Rose of destruction

[Rose]

She broadened her smile for Rose, and gave her a little wave.

“Good morning, Rose. It’s good to see you looking so well despite the circumstances. I apologize for being impetuous, but I thought time was of the essence in this case.”

Some impulses, SHOULD be acted upon.

<< She smiled upon Oracle.>>

You were most thoughtful of me and my children for this.

I'm sorry that I could not respond sooner.

I was...unavoidably detained...

<< She bowed her head, and was silently for a moment, as she rubbed her forehead and frowned. All Oracle and Gabe could hear was that "ambient wave" effect that was associated with Rose's power. Sable, who was still in her arms, looked up at her mommy and mewed with concern>>

That CPS worker, Dennis Nedry.

He's after me...and my children.

Why aren't they going after the monster who hurt Jake?

<< she sounds genuinely hurt in THAT moment....but THEN her tone changes...>>

He does not know what a misguided...and DANGEROUS road he walks.

His motives are not pure..and if he causes my children harm or distress...he will BURN in those same flames that his wicked, twisted soul dances in now.

<< That sounded rather OMINOUS, as she looked up again, and Oracle saw the BRIEFEST flash of that dark visage she saw the other night. That DEADLY look Rose had when she spoke of Haleigh AND Zach. She looked at Oracle, and Gabe could see it too, when she warned them that Zach was NOT to show his face at the Sanctuary...or ELSE. >>

She spoke without her characteristic smile.

“Understood, Rose. Zachary was not a part of the planning of this.”

<< And just like that...the darknesss was GONE, and Rose tilted her head, smiling again, seemingly unaware of herself just a moment ago>>


Rose: "The design and scope of these security and defense system is so thorough, it will occupy far less space than the structure of Clandestine, while offering far more power and versatilty. The turn around time for installation is quite satisfactory."

Gabe grinned triumphantly. He knew she would approve, but it was always nice to hear praises.


Gabe raised his hand, dipping down into view for Rose to see.

"Oh, that would be me. Gabriel Jerome, master hacker....cyber space assassin....

<< Rose lifted one of her eyebrows, and looked at Gabe with curiosity. Sable even put her ears back a bit>>

Are you indeed?

<< there was more, apparently>>

king of the interweb--[Zizi ribbed him HARD] OW...ow....[giving Zizi a look] Uh it's a pleasure, ma'am. [returning his attention to Rose] And no cost! Just wanna make sure your little tikes are safe and sound. I can have my men out there in an hour and have everything up and running by this time tomorrow. Just gotta give me the word."

<< She was looking at him, THROUGH him, even as he spoke. She divined truth and genuine motives from him, how REFRESHING.>>

Your kindness and generosity are TRULY appreciated, Gabriel.

<< Rose said with warmth>>

My children...they are among the weakest and most vulnerable in this society. Some will never know the trappings that the rest of you take for granted. I do all that I can to provide them with safety, stability, comfort, and a sense that they are LOVED...but I was recently REMINDED by that treacherous monster, Black Widow, just how MOST people in this world of stone and steel view them.

I confirm with my own scans of you that you are NOT one of those people.

<< She looks at Oracle>>

And YOU....you understand the value of not just pretty words, but ACTION as well.

I thank you for your thoughtfulness and support!

The timing of all of this couldnt be better!

<< Nedry had commented on the uprooted utility pole, and other missing objects. It COULD be explained as a renovation/upgrade in progress, and now, Rose had that in FACT as well as theory>>

Zizi smiled back at Rose.

“So, what do you think? Do we have the green light to move forward?”

Yes.

<< Rose replied with certainty and a nod>>

You may begin immediately!

If there's anything you need in the way of floor plans and schematics of the structures on this block, please let me know.

And since you won't accept monetary compensation....

<< She smiled at both of them>>

I insist that you both join me and my friends- Rae, Danny, Sharon and Alycia for a home cooked meal this evening.

<< Rae, Danny, Sharon, Alycia, and also Simon, and even Zach- in better times- all knew what an AMAZING cook Rose was.>>

<< She looks at Gabe>>

You should at least tour the the place you are being so kind to ensure the safety and security of.

It'll be a bit of a COME DOWN from a STAR DESTROYER

<< Offering a Star Wars reference as she smirked a bit, showing them both she had a sense of humor, ribbing Gabe a bit over his "cyber space assassin" remark. The Secret Garden- the city block and all the buildings on it that Rose owned outright, was HARDLY a hovel >>

But I think you'll find that my Secret Garden is certainly more than meets the eye.

Dinner will be at 8 pm sharp!

<< and with that, Rose bids them farewell and closes the channel.>>

<< She turns away from the monitor>>

Well, Sable...the fates are weaving a most encouraging tapestry for us!

<< Indeed, one big problem was solved, and now she could make SURE that her ties with Clandestine were PERMANENTLY severed, while avoiding the unwarranted scrutiny of that awful Dennis Nedry!>>

<< A few minutes later, she returns to the others upstairs>>

Wonderful news!

I will have a new state of the art security and defense system installed before the end of today, courtesy of Oracle, and Gabriel Jerome.

<< She looked among her friends>>

I offered compensation to them, but they rejected it, so instead, I'm serving them a home cooked meal this evening, and you're all invited to join me.

<< She smiles warmly at them>>

And now, it's time to bring the children out to the garden for play and exercise!

 

[Recall]

Charope - Guest Suite

I was that person...when Set attacked my village, raped my sister...and hurt me when I tried to stop him. I was that person, when I BEGGED my sister to end that unholy pregnancy, to save her life, and she refused....and the moment Nicolas was born...her life was forfeit.

I was written off as insane...and I left the only home I knew. I wandered the harsh, unforgiving desert, waiting...HOPING to die. But my goddess..she heard my cries...she saw my heart...and DESPITE how I was in that moment..she came to me. She offered me salvation...and a chance to live life anew.

But even now, with all that's happened, with where Nicolas and I stand today...the memories of my sister and SET...are STILL a source of great pain. There are times...where I STILL have to put distance between myself and Nicolas....because I know what COST was paid for him to be in this world.

I don't blame HIM...not like I used to...not like when I came here, seeking REVENGE.

:: And she cut a path from one side of the world to the other to get to Nicolas, even destroying many men on his company's board of investors, and coming nearly close to striking him dead herself during the Sisterhood's battle with the Six on Aerie::

But the PAIN never truly goes away.

:: Vivica could see Dominique looking reflective, and a bit mournful, but for she straightened up a bit. Was she trying to get Dominique to somehow...IDENTIFY with Ashley's rude, disgusting behavior?!::

:: Suddenly, Vivica felt a bit embarrassed. She had never really heard Dominique's origin story. She only knew from what she had glanced on certain intel pages that involved Isis - and those were incredibly SCARCE. To know what she had gone through, it was shocking to say the least. But pain was pain..and to say one or the other's was worse..what somebody had gone through was less than somebody else, well it would be impossible to say, especially if you were neither of those people. ::

:: Vivica continued to listen, gaining more of an understanding about Isis in the last several seconds than she had in the few years she had been aware of her presence. ::

Even when I lost my way...and strayed from the covenant I made with my goddess...I was not capricious in violence or disrespect, the way SHE is. I did not DELIGHT in the suffering of others. I did not go out of my way to MOCK, BELITTLE, INSULT, or BULLY others.

:: She shook her head::

That woman is the worst.

And are the Norse gods somehow ABOVE my pantheon- Isis, Nut, Set.... or that of the Amazons- Athena, Demeter, Artemis? Vivica, there ARE other gods and goddesses, other paths, SURELY a woman with the powers and insight that you have are aware of that. Our pantheons know of one another, and show good will, RESPECT, and have even WORKED TOGETHER in times of necessity and need. The NORSE gods have worked us before as well. THEY are not gripped by the same petty ARROGANCE that SHE is, and her Norse pedigree doesn't put her ABOVE anyone else.

:: She looked at Vivica with an unwavering gaze::

"I didn't say that it DOES. But BOTH of you were chosen by the gods for something...and I don't think that's a decision those powers that be make lightly. There's gotta be SOMETHING in there that's good..that is virtuous."

How many times has Valkyrie displayed a bigoted stance toward the Amazons simply for being who they are without even KNOWING what they can do, or their character? It would be DISHONEST of you OR I to say that neither of us have experience that in our lives. Alycia, Richard, and Xavier, even Steel would certainly agree.

If ANYONE should be aware, sensitive and UNWILLING to accept that kind of behavior...especially a time that touts its DIVERSITY, it should be US. When you talk about a "team"...and accountability... if this is supposed to be an ACTUAL THING? Then EVERYONE should hold it EQUALLY. The expectation, the DEMAND for proper treatment should not be dismissed as "whining" or "being weak"....it should be recognized as a STANDARD that we ALL need to unhold.

:: Vivica was stopped a bit dead in her tracks. She knew that feeling for sure..she even felt that from Alycia at one point in her life. She couldn't imagine Alycia and Sharon feeling marginalized by Ashley, but if Isis had said it, then it was clear that both of the women had felt a certain type of way that for one reason or another. ::

"I agree with you that there should be an understanding. That there should be accountability. I don't know if Ashley's hatred of Amazons extends as deep as perhaps Alycia and Sharon are feeling it..but I also don't want them to feel marginalized. This is course...but I believe the root of Alycia and Sharon's hatred of Ashley extends deeper than the comments she's made about Amazons..and I think if they didn't view her so poorly, they might not have taken those comments to heart as much as it seems they have..."

"Of course..the only way to move forward is to clear the air. The three of them need to have a conversation. Or nothing is going to happen. One where they all approach each other in the way we are approaching each other now."

"And it will happen as soon as hell freezes over."

:: Vivica instinctively thought. But hey, there she was sitting and talking to Dominique..connecting with her and getting through to her in some way. She was now on really good terms with Alycia. Stranger things had happened. Perhaps in light of all that was happening lately with Sharon and Alycia...and Ashley's somewhat softening thanks to the steady hand (among other things) of Zach..who knew? Anything was possible in this world. ::

She's here, in the infirmary that belongs to a woman she REGULARLY degrades, LAYING with a man who's life was DEFENDED by the AMAZONS and she has not shown one OUNCE of gratitude toward ANYONE involved in the efforts that Make Zach's continued existence possible.

I have a problem with that, and if you're not prepared to explain to me how that problem can be solved, then there will be no progress on the subject of Oldenburg, which in turn, preclude the other outcome I think you're hoping to achieve with this conversation.

:: she said coldly::

"Now THAT you have a point on. She SHOULD give them a bit of gratitude for doing what they did. Not many would have survived an attack by Persephone. Let alone able to help recover Zach in the process."

"I don't know if that problem can be solved, Dominique. But I think we should at least TRY before we throw our hands up in the air and just give up. But the problem is not one sided and it has moving parts. I can't just let Ashley become a scape goat for Sharon and Alycia's anger either. Both parties have been horrible to each other. So much so that it doesn't MATTER who started it, because both parties are egging it on. One day it's Ashley. The next day Sharon starts it. Then by Wednesday it's Alycia. Then it's Ashley again. It's a back and forth which honestly makes it hard to feel bad for any party involved or find one to be more in the wrong than the other. So if all parties can't acknowledge that they've BOTH often presented more problems for the team rather than solutions, then we are in more trouble then I thought. But..you know, perhaps you and I could foster that? Be...safe parties for the others involved? Put the unique relationships that we have with them to good use."

You spoke of self imposed isolation earlier.

:: She said with a less cold tone.::

The road that I walk requires discipline, VIGILANCE.

I have a COVENANT with my goddess, to safeguard life of Nicolas...so that his father, SET cannot return to this world.

If Nicolas' blood is spilled and he dies...the door way for Set will be irrevocably OPENED, and he will be reborn in renewed physical form through his SON'S BODY, adding Nicolas' powers to his own infamous abilities.

I MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN, Vivica.

:: Vivica now had a clear cut reason from the source herself::

"No. You musn't."

:: shaking her head in agreement. ::

I am his ONLY living blood relative, and this struggle is not just physical, it is waged on the astral plane as well. I spend more time, than any of you could know, providing a BUFFER for Nicolas, as Set tries to PRESS HIS WAY through the barriers that I have established in Nicolas' mind with my magicks.

::sighing::

To say that it is CHALLENGING at times...is putting it MILDLY.

With that said, there are other things...that people on this..."TEAM" fret over that just seem so....FRIVOLOUS by comparison. If anything, they take the FREEDOM and LACK OF BURDEN they have for granted, and it INFLAMES my contempt for them. Some of them waste time, worrying about things that JUST DON'T MATTER, and they dismiss that which they don't know. It's INFURIATING!

:: yet another moment of insight provided by Isis to answer Vivica's question::

Since my departure from the Hellfire club, it HAS gotten a bit easier. Nicolas HAS matured, and taken more of the burden, but he too gets...DISTRACTED sometimes, by the petty FOOLISHNESS of his team. They've wasted SO MUCH TIME since the Blue Moon.

With everything that's happened lately...the RISK was too great for me to NOT consider removing him from that group, even WITH Morgan's return.

But I was surprised...ENCOURAGED to see Delilah Trelevan step forward the way she did. It was her words, along with Nicolas' own efforts to correct a ERROR he made recently, that swayed me NOT to remove him from the Six.

But as I said to you earlier....this covenant...it requires discipline...VIGILANCE. Perhaps THIS might help you understand me better?

"Thank you for that. Honestly..it helps me..."get" you. You've seen so much. You've DONE so much. You've HAD to look at the world in absolutes...cut out any of the BULLSHIT..[pausing]sorry..I feel so weird SWEARING around you. You've had to live your life in certain terms because it's the only way. And you see a group of people around you who haven't had to worry about the same things. It's seems...petulant. Immature. Miniscule in the grand scheme of things.."

You're quite right!

I found Enchantrah to be a vapid trollop, who did her best work on her BACK, and Malice...though most impressive with her ambition and tenancity....her origins and unabashed claim to MYSTECH were ABHORRENT to me...to my very core, and she knew that.

She came to me when I was at the HEIGHT of my campaign of vengeance against Nicolas. At the time, the opportunity and advantage were apparent to me, and so...we agreed to our union as the original Sisterhood. Each of us went in KNOWING she had her own unique set of goals, and I made it CLEAR that if the time came that being part of the Sisterhood no longer served me or my purposes, I would leave.

The Sisterhood became a NECESSARY ingredient in stopping the threat of Set he first time, and TRUCE brought about an...unusual era for The Six and The Sisterhood.

But the writing on the wall became apparent to me after Viper, and it was quite clear after the Purifiers that my time with the Hellfire Club had come to an end.

I still don't see how you can draw any SUBSTANTIAL comparison between my path and Ashley's...but your effort to do so is certainly INSPIRED.

"What can I say? The ambience almost begs for inspiration."

:: It may have been an uneasy alliance, but it was an alliance. Regardless of their separate agendas, the world didn't know that and at the end of the day..people died who didn't deserve it and Isis had been complicit in that. That is..until The Purifiers. ::

:: Well now. Dominique paused....::

::But Dominique would NOT yield on ONE point...::

100 good deeds can't atone for one act of abuse, Vivica.

She may "be there" when the chips are down...but WHO would want or NEED someone who constantly ridicules and mocks them as an ALLY?


She may step forward in BATTLE, but our lives are MORE than just the next battle, and a TEAM doesn't just "come together" in an emergency. Doing the RIGHT THING extends to more than the battle field.

As pointless and irrelevant as I found Enchantrah to be on a personal level, and as DISGUSTING as Malice was...even THEY knew how to stand shoulder to shoulder in a battle, which is why the THREE of us were able to defeat our adversaries, who's numbers DOUBLED ours. But it was more than just the battle.

:: She asked curiously. ::

"Then what makes up for abuse? What is the path to absolution and who is in charge of what that looks like. Who is in charge of what salvation looks like for another person?"

:: Without knowing it, Oracle, Richard, and now, Vivica had all managed to appeal to Isis in a way that couldn't be denied. Surely, f these particular people were all painting a picture for her, she could allow herself to see it?::

:: she closed her eyes, shutting them TIGHTLY for a moment, as Vivica saw tears fall from them::

I...didn't expect that things would happen the way they did...

:: referring to everything from Nicolas up till now.::

...I have traveled the world...I have lived a life beyond that of fairytales...and to find myself HERE in this moment?

:: she hurridly grabbed a tissue from the kleenex box on the nightstand::

I don't know HOW I can carry on with these people, Vivica! You make it sound like....it's even POSSIBLE.

::shuddering a bit::

You're right, this is NOT the life I imagined for myself.

But Richard seems so....HAPPY now. What kind of caretaker would I be to him, if I took him away from this!

:: Richard had already made it clear that if she left, he would follow. But she recalled her conversations with Oracle regarding Richard, insisting on accommodation for him, Oracle even offered to have him train with Steel...and Valkyrie...::

Vivica....you ask me to give them TIME....but look what's happening around us. As I told Delilah, TIME is something we may not HAVE.

You and Oracle are asking something of me, that I don't know I can GIVE, not while that WOMAN continues as she does. I'm not JUST speaking for myself either. The AMAZONS do not deserve her ridicule. What will SHE give, what will any of the OTHERS give?

:: squeezing her hand. ::

"It's POSSIBLE. I mean it. I can't begin to compare our lives...at all. But I can identify the struggle. I have been in the orbit of The Six since their inception. A peripheral character relegated to getting coffee, to ensuring that all the cross business deals they had ran smoothly. That LIFE still went on when they went to go save the world. I protected their secrets, I stood in the gap when they went missing. I let the media tear me apart for the failure of a company I had nothing to do with. I was excised from my best friend's existence because they didn't like me. And I wound up with a bullet in my neck at the hands of Ava Cassadine, during the ONE time they let me be apart...of the "club". And the worst part was that they left me bleeding out at Cassadine Compound. And scene. None of them checked to see if I was alive. I was saved BARELY by Zach Armani and a recon team on the brink of DEATH."

[pausing]

"If you would have asked me five years ago, if I would ever return to New York City..be in these people's LIVES..after everything they put me through? After all the damage that was done? After all the LIFE I sacrificed being in service to these people only to be burned like that? I would have smacked you upside the head and turned a gun on myself."

"But I came back..it was the hardest thing I ever did...but I came back..and I faced the music. I faced all these people I thought let me down. I walked right into the Lion's Den and I didn't run..and as fractured as things might have turned out..in light of the pain I am experiencing now, with the revelation that my best friend...a man I considered to be my brother hasn't considered me as part of his family, or acted like it in a time longer than I'd like to admit..I am a BETTER woman for it. I am a STRONGER woman for it. It's what's given me the strength...the courage, to confront..to talk..to CLEAR THE AIR and to make things better...for ME and the people I love. I'm not scared anymore. I'm just as good as anybody living in The Parthenon..but I would have never known that about myself..had I not..faced the music so to speak.."

:: smirking. ::

"And we both know you good with music, girl."

:: she laughed as Dominique became more serious. ::

: She dabs the tears away, and allows herself to look at Vivica once more::

"The right thing" needs to start now, and EVERYONE needs to be committed to it.

:: In her own way, she was implying that she would be willing to at least TRY..but she was NOT going to accept status quo, or "more of the same"::

:: Vivica found herself getting a bit emotional, if only because she was seeing somebody like ISIS having an emotional moment. It was a deep conversation for the two of them. ::

"I can't promise you the world, Dominique. Rome wasn't built in a day..but you just need to tell me...what YOU think will help YOU feel comfortable. Feel BETTER about continuing on...and Zizi and I will do our damndest to make it happen. I've been taking what precious few moments of downtime we have lately..to really figure out what the others need. Checking in and making sure they are okay. This extends to you...until you officially announce it, you're a part of the team. A part of my team."

:: squeezing her hand once more. ::

"I know we can find a way. *WE* can find a way to change all this."

[shaking her head in testimony]

"In the words of the great Dr. Martin Luther King?"

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

 

[Isis]

The Infirmary- Isis' suite

"I didn't say that it DOES. But BOTH of you were chosen by the gods for something...and I don't think that's a decision those powers that be make lightly. There's gotta be SOMETHING in there that's good..that is virtuous."

Even divine beings...OR their avatars, OR the ones they chose for a divine purpose, sometimes lose their way...and end up doing more harm than good. The question then becomes, does the person recognize what theyre doing, and CORRECT? I had to. SHE does not think she's doing ANYTHING wrong, Vivica. You CAN'T talk about group accountability with any SINCERITY if you know as well as I do that even ONE person among the group is not going to be committed.

:: Vivica was stopped a bit dead in her tracks. She knew that feeling for sure..she even felt that from Alycia at one point in her life. She couldn't imagine Alycia and Sharon feeling marginalized by Ashley, but if Isis had said it, then it was clear that both of the women had felt a certain type of way that for one reason or another. ::

"I agree with you that there should be an understanding. That there should be accountability. I don't know if Ashley's hatred of Amazons extends as deep as perhaps Alycia and Sharon are feeling it..but I also don't want them to feel marginalized. This is course...but I believe the root of Alycia and Sharon's hatred of Ashley extends deeper than the comments she's made about Amazons..and I think if they didn't view her so poorly, they might not have taken those comments to heart as much as it seems they have..."

Does it matter? If her behavior toward them is leading them to feel that way, isn't THAT what should be addressed? Again, when you talk about doing the "RIGHT THING..." STOPPING culture of HOSTILITY in a group a dynamic would certainly qualify as an example of that.

Ashley ROUTINELY dismisses them in their entirety for no other reason than because they are AMAZONS, and I find it rather ironic that she, and Zach were so OUTRAGED at Sharon and Alycia calling HER a whore when....

::FLASH!::

::The Clocktower, Isis' penthouse- Ashley arriving to try and compel Isis to report to Charope's Infirmary to investigate the situation of Frost::

“MorningStar showed up on our doorstep – without calling first – holding a naked chick who looked almost dead. Those two Amazon whores took her to the infirmary at Charope. Oracle wants you to go there.”

I agree with you, there IS a cycle of bad behavior, but this chorus that we've been hearing, that everyone BUT her should correct their behavior is NOT acceptable. Either EVERYONE does, or you and Zizi can expect more than SEVERAL vacancies on your team. It's not a threat...it's simply a fact.

And the BIGOTRY needs to stop. SHE needs to stop it.

:: She looks at Vivica::

You know MORE than a little something about being marginalized, unfairly dismissed, overlooked. I think that you ALSO know something about the FRUSTRATION that comes with a "friendship" that you believe to be deep and abiding, but truly LACKS equity, and other important things like RECIPROCITY.

Can you HONESTLY tell me, that you ENJOY the....VENOM and RUDENESS that flows from Oldenburg? Are you really satisfied with having her as someone who WATCHES YOUR BACK, but during non combat times, would think nothing of insulting, berating or verbally abusing you for anyreason...NO reason? That is NOT the kind of friend, ally OR teammate I would want.


... I've talked with Sharon and Alycia. There IS at least one personal component- Zach Armani. You know that HE is the one who coaxed them to this team. He PROMISED he would support them and ease their transition to it, even as they both expressed EXTREME reservation regarding Valkyrie.

Sharon and Alycia have history with him that PREDATES the Birds of Prey. BOTH of them have individual histories with him that are SUBSTANTIAL.

:: Dominique didn't know how much, if ANYTHING, Sharon OR Alycia would want to tell Vivica about the details of their individual relationships with Zach, and so she did not divulge anything specific, but she knew Vivica would discern that Dominique was quite serious about it. There was ONE thing she would share, one that Vivica, given her powers, would likely be aware of even if just in an archival sense::

Their lives intertwined leading up to the Master Mold incident. But even after that, when Alycia and Zach were evacuated by Shadow Weaver to Limbo in order to protect them from the attack on Illustra by Malice and Blackout, the events leading up to that moment, and even DURING their time in Limbo served to bond Zach and Alycia even more tightly. They grieved Sharon's loss together.

And ....you know what happened to Alycia recently...what Cameron and Black Widow did to her. I believe that she...hoped she would find comfort and support in Zach's arms...the one person who would BEST understand that...emotional maelstrom that not only she, but HE TOO was effected by.

:: She said this to Vivica with sympathy::

It hurt Alycia and Sharon that he did not come to THEM in the aftermath of Black Widow.

So I know THAT definitely has something to do with their hostility toward Valkyrie, BUT even so...that does not justify her behavior - which PREDATES this- toward them. She's been rude to BOTH them since the moment she laid eyes on them.

Even DIANA forbade members of the Inner Circle from needlessly snipping away at each other, although HELENA had to be REMINDED on more than one occasion.

:: Dominique rolls her aqua blue eyes HARD at the thought of that COMMON Red Wench::

"Of course..the only way to move forward is to clear the air. The three of them need to have a conversation. Or nothing is going to happen. One where they all approach each other in the way we are approaching each other now."

Not JUST the three of them. EVERYONE. The fact that it has been allowed to continue is a collective failure.

Again, to your point about doing the RIGHT THING. This needs to be handled by ALL. Perhaps you and I can begin laying a foundation...but EVERYONE, from Oracle on down needs to step in as well if this "TEAM" is going to orient in the right direction.

:: Again, another sign for Vivica, that Dominique might be willing to STAY, and TRY after all...it was certainly more of a possibility than it was 24 hours ago::

"Now THAT you have a point on. She SHOULD give them a bit of gratitude for doing what they did. Not many would have survived an attack by Persephone. Let alone able to help recover Zach in the process."

Yes indeed.

:: sighing::

And in all this time, He has not ONCE come here to speak to me.

He's been spending all his time....this SECOND CHANCE he has at life...rolling around on the infirmary floor with HER. And SHE is in this place, that belongs to a woman she routinely disrespects and hasn't had one DECENT thing to see about Alycia or Sharon's efforts on Zach's behalf?

:: Vivica could sense Dominique's OFFENSE at that serious breach of etiquette.::

Youth and vitality is apparently WASTED on the young.

:: she said with bitterness::

"I don't know if that problem can be solved, Dominique. But I think we should at least TRY before we throw our hands up in the air and just give up. But the problem is not one sided and it has moving parts. I can't just let Ashley become a scape goat for Sharon and Alycia's anger either. Both parties have been horrible to each other. So much so that it doesn't MATTER who started it, because both parties are egging it on. One day it's Ashley. The next day Sharon starts it. Then by Wednesday it's Alycia. Then it's Ashley again. It's a back and forth which honestly makes it hard to feel bad for any party involved or find one to be more in the wrong than the other. So if all parties can't acknowledge that they've BOTH often presented more problems for the team rather than solutions, then we are in more trouble then I thought. But..you know, perhaps you and I could foster that? Be...safe parties for the others involved? Put the unique relationships that we have with them to good use."

::nodding in agreement::

I could easily talk to Sharon and Alycia, and so could YOU.

They are not unreasonable women. They have been hurt, and they feel betrayed, not just by Zach, and as you said earlier, we've ALL suffered due to the events of the last several days. But they don't hate HIM.

It's not a matter of "who started it"....its simply time to put a STOP to it, but in order to do that, things need to be addressed, and that includes the disrespect, the bigotry- both of which Ashley dishes out in spades, and the antagonizing, which Sharon definitely gave during her briefing of the Black Out Party. As we agreed earlier...there IS A cycle.

But I'm willing to....work with you, Richard...ANYONE who is ready and WILLING to put a stop to it and create a team that can be taken SERIOUSLY, one that does what we know it can...and SHOULD do.

:: without realizing it, Dominique was expressing as though she still had some kind of investment in this "team". Another good sign for Vivica, her efforts were paying off::

:: On the topic of Nicolas/Set::

"No. You musn't."

:: shaking her head in agreement. ::

::sighing::

Now you can understand why I'm "isolated."

"Thank you for that. Honestly..it helps me..."get" you. You've seen so much. You've DONE so much. You've HAD to look at the world in absolutes...cut out any of the BULLSHIT..[pausing]sorry..I feel so weird SWEARING around you. You've had to live your life in certain terms because it's the only way. And you see a group of people around you who haven't had to worry about the same things. It's seems...petulant. Immature. Miniscule in the grand scheme of things.."

:: Dominique looked over at Vivica, and actually SMILED...but only just a BIT.::

She...GETS IT!

:: She asked curiously. ::

"Then what makes up for abuse? What is the path to absolution and who is in charge of what that looks like. Who is in charge of what salvation looks like for another person?"

Remorse? Repentance? Those certainly frame "making up for abuse"....

The path? It's different for each of us. Morgan knows...so do I. Those of us who've had to walk a path of trying to atone know that it never really ENDS.

But the difference between Morgan, myself and Oldenburg is that WE LEARNED and we are WALKING that path. SHE DOESN'T CARE.

:: Sighing as she shakes her head::

I suppose one could say it's "all subjective"...but you yourself understand that I deal in absolutes. I look for...i REQUIRE evidence, DEMONSTRATION....and these are things that I ALSO GIVE.

:: squeezing her hand. ::

"It's POSSIBLE. I mean it. I can't begin to compare our lives...at all. But I can identify the struggle. I have been in the orbit of The Six since their inception. A peripheral character relegated to getting coffee, to ensuring that all the cross business deals they had ran smoothly. That LIFE still went on when they went to go save the world. I protected their secrets, I stood in the gap when they went missing. I let the media tear me apart for the failure of a company I had nothing to do with. I was excised from my best friend's existence because they didn't like me. And I wound up with a bullet in my neck at the hands of Ava Cassadine, during the ONE time they let me be apart...of the "club". And the worst part was that they left me bleeding out at Cassadine Compound. And scene. None of them checked to see if I was alive. I was saved BARELY by Zach Armani and a recon team on the brink of DEATH."

[pausing]

:: Dominique looked over at Vivica in astonishment. Nicolas had never told her the exact story of what happened to Vivica. But just like Vivica was AWARE of Dominique without really knowing her, the same held true for Dominique, until now, and to hear that she'd been treated so badly by the Six in her past?::

See....this is why I had NO interest in becoming a..."Six Reservist".

:: she said coldly, repeating a line she'd bluntly said to Haleigh during THEIR dinner at the metropolitan museum of modern of art::

As individuals there are several among that group that I respect and would gladly work with...but collectively....at least this CURRENT roster...they seem to bring out the worst in each other.

It sounds DREADFUL, what happened to you, Vivica. You have my sincere sympathy.

"If you would have asked me five years ago, if I would ever return to New York City..be in these people's LIVES..after everything they put me through? After all the damage that was done? After all the LIFE I sacrificed being in service to these people only to be burned like that? I would have smacked you upside the head and turned a gun on myself."

"But I came back..it was the hardest thing I ever did...but I came back..and I faced the music. I faced all these people I thought let me down. I walked right into the Lion's Den and I didn't run..and as fractured as things might have turned out..in light of the pain I am experiencing now, with the revelation that my best friend...a man I considered to be my brother hasn't considered me as part of his family, or acted like it in a time longer than I'd like to admit..I am a BETTER woman for it. I am a STRONGER woman for it. It's what's given me the strength...the courage, to confront..to talk..to CLEAR THE AIR and to make things better...for ME and the people I love. I'm not scared anymore. I'm just as good as anybody living in The Parthenon..but I would have never known that about myself..had I not..faced the music so to speak.."

:: Vivica spoke with self assurance, and affirmation. Dominique respected that, and nodded. She knew more than a little something about resilience, survival and REBIRTH. She nodded in agreement::

:: smirking. ::

"And we both know you good with music, girl."

:: she laughed

:: Dominique smirked a bit in spite of herself::

The gift of song...

:: Dominique LOVED singing, as did her sister! Singing, and music were true sources of entertainment and escape for them. Nicolas' mother SANG to him while she was pregnant with him, and the seeds for the musical talent in their family were evidenced in him him during Blaze's debutante party.::


:: Dominique had dabbed away tears from her eyes, and looked calm, reflective, but the line of communication between them had been firmly established now::

:: Vivica found herself getting a bit emotional, if only because she was seeing somebody like ISIS having an emotional moment. It was a deep conversation for the two of them. ::

"I can't promise you the world, Dominique. Rome wasn't built in a day..but you just need to tell me...what YOU think will help YOU feel comfortable. Feel BETTER about continuing on...and Zizi and I will do our damndest to make it happen. I've been taking what precious few moments of downtime we have lately..to really figure out what the others need. Checking in and making sure they are okay. This extends to you...until you officially announce it, you're a part of the team. A part of my team."

:: squeezing her hand once more. ::

"I know we can find a way. *WE* can find a way to change all this."

[shaking her head in testimony]

"In the words of the great Dr. Martin Luther King?"

"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

:: She looked at Vivica's hand on her's. It...didn't feel BAD having physical contact with someone, expressing warmth, support, even a gesture of good will and perhaps friendship!?::

:: She sensed Vivica's care, her passion, her genuine intent...and that meant the world to Dominique. Having this moment to talk with her- someone ON the team- and to share parts of herself that normally only Richard, Nicolas, and SELECT few others were privvy to, and NOT regretting it? This was a GREAT feeling to WAKE UP to and after all she'd been through the night before, as Delilah had said, she deserved this rest...and Vivica just made the promise of a new day seem that much brighter.::

There is something you can do for me in the short term, send Zach Armani here. I don't know why he hasn't taken it upon himself to come see me, but I think I've waited long enough for him to show his face.

:: Vivica hard the coldness return to Dominique's tone, but she understood why now::

Beyond that?

Be true to your offer to work on this problem, work with me on it.

You asked me for time...I'll spend that time working with you, in order to make this group worthwhile.

The rest?

:: She smiled a bit...this time she squeezed Vivica's hand::

I suppose we'll figure it out as we go along.

Thank you for coming to see me, Vivica.

Your thoughtfulness and this conversation mean a lot to me.

I see you in a whole new light now.

Let's make sure we keep this line of communication open.

 

[Recall]

Charope - Guest Suite

I agree with you, there IS a cycle of bad behavior, but this chorus that we've been hearing, that everyone BUT her should correct their behavior is NOT acceptable. Either EVERYONE does, or you and Zizi can expect more than SEVERAL vacancies on your team. It's not a threat...it's simply a fact.

And the BIGOTRY needs to stop. SHE needs to stop it.

:: She looks at Vivica::

You know MORE than a little something about being marginalized, unfairly dismissed, overlooked. I think that you ALSO know something about the FRUSTRATION that comes with a "friendship" that you believe to be deep and abiding, but truly LACKS equity, and other important things like RECIPROCITY.

Can you HONESTLY tell me, that you ENJOY the....VENOM and RUDENESS that flows from Oldenburg? Are you really satisfied with having her as someone who WATCHES YOUR BACK, but during non combat times, would think nothing of insulting, berating or verbally abusing you for anyreason...NO reason? That is NOT the kind of friend, ally OR teammate I would want.


... I've talked with Sharon and Alycia. There IS at least one personal component- Zach Armani. You know that HE is the one who coaxed them to this team. He PROMISED he would support them and ease their transition to it, even as they both expressed EXTREME reservation regarding Valkyrie.

"The one thing holding me back is that I just don't experience Ashley in the way that Alycia and Sharon have. Ashley has always had my back. We don't know each other very well..but we know each other well enough to know that we are deep...and COMPLEX people. That we aren't relegated to one specific moment of aggression or desperation. I KNOW there is more to Ashley than meeets the eye..and as such..she treats me the same. You've seen how I've been exasperated with her as of late. She's lashed out at me, but she never counted me out."

Sharon and Alycia have history with him that PREDATES the Birds of Prey. BOTH of them have individual histories with him that are SUBSTANTIAL.

:: Dominique didn't know how much, if ANYTHING, Sharon OR Alycia would want to tell Vivica about the details of their individual relationships with Zach, and so she did not divulge anything specific, but she knew Vivica would discern that Dominique was quite serious about it. There was ONE thing she would share, one that Vivica, given her powers, would likely be aware of even if just in an archival sense::

Their lives intertwined leading up to the Master Mold incident. But even after that, when Alycia and Zach were evacuated by Shadow Weaver to Limbo in order to protect them from the attack on Illustra by Malice and Blackout, the events leading up to that moment, and even DURING their time in Limbo served to bond Zach and Alycia even more tightly. They grieved Sharon's loss together.

And ....you know what happened to Alycia recently...what Cameron and Black Widow did to her. I believe that she...hoped she would find comfort and support in Zach's arms...the one person who would BEST understand that...emotional maelstrom that not only she, but HE TOO was effected by.

:: She said this to Vivica with sympathy::

It hurt Alycia and Sharon that he did not come to THEM in the aftermath of Black Widow.

So I know THAT definitely has something to do with their hostility toward Valkyrie, BUT even so...that does not justify her behavior - which PREDATES this- toward them. She's been rude to BOTH them since the moment she laid eyes on them.

I really expected better standards from Zizi regarding that.

"The thing I have realized about Ashley is that she isn't like me. There are a lot of things about her presentation I would change if I could, but I can't. I can't change her. And I realized that me trying only makes her harder..only hinders the process that Oracle has so delicately started. And I trust Oracle with my life. Literally. She has held my life in her hands, and has delivered on every promise she has ever made. I trust her more than I trust anybody in this world. And I know that Ashley is more honest with Zizi than she is anybody else."

:: thinking ::

"I will just make this known now..in terms of people I align myself with. Elizabeth York is the top of the pops. I will never not back her..and I will never NOT try and see things from her side. I owe my life to her..and what's more..is that in all the time I've known her, I have never known her to be wrong about the potential of somebody."

"It's weird..because to think of where I came from..to where I am? Zachary Armani is my BEST FRIEND. Just as Alycia and Sharon have a history with him that predates The Six? He and I have a history that only him and I know. One that is deep. There are few people in this world that will ever understand what Zach and I have experienced, standing there...looking at the supernova that was The Six and never being able to touch it. I love him..he has been there for me when nobody else was...when the world all but forgot about me. It's not easy..especially in light of the torch he still holds for Haleigh and by proxy Ava...the woman who vexes my life by nobody else. But what I do know about Zach...is that despite his power..he is a bit emotionally retarded. He gets lost in his power. He's a people pleaser. Right now..there have been so many doors closed in his face. Haleigh, Ava..Sharon...Alycia. Ashley is opening her door. He wants to make her happy, and he's going to put EVERYTHING he has into that..despite it being the best choice or not. He doesn't always make the best decisions..but I can say this with every conviction in my body..Zachary Armani is one of..if not...THE BEST man I have ever met in my life. I would take a wall of bullets for him without a second thought..and I know he would do the same for me."

Not JUST the three of them. EVERYONE. The fact that it has been allowed to continue is a collective failure.

Again, to your point about doing the RIGHT THING. This needs to be handled by ALL. Perhaps you and I can begin laying a foundation...but EVERYONE, from Oracle on down needs to step in as well if this "TEAM" is going to orient in the right direction.

:: Again, another sign for Vivica, that Dominique might be willing to STAY, and TRY after all...it was certainly more of a possibility than it was 24 hours ago::

"Exactly, Dominique...That's all I am asking for."

Yes indeed.

:: sighing::

And in all this time, He has not ONCE come here to speak to me.

He's been spending all his time....this SECOND CHANCE he has at life...rolling around on the infirmary floor with HER. And SHE is in this place, that belongs to a woman she routinely disrespects and hasn't had one DECENT thing to see about Alycia or Sharon's efforts on Zach's behalf?

:: Vivica could sense Dominique's OFFENSE at that serious breach of etiquette.::

Youth and vitality is apparently WASTED on the young.

:: she said with bitterness::

"I don't think that's right by any means, nor will I really defend it. All I can say, is that the empath is feeding off the most powerful emotions...and right now, it's pretty clear that Ashley is radiating something very compelling."

::nodding in agreement::

I could easily talk to Sharon and Alycia, and so could YOU.

They are not unreasonable women. They have been hurt, and they feel betrayed, not just by Zach, and as you said earlier, we've ALL suffered due to the events of the last several days. But they don't hate HIM.

It's not a matter of "who started it"....its simply time to put a STOP to it, but in order to do that, things need to be addressed, and that includes the disrespect, the bigotry- both of which Ashley dishes out in spades, and the antagonizing, which Sharon definitely gave during her briefing of the Black Out Party. As we agreed earlier...there IS A cycle.

But I'm willing to....work with you, Richard...ANYONE who is ready and WILLING to put a stop to it and create a team that can be taken SERIOUSLY, one that does what we know it can...and SHOULD do.

:: without realizing it, Dominique was expressing as though she still had some kind of investment in this "team". Another good sign for Vivica, her efforts were paying off::

:: On the topic of Nicolas/Set::

"Exactly.. That's all I ask. That we come together and talk before we let all these things go unsaid. Just to hear you entertain it means the world to me."

Remorse? Repentance? Those certainly frame "making up for abuse"....

The path? It's different for each of us. Morgan knows...so do I. Those of us who've had to walk a path of trying to atone know that it never really ENDS.

But the difference between Morgan, myself and Oldenburg is that WE LEARNED and we are WALKING that path. SHE DOESN'T CARE.

:: Sighing as she shakes her head::

I suppose one could say it's "all subjective"...but you yourself understand that I deal in absolutes. I look for...i REQUIRE evidence, DEMONSTRATION....and these are things that I ALSO GIVE.

"But the world doesn't necessarily operate by what you think it should...nor does it require your approval. I wouldn't want anybody telling me..specifically people who don't know me or really want to know me, how horrible I am doing...how bad I am at making up for things, especially when those things have nothing to do with them. Nobody can grow or change if you refuse to let them outside of the box you've created for them."

: Dominique looked over at Vivica in astonishment. Nicolas had never told her the exact story of what happened to Vivica. But just like Vivica was AWARE of Dominique without really knowing her, the same held true for Dominique, until now, and to hear that she'd been treated so badly by the Six in her past?::

See....this is why I had NO interest in becoming a..."Six Reservist".

:: she said coldly, repeating a line she'd bluntly said to Haleigh during THEIR dinner at the metropolitan museum of modern of art::

As individuals there are several among that group that I respect and would gladly work with...but collectively....at least this CURRENT roster...they seem to bring out the worst in each other.

It sounds DREADFUL, what happened to you, Vivica. You have my sincere sympathy.

"Nowadays? I don't need it. But I'm deeply appreciative of your words."

:: She looked at Vivica's hand on her's. It...didn't feel BAD having physical contact with someone, expressing warmth, support, even a gesture of good will and perhaps friendship!?::

:: She sensed Vivica's care, her passion, her genuine intent...and that meant the world to Dominique. Having this moment to talk with her- someone ON the team- and to share parts of herself that normally only Richard, Nicolas, and SELECT few others were privvy to, and NOT regretting it? This was a GREAT feeling to WAKE UP to and after all she'd been through the night before, as Delilah had said, she deserved this rest...and Vivica just made the promise of a new day seem that much brighter.::

There is something you can do for me in the short term, send Zach Armani here. I don't know why he hasn't taken it upon himself to come see me, but I think I've waited long enough for him to show his face.

:: Vivica hard the coldness return to Dominique's tone, but she understood why now::

Beyond that?

Be true to your offer to work on this problem, work with me on it.

You asked me for time...I'll spend that time working with you, in order to make this group worthwhile.

The rest?

:: She smiled a bit...this time she squeezed Vivica's hand::

I suppose we'll figure it out as we go along.

Thank you for coming to see me, Vivica.

Your thoughtfulness and this conversation mean a lot to me.

I see you in a whole new light now.

Let's make sure we keep this line of communication open.

"Oh I can get Zach here in a New York Minute. Don't worry about that."

:: Vivica smiled warmly at Isis. It was such a poignant and understanding moment for BOTH of them. Feeling the feelings, she embraced Dominique in a hug. ::

"I'm glad I came and said hello, Dominique. I see you in a whole new light too."

"I will keep the lines open. Until the wheels fall off."

[smiling]

"I don't know if I ever mentioned it to you...but the apartment I have in Chelsea...it was my Aunt Gloria's. She was one of the best belters that the Great White Way ever had. I lived with her the summer we set up King Enterprises in New York. She taught me music, taught me how to sight read, taught me how to perform. There's bar...in Harlem. It's called "Bessie's". It's one of the most important places in the city...because of their open mic nights. It's where my aunt Gloria got her chops. It's where she used to force me on stage. It's a place that Langston Hughes hung out. A place where Billy Holiday once held residency. It's so representative of you. Next time you feel disconnecteed to the city, you can find me there. And the line of communication will still be there."

:: Vivica stood from her seat. ::

"Thank you for this, Dominique. Now if you'll excuse me...I have an empath to wrangle."

:: She made her way down the hall and entered Zach's room, who was still post coitous with Ashley. She smirked as she looked at Zach. ::

"In case you forgot Zach, there are other people who might care to know that you are doing well."

:: laughing ::

"Isis requests your presence."

:: thinking. ::

"I've primed her..Got her in the space to LISTEN to reason. And so help me god if either of you fuck this up right now? For me and Zizi? I'll lose it. I may have been crazy these last few days, but it's nothing comparable to what I'm capable of. Please...Zach. Play nice for me? Because I'm certainly playing nice for you right now.."

:: shaking her head. ::

"Again...glad to see you are okay."

 

[Cypher]

Gabe watched Rose interact with Zizi...she was beautiful and very passionate about her children and The Sanctuary. But when it came to the topic of Zach being around Jake, it was like a flip switched and the calming demeanor was gone. Anger, resentment, and revenge were all that radiated from her eyes. It was almost DEMONIC. But just as quickly as it was there, it was gone. Gabe side eyed Zizi.

"Did you see that..."

He mumbled quietly without moving his mouth. Zizi hit his leg out of sight and Gabe gave Rose a quick smile. Soon she turned her attention TO Gabe. Even through the monitor it was like she was looking into his SOUL. It was fucking creepy and it was freaking him out.

Rose: Your kindness and generosity are TRULY appreciated, Gabriel.

"Uh, yeah...no worries. Glad I can help."

Was this some Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shit? Seriously, this lady was all peaches and cream one minute then fuck Regan from the Exorcist the next.

Rose: My children...they are among the weakest and most vulnerable in this society. Some will never know the trappings that the rest of you take for granted. I do all that I can to provide them with safety, stability, comfort, and a sense that they are LOVED...but I was recently REMINDED by that treacherous monster, Black Widow, just how MOST people in this world of stone and steel view them.

Gabe's eyes went a little wide. Guess Rose didn't know his connections to a certain Cassadine conglomerate....or sister of said treacherous monster. He made sure to keep his mouth SHUT about that particular piece of information.

Rose: I confirm with my own scans of you that you are NOT one of those people.

Gabe looked down at himself, touching his chest. Scans? What kind of scans?

"Wait, wha?"

He began to look around for cameras or lasers or Men in Black. Okay, Zizi seriously needed to fill him in on who the FUCK his lady was and what exactly she scans and HOW. So far all he's gotten from Zizi about Rose was that she was a caretaker who watches over kids, and destroyed some very expensive equipment. Zizi seriously needed to work on her briefing skills.

Zizi: “So, what do you think? Do we have the green light to move forward?”

Rose: Yes. You may begin immediately! If there's anything you need in the way of floor plans and schematics of the structures on this block, please let me know. And since you won't accept monetary compensation....I insist that you both join me and my friends- Rae, Danny, Sharon and Alycia for a home cooked meal this evening.

"Oh, I actually have--"

Zizi elbows him again out of camera sight. Gabe shoots her a look before smiling back at Rose.

"Absolutely no plans tonight. A home cook meal sounds great!"

Okay, he would DEFINITELY need a break down of who this lady was, what her abilities were, if she had duel personalities like Jean Grey/Phoenix, and whether or not she would suddenly decide she would want to KILL him for his second hand involvement with Haleigh Davidoff.

Rose: You should at least tour the the place you are being so kind to ensure the safety and security of. It'll be a bit of a COME DOWN from a STAR DESTROYER.

Gabe lifted his brows up in surprise. Star Wars reference? He let out a short laugh and nodded knowingly.

"Okay....I knew you were a cool lady."

Looking down at Zizi sheepishly.

"What?"

Rose: But I think you'll find that my Secret Garden is certainly more than meets the eye. Dinner will be at 8 pm sharp!

Gabe gave Rose a polite wave as Zizi said her farewells. Then the connection ended causing Gabe to immediately look down at Zizi with a what the FUCK expression.

"Uhhh....you could of told me the lady was nuts! Did you see her go all googly eyed and weird?! And the way she looked when she talked about Haleigh?! HELLO! [waving his hand] Haleigh's sister's EX here!"

Regardless of how creeped out he was by Rose, he was still adamant about protecting those kids. They were a priority in Gabe's eyes because of his own childhood....because no one was there to protect him from life's harsh realities. He just hoped to fucking all holy hell that Rose didn't find out his connection to the Cassadine/Davidoff clan.

"I mean...i'm still gonna install the systems and make sure everything absolutely perfect...mainly because I don't want her doing some voodoo scanny shit on me again. But dinner?! Fuuuuck that. I'll stay here and monitor the installation. Play some COD. Watch paint dry. I'm good."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Did you see that..."

Zizi kept smiling at Rose, while hitting Gabe in the leg. She had seen Rose’s face when she talked about Zach. Antagonizing her right now was clearly not something they wanted to do.

That CPS worker, Dennis Nedry. He's after me...and my children. Why aren't they going after the monster who hurt Jake?

Zizi pursed her lips in thought.

“I don’t know. Steel – he’s the big burly hunk of man who sent you the guards for outside – said he had used his influence to keep the authorities away from this. So it is very strange indeed that this man should show up at your door.”

His motives are not pure…and if he causes my children harm or distress...he will BURN in those same flames that his wicked, twisted soul dances in now.

There was something odd, dark, in Rose’s face then, and Zizi shivered involuntarily. She tried to give Rose a comforting smile.

“If we just all keep a level head, Alycia and Steel will take care of this whole mess. You’ve done nothing wrong, Rose, and he won’t be able to prove otherwise.”

My children...they are among the weakest and most vulnerable in this society. Some will never know the trappings that the rest of you take for granted. I do all that I can to provide them with safety, stability, comfort, and a sense that they are LOVED...but I was recently REMINDED by that treacherous monster, Black Widow, just how MOST people in this world of stone and steel view them. I confirm with my own scans of you that you are NOT one of those people.

Zizi smiled at Gabe, raising an eyebrow as if to say, I told you so.

And YOU....you understand the value of not just pretty words, but ACTION as well. I thank you for your thoughtfulness and support! The timing of all of this couldn’t be better!

“We’re here for you and your children, Rose, any time.”

Zizi grinned as rose accepted their plans, and told them they could begin installation.

And since you won't accept monetary compensation...I insist that you both join me and my friends- Rae, Danny, Sharon and Alycia for a home cooked meal this evening.

"Oh, I actually have--"

Zizi gave him another elbow.

"Absolutely no plans tonight. A home cooked meal sounds great!"

She looked over at Gabe, then back to Rose and smiled.

“We’d love to, Rose, thank you.”

After a surprising joke from the psionic, Rose closed the channel, and Zizi and Gabe were alone once more.

"Uhhh....you could of told me the lady was nuts! Did you see her go all googly eyed and weird?! And the way she looked when she talked about Haleigh?! HELLO! [waving his hand] Haleigh's sister's EX here!"

Zizi reached out and squeezed Gabe’s hand.

“Don’t worry. That’s all in your past. She likes you.”

She smiled reassuringly.

“But yes, I have noticed that something is up with her. But it doesn’t negate the fact that she needs help. And dinner is a perfect opportunity to investigate things more.”

"I mean...I'm still gonna install the systems and make sure everything absolutely perfect...mainly because I don't want her doing some voodoo scanny shit on me again. But dinner?! Fuuuuck that. I'll stay here and monitor the installation. Play some COD. Watch paint dry. I'm good."

Zizi nodded.

“That’s fine. I’ll just go all by myself then. Who knows what could happen? But I guess we’ll find out.”

She patted his hand.

“Another soda?”

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

She pleaded with him, and he obliged, until they reached an ecstatic frenzy and both their bodies shook with it. Even when they were done, he didn't want to let her go, and couldn't stop kissing her.

"Every day like this, then."

He promised quietly, moving onto his side next to her, keeping her in his arms. He was somehow simultaneously exhausted and energized. He couldn't have said how long they stayed like that. Someone walked right in. He lifted his head, expecting the nurse again, but no, it was Vivica.

"Uh, hey Viv..."

He said, an expression of curiosity.

Vivica: In case you forgot Zach, there are other people who might care to know that you are doing well.

"Well, I don't mind receiving visitors, but I'd prefer to be dressed first."

Viv laughed, and told him that Isis was asking for him.

"Oh, is she awake? Excellent."

He kissed Ashley's cheek, and then smirked and whispered in her ear.

"Don't worry, I'm too old to be her type."

He joked, as he slowly sat up. Vivica was talking about Isis, and seemed completely oblivious to the fact that both he and Ashley were stark naked. Zach was able to scoop his pants off the floor with his foot, and slide them on without really getting out of bed. Half dressed, he got up and grabbed his shirt, and Ash's dress off the floor.

Vivica: Please...Zach. Play nice for me? Because I'm certainly playing nice for you right now...

"Don't I always?"

He asked, pulling the scrubs shirt on. He couldn't wait to get to get his own clothes. These were just a little tight in places.

Vivica: Again...glad to see you are okay.

He smiled warmly and thanked her, then sat back down on the edge of the bed for one more kiss, and told Ash that he missed her already.

 

[Valkyrie]

The Infirmary

Zach held her there for a long time, kissing her.

"Every day like this, then."

She nodded.

“Every day.”

He moved next to her, keeping his arms around her, and she held him close to her. She never wanted to move, and they lay like that for a long time.

"Uh, hey Viv..."

Ashley closed her eyes, burying her face in his chest. Fuck off, she mumbled against him.

In case you forgot Zach, there are other people who might care to know that you are doing well.

Ashley groaned.

“Can we just put a sign on the door instead?”

Zach made a joke about not being naked when people visited him, and then Viv told him that Isis wanted him to come to her. Of course she did. Zach kissed her cheek, then whispered to her:

"Don't worry, I'm too old to be her type."

THAT made her smile. As did watching Zach try to get dressed without showing Viv his bits and pieces. Though she appreciated the effort and would happily tell him so whilst removing said clothing again later. Out of respect for Zach’s sensibilities, she pulled the bed sheet up around her to cover her nakedness.

She propped herself up on one elbow as Zach sat down on the edge of the bed. He leaned down and kissed her, and she beamed at him when he told her he missed her already.

“Don’t let her eat you like she did with the other children.”

She kept her eyes on Zach, willing him to stay with her.

“For fuck’s sake, Viv, you are an enormous cock block.”

 

[Cypher]

Zizi: “Don’t worry. That’s all in your past. She likes you.”

"Heh, for now."

He may have been a genius mutant with cyber, language, and hacking skills that rivaled the Gods--if he did say so himself--BUT he was definitely not a battle ready X-Men type. Sure Stavros trained him in martial arts and weapons combat because...well, it was fucking STAVROS, but he knew his limits. He was no Back Widow.

Zizi: “But yes, I have noticed that something is up with her. But it doesn’t negate the fact that she needs help. And dinner is a perfect opportunity to investigate things more.”

She was right, and he agreed. But that didn't mean he was gonna break bread with the crazy lady. Zizi was pretty understanding about it. Up until she said SHE would go by herself.

Zizi: “That’s fine. I’ll just go all by myself then. Who knows what could happen? But I guess we’ll find out. Another soda?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. No way. UH HUH. Not happening Liz. There is no way in hell i'm letting you go to dinner with with Margaret White ALONE."

He stood, shaking his head firmly as he lifted the back of his t-shirt up and pulled out a Sauer Emperor Scorpion 1911 from the back of his jeans waistband. He cocked the handle.

"I'm not saying she's crazy, but she's crazy. And i'm going with you."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. No way. UH HUH. Not happening Liz. There is no way in hell I’m letting you go to dinner with Margaret White ALONE."

He stood up, and for a second she thought he was going to physically stop her from going. Instead, he lifted up the back of his shirt (revealing a hypnotizing glimmer of back abs) and pulled out a GUN. A Sig Sauer 1911 from the looks of it. He pulled the hammer back on the gun and cocked it, which looked incredibly sexy even to Zizi, who despised guns. She swallowed hard before coming to her senses and saying,

“Are you crazy? Put that away!”

"I'm not saying she's crazy, but she's crazy. And I'm going with you."

A satisfied smile came over Zizi’s face as she turned towards the kitchen to get them another round of drinks.

“Well if you really think you should.”