6599/It

It
Date of Scene:	17 June 2021
Location:	Central Nexus
Synopsis:	Mystique and Talia talk about Talia's loyalties. Clarice arrives with an injured mutant - and Simon, a new recruit.
Cast of Characters:	Talia Wagner, Raven Darkholme, Clarice Ferguson, Simon Lasker

---

Talia Wagner has posed:
Talia finds herself in the center Garden this evening. She is laid out in the grass on her back, a space blanket laid out under herself.

She seems to be watching the view through the transparent steel ceiling now. To be fair the view is fantastic and one that very few people have ever been lucky enough to see. Depending on the spin of the station you see stars, the moon, or earth.

Honestly it is peaceful and beautiful.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There are many places that Mystique tends to wander, often in line of duty she ends up all over the station, this time however duty has nothing to do with it. She has a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of grenadine cherry syrup, and a plan to drink until she falls down... that has yet to happen, but she can try.

Wandering into the garden, a place few seem to go for reasons that escapes her, she makes her way toward her favorite tree. A massive willow with low hanging branches, but well tended to allow people up under it. It is on her way that she spots Talia.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ cracks open one of those very yellow eyes, pretty much Mystique yellow really, and stares up at the nearby mutant with the bottole of whiskey and cherry syrup.

"If you had lemon juice or sour mix I would think you were off to make Bourbon Sours or something...." she stretches a touch and lets her tail flick a bit before settling out and staring up at the sky once more. Well the starscape right now.

"Rough day?"

Says the mutant who has pretty much been on space vacation for the last stretch of time here on the Asteroid.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Deep inside of her, there is a scream, a loud, unending, echoing scream, but on the outside there is nothing on Mystique's face save for a smirk.

"Every day if a rough day," she offers, then turns more toward Talia and starts walking toward her.

"It's a fabulous view from here, don't you think?" She looks up, though still manages to keep Talia in her lower peripherals. "By now I assume you realize that there are a great many things I'd like to ask you, but there is only one question that matters."

Talia Wagner has posed:
I mean. TJ has no idea how much this whole thing is making Mystique scream on the inside. Neither that, nor the why.

"The weight of the world." she considers the transparent steel view as the world goes literally rotating by "It has been sort of nice not having to carry the weight of worlds for a bit now." also crushingly survivor guilt inducing but she is keeping it light on the surface too.

"The view is fantastic and yes... I have managed to pick up what was being put down about there being outstanding questions. I have noticed no conventient available teleporters not already on important assignments." a smirk returning Mystique's for effect. "Not that I have had any appointments I've missed... my schedule.. surprisingly free."

There is a pause. "So which question is the pressing one that matters?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique keeps her eyes on the stars outside for a short moment longer, then looks back down to Talia. Amber eyes flicker over the woman, taking her in, and just how much she resembles who she says she is. There is no question in Mystique's mind about that part of it. Sometimes blue is blue, and you know your kin.

"I realize that you are presently trapped here, looking for a way back to your own reality," she says plainly. "But my question is this, are you loyal to what you remember people to be, or to who they are here? You claim to know us all, but we are not those people, so the question is important to know the answer to."

Talia Wagner has posed:
The sheer length of the con that Talia would need to be undertaking here is breath taking if she wasn't who she says she is. It is so ridiculously out there that there would be a million easier covers to claim.

Of course Mystique might do an over the top long con like this so yeah there is that right.

"If I find a way back to the TimeBroker and the eXiles ... there is no promises that my home dimension has already been annihilated by the collapse. Perhaps that is what happened, maybe I failed and they dumped me somewhere since it is too late."

Yeah that wasn't really the question but still.

"I know a lot of versions of people like you all. Like I said though everything here is slightly different in a thousand little ways. I know none of yuo are the people from my home or any of the people I've run into over the last few years trying to stave off the collapse of the multiverse. You are who you are here. Even if the familiarity can bring some comfort."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Taking a couple more steps closer, Mystique sits down in the grass near Talia, but not by her.

"Very nicely avoided, I applaud you, but you still failed to answer the question. You see, I can't have you wandering out there spouting out things about the other versions of me or Clarice, or even Erik, that you know. If there are similarities TJ, then you're revealing things that I just can't allow to be revealed."

Twisting open the bottle, she offers it to Talia, "So I ask again, where are your loyalties?"

Talia Wagner has posed:
"I actually wasn't trying to avoid it... but thanks." sort of a sadder wry smile at this statement.

"As for revealing things, it is dangerous. Destabilizing. Honestly it could make everything worse not better and I am not smart enough to run all the angles in my head to make sure it doesn't have untold unforeseen consequences if I say too much about things that haven't happened and may never happen."

She looks sidelong to Mystique quietly thoughtful. "That is the thing. I'm not loyal to anyone in this dimension. I'm fond of people who have been kind to me sure but loyal. Who would be loyal when they are stranded in a place with no one they know or can trust for certain.... loyalties are earned."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Finally, a smile touches Mystique's lips.

"Good answer Talia, very good answer." She offers, then since the bottle is ignored, she takes a drink herself before recapping it and setting it down.

"I'd like to give you a chance to get to know this realities Mystique, but to do that I would need to give you clearance to come to Asteroid M. Are you able to give me your word that you won't abuse that privilege and go running to the X-Men?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Mystique gets an urgent message - an unknown mutant has teleported into the medical facility alone, beaten and badly injured, and it seems to have been Blink's teleportation signature.
    It's less than a minute later that Mystique gets a second message - after Clarice teleports into the Medical facility, the scent of fire clinging to her and Simon's forms. "What's his condition?" she asks without preamble - her gaze going to Barrim, since she was the most talented of the healers present.
    "It looks like he has head trauma, broken bones, internal injuries... We can stabalize him, but we're going to have to sedate him - this is going to take some times. Who is?"
    "No idea," Clarice answers simply. "We should let the civilian authorities know to check that building for fire damage and to get medical help to the people there." Turning to one of the Asteroid's guards - she passes off the information for the location, so she can make he call.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ's tail snakes over to hook and then wrap around the bottle once it is capped and set down.

It is drawn back over to the young women who levers herself up to sit and stop stargazing so she can open it up and take a pull from the bottle.

"That is fair. I would like to get to know you and the others." she considers the other part there. "I can give my word to compartmentalize like Clarice is doing. No one needs to know what is happening on either side of the coin. I'm also not on the X-men, though I've helped them a couple of times with some problems."

Much like she helped with the Mutant Killer and the Brotherhood already.

"Anyhow I think X-Force is probably more my speed.... I'm not much for normal ops .. more clandestine these days."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique watches the tail, a wry smile crossing her face as the bottle is taken. What ever else she might be feeling is locked away. "Then I don't see a problem with giving you access."

The scream returns, loud and through her like a freight train. She stands herself up, stretching out her limbs. As usual when on the asteroid she wears no specific clothing, though nothing hangs out, the magic of changing your skin.

"I don't like that Clarice has to do that, won't like that you have to either, but the choices of who you associate with are your own."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Quite suddenly Mystique is tense, looking toward the exit of the garden, "I need to be in the med-bay now." She says to Talia, ad without another word is headed that way very, very quickly, in fact she is running. Teleporters have a way of doing things far more quickly and if she got the message over her comm, most likely Clarice was already in the med-bay.

Talia Wagner has posed:
"There is some comfort in talking with my not-dad and not-mom. If it becomes untenable I'll be communicative about it Mystique."

Talia takes another hit from the bottle and then looks up and around about the warning on the intercom about incoming non-member and archs an eyebrow at Mystique. She rolls up to her feet with grace that would make a gymnast very ashamed.

The rush though from Mystique at this point has TJ falling in behind her, quick but not so quick as to make Mystique jumpy

Yeah she also brings the whiskey with her.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Simon looks around gazing in awe. "This place is in space right? I've never been to space before." He says almost to himself. Simon is wearing a version of what he normally wears. A black leather jacket and jeans. He has a fair amount of soot on him from recent (mis?) adventures.

It is just a medical bay mostly, and Simon doesn't have the scientific knowledge to apreciate that part, but seeing the world from above has an instant impact on him. He has been through a version of this sort of thing before. He has dropped off injured people at the hospital when he was a firefighter, but he still doesn't really have much to offer. He could really use a refresher on his first aid course.

Simon tries his best to not get in the way of the professionals. He looks over at Clarice for some queue for how to procede. He is new and wants to make a good first impression.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "We're in space," Clarice replies in a distracted tone. "Please remember to stay close to me - I'm responsible for your conduct," she reminds the man. Not that the guards who are already taking up positions outside of the medical facility would allow a stranger to leave.
    Clarice instead focuses on giving as much information as she can. "All I really know is that there were four men - one of them had a baseball bat - and they were beating this man while he plead for his life." Disgust and frustration drips from her voice - as she stands clear of the bed, allowing the medical staff to do what they do - getting monitoring equipment hooked up, intravenous fluids started, and using their gifts to try to heal his injuries and ease his pain.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The moment Clarice arrives in the med-bay with a wounded mutant, the medics are on her and ready to swing into action. There is no hesitation. Trained professionals with one purpose, make wounded mutants better. That's their only purpose. Two take the wounded mutant, one remains to obtain the information and the fourth keeps a very close eye on Simon.

Mystique slows her pace only when the med-bay is in view, and then only slightly. "Report," is all she says as she enters. Her amber eyes scan the room, then land on Simon. The wounded Mutant is important, yes, but this one was up and moving around.

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ isn't far behind Mystique.

Sitting in the park with the whiskey felt a bit lazy after the serious sort of conversation they were having after all.

So she slips in after the other mutant, black and red leathers, light blue fur, and tail. No mistaking her for human.

Interestingly though she just skips over Simon, paying him no attention and glances at the wounded mutant being treated. Then blinks. "The announce said two non-members?" it is said softly though, not really wanting to tread on Mystique's order for a report.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Simon nods along to Clarice's advice. He wasn't planning to run off on his own in a strange place (Even if it is a facinating and wonderous place). He almost speaks several times while their mutant friend's perdicament and story is described, but Clarice says everything he planned to say so he stays quiet.

He was aware that Mystique might be around, but he still starts slightly when he sees her. This is not necessarily out of fear as much as that given how much he has heard about her and where they are he is slightly worried that some sort of salute or something might be expected and he doesn't know how he is supposed to respond. He looks around awkwardly.

"Should I introduce myself?" he quietly asides to Blink.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Ma'am," Clarice answers Mystique when the woman arrives, turning towards her. She glances towards Simon, giving him a nod of confirmation to his question, before she gives a succinct report to Mystique. "I was in Bushwick," in fact, she has her 'Neighborhood Watch' armband on - though she wasn't on the roster today for a patrol, "When I heard a scream. This fellow said he saw a group of people dragging this gentleman," she indicates the badly injured mutant with green scaly skin, "into a building. We teleported in, and convinced them that lynchings are not welcome in Bushwick." She makes a face as she adds with disdain, "One of them called me 'Magneto's bitch.' Ugh." Her gaze flicks towards Talia as well - but only for a moment before she fixates her attention back on Mystique. "Our guest here has pyrokinetic capabilities."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique's eyes never left Simon as Clarice talked, already studying the way he moves, his body language, him in general. Only when she is satisfied she has gauged him does she looks to Clarice, "Did you contact the local authorizes to deal with these bastards?" Really she wanted to say did you murder these fuckers dead, but not in Bushwick, not right now.

Then to Simon she says, "An introduction might be a good idea, though I'm certain I do not need to introduce myself."

Talia Wagner has posed:
Oh. Interesting. TJ keeps it to herself as her tail slowly flicks and she looks over to Clarice..

She edges closer to the teleporter and asides softly "Did you make him eat his teeth at least I hope before calling the authorities?" she has to be referring to the would be lynchers and one who insulted Clarice like that.

TJ probably would have made them eat their teeth to be honest.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Simon is surprised to see his own anger matched by the people around him. He is so used to being told to be the better person that it is relieving to see that there are other people who actually appear openly angry about these things.

"No, I have heard alot about you. I'm Simon Lasker. I uh ... I control fire." and then almost in the manner of a salesman about to get a door slammed in his face-- "I can do things that aren't violent as well. I can also weld stuff and put out fires." He hasn't had to introduce himself in a while and he suspects that she doesn't want to hear what his favorite color is or what music he likes. He pauses to consider what he might have missed. "I've been living at Xaviers since my parents told me I couldn't come home." He then hears what he just said and his eyes go wide. "Uhh, you don't have to worry about me. I haven't seen anything and I couldn't point to our location on a map." he blurts out in a panic.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Authorities should be enroute - but you know how long it takes them to respond in Bushwick. They don't have descriptions of the culprits yet - but two of them will need medical attention after shooting themselves in the legs," Clarice remarks with grim satisfaction. "I did warn them not to shoot. The man with the mouth, unfortunately... got off light. But perhaps they learn from the experience and warn others what happens to lynchers." Clarice doubts it though.
    She turns to give Simon an amused look - a smile growing on her features before she adds, "Simon - it's a satellite. It isn't on a map."
    Slipping her phone from her pocket she adds, "I'm going to call in those descriptions now," before she starts dialing in the local emergency line for Bushwick. She begins talking quietly - providing descriptions of four men, and their injuries. And warning the authorities that there were and additional two people with severe injuries that would need medical assistance before they bled to death.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique lifts a hand slowly, palm out, "Easy kid, you aren't in any trouble. Clarice vouched for you by bringing you here, and I trust her completely." She glances to Talia who manages to say what she's no longer able to, but man did she want to.

Her eyes shift back to Simon, "Xavier's school is a good place for kids learning their powers, do you think you've learned your powers Simon?" She lightly folds her arms across her chest, none threatening in anyway. "You see Simon, I don't judge when there are no other choices. You went where you could and lived as you had to. I merely ask that you don't inform anyone about having been here."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ just comments to Clarice before she goes to call in the descriptions to the authorities. "Well.. dumb of them to shoot themselves in the legs." amused. Hard to not be really. "If the cops don't find them we can always look them up later and drop them off at the police worst comes to worst."

Then she is quiet while Clarice makes the call stepping away, unscrewing the cap on the whiskey, and taking a long pull from it.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Oh right. Its in space. Simon sheepishly mumbles "I knew that."

Oh crap Mystique is asking him to prove himself. Uhhh "I think I know my powers pretty well. I have been in all sorts of flamable places and I haven't burned anywhere down (despite what people who aught to know better are ready to assume). Also I think welding is pretty hard and I can do that." Hopefully that works. He has never had to sell his abilities to people before. He just conjures some flames, puts something out or welds something and that is enough for all the human employers he has had before. He would do that here, but he knows making fire aboard an airplane is a bad idea, and he suspects it might be the same here.

He can keep a secret right? Yeah. Besides who would even ask him where he'd been? "Oh, of course. I won't tell anyone." He doubts people would believe him anyway. Hopefully no telepaths at Xavier's start breaking the rules and invade his brain.

He finally has a moment to look at the other blue lady. "Wait, did you go on a ski trip with me once?" He might look like a fool. He isn't sure, but it sure looks like the same lady. Aparently she drinks whiskey out of the bottle. He guesses that he shouldn't be surprised. Its not like he knew her /that/ well.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Right. Yeah. Amputated hand," Clarice confirms into the phone. "Look, he //was// pointing a gun at me. Mmmhmm. Yeah, the building should be safe, but it's a drug den, and some of those people looked unconscious. They all need medical care. Right. No, I'm not staying on the line." Clarice hangs up - her mission accomplished, the descriptions delivered. She turns in time to see Talia taking a swig from the bottle and makes a 'gimmee' gesture. Once the bottle is in her hand, she takes a swig - then offers it towards Simon.
    What? They aren't in the US. US law doesn't apply.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
A slow, steady pace begins as Mystique listens to the young fire starter, perhaps a little amused at his reactions, but it doesn't show on her face.

"So let me ask you this Simon," she finally says. "If you are so confident in your abilities, with every right to be so, why are you still there? What more do you think they have to teach you?"

She glances to Clarice for a moment, listening to that conversation as well, then looks back to Simon. "If you feel you belong at Xavier's, so be it, just know there are other options for you out there."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ saw the approach coming a mile away.

No not Clarice grabbing the whiskey with gimme hands, which she is totally fine to give it up to. The approach with Simon.

The only part she adds is a not to the young man. "Mhm. Ski Trip. I think it was one of the dinners. I don't think you were in the monster fight night. That was a thing."

Damn now she misses the whiskey.

Also hard to maybe track how easy she hit that bottle with the fact she >looks< seventeen.

Even if she certainly isn't.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "And either way," Clarice interjects, "You'd be welcome to join us on the Bushwick patrols. To ensure that //our// people are safe from this sort of... vile bigotry." There's vitriol dripping from her tone on that last bit.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Wait are they offering /him/? It would be rude to say no. Also he could use it. Drinking right now is probably not a great idea, but hey it'll be years before he can do it back in New York. He takes a swig and hands it back. Hopefully he won't regret it

Why is he still there? He can give reasons, but the truth is he wound up there and it was easy to stay. That seems like a lame answer. What would be a better one? Ah hah! "Because they don't charge rent, and you can't just get a lease as an 18-year-old with no credit score?" Oh she was offering another place to stay. Thats a relief. "Do you have some place in mind?" He asks hopefully.

Ahh so it is her. He doesn't remember the monsters, but he did hear something one of the nights. Maybe that was it. "I slept through it I guess." He mostly remembers a -- What should he call it? An involutary pioneering geological expedition -- right before he left.

And someone is asking him to help. This day keeps getting better. "I would be happy to help."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Well. Many of us live //here//," Clarice offers simply. "The Brotherhood looks after their own, after all." She flashes Simon a smile. "And you saw today just how badly the patrols in Bushwick are needed. I'm in charge of arranging them - using the Brotherhood's people, the X-Men, and volunteers from the Bushwick community and surrounding areas. We're trying to discourage violence against our people, and drug dealing, and other crimes. It's important work - but we want to make a statement, that these sorts of actions will not be tolerated.
    "But we're also trying to prove that we are no longer a terrorist organization - and that we are civicly minded. So there is to be no killing on the patrols." She sighs as she adds, "...I really shouldn't have taken off that guy's hand today but-" well. She was a little charged up. And he //did// point a gun at her.
    With the bottle back in her hands, Clarice takes a second swig - and returns it to Talia, flashing her a smile as she does.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Pacing back away from Simon now, Mystique watches the bottle changing hands and seems to give no fucks as all about it.

"Don't charge rent," she snickers, rolling her eyes a little as she walks away. "I like him Clarice, he's clever when terrified." She shifts her eyes to Talia, "You should have left the whiskey in the garden, but oh well, the three of you can enjoy it." She moves to the door and there she pauses, her back to the room before she turns slightly. "There are many places around the world that the Brotherhood call home, and of course here as Clarice has said. The face of the Brotherhood is changing, and for it to continue to change, to become what it needs to be, we need the world to see us and those changes. Bushwick is the first of many places across the world that we will make free for Mutants. I hope you will help us with that, no matter which home you choose."

Talia Wagner has posed:
TJ isn't about to pass up the bottle when it comes back around. She takes a swig. Caps it.

Then well she steps over to offer the bottle over to it's original owner Mystique once more, or well Clarice if Mystique refuses the gesture.

"Self Defense Blink. Self Defense." though she considers "Though the assholes will probably spin it up as them being the victim. Lex's networks ... probably JJJ.. god that guy is a dick everywhere..." there is a shrug. "The patrols are a good idea."

So is the civic minded organization. She just wonders if it can last.

There is a bit of a stiffled yawn from the blue mutant. "Okay ... with that night cap I think I'm going to turn in and leave Lasker in your capable hands Blink. Don't drink yourself sick if she drags you to the bar kid." which.. again.. he maybe even looks older than her.

Regardless she seems to be intent on clearing out of the medbay and leaving it to those more responsibly in charge. A nimble slink past Mystique if she has too.

Simon Lasker has posed:
Here? In space? Sign him up! Wait a second. He only kind of knows one of them and just met another, and he is going to leave the people he knows who took him in when he needed it? Then he thinks about his room in the X-mansion and having to sit in a train for an hour and a half to get anywhere interesting. "How soon can I move in?" He is slightly dissapointed that there won't be any killing. He isn't sure he actually wants to do that, but he thought that joining the people that the X-folks had spent such effort warning him about would be less ... restrained.

And they want him to help? If he read this in one of those young adult books, he would call it pandering. "I would be glad to help."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Good," Clarice offers - flashing Simon a smile, before turning towards Mystique with a questioning look. After all - it was always up to her, or Magneto, who would get to stay, and who remained under supervision while on the Asteroid. "Should I set him up with temporary quarters, boss?" she asks. "Give him the tour?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique had paused by the door, letting Talia slink out around her, so she looks back.

"Temporary room for tonight, arrange a tour, either by you or someone else, keep him away from Victor for the time being, and I will go and inform Erik."

She looks to Simon and offers a smile, "Welcome to the Brotherhood." Her eyes slip back to Clarice. "Make sure he knows the rules, all of them, and it should be mentioned that there is no killing in Bishwick, other missions may..." there is this expression on her face, almost playful but definitely wicked. "... well let's just say some missions still might need a heavy hand."