LadyRunic

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Richard Laine

Location Sidewalk

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While he didn't care for being a bracelet on a charging mare, Richard cared even less to be at gun point. But the tipping point was these fools were aiming their weapons at Ayita. More than one dart did his baby sister pull from her neck as she gave a shriek of rage. Oh, the fools. The animal, the beast, was a part of her powers. But her pysche? How did her powers change and shape that? Molding it into what she was powers or no. Shaking his black head in fury. Richard didn't bother for niceties.

They had shot his little, baby sister in the neck. Were those not darts and bullets they would have killed her. That they didn't would earn them nothing from the assassin. "Oh, big mistake." The Adder hissed as he eyed the guns. Moving so his bulk blocked Ayita and thus Allison. "You lot just can't stop trying to hurt my sister can you?" He didn't have his healing powers, and taking all these guys on while being out gunned? Not a good idea. But he could buy Ayita time? Sure as hell he would do that. Stalking forward he moved to take up most of the bastards' line of vision and thus fire. "And come with you where? Why? We are innocent Americans doing what we please in public? You lot don't have the balls to stand up in front of a crowd. You don't have the balls to declare yourself openly. You're nothing but second rate wanna-bes to those who really don't like us. Who publicly decry us. I say bravo to them, and to cowards like you? Stick it."

Ayita Dyrkin

Location Sidewalk

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Ayita felt her form collapse as the instincts that drove her simmered down to her own mere mind. Trying to shift she found nothing, though at her neck her fingers found a group of darts. Ripping them from her neck with a howl of rage, Ayita turned amber eyes on the gun toting bastards. Only to see horror. Richard was blocking the way and sassing like never he did. In danger he always argued to keep your head, play it cool. A lesson he always followed. This, however, made the younger Laine flinch back and grab Allison's wrist.

"Run." It was their only option and Richard was giving them the chance. At the risk of himself, he was giving her a out. Ayita shoved and herded Allison in front of her and away from the possible fight. Tears leaking down the younger shifter's cheeks as she growled deep in throat. If anything happened to Richard, she would remember this! She would get revenge! Forcing herself into a run, she grapped Allison dragging the girl along one way or another.

Darke Magyk - Concluded

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Rhys Asher

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Location: The Castle walking to his home

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Riots were annoying business, Rhys noted with some disdain. He had slept through most of them, seeing no reason to monitor such things. Though he did hear a good bit of news from his tenants as they worried and wagged their tongues in speculations. The Winking Duck Tavern was in flames- or had been. A shame if the wizard ever noted one. Though his feelings were more for the tavern than those who died from the blaze. Leaning against the wall of his home, Rhys gave a dark chuckle at the thought of the mob being so stirred they were tossing their targets through windows. Had he been more able, the Rogue Wizard would have been in the midst working subtle magyks to make the mob set torch to the poor sods. Better though, that he was holed up in his home for the time being.

But that was not to say he was idle. He had managed to get a bit of work done via the way of scooping up a young lad going by Boy 784. With Tom within the prison scratching out 'Esren made me do it', Rhys had also attempted to ease the poor lad's suffering. He would need a Wizard to aid him after all. Managing to clean the boy's ragged nails and wrap him in a straight jacket he had conjured from magyk lest the lad do more harm to himself. Running a hand through his reddish brown hair the man studied Boy 784 having hauled the lad into his home and thrust a make shift soup into the boy's hands. "Lad's suffering from some darke magyk, I'm working on dispelling it." The rogue wizard roughly informed his charge. While a smile would do nothing to comfort this boy, a rough yet caring demeanor would help."Won't do calling yourself some number in these times lad. Can't go calling yourself lad either." Rhys fully expected the humor to be lost on the boy.

Running his hand over the tools of his trade he studied the boy with sharp eyes. Not hiding the fact he was not exactly lawful nor a man who was dangerous in his own right. Rather Rhys hoped this openness with the familiar setting of ruthlessness would put the Young Army boy at ease. Taking a set of pliers, the rogue set about making a mixture that would make those who ingested it or worked it into their blood stream quite ill. The bubbling of the solution filling the small loft of his 'home'. "I'd appreciate it if you mind your manners, boy, and not go mentioning this home of mine to others. Or myself for that matter." He had been keeping a carefully eye on the lad and the doors and windows were barred shut with magykal locks. More of his habit than to keep the boy in. Giving a growl at the potion, he tilted his head as he studied the lad who he had dumped on his bed. "Severus." The green eyed wizard noted with a chuckle. "Call yourself that, lest you remember your name from before they snatched you?"

Waving a hand to dismiss the answer, the Rogue Wizard studied the boy- Severus- with a thoughtful look. "No, don't tell me unless you truly wish to. I won't force it out of you. Rather I have an option for you, what with this rioting mob looking for you and your friends." Oh, the chance was too good to pass up and better yet? He wouldn't do it like those fools did! Let the younglings be innocent and not become hardened soldiers! Not unless they had a knack. Rather they would be better eyes and ears than an army. A flock of birds to twitter to the hand with bread. And whose hand would be better than his? Rhys was careful to keep this from his face as he frowned at the potion, adjusting a bit of this and that as it distilled correctly. "I'm looking for an apprentice or two. It'll keep you from that riot. It's not safe, I won't lie on that. But I'll feed you, make sure you get clean clothes, treatment if your ill, protect you best I can. Just follow my instructions and, hell lad, you could stop it and make a decent living like a honest folk. Only thing I ask is that you keep your ears sharp for me." Studying the boy, Rhys watched for any give away. Any desire that he might play upon. "Listening gets you a lot more than mindlessly following orders. Ferreting out answers as well." It was a dangerous game, but Rhys was feeling better.

[High Casual to Low Advance] [18+] Wide array!

nudge

~Nyte Bloods~

Alice hesitated slightly at the mention of 'sick leave'. She had always worked through her own illness- only those that she truly could not work through laid her up in bed. Even then she often got a sketch or two of a new idea. Not very good ones, but it was something. Better than nothing as Alice thought. Looking about the tailor bit her lip unsure if Liza could afford it. "Are you sure?" In all honesty she was regretting the offer to learn how to fight. That more than anything was scaring her.

But she nodded weakly. Not wanting to offend her host and current protector. So she went about her usual routine before bed, pressing a lovely scarf into Liza's hands as thanks. It was something she had made a few years ago, but it was soft and thick. Perfect for the weather of New York City. Settling herself into the bed, Alice found sleep was elusive as fear traced up and down her spine but she managed after a time.

Blood's Jewels (Closed)

Blood's Jewels

“Terreille in Trouble”

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@eclecticwitch The eyrie gleamed with a faint light as the storm closed about the mountains, a comforting look to the harsh stone. Both Gen and Denar had flown, the Warlord Prince carrying the Queen. For while their shields parted the rain, they held only misgivings about the Queen from Hyall. Their father had been a right bastard and Hyallian on top of that, so they had reasons. But their judgement was not to get in the way of the task. Let that be the Widow's decision, if need to be they could clean up the two down by the tavern. Landing with ease, Gen opened the door and felt the Red jeweled power encompass the trio.

It was a wave, a statement. 'This is my power. This is what you shall face. Do you dare to continue?' were the words that echoed from the depths of the eyrie. "Down the hall. There will only be one door open." Denar said gruffly, shutting the heavey door behind them while his brother shed his cloak. Neither offering to take Fatima's. Belor was leaning against the wall opposite of his brothers. His eyes narrowed at the Queen, though he made no move towards her.

"She is expected your coming." The final line of defense informed his twin and little brother. With a comment more towards Fatima, Belor gave a smirk of knowing. "There's tea." Two deep chuckles echoed behind the Queen as the brothers three shared looks.

If Fatima followed the directions deeper into the maze of twisting tunnels, the walls smooth and the floor patterned in different rugs from time to time. Each door was solidly shut and the Red jeweled power beckoned her onward towards a faint glow. Within the room was a fire that heated it to a comfortable level, two chairs sat before it facing each other. They were tasteful, though the one not in use looked a tad less than comfortable. Tea was indeed on the small table next to the woman who watched Fatima with icy blue eyes. The eldery woman worn a shawl and her wings were tucked against her back. Her face showed age and her hands were crooked with the passage of time. Lifting a delicate cup to withered lips, Faeril studied the woman. "Sit, Queen from Hyall." The voice was harsh and cold as the rain, but there was no movement of threat from the woman other than the deep red jewel at her throat. Fatima would sense the power was cloaking this room in particularly. Covering it with a blanket that made the details other than the obvious difficult to make out. She would recognize that she had walked into a tangle web and was ensnared by it. "So, why do you seek an old woman? Mind you that you get straight to the point. I've spent enough of my life playing games with Hyallian brats."

@nohbdies "Beneth, lady." The brother informed the Healer, looking shamed faced. "My brother's Liran." Drinking heavily from the cup despite the heat that scorched his throat. It was his brother's mumbled words to unclear for Artemis to make out but not for Beneth. "Benet and Liran Dale." The lad corrected himself, staring into the depths of the tea his thoughts miles away. Though Artemis was correct and the tea was helping a great deal.

"Lady- Healer." The other, Liran, seemed to shake himself to some form of conversation. Though he still looked a tad bit green trying to avoid looking at the body. "You need to get out of here." Unknowingly voicing Vaclav's own thoughts. "You're not Hyallian, and you aint got wings." While he didn't know a lot about polotics, the boy did know that those from Dhemlan were the rumored favorites of Dorothea- the Hyallian Territory Queen- to pick apart. "You got to get out of here, before more of them Hyallian's come or try to frame you." He wouldn't put it past the bastards and the lad recalled a conversation he had 'overheard' between his parents one late night.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Richard Laine

Ayita Dyrkin

Location Sidewalk

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Ayita considered Allison's words carefully. Any chance of calling of the manhunt on mutants was a good idea to the wild woman. She had no desire to be hunted through the forest covered mountainside again. A part of her mind was also aware of the snake coiling about her arm. Richard had transformed to be less noticeable. It worried him that he was something of a liability due to a rather insidious past. But as Ayita had reminded him oft in the last few months, it wasn't as though he did not get anything out of it. Someone who could see things from a killer's standpoint had a unique set of skills. Even as her own were more focus towards the wild and nature.

Richard almost gave a groan as he could feel his sister's pleasure at the run emitting from her as they stepped from the elevator. While he did agree it was a good idea and would get them there quickly the Adder was a bit more worried if they would keep their stomachs, heads and limbs attached. Her shifting was its usual way, and Richard adjusted to give the foreleg of the dark bay mare. Even as her brother, the assassin had to admit his sister did cut a lovely picture as a mare.

Stretching her dark neck, Ayita shook the black mane out and swinged her side about while going down on one knee to better allow Allison and Charlie upon the broad back. Her breed was no small pony but nor was the shifter a Cyldesdale. An Arabian was she. Hefting herself up to all fore legs again, Richard held fast to his tail. If he lost his grip he'd be left to eat his young sister's dust quite literally. Opening her mind up to Allison, Ayita surged forward her hooves quick to dance about panicking pedestrians. Adjusting her body to keep both the fire-boy and Seer seated as she quickly beat the ground to Allison's directions. Hurtling in a jump over a few signs when they were in the way as well as a few cars.

Soon they were in front of the office, and Ayita twisted her body as she trotted to a stop so the two could dismount quickly. Her form bobbing as she pranced in glee at the exhilarating run. Nevermind the terror of her brother as his picked himself off the cement, or that of her passengers. "Oh, that was simply amazing! Am I not the fastest and fairest of mare and horse kin?" Ayita had a sore spot and it was the fact she was a bit vain about her forms and their beauty. "Brother? You look
slightly ill."

"I left my stomach back at that 2 for 1 deal."

Darke Magyk - Concluded

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Richard Laine

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Location: The Palace

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Richard gave a small and cruel smile. One that spoke of serpents and sly deaths. A man who made children fight? It was one thing when it was Professor Xavier. But this? In such a setting as he was reading these were not the protected and sheltered children like at the Manor. His hold shifted and he had Puck's neck in his hand. "Children are not pawns." He had lost a sister to illness, another to his mother's cruelty. He would not watch more children suffer.

As the newly made knight demanded the half-man's release, Richard did not look away from his prey. But his voice was something of the frigid north he had called his home ages past. "Let us?" His grip tightened slowly on Puck. Squeezing the life from the man. "We are not from your kingdom, and you do not allow me anything little girl. The fact remains you could not stop us even if you wished to." There was murder in Richard's eyes, fueled by his fatherly nature. This short, stubby man was a threat. More than that, he was a proven threat. It would take a sharp word from Thalia for the assassin to drop Puck.

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Rhys Asher

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Location: Smugglers Bolt

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Rhys had a bad enough time in his childhood. Save for a loving mother, which a part of his mind noted was balanced out by his teacher. A sharp, old fool whose tongue was what ended him. One comment too many about the woman Rhys had come from. A well deserved death, and his first. The rogue remembered the sick glee, yet the twisting in his gut. Worry about being caught, found, and punished. His first month away had been a nightmare. One that had ebbed over time. How annoying that the same feeling would grace him once more in the infernal marsh.

Yet spying a ghost Rhys Asher slowed his steps. Before him was Fendrel Silvers, the husband of the late Queen Meliscente. As the man spoke of his daughter, the assassin wondered if it was the one who was crowned or taken? But why tell the king of such things? His mind would be disquiet and Rhys was not of habit to trouble the dead. Making them dead? Yes. Taking their comforts in death? No. "Lovely enough. A bit young for me to judge, Lord." Of all the beings in the Castle or anywhere Fendrel did not deserve his hate. "Though I do wonder why you walk about here and not the gilded halls were you might better glimpse them? If you would humor me by walking with me Lord?"

Blood's Jewels (Closed)

Blood's Jewels

“Terreille in Trouble”

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@eclecticwitch "You'd have to ask the barkeep about the ale, I'm afriad." The younger of the brothers started with a gruff voice. Denar raised his brow at Gen as the latter replied. The Warlord Prince hiding a smile in his own tankard. It seemed guests had come for the Lady Ashke. A pet name to those who were in her inner circle. To the rest of the valley she was Healer Faeril. To the rest of Terreille she was Healer Ashkervan. A woman whose feelings were locked behind shields of ice. Giving a slight nod of his head, Denar rustled in wings slightly. Flexing them and letting the two escorts of the Queen see the powerful body beneath. "But I believe out resident Healer might have a few tales to tell. She is a fan of traditional tapestries." It was all true, every word. Faeril even had a collection of tapestries her family had spun across the ages from time to time.

Denar set his mug on the table with a slightly apologetic frown at the woman and her companions. "You'll have to leave your men behind, Lady. We wouldn't want to cause our dear Healer distress with all the work she's been doing." Or cause the men distress at having to deal with Faeril. The witch could be down right testy at times. At best they would go beneath her interest. At worse? She'd have them out back under supervision chopping wood. Darkness only knew how poor Belor was faring with their sharp tongued friend. A week in bed had only honed the edge of her dagger sharp tongue.

Jassen and Beneth both looked outraged at the possibility of Fatima going alone. "Lady, it is too dangerous and I don't trust these Eyriens." The scorn of her Master of the Guard was palatable in his psychic scent. Jassen while less talkitive due to his slightly sweating visage nodded in agreement. While he had been traveling the man had been without drink and it was taking it's toll.

@Torack The remains of Karlianne's Court numbered four others aside from Lucivar. Each looking battle weary and sporting wounds of some such or other. Their eyes were hollow with hopelessness. Kayner was hardly the worse off, but even he was looking with despair at the smoke that was staining the sky over Greyhaven. "Roland and Kelvand both fell at the gates. Taken out by a green Warlord Prince. Hyallian I think." That was Strum, or so he had called himself. Doubtless it was his real name, but the Warlord Prince was most likely protecting family he didn't want known to the rest of them. The man looked dazed as a gash bleed beneath a towel he pressed to his head.

"Davios was holding the gate last I saw." The words were gasped out, as Trystan held his side. Most likely suffering cracked ribs. His jewel looking lifeless on his chest. "Didn't stick around. How did they get to Karlianne? How did they get in Greyhaven?!" the man looked fierce despite his wounds.

It was Kayner who answered with a glum expression. "We were betrayed." He didn't name names, but would that hurt or help matters? Or did any of them about the table care? Their Queen was dead and their lives were at stake as Grayhaven burned. "What of Wylnard?" Wylnard was a Prince who was a tactical genius. It had been he more than anyone else who had kept the Queen's Court with fresh members when a old one was killed. Many times he had been offered the position of Master of the Guard, Steward and First Escort only to refuse each time. Claiming it would paint a target on him.

The fourth and last man, Nigel shook his head. "Arrows got him. He managed to give the guard time to rally. But they had stronger jewels and more of them." The man's head sank into his hands. "Darkness bless that he did not feel Karlianne's death. Wylnard was the best of us."

~Nyte Bloods~

Alice shook her head in the negative, nibbling at her lips. "No, not little at all. Rather the one Liam had was eight inches, perhaps? It was very ornate." The tailor admitted, with a slightly admiring look. For while she could hate the man, she did respect artwork in any form. Twirling a finger in her curling dark lock, the woman considered the other weapons as she nibbled at the dish. She honestly preferred this to straight blood. It made her feel almost normal.

Something that went a long way in this new world. Savoring it, the small tailor gave Liza an apologetic look. "I enjoyed your dish." Alice gave a small smile, trying to ease the worry and rough feelings. "I've seen switchblades and razors." Alice's eyes appeared troubled as she seemed to think hard upon the issue. "Some of the more violent and urban designs feature models holding them." The explanation was utterly true. Alice in fact had to look up what they were and had been slightly horrified by them. But they had given her a wonderful Halloween line a few years back.

X-Men: Cosmic Crusades 👽

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Richard Laine

Ayita Dyrkin

Location Stark Tower

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Ayita was gazing at the floor plan along side her brother though it was obvious Richard was the one who understood it far better. A quiet argument could be heard though Ayita seemed to be speaking mind to mind while her brother replied in the usual way. Lamenting his sister's terms for things, and constant corrections issuing from the older Laine. When Allison came back to herself, Ayita's head snapped around sending her auburn hair flaring about. Richard gave a sputtering noise of irritation as the locks hit him in the face, not that Ayita seemed apologetic about it. In fact, her expressions aside from the full attention being locked on her dearest of friends was one of smugness. As Allison questioned if her and Charlie, and by extension Richard, were up for a road trip Richard's jaw set in a stubborn line.

There was little he could say however as Ayita moved after the fore-bearer of doom. Running a hand through his dark locks Richard strung together a harsh curse. "Stark, Mirembe..." The assassin gave a short nod before moving after the two errant teenagers. "Good luck." They would need luck, this was a bad situation. Made worse by a facturing group. He would rather remain here and protect the children, but his sister was as ever his first priority. After that Guin came second for the mercy she had given the Adder.

As Allison and Ayita reached Happy, Ayita eyed the computers with interest. Trying to figure out the point of this activity. Allison she would follow into Hell itself and drag the girl out at whatever cost needed to be paid. For the first time in years, Allison had been the first human- mutant, she corrected herself- to accept her mutation with out screaming. Perhaps it was little harsh as more than a few people had accepted it, but Ayita was cynical of the human nature. Strange things made people scream and run, and she was strange. Moving about to eye the screen better, the shifter frowned as she watched the pixelated figures move about. It seemed the point was to shoot with the middle figure at the bottom.