Owner	Pose
Jonathan Sims	Some time around midnight last night--it's hard to say just when--Agnes suddenly fell ill. When Moon Knight returned from patrol to check on her, he found her unconscious on the floor of the dormitory room she's been staying in. She was feverish when he found her, but ice cold soon after, and her temperature's been fluctuating since. She's been in and out of consciousness, complaining of pain and thirst when she's awake.     Mr. Knight called Jon, and Jon checked her over, determined she wasn't physically ill. Whatever's going on is mystical, but he can't see what it is past the massive magical fluctuations going on with the temperature changes. Jon got her set up in a bath of his magical water (in a bathing suit of course) and then went out to talk to an apothecary he knows, for herbs that might help the condition.     He also called Lydia, partly to help keep Agnes company, and partly because if there's some kind of outside influence he figures she might have a clue how to ward against it. And maybe for the moral support. The entire time, Mr. Knight's been watching him very clearly try not to just dissolve into complete panic.     It's quiet, for the moment. Agnes is asleep in the water, propped up with one of those bath pillows so she doesn't fall into the water.
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia hurried over as soon as she heard that Agnes has taken with a mystical sickness. This... wasn't her area of expertise, but she /was/ a tea snob and knew a thing or two about the mystical properties of some herbal blends. So she hustles down to the Mission with a couple of infusers ready to go. She has no idea if this will help or not, but at the very least Agnes will have some nice relaxing tea in her. "How is she doing?" she calls out once she enters into the girls' suite. She bustles in to put water in the electric kettle and then plugs it in to boil. "I came as soon as I heard."
Marc Spector	Moon Knight had changed into his persona of Mr. Knight not long after arriving at the Mission in fact it was Mr. Knight that had checked in on the girl and who had called Jon. He looks at Lydia as she arrives and shakes his head.     "Not well. Stable... or at least more stable than she was earlier. But now..." he looks to the woman who is enemy in make up, but ally in heart and contemplates. "Whatever happens here, I thank you for your continued assistance with the child."
Jonathan Sims	Agnes stirs a bit as Lydia enters, but doesn't wake.     Jon comes in shortly after Lydia, carrying a paper bag full of fragrant herbs and other things. "Sorry it took so long. Bloody evil books." He shakes his head. "Ahh, Lydia... good. What are you putting in the tea?"     He walks over to the kitchen counter and starts pulling things out of the bag. Little bundles of herbs, a couple of jars of unidentifiable substances.
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia nods at Mr. Knight. "I'm happy to help in whatever way I can." She shakes her head, "though from what you've told me I don't know what kind of help I'd be, though. Even when I did have my magic, healing wasn't my specialty." She walks to the bathroom to check in on how Agnes is doing. "She looks so pale," she observes sadly. When Jon pokes comes in she turns to give him a smile. "Holy basil, olive leaf and sage," she answers. "That's for her. The other one has a jasmine green tea for us."
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight steps back from the bathroom vigil to watch Jon. "Evil books?" he asks. "Getting into more trouble? I would think we have quite enough on our plate as it is, Sims." He moves toward the kitchenette, giving the child another look before he stands with the other two.     "Is there any indication that this concoction will work or is it simply an attempt that will likely not harm her if it does nothing at all." He is no apothecary and hasn't had the need for such things since his firsst Death by the hands of Raul Bushman those 5 years ago.
Jonathan Sims	Jon nods to what Lydia says. Sets to one side dried red and yellow roses, sandalwood, hops, St. John's wort. To the other chamomile, lavender, mugwort. The jars he puts /far/ off to the side. "If this is an outside influence as I suspect, I might ask for a ward against intrusion and psychic attack," he says to Lydia.     He glances at Mr. Knight sharply. "Not /my/ trouble. I am currently maintaining a ward on a book that..." He sighs. "A friend of mine takes on some very... /foolish/ students. The girl had gotten her hands on a book that had several dozen spirits of dead magi from various dimensions attached to it. Ghosts being connected to the Astral, I was able to ward it, but I've asked her to put her own wards on it as soon as possible. My magic's faster, but her wardings are stronger."     Then, as he goes back to the herbs, "The apothecary I went to has literally centuries of experience and understands the danger Agnes is in. She does not know Sekhmet well, but gave me herbs to try to balance the energies of the sun within generally, and a couple of things that might hurt anyone trying to attack Agnes. She might come take a look if she has time, but I asked her to see to her own student first."
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia lets out a good natured chuckle at Mr. Knight's conjecture. "You've found me out, Mr. Knight," she says. "The herbs do have real medicinal properties, but as for their mystical benefit?" She shrugs. "That's more of a wiccan thing than a Kabbalistic thing, I'm afraid. If nothing else it'll bring her comfort. The mixture shouldn't be bitter at all. Not with the olive leaves in it." She scowls at Jon however. "Are you able to be any more specific? That's a fairly broad spectrum to ward against. Are you able to sense any kind of outside magic?" She glances over her shoulder looking worried. "Another possibility is that just /being/ Sekhmet's avatar is doing this to her. You've had gods riding in you before, Jon. You know that it takes its toll."
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight shakes his head. "I just want to make sure the child is safe. That is all" he replies to Lydia's explanation. "But as I said, I trust your knowledge and skills in this matter more than I trust my own... and that counts for a great deal."     He frowns and answers her question, his mouth moving of it's own volition and the cadence and tone changing slightly. "This is not due to the being within her. At least, not directly. It is possible that it could be in response to whatever the vampires did to her... but unlikely that it would wait this long to take effect."     He pauses and there is the distinct feeling of a frown on his features. "Sekmet is... vitality. Strength. Energy. Her presence either through channelling or through existence within would not take this sort of toll on her, even as young as she is." Mr. Knight shudders and his voice returns to it's normal tone. "I... apologize. That was unexpected. It is still close to the full moon. His contact with my own psyche is... still quite strong."
Jonathan Sims	Jon is creating two bundles, tying each stack of herbs together so they're neatly kept together. He glances at Mr. Knight as he changes, and nods sharply. "Right. Good to know. So... that implies it's something external." He sighs, and grabs up the herb bundles, goes into the bathroom with them.     "Once I can See what's going on, I'll let you know what it is. This bundle I need to burn... any chance you can crush this one and throw it in the water?" He indicates Mr. Knight, with the bundle of chamomile, lavender, and mugwort. "Lydia, could you make the tea? I think it might help."     As Jon comes into the bathroom, Agnes blinks herself awake. "Jon? Lydia? I... heard you talking. You said something about tea...?" She peers at the vampire standing there and then Jon behind her.
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia notes the change in Mr. Knight with some amount of curiosity. It's always fascinating to her when a higher being of some sort speaks through a mortal vessel. She nods as he allays her fears that it might be Sekhmet herself. "That's good, then." She glances at the girl in the bathtub. "The vampires..." She shakes her head. "They could have done something, true, but whatever it may have been should have worn off well before now." "Having said that," she says, walking over to the electric kettle which had turned itself off, "in the off chance that vampire blood is needed to stabilize her, I'm willing, if a bit reluctant, to donate." The sound of Agnes' voice is cause for her to grin. "Ah! You're awake!" She takes out a mug and pours hot water in it, and then adds the infuser. Soon, a slightly sweet herbal scent comes from it. "I'm making you tea. I figure you could use some comfort." Once she's sure the tea is well steeped she brings the mug into the bathroom for the girl to sip on.
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight takes the bag and tests it for a moment before moving towards the bath. He clenches his fist aroung the bundle and there is the sound of dried herbs crunching and scraping each other into power within the package. The strength of Mr. Knight is no different than that of Moon Knight himself.     He drops the package like an infuser into the water conjured by Jon in the tub, watching impassively to see what effects would be produced by adding these substances to the mystical water of the Archivist.
Jonathan Sims	Jon smiles at Agnes and moves out of Lydia's way. "Hey," he says softly. "We're hoping to stabilize your temperature some, smooth out the magical fluctuations, so I can maybe get a reading on what's going on. Okay?"     Agnes takes the tea and takes a small sip, then says, "Basil and sage... and olive? Protection and healing. That smells like... lavender? Chamomile? To cool and soothe... and you've got roses and St. John's wort... to warm? Counterbalancing the influences."     Jon beams at her proudly. "Yes! Exactly. And a few other things, if this doesn't work."     The herbs hit the water and diffuse into it, and Agnes starts to shiver. Before that can go too far, however, Jon reaches out with a hand and murmurs softly. The fire he summons is but a brief flicker, but it lights the herbs he holds. As the smoke from them washes over Agnes she stops shivering. Maybe it's working.     "Th-thank you for all this," Agnes says. "You've all been so kind..."
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia smiles warmly at their charge. "Of course," she says. "We promised to protect you, and we make good on our promises." She bustles back into the main room and pulls out the teapot that she so generously donated to the cause, and fills it with the remaining hot water, and drops the second infuser in it. "I'll have tea ready in a few minutes for the rest of us," she calls out to the two men.
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight is careful as he watches the child. "You will get through this" he says softly to the girl, the voice is that of his patron again. "This is not how you will end. Not truly. This is simply one more trial for you to overcome and survive on your path to becoming what you are meant to become."     "Just as the moon waxes and wanes with the passage of time," he says calmly, "so too does the sun have its moments of dimming. It is just that those moments tend to be more extravagant and noticeable." He nods. "So think of this as an eclipse, and in time the shadow will pass and your vitality will resume." He shudders again. "He... He may be right... I hope he is right." he says again in his own voice.
Jonathan Sims	Agnes smiles to Lydia. "I know, I just... thank you." She just nods to Mr. Knight. She still finds him intimidating.     Jon watches Agnes as the other two speak to her, eyes narrowing slightly as he watches her aura. It calms, slowly, the rapid fluctuations dimming and containing themselves.     "It's not an attack," he says. "Not... directly. It's... something is /siphoning/ her energy." He clenches his hands into fists. "Magically. Blood magic. That..." He spins to look at Lydia. "Could vampires do that? Siphon energy from someone, their vitality and spirit, through magic tied to their blood?"     Agnes stares at him, wide-eyed, over her tea. "Th-they... /did/ have a big circle that they... when they... drained me..." She swallows and looks down at the tea. She's never really talked about that. What it was the vampires had been doing.
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia scowls. "Blood magic. /That's/ something I can ward against. In fact..." She lifts up her hand where there's a ring in the shape of a dragon curled around her finger. "This might do the trick. I no longer need it anymore. The people it was protecting me from found me by other means and killed me anyway." She whispers a word in Hebrew to it and it uncurls and falls into the palm of her hand. "This... disguises your blood," she explains, handing the ring over to the girl. "Kind of slap it on like one of those bracelets? It'll pinch because it needs to taste your blood at first to disguise it." She looks up at the other two gentlemen, "My girlfriend, Mystique, she's a shapeshifter that can change herself down to the genetic code. When I created these, I needed a sample of blood to disguise your blood /as/, but I didn't want them accidentally finding somebody real. So I had her create a person entirely out of whole cloth, so when they try to drain her energy it'll be redirected to somebody who doesn't exist. It works. I've tested it." "As for your other question, yes, vampires can do that. /Anybody/ with the magical know how can do that." She shakes her head, "The question you should be asking isn't whether or not it's possible, but what are they /doing/ with that energy?" Agnes gets her attention though. "When they drained you... did they do it directly, or were they bleeding you into a vessel of some sort?"
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight's expression is an unreadable plane but there is menace pooling off of him. He is enraged that those monsters would do this to a child. Least of all a child tied to one of the Egyptian gods. Sun. Moon. Life. Death. It didn't matter who it was, that it was happening was enough to incense him.     He turns away so as not to direct that rage toward the young girl and takes a few steps away. It would be a very bad day for the vampire that attempted to harrass him or others the next time he comes across one of their kind who was a slave to their inner beast.
Jonathan Sims	"They... tasted it, at first." Agnes shudders, staring down at the ring in her hand. "But... then they collected it. A little bit at a time, over time, so they wouldn't drain me too far." She hesitates a moment, then slaps the ring onto her finger.     The ruby eyes set in the dragon glow. There's a flash of light in a halo around Agnes that even Lydia and Moon Knight can see, and then the temperature in the room rises slightly. Agnes takes a long, shuddering breath in and then lets it out slowly. "That's... better," she says. "I feel better."     Jon swallows. "They have Sekhmet," he says slowly. "But... but they used to... there used to be... arguments. Disagreements. That... Sekhmet was not appropriate, being... /female/. That it would be better if their... Chosen One was a man. An avatar of /Ra/. Sekhmet is Ra's daughter. Drain her essence, put it into their chosen vessel..."
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia winces, feeling a kind of shame for the conduct of her kind. Then again, these /were/ of the clan that kidnapped and ultimately killed her so she shouldn't be all that surprised. Her warm smile returns when heat comes back to the room and Agnes declares that she's feeling better. "Good. I'm glad it's working. It won't be able to be taken off until you give it the command word: leshachrer. It's Hebrew for 'release'." As Jon speaks, her lips tug down into a scowl. "/Men/," she says in disgust. She looks up at the two gentlemen in the room and shrugs apologetically. "No offense." "I doubt Sekhmet would be all that happy to be used in that way, though," she muses.
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight shakes his head. "None taken... what they are doing... I would share the sentiment" he says to the vampiress. He glances at Jon and shakes his head. "Ra would be... not exactly the most welcoming of dieties to walk the earth." He says, his tone indicating his discomfort.     "I imagine... that this cult is likely going to cross the vampires, with their own idea" he says, a mix of sympathy and retribution in his tone. He's conflicted as to whether or not he should be happy that the advent of Ra would likely lead to the vampire's destruction.     Agnes' return to a norma state is given a nod. "You are not free of the weeds yet. There's still work to be done and we will see that it happens. Just... rest while you have the ability to." He nods to Lydia in thanks for her sacrifice in this situation.
Jonathan Sims	Jon puts up his hands at Lydia's statement. "None taken, at all. I quite agree with the sentiment, just now."     He frowns. "I don't /quite/ understand the idea here, no. What does it benefit the vampires, to go along with this plan? And it was never Elias' plan, so why...?"     "Why did he hand me over to them," Agnes says softly, staring into her half-drunk tea. Her expression is hard to read, but there's pain in her tone. After a moment, she says, "Can... I get out of the bath now? I'd quite like to get some sleep in my bed."
Lydia Dietrich	Lydia shakes her head at Jon. "That's the million dollar question, isn't it. I mean..." She stands and makes her way to the bedroom and starts pulling out a change of clothes. "We can see the skeleton of their plan, but the involvement of the vampires just throws everything off. Something just isn't adding up." She returns to the bathroom and starts shooing everybody out and leaves a towel and pajamas for Agnes to change into. "I just... I don't see how they fit in, here."
Marc Spector	Mr. Knight puts a finger to his chin as he is ushered from the bathroom. "More questions..." he says as the door cloeses and the girl readies herself for bed.     "We have to find the source. This leader of theirs that drafted this... experimentation on the girl." His brow furrows under the mask. "I feel he might be the key. But things are escalating... and I feel the tension in the air as much as anyone who is tied to those called 'New Gods.' Things are in motion that are all parts of a larger puzzle."     He moves to a chair and settles into it, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. "But what is the end result. Eradication seems too... easy... what with this plan of theirs in motion at the same time as what you and the Justice League Dark are handling. Too much coicidence to be simply that."
Jonathan Sims	Jon shakes his head as he leaves the room. "Not everything is connected, Marc. This was in motion well before any of the rest of what's been going on. It... doesn't have the same feeling." He shrugs. Something tugs at his features, though.     He sighs heavily. "I'll stay here tonight," he says. "Keep an eye out just in case anything happens in response to cutting off their spell. Keep an eye on Agnes."     He frowns toward the door. "I don't think we're going to like the answers to these questions."