhouse kick. She moves fast, too fast for a human but nothing near speedster quick. The man in the front of the bus starts climbing in. "Ah, shit. Everyone out the back! Move it!" Josh shouts. He starts pushing people toward the back in a hurry. Jubilee's blast does not so much send the Asian man flying as it burns off his entire top half from the belly down. Sparks shoot out of metal and wires inside the torso before it topples over. Students need little more encouragement and start pushing for the rear exit. The man above drops down into the bus, badly injuring a student he lands on. He is not far from Jubilee and she hears the screams. He knocks kids aside charging at the short X-Man. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy fortunately is a bit faster than the typical human himself. His bare feet enduring the heat of the asphalt, not even noticing it with all the rage in him, he's doing his best to match her move for move, taking swings every chance he can with his simian limbs, hurling his entire body at her relentlessly. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     Mason is one of those students in the way. Fun fact. Mason has a significantly higher mass than he appears to. While he's not a skilled fighter, he knows this much about himself.     He sees the many students that are about to be trampled, and throws himself back against the man coming through the pathway, seeking to send him inbetween the seats rather than continuing toward Jubilee. What next? Um... he didn't think that far. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Sonofa..." Jubilee trails off, hearing the screams behind her, turns to see the source of discontent. Flashing a look between the two, she mutters under her breath. "These /are/ the droids I was looking for." She pivots and leaps, climbing near spiderlike along the seats above her head. Once she has made it over the heads of the students, she drops down in front of the man who just boarded the bus and stomped a kiddo. Then got backed into a corner by Mason. Jubilee doesn't have the weight behind her to move Mason, and she is not about to use plasma on the bus, so she does the next thing that comes to mind. She leaps over Mason's head and grapples onto the probably-a-droid's head like a helmet, holding on with arms and legs. "Help me get him outta here!" she shouts to Mason, as she covers the guy's eyes with her arms, and probably some pink crinoline from her skirt. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Die..." is all the probably very impressive sounding war cry the woman gets out when she strikes at Beast. He slips inside her kick and drives a massive blue fist into her face. There is a creaking noise then a snap. The woman's head simply flops backwards. There is no blood. The head hangs down her back by a mess of wires rising up out of her neck. Her body jolts, quivers and falls over, leaking some kind of clear fluid. The man in the front gets to Josh, grabs him by the shirt and slams the young man into the windows of the bus above. Josh falls back down behind the crew cut cyborg who grabs the next student and chucks her with bone breaking force. Josh glows after hitting the deck and shakes his head. "What the hell, man?" Josh says. He gets up and grabs the girl that was just thrown, healing her as he drags her back a bit. The cyborg advancing through the bus was clearly planning on trampling Mason. Instead he stops as if hitting a wall and is rocked back on his heels. When Jubilee jumps on him, the man flails toward his face. He seems to have no exact idea of what is on his face or wear, as if he cannot feel Jubilee pressing on him. Kids are starting to limp, crawl, run and drag each other out of the back of the bus. Sirens have started up in the background and a horrified crowd of onlookers has gathered around the bus. Some brave souls have run toward the back of the bus and are helping the kids get clear to the safety of the sidewalk. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy isn't quite hulking out now,but he's definitely beasting out. Once he sees the wires, he jumps on top of the 'woman', tears her head clean off with two hands, and holds it into the air. "A robot," he shouts. "A robot sent to harm children. This is what they're doing now." He then rears his hand back, and throws the head up into the air, and on top of the nearest building, in pure rage. That giving him the time he needs to clear his head enoug, and run to help the kids get away himself. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     "Wow, that worked a lot better than I thought," Mason says with a smile, breaking the focus to set his sunglasses right again. "Hey Josh, did you see-" he turns around to find himself face to face with the man running toward the back of the bus, and finds himself simply putting out his hands to stop the incoming cyborg, but unlike last time, he didn't have a chance to plant his feet, and is caught rather flat-footed. Maybe he should spend more time focused rather than being pleased with himself. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee, seeing Josh and his new friend, curses under her breath. "Nevermind, there's not time!" she shouts. She plants her hands firmly at the temples of the Droid she's riding like a mechanical bull, issuing forth tiny plasmoids from her palms in an attempt to melt through his "flesh" and detonate them inside the head, in miniscule explosions. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' People back away with horrified looks and screams when Hank tears the head off the cyborg. Some break and run. It takes a moment for the realization to set in that he had torn the head off some kind of robot instead of a person. The crowd goes quiet momentarily and then there are shouts of outrage matching Hank's own. More people come forward to help. "Tell me later Mason!" Josh shouts. He runs toward the cyborg that threw him and plants a push kick squarely in his ass. The cyborg stumbles a half-step forward, too heavy for Josh to knock over. The cyborg misses a grab for another student. He turns toward Josh, snarling. Josh backs off quickly, making for the front of the bus. He is physically out-matched and well aware of it. The cyborg in front of massive convulses then goes slack and falls to the ground. There are smouldering holes its temples. Blood, clear fluid and the smell of burnt meat and plastic come out of the holes. Students that had been trapped between the cyborgs scramble past Jubilee and Mason for the rear exit. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy shouts to the people persuaded about what he said. "Bring help, please. Some of these kids are hurt. Any first aid kits?" He'll lift any kids he has to to get them distance, while the fighting goes on. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     Mason nods, "Yeah, uh," he backs up from the cyborg toward Jubilee. "Uh, Ms. Lee?" he says, not confident in a second engagement. He took the last one to the side by the nature of the force it was charging him with, but there's no rock in here for him to manipulate, meaning he has fairly limited power. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' With a groan, Lorna rolled over, blinking repeatedly to clear her eyesight of the fog that a concussion would cause. The magnokinetic already had issues regarding the entire Earth's magnet spectrum running through her brain at any given moment. A concussion was not good for her control. As Lorna awoke, the cars down the street had their alarms go off. Cell phone coverage went in and out, as she rose up on the magnetic fields she found her magnetic senses to be stronger than her eyes. Her figure lifted up into the center of the bus, a snarl on her lips as she flung out her arms in the direction of the cyborg approaching Josh. A twisted sound of rage escaped Polaris as the metal of the bus twisted into needle like, sharp protrusions spiked out at the cyborg attacker. Meant to stab him over and over repeatedly, metal twisting and slithering through his body and viciously ripping it apart. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee has little strength to offer, besides adrenaline-fueled rage. She doesn't dare fire anything ranged in the bus, so she bolts for the cyborg, meaning to shove her hands against his chest and do what she did to the last. But the second before impact, a sharp metal protrusion rises from the floor and between her feet, snaking up toward where her hands are planted. The metal tentacle grazes her calf, and then her wrist as Jubilee jumps back with a yelp. "JESUS, Lorna!" She pants, and checks the minor wounds as she backpedals. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' There are blood-curdling screams of terror inside the bus from the handful of student who are left and see the fate of the last cyborg standing. Josh backs off numbly, trips over the windshield frame and falls onto the concrete outside. He scrambles backwards wide-eyed. When the carnage stops, the cyborg is hung in mid-air in the bus, pinned three ways by metal protrusions. It twitches. Clear liquid and a small amount of blood drip from its wounds onto the ground. Josh turns around onto his hands and knees and retches a few times. When he gets control of himself he pushes to his feet. "Hank.... Hank? Hank!" he shouts and gestures toward the bus. He walks unsteadibly at first, but regains his footing as he gets underway. "There's some down in there." Josh looks around to get his bearings. A couple of police officers are pushing their way through the crowd toward the bus. An ambulance is coming up the sidewalk in one direction. People are helping injured and a couple of unconscious students sit or lay down on the sidewalk in front of the museum. People are standing around watching. Taking cell phone videos. Josh cannot really hear them. He focuses on the injured students. Starting with the worst off, he moves from one to the next glowing gold and healing as he goes. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy very gently sets down the last student he was getting away, and starts marching to the bus. His jaw clenched, that feral rage still in his eyes, he starts running, pulling pieces of the bus off their hinges and joints if he has to, yanking seats out, to get at any injured students and enable easier access. 

:'''{{#var:1776|Mason (1776)}} has posed:'''     Mason backs away as the fluid runs out of the cyborg, and his eyes behind the shades go wide. "Wow, that's... damn." He stumbles away toward the back of the bus, and climbs off it. There's people everywhere. He trusts in the power of his shades and ball cap, and takes a rather more nonchalant stance than likely most present, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he tells the officers that swarm the bus. 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' It soon became clear why Lorna was having trouble seeing. She had a head wound, and those typically bleed far more than they need to, a shallow scrape was to blame and continued to interfere with her eyesight, no matter how much she rubbed and blinked at her eyes to try to clear them. The magnokinetic grimaced but used her own magnetic fields to get around the whole 'unable to see clearly' part. Lorna's figure slowly eased back to the ground, or at least on the side of the bus. As it became clear to her that no one else was attacking the group on the bus. Still, there was an overwhelming humm of electronics. Of metals. Of living things with their nerve endings and synapses. Normally it was easy enough for her to filter through the chaos, but now, it only contributed to the pounding pain at the back of her skull. A hiss of a breath escaped between her teeth, and she slowly lowered her raised hands, the metal spikes slowly wove back into place in the bus's sides, allowing the mutilated remains of the cyborg to fall to the ground with a sickening crunch. But the more Lorna stood still, not really moving, the more her powers started to slowly worm through her grip. Her control, usual so refined, was as damaged as her head. And all the way down the block, the power would surge, and flicker. Cell phones, car lights, street lights, cameras, and microphones.. All the little daily electronics in the area would likewise face the magnetic sputtering she was struggling to contain. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee, likewise, stumbles off the bus. She has a cut on her left shin and one on her right wrist, both of which are bleeding moderately, but they are clearly not major injuries. She carries bloody sandals in her hand, wandering about, and looking to rooftops, alleyways, anywhere someone could be hiding to watch their attack go awry. Touching Josh's shoulder lightly, she utters a soft question. "Hey...you doin' okay?" In the background, Henry is giving the bus a damn good thrashing. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Pieces of the bus go flying as Hank works furiously to get to injured students. He moves fast and the builders of the yellow school bus anticipated kids and car crashes, not half-frenzied mutants. Whole benches are ripped off their moorings easily. Remarkably though, with the care born of years of medical practice, Hank is able to care students out to the triage area without causing further injury. When Mason comes out of the bus, three of the high school senior girls rush over to him. One is crying and clings to him and the other two start fawning over how brave he was fighting those men. A couple of other girls glare daggers at these three. A couple of the guys glare their own at Mason. A pair of young Caucasian kids in shorts and t-shirts scramble away from where they were taking photos of the headless cyborg body when Hank comes out of the bus the last time. Car alarms, lights and phones ring, flash, honk and even move a little randomly, sparking consternation from the people gathered around. More police are flooding into the area now, moving people back further. The first news van rolls up a 100 feet away and its crew deploys to film the aftermath. Paramedics have rushed to start working on the kids. They very quickly grasped what Josh is doing and ask no questions beyond whether he can fix a tension pneumothorax, grade two compression, compound fracture or other things they find. They work as a group doing rapid triage and calling Josh over to the worst in order. Scrapes and bruises and the like are dealt with by the paramedics or ignored for now. Josh reaches down to touch the broken and twisted leg of Ben, a high school junior. Ben is pale but joking around trying to assure his friends and himself that he is okay. His hand glows golden and Ben looks suddenly blissful. His leg visibly straightens out to normal and the spreading bruise on it disappears. "Thanks Josh!" Ben grins, flexing his leg experimentally. One of the paramedics, a young woman with brown hair pulled up tightly in a pony tail shakes her head. "That's incredible," she says. Josh looks up at Jubilee. He is getting pale and sweating and smiles queasily. "I'm good, I'm good, that was just...." he looks back at the school bus and shudders. "I'm fine." All the cellphones in the immediate area ring in unison and then stop. "The hell is happening?" Josh asks Jubilee. Then he is pulled by a second paramedic to look at a pregnant woman complaining of stomach pains. She was in a car that crashed avoiding the school bus when it flipped. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy knows Josh is going to do a better job healing than he can in this situation, so he does some quick triage, pointing Josh to those who needs the most help. And then sets about protecting the kids in another way: PR. Adjusting his collar, he rubs his face and tries to calm down, attempting some brief meditation, before approaching the gawkers. Addressing them, and the approaching camera crews as they start to arrive. "I'm Dr. Henry McCoy. I'm a teacher that came with this school bus full of students on an educational field trip. We were attacked, and the bus pushed onto its side without warning, by a team of robots. Please keep your distance, to protect the privacy of the students as they are now undergoing emergency medical treatment. I'm here to answer any questions you have about the trip, and the attack." Large arms are going to block any gawkers who try to get closer than absolutely necessary. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee checks with Hank next, petting his arm gently as he lowers a scaled boy around ten years old to the ground for triage. When all the phones start ringing, people begin making noise. And with that many people making noise, Jubilee looks around hastily. "Oh shit, where's Lorna. Somethin' isn't right..." She jumps up and climbs back into the bus to look for her. "Josh, zi might need you, I dunno what I'm gonna find in here." 

:'''{{#var:128|Lorna Dane (128)}} has posed:''' Lorna had slowly lowered herself down to the ground, pressing her hands against the sides of her head. She exhaled a shaky breath, trying to block out the noise.. that wasn't a noise at all. It was the static background of all the magnetic objects and eletromagnetic items around them. It bore down into her skull and with the concussion, the green haired Princess couldn't process what was happening around her. She couldn't filter the objects around her and everything that should've been easy to block out was impossible to ignore. The blood around her head wound was slowing to a sluggish crawl and sticking to her green hair in thick chunks. Her breathing was erratic, and while she tried to do maintain her grip on her powers, it was slowly becoming harder and harder. Normal people got a concussion and couldn't read, or look at screens. Mutants got concussions and things tended to get out of control. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' A reporter pushes their way in front of Hank and starts peppering the well known mutant with questions. She is quickly joined by a half dozen others and a pair of news cameras. With the cordon established, the police start asking students who is in charge and looking for the adults from the bus among the throng. "What? Okay," Josh says and gets up. He runs after Jubilee. "Wait, we've got..." shouts one of the paramedics. "I know, just wait," Josh calls back. When he rounds the underside of the bus, Josh ducks inside after Jubilee. He almost walks right past Lorna when he passes one of the benches Hank dropped. But the glimpse of green in the corner of his eye gets his attention. "Shit, Lorna," Josh says and calls over to Jubilee. "She's over here." "Hey... Lorna, it's Josh," the young X-Man says and kneels down beside her. He looks her over and puts his hand on her forehead. "I'm gonna help, okay? You're gonna be fine." "Wow, you really hit your head," Josh says once he gets a feel for the injuries. He takes a breath. His glows with a golden light, and spreads a liquid warmth through Lorna's head that drives out her pain and confusion. Her eyes focus, everything comes back into focus and then finally her gashes close. When he is finished and drops his hand, there is blood left on Lorna's face but injuries. "Man, it was supposed to be a museum trip. Like boring shit," he says to Jubilee as he pushes himself to his feet. He exhales and smirks. "Does anything ever go smooth at the school?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Oh heck yeah," Jubilee replies with a grin, relieved to see Lorna healed. "When it's time for something to blow up the mansion, it blows up pretty as you please." 
}}

Template:TPPage

2019-07-22T19:41:56Z

Tykhin: /* Other Information */

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8445/Undercurrents: Analysis

2019-07-22T19:41:28Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/22 |Location=Science Labs, LexCorp Tower |Synopsis=Lex Luthor gets an analysis of Hook from his scientists and sets them to finding counter..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/22
|Location=Science Labs, LexCorp Tower
|Synopsis=Lex Luthor gets an analysis of Hook from his scientists and sets them to finding counteragents. He orders strikes against groups importing Hook into Metropolis.
|Thanks=Lex Luthor
|Cast of Characters=92,100
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' It's taken a bit of time to get his 'trusted' chemists gathered, but LexCorp has reach, and resources... and Lex knows his talent. What they're doing isn't illegal by any means... but Lex has no interest in having the result of these tests published or known. There are many parties pushing this new fad... and he doesn't want to give those parties any warning on his plans, if he has to act against them. Four chemists of various specialties have been called to subject the sample of Hook to vigorous testing. Animal testing and indirect human testing (there are people in the city using this stuff right now. Who better than the average Metropolis citizen kidnapped from their beds and taken back thinking the whole process was a dream to test on?) were approved, as were secrecy measures to keep the rest of the floors Labs in the dark. They've had a full day with bleeding edge state-of-the-art facilities, and some beyond (this is LexCorp, the only company in the world with Brainiac derived sensor technology), and Lex was coming down the elevator, Hope and Mercy flanking to either side as Lex adjusts his black business suit. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Dr. Julia Armstrong is in the lab leading the group of chemists. Serious, ambitious and amoral when it comes to advancing science, she is currently reviewing a projected display of three neural maps on the lab's main holoprojector. On other displays there are chemical analysis, a gantt chart showing progress and live video of test subjects in various states of stupour, distress or death. rDr. Johal Gupta, with his salt and pepper hair, is leaning against a high lab workbench and paying more attention to Dr. Armstrong's curves than her words. Dr. Sarah Quan, the youngest and arguably brightest of the group his hunched over her computer typing away furiously. "... making it obviously a non-trivial application of esoteric forces. Which I told you from the beginning," Dr. Sydney Lane, an older reed thin British man, pontificates. When the doors to the lab open, Dr. Amstrong looks over. She turns fully when she sees Lex Luthor walk in. "Good morning, sir," she greets him. Dr. Gupta turns his gaze to Hope and Mercy. Dr. Quan does not look up and Dr. Lane looks annoyed that his monologue was interrupted. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' Doctor Lane is utterly ignored. Lex has pressing matters of both time and potential underworld politics to consider. Ego stroking is not on the list of his priorities. "Good morning, Doctor Armstrong. I trust that we have preliminary results with the time I've given you." Lex informs Julia. While Lex also has an appreciation for beauty... flirting with his employees is a good way to distract then, and Lex is utterly serious about getting through this meeting quickly. Mercy and Hope both notice Gupta's gaze, but the two Amazonians are always on their best behavior when it comes to their on-duty bodyguard work. Stepping into the lab, Lex glances over to Doctor Quan briefly... but doesn't interrupt her. Instead, he looks back to Julia, his hands behind his back in a formal manner as he approaches, "What do you have for me." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Dr. Gupta," Dr. Armstrong prompts. The man turns his attention away from the Amazonians. "The drug is a novel compound. I am convinced the psychoactive component, a heroin analogue, is naturally derived. There is nothing on record anywhere to identify its source. It is mixed with more mundane compounds that appear to be filler. Though we learned that it was not that simple," Dr. Gupta finishes and gestures to Dr. Armstrong. "The drug is several times more potent than fentanyl. First hand reports from test subjects are that it gives a more enjoyable and lasting effect than other heroin analogues," Dr. Armstrong reports. "When the psychoactive element is administered on its own and the subject is then deprived, it induces severe withdrawal effects. These are life-threatening in approximately 15% of subjects, which is higher than seen for other drugs in the same family. All animal models responded as expected to the psychoactive element." "But that element is most important," Dr. Quan insists curtly in accented English. She finally looks up from her computer and towards the neural map projections. "Those are from brain of rat, monkey and human. The filler create very fast change in neural pathways to make brains addicted. One does of filler makes healthy brain like heroin user of many years. So drug filler psychologically conditions brain right away if psychoactive part of drug not given." "This is not in science," Dr. Quan says with a gesture to her laptop as if that explains it. "Too fast changes, too many. Very specific." "Which I told you from the beginning," Dr. Lane interjects. "I surmised immediately that esoteric energies were involved beyond the chemistry. The compound itself does not justify the intense need subjects display for it after even a single dose. Obviously, it there is an element of magic. Thankfully, I have excellent contacts. A very prestigious colleague of mine of many years, happens to have studied alchemy extensively. He discovered a pair of incomplete reports that suggest this 'filler', a ridiculous name for such a highly advanced chemico-magical mechanism, is Atlantean. The match is far from perfect, but nothing else in his immense experience comes close." 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' There's a long moment of silence as Lex visibly takes it all in. "Magic. Of course it's magic." Lex muses, a mix of sadness and anger in his tone, before he looks to the four in turn. "So what you're telling me is the 'mundane' components of this new recipe seems to be there as a disguise, with the non-filler components magical and possibly Atlantean in origin that gives all the characteristics of a bio-weapon with addictive properties." Lex sums it up, before he looks to Julia, "is that your assessment?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "No," Dr. Armstrong says. "It appears to be an ingeniously engineered narcotic. One that could easily displace any other illicit drug on the market." Dr. Armstrong gestures at the holographic display and a visualization of Hook's chemical makeup is displayed. She wanders around it as she speaks. "More potent than fentanyl, a better high than heroin, cheaper than crack cocaine at current prices. Perfectly tailored for human neurochemistry from a plant source we cannot identify. And to make sure its users must come back, to build an unbeatable market share, the alchemical compound, the 'filler', alters neural-pathways. A first-time user gets the ingrained psychological need of a three decade heroin user in minutes." "It's brilliant, is what it is," Dr. Lane says. "Whoever did this was exceedingly skilled and will soon be exceedingly rich if they control supply. Who will want any other drug once they've tried this? And they will do anything to get it. Crackheads will disappear to be replaced by fishbait." "Not hookheads? Or just addicts? Fishbait?" Dr. Gupta snerks. "That will never catch on." "Why not?" Dr. Quan asks seriously. "Hookers is taken." 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' There's a silent nod from Lex, "If we can't identify where it comes from, it's probably Atlantean in origin." Lex speculates, before he heads to the main database terminal and starts to go through all the notes and test results, confirming for himself what has been said. "This has all the makings of establishing a covert beachhead. They'd turn humans into spies with one dose." As he types away, surveying all the test results for himself... "This was very good work, all of you. It answers some very relevant questions." There's a moment of silence as he finishes with the first few hours of data, "Metropolis is going to be flooded with this and it'll turn into a mess if this isn't controlled." He looks back to the four, "For the speedy work, I'll be adding bonuses to your next payday. As you can imagine, the results of this will be kept secret." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, sir," Dr. Armstrong says for the group of them. "We will destroy any copies of data beyond what you will be given and dispose of the test subjects carefully. If there is any further need for us in this, I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we are at your disposal. I highly doubt the public health authorities will make any headway with something this sophisticated. However, some pharmaceutical companies may attempt to capitalize by developing overdose aganonists or some sort of vaccine. "Without an expert in esoteric energies, I do not see how it would be possible," Dr. Lane sniffs. "But I am known for doing the impossible." Dr. Gupta rolls his eyes and Dr. Quan goes back to her laptop. "I come back only if he fired," Dr. Quan says dryly and points at Dr. Lane. None of the scientists seem quite sure if she is joking or not. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "I'd like to find a way to counteract or mitigate the symptoms if possible. Keep covert study going for now. I'll give you all access to relevant databases for reports. if you can find the source of the components, all the better." Lex informs them as he finishes surveying the data, "I strongly suspect this drug is just the beginning, and I want to get out ahead of it." Lex turns then, and starts to head back to the elevator, "If you need anything else, Doctor Armstrong, let me know. I consider this project among my top priorities right now." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Of course, sir. I will put through a request for some support staff to speed this along," Dr. Armstrong says. "Weeks together. Maybe months," Dr. Gupta says, staring after the Amazons. He brings his gaze back around to look at Dr. Armstrong with a smile. "An unexpected pleasure." Dr. Lane huffs when he is not singled out for special praise by Lex Luthor, or even acknowledged. "You are all fortunate I can spare the time. I'm very busy." "Good. You go get busy, I know much better chemist. He can do your work and be very quiet," she says with a look of annoyance at Lex and Dr. Armstrong. "You're just angry because your sad little school has no hope of taking you to the heights of..." "Thank you, Dr. Lane," Dr. Armstrong cuts him off firmly. "We enjoyed working with you." Dr. Lane's face turns purple. He looks between the three scientists and finds no friends among. "Fine, I look forward to hearing of your inevitable failure," he says and slams his tablet down on his workbench. Dr. Lane stalks out of the room. "See? Better already," Dr. Quan says and goes back to typing. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' It's unfortunate for Doctor Lane that Lex assigned Doctor Armstrong as project lead for a reason, and he's currently racing the clock against how much damage Hook is doing. "I'll keep in touch." Lex states as he turns back around in the elevator, presses the button to head to his office, and brings his arms behind his back once again as the doors close. About five seconds of silence follow, before... "I didn't want to do this, but the fools bringing Hook into the city won't look at the long term costs of this. I'm going to have to take extreme measures." Lex informs Mercy and Hope. "Mercy, inform Alpha and Bravo Squads that they're going hot. I want a full tactical squad ready to go in two days. Make calls to our usual assassins as well, tell them to get to their safehouses. Hope, inform the Captain for the docks he's about to have a serious workload placed on him, and we're going to need cover stories for syndicate hits." There's a moment as he looks at his watch, "In exactly three days, Metropolis is going to be bathed in blood to get Hook out of the city." 
}}

8395/Undercurrents: Unto Caesar

2019-07-18T17:28:59Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/18 |Location=LexCorp Tower, Metropolis |Synopsis=Lex Luthor gets an update on Hook and the drug situation in Metropolis. He gets a sample o..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/18
|Location=LexCorp Tower, Metropolis
|Synopsis=Lex Luthor gets an update on Hook and the drug situation in Metropolis. He gets a sample of Hook for examination.
|Thanks=Lex Luthor
|Cast of Characters=92,100
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' LexCorp Tower. Anyone in the know in the city knows this is where the real decisions are made in Metropolis. There are others around... but Lex Luthor does not tolerate challenges to his authority, and has a well earned reputation for being utterly ruthless in pursuit of his interests. The Man of Tomorrow has incredible vision and plans for the long term... and in order to keep those plans sustainable, a hierarchy must be established, and communication must be kept in place. So when a new drug comes into Metropolis without authorization or even a word to him? Lex was /not/ happy, and had immediately sent One of his fixers to track down the dealers, and follow the chain. One of those chains led to MD12... and Lex has called upon their leadership to answer to him for the potential insult. A representative, along with samples, were requested. This morning, Nove is being summoned up directly into his office... the Lions Den, as it were. Team Luthor are on high alert for any deceptions, with a team on standby in the express elevator if things turn ugly. Lex himself stands in the back of the office, looking out into Metropolis proper wearing his impeccably tailored black business suit, while Hope and Mercy stand on either side of the massive desk where Lex runs the LexCorp and Light Empires from. Both are wearing actual security gear for this one, in a show of how serious Lex is taking this meeting. The representatives are directed up through the main elevator without issue, with a Team Luthor escort of two 'guiding' them along... and when they enter, Lex remains silent as the scanners in the office check for bugs and other equipment. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Wisely, Nove, Mosca and Tijolo left their weapons in their 700 series BMW. They have their cellpones, which buzz frequently unless turned off. These are what one would expect; Hard, scarred and no-holds barred men. Nove has a MD12 tattoo square in the middle of his forehead, the rest of his face covered in overlapping skulls for each of his kills. Mosca, slimmer than Nove but wiry, has an intricate Supay tattoo worked across his bare scalp and MD12 on the backs of both his hands. Brick has MD12 tattoo along one cheek with a range of others down his neck. The arms and hands of all three are similarly covered. When they come into Lex's office they are alert and confident. Tijolo stares down the security personnel. Unlike professional security people or warriors, these men are savage in the way only their lives produce. All three did time in South America before coming to the States and are fully committed MD12 men. Nove stands ahead of the two flanking him and looks squarely toward Lex. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' The Team Luthor contingent in the hallway coming into the office let them through without issue, but keep their eyes on the three as much as vice versa. Hope, on the other hand, visibly hardens as they come in. She doesn't make any movements, but she does stay on alert. As the watch on his wrist covertly gives him the green light for obvious potential bugs, Lex finally turns around and looks to the three, his hands behind his back in a formal posture, "Welcome, Nove, Mosca, Tijolo. I trust that we don't need to waste time on unpleasantness, so I'll not waste it." Lex gestures with his right hand behind, over the window as if to Metropolis itself, "I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. We've had a wonderful relationship in the past, and as you well know, I like to be kept informed of the goings on in /my/ city." Lex looks to Nove, ignoring the other two, "so would you be so kind as to explain why 'Hook' is being brought in into Metropolis, and not a single one of the groups allowed to control pipelines in respected me enough to negotiate a cut?" Lex narrows his eyes, "the Maggia and the triads are known for being wild cards with their own agendas.... but I was given the impression there was more respect between us than that." "Was I wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nove gestures to Mosca and crosses his arms. "The drug is new heroin, so we give you the same percentage," Mosca reports with a heavy Portugese accent. "Heroin has gone up 25% per kilo in two months, cocaine 30. Your American authorities are making problems at the borders. Hook is cheaper than heroin was last year and more powerful. More addictive. We make up lost profits with volume and new clients. Profits are up 12% a week for three weeks now." "There is no problem," Nove asserts to Lex once his subordinate is finished. "My suppliers change what they get, we change what we sell. You still get paid." That is a blasé assessment given how extremely addictive Hook seems to be. It is /very/ early stages, but public health authorities are starting to glob on to there being a problem. And the adjustment in the mix of drugs in the pipeline is causing street level turf battles as groups try to retain or increase their previous profit levels. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "You might not care what comes into any city as long as it sells, but I do. Profits don't matter in the least to me if authorities can't keep a handle on the effects." Lex informs them as he starts to walk over to Nove, "Attention from authorities outside my control means more scrutiny for us all. That needs to be managed, and I can't manage it for the benefit of us all if /I don't get informed about the change/." Lex is visibly growing angry at Nove's assessment. He stops a few feet away from Nove, his hands still behind his back as he narrows his eyes at the man, "For now, I want a list of all your suppliers selling Hook, and I want the sample I requested for my own assessment. I need to get out ahead of this before it gets out of control. The Public Health authorities are already scrambling over it." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nove shrugs and gestures to Mosca. Mosca pulls a double-bagged, vaccum-sealed package of off-white power from his pocket. "Two ounces, pure, $4000," Mosca says. He gives the bag to Nove who offers it to Lex. "Careful, big man. One smell and you belong to MD12," Nove says impassively. It might be a joke. Who knows. Nove narrows his eyes though. "Everyone is selling, it is better than heroin for us. You want a list of everyone?" he asks. Making such a list is anathema to him, Lex would know, because it creates evidence for the cops to finds. "If he is MD12, he sells this now. We are pushing people off heroin for it." 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' The bag is taken by Mercy, who comes from around the desk for it, and she places it in a desk drawer, before going back to her position to the side of the desk. Lex, for his part, doesn't move a muscle as it's retrieved. "You'll be compensated well for it." Lex informs Nove. "And if everyone is selling, it'll be easy for me to find them myself. This is new... I originally thought only a couple people would have it, but if it's that big already, this has been in the works for some time." Lex muses aloud, before he moves around the desk and sits down behind it, leaning back into his chair and steepling his fingers, "I haven't made a decision about whether to allow Hook into Metropolis yet, so I'll allow you to sell it for now. Just keep in mind, /if/ I clamp down, MD12 will be expected to follow that order... and I will enforce it with my resources on /everyone/ in my city if need be. Am I understood?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' For once Nove has an expression. His forehead furrows. "Clamp down? That is not your decision," Nove says matter-of-factly. "I have orders. This is where we are going. I am told to work with you, I work with you. You get paid. I am told we sell Hook now, we sell Hook. You tell me to stop selling Hook, I sell Hook and we fight." Nove shrugs again. 

:'''{{#var:92|Lex Luthor (92)}} has posed:''' "What you do outside of Metropolis is not my concern. What is my concern is the ecosystem of this city and if what you do outside of it spills over here." Lex informs Nove, "For now, this is enough. Tell your leaders that I appreciate your willingness to talk, and that I'll be in touch." Lex looks to the Team Luthor escort that stayed at the doorway, "my men will escort you out." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nove's face goes back to simply impassive when Lex reaffirms his realm is Metropolis. "They will know," Nove says. He looks to his own men and they follow the Team Luthor escort back out of the office and away. 
}}

8396/Saved: What is the Right Call

2019-07-18T17:28:35Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/18 |Location=Medical Lab, X-Men Base |Synopsis=Cypher and Elixir talk about the ramifications of healing powers becoming known. They settle..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/18
|Location=Medical Lab, X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Cypher and Elixir talk about the ramifications of healing powers becoming known. They settle on sandwiches, but no answers.
|Thanks=Cypher
|Cast of Characters=1798,1126
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh is in the medical lab and for once it is quiet. Unusually, their guests were /all/ asleep. From the occasional writhing, groans and profuse sweating it is not a restful sleep. Three are on IVs and the readings on all of their monitors suggest minor distress. Josh is paying no attention to them at the moment. Something dubstep plays while he bends over a petri dish with a single roundworm in a light green solution. One of beast's scanners is set a bit above the dish. Josh reaches in, holds a finger near the roundworm and his hand glows. The roundworm curls up. He makes the same gesture and the roundworm straightens out and wriggles listlessly. He repeats this several times, checking a neural map on one of the computer screens each time. He has a half-empty coffee mug beside him. His hair is a mess but he is at least in a fresh pair of jeans and t-shirt. His flip-flops are on the floor as he sits cross-legged on his chair. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug has been making the rounds after the end of the workday at Evolution, and he looks pretty haggard himself. Sweaty and tired. He enters the lab, and then looks at the kids going through detox, before he looks at Josh, and rubs the back of his neck. "I promised myself I wouldn't be up in your business after our fight." He rubs the back of his neck, the 'but' hanging there in the air. "Carlos isn't going to keep quiet. He's a nice guy, but it's going to slip out. I can tell. More to the point... how many other people have you done this for?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh leaves his roundworm wriggling slowly and looks up. He leaves back and swivels his chair so he faces Doug and runs his hand through his hair in a vague, unconscious mirror of his friend's gesture. "Ah... A few," Josh admits. He looks abashed and conflicted. "The kid with leukemia across the hall in my old place. And his little sister's bronchitis. A couple people that got trampled in the church Sentinel attack... Some Russian guy that got shot. That one's already bit me in the ass. That girl from the third floor who keeps getting beat by her boyfriend. Forget her name... Carlos. I'm sorry Carlos was harassing you, man, that's not cool." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "He wasn't harassing me. He was desperate, and he was scared." Doug says, sitting down, with a sigh. Then he looks up at Josh, and says, "Here's the thing. You offer people what is, essentially, a miracle. When people are desperate, when they're scared, they stop thinking. They think only of the miracle, and not of the person delivering it. You are standing at the edge of a bottomless rabbit-hole that has to do with everything from human rights to religion." He sighs, and says, "...They're going to talk. Word's going to get out, and more and more people are going to start showing up. More people than you can help without hurting yourself. And when you start turning them away... things are going to get ugly. Don't-- mistake me for a pessimist. I'm a realist. I can see patterns as they unfold and I can see what's coming. Maybe not exactly how..." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Shit... I know, I just," Josh sighs and squirms. He looks down at his hands. "I can heal them. Like, actually, really. I feel like I'm /supposed/ to... It's one of the only times I don't feel like a piece of shit." "I don't know how I can say no to people, Doug," Josh admits. "It'd be like killing them." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug sighs. "You think I don't know that? You think *I*, of all people, could look Carlos in the eyes and say 'I'm sorry Carlos, everybody dies'?" He clenches his jaw. Then he says, "...I don't talk about it much, but I was raised Mormon. Then, when I was a teenager, I decided I was an atheist. ...Then I joined the school, and saw my first demon, and now I don't know what the hell I am. I will say, some of those beliefs did stick with me... and I guess the one that's kind of universal is 'to he whom much is given, much is expected'." Then he sighs. "What's stopping you from selling your services and making a bundle. Or from starting a religion around yourself?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I know you know, you texted me, right? I mean, Jubilee said I should just keep it secret, but she hasn't had that happen to her. But they're stoked when I fix a cut on Lorna's hand, or a hole in Andrea's head, or wake Illyana. But help someone out there who doesn't have all this, and whoa, hang on," Josh says, frustrated and looks Doug in the face. "I'm glad someone gets it." He picks up his coffee mug and just hangs on to it in both hands. "I was Church of Human Potential," Josh shares, referring to the extreme anti-mutant Christian sect. "I get feeling like everything you believe is kind of turned around." When Doug mentions selling his services or starting a religion, he frowns, confused. "What? I wouldn't... I never thought about any of that. I don't wanna like, exploit people. Seems so wrong, you know? Dick move." "I guess I could get rich people to pay so I can like, focus on improving and helping people, you know?" he admits. Josh scratches his head. "Never felt like asking anyone for it. It's not like I earned this ability." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "My point is," Doug says, "That's what a *bad person* would do. That you instinctively recoil from that ideat testifies to your character, not against it." "People get duped, they get deceived. Sam worked for Donald Pierce for a hot minute as a teenager before he saw what was really going on and joined the school. He doesn't like to talk about it even though he didn't really do anything too terrible before he figured out what Pierce was really after." He huffs out a sigh, and says, "When you have the ability to help, it can be hard turning people away... I can't even begin to suggest where you should draw the line. But desperate people don't think, and you only have so much of yourself to give. Now, you have a couple of choices. One, you can start turning people down flat, two, you can go off the radar and lie low here at the school for awhile, or three, you keep helping whoever asks for it and damn the consequences to yourself." "...I don't know what the best choice is. If anybody else approaches me I'll do my best to divert them to Cecilia Reyes's clinic, but I don't think people are going to take 'no' for an answer from you." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks really surprised that Sam ever had anything to do with Pierce, but he slumps down again and chews on his lip as Doug continues. This is far from Josh's usual posture or presentation. Doug can easily tell this question eats at him. "I don't know where to draw it either, all those choices seem shitty. It sucks, I mean, Superman can go out and use his abilities, and you can use yours, Rachel... But I've got this and the 'smart' thing seems like I should just like, hide it. But I don't wanna answer for all the people I should have helped..." "I really don't know what to do, Doug." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "I can't lie to you. I don't see a happy ending to this." Doug says, before he heaves out a sigh. "You have to decide where the line is." "I will say this--I do think sometimes the X-Men treat your powers too cavalierly, when they're available. You have to assert yourself there, too. We have the best medical facilities in the world, and *those* don't wind up in a coma if we push them to their limit." Then he sighs. "...Right now?" He shrugs, "...Right now you have a sandwich, I guess. And then start figuring out how to disappoint some extremely scared, desperate people." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh nods as he listens to Doug. He sighs as well and slips his feet back into his flip-flops. "Scott did says the X-Men carry the weight of the world, right?" he says ruefully and gets up. "Sandwich sounds good. Join me?" 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug mutters, "If the wrong people understood what I could do, I'd wind up enslaved to the CIA or SHIELD or MI-13 or the KGB or the Mossad or somewhere I don't care to be. And it wouldn't matter what I wanted. If they couldn't own me, then they'd have to kill me. But I don't *want* to be a spy. Your powers are a part of you. You decide how they're used, or not used. Nobody else. You want to help people, that's good. But you have to figure out how to use your gifts to help them *sustainably*." He puts his arm around Josh's shoulders, as they walk out. "We'll work our way through this." 
}}

8373/Saved: A Simple Request

2019-07-17T18:54:52Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/17 |Location=Club Evolution, Mutant Town |Synopsis=Cypher gets an unexpected request from a desperate friend, and has to deal with Hook try..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/17
|Location=Club Evolution, Mutant Town
|Synopsis=Cypher gets an unexpected request from a desperate friend, and has to deal with Hook trying to worm its way into the club. Scarlet Witch and Elixir show up to help.
|Thanks=Cypher, Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,1126,70
|Tinyplot=Saved
|Tinyplot2=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' It is midday in sunny New York, so the streets are busy in Mutant Town. Going, coming, hanging out, there are people everywhere. Some are in work clothes, some in summer attire, some flying through the air on leathery or feathered wings. The street makes its usual sounds, traffic, talking, sirens, hurrying. A normal day, textured in its own particular way, but woven of the same cloth as a hundred others. The deviation in the tapestry is subtle at first but Doug is well aware someone is coming his way shortly before they reach him as he walks down the street. "Doug! Doug, wait up," comes the voice from behind him. Carlos comes pushing his way past other pedestrians. Carlos is regular at Evolution, and an outgoing guy, certainly an acquaintance. He works for a cleaning company doing nightshifts and vaguely simian facial features from his mutation. Watching him climb and clown around reliably gets a laugh. He's like an adult Curious George without the tail. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug is talking to one of the other bouncers. "So you keep an eye out for people who're tweaking. This is a nightclub, we deal with reality, but you also make sure to do a drugs check on everybody you let in. Make them turn out their pockets and purses. No backpacks allowed in. If they complain, explain the situation with the new stuff to them, if they don't like it, tough--" He looks up at George, and his expression brightens. "My man!" He goes through an elaborate handshake with the simian mutant. "What can I do for you today?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hey!" Carlos says brightly. He nods to George. "Hey, I know you're busy man, but uh, I need a favour," he says to Doug. He is clearly not comfortable asking but whatever it is, it's important to him. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug puts his hands in his pockets, and then says, "...Come inside." He jerks his chin, and then he takes Carlos into the club, to the back office. "I can tell whatever this is, you don't want to tell me about it on the street." He gets a couple of bottles of water, cracks one, and tosses the other to Carlos. "You know that I'll help however I can. What's wrong?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Carlos follows Doug in, evidently relieved. He takes the bottle of water, thanks Doug and takes a sip. He sits foward with his arms resting on his knees. "I wouldn't bug you if it wasn't important, I don't wanna bug nobody. But I got some real bad news," Carlos says and makes a face. "I got cancer, man. Bad. Doctor says it's in liver and, uh, lymph loads or something. Whatever, it's bad. Four months without treatment, maybe a year with treatment. But I can't afford any of that. I'm just a janitor. It's scary man, I don't wanna go, I'm only 26!" 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug thinks about that, and then he sighs, and sits back, and says, "...Wow. I'm sorry man." Doug exhales, and then says, "Thaat's horrible." He looks up, and then says, "I--" He thinks, quietly. He knows some doctors. Some *really good* doctors. Experts in Mutant Genetics. And Mutants are sometimes treated badly by flatscan doctors. But how much of his privilege does he have the right to exercise here? He flattens his mouth into a line, and then he says, "...I understand. Better than you know." "Tell me what you need me to do?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Carlos looks down. "Thanks, man. Really," he says. He scuffs one of his feet on the floor. "There was this guy that was living in an apartment up the street? I heard he can do stuff. Fix people. Like, I heard his neighbour's kid got leukemia and he cured it! I went up there, but his place is empty now. Nobody knows where he went." "I've seen him here talking with you and that Kitty girl you brought around," Carlos continues. He looks up and his expression is pleading. "The blonde guy, Josh? I gotta find him, Doug. I need his help. I don't wanna die like this." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug pauses. Oooh. Oh boy. You don't need his powers to see the writing on that wall, he just sees them outlined in fire. "...Listen, Carlos--" Doug says. "I can do a lot of things for you. I can get you access to counselors, I can get you in to see some really *excellent* doctors who can give you a second opinion and help you get access to treatment--" He's just not sure that he can, in good conscience, do this. He doesn't have the right. He closes his eyes, and pinches the bridge of his nose. "...Look. It may not seem like it, but I've been where you are. I know it's scary." He just took the trap-door plunge version of it, not the slow march, that's all. "...I know Josh. He's not a miracle worker." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "No, it's true," Carlos says, moving closer to Doug, freaking out a little. The man is desperate, afraid and certainly not at the point of accepting he has cancer and will die. "The kid, ah, some Russian guy that got shot, Angie that comes in here? Duke beat her down again but she went to Josh. Please, Doug, you gotta talk to him for me. I can't afford chemo, or any of that. /Please/ just promise me you'll try. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't desperate." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug sighs, and gets his phone out. "Have a drink of water. Ten deep breaths." He texts using his thumb, rapidly. 'One of the regulars is in here begging to sesh with you. Terminal C. Whatever you're doing, people are talking.'" He scowls, and rubs the back of his neck, but can see right now Carlos is not in the mood for being talked down. Not when he thinks a miracle is a text message away. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Thank you, seriously. If there's ever anything I can do for you," Carlos gushes, relieved. "I just, man, I didn't know what I was gonna do." There is a short pause before Doug gets a text back from Josh. <Shit. K. Tell him to stay there and shut up. Sorry D. brt> There is a flash of scarlet light from the main room of the club. "Doug?" Josh calls from down by the bar. "You up there?" There is the sound of two pairs of feet walking up the stairs to the office. Josh looks his usual toussled self in shorts, a t-shirt and flip flops. "What's up?" he asks Doug when he gets to the office. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff follows behind Josh. She's wearing a pair of jeans a t-shirt, and is still pulling her hair back and securing it with some clips, as if not having planned on going out anywhere today. She drops off a few steps as he heads over to Doug, giving the pair space to talk, but also being nearby in case she is needed. She glances around the club, not having been here often, and not in the daytime certainly. Quite a different place without the energy of the crowd in it. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "Carlos..." Doug says, but then he frowns. How can he tell this guy not to expect miracles without feeling like an enormous hypocrite? He looks up. "In the office." He looks between the two, and then says, "Josh, this is Carlos. He's just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, and--" He sighs, "He needs help." Then he looks over to Wanda, and his expression says 'You're okay with this?' before he says, "I'm not in the favor-trading game, Carlos." Just having a crisis of conscience, that's all. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh runs a hand through his hair with a look of concern and offers his other hand to Carlos. "Hey, I think I've seen you around," Josh says, and chews the inside of his lip. "Sorry to hear, man. That /sucks/. I'll have a look, k?" "Serious? Thank you, I was telling Doug, I'll do whatever, I'll pay you back, I can...." "Uh, no man, it's okay. Just don't tell anyone, you know?" Josh says. He looks up to Doug and Wanda then crouches in front of Carlos. Josh holds out a hand to Carlos who offers his right eagerly enough. Josh concentrates and his hand glows golden. "Wow, yeah man, that's scary. Liver, feels gross," Josh comments. "Yeah, they said I only had a couple months. Can you..." Carlos stops. The golden glow spreads from Josh up Carlos' arm. Carlos' eyes go wide but he starts to smile in wonder. "It's warm," Carlos says. Josh stays still for about five minutes and then glow fades. Josh pushes up, and wobbles a little, like he was having a head rush. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Pietro Maximoff is the speedster in the family. Yet Wanda seems intent on challenging him at how fast she covers the short distance to Josh when she sees that wobble. Her arm slips about the taller young man, helping support him. "It's ok. Maybe sit for a few more seconds?" she suggests, but won't do anything to force Josh back down into a seat if he doesn't wish. Green eyes are cast over at Carlos. "He can't handle helping everyone that might need healing. Keeping this in confidence would be very much appreciated," she tells the young man. Her eyes go back to Josh, expression a mix of warmth and concern over what he's done for Carlos, but also seeing the toll it took on him. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug gets Josh a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and a granola bar. "Sorry, it has raisins in it, it's the kind Sam likes." And he's the boss. He has no further stake in this game, at least that's how he seems to feel, before he puts his hand on Carlos's shoulder, and says, "Just the same, I know a mutant-friendly GP. I want you to go talk to her, okay? Her bedside manner is... prickly to put it best but she's a *really good* doctor and she won't rake you over the coals or cut corners." He looks to the other two. "I think he should see Dr. Reyes, just to be sure, but..." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "I have to go back to instructing the bouncers about what to look for, we've got more and more junkies strung out on this *stuff* showing up at the club--" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "So, that means?" Carlos asks with a big smile. "Yeah, you're good. Go to the doctor like Doug said, but you're good," Josh assures him. He takes the water with a grateful smile to Doug. "And seriously, just, don't tell anyone." "I won't, I promise, I won't," he says with a big grin. "Dr. Reyes, I'll get an appointment right now! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Carlos fairly bounces out the door. "Sorry that happened, Doug," Josh says, looking a bit sheepish. The colour is returning quickly to his face. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda smiles over to Doug as he brings the water to Josh. And Carlos gets one as well as he promises he won't tell others about the healing. "Good luck to you, Carlos," she tells him, flashing the young man a smile as he starts to bounce out. Wanda moves to take a seat by Josh, hand gently rubbing the top of his back. "Does it take more out of you, the more that you have to heal?" she asks him quietly. Wanda frowns just a bit and tells Doug, "It is definitely a problem, this new drug. Hoping to figure out something of its source," she tells him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Carlos flashes Wanda a big grin and is gone. He can be heard taking the stairs a few at a time. "Yeah, it does," Josh replies to Wanda. He drinks from the water bottle. "That wasn't too bad, just quick, so it got me a bit. Shoulda taken more time. But he's gonna be fine, that's the important part. He had a weird heart murmur too, probably didn't know it. Fixed that too," Josh says with a grin. He takes Wanda's hand and squeezes it. "Thanks for getting me here." He looks concerned, too, when Doug and Wanda mention Hook showing up at the club. "That's not good at all. We really need Hank or someone to come up with something. I mean, even if Hook disappeared tomorrow, those people are gonna be doing anything to find more." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stays seated at Josh's side as they talk. "Of course," she says to him of the timely teleporting, and with a smile as if glad to have been able to do it for him. "We'll have to work out the best way to do things before we make our trip," she says thoughtfully. She trails off, expression suggesting her mind is working. "I wonder if you could draw some strength from me. We were able to work together on Sarah. Maybe you could use some amount of my power to conserve more of your own?" she says slowly. "Something we can try at least?" The woman slowly nods at the mention of the drug. "I spoke to someone at the Surgeon General's office, saying I would try to forward information if they could help disseminate it. They will want to do their own tests for confirmation of the medical parts, I imagine. But they seemed receptive to the offer." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "That might work," Josh says of her suggestion, smiling a bit. "I mean, maybe. Can't hurt to try it. Maybe on a plant or something first, but yeah. Oh man, if that works, it would be awesome. You probably don't need me though, it feels like you could do anything you wanted." "You did? Oh that's awesome, I guess it helps to know people. They gotta start doing something. It's pretty crazy stuff. Well, wanna go get something to eat? Don't have to hang around here." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The suggestion of a test seems agreeable to Wanda, but Josh's optimism also brings a warm chuckle and a shake of her head. "I thank you for your confidence. But I have limits like everyone does," she tells him. "My gift for healing is nowhere near what yours is. Not remotely. Healing some bruises, or closing a serious wound enough to save a life? Those things I can do. But what you did for Carlos? No, I would not even attempt it on my own. At best I might manipulate his chances with treatment." Wanda rises to her feet then, slipping her hand over into Josh's. "We haven't gone too deep into my powers, but much of it has to do with shifting probabilities. It's complicated to explain how teleporting comes from that, but it does in a fashion," she says. When he is ready, Wanda will walk with him to the exit. "The Sailor? That burger you bought for me the day we met would hit the spot right now," she tells him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I think you're just being modest. You /are/ the Scarlet Witch after all," Josh says with a smile and gives Wanda's hand a squeeze as they walk out of the office. "But I'd love to learn how it works. Like, really would." "So Sailor it is! We gotta get the onion ring tower thing this time. You like onion rings? There's are so good. He walks through the empty club with Wanda. When they pass the bar, he looks back at the dance floor, and at the tall speaker beside the DJ's setup. He grins at Wanda and then keeps walking. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda follows Josh's glance to the speaker. She breaks out in a smile and leans over to brush a kiss to his cheek. "I don't know if you know a way to get something to the girl. Dream, it is, yes? But I think I'd like to send her a gift if so. I know she's given me a great one already," Wanda says, leaning her head over against the taller youth as they make their way out of the club. 
}}

8371/Undercurrents: K Crew Caught

2019-07-17T18:22:58Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/17 |Location=Shredder's Warehouse |Synopsis=Shredder finds out why K Crew had a shootout with MD12 and sends a message. |Cast of Characters..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/17
|Location=Shredder's Warehouse
|Synopsis=Shredder finds out why K Crew had a shootout with MD12 and sends a message.
|Cast of Characters=1233,7620
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|Tinyplot2=City Fall
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Unauthorized fighting in a quieter part of town. Unknown reasons. K Crew was supposed to know better. When the report reached The Shredder's ears, naturally he was...displeased. He sits casually on the metal throne in the basement of an otherwise unassuming warehouse. Upstairs teenagers engage in all sorts of entertainment, free of the rules of society, enjoying the benefits of their alignment with the Foot. MD12 is not part of the Family of the underworld, and so while the summons to Nico was probably not unexpected, it's possible he's only an account to give, rather than be in any severe danger. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Nico, a tall, juiced African American man of maybe 25, strolls into the warehouse with Beats, shorter, slimmer, but wirey. They knew better than to carry coming into Shredder's turf, but still mouth off anyone who checks them. They pass the teenagers with looks of contempt and give just about any nearby Foot member hard looks. When they come into the throne room, Nico saunters up. Beats is a step behind and when they are stopped, Nico looks over and smacks Beats in the back of the head. "Take your fuckin' hat off, show some respect," he tells Beats. Beats glowers as his hat gets knocked to the floor. He bends over and picks it up, but stays quiet. When he stands up, he watches Shredder warily. "Yo, so you called, we're here. What's up?" Nico says as casually as he can, standing in front of the head of the Family on an iron throne. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     The Shredder is quiet for a second, letting the antics pass, then leans forward. The uncomfortable sound of steel against steel sliding together can be heard as he folds his hands, the blades on his fists sharpening each other.     "There was an altercation a few days ago," he says quietly, but with gravity. "Another gang outside of the family came to your turf, and you opened fire immediately upon them. Our control is preserved by the nature of giving the people who are outside of the underworld the illusion that we do not exist. When there are open firefights in a shopping center, that illusion is shattered. I want to know why you thought this was the best immediate approach to your troubles." 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Nico shifts uncomfortably on his feet but does his best to keep an air of indifference. "We keep it quiet, just do our thing on our block. But these fucking chicos come in and start saying we gotta bow down and kiss their asses or they're taking over. Saying they wanna 'negotiate'. Total bullshit," Nico says, getting heated. "Can't take shit like that. Fuckers are gettin' hungry cause crack's so fucking expensive now. You see the prices for a key? So they wanna bump us off so they do more Hook. Fuck that. So we showed them where they can shove it." 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     The Shredder narrows his eyes as he listens, the scarred left eyebrow visible. "Hook." He says the word as if requires a definition. "We will eliminate them if they are causing problems, or else let them be lost to the criminal system, whichever is more convenient." He dismisses this other gang as nothing more than something to use a flyswatter on. "This new drug, it has caused a good deal of disruption in the city. What is it and where did it come from?" 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "You gonna take out MD12?" Nico says, startled at the idea. He shares a look with Beats. Both are taken aback. K Crew came up as a neighbourhood kids basically, a bottom-tier group. "Shit. Yo, Hook's the shit right now. Gettin' a key of cocaine or heroin is costin' more. But this stuff came down, like half the price cost per key of heroin and I can cut it way fuckin' down. Shit's like... super smack." "Yeah, 'cept they come runnin' back faster. It's fuckin' gold," Beats says, enthused. Then he realizes he spoke and shuts up. Nico gives him a sharp glare. "So like, anyone not doing smack before is gettin' squeezed, they're trying to move in and Hook's the game. It's gonna get ugly until shit shakes out," Nico continues. "But we're gettin' it same as usual, comin' down from those fuckin' chico motherfuckers in Newark, you know? But I hear they're not the only ones bringing it in," he confides. "Word is, the fuckin' Triads got it, too. It's like, comin' down all the usual pipes." Nico looks uncertain for a moment and then ventures. "Yo, so if you're gonna waste MD12, you need someone to fill in, right? We got you," he offers. Ballsy in the circumstance, considering he could not manage to keep his own quiet corner peaceful. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Do not test my patience," Shredder answers to the request from Nico. "I will not tolerate anyone moving in on our organization here. The city is settling. MD12 will learn that at the end of a blade. But you have also caused disruption due to your indiscretion in public," he says sharply. "I will not see another disruption like the one that happened the other day from you." It's not a question, clearly. You should tell your suppliers that the Foot will not tolerate them moving this new drug through any unaligned gangs, or they will be removed from circulation." He stands to his feet. "You can tell them you heard it from the Shredder's own mouth. I will not accept disorder to my operation." From the stage, he looks even taller than he is. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Nico's eyes go wide at the direction from Shredder. "Hell no! That's asking to get wasted, I can't be tellin' the fuckin' Mexicans what to do. They'll waste my ass or cut me off!" Nico protests. Beats goes from concerned to downright alarmed. He takes a step back and away from Nico. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     Shredder leaps off the stage, right hand snatching out for Nico's collar as he lands in front of him. He pulls him close, the blades on the right hand naturally coming up against his face. "What did you say to me?" he growls. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' "Holy shit!" Beats says and scrambles backwards a few steps. He looks at Shredder and Nico and licks his lips. Nico shakes visibly. "Yo, yo, yo no disrespect, man, seriously," Nico says, eyes wide as saucers. "They'll kill my ass if I go tellin' 'em who they can supply. They're crazy fuckers, I don't wanna get done" he stammers out. "Naw man," Beats says carefully. "You're a fuckin' coward. This is the Family, yo, you do what you're fuckin' told." An element of disbelief creeps into Nico's face. "No, no, he's full of shit," Nico says quickly to Shredder. "You're full of shit, Beats! Don't act all fuckin' tough, you know what they'll do." 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "/I/ am telling them who they can supply," Shredder says. sharply, unamused. "And if /you/ want to continue with the success you've seen, and if you wish to keep breathing, you will relay that message to them. If they have a problem, they can take it up with me." He gives a short but powerful shove designed to knock Nico back and onto the hard concrete floor as he releases him. Beats' input is ignored. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Nico picks himself up off the floor. "Yeah, sure, I'll tell 'em," Nico says. He straightens his shirt and tries to look like nothing had happened. "I'll do it tonight, and shit'll be quiet. You got my word." It is Beats' turn to look terrified now. He edges back toward the door and then makes a break for it. "Yo, I'll deal with it, don't worry," Nico assures Shredder darkly. 

:'''{{#var:1233|Shredder (1233)}} has posed:'''     "Keep your coin on you," Shredder instructs simply. He wants to be able to respond if things to south to enforce the image that "The Foot always knows" image. He makes a casual shooing motion for Nico to leave. The conversation is finished. The Foot guards at the door watch Shredder, and as he doesn't seem concerned, Beats is allowed to leave without interference. 

:'''{{#var:7620|Frank Quaid (7620)}} has posed:''' Nico makes his way out. Once he turns away from Shredder his face darkens with barely contained fury. He stalks out of Shredder's warehouse and goes in search of a dead man. 
}}

8370/Undercurrents: One of Yours

2019-07-17T17:52:21Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/17 |Location=Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay |Synopsis=Bruce Banner meets with Aquaman and Mera to ask about a mystery ship. They c..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/17
|Location=Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay
|Synopsis=Bruce Banner meets with Aquaman and Mera to ask about a mystery ship. They confirm it is an Atlantean attack sub acting without orders. Aquaman and Mera are faced with a problem.
|Thanks=Hulk, Mera
|Cast of Characters=100,1271,338
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Unusually, the Poseidonis Embassy is outside the city proper, up Long Island. The spire-topped golden domes of the embassy building lay a short distance off shore in Oyster Bay. Boats surface dwellers from an embassy wharf to the building itself on demand. Today the sun is out and the ten minute ride to the embassy would be smooth. Smooth white stone under the domes is broken by arched green glass windows and doorways. An embassy representative meets anyone arriving and brings them inside. Virtually all the staff on the surface levels of the embassy are humans. But in the case of Bruce, he is expected and important, and an actual Atlantean in a water mask is there to meet him. "This way, Mr. Banner," the tall woman says through the mask. She turns and leads the way, blonde hair falling across the back of her long silver dress. Bruce is led inside where royal grandeur meets smooth technological and magical integration. A platform made of a disc of water trapped in some kind of transparent field takes him up a couple of stories up. His escort leads Bruce down a hall to a large room with a view out over the ocean. A long white table inlaid with gold is set in the middle and Arthur and Mera are there, neither needing masks. Arthur is dressed simply in loose white linen, watching a holo-display. "Majesty, Bruce Banner," Bruce's escort announces. Arthur waves at the display and it vanishes. He waves to the woman who brought Bruce, who bows and leaves. The door slides shut behind her. "Dr. Banner!" Arthur says. He walks over and holds out a hand. His handshake is firm, perhaps a little aggressive. "Welcome to our home away from home. I give you Princess Mera of Xebel, my betrothed," he says, introducing the two. He is more formal here than other times Bruce may have run into him, away from this environment. 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' Mera, dressed in a more formal suit that shimmers and glistens in the light, an iridescent green. It is accented by flowing ivory gossamer, and she wears a golden tiara atop her fiery red hair. "Well met, Bruce Banner. I hear impressive things about you. Out meeting is long overdue. I trust your voyage here was safe and pleasant?" She addresses him formally, and seems genuinely glad to meet him. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' Bruce has worked with advanced technology before, so probably unlike most humans that the Atlanteans come across, he's mostly curious, not impressed. Hell, he's created some seriously advanced devices himself in his quest to be rid of The Other Guy. Of course, none of them have worked, and in the years since his accident, he's not only become publicly outed as the other side of the Hulk, but he's joined the Avengers in an effort to gain some acceptance. Let's face it... the government could hunt the Hulk for the rest of his natural life, and all they'd do is piss him off, wasting trillions in taxpayer dollars in the process. So, he knows something about being an outsider in the world. By the time Bruce is in the room, his hands are almost in his pocket before Arthur is grabbing his hand for a handshake, with the sudden aggressiveness bringing a mild wariness to his expression. Still, he looks from Arthur, to Mera, and gives a small nod, "Princess." He states, a bit formally. A diplomat Bruce is not. "I managed to get back to the city in time for the appointment, and without any episodes along the way. A trip that doesn't end with The Other Guy smashing his way back west is always a win for me." His statement is singed with the world weariness of someone used to the world throwing him curveballs. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "We take our victories where we get them," Arthur says with a wry chuckle. He gestures to one of the chairs facing the window to the immediate right of the head of the table for Bruce to sit in. Outside, a few sailboats ply the light winds in the bay. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" Arthur offers and settles back in his chair at the head of the table. If Bruce wants anything, there is a faint chime of acknowledgement and a human staff member will bring it in shortly. Arthur calls for coffee for himself, occasioning another chime of acknowledgement. "Long overdue, and my failing. I would like to introduce Princess Mera to the rest of your team soon. We will be on the surface more in the coming months." 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' Mera nods to Bruce. "Well met. And I do look forward to meeting the rest of your team. Our endeavors in the near future seem as though they may be more entwined with yours and theirs, in many ways. To what do we owe the honour of your presence?" 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' Bruce sits down where he is offered, and he pulls out a picture from the satchel. 'No thanks, I had something along the way." Two pictures, actually. He places them side by side. One is an obscured, vague drawn image of a delta wing vessel. The other is a clear photo of a Atlantis-Poseidon strike class sub. Bruce points to the clear photo. "I'm here about this." Bruce gets right to the point. He points to the drawn photo. "This is what I can remember from when The Other Guy was underwater during a recent attack on a ship. He saw this while he was handling other matters." Bruce looks back to Arthur, "This is one of yours, right?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur tilts his head curiously to look at the pictures. His eyes narrow slightly and he gives a sideways glance to Mera. "Yes, that is right. That is Poseidon's Fist," he says and points to the clear photo. The vessel is cruising on the surface off New York in the picture. He had not been happy with that captain. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "This is the sub that shot the ship that was coming in for your Embassy. The one with all the supplies you wanted to bring in for some reason." Bruce continues, looking to Arthur, "whoever this is, they shot a bolt of plasma through it just as it was entering the harbor and ran. The Other Guy didn't actually see the attack to pursue, so I don't know where it went... but I can confirm it was there, and that a weapon consistant with your plasma torpedoes is what did the deed." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "You are sure you saw that?" Arthur asks and points at the drawing. His expression is neutral. The waters are murky in Port Newark," he says, floating a line to see whether Banner can be easily put off. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "Your Majesty, if there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that The Other Guy is not slowed down by the water. I know what he saw." Bruce asserts. "The sub was there. We slowly share memories over time, so I know what he saw." 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' "That's makes no sense," Mera observes quietly. "Arthur. There were none of your crafts which had either the clearance or orders to be in the bay at that time, we're there?" She looks somewhat confused, and more than a little concerned. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur taps one finger on the table and glances at Mera again. There is a pause. "No, there were not," Arthur agrees with Mera. "I had an accounting, it was not the Royal Fleet," he adds. Of course, the King's royal fleet was not the only one in his empire. "I had the final reports this morning." "This is very sensitive, Dr. Banner," Arthur says, clearly displeased this is being brought up by an outsider. "That ship was carrying supplies for an international relief force Poseidonis is assembling here. The entire cargo was spilled. There were no weapons onboard so we did not make it widely known." 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "I took a look at the manifest after the fact. You had everything /but/ weapons in that shipment near as I could tell." Bruce brings both hands into his lap, "obviously, since you brought it in via actual trade channels for the Embassy, I figured you wanted to keep this out of the Justice League. I can respect that, but this was an attack in US waters by one of your subs." Bruce looks to Arthur, "this isn't something I can ignore, and I wanted to get some answers here before I brought it up to the authorities. Since the other Avengers are too busy to look into this, I figured I'd come myself." Of course, the implication of that statement would probably not be lost on anyone; Bruce was counting on the Hulk to get him out of the Embassy if they tried to keep him quiet against his will. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "I am aware of the implications, and so is your government," Arthur says. "It is an internal issue, and we would appreciate your discretion. As I said, there were no weapons on that ship, it was equipment for an international relief force. Your government was fully onboard with it. In fact, I have another shipment coming in soon, since we were not able to recover all of the containers. Some were... Missing." 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "It sounds like someone in your Empire found out about the shipment and used the sinking to cover up a theft, then." Bruce reasons out, simply. "Good chance the next one will have an ambush too, then." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "Maybe," Arthur grants. "If they do not have what they need. I am sure the Avengers have more important things to deal with though. I assure you we can deal with it, and will find out who was responsible. There is no need to be concerned," Arthur reassures Bruce, all politician. "We appreciate you helping the crew of that ship. You saved lives, and we are grateful." 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' Bruce knows a dismissal when he sees one, and when Arthur reassures him, he doesn't argue it. Instead, he stands, places his hands in his pockets, and smiles to both of them. "Then I look forward to hearing about your next move." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Arthur does not look especially happy about the implication of Banner's comment but stands with Banner and offers a hand. "Thank you for visiting us, we will keep you up to date," Arthur promises, not wanting to prompt any more investigation by the famed Avenger. "If the equipment surfaces anywhere, you will be one of the first to know. And if you hear anything, I would appreciate the same courtesy." 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' "Your assistance is most appreciated," Mera replies, but her lips are pressed into a thin line. The audacity and attitude of this surface dwelling scientist strikes her as irreverent, pompous, and disrespectful. But duty dictates that she maintain a modicum of decorum. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' Never let it be said Bruce has ever been a diplomat, especially with the way the Atlantean royals are taking what he said. "I was referring to news networks, but if you want to keep me in the loop, I'd very much appreciate it." Bruce offers, picking up on their line of thought. Taking the offered hand, he shakes, before he starts to head for the exit. "Lots of pride... he and Tony would get along great." Banner mutters under his breath as he leaves. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Bruce is met by his previous escort and walked out to a waiting boat that will speed him back to shore. Arthur is quiet for a long time after Bruce leaves. He leans on the table with this fists and then walks to the window. He sees Bruce get on the boat. "Damn," Arthur says angrily. "This was supposed to stay quiet. It was bad enough happened, but if word spreads I will be fighting down new demands from half the realm." "I need to know if it was Xebel," Arthur says to Mera. "Anyone else I can deal with, but if Xebel is turning..." 

:'''{{#var:1271|Mera (1271)}} has posed:''' "I'll see to that immediately," Mera replies with certainty. "We will weather one rebel, Arthur. We will find them and eradicate them," she reassures him. "There will be recompense." 
}}

8359/Undercurrents: Coming Down

2019-07-17T03:32:18Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/17 |Location=Medical Lab, X-Men Base |Synopsis=Twigs tells Beast, Rogue, Jubilee and Elixir that the new drug they are investigating is cal..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/17
|Location=Medical Lab, X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Twigs tells Beast, Rogue, Jubilee and Elixir that the new drug they are investigating is called Hook, is cheaper than heroin and getting popular.
|Thanks=Beast, Jubilee, Rogue
|Cast of Characters=114,16,95,59,1798
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Medical is full and restraining fields are in use, confining people to the immediate space around their hospital beds. Sarah, 15, dark haired and hard looking for a kid, is sitting quietly, lost in thought. She scratches herself periodically and touches the restraining field every couple of minutes as if it might be down suddenly. Nadia, also 15, is sitting on her bed whispering to Twigs on the next one over. Both keep looking at any X-Men in the room darkly. There is another 17 year old girl, Maggie, apparently a pyrokinetic runaway. And Echo and Sable, a 19 year old girlfriend and boyfriend pair. They would not talk about their mutations. All of the 'guests' are antsy, twitchy and eager to get out. They have been asking all day and tried everything from threats to begging to offering sexual favours to be set loose. Josh has been down to help manage their withdrawal symptoms, but the truth is they have an extremely hard and medically ill-advised cold withdrawal ahead of them if soon if something is not done. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue has been in the room for a little while now with her arms crossed over her stomach, weaing a black teeshirt, blue jeans with a black leather belt and a small silver (X) buckle, leather boots and her leather bomber jacket. She'd been here to listen and chime in where needed, but its when she sees Nadia and this Twigs fella talking dark and secretively that Rogue reacts. She reacts by unfolding her arms and walking over to Twigs' medical bed. She puts her right booted foot on its end and shoves it across the room to send the bed, and Twigs slamming into the wall on the far side. She glares at him then. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy has had a busy day. He comes straight from the danger room. Still in a white lab coat over his hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts, safety goggles on his forehead. Finishing a Werther's Original in his mouth, he swallows the last little bit. He walks down the line of patients. "Josh, is there a list of patients' names?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee, likewise, came from the Danger Room. She's dressed in a form-fitting black practice suit and a yellow rain jacket, her brass goggles perched atop her head with her hair twisted up and held in place with red chopsticks. She watches the group darkly, remembering what some of them are capable of. And knowing what others have the propensity for, if given enough rope to hang themselves. Jubilee sighs, looking over at Josh. "They're all on the stuff, aren't they? Hook, I guess they call it?" 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh looks up from one of the desks when Rogue sends Twig skittering across the room. The field emitters adjust smoothly and he is just as imprisoned where he is now. "What the fuck?! Are you crazy? You gotta let us out of here!" Twig shouts indignantly. "You can't keep us!" Josh shakes his head and looks back to his computer. When Hank comes in, Josh holds out a tablet to him and swivels his chair face him and Jubilee who came in behind Hank. "We've got Sarah and Nadia, our students, you know them. Maggie won't tell me much about herself, except she's 17 and has been living in the Nachesko Building for over a year and from what she's done fiddling around, she's a pyrokinetic. Echo and Sable say they're 19, which fits with their scans. They won't tell me anything else about themselves," Josh explains. "And seriously, they're all gonna be in a hardway soon. They're not /injured/ so all I can do is hold off most of the withdrawal symptoms. But it's not gonna work much longer unless I can either figure out how to re-wire or we put them on something else. Which is apparently a weaning course of treatment. Who knew?" Josh finishes, waving at some reference material he has up on the computer screen. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue doesn't look to the others in the room at the moment, her eyes are squarely on that of Twigs as he gets mouthy after her repositioning of his place in the med lab. What she does do is refold her arms across her stomach and stares back at him with a cocky attitude-filled glare. She leans forward just a little before speaking. "Sugah. Ah I could fly you out over top've a volcano and drop you right inside'a it, an not a single person would be any wiser t'ward knowin' whatever happened t'your pathetic peddlin' ass. So you'd be wise t'mind your manners around me. If'n you knew what was good for ya." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy slides himself between Twiggy McStickface and Rogue, and slaps his thick hand on the kid's shoulder. Enough to hirt. Then he grips, and mutters "Come here you. We need to talk." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee watches the exchange, but has more important concerns than getting into a Twig-measuring contest with a skeevy drug dealer. The simple fact is, they CAN keep him here. His continued presence is a testament to that. "Josh, do we know if any of those opioid withdrawal meds work on this crap?" She asks Josh, as Hank has a chat with Sticky. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Bullshit, you're not gonna fuck us up. You're not the type," he says, puffing himself up. Which looks ridiculous since he's, well, a treeman. "Josh, get this crazy bitch away from me!" Josh does not look in Twig's direction. When Hank grips Twig, the young man opens his mouth to say something but it catches. He tries to look defiant, but he is less certain. "You're not gonna do shit, I know who you are," he says. "You're all about us getting along with everyone and all that kumbaya bullshit," he says, but with less conviction. "Honestly, I dunno, Jubes. I mean, this is all beyond me. I can /do/ stuff, but I don't /know/ a lot. I'm not a doctor yet, you know? So I'm trying to study this stuff, but I just don't know. I don't think anyone does. Anything we try is seriously experimental. And if we fuck up..." he spreads his hands. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nods at Twiggy, still gripping the boy firmly, and walking him AWAY from Rogue. His voice remains low, and there's a hint of the beast in it. "First, shut up until I'm done talking. Second, sit your ass down." He's shoved onto a low stool, so that Hank is looking down at him. "Third, you're going to tell me exactly who gave you the drugs, what they were called, when you got them, and where you were. Start talking." Voice raised. "Computer begin audio recording, Twig Alpha." He just barely avoids calling him Twiggy McStickface there." 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' "Is that so?" Rogue says beyond Beast to Twig. "Look up Carol Danvers and the San Francisco bridge sometime. You might be surprised at what I'm capable'a doin' if I set out t'actually do it." Thats not her proudest moment, but if he were to look it up she'd hope it'd put a little bit of fear into the punk. She's turning away then and walking away from it for now, letting Beast deal with it while she goes to find a place to lean back against and just try to relax. She's not a fan of these kids anymore, Nadia especially. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee watches Hank deal with Twiggy McStickface, as Josh works. She asides to him softly. "It might be called "Hook"...I was gonna Google it, but I haven't had the chance yet. It was written on a wall, and Twig said the word while rambling incoherently in the stuff." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Twig is sat down forcibly. He looks at Beast and Rogue, then slumps a bit. "I don't know what the big deal is," Twigs say petulantly. "If my girl and I wanna do some shit that's our business. I mean, this stuff is cleaner than smack, and that shit's getting expensive now. Hook is way cheaper, it's a cleaner ride, too. It's beautiful," Twig says with a shrug. "You can get it all over now, it's like the new thing, which you'd know if you knew fucking anything. Lotsa a people deal it. I just get some for me and some people I know, like Nadia. Her friend wanted some so I hooked her up, too." "Who are you guys? Nadia said you're like, fucking teachers or something? Which is bullshit cause this isn't a fucking school. I want outta here okay? Just whatever, I gotta go." "You called it, detective," Josh says to Jubilee quietly with a fist bump. He brings up a browser and types in hook heroin. There are a lot of hits on forums from a lot of sites. All pretty new, maybe the last two weeks. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue listens to the kid's response and she just raises her right gloved hand up to her forehead to press forefinger and thumb to her soft skin there. "Ah, god." She gently says, shaking her head as she looks up again. She glances out to the hallway door and then back toward Twig. "I need t'get outta here. If I don't I'm gonna suck the soul right outta this jackass, then go have someone erase it from my mind." She uncrosses her arms and lets them hang at her sides as she prepares to make for the med lab exit, without Scott or someone in here to stop her, she's not entirely convinced she can stop herself from draining this kid into a deep coma. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy folds his arms, letting go of the boy, and looks down the bridge of his nose at Twig. "You're right. I won't kill you. I am going to put you on the next MetroNorth back into the city. But if I ever, ever see you around any of our students again." He pauses, and does his best Ricardo Montalban. "I'll do far worse than kill you. I will you hurt you. And I will wish to go on... hurting you. I shall leave you as you left her, gasping for air on the brink of death in the center of an empty life. Buried alive." Then with a dramatic pause, he grabs Twiggy by the scruff of the neck. "Stop recording." And drags the boy out of the lab. "Signing out your patient, Josh," he coughs, before personally bringing the kid all the way to the train station. Though uh, Al Bundy style, he might have rammed Twig's head and/or shoulders into walls a few times on the way out. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee frowns, watching Hank leave with Twig, and she shakes her head. "He...didn't need to be let go. He needed to go through this to see what hell it is wreaking on his body, and that of everyone he gives it to," Jubilee comments with a resigned sigh. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Twigs seems to get both that Hank is pretty serious and that if he shuts his mouth he is getting out of there. He stays silent and hangs his head. "Twigs!! You can't go! Let me out! Let me out!" Nadia screams after him. She starts to cry and look hysterical. "Don't leave me here!" Twigs does not look in Nadia's direction. "Yessir," Josh says to Hank. He changes the records they keep. "Yeah, he'll be high as fuck ten minutes after Hank lets him go," Josh agrees. "He's fucking lucky we didn't hand him over to the cops for stat rape. You sure you don't wanna beat his ass, Rogue?" Josh asks darkly. 

:'''{{#var:16|Rogue (16)}} has posed:''' Rogue pauses to let Hank lead the Twigs out of the med bay, Beast can really move if he wants to and the boy is gonna be hard pressed to keep up. It does make her smile though. With her gloved hands now stuffed into the pockets of her leather bomber jacket, Rogue looks back over to Josh. She gives him a grin before she raises one dark eyebrow and just tilts her head a little, following it up with a light shrug of her shoulders. "Guess that chance has gotten away from me." She replies to his question. Looking after the two of them, she adds as she starts to leave. "If I see'im around ever again, I might just accidentally on purpose give him a little skin on skin action." With her back to the medlab now as she's leaving she calls out over her shoulder. "Who knows! I'm a woman who changes her mind on a whim! Ya can never tell what I'll do next!" And with that she's vanishing around the corner... fingering Twig's watch inside of her right jacket pocket. 
}}

8318/Undercurrents: Den of Snakes

2019-07-14T22:01:56Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/14 |Location=Nachesko Building, Mutant Town |Synopsis=Cannonball, Jubilee, Beast and Armor track down missing Xavier students to a den of s..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/14
|Location=Nachesko Building, Mutant Town
|Synopsis=Cannonball, Jubilee, Beast and Armor track down missing Xavier students to a den of scum and villainy, drugs and prostitution.
|Thanks=Cannonball, Jubilee, Beast, Armor
|Cast of Characters=100,95,59,1258,1395
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Hank's suggestion to use Cerebro to find Nadia and Sarah really was the most efficient way to go. The Professor took only a few moments to track them down to the Nachesko Building in Mutant Town. Nadia is a 15 year old blue eyed blonde who looks like she stepped out of TV suburbia. She has been at Xavier's for two years and had a history of minor issues. Running away, drinking, much older boys. Sarah was a haunted looking 15 year old with brown hair. She has been at Xavier's for a year. Before coming to the school she had moved through foster homes, last chance schools and youth programs. She dabbled in escorting for an adult 'boyfriend' to pay for drugs and clothes and has been a hardcase. The Nachesko Building is fairly notorious. Owned by someone overseas, a dispute with the city left the site abandoned for years. People had stripped the four story building of anything valuable, right down to the copper electrical wires. It was a squatters haven. Rooms were used as homes, flop houses, places to deal and just about anything else. People made fires in open areas some times and it was strewn with the detritus of stolen bikes, clothing, camping gear, electronics and shopping carts. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy came along in this trip, and in fact offered to drive, because he's taking the whole thing personally. But on the way, he looks to Sam. "I'd like you to be the field leader on this. I'm here to assist at your direction. I have the coordinates, and the comms, all taken care of. How we handle this, is your call." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee was, of course, keen to go help round up the girls. "The sooner we find them, the sooner we can get them back to help them. Even if we have to tie 'em up to do it," she chirps from a front seat, a slight scowl fretting at her usual chipper demeanor as she watches out the windows. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will nods to this and says "Sounds like a plan, we will go in to talk at first. Ah don't want to fight with the residents unless we have to. Both Nadia, and Sarah are both still underage so if they are still here when we get there they are coming back with us. Jubilee, AH know not exactly the scene you have experience with but if you get the feeling of anything off Ah want you to know. Hisako your on Jube's back, no powers unless we have to, but if shooting starts, I want you two to grab the girls and get out under protection of the armor. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki is all suited up. Slick, tight black and yellow, covering her from neck to toe, with yellow boots and gloves, and a yellow X-Men baseball cap. She sits with her legs crossed, eyes closed, mentally preparing for combat. "Understood," she nods to Sam without opening her eyes. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy didn't want to fly out here in a helicopter or something attention getting. But a large, black van works. Enough room for the team, the gear, and a place for people to change if necessary. He's up front, following the GPS to get there. "How close should I park, chief?" 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Traffic is light at this time of morning on a Sunday. Not many people are up and about at 7 in the morning. It is unlikely anyone will notice them coming toward the building. A week or so earlier the Nachesko Building was attacked by the same type of spider bots that attacked a mutant caravan near a subway station. Nothing much has happened since and it is likely the building's rotating cast of characters is back at it. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee winces at the mention of gunfire. "I think we should definitely go with the diplomatic approach. These girls are victims, and you can be sure they feel that. Even if the downfall was of their own design. The more we can convey that, and let them know we just want to help and protect them, the more ground we may cover to close that chasm between them and us." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie nods, and says "Ah am hoping there will not be a fight, but if the guys selling the drugs are there, there might be issues we can not stop, and Ah would rather be prepared for it than it surprise us." He looks to Hank, and says "Give us about a block, but put us on the side with the fire escape, that way more ways of approach are underview. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki has had it made clear to her that going openly suited up is not the plan. So, she grabs her backpack and ducks behind a screen, long enough to get her school uniform put ontop of the suit. Hat removed entirely, unfortunately. So it just looks like she has leggings on. A little much for the weather, but what can be done? "Ready," she says softly. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nods "Right, chief." And he will then pull the van up just as directed, though it takes a minute to find a place to slip in without being so obviously triple-parked that they'll get towed away. "I'll stay in the van as backup. Too obvious for what you have in mind. Radio if you need me." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' A man sleeps in a heavy jacket against the wall outside with a shopping cart full of stuff beside him. The doors are unlocked. Inside is dim, most of the windows are boarded up. The smell of street feet, urine, sweat and burned crack oozes out when the doors are opened and is cloying inside. The walls are damaged and covered in graffiti. Garbage has accumulated by the walls and the lino on the floors is soiled and dirty. Ceiling tiles are missing, split and empty black wire sheathing hangs down in some spots. There is a large wet mark with mold growing on the wall to the left of the doors. There are hallways and stairs. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie walks along leading the ladies at first. He makes sure all of them got coms from Hank before they made their way into the building "Ok, unless we need to split up, Ah want to keep us together." He will start to walk down the hall, seeing how many looking into the first room, and sighing softly as he realizes "We are going to need to room to room, this." he will tell them. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Most likely," replies Jubilee, dressed in a tight pink tee shirt, jeans, and boots, with a yellow jacket beset with bronze gears, buckles, and toggles. Her hair is put up in twisted pigtail buns, with little tendrils escaping here and there. "Unless we offer someone a twenty to give us a little...direction." 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki hops out carefully, holding her skirt down, ready to follow the rest. "I'm with you Jubilee." she nods. "I haven't been in a class with either of them so...I can't help well in talking with them. If there's a need to fight, I'm here." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy stops the engine, but all the systems inside the van are independently powered. Slumpting down a little, he lets them out. "I'll keep a bead on where each of you are through the comms. IF any of them get jammed, I'll alert the team to your last location. And at will I'll go Kool Aid Man if you need backup. Good luck." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The first room is pilled with junk and there is nobody in it. Working down the hall on the first floor finds doorways blocked off with blankets, people sleeping inside in sleeping bags or on dirty mattresses or ratty couches. A few stir, one man with sores on his face wakes enough to tell Sam to fuck off. The first floor does not look especially settled and judging by the condition of the people here, they are at the bottom of the hierarchy. . A man with neat hair, a collared shirt and loafers in his mid-40s comes down the stairs. He is a bit red in the face and does his best to avoid eye contact as he walks quickly to the front doors. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie just shakes his head at the man who tells him to fuck off. He does look to man coming down the stairs and nods a bit "Well guessing we might find them up a bit higher." He will lead the ladies to the stairs, and starts up listening to the noises of the building, seeing if he hears anything of use. They used to call his ears car doors after all. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee reaches up and adjusts the brass goggles atop her head, bridging the gap between her pigtail buns, and she watches after the neatly dressed man with daggers in her eyes. Then she looks back up the stairwell with a sigh. "We gotta find them," she says with gravelly frustration in her voice. "This has gone way too far." 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki comes in right behind Jubilee. She feels uncomfortable without her armor on in these surroundings. Fists clenched, arms folded, she is very stiff and visibly alert as she follows behind Jubilee. "Agreed. We will win," she says in a quiet, crisp voice. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy radios in, speaking quietly out of instinct even though it would just be in earpieces for them. "Keep going up. Third floor... probably to your left. I'm looking at the fire escape, and hoping it would support me to climb up to you in a pinch. IF not, it'll take me a moment to go around, and up." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The man in the collared shirt catches the looks from Sam and Jubilee. He looks away quickly and picks up his step. When he pulls his hand out to push the door open his gold wedding band catches a glint of morning sun. % The stairwell reeks of urine and more graffiti adorns the wall. The formerly cream coloured painted concrete is an uneven brown. When Sam walks onto the third floor he comes out in the elevator lobby. Some sunlight comes down the hall that runs in two directions through an unboarded window at one end. Two men in their early 20 are sitting on a tattered blue couch looking at their phones. Both are dressed in a jeans, sneakers, t-shirts and ballcaps. One is wearing sunglases inside and is covered in fine brown fur. The other look human. "What do you want?" the furred one says in a high pitched squeak of a voice with an upnod to Sam. His friend looks up and when Jubilee and Hisako come in, looks them up and down with a grin creeping across his face. He gets up from his chair and comes to walk around to look at the two ladies from all sides. He has particular interest in Hisako. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will move to intercept the man before he can get near Hisako. Sam's demeanor changes from cautious to protective instantly.. Hisako can take care of herself, but she is a young girl in a bad place, and some habits should not be broke. "Ah'm looking for two of my friends. " He will describe Nadia and Sarah briefly. Sam looks at both men coldly. They owe me." He adds in, not on what they owe him, but leaving it open. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki is by now not at all unaccustomed to the idea of her skirt getting THAT kind of attention. But yes, fortunately she knows just how to handle it. Fists re-clenching, she eyeballs right back the guy eyeing her, lips pressed tightly together. Staying behind Jubilee, she does walk forward. Eyes never letting off of the man. "Can I help you?" she asks through gritted teeth. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Ooh, Hiya cutie," Jubilee coos, intervening around Hisako, tilting her head and looking over the furry guy on the couch. Sam has the first one in check, so she moves a little closer to the guy on the couch. "What's your story?" she asks the furry guy. "Mutant? Do ya just have fur, or can ya do...special stuff?" she asks with a waggle of her brows. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy listens as he can, watches where they are, and prepares to move in whenever he needs to. "Steady Hisako... Sam, keep it up..." Jubilee's comments get no audible response from him. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The man moving to look at the ladies frowns and tries to push Sam backwards. "The fuck is your problem?" he snarls. Furry's expression turns deeply suspicious. He lets out three short sharp squeaks. At the same time as he reaches to pull Jubilee into his lap, planning to hold her there. Tightly. "Don't know what you're talking about. You're a motherfucking pig, you /stink/," Furry says darkly to Sam. Down the hall, a female voice is making noises somewhere between zombie and porno film. Another older sounding female voice is putting on a much better show. She sounds like a robo-porno. Further down, a third female voice yells in sudden pain, and a male voice laughs. A short, ripped looking man comes out of one door, followed by a taller greasy looking man with an unkempt beard and huge furry ears. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will step aside at the attempted push. Sam is not the push over they may expect him to be. He will grab for the man's wrist, and move to place a kick into the man's knee. "You have two choices. You can tell me where they are, and I get what is owed me, or I can leave you bleeding on the floor, and find them on my own." Sam tries to put all the coldness he has seen Logan use in his voice as he tries to make it sound more he is stating a fact than making a threat. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee gives a sharp cry as she is pulled onto the lap of Mr. Furry. She isn't sure how strong he is, but she doesn't especially want to find out. Better that he decide for himself that he doesn't want a pyrotechnic kitten of his own. She opens her hands against his arms as she grips them, and begins to release tiny flashes of plasma against his fur and flesh. They detonate silently between her hands and his flesh. But for her part, Jubilee doesn't let on that she's doing anything at all, as she looks around to the incoming others. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki doesn't wait anymore. She's standing somewhere between Sam and Jubilee, watching each of them, and just, well, armors up. Raising a good foot off of the ground, shimmering lines of light surrounding her. She inhales deeply. "And if we have to do that, you won't like how I do it." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy heard all he needed to. He climbs out of hte van, locks it up behind her, and start bounding up the fire escape, using window ledges themelsves when he has to, in order to get up to the third floor, bursting into the window. "HEY KOOL AID!" he grunts. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Unfortunately Sam has neither the look nor the size to intimidate these men. Dirty, the guy faced off with Sam, is like an immovable object. He is strong enough that he keeps Sam from moving his arm as if Sam were a very small child. As a result, Sam is just not proper in place for his kick and connects with nothing. Dirty turns and swings a big haymaker for Sam with his other arm. Something about his movement just feels heavy. Furry looked like he was going to say something then yells in pain and pushes away from Jubilee like she was a hot coal. He clutches his right arm instinctively and opens his mouth. An ear-splitting sonic blast shoots in the direction of Jubilee and Hisako. Greasy hears Hank and turns around. He seems to grow more muscular and runs at Hank like he plans to tackle him. Short and beefy punches into the wall and rips out part of a 2x4 that he brandishes like a club. He stays put for the moment, caught between two fights. A young guy with a crew cut and an older guy with horn rimmed glasses poke their heads out of separate rooms. The young guy is struggling into shirt. Neither has shoes on. They both into the hallway and sneak along the wall looking for a way to make the stairs. A guy that looks like a stick pokes his head of the room where it sounded like someone was laughing. He ducks back into the room. A moment later a male voice roars. "Who did you fucking call?!" A young female screams in pain. "Nobody I swear," the female voice sobs. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will roll with the punch the man throws at him, taking just the barest connection, but even from that one he knows, he does not want to feel another. He drops to one knee, and does something most have not seen him do, a power stunt he has been working on. Sam throws a rocket punch towards the man's mid section, if he hits a little low, he aint upset about that. "Beast Hulk Jr. is yours, Jube, you got Fuzzy Wuzzy. Armor want to show Beast how to properly Kool Aid man it." He motions towards the wall, the stick man and girls seem to be behind. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee tumbles backwards as Furry shoves her off. She somersaults backward a few times to make sure she is clear of his reach and then, as she bounces up to her feet, she can barely hear the command over the ringing in her ears and the ear-splitting screech of Furry. She has to get him quieted down, one way or another. She lifts her hands quickly and fires a barrage of plasmoids. Dozens of roiling blue balls of plasma hurtle toward the Fuzzy One, in an impressive volley of violent heat, as she takes a few steps closer to him again, careful to stay out of reach, as she shoots a look at Hank to make sure he isn't in over his head. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki sees that Jubilee has things well in hand herself, and Sam is handling is, so even before she got her orders, she's coming at the guy in her way from the bac. Shaping her armored hand into a claw, she uses one hand to tap on his shoulder, and when he looks, she gives him a very honrable punch in the face. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy is starting to make his way toward Hisako. So the first thing he does is give Hulk Jr a big shove. If he's Hulk Jr, Beast is Hulk 3/4. Goal is to get the one Hisako is attaccking, back to back with Hulk Jr, so the two can be eliminated as a group. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Dirty was not at all ready for Sam's new move. The punch continues on past Sam. When Sam hits the jets, Dirty is sent off his feet and up through the wooden structure of the ceiling and floor above. There is a big thump and shouts of alarm from the fourth floor. Beside the couch, Furry really has nowhere to escape to. His deafening sonic blast turns into just plain screaming. 2x4 sees Hisako coming, because glowing armour. The 2x4 breaks against Hisako's armour when it hits. He steps back and avoids getting punched. He is brought up short when Hulk Jr. slams into him from behind. He nearly falls on his face. Even with momentum Hulk Jr was not stopping a 10 ton push. The young and older guys with no shoes flatten against the walls as Beast hurtles past, then break for the fire escape. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:'''     "Ohh, now..." Jubilee chides, trying to put zip ties on Furry's now singed and furless wrists. "I dont wanna hurt ya...Just be a good boy, and I won't have to use the big guns." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie is tempted to blast straight towards the sound of the girls, but put too many holes in the walls, and this place may come down around their ears, and Sam is not really able to choose between support support beams and normal things it all gets taken out. So he will head into one of the other rooms and take a moment to knock on the wall to find space between the 2X4s and hope it is a clear path to the other room, before kicking in his blast where it should be a bit safer. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki looks at Hank, and sees about taking care of this pair they knocked down. "I can hold them down..." she offers to him. "So you can go look for them..." SHe knows he knows what they look like, after all. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy has an idea of where their girls are. So he starts to move, seeing that Hisako can hold down the attackers. And well, guess what? He's not trying the knobs. He's motivated, as Scott learned earlier. He's PLOWING right through doors. Sorry, but not sorry, for the inconvenience. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' When Sam goes into the first room, where the young guy came out, he sees Sarah. She is sitting on the edge of an old mattress. She is dressed, and just finishing pulling her tank top back in place. She moves slowly and looks at Sam dully. She walks slowly over to Sam, not recognizing him, and fumbles at his belt buckle. The room the older guy came out of has theee people in it. The odour in the room is pungent, like the residue Hank smelled at the X-Base. One woman, crack skinny, is laying in the mattress on the floor half clothed. A guy and a girl who look to be in their late teens or early 20's are passed out together, sitting on the filthy floor against a wall. A guy in his late 20's in jeans and a white t-shirt with some minor blood spatter on it looks out of the same door the tree guy looked out of. He sees the mess in the hall and makes a break for the fire escspe. Furry offers no resistance to Jubi at this point. The two that Hank and Beast dealt with are in the ground glaring murder at Hisako. "Gonna fuck you, bitch," 2x4 sneers at either Jubilee or Hisako. It's not clear which.. "Gonna find you and fuck you till you /scream/." 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will not go through the wall finding Sarah here, no, upon finding her here, he will take her hands and softly says "Sarah no, it's Sam. The whole tough guy persona gone in an instant. There is part of him, that wants step back out and throttle the young guy, but he instead pulls off his jacket, wrapping it around Sarah. "Were here to take you home, Your gonna be ok." He will try to lead her from the room. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee slips away from Furry and down the hall to the last door, since Sam seems to have the other room under control. She stops at the edge and peers around the door frame to see what she's getting into before walking in. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki adds Jubilee's target to her list of people she's sitting on, in some cases literally, to make sure they don't go calling anyone or attacking her friends. Crossing her legs, she particularly glares at the one who was staring at her earlier. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy didn't find any of his students, but he found a pair. So guess what? The guy gets hefted up and tossed out of the room , and he starts searching from room to room, tearing doors off of hinges on purpose, just to be a jerk. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The running man at the end of the hall makes it out onto the fire escape and disappears from view. Sarah follows Sam docilely out of the room into the hall. She looks around without much curiousity. The passed guy Hank tosses hits the floor in the hallway like a heap of wet towel. He hardly stirs. A needle falls out of one hand. Hank finds a room with two young women, maybe 18 or 19, curled up on a ratty couch. One looks street entrenched, the other like a nerdy hipster. They are both unconscious and the room smells like the drug Nadia and Sarah had. The other rooms are empty but that last one has Hook scrawled on it in sharpy with devil horns arching off the o's. Whoever looks inside will see Nadia curled up on the floor against what must be Twigs by the look of him. Twigs looks worried but judging by how slowly he looks over, he is super high. "N'm flaut," he mumbles and chuckles. "Hook, yeah." Nadia is dressed, sobbing quietly and has a bloody nose she is not even trying to staunch. Another girl, maybe 17 is sitting on a red couch looking at her phone while a guy her age beside her stares at the ceiling. Neither really pay attention to the new arrivals despite the commotion outside. 

:'''{{#var:1258|Samuel Guthrie (1258)}} has posed:''' Samuel Guthrie will look over, and cal out "Time to Go, Beast, Armor, carry the girls who can not walk. Jube's you help guide the ones that can." Hank put him in charge, and while he agrees he wants to trash the place now is not the time. "We get the innocents out of here, and then we can come back, and make sure this place is no use to them, ever again." He has an idea on how to help with that, but that's a thing for later. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' With the promise of food, Jubilee seems to get more response from some of the more despondent girls. She zip ties Twig's wrists and brings the others out of the room, even if over their protests. The drug seems to make them compliant enough. "Let's get these home," she says, still herding them out. 

:'''{{#var:1395|Hisako Ichiki (1395)}} has posed:''' Hisako Ichiki will help carry out a person as needed. As she does, well, the guys she was sitting on get a view. Which they enjoy.. right up until she gives each of them a good swift kick in the side, so she leaves a trail of moans behind her. And not the good kind. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy will carry out Nadia and the other girl who was with her, both in his arms, lifted and placed over his shoulders. Gently, but yes, they are carried out. He smiles as Jubilee makes good use of her zip ties, and leans over to murmur "Make sure it's on tight." before making sure the girls have room to sit in the van. Along with Twig, whom he'll definitely want to question. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Nobody fights or objects. They are too high, too scared or too docile to resist. The group gets some vaguely curious looks on the way out, but people here know better than to stick their noses into other people's business. Soon they are crammed into the van and driving away. 
}}

8317/Undercurrents: Breach of Protocol

2019-07-14T14:02:15Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/14 |Location=War Room, X-Base |Synopsis=Hank confronts Scott about breaking the X-Base lockdown. Scott apologizes and agrees to have the mi..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/14
|Location=War Room, X-Base
|Synopsis=Hank confronts Scott about breaking the X-Base lockdown. Scott apologizes and agrees to have the missing girls found.
|Thanks=Beast
|Cast of Characters=95,114
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy is doing the audit he threatened, since he can't stand doing nothing. He has a tablet out, working through the X Men's systems. Mexican coke open on the conference table, feet up on the table, legs crossed. He's as comfortable as he is determined. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott walks into the room with coffee in hand. "Morning, Hank. I wasn't expecting anyone to be down here." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy looks up, and slowly sets the tablet down. "Scott," he says with great, obviously fake enthusiasm. "Glad to see you. I'm working on my audit, finding out how the kids, who were kept in lock down while they were under the effects of an as-yet-unstudied, mind-altering substance, were allowed to walk out to parts unknwon because our security lockdown was deactivated." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "Security audit?" Scott asks. He comes over and takes a sip of his coffee. "Could have saved you the trouble. I overrode the lockdown the morning after it was set." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy still has that frustrated smile on, but his body freezes when that comes out. Inhaling deeply, he puts the tablet down quiet gently. Very, very gently. Voice going softer, too. "May I ask why?" he asks, a definite feral rumble in his chest. 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "It had been hours," Scott said with a slight frown. "We had ops and training to work on, and needed the base." Sips his coffee again. "The girls took drugs, didn't they? Why was the base locked down in the first place?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy thumps his palm on the table. Still controlled, but there's a slight rattle. "Scott, did you see the brain scans? Their minds were being altered. It's now looking like that it was purely an attempt to addict them,b ut did you know that? Did you know they weren't going to sabotage the base, or blow it up, the secodn they were free?" 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott looks surprised by Beast's reaction. "Sabotage the base? Why would they do that? Elixir, Rogue and Maximoff seemed fine. The girls were sleeping. I didn't see the risk, Hank." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy rests both of his hands on his face, and pushes his hair up a bit, a pretty normal look for him. "I... you gave me a panic when I found that out. It's going to work out but..." He thumps the table again and sighs. "That was a risk." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott winces slightly. It was rare to see Hank upset, and unheard of for it to be without reason. "Which I didn't take the time to assess properly," Scott sighs. He thinks it over for a moment. "You're right. It was a bad call. I should have talked to you first." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy wasn't expecting that. His hands lift, he turtns, like he's about to start pacing around and make another point. But those words just defused the entire thing. He chuckles, and turns back. "Thank you. I appreciate that." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott takes another sip of his coffee. "You make a fair point, and you're the expert. I should have deferred to you. Can you help me understand how I should have seen the situation?" asks, more pragmatic and less prideful than he has offen been. "I don't want to make the same mistake again, but I still don't get why you were so worried." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy walks back to his seat, and leans on the table over it. Sipping his coke a moment. "Just a little communication. You're the boss, but have a little faith in us to have reasons for things." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' Scott runs a hand through his hair. "Put it that way, and it sounds like I was being an ass," Scott says wryly. "I don't doubt you Hank, never have. I just... Didn't think. I should have known better. It won't happen again." "I saw the brain scans but they didn't mean a lot to me. What was happening to those girls?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy snickers. "Well now you're making me feel bad. You acted on instinct, which is what you're paid to do. I was holding them until I could finish the mass spectrum analysis of the drugs, and complete scans of their brains. Like I said, it turns out it was nothing evil supergenius-level, nothing that was specifically aimed at this institute or the X-Men. But I didn't know that when I heard they were gone." He sits again. "They're kids and made poor decisions. One was to take drugs. And they got a bad batch that was instantly addicting them." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "You were doing your job," Scott says. "I'll get someone on finding them and sorting out what's going on.... Though I still can't believe our students were doing hard drugs." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nods. "Yeah there may be more to it. I Think we may need to fire up Cerebro and track them down for a rapid strike operation. But again, that's your call." 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "I'll take your advice," Scott says with a smile. "It's the right thing to do, they're our family." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy laughs. "Thank you Scott. Now what brings you down here? Should I clear out of your way?" 

:'''{{#var:114|Scott Summers (114)}} has posed:''' "No, I was going to look over the morning feeds for anything we need to be aware of. If it won't bother you, I can do it on the mission terminal." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy shrugs "Help yourself. My audit is... moot." With a laugh, he gets back up, grabbing his coke AND his tablet. 
}}

8273/Just a Little Space

2019-07-14T12:53:00Z

Tykhin:

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/11
|Location=Club Max, Manhattan
|Synopsis=Wanda and Josh have a night out Max in Manhattan.
|Thanks=Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,70
|Tinyplot=Saved
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh certainly felt the need to get away for a bit after being cooped up in the X-Base doing labwork on the new drug all day. Thankfully, Wanda was free when he called. He dressed carefully, pulling out the shirt and new shoes he picked out after the Channel 6 entertainment story. As if he did not feel self-conscious enough seeing Wanda, now people might be watching. None of that appealed. Wanda certainly appealed though and he was feeling anxious to see her again. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel of the car he borrowed from the school. He pulled up at the Avengers Mansion to pick Wanda up and texted her to let her know he was there. It was a lot easier than going through security to pick her up at her apartment inside. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The front door opens almost immediately and Wanda comes out, wearing a dark blue spaghetti strap dress, the garment cut well to show her curves without needing to be too overtly revealing. The hem is long, but a slit up one side leaves flashes of smooth thigh as she walks down the steps to Josh's car. Wanda moves over to open the passenger seat and slip inside, setting a purse down on the floor of the car as she turns towards Josh. "Oh my. You do clean up well, Mr. Foley," Wanda tells him. She smiles and leans over to offer him a soft kiss. It's a simple touching of the lips, yet there's such a feel to it that Wanda has to resist the urge to linger there longer. "So what did you have in mind for us tonight?" she asks, having asked how she should dress for the night, but being short on other details. Her eyes have a bit of a bright light to them as if she likes being surprised. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "How about staying here because I'll be way too jealous to take you anywhere looking that good?" Josh jokes after they kiss. "Or... I know a place," he adds with a wink. Josh starts the car and pulls out. He steals another look at Wanda and smiles. "We're not not going far. I hope you feel like dancing," he says with a grin. They make their way into evening traffic in Manhattan. "I'm gonna get used to seeing you all the time, you know. You're spoiling me." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda fastens her seat belt as Josh pulls out, though turns in her seat sideways a bit to face him more as he drives. "I /do/ feel like dancing," she confirms, giving a pleased smile at the choice. She breaks out in a pleased smile. "I think I like the sound of that whole, seeing each other all the time thing. You are not doing a very good job of discouraging me if that was your design," she tells him. It is a bit of a treat, Josh having to pay attention to his driving, while Wanda can just sit and look at him, only partially observed when his gaze might flit over between surveying the traffic. "I don't think I've told you before, but you have the most beautiful skin," she tells him. "Especially in the sunlight. You were just glowing at the cookout the other day," she says, speaking of Cap's birthday party. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh laughs. "Glowing? I don't think anyone's ever said that to me before. I always tanned easy though, just lucky," he says with a shrug. He has his eyes on traffic and misses Wanda's attention. He runs a hand through his hair. "Shame my discouraging thing isn't working. I'll have to try harder. Don't want you to start thinking I'm really into you or something," he teases. It is only a short time later they are pulling up to the curb at a three storey brick building wedged between office towers. The land must be hideously expensive not to have sold. All the windows are blacked out and there is no sign. But there is a lineup. A valet opens the door for Wanda, and gives Josh a raised eyebrow. The lower-end luxury sedan is not what the valet would expect. Josh reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large silver coin which he tosses to the valet. The man smiles and catches the keys next. "Alright, we're here," Josh says with a grin. He takes Wanda's hand and leads her to the front of the line. He looks excited and a touch uncertain. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda steps out of the car, the slit in her dress likely causing a few eyes to notice her slender legs rather than recognize her face. At least at first. She waits there on the sidewalk for Josh to come around, slipping her hand into his readily and following his lead over towards the line. One of the bouncers nudges the other at their approach. Has he recognized the famous Avenger? Or did Josh make arrangements in advance? Wanda misses it, whatever it means. She's looking around the area, looking at the brick building which seems small and quaint beside the towering buildings on either side. "I like it," she decides after a moment, and turning her attention back to Josh. "It has... character. I hope the inside is as charming," she tells him as they walk over to the men working the door. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I don't actually know," Josh admits with a grin. "A guy I helped out in Bushwick gave me the coin and said it would be a great time!" The door is held open for them and they enter into a lobby of exposed brick, low lighting, deep crimson upholstery. A tall, truly beautiful young blonde woman in a black dress and expensive heels walks over to them and smiles. "Ms. Maximoff and Mr...?" "Foley," Josh answers with a smile. "This way," the woman says with a brilliant smile of her own. She glances over Wanda appreciatively and leads to the far side of the small lobby. There is a door and an elevator. She presses the elevator button and the matte black doors open. The music is the first thing through the elevator doors. When Josh and Wanda step into the elevator they find it is more of a platform with a waist high rail. It rises and as it does they get an impression of the club. Instead of floors for the stories above, there are wide balconies that encircle the space at each level. On the ground floor is a huge dance floor teeming with people. The music pulses in time with lights in the dark room. The walls on the ground floor aside from the one against the lobby are one long bar. Looking up there is a succession of increasingly opulent looking balconies, with increasingly fewer people. Their elevator stops and opens behind them. It opens a richly and darkly appointed space with people mingling, dancing or watching over the railing. The bar is across from them and a bartender smiles his welcome. Josh walks over with Wanda. "Ms. Maximoff, Mr. Foley," he greets. "Mr. Morozov sends his regards. Everything is taken care of for you tonight. May I get you anything?" Josh shoots Wanda an impressed look and orders whiskey after Wanda orders. Once they have their drinks he steps over to the railing overlooking the dance floor. "Holy crap, what is this place?" Josh laughs. "This is great!" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda looks about with interest as the elevator takes them up, the view of the place getting better by the moment. Her fingers give Josh's a little squeeze as she looks away from the view to focus back on Josh for a moment. Wanda just looks at him and then breaks into a smile that is radiant but soft. "You surely do not disappoint," she tells him. They step out from the elevator into the posh space up on one of the higher balconies. Wanda glances around at everything, enraptured with what they've done in the club. She follows her date over to the bar. "Whiskey sour," she tells the bartender. She takes the drink with a grateful smile for the man. "Please convey our gratitude," she tells him as he speaks of the Mr. Morozov. "Is he in attendance today?" she asks, not knowing who the person is, but being courteous enough. After any answer, she turns back to look around the club again. Josh's laugh draws one of her own. "It truly is," she tells him. "This was a wonderful idea. Just what we needed," she tells him. Wanda brushes a soft peck to his cheek before lifting his glass to touch against his before taking a sip. "Shall we wander for a bit before finding somewhere to dance?" she asks. She looks at the crowded dance floor, the people a milling throng of humanity. Then over to some of the dance spaces here, where people are dancing more intimately in the more shadowed dance spaces. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I wouldn't know," the bartender says with a smile when he serves up their drinks. Josh grins, and turns to walk along the balcony with Wanda. There is no doubt there are some people here Wanda would recognize from the charity circuit, and the crowd leans heavily to the Eastern European. Even the music is more European electronic than North American. "You could get lost in this place, it's huge," Josh says. "Geez, check it out. Each floor has its own direct lift! Man, I'm sure I can't afford to be here. Josh blushes in the dim light as he realizes what he just said in front of the woman he desperately wants to be impressed with him. "I don't know the music though. Eurodance or something? Dunno. This the kind of place Mr. Stark goes to?" Unbidden, Wanda gets a rush of feeling; excitement, wonder, a deep feeling of rightness. A fear of loss. And before it can even be really felt it vanishes. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda says in a joking tone, "Well, we have each other's numbers if we get separated." She looks over to the younger man and a long moment passes where the closeness that she's been feeling with him seems more... acute. "I don't know if we'd need that, though. I almost feel like I could just close my eyes and point to you," she tells him. Wanda smiles and leans gently against his side. "It must be your magnetic personality?" she says before laughing. "Ok, that was probably a bad joke," she says. Maybe not Scott-bad at least. "I wouldn't be surprised if he has a reserved balcony," Wanda says of the mention of Tony. "Though other than the team events I do not really take part in much of his social life," she says. Wanda's eyes look over to meet Josh's. "I'd have never experienced this if it wasn't for you," she tells him. She smiles at him over top of her drink as she takes a sip from the glass. "Come and dance with me?" she asks. Wanda will start backing up, using her hand to try to lead Josh towards an intimate little dance floor, in a corner of a balcony lit by only a few soft red lights, and the occasional flashes of the lights from the rest of the club. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh snerks at Wanda's joke. "I've heard worse," he replies with a wink. Josh meets Wanda's eyes when she mentions feeling she could point him out. "I was just thinking the same thing," Josh says. He lets himself be pulled into one of the private nooks. The music fills the space but the acoustics and sightlines are such that everything else seems to disappear. A short ledge nearby is perfect for their drinks. Josh puts his drink down and pulls Wanda to him. He smiles and starts to move with her to the music. "There's a lot I wouldn't be experiencing if it wasn't for you. So I guess we're even." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff drifts over into Josh's arms as he guides her in by her hand. Her arms slide up to rest her hands on his shoulders as she leans her body against the handsome younger man. Wanda's cheek rests against his shoulder as she lets him the pair of them to the music. It isn't the same as with the mutant girl at Evolution. Yet Wanda moves in synergy with Josh. There's never a fear of a toe being stepped on. The woman melds against him like she were made to fit there within his arms. "This... is very nice," she whispers as she looks up to him. Her fingers slip along his shoulder to tease along the back of his neck. She gazes up at him, expression very thoughtful. "I felt like I could sense a bit, what you did to heal Sarah. Your control, was remarkable. But more than that. I could feel your caring. I can do some healing, but it feels... mechanical in comparison? Not mechanical, but... I'm fixing tissue and cells. And you... you connect with the person in a way that is just... it's beautiful, Josh," she tells him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh slides his arms around Wanda's waist and holds her gently to him. He moves slowly, just delighting in having Wanda against him. It is just so /easy/ being close to Wanda. "It's just what I do," Josh says quietly, embarassed. "I can just, feel everything about a person's body, the life in them, you know? Well, yeah you know you felt it." "I never felt anything like your magic before though. I had no idea how... powerful you are. You could do, like, anything." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Their bodies move slowly. Held close together. It's about being close more than it's about the music. Wanda's curvy form clings lightly against Josh, held close in the fold of his arm about her waist. She rests her cheek back against his shoulder and just savors how it feels to be with him. "Just what you do, but so amazing to me," she tells him. Wanda's hand shift slowly over his neck, back along his shoulder again. "For all... the power... this means so much more to me," she tells him, her fingers gently touching his body making clear what 'this' she means. Wanda moves her hand to take one of Josh's, though leaving one to keep her folded in his arm close to him. She moves his hand over top her heart. The feeling of the upper slopes of her bosom can't help but noticed as well, though that doesn't seem to have bene the goal. "What do you sense with me?" she asks him quietly, resting her hand atop his there on her chest. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Wanda's curves seem to fit perfectly against Josh and in his arms. Well enough Wanda can feel the contours of Josh, how chest his chest gives way to his abs, the shape of his arms. When his lays over Wanda's heart, Josh focuses for a moment and closes his eyes. The golden glow returns, softly lighting the space between them. "You're... Like an ocean. The life in you is vast, and deep. And strong. Your mutation stands out, haven't felt anything like it," he says quietly. "You are /so/ unique, unmistakable. And..." Josh opens his eyes. He lifts his hand from Wanda's chest to her cheek, searching out her eyes with his. "You've been sad. It's still in your body," he says gently. Josh leans down to give Wanda a soft, tender kiss. "I don't want you to have to be sad anymore. I think I'd do just about anything to make you happy." 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The auburn-haired beauty feels a warmth as Josh's senses extend through her. Not a sensation from his power. More like she were experiencing his feelings as his perceptions permeate through her body. The music plays on, a throbbing beat, but it is barely heard nor felt by Wanda. The beating of the man's heart is the bass and percussion she feels as he begins to tell her what he sensed. Wanda looks down as he mentions the sadness. He's not wrong. But his touch to her cheek lifts Wanda's pretty eyes to him, and she tilts her head into his touch. Savoring his fingers on her cheek. "It is. But it's so much better since you came into my life," she tells him. The woman gives a soft, happy sigh, turning her head just enough to brush a soft kiss of her lips to his palm, then turning back so she can lean into his touch again. "Just about anything?" she asks, voice taking on an interested tone with the last bit. Her eyes flit about, an improbable mix of coy and suggestive. "If we work on it, I bet we might be able to come up with something tonight, that would do just that," she tells him, a bit of color touching her cheeks. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I think we could," he says with grin. "God you're beautiful. All the way through. I haven't been able to think straight since we started seeing each other," Josh admits. "I shouldn't... You just hit me out of nowhere." Josh leans back just a little. For once, Josh looks vulnerable to Wanda. Unprotected. She can feel his stomach muscles tighten. "We are seeing each other. Right?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' She looks back at him, those soft eyes of hers filled with a warmth and a light. "I'd say that we are," she agrees. "I haven't been able to get you out of my head, really," she says. She gives a playful laugh. "Thankfully Dr. Doom hasn't been up to anything to take advantage of my... constant distraction," she says, though the last two words are imbued with a warmth that make them a treasured thing rather than a negative. Wanda nestles in closer as they dance, before finally leaning her head up to his to offer Josh a slow, sensual kiss. The taste of the whisky sour is on her lips, and she can taste his whiskey, not seeming to mind at all as the kiss deepens for long moments before her lips part from his. "So have your friends given you a hard time about dating an old woman like me?" she asks, a hint of teasing in her tone. She is about eight years older to him, as close to 30 as he is 20 nearly. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Old? Don't be crazy," Josh laughs, and looks as pleased as Wanda has seen him. "You're not old. They're giving me shit because you're so obviously out of my league! Well, and a bit older than me. And an Avenger. And a redhead. Come to think of it, they're just straight up giving me shit!" "But nobody at the Mansion has yet. Either they haven't figured it out or they're saving up the grief," Josh adds with a grin. He steals another kiss from Wanda, eager for her lips and the taste of her mouth. Then he pulls away and laughs. "Okay, we gotta hit the floor or we're not gonna make it there!" Josh pulls Wanda out of their spot and across to the lift. They thread their way onto the dance floor and Josh grins and just lets go into the music. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda cups the back of Josh's head as they kiss, holding herself close and only letting the kiss end with a soft, happy sigh. "I can pretend to be there to see Lorna. Though, I actually will need to see Lorna a lot too," she says, chuckling warmly. "I think she was glad for me when I told her. I didn't sense anything from her that wasn't approving," she tells him. She rides the lift down, an arm about Josh's waist. When they reach the floor, she holds to one of his hands and lets him lead and clear a path for the both of them, Wanda staying close, her other hand upon his back. Once Josh finds them a spot she moves about in front of him, raising her arms up in the air as she begins dancing more vigorously than they did up above on the balcony. Wanda lets out a little cry that is lost in the music, and then dances closer to Josh, her hips sashaying a bit until she gets near and wraps her arms about his shoulders, hands meeting behind his neck. "I'm going to be able to cancel a workout or two if we keep dancing enough!" she calls to him over the loud music. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh does a double-take when Wanda tells him she told her sister about them. He grins and lets it go for now though. Josh's eyes don't leave his dance partner as she moves, and slips into rythm with her easily. He dances with her arms around his shoulders for a bit then grips her waist and turns her. Josh puts a hand over Wanda belly to hold her back close against him as they move with the music. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda turns about, relishing letting Josh's hands guide her in the dance. She presses back against him, her body gyrating and flowing sinuously in time to the music. One hand reaches up and behind her to wrap briefly about him, fingers teasing through the golden hair before moving to join her other hand, both lifted overhead to reach for the heavens as she dances. The pulsing throb of the beat goes on, and if it lacks some of the dreamlike quality that was brought by Dream on another occasion, there's a connection between them. Wanda's happiness can be sensed whether he's seeing her face or she's turned away. She's light-hearted and care free. A man moves over closer, seeing Wanda dancing in a moment there's a little separation between she and Josh. He gives her a smile and tries to dance in close against her. But Wanda gives him a little shake of her head, her auburn hair swaying about her shoulders as she turns back to Josh, cupping his cheek and leaning in to kiss him, thoroughly discouraging the other man's attentions and sending him off into the dancing throng looking for another partner. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh's face clouds over at first when the man tries to cut in on him. But then Wanda's lips are pressed to his. When they part he grins and forgets all about the guy. Except that he dances closer to Wanda, reaches out to touch her more. The DJ is relentless and the pace does not slack. It just becomes this blur of beats, motion around them, and always feeling this other person near him, even with his eyes closed. Josh feels a tap on the shoulder. He turns, thinking to give the guy from earlier a piece of his mind. Instead he finds himself facing a clean shaven, serious looking man in a dark suit. The man jerks his head toward one of the lifts. Josh shoots Wanda a look and shrugs. He takes her hand and follows the suited man off the floor and into a lift. "Mr. Morozov sees you now," the man says with a pronounced Russian accent. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' The time spent on the dance floor is a balm for Wanda's soul. Surrounded by a hundred or more other dancers, she only has eyes for one as they dance together. Feeling a closeness to Josh that cannot be explained by distance or even emotions. Kisses are shared, bodies rub against one another, until finally the distraction comes to pull them away from the dance. Wanda glances back to Josh at his look. Her hand slips into his, comfortable as she has always been with following his head. She presses close to him as the follow, asking into his ear, "Who is he? How is it that you came by the invitation for tonight?" she asks. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh shrugs unknowingly. "Dunno who he is," he answers quietly. "Some guy I healed up at my apartment gave me a coin and said it'd get me in here." Josh straightens up and smiles at their escort, who looks bored. The doors open at the top floor. It reeks of ostentatious wealth. Opulent is hardly the word. There appear to be more staff up here than guests and they are to the last very thin, very pretty young women in very small black dresses. They are led to a small group of seven men in their late 30's or early 40's. They all wear expensive suits and are sitting in low, upholstered chairs together near the glass railing of the balcony. One of the servers is sitting in the lap of the youngest looking one. "Oh..." Josh says quietly to Wanda. "That's the guy. The young one. It is one of the older men, clearly the alpha, who gets up. He smiles and walks over to them with open arms. "Ah! This is our guy, eh? Ha!" he booms and claps Josh in a hug. Josh is so caught off guard he does not react. "And you, Scarlet Witch in my club!" he adds. He steps over to Wanda and leans in to air kiss her cheeks, presuming without a hint of shame or consideration of her. "He fixes you up?" the man, obviously Morozov, says in his own Russian accent to the one Josh recognized. "Yes, is him," he says. Morozov grins to his associates as if showing off a new toy. "Our own Jesus! But with women!" he chortles. The others laugh. They consider Wanda and Josh dispassionately though. "Good! You are lucky man, Josh Foley. You look after my brother, now you come here any time. Always free." "Yeah, thanks," Josh says with a smile. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda's eyes take in the sights up in the private area. Her face does not reveal much of her thoughts, though Josh might get some indefinable sense that she's grown more wary. Despite that, she is nothing but pleasant smiles when Morozov comes over to give his greeting. Wanda returns the air kisses appropriately and says, "You have been too kind. We appreciate the gesture. It has been an enjoyable evening." Her tone is complimentary, the young woman not being silver-tongue like some of her comrades, but having had to make enough public appearances at now to at least be comfortable speaking at such moments. Wanda looks over to Josh and smiles to him. "Do you have a little more dancing in you?" she asks him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I do," grins. Morozov says something to his associates in Russian, probably crude, and they laugh for real this time. Then he nods to the man that brought Wanda and Josh up to the floor, turns his back and takes his seat. Josh shares a look with Wanda, but being obviously dismissed, follows their escort. They are left at the elevator to go down. "Did that just happen?" Josh asks with bewildered laugh when the lift starts down. "Did we just walk into a Russian mob movie?" 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda stands close to Josh on the lift, making sure it is just them and no one else to overhear as she lets out a breath. "Yes. I hope it is just gratitude. And, perhaps he is just a wealthy club owner," she says. Wanda moves a hand to rest on Josh's chest. Though it's a gentle touch, Josh may get a sense somewhere inside that in the moment, Wanda is like a lioness that has sensed danger in the area of her pride and family. "I hope it does not turn into... seeing you as a resource. The comment about 'our very own'. Innocuous I hope, but it could be taken as a bit more possessive, too," she says. Wanda looks away from the club beneath and back to Josh. "Perhaps another dance and then you might take me home?" she proposes. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh makes a bit of a face. "Yeah... Let's hope." He brightens at Wanda's suggestion though. "You read my mind," he says with a grin. Josh pulls Wanda into a kiss and then heads out onto the dance floor with her. He relaxes quickly when they dance. The episode upstairs fades mostly from his mind. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff shares the kiss, and gives his lip a little nibble before relinquishing it, trying to help dispel any worries from the meeting. Back on the dance floor then, she dances with a bit of abandon, knowing that is the last dance. By the end of it there is a faint sheen to her skin, and some of her hair is pressing to her cheeks. "You know how to show a lady a good time," she says in her slowly delivered style, giving Josh an approving look as if impressed. "Keep it up and... I don't know. I might have invite you up for coffee when you get me home," she teases. Wanda slips her hand into his, squeezing and then lacing fingers with him. She leans close, resting her head against the side of his shoulder as she makes ready to follow him. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I like coffee," Josh laughs. "But I wouldn't want to damage your reputation by coming in at this time of night. It'd be, scandalous, you know?." Josh walks with the beautiful lady Avenger to the lift they came in on. They are wished a good night by name on the way out and the car is already there. The valet actually refuses the Josh offers. Josh drives them back through town holding Wanda's hand. Soon they are back at the Avengers Mansion. Josh looks over after turning off the car. "Coffee?" he asks quietly. 

:'''{{#var:70|Wanda Maximoff (70)}} has posed:''' Wanda Maximoff sits in the car with Josh after he turns the engine off. She turns to look back over to him as well, emitting a soft little gasp of surprise. Wanda looks down and away from him, eyes darting about as if embarrassed. "So scandalous, Mr. Foley," she tells him, before letting out the smile that he so often pulls out of Wanda. She leans over to softly brush her lips against his. Her hand softly rests on his chest, fingers brushing before she nods. "Coffee," she agrees. "And maybe a biscotti, lest you think you can leave too quickly," she tells him coyly. Wanda opens the car door, glancing to Josh as she makes a bit of a show of slipping one long, slender leg out of the vehicle, bared well up her thigh by the slit in the dress before she rises from the car. 
}}

Saved

2019-07-14T12:39:00Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{TPPage |Summary=People from New York and beyond react to the revealing of a powerful mutant who can cure any disease or injury. |Scale=Minor |Runner=1798 |Groups=X-Men, Xavi..."

{{TPPage
|Summary=People from New York and beyond react to the revealing of a powerful mutant who can cure any disease or injury.
|Scale=Minor
|Runner=1798
|Groups=X-Men, Xavier's
|Audience=Low and Mid-Tier
|Genre=Low and Mid-Tier
|Desc=People have been searching for a new miracle cure since Jesus. Even modern medicine of 2027 does not heal all wounds and cure all diseases. Word gets out about a poweful healer who can cure anything. The fight is on to find, use, control and study this modern saviour.
|State=Current
}}

Plots

2019-07-14T12:33:08Z

Tykhin: /* Minor */

__NOCACHE__

==Plots==

If you wish to create a page for your Plot, please use the creation form provided here.
<noinclude>{{#forminput:form=TP Page}}</noinclude>
 
'''Logs WILL NOT appear on your Plot page if they do not have their Tinyplot field filled with the EXACT SAME NAME as the Plot page itself.''' 
'''This should happen automatically if you fill out the 'Tinyplot' input fields when posting your log.''' 
'''If it does not, edit your log and make sure this is in its Log Header section at the top:''' <pre>|Tinyplot=NAME OF YOUR PLOT</pre> 

If you don't want to use the form above, you can instead create a page manually and attach categories as such:<pre>[[Category:TPs]]
[[Category:(SCALE)TP]] (i.e. [[Category: MinorTP]])
[[Category:(Current, Finished or Cancelled)TP]] (i.e. [[Category:CurrentTP]])</pre>
[[Category:Index]]

==Current Plots==
===Minor===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask: [[Category:TPs]] [[Category:CurrentTP]] [[Category:MinorTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>

===Major===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask: [[Category:TPs]] [[Category:CurrentTP]] [[Category:MajorTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>
===Epic===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask: [[Category:TPs]] [[Category:CurrentTP]] [[Category:EpicTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>

==Finished Plots==
===Minor===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask:[[Category:TPs]] [[Category:FinishedTP]] [[Category:MinorTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>
===Major===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask: [[Category:TPs]] [[Category:FinishedTP]] [[Category:MajorTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>
===Epic===
<div style="font-size:9pt;">
{{#ask: [[Category:TPs]] [[Category:FinishedTP]] [[Category:EpicTP]]
|format=ul
|columns=3
|limit=500
}}</div>

Undercurrents

2019-07-14T12:31:34Z

Tykhin:

{{TPPage
|Summary=Undercurrents
|Scale=Minor
|Runner=100, 198, 1798,
|Groups=Low and Mid-Tier
|Audience=Low and Mid-Tier
|Desc=The vassal Queen Clea II of Venturia has presided over the continued relative decline of Venturia compared to much of Atlantis. She begins the early stages of a plan to force Atlantis into taking Greenland for its natural resources. This will make Venturia the logical touchpoint between Atlantis and its surface holding, bringing much needed trade and income. Clea's plan begins with making surface allies, trading Atlantean weaponry for surface equipment, and selling extremely addictive drugs to raise hard cash.
|State=Current
}}

8098/Undercurrents: Hammer Down

2019-07-14T12:30:02Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/06/29 |Location=Port Newark |Synopsis=Hulk, Kid and She-Hulk respond to a distress call from a container ship. The crew is mostly rescued and..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/06/29
|Location=Port Newark
|Synopsis=Hulk, Kid and She-Hulk respond to a distress call from a container ship. The crew is mostly rescued and the ship sinks. Hulk sees a mysterious sub.
|Thanks=Hulk, Kid, She-Hulk
|Cast of Characters=100,1558,338,108
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The New York City skyline is taking on its classic look. A million lights twinkle in the dark. In the harbour more lights twinkle on the dozen or so tankers anchored off Port Newark. At 10:15 pm, a huge water plume shoots 50 feet into the air along the port side of the Greenwich, a container ship. The water plume is followed almost immediately by an explosion that tears up through the deck at the bow of the ship and lights up the night sky. Within seconds, the Greenwich is calling SOS over the air. 

:'''{{#var:1558|Kid (1558)}} has posed:''' Well, this was a rather beatiful night! Kid was slurping on his favorite drink - a mango slushie! And of course, everything goes to hell. Kids eyes buldge and he accidently crushes his drink, getting his fur matted with mango...and in the distance...yea, exploding ship. THATS not good.     Well, time to do something bout that. Kid qas already by the docks, so he decides to 'borrow' a boat...after knocking the owner unconciouse. Priorities. But none the less he was soon speeding acrossd the surface of the water, the boat bobbing up and down as he heads for the potential wreckage. His mutant-human illusion was up just in case. But regardless, he figits with the radio to try and tune into the SOS signal, get more infomation about whats going on. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' *CRASH!* That's the sound of the ballistic missile known as the Hulk impacting into the water just off shore in a gigantic deluge, before he dived down to the river floor, and used it to jump right back out of the water, and onto one of the concrete piers. Ten feet of Hulk roars into the night as he looks around for the 'problem', ignoring the puny humans running away from him. "Hulk told human thing needs help." Hulk sniffs the air as he looks towards the large smoke cloud, "Hulk found human thing." 

:'''{{#var:108|She-Hulk (108)}} has posed:''' Night time at the harbor means little more than a lack of light. Ships are on and out of the harbour, 24/7. But it is lovely and peaceful watching the lights from the ships reflect off the water. And she has a hot dog - actually four, procured from an elderly man named, aptly, Frank, at a small vendor cart on the dock. She is just about to take a bite from hot dog number one, when the explosion rips through the Greenwich. She sighs and shakes her head. "Ah hell...well, it smelled nice, anyway." She hands off her meal to a homeless man she runs across while heading toward the water, calling in the emergency on her phone just as she arrives at the water's edge, surveying the situation as she communicates with the 911 operator. "Two...uh....MAYBE three capes on the scene. Be aware." 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' "...explosion on port side and the bow. We are taking water, containment doors have failed. Our primary lifeboats were damaged, we need immediate evacuation for 21 crew...." Kid hears over channel 16. That transmission is followed immediately by some pleasure boater saying he is in the marina but can help. A tugboat captain saying he sees the fire. Then finally the harbour master yelling at everyone other than Greenwich to stay the hell off the air. Longshoremen /run/ when Hulk lands on the pier. Scramble on all fours and flee for your life run. Easily within a Hulk jump is the Greenwich, burning from the bow. There are people scrambling around on the decks. Some seem to be trying to deploy the life raft on the starboard side but nothing is happening. "Ma'am, are you saying there is an explosion on a ship? Can you describe the ship to me ma'am, or see it's name? Where are you standing right now?" asks the 911 operator. 

:'''{{#var:1558|Kid (1558)}} has posed:''' Kid was comming closer and closer as he heard the infomation. 21 crew, not the largest evacutation, but sizeable no less. He looks to the boat he was on. It certainly wasn't the largest. Larger than recreational, but still smaller than a rescue. Safely...at best, 8 people if he got off. Boat safty delt with weight...and he weighed as much as 4 already     He shakes his head and goes in anyways, seeing the the deck workers struggling. He certainly wasn't about to yell up...so he let out a psychic pulse, a telepathic message. o O ("Hey! Down here. Get some people on here, they can get to safty") while also planting a 'suggestion' in their minds to just go with it, its an emergency and there no time to be picky. He had full plans to get off the boat himself and up onto the larger one, so others could fit. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "Puny humans, can't get boats." Hulk grumbles darkly... before he /leaps/ up into the air, over to the Greenwich. He lands /just/ next to it, in the water, once again (cue large plume of water). Then, he's using his hands to grip into the side of the ship -away from the water- to climb up onto the deck. "Hulk deal with that." Hulk growls out to the people around the life rafts, one arm outstretching to grip around the cable ties for each, and simply tearing them away. He repeats the same process for all the rafts that are stuck that he can see. 

:'''{{#var:108|She-Hulk (108)}} has posed:''' "I can't say the source with any certainty," She-Hulk replies to the operator. "There was a water plume before the explosion, which seemed to be next to the ship, not onboard. But it appears the ship has significant damage." She is already flagging down a day cruise boat which could probably hold thirty, if they didn't have a hulk(ess) onboard. "It's a tanker. I heard someone call it the Greenwich. I hate to say it, but it sort of looked like a torpedo attack..." She trails off as she motions to the cruise ship captain, indicating she wants a ride closer to the fray. "Listen Lady, my insurance wouldn't like me cruising into unsafe waters..." a man dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow responds as she comes aboard." Jenn gives him a look of disappointment, and the man instantly seems to reconsider. She has the same ability as Captain America in that regard. But for completely different reasons. "Coming about!" He shouts, after getting a good look at his new passenger. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' Between the psychic compulsion and the sudden arrival of the Hulk, four sailors jump over the port side of the Greenwich and fall thirty feet into the water below. They swim right for Kid's boat. There is a massive metallic boom when Hulk lands on the Greenwich deck. Up close he can through the hole in the bow there is water rushing in the bow. The deck definitely has a bit of a slant to it, forward and to port. Sailors freeze, with really nowhere to run. But when Hulk starts tossing life rafts into the water, they do not hesitate. A chain ladder is tossed over the starboard side and what looks like a ship's officer starts directing the handful of crew on the deck to get on the ladder. Someone is yelling into the ship's PA in urgent Cantonese. A few more crew come running out of the superstructure onto the deck and lurch to a stop when they see Hulk. The obliging Captain Jack Sparrow, ever a sucker for the ladies, nods to She-Hulk in terrified compliance, brings his boat about and pushes the twin inboard diesels to full. The boat picks up speed. It is not exactly quick, but it closes the distance fast enough. The ship is loaded with beige shipping containers. All of them have Hammer Industries marked on the side. 

:'''{{#var:1558|Kid (1558)}} has posed:''' Kid looks to the sailors who just tumbled into the water. A different psychic pulse goes out o O ("Idiots"). Like that freakin dangerous. They coulda impaled themselves on debree! Not like the ship is sinking fast...least it didn't look like it. The Kid has limited experience. But none the less as they swam over, Kid reaches down and yanks each person out of the water, like they were little more than pool toys....and he wasn't exactly gentle as he bascily just tossed them over his shoulder and onto the deck. Not all of us are proffessional heros, okay> But glancing up and seeing Hulk was getting lifeboats in the water...two things come to mind. One AWESOME!!! (Kid's a big hulk fan rilla) and Two -> Thank frack for dat. He hopefully wouldn't need to make a second trip. And witrh that he begins motering the boat back towards land 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' "Puny humans stop? Fine, Hulk will carry." Hulk growls out as he steps over to each of the stop humans... and literally picks them up and puts them on his shoulders, "Hulk carry you to shore. Grab onto neck or arms." He repeats the process for all the humans he finds as he scours the ship that can't get to the rafts. Of course, he can't stop them from just dropping into the water to get away from him, if they're that terrified. Either way, it gets them moving. 

:'''{{#var:108|She-Hulk (108)}} has posed:''' She-Hulk is on the top deck, near the bow, like the King of the World. Over an intercom comes Captain Sparrow's voice. "Attention..giant, green lady..." he begins. "I can get you in a little closer, but I'm not getting close enough that another blast or debris could threaten this ship. I can't help out anybody if we're dead in the water, too." A little closer, he throttles back the ship to a crawl, as he lowers a lifeboat. She-Hulk gives a thumbs up, and calls out, "Maintain position. I'll be back!" And with that, she dives off the top deck and into the water, grabbing hold of the tow rope on the lifeboat, and starts swimming toward the wreckage. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The captain's concern is prescient. She-Hulk starts swimming toward the Greenwich. Then a huge explosion throws water everywhere a good 100 metres down the port side. The resulting wave bobs She-Hulk and Kid's boat up and down. Metal screeches and groans. The Greenwich leans hard to port and containers begin to slide and topple into the water, throwing up splashes of their own. The people Hulk has has cling to him, terrified, as he jumps them to shore. The officer near the ladder is yelling something at him in Cantonese and pointing down, below deck. He keeps saying two names. Meanwhile out of Hulk's sight past the containers there are three crew stuck in the bow. Two are trying to move a chain as thick as a man's torso off the legs of the third. They have no way to get to the ladder. After the explosion the crew on Kid's boat stare, then get /really/ agitated. "We go! We go now! Boat suck down, we go!!" 

:'''{{#var:1558|Kid (1558)}} has posed:''' Oh? There agitated. Kids trying to get this boat to shore without it capzizing...and these guys are yelling at him to go? He looks behind at his small crew, with a rather viciouse face...as if he would quite litterly rip there throats out. Empathy sometimes suck...and he is expericing 5 times the agitation, and a whole host of other emotions. o O ("Sit Down and Shut up. Damn back seat drivers") He can feel the panic too...the dread of death beneath cold waters. He shivered.     As the water bob and wave, he has to decelerate and acclerate the boat to prevent it from capazingin due to the constant bobbing...and the over abundance of weight. Really heavy on his legs for some reason. He glances back and notices the people at the bow. He sends out a longer range pulse o O ("Three folks at the bow...anyone out there to help em? And Some fella keeps pointing down....can't hear what he saying, but it may be important") at this point that as much infomation as he can give. The message was open to anyone and everyone to recievie or not as he was making his way to the dock. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' *RIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP* Those on his back and shoulders will no doubt tell tales of how they were first hand witnesses to the Hulk literally just reaching down, busting through the deck, and tearing up the deck. Slowly as to not injure the humans on him, the Hulk roars as his weight shifts, peeling off the top deck slowly but surely. Anyone watching will easily see the massive sheet of metal being lifted into the air by the Green Goliath from afar as he tries to get to the humans... or at least make sure they don't drown with the ship. Once he sees them, Hulk will reach out and grab them out with his hands... each finger massive and able to be grabbed onto by humans no problem. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' The Hulk rips open the deck and finds two crew pushed up against a bulkhead by a torrent if inrushing water. When jumps off the ship, it shudders and groans again and the bow dips low enough that water comes over the deck. The two free crew members are swept off their feet and start swimming madly to try and get away. The one under the chain disappears below water thrashing in panic. What was a slow tilt gains momentum and the ship rolls to port. All of the containers are dropped into the ocean. There is a massive sucking sound as wate rushes into the remain airspaces below the main deck. Kid's boat and the boat that brought She-Hulk move away fast enough that they are not caught in the undertow as the Greenwich begins to sink. Any who know ships realize it is bizarrely quick. The ship must have nearly had the hull ripped off below the waterline, and expertly at that. 

:'''{{#var:338|Bruce Banner (338)}} has posed:''' With half the remaining crew on his back and the ship about to collapse, Hulk has no choice but to leave. Tensing, Hulk /leaps/ back to the shore... making sure to aim himself so he lands in the water near a ladder, so his landing on shore doesn't break any of the humans. Once again, he drops down to the river floor, and once again, he jumps back up to the concrete docks... anyone who held onto him out of terror coming with him. "Hulk done with water." Hulk grumbles as he spits out some of the river onto the concrete. "Water better than big robots... but Hulk can't smash water." Once he's sure everyone is off of him, the Hulk starts to run, leaving small craters, gaining momentum as he /leaps/ away. Even Hulk can't save everyone. 

:'''{{#var:100|Aquaman (100)}} has posed:''' In the distance when he hit the riverbed, there was a light. Moving quickly away toward open water, definitely artificial. An impression of form, a manta ray? Delta wing? Hard to tell in the dark water. But it was there before the dark swallowed the light. 
}}

8268/Undercurrents: Something New

2019-07-14T12:24:01Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/11 |Location=Women's Dorms, Xavier School |Synopsis=Hank, Jubilee, Doug and Josh check on Sarah and her roomate. They start to investigate..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/11
|Location=Women's Dorms, Xavier School
|Synopsis=Hank, Jubilee, Doug and Josh check on Sarah and her roomate. They start to investigate a new drug.
|Thanks=Rogue, Scarlet Witch
|Cast of Characters=1798,95,1126,59
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh rubs his eyes as he comes into Medical with a coffee. He looks tired. He has thrown on jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops and makes his way straight to check on Sarah. The 15 year old girl lies in a bed. The touchless biosensors pick up her vitals and display them on the wall above her bed. A quick review shows she has not woken during the night, but is in stable condition. Josh cannot really interpret the EEG map except to know it is not normal. Instead he touches her face to get a sense of how the young brunette is doing. He steps back and sips his coffee, remembering seeing her on the floor, blue in the face. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy comes in, just back from an X-Men assignment. No jacket, tie loosened and showing signs of having been cut off mid-way by a shuriken, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Also, his color is off. He's a bright purple. "I came as soon as I hard. What happened to her?" 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug is standing nearby, one hand over his mouth. He had just come in from his morning run, and is disheveled, in a t-shirt, shorts, and barefoot -- he glances back toward Josh, then to Hank, and he opens his mouth to say something, but decides that now is not the time. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "Hank, thank god you're here," Josh says and frowns at Hank's look. He waves to Doug. "James Bond meets Austin Powers?" "Sarah and Nadia have been doing down, pretty sure she means heroin. They tried something new and it was /bad/. Really bad. She was blue when we got to her and seriously, I've helped some people in my apartment building clean out, but this stuff would not let go. Thankfully Wanda was there or I might still be working on her." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee is not one usually given to the medical lab, but considering the events of the night before, and the fact that she saw Josh heading that direction, Jubilee can't help following. The door opens on the three gentlemen, and wide brown eyes peer around the door from the edge, topped by a fluff of ebony hair and a pair of antique brass goggles. The expression conveyed is fear. Perhaps terror. "Is.... everyone....Is everyone okay?" comes a voice from Jubilee, still concealed behind the door. She makes no move to enter, yet. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy lifts a hand and glances back to greet the arriving Doug and Jubilee. "Hi. Uh.. if she's still stable this far along, she'll probably be fine." He comes around to Sarah's bed, checking her vitals, humming. "Josh, have you taken a blood sample yet? We need to check her blood for what toxins may have caused this. It might be a simple overdose, but it might not." He sighs, and drops his face into his hand. "Such a waste." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug studies the readouts on the monitor, and then says, "Huh... strange. Heroin... I mean, I'm not a doctor, but wouldn't heroin *suppress* bodily functions? But hers are..." He points, "Well, I don't know. It just seems like they'd be more..." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I did for the automated tox screen, but it's a bit messed up, because I purged her when I healed her," Josh says. He waves Jubilee in. "Okay, so she was blue, twitching, not aware, friends admits drug use. Sounds like a rountine OD. So I started working her gently, so I didn't cause shock that I'd also have to deal with. But the stuff hit her harder the faster I healed her. And it was /changing/ her brain." Josh swipes at the holo-wall display. The auto-toxicology report comes up clear. But the blood analysis is shocking to anyone who knows their stuff. This 15 year old girl has markers of kidney and liver dysfunction of a 30 year heroin addict. "I don't understand those results," Josh says, frustrated. Hank would know Josh's abilities vastly outstrip his knowledge. "But I can feel something is wrong with her liver and kidney. But I didn't touch them because you'd told me about damage being a clue and I wanted you to see it, Hank." "And get this, Doug. So Wanda Maximoff was there, she said the drug had some kind of magic or something. If she didn't help me damp it down, it would have taken me all night to purge Sarah." For anyone who understands these things, automated brain scans show extremely dense, new neural connections throughout the girl's reward centers. An expert would read it well. She has been rewired into a massive fiend. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' The curious and frightened eyes from behind the door, watch Josh as he explains and demonstrates his points. Once she is fairly certain that no one is going to attack her, toss her out, or die the moment she enters, Jubilee slips inside. "Hiya, Handsome!" she replies to Hank. She's in a black sundress adorned with embroidered cherries, and black sandals. Her long black hair is partly pulled up into a twist and pinned. Her turn of the century goggles rest atop a pile of curls on top of her head. "Have any tests been run on the... umm...paraphernalia?" Jubilee nods toward the syringe and spoon. "Probably better be super careful with it, though...." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy raises a finger. "Good thinking Jub." He paces the room a bit, gently ruffling her before taking her advice. He carefully picks up a few of the pieces, and walks them across the room, to begin an immediate series of scans on them. Tapping at the machine. "It maybe these kids were lured into this as part of an attack of some kind. This may even be a drug tuned to attack mutants." Inhaling. "Jubilee, could you please prepare to lock down the floor? Josh, we need to get her roommate down here now. This could be anything." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "An ultimate hot-shot. Anyone who didn't know what to look for would look at her and say she ODed. But why go to all that effort just to kill somebody?" Doug asks, then he says to the others, "I'm going to try something. My power isn't... actually limited to sight or hearing; it extends through all my perceptions. So my *senses* aren't superhuman but my ability to interpret the information I take in is. I might be able to learn something if I can--" He looks down at the spoon with the burnt residue on it, and puts on a pair of rubber gloves, with a snap, before he reaches down and picks it up. He scents it, lightly. 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' "I'll go find her, I think Rogue grounded Nadia to their room," Josh says to Hank. "I had no idea anyone here was doing this kind of stuff. You ever heard of anything like this?" he asks Jubilee on the way to the door. Then he snaps his fingers. "Nadia said they got it from their usual dealer in Bushwick," he adds then takes off to find Nadia. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee squeaks as Hank ruffles her, but she's all business, getting done any task that's asked of her. She doesn't have the abilities to figure this all out, but she will help any way she can. "I haven't heard of anything specific, but I know that kids these days will try anything that is given or recommended to them. Gullible, most of them. And people will manufacture anything and pass it off as the next new thing. Like that synthetic pot, or bath salts. These kids here are especially vulnerable, because they feel bulletproof, most of them." Jubilee watches Hank...then Doug as he....sniffs it. "I reeeally wouldn't do that if I were you..." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' Doug frowns, and then sets the spoon down. "Don't let anybody handle any of this with bare skin. Gloves only. And put it in a sealed container, there's enough people around here with hyperacute senses..." He takes the gloves off, and then says, "Even the faintest scent of it after being partially denatured-- burnt onto that spoon I mean... is appealing. I could feel it stimulating the pleasure centers in my brain." He looks to Jubilee, and says, "You're right Jubilation, I shouldn't have. Fortunately I can say 'no, thanks' in any language." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy pauses after he starts the machine, and looks back at it. Wrinkling his nose. "Yeah..." he grunts, his fur standing on end, his throat moving as he swallows hard. "This is bad. I have a distinct desire at the moment to try the stuff. That 's uh... well Doug, my fear is there's some sort of mind control being set up here. The brain scans on the girl are troubling. I want both students down here, isolated, and secured. Not as punishment, but as protection." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh comes back a few minutes later with a terrified looking Nadia. 16, doll-faced, with pleated blonde hair and blue eyes, she is a picture perfect suburban beauty. Except for the puffy red eyes, red nose and rank fear. She smells of it. "This is Nadia," Josh says. "Sarah's roomie." Seeing Nadia might jog memories. She and Sarah had histories of very troubling behaviour before coming to Xavier's. They were not unfamiliar with the underage party scene, and Sarah had dabbled in escorting so she could buy the trinkets and bling she wanted. Nadia is an electrokinetic and Sarah has incredibly fast reflexes. "Is she.." Nadia asks timidly when she catches sight of Sarah. She stands mostly behind Josh and aboids looking at anyone. Though she cannot help but do a double-take at purple Hank. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee frowns slightly, moving over to Hank, and she touches his arm, rubbing it lightly. "Hey. You okay? Maybe you should step out for a moment. Just for distance." She looks concerned, as she watches Hank cautiously. Then enters Nadia - even more terrified than Jubilee had been when she arrived. "She's stable. But we need more information if there's any chance she is gonna be okay..." Jubilee offers, priming her for the information pump that is inevitably coming. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "Yes." Doug says. "Its language is designed from the ground up to be utterly seductive. The absence of pain, bliss, euphoria -- whoever designed this understands more about human brain chemistry and the endocrine system than you." And that means... they are an exceptionally gifted biochemist. He leaves that part unspoken. "I like the psylocke purple, by the way. It suits you--" He looks up, and then crosses his arms, and steps back a bit. This is the Doctor's show. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy is nicely distracted, between all the focus on his new color, and Jubilee's comforting. "Thanks." He then snickers and smirks. "I was helping a young mutant family today. One kid, whom I'm sure is going to be a student here someday, had the power to mess with my tint control. I was actually coming down here to find out how permanent it is..." Chuckling, he pats Jubilee's shoulder. "Thanks. I should be fine. That was brief, but intense. Nadia. Please have a seat in the bed on the other end of the room from your roommate. We're going to do some routine scans on you, just for your own safety. You'll both be fine, but we have to do things the right way." Then smiling to Jubilee. "Elevators secured?" THen to the whole group. "anyone want coffee? Might be a long night." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Nadia looks to Jubilee and nods, miserably. Josh steps aside and jerks his head toward Hank and Nadia shuffles over slowly. She moves languidly onto the bed. Despite being obviously frightened and having been crying, her breathing is slow and so is her heartbeat. Nadia's pupils are small even under Hank's light and her eyes are droopy. She scratches idly at her arm. "This wasn't supposed to happen," Nadia says lamely. "She always does more than me... And Twig said it was safe. It's not my fault." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "I'll secure the elevators," Jubilee replies, moving to the door, and looking back at Hank's comment. "Good thing I brought pj's." As if that's completely normal. One must always be prepared for a long night. "Is there anything anyone wants before I lock stuff down? Now's your chance to ask Jubes for anything you want." 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "Let me just get a biohazard bag..." Doug gets a fresh pair of gloves, and tosses them to Josh, before he grabs another pair and goes to fetch one. "...Put those in here." He says. The bag seals up airtight. Probably a wise precaution. "My tablet." Doug says, easily, "It's on my desk in my room." He'll shower up down here, and change into his uniform. Does Doug even have a uniform? What does it look like? 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy starts pouring coffee for himself, and anyone who wants it. He sits in the middle of the room, between the two beds containing the two young students. "Nadia, who's Twig?" He asks gently, flashing her a smile, trying to reassure her. "I'll be honest with you. My theory is someone is trying ot use you to attack mutants. To damage our reputations, or even to harm the school, and you with it. You're the victims, and I need you to be perfectly honest with me." 

:'''{{#var:1798|Josh Foley (1798)}} has posed:''' Josh catches the gloves from Doug and puts them on. He drops the spoon and the syringe into the back Doug holds out after taking a few swipes with sample swabs and distilled water. He labels each and sets them aside in their containers. "I guess you can teach me how to use the mass spectrometer now?" he asks Hank. "And uh, we gonna be locked down long?" "What? Really?" Nadia says with widening eyes. "But, Twigs said it was a new down. He just got it, it's like, totally hot uptown and like, everywhere. He wouldn't... We're... He's my boyfriend." Josh frowns. "Your what?! Twigs is my age! Jesus," Josh says, furious. "I know Twigs. Or thought I did. He hangs out at the Sailor in Mutant Town. I knew he partied, but this is /bullshit/. He's a goof, but..." Josh just shakes his head. "I'll get on sample prep and Nadia's bloodwork," Josh mutters, looking foul. 

:'''{{#var:1126|Doug Ramsey (1126)}} has posed:''' "...He hangs out at Evolution sometimes, too." Doug says. "Maybe I'll go talk to him later." He's quiet, downright clinical, as he puts the sealed bag under lock and key. You can never be too cautious with this stuff. "...But if you're right, and this stuff is everywhere..." He grimaces. "...Then we don't have a lot of time. Just another frickin' thing on our plates! Filo de putino. Dia dia." 
}}

8270/Undercurrents: Jubi and the Beast

2019-07-14T12:22:44Z

Tykhin: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2019/07/11 |Location=Beast's Lab. X-Men Base |Synopsis=Beast and Jubilee are caught in the lockdown after a student overdose. |Thanks=Jubilee, Beas..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2019/07/11
|Location=Beast's Lab. X-Men Base
|Synopsis=Beast and Jubilee are caught in the lockdown after a student overdose.
|Thanks=Jubilee, Beast
|Cast of Characters=95,59
|Tinyplot=Undercurrents
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy drags his temporarily-purple self into his lab in the locked-down base. Taking off the poor, cut-in-half tie, the other half somewhere on a street in Metropolis. Unbuttoning his shirt a little, he flops onto his reinfoced couch in the back. "You all changed? I'm hoping it won't BE all night, but it might be before we're sure whether it's safe to release the lockdown." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Yeah!" Jubilee pops into the lab, wearing what looks like a mini-dress and little shorts beneath. The top is yellow with turquoise sleeves. The bottoms, for what they're worth, are pink. "I doubt they'll have it locked down all night. We can do better out there than we can /in here/, after all. Especially once we get all we can from those two." She nods in the direction of the medical lab. Jubilee furrows her brow, then, looking Hank over. "You okay, there? Wild night, looks like. Your poor tie.." She laments. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy sips from his XXL-sized coffee mug, and smiles. "I was on bookmobile duty. And while we were out, Kitty diverted us to some terrorists who were going to attack a young family. Father is outspoken for mutants, kids are mutants themselves. We got there just in time." He looks at his tie, spread out on his desk. "That one was new, too." Now eyeing Jubilee. "You still haven't lost your sense of fashion. That's about how we found you..." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' " Just about, huh?" She looks down at her pj's. A little skimpy, maybe. But easier to function in than a dress. Besides everyone at the school has seen her in competition leotards, which are way worse. "I didn't expect to be caught in lockdown," she replies with a sheepish grin, her cheeks colouring pink. "But I guess I should, I mean around here it's not exactly a rate occurrence, is it?" Jubilee sips from no coffee cup. It is a fargone conclusion that Jubilee is not often provided with caffeine. Between her "perky" demeanor and her dangerous powers, maybe hopping up on caffeine to a hair trigger isn't the best of ideas. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does look away as he realizes just how skimpy they are, and snickers. "Just about. I guess I was looking more at the colors than the cut." Then with a grin, he leans over, reaching under the couch to slide out a box of Twinkies. "Want one? And have a seat anywhere." Beds, chairs, big couch, plenty of options. "Nadia's in one of my classes. I'm so disappointed." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee accepts his offer, taking a Twinkie from the box and opening it carefully along the plastic seam. She has perched herself in one corner of the couch, legs folded beneath her. "Thanks," she offers, as she takes a bite, and then, "Mmm..." Jubilee watches Henry for a long moment, thoughtfully as she chews her bite of Twinkie and licks the cream off her bottom lip. "Well, look at it this way," she replies, swirling her fingertip in the cream filling of her cake pensively. "Maybe she dodged a huge bullet. If she survives this just fine, then maybe she'll see the danger in it all. Maybe she'll stop. It often takes a bullet, either dodged or taken, before someone will see the light, y'know." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy grabs one himself, and looks up just in time to see Jubilee's play with her lip, and snickers. "Yeah. It'll be hard on both of them. I hope they learn. I hope we'll be supportive enough." Then he dunks the tip of his twinkie into his coffee, and nibbles on that. It's tough to eat slowly at this size. "You have any students showing extra promise?" 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee grins, and shrugs, looking up at Henry. "The diplomatic answer is, 'They all show extra promise. We have stars amongst us.' But the real answer is, I Might have to bankrupt Chuck's safety fund to wrap them all in bubble wrap, if rhey're going to survive my classes in one piece. Some of them I think go out of their way to hurt themselves. One gave herself a bloody nose, stretching before class." Jubilee sighs. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy nearly spills his coffee snickering. "It's tough isn't it? My first time teaching, I'd just come back from Stockholm. Trying to teach the Krebs Cycle to kids who can barely draw a picture of a sugar cube... And you, world class gymnast, helping kids who might struggle to do a sit up." Dunk, nibble. "But you have the heart in you to do a great job for them, I know it. Even if we have to add an extra layer of padding to the whole gym." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "I hope I can do them some good. I mean, they aren't going to be gymnasts, that much is for sure. Most of them anyway. Someone might surprise me. But they need to know how to take a tumble. Be flexible. Generally keep from breaking something every time they take a fall. Because I figure some of them are definitely going to end up doing that. The whole fighting biz." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy quirks, and looks up again at her. "I imagine you're good at making the case that a great athletic regimen is good for making your clothes look better, if nothing else. And you're right. It's always shocking every time that gawky kid from 8th grade biology is suddenly a New Mutant and fighting along side you." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, none of them wanna be known as The Stick, or something. Besides which it's important that they have to be able to take care of themselves, or they endanger not only themselves, but also their teammates." Jubilee grins, and takes another bite of Twinkie. She chews it for a moment, then stashes it in her cheek. "I guess someone like you or the Hulk just don't really have to worry about that, huh? You guys just BAM, and suddenly you're beyond ripped." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy laughs. "Been that way since high school, Jub. Before I even knew I was a mutant, before I was blue..." He pauses. "Well, today purple, but you get my drift. Before I was furry and weird, I was just a big guy. It was easy. I could never teach sports. It's just... well I never had to work at it." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Well! That's...that's handy," replies Jubilee, sneaking a look at Henry in a nonchalant, but completely obvious manner. "So you were smart /AND/ you got all the girls. Bet you had a BLAST in high school, huh?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy bites into his twinkie after another dip, then she goes there. He'd turn slightly purpler if it were even possible, pausing before he chews slowly, and sips his coffee. "In a manner of speaking, if we consider the situation in the fullness of time, as we come to the final analysis, a reasonable observer could possibly conclude that, in the balance... yes." Snickering. 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Laughter like shining bubbles erupts from Jubilee as Beast formulates his answer in a very literal manner. She rocks forward and back for a moment, considering, then shakes her head. "Well good. You got it, might as well flaunt it!" She grins brightly, then takes another bite, looking down at her Twinkie for a moment, and then to the door. "Hope all's going well in there. Josh is amazing at what he does." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy does move his eyes around when she says THAT, considering her PJs in that new light. But he clears his throat, and nods. "With his raw talent, combined with the tools I've managed to assemble here, they'll be fine." Sitting back, dunking the rest of his twinkie to finish in one bite. "But I'd be a terrible example to the kids if they knew me in high school." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Oh, well maybe so. I guess kids that age are probably usually consumed with the opposite sex, drinking, partying...that kinda stuff, huh?" It's something this one missed out on. But she has a pretty vivid imagination. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy laughs, and smiles, sitting back once more with just coffee. "It was different in my day. Today's Internet makes it different. There was more... mystery and exploration then." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "Yeah....yeah, I can see that too, I guess. Suppose every generation has it a little differently." She looks down at her last bite of Twinkie and arches her brows. "Want my Twinkie butt?" She leans forward on hand and knees to offers it brightly, as if it were something delightful. "I didn't even eat all the cream out of it." 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy squints and takes a deep breath. There are a few ways to parse that sentence, depending on where your mind is at the moment. "I uh, sure, thank you Jub." He daintaily uses two fingers to pull the confectin remnant out of her hand, dunking it in the coffee to toss it into his mouth. "Mmmm. Just such a simple joy in life. Twinkies." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee smiles as she watches Hank down that last bite. "I like the little things," she replies. "Kinda fond of the big things, too, though." She winks and stuffs a hand into her backpack to pull out a bottle of water. "I kinda like you purple...But ya look WAY more dignified in blue." She nods once, affirmatively, as she twists the cap off her water bottle and takes a drink. "You ever use pick-up lines like 'Hey, Baby, you ever date a blue guy?'" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy facepalms at that. big grin though. "These days? I'd be tempted. Jub, I never had... well, as I said. I never had to TRY before. But when you're blue... or purple... and fuzzy, you can't just show up and be the life of the party." Slow sip. "And don't even get me started on the size part. I have about 30 blue-based pick up lines in my head, for whenever I lose that last shred of dignity." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' Jubilee's expression falls a little with Henry's admission, and she scoots over beside him. "C'mon," Jubilee offers with a leaning nudge against him. "You're amazing. You /are/ the life of the party. You/are/ the party. Any chick who can't see how amazing you are is too stupid to deserve you. And you don't want stupid girls..." She closes one eye and peeks up at him with the other. "Do ya?" 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy moves his arm without hinking, resting over Jub's shoulders as she scoots her butt closer. Looking at her, he snickers. "Thanks. I appreciate that. Really. And you're right. It would never work with a bimbo. But in high school I wasn't even thinking about things like that." 

:'''{{#var:59|Jubilee (59)}} has posed:''' "You're warm," Jubilee notes, only now realizing that she was apparently chilled before. "We do a lot of stuff when we're younger that we never give a second thought at the time. Just...y'know...you're not alone." She wraps her arms as best she can around his midsection and hugs him affectionately. 

:'''{{#var:95|Henry McCoy (95)}} has posed:''' Henry McCoy shifts a little, leaning into the hug. But not too much. Just a little. "Thank you" he rumbles, head tilting back and eyes closing slowly. 
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