9354/The Trickster's Mess, part 1

The Trickster's Mess, part 1
Date of Scene:	28 September 2019
Location:	Breakstone Lake - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	The question of repayment from Jeremy/Loki is answered, in the form of an angelic pendant. Plans are afoot!
Cast of Characters:	Nightingale, Wolfsbane, Loki
Tinyplot:	Asgard's Requiem

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Nightingale has posed:
     It had been a very unpleasant few days for a certain young healer in training, wrestling with the fact that she'd been taken advantage of by the Trickster. It was difficult to reconcile the calling to heal, with feeling like a traitor after the fact for doing so. But there had been no sign since in any way, shape or form of 'Jeremy' since, so perhaps things were looking up. Still, all the same, it was becoming more and more common for Shannon to make use of her image inducer to hide her wings, just in case. This was one of those times, as she walks--not flies--out to the lake for a little bit of peace and quiet.

     Peace and quiet... did such really exist, where Loki was involved?

Wolfsbane has posed:
Image inducer or not, one can hide one's look but not one's scent. And, if only wings are being masked, it doesn't otherwise change how someone looks anyway.

A few days have gone by since 'Jeremy' was injured by what he claimed was dark magic, and after he disappeared and Wolfsbane 'called' him through the pendant he gave her, meant for someone else, she held onto it instead and went back home, trying to figure out the right thing to do. This was because the more she thought about it, the more something didn't quite line up as feeling 'right' to her. She was a naturally suspicious sort, if naive at times, but both meetings with 'Jeremy' left her thinking all was not quite as it seemed.

So, once the weekend came around, she decided to return to Xavier's and find Shannon. They would talk. She would share what she knew, and they would figure out how to go from there. The pendant itself was still in her possession, but it had gone unused since 'Jeremy' disappeared and told her where he went after she focused on it like he'd told her. Steps bring the wolfen woman across the grounds after checking around the main entry and exit points of the mansion to see if Shannon's scent was recent at any of them.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon's scent was indeed recent at the rear exit of the mansion, following along the path leading to the lake. It was fresh enough to suggest that Rahne had missed the girl by no more than a few minutes at most. The path taken is a direct one, heading straight for the lake, and unbroken, suggesting that flight was not used as an option. The scents of early autumn linger in the air as well, with hints of color beginning to appear on the trees; reds and oranges for maple, yellows for birch, as if Mother Nature was testing out a new set of fiery-hued paints. If the wolfen woman were to follow along that path, she would spot the teen flopped down on her stomach by the shore, with her arms crossed and her chin resting atop them. She does not initially react to her presence, being deep in thought, her gaze cast out absently over the glassy surface of the lake.

Wolfsbane has posed:
Winged people don't always fly everywhere, but Rahne is not familiar enough with Shannon to know what her preferences are with that. If it's anything like her own enjoyment of how much more alive the world feels when her wolfen senses are in use, it would explain a lot.

Normally, this time of year could find Wolfsbane lost to distraction in checking out the signs of the changing seasons, but none of that color or those other smells distracts her for very long once she's caught sight of the student over yonder. The position could mean anything, really. Someone daydreaming, someone deep in thought, someone wishing to be alone. Before saying anything, there comes another sniff to see what signs Shannon may be giving off.

Nightingale has posed:
     There are no other signs by scent to tell Rahne which it might be. Shannon's absent-mindedly tracing little circles in the sand, and the furrowing of her brows hint at perhaps less than pleasant thoughts. But she is silent. There is no scent of blood, no reek of injury, nothing that would suggest she was doing anything out here but seeking a little peace.

     As she pushes herself up on her elbows, she glances back towards the mansion--and spots Rahne. A curious tilt of her head, a raised eyebrow, and then a smile of recognition spreads across her face. Getting to her feet, she brushes away bits of sand clinging to her, sneakers crunching a bit in the gritty stuff as she makes her way on over. "Rahne, isn't it? I remember you from when Sam first took me to Mutant Town."

Wolfsbane has posed:
"Oh, aye. Sorry, Shannon. I dinna mean tae stare, but I was just trying tae figure oot if ye'd mind someone else around or if ye wanted tae be alone," the one-time New Mutant says to the current one as she gestures out at the lake and surroundings. "It's pretty oot here this time o' year, but..how are ye?" Wolfsbane keeps it simple for the moment, even if there is a reason she's come.

Nightingale has posed:
     "It's pretty out here most seasons, so far. It's home, now." Shannon utters those words with a simple finality, an acceptance of perhaps not being able to return somewhere else. She runs her fingers through her hair. "Gods, where do I even begin? This past week and a half's been a -mess-. Sentinel attack to start it all off, two major healings on friends... and let's not even get into the third healing in a week." Her tone goes somewhat dark for just a brief moment at the last statement, with threads of anger and hurt woven throughout. "What about you, though? I haven't seen you since then. Never really got to talk to you much, and Sam's mentioned you with a whole lot of respect."

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane has a single-word reply to part of that, and it's one filled with distaste. "Sentinels." She has been absent from most things concerning the mutant-hunting robots ever since a particular mission, which in fact took place not long at all before she made the move to Mutant Town.

She's dressed in her usual attire, which means the outfit that passes for the costume as well. Hands tuck inside some of the folds at the sides, near the leggings. "Ahh, things about me can wait. I came tae ask ye about th' third one, th' one ye just said ye didna want tae get intae. I wanted tae make sure ye were all right." And, she's spotted no physical damage she can tell. "An' why th' nae wings? I can still smell th' feathers." Her expression does pass through some sort of warmth as she's told of Sam talking about her.

Nightingale has posed:
     The teen's expression turns into something akin to a scowl now, not a normal thing for her in the least. "Well... ever since the young 'man' in question showed up, Betsy had advised me to turn on the image inducer. I've... taken to using it a bit more, just in case." Shannon just shakes her head, a very deep sigh escaping her. "So, what did you want to know about it?"

Wolfsbane has posed:
"Why did she tell ye tae do tha' just because o' him?" Wolfsbane wonders, a hand shifting around slightly within her clothing. "An' I wanted tae ask about whit ye had tae deal wi'. He seemed concerned for ye, but there's something I'm no' quite sure o' about it all."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon runs her fingers through her hair, letting out a long sigh. "She never really said to me at the time, but she probably had her reasons. I wasn't about to argue with it. And ever since the whole thing... nobody's told me to use it since, but if things like this can happen right here on school grounds, well... it's a pretty sobering thought." Her eyebrows raise, the young woman struck to silence, and a little bit of the color draining from her face. Still, there's a hint of a smile, just the faintest ghost of one. It's apparent there are some decidedly mixed feelings there. "He was? What did he say?"

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane may not fully understand the reason for the image inducer on the grounds, but it's not the main reason she's here. That can be business best left between Shannon, Betsy, and whoever else. The matter of 'Jeremy' is more paramount.

"Well, he's no' a student here, but I met him once before. I was oot in th' woods, an' we came across each other. He could do magic an' change whit he looked like. I was surprised tae see him here th' other day, injured," the Scot begins, a free hand passing through her hair.

She studies Shannon while adding, "He blamed dark magic for whit happened tae him, an' wanted me tae thank ye for him for whit ye did, but he said something else tha' left me feeling weird. He said if ye died, he didna do it. It seemed odd tae tell us. Dr. McCoy was there as well." There's a pause, a glance down toward her side. "An' there's another thing..."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon cracks a small smile, and just shakes her head. "Many things he is... but no, if I'd died, it wouldn't have been his fault. It would've been my own for not listening to my better judgement. As if I could do anything else... even he shouldn't have to suffer, like he was." Once again, her eyebrows raise, and her gaze follows Rahne's, to the other woman's side. "What other thing...?" She'd gone more than a little tense, but still holds her cards close to the chest, so to speak. At least for a few moments more.

Wolfsbane has posed:
"I canna imagine whit it's like tae be a healer if ye have tae feel whit ye're taking away from someone," Wolfsbane says, her voice quieter. However, there's something in Shannon that leads to her waiting on what she has to reveal. "Ye're uncomfortable, an' I have a feeling it's tae do wi' him. I need ye tae tell me whit's wrong, Shannon."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly, and grimaces. "I still can't believe it. You were right, 'Jeremy' isn't quite what he seemed, in something of a big way. And I've got pretty mixed feelings about the whole thing." She glances back out towards the water, biting her lower lip. "I managed to heal what should not have been able to be, and survived what should've killed a god. But the fact that I was lied to doesn't sit well." She pauses again, closing her eyes as if to ward off the finality of the admission, somehow.

"It was Loki."

Wolfsbane has posed:
At the mention of /that/ name, Wolfsbane's eyes go saucer-wide, just about. Visibly, the hackles go up as well along her arms, around the back of the neck. She looks as if she's seen a ghost or something very equivalent.

"...Loki? Whit? How do ye know this?" She doesn't quite shudder, but for a moment or two she looks as vulnerable as she's ever been, eyes sweeping the area. What could bring that sort of reaction out of her? Tense as she is, the hand within her outfit grips at what it's in contact with.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon looks right at Rahne, canting her head slightly. "I had my suspicions that the one who came to us for help wasn't quite what he seemed. When he asked if I knew the old stories, ones where a traveler in disguise comes to someone's door looking for help, it sort of gave me a pretty big clue. But even that didn't matter. I can't -not- heal someone if it's in my power to help, any more than one can effectively live on without breathing." She sighed softly. "I have to wonder if anyone's ever shown him any real, honest kindness. He sure seemed surprised enough when I asked if there was anything he was able to take for the pain. Even knowing who he is, it breaks my heart to think of it." She glances back towards the mansion. "A day or so ago, two of the Avengers showed up here asking about the entire incident. It was Mr. Stark and Captain Rogers. Dani was there as well, and I heard then it was Loki."

Wolfsbane has posed:
"He's no' known as th' Trickster God for nothing," Wolfsbane answers, that hand more of a fist around the object in her possession. "I've been tae Asgard before," she shares, "wi' th' other New Mutants. Th' first ones. We..met him there." Her free hand passes along her neck for a moment. There must be some significance to that. "An' I canna even say I'm surprised tae find oot he's doing this."

Suddenly, it explains a whole lot about that encounter in the woods near the school grounds, and what he did there. It's chilling. Disappointing, because there was something about it that left her quite curious, but to learn what she has just now, it changes everything.

Then, the pendant is withdrawn from her clothing, still clutched in her fist. Hints of wings poke between fingers. "He wanted me tae give ye something."

Loki has posed:
Wolfsbane's clear speech, mentioning the god's name while in possession of the pendant -- all of it means it sends a magical ping through to the trickster god. Whether he's listening or not, there is a very subtle flutter in the magical object, hidden from view inside Rahne's hand....

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon goes silent for the space of several heartbeats. There had been mention of repayment, and now it seems she was about to find out just what that might involve. But would it be a blessing, a curse, or a mix of both? "What's that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued against her better judgement. Damn it, were both of them about to be tricked again?

Wolfsbane has posed:
With Loki, there is always the danger of the trick. Tricks within tricks, even. Something that isn't even a trick could be seen as one.

Wolfsbane's attention is drawn toward that hand, given the subtle reaction she can feel, and she lets out a breath she just now realizes she'd been holding. "This," she explains, revealing the angelic pendant now sitting in her palm. It's a small thing, the wings having just poked through a space in the fingers. It is no longer being held tightly.

"He explained ye could reach him if ye needed something. I..tested it, an' it worked. I was gaunae have someone magical check it oot to see if it was safe, but noo..." She isn't close enough for Shannon to simply snatch it up, but it can certainly be seen.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon steps a little bit closer, leaning in to get a closer look at the pendant. Angelic. /Wings/. She rolls her eyes--and she actually /laughs/. "I wonder if he knew, somehow, or if it was just chance this time. But mostly, I'd wonder why he felt the need to lie if he needed help. Maybe I'm just a stupid, silly schoolgirl about the whole thing." She reaches out to gingerly touch the pendant, unsure if she should take it or not. "Have to hand it to him, that /is/ beautiful."

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane holds it carefully in case it falls. She doesn't know how delicate it may or may not be, but chances are Jeremy/Loki did not make it to be fragile. "He disappeared from th' room he was resting up in, an' most o' th' mess went wi' him. I was worried so I focused on this an'..he answered. So it can be used tae communicate wi' him, but noo I worry he can use it tae spy on us somehow. I dinna think we should keep it." Whatever Shannon's feelings about being played, or tricked, or being a possible pawn...chances are the wolfen mutant feels likewise.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon curls the fingers of her right hand very lightly around the pendant, and lifts it from Rahne's hand. She does not hold it tightly, nor does she focus on it with intent. Rather, she turns it over in her hand, smiling a little bit at the gift. "Part of me appreciates the gift for its own sake. Part of me, too, is wary of /not/ accepting it. I mean, I'd be pretty annoyed if someone threw a gift back in my face, and he's definitely not someone I want to annoy." She sighs softly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I think I might seek out some advice on this one, and accept the gift for the time being, at least."

Wolfsbane has posed:
Wolfsbane's hand acts as if it might close and draw the pendant back to herself, but in the end she allows it to be taken. "I like this even less than I already did, noo tha' I know more. He's no' tae be trusted, whitever he tells ye. I have enough experience wi' him tae know." And she still looks and sounds hurt, even wounded to now know that Jeremy was fooling her as well, not just the other day but the time in the woods. "If he's doing this, he's doing it for a reason, an' ye should speak wi' someone right away. Sam, Scott, Jean, whoever it takes. If ye dinna, I'll be making sure they know, an' I'll tell them everything I know so far. I advise ye dinna keep tha' anywhere ye even think he might overhear ye a'. I already dinna feel right letting ye have it a' all."

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods slowly. "You can bet I'll be telling someone somewhere along the line about this. And if I can't get a hold of one of them... I know who I /can/ get a hold of. But I'll try here first." She tilts her head slightly as she considers the pendant, and shrugs, slipping it on around her neck so as not to lose it. "You said it had to be held and focused on in order to work, correct? And you tested that yourself?"

Wolfsbane has posed:
"Aye, I did. But tha's assuming he told me th' whole truth," Wolfsbane answers, and the look of skepticism on her face suggests she doesn't believe that's necessarily the case. "An' ye tell someone before th' day is over, because I'll be looking for someone before I leave. I dinna want anything happening tae ye tha' we could ha' prevented because ye thought ye'd just keep it tae yuirself. Dinna underestimate Loki. If th' Avengers came here asking after him, tha' is all ye need tae know." She does not look or sound like she's joking around.

Loki has posed:
The pendant is a beautiful cobalt blue, dark and mysterious. There's a depth to whatever it is made of: a mild transparency, as if there were something inside it that twinkles in the light. Is it listening? Maybe. It isn't outwardly magical. It is in the shape of a praying angel, wings up and curled around a slot where a necklace cord could be strung.

Nightingale has posed:
     With no cord to be found at the moment, Shannon has to slip the angelic figurine into the bag tied at her side, the one with runes all along its surface. It looks more as if it belongs in Asgard itself, or one of the other Nine Worlds, rather than here on Earth. "I hope whatever it is, can actually be found to be safe. It's still a gift... and that does mean something to me." She sighs softly, closing the bag and letting it hang from her belt once more. "But I'll still do what has to be done, even if I don't like it." She smiles faintly at Rahne, ever so briefly. "Would I heal him again, even knowing who he is? That's something I've thought a lot about the past few days. Yes, I would. Regardless of whatever else he's done, when someone needs healing, that's what I'm there for."

Wolfsbane has posed:
"Just do th' right thing, Shannon. Dinna take any chances. Trust me, I've learned enough about tha' before," Wolfsbane says, frowning but trying to trust. She really doesn't know the girl enough to be certain one way or another how she will act, so she's emphasizing caution over all else. "An', gift or no', remember who it was really from." She turns to leave, heading in the direction of the buildings. "Be careful."

Loki has posed:
If the pendant winks a little when it's stowed away, perhaps nobody saw. Maybe it was just a trick of the light.

Nightingale has posed:
Shannon nods and smiles, just the faintest ghost of one. "Even knowing who it's from, it's difficult to give up a gift given with heart behind it. I hope if he can hear, that he understands this." She turns to start on her way back towards the mansion, crossing her arms for a bit of warmth against the early autumn nip in the air. "I think, though, that if we ever cross paths again, I'll have a few questions for him. Whether they are answered with truth, well, we'll have to see."