Foxfire or Firebird?

[Seer]

<< Minerva's Aerie. A place where time and space mean everything AND nothing for the mistress of the mansion and island. It is a unique temporal focal point, occurring exactly the same across time and space on any Earth. In Mainstream, it houses the most unusual, legendary, terrifying and (to the general populace of earth) mythological objects, items and artifacts, all of which were painstakingly collected by the legendary Barbara Minerva. She herself was a temporal anamoly, like Ororo, and appeared across time and space in several distinct timelines- most notably The Six's and The Masters of Evil. She gave her life, helping her friend, Persephone, a Dire Wraith over the Masters of Evil and currently a member of the Six, against CIRCE and was rewarded by Athena with rebirth as an Amazon, but the astral echo/psionic ghost of her original self in this timeline still remains a part of this mysterious island and the the sprawling structure of the mansion- as Harbinger, the appointed successor of the mansion and Barbara's mantle and legacy, discovered during the Blue Moon!>>

<< Still, for all of this place's mystery, intrigue, splendor and wonder, there are some things that must take precdence from time to time.>>

<< For several hours now, Alison Marble and her guests- Ava Cassadine, Michael Armstrong, Alycia Barnett were reveling in the RARE opportunity to have to be NO WHERE or DO ANYTHING. It was just as well, since Alison was finally starting to recover from the bitter blow out and resulting black hole between Morgan/herself and Delilah. But before Alison could slip into her "business as usual" mode, CAMERON KING had arrived and brought with him a surprising, if not a bit mischievious agenda- adding his voice to Michael's campaign to get Alycia to STAY with them...and get them ALL, including, perhaps ESPECIALLY Alison and Ava, DRUNK!>>

<< As we see, he's pretty much succeeded with the one and OVER ACHIEVED in the other.>>

<< The flowing, vibrant waters of the Aegean sea around the island see their natural symphony take a back seat to the surprisingly wild banter, the laughter and even the alcohol induced "physical comedy" of some of those taken in by Cameron's well executed plan.>>

<< Now, Alycia and Michael have finally managed to make their way back to the mansion and their individual quarters, as did Ava, leaving Alison and Cameron still outside together. >>

<< This was a moment not to be lost on Alison, who despite being drunk, still knew exactly what she needed to say to her baby brother. >>

<< Elsewhere in the sprawling mansion, Nicolas King arrives. The mansion looks as majestic as ever and the operations of the staff are smooth and routine. In the light of day, without any threats looming, this place was truly a world apart. He knew Firebird could find her way here via the enchanted doorway (courtesy of Shadow Weaver's spell) in Michael's apartment at Melrose Place and so now, with concern for the Fire elemental on his mind, he would speak with Alison. But before THAT, he had a chance to catch up with Michael and Alycia. Morgan had asked him to persuade her to stay with the Six, at least for now, knowing they would need the help. He knew Michael and Cameron had been campaigning so he wanted to see where she was on that offer. He also wanted to talk with Michael, whom he hadn't seen much of in the immediate aftermath of the Blue Moon and the "Blow out".>>

<< It would be a little while before he saw Alison. Just enough time for her and Cameron to have a much needed moment.>>

-----------------------------------------------

<< Back at Melrose Place>>

<< Delilah had finally gotten what she wanted, to be alone. No more knocks at the door, no more visitors. She was alone in her apartment with her own thoughts and all around her, unintended echoes of a life and friendships lost. This very BUILDING even. But even at their worst moments, Morgan was never known to make a person homeless...unless you were her team mate and slept with her boyfriend while under the thrall of a demonic monster god >>

<< Her conversation with Blaze had been unusal. It was a reminder that Firebird was quite different than Foxfire, and in ways beyond what everyone had already noticed and seemed to be most enamored with. There was something else driving that visit and in her solitude, Delilah had time to ponder that. But even a momentary touch of Firebird's passion and the curious mystery of what lies beneath wouldn't hold Delilah's thoughts for TOO long. She was still a woman broken. Pieces of herself still rang true, but the WHOLE was completely undefined, AGAIN. Sharon's words rang in her head, as did some of Karen's and Blaze's...but it still came down to HER...and the two that ABANDONNED her.>>

<< There she was....ALONE. Not aware, much less going to the gather at Alison's. She had nothing but time on her hands. It could be her greatest asset, as Sharon had suggested, OR it could be her greatest agony...as she had tended to feel more often than not in the past few weeks.>>

<< Tonight though, she'd get a surprise.>>

-------------------------------------------------------------

<< Cass was preparing to meet Karen, who was in Apartment 3 (Michael's apartment) getting ready for the evening's events at Minerva's. She'd had quite a conversation with Shadow Weaver and Silver Swan. Their nurturing, guiding hands were balanced by a FIRM hand as well. Cass was facing pressure, a CHOICE. Her life was being redefined and she had to adapt. Far sooner than she would like, but she would have to know, as she'd been told several times, THAT is the very nature of the Six! From its inception!>>

<< Her choices were a FUTURE with them, or no future at all, as uncertain times lay ahead and powerful as she was...no one was an island unto themselves. Not even the precog witch who lived on her own island OR the sorceress supreme who had HER OWN eldritch dimension to rule over.>>

-------------------------------------------------------------

<<Firebird was in Apartment 4. Morgan's apartment. Because she knew it'd take only a walk through a doorway to get to Minerva's, she decided to lay down for a catnap after a long hot shower. The small white kitten had cured up near her flat stomach and the two lay together in the comfort of her sister's large, plush bed. The sound of chimes in the bedroom were comforting and for a little while, had even eased the savage emotional fire burning in her heart. But as the clocks in Morgan's apartment played their ticking rhythm, each passing moment, she began to look ahead to the "moment" that was moving closer and closer with each tick.>>

<< Her eyes eyes closed for a moment and one thing came to her mind.>>

Siege Perilous

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Aerie- Northside

:: Michael, Alycia and Ava had all returned to the mansion after one highly amusing afternoon "pow wow." All of this was brought about by Cameron King, Alison Marble's baby brother. It was the first time SINCE she'd "graduated" from Guardian to Harbinger and become the mistress of this island that she'd had a moment like THIS. Her brother since his return, had finally found his center, fully reveling in his passion and FIREfor LIFE and the fullness thereof. He w as now the true, natural balance to Alison's mystery and ICE.::

:: That explained why all of this, what was going on right now on the island, had unfoled so smoothly, so WELL and why everyone, even ALISON herself, was having a much needed FUN TIME of letting loose in her own way. She trusted her baby brother, she had the support of her dear friend Ava at a time she'd needed it most and Michael, with help from Karen and Alycia was able to handle the operations of the mansion with complete trust from Alison.::

:: She may not have pondered this at the moment, but ALL of these things had allowed her to LET GO for the last few weeks, and that was what she needed the most as she struggled to recover herself in some way from the bitter blow out that took place in the mansion's infirmary when she revealed that she, at Maxim's behest, took Delilah's baby Alexia away to Ororo to save Delilah from dying at the innocent, unknowing hand of her baby, who's mutant power manifested at birth and caused her to INSTINCTIVELY latch on to Delilah's light energy and life force itself, DRAINING HER till death! It happened the moment Alexia was born, while the others were fighting against Circe and her onslaught and AGAIN shortly after Delilah was aparently revived by the goddesses Athena and Hecate, when she held Alexia in her arms. Sharon saved her life the 2nd time. Maxim and Alison saved her life THEREAFTER but the cost of the actions taken, necessary as they were, was HIGH.::

:: A blackhole now existed where a once deep, long standing "sisterhood" between Morgan, Alison and Delilah had been. with Morgan and Alison on one side, Delilah on the other, and as Alison had said before she broke down in Persephone's arms after withstanding Delilah's tremendous backlash, nothing, not even THE LIGHT, can escape a black hole.::

:: Now here she was...enjoying hemlock, friends, her brother...and daring to believe that with the coming assignments she had lined up for herself in the next days, that life COULD go on! Alexia was alive and safe, under the best possible care (outside of her own parents of course), DELILAH was alive with a chance to one day see her daughter again and it not costing her her life. That was the solace Ava urged her to take from all of that as she began to put one foot in front of the other and try to move forward.::

:: Her blue/black hair flowed in the ocean winds around the island. She'd pulled it back into a bun earlier, but Cameron IMMEDIATELY protested upon seeing her in a look that was reminiscent of their earliest days in the Six and without asking, he took her hair down. It was a telling thing that Alison, a woman known for controlling damn near EVERYTHING, did not get upset about that, but despite what SOME would say about her now, she HAD come far as a person.::

:: She and Cameron were now laying on the lush grass. They'd both fallen over after Persephone's tornado caused them to take a spill along with Michael and it was just fun to do things that didnt seem "normal" for Prophet and Harbinger, like laying on the grass and looking up at the sky together.::

Cameron...

:: She said, still drunk, but not without her mental faculties::

Why did you really come here today? I've never known you to...go out of your way to get your team mates & friends, certainly not your big SISTER drunk.


Not that I'm ungrateful for that lovely HEMLOCK. Dominique has exquisite taste in her vintage selection I must say! And of course you're always welcomed here...It's just that...

::Not that she was worried about what she was going to say, but just that she didnt even want this woman's name on her TONGUE, but somethings just couldnt be avoided::

DELILAH was a mess when you and Morgan took her away from here. It's only been a few weeks. I had already looked out among the time threads THAT NIGHT after magick was restored...and I "saw" this blackhole between us staying there, sucking any light...any possible sign of reconciliation away the moment it flickered.

But more importantly...HER. It's not wise for you to leave her alone. She doesnt really want Karen's help. She resents Karen for being Morgan's mother.

You're the only one that she trusts at the moment...and for HER sake, she needs you.

:: If there was any question of whether Alison would have tried to pull Cameron from Delilah, THIS dispelled it. Firebird knew it, Cameron knew it, so did Ava. Alison was the one who would need the LEAST amount of support. She was ACCUSTOMED to going it alone. But when she needed it, whether she wanted to admit it or not, she accepted it, as seen in the recent weeks.::

 

[Rampage]

Aerie. It really was an absolute paradise. Nicolas soaked in the sun for a second, just let it wash over him and cheer his spirits. He then turned and walked into the mansion, making his way up to Alycia's quarters. He teleported a few of her favorite flowers into a bouquet and knocked on the door.

Alycia: Who is it?

Nicolas.

Alycia: Just a second...........Ok, come in.

Nicolas entered to find Alycia in a fluffy white robe, hosiery and heels already on, applying makeup. He smiled at the sight and walked forward to give her the flowers and apply a kiss to her cheek.

Alycia! You look as beautiful as ever!! If I had known you needed to find a robe I might have just SURPRISED you.

Nicolas chuckled as he winked at the pretty amazon. Alycia had caught his eye since Day 1, but there was no way he would cross any real lines out of respect for Morgan. But caring about Morgan did not make him blind, and the view was quite good right now. He waited as she placed the flowers in a vase and sat back down before he seated himself.

How has training been treating you? Mike tells me you are...

*intentionally changes his voice to a dead ringer for Mike*

"the god-DAMNED devil."

Nicolas laughs heartily, his voice changed back after his impression.

I am glad to see that Mike has found a new playmate to fight with. But I DO have an ulterior motive - not THAT one girl!! - to being here with you now.

Nicolas rose, taking a folder out of his jacket and placing them on the table before Alycia.

I would be honored if you would be willing to not only stay with us as an active teammate at least until Morgan returns, but I would love it if you would help me in your expertise as a attorney. I have devoted more and more time and effort into efforts to help refugees around the world. A large percentage of those I am working to help are children. Isis has long taken the lead in this endeavor and that would continue. But I need someone who can file the proper briefs withe World Court, someone who can maneuver legal systems in several countries at once and someone strong who can persuade powerful men with the UN to help me do special things finding homes for the orphaned children in these situations.

The work is based primarily in New York. But you can mostly operate wherever you wish. You will be given the finest equipment, assistants, amenities, transportation...no expense will be spared to help you in this regard. I will not demand a quick answer, I know this has to be a lot to ask. And no matter what you decide I am here for you for whatever you need. But in a world where even money cannot secure trust and where the powerless fall through the cracks, I could very much use someone who I know will do what she thinks is best, who I can trust to kick ass and take names, and who I would very much like to see practicing law...AGAIN.

Take as much time as you like Alycia. But if you practice law again, Charope LLP sounds damned nice in my opinion. Welcome back.

Nicolas stopped and looked at Alycia, his eyes conveying a sincerity as well as a heartfelt connection with these children. They WERE HIM. He was not a refugee in a traditional way, but make no mistake, Set had declared a war on the civilized, on peace, on love...and his mother was a casualty of that war, leaving him orphaned. If he could help other families stay alive and, barring that, could help these children have even a fraction of the chance he had with a new family, he wanted to do whatever he could. That included enlisting the help of the best lawyer he knew, even if it had been a while since the courtroom.

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Mansion - Northern Estate

The afternoon was unfolding nicely for everybody. It was such a rare occurence for this group of people to let go like this, and the fact that Cameron himself was responsible for it, made him happy indeed.

In the wake of Ava's tornado, everybody had taken a tumble and while Alycia and Mike gathered themselves and headed back towards the mansion, Alison and Cameron remained on the grass, looking up at the stars. Though the two had a strong relationship, they almost NEVER had alone time like this. There was always something happening or things to attend to, so the irony of this moment was not lost on Cameron. He laid back with his arms crossed behind his head.

Cameron...

:: She said, still drunk, but not without her mental faculties::

Why did you really come here today? I've never known you to...go out of your way to get your team mates & friends, certainly not your big SISTER drunk.


Not that I'm ungrateful for that lovely HEMLOCK. Dominique has exquisite taste in her vintage selection I must say! And of course you're always welcomed here...It's just that...

::Not that she was worried about what she was going to say, but just that she didnt even want this woman's name on her TONGUE, but somethings just couldnt be avoided::

DELILAH was a mess when you and Morgan took her away from here. It's only been a few weeks. I had already looked out among the time threads THAT NIGHT after magick was restored...and I "saw" this blackhole between us staying there, sucking any light...any possible sign of reconciliation away the moment it flickered.

But more importantly...HER. It's not wise for you to leave her alone. She doesnt really want Karen's help. She resents Karen for being Morgan's mother.

You're the only one that she trusts at the moment...and for HER sake, she needs you.

:: If there was any question of whether Alison would have tried to pull Cameron from Delilah, THIS dispelled it. Firebird knew it, Cameron knew it, so did Ava. Alison was the one who would need the LEAST amount of support. She was ACCUSTOMED to going it alone. But when she needed it, whether she wanted to admit it or not, she accepted it, as seen in the recent weeks.::

His gaze softened as he turned his head looking at his sister.

"Alison...I came to see YOU. I know that Delilah needs me, and I know that you have support from Ava and Mike and Alycia..but YOU, sister have a tendency to talk about things to the point of redundancy..and that's not good either..I came to lighten the mood I felt from you..and I think I did a smashing job..."

[he sat up]

"Delilah IS still a mess..but Delilah is also a grown woman. I'm doing what I can to make sure that she has somebody there for her..but really, Alison..I can't FORCE someone to feel a way they DON'T feel..or WANT to feel...She's got to live through this pain. She has to sit with it...and if we sit there and coddle her, and fix her breakfast and brush her hair and be there EVERY second...then really, we are just doing what she's already been so upset about..making her decisions FOR her..."

"I know her..better than some might think. I've been where she is at..just in a different way. There was a time where I had NOBODY on this team..not even YOU. My relationship with Haleigh was fractured...there was this new "Nicolas" walking around with the same last name as me and similar abilities..."

"Delilah was there for me. She took me in under her wing...especially when I returned to Melrose Place after you rescued me..She helped me feel alive again..but she didn't coddle me...she let me make my own decisions, and when I made bad ones...she let me know, but she didn't STOP me...that is something I think YOU might benefit from learning..."

"We did what was right, Alison...but SOMEBODY should have said something. My only regret is not fully knowing what was going on. I came in at the last minute and went to action. Had I known...I WOULD have told her, and maybe things would be different..."

[laying back down]

"But that is splitting hairs..I'm sure we all have regrets about the situation..but it happened how it happened and it's DONE. We can ONLY move forward. Right now...Delilah needs some space..and we have to give it to her..Don't forget, you might be a precog, but they don't call me "Prophet" for no reason..I've "looked" into her future..I see some definite dark days and outlandish behavior ahead..but I see no inidication that she won't MAKE it.."

[grabbing Alison's hand]

"As for the FRIENDSHIP between the three of you...well..that is really up to the THREE of YOU...."

[sitting up once more]

"Now...I can tell you've been wanting to tell me something since I got here..What is it?"

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion- sudden change

:: Alison's colbalt blue eyes sparkled under the shifting, dusk sky as she listened to her brother speak with an insight and conviction that he hadn't had before.::

Cameron...my darling baby brother.

:: She said in a soft, airy tone as the breeze whistled a bit::

::THE HAUNTING TOLL OF A BELL SOUNDS OFF! A SCREAM SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND A CRASH OF THUNDER::


:: Cameron's bolts upright at the sight and FEEL of a violet swirl of energy and...::

IMAGIOMG

<< the demon mage, LARGE AS LIFE and AT FULL POWER, is INSTANTLY upon him, snatching him up in the air and carrying him off, now hovering OVER the aegean, FAR from the island! not a chance to scream. not a chance to even MAKE SENSE of this!>>

Imagiomg: AND WHAT ABOUT US, PET?

<< The agean sea begins to SWIRL into a dark, glowing whirlpool, and in the EYE of the whirl pool is what can only be described as a place somewhere BEYOND hell>>

Imagiomg: WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS!

<< Cameron's senses were SCREAMING this was impossible and yet it all FELT REAL! Imagiomg HURLS him into the swirling watery vortex, and as he freefalls...he LANDS...>>

<<FLASH!>>


::in BED!? His OWN BED in his guest suite at Minerva's MANSION! He's ALIVE, Imagiomg is gone. He was never there. ALISON is there...sitting beside him on his bed, looking pale, cold...BLACK TEARS falling from her colbalt blue eyes as she looks at her brother, who is momentarily disoriented and shocked. Alison had just cast an ILLUSION/FEAR SPELL before TELEBLINKING herself and Cameron into his guest suite of the mansion.::

If I had told you that was coming...would you have allowed me to do it?

Would you have allowed me to...SCARE you like that?

If I told you I saw IMAGIOMG coming back for you....if I told you that I saw that he was STILL somehow inside of ME after his possession of me and that I was going to turn INTO some derivative of him...would you trust me? would you even BELIEVE ME?would you DO WHAT I TOLD YOU in order to AVOID that from coming to PASS?!

:: The double doors to his suite SLAM SHUT with a rushing, chiming sound. As do the double doors of the mansion's main entrance, Michael & Karen's suite, Ava's suite, Alycia's (While Nicolas was still inside). She wants them ALL to stay where they are as she OPENS UP to her brother::

WOULD YOU!? Would you have trusted MORGAN AND I to do WHATEVER was necessary even if it seemed BIZARRE OR HARSH?

<< she paused>>


I'm SORRY I did that to you...But I HAD TO GET YOU TO SEE...

She wouldnt believe me...us. She and Maxim BOTH, they always act like my precognition is a JOKE. Like it isn't REAL.

DELILAH WOULDNT HAVE LISTENED. She wouldn't have COOPERATED. She couldnt handle it! SHE WOULDVE DIED and so would that helpless baby!

I don't care what you or anybody else says. I SAW IT! THERE WAS NO TIME for Morgan or I to WASTE on things that WOULD. NOT. WORK.

Maybe...maybe she wouldve listend to YOU. I...i honestly didnt think about that. Neither did Ava or Morgan. I was the team tactician...I...should have...

:: she she stops as her shoulders raise and she tenses up for a moment. She slowly turns away and takes a few steps. Picking up a picture of herself, Morgan and Delilah, taken by HALEIGH at Illustra the night MASTER MOLD would attack the city and kill Sharon and Morgan. She holds the picture in her hand.::

I know I did the right thing.

I KNEW what it would cost me.

:: Chimes sound off as she spins around on her high heel and faces Cameron, with her tear streaked face and she HURLS the picture across the room with such force from her power that it EXPLODES upon impact ::

What I CAN'T "see" or FIGURE OUT is WHY I CARE now?

You said that I have a tendancy to talk/dwell on things to the point of rendundancy. NORMALLY I would disagree with you. But NOW? I believe you're RIGHT!

She called me a monster, a controlling bitch and whatever else.

I have ALWAYS done what was necessary. Whether it was HARSH OR NOT.

WHY am struggling with this? I didn't struggle the night that HALEIGH AND I decided NOT to tell SHARON, ALYCIA, MORGAN OR DELILAH about Master Mold.

Why am I struggling NOW?

Let me tell you something, Baby Brother...I'll do ANYTHING I have to do to protect you, THIS PLACE, THE SIX. Even if it means I have to KILL. Even if it means I have to cause someone PAIN in order to keep them ALIVE.

I don't think ANYONE understand what kind of mind a person has to have to do that...but you know who DID? HALEIGH! It takes a WITCH ...BITCH WITH A HEART OF STONE! MARBLE!


We were on that same wave length...almost from the BEGINNING and THAT'S why we hated each other so much. We werent expecting that from one another. We do things that no one else will...or even CAN because we know sometimes to GET to the otherside...you have to pass through HELL to do it.

I'm acting like I havent done WORSE before in order to protect, save, ALTER probable outcomes.

I'm letting HER get to me...making me DOUBT my methods...and I....I DONT LIKE IT!

:: she SCREAMS as mirrors, vases and other objects SHATTER::

I. AM. NOT defined by HER! I was stalking monsters when SHE was still waving pompoms in highschool!

I've seen more...literally AND magickally than her LIMITED MIND could POSSIBLY HANDLE!

I KNOW I DID THE RIGHT THING!

:: clenching her fist and shutting her eyes tightly as she shakes::

AND YET..WHY DO I...feel like...I MADE A MISTAKE!?

:: She looks at Cameron with deep dread in her eyes before she begins pacing back and forth::

I don't make mistakes! NOT ME! NOT LIKE THIS!


Am I getting WEAK!?


:: and to his point of Morgan/Alison/Delilah being between THEM?::

and WHAT ABOUT Morgan, myself and Delilah? WHAT IS THE POINT? She was NEVER one of us! She just...she RODE ALONG because she was Morgan's best friend since childhood. But YOU saw her that night. THAT wasnt JUST the situation at hand. She's HATED US for a long time now. Probably since BISHOP first blighted OUR lives and she blames US for not being able to have a life with him even though it wouldve come at ALL our expenses, INCLUDING HER'S and she'd ALREADY been burned by him MANY LIFE TIMES OVER but she's so STUPID she wants to do it 100 MORE times. SHE KILLED HERSELF because she couldn't handle KILLING HIM even though it was the RIGHT THING to do!

WHAT NEED HAVE I of someone like THAT!?

LET her go her own way!

EVERYONE can just LEAVE for all I care! I've been alone before. I can be that way AGAIN!

:: The rage and emotion, the GUILT, the sense of uncertainty, propelled by the hemlock, which had already begun to wear off but still left it's lingering touch was coming out. But it was WAS a testimony to the TRUST she had in Cameron that she would ALLOW herself to open up like this. Only Ava, Morgan and Haleigh had seen her quite like THIS at any given time before.::

 

[Artemis]

Minerva's Mansion

Nicolas entered to find Alycia in a fluffy white robe, hosiery and heels already on, applying makeup. He smiled at the sight and walked forward to give her the flowers and apply a kiss to her cheek.

Alycia! You look as beautiful as ever!! If I had known you needed to find a robe I might have just SURPRISED you.

Nicolas chuckled as he winked at the pretty amazon.

Nicolas, you're a very NAUGHTY boy!

:: She looks at him with the look a teacher might give a naughty school boy and waves her figner accordingly::

You keep this up and I'll have to tell Silver Swan, your ALMOST step-mother, to give you a spanking!

:: Smiling as she accepted the lovely flowers::

Alycia had caught his eye since Day 1, but there was no way he would cross any real lines out of respect for Morgan. But caring about Morgan did not make him blind, and the view was quite good right now. He waited as she placed the flowers in a vase and sat back down before he seated himself.

They're very lovely. Thank you!

How has training been treating you? Mike tells me you are...

*intentionally changes his voice to a dead ringer for Mike*

"the god-DAMNED devil."

:: Alycia looks up, shutting her eyes as she smiles a bit and snickers::

Nicolas laughs heartily, his voice changed back after his impression.

Mike is alot of fun. He's not intimidated by powerful women, obviously, since he's been in a long, stable relationship with Karen. I'm happy that they've found each other. They seem to be the perfect balance and compliment to one another and Michael is the sort of man that I would want to bring to visit Themyscira, if Hypolytta allows another special "day of exchange" where certain Amazons are allowed to bring outsiders, even men who have prooven themselves WORTHY, to visit Themyscira to learn from the amazons and to share their own background, culture and knowledge.


He's strong. He's far more confident in his abilities and com fortable in his own skin as a baseline human than I was before I changed.

I understand that Alison, Karen and Blaze even allowed him to run them through a MONTH of training exercises and drills out here at Minerva's!

I am glad to see that Mike has found a new playmate to fight with. But I DO have an ulterior motive - not THAT one girl!! - to being here with you now.

Oh Nicolas, you're such a mess. :: Alycia playfully scoffs and waves him off::

Nicolas rose, taking a folder out of his jacket and placing them on the table before Alycia.

I would be honored if you would be willing to not only stay with us as an active teammate at least until Morgan returns, but I would love it if you would help me in your expertise as a attorney. I have devoted more and more time and effort into efforts to help refugees around the world. A large percentage of those I am working to help are children. Isis has long taken the lead in this endeavor and that would continue. But I need someone who can file the proper briefs withe World Court, someone who can maneuver legal systems in several countries at once and someone strong who can persuade powerful men with the UN to help me do special things finding homes for the orphaned children in these situations.

:: Alycia's attention is definitely grasped by this. Her hazel eyes scan over the documents, pictures and other information. The presentation she's hearing, coupled with the reminder of her past, her past PASSION, it immediately resonated with her::

The work is based primarily in New York. But you can mostly operate wherever you wish. You will be given the finest equipment, assistants, amenities, transportation...no expense will be spared to help you in this regard. I will not demand a quick answer, I know this has to be a lot to ask. And no matter what you decide I am here for you for whatever you need. But in a world where even money cannot secure trust and where the powerless fall through the cracks, I could very much use someone who I know will do what she thinks is best, who I can trust to kick ass and take names, and who I would very much like to see practicing law...AGAIN.

Take as much time as you like Alycia. But if you practice law again, Charope LLP sounds damned nice in my opinion. Welcome back.

:: Alycia's hazel eyes widened without her even noticing her own facial expression at the sound of this. She continued to look over the documents. She looked up at him, genuinely taken aback...::

Nicolas stopped and looked at Alycia, his eyes conveying a sincerity as well as a heartfelt connection with these children. They WERE HIM. He was not a refugee in a traditional way, but make no mistake, Set had declared a war on the civilized, on peace, on love...and his mother was a casualty of that war, leaving him orphaned. If he could help other families stay alive and, barring that, could help these children have even a fraction of the chance he had with a new family, he wanted to do whatever he could. That included enlisting the help of the best lawyer he knew, even if it had been a while since the courtroom.

Well! You still don't hesitate to ask for what you need or want!

:: She slowly closed the folder, but noticeably kept her hand on it still::

About The Six...Cameron, Blaze, most recently Mike and now you have campaigned. Listen, you guys don't have to sell me. I'm here. When Alison reached out to me the even of the Blue Moon for help, it wasn't just how sick and shaken she sounded that touched me, it was thinking back on all the times the Six had come to my aid, Sharon's aid, without hesitation or worry. There WAS a time when, DESPITE our capabilities and our strength of will, Sharon and I WERE liabilities...because we were still simply..."only human". I understand now why Haleigh used to get so upset with me for saying that...BUT I also remember that night on her yacht when Sharon and I had been rescued from Rick Riley the FIRST time- BEFORE she became the Silver Swan and before I became a high powered Federal Agent. That was one of the FIRST times in my adult life where i truly felt weak and helpess...when Riley broke my arm while I was desperately trying to stop HIM from trying to RAPE Sharon. This was before even YOU had come to the team, Nicolas.

Haleigh moved us all off the mainland on to her boat so we cold try to have some private time away from prying eyes and minds, and give Sharon and I a chance to recover while Karen cared for us and healed us of our physical wounds.

We went through so much...and the Six always came to our aid. So when Alison reached out to me, there was no question that I would come to her, especially NOW that I am in a far better position to do MORE to help.

The Blue Moon is over and I'm still here. Cameron and Blaze don't want me to leave and...

:: She looks at Nicolas and smiles a bit more::

I'm not ready to leave. I feel like now is the right time for me to be here among you all. So for now, count me in.

:: She winks::

As for your proposal. It is very well thought out and obviously there's a very real NEED here. This is the sort of thing Amazons would consider a matter of greet importance and in need of addressing.

I will need to think on it a bit more. I HAVE been leaning toward returning to NYC, much to Cameron's delight.....

:: She can't help but breathe in a little more deeply at the mention and thought of Cameron and the image of him being so close to her...almost purposefully brushing his lips against her ear...or her neck as he whispers to her.::

....

:: CLEARING her throat::

But I must tell you, Whichever way I go? One thing I will NOT need, is transporition. I must show you "DOME" and what it can do!

:: She smiles widely, quite happy and proud of her off-world technologically advance travel craft that was gifted to her by the Amazons.::

:: Before they can go any further, the sound of rushing chimes is heard as the double doors of her suite SLAM SHUT so violently! Both Alycia and Nicolas are startled::

That sound...that was Alison's energy signature and obviously that was HER telekinesis that slammed the doors shut.

:: Her amazonian enhanced senses allowed her to hear the doors of Michael & Karen's suite which was down the same hall is her own slamming shut as well. The same thing probably happened to Ava's too then. Nicolas stood up with a look of grave concern and looked to be ready to make a move. Alycia immediately stood up and stepped forward, placing her hand on his forearm to stay his hand::

No, Nicolas.

Stay where you are.

This is not an attack or anything deadly.

Alison is having a hard time. This has happened several times before in the past few weeks. Usually when she's talking with Ava about....

Delilah.

I've seen Alison sad...depressed even- I remember the aftermath of Master Mold. She and Haleigh were BOTH lost in a fog. Hell so was I!

But after that night when she broke down in Ava's arms...I don't think I've EVER seen her that hurt...or THIS resentful.

She's gotten ALOT better. At first she was in her master suite and would not come out. She wouldn't talk. She wouldnt eat. She was closing herself off from EVERYTHING.

Michael and I took care of the mansion's operations- and Sharon and I assisted Michael with handling the families of those who died during the Blue Moon, Karen and Ava took care of Alison. They worked HARD to get Alison to come around...even just a LITTLE.

She's been expressing, getting things out and each time...she gets a little bit further along the path of "MOVING ON" and taking solace in the fact that she did what she had to do, she save two lives...and the rest...only time will tell. And THIS time, SHE can't "see" her way through it with her precognition. That's part of why she's been so unhappy too.

But Cameron's here. He came earlier to see his sister and spend time with us. They're talking right now and I suspect THAT is what's behind the doors slamming shut. She's probably getting MORE of this stuff out of her and that's GOOD.

But leave her be. She's with Cameron and they need this time together right now. If something was wrong, I'm sure he'd alert us.

:: Alycia nodded with certainty as she stood back and sat down again::

How is your new arrival, Cass?

and where is Blaze?? Ava says that the last few times she's pass through Melrose Place to look in on Blaze, she's no where to be found and that she's been totally immersing herself at Spectra Couture? Nicolas, is she okay?

 

[Rampage]

Well! You still don't hesitate to ask for what you need or want!

:: She slowly closed the folder, but noticeably kept her hand on it still::

Good sign. As much as anything else, Nicolas was a consummate businessman, capable of reading reactions in the boardroom as surely as if he had actually read their mind. He knew that law was Alycia's love and that the cause would get her attention. His offer was not frivolous nor was it an attempt to simply tie here to them. The truth was that he was paying MILLIONS for attorneys in this endeavor and he had already had to dismiss a few because there were interests out there that were interested in the money to be made by exploiting these people.

Diamond interests. Copper mining interests. Warlords. BILLIONS of dollars at stake in free slave labor using these people, especially the children. Enough money to intimidate or bribe nearly anyone. Except a certain pretty little chocolate firebrand who now happened to be an amazon with time on her hands. He hoped she decided to take the challenge. The information was all in the dossier. No holds barred. She could even be a target if she was as successful as he suspected she could be. He listened as she continued.

She indeed would stay! At least for now. Apparently the entire team had been working on her about it, each for their own reasons. And so that issue was laid to rest.

We went through so much...and the Six always came to our aid. So when Alison reached out to me, there was no question that I would come to her, especially NOW that I am in a far better position to do MORE to help.

The Blue Moon is over and I'm still here. Cameron and Blaze don't want me to leave and...

:: She looks at Nicolas and smiles a bit more::

I'm not ready to leave. I feel like now is the right time for me to be here among you all. So for now, count me in.

:: She winks::

As for your proposal. It is very well thought out and obviously there's a very real NEED here. This is the sort of thing Amazons would consider a matter of greet importance and in need of addressing.

I will need to think on it a bit more. I HAVE been leaning toward returning to NYC, much to Cameron's delight.....

:: She can't help but breathe in a little more deeply at the mention and thought of Cameron and the image of him being so close to her...almost purposefully brushing his lips against her ear...or her neck as he whispers to her.::

....

:: CLEARING her throat::

But I must tell you, Whichever way I go? One thing I will NOT need, is transportation. I must show you "DOME" and what it can do!

Dome? What is tha-

:: Before they can go any further, the sound of rushing chimes is heard as the double doors of her suite SLAM SHUT so violently! Both Alycia and Nicolas are startled::

That sound...that was Alison's energy signature and obviously that was HER telekinesis that slammed the doors shut.

Alison?!

Nicolas had already reached out to his cane he carried and it had transformed into his the Astral Cleave, one of the mightiest weapons on the planet. He was already preparing to Astral Walk into her chamber to see if she was OK when...

Alycia immediately stood up and stepped forward, placing her hand on his forearm to stay his hand::

No, Nicolas.

Stay where you are.

This is not an attack or anything deadly.

Alison is having a hard time. This has happened several times before in the past few weeks. Usually when she's talking with Ava about....

Delilah.

I've seen Alison sad...depressed even- I remember the aftermath of Master Mold. She and Haleigh were BOTH lost in a fog. Hell so was I!

But after that night when she broke down in Ava's arms...I don't think I've EVER seen her that hurt...or THIS resentful.

She's gotten ALOT better. At first she was in her master suite and would not come out. She wouldn't talk. She wouldnt eat. She was closing herself off from EVERYTHING.

Michael and I took care of the mansion's operations- and Sharon and I assisted Michael with handling the families of those who died during the Blue Moon, Karen and Ava took care of Alison. They worked HARD to get Alison to come around...even just a LITTLE.

She's been expressing, getting things out and each time...she gets a little bit further along the path of "MOVING ON" and taking solace in the fact that she did what she had to do, she save two lives...and the rest...only time will tell. And THIS time, SHE can't "see" her way through it with her precognition. That's part of why she's been so unhappy too.

But Cameron's here. He came earlier to see his sister and spend time with us. They're talking right now and I suspect THAT is what's behind the doors slamming shut. She's probably getting MORE of this stuff out of her and that's GOOD.

But leave her be. She's with Cameron and they need this time together right now. If something was wrong, I'm sure he'd alert us.

Very well 'Lycia. I have tried to stay out of everyone's way in this situation for the time being. So I am not...acquainted with how she was dealing with things. I hope that she can center herself.

She sat down as he replied, her head nodding in assent about what she had informed him. She deftly changed the subject.

How is your new arrival, Cass?

and where is Blaze?? Ava says that the last few times she's pass through Melrose Place to look in on Blaze, she's no where to be found and that she's been totally immersing herself at Spectra Couture? Nicolas, is she okay?

Cass has not been particularly social and I have not had - check that- TAKEN the time to become more inclusive of her, regrettably. I have tried to focus on Blaze because I think she is often a forgotten soul with us. She gave up everything to start over with her sister and a new version of US in a new universe. That takes courage and she has stepped in admirably. Even now she is running Morgan's holdings with a skill that any businessman would be proud of.

But she is hiding something in her mind from me, something that is troubling her. And she said today that she regrets coming here. She is worried that Delilah will become what she was in her universe and that we will spiral apart over this last schism. I came early to see you AND to speak with Alison about her, try to see what she has planned before she does something rash. In order to see for myself, I would have to violate her mind, which is not only pretty unethical...it would be dangerous for her. Her training would force me to force my way in. NOT. PRETTY.

Nicolas shook his head. There was a LOT he was trying to do and, right now, Alison had just put his entire life on pause. He looked back at Alycia and shrugged his shoulders. Then, with a twinkle in his eyes, he looks right, then left.

So NOW what amazon? We are trapped in here.

He breaks into a devilish grin.

All alone. Nowhere else to be. Just the two of us.

He starts to chuckle as he produces a deck of cards.

Strip Poker?

Nicolas is now shaking with laughter. Alycia could not make a worse mistake than trying to bluff an omega level telepath with her meager pieces of clothing hanging in the balance...and he could NOT resist having ONE MORE chuckle at her half-naked expense!!

 

[Artemis]

Minerva's Mansion- Alycia's suite

We've ALL been doing our best to...stay in our own orbits around this..."black hole" (Morgan/Delilah/Alison). Honestly, Nicolas, that's definitely an apt term for this situation. It's draining so much from THEM and the Team's morale! It's terrible to watch, knowing there's little to nothing any of us can do.

:: She sighed as she turned back to face her vanity for a moment::

I'd like to see more of Cass. She has a curious quality about her.

And as for Blaze...that sounds rather serious. But I applaud you for taking the ETHICAL approach in dealing with her. If there IS something looming on her horizon that could pose a problem, going to Alison for clarity of sight is the right thing to do. I know Morgan would appreciate you watching out for her sister. She's tough and plenty powerful but I saw her that night in the Infirmary, she was crestfallen as everything fell apart.

She lives and loves with a big heart and right now, it sounds like her heart's hurting.

Speaking of pain...poor Delilah.

Nicolas, I've been thinking about her too. Michael and I talked a little about her earlier. She's been on my mind heavily....I feel like maybe there's a reason for that. Almost like I'm being called to her by ATHENA.

:: She said that with sincerity as she looked at Nicolas::

I don't want you to tell ANYONE, but later tonight, I've decided that i'm going to go see her. I've found something that I want to give her that I think she will appreciate. And since she's obviously NOT coming here I'm going to go to her. I WAS going to use DOME to get there again like I did that night of the blue moon when I came to collect Bishop, but in the interest of saving some time, I'll just use the enchanted door way.


For the record though, DOME is my vesel. Given to me by Hypolytta. It is composed of alien energy and morphing crystal. It Can attune itself to its user and its environment. The vessel responds appropriately and can take the form of any vehicle of earth, water and beyond (a submarine or rocket ship etc ). It can even turn itself into a flying/floating fortress

It has the power to be undetectable by radar and any other human/earth based technology or the human eye and the ability to shift from its crystal, "transparent mode" to complete invisibility rendering both itself and its occupants truly invisible from any form of detection.

it propels itself by harnessing graviton particles. It is in this fashion also that it shields its passengers from the forces of sudden acceleration. I can get from here to the states in under an hour!

In outer space, the craft can extrude a portion of itself around the pilot. Without taking in additional air supply, it can process one's own exhaled oxygen to allow breathing for 20 minutes. It can sense pilot's thoughts and will respond to her needs.



But about my plan regarding Delilah....Not a WORD, Nicolas.

:: She says firmly, making sure she has his acknowlegement & agreement::

So NOW what amazon? We are trapped in here.

He breaks into a devilish grin.

All alone. Nowhere else to be. Just the two of us.

He starts to chuckle as he produces a deck of cards.

Strip Poker?

Nicolas is now shaking with laughter. Alycia could not make a worse mistake than trying to bluff an omega level telepath with her meager pieces of clothing hanging in the balance...and he could NOT resist having ONE MORE chuckle at her half-naked expense!!

:: Alycia shakes her head, rolling her eyes and waving her hand dismissively at Nicolas::

Keep your shirt on, romeo!

I was cleaning up on strip poker and leaving the guys broke & naked while YOU were still going through puberty and this was BEFORE I became an Amazon.

By the time I finished with you NOW? You'd be praying to ALL the goddesses for divine intervention.

:: Her hazel eyes sparkle with a glint of mischief as she points her right index finger up and the portion of the clear/crystalline energy that comprises DOME, sitting on her night stand in the shape of a lantern at this moment, glows and sparkles, releasing a SMALL and MILD discharge of Zeus' divine lightning, suitably jolting Nicolas with a START as it hits the small of his back, causing him to completly lose hold of his deck of cards as they go flying about while he was fanning them::

:: Alycia points and laughs::

How's THAT for a card trick!

:: At THAT moment, a soft tone indicates communication coming through the private intercom channel of the suite. It's Karen Victoria!::

Alycia? Sharon, Cass and I have just arrived at the Mansion and the staff have reported some disturbances....

Hey Karen, yes, not to worry. It was Alison. She's having another moment. But Cameron's with her now. We're just waiting for the doors to "Unlock" since they slammed shut. Where are you three at? Oh and Nicolas is here too, and completely out of control I think we're going to have to make him stand in the corner.

We were routed to the Great Room, which I thought was unusual. I was trying to appear in my on suite while Sharon and Cass were going to go to the Gymnasium. Now we know why were were routed here by Alison's magick when we passed through the doorway << regarding Nicolas>>Oh is that so? << she says in a knowing tone>> Nicolas King? You better behave! Sharon will come up there!

:: Karen and Alycia have another laugh at Nicolas' expense. Turnabout IS fairplay after all!::

You see? despite the obvious situation amongst us...we're all doing our best to carry on and provide as much strength, stablity and even laughter.

 

[Rampage]

Alycia shows concern for Blaze and gives him high marks for not intruding directly into her mind. It was the right thing to do even if he was concerned that something was wrong. He nodded as he watched her primp a bit in the mirror. Then the subject turned to the elephant in the room.

Speaking of pain...poor Delilah.

Nicolas, I've been thinking about her too. Michael and I talked a little about her earlier. She's been on my mind heavily....I feel like maybe there's a reason for that. Almost like I'm being called to her by ATHENA.

:: She said that with sincerity as she looked at Nicolas::

I don't want you to tell ANYONE, but later tonight, I've decided that i'm going to go see her. I've found something that I want to give her that I think she will appreciate. And since she's obviously NOT coming here I'm going to go to her. I WAS going to use DOME to get there again like I did that night of the blue moon when I came to collect Bishop, but in the interest of saving some time, I'll just use the enchanted door way.

Good luck to you. I am certain that I am not the person for that assignment. I am not shunning her, but I just do not believe I would be received well at all. I would prefer not to waste my time and energy at this time, even though I really empathize strongly with her situation. That has to be a crushing loss, even if you have some hope that things might one day be put right.

Next she spoke about DOME, which seemed to be an alien crystalline tele-empathic freeform survival structure capable of mechanomorphism and manipulation of certain forms of energy for various purpose. INTERESTING. He would be taking a ride in that and SOON. The idea was so interesting that he almost forgot to mess with her some more. ALMOST.

But about my plan regarding Delilah....Not a WORD, Nicolas.

:: She says firmly, making sure she has his acknowlegement & agreement:

He made a zipped lip movement, then suggested a game of strip poker!!!

:: Alycia shakes her head, rolling her eyes and waving her hand dismissively at Nicolas::

Keep your shirt on, romeo!

I was cleaning up on strip poker and leaving the guys broke & naked while YOU were still going through puberty and this was BEFORE I became an Amazon.

By the time I finished with you NOW? You'd be praying to ALL the goddesses for divine intervention.

:: Her hazel eyes sparkle with a glint of mischief as she points her right index finger up and the portion of the clear/crystalline energy that comprises DOME, sitting on her night stand in the shape of a lantern at this moment, glows and sparkles, releasing a SMALL and MILD discharge of Zeus' divine lightning, suitably jolting Nicolas with a START as it hits the small of his back, causing him to completly lose hold of his deck of cards as they go flying about while he was fanning them::

Nicolas jumped and was already rubbing his back where the arc had struck him, laughing his ass off.

Haha!! Good one Licia. Now I owe you one!!!

It was a lot of fun to kid around with people, to finally have some FUN. He wished that Morgan could see all of this. Suddenly a voice came in on the intercom.

Originally Posted By: Karen

Alycia? Sharon, Cass and I have just arrived at the Mansion and the staff have reported some disturbances....


Hey Karen, yes, not to worry. It was Alison. She's having another moment. But Cameron's with her now. We're just waiting for the doors to "Unlock" since they slammed shut. Where are you three at? Oh and Nicolas is here too, and completely out of control I think we're going to have to make him stand in the corner.


Originally Posted By: Karen

We were routed to the Great Room, which I thought was unusual. I was trying to appear in my on suite while Sharon and Cass were going to go to the Gymnasium. Now we know why were were routed here by Alison's magick when we passed through the doorway << regarding Nicolas>>Oh is that so? << she says in a knowing tone>> Nicolas King? You better behave! Sharon will come up there!

Who me? Everyone knows I am a PERFECT gentleman. Alycia could not be SAFER than she is with me right now Ma.

Nicolas had sarcasm set to ten and was determined to raise some hell. Besides the laughter here was becoming infectious.

You see? despite the obvious situation amongst us...we're all doing our best to carry on and provide as much strength, stablity and even laughter.

I see that. Now that you have sung the praises of this...DOME...when are you gonna let me see it? Maybe once you come back stateside to pick office furniture and review the dossiers of potential staff members?

Nicolas was relentless, using the levity to playfully put in a plug for the project that he cared so much about. But that would be it for tonight. Tonight was a time for fun.

Maybe in the next day or two we can test its space capabilities. I do not need the air so the idea excites me more than it did when I figured no one else could easily join me up there. You pick the time and we will test out your crystalline contraption. But for now...let me leave you be long enough to get dressed.

Nicolas does the gentlemanly thing, turning his back so Alycia can put on her dress.

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Mansion - Northern Estate

It happened all at once.

"Cameron...My Darling Baby Brother.."

His senses were affronted as he sees and FEELS a violent swirl of energy that feels familiar...and TERRIFYING.

"IMAGIOMG! WHAT?!! How than this BE?!"

The Demon Mage that brutalized the members of the Six back in their first caper at the Citadle was now ATTACKING, SWOOPING him into the air and carrying him off, over the see.

"Alison! Ali--HELP!!!"

His mind was realing over what to do. This was bad. This meant that the mage HAD managed to STAY within Alison. Slowly tormenting her SOUL all this time..just WAITING for the moment when he was STRONG enough to take OVER.

Imagiomg: "AND WHAT ABOUT US, PET?!"

He looks down as the sea beneath him begins to SWIRL, turning dark and going black, the center, the EYE of the whirlpool becoming something very DARK, EVIL and TWISTED. Cameron was terrified for his life! All at once trying to make sense of what happened just then, and desperately worried about his sister.

Imagiomg: WE HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS!"

Cameron's MIND was assaulted JUST as it was in the Citadle. He grabbed his head in pain as the mage THROWS him into the water. He shielded his face with his eyes, in a terrified attempt to thwart his impending DOOM... and JUST as he was about to HIT...

He found himself lying on top of the covers of his suite at the Mansion. What the hell had just happened? As he slowly became more fully aware of his surroundings, he saw his sister at his bedside. He became aware. An illusion. A spell. He looked at his sister with a confused and also concerned look.

Alison:If I had told you that was coming...would you have allowed me to do it?

Prophet bolted to his feet and looked around...still on alert from what just happened, his heart beating fast.

"Alison..."

Would you have allowed me to...SCARE you like that?

If I told you I saw IMAGIOMG coming back for you....if I told you that I saw that he was STILL somehow inside of ME after his possession of me and that I was going to turn INTO some derivative of him...would you trust me? would you even BELIEVE ME?would you DO WHAT I TOLD YOU in order to AVOID that from coming to PASS?!

:: The double doors to his suite SLAM SHUT with a rushing, chiming sound. As do the double doors of the mansion's main entrance, Michael & Karen's suite, Ava's suite, Alycia's (While Nicolas was still inside). She wants them ALL to stay where they are as she OPENS UP to her brother::

WOULD YOU!? Would you have trusted MORGAN AND I to do WHATEVER was necessary even if it seemed BIZARRE OR HARSH?

"Alison, Of course I would believe...Look--"

Before he could even speak, she interjected...continuing to spiral out of control.

I'm SORRY I did that to you...But I HAD TO GET YOU TO SEE...

She wouldnt believe me...us. She and Maxim BOTH, they always act like my precognition is a JOKE. Like it isn't REAL.

DELILAH WOULDNT HAVE LISTENED. She wouldn't have COOPERATED. She couldnt handle it! SHE WOULDVE DIED and so would that helpless baby!

I don't care what you or anybody else says. I SAW IT! THERE WAS NO TIME for Morgan or I to WASTE on things that WOULD. NOT. WORK.

Maybe...maybe she wouldve listend to YOU. I...i honestly didnt think about that. Neither did Ava or Morgan. I was the team tactician...I...should have...

:: she she stops as her shoulders raise and she tenses up for a moment. She slowly turns away and takes a few steps. Picking up a picture of herself, Morgan and Delilah, taken by HALEIGH at Illustra the night MASTER MOLD would attack the city and kill Sharon and Morgan. She holds the picture in her hand.::

I know I did the right thing.

I KNEW what it would cost me.

:: Chimes sound off as she spins around on her high heel and faces Cameron, with her tear streaked face and she HURLS the picture across the room with such force from her power that it EXPLODES upon impact ::

What I CAN'T "see" or FIGURE OUT is WHY I CARE now?

You said that I have a tendancy to talk/dwell on things to the point of rendundancy. NORMALLY I would disagree with you. But NOW? I believe you're RIGHT!

She called me a monster, a controlling bitch and whatever else.

I have ALWAYS done what was necessary. Whether it was HARSH OR NOT.

WHY am struggling with this? I didn't struggle the night that HALEIGH AND I decided NOT to tell SHARON, ALYCIA, MORGAN OR DELILAH about Master Mold.

Why am I struggling NOW?

Let me tell you something, Baby Brother...I'll do ANYTHING I have to do to protect you, THIS PLACE, THE SIX. Even if it means I have to KILL. Even if it means I have to cause someone PAIN in order to keep them ALIVE.

I don't think ANYONE understand what kind of mind a person has to have to do that...but you know who DID? HALEIGH! It takes a WITCH ...BITCH WITH A HEART OF STONE! MARBLE!


We were on that same wave length...almost from the BEGINNING and THAT'S why we hated each other so much. We werent expecting that from one another. We do things that no one else will...or even CAN because we know sometimes to GET to the otherside...you have to pass through HELL to do it.

I'm acting like I havent done WORSE before in order to protect, save, ALTER probable outcomes.

I'm letting HER get to me...making me DOUBT my methods...and I....I DONT LIKE IT!

:: she SCREAMS as mirrors, vases and other objects SHATTER::

I. AM. NOT defined by HER! I was stalking monsters when SHE was still waving pompoms in highschool!

I've seen more...literally AND magickally than her LIMITED MIND could POSSIBLY HANDLE!

I KNOW I DID THE RIGHT THING!

:: clenching her fist and shutting her eyes tightly as she shakes::

AND YET..WHY DO I...feel like...I MADE A MISTAKE!?

:: She looks at Cameron with deep dread in her eyes before she begins pacing back and forth::

I don't make mistakes! NOT ME! NOT LIKE THIS!


Am I getting WEAK!?


:: and to his point of Morgan/Alison/Delilah being between THEM?::

and WHAT ABOUT Morgan, myself and Delilah? WHAT IS THE POINT? She was NEVER one of us! She just...she RODE ALONG because she was Morgan's best friend since childhood. But YOU saw her that night. THAT wasnt JUST the situation at hand. She's HATED US for a long time now. Probably since BISHOP first blighted OUR lives and she blames US for not being able to have a life with him even though it wouldve come at ALL our expenses, INCLUDING HER'S and she'd ALREADY been burned by him MANY LIFE TIMES OVER but she's so STUPID she wants to do it 100 MORE times. SHE KILLED HERSELF because she couldn't handle KILLING HIM even though it was the RIGHT THING to do!

WHAT NEED HAVE I of someone like THAT!?

LET her go her own way!

EVERYONE can just LEAVE for all I care! I've been alone before. I can be that way AGAIN!

:: The rage and emotion, the GUILT, the sense of uncertainty, propelled by the hemlock, which had already begun to wear off but still left it's lingering touch was coming out. But it was WAS a testimony to the TRUST she had in Cameron that she would ALLOW herself to open up like this. Only Ava, Morgan and Haleigh had seen her quite like THIS at any given time before.::

He needed to stop this. She was LOSING herself COMPLETELY over the entire situation. Cameron was shocked to say the least. He had NEVER seen his sister so at a loss, so UNSURE of what she had done.

And so..as she finished her emotional monologue, Cameron lifted her sister up, stood her still... looked her dead in the eye...

AND SMACKED the Keeper of Time right in her face.

"Get a HOLD of yourself, Alison!"

The move was BOLD and SHOCKING, but he needed to JOLT her back into a state of RATIONALITY. She was becoming lost in her pain, thanks in small part to the Hemlock that he had supplied her with earlier. Alison seemed jolted to say the least.

AND THEN? He hugged her.. He squeezed her tight and WRAPPED himself around her in the strong and protective way that only a brother can to his sister. He whispered in her ear.

"You are Alison Marble.. The Keeper of Time. The Harbinger. You are many things. But you are not GOD..."

He sat down with her on his bed, and he still held her.

"First and foremost...don't EVER do something like that to me again... drunk on Hemlock or not. If I ever pulled that SHIT with YOU? You'd hang me out to dry..THAT BEING SAID..."

"I see your point. I get it. Maybe Delilah WOULDN'T have listened. Maybe she WOULDN'T have cooperated. But guess what? You tried to prevent your vision from coming to fruition and guess what? Delilah still DIED...and had it not been for the intervention of the Goddesses themselves? She would have STAYED that way... Even in the success of destroying Circe, we would have buried yet ANOTHER team member..."

"You can't control EVERYTHING.. and you shouldn't have to.. Maybe we've relied on you for too long to protect from things...to keep us in the know... and.. I'm sorry.. we shouldn't have done that. We've both accepted your help, expected it, and then been angry when we didn't like the situation that OFTEN times we got ourselves into... I GET IT. That's pretty damn infuriating.."

"Your PAIN, your STRUGGLE right now? It's valid. It hurts...because it's not something that be fixed by your power.. or your ability to "see". You can't fix this by POWER. OR FORCE. OR Control. You don't have all the answers. As powerful as you ARE? You can't control how somebody FEELS.."

"And I won't sit here and have you mouth off about Delilah... Like it or not? That woman has been a GOOD friend to you, and she's done right by not only Morgan's family..but your OWN. Ever since I came back, she's been like a sister to me..and she SHOULD feel like a sister...because as fucked up as we ARE at times? We are a FAMILY.. and family doesn't always get along. They fight...they get UGLY...and they cut DEEP...but the BOND that surrounds us? Well I refuse to believe it CAN be broken.. We've come back from the BRINK OF DESTRUCTION...EVERY GODDAMN TIME Alison. EVERY TIME."

"Our SISTER is in a bad place right now...a very bad place...but who on this team hasn't been there before? MORGAN and the Inferno... MASTER MOLD....NICOLAS and Set. BARBAS? We are the SIX. We LIVE in a very dark place and we always have...but we are amongst the few that CAN live there. Just because Delilah isn't severe and cold, and she doesn't worship at the House of Spectra, doesn't mean that she hasn't been and ISN'T an integral part as to who your BEST FRIEND IS and how this team has succeeded countless times..."

[Cameron pulled away from her for a moment.]

"Furthermore...What your feeling...is guilt. And I don't know if you've forgotten after taking on this mantle...but you are HUMAN at your core Alison...You've crafted QUITE a life for yourself..but, and don't kill me for saying this...but you are TOO old to keep this ICE QUEEN persona up.. Like it or not...at some point, the people around you have gotten into your heart. You LOVE them, and when there is tension or drama, you FEEL it.. as much as you tout that last name you created for yourself, you AREN'T made of marble..."

"You are made of FLESH. BLOOD...BLOOD that we share. I've gone my entire life without ANY family.. and then I met you. And I HATED you..but I was in AWE. You are a FORCE of NATURE. SO STRONG. But no man is an island.. and you have been TOO STRONG for TOO LONG... and you've taken on the burden of this team longer than anyone should have allowed...because nobody has been strong enough to help...outside of Haleigh..."

[he placed his arms around her shoulders]

"Haleigh isn't here right now...but... [pensively] I am..And I'm better than ever Alison. And I hate seeing you like this. But what I need for you to know, is that... FINDING you... has been.. THE BEST THING that has EVER happened to me. You don't need to be an island anymore...you don't need to be Harbinger. With me.. you can be Alison. I can take it. I can help you. For the first time in my life...I CAN make the decisions that need to be made...I'm your brother...and you are my sister. We've gone through HELL and back, and we've PUT each other through Hell and Back...and you...you've helped me become the man I am today. You basically singlehandedly saved me...So..and I KNOW this is hard for you to accept..but let me HELP you..."

"When you feel like you want to talk about things.. when you feel like this "duty" becomes too great, you can come to me, and I won't think of you as any less strong, or powerful...or "Alison". I'll listen to you, and I will help you...but you can't keep bottling this up. And you can't keep going on like this. It's no longer something that suits you... and if you NEED help...which is RARE... COME to ME, talk to me about it. It's what I'm here for..."

[he stood up for a moment]

"But DON'T let it stay so bottled up inside to the point of which it comes out like this...because THIS is just not healthy...and it serves no purpose...."

[holding out his hand]

"Look...you don't have to decide everything tonight...but I believe we have a dinner party to start getting ready for... And you my dear might do well to have a glass of water and maybe a shower before people start showing up..."

[smirking]

"Oh yeah, and THANKS for being such a buzzkill..."

[laughing a little to himself]

He had hoped he might have gotten through to his sister. To be honest he just didn't really know what to say to her. He felt bad, he felt sad..he just wanted to make sure that she knew that she was no longer dealing with the impestuous Cameron King of the past, but the NEW Cameron. The one that KNEW his sister needed help. More so than he thought. He could only hope that she would accept his offer.

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Mansion- love and lessons from a baby brother

::For someone like Alison Marble, being in control, beyond certain that what you’re doing is right, even if no one else agrees, that has been at the core of her. Some, like Haleigh and Morgan, understood that and even identified with personally. But at this moment? Alison was spinning out of control. It was “a moment”, as Alycia described but something about it was far more reaching than even the night she broke down in Persephone’s arms. Was it the Hemlock? In a smart part, yes. But what it really was, was the fact that she instinctively knew that if there was ever a time to LET IT ALL OUT, to BARE all of the twisted, conflicted chaos that was plaguing her, it was now, with her baby brother. Ava, Morgan, Haleigh, Karen and even Delilah all had their special place in Alison’s life and in recent times, Nicolas and Alison had come to see a newfound bond between themselves as well…but who completed the circle? CAMERON KING.::

:: When a person is so accustomed to controlling or TRYING to control everything around them, sometimes what they secretly want or even NEED is a moment, however brief it may be, when they are completely OUT of control::

:: Alison Marble a.k.a Harbinger, the Keeper of Time, was now SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL as the chaos and turmoil in her soul, stemming from the pain of loss and the struggle to reconcile the GUILT she was feeling was being carried away. It was GOOD for her to face her own feelings and accept her limitations, but not to the point where she became CONSUMED. She needed an ANCHOR, she needed to get ahold of herself…she need…

::SMACK!::


:: Alison GASPS as she flinches, shutting her eyes for a moment as she is JOLTED by CAMERON, her baby brother, who’d just SLAPPED HER!?::


::GASP!::

"Get a HOLD of yourself, Alison!"

:: Her colbalt blue eyes pop open wide, with a flash of SHOCK . Her mouth is open in disbelief and her hand is now on her cheek.::


:: Speaking in a rather shaken, slightly breathless tone::

you….

:: She begins to speak in a deep, cold tone, about to deliever a WITHERING rebuke, but…::

:: She could tell CAMERON was just as much IN this moment now as she was! He was both resolute AND almost terrified. ::

AND THEN? He hugged her.. He squeezed her tight and WRAPPED himself around her in the strong and protective way that only a brother can to his sister. He whispered in her ear.

"You are Alison Marble.. The Keeper of Time. The Harbinger. You are many things. But you are not GOD..."

He sat down with her on his bed, and he still held her.

:: She did not complete her initial thought outloud.::
::But FIRST thing’s first::

"First and foremost...don't EVER do something like that to me again... drunk on Hemlock or not. If I ever pulled that SHIT with YOU? You'd hang me out to dry..THAT BEING SAID..."

::A rare, but ultimately FAIR rebuke. She cast a powerful illusion/FEAR spell on her brother, conjuring what was one of his most personal, primal FEARS. Even though she did it to make a strong point and argument, it was heavy handed to say the least. She’d ALREADY felt badly for scaring him as bad as she did, so she accepted this. Her facial expression showed her already comind ::

I see your point. I get it. Maybe Delilah WOULDN'T have listened. Maybe she WOULDN'T have cooperated. But guess what? You tried to prevent your vision from coming to fruition and guess what? Delilah still DIED...and had it not been for the intervention of the Goddesses themselves? She would have STAYED that way... Even in the success of destroying Circe, we would have buried yet ANOTHER team member..."

"You can't control EVERYTHING.. and you shouldn't have to.. Maybe we've relied on you for too long to protect from things...to keep us in the know... and.. I'm sorry.. we shouldn't have done that. We've both accepted your help, expected it, and then been angry when we didn't like the situation that OFTEN times we got ourselves into... I GET IT. That's pretty damn infuriating.."

"Your PAIN, your STRUGGLE right now? It's valid. It hurts...because it's not something that be fixed by your power.. or your ability to "see". You can't fix this by POWER. OR FORCE. OR Control. You don't have all the answers. As powerful as you ARE? You can't control how somebody FEELS.."

"And I won't sit here and have you mouth off about Delilah... Like it or not? That woman has been a GOOD friend to you, and she's done right by not only Morgan's family..but your OWN. Ever since I came back, she's been like a sister to me..and she SHOULD feel like a sister...because as fucked up as we ARE at times? We are a FAMILY.. and family doesn't always get along. They fight...they get UGLY...and they cut DEEP...but the BOND that surrounds us? Well I refuse to believe it CAN be broken.. We've come back from the BRINK OF DESTRUCTION...EVERY GODDAMN TIME Alison. EVERY TIME."

::She felt JOLTED as if zapped by a current of electricity when she heard this::

"Our SISTER is in a bad place right now...a very bad place...but who on this team hasn't been there before? MORGAN and the Inferno... MASTER MOLD....NICOLAS and Set. BARBAS? We are the SIX. We LIVE in a very dark place and we always have...but we are amongst the few that CAN live there. Just because Delilah isn't severe and cold, and she doesn't worship at the House of Spectra, doesn't mean that she hasn't been and ISN'T an integral part as to who your BEST FRIEND IS and how this team has succeeded countless times..."

[Cameron pulled away from her for a moment.]

"Furthermore...What your feeling...is guilt. And I don't know if you've forgotten after taking on this mantle...but you are HUMAN at your core Alison...You've crafted QUITE a life for yourself..but, and don't kill me for saying this...but you are TOO old to keep this ICE QUEEN persona up.. Like it or not...at some point, the people around you have gotten into your heart. You LOVE them, and when there is tension or drama, you FEEL it.. as much as you tout that last name you created for yourself, you AREN'T made of marble..."

"You are made of FLESH. BLOOD...BLOOD that we share. I've gone my entire life without ANY family.. and then I met you. And I HATED you..but I was in AWE. You are a FORCE of NATURE. SO STRONG. But no man is an island.. and you have been TOO STRONG for TOO LONG... and you've taken on the burden of this team longer than anyone should have allowed...because nobody has been strong enough to help...outside of Haleigh..."

::Sighing, she bows her head…drawing her shoulders up and breathing in deeply . She buries her face in her hands and then slowly exhales and relaxes her shoulders. He was right. He got it, just like Ava and Morgan….MORGAN…who was in LIMBO. Part of what had been upsetting her too was that Morgan had left…ALL of them. She didn’t say it, but it pained her, like it did Blaze, Karen and the others. Her dear friend and sister witch had beared the brunt of Delilah’s backlash. They should’ve helped EACH OTHER through this.::

[he placed his arms around her shoulders]

"Haleigh isn't here right now...but... [pensively] I am..And I'm better than ever Alison. And I hate seeing you like this. But what I need for you to know, is that... FINDING you... has been.. THE BEST THING that has EVER happened to me. You don't need to be an island anymore...you don't need to be Harbinger. With me.. you can be Alison. I can take it. I can help you. For the first time in my life...I CAN make the decisions that need to be made...I'm your brother...and you are my sister. We've gone through HELL and back, and we've PUT each other through Hell and Back...and you...you've helped me become the man I am today. You basically singlehandedly saved me...So..and I KNOW this is hard for you to accept..but let me HELP you..."

"When you feel like you want to talk about things.. when you feel like this "duty" becomes too great, you can come to me, and I won't think of you as any less strong, or powerful...or "Alison". I'll listen to you, and I will help you...but you can't keep bottling this up. And you can't keep going on like this. It's no longer something that suits you... and if you NEED help...which is RARE... COME to ME, talk to me about it. It's what I'm here for..."

[he stood up for a moment]

"But DON'T let it stay so bottled up inside to the point of which it comes out like this...because THIS is just not healthy...and it serves no purpose...."

[holding out his hand]

:: . There was nothing to say. He was right, across the board. She received his words. He’d petty much reinforced what Ava had said on certain things. He also demonstrated a REMARKABLE amount of insight and clarity on HER. Sometimes the most keen visions didn’t come from precognition!::


::She looked up at her brother Slowly placing her hand into his, she stands up. Then suddenly….::

::There’s this odd, SHRILL “violin” like sound, something you’d hear during a “scare moment” in a horror movie after moments of uncertain silence, as Alison unexpectedly GRIPS Cameron’s hand and PULLS him forward to her::


If you EVER slap me AGAIN, baby brother? You won’t LIVE long enough to hear me say “OUCH!”

:: Was she joking or serious? immediately hugging him::

I love you.

Thank you for checking me before I raced over the edge of an emotional cliff.


:: all the doors that had slammed shut earlier now opened, with the rushing, chiming sound being heard by those who were in the affected areas::

Everyone here has been so kind, giving me time to carry on any kind of way and work through this. I needed to see YOU more than I would even admit to myself. I’m glad you came.


:ulling back and gently but playfully pushing along toward the double doors of her master suite::

Now get out of here! I need to get cleaned up.


The gathering IS at MY place, after all.

:: She said in a tone more like her “usual” self.::


:: Morgan and Haleigh might not be here, but Ava and Cameron, along with a handful of others had been…and it made ALL the difference in the world. There really WAS no shame in this! ::

 

[Seer]

And so

<< Some time passed.>>

<< Minerva's Mansion, now on "night mode" with its exterior lighting and shift rotation inside, seemed less like a grand fortress for a change, as soft, smooth jazz filtered through the sound system of the mansion>>

<< best of fine and exotic food and drink was being served by stylishly dressed catering staff.>>

<< It was a small affair, only Alison Marble and her guests, most of whom were Six or Six reserve/support but Cameron persuaded Alison to let him go all out for the occassion, telling her that she should USE this sprawling mansion for something OTHER than business and refuge, at least ONCE every...[no pun intended] BLUE MOON.>>

<< He was on a winning streak with his sister. Not only had he SMACKED her [for her own good ] and LIVED, but he found that she was more open and willing to deviate from her structured, cold ways and embrace a more liberal, passionate, firery indulgence of the life, the freedom and luxe splendor she lived in...at least for NOW.>>

<< By now, everyone invited was in attendance, even Blaze had quietly arrived.>>

<< Noticeably ABSENT were Haleigh Davidoff, who had was off on an extended sabbatical; Morgan Victoria, who was still in Limbo, a self imposed exile; Delilah Trelevan, who even if she had been invited...or ALLOWED to set foot in Minerva's Mansion, would likely not have come. She wasn't interested in the trappings of Harbinger's world, even IF Cameron King was apart of it.>>

<< The absence of these three was felt in different ways by those in attendance but they understood that the best thing they could do was to carry on and keep the family fire BURNING so that each of them would have something to come back to and know where to find it.>>

<< THis was not a time to FORGET...but rather a time to appreciate the moments "IN BETWEEN" one crisis and the next. A time to be amongst each other for a reason OTHER than an emergency. If anyone should be appreciative of this gathering, it should be BLAZE but the fire elemental is still not quite herself, even as she puts her best foot forward.>>

<< Before dinner is served, Nicolas takes a moment to have a private word with Alison in her executive study, while most of the others remain in the specious, specially decorated Great Room, the center of this evening's festivities. >>

 

[Rampage]

*KNOCK! KNOCK!*

Nicolas stood at Alison's door, dressed to impress and ready to party. But first things first.

Come in Nicolas.

The demi-god entered Alison's chamber and smiled as he looked at her.

Hey lady! You look great, as always.

He came over and gave her a hug. He then stepped back and looked at her. She knew why he was here and so beating around the bush seemed pointless, almost insulting. He was pleasant but pensive as he relayed his request.

Ali, something is up with Blaze. She has been a dynamo taking care of Morgan's holding and she had been generally putting on a brave face. But that face is cracking. She told me today that she regrets coming to this timeline and she is hiding SOMETHING mentally. I could get to it but mental violation of teammates is generally a no-no. I want to help her and I believe that I can. I am hoping you can give me a tactical advantage here. What is she planning Ali?

 

[Prophet]

Minerva's Mansion - Great Room

After taking some time to collect himself, gather his thoughts, and wash away some of the booze and the residue from his conversation with Alison earlier, after awhile, a freshly showered, meticulously groomed, good smelling, well dressed Cameron King emerged from his suite and into the Great Room of Minerva's Mansion, where he was pleasantly surprised at how things were looking. He had convinced his sister to go all out, and she did just that. The bar was well stocked and the hall itself tastefully and decadently decorated.

Turning to the right, Cameron saw a beautifully dressed Alycia, sitting just FAR enough away enough from Ava to make it gloriously uncomfortable. Though he had loosened the two of them up earlier, they would NEVER be best friends.

He laughed out loud to himself.

"Good Evening Ladies! Fantastic to see you both! I hope you recovered from the afternoon okay...I think I might still be a little buzzed!"

He laughed as he made his way over to the bar, promptly asking one of the Mansion Staff to serve him a dirty martini. After his conversation with Alison, he NEEDED a drink, if only to celebrate the victory of "the slap heard around the world". Secondly he asked for a glass of some of the vintage Pinot Noir he had brought with him earlier, and slowly he made his way over to where Alycia had been sitting. Cameron offered her the glass of white wine.

"It's from a winery in the South of France. A Good Year..."

Cameron winked at the Amazon, before turning to look at Ava.

"I would offer you a drink..but after your GLORIOUS performance earlier, I have to say i'm a little afraid..."

[smiling]

 

[Ruby]

Minerva's Mansion - Great Room

:: Cass softly, and shyly, entered the Great Room. She felt nervous and slightly off-kilter being here. She was still new here, and she didn't know what the code of conduct was. Actually, she felt as if she had broken it already. She gazed around the spacious room and took in the beautiful decor and all that. One of the servers handed her a pina colada and she thanked him and went around, inspecting the renovations that had taken place after the Blue Moon. ::

I'm just glad everything is sort of back to normal. This really is a thing of beauty.

:: She had noticed the beauty of this place even as they were all fighting to destroy Circe as WELL as trying to save both Delilah AND little Alexia. ::

As with these renovations, I am certain that everything will go back to normal with Alison, Morgan, and Delilah. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday.

:: She took a sip of her drink and wandered around the room looking at the different paintings, tapestries, etc., etc. She was in awe of the beauty of this mansion and she was glad that it was back. It would've been a loss to see it destroyed. She was soon near where Ava, Alycia, and Cameron were sitting. ::

Oh no...

:: She frowned for a bit, not knowing how they would react, and not knowing what they thought of her. Sighing inwardly, she turned around until she was facing them. If this was HER turf, she could be bold and just do something. But this was not her turf and SHE was the outsider. Or, at least, that's what it felt like. She felt like a fish out of water, actually. ::

*friendly; quietly*: "Hi."

 

[Arsenal]

Comfortable and relaxed in a shirt and slacks, Mike was happy to let Karen shine as they made their entrance.

He came up with her towards the assembled group, already having received his Jack Daniels on the rocks from a server as he entered. No time like the present to have some more fun. He smiles at those assembled.

Damn we look GOOD. Hey Cassandra, nice to see you. You look lovely. You have seen how we work; hopefully NOW you get to enjoy how we play.

Mike downs his drink and places it on the bar. He had not seen Cass in a bit and he wanted her to feel welcome.

 

[Ruby]

Minerva's Mansion - Great Room

:: Before anybody could respond back to Cass, Mike stepped into the conversation. ::

Hey Cassandra, nice to see you. You look lovely. You have seen how we work; hopefully NOW you get to enjoy how we play.[/I][/B]

:: Cass gave Mike a small smile. She actually really liked him. There WAS a bit of a brouhaha during a small caper when he MEANT to jump onto a table or something, but he accidentally fell on top of CASS. Cass FREAKED out due to her distrust of men and everybody was taken aback [because they didn't yet know what was going on; some of them still don't]. Mike was really nice about it afterwards but Cass still felt embarrassed...especially since Morgan completely went off on her. So she decided to take the plunge and tell both Sharon AND Karen her ENTIRE life's story. She knew that Karen had told Mike about some of what had happened as she started bringing him along on their various excursions to get tea or coffee or even grocery shopping so that Cass could get used to being around men. But maybe Mike might've been TOO big brotherly towards her. One time a clerk laid a hand on her because she had forgotten her sunglasses in the store and he almost beat the guy's ass. He only asked her twelve times in the car if she was all right. :haha: Though she couldn't bring herself to touch the man, like give him a high five or fist bump, she felt a bit more comfortable around him. She was also sure that that particular incident during that small caper was what drove Sharon to seek Cameron's aid in helping to train her as well. ::

:: She plucked a speck of dust from the shoulder of her blazer as she spoke to him. ::

"Thank you. You look nice too. I'm not too sure on the 'playing' part yet. I still feel like a fish out of water."

 

[Harbinger]

Minerva's Executive Study

:: The dark, sultry Seer was back to her usual cold, well put together self::

:: She donned an outfit that would SHAME most other women, but on HER it only accented her POWER and persentation. She as one of the few who could wear this outfit and still command respect but also be alluring::

:: She tromped through the halls of Minerva's mansion, making her way to her large Executive Study. Once inside, she waves her hand back. A rushing, chiming sound is heard as the double doors close.::

:: She seats herself at her desk turning in the chair slightly to the left. Her colbalt blue eyes GLOW as the a large space on the wall begins to glow and shimmer, soon, a crystal clear visual/audio of the Great Room can be seen, as well as all those within it::

:: Harbinger silently watches everyone, not moving, not even BLINKING for a few moments. Her eyes move just slightly to fix and gaze upon Blaze Victory a.k.a. Firebird::

:: Three were absent. Black Widow, Spellbinder and MorningStar. MorningStar, was not ALLOWED here, not now. Even if she HAD been invited, she wouldnt have come. She made clear, her disgust for Alison and everything associated with her. But not even SHE could take Alison's focus off her current object right now::

:: A few moments pass::

*KNOCK! KNOCK!*

Nicolas stood at Alison's door, dressed to impress and ready to party. But first things first.

:: Alison FINALLY blinks. A colbalt blue eyes FLASH with IRRITATION at the interruption...::

NICOLAS!



Come in.

The demi-god entered Alison's chamber and smiled as he looked at her.

Hey lady! You look great, as always.

Thankyou.

You look nice yourself.

:: She said coldly::

He came over and gave her a hug. He then stepped back and looked at her. She knew why he was here and so beating around the bush seemed pointless, almost insulting. He was pleasant but pensive as he relayed his request.

Ali, something is up with Blaze. She has been a dynamo taking care of Morgan's holding and she had been generally putting on a brave face. But that face is cracking. She told me today that she regrets coming to this timeline and she is hiding SOMETHING mentally. I could get to it but mental violation of teammates is generally a no-no. I want to help her and I believe that I can. I am hoping you can give me a tactical advantage here. What is she planning Ali?

:: Alison stares at HIM for a moment::

The "black hole" that has formed between Myself/Morgan and Delilah has had its effect on everyone.

Some moreso than others.

Blaze Victory is feeling drained. The hope and HEART that lead her to jump through that stepping disc and risk the danger of the TIME STREAM to find mainstream Spellbinder after their fateful encounter in HER timeline is all but GONE.

Morgan's "loss" , which for FIREBIRD is the 2nd time; Delilah's indifference; and Blaze's sudden DISCOMFORT being around me...have all added to her unhappily beating heart.

But there's more...

:: gesturing with a hand, wind and chimes aound off as darkly glowing orbs swirl in the space between Nicolas and Alison::

:: Soon two images can be seen. Foxfire and Firebird


:: Seeing them side by side like this, for the FIRST TIME (surprising as THAT was), Nicolas realized that even HE had forgotten the subtle but key differences between the two, it was beyond their looks.::

Who do you see? Blaze Fielding? Blaze Victory? Which one is which?

WELL!?

:: Nicolas was taken aback by Alison's FORCEFUL press of the question::

Do you know?

Imagine how SHE must feel?

Firebird is the crosstime alternate of Foxfire. But NO ONE, including YOU, stopped to realize that she MAINTAINS a PSYCHIC RAPPOR with MAINSTREAM SPELLBINDER. That SHOULDN'T be possible. HER Spellbinder was a minor, LESSER version of any one of the "Dark Trinity" and yet SHE has a connection with MAINSTREAM SPELLBINDER? Is that a testimony to her POWER? Even her last name is closer to Morgan's than the original mainstream's.

Could it be that SHE is the one that was ALWAYS supposed to be here and the one WE thought was the original was displaced from another time??

:: something Nicolas never thought of before. it seemed rather monstrous that no one, not even Morgan, Karen or even Alison could have noticed it before, but there WERE some things that lent themselves to that wild idea now as he stared at the two images::

You've ALL remarked on "how much more POWERFULL she is than Foxfire" and we haven't even SEEN the full scope of her elemental power.

You've all remarked on how much more GLAMOROUS she is. As if SHE were the more natural MATCH for Spellbinder than her own MAINSTREAM sister.

In one way...it can be taken as a compliment, but in another, far more deep way, it has given her pause and caused her to be filled with doubt.

She wonders just WHY we havent told her MORE about her own "alternate." she knows NOTHING about Foxfire's life and ROLE on this earth and has not been able to ASSUME any part of THAT Blaze's life for her OWN and she NEEDS that.

We're ALL to blame for not telling her more. It was an oversight, due to one crisis after another rearing its head. But the need still remains.

She wonders if SHE is doomed to become as much of an "AFTERTHOUGHT" as Foxfire seems to be...at least how it appears to HER. Her conversation with Delilah did nothing to help that either, by the way.

Right now, she's seen as a "glamorous extension of Morgan." You yourself comment how capable she is as a business woman, running Morgan's company in her absence. Is that something UNIQUE to HER? Or is it due to the fact that BLAZE was ALWAYS ready and willing to pick up where her sister left off if the need arose?


Outside of Morgan, WHO does she have? BEYOND the Six? In HER timeline, KAREN adopted her before she died. She and Morgan had their other half-sister, Frost. Here? She has NO ONE. Her father is dead, she never knew her REAL mother, Frost passed through the Siege Perilous some time ago and Spellbinder is gone. No family. No roots, no HISTORY.

Will she get Morgan BACK? even WE can't answer that.

The HOPE she had for a new life has been LOST by the looming fog of pain, depression and REPLACED with the need...to ESCAPE.

:: The images fade away as Alison looks at Nicolas::

Before the dawn of the Blue Moon, Blaze asked to borrow the Siege Perilous.

:: that revelation was a bit surprising to Nicolas::

She wanted to see "HERSELF" in the most prominent manifestations across time and space, including Foxfire. She wanted to see, through the smooth faced ruby red gem of the cosmic gateway, what HER fate might be in this world, but she didn't want it to come from ME. She wanted it to come from the gem she'd seen ORORO use to save her sister from Black in her timeline, much like what happened HERE in the Citadle long before YOU were apart of the Six.

The most benign function of the Siege Perilous is the ability to see oneself through the cosmic sight of the ruby red gem AND to see how your fate manifests based on the life you've lead so far. It is the ULTIMATE impartial view.


But BEWARE, Nicolas.

The Siege Perilous offers a means of ESCAPE. one that goes BEYOND a stepping disc or even LIMBO.

FROST, the water elemental and halfsister of Morgan and Foxfire in this timeline, felt this when SHE viewed herself through the Siege Perilous...and in a moment of despair, desperate for a life where she might be reuinted with her family as a WHOLE...she wished for that...and in one heart beat, one baited breath....the cosmic gateway opened....and took her away. Even *I* have not been able to locate her with MY power as a precog!

When one passes through the gate way seeking a new, DIFFERENT LIFE, he/she is judged by a cosmic power and then BLOWN APART, reassembled into a completely different being but still at the core, the "same person" and cast into a new life in a new time, with no memory of the last. there HAVE been some RARE exceptions...but this is the nature of the Siege.

She hasn't returned it yet. PARTLY because she hasn't had the chance to use it for what she originally wanted. But NOW, there is a MORE than a likely chance that she will OPEN the Siege Perilous and if she does, everything will change....AGAIN. Not just for her, but for all of us.

:: She holds up her hand::

Don't be impulsive or foolish Nicolas. You can't go out there and confront her and simply demand she return it. She'll take that as you PRYING into her life and ME betraying her trust.

Just wait...but WATCH. LISTEN.

LISTEN for the moment when her heart is ready to CRACK from grief and when her tears fall on the face of the Siege and she whisper that secret....forbidden wish. Then and ONLY then, can you take action, knowing for sure that it is for HER that you act, NOT for yourself.

If you waver, or do the wrong thing at the wrong time she'll leave us and there'll be NO MORE Firebird. but she won't want to go back to her own timeline because she no longer feels she can. She feels she's treated them NO BETTER than Morgan, Delilah and I have treated ourselves or each other.

 

[Artemis]

The Great Room

:: Alycia wore a one shoulder mini dress with silver accents that complimented her shimmering silver feminum bracelets. ::


:: The amazon's tall, feminine form was carried in silver heeled stillettos and she felt as great as she looked this evening.::

:: Through unexplained circumstances, she found herself sitting just close enough to Ava that the two women couldnt help but glance at one another a few times. Their odd, amusing little encounter EARLIER aside, these two werent exactly bosom buddies by even the loosest standard::

Nice dress.

:: she said as she acknowledged Ava, breaking the ice as Cameron came over, offering her a goblet of exquisite wine::

"It's from a winery in the South of France. A Good Year..."

Cameron winked at the Amazon, before turning to look at Ava.

"I would offer you a drink..but after your GLORIOUS performance earlier, I have to say i'm a little afraid..."

[smiling]

No matter WHERE you are, you manage to lay your hands on some kind of alcohol. Do you "have a problem", Cameron?

:: Giggling as she took the goblet from him::

Thank you.

Is all this ALISON'S doing?

:: She looked at Cameron knowingly::

I've never known her to "host parties" in the Mansion.

:: She scans around the room, noticing a rather awkward looking Cass, who Mike is now talking to. She catches sight of Ava shooting daggers at Cass.::

My, my...If looks could KILL...

Do you two have a...."history" as well?

 

[Shadow Weaver]

The Great Room

<<High heels click along the marble floor of the hall leading to the Great Room.>>

<< Karen arrives, wearing a simple, chic evening dress accented minimal jewelry, the doctor looked far younger than her actually age with a body and shape that would put some girls half her age to shame.>>

<< A traveling sever with a drink tray offers a goblet of exquisite champange>>

NO thank you, but do you have any HEMLOCK?

Server: Yes, Dr. Victoria, at the bar.

<< Karen nods and proceeds to the bar, ordering a goblet of hemlock. With her drink in hand, she makes her way over to Michael and Cass>>

Good evening.

<< She says to Michael she shares a quick, light kiss with him.>>

Cass, how are you getting along so far?

Sharon and Alison should be along soon.

<< Karen spots Blaze, who looks very unhappy. Karen's own facial expression melts into one of concern>>

If you'll excuse me, I would like to see about Blaze.


<< She makes her way over to Blaze, placing a hand on the young mutant's back and gently rubbing it>>

Hello Blaze. You look lovely this evening.

<< She looks down at the mutant, who is sitting away from everyone else, avoiding everyone.>>

Oh honey, you should smile. That gorgeous smile of yours can make ANYONE feel like the world is a little brighter...

<< Soon, Karen pulls up a chair and sits down beside Blaze...>>

Blaze, what's wrong dear? We're supposed to be having a nice evening. I dont like to see you...like this.

Do you want to go somewhere and talk privately?