Rose of Destruction II

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon – Delilah’s Suite

Delilah told him it was over, but he wasn’t leaving. He kept saying he was sorry, that they could fix it. She wasn’t going to be able to hold it together for much longer. She had to get him out of there before she completely broke down.

“Why can’t you understand, that just because you’re sorry it DOESN’T MAKE IT ALRIGHT. Just because you didn’t want it to happen, that doesn’t mean it DIDN’T.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise you, I will. I’ll do anything. Delilah, please.”

She saw the tears in his eyes, and hers started to fall again. She knew he meant what he said, or thought he did at least. But it wasn’t enough that he meant it today. It would all come crashing down again and again until they were dead. And then it would start all over again.

She didn’t want him to see her like this.

“I just want you to go. Please, go, Maxim. I can’t…”

She hugged her arms around her, suddenly cold. He came towards her, took her arm, but she pulled away. She had to get away.

“I can’t look at you. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

She went into the bathroom behind him, and locked the door, then sliding down to the floor and leaning her back against it. And the thread that she was holding it together with broke, and she put her head in her hands and sobbed.

”Delilah, please, come out here and talk to me.”

She couldn’t do that. She didn’t trust herself not to give in. She pleaded with him.

“Just leave.”

“No, I won’t. Delilah, let’s talk about this. Talk to me.”

Delilah leaned her head back against the door. She hurt so much, but she loved him so much. She wanted to kill him, and she wanted to throw her arms around him and forgive him. But when she closed her eyes all she could see was the two of them together.

She stood up on shaky legs, and pulled the door open.

“You wanted to punish me?”

She pushed him.

Well CONGRATULATIONS, you succeeded.”

She looked at him, tears spilling down her face.

“How could you do this?”

She pounded on his chest, but he just stood there, taking it.

“You ruined everything!”

She hit him again.

“What good is your love when it makes me feel LIKE THIS?”

She gestured towards herself.

Bishop: “You can’t hate me forever.”

“I don’t hate you. I’m just tired of never getting to be happy.”

The brief fire that had been in her eyes was now replaced with only sadness. She collapsed to the ground.

“God, Maxim, please go. Please.”

He was down beside her in an instant, putting his arms around her. And for a second, she let him. She wanted nothing more than to let him comfort her. But she couldn’t. Not this time.

Bishop: “I’m not giving up on us.”

She shoved him away from her, screaming.

“Get OUT.”

 

[Bishop]

The Parthenon – Delilah’s Suite

Finally he heard the lock click and Delilah opened the bathroom door. But she came out on the attack.

“You wanted to punish me? Well CONGRATULATIONS, you succeeded.”

He looked away, not able to meet her eyes. She pushed him, she beat against his chest, but he just stood there, taking it. Maybe it would make her feel better to get it out. But anything was better than her telling him to leave.

“What good is your love when it makes me feel LIKE THIS?”

He met her eyes again, he saw the pain there, he felt it in his own chest. What had he done to her?

“You can’t hate me forever. And then I will be a better man, I swear.”

“I don’t hate you. I’m just tired of never getting to be happy.”

“I can make you happy, Delilah…”

Her emotion was overtaking her, and he saw her finally fall to the ground, and it tore his heart from his chest.

“God, Maxim, please go. Please.”

He got down onto the floor and wrapped his arms around her, trying to pick up the pieces he had broken. If he could just hold her, he could make everything alright, he could fix everything.

“I’m not giving up on us.”

But then she pushed him away from her.

“Get OUT.”

He couldn’t leave her like this.

She sat on the floor crying into her hands.

Delilah: “Please, just leave, please…”

He watched her for a long moment. He had destroyed her. Destroyed them.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

He stood up. He put on his pants. He found his shirt, his shoes.

“But I’m not giving up on us. I’ll call you in the morning.”

Delilah: [mumbling] “I won’t answer.”

He choked up.

“Then I’ll keep calling until you do.”

He turned to go, and noticed the ring still on his finger. The one Sally had given him for luck. He took it off, and set it on her dresser, then walked out her door.

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah’s Suite – The Parthenon

Delilah sat on the floor, her face buried in her hands, crying.

“Please, just leave, please…”

She begged him over and over.

“Okay. I’ll go.”

He dressed quietly, but she couldn’t look at him.

“But I’m not giving up on us. I’ll call you in the morning.”

“I won’t answer.”

“Then I’ll keep calling until you do.”

And he finally left.

He was gone.

And every bit of control she had held on to left with him. Her sobbing intensified into a wail, her breaths catching in her throat. She couldn’t crawl into the bed because she knew it would smell like him, so she just laid down on the floor, curling up into as tight a ball as she could.

Delilah couldn’t see through her tears. She couldn’t feel anything but the enormous ache in her chest.

She wished she could hate him. Not care what he’d done or with who. But it wasn’t that simple. Images flashed through her mind. Their first night together. The night they took refuge in the cabin. The night Alexia was born. When they had talked after the dream. This last, almost perfect night. Every time they were happy, something terrible followed immediately afterward. She had to end the cycle. Had to stop it before she couldn’t come back.

But it wasn’t fair. Why did she have to always be the one who was alone? Why did tragedy seem to follow her around? Hadn’t she given enough? Didn’t she deserve an ounce of happiness? But it seemed like the world was against her finding that happiness, or at least holding on to it once she’d found it. Like everyone around her were set on her dying cold and alone.

Even now, she had no one she could call. The last person she could depend on had just walked out the door. She should never have gone back to Aerie. She should have got out when she had the chance.

 

[Bishop]

The Parthenon

It had all gone so wrong. He couldn’t understand it. The night had been perfect. And they were literally meant to be together. She knew that. And she had to feel it. The way it was between them, when they made love. There was no denying it.

He had made a mistake. A stupid, childish mistake. But she had forgiven him about Ashley, he couldn’t understand why she had taken this so much harder. He wasn’t a monk. She knew that. And she hadn’t been a nun either. What did it matter that it was Haleigh? He didn’t care anything about her. She might jsut as well have been some nameless barfly.

Haleigh. That fucking bitch. She had planned this, all along. The assholes from the Six had never approved of him – and apparently it didn’t matter to them what Delilah wanted. They’d rather see her miserable. Bunch of miserable bastards. But Haleigh had really taken the cake. Hurting Delilah the two places she knew would be the worst, him and Alexia. And waiting until they had found each other again…that was extra special fucked up.

And he would make sure he sent her to an extra special hell for it, too. He didn’t know how. He didn’t know how long it would take. But he was going to kill Haleigh for this. If it took the rest of his life he would find a way. You didn’t get to ruin people’s lives and keep on breathing. He was a perfect example of that. And at that particular moment, he was certain that he had been returned to this earth to remove Haleigh Davidoff from it.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon – Delilah’s Suite

Delilah lay on the floor crying until she couldn’t any longer. Her face felt like a punching bag, her eyes swollen and red, her makeup smeared. She sat up wiping her nose and eyes on her sleeve. She looked around her. She saw his discarded jacket and vest that he’d left behind, the rumpled bed, her dress in a pile on the floor. She instantly started to panic.

She had to get out of this room. She couldn’t stay here. Couldn’t sleep here. Not with him all around her.

She got up and pulled on jeans that were slung over a chair, slipped her feet into a pair of running shoes that happened to be on the floor of her bedroom, grabbed her purse and went out the door. The last thing she wanted was to run into any of the Six, so she certainly wasn’t going to stay in the Parthenon. She could just imagine what they would say. “Get over it,” was probably high on the list. She couldn’t deal with that right now. Not tonight.

She rode the elevator down and slipped out the door and directly into a cab out front. She had the cabbie take her to 50th & 9th Ave. Molloy's was a little hole in the wall bar there, where she wouldn’t have to worry about seeing someone she knew. She wasn’t looking to talk to anyone, all she wanted to do was drink.

She walked in and sat at the bar, happily not crowded. She’d be able to sit undisturbed and not have to fight for drinks. The barman eyed her, taking in her disheveled appearance. She handed him her credit card.

“I’m not drunk. I just need to sit here, drink and be sad. If you let me do that, I promise the tip will be great.”

Barman: “Fair enough.”

She ordered a Guinness and told him to keep them coming.

 

[Tycoon]

Molloy's

It was late. Too late to still be in a suit, but he was fresh off the clock, so to speak. Darren and Griff had sent him a couple of different proposals regarding Rose, so Gavin went to the office after dinner to crunch the numbers and keep the ball rolling.

So here he was, sleeves rolled up, tie askew, sitting in a pub. He liked to stop by here after work occasionally, because it was a good place to think and the house brew was quite excellent. He really needed to thank Zach for recommending that.

It was hard to believe they'd almost lost Zach recently, but Darren had gotten the details from the Silver Swan. Gavin had been absolutely blown away to hear it had been an attack by Ava. It was crazy enough that Haleigh had gone off the deep end, but apparently her sister had too.

What in the world is going on lately?

He silently asked his beer, which had no explanation. He glanced around the bar and saw that someone new had arrived. He recognized her immediately, and a smile crept up on him, until he realized that she looked absolutely miserable. It didn't seem like HER beer had the answers either. He ordered two whiskeys and got up to join her, grabbing his beer mug. The bartender poured the drinks right in front of them as Gavin slid onto the barstool next to her.

"Rough day, Delilah?"

 

[MorningStar]

Molloy’s

The barman put two shot glasses in front of her, and started to fill them with whiskey. At first she thought he was just being kind, and was going to do a shot with her, but then she felt someone slide onto the barstool next to her. She bristled with annoyance, and lashed out as she turned to the invader.

“Look I’m just here to drink, nothing else, got it?”

Oh, shit. She knew him. Her expression softened.

“Oh, Mr. Greeley.”

And then she corrected herself.

“Gavin. I’m sorry, I thought-”

"Rough day, Delilah?"

He looked like he had come there from work, still in his suit. She nodded, tearing up again but not quite going to pieces.

“Breakup. I just couldn’t face being alone in my apartment. Where it happened.”

She sniffed, and wiped her face again with her sleeve.

“So, what brings you here so late all alone?”

 

[Tycoon]

Molloy's

Delilah: Look I’m just here to drink, nothing else, got it?

Got it.

He thought, with a smile, his hands up as if to surrender. She recognized him and then was less standoffish.

Delilah: Oh, Mr. Greeley.

"Please--"

Delilah: Gavin. I’m sorry, I thought-

She probably thought he was some random guy wanting to hit on her. He was certain she got that all the time. He asked her if she'd had a rough day and she nodded, blinking back tears.

Delilah: Breakup. I just couldn’t face being alone in my apartment. Where it happened.

"Oh, so you're available?"

He asked, as she sniffled.

"Sorry, I have an awful sense of humor. You probably don't even want to look at men right now."

Delilah: So, what brings you here so late all alone?

He gave her a wry smile.

"I was working out the options for the Sanctuary proposals. Or, as my ex-wife used to say, boring financial shit."

He held up his whiskey.

"But hey, if it weren't for the boring financial shit, I might have been cursed with her forever, and she made me miserable more often than she made me happy."

He drank.

"And numbers never make me miserable, so I can say now that it was for the better."

He suggested, patting her arm supportively. He wondered if she wanted to vent, or just think about something else. He figured he could start a new topic, and if she circled back around to her ex, so be it.

"So, tell me more about your foundation for 'special youths'."

 

[Jezebel]

Rose's Sanctuary

:: Her conversation with Xavier was cut a bit short as everybody moved in all directions and it seemed the Queen of The Underworld was making waves yet again. Rae had to admit, the bitch was impressive if not a bit extra. In the past three days, she had been blazing a trail of destruction in her path, really sticking it to the people she had betrayed with no remorse. It would have been almost admirable had Persephone not been affiliated with a group that was plotting to steal, experiment, shoot and maim Rose's children. So until further notice - Persephone was a treacherous bitch, and should she press any further against Rose or Danny, she would find out that there was, in fact, a bigger bitch than even her out there - and that bitch smoked menthol cigarettes and spoke to dead people. ::

:: Soon it was time for a dinner party. While that may have sounded like the antithesis of everything Rae stood for, she actually really enjoyed these type of gatherings. She didn't even mind the looming inevitable million questions people might have when they found out she was a psychic. ::

"Is my grandmother here? Do you see me getting married? Am I in the right career?"

:: Rae smirked and laughed to herself as she exhaled, blowing smoke out of the window of her guest quarters and flicking the butt right out along with the smoke. ::

"Your grandmother is in Hell because she was a stone cold bitch. The only long lasting relationship I see you having is with the guy who delivers your take out. You can't fuck a career, so stop stressing."

:: She enjoyed being able to flex her gift in a frivolous way. One that was lighter and not as intense as say, her interaction with Sharon the night before. Taking a brush to her hair and spritzing on a few generous sprays of her tuscany perfume. She took a look at herself in the mirror before cocking her head to the side and unbuttoning a few buttons on her blouse before becoming satisfied. In a quick movement, she grabbed her boobs and scrunched them together and lifted them up, tucking her bra ever so slightly to enhance her already ample cleavage. Her nose crinkled for a moment. ::

"Ah face it Rae, you could swiffer the floor with your tits at this point."

:: Rae spun around, looking at her ass in her tight bedazzled rockstar jeans. She looked down for a moment before returning her gaze to her reflection. ::

"Looks like it's up to you from now on, ass."

:: Satisfied with her appearance she made her way downstairs and met up with Danny as the others arrived and Rose came in like the proper hostess that she was, offering refreshments before returning to the kitchen. It smelled delicious. ::

:: Some went for wine, Rae went to the bar, took the crystal knob off the decanter and poured herself a small glass of scotch, taking a sip as both Gabe and Zizi introduced themselves. The scotch tasted like paint thinner, but it did the trick. For a moment she eyed Gabe up and down. His aura was a bit more...ambiguous than Zizi's was. Oracle's aura was bright and sparkly and orange and pretty and...almost "textbook" of what a good person's aura should look like. It was actually a bit intimidating. She saw bits of code scrawl across her mind as if she was in the matrix. Gabe was a hacker, and apparently a very good one. She saw video game controller cords shaped in a heart. Oracle and Gabe had feelings for each other. Everything she knew of Oracle secondhand let her know that if Zizi liked a person, they had SOME sort of redeemable quality. ::

Oracle: "So, Rae, Danny, how do you know Rose?"

:: Taking a sip. ::

"She's my lesbian lover. I met her what..ten years ago. She was in New York, wanting to go to Los Angeles...my singing career was failing and I was looking to go to the city of angels myself, so we rented a car together and drove. Long story short we ended up in New Mexico, fell in love...after I played The Carpenters for her on my piano, of course.."

:: smiling. ::

"Oh wait...that was the plot to Boys on the Side..sorry! I met Rose years ago. Helped her through some stuff."

:: she eyed Zizi for a moment before seeing a badge in her mind. ::

"Your dad..he's a big deal cop, yeah? That's funny isn't it?"

:: taking another sip. ::

"He okay with all the hacker stuff? No judgment here. I'm a preacher's kid, which..."

:: looking herself up and down, referring to her gawdy and sexualized appearance. ::

"Pretty much explains everything about ME."

:: She looked at Gabe. ::

"You're a hacker too. But you got grey in your aura, kid. Stop fucking around with the bad guys. That's MY thing."

 

[MorningStar]

Molloy's

"Oh, so you're available?"

Delilah’s mouth literally dropped open.

"Sorry, I have an awful sense of humor. You probably don't even want to look at men right now."

The corners of her mouth turned down and her bottom lip started to quiver.

“Really just the one…”

Delilah took a deep breath to pull herself together, and asked him what he was doing there.

"I was working out the options for the Sanctuary proposals. Or, as my ex-wife used to say, boring financial shit.”

Delilah laughed in spite of herself, surprised at his candor.

”But hey, if it weren't for the boring financial shit, I might have been cursed with her forever, and she made me miserable more often than she made me happy."

He held up his shot glass, and Delilah picked hers up as well, throwing back the whiskey when he did.

“I’m sorry, about your wife. At least she didn’t sleep with your best friend.”

Her eyes widened as she looked at him.

“Unless she did.”

Stop talking, Delilah.

He charitably tried changing the subject.

"So, tell me more about your foundation for 'special youths'."

“Well,”

Delilah took a drink of her beer, and turned on her stool so she was facing him more.

“It’s hard for kids, when they first find out they’re special. They can’t control their abilities, and sometimes they’re afraid of what people will think of them, that their families won’t want them. That sort of thing. So we do counseling, and training. And try to set up peer groups. So they know they aren’t alone. That they aren’t, you know. Freaks.”

She paused for a second before continuing.

“We have this one girl. Her brother brings her in. She hasn’t spoken a word since her abilities manifested.”

She ran her finger over the condensation on the outside of the glass.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself, once I stopped being a cop. I just wanted to matter, I guess. And have something that was my own. I had some money stashed away, so I used it to get started, first in LA and now here.”

She looked over at him and rolled her eyes self-deprecatingly.

“And now I’m droning on and on. As if you didn’t think I was a lunatic already, sitting in a bar looking like a mess, crying into my beer.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she took another drink. He was easy to talk to, which was a surprise. And a nice person, at least he seemed so. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who wasn't either trying to avert the apocalypse or telling her to suck it up. Delilah noted that he hadn't once told her everything would be better in the morning. Nor had he hit on her. Interesting.

 

[Tachyon]

Oracle and Gabe came in and Xavier wished he had not made things weird by intruding earlier, but he would speak with Zizi later. The key was checking on her safety and for that reason he stood firm. Small talk was beginning as he took a sip of his orange juice.

Oracle: "So, Rae, Danny, how do you know Rose?"

:: Taking a sip. ::

"She's my lesbian lover. I met her what..ten years ago. She was in New York, wanting to go to Los Angeles...my singing career was failing and I was looking to go to the city of angels myself, so we rented a car together and drove. Long story short we ended up in New Mexico, fell in love...after I played The Carpenters for her on my piano, of course.."

Xavier choked for a second on his drink, a tiny bit of the acidic liquid burning his nose as he coughed into a hastily retrieved napkin. he recovered quickly, but reminded himself not to eat or drink when Rae was talking, especially since his reaction amused her greatly.

:: smiling. ::

"Oh wait...that was the plot to Boys on the Side..sorry! I met Rose years ago. Helped her through some stuff."

A nice story, if less INTERESTING than the first one we got.

Xavier chuckled a bit and then looked over to Alycia. She was absolutely fetching, that is for sure. And she had a mystery that he wanted to know more about. So, he asked while Rae proceeded to out Gabe as not as pure as the driven snow.

So Alycia, what made you decide to pursue law? You obviously have more than simply an aptitude. There is a passion here...what started that?

 

[Citadel]

Rose's Sanctuary

"Now get out of my way, or I'm gonna destroy you ALL!"

:: Danny contorted his face with feigned rage as multiple children grabbed onto his legs, attempting to destroy the godzilla monster rampaging the city. ::

Child: "Never Godzilla! We have the power to STOP you!"

:: Feigning laughter he rough housed with the kids, flipping them over his knee, grabbing them by the arm, letting them dogpile on top of him, narrowly missing a blast of electricity from a particularly over stimulated child. Danny was in his happy place. He grew up in a time where to be who he was meant foregoing having kids and getting married. It just wasn't possible. Times had changed and so had Danny, and while it was bittersweet, he was okay with not ever having children or getting married. That hopeful part of him kind of fell away after years of being supressed. However, in another sense, he was a husband and a father. He had married the city and the people who lived in it. These kids may not have been his blood, but they were his kids. The very nature of his power always inspired him to civic duty and activism, and being around these kids, ones that would have been dead if not for Rose, well it made his heart incredibly warm. ::

"You...will...NEVER...take me! OGGHH! AAAGGHHH!"

:: The kids continued to throw themselves at him until he was nearly covered completely. The Godzilla monster had been defeated, and Danny had taught them that anything was possible if they stuck together and believed in their powers. Or at least that's what his narcissistic tendencies made him feel like he had done. They probably just wanted to see how hard they could hit the muscle man before he fell to the ground. Flexing his biceps and his quads (JLATGT!) He grunted as he pushed with his strength, slowly rising to the ground, the kids hanging on to his arms. Soon he flexed against their strength causing them to fall of him in a huddle laughing and screaming with glee. ::

Children: "You're STRONG mister!"

:: Danny laughed. ::

"Hey! I'm more than just my muscles! I'm...GODZILLA!"

:: He shrieked and lifted his hands like a dinosaur as the kids screamed and ran around. After while they began to wind down and it was time for Danny to get ready for a somewhat impromptu dinner party. Danny was a good dinner guest. He would want himself as a guest at a dinner party if he was a politician. He checked a lot of boxes on the census. The playdate with the kids had done wonders for Danny. As he got ready, he thought of Simon and the exciting opportunity that Vanguard offered to him. He had tried to be a public figure once before, but he always felt like he belonged in the grassroots section of the social change initiative in the city. Simon represented the other side. Simon could do all the things that Danny just could resolve himself to do, and Danny could use his personal connections and resources, ones that Simon didn't have, to work together to create real change. It was exciting. ::

:: Sliding on his brown jacket, he grabbed his phone and shot a text to Simon. If Simon wanted to make this work, he wasn't going to get a lot of sleep. He needed to take every opportunity to show people his motivations, sell them on his vision. There was no better time than now. He may have known these people, but everything that Danny knew about Simon told him that people underestimated him, or didn't realize how incredibly poignant and caring he could be. In a time like now, Simon needed allies. Danny wasn't on either side of this brewing war. He was the sentry of the city, and that is where his allegiance would never waiver. It was time for Danny to start gathering his pieces together as well. Create a name for himself. Even if it was just because of a friendly chat at a small and no doubt somewhat awkward dinner party. ::

>> Simon. Dinner at Rose's. Come as you are...and come quickly.

:: Danny headed downstairs where he nodded to Rae as they made their way down the hall and a group was already gathering. There was the speedster, Alycia, and two others. The woman looked familiar. Gleaming over her with his power, he knew that she lived at The Clocktower and the address immediately appeared in his head as well as a bird's eye view of the clock itself. He didn't really know who she was, but he definitely knew that everybody seemed to spend a LOT of time relaying information to her, which made Danny feel like she was a big deal. To meet her was to know that she was impressive. ::

:: Rose appeared and offered refreshments and wine to which some agreed, but Rose returned to the kitchen to cook. Danny knew Rose's

"I'll grab the wine. I know where she keeps the good stuff."

"Now, this wine is fantastic. One of the only times I have EVER got Rose to take a mini vacation from the sanctuary, I took her to Fire Island. She refused to drink cheap alcohol in mixed drinks out of plastic cups, so there she was in the middle of the beach dance party, sipping white wine out of glass stemware. It would have been stone cold classy, if she didn't end up getting schlockered. Four hours later she was faced down in a slice a' pie in Brooklyn. Apparently, it must have been some damn good wine because this is the same exact brand from that night!"

:: He began to pour some glasses. ::

"But what do I know. I'm Irish. If it's not whiskey or guiness, I'm not sure what to make of it."

:: Danny handed the wine to each person who requested. ::

"To...uh...to dinner! I'm starvin'!"

:: Rae made her introductions to the group in the only way she knew how, before Danny finally introduced himself as well. ::

Oracle: "Nice to meet you. And please, call me Zizi - everyone does."

:: Gabe went to introduce himself to Alycia Barnett as Danny turned his gaze back to Oracle. ::

"Danny Donnelly. So. You're the head honcho in everybody's ears around here. Pretty bad ass..."

:: thinking for a moment. ::

"Not to be a starfu--a star "lover"..but I know your dad too. But I have a feelin' you get that a lot, so sorry for even mentioning it."

:: Squinting his eyes, he focused his power on gauging the emotional connection the city felt to Oracle. The Clocktower was a place of power in the city. Zizi used her skills to do good. She was one of the good guys, and in a few seconds, he had his answer. The city was in a bit of a love affair with Zizi. He instantly felt closer to her. He eyed Gabe up and down for a moment before leaning down to Zizi in her wheelchair. ::

[quietly, but not a whisper]

"That your side piece? Nice job. He's hot."

:: Rising back up. ::

"Everybody take a se--everybody get comfortable. Enjoy the wine, take a load off. Lord knows we all deserve it."

:: Danny took a seat on the couch as Xavier began to speak with Alycia. Both Gabe and Xavier seemed to initially set their sights on Alycia Barnett which wasn't difficult to understand. She was hot. In the way that you want to touch a stove you know is hot, just to see if you really will burn. Plus, she had a damn strong shoe game. He had seen a few hand painted red bottoms in his day, but hers were the real deal. ::

"I invited Simon Pratt over as well. I know Rose won't mind, but..if I'm bein' real..Your guys' alliances seem to be all over the place, so I'm just checking to make sure I'm not leading that pretty little lamb to the slaughter with my invitation. He cool to come?"

 

[Tycoon]

Molloy's

His attempt to lighten the mood only made her frown, and he rubbed the back of his head, smoothing down his hair.

Too soon for that joke, idiot!

He scolded himself, then he answered her question about why he was out here late and alone, and she laughed when he referred to his work as his ex-wife often had.

Ah, a laugh, much better.

He thought, a bit dazed by her smile. He took a drink of his beer, as she gave her condolences about his failed marriage. He gave her gentle smile. He had made peace with it a long time ago.

Delilah: At least she didn’t sleep with your best friend.

"That bastard."

He said, and he was going to say her so called best friend could go to hell also, but her look of horror stopped him.

Delilah: Unless she did.

"Not that I know of.... but then, I only ever caught her with Vodka."

He said, and then he considered that maybe they should change the subject, because it was highly probable that Delilah KNEW his ex-wife, and there was no telling what that revelation might stir up. He steered the conversation in a safe direction.

Delilah: It’s hard for kids, when they first find out they’re special. They can’t control their abilities, and sometimes they’re afraid of what people will think of them, that their families won’t want them. That sort of thing. So we do counseling, and training. And try to set up peer groups. So they know they aren’t alone. That they aren’t, you know. Freaks.

"Oh, damn, I can only imagine. Kids have enough to deal with, in this day and age."

Delilah: We have this one girl. Her brother brings her in. She hasn’t spoken a word since her abilities manifested.

"Aw, that's sad. Have you tried introducing her to all the Supers you know? Maybe that'll help her realize there's a lot more 'special' people out there than everybody thinks."

He suggested before he drained his beer and signalled for another.

Delilah: I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself, once I stopped being a cop. I just wanted to matter, I guess. And have something that was my own. I had some money stashed away, so I used it to get started, first in LA and now here.

He looked at her, as she stared into her beer mug, reflecting on why she'd started the foundation in the first place, and he smiled gently. She was a rare find, a truly kind person. He thought it was a real shame that some asshole had broken her heart tonight.

Delilah: And now I’m droning on and on. As if you didn’t think I was a lunatic already, sitting in a bar looking like a mess, crying into my beer.

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Oh, you don't look THAT bad, and I don't think you're a lunatic. Actually, I think that those kids are pretty lucky, that there is someone like you who cares enough to try to help. You know, not many people bother trying to make life better for others."

He replied, as the bartender brought him over another beer. He searched his jacket pockets for a second, and found what he was looking for, his business cards. He held one out to her.

"I meant what I said when we met. I really would like to offer you any help I can. I should have given you this then, but I was so distracted at the time, what with everything that's been going on."

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club -- Catacombs

She showered to get rid of the sweat (and sand), then dressed casually, her mind working on more tactical logistics as she scanned the cameras for intel.

At this hour, most everybody was asleep, or winding down for the night. With one romance already gunned down and her own Queen satisfied, she'd planned how to approach the Alek/Seph situation, and get the Red Queen to relax as well.

That left only the Black Queen unaligned with. Haleigh hadn't had much interaction with Kelly after the Blackout Party, but now that she was making an effort with the other Queens, it was time she assessed just what kind of 'relationship' her and Kelly were going to have. It would certainly be convenient if she was on good terms with the entire unholy trinity at the top of Hellfire.

She strolled down the corridor to Talisman's lab, her expression tranquil, as if she didn't notice the noise. She knew where she needed to go, and had no trouble navigating. she made no attempt to sneak around, had no desire to surprise the Black Queen. She just found her way to Kelly, and when the last sliding glass door automatically opened for her, she stepped in, her demeanor cordial.

"Good Evening, Talisman."

 

[Cypher]

Everyone began to mingle, making introductions and what not. Gabe's eyes wandered around the room until finally falling upon Rae. This lady was rough around the edges to say the least, and dressed like a sexed up character from Sons of Anarchy. Looked like a straight hellion who lived a long exciting life. Kinda looked like his grandma when she was younger actually--carried herself the same way. She definitely busted a lot of nuts in her time. Shit, she looked like she was about to bust his. Gabe gave her a smile.

Oracle: "So, Rae, Danny, how do you know Rose?"

Rae: "She's my lesbian lover. I met her what..ten years ago. She was in New York, wanting to go to Los Angeles...my singing career was failing and I was looking to go to the city of angels myself, so we rented a car together and drove. Long story short we ended up in New Mexico, fell in love...after I played The Carpenters for her on my piano, of course.."

Gabe laughed.

Rae: "Oh wait...that was the plot to Boys on the Side.."

"Boys on the Side."

They said in unison, him grinning and appreciating her humor.

Rae: "Sorry! I met Rose years ago. Helped her through some stuff."

Key word: some. Obviously Rose was still on board the crazy town train. Rae asked about Zizi's dad and the fact that she's a hacker despite her father being on the 'right' side of the law. Then she turned her attention to Gabe.

Rae: "You're a hacker too. But you got grey in your aura, kid. Stop fucking around with the bad guys. That's MY thing."

Gabe's eyebrows lifted in surprise, a genuine smile on his lips.

"Can't say I don't like living on the edge a bit. [with a grin] Plus they pay good. But I steer clear when it counts, no worries theres."

Danny offered Gabe a glass of wine and he thanked him, noting his wandering eyes. He didn't mind.

[to Rae] "So what do aura's look like if you don't mind me asking? Is it a bright light around us? Different colors? How can you tell when someone is bad or evil?"

He was actually extremely curious, never coming across a real psychic beyond the fake tarot card and palms readers on the streets. And Rae seemed like a nice lady--not one to beat around the bush. But also not one to mince words either which he appreciated. He enjoyed a frank person who called people on their shit. It was refreshing to have someone speak their mind instead of saying what they think others want to hear. And for some reason, he just really felt drawn to Rae, wanting to get to know a bit more about her.

 

[Oracle]

The Sanctuary

Zizi tried making small talk, trying to get to know these new acquaintances better, especially Danny. His abilities and connection to Rose were something she definitely wanted to know more about. Rae piped up first, though.

"She's my lesbian lover. I met her what…ten years ago. She was in New York, wanting to go to Los Angeles...my singing career was failing and I was looking to go to the city of angels myself, so we rented a car together and drove. Long story short we ended up in New Mexico, fell in love...after I played The Carpenters for her on my piano, of course.."

Zizi smiled brightly.

“That’s nice.”

"Oh wait...that was the plot to Boys on the Side…

Gabe said ‘Boys on the Side’ at the same time Rae did. Zizi looked down a little embarrassedly at not getting the joke, then turned suddenly to Gabe.

“What were you doing watching ‘Boys on the Side’?”

Sorry! I met Rose years ago. Helped her through some stuff."

“I’m sure she was lucky to have someone be there for her.”

"Your dad…he's a big deal cop, yeah? That's funny isn't it?"

“Not so funny when you have patrolmen following you around on all your dates in high school.”

"He okay with all the hacker stuff? No judgment here. I'm a preacher's kid, which...Pretty much explains everything about ME."

Zizi looked up at the ceiling, looking for the proper way to explain this.

“Um…he pretty much thinks I’m just a teacher…and he likes that a heck of a lot more than he liked the idea of me being a cop, so…it works out.”

Then she started questioning Gabe.

"You're a hacker too. But you got grey in your aura, kid. Stop fucking around with the bad guys. That's MY thing."

Zizi put her hand on his arm, defensive.

“Gabe is a good person.”

She accepted a glass of wine from Danny with a thank you, and took a small sip. He introduced himself officially.

"Danny Donnelly. So. You're the head honcho in everybody's ears around here. Pretty bad ass...Not to be a starfu--a star "lover"...but I know your dad too. But I have a feelin' you get that a lot, so sorry for even mentioning it."

She looked at him a little sheepishly.

“It’s okay. He knows a lot of people.”

Her father genuinely liked people, and liked helping them, so he tended to know most of the people he saw anywhere he went, from the person cleaning the floor to the mayor, which to this day surprised her.

“I’ve been wanting to meet you, but the occasion never seemed to come up.”

Danny leaned down to her, indicating Gabe.

"That your side piece? Nice job. He's hot."

She blushed a deep red, and stammered.

“Oh, no, we’re just friends.”

"I invited Simon Pratt over as well. I know Rose won't mind, but...if I'm bein' real…Your guys' alliances seem to be all over the place, so I'm just checking to make sure I'm not leading that pretty little lamb to the slaughter with my invitation. He cool to come?"

Zizi laughed melodically.

“Of course – Simon is a sweetheart.”

Her face fell a little.

“Though, I fear the last time we were together he had gotten a little more than he bargained for.”

 

[MorningStar]

Molloy's

Gavin sympathized with her, when she vaguely told him what had happened, which was nice. Just having someone listen, be on her side, and not judge her was very freeing.

He changed the subject to her foundation, and the kids she worked with.

"Aw, that's sad. Have you tried introducing her to all the Supers you know? Maybe that'll help her realize there's a lot more 'special' people out there than everybody thinks."

“I’ve tried spending extra time with her one on one, and there are other children around of course. But maybe that’s worth a shot.”

Of course Delilah had fiercely tried to keep the foundation separate from the Six, selfishly perhaps. But maybe there were others…

She apologized for going on and on like a lunatic.

"Oh, you don't look THAT bad, and I don't think you're a lunatic. Actually, I think that those kids are pretty lucky, that there is someone like you who cares enough to try to help. You know, not many people bother trying to make life better for others."

“Well YOU certainly are. Staying late at work to help a bunch of orphaned kids.”

She gave him a small smile, looking up at him through her lashes. He started going through his pockets, and she assumed he was looking for his wallet, about to head home for the night. She was surprised to realize that she felt disappointed. But instead of his wallet, he pulled out a business card, and handed it to her.

"I meant what I said when we met. I really would like to offer you any help I can. I should have given you this then, but I was so distracted at the time, what with everything that's been going on."

“Yes, there is a lot going on, isn’t there.”

She looked down at the card, running her finger over the embossed lettering.

“Thank you.”

She looked back up at him.

“I really appreciate your kindness."

She wasn't just talking about the foundation.

"We'll have to set up that dinner we talked about, to discuss the foundation's finances."

She took a long drink of her beer, and then a deep breath, feeling her body finally calming. She felt exhausted now.

"So, when you aren't saving children with numbers, picking up takeout or talking to crazy chicks in dive bars, what do you do?"

 

[Tycoon]

Molloy's

Delilah: Well YOU certainly are. Staying late at work to help a bunch of orphaned kids.

"Oh, it's the least I could do. I wish I'd have known what was going to happen, I'd have pushed harder for the board to vote her out BEFORE the kids got targeted."

He lamented. She smiled up at him a little, and it was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds after a thunderstorm. He grinned winsomely without realizing it, as he gave her his card, and reminded her that he'd offered to help her.

Delilah: Yes, there is a lot going on, isn’t there.

He nodded, and drank, then cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Yeah. But, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"

Delilah thanked him, and said that she appreciated his kindness, but he waved reassuringly.

"Really, I'm honored to help."

He replied with genuine insistence, and then took another drink. She mentioned that they'd have to make sure to do the dinner he'd mentioned, and he eagerly agreed.

"Yes, absolutely. Please call me as soon as you're ready to do it."

He said, and then he realized how it had sounded, and he tried to clarify awkwardly and quickly.

"The dinner, I mean. Call me when you're ready to do dinner. To discuss the foundation's finances. Jeez, I am butchering this, rescue me, please."

He joked with mild chagrin. He was usually so much more charismatic than this, but it was almost like she dazzled him a bit.

Delilah: So, when you aren't saving children with numbers, picking up takeout or talking to crazy chicks in dive bars, what do you do?

He smiled again.

"Well, since I bore people to tears when I talk about my profession, I decided to take up some interesting hobbies so everybody doesn't try to avoid me at social gatherings."

He said, humor in his tone.

"And I DO like to have a little excitement in my life now and then. Well, you probably wouldn't find it exciting at all, it's just normal human stuff like riding my motorcycle too fast, jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, and looking for sharks when I scuba. I'm sure it seems bland next to the adventures you've been on. Car chases and drug busts and shootouts as a cop, or all the crazy shenanigans I've heard The Six has gotten into over the years."

 

[MorningStar]

Molloy’s

"Oh, it's the least I could do. I wish I'd have known what was going to happen, I'd have pushed harder for the board to vote her out BEFORE the kids got targeted."

So the board had voted Haleigh out of the company. Good.

Delilah’s brow furrowed, but only momentarily, taking a drink to cover it.

Wait a second.

"You said, 'pushed harder'. Does that mean you were advocating for her removal before this latest attack?"

Delilah lamented to him about all of the shit going on right now.

"Yeah. But, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?"

She scoffed.

“I think I’d be Godzilla by now if that were true.”

He offered her his card, and she reminded him of their plans for a working dinner.

"Yes, absolutely. Please call me as soon as you're ready to do it."

She raised an eyebrow at him.

"The dinner, I mean. Call me when you're ready to do dinner. To discuss the foundation's finances. Jeez, I am butchering this, rescue me, please."

She laughed easily, and asked him about himself.

"Well, since I bore people to tears when I talk about my profession, I decided to take up some interesting hobbies so everybody doesn't try to avoid me at social gatherings."

“Mr. Greeley, I’m beginning to suspect that you’re too hard on yourself.”

"And I DO like to have a little excitement in my life now and then. Well, you probably wouldn't find it exciting at all, it's just normal human stuff like riding my motorcycle too fast, jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, and looking for sharks when I scuba. I'm sure it seems bland next to the adventures you've been on. Car chases and drug busts and shootouts as a cop, or all the crazy shenanigans I've heard The Six has gotten into over the years."

How much HAD he heard?

“Being a cop is 90% paperwork, I’m afraid. It’s not all fast cars and Steve McQueen, unfortunately. Though it had its appeals.”

She wished she hadn’t thought of that. Delilah inwardly groaned. He’d even ruined her favorite movie now. Bastard.

“I don’t think I could jump out of an airplane…and I’ve actually never been on a motorcycle, or diving. I love to swim though. I lived for a time on the Aegean. That part was wonderful, being able to swim in the ocean.”

Until it wasn’t. Shit. Didn’t she have any happy moments that were untainted?

“Do you get to ride your motorcycle much, here in the city?”

 

[Ruby]

The Parthenon – Cass’ Suite




:: Cass THOUGHT that she would be in the mood to release all the tensions from the day by dancing and getting pissed drunk…but she didn’t feel like dancing. So, after calling down to the lobby to arrange for someone to bring up her empty luggage from storage – since she was pretty sure Morgan was going to kick her off the team, which SHE thought was ridiculous, she thought that she’d be proactive about it – she made her way to Bar Six to order several appetizers to go as well as a couple of bottles of beer. After paying for her food, she made her way back up to her suite. If she was going to do some emotional eating, she might as well do it in the privacy of her own suite. ::

I don’t want to leave…

:: Morgan wouldn’t really kick her off the team for NOT killing her ex…would she? Cass thought that that would be pretty dumb of her to do that. But then, did she even want to be somewhere where people get PISSED at you enough to kick you out at the stupidest thing? ::

Not really…

:: Not that her ex mattered anyway. He was a moot point; on THAT he made it perfectly clear where he stood. Cass had been caught off-guard; she had forgotten herself a bit. Well, she won’t make the same mistake twice. Now that she KNEW that he was in town and that Hellfire was going to use him against her, she would be on guard from now on. Still, there was that matter of her realizing that she still loved him. Did that mean that she forgave him? No. Did that mean that she TRUSTED him? Of course not! She also didn’t believe a word of what he said. Would he REALLY be okay with his organization capturing, hurting, torturing, abusing, AND experimenting on her? That thought hurt. SHE certainly wouldn’t be okay with it if it were the other way around. ::

No more of THAT nonsense…

:: She took a bite of one of the appys and then took a swig of her beer. She felt…LONELY. And sad. They didn’t understand why she still felt a certain loyalty to both Haleigh and Ava, and sure, Cass could understand WHY, but would they rather her be the same cold-hearted, unfeeling bitch that they all hated when she first joined the Six? THEY hated that Cass. THEY had wanted her to open up; be friendlier. She just didn’t know what they wanted from her now. ::

I just wish I knew what to do. Zach told me to follow my heart…but I don’t even know what my heart wants.

:: Maybe she SHOULD leave The Parthenon since she was such a ‘tactical risk’ as Morgan had pointed out. She continued to eat, lost in her thoughts. ::