Kirah

Through the Doors of our hearts - Finished

The fog shifted around the group, seeming to push in. Pressing against them. Astrid maintained her concentration on the tangled lay line easily. It seemed to have snapped into place in front of her.

Everyone else would find keeping eyes on her difficult though. Kade grabbed Sumi's shoulder, who let out a startled sound but then realized what he was doing. She reached forward and gently put her hand on Astrid's shoulder hoping it wouldn't break the valkyries concentration. Astrid would be able to hold her concentration through the touch.

The noises the group heard seemed to echo and none of them could fix where the noise was coming from. Christopher said, "It sounds like music." For him, it was the music of Mariposa. He moved so he could reach forward and place his hand on Kade's shoulder. The draw to follow the music was strong, but he kept with the group. His free hand gripping the bone flute tightly.

"Astrid, once everyone is hooked up we need to move quickly. We've stayed in this spot too long." Kade said nervously, whatever he heard he didn't share, but it was clear to the group he was not excited to follow it.

Agents of SHIELD - Concluded

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🔬Niah Bautista🔬

Location: The Hub - Niah's office -> The common room
Skills: N/A

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Niah had a desk job now. A safe away from guns job. It was nice. It was comfortable. But it wasn't her team, not yet. She could have gone back to the Philippines for the break. She was no longer an essential employee since she just worked in a lab that got involved after everything settled. But Niah couldn't go to the place her parents lived. It wasn't home. Not for her. They still lived in the small house she had spent her first ten years in, and there were supposedly plenty of memories between ten and now. Niah just didn't know any of them. She also didn't know how to deal with her sister's disappearance. Her parents still hadn't said anything to her about the letter, thankfully. There was no way they didn't know it was her by now. Were they mad at her? She would have been mad at her so she couldn't blame them. As far as they knew she had convinced them to stay in the Phillippines and lose out on the American dream and their eldest was missing because of that.

All of that led to Niah agreeing to stay at the Hub in her lab and blessedly Tinley had invited her to the holiday party. It gave her something to look forward to, and Niah loved Christmas. She loved the decorations and the love and joy that came with Christmas. Niah had spent some time deciding a gift for her Secret Santa recipient and of course some treats for Goose. She had an odd relationship with the "cat".

Niah dressed in a red top and black slacks. She didn't have much in the way of dress shoes, but she found a pair of simple black flats that were comfortable but looked nice. She had cut her hair, something her therapist said was sometimes necessary when someone had been through something traumatic. It was weird to have her hair at shoulder length, and she honestly couldn't wait for it to grow out.

With three packages in hand, one a heavy square, one a bag full to brim with tissue paper, and the last a cardboard tube wrapped like a tootsie roll, Niah made her way to the Secret Warriors section of the Hub. She pushed the memories of the place from the 80's out of her mind, trying not to get lost in those memories. When she arrived she headed for the common area. Smiling, genuinely, at the group gathered there.

"It is a pleasure to see you all." She greeted them, and placed two of the three gifts she carried under the tree. She kept the bag. "I love your hair, Tempest."

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Matthew Moss

Location: Matthew's room -> The common room
Skills: N/A

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Matthew felt a little out of his element as he put on a nice suit jacket. It wasn't the suit, he enjoyed those. It was instead spending the holidays with people he only just met. He had been asked to get a gift for someone he barely knew. He supposed it was fair and at least he knew the group better than Agent Sulivan, though not as well as Agent Carter since he had done some time traveling with the group. He was going to meet a few of the people who had left the team, which he was intrigued about. Especially Dr. Bautista. She had figured out time travel and changed the course of history. He shook his head and grabbed the, not that well wrapped, gift he had. It was, in his opinion, much too obvious what was actually in the paper.

Down in the common room, people were starting to gather, just as he entered so did who he could only assume was Dr. Bautista, but she was distracted by speaking with Renroir. The room smelled amazing. Of pig...boar? That was unusual. He placed his gift under the tree and got a drink. It helped him feel less awkward as it was something to hold. "You quite outdid yourself here Abercrombie." He said taking a look at the decorations and food.

Ω Heroes of Olympus: The Next Age of Heroes Ω

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Andy

Location:Dining pavillion -> Zeus' cabin

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Andy nodded at Alannah through her own struggling to keep from crying. She, however, unlike Arthur, was failing. Her face was wet and she was trying to keep it from being so, and at the same time look like she wasn't crying. Making the ten-year-old a mess. Andy wanted to run and hide. She also wanted to curl up against her own brother and beg him to never leave her. How had she gotten so attached to people? Andy knew better than to get attached. She had refused to make friends since she was eight and here she was sobbing over someone she had known only a week. She wanted to tell Demetri it wasn't his fault. How could it have been? Andy didn't even know what had taken her best friend ever from the world, but it wasn't Demetri's fault. It couldn't be.

The part of her that wanted to hug her brother snapped and flight took over. She bolted. Running as fast as she could to the cabin. She only was going there cause she had some things she wanted to keep. Another thing that was new. For the last few years, the only thing she worried about keeping was her bracelet. The one given to her by the strange man just before a monster had attacked her.

🌠 Once Upon A Time 🌠(Concluded)

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Rose Buckner

Location: Diner
Skills: N/A

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"I'm glad to have a friend like you Mab." Rose really was thankful. She heard the bell ding alerting her that Mab's food was ready. Excused herself and stepped over to collect it and bring it back. "When do you want to go? I have a shift at the bar starting at eight, but I've got a couple hour gap after this. I have more free time tomorrow if you'd rather go tomorrow. Or do you want to wait the three days?"

Rose had spent so much of her life trying to put these pieces together and now she had a chance. It was weird that Mab had gotten the same letter. She glanced over at Sierra, she wanted to ask her friend to join them. Sierra had been told she could go home though and Rose didn't want to bring her over unless Mab was okay with it. "Do you mind if I tell Sierra? I was thinking of telling her before I knew you had gotten the same letter."

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Colby Jackson

Location: Oak Park
Skills: N/A

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"It is a mystery we should unravel. Going home will just drive me crazy, besides the power might still be off." Colby was impressed with Mathew's sudden boldness directed at the woman. This woman, he supposed he should think of her as such if she was as old as she said she was, was strange and claimed she knew their letter writer. What were the odds? Unless she worked for the mysterious letter writer. Colby followed Mathew to the bench and took a seat on the far side of him from the woman.

"And who are you?" Colby added his question after Mathew spoke. He wanted to know more who the woman was to him, and Mathew he supposed. It was at that moment he wondered the same thing as Mathew but for different reasons. Were they blood? He had blood out there and he didn't know them and this woman was now his link to them. Half of him was drawn to it. It pulled him. Inticed him. Begged him. The other half of him just wanted to lay on the floor and forget. But what he had said to Mathew was true, his curiosity required to be satiated.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Niah Bautista

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Location: Human Resistance HQ -> Magneto's Palace, New York City, New York.
Skills:

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"I know the drill here, so the information is there. However, we don't know each other in the real world. I apologize for my actions in Australia." Niah told James. She had done her best to try to get him to chill and at least listen, but that were different people as far as Niah was concerned. There was something interesting. To Niah's memory, she had grown up in America, but legally she had grown up in the Philippines because of the changes she had done to history. That, of course, reminded her that she hadn't spoken to her sister since before Australia. She cringed. She should have taken the time last night to call her. Now there really wasn't time.

As her body healed she let out a sigh. The pain melting away. She closed her eyes and let all the other drama around them disappear. Everyone had different opinions and no one was completely agreeing with each other. She had a feeling a lot of issues that would carry over back into the real world were going to have started right here today. Hell Carolina was mad at her for some reason she literally didn't understand.

Then a portal was opened and they were all heading through. Niah felt much better so she followed through the portal. And ended up standing near her teammates from the real world. The queen and Tony Stark were bickering like a married couple. Niah rolled her eyes, yeah more than a few people needed therapy after this. Not just her. She decided to look up, casting her gaze along the castle. She had already been inside it earlier and sort of knew the layout. She tried to see if Wanda's bedroom was visible from here, and if so was she looking out the window?

roll request

spot check for if Wanda's bedroom is on this side of the castle and if she's visible

Agents of SHIELD - Concluded

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🔬Niah Bautista🔬
Susan Storm
Thaddeus Ross

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Niah had promises to keep. One of them was particularly unsavory. She had pulled Dr. Doom's file and spent some time with it. That hadn't made her want to keep her promise any more than before. He wouldn't remember, but he was smart. Very smart. With a sigh, she called Susan Storm. She would need her help. "Susan, it is Niah. I need your help keeping that promise.

"I know Niah, I honestly would rather not have to, but I gave him my word, and I plan to see it through, I'm not too sure how we'll be able to get him to be released, but at the very least we have to try. Though if I remember correctly that was the only thing that we promised really, that we would try to get him released."

"Yeah I was careful about that and only promised to try. I could not guarantee I'd succeed. I have a meeting with Thaddeus Ross set up on the Raft. Meet me there?" Niah asked and gave the time and date she and Ross had agreed upon.

"Alright Niah, but I should warn you, Ross isn't exactly one you want to mess with, he never has been, so we'll have to proceed carefully when it comes to trying to get Doom out of that prison."

"Good to know. I've never met him before. Is there something specific I should be warned about?"

"Thaddeus Ross is if I remember hearing correctly was one of those who were constantly hunting down Bruce Banner in order to bring him in. He was there at the base when Banner's Gamma Bomb went off that resulted in the creation of the Hulk. Still don't think he's too thrilled Banner is considered a hero now honestly..."

"Good to know. Okay. I might have a plan. I told Doom that if he broke any rules I'd hunt him down and bring him back myself. I doubt Ross will trust me with that though." Niah sighed. She had no idea if this would work. "But I think if I suggest a reform program like a halfway house type situation for Doom, maybe Ross will accept."

"Alright Niah, if you are sure about this, I'll meet you at the Raft then."

"Oh I'm not sure, but I'll follow through on my promise. See you." Niah hung up and took a deep breath. Things were so weird but she had to keep going. She gathered her things and made preparations. And then made her way to the Raft.

At the Raft, Thunderbolt Ross was expecting them. He seemed to have a permanent frown on his face as he took in the visitors from the Fantastic Four and S.H.I.E.L.D., his arms crossed in front of him despite the military regalia that he wore. "Dr. Bautista... Dr. Storm... Whatever it is you're asking for, the answer is going to be no."

"Pleasant as always Ross," Sue said to him, shaking her head. "You don't even give us a chance to speak before you give out an answer."

Niah frowned as Ross flat out told them no before even letting them speak. As tempted as she was to just let it stay at that. But she hadn't tried yet. Not really. "Pleasure to meet you too. I would appreciate at least a few minutes of your time still. I have an idea I want to run by you."

Ross looked at his watch for a moment. "You have exactly sixty seconds. Go."

Sue glanced over at Niah, this was her idea, and she wasn't too sure how Niah expected to try and convince Ross of all people to let Doom free. Most people would laugh at the idea, and even just thinking about it, her mind was telling her how ridiculous it was.

Niah nodded, "I made a promise to try. And my idea is offering a rehabilitation program in something akin to a halfway house for Doom. I would bring him in if he steps out of line. And he would be required to check in like probation and promise to not do anything illegal or power grabbing. If he breaks any of those then he would be brought back here immediately." Of course there were some major flaws in the plan, like if Doom decided to just leave. He would not be easy to bring back in. This was much as Niah would push the issue though. This was her trying.

Ross couldn't help but laugh. "....You're actually serious? Listen, doctor, the Raft is a cage for monsters - and I'm not about to let a monster like Doom loose on the world. My answer is no and that's that. Do you really think we can just let him out because our feelings say that we have to believe in hope?"

"As the person in the room who really knows Doom unlike either one of you, I can say it is possible, whether you believe it or not Ross. He's not stupid, he knows that the best thing for him would to not try anything like you are suggesting," Sue said, keeping out the slight part about how at first he'd behave, then he'd try something.

"I'm not here cause of hope or a hunch. I'm here to give him a chance to prove he can be better. That's all anyone can do. Be a little better each day. I agree he has done monstrous things, but what if he turns that intelligence of his to a good cause instead? That could be part of the program. Give him something to occupy his mind and hands and he can do good. Currently he can't even orfer that."

Ross shook his head again. "I don't care what Doom has to offer to the fucking world - how many of you heroes boast super intelligence anyways? Why do we need Doom when we have freaking Mr. Fantastic and Tony Stark around?"

Sue fell silent at that, not really too sure what else to say to Ross about anything. She looked over at Niah, wondering if she might have some other card up her sleeve that could be useful in convincing Ross to release Doom.

"Because they think like heros. Doom knows how a villain thinks. If you can get him working for us he can do more to stop a villain before they take over the world and kill millions then someone who only reacts." That was her last point that she had had planned. Anything more and she would have to hope she could come up with a good response.

"...Isn't that the premise of some dumb movie... Suicide Group or something?" Ross mused, stroking his mustache slightly as he considered what Niah had to say, before he shook his head. "No, I don't know what he promised you but Doom can do no good. The minute you loosen your grip on him, he slips through your fingers like water."

"He has done some good in the past, but then again, you've always been like that right? Once a villain always a villain, doesn't matter who they were before, or what they've done before, all that matters is the mistakes that they've made."

Niah wanted to snap at Ross as she deflated. Thankfully Sue dug in for her. She took a short breath. "Thank you for your time. I hope we don't someday learn Doom could have saved us from something but you prevented that. Of course we will ignore the fact that we are only having this conversation because of his help with time travel." She had done as she had promised and had tried but Ross was unyielding.

"I hope you two have enjoyed your visit to the Raft - don't make this a repeat thing," Ross requested.

Through the Doors of our hearts - Finished

Sumi chewed on her lip. But gave Katalina a nod when she spoke to her. "We have to succeed." Was all she said to the mermaid.

Christopher gave Katalina a worried smile. "I feel out of my element is all. You doing okay? You didn't seem to handle the fall to well." Christopher asked her, as he did he tilted his head as if he heard something in the distance. Katalina would hear the sound of the surf.

As they started to walk the direction Astrid pointed it felt to her as if the lay lines moved. Slipping around her. It was hard for her to keep a bead on which line was which, except for the tangled nature of the one she wanted to follow.

Alexander would lose the figure completely as the fog around them shifted. But he would hear something that sounded like the creaking timber of a ship.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Niah Bautista

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Location: Human Resistance HQ
Skills:

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Niah felt a little bad about making Sapphire cry. That wasn't what she had intended. People were starting to return. Her team had Tony Stark in tow. That was good. Looked like everyone they could hope to find was there. There were others she would like to make sure were okay, but at least she had these few. If they could fix this the others would come back.

Blood transfusions didn't make someone feel better instantly but in a way, Niah did already feel better. She wasn't certain how she felt about having James heal her, too bad Tempest wasn't here. Though James with memories of the real world was a very different then one in her memories of this world. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. Niah nodded at Sapphire. "I have to help."

🌠 Once Upon A Time 🌠(Concluded)

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Rose Buckner

Location: Diner
Skills: N/A

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"I would have gone with you either way." Rose placed her hand on Mab's shoulder gently and gave them a slight squeeze, and then let go. "You know I was adopted, right. But here is the thing I was found in the woods. I've been looking for my birth parents for years but no one knew anything. This note..." Rose trailed off, but picked the letter back up and placed it in her pocket. Her stomach was twisting.

"We'll talk more after I get off work okay." She glanced over at Sierra who was talking with a college student. Rose needed to get her thoughts in order about this all. There was a lot she needed to think over. "Let me know if you need anything else I'll bring you your food as soon as it is ready okay."

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Colby Jackson

Location: Oak Park
Skills: N/A

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The drive was made in silence for the most part. Colby's mind was going over what he had learned. He chewed on his lip. He was both closer and farther away from learning about who his birth parents were. The letter was the closest thing to a lead he had ever had. Colby took a deep breath and parked. His gaze went over the park assessing. Mathew pointed out a woman he hadn't gotten to yet. She stared at them eating an apple.

"Who do you think she is?" A million questions went through his mind. Was this woman who had dropped them off? She looked too young to have been an adult 15 years ago. She might be 30 at best. "She looks too young to be our mysterious stranger." Didn't an orphanage think it was weird that two kids had been dropped off at around the same time by some nameless stranger? Did no one investigate that sort of thing? "Want to wait and see if someone else weird shows up? Or go home?"

Ω Heroes of Olympus: The Next Age of Heroes Ω

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Andy

Location:Barrier -> dining pavillion

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Andy stared at Theresa unblinking as she was told her friend was dead. That didn't make sense. Ash had just been there. She finally blinked. What was the point of being here? It was no safer. It was worse actually. There was a false sense of security. Andy wanted to run away right then a there. Just walk away from the camp and forget this last week like a bad dream.

She didn't though. Andy wanted to talk to Arthur. It overrode her desire to run away. Her eyes burned. They never had for a person before, not like this. Andy turned away from the barrier and Theresa and walked back toward the dining pavilion where she had left her half brother and now best friend. "Something bad happened. Ash died." Andy said through tears when she finally joined them.