Melrose unplugged

[Rampage]

Nicolas noticed someone tracking him and turned as the shower door was pulled back.

Hmm. I remember it being BIGGER. Maybe THAT was part of the mental manipulation AS WELL.

It was purely PHYSICAL manipulation, and you only have YOURSELF to thank for that.

Alison was ATTACKED just now. Was it YOU?? And don't BOTHER giving me that stupid 'how could you accuse ME' routine. The way you acted THIS MORNING is MORE than enough to warrant that both your INTEGRITY and your LOYALTY be reexamined and questioned.

It was a low blow by Haleigh, but he understood it.

You're right, Hales. I fucked up enough to deserve that and more. But to be honest, you could come under the same scrutiny, my dear. You probably would somehow think you were HELPING her, or you could be covering for Ava. So we have a standoff, a lack of trust at least in your mind. One quick way to fix THAT.

Nicolas widened the channel between their minds and made it two way so they could verify each other's whereabouts. The related, unintended result would be that they would each have more insight into each other's feelings and viewpoints, a bit of a chance to stand in each other's shoes.

Nicolas stood still after the exchange and looked at Haleigh.

So at least you know I am not a killer. A fuckup, YES. A KILLER, no. Not of my teamma-...former teammates? I don't know anymore.

Nicolas sighed.

Alison is alright, Karen healed her...but something is up. I detected a disturbance in the astral plane at a time that would be consistent with the attack on her. I am not welcome there, but if they need me they know how to contact me...I do know quite a bit about the astral plane.

Nicolas looks at Haleigh again wistfully, then steps out of the shower, drying himself off with his powers as he quickly gets dressed...

 

[Black Widow]

Nicolas: "It was purely PHYSICAL manipulation, and you only have YOURSELF to thank for that."

Haleigh scoffed, rolling her eyes and placing her hands on her hips.

"STOP trying to be charming, Nic. It's not going to distract me."

Nicolas: "But to be honest, you could come under the same scrutiny, my dear. You probably would somehow think you were HELPING her, or you could be covering for Ava."

"HARDLY. First of all, I've never had a falling out with ALISON, unlike you. SECOND, I've been in my apartment, SLEEPING, and I've got an uninterrupted video feed to PROVE it. And FOR THE RECORD, even if I DID do it, I wouldn't be DERANGED enough to think that I was HELPING her by trying to MURDER her. I'm not THAT unhinged. And just WHAT are you thinking, suggesting AVA for this? She'd NEVER hurt Alison-- not after what THEY'VE been through together-- which, AS IT SO HAPPENS, was at least PARTLY YOUR FAULT!"

Nicolas: "So we have a standoff, a lack of trust at least in your mind. One quick way to fix THAT."

If Nicolas thought that mental reassurance was the quick fix to everything… he had a revelation coming. A lack of trust in a TELEPATH was not something that could be resolved with TELEPATHY.

Nicolas: "So at least you know I am not a killer. A fuckup, YES. A KILLER, no."

"Oh don't KID YOURSELF, honey, you're a KILLER alright. I've SEEN YOU TRY. Try not to be so naïve. You LIVE with a group of the most TALENTED KILLERS on the planet… and you wouldn't BE HERE if you weren't QUALIFIED."

She watched him get dressed… her expression grim and her hands still firmly on her hips. She was still severely disappointed and angry with him… for promising to be there but still abandoning her.

"You know, you're not the ONLY one here with an evil inside them that blackens the blood coursing through their veins. MOST of us have a very NASTY dark side… except for DELILAH… the one person you like to persecute the MOST. If you could just STOP THINKING ABOUT YOURSELF for a second… you'd see that the REST of us, myself and Morgan INCLUDED, have JUST AS MUCH difficultly maintaining CONTROL and FACING OURSELVES and what we know we are CAPABLE OF if we LOSE control. The difference for YOU… is that you are a MAN and you are physically STRONGER than us. AS SUCH…. It is your RESPONSIBILITY to be more CONTROLLED. I would have THOUGHT that Gustav might've TAUGHT you that. It's a DOUBLE STANDARD honey, but that's LIFE. Women have to deal with double standards ALL THE GOD DAMN TIME so don't come crying to US. ALL that matters is that you are REQUIRED to maintain your composure even MORE THAN WE ARE, because we can't RESTRAIN YOU, Nicolas, we saw it PLAIN AS DAY with Set and that scares ALL OF US. IF you were to go off on us.. We'd have to KILL YOU to protect ourselves… and the damage you could do in the process… it's not pleasant to think about. MAN UP. Whatever daddy issues you have, you need to SUCK IT UP if you want to stick around with the Six… because you ARE NOT ALLOWED to run around throwing tantrums like a two year old. I don't HAVE TO BE a leader of the team or even have good STANDING to relay THAT condition of membership to you."

 

[Persephone]

Ava watched Karen begin to heal Alison; the weaving stream of gold magick working on the precog's wound. Closing her eyes in relief for a few moments, she stepped back as Sharon and Karen helped Alison to the bed. Hands covered in dry blood, Ava let them hang by her side watching to make sure Alison was alright.

After everything they had been through in the alternate timeline, the six weren't even aware of how deeply Alison and Ava's relationship had become. During her time on Aerie, Alison would frequent her home every day. They'd have lunch, talk about the drama unfolding at Melrose Place. Ava would even go back to Minerva's mansion and help with Pandora's training. Alison experienced something with Ava that no one could ever understand. The struggle, the pain, the all out loss of control...it was a chapter in Ava's life that she only truly felt comfortable talking to Alison about.

Feeling a bit out of place with Sharon, and espeically Karen, in the room now, Ava excused herself quietly and headed down the hall to Delilah's guest bathroom to wash up.

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened as Haleigh actually SPOKE to him for the first time in a while..not AT him, but to him. He regarded her as she spoke.

I am admittedly dubious at the prospect of the women of the Six suffering injustice as many normal women do. But the point is well-taken.

But Nicolas looked on, and his gaze softened a bit, his face somewhat sad. he would not fall into old attacks. This was his mess, and he needed to clean it up. Starting now.


Haleigh...I realize that I have a LOT to work on and many people I have disappointed who are very important to me and to whom I owe more than an apology. They probably won't even accept it and I couldn't blame them. You are the first of those and I TRULY AM SORRY FOR MY BEHAVIOR AND FOR NOT BEING THERE. I was not the man you hoped I would be or the friend you needed me to be and I hate that almost more than anything that I have EVER done. Because in the end you gave me your all to me and I was not worthy of your effort. Now if you don't mind, I will ponder that...ALONE. Maybe then the lesson will stick. Because I don't deserve to make your company, or anyone else's.

Nicolas turned and walked into the other room to think...

 

[Black Widow]

Nicolas: "I am admittedly dubious at the prospect of the women of the Six suffering injustice as many normal women do."

"At YOUR hands, Nicolas… we stand to suffer even MORE injustice than normal women do. Our playing field is a lot more complicated, that's all. But I WILL tell you RIGHT NOW... ALL of your actions, all of your WORDS are under the microscope, Nicolas. and I can PROMISE YOU.... if you so much as GLANCE at one of them in a manner that displeases me... I will show YOU the kind of INJUSTICE you didn't THINK you could suffer at MY HANDS."

It was a threat, a fact, and a promise all rolled into one... and Haleigh was completely UNAPOLOGETIC about it. he had shown her where HE stood... and she was showing him the same thing. It didn't matter how she felt about Nic or HOW MUCH she was loathed around Melrose. She wasn't going to let ANYONE hurt the people she cared about... not EVEN one of the Six themselves. If she had to KILL to protect... she was probably the person MOST CAPABLE of the task. HELL.... if Delilah could find the strength to do it to Bishop... despite all HER humanity... then it CERTAINLY wouldn't be a problem for Haleigh. Even in dealing with fallout... the hybrid had demonstrated MANY TIMES OVER that she was capable of rationalizing and acheiving self-acceptance.

For once… when Nicolas spoke... he didn't offer any excuses… and for SOME of the Six… that would take him a LONG way. But Haleigh wasn't ready to forgive him just yet… and from the start… she could see he was heading to an apology. She shook her head, folding her arms across her chest.

Nicolas: "I TRULY AM SORRY FOR MY BEHAVIOR AND FOR NOT BEING THERE."

"That's not good enough."

She said coldly, indifferent to his sorrow. She was still clinging to her anger… but she needed to. It was too early to deal with the pain and there was still far too much going on for her to let him drag her down with sorrow. It Nicolas was smart or intuitive enough… he would figure that out. If he wasn't… then he would probably take her rejection harshly. Either way… Haleigh remained stoic to his lamentation. He excused himself, claiming he needed alone time to think or whatever. Haleigh, her expression grim, watched him leave the room before she returned to Melrose… THIS TIME… in Delilah's bathroom where Ava was washing her hands. She manifested a machine for Active Noise Control… she wasn't necessarily trying to be SNEAKY, she simply didn't want to cause a scene. The machine would CANCEL all the sound they generated-- they would hear within the bathroom but no one ELSE in the apartment would be able to hear them.

"Ava… you're alright? And Alison, she's healed?? [after being reassured by her sister] I checked the video feed. Alison was ALONE in the room… whatever did this got to her from a DISTANCE. Possibly the astral plane? Ask her about it… I'm not very familiar with the details…. But anyway… I know what you may be thinking… I don't think it was Nicolas. I confronted him about it… and my instinct tells me it wasn't him…. And I KNOW my instincts regarding him haven't served me well lately, but I've got open eyes now, alright? So just take my word for it. HE of course denied it and tried to prove himself mentally or whatever… I guess he didn't consider how SUSPICIOUS any mental contact from the telepath would be. [rolling her eyes] But anyways… he wasn't power tripping again… he was himself when I got there and no matter HOW he acts when he loses his control… he's NEVER tried to hurt any of us while he had his wits about him... he may try to ACT TOUGH but he doesn't have a DEATH WISH and he knows at this point even I would exterminate his miserable ass."

 

[Arsenal]

what if Ava hadnt showed up? At that point a PILE ON was EXACTLY what was needed and MORGAN would have killed him herself had he not left after being told off. Don't you understand? She hit him and upset him yes...that was bad enough but HE has probably RESTORED her PHOBIC mistrust of men to its original levels BEFORE she met him. The WRONG THING DONE FOR THE RIGHT REASON IS STILL THE WRONG THING. Everybody's wrong and you ALL need to be committed!

Amen to that. This crew is certifiable. I want to be in YOUR cell.

Mike smiled at that. Neither of them were the enemy and he knew that. He was also grateful that they could have this conversation.

It appears as though Morgan, Nicolas and Haleigh arent the ONLY ONES with issues Mike...if your bitter about being murdered by Ava, then just SAY so.

I am not bitter about it and I respect her position in a twisted way. I am bitter that she can basically take such a extreme position among us with no repercussions while we sit here and discuss whether Nicolas has a right to be counted among our number after he has done more FOR us and done less TO us collectively. Nicolas had a stroke defending her personally against the Olympians and risked his life...offered his soul to Darkchilde to find her when she was lost in Morgan's stepping disks. And for what? So she could do whatever she wishes, and the team stand idly by?

and Ava , out of respect for ME [ if for no other reason] would NOT harm you again. Can we say the same thing about Nicolas?

So I get to live as long as she figures you'll be disappointed if I don't? There is no comparison. Even when in Set's complete thrall...Nicolas killed how many of us? NONE. While we wring our hands at what might come by his hand, Ava admits being held at bay only by the prospect of your disapproval. What if she KNEW you would never find out? What if she only had to NOT do something and I would die...just look the other way? Nicolas, for all of your accusations, has NEVER failed to defend ANY of us from our enemies. His first act before he knew any of you was to deliver YOU from Malice herself, risking his life. If not for his own sacrifice against Set and his refusal to be further coerced by him, we might not be here to debate this point. You trust Ava all you want, I have the history on my side to tell me that I have no such luxury. I would miss you too much.That is what I am saying.

The air was suddenly pierced by a scream. it was...AVA?!

Mike, in spite of what he had JUST said, came sprinting out, looking her over as he went near her.

What is going on? Who hurt you?!

She mentions Alison being hurt and Mike took off like a shot, checking the bleeding and applying pressure to the closest blood vessels to slow the loss of blood as Karen comes in afterwards and heals Alison.

He spoke to Karen after they made sure Alison was OK.

Doc, who the HELL could have done THAT?!

 

[Rampage]

"That's not good enough."

The response echoed in his head long after the mutate had left him. It was understandable, and Nicolas would do just that with it...UNDERSTAND. He lay on his couch, grateful that the others were OK, but wishing that he could be there to help them without doing more harm. But that was, in the end, his own damn fault.

 

[Persephone]

Warm water rinsed away the blood that stained Ava's hands. Watching as the tainted water swirled down the drain, Ava heard someone appear in the bathroom causing her to look up into the mirror. Seeing Haleigh, Ava looked back down at the sink and shut the water off.

"Yeah, i'm fine. Alison's fine as well."

Grabbing a small towel, Ava turned around to face her sister, drying her hands.

I checked the video feed. Alison was ALONE in the room… whatever did this got to her from a DISTANCE. Possibly the astral plane? Ask her about it.

"I figured as much. Delilah and I would have heard if someone was in the room attacking her. And when Alison started screaming we were in there in less than three seconds...there wasn't any time for someone to escape without being caught."

I know what you may be thinking… I don't think it was Nicolas. I confronted him about it

[sighing out in frustration] "Haleigh...."

Ava stopped and allowed Haleigh to finish. She explained why she thought Nicolas was innocent. And honestly, as much as Ava disliked Nicolas, she didn't think he was even capable of doing something this risky.

"You do realize by going to him you've probably stired the pot even more, don't you? [shaking her head] Regardless...I don't think it was him. He acted like a buffoon earlier, but I don't think he would go after Alison. If anything he would have attacked Delilah or myself if he wanted to hurt someone. [putting the towel down on the sink] No...I think this was done by an outside party."

 

[Black Widow]

MP -- Apt 1

Ava didn't startle, and that wasn't very surprising… people with THEIR lifestyles weren't typically jumpy. Haleigh could tell from Ava's expression that she wasn't happy with Haleigh having ANYTHING to do with Nicolas at this point but the truth was… Haleigh WOULDN’T have done it for anything less than a DIRE emergency… and though Ava seemed to realize that… she couldn't help but get a little scold in there.

Ava: "You do realize by going to him you've probably stirred the pot even more, don't you?"

[grimacing] "Don't say 'going to him' like I was waiting around for an excuse to see him or something, okay? [defensively]I had to make sure he wasn't behind the attempted MURDER!"

Ava seemed to agree with her, at least. Despite his earlier behavior… Nicolas was NOT a fit for the attack. Ava also agreed that it was an outsider doing this.

"Yeah… well WHO? We've been laying PRETTY LOW in LA so far… I don’t think we could have managed to piss anybody off and if we DID they would've attacked one of the RESIDENTS, not Alison. How LONG was that truce between us the Sisterhood of the traveling SOCIOPATHS?"

 

[Persephone]

Ava rolled her eyes at Haleigh's defensive tone. In a way only a sister could get away with. Even though her visit wasn't at the best of times, she confirmed that Nicolas wasn't the one who did this. And despite Haleigh's more questionable decisions as of late, Ava never doubted her sister when it came to times of crisis.

I don’t think we could have managed to piss anybody off and if we DID they would've attacked one of the RESIDENTS, not Alison.

"She's a precog...maybe whomever attacked her has a similiar power base. She could be picking up some residual effects from that person...Or maybe she's 'seeing' what could be happening to OUR future? I don't know."

How LONG was that truce between us the Sisterhood of the traveling SOCIOPATHS?

"This doesn't seem like their style. Helena has the ability to make illusions reality, but she's too much of a show off to attack and run. She likes having everyone know that she's the one who did it and bask in the glory. Diane? If she were to go after Alison she would have made it count. She knows Alison is too much of a risk to attack without killing. As for Dominique...I don't know enough about her yet to conclude if she would do something like this. But odds are if Enchantra and Malice didn't, she didn't."

Ava's eyes expressed concern.

"I think we're dealing with a new threat here. Are you SURE you haven't ruffled anyone's feathers? Even in the slightest? What about the others? Blaze...Sharon?"

 

[Black Widow]

MP -- Apt 1

Ava rolled her eyes sarcastically but Haleigh let it go. They BOTH knew that Haleigh had gone for the right reason and NOTHING else.... there was no need to beat the dead horse.

Ava: "She's a precog...maybe whomever attacked her has a similiar power base. She could be picking up some residual effects from that person...Or maybe she's 'seeing' what could be happening to OUR future? I don't know."

Haleigh leaned against the wall beside her.

"Well I agree that whoever is doing this must have some kind of telepathy… otherwise they wouldn't have been able to use the most DEVASTATING things against Alison. But I don't know if we can say it's some kind of VISION on her part. Cameron and the Super Soldier? That's her PAST, just like her getting IMPALED is part of her confrontation with the Super Soldier."

Ava didn't think it was the Sisterhood and with her series of spot on evaluations of each woman involved… Haleigh was inclined to agree. The relationship between the Six and the Sisterhood was at the point where NEITHER side had any reservations about owning up to their aggressions.

Ava: "I think we're dealing with a new threat here. Are you SURE you haven't ruffled anyone's feathers? Even the slightest?"

"Rugrat, I've got ENOUGH people to provoke right here in Melrose."

She was referring to everyone in the Six… but her own comment DID get her thinking about the Zaccharas… but Haleigh hadn't really PISSED them off… just nudged them a little bit… and NEITHER sister seemed that worried or ready to retaliate. Clara had even expressed interest, despite her hothead sister trying to derail any proposed partnership. So it probably WASN’T them…. But then Ava posed a followup question about Blaze and SHARON that really threw up the warning flags.

"WAIT a minute… SHARON. We have a couple of new residents-- they moved into the apartment above mine. You've probably heard of them, what with your father's business and everything… it's the Zacchara sisters. The older sibling was big in Italy, the younger was heir to the New York mafia throne. [searching her sister's expression for recognition] Anyway… Sharon's got a history with them… she tried to take them down, but failed. Sharon PUNCHED Claudia Zacchara in the FACE yesterday. But I don't know WHY they'd attack Alison and NOT Sharon directly… As far as I KNOW… the only people in the complex that they've actually MET is Sharon, Morgan, Nicolas, and myself. They just GOT here… it's not likely that they KNOW enough to be able to strike so SOON. Unless, of course… one of the is a telepath, but you'd THINK that might be a little tidbit Nicolas might SHARE with me after I accused HIM of being behind the attack."

 

[Persephone]

"The ZACCHARA'S? You want to talk about sociopaths...."

Ava shook her head in utter shock hearing that the Zacchara's were living in the same complex as the six. She knew about them, alright. They were an infamous family not only in the mob world but in general. Mainly because of Anthony Zacchara's unorthodox methods of getting what he wanted.

"I've only ever seen my father willingly bail out of a buisness deal once in my life; and that was with Anthony Zacchara. He's a wack job....and from what I understand his eldest daughter is a chip off the old block."

Ava had frequented Italy often while living in Greece; the Cassadines had a hub in Rome. She had heard of Claudia and how unhinged she could become at any moment. Clara was apparently the more 'level headed' one, but had been known to fly off the handle too. But she seemed to be able to control her temper and act rationally unlike her father and sister. Rubbing her temples, Ava shook shut her eyes trying to think.

"Sharon PUNCHED Claudia? Christ....well that's one way to make a comeback after a psychotic breakdown. [deadpan and with a sarcastic scoff] Not that i'm one to talk."

Opening her eyes, Ava folded her arms across her chest and sighed out. With a shake of her head, it was almost humorous that the six were living amongst mafia royalty.

They just GOT here… it's not likely that they KNOW enough to be able to strike so SOON. Unless, of course… one of the is a telepath.

"I don't think it's ever been prooven that the Zacchara's have powers. But honestly, I don't see how they CAN'T. Their family's territory runs the entire Eastern seaboard: from New York to South America. Not to mention the entire continent of Italy and other parts of Europe. Now it takes a hell of a lot more than a few guns and threats to gain THAT much power. [giving Haleigh 'the look'] Now I KNOW you've held buisness with them before. Have they ever slipped up? Shown that they have powers? Or are we just going on hunches right now?"

 

[Black Widow]

MP -- Apt 1

Ava: "Sharon PUNCHED Claudia? Christ....well that's one way to make a comeback after a psychotic breakdown."

"Yeah… well I'm not exactly SURE she's made a successful COMEBACK at all. Not if she's running around sucker punching people when no one's looking."

Ava speculated on whether or not the Zacchara women HAD powers… it wasn't common KNOWLEDGE… but like her sister… Haleigh severely suspected it. In THIS day and age… you don't build an empire like the Zacchara organization without having SOME KIND of Ace in the Hole.

Ava: "Now I KNOW you've held business with the before. Have the ever slipped up? Shown they have powers? Or are we just going on hunches right now?"

"Well… I only ever MOSTLY worked with the Zacchara Patriarch and that slimeball lawyer of his. I never really GOT the 'hunch' from Tony… but he's an old man… either his powers have weakened or he KNOWS better than to use them in front of ANYONE. Back when we were doing business… I didn't see much of the youngest daughter… she was in the background from time to time, watching the dealings, but it was clear she was playing up the princess card and trying to pretend she didn't care about the business… [thinking] However… after getting punched by Sharon… Claudia exhibited an alarmingly FAST heal rate. She left the room for a few minutes and when she came back there wasn't a mark to be seen… [pausing] Look… I KNOW they have a reputation for becoming UNHINGED at a moment's notice… but I don't know… it'll take more than a HUNCH or even the FACT that they have powers to convince me that EITHER Zacchara is behind this. [giving her sister a smirk] I can go ASK them. Stir the pot, as you would say."

 

[Seer]

and so

<< around this time of year, EVERYONE is entitled to at least ONE good scare.>>

<< But with everything happening in Melrose Place, ONE would not be enough...so much more was yet to come. Suspicion, confusion and mistrust were now brewing as well. Bitterness, anger and FEAR were coming together for a most unholy synergy.>>

<< as Karen, Sharon, Delilah and Blaze stayed with Alison...Ava and Haleigh already began trying to figure out what or WHOM was responsible for the attack. No possibility was too remote, INCLUDING Nicolas, who just happened to be reconnecting with an old friend from the fairly recent past.>>

<< but even old friendship and new found appreciation could not spare him of what was yet to come.>>


<< across L.A. the skies darkened a bit and the threat of a storm loomed.it was chillier than usual for this area of the country.>>

at MP

<< Morgan arrives and has parked. She grabs her things and exits her jag, coming through the front gets, past the mail box wall and into the courtyard when she feels a chill.>>