6393/Unleash the Hound!

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Unleash the Hound!
Date of Scene: 31 May 2021
Location: Somewhere on the fringes of Bushwick.
Synopsis: Sabretooth squished a bug, a really big bug.
Cast of Characters: Nicolai Codona, Raven Darkholme, Clarice Ferguson, Shannon Davis, Victor Creed, Lorna Dane, Talia Wagner




Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Investigation happened over the past day or two and Mystique, Blink and Haunt were able to find out at least a few pieces of information. Provided there haven't been any more murders that have yet gone unnoticed, two of the powers the group could be dealing with tonight are Illusion and Telekinesis, according to friends and family of Patsy Wallenberger and Kimmie Ann Travoski... both were formidable in their own rights.
    It's just past sundown and the night begins at the scene of the last known sighting of Aldea. A long, narrow alleyway between two tenement buildings in a seedier side of Bushwick. Has too much time passed for the 'Hound' to pick up the scent?
    Nicolai has been uncharacteristically quiet thus far, but he keeps phasing between 'normal other than the eyes Nicolai and 'creepy B-movie ghostly ghoul Nicolai'. From time to time, things rattle and shake as he walks past them, but it could just be the wind. Someone's emotions are high tonight.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Such a good night for a hunt. Mystique has arranged for Victor to be present, for very specific reasons he knew. To ensure things stayed in order, and perhaps to see what she could do, Shannon was permitted to come along... for the most part, Mystique is here just in case Victor get... growly.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The group appear via a rather distinctive tear in reality as Clarice opens the purple-tinged portal that they all step through. Clarice stands near the hulking form of Victor Creed - her gaze cautiously and automatically scanning the street before she allows the portal to vanish with a quiet but distinct 'bliiiink.' Doubtlessly, the whole 'no collaterial damage' thing has already been emphasized to everyone present - they had the one target tonight.
    Reaching for a quiver on the her shoulder, she pulls out one of her javelins - keeping it in hand as they wait for Mister Creed's assessment of the alley.

Shannon Davis has posed:
Shannon Davis is brimming with excitement, she looks like she's hoping to have a crazed psychopath jump at them at every turn. Because she is. She's absolutely dying for that to happeing. It's visible in her face, in her weird careless but at the same time springy and tense behaviour, and how she has to constantly settle herself down. Her hands keep opening and closing with fingers outstretched, seeming to be some kind of anxious tick, probably coming from the fact she really wanted to get them on something she could launch.

She blinks as she sees this woman pull out an actual javelin, and for a moment she takes an almost scientific expression, analyzing the ergonomics of holding, pointing and aiming the thing in relation to how her powers work. "Hmm, maybe if I get really thick glove on one hand..." Though perhaps it was simply more efficient to use rounded lead, as bullets would suggest.

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor steps out of Blink's portal into the alley, looking around with a grin. "Yeah, that's better. This place actually has real scents and sounds, it's more alive than the station." He crouches down, "This the place he was?" He sniffs around the area then wrinkles his nose, "That ain't normal. I bet that's him." He sniffs a couple more times then nods, "I got it. I'll know him if I ever smell him again."

Lorna Dane has posed:
This was not the sort of place to find the Queen of Genosha in attendance. Yet, here she was. Having overheard the circumstance herself she was more than a little concerned over this issue. Thus she has tagged along with Clarice and the others. There's a small attempt to hide her obvious, easily recognized green hair by wearing a top which had a hood pulled up to conceal the majority of it. Unlike a few of the others, she had no weaponry on her. Her own nose wrinkles just a bit at mention of smells. "I will admit, it's amazing that you can pick out the scent. Even *I* can smell this place." Her shoe nudges a bit of detris on the ground of the alley pointedly.

Talia Wagner has posed:
There has been a whole lot of bodies in the last two weeks showing up in Mutant Town.

Is the body count up to five now. At least. Which is very much not good. If it was random shootings or just about anything mundane it might be brushed aside easier, but mummified corpses indicates a disturbing power set in use.

TJ is a bit of a vigilante and doesn't take sitting on her ass really well. Not to mention that Mystique and Blink were sighted around the last victim.

So the young woman is motivated to find out what the Brotherhood has to do with any of this and also with luck find out who or what the killer is. She has some theories about that. The fact they didn't turn to dust rules out one horrible life force absorbing wench at least.

TJ is out and about in the neighborhood casing it, trying to find a lead on either the killer or the brotherhood at this point. The flash of Blink's teleport transport though is very distinctive and something seared into her ability to notice things. She leaps up and scales the wall and then races across the roof there heading towards where she caught the glint.

Which leaves the image induced blond, very girl next door, crouched on the rooftop above the alley peering down at everyone. Ah geeze not just Mystique and Blink but also Mr. Creed. There is no way he can't smell the odd scent that isn't quite Kurt or Wanda but very relatable. Also probably hears her heartbeat too.

She opts to go very still and not make any hostile movements. "Are you hunting the murderer?" not bothering to hide her presence either.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "Yes, there's nothing 'normal' about him," Nicolai agrees, his voice low but that growl behind it could *almost* give Victor a run for his money. Debris in the alley rises from the ground and flutters a little before settling again and he does that phase between 'human look' and 'Astral look'. At the sound of the voice from above, his attention snaps that way.
    ...oddly enough, that's where the trail of this monster would lead Sabretooh - up. Apparently Aldea climbed the side of the building.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "But are you able to track i-" Clarice starts - before her attention shifts towards the unfamiliar voice above them, a frown on her features. She doesn't like that she overlooked the woman. She's already on edge - quite enough - with both Mister Creed and Lorna here. Those two sides of her life bring out very different parts of her personality. She studies Talia before answering with a question instead. "Who're you?" she says bluntly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique emerges from the portal, already looking around, letting the others move to begin the investigation while she personally keeps an eye on /everything/ around them. No one is sneaking up on them, that much can be guaranteed.

"Victor, take the lead. Show us where we're going."

The sound of a voice from above sets her on guard, a pair of pistols coming into her hands to be read as she looks up. "Unwise choice," she offers up to the woman. "Any other night and you'd of been shot already. Who are you?"

Shannon Davis has posed:
Shannon Davis already had her makeshift kusari out, the lead loops held in each hand as a faint 'fwoosh' primed them for launch. Her eyes lock on the woman above them almost hungrily, she could totally get her from here, definitely, for sure. Maybe. She really wanted to try, which makes her release an upset growl-like grunt from the back of her throat. She gives one of her weights a spin, letting it rotate in preparation, but seeming to do so out of idle anxiety more so than actual intention to use it. She does, however, look around for places she could wrap them around to get up that wall. Perhaps her only skill that could be considered developed enough for use in powered situations was climbing.

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor Creed had already moved near the wall following the scent trail when he heard the sound of the girl moving in above and looked up slitted eyes shining in the dimness, spotting her before she speaks. "Company." he growls as she asks her question. "None'a yer business, little girl. Move along before you get hurt, we got stuff to do and no time to waste." To the others he says, "He went up the wall."

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane tips her head upward at the voice from above to regard the figure there with pursed lips. "This is not the sort of thing we need witnesses for," she begins to think aloud--Only for her to recall the grouping she's with might take that as a command or suggestion to do something about the woman. A quick sigh comes, followed by a commanding, "We are. Please do not impede our investigation. It's dangerous." Perhaps that warning at least would still any potentially violent reactions? Maybe.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ's image is a bit familiar once Mystique actually focuses up there or at least the voice is if she thinks about it. It is the same person who asked Mystique to not murder the politician months ago, who also called her Grandma.

"I am pretty good at dodging." she notes dryly. "Point made though graa... uh Raven." she flicks the image inducer off, leaving a leather pants and jacket clad velvety blue furred mutant with very familiar deep yellow eyes that she gets from her grandma's side of the family. Tail flicking slowly behind her.

"TJ, or Talia. I came out to hunt down and put down the killer that has been sucking mutants dry." she stays where she is crouched, not making any hostile moves what so ever, way too dangerous to give any wrong impressions. "Only one of you even knows of me though..." glancing towards Mystique. "But I'm not here to fight any of you or stop you if you're hunting whatever is doing the killings. I'm capable in a fight Mr. Creed." oddly respectively considering it is Sabertooth.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Normally Nicolai would be all about staying in with the group, waiting on them to finish whatever this new situation with this new person is going to turn into. Hell, he'd probably be the first one to greet her with a smile and a 'howdoyoudo'. But not tonight. Tonight is different. Tonight is personal.
    "Come or don't, I don't care... but stop slowing us down with the chatter," he growls, again almost giving Sabretooth a run.
    A toe hold there, a hand hold here, window ledge there, an old battered air conditioning unit, part of a dilapidated old fire escape and one drain pipe later and Nicolai is standing on the roof. For someone that possess no more than human strength and agility, that was impressive. He may only be human in those regards but he's obviously at tip-top human levels.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique wrinkles her nose, "Mystique." That's all she'll say about that right now. The voice was familiar, and now the face is, and a part of her really wants to leave, right now, just not be there but oh well.

She turns her attention to Clarice and Victor, "She can fight, and she better stay out our way, but she could be helpful with this fight."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    As Talia addresses 'Mister Creed,' Clarice gives the woman a curious look. There aren't too many others who address him that way. "Well. If she isn't planning on stopping what needs to be done..." Than she doesn't much care. "Up it is," she agrees - opening a portal, as its exit blinks into existance beside Talia. She simply steps through - holding it open for any who with to follow her. "Blink," she offers towards the blue-skinned woman simply - taking a moment to study her. The resemblance to Kurt Wagner is hard to ignore, but she makes no comment. She waits for Sabretooth to lead the way - and will stay on his heels, through portals and acrobatics both.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique steps through the offered portal to appear on the roof, eyeing Talia as she appears but saying nothing more. As she said, Victor will lead this until there is combat, she's merely there to hate herself for choosing to get involved in this.

Shannon Davis has posed:
Shannon Davis puts her weights away with a disappointed sigh before stepping through the portal. "I guess it would be too lucky to run into the killer so soon. Personally I'm a bigger fan of action movies than thrillers." She says with a light-hearted tone, eyeing the blue woman. She liked this sort of aesthetic, she thought it gave off a sense of intimidation that she lacked COMPLETELY. She gives Talia a peace sign and speaks up. "Yo."

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor Creed steps through the portal, giving Talia a quick, slightly puzzled look due to the 'Mr. Creed', which he's not used to from anyone but Clarice. "Ya smell familiar. If yer helping, then follow." He sniffs to pick up the trail and starts heading in the direction it leads.

Talia Wagner has posed:
To be fair. TJ is eyeing Mystique as well. Part of her is pretty sure she said she could be helpful in the fight as a sacrifice in a pinch. Also she is very fast with guns and knives. Not like they have seen perfectly eye to eye on the whole not killing random people to further the cause.

Murderers though, especially of mutants, seem entirely fair game in TJ's book.

She glances to Blink and gives her a very hard to read look, sad almost in part. " I know, nice to meet you Blink. We should talk sometime after all this." sure she knows it isn't her Blink but come on this is a bit hard. Also not her Mr. Creed either.

Seeing them together though unsurprising if still wierd. To Victor "Funny story for later."

Peace sign is flashed back at Shannon with a way less digit'd hand and she makes sure she isn't in anyones way as the hunt is on in earnest, just following.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane steps forward intending to simply take to the air to reach the roof... But the appearance of Blink's portal has her instinctively step through it. At the very least she will stay close to Clarice so as to ensure that the other doesn't worry about having to protect her. Now on the roof, with a clear view of TJ without the projected imaging around herself, she tips her head toward her in a polite nod. "There's really not much time to be spent talking unfortunately. Let's be off," she encourages. "She's one of the School's," she adds to inform Clarice and others though. At least the person is sort of known? A little.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Over the river and through the woods... wait, that's not right. Over the building, back down into an alleyway, up another building, jump across that to the next, it's an easy leap. That's the way the path leads, up and down and in and out and around through the city until the buildings that are inhabited become less common than those that are condemned and boarded up. It's actually not far from where Clarice had her run in with Emma's kryptonite just the other night.
    Nicolai free runs the entire way.
    The scene will lead to, and stop at should Victor move around it, an old apartment building. Four stories high, all of the upper level windows are boarded while some of the lower have had the boards ripped away. It looks like a good gust of wind cold blow it down, the roof sags in places, one corner has already ready started to crumble, bricks litter the ground around it.
    ...before anyone has a chance to go further, Nicolai hisses, "Stop," from the darkness of the cover of the building across the street that the ended up beside. "He's fond of traps. Let me check it out first, make sure he's in there." Mystique and Blink at least will know what he means and how he plans on 'checking it out.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique nods to Nicholai once, "Blink, stay near Haunt while he checks things out, Victor," she turns to look at the larger man. "You may want to remain at the edges of the building for now, it doesn't look sturdy at all and your weight alone could be a problem."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The look of utter incomprehension that Talia earns from Clarice is doubtlessly painfully familiar to the seasoned reality-traveling mutant. "Um, yeah," she agrees. "Sure - if you're with the school. Coffee or something?" she suggests. She gives Lorna a smile as the woman arrives a moment later - grateful to her for sticking close. And so the chase is on - Clarice sticking between Lorna and Creed almost invariably, her expression a stoic, serious mask as she focuses on the task at hand. As they travel, she opens portals as necessary to make the journey faster and easier. Arriving at the apartment building, she shifts in position to stand closer to Nicolai with a protective stance Lorna would have seen many times as soon as Nicolai makes his offer - even before Mystique gives the order. Towards Nicolai she adds in a quiet voice, "Scout out a good location for me to drop a portal."

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor made his way across the roofs as easily as he would through a jungle, easily leaping gaps and scaling walls. When the target building comes into sight and Nicolai talks of traps, golden eyes glance back at the man, then Creed crouches down in the mouth of the alley, waiting for the word to move. To Mystique, he replies, "Geez, I ain't Dukes. I don't fall through floors all that easy. You just get me in there, we'll finish this nice and quick."

Talia Wagner has posed:
Blink's reaction is ... painful and predictable indeed... though TJ nods "Sure thing."

Despite looking a bit like Nightcrawler TJ doesn't seem to the teleporting sort.

She has no trouble keeping up with the wild chase through he city up down in out up down etc. She pretty much seems to stick to the walls like a cute blue elf spiderman knockoff. Definitely superhuman agility and wall crawling that basically means free running is on easy cheater mode for her.

Which isn't to say she doesn't dive though Blink's portals whenever they pop to make the travel faster and easier. Honestly she seems in tune with Blink's rhythm and approach to this sort of chase like it is an old habit.

She stays quiet though when they arrive, posture loose and ready as those yellow eyes take in the apartment building slowly. The darkness not really a barrier to the belf. "I imagine Mr. Creed will also land on his feet worse comes to worse." okay she couldn't help that bit.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane follows along deftly using her own powers to give her a boost where needed. It's only once they arrive at the building that she pauses to regard it as Mystique offers out orders. None to her, of course. Naturally. Instead she focuses on the building with a thoughtful look of concentration trying to feel the metal workings inside it. If she can't do much else, perhaps she could help to support the structure should it be needed. A breif thought as she watches Creed, Clarice, and Mystique all work together smoothly as some kind of team. "I can assist in ensuring the building doesn't fall too swiftly. What sort of traps should we be aware of, though?"

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Nicolai settles down on the ground, back to the building. There's that deep breath in and ... out again, just like the other times Blink and Mystique witnessed this happening. His chin hits his chest and he's left the building so to speak. For all intents and purposes, his physical form looks dead.
    ... time passes, and then more time... then a little more time... then too much time... and then enough time that everyone might be ready to storm the castle anyway.
    ...that's the moment Haunt chooses to return to his body. But something isn't right. He immediately rolls to one side and then up on his hands and knees. Ever seen anyone vomit ectoplasm and little bits of Fruit Loops they had for breakfast. It's pretty gross! Between retching up green goo, he coughs out... "He was ready for me." Apparently one trap just got sprung and apparently the third possible power Adlea acquired has something to do with the Astral plane. "Third floor, middle of the building... then downstairs, more victims, but... I think they're alive."
    When he looks up at Blink, his eyes are that glowing red instead of that almost pretty glowing aqua, he's all ghoulie looking. "Go... I'll be fine, bring me his fucking HEAD," he growls. The lower windows in the building implode. ...right before he vomits again.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Almost too quick, Mystique is on her knee beside Nicolai. "I stay with him, Blink get everyone inside, ensure the safety of any hostages, but kill that bastard and bring Haunt is head!"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    While Clarice remains alert, guarding her unconscious companion from any danger - her gaze goes from scanning their surroundings, to repeated looks towards Talia. Between the almost instinctual way the woman seemed accustomed to the portals, to the use of 'Mr. Creed,' to the simple 'I know' the earlier introduction had earned - something was strange about the blue woman, and not knowing what set her on edge. Yes - they would definitely talk later. In the meantime - she would take the familiarity with the portals into account for the upcoming fight.
    Despite the length of time Nicolai is still, her expression remains a stoic mask as she constantly scans the street - but as he begins to wretch, a moment of concern leaks through. "Haunt?" she asks. At the information from Nicolai, and the command from Mystique, she nods and opens a pair of portals at once. One leads to the third floor, and their target. "Mr. Creed, Talia," she points them at the first portal. "Go get him."
    "Lorna - let's handle the hostages," she suggests - moving to the second portal.

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor doesn't even pause for a second. The moment the portal opens, he is already leaping through, claws extended. He hits the floor and spins, all senses alert for his target, even shifting his vision into the infrared to try and make out the enemy. If he spots the killer, he'll leap with a roar, claws leading the way as he attempts to shred the target into bloody gobbets.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ hasn't worked with Haunt before, or even one of his alternate reality selves. She watches him do the out of body act like the dead routine and does start to grow concerned. Tick Tock. The blue mutant glances up at the building and then back to Haunt. Cycling between the two.

Other than some sort of life force theft, she has very little intel on what the monster they are hunting has in it's power set. Hopefully Victor knows what they may be getting in to.

When Haunt snaps back in and starts to wretch though there is a bit of relief, who knows this might be normal. That is quickly replaced with apprehension about the target being ready for astral or spectral. She doesn't hesitate though when Blink gives orders about tactics moving nimbly to leap through the portal after Mr. Creed.

Oddly she seems to know how to fight alongside him as well, staying out of his way as she loosk for the target. Leaping over to grab a wall up near the ceiling if there is a clear path, to make it harder for the lifesucker to get a grip on her.

Even if she has a trick in mind for that too.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane inclines her head toward Blink in response to the suggestion. This was, after all, not a mission she was leading. "Far more my range of abilities," she agrees. A look is cast toward Haunt with concern, but as Mystique was seeing to him she continues on. "It will be taken care of, I assure you. One way or another." Striding through the portal after Blink, she's already steeling herself for any potential traps that might spring up around the captive mutants.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Alas, not yet Sabretooth. There's no sign of anyone on the other side of that portal. In fact, there's no sign of anything at all. There's just nothingness, stillness. Same thing happens to Talia. It's the oldest trick in the book, it's cliche really, but it generally works. One of the powers mentioned by family and friends of one of the victims? Illusions. What they failed to mention were the kind of illusions. When the nothingness fades into something, both Talia and Sabretooth will be facing their worst fears... whatever that may be. Maybe one of them is moths... well, there's Mothra. Maybe it's a fear of being alone... well there you go, everyone in the world is gone but YOU! Whatever it is, physical, mental, emotional... it's happening.
    Downstairs, the girls will find five bodies wrapped in spider silk, but from the sounds coming from inside those tightly wrapped silk coffins, they're still alive. Some spiders do that, wrap their prey and save it for later.
    As for Nicolai, he all but snarls at Mystique, "I'm fine, go help them..." Forgive him, it's not his most shining moment and he's a little upset. He's obviously NOT fine, whatever happened still has him on his hands and knees, barfing up the very stuff that Mystique knows keeps him alive at an alarming rate. Every time he thinks it's over, he starts again. One good thing, it doesn't stick around long on this plane. It just sorta fizzles and dissipates as it hits the ground.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique remains on that one knee beside Haunt, not moving, unmoving. "I need to get you away from here," she states, ignoring his attempts to be 'cool' and 'fine'. She's heard it a million times, "I'm fine." or "I got this." only for neither be true at all. No way in hell was she losing another Mutant to this. Blink was engaged, she had no idea what was going on in the building, but Blink was not the only teleporter who was part of the Brotherhood.

"I'm not going anywhere without you," she then adds, and reaches up to key in the right frequency to call in a second teleporter to get Haunt out. Evac procedures engaged.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "...why is it spiders again?" Clarice asks quietly as she and Lorna emerge - both sets of portals blinking out once their passengers are through. Reaching the nearest body - she touches the spider silk, carefully blinking a small section of it away, to reveal the face of the person beneath. "We're here to help you," she promises quietly, as she tries to get some sense of the person's condition. Touching her comm she adds, "Mystique - five victims, seemingly alive, wrapped in coccons. Medical evac, or safehouse?" she asks. Potentially putting the entire Asteroid at risk, after all, above her paygrade. By a lot.

Lorna Dane has posed:
"Again?" Lorna asks with eyebrow raising questioningly as she follows in. Her hand raises to the air as she 'feels' for the nails and screws around her in the woodwork of the walls, supports, whatever may have them in the near vicinity. A good dozen fly free to surround her hand swirling and floating in preparation of having a weapon quickly ready should she need. "I do hope this isn't one of his traps as well. He seems to know Haunt is on his tail after all." The bodies are regarded even as she approaches another to work at peeling back some of that sticky webbing. Trying not to think of what, or who, made it.

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor Creed looks around as the nothingness starts to fade into something else, then snarls and lets go. Rational thought surrenders to pure rage and instinct, blocking the psychic intrusion from his mind. This also means that there will be no reporting in, though the roar that echoes through the building and out the windows gives plenty of indication that Sabretooth is on the attack. If the killer is visible when the psychic attack fades, Sabretooth is airborne, claws out and probably takes him through a wall. Should he miss, he'll go through the wall himself, spin, and launch himself back in.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ is naturally slippery to all of that bullshit that monster they are hunting is up to now.

That isn't to say it isn't still effective at first though as the Sheer Nothing hits first and then the emotional and psychic abuse heaps down on her next. "Urk."

There was no wall leaping or getting clear quickly. Instead she went very still as her mind is assaulted and forced to relive her various teammates and in one case loved ones dying despite everything her team did to try to literally save not just the day but entire worlds.

She starts ot breath faster and shudders before centering herself and picturing her mental shields, not a trick she has to use often but they are there for her to focus her hex energy into like Aunt Jean showed her how to do before she died.

As soon as her vision clears she is going to be ready to dodge the attack that has to be coming.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "No!" Nicolai snaps. ...between spewing green goo. That DOES seem to be slowing down though, now it's more like episodes of dry heaves. "Please don't make me go, not now," from between gritted teeth. Not when it's this close, not when he can almost taste the vengeance he's sought for the past year. He pushes himself to his feet slowly. To his credit, many others that were less level headed would be trying to go back into the building across the street under the circumstances and he's not doing that or suggesting it. ...all he's asking is to be allowed to stay *here*. He really does seem to be looking a little better. Standing now, he leans against the wall. "I can defend myself if need be, please help them. I'll be here when you return." ... just a beat. "With his head."
    One of the victims is shaking her head violently from side to side when... well, her head is revealed. She's wide eyed and terrified and staring straight up at the ceiling. From up there in the shadows, on the ceiling, a voice hisses, raspy and dry, "I knew he would send some of you down here. He couldn't just let them die..." The thing that drops from those shadows into the dark basement is hideous to say the least. No wonder it steals other people's physical appearance in addition to their powers. Standing on two legs, it has... six more. The head looks mostly human, but brings to mind something out of a rendition of the Fly where... well, it's an arachnid instead. Two of the 'legs' actually end in hands, while the others end in scythe-like claws it uses to scale buildings and walls. I'm sure they've sprung my..." And then Sabretooth's roar rattles the building. "...trap." Man, dude talks A LOT, typical insane villain, huh?
    Of course this means that Sabretooth is about to be even more pissed off when he finds NOTHING in the room upstairs. Here's to hoping he's not in a blind rage enough to turn it on poor Talia?

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Another teleporter pops in beside the two of them as if the guy has been there all along, looking cocky and ready for something and when there wasn't anything, except Mystique, he pouted, "Ah man."

Mystique glared at the guy, then pointed at Nicholai, "You stay with him, I'm..." and then Sabertoothed roared. At that moment, nothing else mattered. Nicholai would get to stay, under the watchful eye of teleporter NPC Clyde as the cobalt mutant darted into the building. Her mind shields were always active when in Bushwick, thank you Emma, so the illusions would mean nothing if that was the floor she ended up on. She didn't really know for certain which floor it was be, as she was taking the first entrance she could find and preparing to kill anything that moved that wasn't part of her team or added Mutants to the team for this mission.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Was that a look of longing Clarice shoots to the floor above as she heard Creed raging, and ruining walls? A look that convenient puts her eyes directly on-
    "...again," she confirms as she studies the spider-like horror. Her reaction takes very little thought - with a gesture, she opens a portal upstairs. A familiar summons and request for aide for those in the know - and both TJ and Mr. Creed are in the know. And through that portal? They can see the back of a spider-like mutant as it delivers its threatening monologue. "Oh no. We're so helpless and afraid. Whatever will we do?" she deadpans back at their foe.
    Without a response from Mystique - Clarice makes the decision for herself. She would have to send these people to the nearest safehouse. She starts flinging javelin's in quick successession, to blink the victims to safety.

Victor Creed has posed:
Sabertooth's eyes do light on Talia for a moment, narrowing like a lion stalking prey.. but then the portal opens, revealing the spider standing right in front of it, and given a better target, he is airborne again. Unless the not so itsy bitsy spider is really fast, he takes about three hundred pounds of clawed fury to the back, with fairly predictable results. If he hits the spider, the plan is for claws to rip and tear in a fury, every move aiming towards one end - viscera coating the walls and a preferably 'Mortal Kombat'-esqe ending involving a head and dangling spine.

Talia Wagner has posed:
Well that is good.

She would really hate to possess Mr. Creed and make him take a catnap. That is not how you build up trust an a good hunting threats to mutant kind sort of relationship.

The portal though does have her moving right on Sabertooth's angry heels leaping through it, honestly using him even as he goes in for the rip and tear as a spring board to vault herself up onto the ceiling that SpiderDude was so recently on.

She also flings a hexbolt down at SpiderDude while she is at it for good measure.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Up. Those eyes were looking up. Lorna's breath catches as she realizes that meant this was, indeed, a trap. Whirling around just in time for the enlarged humanoid-spider-mutant to land she gets to see every detail of it. Tensing, every nerve aching to RUN, she fights that instinctive desire in favor of putting herself in between Clarice and it. Even as the portal opens to let in the snarling Sabertooth, she adds her own aid. Just to ensure there were a few more nails in the coffin for this deplorable creature. Her hand flicks forward sending the flotilla of bent and rusty nails she'd purloined into the spidery underbelly with several wet thumps of metal against flesh. "Get them out of here, Blink. Then we're leaving." Because she saw that look in Creed's eye, and saw the savageness he was inflicting on the mutant. It earns a ripple of fear through her she did not want to admit to.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Outside, Nicolai uses that little silver claw over his thumbnail to cut his palm and let the ectoplasm flow out and into that wicked whip of his. Don't freak out Mystique, he's staying put, just doing so in a prepared fashion. He's still a little woozy and feels like he might start barfing again, but part of him STILL does hope that Aldea ends up getting past the others and outside so he has a shot at taking the bastard down himself.
    Alas, that doesn't happen. It's certain to be Sabertooth that will eventually deal the killing blow, but that ugly mother doesn't go down without a fight so every single blow from every ally helps. Those scythe shaped claws on the ends of six of its legs are razor sharp and those legs are long. It, because calling it a 'he' just doesn't seem right, lashes out with those, it gnashes teeth and lashes out with fangs that are now dripping with venom - the reaction induced by its state of fear. Anyone that gets close is a target.
    ...and somewhere in a safehouse, five people are wondering what the hell just happened.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The safehouse are manned and quite used to people just 'dropping in' like that, the people will be taken care of, no matter how freaked, even if that means sedation and wait for someone else to tell them what the hell is going on.

Mystique drops into the room with the giant spider just in time to watch Victor make it an ex-spider, now that was well worth coming inside to see. Her guns are out, not that she needs them but she will look around for signs of anything else that might be a threat.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Lorna!" There was a note of disapproval in Clarice's voice as the woman steps between her, and the danger - and also between her, and the raging Sabretooth. As the last of the victims disappears, Clarice moves to put herself between Lorna and the action - as things are meant to be. If she sees the woman's distress at the sight of Creed's particular flare for the dramatic, it doesn't seem to register.
    Determined to get her own licks in on this fight - she opens another portal. An invitation for her mentor to shove the thing through - so she can snap it shut when he's partway through, severing the body into different parts on the floor.

Victor Creed has posed:
Sabertooth is not in anything like a tactical mindset right now, just ripping at the enemy. One of those scythe tipped legs punches through one of Victor's arms, eliciting a loud roar, then his jaws crunch through the leg, severing it before he pulls it out of his arm and tosses it aside, the wound already starting to close. Clawed hands rip at the thing's torso, ripping wide the wounds Lorna caused with her shrapnel barrage. Several of the other sharp legs rip open gashes on him or even puncture through body parts, but he's well beyond feeling pain. Whatever the spider has for blood is spraying around the room at this point, which will probably result in some hefty dry cleaning bills.

Finally, one hand clamps around the spider's neck and just starts to squeeze, claws sinking into the sides of the neck as he growls and lifts the mutant up with that one arm.

Talia Wagner has posed:
There is a good reason that TJ went for the high ground.

Reasons.

One. Not within easy reach of the Spider Monster Dude while he is being mauled by Sabertooth.

Two. Not within easy reach of Sabertooth after he finishes mauling Spider Monster Dude.

She quickly scurries across the ceiling throwing blasts of purple energy down and into the Spider Monster Dude. They are lethal AF but not as much as an angry Mr. Creed.

Then she drops down by Clarice and Lorna and flings one more hexbolt for good measure at the threat. Letting Clarice take point though with Mr. Creed.

Frankly she is fine letting the mutant who can regen as well as Logan take the brunt of it all up there with the gore. "That never gets less impressive." she notes softly.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    What sprays from the thing is actually pretty much like normal blood, just darker. Aldea's struggles become less and less until he finally stills. To his credit, he stayed conscious a long time, fought back a long time considering everything that was thrown at him. Victims saved, killer dead... it's over.
    <<Clyde's taking me home.>> It's Nicolai over the comms. Is he... not waiting for the head, after ALL of that? After insisting he stay for the end despite what happened. Did his voice sound a little too thick with emotion? Maybe. What's up with that? But it might be noted that he did call the Asteroid 'home'. Seems he's made that decision. He does add, <<Thank you, all of you.>> But that's it, he'll be gone when they all make it outside... or well, maybe with Blink in there, they won't even come outside! Hell, maybe they'll beat him home!

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique will wait, watching Victor, prepared to stop him from making a move on anyone else if needed because she already knows she can. It doesn't hurt him, just pisses him off, that he can't get where he wants to go, that this little blue tart just keeps throwing him around like a sack of potatoes, but that only happens if he doesn't calm down.

"Clyde, varify" She barks into the comm.

"Yep, taking him home," comes the reply, then there is static unless you have a special comm like her's to reach alll the way to the Asteroid.

"That was odd," she mutters, then looks to Victor. "How you doing Victor?" she asks calmly.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "And we're going to have a whole conversation about just how and when you've seen Mister Creed do that before," Clarice remarks - without glancing back at TJ. Instead, she simply stands between the two women and the man who, in a way, raised her - one of her javelin's held at the ready in her hands and the offered portal from earlier blinking out of existance.
    She registers Nicolai's words - but doesn't respond to them for now. Instead, she packs that away to analyze later, and focuses on the present situation. "Mister Creed?" she asks as the fight ends - her voice pitched low and calm. "Where to, Mister Creed?" she asks - her eyes intent on his form and his mood. She's used to judging him in such states, and should it seem warranted, she'll move closer hoping her presence will help him regain his calm.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane stands stoically still while watching the carnage unfold. It wasn't that she wanted to. It was that she couldn't look away. Partly out of unease, partly out of that sensation of watching a horrible train wreck unfolding. The task is done at least, and Clarice takes up her usual spot putting her unconciously at ease. Instead she glances to TJ when the other joins her. "That's one way to put it I suppose. Unsettling is another. A very useful gift however." Lightly clearing her throat, she doesn't chime in with the others calling out to Mr. Creed. No, not her. Getting to see this up close was unsettling in every way for her as Clarice might well know. "A good job none the less."

Victor Creed has posed:
Sabertooth keeps squeezing until the head pops off, then starts stalking side to side still holding the severed head in one hand. His eye are flat with rage, growls his only communication at the moment. Mystique's voice doesn't calm him, but neither does it engage his attention as a target... years of training himself to not attack that voice pay off here. Looking over at the others, especially Talia who is a virtual stranger however, the rampage may just continue. His lips pull back to reveal his fangs and he starts moving towards her, dropping into a predatory stance.

And then Clarice steps in his path and speaks. His first instinct as she moves in is to raise an arm to bat her aside, but then her voice reaches his ears.

And he stops.

His arm lowers to his side, blood still dripping from various wounds that are still in the process of closing, but something in his eyes changes, and he rumbles, "Heya kid." He looks down at the head he's currently holding and breaks into a feral grin, "I guess we got him, huh?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ seems pretty relaxed, like she isn't as worried as she should be for some reason about a foaming raging Mr. Creed. "Sure thing." is the reply to Blink.

I mean she has been trying to look up this dimension's Clarice for a while, so this works for Talia.

She also doesn't seem at all surprised about Clarice being able to talk him down like that either.

"You definitely got him." she notes then looks around at the empty room. "I take it the victims were either illusions or they were blink'd out?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique visibly relaxes, but only slightly, once Victor is not eating someone he shouldn't. She already got the report about the five teleported away, Nicolai was taken home... that left one other matter.

Walking now toward Lorna and Clarice, she says something quietly into the comm, even as a smile spreads across her features. Seems she might be up to something, or perhaps she's just glad that the bug is dead... spiders *shudder* ew.

"Shall we all return for some drinks and after murderer celebrations?" She stops just short of Lorna, Clarice and Talia. "All present are invited."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We got him, Mister Creed," Clarice confirms - a smile growing on her features, and that readiness in her posture easing and relaxing as he speaks. She moves in towards him - one hand going to his arm, her forehead leaning in towards his chest for a moment. She's going to get blood and gore all over herself, of course, and some of it is Creed's. She doesn't seem to mind. "Are you joining us for drinks?" she asks him. "Or you want a lift somewhere else for a bit?" There's no judgement - some people need a little time to unwind after a fight before they're ready for //people//.

Lorna Dane has posed:
Lorna Dane slides her hand just to the side in front of Talia. Just a bit, when she sees Sabertooth start to scan around. A single quiet 'get back just in case' gesture though she has little doubt that if Mystique can't handle it, then Clarice can. It proves true. Just not in the way that she imagined. Swallowing a single time she glances to the side away from the sight of her friend leaning against a bloodied Creed in that manner. It was already hard not to look at that severed head or the body left behind. "... We shouldn't leave the body for others to find. Like it or not, this was a mutant. Others may use this against us somehow." Yes, details, details were far easier to think of. "Blink it somewhere appropriate for disposal before we go off to... celebrate."

Victor Creed has posed:
Victor looks down at himself and chuckles roughly, "Well, gotta give this to Nicolai" he begins, gesturing with the head, "And then I could prolly use a couple drinks. We did pretty good, huh? Betcha ol' baldy's team couldn't have done any better. People will learn not to pull this shit when the Brotherhood's on the job." He looks around the room at the others, and shrugs, "We got laundry rooms up at home if ya wanna get that crap outta your clothes. They're good with blood and all, trust me, I know."

Talia Wagner has posed:
On the surface that whole invite for drinks and celebrations and all that with a smile even from Mystique might appear to be totally friendly and everything.

TJ has spent literally years dealing with her grams and that smile actually causes her eyes to narrow ever so slightly. Just a smidge. Noticable though. Mystique doesn't do big smiles usually in her experience at least. Unless something is up.

"Good call." on the body.

She breaths in and then lets out a little tiny smidge of a sigh and smiles back. "I'd be happy to join you for drinks." better than doing something drastic or revealing any hidden aces. Also good opportunity to vibe check the local analogs of the relations.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Welp. He's just fine, then. Clarice pulls away, flashing Victor another brief smile. "Bring our prize, then," she agrees - before turning to look at Lorna. "We have //people// for that," she informs her - her tone playfully imperious. "It's below our paygrade." A gesture summons a portal though - and through it, the asteroid, and the asteroid's bar. "I picked up a case of very fine cognac earlier today. //Apparently,// extra fancy brandy isn't called brandy. And it has to be from Cognac, France." You learn new things all the time.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique is pretty damn proud of Clarice right now, for saying in a much nicer way than she would have what needed to be said. Even as the cobalt mutant turns to look at Blink and says, "Portal to the bar then." Several people in 'clean up' jump suits appear, just popping in on their location to start the task of leaving no evidence.

Only amateur's just 'blink' things away.

"Shall we then?"