1839/A Sinister Plot: Beauty and the Beast

A Sinister Plot: Beauty and the Beast
Date of Scene:	25 May 2020
Location:	Sinister's Lab
Synopsis:	Meredith takes turns with Dani and Hank. Sinister steps in to appraise her work.
Cast of Characters:	Gabby Kinney, Henry McCoy, Danielle Moonstar

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Gabby Kinney has posed:
It's not Sinister who arrives this time to the lab proper. At least not at first. Usually when one of the many clones shows up it's due to the preparation of impending torture. Meredith, the one who had delighted in the time she spent with Gabby is the one to show first. The click-clack of heels on the floor was a decidedly odd sound compared to the screams of agony that often took away the silence as she makes her way over to the tables to prepare two. REstraints are checked. Tools are set out. It's impossible to currently tell which table is for which of the remaining victims still in their cells.

Finally she turns though to give an oily smile toward Dr. McCoy as she strides toward him. "The Doctor is coming along, but has asked that I get you ready," she coos out in that sugary sweet voice that was really far, far too unpleasant to be nice in any way.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The tapping of the heels had him woke from his slight doze. Sharp eyes keep a watch on the clone, frowning as it looks like there will be more 'fun'. Hank doesn't show any fear, just irritation. Of course, that irritation escalates as she turns to come towards his cell. He gets to his feet, getting the blood pumping.

"I warn you, I've no problems with knocking you out. Don't come in here." The big man growls, bending his knees to center his balance. Fists ball up, ready to lunge at the opportunity.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
Sleep has been sort of a constant lately. Emotional exhaustion is a thing and it's hit Dani hard. Or maybe it's just because Julian is gone. Or Berto doesn't remember them. Or-

Totally the emotional exhaustion. She's trying, she is! But without being able to actually -do- anything, she sleeps. However, upon hearing Meredith, she stirs and sits up, drawing the worn (with even more worry-holes!) blanket around her as she leans to try to watch, tensing up as she waits to see what Hank can manage.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Meredith smiles with mock sweetness toward Hank when he postures up about defending himself. "Oh, sweetie, of course you would try to fight. You want to protect your little friend over there since you think she wouldn't manage to last. That's so nice of you, trying to protect her." The redheaded Jean clone tips her head to the side sending a glance toward Dani in indication.

"Oh, he really is trying to protect you, you know. He sees how frightened you are about everything. But," she lifts a hand to hook a finger toward Hank with a little circular motion. It's just a little bit of TK to make it feel as if she were seductively rolling her finger against his chest. "Noble as that is, you are a gentleman as well. Which means," she croons, "Ladies first, yes?"

Turning away from his cell she strides over toward Dani with a cluck of her tongue. "Poor little girl indeed."

Henry McCoy has posed:
There's a look of disgust as the TK torments him, Hank hopping back a bit. And then she's switching gears. Another growl, the man slamming his hand against the forcefield. "Coward." He growls, glancing over to Dani. "Don't give them anything, Dani." He growls.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
When Meredith turns towards her, Dani starts. She slips off her bed and pushes back against it. "No," she says, but it comes out more of a 'N-n-no.' Unfortunately, Hank is right. Without her powers, her emotional control just isn't the same. There's a lot more fear. A lot more uncertainty. She tries to look past Meredith, briefly, towards the older man. Tries to take what he says as something to hold onto. Her fingers tighten against the blanket, but then she lets it go.

She knows how to fight. She at least has that. Some of the others haven't, but she can fight given half a chance.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Meredith pouts mockingly at Dani. It's so exaggerated it's almost duck lips. "Oooh. N-n-no," she taunts back before laughing at the frightened girl. "Even the doctor over there can manage to get some gumption to fight. It's a wonder they tolerate you being around at all. So useless." A cluck of her tongue comes as she reaches out to flick the button on the door turning off the energy field.

"Come along quietly and it'll all be over soon. I really don't have much time to be wasting on you as it is. I just thought it would be more fun if I got the good doctor worked up before *I* work him up. At least you'll be good as a prop. You should be proud that you'll be useful for once."

Her hand lifts again to gesture at Dani intending to use her TK to tug her out by her collar like she were leading along a puppy.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Henry keeps pressed to the forcefield, looking for any lowering of defenses, any way to escape. In vain, of course - but he has to try. His eyes keep on Dani. If he could will his thoughts to her, he would - anything to bolster her against the incoming trauma.

Instead, he's helplessly watching. Again.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
It's like a punch in the gut and even though Meredith has -two- ways of doing that (literal and TK), she needed neither. Without a power that causes physical damage (even her psychic arrows require a living being), Dani has often felt 'powerless.' Such as when fighting the wild sentinel. There was nothing she could do other than damage control on the streets. And sure, that was important, but at the same time: she never felt it was enough.

And in here, she's watched as teammates have been tortured. Some to a point they'll likely never recover. Helpless, completely. At first she just sort of stumbles a few steps, but then she catches Hank's eye and digs her heels in, leaning back: trying to resist. "No," she repeats, more firmly. "I wouldn't be on the team if they didn't want me." She doesn't sound too certain, but she's -trying-.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Oh don't be naive, dear. Every team needs their pet mascot," Meredith points out. "I mean, really. How often have they actually asked for your help with anything?" The digging in of heels does cause her to turn back arouind giving a look of annoyed disgust at Dani's resistance. A heavy sigh breaks from her lips as her hand lifts again. With a rather dismissive wave of her wrist she sends Dani across the room to slam into the table carelessly face down as if it didn't really matter. Just a rag doll tossed aside carelessly.

The restraints lock around arms, legs and back pinning her there in that awkwardly uncomfortable position that made her difficult for her to see anything Meredith was doing. Much less see Hank in his own cell.

The clack of her heels circles around as she makes a pass by Hank's cell again to blow him a kiss. "Be with you soon, cutie. You know I'd much rather be spending time with you. But," she sighs again, "I must do what I'm told. Even if it's ultimately a waste of my time."

Henry McCoy has posed:
Another slam of his large hand against the field. She's working him up, that's for sure. He growls, trying to get to a position where Dani can see him, possible or not. He looks up for anything to hang from, anything.

"You are no mascot." He assures. "Don't listen to her lies!" He roars out.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
It's a good way of wording it. Because it's rare they ask anyone specifically for things. Everything is always for the team, it's always 'whoever can help.' But that's how you get into someone's head. You word it just right. How often have they asked for Sam? Or Rahne? Probably just as often, but that's not what Dani can think of. How often have they asked for -her- help and that's what sticks.

It's enough and it trips her up enough that she's caught entirely off-guard when the TK goes from just pulling her along like a lead and she's instead thrown across the room. The initial gasp turns to a grunt as hitting the table knocks the air from her. She doesn't even get a chance to try to fight the restraints because of it and they're in place before the groan comes and she's squirming, trying to get into a better position. Trying to see. Because this whole time, at least -seeing- everyone has been important. At least being there -for- them. "I'm trying," she answers Hank, even if it comes out muffled and might be more for his sake than her own. But even saying it out loud bolsters her some.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"You're right. Perhaps mascot wasn't the right term. More like a little sibling allowed to tag along because if not it would upset the adults. You've got to be fair and include everyone, right? Make sure everyone feels special. Wanted. Needed. No one wants to make them lose confidence. That would be bullying. So not fair to your students to single out someone by ignoring them." Meredith just continues on as she steps over to the table with the array of instruments to pluck up a pair of nitrile gloves. The snap of it sounds out as they're pulled on.

"We know better though, don't we? If she were really so important... so special.... then Dr. Essex would be here to observe."

The gloved hand reaches down to brush aside a bit of Dani's hair while Meredith leans over to whisper near her ear, "Instead I get this chore while he saves the best for last for himself.""

Henry McCoy has posed:
More growls and yelling from the Doctor, trying to drown out the verbal knives from the clone. "It's a ruse, Dani! You know it! She's playing on your emotions!" He roars, thumping fists against the invisible wall keeping him within the cell.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
She knows it and yet she doesn't. Without that constant 'read' of everyone around her that she's used to (whether purposeful or not sometimes!), Dani feels untethered. She's a buoy adrift at sea. She's had a crutch to 'read the room' for years and now she's without it.

And one thing is true: Sinister -isn't- here. He's been present for everyone else. Even if one of the clones was doing the dirty work, he at least observed. But he didn't consider her worth even watching.

Her hands curl into fists and she turns her head away from Meredith, trying to pull away from NotJean: both the touch and the whisper. Meredith can definitely see it, but maybe Hank will before she turns her head into the table: she's starting to cry.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Ugh, I haven't even TOUCHED you yet. Not with anything *good*. Even the little girl held out for a few stabs before she started crying." Meredith stands again and dropping the scalpel she'd plucked up back onto the instrument tray with a little clatter. "This really IS a waste of my time. Utterly."

Turning away she strides back over toward Hank's cell. "I'll just get the good doctor ready then for Essex's arrival."

It's here that Meredith grinds to a halt with a rapid blink as if she had suddenly found her vision failing. It wasn't that though: It was that speaking the name of Essex had apparently caused him to appear in front of her. "I... Doctor..." She pauses with a little crack to her voice uncertainly. An uncertainty that ends with a breath sucked in between her teeth in a hiss.

Lifting a hand Meredith prods Essex finding him solid. "Oh, that's a trick," she mumbles before turning to stalk back toward Dani. Those wickedly manicured nails scratch the side of her neck when she grasps the adjustor on her collar to turn it up.

"It's too bad that it's completely mindless. It may have tricked a non-telepath. Almost interesting."

Henry McCoy has posed:
He knew Sinister was powerful - but teleportation? He was just... there. Out of nowhere. He hops back instinctively, looking through slitted eyes at the bastard. And then Meredith is acting odd - poking at the man. Henry glances to Dani, giving her a nod. "You got this." He assures.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
She's been fighting for it since she first woke up. To feel someone -- anyone -- in this place. Sometimes more than others, but in this moment she was digging for something in Meredith's mind. Fear, distraction, anything. And in it she grasped the first thing she found. It was small, but it was victory. Sinister himself. Danielle grabbed onto that fleeting memory. Sinister. She grapped hold of it as if it were real. As if it were tangible. As if she could get her hands on it.

And then it was real. He was there. He wasn't just some sort of movie that the victim was 'trapped' within as it played out. Sweat is beating over her skin and Dani realizes that that desire to grab hold of what she's gleaned has truly been made manifest a beat too late: before she can control it like she does her psychic arrows... Meredith has returned and turned up the collar. The manifestation of Sinister disappears and she cries out: "NO!" This time it's not a fearful cry, it's an angry one. But it's also one of despair. She'd had it back, so briefly. Fists tighten, nails cutting into palms.

At least she's trying now, even if the pressure behind her eyes is building into a headache. The problem with the psy-crowd. They can hurt themselves sometimes, but then... that was probably part of the plan.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
A little pat-pat is given to the back of Dani's head. It was a mocking gesture, but even if it wasn't, it was likely unwanted given who it came from. The Sinister figure vanishes as quickly as it appeared. "I suppose that's progress though it really is so *sad* that you managed to do it without even a bit of pain. I mean, really. Everyone else has to be tortured damn near to death. You just cry a little and it's too much for you to handle forcing an improvement. Well. At least now I can get on to the *real* fun."

Meredith grins again looking back to Hank once more. "I am looking forward to this, doctor. You're not quite as enticing as Sunspot. But you'll do. Besides," she adds as she gestures releasing the forcefield on his cell. There's an itching feeling inside his skull as she forcibly peeks inside, doing so without subtlety trying to make it obvious she was rifling through his mind. "I have a feeling you've a little secret or two you've been trying so very hard to hide."

Henry McCoy has posed:
He's been trained to resist telepahtic assaults - this is true. But against someone with the skill and power of Jean? It's not a winning battle. He knows this - and he needs to act. As soon as the wall comes down, he's in action. The big man launches himself at Meredith, hands forward. By the looks of it all, he appears that he's going to choke the life from her, should he get a hold of her.

"STOP IT!" He growls - though if it's about the mind-rummaging or the torture, remains to be seen. But in truth, does it matter? He's going for broke here, lives are on the line.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
There's a flinch; Dani can't do much to escape the pat, but it's definitely unwanted. Undesired. And sends a creeping discomfort down her spine since she can't get away from it. She strains, once again, at her restraints. Another attempt to break away from them... especially once she realizes that Meredith is going for Hank.

There's just something about her compatriots being tortured that makes her marginally (more than, perhaps) more brave.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Meredith barely bothers to look back toward Hank when he leaps from the cell with such impressive distance. If she were anyone else he very well may have managed to get his hands around her throat to do just what he intended. Instead he stops abruptly hanging in the air as if an invisible hand had wrapped around him like some sort of action figure being held aloft.

"Such bravery," she coos out with a wicked little grin. "You're lucky though: It's me who will get to play with you. While the doctor is so very interested in seeing how you'll come along, he does hope that someday you'll come around to his way of thinking. It wouldn't do for him to be testing a peer."

"Or perhaps I ought to say lucky for ME, because now I can finally have some fun."

Like so many of the others poor Hank is pressed down to the bed meant for him. Straps lash tight, and he's held there with that mental weight against him for a moment longer. Then it lifts as Meredith turns back to rearranging her tray of tools.

Henry McCoy has posed:
Muscles tense as he's frozen midair, the doctor trying all he can to break free. He's built well, but no Beast at the moment - no supernatural strength to aid him here. As he's pressed to the bed, eyes dart to and fro, looking for anything to help him escape. The straps latch down, and as soon as the TK pressure is relieved, he's straining himself against them.

"He's no peer. He's a sociopath. He created clones with no morality to help him." He growls out, struggling as best he can - not much, strapped down is strapped down.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
It was such a brief spark. To have that empathic touch with the world back. No wonder Dani had taken such a strong hold of it. Instead of the passive touch over everyone around her in a constant 'read' on her surroundings, she'd suddenly been able to -feel- and make things manifest.

But then it got cut off again and while she was awake and aware at that (rather than waking up to it as she had before). It's almost worse than everything else thus far. The isolation. The emptiness. She chokes back a sob, but fights past it for Hank's sake. He fought for her, so now she's trying to fight for him, even if it's to no avail against the stronger setting of the collar.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Mm. Freed from societal obligations to pursue the height of perfection," Meredith responds as if it had been grilled into her quite easily. "How many great leaps in science were found by playing it safe? It was those deemed 'monsters' that found out the most. Those willing to push boundaries to see how far the species can go." A scalpel is held aloft and she flashes Hank another of those smiles which doesn't go to her eyes. The look in her eyes was simply hungry. Eager. Excited by what was about to happen.

"Don't worry though. While I'm no where near the scientist he is, he can advise me from afar. My tools are just as good. See?" To prove it's sharpness she plucks up some of Dani's hair. It's coiled around her fingers to pull tight only for the scalpel to slice through giving a choppy haircut to part. Not the whole length: Just part so that it looks very much as if she's received an uneven haircut.

Keeping the purloined hair in hand she steps between their beds to walk toward the foot of Hanks. The hair is teased over his abnormally large feet in a ticklish manner. "This little piggy went to market," she chants, "This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef, this little piggy hand none. And THIS little piggy cried..."

"Except that's no fun at all." The hair is shaken off, tossed back toward Dani carelessly. Instead she reaches down to grab hold of Hank's big toe. "We all know what happens to a pig that goes to market, now don't we." The scalpel is raised only to slice straight down the pad of his toe. Not too deep--just enough to split the dermis before she angles the scalpel to start slicing it away from the bone.

Henry McCoy has posed:
It's worse for Hank when he sees Meredith focusing on Dani again, scalpel in hand. A renewed attempt at the restraints, veins standing out on his neck as he tries arching and flexing. The more he strains, the angrier he gets. The angrier he gets, the more the animalistic side takes over.

"I swear, as God is my witness, you're going to pay." His foot jerks and twitches, unable to escape the tickling. And then the blade starts cutting deep - starts severing tendons along that toe.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
When she realizes Meredith is nearing her again, Dani stiffens. She hates the woman that looks like Jean even being near her. The scalpel has her concerned. But then it's... just her hair. Her head jerks and wobbles back and she looks over, confused-

It breaks her out of the despair enough. Unfortunately, it also halts her in trying to get past the collar. At least until the redhead starts cutting into Hank. "Stop!" Being this close to another being tortured is too much. So close and yet still so far from being able to help.

"Leave him alone!"

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"These enlarged feet. Rather interesting a mutation, really. The muscle structure must be impressive, a true mix of animalistic and human," Meredith utters as she continues the precise slices. Not quite as precise as some but the effort to literally dissect his foot is there. Just his foot. Nothing important that wouldn't mend, eventually, perhaps. Her gaze rises up to smirk toward Dani at her protestations.

"Aw, are you jealous you're not getting my full attention anymore? Of course you are. I did tell you I had more important things to do though. And," she adds as her gaze swivels back toward Hank watching his reactions with a growing sense of glee. "This is so much better than you ever could be." The tip of her tongue darts out over her lips as she regards him almost hungrily.

Henry McCoy has posed:
The pain is excruciating. Hank is in sheer agony, his toe being flayed and nearly removed. Hands clench and unclench as he cries out in pain - trying to be strong and failing. The whole world is red, rage and pain blending into the colors of the blood being spilled.

And blue.

Deep, dark blue.

As Meredith is taunting Dani, Hank is... evolving. Perhaps de-evolving, in his eyes. The animal side takes over. The wounds on his feet heal - quick and in a hurry. Blue fur sprouts, his face twisting - not to the familiar face of the Beast, but to something more lionish. The straps are shredded, his new-found strength launching him up to the ceiling, then bouncing back down - retractable claws aimed at Meredith's throat.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
"I am not!" There's no way to protest it without sounding petulant which frustrates Dani even more. She wants Meredith to stop because she wants her to stop. She wants it all to stop. But she can't fight back. She can only rage at it all. "Stop hurting him! Stop hurting us!"

She tries to reach out. To grab from the woman's mind again. To reach Rahne perhaps- surely her friend is searching and they've always had that powerful connection across relatively vast distances.

And then Hank transforms and she gasps, startled into silence. Or maybe hopeful that he'll manage to finally put an end to the clone.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Distraction. While it had been Meredith's intent to continue to taunt Dani, it had proven to be naught but a distraction for herself. One that unfortunately gives the newly evolving Hank the upper hand. The sound of the restraints snapping from the sudden surge of his newfound strength earns a look of sheer panic from her as she whirls back toward him.

Just in time for a scream to burble up from her throat as he LUNGES again, this time with far deadlier weapons literally at hand. The first and only thought she instinctively has is 'AWAY'. Get him away. Far away. The mental and TK burst of 'GET AWAY' is flung out toward the Beast in a messy manner. There's no finesse, no ease, no showing off. Just brute force PUSHING to shove him as far away as fast as possible toward the far wall.

That force doesn't get far though as another steps in stilling Hank in mid-air before he might impact into the wall.

"Enough." The far calmer, deeper tone of Mr. Sinister rings out as he steps into the room with a flourish of his cape behind him. "This is quite the result. One which will require further study." A glance is cast to the ruined restraints on the bed. "And further reinforcements of materials it would seem. Impressive, Dr. McCoy."

Henry McCoy has posed:
The Beast grunts as he's flung back - eyes never losing track of his target. Claws slash at air, still raging - still in a frenzy to get to that tormentor. As he slams into another telekinetic force, he roars in frustration. There's little human in him at the moment - pure feral anger.

Eyes snap to Sinister, his new target. Of course, he's held in place - unable to carry out his assault.

Danielle Moonstar has posed:
So close. So, so close, and like many other attempts: so far. Dani waited, tensed, breath held in that hopeful moment that Hank would be successful. Never before all this had she so desperately wanted to see people -hurt-, so desperately wanted to see them -harmed-. But there was something of a satisfaction in how Julian took down the Scott clone. A part of her wants to see the same done to Meredith.

And then Sinister appears and she looks to Hank, eyes wide: the fear in them more for him than herself now.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Sinister regards the feral thrashing Beast with an impassive expression. "Samples," he requests of Meredith who shakes herself out of her fright to do precisely what is asked. It's Dani who has her blood drawn first. She had after all shown some bit of progress and the samples would need to be compared. Then McCoy...

While she does Dani's blood drawing herself, by hand, for his she favors using her own TK to do so. A syringe is poked into one shoulder to pull out some blood vials before floating away again.

"Back to your cells with you now. I do hope you'll return to your senses soon enough," Sinister adds toward Hank before floating him into the cell which snaps shut as much as a forcefield can snap into activation as soon as he's inside.

"Take care of the other one, Meredith." He orders while taking his newfound samples to carry off.

Like before Dani is hoisted up, and then tossed carelessly back into her cell by Meredith who scurries quickly after Sinister.