Birds of a Feather

The Parthenon

When Delilah asserted that Cameron was ‘okay’, Haleigh made a comment about him being better off. It was a litmus test, because Haleigh knew that Diana wasn’t capable of faking being genuinely Delilah, and if she was dealing with her mother here, she wanted to confirm that as quickly as possible. Delilah’s scolding response gave Haleigh a sense of relief. Delilah’s explanation of what was going on took that relief away.

Listening to their plan, one that included a very high probability of death, was very frustrating for Haleigh. Her ‘rescue’ had been their primary objective, but they should’ve been concerned for themselves. While she was grateful for her restored freedom and autonomy, she hated the cost of it. Most of all, she was furious that everything she had done wound up being nothing more than an exercise in miserable futility.

However, she knew it was inappropriate to unload that anger on Delilah. It was nobody’s fault but her own that they were here. There was nothing she could do about it now. She needed to calm down and focus on what she could do to help. That was why she had come here when Delilah asked her to. She made a quip about the whiskey being poisoned, though she didn’t hesitate to drink it. Delilah took much offense to the implication, and offered her own glass bitterly, but Haleigh was already through with it.

“Not in the mood for dark humor, got it.”

Haleigh remarked, pouring herself another glass. What she was about to say was emotionally challenging. It was a sensitive subject, to be sure, but she wasn’t going to ignore it for her own comfort. A straight question was likely to provoke a defensive response, so Haleigh tried a more indirect approach. She wasn’t going to beat around the bush though, and immediately opened with the fact that she used to struggle to understand why Delilah tried to commit suicide years ago. Haleigh discussed her own recently shifted perspective, to state conclusively that she had finally come to understand how Delilah had reached the point where she though ending it all would be better.

Delilah: "So this is what, your suicide note? You, what, want me to tell you not to do it? To do it?"

Haleigh was so surprised that she looked it. She blinked back tears, bewildered. Delilah explained why she’d once tried to swim to death and how Bishop had actually been right and that Morgan had a listening disability.

“Well, I don’t disagree with you there—”

She started to interject, but Delilah was on a roll and letting Haleigh have it. Haleigh sat back and shook her head, her mouth tightening. Delilah was quite mistaken about why Haleigh was pissed. She had put herself through the barely justifiable means only to find that the ends were never achieved, that pissed her off. She couldn’t care less if anybody thanked her. She even understood if they hated her.

What she couldn’t stand was that she couldn’t escape the memory of her conversation with the former Black Queen, the one where Kelly asserted that the compassionate thing to do would have been to kill them all. Certainly it was getting more difficult to debate the idea that life was continuous exposure to suffering. And as she watched her friends dying or losing their loved ones, Kelly’s ‘advice’ seemed to resonate louder. If the others were all just going to suffer and die, would it have been a better choice to have lead them to their deaths the night she found out about her mother being a Malice?

Delilah: “Whichever it is, killing yourself - if that's even possible - isn't going to fix it so you might as well stick the fuck around so Cameron has a damn reason to come back."

“Oh-Kay, thanks for that,”

Haleigh deadpanned, pouring Delilah some more whiskey before continuing.

“But I see I need to clarify my intentions. That wasn’t a cry for help on my part. I was trying to explain that I acutely understand now, why you felt the way you did. I didn’t want to put you on the spot, I wanted to bridge the divide a bit. You know, in case you were feeling that way again, and didn’t think you had anybody to talk to.”

She said, her pained expression returning, because she knew that was her fault too, but it was poignantly apparent there wasn’t much she could do to fix it. She offered a subject change to speculation on what Malice might do. Delilah suggested Kelly might have something up her sleeve. Haleigh considered it.

“Yeah, that’s possible. Not even the Aqua Ring survived the destruction of Hellfire, but I’ll scour Sheena Island for intel and equipment that might give us a lead. Though I do wonder how hard Kelly would actually try. My mother didn’t really treat her like a valued member of the group. They kind of had an almost adversarial relationship at times.”
 
Last edited:
The Parthenon - Danger Room

Haleigh, inexplicably, decided this was a good time to bring up Delilah's attempted suicide, telling her some story about how she understands why Delilah did it now. Delilah couldn't believe this. Did Haleigh want Delilah to feel sorry for her? Did she want Delilah to pat her on the shoulder and tell her everything was going to be okay? Though, honestly, isn't that what Delilah was DOING right now?

Delilah told her to put on her big girl pants and suck it up, because Cameron wouldn't want to come back and find Haleigh dead.

Haleigh: “Oh-Kay, thanks for that,”

The thought of Morgan only made Delilah more annoyed - such that when Haleigh poured her more whiskey, Delilah lifted the glass and threw it back.

Haleigh: “But I see I need to clarify my intentions. That wasn’t a cry for help on my part. I was trying to explain that I acutely understand now, why you felt the way you did. I didn’t want to put you on the spot, I wanted to bridge the divide a bit. You know, in case you were feeling that way again, and didn’t think you had anybody to talk to.”

Delilah scoffed.

"Don't start pretending you care now."

Delilah finished her drink and set the glass loudly back down on the table.

"The Six still on this plane have made it quite clear what they think of me."

She wasn't going to try and kill herself again. She had Alexia now, and there wasn't anyone else she could trust to look after her. Not anymore.

Haleigh wanted to brainstorm what Malice's next move might be. Delilah suggested Kelly.

Haleigh: “Yeah, that’s possible. Not even the Aqua Ring survived the destruction of Hellfire, but I’ll scour Sheena Island for intel and equipment that might give us a lead. Though I do wonder how hard Kelly would actually try. My mother didn’t really treat her like a valued member of the group. They kind of had an almost adversarial relationship at times.”

"But does Kelly fear her enough to follow Malice's orders regardless?"

Delilah paused to think for a moment.

"The question is, who would give her shelter, and who would tell her to fuck off? Where could she find a willing foothold?"
 
The Clocktower

Rae was smoking a cigarette outside of The Clocktower, a habit she truly loved. Originally it had been because she found something about nicotine had a unique way of dulling her visions, or rather forcing her to be present. When she later learned to do that on her own, she realized she just really loved smoking cigarettes. And given her predeliction towards addiction, it made sense. She needed a minute, but worried she was already too late.

On the way to The Clocktower, she felt the pull of The Boy King as he left The Astral Plane and entered The Other Side. The only benefit to this was that she could actually perceive him instead of just realing on her visions. His name was Cameron King. He had done this on purpose and he was headed towards something. He called it an anchor. A failsafe to bring him back should he need it. And from what Rae could see, he was going to need it. He was already calling for her, and it turned her stomach. She got flashes of his firefight with whom she was now able to perceive as Diana, and the catastrophic fire fight they had engaged in on The Astral Plane. And it made her suddenly hesitant to help. Rae knew she would have to eventually or risk living to see the end of the world, but she suddenly realized just how polarizing the situation had become.

"Fucking bastards. The whole lot of 'em."

She wondered if they knew how many earthbound telepaths and sensitives they had killed in their wake. The amount of power they were wielding against each other was epic, and in the Astral Plane, they weren't just pulling from their own wells. It had to come from somewhere. Rae closed her eyes, perceiving the other side as she saw orbs of light flicker in the blackness like twinkling stars, each one of them representing a life Cameron and Diana had taken in their efforts to destroy one another. She wondered if they would even care. Not even if they knew how likely it was that these orbs of light had belonged to more than just adults, but children as well. She said a prayer that echoed in The Other Side, helping to guide those spirits who had found themselves confused and scared at what had happened to them.

"They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40.

Her work didn't allow her to completely write off humanity, but it made her desperately scared for the future if things didn't change. Watching these grown adults with incredible powers use it to destroy each other was obviously a trauma response. And Rae knew a lot about trauma. The whole world tells you you're bad, eventually you either believe it, or you spend the rest of your life trying to convince people otherwise. Either way, you lose. And all of it fucks with the way you handle your life and your relationships. It was why Rae knew a lot of people, but was close to few. And it was why she scared that there was something about this group of people that made her actually care about them. She saw them in an endless ocean, constantly sinking and drowning, never able to find the strength to move UP. And for as brassy and harsh as she truly was, she knew the power of deliverance, of forgiveness and faith. Maybe that's what they needed. Something more than just Danny Donnelly had compelled her to stay in the city after The Battle at Hellfire. Maybe this was it.

So it was time to go back up there and tell these people she was pretty sure that one of their would be allies and current enemies was about to unleash an evil on the world that threatened to swallow them in sand and fire. Just fucking perfect.

Rae flung her cigarette to the ground and extinguished it underneath her heeled boot as she headed towards the elevator, the seconds it took to race her to the top floor feeling like hours. The doors opened as her eyes met Danny's pensive gaze. She exhaled deeply.

"Where the fuck is everyone, Danny? We're running out of time."
 
Meanwhile, In Manhattan

He loved fucking Morgan Victoria. It almost made the entire charade he was pulling on her worth it. The truth was, there was no Derek Forrester. There never had been. His real name was Gideon Hightower. Or at least that was the lofty name he had taken many years ago when he realized that nobody was ever going to be scared of or respect somebody named Frank. Derek had been an identity he created the moment he had came in contact with her energy in Los Angeles. The City of Angels had always remained true to it's name, and there was always a buffet of angelic entities working hard to help their charges. Whenever he felt like getting into trouble he took extended trips to Los Angeles, feasting on as much sweet angelic blood as he could. It never lasted too long. Though his soul had long been completely corrupted by the demon who possessed him as a boy, he had the gift and the curse of a fragment of Archangel Azrael's soul in his body. It had been a compassionate gift to a then boy who had fought several levels of Hell to get back to his body. He wanted to die, and he had carried out the task, until he was given a second chance by the Angel of Death. A part of the angel's soul, to rekindle his humanity, which really felt like a pox. He was too fargone. He was more demon than human, and all this wretched soul did was neuter him from who he was meant to be.

And then he felt Spellbinder. Her energy was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted. She was the only being he had ever encountered, angelic or demonic that matched his own energy. She was the grey in a Dark Trinity. She was in constant struggle between the light and dark parts of herself and her lineage, and she almost always failed. Yet she remained so righteous. From the moment he felt her, he had to know her. He had to be with her. So he used his power to create a persona that would be amenable to Morgan. A bad boy fashion designer model who had ties to some of the people she cared about most. For as enjoyable as Sally Spectra was at a party, she was a very stupid, non insulated woman. Her brain was an open book, and it didn't take much for Gideon to use her to create his persona, something that Morgan ate up immediately, despite her best efforts, despite her having a supposed life partner. That was why he was taking Morgan to dinner tonight, and not Nicholas. In fact, he had it on good authority that Morgan hadn't seen Nicholas in over a month.

He had left her a few hours ago at her request to be alone. He found that she had trouble sleeping with somebody beside her, which once perplexed him. But she'd been doing a lot of recreational drugs lately, so he didn't take it personally. He was the only person she was choosing to spend time with, so he wasn't questioning things. He flipped up the collar of his trenchcoat and headed into Daniel's on E 65th street. One of his favorite new places. The waiter sat him at their table as Gideon mindlessly looked at the menu, ordering for the both of them before she had even arrived. And then, oh man, did she arrive. He watched as she headed to the host.

Morgan: "I'm a little late, but I believe it's under, Forrester?"

That wasn't his name, but it still drove him crozy how she said it. Forrester. Like it made her blush. Like his last name was some intimate joke between the two of them, a term of endearment. He remained infatuated as she was led to his table, and he rose as she arose, his mood only somewhat dampened upon the realization that she was at the very least drunk.

"You look fucking incredible, Morgan."

Morgan: "What else is new? Pull my chair out for me, would you?"

He hated this part of her. This obstinate femnazi who worshipped herself, and for a moment, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to switch her back over to the good side.

"Of course."

Gideon could never tell if he wanted to consume Morgan, or live the rest of eternity with her. For every dark part of him that wanted to bite, there was something about her that he couldn't deny. Women like her were hard to come by. He didn't want to change her. Moreso, he wanted her to lean into the woman he saw she could be. Absolutely unrellenting and ruthless. Somebody who didn't entertain questions from her direct reports. Someone who had the power to fuck with fate on purpose. She had been going through a lot, and while his dick was reaping the benefits, he thought it a good a time as any to lean in and talk to her, to let her know that he could do more for her than make her cum.

"I know it's not your favorite topic....but your friends. Haven't heard you mention them in awhile. I mean I know I've been keeping you tied up literally and figuratively for awhile now, but still...it behooves me to ask. You've been on a rollercoaster lately. So where are you sitting on that rollercoaster now?"
 
The Parthenon

Haleigh tried to reach out to Delilah, in case she was feeling like she’d lost everything again. Delilah told her not to start ‘pretending’ like she cared now. It was a comment of spite, and given that Haleigh had expected another ‘fuck you’, it was mild. Delilah went on to say that The Six had made it clear what they thought of her. Haleigh remembered that when Delilah had first joined their group, she’d seemed to be ill-fitted. Over the years, they’d fucked her up enough to make her just like them, and now she seemed a little bitter that she’d fallen off her pedestal. Turns out she didn’t like no longer being their ‘guiding light’, and she wasn’t over all the shit she’d been through with them.

“Alright Delilah, Morgan and the rest may have given up on you, but I’m not going to. Take your shots if that makes you feel better, I’m not going to hold it against you like they do. When the whiskey and whatever drugs you’re on don’t effectively dull the pain anymore and you need someone to talk to, you know my number. And by the way, I AM sorry about what I chose to do to you in order to avoid what I thought were worse consequences. I’ll remind you of that as many times as it takes to sink in.”

She said, and then she brought up Malice and what possible move she might make next, because as usual, regardless of what they were going through, there was still the actual enemy to contend with. Delilah suggested Kelly, and Haleigh considered the possibility and offered her feedback. She recalled that Kelly and Malice didn’t have the utmost reciprocal respect. Delilah asked if Kelly feared Malice enough to obey her despite the disrespect.

“Mmm, I’d say Kelly is careful and calculating, but I wouldn’t call her fearful.”

Delilah questioned who would help Malice, and who would tell her to fuck off, or where she might find a willing foothold.

“Unfortunately willingness isn’t a factor. Even I had to capitulate to her command.”

She admitted with regret. She gave Delilah a look.

“I actually suspected she might’ve tried to possess you, since Cameron had died. I’ve stayed away to make it more difficult for her to get me.”

She said, not that she’d exactly been free of her mother’s influence this whole time. She was appreciating the brief repose.

“We should probably circle the wagons on any other telepaths we know. I could see her targeting that angle.”
 
The Clocktower

Every time they met up, Zizi felt Alexis was relaxing more into herself, letting Zizi in more. It was a good sign, but she knew that Alexis still had a lot of trauma to work through. And it was going to be a slow process. But the most important thing was convincing Alexis that she could trust Zizi, and that she was here for her, and that she had a place where she belonged.

Zizi had tried not to make her goodbyes with Alexis hurried, but she rushed from the coffee shop to the bakery to the Clocktower with about 30 seconds to spare. She could see them outside on the monitor as she emptied the boxes filled with goodies onto a serving tray: mini sandwiches, pastries and cookies. The kettle had just come to a boil as she finished, and she set both the tray of food and the tea tray on the living room coffee table before heading for the door. She took a second to have a deep breath and an exhale before opening it.

"I am SO sorry for keeping you waiting. Come in, come in! Please."

She showed Danny and Rae inside.

"Please, have a seat. Help yourselves to tea."

She moved her chair so she was facing both of them, and smoothed her dress down before speaking again.

"So, I think you said apocalypse?"
 
The Parthenon - Danger Room

Delilah didn't know what Haleigh's game was, but it was getting old fast. Did she really think Delilah was that stupid?

Haleigh: “Alright Delilah, Morgan and the rest may have given up on you, but I’m not going to. Take your shots if that makes you feel better, I’m not going to hold it against you like they do. When the whiskey and whatever drugs you’re on don’t effectively dull the pain anymore and you need someone to talk to, you know my number. And by the way, I AM sorry about what I chose to do to you in order to avoid what I thought were worse consequences. I’ll remind you of that as many times as it takes to sink in.”

Don't hold your breath.

Thankfully Haleigh got down to business, switching to discussion of what Malice's next move might be. Delilah suggested Kelly - even if she wasn't Diana's friend per se, Malice had a way of getting people to do what she wanted. Case in point the person sitting across from her.

Haleigh: “Mmm, I’d say Kelly is careful and calculating, but I wouldn’t call her fearful."

So who would she go to, who would give her what she wanted?

Haleigh: "Unfortunately willingness isn’t a factor. Even I had to capitulate to her command.”

Yeah, seemed like it was a real struggle for you.

"So let's look at it another way: who, willing or unwilling, can give her what she wants? Back on this plane with power."

Haleigh: “I actually suspected she might’ve tried to possess you, since Cameron had died. I’ve stayed away to make it more difficult for her to get me.”

"Cameron is not dead."

She said it matter-of-factly. The normal rules didn't apply.

"And he helped me improve my ability to block her."

Haleigh: “We should probably circle the wagons on any other telepaths we know. I could see her targeting that angle.”

Delilah nodded.

"You would know Mommy Dearest the best."

She cleared her throat.

"Perhaps Clandestine can pull them in for protection? Somewhere safe where if Malice gets to them we'll know about it."
 
Seer said:
<< FLASH! >>

<< Morgan Victoria tosses and turns in Derek Forrester's bed, locked in her nightmares of all that had happened to her over the last few months. The moon hits the window, bathing her body in light and shadows against the black silk sheets. Her voice lightly moans in pain as she relives her trauma as she had every night since sustaining her injuries. >>

The Hellfire Mansion -

Talisman: "The Sorceress Supreme...taken out by gunfire..now that's a headline."

Spellbinder: "What did you do to me, you bitch."

Talisman: "Right now, you'll feel a heavy hit to your stamina and vitality. And...I can tell you're trying to harness that good old eldritch type energy, but find yourself unable to..."

<< Morgan tossed and turned in bed, her body drenched in sweat. >>

Talisman: "Of course there's probably some nausea. Racing heartbeat. Overall loss of motor function, but fret not - it's not permanent. Once a great deal of your magick has been drained, you'll start to feel normal. Well...not normal, but when infected with a virus of this magnitude, one shouldn't ever hope to feel normal again..."

<< FLASH! >>

Minerva's Mansion - The Fallout

Shadow Weaver: "It's not just a magickal affliction my dear. There's a biological component that we....are working to find a way around."

Harbinger: "None of our doctors on Aerie have seen anything like it. We just need time, Morgan. I promise. We will find a cure."

"I wouldn't have needed a cure if they would have just FUCKING listened to me!!!!"

Harbinger: "Calm yourself, Morgan! What's done is done. This is what they wanted. Don't waste your anger on those who REVEL in our pain."

"Oh FUCK OFF, Alison!"

<< She threw Alison across the room with her super strength. >>

Shadow Weaver: "Morgan you stop that this INSTANT!"

"I will do no such thing. How EASY it is for you to tell me to calm down while you both sit there untouched. These were some of the GREATEST stakes we've ever faced...and where were the two of YOU? Nowhere."

Firebird: "Morg! Come on, just calm down, honey."

<< Firebird went to comfort her as Morgan ripped Blaze from her grip with a visceral hiss. >>

"Don't TOUCH me, Blaze."

Harbinger: "Don't stop her on our account, Blaze. Is there something you need to say, Morgan?"

"You're damn right there is. We're no better than them, Alison. We used to hold it over their fucking heads so much how many times they left, how they DIED and FORCED our hands to save their lives, but we ran TOO."

Harbinger: "I run from NOBODY, Morgan."

"Except you DID. We BOTH ran from Delilah and the others after The Blue Moon. The difference is... I came BACK. I faced the fucking music. I put aside my pride, and I did what they always wanted me to do - I let them do it THEIR way. I let your BROTHER convince me he knew what he was doing and you watched from afar as Talisman NEUTERED me and did NOTHING."

[bitterly]

"Keeper of Time and you couldn't find any to SAVE me from THIS..."

Harbinger: "Morgan, you know I can't just CHANGE time like that. Like my power is some kind of PARLOUR trick. I have a responsibility to---"

"You had a responsibility to ME, Alison. I have NEVER once faltered from your side. I stood by as I watched that miserable brother of yours weasel his way into all of our hearts, as Delilah rained down her venom on BOTH of us, and when I needed you the most...you-"

Harbinger: "Stop this Morgan. This is ridiculous and you know it."

"Enough, Alison. Enough from all of you. I'm done. I'm really fucking done..."

<< She flicked her wrist, summoning a stepping disc before her icy violet eyes looked at the women she used to trust more than anyone else in any dimension, though they were not enshrouded in shadow because she could no longer do that. >>

"Anyone tries to track me down, I'll kill them."
Click to expand...

<< It had been the last time she had seen any of them. She may have not had the ability to do magick, but she had an aresenal of artifacts and objects to conceal her movements even from The Keeper of Time herself. She had tried to return to the team, offering Delilah a visit to Limbo to see her daughter, though even that was selfish. She had to inform Ororo that access to her magick, Ororo was now the Sorceress Supreme of Limbo, something that had enraged Ororo even further than she already was at Morgan, though not enough to stop her ability to teleport. Nobody had checked in on her in months, all assuming she was doing what she did best - holing up in Limbo over her scrying mirror. But Limbo only brought her pain, and without her power, she risked great danger in being there, information that would only break any ground she had made with Delilah. >>

<< So she let herself fall, and she hated herself for it. She had been too strong for too long, and without her magick to bolster her ego, she broke, clinging to any and everything that could make her forget how much the others seemed to hate her. Whatever could make her forget that The Six's hatred of her had been the thing that actually seemed to bond her together. She had nothing. Nobody. Just Derek. She shot up out of her bed, squinting her eyes against the moonlight that would have normally energized her. Now it felt like it was mocking her. >>

"How long have I been asleep..."

<< Morgan glanced at the clock. She still had enough time to get herself together for dinner with Derek. He had been the only thing keeping her together. The only one who understood her constant struggle to maintain moral balance, and more than that, he let her get as dark as she wanted and he didn't make her feel like shit about it, except for the times that he did. It was complicated. But it always was for souls corrupted like their's. >>

<< She rose from his bed as her naked body walked through the bedroom and into the bathroom, turning on the shower as she let the water rush over her body, rubbing the water into her skin with her hands until she felt something rough. A scar. From the palm of her hand to her wrist. A remnant of her first battle with Black so many years ago when she was a bright eyed superhero for Valiant. She had always concealed it with her magick because it was living proof that something could in fact destroy her. It took her months to regain her power from that encounter, but that didn't give her hope she'd survive what Talisman did to her. If anything it was just another reminder of her futil mortality. Morgan shook her head immediately and let the water overtake her senses. >>

<< Before long, she had changed into a classic little black dress and made her way over to the restaurant, heading to the host, after more than a few shots of courage and maybe a Xanax or two for good measure. >>

"I'm a little late, but I believe it's under Forrester?"

<< Her cocktail of courage was beginning to hit her as she made her way over to the table. >>

Derek: "You look fucking incredible, Morgan."

"What else is new? Pull my chair out for me, would you?"

<< She said with more disdain than she meant. Morgan wasn't used to men like Derek. She had gotten to used to Nicholas and his pious gentleman routine. That and pretty much every man she ever encountered had been a sexually depraved lunatic. Not that Derek wasn't, she just had a hard time not crushing the balls of every man she ever encountered, despite how intoxicated she was by them. But he didn't respond like a pig. >>

Derek: "Of course."

<< Morgan blushed as he helped her to her seat. >>

Derek: "I know it's not your favorite topic...but your friends. Haven't heard you mention them in awhile. I mean I know I've been keeping you tied up literally and figuratively for awhile now, but still...it behooves me to ask. You've been on a rollercoaster lately. So where are you sitting on that rollercoaster now?"

"Derek, please....can we at least order APPETIZERS before you ask me to bare my soul?"

Derek: "Oh I've already taken the liberty. We've got oysters and caviar on the way. Petrussian of course."

<< Morgan smirked, hoping to have a martini instead. >>

"You spoil me...I'm...."

[sighing]

"I think I'm fine. I mean...I KNOW I'm not fine...but I'm living. I'm just finding myself no longer interested in friends. I mean, we've been inseparable. Have you seen anyone reach out to me? Anyone ask if I'm doing okay? If I need anything? It's pretty clear. They don't need me, and they never did. So I'm on that part of the rollercoaster, after the fall. Where the ride is over...but not over...when you're waiting to go back to the holding bay, the adrenaline fading."

<< Thankfully, Derek had taken over their drink orders as well as a dirty martini was placed in front of her. She took a long sip of relief. >>

"But that's how I always feel with them, Derek. I suit up, I do what needs to be done, they hate me for it, and whatever high I felt is drowned by their hatred of my methods. I overstayed my welcome. I see that now. I was never meant to be a part of a team, let alone lead one."

<< Damn that martini tasted good. Morgan took an olive off the toothpick with her tongue and bit down on it seductively as she smirked at Derek. >>

"Cameron faces The White Queen and ends up in a coma still fighting for his life. *I* face Diana, cut her fucking head off with my Soul Sword and move on. Yet they worship him. Delilah and Haleigh, my own sister, hold vigil for him. Doesn't seem like a fair deal, does it?"
 
Clara Oswald
Clara Oswald
I love this!
The Clocktower

And there Oracle was with all of her goddamn snacks. If only they weren't so good.

Oracle: "I'm SO sorry for keeping you waiting. Come in, come in! Please."

Rae furrowed her brow, begrudgingly grabbing a sandwich, resolved to delay her beach body for another year before eating it with a few seconds. Eating also dulled the voices.

Oracle: "Please, have a seat. Help yourselves to tea."

Jezebel pulled a flask from her purse and took a big swig.

"I brought whiskey if anyone's interested."

Elizabeth York had an energy that was a bit difficult to be around. She had an almost unbearable light to her. An old soul, but a pure one. And those kind of souls had darkness swarming them at all times, trying to break them. Oracle was no different. For as good a woman as she was, there was an ominous energy surrounding Oracle. If something could truly break her spirit, the well of power that lied within her would be catastrophic. She only hoped that Oracle's true mutation was that of an indomitable spirit.

Oracle: "So, I think you said apocalypse?"

Rae smirked a bit. She had never heard anyone say apocalypse with such a positive trill in their voice. Oracle really was something else. Jezebel calmed herself, took a seat, along with some tea despite her obstinance, and exhaled. Ready to speak.

"I stayed in the city because Danny got very sick after The Battle at Hellfire. At first I thought it was because despite my best efforts there was still some sickening maternal instinct I had that hadn't been burned off by the whiskey I've drank over the years. Then I realized...after Danny got better that the feelings I had...they didn't leave."

She looked at Elizabeth intently.

"I'm not fully versed in your world, Oracle. So I don't know have all the context I need. All I can do is share what I'm seeing and hope you can fill in the blanks.

Rae leaned back into her seat on the couch. It was time.

"The world is poised to end. We have the White Queen and...for whatever reason, when I see him, I want to call him her prince...but he's a King. He's the thing she's spent the most time on...even more than her...daughter? The Scion? She destroyed his family to have him to herself, but he won't give in."

Her pulse raced for a moment.

"They've ravaged The Astral Plane. They've killed thousands of telepaths who don't understand their powers just yet. Teenagers. Kids. Toddlers. Adults. All of them dead in the royal family's wake."

Danny: "Jesus Christ, Rae. You never mentioned this."

With good reason. She continued.

"Since she can't have him, she looks elsewhere. And where she looks is the trouble. She's insane. She wants to awaken an Elder God to come back. Deep beneath the pyramids he calls to her, and she thinks she can handle it. She will promise her power, to give him total control of our world as we know it. To give him power without consequence. Power beyond meausre. This Elder God will agree to her terms. And she will use The Astral Plane to bring him through the other King. The one who has never supposed to be here. The one who's power had just been stripped from him. From his blood....a new world order will arise. They will seize control almost instantly. She will be Queen again, but this time, she will serve him. The Elder One. And then it goes black. Black because none of us live long enough to see what that future holds...."

She could now see him in her mind. Her power had never been this clear. This concise. She felt like a precog as she continued to speak.

"Nicholas. The vessel's name is Nicholas. And this Nicholas will survive as well. He will be their Knight. He will be the left hand of The Elder God as The White Queen is his right. The three of them will destroy this world, and I dont know what we can do about it. If Nicholas dies, The Elder One rises...if he lives? The Elder One rises."

Rae finished the rest of her tea and set her cup on the end table to her left.

"The White King...he has already made the ultimate sacrifice. He has died, and I can see him on The Other Side. he calls to me without knowing, and I think I can help him. But he plays games, Oracle. He's planned so carefully for all of this. But he needs help. He needs me. Every image I see here leads to our extinction. There are two flames that fight for The White King. Both have different methods, both will fail if left to their own devices. ALL will fail if we cannot extinguish The White Queen before......."

[a sudden awareness]

"SET...."

"Before SET is made corporeal...."

"He mocks me as I speak to you by the way..."
 
The Clocktower

Zizi ushered Rae & Danny into the living area and offered them tea and refreshments.

Jezebel: "I brought whiskey if anyone's interested."

Zizi watched Rae take a large drink herself. Zizi didn't want to offend the older woman, but decided to decline politely.

"Um...no, thank you."

Zizi asked about the "apocalypse" Danny had mentioned.

Jezebel: "I stayed in the city because Danny got very sick after The Battle at Hellfire."

Zizi looked over at Danny sympathetically, and put a hand on his arm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Danny."

Jezebel: "All I can do is share what I'm seeing and hope you can fill in the blanks."

Zizi nodded, listening intently - and seriously - to what Rae had to say.

Jezebel: "The world is poised to end. We have the White Queen and...for whatever reason, when I see him, I want to call him her prince...but he's a King. He's the thing she's spent the most time on...even more than her...daughter? The Scion? She destroyed his family to have him to herself, but he won't give in."

"Malice. And Cameron King."

Zizi interjected softly, not wanting to interrupt.

Jezebel: "They've ravaged The Astral Plane. They've killed thousands of telepaths who don't understand their powers just yet. Teenagers. Kids. Toddlers. Adults. All of them dead in the royal family's wake."

A hand went automatically to Zizi's mouth as she gasped.

"How could this happen?"

Danny: "Jesus Christ, Rae. You never mentioned this."

Jezebel: "From his blood....a new world order will arise. They will seize control almost instantly. She will be Queen again, but this time, she will serve him. The Elder One. And then it goes black. Black because none of us live long enough to see what that future holds...."

Zizi held tight to the arms of her wheelchair.

"Oh my goodness...that is apocalyptic indeed."

Jezebel: "The White King...he has already made the ultimate sacrifice. He has died, and I can see him on The Other Side. he calls to me without knowing, and I think I can help him. But he plays games, Oracle. He's planned so carefully for all of this. But he needs help. He needs me. Every image I see here leads to our extinction. There are two flames that fight for The White King. Both have different methods, both will fail if left to their own devices. ALL will fail if we cannot extinguish The White Queen before...SET....Before SET is made corporeal...."

Zizi gasped again. That couldn't be right. Malice wouldn't be that stupid. She knew about the truce between the Sisterhood and the Six, and how they together had defeated Set. And how it had almost destroyed them all. Malice had to be desperate to think she could win in a bargain with that...thing.

Jezebel: "He mocks me as I speak to you by the way..."

Zizi swallowed.

"Well you just go ahead and tell him that is not very polite."

Zizi pursed her lips, looking downward for a moment before back up to Rae.

"Can you help Cameron King? What do we need to do? There has to be something way to help."
 
Clandestine Intelligence

Ashley didn't give one rat's ass about Haleigh, or the Amazons, or even about the kid. All she cared about was Zach - him being okay, him getting what he wanted. She was slightly surprised that Zach allowed himself to admit the truth that he didn't want to adopt the boy. He was always everyone's savior. He would definitely do something he didn't want to to help someone else. It was both a strength and a fault. But now that he had decided, they could move forward. First item on the agenda was to tell Zizi everything, because she surely would have a plan.

Almost as soon as she had said it, Zach got a strange look on his face.

Zach: “Something’s wrong.”

And then Haleigh burst into the room.

Haleigh: “If Oracle has a better idea, let me know.”

And THEN the bitch disappeared.

"I fucking knew she was listening."

Ashley didn't bring up the whole "sensing something wrong with Haleigh" thing. Right now.

Griffin was standing in the doorway.

Zach: “What was that about?”

Griff: “Prophet just died.”

"No shit."

Ashley didn't really care one way or the other. She knew Zach didn't like the guy, but Ashley didn't like or dislike him. The little she knew about him made him seem like kind of prick though. And then she totally forgot about his being dead because Zach was leading her back to the conference room.

Zach: “I’m not taking Jake.”

Griffin: “That’s completely understandable, Zach. Haleigh just wanted to give you the option, knowing you’d been forced out by the others.”

Zach: “Is there anything else I can do?”

Griffin: “Neglect to mention this meeting to the Amazons, and in fact forget it even happened.”

"Can we forget they ever happened?"

She did say it under her breath.

Zach: “I thought this was going to be about the Hellfire rumors.”

Savage: “You need not fret. It is under control.”

She looked at the muscle, scoffing at the idea that they could be in control of anything.

"Yeah, I'll take your word for that, said no one. Ever."

Ashley shook her head, then pointed at Griffin.

"Don't keep Zach in the dark and then expect us to come running and unfuck everything. We're tired of cleaning up your people's messes."

She turned on her heel and stormed out of the conference room, waiting for Zach in the hallway, leaning against the wall.

She rubbed the heels of her hands against her eyes.

"What a fucking bait and switch that was."

Ashley kept stealing glances at Zach as she drove them over to the Clocktower at a high rate of speed. She couldn't tell how he was doing, with the whole Jack thing. How he was really doing. Zizi would know what to say. She was good at that. They parked in the garage underground, then rode the elevator up to the 15th floor. There were voices wafting from further inside as Ashley opened the door.

Jezebel: "...ALL will fail if we cannot extinguish The White Queen before...SET....Before SET is made corporeal...."

She followed the sound of voices to the living area, seeing Danny Donnelly with Zizi plus another woman who looked like she should be riding a Harley and smoking an entire pack of cigarettes at the same time. Oh, it was that Rae who was friends with crazy Rose. Ashley raised an eyebrow at Zizi.

"Church meeting?"
 
Daniel's - E. 65th

He listened intently as she spoke and his mind and eyes scanned her body. She looked good enough to eat. It had been a bit of a setback for them when Morgan lost her magick. It was such a deep well for her anger. And while she no longer had access to it, it was still there. Hellion could feel it, and he had made it his mission to get her to crack whatever it was that had a hold on her. Morgan's human rage was still legendary, but she had been dulling herself. Prescription pills. Alcohols. Gideon liked a good time as much as the next guy but to watch her shrivel down like this was unnerving.

Morgan: "I think I'm fine. I mean...I KNOW I'm not fine...but I'm living. I'm just finding myself no longer interested in friends. I mean, we've been inseparable. Have you seen anyone reach out to me? Anyone ask if I'm doing okay? If I need anything? It's pretty clear. They don't need me, and they never did. So I'm on that part of the rollercoaster, after the fall. Where the ride is over...but not over...when you're waiting to go back to the holding bay, the adrenaline fading."

"Nobody should stay where they aren't wanted...or appreciated. Seems like they're the ones with the problem."

Hellion placed his rough hands over Morgan's as she continued to speak, the pain in her voice rising with every breath.

Morgan: "But that's how I always feel with them, Derek. I suit up, I do what needs to be done, they hate me for it, and whatever high I felt is drowned by their hatred of my methods. I overstayed my welcome. I see that now. I was never meant to be a part of a team, let alone lead one."

The waiter came back with their drinks, as Gideon took a sip of his chilled Estrada Reposado neat and sat the glass down on the table, his dark brown almost black eyes never lingering from her icy violet.

Morgan: "Cameron faces The White Queen and ends up in a coma, still fighting for his life. *I* face Diana, cut her fucking head off with my Soul Sword and move on. Yet they worship him. Delilah and Haleigh, my own sister, hold vigil for him. Doesn't seem like a fair deal, does it."

"It certainly doesn't."

She was getting angry and that was how he liked her. That was when she joined him in making bad decisions. He had planned to lure her away slowly from her group when had practically landed right in her lap, vulnerable and afraid. As soon as he could figure out a way to get her magick back, they would be able to Bonnie and Clyde around the world, taking whatever they wanted, doing whatever they wanted. True power without consequence, which was what she had always wanted.

"So fuck 'em."

He watched as her eyes widened before narrowing at him displeased.

"Seriously, Morgan. Fuck those guys. How many times have you saved their asses? How many times have they said thank you. You say you realize they don't need you, so don't give them a single tear. You've cried enough over them. And frankly, you've cried too much about losing your magick."

Morgan: "Is that suppose to comfort me, asshole?!"

"No. The woman I met six months ago didn't need comfort. She needed people to get out of her way. You're the Sorceress Supreme of Earth, The Demon Queen of Limbo. You're hands down the most beautiful specimen of a woman i've ever encountered. Why in Lucifer's name would you give a solitary fuck what they think, what they need, what they WANT?!"

He took another sip of his drink before setting the glass down a bit firmly on the table.

"I get it. They're your family..you've been through a lot. I know trauma bonds people together, but this is ridiculous. We're essentially immortal, Morgan. You want to spend the rest of eternity taking care of people who hate you? Who are too weak and human to see the bigger picture?"

[flatly]

"Morality starts to make a lot less sense the longer you live. We're bigger than unspoken rules and guidelines. Those were things humans created to control each other because they couldn't *do* what we do. So why play their games?"
 
Daniel's - E. 65th

Hellion: "Morality starts to make a lot less sense the longer you live. We're bigger than unspoken rules and guidelines. Those were things humans created to control each other because they couldn't *do* what we do. So why play their games?"

"Well now you just sound like Belasco, Derek. NOT an endearing quality."

<< She furrowed her brow for a moment as her memories got the best of her. Morgan could never remember ever meeting Belasco, the ancient sorcerer that had tormented her cross time counterpart Magik, creating the Darkchilde in his wake. But in this moment, she could almost remember him. Remember WORDS he had spoken to her?! >>

Seer said:
<< FLASH! >>

Belasco: "Morgan, my pet...it is through you that I will finally get the rewards I've worked so hard to gain. My sweet girl, you shall RULE in the New Earth by MY side."

Morgan: "I'm just a girl. I don't know what you mean!"

Belasco: "So much more than a girl, you are. Don't worry...all will become clear soon enough. Now get BACK to your studies!"
Click to expand...

<< Her blood ran cold as she downed the rest of her martini in record time, promptly ordering another one. She had to have been going crazy. Or maybe she was experiencing some sort of 'interference' or memory from her counterparts. But it felt so....REAL! >>

"Get a hold of yourself."

<< Morgan's fresh martini arrived just in time as she took another sip, looking at Derek in somewhat of a haze, but still in control of her words. >>

"In any case...i'm not playing GAMES. I AM a human. Just as they are. That's the whole fucking problem. THAT'S what I've been ignoring. I used to have all this power. I was so untouchable. And that's how I wanted it. I spent my childhood watching my dad beat the SHIT out of my mother whenever he got the opportunity..and I watched my mother, who...well you've seen her. Do you think she was EVER the kind of woman who would let something like that happen? But she did. We don't ever talk about it. We've moved mountains with our magick so it's never what anyone focuses on...but it happened. I was never going to let anybody think about ME, what I thought about HER when I was younger. So I leaned in. To the darkness...the power. And where did it get me?"

[leaning in with a smirk]

"Absolutely fucking NOWHERE...I spent so much time making people respect Limbo...my POWER...to the point that nobody respects ME. Nobody LOVES me...not even you."

<< Morgan could feel the tears welling in her eyes despite the well timed Xanax she had been taking. She immediately took a napkin and dabbed the corner of her eyes to save her eyeliner before returning her icy gaze back to Derek. >>

"Don't act so shocked. I may be drunk, but I'm not stupid...Speaking of..."

<< She downed her martini and waved for her the waiter to bring her another. >>

"You think Nicholas would still love me if he knew what I was doing right now?"

<< She laughed. >>

"What am I saying? of COURSE he would. He canonizes me. I'm a TROPHY to him. I'm the fucking VOID Gustav left him to fill. He wants to be my champion. Not my partner...and YOU..."

<< Morgan hissed. >>

"You only want me because you think I'm LIKE you. And if you can corrupt me enough...bring me down to your LEVEL...well....that's gotta make you feel pretty good about yourself, doesn't it? That somebody else struggles with being a decent human being as much as you do. The difference here..DEREK, is that my soul, is still my own. I don't only feel humanity because an ANGEL made it so. Every death I caused...every slight I manifested...I live with it everyday because I ACTUALLY did it. It wasn't some other 'part' of me that I can blame. It was ME. You treat me like I'm some demon with an empathetic streak...when really...I'm a woman with demons...."

<< Finishing her drink yet again. >>

"And right now? I'm resolved to let the demons win for a minute. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of YOU, frankly. I want to be left ALONE. I want to NOT have to talk about my feelings, my motivations, my actions. I WANT...to just fucking exist...for FIVE minutes without someone mentioning my fate or destiny or purpose or friends or any other FUCKING part of my life that I don't want to talk about."

<< The waiters arrived again, this time with their dinner orders as Morgan curled her lip up, unamused. >>

"I've lost my appetite."

<< She rose from the table and excused herself to the bathroom, the room spinning around her as she went. She reached the sink, splashing herself with water, her icy violet eyes looking back at her in the mirror for a moment as she caught her reflection, utterly disgusted at her vulnerability before manifesting a stepping disc. She had meant to go to Limbo, but in her drunken state she found herself in her penthouse at The Parthenon, which was probably for the best. Morgan promptly headed towards the bar, pouring herself a glass of white wine before settling into one of her plush white leather couches, looking out one of her floor to ceiling windows at the city below her. A chill ran up her spine. >>

Seer said:
<< FLASH! >>

A Memory...

Unknown Male Voice: "Kihozlak innen, édesem."

Morgan: "I believe you...show me, what to do..."
Click to expand...

<< His voice was both comforting and terrifying. It was something she was sworn she had never heard but couldn't deny. Where had this come from? Was she truly just that inebriated? Something was wrong. Soon...somebody would come to her. For now, she let the room spin around her as she numbed herself even more, ignoring whatever disaster was sure to arrive at her doorstep. >>
 
Clara Oswald
Clara Oswald
"I'm a woman with demons" - terrific
The Parthenon

Haleigh tried to reach across the schism, to let Delilah know she was still trying. Haleigh knew she was a shitty friend to have, but since Delilah was running low on friends at the moment, she felt it necessary to remind Delilah that she regretted what went down between them, and she was available if Delilah needed to talk. She didn’t get a response, but it was better than getting some spiteful sarcasm or a bitter argument.

She brought up a new topic, what they were going to do going forward. This wasn’t her plan, and she didn’t know if they had more up their proverbial sleeves, so she tried to brainstorm. They considered Kelly as an ally option for Malice, but Haleigh suspected Kelly would be cunning enough to capitalize on Malice’s demise, and wouldn’t be motivated to bring her back. After all, Kelly was the only reason some of the former Inner Circle had escaped. She’d cut and run as soon as Malice exploded, encouraging the immediate retreat of all other survivors.

Delilah asked who would tell Malice to fuck off, and who would willingly help her. Haleigh pointed out that willingness wasn’t so much a factor. She knew that from personal experience. Delilah redirected the question to who would provide Malice with what she wanted. The scary options were in the room already, since Cameron was dead and Malice had never shown a lot of personal interest in Seph.

Delilah: “Cameron is not dead.”

Haleigh looked at Delilah, her expression softening. Cameron wasn’t alive and hadn’t been for months, but Haleigh didn’t want to crush whatever little hope Delilah was clinging to.

“I hope you’re right.”

She replied gently, and went on to discuss the possibility that a local telepath might be the next logical target for Malice. Delilah commented that Haleigh would know ‘mommy dearest’ best. The barb was mild enough that Haleigh’s face showed no pain. She wished she could deny it, though. She poured another round of whiskey, not because it was likely to help, but because it made her feel more human. Delilah suggested Clandestine could shield the known telepaths or at the very least give them a warning system, but Haleigh’s mouth was already tightening, her brow crinkling in frustration.

“No, we’re too late. I’ve just accessed Clandestine’s dossiers on the known telepaths of the New York metro area… it seems they’ve been dropping like flies in the past several months…. With the exception of Nicolas.”

She replied, taking a gulp of whiskey as the gears turned in her head.

“Is he technically still a telepath?”

She asked, and then more quietly, almost to herself:

“And what does this mean for the boy?”
 
The Parthenon - Danger Room

Haleigh had the audacity to say that Cameron was dead. Delilah corrected her.

Haleigh: “I hope you’re right.”

Delilah just shook her head. If Haleigh truly believed Cameron was dead, she certainly wasn't showing much grief about it. Maybe she was a fucking robot. She was certainly acting like one. But hadn't Delilah started this whole conversation off by telling Haleigh that Cameron wasn't dead? Why was she so unwilling to believe her?

They discussed Malice's next move, that maybe she would target a telepath. Delilah suggested bringing in Clandestine to protect them.

Haleigh: “No, we’re too late. I’ve just accessed Clandestine’s dossiers on the known telepaths of the New York metro area… it seems they’ve been dropping like flies in the past several months…. With the exception of Nicolas.”

"That doesn't make any sense - Malice couldn't be fighting Cameron AND killing telepaths at the same time."

Haleigh: “Is he technically still a telepath?”

"Well I'm out of the loop as usual - what's wrong with Nicolas? Other than the obvious."

Delilah rolled her eyes. Then Haleigh softly made a comment about some boy.

"What boy? What are you talking about? Another telepath?"
 
Clandestine Intelligence

The meeting was pretty much over when Haleigh left. She wasn’t the official Director of Clandestine anymore, but she was still the top of the pecking order as far as anyone around here was concerned. Zach conferred with Griffin, the Director actual, to wrap up the loose ends. He was sure that Griff already knew, but he said it anyway; he wasn’t taking Jake. Griffin expressed an understanding and Zach mentioned Hellfire, the topic he thought he’d come in for.

Savage, the mysterious mountain man that had been sitting next to Haleigh, said they had Hellfire under control. Ashley was skeptical and didn’t mind saying so. Savage was inscrutable and just seemed to be watching them attentively, content to fall silent. Ashley turned on Griffin, who’s eyebrows raised about 10 millimeters as he lifted his hands in surrender.

Griffin: “Friendly fire.”

Griffin remarked, more amused by her moxie than anything. He and Zach shared a handshake as Zach bid him goodbye for now promised to keep him advised of any relevant developments. Then Zach and Ashley went back down to the garage and drove off towards the Clocktower.

Zach stared out his side window, lost in thought. His emotions were churning, none of them positive. Had he made the right decision? Should he have ignored his reservations and simply stepped up to the challenge suddenly thrust at him? He recalled that day several months ago in court, when Alycia had surprised him by making the case for him to adopt Jake. She’d had a compelling argument, but obviously she hadn’t really meant any of it, she was just trying to keep Jake from Nedry.

Zach knew he would’ve accepted whatever had come out of that and made the best of it, but he had not been free of anxiety in the matter. That day had been so crazy they had fought their way out of the courthouse, and afterwards Jake was back at the Sanctuary without even a discussion. No one, not even Zach or Jake had questioned it. The Sanctuary was Jake’s home. So why were they moving him elsewhere? Zach hoped for the best, but he suspected there was more to this whole operation than what was initially shared. He wondered how much more they would have discussed if Haleigh hadn’t dropped them like a hot rock for Cameron.

Zach followed Ash now, up to the Clocktower. There were people here already, something Zach found a bit disconcerting. He didn’t have any particular problem with either of the other guests, but they were more Rose’s friends than his, and he wasn’t really comfortable sharing the details of the Clandestine conference in mixed company. The good news was that they were clearly engaged in a heavy topic already. Zach and Ash arriving didn’t make much of a dent initially. Ziz asked Rae if they could help Cameron. Zach grimaced and tried to deliver the news gently.

“Ah Ziz, I’m afraid only the Gods can help Cameron now. We’ve just heard that he died.”

He said, not realizing that had been established prior to his arrival.

“But what’s this about Set? Is Nicolas not okay?”
 
The Clocktower

It didn't get easier hearing Rae tell this story a second time, and Danny was trying hard to fight the tightening of his chest. Yet again, the problems of The Six would end up being the problems of the world, and while Danny cared about the world, he cared more about his city and the people living in it. They had gone through too much.

Rae: "He mocks me as I speak to you by the way..."

Oracle: "Well you just go ahead and tell him that is not very polite."

"And feel free to add as many expletives to that sentiment as you see fit."

Valkyrie: "Church meeting?"

He had always been amused by her perpetual sarcasm, but honestly he was a bit relieved to see Ashley here. She was a Valkyrie. Maybe not in the traditional sense any more, but surely a Valkyrie was very useful in a fight like this. She could even possibly help guide Cameron's soul somewhere...even if it was to Valhalla and out of this mess. The ever delicious Zach Armani was by her side.

Oracle: "Can you help Cameron King? What do we need to do? There has to be some way to help."

Orion: "Ah Ziz, I'm afraid only the Gods can help Cameron now. We've just heard that he died."

"Unfortunately the only gods involved here want all of us dead."

Orion: "But what's this about Set? Is Nicolas not okay?"

Danny furrowed his brow when his mind went to Nicolas King. He had a good reputation with the city, which didn't make Citadel's decision about things easier.

Rae: "To catch you both up quickly. Diana and Cameron's battle of balls has been wrecking through the Astral Plane like a wildfire, killing a bunch of my kind of people in their wake. He died..and is on The Other Side...but he's not done...he's going to try and take Malice out through there. She can't track him there, but he's going to need a hell of a push to get back through. HE's planning on striking at the right time with his blade...and SHE....she's trying to find Set and use him and by proxy Nicolas to get back here and unleash hell on Earth...."

[flatly]

Rae: "Yes...she's really that bat shit fucking crazy. I'm no precog, but from what I CAN see...is that she is a lot more convincing than anyone has given her credit for. He will very likely accept her offer."

"Don't look at me...I've always known."

Rae: "And Oracle, to answer your question....yes..I can help Cameron...be the push he needs to get back to The Astral Plane, but...he's an idiot if he thinks that all the other side will require of him is his soul....I need to meet with him...see if I can connect with him...see if his plan is as stupid and dangerous as I think it is..."

She paused.

Rae: "And you guys need to figure out what to do with Nicolas and The Six...."

"Speaking of...."

He looked at the group solemnly, not wanting to add to the bad news.

"I can't have Nicolas King in this city anymore...I'm not even sure he should be on world at this point. I'm sorry, but this city has seen enough destruction by way of Hellfire and The Six over the years. I'm not going to let her be their battlefield again. I refuse. So, whatever you decide to do with him, you at the very least need to get him out of New York....or I will myself."

Set may be returning to Earth, and that may not have mattered much in the grand scheme of things, but Set would NOT be making his debut in New York City, not if Danny could help it.
 
The Parthenon

Together with Delilah, Haleigh pursued the possibility that Malice might target a telepath for her return. Just like always, they set aside whatever philosophical differences they had in order to solve the current crisis. It was a bit of a comfort zone, but Haleigh tried to stifle the pervasive hope that if they could work together right now, one day they might be okay again. She didn’t want to let her expectations climb too high. She was weary of being disappointed and dismayed, and ultimately she knew she should not expect Delilah to just simply trust her again.

Haleigh focused on the task at hand, but the welcome distraction from present suffering was marred by misfortune. It seemed that according to Clandestine’s fairly thorough records, the known telepaths of the New York metropolitan area were dropping dead at an alarming rate. Car crashes and other freak accidents were a common theme. There wasn’t really a single case that would have raised a red flag by itself, but taken in aggregate the trend definitely gave her concern. She shared the facts with Delilah, who pointed out that it didn’t make sense that Malice would be killing telepaths while engaged with Cameron on the Astral plane. Haleigh nodded as she sipped her whiskey thoughtfully.

“Yeah I don’t disagree with you, I can’t make much sense of it either. I don’t have a solid understanding of how all that astral plane shit works, to be honest, but I’m too suspicious to believe in coincidences.”

The only exception that immediately came to mind was Nicolas. He was still alive, but could he still be considered a telepath, or did his recent partial loss of ability render him effectively shielded from whatever was happening to all the mind-readers out there? Delilah seemed a bit lost by Haleigh’s comment, asking what was wrong with Nic (other than all the problems she usually had with him). Haleigh looked at Delilah inquisitively.

“I guess you two don’t really keep up with each other. Malice siphoned off all of Nic’s telepathic abilities during the battle of Hellfire. She used the boost to keep me subjugated and to fortify her stamina while she was fighting off you and Cameron. While Nic still has a considerable repertoire of powers to draw from, I think he feels a bit like an amputee. He’s been pretty depressed and withdrawn.”

As usual, Mike and Karen seemed to be helping him, even if Haleigh suspected Nic and Morgan were growing apart. But those kinds of interpersonal issues were not at the top of Haleigh’s priority list. Filling the power vacuum at Hellfire, and cutting off all the avenues of attack the former Queens could exploit, those were high priority problems to solve. Speaking of that, Haleigh’s thoughts went to the boy.

Delilah: “What boy? What are you talking about? Another telepath?”

Haleigh looked at Delilah guardedly. She didn’t really look forward to what Delilah’s reaction would probably be. She knew children were a sensitive subject for Delilah and a point of friction between the two of them. Even if they weren’t talking about Alexia it was only natural for a mental connection to be made by Delilah. Haleigh wished once again that she hadn’t made that idle threat with regards to Alexia. What had been a smart and effective short term tactic was very damaging to the long term strategy. But what was done was done. The only way out was through.

“Jacob O’Reilly, a boy at the Sanctuary orphanage. He was a target of particular interest to Kelly and Diana. He was suspected to have some budding telepathic ability, though luckily I was unsuccessful at extracting him from the Sanctuary so they never got a chance to do any real testing or experimentation on him.”
 
The Clocktower

Terrible things were happening. To innocent people. And though she wasn't so naïve as to forget that terrible things happened to innocent people every day, what Rae was describing seemed extra dour. And as much as the Six frustrated her because of the bad choices they made and the way they had treated some of her own teammates, this thing with Cameron King had to be difficult for them. She would have to send over some casseroles.

She gave Ashley a half smile as she entered the living room, then found Zach close behind and gave him a similar expression. She was comforted by their presence, this talk of telepaths dying and souls doing battle sending goosebumps rippling over her skin.

Her mind back on what could be done for Cameron King practically, she asked Rae's advice. She might be an odd bird sometimes, but Zizi respected her and her powers. And Zizi was humble enough to realize this was an area in which she was virtually ignorant.

Before Rae could answer, Zach interjected with the news that Cameron was dead.

Zach: "But what's this about Set? Is Nicolas not okay?"

Rae: "To catch you both up quickly. Diana and Cameron's battle of balls"

Zizi blanched at Rae's chosen terminology but she stayed silent.

Rae: "has been wrecking through the Astral Plane like a wildfire, killing a bunch of my kind of people in their wake. He died...and is on The Other Side...but he's not done...he's going to try and take Malice out through there. She can't track him there, but he's going to need a hell of a push to get back through. HE's planning on striking at the right time with his blade...and SHE....she's trying to find Set and use him and by proxy Nicolas to get back here and unleash hell on Earth..."

Zizi stammered.

"Oh my...is...can..."

Rae: "Yes...she's really that bat shit fucking crazy. I'm no precog, but from what I CAN see...is that she is a lot more convincing than anyone has given her credit for. He will very likely accept her offer."

"Of course he will. He wants destruction and power, and doesn't care how it comes about. And he will think he can outsmart Malice. But I for one am not so sure..."

Would Set double cross her? Almost assuredly. Could that be the opportunity to destroy her for good? Perhaps. But was it worth the risk? Malice would certainly draw Helena out of hiding...

Zizi closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. She steeled herself, pushing the thoughts of Helena from her mind.

Rae: "And Oracle, to answer your question....yes...I can help Cameron...be the push he needs to get back to The Astral Plane, but...he's an idiot if he thinks that all the other side will require of him is his soul....I need to meet with him...see if I can connect with him...see if his plan is as stupid and dangerous as I think it is..."

She nodded briskly.

"Do it."

Rae: "And you guys need to figure out what to do with Nicolas and The Six...."

She nodded, not looking forward to that. And not knowing exactly what could be done.

Danny: "I can't have Nicolas King in this city anymore...I'm not even sure he should be on world at this point. I'm sorry, but this city has seen enough destruction by way of Hellfire and The Six over the years. I'm not going to let her be their battlefield again. I refuse. So, whatever you decide to do with him, you at the very least need to get him out of New York....or I will myself."

Zizi nodded again slowly. It made sense, actually. She looked out into space, not at anyone in particular, while she considered, then finally spoke.

"Last I heard Nicolas King was on Aerie, nursing his wounds. Keeping him as far away from as many innocents as possible is a good move."

Her eyes flicked up to Danny.

"But if Nicolas King becomes the embodiment of Set, how exactly do you propose to keep him from going exactly where he chooses?"
 
The Parthenon

Being in the same space as Haleigh was like having someone constantly carving her heart out with a spoon. But this was about Cameron's life, and Alexia's well-being, and she couldn't do it all by herself, as much as she would like to. Besides, she needed to keep an eye on Haleigh.

In addition to Cameron's having moved the battle with Malice to a new stage, apparently telepaths were dying in numbers too great to be a coincidence. But Malice couldn't be fighting Cameron AND out in the world killing telepaths, that didn't make any sense, and she said so.

Haleigh: “Yeah I don’t disagree with you, I can’t make much sense of it either. I don’t have a solid understanding of how all that astral plane shit works, to be honest, but I’m too suspicious to believe in coincidences.”

Delilah nodded.

"No such thing."

Haleigh made a comment questioning whether Nicolas was still considered a telepath. Delilah looked up, and asked what was going on with Nicolas this time. Huh. Nicolas. Another of Haleigh's exploits.

Haleigh: "I guess you two don’t really keep up with each other. Malice siphoned off all of Nic’s telepathic abilities during the battle of Hellfire. She used the boost to keep me subjugated and to fortify her stamina while she was fighting off you and Cameron. While Nic still has a considerable repertoire of powers to draw from, I think he feels a bit like an amputee. He’s been pretty depressed and withdrawn.”

Delilah scoffed. While she was sorry for them that Nicolas was having problems with his telepathic powers, she wasn't about to feel bad that Nicolas was depressed.

"Morgan had said she hadn't seen Nicolas...but I can't imagine she didn't know about this...and of course, she didn't choose to tell me..."

Delilah shook her head, then took a deep breath, pushing THAT hornet's nest to the side. She looked at Haleigh.

"We could ask Alycia to contact her friend Rose? See if she has any insight into what's been going on?"

Delilah wasn't very hopeful that that would lead anywhere, but it was something. She sighed.

"We need to talk to Nicolas, see what he knows, and get him up to speed, at any rate."

Then Haleigh made another cryptic comment, about a boy.

Haleigh: “Jacob O’Reilly, a boy at the Sanctuary orphanage. He was a target of particular interest to Kelly and Diana. He was suspected to have some budding telepathic ability, though luckily I was unsuccessful at extracting him from the Sanctuary so they never got a chance to do any real testing or experimentation on him.”

Delilah pursed her lips.

"Yes, I'd heard about that. He was shot, wasn't he?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Thankfully he was okay."

Delilah's eyes closed for a moment.

"And he is still okay now, as far as we know? He's not one of the telepaths that was targeted? Does he fit into this? Or is the Sisterhood's interest in him pure coincidence?"

Delilah rolled her eyes.

"I know, I know, there's no such thing."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top