3919/The Aftermath

The Aftermath
Date of Scene:	20 February 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Dazzler, Slipstream

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Dazzler has posed:
Alison Blaire isn't quite sure WHAT happened last night, and the news wasn't exactly helpful. Yes, there was a significant police presence in Mutant Town. And yes, there was certainly more happening than the media either knew or was allowed to report.

Having been down this path before, Alison knew the only way to REALLY find out what happened was to do so in person. And not as Dazzler. Dressed in civilian clothes, she heads to a diner she knows in Mutant Town for breakfast. First rule of reconaissance is to blend in. The second rule is to be discrete, and what is more discrete than a bagel and coffee?

Slipstream has posed:
Last night was long. Very long. Terrifying and scary type of long. Drake finally made his way back home after skulking about Mutant Town and ferrying people to safety when he could. He headed back in during the morning to see if everything went back to normal and to perhaps check on a few friends that he made. He pushes into the diner, wearing a black Overwatch hoodie and a pair of dark cargo pants. He has his hood pulled over his head and ducked down so not to be recognized from last night. He does spy Allison though and a look of relief falls over his face as he heads over to her table.

Dazzler has posed:
Alison has a table near the front window, a strategic location. She's sipping coffee, the half-eaten bagel before her. The Overwatch hoodie catches her attention, and when Drake looks up she offers a small smile. The waitress passes and Alison catches her attention. "Put his on my tab, please." Waiting until he approaches, she offers. "Looks like it was a helluva night."

Slipstream has posed:
Sliding down in front of her, Drake draws the hoodie back to reveal his messy hair. "It was. I was here last night when it went down." He says softly as he leans in a bit across the table to her. "It was pretty scary last night. None of us had powers. I still have no clue why. Then out of no where, all these Uhauls and trucks showed up with military style people and they were kicking doors open and yanking people out and beating the crap out of them and then trying to stuff them in trucks to take them away."

Dazzler has posed:
"That's part of the reason that standard X-Men training includes finding non-powered solutions to problems." Alison replies, perhaps a bit too calmly. "Just a few months ago you didn't -have- powers, and now it's scary when you lose them. But we digress." She takes another sip of coffee. "That sounds like someone with a very specific agenda and a well-thought plan."

Slipstream has posed:
"No, it was scary because people had guns and they were shooting other people in cold blood. And.." Drake trails off. "There was this guy. On our side I think. It was three on one and these guys were gonna beat the shit out of me, and this guy from the roofs mowed them down with some type of AR. I caught sight of him, but it wasn't The Punisher, but it was someone like that. Dressed in black. He just shot the bad guys like it was nothing. Power Girl came as well and started to help out. Then .. I dunno... the powers came back and I think most of them were able to free themselves. I took off after I blew a few tires out of the trucks .. I almost shot someone last night." He curls his hand in and out a bit a few times reflexively. "Then suddenly, the bad guys all kinda ... I dunno... like a switch was turned off and they were confused about what was going on. Like maybe brain washed..."

Dazzler has posed:
"Combat is -supposed- to be scary, Drake." Alison replies, her voice becoming more soothing. "Anyone, even professional soldiers, who tells you otherwise is either lying or they have a death-wish." She sets her coffee down and leans in across the table. "In a lot of ways I think that killing people is even worse than almost -being- killed. You can't really help the latter, but the former is all you." The blonde pauses to look at him more closely, then. "How're you doing?"

Slipstream has posed:
"I'm fine. Which is a concern to me because I felt almost too fine when I took a metal crowbar to the back of a guy's head and I didn't exactly hold back on my swing." Drake says as he chews his bottom lip. "Maybe years of playing PVP has desensitized me. Or at least prepared me to think rationally and tactically during those situations. I was just scared when the bullets started going off and I had to see three people die in front of me. People who was probably brain washed and had no clue what was going on. I don't know. Even the cops were attacking people until they came to. Nothing seemed right last night. I'd just rather have all of this be on my monitor than real life." He taps his fingers along the top of the table. "Comic books makes being a superhero look easy. I don't think ... I'm cut out for it."

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler chuckles at that, shaking her head. "Don't blame your problems on video games, Drake." she replies softly. "And having powers doesn't mean you should be a superhero, either. In fact, I could make a pretty good case that SOME people with powers really should NOT become a superhero." She looks thoughtful for a moment, taking another sip of coffee. "The mind control bothers me, though. How did you say it stopped, again? Think carefully."

Slipstream has posed:
Drake shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. I was so focused on trying to hide people and get them away from the bad guys. I know there was a lot of shooting going on, noise, explosions. It was just chaos. I just know that the police rolled in and started arresting /everyone/ at that point and I just snuck out to get away."

Dazzler has posed:
"But everyone just STOPPED all of a sudden, right? Like a switch went off and the control just slipped away." Alison looks really thoughtful now. "There are very few people who can exert that level of mental control over someone, and only one that I know who can do it on that scale." She lets THAT thought trail off, however. "The combination of power dampening and mental control suggests that this wasn't the act of a single individual, but a coordinated attack."

Slipstream has posed:
"Yeah. Definitely felt coordinated." Drake says as he nods his head. "But, from the ground level and my perspective it sure felt like .. a switch went off. I can't say for sure confidently. When the cops started slapping cuffs on, I peaced out. Soon as my powers came back on. I zipped away." He drums his fingers on the table, then orders some pancakes, bacon and eggs from the waitress when she wanders back over, as well as some OJ. ".. How are you doing though?" He asks as she gives her a thoughtful smile.

Dazzler has posed:
Alison chuckles softly at his question. "I wish I'd have been there to see it first-hand." she replies, as if the idea of fighting without powers doesn't bother her. "But I'm doing well, thanks. I was hoping to run into people who actually saw what the hell happened. Didn't expect you to be one of them; not that I'm surprised."

Slipstream has posed:
"I was surprised. I was just a few blocks away kicking it on a roof after a work out. Jessica has me in the gym now doing stuff a few days a week, even more so with the Net being gone." Drake says as he gives a stretch of his body. "She's wanted to know when you wanted to come over again for dinner." He grins in amusement.

Dazzler has posed:
"Good for Jessica." Alison replies with a grin. "And tell her I'd like that very much. We'll have to set aside an evening." Blue eyes brighten and she takes another sip of coffee to hide the wider smile. "Sounds like you two are enjoying each other's company as well."

Slipstream has posed:
"We hang out when we can." Drake says as he drums his fingers lightly on the table top. "Laurel and I did go out for Valentines Day though. Had a nice night of dinner and talking about life. Just feels awkward still at times because everything is so familiar." He grows quiet for a moment, then says, ".. My first date with her in my memories was asking her out for dinner on Valentine's Day. So .. I figured I'd .. play a game. I wrote everything down in a journal that I remembered. Our first date, conversations we had, hook ups, marriage, big events like that, right? I wrote the whole thing down. Just in case I did end up losing my memories. Then I asked her out. That night when we went for Italian, she ordered the same food even though she never had Italian before. Some of the conversation steered towards what I had written down but I'm not sure if I influenced it." He shrugs. "So.. I'm not sure if destiny is playing out, or if it's coincidence. It's just weird. But I'm glad I got to hang out with her again, even if we're just friends."

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler purses her lips at that, but she nods all the same. Her voice softens and she replies. "Don't get so lost in trying to relive a dream that you miss the reality all around you, Drake. And don't be afraid to be who you are. Took me years to figure that out, and then I still had to embrace it."

Slipstream has posed:
"I know, I get it. I also don't know who I am at times either. Without the Internet, I've never felt more lost. While you guys are saving the world or singing songs, I'm sorta stuck lumbering about the apartment or at least spending hours in the gym. I'm down seven pounds. Could be also that I'm only eating hot pockets." Drake chuckles softly to himself. "And I do like Jessica. I like her a lot. I'm just still trying to figure it out with her. I know the smart play would be to just let the Laurel situation go and just ... be with Jessica. She's hot. She's into me for some stupid reason. She has good taste in friends." He winks at the mutant in front of him. "And I think that if it wasn't for this whole memory thing, I'd be head over heels for her. Yeah, she's kinda clingy, but she's like the ideal girlfriend. She's got my back. She's a ride or die kinda girl. I'm lucky to be in this situation."

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler chuckles softly and she nods. "Nothing like violent exercise on a restricted diet to tone up the abs." she replies. "Listen, I'm not suggesting you choose one over the other right now. Just don't forget to pick your head up and look around every now and then. That's all I'm saying."

Slipstream has posed:
"I know, I know." Drake says as he props his chin in the palm of his hand. "I really didn't even see myself in a situation in which I'd be dating a superhero in the first place. I sorta planned on .. not having a sex life and staring at a computer for the next three or four years while I take some JC classes on the side. I'm not always confident in my social game, even if I do ramble and talk a lot." As the food arrives, he starts to tuck into it. "I almost asked you out by the way, then figured you were like on a whole different level than me."

Dazzler has posed:
Alison sips more coffee, then asks for a refill when his food arrives. "I'm honestly not looking or anything serious right now, Drake. I chased through alternate dimensions after my last boyfriend, and I'm not real eager to repeat -that- performance. Especially the 'fighting for my life' chapters. But casual is good."

Slipstream has posed:
"Yeah, casual is fine with me as well." Drake laughs under his breath. "At least until I get through college, then maybe I'll really look to get tied down." He arches his back a bit, then takes another bite of his pancakes after slicing a hunk off. "You want to hang out with us tonight?" He asks curiously. "Dinner and a movie?"

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler nods to the waitress when her coffee is refilled. "I could be up for that, yeah." she replies. "You mean 'order take-out' and hit up a rental? I'm not sure how functional the cable TV system is these days." Not that Alison watches a lot of TV under normal circumstances.

Slipstream has posed:
"Oh, we have hard drives upon hard drives of movies downloaded. We can watch just about anything I think." Drake admits. "All of us nerds got pretty much ... everything.. and a lot of Star Wars." He grins. "Gotta love the classics, right? We can do take out as well. Sushi?"

Dazzler has posed:
"Sushi sounds good to me. And I'd forgotten about downloads." Alison replies. "I'll watch whatever's good with Jessica. Don't suppose you've got any quality downloads of Broadway shows?" There's a twitch to her mouth, then, as she teases.

Slipstream has posed:
"I got Rent and Wicked." Drake says as he gives her a wider grin. "That's about it though and I got it in a bundle download with about twenty others for about ten bucks for Black Friday. After finishing his plate of food, he gives a few licks of his lips. "Whatcha doing for the rest of the day? I don't have plans myself. Not sure if you know Power Girl but you can ask her about last night. I know she was deep in the combat part. We could track her down and ask?"

Dazzler has posed:
Dazzler laughs at that, nodding. "Either one sounds good to me, so we'll ask Jess." She's just sipping the coffee idly now, leaning back a bit as well. "Power Girl, hmm? Don't know her personally, but I watch the news. If she was involved, then it might be a good idea to get her thoughts." She puts down her coffee and reaches into her pocket for some bills. "Let me run down a few things first, then I'll get back to you."

Slipstream has posed:
"Okay, that sounds good to me." Drake says as he slips out of the booth. "Thanks for breakfast." He leans in to bump his shoulder against hers once she rises to stand. "I'll see you later then for sushi and Rent." He says as he starts for the door, pulling his hoodie back up over his head.