1506/At the Spider's den

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At the Spider's den
Date of Scene: 04 May 2020
Location: 6B - Elektra's Condo
Synopsis: The aftermath of the Shanghai Surprise raid. Colleen and Elektra talk about the next steps while recovering from their wounds.
Cast of Characters: Elektra Natchios, Colleen Wing




Elektra Natchios has posed:
It was a night that had all the ingredients to go wrong. And wrong it went. Death, a resurgence from an old enemy in the form of Bakuto. Danny discovering that Colleen had been part of the Hand, the betrayal felt on his expression. This, coupled with the pain of their own injuries would had been enough to take anyone down. And there was still the question if Elektra had anything to do with what had happened back at the Shanghai Surprise... Had she been behind it? Regardless, she brought Colleen on her motobike, her sharp voice heard from time to time everytime she felt Colleen's grip on her falter, her words in precise Japanese. << Not the time to sleep yet, Chisai Doragon. >>

Lights turn into a blur as Elektra rides through the night, speeding as is her usual, eventually reaching downtown manhattan, towards a luxury building. Going in through the underground garage she then gets into the elevator, along with Colleen, bringing her with one arm about her, dragging her if needs be..

.. On the last floor they finally enter what is a luxurious penthouse, she making her way in the dark through it, on to a room, placing her on a bed. A rather comfortable one too. Warm.

<< You can rest now. You will be safe here. >> Elektra's voice is heard, just before darkness claims.

Colleen Wing has posed:
It was true, it was certainly a night for things to go wrong; yet this night more had gone wrong than anticipated. Whether it iwas pure exhaustion or finally giving into the pain, Colleen did not last long once being settled on the bed. There were moments when her grip almost did fail on the motobike and there was no question that she would need to be assisted in bening taken to the penthouse. In fact, she really had no idea where she was when she awoke in the middle of the night, finding herself in a comfortable warm bed with her face wound cleaned.

She shifted her body in an attmept to sit up, the pain in her ribs sending her to her back once more. "Hello?" She calls out once and again tries to to remove herself from the bed, falling off the side and to the floor, a loud cry of pain uable to be muffled.

Laying on her back on the middle of the floor the young Japanese woman stares up at the ceiling, vulnerable and realizing that at this moment she is at the mercy of whomever had taken her to where she was. ."Hello?"

Elektra Natchios has posed:
The katana was still there, sheathed and against a wall near Colleen. Even if the hoodie and her footwear had been taken away. Just leaving her on her shirt and pants. Indeed the face wound had been taken care of, but none other as of yet. Elektra had been too busy to notice those blows, or the cracked ribs.

As for the room, it clearly looked a room for guests. Rather sparse in furniture but the bare minimum. Bed, nightstand, a wardrobe. A simple robe/kimono hanging against the back of the door, perhaps for whoever is staying here to dress as needed. A single painting on the wall with a japanese kanji for 'Seeking'.

A couple of minutes after Colleen falls down off the bed footsteps are heard on the outside and then the door opens, Elektra silhouette visible. "What is the matter..?" a robe wrapped about her form.

Colleen Wing has posed:
She could see her katana and she was still alive. If someone wished her harm she would have been further harmed. If someone wished her dead, she clearly would be dead. This did allow her to calm herself a bit. However, every small breath she took hurt and she knew she was where she was on the floor is where she was going to stay for the time being if that person did not show themeselves.

When the door opens, Colleen turns her head to see the silhouette, trying to make out the figure in the dim light and shadows. It is the voice that gives it away and a rush of calm sweepes over her when she realizes she must be with Elektra, but where that was still unkwnown to her. "Oh good its you." She takes another breath and winces a bit, closing her eyes to try and put her mind somewhere else. "What's the matter? I am on the floor and I can't get up. Did you bring me here? Of course you did. Thank you."

She makes an effort to sit up again and then lays back down. "This floor is actually is pretty comfortable, I might just stay here." There is a long slow exhale heard, followe dby a very slow taken breath. "Did you know?" SHe is staring at the ceiling again. "Did you know the Hand would be there..Bakuto?"

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Was the bed not to your liking? It has egyptian cotton sheets. I have been told they are the best." Elektra informs Colleen's prone form on the ground, stepping within the room, her bare feet barely making a noise while she approaches. She doesn't turn on the lights, just letting the lights from the outside night to illuminate the room. Still, it's noticeable they are still in the middle of the night, barely a sound heard outside, either of traffic or people.

She drops down on one knee near the other woman, her dark eyes roaming her form, searching at that source of pain. "I thought you were merely exhausted, but there is something more." she reaches over to attempt and help Colleen back up on the bed. Will she inadvertedly touch upon those cracked ribs? Who knows!

As for those last questions they are met with silence for a few seconds. "Is that what you believe?" her tone somwhat neutral.

Colleen Wing has posed:
In helping her back to the bed, the ribs are inadvertently touched, sending a shooting pain thorugh her once more. "My ribs." Her hand goes to her right side, resting upon them. Her breath is held, breathing hurts. "Yes...no...I don't know what I believe." She seems a bit confused herself. When she reaches the bed, she lays back slowly, her eyes closing a moment before opening and turning her glance to fous on the figure beside her.

"I'm sorry Elektra. I know you wouldn't do something like that to me...unless you were pressured into doing so." There is a small cough and she winces again. "I know how the Hand works Elektra...loyalty is often tested and where you walk the tightrope..." She stops her words and reaches out to grip Elekra's hand squeezing it lightly, and not letting it go, that hand that has killed so many now giving comfort.

"Tho, your disguise. Was it worn so that you would not be associated if seen with what we were doing...or because you knew Bakuto would be there and did not want him to know you were assisting me. But, if that was the case you could have just handed me over to him."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Understanding dawns on Elektra. Not just exhaustion, but those ribs seem hurt. "Noone makes me do something I do not want to." not that it answers Colleen's questions! But then she continues. "I will need to tend to those ribs." yet her hand is then caught. It catches her briefly by surprise, one eyebrow arching but she seems to allow it, allowing whatever comfort she may be able to give to the younger woman to be given.

"The Hand is never clear on it's true intents. We both know this. If I knew they would do something? Not directly, but there was the chance they would be watching, or intervene in some way." She explains. "And you did slight them when you left. Apparently enough for Bakuto to be here." she not hiding a slight frown. Bakuto, being one of the fingers of the Hand, did make her own plans here more difficult.

Her free hand then reaches up to Colleen's face, brushing some hair away from her face and tucking it away. "But no, I do not want to see you hurt, Chisai Doragon." she then starting to get up to her feet if Colleen releases her hand. "Now turn on your left side, I will return soon."

Colleen Wing has posed:
"The Hand is never clear that is true. I have experienced that." Her words are spoken softly, barely above a whisper. "I did slight them. And I knew the risk when I did it. I was foolish to think they would simply let me walk away. Perhaps they would have cut their losses if Bakuto was not once my Sensei." She exhales again, another visible wince on her face.

"I did not intend to drag you into this mess Elektra. I am sure he did not recognize you." As the hair is brushed away from her face she does not flinch, eyes not leaving her bedside attendant. "What does he want with me Elektra? Why has he changed his mind?" Another cough is given and another wince.

As her hand is released she offers a smile at the words of protection from Elektra and the name her grandfather once called her. "Left side..oooh this is gunan hurt." Nonetheless, the young woman manages to roll to her left side, fingers digging into the sheets.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Noone ever walks away from the Hand." Perhaps a return to the talk they had when they first met back in New York at Colleen's dojo. Still, there is little judgement in Elektra's voice. She knows how a dual life can be hard. "Bakuto is a proud man." she then tells Colleen. "He won't let this go."

"He most likely wants you back into the fold. He does not want you to be one of his .., 'mistakes'." she says. "He chose you, did he not? For you to leave the Hand would be as if to say his judgement about you had been incorrect. He cannot accept it."

She then gets up to her feet, making her way out of the room. It doesn't really take her long to come back, bringing a small pot with some kind of paste inside, along with a roll of gauze on her hands. "Yes, this will certainly hurt." no point in hiding it or trying to downplay it. Not something Elektra does.

She sits on the bed next to Colleen, one hand felt moving to her shirt and starting to lift it just so, for her to have access to that injured side.

Colleen Wing has posed:
She knew it would hurt. It was not the first time the Chikara Dojo owner had been wounded. However, the blow she had taken earlier in the evening was in the same spot she was trying to heal from a prior engagement. As he shirt is lifted and Elektra begins to work on her, she winces slightly through her reply. "Noone ever does walk away from the Hand. I was foolish to think I could simply do so."

Her fingers dig into the bedding once more as a quick sharp pain hit her once more. "Ooooh." The pain subsides and she continues her softly spoken words. "I know he will not let this go. His pride won't let him. He has invested to much time into me. Even gifted me my dojo. He did everything for me. In a city I felt so lost in, he was my North Star and like family...then I simply turned my back on him. Part of me cannot blame him. I am sure I have hurt him." She tries to turn her head just enough to try and catch Elektra's face. "Perhaps you are right tho, this is probably all about his not being able to accept what he sees as a failure. I failed him Elektra. Was I wrong in breaking my oath to the Hand and to Bakuto because my beliefs changed?" Her eyes look for some sort of answer in Elektra's eyes.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra is all too used about tending to wounds. Mostly her own, ones she had tended to earlier in the evening while Colleen was still out cold. Not that her back wasn't killing her still where she had been cut. But she had her ways of getting through this. Her rather light touch is felt trailing up Colleen's skin, sensing the reactions, where it hurts or whether the ribs were truly cracked or not, just faint presses alongside her travel. "You will need to solve it eventually." for Elektra though 'solving' something normally means death. "Do you think you can do it?"

She lets that question linger for a time, silent, her dark eyes up and meeting Colleen's gaze when she turns her face to look up. As for answers, those eyes look as enigmatic as ever. Maybe she still has her own doubts on where her loyalties truly are. But her answer comes in the form of a question. "Would you go back to them if you could? Being who you are today?"

She opens the flask near her, the familiar scent of a medicinal paste in the air. Yes, it is something the Hand has used in the past for their operatives, that all too familiar scent. She reaches in, taking a bit of it on her fingers and starting to place it atop where she found the ribs were more wounded.

Colleen Wing has posed:
"DO I think I can do it? Do I think I can solve this?" There is a soft laugh that escapes her, another small wince. "Laughing bad. Noted. It is not my decision to make. Bakuto has made it quite clear that he will only accept one answer. To deny him what he wants only leaves him with one solution...and we both know what that it is. I have a feeling that if he cannot have me back, that he will insure I am not in his way." She bites on her lower lip, chewing on it lightly.

"Would I go back? That is something I never considered since leaving. Yet, it seems like the easy way out. I took an oath to the Hand and to my Sensei. Yet, I have loyalty and a sense of deciation to my students and their well-being and safety. The Hand's presence in Chinatown could Jeopardize that."

There is a moment where there seems to be a realization coming to her face, her eyes going slightly wider as the other womans hands continue to work on her soft skin. "Unless...the best way to keep CHinatown safe from the Hand is to be within the Hand. Privy to the knowledge and their schemes to some degree. I am sure Bakuto would see to its well-being if I was back in his service...at least I hope he would." She coughs once more, another small wince, her hand moving to brush another strand from her face. "I don't know Elektra. Did I make a mistake in leaving? Have I put more innocent people in danger for doing so?" Her words seem pleading and seeking answers.

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"You always have a choice." Elektra states while her fingers continue to spread that paste over Colleen's side, slow and methodic, even if at times able to send sharp twists of pain when she goes over a more sensitive area on those ribs. "And I meant if you would kill him, Colleen. You know it will come to that." no mercy on her tone, or hiding the truth from the younger woman, "It will either be him alive or you. No other option."

Silence meets those following words, she focusing on covering the girl's bruised side with that foul-smelling paste. Because everyone knows the best types of medicinal herbs and pastes always smell foul. But eventually she does speak up. "We all have made our mistakes. No point in regretting though. Or at least letting that regret drag us down." she says, "You did what you felt was right. It brought consequences, sure. But I don't see you going back to training students knowing they are being recruited to the Hand. It goes against what you believe, doesn't it? The Hand would see through your ruse."

Then a faint shift on the subject. "You hadn't told Danny you were with the Hand in the past."

Colleen Wing has posed:
That paste does smell foul, but she knows what it is. It was not the first time the paste had ever been applied to her and as shelay there on the bed, she clearly wished it to be the last. The smell of the paste brought back a slew of memories flooding into her head, memories she had tried to repress and thought she had, but it was amazing how a certain scent can retreive them. "I could never do that, send my students into the service of the Hand. Not anymore. Not knowing what I know now. Unless I was willing to kill and die for the Hand, how could I train someone to do so and not feel guilt or shame."

She is silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. "I have made mistakes and I will make many more. I know this. I ever claimed to be perfect and anyone who does is deceiving themselves. I have no regrets tho, not one. I am who I am and where I am today partially because of him." She looks back to Elektra again and and softly murmurs. "Kill or be killed. Sadly you are right. I only hope if I found myself in that situation I could so. It is one thing to say you could, but when the time actually presents itself...who knows."

A small sigh can be heard, this time no wince. "Danny. Yeah. He had no idea. Really, nobody did except you. It was something I thought best to keep quiet unless they needed to know. I thought it was a good decision at the time. I thought it would never come back to haunt me...but deep down I knew this day would come. I only wished it would not."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"Then you have your answer there. You'd never be able to go back to them." Elektra replies, reaching up to her own hair and brushing some out of the way, tucking it behind one ear, "If you hesitate you will die. You know that." again that no mercy on her tone. Not something she can afford.

And now she seems to be done getting the paste on. She closes the flask and sets it aside, reaching for the roll of gauze. "Now the next part that will hurt." she warns. She sets the gauze atop Colleen's side and then starts wrapping it about, having her lean onto her back again so she can pass the gauze about her torso and create a tight bandage to keep the paste fully in contact with the woman's ribs.

"You will have to talk with him." She finally says, about Danny.

Colleen Wing has posed:
It does hurt, but Colleen does her best to hold her feelings inside of exactly how much it does. There are a few low winces and her barefoot actually kicks out a bit a few times, but for the most part she is still. "I...know. I just...whoa. Okay. I do not think I would hesitate. I would need to remove all emotion...I do not hate him Elektra. I don't. I just hate what he...oooh that one hurt." She rests herself. "I just do not agree with what he stands for, and I know he is beyond saving or changing."

Again, her fingers dig into the sheets as the wrapping continues. "I know...I am not looking forward to that conversation. I am sure Danny feels betrayed. He may never trust me again. I will need to speak to him soon."

Her mood then changes, her voice going even softer. "Elektra...I need to ask you a favor. This cannot leave this room. And what I ask of you will only put you potentially in danger." She turns her head thebest she can to look into Elektra's eyes. "I need to know if you ever hear word if Bakuto plans on coming for me again. I don't think he wishes me dead...but I do not think he will be happy with the failure of his men tonight."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Elektra does make sure the bandage is made tight about Colleen's belly. One last jerk on it that may bring lack of air for a few moments (and more pain), before she is finally done, tying up that end. "We will need to give time for the paste to take hold and do it's thing. Tomorrow morning we can go through some meditation exercises to help in the recovery." and then she lets out a sigh, rolling her own shoulders, the graze on one visible, or at least the bandage covering it, she having taken her own toll during the previous battle.

Reaching up she draws her robe more tight around her own shoulders and continues speaking. "Never is a very strong word. He doesn't strike me as the type to shun you away completely. Yet it may take time, specially as you were not the one taking the initiative on telling him. But live and learn I suppose."

The question for a favor makes her lift a brow though. But she listens. "And what would you do if I told you of his plans?" she then finally asks. "Because it would indeed put me in danger."

Colleen Wing has posed:
That last tug did hurt, her fingers and toes digging into the bedding as she tries to ride it out. When the pain subsides, she exhales softly, obviously holding her breath through the whole ordeal. Her head still turned, Colleen now notices the wound on Elektra's shoulder. "You are hurt. Are you okay?" She actually moves to try and sit up out of concern of her friend, but she realizes quickly, it is not the best time. "It would appear I was not the only one to suffer an injury this evening. I am sorry Elektra...for dragging you into this."

She carefully moves ot her back so she can look up at the other woman easier, her brown eyes falling upon Elektra's own. "I have to accept however he chooses to react. It is not his fault and I cannot tell him how to feel. I musyt suffer the consequences of my failure to inform him and hope that in time he can see past it and that I can regain his trust."

Her hand slowly reaches out and lightly taps the assassins, her gaze still lcoked. "Such an act would show me where your true loyalty lies...and such loyalty of protection would be reciprocated. Not that you need it...look at me." She laughs lightly, wincing once more. "In the end, I know he will no stop until he has what he wants, and that is me. I don't want to involve you Elektra. I vlauer your friendship too much, for the type of friendship we have. Your williness to help me tonight showed me you are one I can depend on."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
"I am well." Elektra informs Colleen, " .. or will be. It is nothing serious." she replies, not appearing to be particularly concerned about it at all. Then a brow raising up, not hiding partial amusement, "Are you trying to sit up to make it so all the work I just did goes to waste?" not that she expects an answer to the question she just did. "You will need to fully rest tonight. It will also give you more time to think on all this that happened. Perhaps in the morning answers will become more clear." she suggests.

"And yes, you can accept how he chooses to react. It does not mean there is nothing else you can do to prove to him you are on his side. But well, something for you to consider as well. Talking with him appears to be the best course of action right now." She gets up to her feet, moving across the room to place the flask on the nightstand. Perhaps she would need it soon enough if the bandage didn't hold. So she leaves it there.

Returning she then leans in. "Do I look the type that has true loyalties, Colleen?" the corner of her mouth curling up to a smirk.. "But don't worry, if I do find anything you will know. That much I can tell you."

Colleen Wing has posed:
All that Colleen seems focused is not how Danny will react, or the wound that Elektra says is fine, not even her own wound. There is nothing more to be said about any of those. No, this is all about her status and relationship with Elektra. Where do loyalties lie? Where is that line in the sand and on whch side do they stand on? Are they on the same side? She had always known of Elektra, her reputation had preceeded her. She had limited interaction with her prior to recently, but that interaction always seemed positive. It was true, they understood each other. Two strips of fabric cut from the same corner of a larger cloth. Different in ways, but the same in one way: They questioned the Hand.

"True loyalties or not my friend...you showed me this evening that you are one I can rely on. I know what sort of potential problems it could have caused for you." She settles into the bed and stifles a small yawn, smiling back to the assassin. "Do not put yourself in a situaton you cannot get yourself out of Elektra, but at the same time realize I appreciate your looking out for me. I feel like I am walking a mine-field in tap shoes." Her hadn reaches out to touch Elektra's once more, letting it linger if allowed. "Thank you. Truly. I think I am going to try and sleep a bit."

Elektra Natchios has posed:
Yes, indeed there was little else to talk about those matters. Danny, the Hand, Bakuto. They would need to be looked upon, but now it was time for recovery. They had suffered a setback but they were still alive. And in the end that was what mattered. For Elektra at least. Survival always came first. It had never failed her so far. And indeed she found a certain reflection to her own being on the young woman's gaze, perhaps not as tainted yet as she had become. With some hope still left within her.

A hope that she wanted Colleen to keep, that things could get better. "Rest now. You will be safe here for as long as you wish." she tells her. At least as safe as one of Elektra's dens can be!

And then she leans in further, close, and if Colleen doesn't stop her she places a chaste kiss upon Colleen's lips. One that lingers for a couple of seconds before she gets back up to her feet. "I will see you in the morning.."

And then she walks out through the door, closing it behind her, the sound of her footsteps soon disappearing.

Colleen Wing has posed:
The chaste kiss was certainly not expected and as soon as it happened, her eyes opened. There was no effort to stop it however, a soft exhale as Elektra moved to exit. She was alone now in the room by herself, and she had never felt safer in a vulnerable position as she was tucked away in a guestbedroom in what she could only assume was the personal residence of the respected assassin. Her hand raised to wave to the closed door, closing her eyes once more as the soft words spoken to an empty room. "See you in the morning." Rest would come easy now. She was bandaged. She was safe. She was protected.