LadyRunic

Darke Magyk - Concluded

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Rhys Asher

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Location: The Palace

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Rhys smirked at the four 'ladies', his grin a charming one. "Lead on Mistresses of Beauty." A wink in Nera's direction as the woman was given her orders by Fleur. It suited Rhys that the witches owed him. He would need their aid after all. Plus dinner would be a good way to introduce the only woman to leave his upper rooms alive- Fleur- the little cretin he had shoved into his 'closet' before coming to the coronation. Moving towards the secret route, the man let out a low soft whistle. The dragon was impressive and it never hurt to show a woman that they were impressive.

A woman who felt good about herself was easy to manipulate after all. Raising a dark brow at the Witch Mother who had hunted him for some transgressions a while back, Rhys chuckled slightly. "Oh, and why you do come to dinner... I have someone you will simply love to meet. Perhaps you might be able to put his little mind at ease." The rogue smirked with mock concern. He wasn't over worried about the lad, but Fleur was a clever little Witch and thus could and would be useful in trying. "But that's only to catch your interest. I'm not going to accept it as payment." The man dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. Long legs eating the ground up as he moved for that exit.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Ayita Dyrkin & Richard Laine

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Location Blackbird

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Amber eyes watched the newer of the two psychic girls. Her arms tightening on her best friend, not a term the wild woman used lightly. Sara was a new addition to the manor- or their group of mutants- so she knew little of the woman. "She will be alright." Ayita would see to it. "Mere overuse of her abilities. You are?" Ayita rarely interacted with the newcomers for their first few months. So their names evade the younger shifter. A solid growl erupted from the Alaskan as the elbow of her brother rammed into her side.

Sara turned to face the woman who spoke now. "Name's Sara, nice to meet you, though I wish it was under better circumstances. Seems she trusts you, so I don't see a reason to be worried. You doing all right, all things considered?"

The auburn haired woman tilted her head. So her name was Sara? She had heard talk here and there of the younger woman, talk of her and her powers. She really wanted to see what this girl could do with her own powers, yet dreading if that were to ever come about. The instincts that ran through her veins was a risky thing. Especially when Ayita was first discovering her abilities. "Ayita. Allison. You're not standing up. You are resting." Her voice was dry as she commented to Allison, with a stern frown. "Don't copy my powers. You won't like them." The younger Laine warned the girl, standing with a huff of air. Picking up Allison on the right side as she made her way from the Blackbird.

Allison mumbled incoherently again, though one could just make out color=FFD9E9]"not the boss of me..."[/color] before she succumbed to Ayita's movements. Sara wanted to help, but she feared the woman a bit. She heard talk from some of the other students about the Laine siblings. Still, Allison seemed like a smart girl and if she trusted Ayita, then Sara had no doubt the woman was capable. "I'm a bit new here as I am sure you are aware. Pray tell, what is your power that is so scary? I've seen a few in my time, I probably won't be surprised."

"I have ears." Ayita stated the obvious. Her amber eyes sliding over to Sarah and shifting to become like a cat's. She didn't want to speak of it. Why her powers were so deadly, but a glance towards Richard made her doubt the wisdom of distrubing her already worried brother. "Form of both, mind of both." Her lips drew in a tight line. The quiet voice dropping so that only Allison and Sara could hear. "Balancing my human side with that of a creature. If the human is too strong I cannot shift. If the creature?" She let the answer of that question hang in the air. To Ayita it didn't need any more explanation.

Sara was impressed. A shifter, but into animals. She had run in to a few who could shift into other people or into elemental skins. "That's impressive. Really. I've known one other shifter in my life and she felt much the same. She worried she did it so much she would lose track of who she really was." Allison, at this point, was all but passed out, but she still moved as if she could escape the grasp of the woman's arms. "Dangerous ground, no doubt, but handy. Amazing, even. Do you like your powers?" The question may seem odd, because often mutants didn't like their powers. They used them, sure. And those that did like them often used them for selfish means. Did Allison like her powers? Not really, but they were handy. And helpful.

Richard stood with the grace of his artful form. He was rather handsome, worse? He knew it. So it was the infamous Tony Stark who had come to their aid. The Adder wasn't ungrateful, far from it. But he was wary. The man was incredibly well off, his daughter had slugged him, and the man was a target of many an assassin. Not that he had been fool enough to take that contract. Death sentence was what it was. "Ayita-" Richard started and paused as Ayita moved off with her 'BFF'. A smirk gracing his features. At least, his beloved baby sister wasn't going for Starkette's throat. Though he was no fool as to think that wasn't coming at some point. Ayita was protective of her only family and was not forgiving. Following the trio of woman, he tried to blend with the background, despite being a tall man who emit danger from his sheer movements.

Then there was also the Hulk. Hell, forget who was out there. He was a former assassin walking into the Stark Tower. A place that screamed at him to keep his guard up. Starks were mad. Utterly and completely mad. Living a year with Guin- a baby Stark by all accounts- and doing research on them had really underlined that fact. Both in a good and negative way. Ayita paused and adjusted her grip on Allison so the woman would not fall from her hold. Giving a huff of annoyance at Allison's antics. "I do not know. It allowed me to survive the winters and hunting was not as difficult." His heart wrenched at the tone. Thoughtful and partially uncaring.

"Yeah, well I hate mine. Hate 'em. I don't have one power, I have them all. You know how horrible that is? I can't keep one for longer than an hour. My ability is to copy, so I need other people. Alone, I don't stand a chance." Allison finally stopped struggling and accepted her fate. Take solace in the fact you have something that makes you unique. An asset. Strong."

"You are strong. You can adapt." Ayita chastened the younger mutant. "I can do nothing again human's machines." The amber eyes troubled as she set her mouth in a firm line and picked up the pace. Putting an end to the conversation. Richard tilted his head and chuckled slightly. "No worries. She just hates feeling useless. Comes from always working on something or other." The assassin tousled Sarah's hair before he moved off in the crowd. Hopefully he wouldn't be overly noticed by anyone who might remember an Adder.

Sara fixed her hair and glared at the older sibling. The words were there. Kind words, but she didn't believe them. Not yet. "You're brother is weird." She followed closely, making sure Ayita could handle the weight. "Got her? Shall we get her inside? I don't know about you but I could use a nap myself."

Ayita gave the young girl a wearisome sigh. Her amber eyes confused and irritated as she stared at Sara. Shaking her head, it was as if Ayita had used up her quota of words for the day. Her form cracking and blurring as she shifted into a large tigress. Shifting so that Allison fell across her back. The shifter sending Sara the idea that she might steady the human. A rumbling huff coming from the large cat. While Allison was a smaller woman, it was easier to balance her across her back.

~Nyte Bloods~

No worries. We all go through it!

Ancient Piracy

Rhys looks skeptical of the man. "How does one walk across the sea? It is impossible and I've yet to see you perform the same task. Though it would be useful several times over now." The man noted, his gruff voice intrigued by this notion. "Or was it merely a trait your ancestors possessed?" Perhaps it was the sleep or tiredness but Neriad was looking rather handsome for a man, not that Ryssa would say so but he intrigued her more than the nefarious and irritating captain. Though she batted the thought away with a tired hand, for while their bout had not been hard she was tired in her own way of things. The ruse was a nuscience to keep up but she would manage til they reached Egypt. Then she would become someone else entirely and they would have a mysterious disappearance aboard their ship.

"For then it could be said my mother's folk were descended of Set. The god of desert and travelers and storms. All of which seem to plague out family." Indeed it was true. Her mother had come from a nomadic tribe wandering the sand. They had paused by the sea to fish and seek perhaps a bit more stable of life for a time to be set upon by storms and bandits. The latter being in a sense travelers. Though oddly enough it was never as bad as it could be. Her mother had been unlucky enough to be one of the snatched woman. But in the end, Ryssa cared little for the possibles or the past. "But I am more interested in this sea-walking."

Ancient Piracy

Rys gave the man a blank look, her eyes devoid of any real understanding. But that was typical for the supposed 'man's' attention had been in Rome and the possibility of heading to Egypt. But the name did spark some interest and had sound familiar. "Is this the ruler of your homeland-?" The voice was gruff and irritated, at the lack of knowledge. Not liking to admit that she didn't know what Neriad was speaking of. While the name rang a bell, it wasn't like the news that came through the women folk of her mother's occupation were more concerned with what could be used as blackmail. "The name is familiar."

~Nyte Bloods~

Everything had happened so fast, Alice thought as she rushed for the doors. Liam's escape was bad enough, Dalton's treachery at sticking her as a pawn into a game she wanted nothing to do with, and now this mess! As if loosing her shop wasn't bad enough! "I'm sorry." Her words were aimed at Dalton as he snarled and released her. "I am so sorry." Her grief stricken eyes showing how much she had meant what she had said. Which not a single ounce, not towards him at least. "Please." That was her last word before the raven haired tailor made for the exit. Her feet clipped softly amongst the tile of the floor as she burst from the doorway and into the mob of people fighting for the elevator. She needed to get away, and get away now! She would see what could be salvaged from her shop then pack up everything she could there and flee! Another city, or perhaps a small town.

But what of Liza? She had been a good friend and companion. A teacher in this turbulent time. Biting her lower lip gently, Alice ease through the crowd, with a new destination. She'd go back to Liza. The woman deserved to know why Alice was going to flee New York City and leave her beloved shop. It pained Alice to the very core, but what could she do? She could always set up another darling 'Timeless Tailor'. Another little 'Alice the Tailor' to run it. One that Liam and these people wouldn't find. What of Dalton? Did she reveal his involvement? No, not unless Liza already knew. Dalton had been kind and nice, up til now. Her need to see the best in the man warred with how her reality was shaping and her loyalty to Liza. Alice squeezed past two women, if she made it so far without being stopped and into the elevator's compartment. Her finger pressing the second floor button 'by mistake'.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Ayita Dyrkin & Richard Laine

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Location Blackbird

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Ayita smiled down at Allison as the woman collapsed into the shifter. It was a small one, but for Ayita such small feats spoke volumes. Wrapping her scarred arms about the Seer, the Alaskan born woman gave a chuff of irritation. "You did not fail. At least you could do something." Ayita sent via the mind link she had developed during the last mission. "Stark is here and holding the plane as well. We are not safe, but you shall come to no harm." Though much could be said in the negative about Ayita, she did not lie. Her word was her bond and strong as the ancient trees she had once stood under and sought to do so again. If helping to forge a peace between human and mutant would ensure her wilderland home was a safe place were human would not seek to snatch her away? Then she would fight tooth and claw for it. Just as she would fight any who thought to threaten her brother or Allison. Heck, she was tossing Lance into the mix. From what she gathered, he had aided her friend and for that she was grateful beyond words.

Richard groaned aloud. While he was all for the relax and let things play out style, the not-so-much former assassin was hardly going to call this 'out of the woods'. They were not going to be safe til the politician who caused this was kissed by his own fangs. When Jakobson was six feet under and in multiple pieces... Cold and dead. Then Richard would take it easy. "Do not assume safety." He hated to scare the children but they could not afford to assume. The kids were their life line right now. The number one rule of society, or rather the taboo, was hurting children. Sure people did it. But there was always a high price to pay if you were caught. "It would have been better if those Sentinels had followed us." The man muttered into a hand that covered his mouth, channeling is words to his sister.

Ayita frowned at her brother's words. Innocents would be hurt if these 'Sentinels' had followed them and the chance of dying would have been higher. "Why? They will hunt again." Her quite voice lowered as she leaned her head against the smooth fabric of her brother's shoulder.

"Proof in part. Humans are a stubborn lot. While we do have the upperhand with them attacking kids. It's our words against theirs. We could have mistaken them for another faction. Less popular. If they had followed us... That would have been harder to do." Richard shook his disheveled hair from his snake eyes. "As it stands we've lost the manor, and thus literally ground. Putting us as 'leeches' on the system, which someone might point out. Something no one looks kindly on." His eyes were troubled as he looked over the sea of brats and their incompetent 'team'.

The younger lain shifted nervously, sensing her brother's temper turning foul. "Can you not-?" Her mind brushed against his. Earning her a sharp look and a deeper growl from the man. The touch of death was a chilling one and Richard felt cold fury run through his veins. Making a sharp motion with his hand for Ayita to silence that particular line of questioning the Adder felt a venomous hiss stir in his chest. It would not be easy, it would give Jakobson more ammunition. Which he did not need.

"Do not ever mention that. Think it. But never mention it aloud." His order was met with wide amber eyes and nod as Ayita eyed the agitated Adder nervously. Richard would not harm her, nor would the Adder, but they was point in poking a cobra with a stick. Literally.

Ancient Piracy

Ryssa raised a brow as the man fell asleep far too easily. Shaking her head, the woman gave a irritated noise. "How in the sands of Set can he fall asleep so quickly and easily?" The young woman muttered with a roughness in her voice. Turning her gaze to the closest companion, which was Neriad 'Rys' gave a the man a quick look. Perhaps it would be wise to follow the nosy captain's advice. To talk and try to make some friends, which went against what Ryssa had grown up with. Perhaps her mother had been wrong in this advice? It wasn't like the woman was infallible.

"Don't like talking." Rys shrugged at Neriad as if it was obvious. "My only interest lies in reaching Egypt with some gold in my name." It wasn't like that land was filled with riches and treasures. It was, but the sand often took as much as it gave or so her mother had spoke from her homeland. "Where are you from any ways, 'little shit'?" The woman tilted her head, as she took the moniker that Amen had used. "I've seen none of your like in Rome."

~Nyte Bloods~

Alice flinched as Dalton grabbed her arm, a startled shriek being muffled as she refused to alert anyone innocent of the horrors going on behind the thankfully closed doors. Wilting under Dalton's glare, the small tailor nodding weakly. She could not fight him physically and was well aware of that fact. Tears of fright slowly seeped from under the mask as Alice shook her head suddenly. "Please! I'll wait outside somewhere! I just- I can't! I won't be a part of this!" Her pleading however was going to fall on deaf ears or be useless in the end. As did most things in these twisted days. It was like her life was the twilight zone!

The shattering of glass made Alice look behind as she spied the other woman. A lovely woman and more behind her as they saw the scene. Alice could only imagine what they thought they saw! A man on the ground with another man holding his down and a woman with a knife preparing to strike. Another man gripping a woman by her shoulders with giant glowing eyes, and herself half covered in wine- red of course. Which could be mistaken for blood. Alice frozen in terror at the thought of the police getting involved. They couldn't! She couldn't be here when they showed up! Casting a desperate and pleading look at Dalton, Alice wrenched her words so they would strike the nerves she required. "I thought you were a friend." Her voice was bitter with pain and anguish. Anguish at having the play the game she had started her tailor shop to escape from. "I thought you gave enough of a care to Liza and myself. Apparently I was mistaken." Of course her words were soft enough so the human couldn't hear. "All of you creatures are like Liam, aren't you? Seeing only what you desire and never caring for those who get innocently stuck in the middle?"

Darke Magyk - Concluded

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Rhys Asher

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Location: The Palace

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Rhys grimaced as he heard Asha the Magykal call out and summon the lout who he had been 'sparring' with to the stage. Such a thing boded unwell for Fleur and her lot. A clever and dangerous plan flourished in the space of seconds, as Rhys turned and made his way through the milling crowd to the lovely wytch. His long legs carving a path and his stride allowing him to follow after the two women and girl-children. They must have had something to do with this. Fleur leaving so soon, plus her little guard being called up. It was too much to be coincidence. Which would put them guilty in the Extraordinary Wizard(s) books.

And thus he, the dashing savior of women or anyone with influence or wealth, would swoop in a be the savior of the day! Perhaps then things would go right for once today. Though with his run, Rhys was tempted to just give Fleur the map and tell her to go. But the rogue wizard didn't trust the ornery minx enough for that. It would be like giving a starving boy a giant sweet and telling him to defy temptation. Seizing his 'lover's' elbow, Rhys grinned down at the powerful woman and gave a charming wink. Though he kept moving along with her and the other wytches. "Call it a favor, but you ladies look like you need a door made." His words were light but he fished a hand into his jacket and shirt to grip the map he had received earlier that morn. "Hold your girls up." Yanking out the map, Rhys peered at the pages with quick and decisive eyes. Spying a likely spot labelled 'Royal blood shows the way', the wizard nearly groaned aloud. As if they had to be all 'special' even more! "You don't happen to know anyone with Royal Blood? Secret door over yonder." The man jerked a thumb towards the general location, as he folded the map and stowed it away. He would remember that spot, he always did.