Owner	Pose
Sinister	Having 'friends' is an odd concept. No really, it is, there's a whole lot of something or other that had to occur for some individuals to be able to /make/ friends in the first place. And then, none of that is remotely normal, when you -have- made friends. Supervillains don't have keggers. Or do ordinary things, very often. Ordinary things like inviting individuals to a dock off of Argentina where there's gangs that keep the drug trade going and a secret underwater base. Yes. Secret. Underwater. Base. WIth a submarine that's straight out of 20,000 leagues under the sea. Nathaniel Essex was a very big fan of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and likely has a base in the Mountains of the Moon, too. But it's a very nicely appointed submarine, with all the drinks, all the brass fittings, all the steam-punk victoriana lap of luxury you could wish for, cigars, robotic servants and an intelligent octopus called Octavian, who apparently can sense when large and dangerous things are passing close by and changes colour to warn of impending collision with Behemoth. "So, I thought I'd show you one of my stranger bases of operation, which I also thought you'd get a kick out of..." Nathaniel informs to... well, everyone really. "...Forgive that we're under the ocean, but it's dark and light is a concern to some. It won't be where we're going, but there we go."
Constantine	That bottle of Glendronach 18 will most likely never return to that shelf. Even if he knows his glass will be topped off by the waiting staff at will, John Constantine is keeping it in his lap. No pleading or complimentary 'cruditays' will change his mind either. That time he vacated his chair for a bathroom break, he brought the bottle with him. "Aren't you concerned about the Atlanteans? There's a reason so little magic of the deep is known: they won't let us dive. Not in person, not in astral form." He crushes yet another Silk Cuts in the ashtray. "I'm pretty sure even Hell itself can't be bothered to take over the oceans, y'know?" He lights up, puffs out and takes a sip of whisky. "...where are we going?"
Lucifer	20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was one part of a combination of inspirations for a particular group of misfits coming together to save the world. In a bit of a nod to all of that which became The League of Extraordinary Gentleman. And from that, Lucifer looks like a more clean cut Dorian Gray. If Dorian Gray could get any more square jawed and handsome. Or maybe Lucifer has decided to actually mix his looks with that of what Dorian Gray was described to look like. Either way. He sits in a chair, all proper like with straight back and crossed legs, lifting a cup that's filled with tea to take a sip. Constantine's comment about Hell earns the man a side eye and smirk. "Well...not yet anyway..." He comments, sips, and then looks around again. "Always enjoyed the ocean, and being inside a vessel such as this gives one the pleasure of looking through the waters without getting wet. Aside. The Atlanteans don't hold power over the entirety of the ocean even if they think they do... sharing is caring. All that fancy jabber." Sip. Smile. He then tilts his head. "Give me a Silk Cuts, would you John?"
Dracula	It is, well and truly, an odd concept, this notion of making and having friends. The Lord of the Vampires is accustomed to being a solitary sort of creature, a thing which he had recently admitted to -- not that it was a thing that needed to be said. He ceased being human long ago, when he was made into the nocturnal hunter that he now is. The sense of what things might be ordinary is one that has shifted over the course of decades that have passed and the company that he keeps. And so, given the nature of the company that he seems to oft keep of late, the invitation to Argentina seemed well within the scope of not only believable but curiosity inspiring as well. Vlad had arrived in his typical means -- stepping silently from amongst a deeply shadowed mass. His black hair is in a shorter cut, a breath of curl and a whisper of layer to it. He wears a Mandarin collared black button-up shirt with long sleeves, a pair of black jeans, and matte black leather boots. A smile teases softly at the corners of his lips at Sinister's words in regards to the light, and he inclines his head towards the fellow, his nearly black eyes reflecting a hint of amusement to them. "The thoughtfulness of the location is appreciated," he says. He lifts his right hand, his figners making a slight gesture which manifests a glass of brandy from which he takes a small sip. "I would expect that there is a certain amount of passage permitted. And that typically, if one does not prod at the Atlanteans then one ought expect not to be prodded in turn," he muses, a thoughtful note to his voice. "There are other forces beneath the waves, yet so long as we cause no harm to what lies beneath then we ought expect none. Generally speaking."
Sinister	"John," Sinister begins as he glances over at Octavian, then back to the other actual englishman here. It is a delectable accent, mind. "I suppose I could be worried about Atlantean interference, but given that I could probably make most of them spend the rest of thier days thinking that they were aquatic turnips, I'm not too worried. Besides, we're only passing through. They allow for Trident submarines, they'll abide by the Nautilus." He himself looks considerably less like Nemo but still has a slight military cut to his clothing. Jeans and DM's, but he's wearing a dress military coat over the top of it and his hair is still short back and sides and long in the front. But does that make Vlad into Mina and Constantine into Jekyl? It might. And they're lacking the immortal great white hunter. They've been at sea for a good hour or so by now, given that drinks have been claimed and served and this machine goes at a rate of knots. Soon, from the viewing ports and the large forward screen, the outline of a tunnel in rock and ice steals the ocean's sweeter sights from view. "We're going to one of my oldest research facilities actually, in order for me to check up on a few things, but I thought you all might enjoy the view some. Antarctica, by the by. But I wouldn't worry about dressing for the cold, even if it bothered half of us. Core, beneath American and British territory... and a bit more obscure." He grins "You'll see..." The passage takes perhaps another half an hour after setting sail from the nose of Argentina, the knots covered quite considerably faster than anything men have invented yet. Ears pop at the change in pressure though as they rise into... sunlight? But it does not burn the vampire amongst them to a crisp, so that can't quite be right. Lush and verdant foliage can be seen from the water, as they cruise into a dock. It looks like the depths of a primordial jungle and on the shore is a large gyrocopter.
Constantine	Once upon a time trenchoats were military clothes... then John Constatine wore one. John passes his whole pack Lucifer's way, no questions asked. There is trust in this gesture, trust that the cigarettes will come back to him. Then he shrugs, Atlanteans be damned. If he's to drown, he'll drown in this damn fine bottle. He takes his eyes away from his glass to frown at Antarctica. He mulls over it for a while... ...and then he feels that pressure change in his ears. "Are we there yet?" He looks at the viewport, sees the green. "Have we turned around? I thought you said 'Antarctica', not 'Argentina'." John rises, bottle in the left, cigarette and glass sharing the right. Yes, somehow he can do that and not spoil one with the other too. "...did Swamp Thing put you up to this?" He slowly turns until his gaze locks on Nathaniel. A worried and accusating gaze.
Lucifer	Lucifer acquires the pack, takes a single cigarette from it and then returns the pack to it's rightful owner. A flick of fingers and he's lit the cigarette, taking a long drag of it. "I, for one, cannot wait to see this. Intrigued, even." He offers with a smile before finally standing and moving to look out the port hole. To the creatures of the sea that might be visible - if any at all being as this is Antartica. Time passes, ears pop, cigarettes are smoked and drinks are finished. When they come upon the place where there is a sun that doesn't seem to burn he tilts his head a little. "Artificial? How does that work?" Asking it aloud even though he doesn't expect an answer but suspects he'll get one either way. At some point the sub has docked, and he gives a little grin, turning to face the others. "Are we going to go get lost in some Journey to the Center of the Earth ancient jungle that's somehow survived a meteor crash millions of years ago?!" He might be joking, he might not. Surely he's not completely serious.
Dracula	The accent that possesses the elder vampire's voice is from elsewhere than England's glorious shores. His is from a country further west, which no longer exists by the name it was then but which instead became Romania. He quirks a smile at Sinister's words, then lifts his glass to take a sip of his brandy. The notion of Atlanteans thinking of themselves as aquatic turnips strikes him as amusing. His tongue flicks out to damp his lips, and then he gives his glass an idle seeming swirl, the amber liquid moving gently within. Vlad's dark gaze turns towards the forward screen, to look out into the ocean. "The ocean offers beauty of a different nature beneath its rippling waves than that which can be found above," he comments, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He studies that which lies within the water, and he lifts his free hand to make a slight gesture. The cold bothers him not at all, and so he is dressed as he is. He inclines his head slightly towards Sinister, his gaze turning towards the fellow in the moment after. "I look forward to seeing it," he says softly, the words sincere. The change in pressure doesn't seem to bother or affect him, or if it does then there is nary a sign of it. There is a slight narrowing of his eyes at the touch of sunlight to his skin, and then a flicker of curiosity that touches his features when there isn't the accompaniment of searing and being turned to ash from it. "Filters?" he wonders aloud, glancing briefly towards Sinister before his gaze turns back to sunlit drowned foliage. He looks over to Constantine and then he chuckles softly at the words about the destination, yet his attention turns instead to the sunlight. "I would not put it past Nathaniel to have such a thing," he comments, a smile turing at the corners of his lips.
Sinister	"Swamp thing? Who or what is swamp thing?" Sinister shakes his head, genuinely baffled. He side-eyes Constantine and gestures to the elevator that brings them topside, clipped heels taking him that way as if leading the charge. He steps to the back of the lift, tucking his hands in the small of his back and lifting his chin. "This is Antarctica. It is a secret held by a few nations, I believe, but..." he grins at Lucifer's interpretation and once everyone is aboard, or... well... following topside on the next trip, he steps out atop the Submarine. THe sunlight seems to come from the roof of the high dome overhead, like the bubble of a volcanic fart, but as it is not the sun itself, it does not crispy fry the vampire. The dome is enormous though, the far side of it impossible to see and obscured by the tall palm-like trees and giant corms that litter the shore. The platform that has the gyrocopter on it has compsognathus scittering around the edge, where it almost touches the jungle. They dart away like half-imagined things when they spot human activity. "Welcome to the Savage lands. It was... preserved I believe, after the impact-- antarctica drifted slowly to its position over the south pole and what died out elsewhere was able to survive here." Above, a rhamforhinchus, a tiny little winged dinosaur with a rather large club on the end of its tail, about the size of a cat, dives down for a fish.
Constantine	John empties his glass before he gets any more agitated and spill any. "Swamp Thing. The Green. Hope you never have to deal with it." He takes a long pull of his cigarette and lets out the smoke in a sigh. The ride topside makes the glass in his hand self conscious all the sudden. "I thought I was into secrets myself. Of course, the President never calls for an exorcism so there you go." From this point, John is silent. Just out of the lift, he finds a secure place for the fine glass he's been using so the staff can retrieve it later. The flight of predatory lizards seems to occupy most of his contemplation. He massage his neck while following the cat-sized hunter with his eyes. He gives Lucifer then Vlad a sideways glance.
Lucifer	"So the sun is fake, or it's real and just some of us more sensitive to it's affects are safe from harm?" Lucifer inquires once more, stepping out from the sub to the dock where it's bearthed. He's curious, surely, but mostly that's his only question. After he's asked it, he's more taking in the surrounding. The flying smaller dinosaur that wings over head catching his attention a moment. "Fascinating. A hidden gem. How you kept it a secret... well.. I'm sure you have your ways. Cause if anyone else knew about this.." It'd likely be ripped asunder just because. Governments and (some) scientists are hard asses like that. He steps a bit further, towards the end of the dock where the actual landmass begins.
Dracula	There is a soft chuckle from the vampire at the question of the Swamp Thing, but he chooses not to share information in this moment if he happens to possess any on the matter. He lifts his glass to finish his drink, and then he gestures faintly to cause the glass to vanish into thin air. Vlad had not been expecting sunlight, especially give his nocturnal nature, and there is a smile that turns the corners of his lips for the simple pleasure that it brings. Sometimes, it is about the simple things. "This is rather unexpected," he says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. What he had expected, he doesn't share. It is a rather impressive sight, and his gaze slowly wanders over it. He tilts his head a touch to one side as he looks to Nathaniel, and then he inclines his head towards the fellow. "It is quite well preserved, from what can be seen from here. The Savage Lands, hmm? It seems it might prove to be a fitting name," he says softly, a touch of amusement in his dark eyes. "How did you come to discover it?" he asks softly, curiosity to his voice. His gaze flicks over to Constantine, studying him for a moment. "You would think a demon or vile spirit might choose someone in a seat of power to possess, and yet... most times they do not," he muses. Then he tilts his head a touch to one side, studying him briefly whilst managing to not make it look as though he's viewing a morsel of food. His gaze drifts to Lucifer, and then back to the landscape. "It is intriguing. This is the first that I have willingly been in sunlight for any length of time. It is a gem, indeed," he says softly, giving a small nod.
Sinister	"Well, I have my ears in multiple governments. The world powers know of it, but the united nations declared it a global nature preserve. It's actually illegal to exploit its resources, therefore I have ... not. My experiments here have been low-key and important in thier own right. Shall we?" He heads down the dock to the gyrocopter. "My facility is a short flight, but far more interesting than here." He has to look to JOhn though, as the hellblazer seems rather out of sorts with this. "I'm sure at one point in your life, my good sir, that you played with toy dinosaurs and imagined yourself watching epic battles. Those happen here. But also, it is possible to ride them, walk with them and see them up close and not in a museum. I have a small riding pack, at my facility. If you would like to try such a thing." THis is broadened to all of the individuals here, with his hands raised and gestured outwards. All of you, if you like, can ride a dino. "It's actually got several tribes of humans and humanoids that live here -- got /officially/ discovered during world war two. I found it... a little before that and kept things secret." The gyro is already powering up, made to work remotely by his art with machinery. Although many here can fly, not all can. It would be rude to just take off without everyone! Provided everyone does board (fast forward to the skyview) of jungle stretching out with the occasional head of a brachiosaur lifting over the canopy. The whole place seems to be volcanic, judging by the flues that litter the landscape like scars, pouring volcanic gas into the atmosphere. Valleys and rivers dot the landscape, signs of civilization visible. The Gyro seems to be aiming for a plateau, upon which a small dome can be seen, along with well... it looks like a ranch. Most of the occupants in the pens are of three species-- Pachysaurs, gallimimus and Ankylosaurs. There are humans there, using ankylosaurs to move heavy machinery around the landscape, ploughs and other equipment. A nearby lake seems to have quite an active wildlife attached.
Constantine	Constantine simply pouts and keeps a mopey mask on from the mention of toy dinosaurs all the way to the point where he makes out the humans. Cigarettes are not a thing near or inside anything with 'copter' in it but the bottle doesnt suffer from proppeler wind nor fills the cabin with smoke. As he notices the people moving the big stuff around he brightens suddenly. "Civilization." He grants Lucifer with a grin. "Did you bring them apples, mylord?" He offers his bottle (halfway drank) to Lucifer. "I wonder who they worship down there. If you play your cards right you could get a true following of your own, you know? There's no internet to spoil their faith either." And then he looks to Vlad. "If you need a drink I'd rather you drink from me. There should be at least one place where your curse hasn't reached. Don't worry, there are a few rituals that can stop it before it takes root." He flashes a matchbook in bright red he kept in his trenchcoat's pocket. "If you agree, I'll tell you about this new vampire nightclub you don't know aobut."
Lucifer	"Ah. Well at least there's that, and good on the United Nations for calling this place such." Lucifer offers this as he and everyone else makes it to where the coptor is. If there wasn't a risk of clipping wings he'd just fly along-side, but wings can get caught in upwinds and he's not about to risk it. They've ben lost one too many times this year thus far. There's a glance to Constantine after a moment and he lifts a finger. "If and when Vlad needs to feed, he has a sustainable source that cannot be turned. So there's no need to fear that he would just upturn some random person in a place he's never been to yet anyway. And you ought know better, as he's not some hunger-driven monster anyway." Jumping to the defense of the man, regardless if it's really warranted or not. This is what being a lover of Lucifer nets you, so bask in it Dracul. That all said, he then turns his attention to the community below and gives a little smirk. "I would not dare taint a place such as this...some places deserve their natural sancity."
Dracula	Vlad turns his dark gaze to Nathaniel, studying him whilst he listens attentively to what is said. "I believe that I would be more surprise if you did not have ears in so many places," he says softly, a smile turning at the corners of his lips. Then he inclines his head towards Nathaniel. "Of course. I find myself to be quite curious of your experiments," he says. "Is there a tyrannosaurus rex here in your preserve?" he asks, a touch of curiosity in his voice. And for a lingering moment, his gaze remains on Sinister as the riding pack is spoken of, and he gives a nod. "I would very much like to try such a thing, indeed," he says, sounding a touch intrigued by the notion. "Some secrets are quite worth keeping." He does, as is expected, board the gyro. Though he could fly, if he wished to do so, he chooses to be more mundane. And when it does take off, his attention is turned towards the landscape that such a view is offered of, taking in what can be seen. Admiring it, even. His gaze turns towards Constantine, and he chuckles softly and then gestures slightly. An apple appears, hovering in thin air. "Would you care for one?" he offers, a touch of amusement to his voice. "I think you may be mistaken about the nature of my particular curse. It will only seek to infect you if I inject you with it, and then I would have to drain you to the death. As it would seem that I am disinclined to indulge to that extent then it would seem that you are safe from the risk of it," he says, a smile quirking at the corners of his lips. "Bite you, I may yet do," he adds, giving a single nod. "What is of interest at this nightclub that you mention?" he asks, raising an eyebrow slightly. His gaze turns to Lucifer, and he inclines his head at the defensiveness that is stirred in the devil. And he can't help but to chuckle softly at a part of what is said, and he lifts a hand to lightly pull his fingers through his hair. "Ah, well," he begins, making a slight gesture, "I rather am a hunger driven monster, my dear. I simply manage to keep it under control sometimes," he says, a smile turning at the corners of his lips. It is a truth, after all.
Sinister	Sinister's gaze actually turns from piloting the craft to Lucifer and Dracula for a hot moment and he gives an exaggerated eye-roll with a grin at the banter shared, defensive and otherwise, with Constantine. He shakes his head with it, as he guides the gyro to its destination in an open area on the plateau. "If it matters, I believe they worship gaia and various other primordial gods. And as to cults of Lucifer, I think there's a cultural disjunct, along with a lack of desire. I do not have a T-rex, but there's a family unit nearby... Coming in..." he lands it very promptly and with some skill, bowing over a palm a few times in mockery of himself. "Welcome to Badlands ranch. For what it's worth, what I have been doing here, is disease research. Saurians suffer general malaise a good deal less than mammals. Bloodworks have been extensive. Also, other things, involving resiliance of phenotype. Anyway--" he gestures to the north. "The lake has ichthyosaurs and a couple of plesiosaurs, along with cretaceus period life forms. The ocean has its good share of aquatic scorpions, which remain unchanged and I'll see about getting a couple of the herd saddled up." But what greets them other than waving humans, is a small pack of dionychus, brightly coloured but lacking in feathers as so many dinosaurs from other areas have been found to have, who jump at Sinister for pets, then come to sniff and at the others that have come with him. Behold, tiny little dog sized velociraptors. The intelligence is obvious though, in that they all respond with a chirp when Sinister makes a little whistle sound, decisting in their hopping up for attention. By the by, Ankylosaurs are big. Twice the size of an african rhinocerus and considerably better armoured. The Pachys mill rather like sheep.
Constantine	"I don't need the UN to know when a place shouldn't be changed too much. Gaia magic is a bit slow but also very hard to shift around. Hollistic too. Anything happens, it gets swallowed in the whole narrative. Their beliefs down there? Pretty much impossible to sway." The apple is getting a head shake from John. "I had a big lunch. Thanks. The nightclub is where some come to trade influence for favors, trinkets for enchantments and sometimes... blood. Mostly for pleasure or petty revenge. It's only a matter of time before someone turns suck a trick into some kind of real powerplay. You gotta be a member to find it, so... we can work something out later." Constantine has flown before, in various ways too and not many of them he'd like to reminesce. Some might have involved a lack of altitude and direction control too. He anticipates the descent and screw the lid on his liquor. He winces as the copter begins to drop. Constantine lights up. Maybe he hopes that'll keep giant pet lizards at bay. He stays closer to Lucifer than usual too. "These are damn impressive. How do we move about without being crushed or eaten?"
Lucifer	Lucifer eyes Constantine once more. He wants to say something, but he refrains and merely smiles and carries on. The UN exists more for people unlike this small group who know how to keep things properly. Keeping it as a silent thought, however, and then he steps forward only to be suddenly ambushed by velociraptors? They're dog-like behavior and lack of aggression seem to stun him for a moment. "You know, you anticipate things to go a certain way. That maybe someone got it right... but those guys aren't nearly as aggressive as the movies make them out to be..." He offers this and then glances up and around. Silent, for the moment, mostly. Still just taking things in and following Sinister's lead.
Dracula	There is a glance towards Sinister, and then he winks to the fellow, a smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Given the space they live in, it seems natural that they would worship the primordials," he says softly, a thoughtful note to his voice. He raises an eyebrow slightly at the answer about the T-Rex, and then he gives a nod. "It is an unfortunate thing that there is not a rex, but it is as it is," he says. The large carnivore can make things a bit more challenging, after all. He takes a moment to look out across the landscape as the gyro is landed, and then he steps lightly from it, the movement graceful. "It seems a most interesting thing to look into, diseases," he says softly, a smile turning at the corners of his lips anew. He looks towards the north when it's indicated, at least for a long moment, and then his gaze turns back to the others. At least briefly. His attention is easily distracted by the various dinosaurs, watching their movements and perhaps even marvelling at them. They are intriguing to him, he who has lived for centuries. He makes a slight gesture of his right hand, and the apple that he had summoned vanishes rather easily. "Influence is oft traded, for it is a currency of its own. We will discuss the matter anon to see what might be worked out," he says softly, considering the matter further if only briefly before he sets it aside for the moment. "Do not act like food, and you will not be eaten," he comments, glancing towards Constantine. His gaze slides towards Lucifer, admiring the man for a long moment, and a smile curls at the corners of his lips. He steps over to the fellow and lifts a hand to lightly brush his figers over his cheek briefly. "It is pleasing to find things that are unexpected even after so many years," he says softly, a smile turning his lips.
Sinister	Vlad isn't the only once-mortal to have lived multiple centuries, but the difference is the breeding. One comes from the ruling class of kings, warlords, princes, nobility, the other comes from minor aristocracy and the meritocracy of military prestige. When you are the son of an Admiral, things come filtering down to you from the blue blooded and one gets 'airs'. It could easily, very easily indeed, be said... that Doctor Essex has airs. He does have graces too, but they are fewer in their number, because it has not once been -schooled- into him by birth. Dirty blue blood, at best, but he does not seem to care. At least he's not new money with the pricetag still stuck to their collar, so that everyone can see it, right? "Well, John, other than the dionychus which I keep for pest control, all the saurians that are kept near the facility are herbivorous. Trampling only occurs in panic. Dinosaurs, much like every other life form that exists, don't naturally trample over others. That seems to be a solely human condition, to crush what is beneath you with intent..." Sinister says with a smile. "If you are in need of freshening up, the facility has showers, all the amenities and a full bar. One of the workers will show you to a room, if you like..." he informs. The raptors then receive his better attention, giving the alpha of this little pack a scritch on the head. They number eight in total, most of them about the size of a golden retriever, give or take an inch or two at the shoulder. "Raptors were created for the movies, the discovery of a dionychus that was actually of that size happened post production, believe it or not. Anyway, any life form that requires cooperative hunting tends to be more intelligent and more trainable than others. They are tamed, which means to say that they're still dangerous, but they are less so than their wild counterparts. I have a encountered utah raptors a time or two, they follow the same pattern." He clicks his tongue which makes all of the little raptors lift their heads, then with a click of fingers, he gets their focus there, points at Lucifer and almost purrs. This brings the entire pack to milling about him and sniffing, hopping and begging for attention. "They're clever and they're far more intelligent than any movie gives them credit for. Without them, I would not have been able to take the samples I've been able to."
Constantine	Constantine sends Vlad an amused grin. Nods to Nathaniel about the kind explanations and reassurance. Not that he's offering his hand for a raptor to smell at or pet one, no. No way. "I guess I'll use this time to... mark my territory then. That'll show 'em I'm not dinner." As a tithe for the momentary protection, he leaves his liquor to Lucifer, if the Prince would want it that is. "I'd rather not have to train them with fire. Never made friends with anyone doing that..." He points to were the commodities should be, just making sure. "Don't you go exploring without me, okay? I'm running out of origami frogs and I don't wanna have to use the spindle. Makes me seasick everytime..." He flicks off a cigarette butt which bursts into a flash and turns into smoke in mid air. No littering. Then he's gone.
Lucifer	If Lucifer was going to comment on anything, there is really nothing he can say because suddenly he is surrounded by raptors. Tamed raptors. That are bouncy and sniffing him but he's at least giving them pets and attention. Especially that which appears to be the alpha. After a moment, he glances up and looks around to notice that Constantine is gone. "Did he mention something about marking his territory? That mad is an odd one indeed... it's a wonder he and I get along in the best of times..." This much said at least before he's looking between Nathaniel and Vlad. "So... what do we do until he's back then?"
Dracula	Indeed, the elder vampire isn't the only one to have had a long life. To be essentially immortal. Vlad has seen a great many things over the years of his life -- and unlife, as well. If he has ever minded (or noticed) the airs that Sinister has displayed, then he's said naught of it. Which makes it much more likely that he doesn't mind at all. Softly, he lifts his right hand to make a slight gesture, a breath of air moving to softly ruffle its way through Sinister's hair and lightly caress one of his cheeks, unless it is stopped along the way. A smile turns at the corners of his lips, and he slips an arm around Lucifer's waist. His dark gaze turns to Sinister, and he gives a nod. "Thank you, Nathaniel. Your hospitality is most generous," he says softly, half bowing to the fellow. His gaze slips to the little raptors, watching them as close as their are to Sinister, and he can't help but to chuckle softly at their antics. "I have read that they are possessed of quite the intelligence and show significant cleverness in their hunting patterns and methods," he says softly, of the raptors. They intrigue him, in ways. One of his eyebrows quirks up and he looks in Constantine's direction when the man speaks of origami frogs and spindles before simply poofing to elsewhere. His gaze returns to the raptors as they mill about, hopping in that way of theirs, and he can't help but to quirk a smile at their antics. Why do these things amuse him? "I am given the notion that perhaps a pack of them would serve as excellent guards for the Keep, yet I fear that notion comes close to being thievery of your idea of having them," he muses, a thoughtful note to his voice. He moves a hand to lightly brush a touch across the small of Lucifer's back, and then he crouches amongst the herd of raptors, his forearms resting lightly upon his knees.
Sinister	Sinister watches Constantine vanish to the facilities. The man was drinking most of the way here and alcohol, even if you're a pro, is only ever rented. "I'm sure he'll be back promptly, given then he just popped off to use the facilities..." he observes, looking over to a couple of workers. No words are said, but there's nods and scurrying off, presumably to get dinosaurs saddled up. Because everyone needs to ride a dinosaur at least once in their existence. The little raptors continue their greeting, though feet and knees become the prime targets of sniffs, except for Vlad who has knelt down to get a little closer. One, the beta perhaps, as it looks at the alpha to gain permission, approaches and sniffs at Dracula's fingertips, tail waving side to side as it braves the scent of undeath. It prrrrrts, looking curious, until a whistle gets them all looking at Sinister again, then a kind of english sheepdog trial set of whistles sets them racing off to the barn, herding gallimimus as they do so. "I would assume that you'd prefer the utah raptor sized dinosaurs but I rather worry that you might cause a hell of a stir in Romania if any of them got out. You, my friend, are not the star of a nineteen sixties disney movie and I doubt that anyone would be finding wanton soup recipes on your missing dinosaurs." With a grin, Sin turns to the barns, heading that way at a sedate pace, where more gallimimus are being lead out, saddled and bridled with a halter harness.
Constantine	John reappears and adjusts his course toward the barn. Soon he rejoins the group. "I'm a bit foggy about the next leg of this... safari? Yeah, sounds right." Then he notices the barn and the slender reptiles with saddles. "Pope's balls. You gotta be kidding me. Do I look like John Wayne?" He looks to Sinister. "At least tell me where we're going next is going to be worth risking a split skull or cracked pelvis." Where is the bottle?
Lucifer	Lucifer leans into Vlad for the moment that the man has an arm wrapped around his waist. Then he watches with a smirk how the velociraptors sort of take in the scent of Vlad in stride - seeming curious over just what that scent is. Then the raptors are called away with a whistle, which also gains Lucifer's attention and once Sinister and company begin to lazily approach the barn, he follows suit. "Maybe we can just strap you securely to the seat, John, and then you won't have to worry about falling off...." He offers with a grin. If there was a bottle somewhere it's now gone. Sort of. Maybe. Lucifer will never tell.
Dracula	Alcohol is similar to both tea and coffee in that respect -- it is only ever a rental agreement and it tends to be one that expires much sooner than the drinker might prefer. Vlad raises an eyebrow just a touch as his gaze turns to Sinister, and he gives a single nod. His attention easily turns back to the little raptors that are near. A smile turns at the corners of his lips, and he turns his hand so that it is palm up for the creature to sniff. He admires them, even as they are called away, and he chuckles softly before he straightens once again. "Ah, well... larger ones would be a greater deterrent. Yet, as you say, they would assuredly cause quite a stir should they escape the bounds of the Keep and though that might be interesting in and of itself, the chaos may not be wise," he muses with a grin, his dark eyes showing a sparkle to them. Chaos has a way of drawing attention and sometimes his Keep is quite good at that by itself without sending carnivorous dinosaurs out to ravage the denizens of the countryside. He chuckles softly at John's comment, and then he winks at the man. "If you need to be glued or lashed to the saddle to make sure you stay within it, then that can likely be arranged. After a fashion," he comments, lifting a hand to make a slight gesture. His attention returns to Lucifer, and he walks with him towards the barn.
Sinister	"If you can ride a spindle and travel by origami frog, actually sitting in a saddle with a bridle to hold onto -ought- to be a piece of rather random cake, John. Where we're going isn't easily accessed. That's the point -- I could probably give you a mono-cycle, but then you'd lose out on the experience, wouldn't you?" Sinister chuckles, taking the reins of a large female Galli, not that this is easy to tell, given that there's no skirt to lift up to double check. The dino warbles and kews as he gets himself infront of those powerful legs to put foot in stirrup. It's not quite the same as mounting a horse; you apparently twist the stirrup, get the closest foot to the beast in the stirrup, then pull up with the saddle horn and a hand on the dino's thigh, stand a moment, then swing your leg over, which unwinds the stirrup to the right way. He settles, essentially over the creature's hips, with legs in rather close against flank, so as not to kick it in the thigh with every step. The saddle is designed to help KEEP the leg there though, thankfully and there's a bit of a bucket seat to hold the lower back steady. "Let them sniff you, then hop on up."
Constantine	John lets out a sigh. Had he been younger, he might have rolled his eyes too but he's too seasoned for such childish behavior. "Awright. I'll have the full experience. I know your plan B has an extraction team and your extraction team has an escape route and your escape route has a failsafe." He forces a smile on. Ouch, that seems to hurt. He closes to a galliminus, choosing a larger one and showing his hand first to be sniffed at. "Yuch. You're full of snot." The monster decides John's smell is intriguing and gives his hand a lick. "Ooooh man. Now I'm going to smell of cud." John gives his whole arm a shake to send off most of the mucus. The galliminus uses that timing to give John a solid lick on the face, from the chin to the forehead. Shlurp! "Pthah pfwah!" John coughss, coughs. His hair has returned to a previous state from his past: punk. He wipes his face with the sleeve of his coat. "Bad. Don't!" he admonishes. Quickly, he goes around and saddles up. He gets it at the second try.
Lucifer	One of John's pockets is also, a lot heavier once he gets settled onto the back of the dinosaur. Have your alcohol back, friend. He also gives a smile to Vlad as the man settles to walk beside him while they approach the barn. Listening as Nathaniel explains how to mount the dinos - and to let them sniff you before trying to climb on. In a normal setting, Lucifer would likely just opt to fly to wherever they were going. But like it's been pointed out, once in a lifetime moment, and so here he is. Letting a dino sniff him, even going so far as once sniffed and licked he'll pet the dino before shifting to attempt a few times to settle himself into the saddle. He's not as graceful with it as he is with most things, yet manages it soon enough.
Dracula	As Vlad approaches the readied galli's, his dark gaze slowly passes over each of them in turn. They are quite magnificent creatures, and he seems to be quite impressed with the sight of them. He chooses one that is as yet unclaimed and, much as one might do with or for a horse, he lifts a hand to offer the creature to have a sniff of him. If it seems to approve of him, then he'll give the creature a pat on the muzzle before moving to the creature's side to easily mount up in an echo of Sinister's movement. He looks to John and he can't help but to chuckle. "There are worse things to smell of," he comments, sounding a trifle amused. It is, indeed, a once in a lifetime opportunity and even though he could use magic to travel, this? This is much more interesting and he's quite keen on the notion of it, besides. He looks over to Lucifer, to see how fares the devil, and a smile comes easily to his features. "Were they raised from young to have such trust in humans?" he asks, his attention turning back to Sinister. And not humans that look human enough while not smelling at all human.
Sinister	"They were. The herd here is well cared for, throughout their lives -- they act as mules and riders for the staff and are actually quite even tempered. Well done that man, chin up, John." A deep breath is taken then, looking at them all. "So, let the saddle do quite a bit of the work for you, but still hold on with the knees. You can steer both handed or one handed and hold the saddle horn but most of all... enjoy." He winks at them all, turns his Galli around and with a smack of one hand to the animal's rump just behind his seat, he's off. By the by. Gallimus are fast. Faster by far than a horse is, despite only having two legs, not four; rather like riding an ostrich, but with considerably better stability, they're also quite sure footed. And also? Herd animals. When Sin goes off on his, the others all chirp and bounce to follow. HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS!! The landscape rapidly gets rockier and steppes like, where the agility of the creatures is very helpful. Massive fruits long extinct and a array of orchids, brilliantly coloured creeper blooms and rolling streams pass them by, the water crystal blue. A waterfall is a thundering tumult of emerald, enshrouded with jade and malachite creepers, fleetingly seen. As the landscape climbs up, the volcanic bowl of the landing ground stretches beneath the eye, the herds of giant saurians in the main landmass can be seen from afar; parasaurolophus, iguanadon, stegosauri and a variety of horned and beaked dinosaurs, from styracosaurs to the familiar tricerotops are spotted here and there, along with the grazing giants. But it is only when they reach the top of the plateau, that the awestriking view of a clear lake comes into view; the facility is hidden partially beneath the water, partially buried in the shoreline and likely has amazing underwater views of plesiosaurs and ikthyosaurs along with all those that come to drink from the lake. Like that horned allosaurus, red striped and ferocious, taller than an elephant and chock full of teeth.
Constantine	"Holy... SaAAntaA.A.A's nose hai.AI.r!" John is harrowed by the swiftness of his mount and shaken by its gait, hence the weird way his words speak out. His galliminus grunts back at him. He's got one hand on the saddle's pommel, the other wrapped in the rein. His decadent lifestyle is showing: he is trying to sit back instead of actually straddling. That doesn't last though, he adjusts quick enough when his butt starts hurting. With the slowing down coming with the slope, Constantine can light up again. He also finds the bottle back in his pocket, which earns Lucifer a friendly smile. Is it the breathtaking landscape, the fresh air or just fear of spilling? He choses to not drink for now. And there's the lake with all the dangers it attracts. "Hey Vlad, remember what you said about not acting like food? I'm ready for my first lesson now..."
Lucifer	"Nothing of me is holy, up to and including my nose hair..." Lucifer manages before his own dino is off to the races. He holds on with both hands, and trusts that the dino knows where it's going - especially since he surely doesn't. None the less, as the scenery changes, he takes note of such while still keeping hold and steering the dino as necessary. When they finally slow at the slope and then come up to the view of the lake and the plateau, he lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "This view is amazing..." Then he looks up at the skies and back around again. "I can't wait to see what it looks like from above as well.." A look back to the lake, and where the facility seems to be built into the lake some. "Speaking of Atlantis... did you take inspiration and build up from the bottom of the lake?"
Dracula	"They have the look of being so," Vlad says in a thoughtful tone as he nods towards Sinister. He easily shifts the reins to be holding them in just one hand, and then he moves his right hand to lightly stroke the galli's skin in a gentle fashion. He listens attentively at the advice and directions provided, and then he gives a nod of agreement. He seems oddly comfortable in the saddle, though that may be from years spent riding horses. When the beastie chirps, the elder vampire raises an eyebrow slightly and is afforded only the briefest of moments to wonder what that might have meant before the galli beneath him is off to the races to follow its herdmate. He laughs, perhaps unexpectedly, but the swift and certain steps of the creature are a pleasant surprise which he seems to take well in stride. Perhaps because of quick reactions and reflexes. The sights and sounds and smells of the landscape are all taken in by him, from flora to fauna to the tumbling water of the waterfall, and he openly admires every part of it that he can. "'Tis truly remarkable. A veritable land that time forgot," he says softly. Not to mention, sunlight that doesn't turn him to ash! His gaze turns to Constantine, and he gives a chuckle. "Indeed, I recall it well. Yet I fear that I cannot teach you how to not act like food. I am a predator," he comments. And a relatively apex one at that, though there are a select number of humans that attempt to hunt him in turn.
Sinister	"Well, ahhh... that is a question for the moment, isn't it?" Reining in his mount, Sinister stares at the allosaurus not that far away, relatively speaking. "I think frankly, that we should just let it go about its business once it's drunk its fill and not..." The gigantic predator lifts its head, looks across the short span of water at the odd collection of dinos and people. The gallimimus bugles a slight alarm call, but they don't bolt. Not yet. They'd have to coordinate scattering like cockroaches and it's unclear whether the therapod is hungry or not. Sinister lifts a hand to the lakeshore and concentrates though, which seems to do very little. The beast though, lifts its head a little further, blinks flame-like red and golden eyes and roars, before turning about and marching off down the lake and into the scrub. Wow. Anyone got ears still? "Um. A little bit, yes. I grew it in the same manner as I did Bar Sinister; replicant crystalline structure shaped to purpose by harmonics, after imbedding. I'm sorry, I don't know if any of you can hear me, my ears are ringing." Only when the predator has vacated the premises, do the Galli bolt for a channel beside the lake, down a ramp that opens as they come nearer and into the safety of the facility below the water. Many cheeps and warbles are made as they mill for a bit, before stilling to allow dismount. Sinister pats his ears, giving them a good waggle of the end of one finger as he slides off, holding the reins out for clockwork automatons to collect. Here, there are apparently fewer actual people.
Constantine	"I don't know what you did, Nathaniel, but it worked." John dismounts and gives his steed a single pat on the shoulder. He scoots away, careful to not enter the danger zone behind other gallis. "What is this material you said about?" He reached to touch a wall, feel it with a slowly running hand. "Harmonic polymorphic organocrystals?" He raps his fist against it just to hear the sound it makes. "No wonder you can buy so many secrets..." Without asking for permission, he lights up another cigarette. That puff is soon followed by a swig of whiski. Somehow, the galli John was riding perks up and turn its head to sniff at air. Not that John notices.
Lucifer	"Next time, just let me yell at them. I promise I can yell louder." Well, maybe not Lucifer as he is now. Let loose the Devil beneath, and hell's fury unleashed may just cause the predator dinos to go bye bye for a short while. In theory anyway. Soon they're heading further, into a lower level entry where the dinos soon stop and everyone dismounts. Lucifer hops off, wiggles ears, holds his nose and blows - anything to get his ears to pop and quit ringing. Though such should go away shortly anyhow...he just doesn't like the feeling. A more slow look around, mostly to gain bearing and see what they all might be in for, but soon Lucifer is setting eyes on Nathaniel. "Impressive. All of it."
Dracula	The allosaurus earns Vlad's attention as well, and he tilts his head a bit to one side as he looks it over. He's not afraid of it or any of the other creatures that walk this land that time forgot. This, no doubt, has to do with the many benefits of being exactly what he is. He shifts his weight slightly upon the saddle of the galli he sits upon, glancing towards Sinister before his attention turns back to the predatory beastie. And then the beastie roars. That was something that Vlad could have done without, and further that his very sensitive sense of hearing could have done without as well. Both of his eardrums pop from the sound, he twitches his head slightly and a trickle of blood slithers from one of his ears. "Mother Night," he half-growls and half mutters. He is, at least, well fed enough that his natural healing repairs the damage a split second later (a thing which doesn't seem to sap him much at all), but it doesn't stop him from narrowing his eyes in the allosaurus's direction. He grunts softly, as the predator vacates the area. He moves his free hand to lightly stroke the galli in the moment before it bolts for the channel along with the others. And once within the safety of that space, Vlad lightly dismounts from it before giving it another fond pet and passing off the reins much as Sinister had done. He looks towards Constantine and raises an eyebrow slightly. "I suspect it may have bee convinced that there is better eating to be had elsewhere," he offers, a thoughtful note to his voice. His gaze turns to Lucifer, and he gives a nod of agreement. "It is, and very much so," he agrees, a smile turning his lips.
Sinister	"Alien technology," Sinister's own healing factor kicked in and repaired a moment or two after that deafening roar, but it still feels weird and requires moving of his jaw and a swallow or two to clear. "I can't claim that it's my own, only that I figured out how to use it, but..." he glances at Constantine and nods. "I buy a great many secrets, ears, tongues, voices and otherwise. I have found in my centuries, that money makes the world go round far more than the honest and the just want it to. Mind, I occasionally put mine to -good- use. And now, ahhh... having entertained you all some..." he backs up toward a wall, where the semi-circular structure has a seam that parts and opens behind himself "... I welcome you to a hundred years of hard work. THe botanical gardens of the Savage lands. I had hoped you'd all enjoy the trip, but I /further/ hope that each of you might find something useful and novel in the cultivations. Pangea's reminants are more fertile than the Amazon, for secret uses and undiscovered mystery." THe entire lab, other than a few samples that seem to be being experimented on and/or are Fauna, not Flora... is one indoor paradise lost. Those with magic senses, which is literally -everyone- except himself, can no doubt feel several resonances in the vicinity, in this rare orchid or that odd looking herb. "I've catalogued several medicinal, but I'm nowhere close to a full botanical encyclopedia and that's not mentioning the insects and amphibian life..." Many of it under the dimmed light, glows, like it came straight from Pandora and the imagination of one James Cameron.
Constantine	"Alien?" Constantine moves away from the wall and wipes his hand at the lapel of his coat. The surprises do not stop there and the opening of the wall steals John's attention from his fear of the interstellar. He gives the walls a second or to, just in case they would want to close on him. They don't seem to budge. He enters the new area. "This is... too much. I miss my library right now." He wanders from a cannabis-like fern to the display of a head-size egg, very colourful with its green spots over washed out pink shell. "This is so unreal, it feels like Star Wars. Y'know, the one with Montalban? They had a cave like that. Say... do you have a food duplicator too? I'm peckish..." He sniffs at the air. "I smell bacon." John strides past the planter with the giant mushrooms and vanishes.
Lucifer	Lucifer blinks as Constantine just makes another exit stage left when things get all funky. "I'm beginning to wonder if we should keep him out of our escapades from here on in. Nice guy... but he really manages to find a way to slither under my skin...and not in good ways." Is commented just before Nathaniel flips a switch and things sort of...come to life. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph..." He swears, because he can, and then he takes a few steps in, glancing down to the floor as if he's suddenly very scared he's about to step on something that he shouldn't. Then he looks up and around, kneeling near a growth of mushrooms and trellis vines, reaching to touch them gently. "...This is amazing..." But then, those who know Lucifer, knows he has a sort of attachment to gardens. A love for them even.
Dracula	"Everyone, and everything, has a price," Vlad muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He rather sounds as though he approves of the practice of buying secrets and other things. But then, he's done similar things over the course of his years, to fund a certain array of assorted things. His attention perks up as the botanical gardens are introduced, so to speak, and one of his eyebrows raises out of curiosity. "The trip has been exquisitely enjoyable thus far, Nathaniel," Vlad says in a warm tone. Even with a bellowing and significantly larger predator being encountered along the way! As the door opens, he looks beyond to the gardens that lie within. There are a great many things to see and to smell and to sense, and for a moment, he remains standing still. Acclimatizing, perhaps. Yet then he steps forward and in amongst it all. Perhaps following one of his senses or perhaps following none of them and simply drinking in the whole of it. "Some of these resonate with magic," he says quietly, a touch of curiosity and marvel to his voice. He lifts one of his hands to lightly trace a fingertip along the delicate petals of an orchid that happens to be blood red in colour.
Sinister	Sinister steps slowly into the midst of the biodiversity sub-aqua garden, his hands clasping behind his back as he comes to stand equidistant, ultimately, from Dracula and Lucifer. He smiles, albeit faintly. "A hundred years of working in secret, to avoid the united nation's condemnation. I'm hoping... perhaps... that you both can help me complete this collection, so no resource is being plundered. I formally invite you to make your mark and link yourselves to here, if you wish to do so. I am well aware that I do not have a complete collection... and the savage lands have a considerably larger amount to offer. Every move I make here, I have to watch for others watching and it is tiring." He admits this, looking down at the mushrooms that Lucifer kneels nearby. "I intend to exploit. I do not intend to plunder. But international law is full of people that want to make that fast buck off of a multi-billionaire's pocket book, or expose them, or litigate them. That's how they make -their- bottom dollar, even if this is all secretive. There is a wealth, here. Most of it is this... not the dinosaurs. Although I'd love to be able to catalogue all of those, too, without interference." He looks at Lucifer specifically for a while. "I think when this came around the first time, it was probably a bit boring. I don't know if any of what now exists here is close to what it once had been and most genetic samples from the periods of time that these things existed originally, well... the animals survived longer than the plants ever did. Most of what this pangea was, is now coal and oil. Here comes the second thing I would ask of you, if you can recollect -- I have sketched all the samples I've taken here, I would love it if you could look over my lithographs and see if there are any glaring differences from what you recall the first time these all appeared on the planet. It would help me focus on the mutations that have occured over millenia. Would you? For me? In your spare time?"
Lucifer	Lucifer stands once more and gives a look around. Plenty of room here to get lost within, and already there is something in his eyes, something that sings familiarity. He recognizes Nathaniel is speaking to him and so he shifts his gaze back to the man and gives a single nod of his head. "Sure. I can do that." He offers this gently and then looks around again. He peers off into the distance, blinks, shakes his head and then peers again. Another look around at the trees which stand not-so-tall, but still interesting to look at. A breath or two bring in scents he's familiar with two. One step, another, and then Lucifer...disappears? Only not really, he's just shrunken down to the ground and then slithers to the closest tree nearby, up the trunk and then he coils himself around a low-slung branch. Forked tongue slithering out as beady eyes take in his surroundings before he almost seems to bundle up and cuddle against the branch like a contented little serpent.
Dracula	"It may not be a complete collection, yet it is one which is most impressive for all that you have gathered here, Nathaniel," Vlad says softly, looking over to the man. He shifts his weight slightly, turning to face Sinister, and then he half bows to him. "I will do all that I can to help," he promises, a smile turning at the corners of his lips. "I will have to take stock of what is within the Keep and its gardens to see what might be able to be transferred here," he muses, a thoughtful note to his voice. He takes a moment to look about the garden, and then he looks to Nathaniel before giving a nod. "I will be able to return here at will unless you have things that would bar my entry via teleportation," Vlad says. He falls quiet then as he listens attentively to what Sinister says, a flicker of curiosity reflecting in his dark eyes. He tilts his head a touch to one side, and then he turns to walk a bit further about the garden. The orchid is left as it is, where it grows, and it is rather possible that his attention lures him towards those specimens that resonate with magic. Yet he hears the slither of a snakely form, and he turns to look in the direction of it, blinking slowly. "Interesting," he murmurs.
Sinister	Sunday school was such a bugger, in that what happened just then, resonates enough that Sinister puts his hand over his mouth and stands there like a dumbfounded lemon for a few moments when Lucifer's gone all serpentine. He rubs his mouth, pulls the hand over his chin then lets it drop as he looks from the devil to the devil's consort in Dracula. "Please don't bring in foreign flora, Dracula. I... ah... I more need help bringing in and cataloguing what comes from here. Cross-pollination of the indigenous varieties would be bad." He trails off. "I didn't mean to do that." Gesturing to Lucifer in the tree, he looks mildly anguished, though most of it is contained within that head of his. "Maybe we should let him ... bask for a bit. I have tea. And other things. Lower level..." half sentences, he gestures, but hastily heads to a pod in the lower drainage of the biodome, where observation can be had, but refreshment, too. When they say you should listen to your lizard brain, he never thought it would mean that! It just goes to show you, strangeness can Snake in anywhere. And nobody argue about his capital letters.