11784/Therapy Sessions 2.0 with Creed

Therapy Sessions 2.0 with Creed
Date of Scene:	16 July 2020
Location:	Security Center - X-Men Base
Synopsis:	Scott invites Creed into the Danger Room for a sparring match with Betsy. PROGRESS.
Cast of Characters:	Cyclops, Sabretooth, Phoenix, Psylocke

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Cyclops has posed:
This is probably a bad idea.

But it will be sure as hell fun to watch.

Today's lesson: Control.

The one thing that Sabretooth has been struggling with is control since he reached out for 'help' from the X-Men. While he has been making some progress with his psychic therapy sessions and medicated lace packages of meat that has been delivered for his meals, they need to start actually incorporating some of this into real time practices. That is why Scott Summers had enlisted Betsy Braddock for an afternoon in the Danger Room with Creed.

"Right. As I said before. This is about control, Victor. I'm going to let you work out some frustration, but if you as much lose your mind, Jean will shut you off like a lightswitch."

In full uniform stands Cyclops along with his two teammates, facing off against Creed who is still in his adamantium muzzle and claw shackles. He still isn't taking any type of risk with him just yet. Not while they are still tip toeing between prisoner and patient.

"Betsy also assured me that she won't be holding back. I don't think she knows how." He says with a twitch of his lips in brief amusement before he looks over towards Jean and Psylocke.

"Anything you want to add?"

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor sits in the corner on the floor. His legs are bent and pulled back towards him with his arms resting on top of his knees. His eyes burn above the muzzle as they flick from one X-Men to the next. "So now I am trained seal? Or maybe you want me to clap my little cymbals and wave a little red cap?" He grunts as he remains seated on the floor. "You want to let me blow off steam? Take your little kitten mittens off of me." He brings one hand down onto the floor with a clang in a gesture that seems to say he has done that many times before.

Phoenix has posed:
It was an absolutely terrible idea.

Jean's face said that clearly as she stands at Scott's right in her black and gold uniform. It was never a real secret how much she didn't want him here. However, she's been dutifully working with Creed as requested, though as the days went on it was clear her patience is wearing thin. Her arms are crossed over her chest and her green eyes are baleful as they fix unblinking on Victor.

"Less a lightswitch and more pulling a plug. You've barely taken a moment of this seriously, so if you'd rather not then I could just lobotomize you and get this other with."

Psylocke has posed:
Standing in her dark blue costume is Betsy, codename Psylocke. This is the first time she has come down here. She had been avoiding doing so, even though she was supposed to. There were painful memories where Victor Creed was concerned. There had been a lot of trauma she had been dealt by his claws, not all of it physical. At one point, she thought she had worked past it. Until she was told he was in custody and they were helping him.

It had taken all her willpower not to shadow port into his cell and psiblade him as he slept.

She stood to the left of Scott, oddly relaxed. This would be the first time that Victor had seen her since the changes hand taken place. For him, there was a stranger. A Japanese woman with purple hair. Until she spoke. Then he likely would recognize that posh British accent, even if the voice was slightly different. First she addressed Scott, "I am quite capable of holding back. I just prefer not to. Particularly this time."

Then she looks at Victor and smiles. It is not a pleasant expression, more predatory. "If we left the mittens on, that would be dreadfully dull. So what say we get those off and play, pet?"

Cyclops has posed:
Now /this/ is a bad idea.

Scott gives a glance towards Betsy for a moment, brows pinching from behind his visor.

<< Are you sure about this? I know this is meaningful for you, but if something was to happen .. >>

Both telepaths can feel his thoughts as he reaches out to the two of them. His arms fold over his chest, glancing back towards Victor. He seems to be in deep thought for a moment, then clears his throat.

"Danger Room. Seal the doors. Code Alpha fifteen A." There is a loud chirp as the doors are sealed shut with a tight click. No one is geting in. No one is getting out.

Pressing a button on a device strapped to his wrist, Victor can feel the muzzle and restrains click open and fall off. Freedom at last.

"This is about control, Victor. Remember that. You want our help? You want to go back to being more of a man than an animal? Then prove it."

Taking a step forward, his voice becomes etched in ice. "Because anything else /but/ control, I will put you down like a dog and turn the body over to Valerie Cooper and Nick Fury. Got it?"

Sabretooth has posed:
    "Lobotomy probably wouldn't stick anyway, Red. The brain pan heals just like the rest of me." Victor seems completely disinterested by the discussions barely glancing at the young Japanese woman. Probably just some friend of the Runt's with delusions of Yuriko. When she speaks, however, his ears perk up. "I know that voice, but it doesn't fit you, Frail." He cocks his head slightly as he studies Betsy a bit closer now. "Don't smell like her neither, but maybe this mask is screwin' with me."

    He is still watching Betsy when Scott starts giving commands to the Danger Room. His attention is drawn back to the tall man and then he feels the muzzle, gloves, and boots loosen. "Well, how about that..." Victor slowly begins to get to his feet. He opens and shuts his mouth, stretching his jaw and flashing his fangs. He flexes his fingers and toes, claws extending, as he remembers the feeling of movement once more. "You keep talking, Slim. Maybe one day I'll actually listen." His attention, however, is becoming focused on Betsy as the threat here.

Phoenix has posed:
"I didn't say it'd be physical." Jean remarks dryly.

<< We're here if something does. >> Jean responds firmly in telepathic return, even coldly which is unlike her normally more restrained self. << This is our home. I'm not letting him paint the walls with our blood. If he can't control himself, then I *will*. Permanently. >>

As the doors are locked down she takes several steps back to begin clearing some space. Never once does she turn her back on him. Those eyes stay fixed on Creed, burning with a simmering multitude of unpleasant emotions.

Psylocke has posed:
"Frail?" The Japanese woman sounds amused with that term. The smile flashes again and she gives a little shrug, very brief. Her eyes never Victor as he works through stretching out parts that have been locked away, probably far too long. If it was anyone else, she might even have felt sorry for him being treated like an animal.

If.

"I don't think that term fits any longer." As he focuses on her, she shifts her stance slightly, one foot a bit behind the other as she turns her body just a few inches. Her weight goes to the back foot. He is skilled enough he likely realizes she is quite ready for him to attack.

"But you can be the judge of that. Pet." Somehow the term that is meant to be endearing in Britain comes across as condescending.

Cyclops has posed:
"Shut up, Creed." Scott says with a rumble of thunder in his voice as he keeps his arms crossed over his chest. "You're getting a once in a lifetime chance here. Don't make me regret my decision anymore than I already have."

<< That goes for you too, Betsy. If we are ever going to earn his trust, he needs to see that. The moment he steps out of line though, put him down. I doubt he'll even make a minute before he tries to kill you. >>

As he moves to give them distance, he stands next to Jean, waiting anxiously.

Sabretooth has posed:
    "Don't take it personal, Frail. I just have killed plenty like you before, and you always seem to break in the same spots." Victor takes his own fighting stance. It is less refined and controled than Betsy's skill. His hackles stand up. His clawed hands face up and ready to rend and tear. He crouches low with powerful legs. He looks like a cat ready to pounce with the roar of a grizzly. His eyes watch Betsy's movements. He is tensed like an animal, but with a predator's brain. "Now we could just circle each other like a pair of high school brats or......" He quickly drops lower and pounces forward to try and take Betsy's legs out from under her.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey may be standing on the sidelines for this one, but from head to toe she looks tense and coiled and prepared to snap into motion with a moment's notice. Her fists slowly curl and uncurl with the faintest halo of rose like the first spark above a waiting fuse.

<< This is a terrible idea, Scott. All of this. >> She remarks grimly in private to the man beside her. << First we peel Logan off of him, now we send Betsy in? What is any of this going to accomplish besides bloodshed? >>

Psylocke has posed:
The man is smart. Smarter than most people give him credit for. Way too smart. Especially when it came to things he liked. Most certainly, this was something he liked to do. So Betsy was taking nothing for granted.

As Victor went for her legs, she tensed and somersaulted into the air to clear his dive easily. Yet it wasn't that simple. In the air she quickly spun, while aloft, trying to get a kick in to his back as he went past.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor is struck in the back and causes the charge to go a little out of control. He begins to tumble forward with the added force of the kick and his own momentum. However, he tucks his shoulder and allows his speed to take him to the ground in a controlled tumble. He rolls and then is back on his feet with a growl. He is charging back trying to get to Betsy before she lands from the summersault.

Psylocke has posed:
His controlled tumble saves him seconds, allowing him to swing around and get back to attack position just as she was about to hit the floor from her dodge. He's quick, something that also isn't always understood considering his size.

As Victor comes in with claws extended, going for a sweep at her midsection, she manages a single step back but there is a *shrip* sound as the material of her costume gets opened. At least it wasn't her skin. This time.

She brings her arm down, trying to slam the back of his arm and pushing it away from her, keeping his momentum going so that his arm is out of position for an immediate back swipe.

Her opposite arm drives forward in an attempted punch to his ribs then she is jumping backwards to try and get some distance, whether she connects on that punch or not.

Sabretooth has posed:
    "Almost gotcha, Frail," Victor says with a laughing snarl as her fabric rips. His arm is struck and he lurches forward and down, opening his own middle up to her punch. A rush of breath escapes him as the punch lands hard against his ribs. He staggers to the side, almost drunkenly staggering for a step or two, giving her the distance now. Quickly, he straightens up and whips his head around to locate the British Ninja. "I know that voice," he growls. "Just doesn't match yet. Don't worry though. It will." This time he isn't running, but walking straight at her almost daring her to attack him.

Psylocke has posed:
"Now I'm hurt," comes the retort from Betsy. "I didn't make enough of an impression during our last meeting. I'll have to remedy that."

As he stalks forward, Betsy's eyes narrow as she crouches just enough to lower her center of gravity, preparing. He's bigger. Stronger. The best she can do is use her smaller size and speed to try to get in hits and get back out of reach as quickly as possible.

She takes his dare. She takes two fast steps forward, the slap-slap of her feet on the hard floor beneath them. Then a side kick fired toward him but retracted as soon as she sees him reacting, spinning back and bringing around a backhand followed by another gyre of her body as that foot comes back up. An attempted double hit of fist then foot for his head.

Cyclops has posed:
As he watches the pair dance, Scott gives a side glance over to Jean for a moment, then lifts a hand to rub at his face.

<< I should put a stop to this. But at least so far he's not losing his mind and trying to gut her like a rabbit. We've reached the thirty second mark. >>

Taking in a deep breath, he looks tense and at the ready, not the least comfortable.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor takes the bait. Large clawed hands grab at the first leg that strikes towards him. Fingers grip empty air instead and Victor's stare flicks back up only to be struck in the face causing his head to whip to one side. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. He had missed the first kick and been struck in the head, but his arm comes up to block the second kick and shove back attempting to knock her off balance.

Phoenix has posed:
<< ... >>

The silence from Jean is deafening. She's still standing there looking restless and sour at the entire ordeal, but she doesn't move to put a stop to it. So far, control is being kept. So far.

Psylocke has posed:
It works. She is pushed back. Only, Betsy was prepared for that possibility. She goes back, tilting, a stumble step backwards. Then she goes down, falling to the floor.

Laying on her back, she has to be a lovely target.

If he takes the bait and goes for the attack on her while she is down, she will bring up both legs at the same time and explode upwards with a double footed kick toward the center of his chest to push him back away from her. Then she will flip up to her feet, dropping back into a ready crouch one one fist up and forward and the other held lower at her waist.

Sabretooth has posed:
    "Now this looks familar," Victor snarls. "Except I think I damn near gutted you last time. Didn't I, Braddock?" He doesn't pounce towards the prone woman but rather goes to grab one of her ankles. Claws will dig into the boot as he attempts to drag her across the floor to the other set of claws ready to strike.

Cyclops has posed:
<< Yeah, yeah. You're mad at me. >>

Scott reaches up to press his hand against his visor, tense and waiting as he focuses on the fight.

Psylocke has posed:
"About time, you bloody wan--"

The insult, that is far below her breeding, doesn't get all the way out of her mouth as he doesn't take the bait. It proves two things. First, he's still thinking, fully in control of himself or he would've gone for the kill as the animal he becomes.

Second, she better do something or she's in a load of trouble here.

As he drags her closer, she rolls her body to the opposite side, making the angle a little harder for him to hit. Then she draws back that opposite leg and fires it forward with all of her strength behind it and a vocal Kiai as she focuses her chi into that single strike.

It is aimed for his kneecap. She might get clawed in the process, but she intends to take him down at the same time in the most brutal way possible.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey raises one hand in front of her with a slow stretch and flex of her fingers that glow with an increasingly bristling light. It looks uncomfortably like the gesture a doctor makes when pulling on a particularly long glove. The glow only highlights the shadows on her face, casting in start highlight each night lacking sleep or furrow of worry or thought that begin to line her brow.

<< I think the point has been made, Scott. >>

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor's bones are not unbreakable like the Runt's. The force she aimed at his kneecap results in the sound of a loud crack and Victor falls to the other knee with a roar of pain. He doesn't let go of her ankle, however. Teeth snap as he snorts out his breath is short bursts of pain as the kneecap begins to heal. Claws dig into her ankle as his other hand swings, albeit a little widly now, claws flashing but unable to really advance towards her as he remains on his knee. He gives her foot a massive yank in fury as his muscles tense and stand out perhaps beginning to lose control now.

Cyclops has posed:
<< Sixty seconds. >>

Scott gives a frown and clears his throat. "Enough!" He calls out to the pair of them, tapping the side of his visor to fire a beam of red between them, to try and seperate the two combatants. "Take a break for a moment and breathe." He waits with concern in his posture, his body rigid.

Psylocke has posed:
The fact Victor still has hold of her leg means he is able to hit there, even if he can't get her torso at that precise moment. His claws are digging into her ankle through the boot. The swing of his other hand brings those sharp claws raking over her hip, leaving four bloody furrows in her skin.

Only, he isn't the only one losing it.

Perhaps it is memory from the last time she was gutted by him. Perhaps it is the killer instinct from her alter ego. Or perhaps it is because she is wanting some payback. The fact she caused him that much pain is like blood in the water to a shark.

She is already tensing when there is a flare of purple around her right hand. Only it isn't her usual psimitar or psiblade that appears there, the manifestation of her psionic abilities given a physical form. Instead, it is a set of claws, much like those of Logan. She brings them forward, intending to rake them across the torso of Victor.

A flash of red passes between the pair of them and she pauses for that instant.

Victor has his moment. The question is what level of control he still maintains.

Sabretooth has posed:
    Victor snarls and snaps at the bolt of crimson force that lances between the two combatants, but it does bring some focus back into his eyes. He blinks and drops Betsy's foot, taking a step backwards. His massive chest rises and falls as he works to breath deeply and bring control back, but then his eyes land on the manifestation of Logan's claws on Betsy's hand. Rather than stoke the rage, Victor begins a deep gravely laugh. "I like you, Frail. You've got fight in ya. Unlike the cub scout over there." His head tilts towards Scott, but his eyes don't leave the threat that is Betsy and blades.

Cyclops has posed:
"Next time, Creed, maybe I'll let Betsy turn your brain into oatmeal. The goal wasn't about seeing who'd win. It was about control. To see how far you've come since we brought you here. This looks like progress to me. Good progress." Scott says as he runs a hand back through his hair. He makes his way over towards Betsy, holding his hand out to help her up.

"You went a full minute in combat without losing your head and becoming a feral animal. How do you feel right now? And be honest." He says as he turns to Victor. << Jean, I want to know how he really feels. Is any of this working or are we wasting our time? >>

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey steps forward as the two pause in their fisticuffs and Scott is already moving to. She moves easily and calmly confident, not seeming concerned about a very loose Sabertooth standing right there. There's a brief uptick of her chin in response to what Scott says to her before green eyes turn back on Creed with that eerie, soul searching intensity.

Psylocke has posed:
As the hand is offered, the psiclaws disappear and Betsy slaps her hand in to Scott's. She tenses and pulls herself up. She glances down at her hip, blood sliding down her leg but it isn't nearly as bad as it could've been. It could've gone through to the bone but these are just shallow-ish cuts. She'll heal. Sadly, not as fast as her opponent who probably already is over his busted knee.

She glances at the laughing Victor, a hint of a smirk on her face. "We'll try again someday. When we don't have babysitters."

Sabretooth has posed:
    "Right as rain, Slim," Victor snarls out but his body is relaxing and his claws draw back slightly as he stands there. In his mind, the red is fading away by the light driving it back. He seems to actually be in control of the light pushing back the red. He takes a step, first with a limp, but then getting stronger as his knee repairs itself. He is moving back towards the corner where the muzzle and gloves lay. "Call it a date, Braddock," Victor says with a rough, somewhat mirthless, chuckle and a quick glance towards Scott and Jean before picking the gloves up off the ground.

Phoenix has posed:
<< He's actually controlling his anger and willing it back. >> Jean responds towards Scott. Her eyes are narrowed with both concentration and no doubt a healthy dose of displeasure, but under that there's a tick of surprise. She hadn't be expecting what she found. << He may have listened just a little after all. >>

She looks from Scott and then over towards Psylocke with a subtle, questioning tilt of her head. << Betsy, you alright? >>

Cyclops has posed:
<< I am doing my best to not feel a sense of pride that this is actually working. I have you to thank for that of course. >>

Scott watches Victor and gives a nod of his head to him. "Glad you two had fun. We'll get together tonight for another talk, and I'll make sure that lunch is brought down for you in the next thirty minutes. You did great, Victor. Really."

There is a moment of pause, then he clears his throat. "Who knows, maybe we'll make an X-Man out of you afterall."