16240/X Marks the Spot Part II

X Marks the Spot Part II
Date of Scene:	04 May 2024
Location:	Various, New York.
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Rogue, Sinister, Phantasm (Drago)

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Wolverine has posed:
There is Rogue all alone. Broken pieces of wood and bent pieces of metal around her. Still in that clearing in the wee hours of the morning. A gentle breeze causes the rustle of nearby trees. No other sound really, outside of Rogue.

Alone with her grief. Alone with her anger. Alone with every other emotion out there. In whatever emotion that overtakes her, a thought starts to form. One becomes two. Two become three. She starts to remember resources, people, friends, and things she can call upon. Rogue knows she is, and isn't alone. Those that are close may be very small in number, but there are those held at an arm's length. Maybe they could be called upon. Maybe these bonds can deepen or be tested.

Rogue has posed:
It is early in the morning. And after she's cried out that emotion, one of the only few she's left with is anger and bitterness. She thinks on who could help her - with Logan down for the count - and a few others having gone no less than AWOL at this point. It might be a scream, it might be a cry, but something is definitely sent out to the void of those she's allowed access to her mind. Logan might hate it, he might appreciate it, hard to tell.

But if there is one thing all mutants have in common is this enemy. The old saying of the enemy of my enemy is a friend. For the moment.

"Please. Help. I cannot do this alone..." Is whispered, and then she kicks at some more of the wood for good measure, keeping her wits about her in case someone does wind up coming out the shadows to do their worst.

Sinister has posed:
Early in the morning or late at night, these things all depend on which was you're viewing the dawn from -- However, when there's very little need for sleep, such things as time are often irrelevant.

Elsewhere in New York State, there was a psychic outcry. Intention unshaped, that ended up being an entreaty verbalized. But the cry had a familiar imprint upon it and there are far and few things that could cause that mind such anguish as to let loose like that.

What Sinister was up to, was relatively simple -- he was viewing the dawn from the top of a sky scraper in New york proper, an early morning visit to a man that sometimes is awake and sometimes isn't at this time, depending on the nature of the Phantasmal responsibilities. Maybe it was a medical spotcheck. Either way, all conversation ceased at the scream and the Doctor took off skyrocketting into the heavens at an incredible speed with one single thought projected: <<Rogue.>>

Slipstream for ravens is a thing right? When they're Phantasms, probably. He can fly fast. Probably faster than the raven can, without dreaming help so it's likely a good thing he can 'pull' people along. Assessment happens from on high, looking down at the spot he can zero in on, like a torpedo. Maybe he can still hear it ringing in his head, who knows? He descends, lands in bracken and pine needles and views the facts as they present themselves.

Because Logan being out of commission is probably the best test of a new weapon that there is. If that beast of a healing factor can be stymied, virtually nobody -else- would stand a chance. Right?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
With the sudden departure of a doctor with little explanation to why. Nick simply goes back to bed.

.
.
.
Who are we kidding? That curious nature of Nick is going to get himself into trouble one da- again. And as he takes to the form of a certain corvid previously mentioned, he does not spend the entirety of the trip going 'HEY WAIT UP!' Nope!

That was the first part of the trip And once he reached Sin, he more or less latched on to keep pace with him.

So when Sinister lands, he has a raven perched upon his shoulder. Glancing around.

What happened here?

Wolverine has posed:
Rogue is in a clearing. The place is well wooded. Well scouted. On par with something hiding in plain sight without screaming it. A spot one would take in retrospect -after- something horrible was discovered.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue senses a presence which isn't hard to do when that presence likely lands feet away from you. Around her are the remains of a cross that once stood here, now shattered into pieces on the ground looking very much like they were ripped like paper and scattered. There is also barbed wire, pulled apart in some spots - you can literally see the stretching of the metal where Rogue had to pull it.

There's a raven on Sinister's shoulder, but Rogue doesn't seem to mind that as she practically runs up to the man, the myth, the enemy she should be avoiding...and hugs him. Hard. She likely knows he hates this sort of thing on a regular basis but she has no where else to put herself in that moment. "Thank you...." Is all she's able to mutter, holding onto the man for that much longer until finally pulling back.

"It's a long story... but I can tell you...or I can show you... I don't care if you want to take a walk through my memories and thoughts to gain what's happened... in fact that may be better.. I don't know if I'll survive talking about everything..."

Sinister has posed:
This is not a "....NNNNngggk!" there's a deep breath, a stiffening in the hug and those kinds of unhelpful condolences that happen when one is reconnoitering with an emotional moment. The other arm lifts up to the bird on his shoulder, proffering the hand for a step up and guidance, free of the immediate and extremely STRONG embrace.

Then all else is the occasional rubs and pats until Rogue has her release engaged and the situation is once more assessed.

And then, because such things are almost genetic in Sinister. "It seems like you handle the inanimate object with vigor and vim, my dear. I have a hunch this is slightly more involved than backwoods BDSM."

He frowns, letting senses tell him stories and offers also, almost absently "...think loudly. Or open the door wide, either way."

He will share whatever is shown, though. One does not simply drag a Raven on a rollercoaster rocketting and not /share/.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As the duo come in for a landing and Rogue comes barreling in, the offered escape route is taken. With a quick shifting of the feet he waddles over to the hand and hops off, shifting back to his usual self.

Well, mirrored version. Considering how strung that hug looks, Nick might not want to be fully tangible yet.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue doesn't need to be asked twice to think loudly and openly. Sinister gets it all. From the beginning at Fred's diner. It's Rogue sitting at the bar enjoying a meal and then four men walk in. They say things on the anti-mutant scale that would make any mutant's skin crawl. Then there's one man up in Rogue's face. Calling her worthless, mutie trash and then she's tossing the guy to the other side of the diner by a simple grab and push against his neck.

Threats are made. He asks her name. She gives it. There's a threat on her life and then they leave. Fast forward to her telling Logan, they agree on a plan for him to stake them out. Make sure she's safe. She's hiding in Logan's cabin. A note gets knifed against the door. Rogue finds Logan here tied to the St. Andrews Cross with barbed wire and looking only half alive. She gets him to the mansion. Finds out he's been poisoned. Now he's got tubes coming in and out of him, an oxygen mask on. She comes back to the clearing. Calls out for people to show themselves. Alone. The cross is ripped apart and then she's a crying mess.

By the time she's done letting her mind open up to everything again, there's more hot tears that form but she manages - this time - to keep them at bay. For the most part.

"I didn't know who else to call...I didn't...there's no one...we're on our own..."

Sinister has posed:
Sinister's attention settles on Rogue, a steely-eyed kind of regard as the mind is read, shared... then he's gazing at Nick. "You got good mental images of these individuals, I trust?" he asks this of the dream-chaser, then looks with greater care around the clearing.

What one might miss, another will not, given he can alter his senses to see in electromagnetic fields, if he wishes to.

You don't set up a thing like this and not record it somehow. Or even watch it live. There's data that needs to be taken, after all. And measurement of capabilities -- else the Friends of Humanity would have been toast quite a long time ago. They've got political, scientific, medical and financial backing. And maybe technological, if Sin's suspicions are correct.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Rogue thinks through what happened, Nick's expression starts to shift as she goes deeper and deeper into the story. He wasn't exactly chipper when they landed with the scenery having set the mood but the four on one scenario. The bullying. The retaliation-

Nick's eyes narrow. Fixating upon the bully group members. Having a general sense that if he ever did catch one-

Then the imagery of Logan's current condition.

Fists clench.

Nathaniel's question gets a nod in response. "...Give me enough time and I can get you detailed sketches of each of them." He responds.

Rogue has posed:
"At some point I should go back and check on Logan... but we need help... and he's too stubborn to ask for it. I'm...well...sometimes I am." But when she recognizes the need, Rogue will reach out.

At this point she's at a total loss. Looking between the two there's a soft smile and a nod. "Thank you both..." Though she looks to Nick and squints a bit. "...Nick right? It's good to see you again. Aside from the circumstances..."

Wolverine has posed:
Rogue only has one thing, and it may not be reliable. They went to a place called the Common Grounds. But that could be a smokescreen because the man that did the stakeout...

No hidden devices, no anything. A DEEP sweep can be done and there's nothing. If anything to help relive the expierence is out there, it's from BEFORE they dropped off the body. That's If. They could have cut off a series of ears to keep as trophies, too. The curses of regeneration.

The group working on this, they're either very careful or at least not sloppy when delivering "packages."

Sinister has posed:
"That would be good, Nick. I think a nice, clear sketch of each fellow would be capital," Sinister finishes his once-over over the clearing. His eyes narrow, but there's a small, self-satisfied kind of smile on his face.

He used to employ people like these. Snatchers, wet-workers, wonderful individuals that clean up after themselves like good little goons...

He looks over at Rogue, the emotional wreckage mostly settled as it currently is, with self-control and a measure of stubborn desire also.

"I tell you what. You can go back to Logan's side, because I feel he probably will need it. No need to inform him at all, that we were here. And in a day or two, I'll provide you with -real- names, addresses and aliases. I'll send it in an encrypted data package. It'll be a treat. Like an easter egg, full of revenge."

He looks around the place then, crouches down and picks up some of the leaf litter, sifting it through his fingers whilst inhaling the aroma of loam.

"Clever little rats, you are." Murmured almost too quietly to hear. No scent. Clean washed and no aftershaves. Wearing other people's clothes. Hard to track. Clever clever rats.

"And for god's sake, get some sleep, Anna-Marie. You'll be bugger all good to him if you don't." He looks to Nick then, back to Rogue and nods, taking to the sky.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
As Rogue tries to confirm his name again, the musician nods. "I think I'd rather have run into you at one of the other places." He admits. "Next time around. we should do that. with Logan."

Nick quiets down as Sinister assures Rogue she'll have the information on these people soon.

Catching glimpse of 'the look'. Nick nods, taking a few steps before taking a flying leap. Tumbling forward as he does so.

By the time he reaches Sinister, he's back to his birdy hitchhiker form.