8873/Log 8873

Log 8873
Date of Scene:	19 August 2019
Location:	Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Aquawoman, Elixir

---

Aquawoman has posed:
Josh's invitation to the embassy was hand delivered by an Atlantean emissary just as the Gala was ending, the night before. And to the pleasure of Princess Mera, it had been accepted. Arrangements had been made, and at the appointed time, the ferry awaited Josh's arrival.

The trip is short and serene, and his Atlantean host explains the history and architecture, as Josh is led through the foyer and along to the throne room, where the dais leaves to the imagination how the water there can be so pristinely solid and as glossy, and quite simply as solid, as the floor around it.

Presently, the female Atlantean in her traditional garb and water mask announces an arrival. "Her Royal Highness, Princess Mera of Xebel."

Elixir has posed:
Josh is unabashedly interested and impressed, from the courtesy to the ship to the embassy itself. He mainly just listens to his host. There is too much new to see to really pick things out.

The throne room is a marvel and Josh looks around from where he led to wait. When the Atlantean royalty arrives, Josh bows. It is only then he realizes asking his host what he was supposed to do would have been a good idea.

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera arrives, wearing more traditional dress than at the Gala when she met Josh Foley. She wears a skin-tight scaled suit of iridescent green, with flourishes that vaguely resemble fins at the back of the neckline and at the cuffs of her sleeves. She carries a golden bident, and at a yoked waist, her suit bears a similar symbol in gold. Her hair is long and loose, and fiery red, beset with the simple chevron of her tiara.

It never ceases to amaze her that surface dwellers, who are no true subject to her in any way, feel the need to bow in the presence of her or Arthur. She smiles, and, looking to the throne next to Arthur's for a brief moment, instead looks to another door. "Would you care to join me in a discussion room? I feel this is a bit...too formal, for informal conversation." She gestures with the bident toward the door, and moves to open it into a small foyer that opens into another room with a large marble table and chairs. Almost as formal as the throne room, but at least it leaves no one standing. The walls here are pristine, and afford a view of an underwater seascape, complete with a multitude of colourful fishes and coral. "Please, have a seat, and make yourself comfortable. Would you care for something to drink?" The hostess who met him at the ferry awaits at the door, to learn his answer.

Elixir has posed:
For Josh in an expensive suit and tie he could only recently afford, the Princess is otherworldly. He had heard stories, everyone had, and he read more stories online after the gala. The Princess was as intimidating as her reputation suggested, even without trying.

"Yes, thank you, your Highness," Josh replies with a smile not quite as broad or easy as his usual. Josh looks around the new room a little wide-eyed. "Ah, just a glass of water, thank you," Josh says quietly to his hostess.

He sits after the Princess and clasps his hands together in his lap. Sit straight, pay attention, no fidgeting. Sunday best.

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera smiles softly, seated at the end of the table, next to where Josh has seated himself. "To be perfectly honest," she begins in her exotic lilt, "My request was one borne of curiosity. For all the anecdotal stories that I have heard of your talents, I wish to understand how they work. There are always going to be those people out there who wish to exploit you. And that, I cannot express strongly enough, concerns me. I have heard everything from mutant powers to relgious experiences." Mera clasps her own hands on the arm of her chair between them and leans slightly in his direction. Interested, clearly. "How would you describe what you can do?"

Elixir has posed:
"Ah, I don't understand, your Highness," Josh say. He was looking nervous and awed. Now he looks a little alarmed that Mera would be concerned. The young man's lack of sophistication is on full display.

"What are you, like, worried about other people doing? Or like, what are you worried they'll make me do?" Josh asks.

Aquawoman has posed:
"Surely it has not escaped you that your gift is one that could be highly coveted. Entire countries would sacrifice a great deal to possess a person with such talents. And that includes peace, diplomacy with other nations for their actions if they were to attempt to take you, or exploit you in such a manner. I am only concerned with what others might do in order to gain your favour, or to claim possession of you. Humans, it seems, are not averse to taking advantage of one another. Even with a gift as pure as yours." Mera watches Josh intently for a few moments. "I am only trying to ascertain what it is that give you your gift. How it works. Why it works. This is something I have not seen in all of my days, and it amazes me."

Elixir has posed:
Josh swallows when Mera explains the concerns at her level. "I guess, I figured someone from the government might want to talk to me one day, but like, so far it's just companies and hospitals and universities, and a lot of people that are sick, you know?"

The young man's thumbs rub together in his lap. "I don't wanna get in trouble with my country, like, I'm American," he says uncertainly. "But ah, I don't think explaining to you, I think that'd be okay. You're married to Aquaman, right? Like, from the Justice League. So that's gotta be okay. I think."

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera looks perplexed by Josh's response. "First, no...We are betrothed. But we are not yet married," she replies. "But more to the point, I think you misunderstand my concerns. I worry that others will try to take you. Kidnap, I believe you call it? Take and possess. Because there are many who see the benefits in your gift. But there are also those who see you as a religious sign. And if they would be able to boast of having you as one of their own, they may stop at nothing to attain that goal. My concern is merely that you take care, so that you do not fall into a dangerous situation, Mr. Foley."

Elixir has posed:
"Oh, sorry," Josh says and colours at getting it wrong about her marriage. He swallows again nervously. He cannot help but wonder if Atlantis would be one of those who would like to possess him. Josh pushes the thought from his mind.

"I'm just a mutant, your Highness," he explains. "Ah, I have the x-gene, I guess. I can feel biological things. From like, their genes to the whole thing. Then I can change things if I want. It's not really healing, or like, not just healing," Josh continues getting increasingly animated. It is clear this is something he loves. "It's more like, healing is a change I can make. But I could like, make an albino cat not albino, or whatever. I'm still learning how far I can go. I'm working with the staff at the Avengers Medical, actually I'm on the staff, but we're experimenting."

Without thinking, Josh gets up and walks over to the window. Josh's whole body glows with a golden aura. "So like, that... I don't know fish... The yellow one? It's healthy, but that striped one has some kind of worm thing... It's hard with stuff I don't know. I mean, I spend all my time studying people. So the worm feels a little like tapeworm? But different. I don't know what it is. Fish are weird... Sorry, I mean different. I've never stopped and looked at fish."

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera nods, and walks over to the window alongside Josh. She tilts her head and a gentle whirlpool forms around the fish, holding it steady and pulling it over closer to the glass. She furrows her brow, looking at it for a long moment. "That answers one of my questions - and perhaps another. I had intended to ask you if it was something you could only do with humans, or if perhaps you could do it with other species. Animals, for example. Or Atlanteans." She smiles faintly, and releases the fish, although it simply goes back to flitting around in the water.

"You have nothing to fear from the Atlanteans, Mr. Foley. I have no desire to cause you distress. I only meant to warn you to take care, that you do not get lured into a situation where you cannot escape. I hope that you know, if you should ever find yourself in need, Atlantis will assist, if there is anything that we can do. What you do is pure, and beautiful, and unparalleled. Such a thing should not perish from this world."

Elixir has posed:
Josh lets his grip on his ability go and his aura fades away. "Holy, whoa, how did you do that?" Josh asks with a big smile.

He looks from the fish to the Princess and nods somberly. "Thank you, your Highness. I'll be careful as I can. It's kind of overwhelming, but there's a lot of people that need help. So, thanks for the warning and the offer. And like, probably Atlantis doesn't need help ever, but if you ever did need me, I'll do what I can."

Aquawoman has posed:
"I would expect nothing less of the man who could do all that I've read about, and seen." Mera smiles and looks Josh up and down appraisingly. "I must say, the gold suits you."

Mera turns back to the window and watches the seascape in silence. "There are those of your ilk, Josh, who, try as they may, make poor ambassadors for their race. I would see you to the role of Ambassador rather than those who think only of themselves. They would benefit greatly from not putting their flaws on flagrant display upon the dais of our throne room." She casts a sidelong glance at Josh. "For blood is a funny thing, in that it carries the marks of the mother. /And/ the father."

Elixir has posed:
Josh shows a bit of rose gold in his face at Mera's assessment. "Thank you, your Highness," he says with a smile. When the Princess turns her attention back to the seascape, Josh follows suit.

"Ambassador?" Josh asks. "I guess being a public mutant is sort of like being a goodwill ambassador or something." He frowns at Mera's comment about blood and looks in Mera's direction. "I think I'm missing something, your Highness."

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera speaks to Josh without moving her gaze from the sea outside the window. "It has not escaped my notice that you are enamored of one of the children of Magneto. Of course, she may not be held responsible for her father's actions, unless of course, she approved of them. I can only assume, given your character and sense of judgment, that she does not." The statement is left there, balanced precariously, as she continues to watch the whimsical movements of a seahorse, whose tail is wrapped around a small plant rooted firmly to a reef. "I would just be sure that you anchor yourself firmly in something that you can trust without fail. If you had to take a stand against him, could she?"

Elixir has posed:
Josh swallows and looks back to the sealife as well. His hands slip into the pockets of his suit, bunching up the suit jacket around his wrists. Josh opens his mouth to answer a couple of times before speaking.

"I can't speak for the Avengers," Josh settles on. "I'm just on their medical staff, I'm not out there fighting anyone."

Aquawoman has posed:
"And that is wise. Not everything is a battle to be fought. And I would not impose judgment upon one whom I have not had the opportunity to judge her intentions." She pauses thoughtfully for a moment. "Blood ties are strong. And sometimes, Mr. Foley - all too often - the battle is brought to you."

She turns and paces a slow circle in the room, choosing her words carefully. "As I said before, I do not know her. However, I have met with her sister. And given the opportunity, and cause, to take a stand against her father, she crumbled. She made circumventing excuse. But she would not seize the opportunity to take a stand."

At this, Mera turns to face Josh. "And I predict that Magneto would be one of those without the wisdom to stay his hand when it came to destroying another for his own personal use. One who could keep him from harm. One who could snatch him from the very jaws of death."

Elixir has posed:
Josh turns to track the royal as she paces and talks. He swallows again and tries to look composed, tries to look like someone who is not in way, way over his head. He tries not to show any reaction to Mera's assessment of Lorna and what happened in the embassy. That was not the story he heard from her.

"I'm not good at this," Josh admits. "I'm just some guy from Queens, your Highness. I mean, Magneto seems really committed. And he's right, you know? There are people who really want to kill us all. But I can't speak for him or Genosha, or anyone. I hope there's not a war though. I don't get how anybody dying is gonna help."

Aquawoman has posed:
"Josh." Mera gazes intently on him. "None of us hope for a war. All I ask is that you anchor yourself within yourself and not upon something that could crumble from beneath you. Your light - your gift - is something too precious to be taken from this world. And I do not simply mean this power that you have. Your light shines on those who may never see your power. You make this world a better place simply by /being/. So I ask you to be careful. Wanda may be steadfast. But that may not stop her father from using her as a pawn in his game. So I ask that, come what may, you will be careful. Not everyone you meet sees the world as you do. Heavens know that this world would be so much better if they did."

Elixir has posed:
Josh blinks a bit under the Princess' gaze. He nods slowly.

"You're... Not the first person to warn me about making my own choices," Josh admits. Thoughts of Emma Frost come to his mind.

"I never really thought about how like, just a mutant like me being around is sort of hopeful," Josh says. "Still new to all this public stuff."

Josh tilts his head. "So how I do know if someone is really on my side, or just trying to use me as their pawn," he asks curiously. Gears turn as he speaks and Josh ventures to look for Mera's own reaction. "I mean. I guess some people could try to like, make me help them, or other people might just try to make me not help someone else, you know?"

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera offers Josh a bittersweet smile. "The truth is, there is no way to know for certain. But in the end it should not matter. As long as you are doing what you feel in the bottom of your soul is right, then you are doing the best thing that you can. You are only responsible for your own actions. So make sure that you can live with them, in the end."

Elixir has posed:
Josh makes a bit of a face and nods. He glances at the fish. "They've got it so easy," he comments. "Except for the getting eaten part, I guess."

Josh turns his attention back to the enigmatic woman of the deep in front of him.

"Good advice, thank you, your highness," Josh says. "So then I guess, like, the question on some people's minds isn't just what I can do, but whose side I'm on."

Aquawoman has posed:
"That's will always be a question in the minds of some. But the secret is...Those who question it? They will question it with everyone. Not just you." Mera smiles slightly. "If a side does not suit you perfectly, make your own."

Mera looks back at the fish. "Arguably, the worm...situation...could be an issue, as well."

Elixir has posed:
"Maybe I will someday," Josh chuckles. "Or maybe there's one that suits me really well. Dunno."

Josh considers the fish. He holds up a hand. His skin turns metallic black on his hand. It starts at the finger tips and spreads like paint. There is a dark aura as well.

The aura fades. The fish swims around just the same as it had, without any apparent change. Josh looks at his hand. He turns it over to examine both sides. The black begins to recede, but slowly, in splotches.

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera watches quietly. Her brow furrows as Josh's hand blackens. "Why does it turn dark? You glow when you heal, do you not? Did it harm you?" She moves to his side, looking concerned.

Elixir has posed:
"No, I'm fine," Josh says. He slides his hand back in his pocket. "I glow whenever I use my ability."

"The fish is fine now," Josh says with a gesture to the marine creature. "The worm isn't."

Aquawoman has posed:
"The death is corruption to your power." It is not a question. She looks back to the fish, and then to Josh. "You had to choose a life to save, and one to take." The implication sinks in, and her expression falls. She looks...stricken.

"You don't heal, you change the being. You can kill as surely as you can heal..."

Elixir has posed:
Josh nods. "I was trying to explain," he says quietly. "But the healing's all anyone thinks about. Which good, like, that's the important part."

"But I've killed millions, your Highness. I can feel cancer cells get ripped apart when I change someone's immune system to see them. Or parasites. Or bacteria," the young man says. His voice and look has become more distant, detached.

"They're alive, just smaller. But everyone's happy when I kill them, isn't that weird? People don't really care about life. Just their lives."

Josh pulls his hand out of his pocket and looks at it again. The black has not receded much further.

"I think they'd kill me if they really got it. Nobody gets it," he muses.

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera shakes her head. "Mera. Please." She takes a deep breath and exhales. "There is no need for them to understand that, Josh. Any talent. Power. Ability...can be as deadly as any other. It is all in how the power is used. A teleporter could manifest within the body of another. The winged child could carry someone to a great height and drop them to their demise."

Mera shakes her head slowly. "And every person - Human, Mutant, Atlantean - has an innate instinct to harm - to kill. But we do not put children to death simply because they /could/ grow up to be killers."

Elixir has posed:
Josh blinks a little and rubs his fingers together on the darkened hand. The golden splotches start to grow again.

"Good people don't," Josh agrees.

"I know people who will. Or who killed me just cause I'm a mutant. Sorry, your Highness, Mera," Josh apologizes. "I should've kept my mouth shut. It's nicer for people when they just think about healing injuries and making them feel better."

Aquawoman has posed:
"No," Mera replies. "It is might be nicer for them. They do not have to think or reason. But it is nicer when someone looks at you and sees you. Not only what you can do to benefit them. You are a man, first and foremost. You have to be seen. Otherwise you could lose sight of who you are."

Elixir has posed:
Josh rubs the back of his neck and smiles sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm lucky though, I've got a couple people who do. Wanda especially."

"I hope I'm not being, like, disrespectful. I didn't mean to just go off or like, startle you," Josh says. "All I wanna do is help."