1530/Black, Blue and Red all over

Black, Blue and Red all over
Date of Scene:	18 July 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	1075, Daken

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Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
As first dates go, Daken's night out with Creed would certainly have been amazing. Creed had left a message at the agreed upon location for them to meet saying, "I hope you're OK. I have to go to the show. The instructions attached show you how to get there. You won't see me, I'll be wearing a mask. It's a masquerade party so I got you a suit and mask to wear. Meet me there. Pay close attention to the last night.

Of course Daken's never ending quest for vengeance had distracted him until it was too late, that's the price of obsession. The nice costume which was a mix of steampunk and phantom of the opera to cover his tattoos and play off his unique hair-style didn't see much use. By the time he was there people were already leaving. The scent of Creed's blood and sweat was in the air, in the ring. There were other things in the ring too, the smells of hell and fire.

When Daken calls Creed on the phone he was given he is rewarded with a weak, scratchy voice like someone had choked out Creed at some point, "Hey. Did you. See Horror Show?" Horror show was one of the fighters. The champion from the previous night. He lost tonight but only to the master Bronze Tiger who was the champion the first night. "What. Did. You think?"

Daken has posed:
Daken's night was not what he would have chosen, if he could. While the time with Creed was some of the best he's ever had, the time after that, between parting and agreeing to meet at the party, was filled with assassination squads of ninjas.

Unfortunately for them, they turned out to be more like nonjas. But he got the costume. He even liked the costume. He wanted to wear it. But he was too late, and everything had already ended. The smell of blood, especially the small of specific blood, piqued Daken's interest, though. So of course, he looked into the matter.

Tiger's probably going to need to look over his shoulder a lot more for the foreseeable future.

Daken does pick up the phone and give a call, maybe just wanting confirmation for a few things. But the tone he hears when Creed answers makes him smile. "Breathtaking," he answers. "I know just the paces to put you through." He pauses, as if for thought. "Once you can walk again."

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Creed squeaks cutely into the phone and clears his throat. "Glad. You. Got to see." he says then he says. "Hard to talk. Harder. To Say. Sending message. Open Encrypted Mail. So sorry." he says then he hangs up.

He must be talking about a program on the phone he left for Daken.

When Daken answers it there is a new message marked, "We can't always get what we want." that reads, "I'm glad you could see me on my last night but I'm afraid it was my last night. I wanted to share it with you, to give you a happy memory, something you would be proud of me for. " the letter starts out, "I wish I could be that person with you forever. I really, really do, but like I told you before, once I saw the big picture, once I knew the truth everything else seemed tiny and inconsequential, even my own happiness. " he explains.

"There is a threat to this world, to everyone, especially you, that I have to stop. I could explain the horrible details to you but I don't think any amount of details will make this hurt less for either of us."

He goes on, "The governments of the world know the truth, that someone, an extraterrestrial force has been tampering with humanity's gene pool since the dawn of time. It was this tampering that made us the dominant life form on earth, that made you a mutant, that made my father a killer. Weapons. They are using us to make weapons. Soon, very soon they will return to harvest as they have done in the past."

"The U.S. government won't fight them. They say it's a battle we can't win. I'm going to change that but to do it, I have to unite the world, mutant, meta and human alike. I can't be a killer and a world leader. They can't see the monster I am. They need a monster but they won't follow one."

"I wish I didn't know what I know, I wish there was a way I could do this and still be with you, still be the real me, but I have to choose. It's you or the world. I just can't turn my back on all of humanity and I know if I see you again, I might. I know I could fall into you. You completed me like no one ever has or will. I'm sorry, but I have to make a choice and as much as it breaks my heart, I can't be with you and protect you at the same time.

    -Love, always.
- G

Daken has posed:
"Sure." Daken hears the click on the other end and waits a short while.

When he sees the mail, he frowns...then raises an eyebrow...then tilts his head, then tilts it the other way. He ends up in something closer to a frown, pooching his lips out in front, as if a bit thoughtful about the whole thing. Yeah, aliens threatening the Earth? That's not exactly surprising. It's really hard to shock him. When a person has seen as much, and experienced as much, as Daken has...there's not a lot that they tend to find pearl-clutchingly noteworthy.

So instead of just accepting the rest, Daken figures he'll check into it. He'll find where Creed is being treated, and of course he'll go there. See if he can resist the in-person allure...he won't even kill his guards! Daken is in a generous mood.

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Georgia - BioGen Incorporated: The Mutant Experts.

It took a while to find out where Creed was being fixed up. BioGen is a medical research facility with a great reputation for being very pro-mutant. They sell a testing service to let parents test their children for mutant genes and even offer predictive modeling to give a general idea of how powerful, or dangerous those mutations might be.

The facility is staffed with some of the most advanced minds in the mutant research field and they are all rather friendly. Mutants come and go into the facility getting aid with their powers. Once Darken starts doing research on them he finds out it's easy to get in if you just tell them you want to see a power therapy specialist. They have doctors specifically to help people with their powers. They host webinars on how to raise mutant children and are generally one of the most do-goodery organizations for mutants there are on the surface. It's only the people in charge that are questionable. Some of them have ties to the Friends of Humanity. The "Humanitarian" group who are tied to several "Rogue groups" of racists that make the K.K.K. look downright saintly. The CEO, CFO, VP and head of the board of directors, according to the conspiracy theorists all have ties to the FoH.

During his research he finds out the Friends was originally started by Graydon Creed while he was in college which jazzes with his 'I use to hate my family' story but he has distanced himself from the FoH in the last several years, more signs he was telling the truth.

Once inside it's not hard for Draken to sneak into a lab, access the mainframe and find the patient list. Creed is in a recovery ward, broken ribs, injured throat, fractured leg, bruised testicles. Though, honestly that last one could have been Daken's fault. Getting into the secured ward only needs a keycode and a pass-card that is easy enough for him to get someone to part with and soon he finds himself standing outside of the open door to the Senator's room looking at the sleeping man. Beaten black and blue, eye swollen, leg cast, IV in his arm and a pile of paperwork on a rolling cart next to him with a laptop in sleep mode. He has a folder half fallen out of his one good arm where he fell asleep reading it. A report on a budget for the state. Daken probably would have fallen asleep too.

Daken has posed:
Daken definitely would have fallen asleep, no sedatives required. He can absorb plenty of information, especially if he's concentrating on something he needs to do that will benefit him. But politics and budgets...that kind of thing, he tends not to dirty his hands with. He'll get someone to handle that, whenever he manages to take power for himself. Accountants are among the easiest to manipulate. Who's an exceptional accountant?!

The injury list, though...that's hot. Daken likes it. He can't help but feel a pang of jealousy that somebody else dared to do that to Creed, but...Tiger will get his, in time.

Daken is pretty sure the bruised testicles were his own work. He likes to think that.

So instead of waking the man up, Daken walks silently over to his bedside, makes sure the door is securely shut and won't be opened without sufficient advance warning, and sits down.

And he waits for Creed to wake up on his own.

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
It takes a few minutes for his pain killer hazed mind to realize he's not alone and wake him up. In the meantime Daken can look over papers. Police reports, crime statistics, and an odd little leather bound journal that he seems to write random thoughts down in, to elaborate on later: Could it be the Kryptonians? Did Superman lie? Is he a scout? For a planet that exploded they have a lot of people showing up here. Why did Kryptonians evolve to look so much like us? Are they genetically compatible? Investigate Superboy. Could they be an experiment? Planet being destroyed may have been a ruse. Entire population of Kryptonians could have been harvested. Have anti-Kryptonian weapons just in case.

Well, isn't that just a horrifying thought? An entire planet's worth of Super-men descending on earth to take it over. He's got other theories. Two major factions. One creating Mutants with task specific powers. He would label Daken, Sabretooth and Wolverine 'Shock Troopers' designed to be the front line hunter-killers whereas the other mutants would be support and logistics.

On the other team are Meta-humans who each seem to have a wider range of powers not designed for a specific task. Flight, invulnerability, and usually some energy based powers. They are more general purpose soldiers. Two alien species creating two different types of troops using humans as a breeding ground.

He has terrified notes like Escalation of mutant population unheard of scale. Harvest in the next 60 years. We don't have time. Need an edge. Robots? Nukes? Why won't Superman share his technology? Is he one of them?

Draken can ask him about it all as he wakes up opening his one good eye slowly and taking a deep breath of that smell he loves so much. Clearing his damaged throat Graydon says, "Couldn't take a hint? I wouldn't have either." smiling as he turns his head to find Daken. "We are bad news for each other."

Daken has posed:
Man, Daken thinks, Creed has some issues. He can't really disprove any of these wild ideas, though. As far as he knows, they might be true. All of them might be true! He doesn't know.

Though he takes exception with being put into a faction, classified by task performances. What's that all about?!

But he doesn't get to dwell on it for too long, when Creed finally opens his eyes. Or eye, as the case may be.

He makes it look so casual, setting aside whatever paper he happened to be looking over, and a smile slowly spreads across his face. He leans closer...and because he kept his patience, he's been able to fill the air with that personal perfume. Creed will recognize it, of course. It makes things a lot less unpleasant.

"You'd have to kill me to get rid of me," Daken rumbles. "Anyway, I'm being good. I didn't knot your catheter or anything."

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
That brings a broken chuckle that is interrupted by a grunt of pain. "Well." he says horsely, "I had to try. I have a lot of enemies. Powerful ones. I've had four hit teams try and kill me just this month." and yet he's wearing a mask and calling himself Horror Show, ripping people's arms off and using their bones to make daggers.

"If you stay with me, which I want you to stay with me, you'll die with me." he says looking out of his one good eyes at Daken, "Worse, you might die first and then I'd have to mourn you. If you are going to stay in my life, you have to promise me you won't let yourself die first. Promise me you'll let me die first. Let me be a dick about this one thing. I don't want to go through that. " he is so weird.

Daken has posed:
Daken seems to be in typically good humor about all of it, likely because he dealt with everything else he needed to do before coming here to enjoy himself, or relatively speaking. He's good at compartmentalization, though not always so good at keeping the boxes from spilling over their contents into each other. He should work on that sometime.

Reaching a hand over, Daken pulls back the covers slightly, looking over what of the man he can see. "I'll kill you before I let anyone kill me, if you want," he answers casually. Then he places his hand on Creed's chest, very gently, just his fingertips touching either skin or what clothing they have him in. "I won't be with you *all* the time, but I've decided I don't want to be apart from you all the time, either."

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Creed smiles wider and closes his one eye, "You say the sweetest things." and he means it, "I know you're probably older than you look, and I'll grow old while you stay young. I know how regeneration works. So this may seem childish to you, but I've given up so much, I've never let myself feel like this about anyone. I can't afford to feel. So, if I'm honest, I really suck at it. I'm going to be a horrible friend. I'm going to say stupid things that will hurt you. Can see the future, not like with a power but just patterns so I can tell you now. I'm going to fuck up, a lot." he says yawning, too relaxed from the painkillers, "I'm sorry about when I do. Just tell me to stop being an idiot when I am. Ok?"

It's pretty obvious by this point he's loopy, just speaking without a filter, "I don't want to lose you so don't die. I need your stupid.. stupid face to wake up to. It's a good face." he says mumbling.

Daken has posed:
Daken starts laughing, though quietly, keeping it hushed so he doesn't call too much attention to himself. There aren't supposed to be laughs too loud or deep coming from the room. Not that anyone's currently around to make sure, but things have a way of randomly going sideways. Best not to tempt fate.

But he keeps his hand on Creed's chest, moving it gently around to get a feel for how injured he is there. He lets his hand wander, all over everywhere he's allowed to do so, doing the same for as much as he can absorb with touch alone. He's seen and experienced a lot of wounds, in his day.

"You're clever," Daken replies. "I'll be having my eightieth next year." Then he starts laughing again, and he tries to quiet himself, but it just ends up almost a giggle. "Me and my stupid face."

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Creed clears his throat again and gives a fake gasp of shock, "I'm a cradle robber." he says because he is way, way older. "Guess that means." he says pausing to swallow again, "When you're bad I'll have to give you spankings." he teases but as bruised and fractured as his body is, and it is a tapestry of bruises. He and Tiger went at it hard core beating each other like savage animals. He enjoys the touches anyway. The only part of him that isn't freshly bruised in some way is his groin. Apparently Tiger has at least some sense of honor. "Now I see why the monsters of the story never get the girl. Who wants a princess when you can have someone who knows how to have fun?" he asks.

Daken has posed:
Creed just keeps pleasing Daken. It's rare he's ever met someone that seems to be on such a similar frequency, much less someone who enjoys the kind of twisted outlook he embodies. The words, the phrasing, the approach, all of it just hits him in all the places that make him come alive with a buzz of energy.

Once he's finished checking Creed's body -- and he is very thorough in wherever he's allowed to go -- he returns his hand to the man's chest, then glides it over his collar, along his shoulder, and down his arm, careful of anything intravenous he doesn't want to disturb. "You'd better not make promises unless you intend to keep them," Daken murmurs, a little rough in tone. Apparently, this idea meets very much with his approval. "You're gonna have your hands full, in more ways than one. I'll be motivated to *deserve* spanking." He cracks a grin again. "Am I going to have to be contrary and stubborn? Steal your cookies?" He rumbles a whisper, grinning just a touch wider. "Wet my pants?"

The gleam in his eyes only gets brighter and more devilish. The scenarios are sheer ease to visualize. Nothing, no matter how outrageous, seems like it would be beyond Daken's capability -- or willingness, for that matter -- to do in order to get what he wants. And likely enough, to get a response, especially from someone he likes and respects enough to put himself under.

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Creed seems to like, pretty much all those ideas. He whispers something as quietly as he can so Daken will lean closer. Then whispers it again, the words are so soft as to sound like nonsense because they are. He just lures Daken in acting like the drugs are getting the better of him so that once Daken is close enough he can bite Daken's ear. A feral way of sealing the deal. "I'm an old man. I need to rest. Try not to kill my staff please. They are good people. Kind hearted. And if you want, I have a mission for you to keep you occupied while I recover. One I think you'll like. " he offers, "There is a school in Westchester. Xavier's school is a private training facility for mutants. Real elitist snobs. You'll want to stab them. I know I did. There is a doctor there named Hank McCoy. He doesn't realize it, but he is working on a formula to cure mutancy for me. I gave him research on it a few weeks ago. If you would be so kind, check up on him. See if he's worked out a cure yet. We'll need one to depower the mutants who won't work with us and, as an added bonus, once he completes it, I'll be able to have my people compare his version to the unstable version I have now and use it to create a mutant power enhancement formula. Right now you lose your powers for a while but when they come back they are stronger. If we can separate the cure from the boost, we can prepare boosts for when the earth is attacked. Turn you into the new Captain America if you want. Make you unstoppable. We'll keep it secret till then of course. A system of last resort but I'll feel better knowing we have an ace up our sleeve. Would you do that for me?" he asks.

Daken has posed:
Daken makes a noise like a hushed groan, closing his eyes and letting the faintest remnants of a shiver run over his body. Leaned in there, he's put himself at Creed's mercy, and he knows it. He likes...biting. He likes being bitten. It may not have come up yet between them, but it was bound to, sooner or later. He gives something of a nod, heart fluttering with the excitement of this sultry, confidential whispering.

Of course, he knows the school. He's been around there, and while he hasn't been inside...he's taken a look. He's done some research, done some asking around, investigated and put two and two together. He's familiar with it, but Creed doesn't need to know that just yet. Maybe if he gets in there, gets to know some people...they'll talk. Students talk, especially, and the younger and more inexperienced or sheltered the person, the easier to get them to think Daken's their best friend. No matter if they just met five minutes before that.

"I'll do anything you want," Daken replies, sitting back and reaching up with a finger to stroke under Creed's chin. "Or maybe I should be stubborn and contrary and say that I won't." He's grinning again, right after that. "I don't see any cookies to steal, but uh..."

Then he laughs, soft and deep. "Captain America, huh?"

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Still weak from his injuries Creed isn't in any condition to punish Daken like he wants. If only he were a telekinetic.. Not to self: Include spanking program in the Cyberdyne robot warrior program once it's approved.

"If you want. In times of need people look to strong leaders in the field of battle. I'll be in the white house. I'll need someone like you leading the troops in the field. Someone who people will follow to the gates of hell and back. Someone who I can trust to do what needs to be done even if it means turning me over to the aliens to save the earth." he says smiling.

"I feel like you're the first good thing that has ever happened to me in my entire horrible life. I'm starting to think it doesn't matter if we save the world or not in the end, as long as I save you, the rest of them are just an added bonus. " he says reaching up to squeeze Daken's hand and dig his fingernails into the man's flesh mixing affection and pain, "So learn what you can, become stronger, faster, be the best you, you can be. Use them for everything you can. Take everything you can, give nothing back. I'm the only one who gets to kick that fine ass of yours, you understand me?"

Daken has posed:
He'd definitely kill Creed before he'd ever turn him over to the aliens, that's for sure. Daken is more selfish than giving, in that sense; he's found something he wants, and he intends to hold onto it. Maybe irrationally and to the point of being unreasonable, but when did he ever claim to be rational or reasonable?

He doesn't mention the sheer irony of his Japanese-Canadian parental combo, nor the fact that he isn't technically a US citizen at the moment, but those are merely details. He doesn't really care, none of that matters at all. As far as the world is concerned, he died a long time ago. Officially, Daken doesn't really exist; he's just a whispered legend, a name dropped by people in the shadows, most of whom don't want to take the chance that the legend is true and will come for them.

Daken breathes fast, shallow breaths as his hand is taken and squeezed. Even injured so much, Creed can still give him exactly what he wants...even if it isn't as much as he'd like. But that will come later, when he's more able. "I hope for your sake...you keep your promises."

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Daken can tell when people lie to him and Creed has never lied, not once. Not to him anyway. Everyone else, sure, he lies all the time to them but never to Daken. "Thank you for putting up with my crazy plots. I swear, I'm not insane. The science is real. Aliens really are messing with us. The invasion of New York was just a preview. We're on the galactic stage now. The big time. " he says then he reaches up and a device about the size of an Ipod out from under his pillow. "Keep this scrambler on you. It's gives off a field of static. Makes it harder for telepaths to read your mind. It's rechargeable. " most professional security people have them these days.

"It will help you do whatever you want while you're at the school. Don't give them an excuse to probe too deep and they won't. They have a left wing liberal moral code they have to follow so they can feel superior to everyone else." Creed really doesn't seem to like these people.

"The headmistress, Jean Grey, pyrokinetic I think. Watch out for her. " he warns and yawns again in spite of himself. He needs rest he's pushing himself to stay awake to spend one last extra moment with Daken. Just to be with him and be happy, so happy for one more moment.

Daken has posed:
Daken takes the device, looking it carefully over and then slipping it into his pocket. He could point out that he already has developed superb psychic defenses, but...best not to take chances. And Creed doesn't need to know that *just* yet, just in case...but that hopefully won't be an eventuality. Despite himself, Daken has eased down his defenses. After the bloody, violent, and incredibly fun bout they had just days ago, he's feeling more...accepting.

"Jean Grey," Daken repeats, reaching up to stroke tips of fingertips, the very ends, so softly, along Creed's hair. "Sleep."

He'll remember all the dead-set lines against the school. These are people that Creed *really* dislikes, and he'll definitely find out why, in time. There's more to come, more to discover. And when it does come, Daken will be playing his own side, most of all.

The smile that crosses his face is unique, unseen to most, unshown at most times, because it's a true one. He rises and leans over to whisper in Creed's ear, brushing the backs of his knuckles down the man's neck before starting out of the room again. It's remarkable how silent he can be in those boots.

Graydon Creed (1075) has posed:
Muttering because he is so sleepy and medicated Creed says, "If you get killed I'm going to come to hell and kick your ass. Cut out his heart and paint my face like a clown with his blood then rape Satan in the mouth till he gives you back. Don't make me.. Make me do that... hate.. Dry heat.." he says as he dozes off starting to snore lightly.