View source for 6442/Welcome To My Parlor Said the Spi... Mystique to the Nocturne...

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2021/06/04
|Location=Central Nexus
|Synopsis=Blink Status Membership may become a thing for the Brotherhood! TJ spend the night with 'old' friends, and Mystique may be a grandmother... ho boi.
|Cast of Characters=2806,605,598,2263,600,33
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After a quick once over from medical revealed that Nicolai wasn't going to die, he went straight to the bar. ...but not to drink, not yet anyway. He's sitting in front of that grand piano that Clarice so kindly blinked in from Romania. The man is completely lost in his music and he is *talented*. It's not a piece anyone would recognize because it's a piece of his own making. It takes its style from the likes of Bach, but it's definitely his and his alone. He might even be 'writing it' as he plays. It's a haunting tune, fitting really for many reasons, that portrays loss and heartache. Or at least it started that way. It ends, however in a violent crescendo of music that has his fingers flying so quickly over keys that they're barely visible; naught but a blur. From start to finish, if anyone had listened from start to finish, they could have heard him finding his father's body, the year of yearning and searching that followed that ended in the violence that happened this evening.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>The purple swirl of a portal appears in the middle of bar, which is oddly very, very empty. Although Nicolai is there playing the piano, there is no one else drinking or sitting at table, there are however about eight other mutants in the room, positioned in varies places to surround it, and two specifically by the door.<br><br>The bartender appears as if this is just another day for him, cleaning the bar top and getting glasses ready.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clarice will enter - but even though she appears relaxed, and even pleased with the outcome of the evening's efforts, she continues to keep a close eye on Creed and stick as close to him as possible. "Can you get my bottle?" she asks the bartender - and with a nod, a beautiful bottle with a design similar to cut glass, labeled 'Remy XO Cognac' is set on the counter. "Who'd like a pour?" she asks - sparing a glance towards Nicolai, before looking to the others once more. "He'll probably be there for a while," she adds. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>TJ steps through the swirl of purple and looks around the room.<br><br>Lets see. Eight mutants of various sorts. Those yellow eyes play off each one of them slowly surveying. the situation. "This tracks." she notes nodding lightly. she gives a little finger wave with two thicker digits to the nearest one the muscle then meanders after Clarice to the bar and leans up against it. "Sure I'll take a pour Clarice."<br><br>Then TJ looks at the bartender "Can I get a Starry Nights as well Lucas?" planting a finger down onto one of the cocktail napkins and giving it a twirl under her finger. "When did Erik setup Asteroid M?" that is really sidelong to Lorna once she is through.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor Creed steps out of the portal still holding the dripping head of the spider/human hybrid thing. Nicolai's music catches his attention right off, so he walks over to the piano and holds the head up, "You wanted this, I believe." He actually thinks things through enough not to put the thing down on Nicolai's piano, instead dropping it next to the young man's bench. After delivering the gory trophy, he heads back over to the group and plops into a chair, completely ignoring the trail of bloody footprints he's left from portal to piano to table. After he sits, he calls over to the bartender, "Beer me!" and the man brings over a bottle for him.<br><br>Victor takes a swig, then looks at Talia and asks, "So what's your deal? Ya look and smell kinda like that Nightcrawler dude, but I didn't see ya popping around like he does."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:33|Lorna Dane (33)}} has posed:'''<br>Lorna Dane is more than willing to peel away from the side of Clarice to give her and Creed a bit of space to properly handle their calming down from the fight situation. She was still a bit tense, perhaps even shaken, herself over the events. It's a fight not to show it outwardly as more than a quick stride toward the bar to claim a seat for herself. The music from Nicolai's piano playing garners her attention quick enough as it was a good distraction from the events of the evening. A soft smile creeps across her face for a moment. "It's good to see other talents being used..." Distracted as she was, she wasn't SO distracted that TJ's question is quickly answered. "Recently." is her curt response. "I would prefer you not refer to father by that name."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clarice is probably right, Nicolai likely will be in front of that piano for awhile. His eyes are closed, he doesn't even seem to notice that they've entered yet. Dude has a lot to process and this is ... how he processes. He thought he'd be relieved. He's not. He lost his dad again tonight. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He DOES notice the sound of a severed head hitting the floor nearby and he does hear Victor's words, barely. "Yup," is all he says in response, lest he lose his place in his music. The man'll get a proper thank you later.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>The last one through the portal, Mystique is quite pleased to emerge into the bar exactly as it was supposed to be... closed. Taking stock of positions of all eight mutants, Nicolai at the piano, and the bartender whose names she totally knew of course, she strides towards the bar.<br><br>As she moves the black body suit and boots disappear, replaced simply by her own skin concealing anything that shouldn't hand out in public. Comfortable.<br><br>"Clarice, don't forget to let the brandy breathe," she comments as she leans against the bar, but her eyes on at on Talia. "You're an interesting on," she comments idly. "But Lorna is correct, he is Magneto to you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, we opened this bottle earlier - as soon as I picked up the case. To give it a little head-start," Clarice answers Mystique as she pours and delivers glasses of cognac to anyone who indicates they'd like a taste of the expensive beverage - but her friendly smile fades for a moment as she gives Talia a shrewd, and cautious look. "Yes. What is your... //deal//? How do you know Mr. Creed and I? Because we don't know you." <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She spares a glance towards Lorna - a look that tries to express a single, simple question. Are we good? She knows everything she witnessed would be jarring for her friend - and Queen. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>TJ accepts the Starry Night from Lucas, it is quite pink. She picks it up and gives it a testing sip. "Thanks!"<br><br>Then she turns to everyone "Short answer... I'm not from these parts." pauses a moment "As for who I am Mr. Creed, well my name is Talia Josephine Wagner-Lehnsher. Though most people call me TJ or Nocturne." oh right call signs.<br><br>Those yellow eyes flick to Mystique and then Lorna. "When I ran into him several weeks ago at the mansion and told him what I am about to tell you all he seemed nonpulsed by my use of the name. It will be hard to break the habit honestly...." a frown "I'm Wanda and Kurt's kid... though on the bright side I am not nearly as messed up as any of the Summers kids and the havok they wreck...." hand wobbles. "Way.. way more stable." the drink is gulped.<br><br>"I've spent years at this point traveling around unstuck from time with a team that included Clarice and Mr. Creed amongst others trying to get home... obviously not the two of you but...." vague gesture towards one of the viewing ports. "I got stuck here a few months ago and I don't seem to be going anywhere."<br><br>Based on heartbeats and breathing to people with extremely acute senses, the blue mutant isn't lying.<br><br>The fact she is stuck though seems to cause some stress.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:33|Lorna Dane (33)}} has posed:'''<br>Lorna Dane flashes a tired smile toward Clarice in response to that questioning look. It was the most reassurance she could offer her friend for the moment given the unfamiliar woman in the room with them, and the others still about. For now she takes up a bit of the cognac herself. "Thank you, Blink. I would say I could use this after tonight." The glass is swirled a time or two, as she's bound to do, then she tips back to take more than a healthy sip. Just in time alas to hear Talia's FULL introduction. There's a coughing-choking-spit of cognac that is entirely unlike herself in response as she's left to slam the glass back on the bartop. Her other hand claps over her mouth to keep from making a further mess as the burn of alcohol makes her coughing worse. "A-another--What!?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor just blinks. He's not stupid, but that was a lot to take in all at once. He takes a pull from his bottle, then simply says, "Ooookay." He looks to Mystique "This is one of those dimension things you tried to explain to me, isn't it? She believes it, at least, and she sure seemed to know how to work with us in the fight."<br><br>He turns his attention to Clarice, "What do you think? This kinda stuff is a little too weird for me, I prefer action over this science stuff."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>Mystique accepts the brandy that is offered but doesn't drink, not yet. She swirls the glass as she listens to Talia, watching the woman's eyes and body language, reading her like others might read a book. She didn't need fancy powers to know the woman believed herself to be telling the truth, that is to say that words were the truth for the woman. The idea of Wanda and Kurt being together however? /THAT/ makes her take a sip of the cognac, but the violent shudder of disgust is contained and kept as a mental reaction.<br><br>"First," she finally says slowly. "Those people you worked with are not us. Believe what you wish to believe about them, but you do not know us and you will stop being familiar with us as a result of that."<br><br>Now the brandy is set down and slid away as she says to Victor, "Yes Victor, this is one of those dimension things, you called that exactly." but her attention goes back to Talia.<br><br>"Clearly things are different here then they are in your dimension, and I can see that that troubles you. You feel like the odd Mutant out because you're stuck in a place that isn't rightfully yours to be in. So what have you been doing, aside from assuming more than you should. Do you work with the X-Men now? Did you work with them in your own dimension?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clarice touches Lorna's arm briefly before she moves away, to take a seat beside Creed with her own cognac. Talia's explination earns a puzzled stare as she tries to fit all that information together in her mind. "She seemed to know my portals," she remarks in confirmation. "And my name. And Lucas's name," she adds, nodding to the bartender. "And- I mean, is there //anyone// else who calls you 'Mister Creed'?" she asks, looking towards Victor, before she looks back to study Talia again, her expression puzzled. She's not sure what to make of all this - though Mystique seems certain. For the moment, her glass seems forgotten in her hand. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once he's let it all out, once he's shoved all the emotions of the evening into the music he was playing that was, well, beautiful but so very haunting and disturbing, Nicolai decides it's time to err on the side of upbeat for one last song before he joins everyone for a drink. He'll expertly make his way through 'I'm Still Standing' by Elton John. It's already been established that the man can sing too. Before the song's over, he's standing in front of the piano rather than sitting and putting a little boogie into it. Next will likely come the scotch or some whiskey, none of that brandy that needs sipping.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>Absolutely did not time that to make Lorna do a spit take, even if she told her not to use her grandfathers name. That was a coincidence honestly and she looks sorry about it too. She slides some of the napkins over towards Lorna now.<br><br>She looks back to Mystique "You think I don't know you aren't the people who I grew up around?" she glances at Clarice and Victor "Or fought alongside me through shit that most people haven't ever had to deal with..."<br><br>The empty glass is set down. "Of course I fucking know. It punches me in the face every day when I see people younger or different than I remember seeing them and know I don't belong here and I am an infinite dimensions from home and stuck Mystique." there not Raven, not that she was going to repeat that since it upset them with it earlier.<br><br>"Things are incredibly different where I'm from, Logan killed Xavier and the X-men are nothing like the ones here. As for am I an x-men.. no they are letting me bunk there but I don't think they know what to make of me either. To your earlier knife twist. My team was called the eXiles. We got bounced into timeline after timeline in crisis forced to fix it on the promise if we fixed the cascading failure of the universe we would be sent home. Every couple of days. For years. With no real break or escape. Hell last thing I did was kill a vampiric Hawkeye of the Vampire Avengers...."<br><br>She nudges her empty glass towards Lucas. "I'm pretty sure I know I'm not home... but it's nice to pretend a little bit sometimes that things aren't fucked."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor Creed shrugs, "Well, least you're stayin in one place now, from the sounds of it. Maybe time to make some new friends, I mean, won't be the same as the ones you went through all that with" he knows this, he's been through enough wars to know you get close to people you fight with day after day "but you can find a place you feel like you fit into."<br><br>He takes another pull from his beer and adds, "Hell, you work pretty good with Blink an me, maybe you should think about the Brotherhood. We got lots of work ta do to make sure mutants ain't being enslaved and mistreated, we could use the help."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:33|Lorna Dane (33)}} has posed:'''<br>Lorna Dane takes the offered napkins with a single curt nod of silent thanks. She does indeed clean herself up trying to remain as composed as possible even if she was failing. Her nerves were already getting the best of her. "I believe," she begins in an attempt to regain her composure, "That I should turn in for the night. It seems you've quite a lot to catch up on in so far as how this world works." Here she pauses to regard TJ a long moment. "I've met some of the other timeline hoppers from the Summers family. I suppose it was only a matter of time before we got one as well." A wan smile is offered as she steps away. "Pardon me, I do hope you all have a good evening."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>Another smile plays across Mystique's lips as Victor steps up and says damn near what she was going to say, almost the exact words she was going to use, almost. "Victor, you took the words right out of my mouth," she offers to the large man, before walking around behind the bar.<br><br>"You may not belong in this place at this time, but that most certainly doesn't mean you can't make a home for yourself until such time as you can get back to where you belong." She didn't see how well Talia worked with Victor and Blink, save for the moving across the roofs, but even that had seemed quite natural to young blue mutant. "I apologize for my cold response, but you see I had to know just how easy it was to push your buttons and get a response. I have lived through many, many wars myself, and seen things that could turn the blood cold, I may not know your exact pain, nor will I diminish by saying I know how you feel... but I will say this, with sincerity, if you would like to make a home here, and have aid in finding a way back to your own time, the Brotherhood would welcome you."<br><br>Her eyes shift to Lorna, "Rest well, Lorna. Thank you for your assistance tonight."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ending on that upbeat little diddy, the bar goes silent save the conversations being had. Nicolai finally actually looks down at the gift left at his feet by Victor. Sorry about the stain that'll leave on the carpet. He picks it up by the hair. "Think I can have it stuffed?" he asks as he makes his way to the bar, holding the head of his father's killer. "Whiskey, bottom shelf," he tells Lucas because well, he doesn't want to drink the Brotherhood into bankruptcy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Lorna," Clarice says quietly as her friend rises. "I'll call you tomorrow?" she suggests. There's a moment of concern reflected on her features - and she waits from some sign from Lorna before her attention returns to Talia again. She continues watching the woman with a toughtful expression as if trying to figure out a puzzle. "You'd be welcome," she agrees. Their readiness to welcome the strange, dimension-hopping, possibly... princess of the Royal Family? Was both surprising - and completely normal for the Brotherhood. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shifts her attention to Nicolai for a moment as he joins them, trying to gauge the man's mood, before the puzzle of the moment regains her attention once more. "So we were close - this other me, and you?" she asks. "...man. That does sound like it... sucks." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>Gods above and below that is tempting. TJ looks at Victor and then at Clarice.<br><br>She knows they aren't her teammates but it felt really good working with them this evening. For a long moment she stares at the two of them.<br><br>Then she looks back to Mystique. "Appology accepted." it is a little clipped. What she is thinking is always testing and pushing buttons. Good thing there aren't any psychics to do a play by play. "Sorry if I went off a bit... this is in some ways actually worse than being shunted constantly. I know my team is out there without me and if the timebroker wasn't lying to us my being stuck here may have doomed my home timeline to destruction already. So I am not sure anyone can fix this mess."<br><br>Little dose of survivors guilt.<br><br>She glances at Clarice. "It sucked yeah... and yeah you were my best friend.... I was the first member but you were the second one and team leader. The two of us and Morph and Mimic were the only originals left when things wen't wrong and I ended up here. We had a lot of people die and get replaced in the mission by the Timebroker."<br><br>Honestly she is stalling, for her new drink and then the sipping of it now. "I... think I'd like to get to know everyone and see." finishes the second drink. Sets it down. "I'm not going to stop seeing Wanda or Kurt though, they've been .. kind." and honestly she needs a bit of that pretend time. "I have no issue with doing what needs ot be done though like tonight, but I won't blow up the school either or any of that." limits. At least she is up front about it.<br><br>"That work?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor Creed shrugs, taking another drink, "I can see that. Gotta be weird first getting usd to jumping around, then suddenly you're in a place where things are familiar but not really the same." Did we mention he's not as stupid as he looks? "Don't know that anyone here really knows a ton about time, but I don't spend a lotta time around the eggheads."<br><br>He chuckles at the school comment and waves at Clarice, "Blink spends as much time at the school as she does here. Lorna goes there too, and it remains mostly unexploded. I mean, it's blown up a few times, but it wasn't us that did it. Magneto gets on pretty well with Xavier, they just got different ideas what we need to do to help mutants."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>Mystique abruptly changes gears, or rather partial topic change, what she's thinking stays locked behind the ever present mask that makes her damn near impossible to read when she wants to be. "You've heard the rumors then, about this Brotherhood... that is part of the reason for your hesitation, and for your announcing that you would still see Wanda and Kurt." Yeah, that causes her to take another sip of the brandy as she stands behind the bar.<br><br>"Then let me assure..." she now gestures lightly toward Clarice, "Clarice, Blink... comes and goes from the school as often as she would like. She keeps the information concerning the X-Men to herself, which I both hate and respect at the same time. Likewise the things she knows about the Brotherhood she keeps to herself, which I'm sure they hate. What you think you know about us, even from the X-Men in this timeline, is wrong. We would all gladly correct that in time."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>In a pretty spot on Colossus impersonation "Mansion Blowing up Builds Character" then nods to Victor and then looks to Mystique.<br><br>"Honestly outside the assassinations and Mortimer scamming charity people I haven't seen a ton about the brotherhood here." okay she can't entirely let all that just go.<br><br>"I'm game to give it..." she pauses "You a chance to correct that impression." those yellow eyes study Clarice and Creed again then she looks back to Mystique. "I'm good with the Blink package. Honestly everyone is a little bit right about the problems we have, it isn't like Xavier has all the answers or willingness to do what has to happen sometimes. Probably why blackops exist in so many organizations." she frowns a smidge. "Sometimes threats need to be completely removed. Like vampires.. the worst."<br><br>She snags the cognac taste that was poured earlier finally.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Brotherhood is my home. The Brotherhood saved me from a fate worse than death - and gave me back my life, my freedom, and my identity," Clarice explains. "We want our brothers and sisters to live free of fear and persecution. I believe we can do that while proving to the humans that we are not monsters seeking their extermination - but at the same time we won't tolerate actions against innocent mutants, no matter the source. As we proved tonight." Her tone is serious, and solemn, the cognac swirling idly in her hands before she take a sip. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her expression breaks into a smile as she adds, "Still can't believe I have a case of this stuff." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>Mystique finally walks around the bar to one of the stools and sits down, crossing her legs in an all too feminine fashion. "There are of course certain areas you will not be permitted to enter, certain people who will give you dirty looks, just like they do Clarice when she isn't looking. Most here are devoted body and soul to the cause of Mutants, and bettering their lives all over the world, by whatever means necessary and see those unwilling to risk everything for everyone else as weak." She sips the brandy then rests the glass on her upper knee. "I do not see them as weak, I see them as young and not having seen what humans will do to protect themselves from Mutants, but in time... they may see it, I certainly hope they do not."<br><br>Now she looks to Victor, "What do you think Victor, I don't think she's lying and where as I certainly don't fully trust her, I'm inclined to give her a chance. I already know what Clarice thinks," her eyes shift for a moment to Nicolai, hoping not to see him drunk enough that he is trying to pour alcohol down the beheaded spider-things mouth. His opinion right now might be tainted, so ask him later... and her eyes return to Talia.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor nods, "Yeah, we got a lot of work to do, we're just kinda more direct about it." He shoots a glance at the head Nicolai has sitting by him. "Something needs doing, we deal with it. It ain't always pretty, but we get the job done and do what we can to keep our people safe."<br><br>He looks to Mystique, "Hell, we got Lorna and Blink shuffling back and forth, letting one more do it isn't gonna hurt anything. It's not like we're planning to take over the world or something, what's she gonna do? Tell people we protect mutants? The boss already told them that on TV."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>A nod to Clarice "Sounds not too far off from what I know of my teammates timeline. Magneto and the brotherhood were heroes who managed to put down.. A..." she thinks "Probably shouldn't talk about that. Needless to say they saved everyone from a bad situation. Also Sinister is a dick."<br><br>"Honestly it feels like I've seen just about every horrible thing humanity has the potential to do to each other and mutants. Or mutants to mutants. The possibilities are mind numbing. I still won't kill mutants that are trying to find peaceful outcomes to the problems and I'll help them if they ask. I put down a slew of Reavers with some of the Xers a few weeks ago to free some hostages. Good work..." she sips the cognac "Damn.. that is good... and um I also am .. very cautious about cause and effect. The world is a stack of dominos and butterfly wings."<br><br>TJ looks over at Nicolai now "You need anything?" a touch of concern in her voice.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He hears voices all around him, but mostly Nicolai isn't paying them much attention. He's already proven his ability to put away the liquor and still be pretty much okay, tonight he's downing them hand over fist, he might as well drink from the bottle. "Huh?" Someone actually asked him something. His brain catches up with his ears after a beat. "Oh, nonono, I'm fine." He pushes himself to his feet though, head under his arm. ... gross? He approaches Victor and holds the thing out. "Take it, your kill, your trophy. Didn't much do what I thought it would do anyway." <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A glance is offered Talia and then a flicker of his gaze to each person in the group in turn. "Girl ran into a building, blind, not knowing shit about what she was walking into... and even after it turned out to be what it really was, she STILL came up here to party with you. Fuck it, I say she's welcome whenever."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Clarice gives Mystique a look - clearly considering contradicting the woman's words. But - honestly? What's the point? She just shakes her head slightly, and sips her cognac again. Fine, she's young and hasn't seen enough suffering - apparently. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah - I'll be happy to give you a lift to and from the Mansion when you wish. I mean - I'm a little busy this week, so I won't be there much for a little while..." She gives a shrug of her shoulders, before turning her attention to Nicolai. "Well - she was hunting the murderer too, I think," from what Talia'd said when she appeared on that rooftop. She watches him for a moment, then asks quietly, "Nicolai - is he gone now?" The question is left purposefully vague. It's up to Nicolai how much he wants to reveal about his powers. <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2806|Nicolai Codona (2806)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah," Nicolai replies to Clarice. He really thought he'd be relieved when it happened, but it seems he just feels kind of empty and a little sad. "I'm just going to take this," he says as he grabs the bottle of whiskey from the bar, "...back to my room." He lifts it as if giving a toast and says, "Thanks you guys, really... don't let my baggage drag the mood down. I'll be over being maudlin about this shit tomorrow." Or he'll be better equipped to fake it. Thanks out of the way, he heads off toward his quarters.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:605|Mystique (605)}} has posed:'''<br>Standing up now, Mystique nods, "Let's get you settled into a room TJ, for the night as least. We will talk more tomorrow."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor picks up the head that Nicolai dropped, then shakes his own head, "Nah, too ugly to be useful for anything." He turns and chucks the thing into the nearest garbage can, then takes a drink from his beer. "He'll be ok, I know what a downer it can be when a long hunt ends. Just takes a little time to get over it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:2263|Talia Wagner (2263)}} has posed:'''<br>TJ will stretch and pop a couple of joints in the process then push back from the bar and look to eeveryone. "Sounds good. Thanks for not just all shooting me when I joined the hunt tonight.. Appreciate it."<br><br>There is a bit of a wry sharp canine'd smile there. <br><br>She follows Mystique.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"He'll be fine," Clarice agrees with Victor - as she watches the group move away, amusement on her features. "We don't shoot our kind without a good reason," she adds as Talia departs. I mean - she doesn't shoot humans without a good reason, either. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once they're gone, she adds towards Victor, "We never did figure out what her 'deal' is. I mean - she was shooting those bolts. And obviously - she's very agile, the way she was up on the ceiling and everything... I wonder if that's it?" she muses in a thoughtful tone, before taking another sip of her drink. <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then, almost accusingly she adds, "You didn't save any of the action for me this time. You really aren't getting enough work these days, are you?" <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor Creed looks to Clarice and shrugs, "Yeah, well, those aren't too bad, I'd say. throwing bolts around and being that agile is pretty handy from what I can see. And it wasn't really by choice... he was doing some kinda head whammy, I hadda let go so it wouldn't get to me, and you know how I am when I let go."<br><br>He stops for a second, then looks at her, "How'd you get me back, anyway? Usually I end up in the woods or something after an episode like that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well... that's fair," Clarice confirms. "You were pretty far gone." She takes a sip of her drink, her head cocking to the side as she watches him for a moment - as if the very question puzzled her. "I got in your way," she answers. "And I asked you to. Looked like you were about to go after Talia, and we couldn't have that." There's trust in her voice as she adds, "You wouldn't hurt me." <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:600|Victor Creed (600)}} has posed:'''<br>Victor huhs, "Guess I really do think of you like family or somethin. I can't think of another person who can snap me out of it when I get like that." He takes a long pull from the beer, finishing it. "That's a little weird, nobody's ever been able to do that before." He shrugs, "You an me make a good team, kid. But for now, I need a shower, I'm covered in spider guts and crap."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:598|Clarice Ferguson (598)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're pretty disgusting at the moment," Clarice agrees. She smiles - then adds a bit wryly, "I mean, I wasn't surprised you stopped. I was a little surprised you calmed. I thought I'd have to send you off into the forest for a while, and find you later." But she's not going to look the proverbial gift-horse in the mouth on this one. "Goodnight, Mister Creed." She seems content to finish sipping at her cognac, though she's got some of the gore on herself, as well. In a bit she'll be on her way to her own shower. <br> <br>
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