6402/Time To Do Some Testing...

Time To Do Some Testing...
Date of Scene:	01 June 2021
Location:	Central Nexus
Synopsis:	The tests weren't pass or fail, but Nicolai passed... that is one unique mutant!
Cast of Characters:	Raven Darkholme, Nicolai Codona, Clarice Ferguson

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Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique emerges from the living quarters hall, having spent most of the morning warning guards off in other directions and keeping people away from Victor's room while he 'decorated'. The sounds of rampage and destruction inside drew attention, so she had to ensure the large man was not interrupted as he put the personal touches on his territory.

Heading now toward the cafeteria, the desire for coffee and something sweet drawing her away from the now "Stay the fuck away from him" section of the station, she seems set on her destination.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Nicolai had excused himself to shower just a short while ago. Of course Clarice escorted him to his room, but was she waiting she waiting on him when he was finished? If she was, he seemed fine with it. Look, she was! He came out of the room, curls all the more curly for being damp and his sort beard whittled down to an intentional scruffy shadow. "I do suppose it could be worse. My bodyguard could be an ugly, hairy old man." It was stated with a smile and followed with, "Where to?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice was back to work on her tablet as she waited, a look of consternation on her features. She quickly banishes it, though, as she greets Nicolai with a smile. "I just got a message from her, actually. I let her know you were interested in learning more about the victims - she's in. Once you're ready..." She gestures towards the door, and would happily lead him towards her mentor.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I'm as ready as I can be," Nicolai replies as he falls in step beside Clarice. "Are you okay?" he asks, genuinely concerned. "The things I revealed earlier, the things I said... it's not easy stuff to digest. Sometimes I forget that because I've lived it for so long it's normal to me."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'm fine, Nicolai. Really," Clarice promises, flashing the man another smile - but there was something else in her gaze. Perhaps something akin to caution? "No need to talk about that right now, though. Mystique's waiting for us, actually, and her time is valuable. No need to waste it with trivialities."
    Mmhmm. Trivialities. That's her line, and she's sticking to it, she decides as she leads the way towards the central hub of the asteroid.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Nicolai knows when to let something go... at least for the moment. He doesn't say another word on the matter... at least for now. It's clear in the way he sidelong glances INTENSELY at her that he's not letting it drop forever! "Of course, I'm sure she's very busy," he agrees.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique has found herself coffee and an apple fritter. She might be dark inside, evil to some, cold to others, loving at the oddest times, but no one can turn down an apple fritter... no one. Sitting she had begun to munch is while considering everything that has taken place in the last few days and it was /a lot/. Atrid, Lorna, Haunt, Victor being back... Thomas being speedy and likely family to Erik. So much, so, so much, and none of it had allowed her a chance to really hurt something, and she liked hurting things.

Now to consoling herself with that apple fritter, watching people moving around the cafeteria, living their lives, doing their part... well, having food to get back to doing their part anyway.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Ooo - we have the fresh fritters again?" comes Clarice's voice as she approaches - Nicolai in tow. Whatever conversation they //had// been having seems well and truly forgotten. "Do you want one?" she asks, glancing at Nicolai. "You //didn't eat//," she remainds the man. After she has his reply - she casually creates one of her little silvery dart-like javelins in her hand, and tosses it towards the pile of pastries - blinking the appropriate number of pastries into her waiting hands.
    "Oh, they're still //warm// even. Perfect timing. Hello, Mystique."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Someone would be upset if he knew he was adding to Mystique's stress. But alas, he's unaware. "Of course I'll have one," Nicolai tells Clarice. "If only so that you don't need to use that mothering tone with me again." He's smiling when he says it. "I am fine though, I've never had a huge appetite."
    His attention turns to Mystique. "Thank you for your hospitality. I slept great once I got there." ...after the sun came up and he couldn't think of another song to play.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Gesturing to the chairs at her table, Mystique says, "Just out of the oven, they're fantastic."

Her eyes follow the two of them as they move into the cafeteria, complete indifference being the expression on her face for the most part, but she does offer Nicolai a smile when he thanks her.

"I'm glad you slept well Haunt," she says, sliding the cream and sugar across the table in case either of them want some. "You are welcome here for as long as you would like to stay, and it could become a permanent home if you'd like, in time."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    The offered pastry is handed off before Clarice sits - pulling off pieces of the fritter and blowing on it before taking a bite. She let's Mystique address Nicolai before she asks simply, "Mister Creed is settling in alright?"
    It's possible that should be read as 'everyone's in one piece, right?'

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I do appreciate the offer and will definitely take it under consideration, but I feel... off about just staying here for nothing." Nicolai is a man of means, used to paying his way in the world and then some... not that he flaunts his wealth (outside his super expensive and insanely fast motorcycle), but still. "I get the idea of 'working for my spot', but I feel I should do more than that." He takes that pastry, pulls it apart and takes a bite, one bite, a small small bite.
    "Isn't Creed our tracker?" he asks.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique laughs a little darkly, "Yes Clarice, Victor is settling in nicely, no one has lost any limbs, and I think he finished "decorating" his room," yes there were air quotes. "I'm giving him his space, you know how he gets when he feels crowded."

Looking back to Nicolai there is a nod, "Yes, he is our tracker. In regards to staying here, if you want to offer money for your room and board, Erik most certainly won't say no. It will be put toward the cause, but it is not a requirement. The working for your spot is."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    A quirk of amusement pulls at the corners of her lips. Yup - that sounds like 'Mister Creed' to her, alright. "I'll check in on him later," she offers. Maybe they'll pop down to the surface for a bit - to give him a little more space. She can't imagine the asteroid actually appeals to him.
    She takes another nibble of her fritter before adding, "We all contribute in our own ways - and that's what matters. We each have a special - sometimes unique - skill. They're all useful." If you get creative enough.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I will most certainly make regular donations to the cause then, should I decide to stay for the long term." It definitely seems to make Nicolai happy to think he'll be able to do so. "I can also offer a safehouse in Romania, a castle actually, in the country..." middle of nowhere actually. "It's been vacant save for the caretakers since father was killed and I left." Safehouse, beautiful isolated vacation spot, is there a difference?
    "Well, Clarice, you already know that I... see dead people, I'm not certain what good that will do the cause, but I do have other skills." ...Each of them just as creepy as the next.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique finishes her coffee and slides the cup away, nibbling at the last bits of her fritter now. "There's actually a great deal of usefulness to someone who can see and speak to Ghosts, because ghosts see and hear /everything/ that goes on around them. Some maintain enough sense to be bargained with for that information, tit for tat." She wiggles her brows a little at that, seemingly not effected that Nicolai has creepy powers, then again she is old and probably seen it all once at least already. "So do we go talk to the families of the victims, or stay here and talk about what you can do, possibility demonstrate it?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well. I think Nicolai here is right - that we do want to know what we're going to be up against before we go hunting," Clarice offers. "And the sooner we find the answers - the fewer people going to be murdered for their powers in the meantime," she points out - her expression growing more grim. "I think we need to move forward with gatherng intel. But perhaps we could make use of Haunt's powers as we do?" She looks to the man for his willingness to do so.
    "That's my take anyways."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "Perhaps it would be better to talk to families tomorrow? It's a bit late, approaching the families of murder victims in the dark of night might be off putting, but if that's what the two of you prefer..." Nicolai isn't one to argue! "I'm not certain what good my particular skills would be in that regard, unless one of the murder victims happens to still be around and has attached themselves to a relative. A demonstration of what I can do would not take long." He's only finished about half of that fritter, not even really, more like a third. He doesn't seem overly inclined to finish it either.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique looks to Clarice, "Tomorrow morning for the families, see what Haunt can do tonight?" She waves someone over to fill her coffee again, which seems to happen too quickly really. They aren't afraid persay, but hate to leave her waiting.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Alright. So..." Clarice looks towards Nicolai. "They're your powers. You know how they work. What should we do? Go down to the sights of the murders and see if there's any specters lurking? Or you have another suggest that will prove more effective to investigating this situation - without involving the friends and family yet?"Again, she nibbles at her pastry. She seems to be savoring it - but seems determined to finish it off. Unlike //some// people.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I can tell some of the things I can do, but others... well, it's better that I show you," Nicolai offers. If there's one thing that's certain about this man, he has zero... ZERO shame over being a mutant. His father did a good job there. "Some of the showing might be best done somewhere else." Just a beat and, "There is one show... I can do here without risking damage to anything important." He's wearing a crooked little grin that screams mischief in the making.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique sits back with her new coffee in hand, "Alright, let's start with that then, show me what you can safely, and we will go somewhere for the other things. I must admit, I am very curious." She takes a drink of her coffee, watching Nicolai. She found herself actually liking the man, which was odd for her as she normally didn't like anyone.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I'll also admit to curiosity," Clarice agrees. "But - please don't break the Asteroid. I'd have a hard time getting everyone down to safety in time." In fact - she's pretty sure she couldn't do it. So best not to try. She pulls off another piece of the fritter - giving another nibble.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    That grin grows a little wider, the glow in his eyes a little brighter. Nicolai lays his hands on the table. He sucks in a breath slowly and lets it out just as slowly. The air around him turns frigid, but only for a second and then... well, he doesn't fall over out of his chair, but his eyes close and his chin touches his chest. His skin grows pale, his hair goes white. ... he looks like a damned B-movie ghostly ghoul. ...and he's not moving at all. Is he even breathing?
    She won't actually *hear* it when Haunt's astral form moves behind Mystique to whisper in her ear. "Behind you look, it's coming..." But she'll find herself with a sudden urge to jump up and look... behind her. What's coming?! Then he's behind Clarice in what would be the blink of an eye if anyone could actually see him. "There's something wet in your seat, stand up..." ...and she'll find herself with the sudden urge to stand up to check her seat for something wet.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique actually jumps and looks behind her, odd no one saw that dagger on her yet there is in her hand. The poor woman a distance away behind her looks like she might piss herself, but the cobalt mutant recovers and looks over at Clarice, then to the slumped form of Nicolai. She had recognized his voice, but how it was that she felt compelled to go against her nature was another thing entirely. Next time and from now on, mind shields will be in place.

"Impressive."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice is on her feet as well - but for her, it's for two reasons. //Something has alarmed Mystique// is one of them - and that's why a javelin appears in the young mutant's hand. Always ready for trouble, is our Clarice. It's part of why she was made Royal Guard.
    Of course - the other reason has her briefly looking.... almost //compulsively// down at her seat - and even touching the seat of her pants with her empty hand. No - no nothing wet ther- oh. She glances from Mystique, to the room around them, looking for any other signs of danger, then back to Nicolai. "Huh."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Of course Nicolai sees their reactions from where he is even if they can't see him. Demonstration complete, his still form moves, first just an inhalation much like before. As the 'air' flows back into his body, his physical form takes on his normal appearance again. He opens his eyes and lets that breath back out again. "Sorry. I would never do that to allies under normal circumstances, it's nothing I play with or joke with, but it's something better shown than told," he offers quietly. ...but it *was* fun.
    "But that does bring about one that's impossible to demonstrate other than the fact that I look dead..." and he really did look so very dead. "I can project my consciousness into the Astral plane. There's no limit to how far I can go and I can get where I need to be quickly. But I do need to watch my time there unless there is someone on hand to tend to my physical form medically. Things begin to slip in that regard at a little over the half an hour mark, become dangerous around two and deadly at five."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The dagger returns to where ever it came from and Mystique claps. "Bravo Haunt, that is is definitely your name now. I asked you to demonstrate and you did, no harm, no foul. I am very impressed. Your body remains in a state of 'dead' while this happens, correct?" She asks, settling herself back more comfortably and picking up her coffee. "Important to note, because you will need protection when you do this."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "If my physical form is injured by an attack, I'm snapped back to it, but by then it very well could be too late," Nicolai explains. "So, yes, protection is likely necessary." He removes his hands from the table top and places them in his lap. "I've already explained this to Blink, but I perceive the world differently than most. Where you see nothing but a wall between this plane and the Astral one, I see a thin curtain. I've learned to turn it into background noise, but it's always there... an overlay of sorts over this world. I see the restless dead. ... as well as anything else lurking there. ...constantly. That was the first of my abilities to manifest and it happened at birth. But if there is a threat coming from behind that curtain, I will see it before it crosses into this world. The flip side is that strong enough entities *know* that I can see them, know that I spend my time half in their world and half in this one. It tends to draw their attention." And that truly is the way he's lived since he was born ... dead and revived, half in this world and half in the other.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique hmms softly, taking a sip of her coffee as she cross her legs. "That had to be distracting in the beginning," she comments quietly, perhaps more to herself than to either of them. "From now on, if you intend to use that ability anywhere but here in the Asteroid, inform another member of the Brotherhood to ensure your safety. You aren't alone any more and your safety is important to us."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I will promise to do so whenever possible," Nicolai agrees. "Sometimes situations arise that are out of my control, yes? But when they do, I always try to find somewhere safe to... stash myself." He leans back in his chair. His barely eaten fritter is still on the table, barely eaten. "Unfortunately you've seen a very small demonstration of one of my two remaining abilities. Sometimes it gets away from me when my emotions are running high. Even when I am using it intentionally, my fine control is limited. It's what you would call telekinesis. It's what my father called my 'poltergeist effect'. I can make a whole lot of things fly around and shake and rattle at one time and sometimes aim them in a general direction. I believe that physical demonstration is best left to another area?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique eyes the fritter for a moment, then looks back to Nicolai, "Wild form telekinesis, or is it merely something you're still working to get control of? I have seen it, temperature drop, things rattle, so far nothing damaged but I'm sure it could happen. So long as it isn't the Asteroid, it's all good."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
"How close to someone do you have to be to affect someone like you did us? Could you do something like tell someone on the edge of a cliff to jump?"Clarice asks blunly.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "It used to be a lot worse. I can normally get it under control before any damage is done now, it didn't use to be that way. Maybe finr control would be possible with time and practice?" His brow furrows just a little and Nicolai's voice dropped. "The last time I lost control of it completely was the day I found father dead." Castle windows are expensive to replace, by the way.
    "No, nothing like that. Just small suggestions," he tells Clarice, but... could it be more? "I've never been able to cause someone to harm themselves or anyone else. But it does make for a good distraction, the guard looking away from the security feed at exactly the right moment as an example. Or even using the bathroom." OoooOOOOooooo you need to peeeeeee! "Physically I don't have to be anywhere near them, but my Astral form needs to be close enough to whisper in their ear," he adds.
    "My combat training began at age ten, my last ability means I am never without a hand to hand weapon but that might be alarming to show here. I can, but that's up to you. I'm skilled with a small crossbow, just about any bladed weapon you put in my hand and several forms of martial arts. I'm also a master free runner and I can be a sneaky son of a bitch. I can mostly go unnoticed by anyone with normal senses in my physical form if I put my mind to it." It sounds like dear old dad was training a near perfect assassin honestly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Looking around for a moment, her amber eyes settle on Nicolai again, "No one cares if you show a weapon here, and if they do, then they aren't paying attention to who you are sitting with. If you wish to show the weapon you use, by all means. Just offer a warning to the room so no one attacks." She takes another sip of her coffee. "Is another of your issues that you don't eat much, or is there another form of sustenance you require? Raw, blood, energy, sunlight, something like that?" It would appear, she has done this before.

The last of her fritter is eaten, leaving the plate to get slid away from her. "I'll have to test your combat skills at some point, see just how good your training was, and it will be entertaining to me as I love a good fight."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I don't eat much, something father suspected was a result of what I'm about to show you," Nicolai explains as he pushes himself to his feet. First he raises both hands and announces to the room. "Just a demonstration, I intend no harm to anyone." While his hands are held up, open, it's hard to miss the small claw slipped over the end of his right thumb. Looks like a 'coke' nail truth be told. It's stainless steel, ornate, and he's rarely seen without it. The reason becomes clear soon enough.
    Haunt, because that's what he turns into as soon as the process begins, the physical double of his Astral form, flicks that that sharp nail across his palm. ... a palm, it might be noted, that is covered in small scars. The cut is deep enough to draw 'blood', but it isn't blood that flows from the wound, not by a long shot. It's actually ectoplasm, if either woman would be familiar with such a thing.
    First it drips from the wound, but it quickly begins to flow *outward* from the wound, away from his palm. In a matter of a few seconds, it's taken the form of a whip that ends in a wicked razor edge. The thing dances in the air in front of him like a serpent. When he cracks the thing outward, it gouges the table top so deeply that it near cleaves it in two. Another flick of his wrist and the thing straightens and... stays straight, now a thin bo-staff with the same wicked razor edge. The thing glows an eerie green, the same color as the ectoplasm that it was formed from. After a few expertly performed spins of the staff, he slams the blunt end on the ground. Did it crack the floor just a little bit? "In my Astral form, I don't need to bleed to make it happen," he explains. "It can't be taken from me, if it is pulled from my grip, it dissipates."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique was expecting some sort of showy power, after all he lead up to it being something impressive and made of something, but she wasn't expecting this. Ectoplasm.

Uncrossing her legs she sits forward to observe the entire process, from the way it flows form his hand and into the whip, the crack that strikes the table and makes a few people jump out of their skins, to the straightening of the essence into a bo staff that then does damage to the floor.. she'll explain that to Erik later.

"I am rarely, if ever, truly surprised by things Nicolai," oooh, she used his real name. "/This/... surprises me, and I am even more intrigued than I was before."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "Yes, well, it took me a little while to master it," Nicolai admits. He might be just a little ... embarrassed by her seeming praise? Is that praise? "In the beginning, I hit myself with it more than my intended target." It doesn't even take a flick of a wrist, or any movement at all for him to make the staff vanish. It does so in much the way that it appeared, it turns into a tendril of glowy green gooey... stuff before it just *poofs* out of existence.
    "The downside," there's always a downside right? "...is that, medically, I'm all but impossible to treat when a severe injury happens. I obviously can't receive a transfusion. Blood tests obviously don't work. I also need to spend time each day in my Astral form to..." He seems to be searching for the right word because nothing really fits. He finally settles on, "...recharge? If I don't, I grow weaker and weaker until my powers fail me. If they fail me completely, then I cannot astral project to... recharge," still doesn't seem like the right word to him. "Catch 22."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Have you gotten into that Catch 22 before? If so - how did you get out if it?" Clarice asks. She's intrigued - watching the entire show with avid, attentive eyes. "...you don't have blood, at all?" she asks. There's a faint frown. "Well. Would it be possible to withdraw and somehow preserve a supply of what you- ...do use, in case of such emergencies?" she asks. "I'm not very comfortable with the idea of not being able to offer you addequate treatment." And she looks towards Mystique, assuming she'll agree.
    "You'll have to see what our medical team can work out - in the form of unique therapies for your unique physiology. They'll probably relish the challenge."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A frown touches the cobalt mutant's face, she does not like the idea of someone who can't be healed. "Has a mutant healer ever tried healing you before?" She adds to Clarice's questions.

She understands now more fully what he is, or how it is he lives. He is part of two words at once, a very rare form of mutation but it has happened in other ways, with other realms before.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "One time," he tells Clarice and his long pause likely means she won't like his answer. "Father did the only thing he thought might work and it did, that one time. He stopped my heart," sending him to the 'other side' and at least it seems he has a heart even if it pumps ectoplasm? "...and revived me." But that's soooo risky, so easy to make a mistake, so easy for it to end with him not being able to be revived. "He didn't know what else to do, I would have died if he hadn't tried it anyway."
    It all likely does explain is tiny appetite though, his metabolism is different, his 'blood' flows more slowly than someone that actually has *blood* in their veins. "Other than that, I've been lucky to be honest. My injuries have never been more than something that required sutures. Then it's just a matter of projecting to replace what I've lost.
    A shake of his head for Mystique along with, "No, never." He then backtracks to one of Clarice's first questions. "No one's tried it."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well. I vote we try," Clarice suggests - amusement quirking at her lips. "Because I'm opposed to the //stopping your heart// method of health care. Wow." She shakes her head at the idea - finally finishing off the last of her fritter. "I wonder," she muses quietly, "if I could blink that thing out of your hand. It would just vanish then - right?"
    Something to try later. In a sparring session.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique stands up and walks over to Nicolai, "Your hand please?" She says. Look at the polite on this one. If he gives it to her, she looks over the wound he made to see if it is already healing or just... there. "I think Clarice is right, let's go see if a mutant healer can handle this, it is important information to know and then we can see whatelse you have in your bag of tricks."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    He does offer his hand, that until now has been closed into a fist. The wound is still there, but it wasn't all that deep to begin with. The ectoplasm oozes from the cut, all glowing and gooey. It doesn't flow like blood would, it's slow. That's something at least, it would likely take him longer to 'bleed out'? "I'm game," Nicolai agrees with a shrug.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice leans over to study the offered hand as well - her expression one of open curiosity. The sheer array of different powers that mutants could display... The numbers of ways they could manifest... "Well. We'll go see," she agrees, rising to her feet. "And then - do we need to head down to earth to really let you cut loose? Or we feeling clear enough on the concepts?" she asks - directing the question to Mystique. She's the boss - at the moment. Since Magneto wasn't here.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
After she has studied the wound, Mystique nods, "Yes, let's go see."

With that she turns and starts to head toward the medical wing, she assumes she'll be followed, she's used to that.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Following along, Nicolai seems to be doing a lot of that lately. It's not something he's really used to, but... he's a guest. Or is he? Has this moved on to something more permanent without him even realizing it? He's been the better part of a year completely on his own, maybe he's starting to like the idea of having a 'family' again. "Cut loose?" he chuckles. "I'm not sure cutting loose is... what I mean to say is that most of what I do is a little more subtle than that?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique walks as she walks, people instinctively moving. "I think we have a pretty good idea. He did mention a few things he didn't feel safe showing here, but it is up to him if he would like to go show them now or another time."

The medical wing lacks nothing. If it's modern medical equipment, even the rare stuff, they have it here, but there is also a team of mutant healers on hand for the more severe cases. At the moment they are sitting at a desk playing cards, with one out of the game watching the patients they have resting in rooms on the monitors. When Mystique enters, the game immediately ends.

"One of you," yep, she doesn't even use their names. "Or all of you, see if you can heal Haunt's hand."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "The... seeing and talking to dead people part?" Clarice asks. "Or am I missing something else?" She moves along with the trio, a relaxed swing to her step. She's in a good mood. Mister Creed is on the station (tearing up a room). They've got a new friend who can play the piano and do some //very// interesting things. And she seemed to have no shortage of teachers to help her grow her own potential.
    Not to mention that - in fairly short order - she would be ferrying tons of metal (literally tons) down to the surface of the planet to rebuild Genosha.
    "Hey, Barrim," greets one of the girls who jumps to - offering her a brief nod of her head. The others are less familiar to her - but Barrim saw to Clarice's health the last time she got a bit rattled on a job.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Nicolai is a dutiful patient. He lets any and all that care to try, take a stab (pun intended) at healing his hand. "You've really seen all my tricks for the most part, just not the telekinesis at its full scale." Which is really something to see in its own right. "It's something that I can also do in my Astral form, which... makes it a little more terrifying to those unaware and bearing witness."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique moves out of the way, allowing the healers to do their thing. She knew she made them nervous, so she attempted to appear cheerful about everything, which really just made her more creepy than she already was.

The healers all seem to gather round and look at his hand, and the conversation immediately goes off among them about the blood, or lack of, the ectoplasm, the wound itself, length, depth, etc. and after a few minutes of this one takes a stab at healing him. No go, but damn did the guy give it a go. The second looks worried over that, but she seems to be able to make Nicolai's hand at least tingle and itch, natural signs of healing, but not actual healing. It is the Barram, the third who manages to actually close the wound, and even then it seems to be something of a struggle on her part. Clearly this is something that will take time and practice, and that alone has all three of them back to conversation like the patient isn't standing right there, all the possible natural and mutant ways they could heal him more easily.

Mystique gives them exactly five minutes, two eye rolls then finally goes, "Report."

Squeak, cough, shit they all look at the cobalt mutant at the same time. "It's possible, but we're going to need a sample of his ectoplasm, if it is sustainable outside of his body, and more practice, as well as a lot of research."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice gives Barrim an approving smile as she manages to closer the wound, and listens with incomprehending curiously as the babble back and forth at each other about the technicalities of the challenge in front of them. Yeah, medicine isn't her thing.
    "Well. It sounds like a request for somebody to really put poor Haunt here through his paces during the sparring match," she remarks, giving Nicolai a sympathetic smile. It's happened to her more than once. Mister Creed wasn't always gentle in his lessons.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Rather than be put off by all of the talking about him rather than to him, Nicolai is mildly amused. At one point he even uses that claw on his right thumb to cut an even deeper wound to his left palm that he then offers out for their perusal. When he's not forcing it to form the whip-staff, it just oozes. "I'm always up for further honing my skills," he tells Clarice, absently almost. "Father wondered if I could possibly use the ectoplasm to form a sort of armor, but I never got it quite right before..." the man was murdered.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A sample of that ectoplasm is taken in a vial, which seems to delight all three of them even though one of them now has to take it to be stored, carefully, under major security. Barram once again heals the wound, a little easier this time, but still... good thing she has Wheaties for breakfast.

"Alright, this is promising them. Careful sparring, I don't want Haunt permanently damaged until they've had time to figure out what's what." She offer a real smile, showing that she's pleased which makes the two remaining medics relax a little more. "I'd like at some point to see the full force of your telekinesis Haunt, when you're willing to go to the planet and demonstrate it."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Whether or not you ultimately decide to stay with us, Nicolai," Clarice offers, "and I think it's safe enough to speak for both of us that you do find working with the Brotherhood to be to your taste, it's still helpful for our medics to learn to accomodate unique physiologies. You're making our medical team more effective, and doing a service for all of our kind." Glancing between the pair she adds, "And I'm happy to provide that ride - just say the word."

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "Barram is it? Would you be willing to try something? Not this evening, but soon?" he asks of the one that was able to make something happen. Nicolai's wheels are spinning about something, one could almost imagine the green smoke coming from his ears. "We could go now. If either of you know an abandoned building with, perhaps lots of debris?"
    He does wait until "Barram agrees or disagrees to a 'favor'. It's easier to get them to agree when they don't know what they're agreeing to!

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Barram rips herself out of the medical prattle, "Any time you are ready, I would most definitely be willing. You're something new," she offers the man a smile, not trying to seem to eager to work mutant magics on him over and over and over again... cause she is, very eager. "Just come by here and if I'm not here, one of them," she indicates the others, "Can call me."

Mystique hasn't seen this much excitement since the medical wing was finished, it's like kids in a candy store. "I know a few abandoned locations, Blink may know a few herself, a place can be chosen."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I know some," Clarice confirms. Her attention shifts to Nicolai as she remarks, "You said before - you can also fling things around wherever your astral form goes. So you could... say... Physically be here, send your mind down to Emma's office, whisper in her ear, throw things around-" But it's right about then that Clarice's mind catches up with what she's suggesting.
    "...but she's a telepath. Can telepaths perceive astral forms? It would be much too dangerous, if she could see you..."
    Still. The theory stands. They could do it to //other// people they wanted to mess with.
    As she's talking, one hand lifts - causing a portal to open - and through the center of the slowly swirling, purplish energy is the floor of an abandoned warehouse, littered with discarded items, and empty shelves.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I'd like to see if Barram," he's addressing Mystique now. He's already caught on to who's in charge. It's not like it isn't obvious. "...can manage to keep my physical form stable when I project and for how long." Could she extend the length of time he Nicolai can stay in his Astral form without damaging his physical body?
    "Yes, a telepath can likely sense my Astral presence if they're powerful enough, but taking away the telepathy, I can do all of those things from a distance." ...and he adds one important bit of information he'd forgotten to mention. "I can also cross the veil from the other side with my whip. That is to say, I can use it in my Astral form to hit someone here. However, it takes a lot of energy to do so ... A LOT. I believe it's more difficult for the whip to cross than it is for me to use my telekinesis because the whip is part of me. Of course I can also use it against beings on that plane when "I'm there." He steps through the portal, awaiting the other side for Mystique's answer to his proposal.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique just busts up laughing, just out of no where, laughing /hard/ at what Clarice is suggesting. In fact she is laughing hard enough she had to lean against the wall a moment to collect herself.

"Clarice," she manages to say once she's caught her breath, "I /adore/ you." She takes a deep breath and rights herself. "Emma would likely be able to sense you, but that doesn't mean she could stop your suggestions or control what was happening. In regards to Barram, that is an excellent concept to test, so long as she is willing."

Even being in charge, it must be noted that in most situations, Mystique doesn't tell people want to do unless it is directly related to someone being hurt, or on a mission. Barram gets to decide for herself if she will do this thing, Mystique will not tell her she has to. There is a line, and the cobalt mutant rarely crosses it.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    She listens curious to everything Nicolai says about his powers - but she's distracted by the way Mystique just //busts out// laughing. The grin Clarice is wearing is like the cat who got the cream.
    This seems as good a time as any to come out with her big ask, then.
    "So. We have samples, right?" she remarks casually. "Of the Kick? And the suppressant? I was thinking - the most people we have looking at it, the better. Maybe they'll find something we missed... Why don't we give some of the samples to McCoy?" Yes. Hank McCoy. From Xavier's. She continues to hold her hand up - with the portal slowly whirling, inviting them all to go to the empty warehouse Clarice was aware of.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    All jokes go right over his head. Sure the name Emma Frost might be familiar, but all that was said is 'Emma' and he's not from around these parts. Nicolai's through the portal and looking back at the other two. "This'll do!" he calls out.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A good laugh was rare, but then the mirth was instantly murdered, in cold blood. She walks toward the portal as she says sternly, bluntly and coldly, "No." Then steps through the portal.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Well. That went about exactly like she had expected. "What happened to 'you adore me'? It didn't last very long," Clarice remarks as she steps through - hand lowering to let the portal 'bliiiink' closed. "McCoy would want to do everything he could to help get that stuff off the streets as well, and you know it. This seems like something we could all work together on. Why not use all the resources available to us? Where's the harm?"
    Stop while you're ahead, Clarice... whispers a voice at the back of her mind. She ignores it.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "I really have no idea what the two of you are talking about, but it seems to me that if there's something 'on the streets' that's a danger to mutants, any and all hands should be allowed on deck," Nicolai adds oh so helpfully. He takes a moment to look around the warehouse and asks, "So nothing here matters, I'm assuming?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
It may not have been much of a headstart that Mystique got, but it was enough for her to collect herself. She turns as the other two appear through the portal, arms folding across her chest. She wants to tell the girl no again, then punch her, then tell her no again, but that's not how it's done.

"Later," she states bluntly to Clarice, then looks to Nicolai. "This seems like a good location for you to let lose."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice stops at that looks from Mystique - her lips pressing together as she gives a nod of her head. She's not going to win this one. And... yeah, okay. Maybe it was as stupid for her to suggest the idea in front of Nicholai as Summers had been. "Yes ma'am," is all she offers in response, though.
    "Nothing here matters," she confirms, as her gaze turns Nicolai - forcing a smile into place that she hopes covers for that little bit of dread she feels about how 'later' is going to turn out for her.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "Okay, well. For you to see the *full* effect, I should go ghost. In my physical form, my range is limited to about twenty feet. That distance doesn't matter in my Astral form because I can travel that twenty feet in a blink." He winks at... well Blink. "In other words, I can sort of be everywhere in a room in a short amount of time, allowing me to manipulate ... more things." With the explanation given, he finds a place on the floor to sit down. "...so, I leave my body in the capable hands of you lovely young ladies, do with it what you will." Was that an innuendo? He's very obviously TEASING but that's really the first such thing he's said since this wild ride started. He must be getting comfortable.
    ... a breath in, a breath out and a mostly 'dead' body left behind.
    Then things really get weird.
    It starts as just a rattling and shaking from those shelves around the room, but the momentum grows quickly. It's almost as if someone has released a whirlwind in the room. Shelving unites are ripped from walls, debris flies around the room randomly, things just shake, rattle, clank and flit all over the damned place. The girls better DUCK! Oddly enough, none of it comes close to Nicolai's body, maybe they should hunker down close to him?
    It builds and it builds and it builds into a chaotic storm of *stuff* banging around the room, bouncing off walls and then, just when it seems things can't get much more crazy, any windows left in the building *implode*. ...and lets not forget the 'see your breath' cold that settles into the area.
    The sudden cessation, the sudden clattering of everything to the floor an then the absolute silence that follows is ALMOST as disconcerting as the rest of it.
    ... a breath in, he's back... a breath out.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique makes sure to catch the 'dead body' so it doesn't fall and he doesn't hurt himself, then kneels down to the floor to ensure she isn't hit with anything. For the moment she is focused on this and what is happening, the other thing will be dealt with later, just like she said.

Her thought was right, even as things starts flying around on what appears to be there own, she is watching the power behind the movement, how fast the things are going, if any his the walls, the level of impact. She is gleaning out as much information from this as she can get while making sure the 'body' isn't hit. If she gets hit, no big deal, she'll deal with it, but she doesn't want him to get hit.

When he comes back to himself, he will find himself almost completely covered in Mystique, that is to say her body is pressed against his to protect him, so she doesn't immediately notice that he is back where he belongs.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    'What you will' is a very simple matter. Clarice immediately moves to stand guard over Nicolai's body - and she opens a portal in front of it, doing her best to angle it to allow Mystique a few - while also offering Nicolai the protection he needs. The otherside of the portal can be seen on the other side of the room - venting anything that would be inadvertantly thrown Nicolai's direction at a patch of wall. She keeps the portal open with her left hand, while her right hand holds one of her javelins - ready to throw at a moment's notice if any of this gets so badly out of hand that she needs to blink something away.
    She also remains attentive to everything happening around them - but while she does pay some attention to the force of the strange 'storm' - most of her attention is paid to keeping all of them safe. If she handles 'security' - then Mystique can handle the assessment.
    She does end up flinging a pair of bolts during the course of the demonstration - but it seemed as if Nicolai could at least control it to some degree - it didn't seem as if as much stuff was being sent //their// way.
    "Well," she remarks - sounding impressed, as her hand lowers and the portal blinks out.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    A small tornado could have been responsible for the damage left behind. There's power there, raw power, but very little in the way of finesse and control. It's also clear from the little groan of a sound that Nicolai makes that he was likely pushing himself to his limits. Then... he notices he's all wrapped up in Blue. "I could get used to this," he murmurs. He'll wait for her to move before, "I can do less... for much longer," is explained. "But you wanted maxium power, so..." He rocks forward to a more seated position and rests his elbows on his knees. He rubs at his temples with his fingers. Headache, yes.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Noting that he's back in his own body, Mystique shifts slightly and grins down at him. There is a waggle of her brows, a playful grin and then she moves the rest of the way so he can get himself up with her help.

"That was impressive Haunt," she offers, looking at the damage. "I can see room for practice and improvement, but without a doubt there is power there. Thank you for showing it to me."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I mean. ...doing that to Emma really //is// tempting," Clarice muses quietly, her gaze still on the devestation the man just wrought. Since he seems alright, and all. "It's probably not a //good// idea. But it's still a funny one."
    She tears her eyes away, then looks down at Nicolai - there's sympathy in her gaze now at the expression on his features. "I've pushed myself to the limit - from time to time. It's not a good feeling. Like... your whole body hurts, and your brain hurts, and like... I don't. Like something else hurts that I can't just define." And the tired. And the need to sleep for - wasn't it 48 hours that one time?

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "In human form, there isn't as much force... power, whatever," Nicolai explains. He's now pressing his thumb and index finger into the corners of his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "...but there's slightly more control. Like maybe I could manage to wing a shelf or two in the right direction, at someone's head."
    "It'll pass, it always does," he directs at Clarice.
    He falls silent a moment, it's a thoughtful silence. "I feel like my emotions are more... just *more* when I'm projecting. I don't know how to explain it, but everything is heightened and maybe... that's why there's more power and less control that way." It's really just a theory. They may be his abilities, but it certainly doesn't mean he understands them all. He had Cristian and the man did a fine job, but he wasn't an entire ASTEROID of other mutants and healers and experts.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Again Nicolai is studied, the after effects of exerting that much energy and how he reacts to it. "Do you mean that you /feel/ the emotions more and thus they effect the projecting or something else?" She realizes that talking about this sort of thing is difficult, sometimes finding the right words was impossible, she'd been there.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice's gaze rakes over the warehouse again, before turning her attention to Nicolai, offering an encouraging smile. "Yeah. It passes," she agrees, before offering, "Shall we go back?" If he's this exhausted - there'll be no more demonstrations, after all. Assuming Nicolai gives some sign of assent, she lifts her hand to summon the portal again - it'll bring them out near Nicolai's quarters. "Everytime you think you've seen the limits of what mutation can create... There's someone else that comes along to show us something new," she remarks.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    "It's..." it's really hard to find the right words, yes. "It's like the difference between a fine grain sandpaper and a coarse grain, so yes... It's like I feel everything more, bigger, brighter and the stronger emotions fuel the power, but make it harder to focus and control." He's already recovering from the expended energy and pushes himself to his feet.
    Nicolai looks from one woman to the other and asks, "So, I did pass?" He's grinning, he really didn't MIND any of this, but he did feel a little like he was under a microscope being tested.
    Seeming to recover or not, he's definitely ready to go back. "Yeah, let's go home." He doesn't even realize the slip there, the subconscious little slip. If he took note of it he'd be both amazed and terrified that, in less than two days time, he's started to think of an *Asteroid* as home.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique offers her hand to help Nicolai up, "You more than passed, you impressed me Haunt, that's rare these days." Whether he takes the offered hand or gets up himself, once she offers him a smile and those words, she turns toward the portal.

She didn't miss the slip, but she also doesn't say anything about it directly. "I'm sorry if you felt like it was some sort of test, I really was more interested in what you could do than it being a test. It's important for me to know what every Mutant on Asteroid M can do, so that when it comes time to take actions in some way, I know who to call to form the team." With that, she steps through the portal.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Though - I would argue there isn't really a 'pass or fail' on any of this," Clarice counters with amusement. "It's just assessing what you can do - so Mystique can figure out how we can //actually// use it." As compared to Clarice's ridiculous ideas. She //will// continue to come up with ridiculous ideas - you can trust in that. "And - yes, formulate teams, as she's suggested. And really - I mean, I'm sure you already know this - the more we practice, and experiment, the more creative means of pushing our limits we discover. The first time I redirected an attack on an ally so it hit a foe instead? Was a //revelation//." She steps through the portal as well - sealing it off with her usual 'bliiiink' sound.

Nicolai Codona has posed:
    Nicolai does accept the hand up. He's not too proud for that. He's tired, not just from this display, but from... the past year of constant hunting and never catching his prey, from the whirlwind the past day and a half or so has been. He stepped through the portal right behind Mystique and asks, "So, tomorrow we try to find out what we're up against when we go after him?" As in... trying to find out what powers Aldea might have stolen. He turns just before the portal completely closes. His eyes widen. He points. "Clarice..." Not that SHE can see what he's pointing at. "...she's back!"