12601/Digging a Firepit

Digging a Firepit
Date of Scene:	26 August 2022
Location:	Constitution Island Reseerve, New York
Synopsis:	Cael brings Jon to the Reserve to see to the berserkers that were left in wake of the previous leadership of the Pack. After obvserving their condition, the Archivist manages to remove the spiritual disturbance caused by the twisted tattoos they had received.
Cast of Characters:	Cael Becker, Jonathan Sims, Marc Spector

---

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael leads the way, as she and Jon move through the nature preserve on foot, headed towards the secondary cave where the three berserker werewolves are being caged and cared for. She has little to say for the moment, though she does reach out from time to fime - twining her fingers in with Jon's, and holding their hand until the inevitable narrowing of the path, or more difficult pieces of terrain causes her to let go again.
    She's come armed with one of her pistols - loaded with a few silver bullets, though she hopes things don't get out of hand enough to have to rely on that. She's counting on restraints, and Jon's sedatives to keep things under control. "So how will it work? Taking the tattoos off of them?" she asks Jon, glancing towards them. They're nearly there by this point in the hike.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon's decided, entirely on a whim, to dye his hair bright bubblegum pink. It stands out, along with the sky-blue shirt and grass-green skirt he wears. He's carrying a small pack full of things he might need--sedatives, yes, obtained using a scrip pad he barely uses anymore, but also some dried and fresh herbs, his staff, his gold and silver Sharpies, colloidal silver, a few other things. He twines his fingers with Cael's as she reaches out, and smiles at her from time to time.

    "I'm going to have to take a look at the tattoos before I can really say--it /might/ be as simple as just healing them, but there might be more to the whole matter. And then of course there's after." He sighs. "I'll need to examine the patients before I can recommend a course of treatment. Alright?"

Marc Spector has posed:
    "The both of you need to work on your ability to move in a forest" comes the low gruff voice of Silas from behind. How long he's been trailing them is hard to say but his footfalls make little motion even with the heavy hiking boots he wears.

    "You brought the Archivist to check on the ferals?" he asks, looking to Cael with an arched brow. He sniffs. "And your both carrying silver on you? Really should've let me meet you at the entrance to the reserve. Glad the scouts got to me before anyone else..."

    He looks at Jon. "No offense, but you are seen as a bit of a threat, even with your proximity to Cael. Moon Knight isn't seen favorably among many of our kind... even after Elias' betrayal."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "We don't plan to hurt them. Jon thinks he can get the tattoos off them," Cael explains simply, giving Silas a nod of greeting. "He also says that book? It's incomplete in a... well, unhealthy way. The knowledge it has in there isn't particularly beneficial to us. We're going ot have to try to track down a more complete version - and soon, if possible," after all the full moon is only a couple weeks away, "if we're going to really help the pack stay free and independent of any outside influences."
    Her expression remains grim and serious as she answeers the man who'd become her second, never pausing in her stride as they move towards the cave.
    "Jon's also a doctor so... Hopefully we can safely sedate them while he works, and when they wake up... their minds will be their own again."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon doesn't look remotely surprised; he turns and instead gives Silas a rather flat, impassive look. "If I didn't want you to know I was here, you wouldn't know I was here." It's said with utter confidence, not posturing so much as stating a fact. "If you want complete stealth, perhaps I should suggest some methods to mask your mind from telepaths and wizards. I've known /someone/ was following us since about twenty minutes after we crossed into your territory."

    Then he shrugs and turns back to continue following Cael toward the cave. "We're hopeful I can remove the tattoos on the 'ferals,' and perhaps help them recover from the state they've been in. I brought colloidal silver in case we need to replicate the tattoo I gave Cael. The silver keeps it from healing over. I have no intention of using it as a weapon."

    They shake their head. "'Elias' was actually Jonah Magnus, a former Archivist and body-hopper. He was also actually serving Apophis. The book you provided Cael is..." He sucks in a breath. "Hmm. 'Incomplete' isn't quite the right term. 'Selectively edited' might be better? The tattoos you bear are meant to let your alpha control you directly, which doesn't seem..." He pauses, brow furrowing briefly. "It's his own work. There's /no/ way that what you all have is what the priests of Anubis had, originally."

    A glance back to Silas. "Is it just Moon Knight that's seen unfavorably? Or were you given tales of the terrible, dangerous Archivist too?"

Marc Spector has posed:
    Silas' scowls a bit at the mention of being noticed and inclines his head concedingly to Jon. "We were told that your... abiltiies were formidable and we should steer clear of you if we wanted to truly remove the Fist of Khonshu. So... yes, we were warned of the dangers you pose in and of yourself."

    He frowns a bit at the mention that the book is selective in its passages. "Unsurprising... I've found that most religious texts are pretty selective in themselves. Part of why I wanted no part of what Milo was teaching. I just wanted to keep them safe, whatever that truly meant."

    He lets out a breath. "If you can help them regain themselves... do what you must. It's only a bit further."

    They come to the abandoned bear den and the two guards on duty, in their full hybrid war forms part to allow the three entry with a wave from Silas. They incline their heads as Cael passes in difference to their Alpha. Inside the smells of wild animals linger but what is in the large cages are not wild animals, they're wild humans. Two women and one man snarl and growl and make noises that should not be possible with human vocal apparatuses but even so. They're pace in their cages and occasionally rush the bars of their confines, continually testing the barriers that keep them inside. Loking for a means of escape before stop and reverting to normal once more, huddling in on themselves and weeping in shame of their condition.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "My only goal is to keep our people safe - and to ensure that we are each responsible with the powers that we have," Cael says firmly. "And I will only bring people here that will help us to meet those goals, and who respect the fact that they are guests here on our territory. I promise you the Archivist is here to help us, and that they'll respect our decisions about our people." She knows her head to Silas as she adds, "You know I welcome and consider your advice."
    Cael's gaze sweep over the two werewolves guarding the entrance - and after a pause, offers the barest nods to acknowledge them both. She steps inside, watching the three people with pity in her expression, but hanging back so as not to further antagonize to the trapped, wild creatures that they'd become. She gestures Jon forwards, to let them study them, and their tattoos.
    "I brought a dart gun, and some darts. You'll have to estimate their weight, I suppose, to try to get the dosages right...?" she suggests, her gaze following Jon.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon's quiet through the rest of the walk, frowning thoughtfully, nodding to the two werewolves on guard. As they come into the den and see the three in the cages, he has to stop for a moment, press a hand to his chest, and take in a long, deep breath, blinking away tears.

    He clears his throat. "Sorry. They're... gods. Who /did/ this?!" It's hard for him to keep the anger out of his voice, but he manages, barely. A few more deep breaths, to try to settle out his emotions.

    "Their auras are on fire," they manage, voice still strained. "If it's not checked, they will die. Next full moon will kill them." They swallow. "So... it's good that we got here when we did. They're going to need therapy after this is done, though. They're... they all want to die, when the rage isn't overtaking them."

    He looks to Cael. "I'd like to try to ask their consent for this, if we can. But... regardless... I think I can, and maybe /should/, try to calm their minds and put them to sleep telepathically, and then we can inject them to ensure they stay asleep. But they're your people. If you don't want me meddling in their minds, we can use the dart gun."

Marc Spector has posed:
    Silas shakes his head. "I'm... they don't talk" he says. They snarl and growl but even those sounds aren't wolf language markers. It's just... sounds. And when they're not snarling, all they do is cry and weep." He frowns to them. "That's just the thing... I don't know if they're able to consent, any more than a wild animal is able to."

    He shrugs. "But then again, we don't really have someone able to touch on their minds like you seem to be able to do. So maybe you can get through that way? Worth a shot, yeah?" He looks at Cael. "But you're the Alpha, like most things, it's your call."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael doesn't hold back her anger as her voice comes out in a near growl. "It was Milo," she answers. "I should have made him suffer." Her hand tightens at her side - before she forces it to relax. After a deep breath in and out she answers Jon's other question.
    "Consent is a nice thought," Cael agrees. "But I wouldn't take any response they made in this state as an informed response. Even if they refused, Jon - I'd ask you to proceed if you could. I mean, if they already want to die - if they're going to die at the full moon regardless - well. It's not like we can really do them much harm. I mean, think of it this way - a court can judge someone not competant and make their medical decisions for them. I don't think they're competant, do you?" she asks, gesturing towards them.
    "If you think trying to put their mind to sleep first is the safest way - then I trust your judgement. It would let us make a better assessment of their weight, anyways. I want them to be safe. I want them to have the best chance possible at recovering from what was done to them. I don't think any of us have any illusions that that will be easy, though."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon nods. "Alright. If we're judging them non compos mentis..." He sighs, and steps closer to the cages. He walks over to stand in front of the cage furthest left, one of the women, squares his shoulders, and takes another moment to detach himself from all of this. It's always been hard, that professional reserve. It's one of the reasons he ultimately accepted retiring.

    Then they focus on the woman, catching her eyes if at all possible. He reaches into her mind, and forms the image of a dark den--safe, warm, comfortable. She is safe. It's time to sleep. Time to rest and recharge her energy, so she can hunt later. Sleep. Rest. She's terribly tired. Best to lie down and rest, in the safety of the dark.

Marc Spector has posed:
    The cave goes quiet for a moment. Even the other two "ferals" stand stock still as Jon placates the mind of their companion by association. They watch the pair with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

    Jon meanwhile is treated to a landscape of fire that is the woman's mind. But his words and the image he presents does the trick, the fires dying down into just the embers. The woman's eyes flutter and then she drops, her breath evening out as she drifts into a deep sleep.

    The other two ferals shift back away from Jon, suddenly frightened of the power he so casually weilded against someone they considered their own.

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael approaches as the woman goes still on the floor of her cage - getting out the medications Jon brought with them, and measuring out the dose he specifies, reading off the dosage in confirmation, before she hands the syringe over. She nods Sylas forward to unlock the cage as she murmurs to Jon quietly, "This is Stacey. Stacey Polychronopolous. She, uhh- she's a secretary at a law office in the city. Or you know, was. I think it's fair to say they aren't going straight back to work even if this goes well."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "I hope Milo is enjoying his heart being digested in Ammit's belly," Jon mutters, glowering as he injects Stacey with the sedative. Once he's certain that she's out, checking her pulse for a moment, he nods and pulls back from her mind.

    Then he turns to the others. "We're going to fix this," he says to them. "Don't worry, okay?"

    Then he reaches into the man's mind, projecting that image of a den. Of safety, and warmth, and darkness. Comfort. Nothing to fear.

Marc Spector has posed:
    The woman's pulse is steady and relaxed even if her skin is a bit feverish. The man tries to get away, backing up until his back hits the wall of his cage but his fate is the same as the womans, and he slides down the wall, falling into a deep sleep, snoring softly as his head lilts to one side. The final woman doesn't move, she just drops to the ground and is fast asleep as the others a momnet later.

    Silas stands and frowns. "So what's next? Are you going to remove their current tattoos as well or... do we need them elsewhere?" he asks. "I mean, you have the Alpha's support so despite past prejudices... you have the pack's support in this... say the word and we can do what's needed."

Cael Becker has posed:
    Cael identifies each of them in turn. It matters to her - these are //people// - and they're her people now. She cares, and she wants to be seen to care. It's important her that her pack learns this is what they do for one another now. "Joseph Wilson - he's a subway driver. And Nico Riley - school lunch lady."
    She measures out the dosages for both of them, helping Jon with the injections, and checking their pulses - and then looks to them.
    "You don't need to move them, do you?" she asks.
    Looking to Silas she adds, "I think the plan is just to remove the tattoos tonight. We'll see about getting them new tattoos before the full moon, though."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon considers the situation and sighs. "It's dirty, but--there isn't anywhere better, is there? No, best not move them. Let's remove the tattoos and wake them, and see how they respond and what they want to do. I can copy Cael's tattoo--or we can go find that book before the next full moon."

    He goes to get his pack, and starts pulling things out. Some of the herbs he hands to Silas or Cael, asking them to burn them in a wooden bowl he's brought, and make sure the smoke wafts through the cave. "I only need the colloidal silver if we're doing a tattoo now. Otherwise, it can stay in the pack."

Marc Spector has posed:
    Silas obliges and gestures for the guards to put the screens down over the entrance to the abandoned den. It doesn't take long for the fragrant smoke to fill the enclosed space. "This stuff won't affect us if we're -not- asleep, will it?" he asks, his nose wrinkling at the acrid smells of the charred herbs.

    The trio of sleeping ferals mumble softly in their sleep but stay under. Their tattoos shimmer in the dim light, casting odd shapes. The general significance of the markings is one to encourage wild spirits to run free, but laced through with incantations of panic, fear, and aggression.

    The mystical equivalent of overriding the flight response and cranking the fight response up to 100 out of 10. A magical adrenaline spike overlayed with a pure animalistic mind cage. It's dark stuff and carries many of the hallmarks that Jon knows of Elias--or rather Jonah's--handiwork.

Cael Becker has posed:
    "I think... if we can remove the tattoos, and wake them, we might then get a better assessment of what state their minds are in. And if they can consent or not to the next step of the plan - new tattoos. Hopefully we'll be able to get through to them once this influence is off of them."
    She helps with the herbs - making sure the bowl is placed central to all three of the individuals they would be working on - then she places a hand on Jon's shoulder, giving them an encouraging smile, and a simple nod.
    They've got this. She's sure of it.

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    "They're calming, more than anything, and help to focus the mind," Jon replies to Silas, regarding the herbs. "And there's some good cleansing properties as well."

    He moves to Stacey first, since she's been out the longest, and frowns down at her. Takes a deep breath in, lets it out. Then he summons up sunlight in his hand, and starts to move it over the tattoo on her form, willing the healing magic to remove the tattoo, willing her body to reject the foreign inks.

Marc Spector has posed:
    Slowly but surely black dust, like particles of sand start to fall to the stony floor of the den as the solidified ink is expelled from the woman's skin. It's a long, slow process but finally the last of the dark lines are clear, leaving a red outline of it that starts to fade as the skin recovers from the expelling process.

    Silas watches with fascination as the work of his leading mystic and former Alpha are both undone by the simple useage of sunlight and the power of the Archivist. "We couldn't have stopped you even if we had tried with everything we had, could we?" he breathes out as Jon moves to the next and continues the process.

    As each is cleansed, Jon can tell that it will take a couple of days for the spirits of the wild bound to each of the victims to release its hold. But it's no longer bound to them. Like most things, it will take time for them all to recover.

Cael Becker has posed:
    As Jon works on the first of them, Cael focuses on monitoring the condition of the other two - making sure they remain peacefully asleep, and without any adverse reactions to the medication. She gives Silas a wry smile before remarking, "If I'd told them to stop - Jon would have. But... No. We probably wouldn't be able to overpower them." She takes a deep breath in, and lets it out slowly, watching as the first of the tattoos vanishes. This is going well - she hopes.
    "I just wish it was easier to get them psychiatric help that takes all this... stuff more seriously."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon's brow furrows. He doesn't like to think about just how much power he has, these days. "I suppose not," he says softly. "But Cael's right--I wouldn't attack you without reason, and I'd stop if she told me to. Perhaps that's cold comfort, but..." He shakes his head, and focuses on what he's doing.

    When it's done, he sits back and sighs. "There," he says. "It'll take a couple of days for the spirits to completely release their hold. It might be best to let them sleep until that's done, and then we can talk to them about further steps. As for psychiatric help--" A pause. "Look, I'm... not practicing anymore, but I don't know them personally. And I /do/ know a great deal about helping people to recover from situations like theirs. I could take that on."

Marc Spector has posed:
    Silas looks at Cael. "You're the boss... they are your responsibility. I think that if anyone is going to take them seriously, It's him." He looks to Jon and then to the sleeping figures. "We can take care of them for a bit longer. If they condition changes significantly, we'll give her a call."

    "Unless you two are sticking around here tonight" he asks. "I mean, technically all of the reserve is your territory." He grins. "I know the pack would welcome you and whoever you decided to call... your mate, with you under the roof of the den. You have a private quarters, we got all of Milos stuff out of it and burned anything that didn't look official. The rest is in a chest in that room."

Cael Becker has posed:
    "Well. And it's not just Jon being willing to listen to what I say - he also happens to have a great deal of moral fortitude," Cael remarks in amusement.
    She then turns to give Jon a serious look at the thought of staying with the pack for the night. "Would you mind a night here on the reserve?" she asks him. "We'll be at hand if their condition happens to change in any way we didn't predict - and Agnes should be alright on her own for one evening." The girl was fourteen, after all.
    She looks to Jon for his answer, then glancing to Silas she adds, "We'd best make sure that they and their current... housing is tidied up while they're still safely asleep. I can't imagine that's been easy to see to in their current condition."

Jonathan Sims has posed:
    Jon walks over to Cael and wraps an arm around her. "I don't mind at all. I'd love to, even. This is your world now, your people. I want to be part of that, to whatever degree I can--just like you've been part of /my/ world." He leans down to give her a kiss on the top of the head.

    "We can take a look at what Milo left behind, and honestly I'd be worrying if I went back home anyhow. I don't know anyone out here well enough to easily pinpoint them with a portal just yet."