Councils Privet Apartments-The Gypsy Curse has Cursed us all
JENNIFER
Returning to the building, the slayer struggled to climb the stairs with out appearing to be in pain. But even if her leg wasn't hurting her, it'd still be hard to hide the pain, because she was responsible for pulling 4 innocent kids from a world that she'd give her life to be a part of.
And to top it off, Mark....was he dead? It didn't seem real...it couldn't be! He was already killed once, he shouldn't have to die a second time! As she came near the top of the stairs, her mind wondered back to the school halls where Mark had been murdered.
She could see Angelus with his hand tightly clutching her friends throat, she blinked, forcing the images to disappear, but others simply replaced them. Willow, if she had only killed Spike when she had the chance, Willow would be her usual cookie baking, spell-casting happy self!
And Angelus....
Her hand reached out and grabbed the door handle of her apartment and twisted it, opening it with enough force for the door to swing back against the wall with a thud.
Pressing her hand against the side of her thigh as she walked, or limped more accuratly, into the kitchen.
Rogue:"You know what they call me?"
She asked angrily.
Rogue:"They greatest Vampire Slayer this world has ever seen."
She opened the fridge, not once looking back at her guests, rummeging threw her freezer for something hidden deep in the back.
Rogue:"And Angelus, the most feared demon in the world."
Ignoring the cold, she pulls a glass jar and closes the fridge, banging the frozen jar onto the kitchen counter for them to see.
Rogue:"You know what that is?"
She asked pointy to the dark red solid contents of the jar, parts of it so dark it seemed almost black.
Rogue:"That's blood."
She gave a nod.
Rogue:"Oh yeah, you heard me, blood! You know who's blood? Angel's! You know who Angel is? Of course you know who he is, everyone knows who Angel is, he's Angelus!"
She didn't give them a chance to comment.
Rogue:"Want to know why I have a Jar of blood his hidden away in my freezer? Let me tell you, because he used to live here! That and....we never really clean out the freezer."
Her last comment was most of a way of trying to lighten her mood, but it wasn't working.
Rogue:"Angelus blacked out the sun, Angelus murdered almost everyone I know, but none of this would have happened had I not lost Angel's soul! So every demon you see, ever night that passes without a drop of sunlight, every dead body that we pass along the way, it's all because of me."
Pciking up the jar she tossed it into the bin, a loud thud heard as the frozen solid jar slammed into the bottem.
Rogue:"And it's like no one can admit it was my fault, I'm the best slayer in the world, doesn't matter if I was the reason the world was destroyed in the first place. So you will have to forgive me, but what I've done to you is very little compared to the rest of my world! Even if I knew trying to get Angel's soul back would drag you into this hell, I'd still do it! Because soon, there isn't going to be anyone left in this world for me to protect!"
She stopped yelling, regaining control of her aweful temper by looking away and taking in a deep breath.
Rogue:"Sit down."
She said simply to them as she limped back towards the couch, yet didn't take a seat.
Rogue:"I didn't mean to snap at you, for that I am sorry. But at least let me tell you why you came about being dragged here....actually....it began a few hundred years ago, with a Gypsy curse.."
She gave a small wave of her hand as if hinting that was a major event, but it wasn't really something she wanted to get into.
Rogue:"Unlike most Vampires, Angelus loved killing, it was a sick pleasure, an art for him, his Sire, Darla.."
She spoke the name with disgust as if it where poison on her lips.
Rogue:"Got him a gypsy girl, he ate the girl, family got mad, placed a curse on him, that was a while ago, since then he was one of the goods guys, the curse was infact, the return of his soul. One of our strongest warriors, until...he had a moment of pure happiness, lost his soul, I mean, what's the point cursing the guy if he wasn't suffering? How stupid an idea is that?"
Realizing she was slowly getting off track with that trail of thought she continues on.
Rogue:"I know everything about Angel, I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and I know how to fight him, but he knows the exact same about me. I've been fighting Angelus for years, and I'm not winning any battles, so I went against council orders and decided the only way to defeat Angelus is by bringing Angel back."
Taking a seat on the arm of the couch as she spoke, doing her best to ignore the pain in her leg as she was determind to try and force these kids to understand her reasons.
Rogue:"I am the reason you're here, but that means that Angelus was scared, that means he must have thought I could bring Angel back, which means there's a chance that I might finally be able to let the people of this world see the sun which I helped remove from their lives. I had to do this, and if I had to do it again, I would, but it's not over yet, Angelus is still out there, and to make it worse, his in your world, if we don't get him back soon, you're going to lose your sun as well. I know how to get his soul back, and that's got him scared and when he's scared, we're all in danger."
CATHERINE
She was rather taken back by the girls outburst, she looked at Sean, wishing he had kept his mouth shut, he had obviously had hit a soft spot. But she understood a little more about this strange world. She wondered what Rogue was going to do, she had confidence in the girl. She had done a pretty good job of defending them so far.
'Pure happiness?' She asked, breaking the akward silence, trying to take in what she had just been told. She sat down on the sofa, pulling her cat boots from her feet and crossing her legs under her. Looking up expectantly at her her body language relaxed and telling the slayer that she was ready for a long disussion about this whole thing.
'I'm sorry about your friends.' She said her voice dropping as she looked at the girl, she felt she should say something, wishing they could have got there just a minute earlier. Mark had tried to save her life and even though she felt uncomfortable around him she still sensed she owed him one.
SEAN
Sean looked at Rouge, slightly shocked at her outburst. To be honest he didnt much care about Angelus unless he had something to do with getting them home, but he wouldn't voice that, he could see Rouge was already wound up and upset.
"I am sorry to Slayer, but you must realise although we sympathise with your plight we arn't meant to be here and that is why we should return. Just as Angelus and his friends shouldn't be in our world if thats the case, they could be causing this effect on our home now."
Sean rose from his seat on the sofa and looked out of the window, stood staring at the barren street below, pieces of trash scattering in the light wind. He saw this world and hoped what was seen here would never be seen at his home. But when he thought of his mother and father and their friends, and all the others at Xaviers, he knew that they would do all in there power to stop it, and they were strong.
"I, we do appreciate what you are doing for us, but we feel disjointed here. We want to help too, help ourselves." He spoke quietly facing the window, he lightly fingered the glasses in his pocket, a representation of what he had left behind, and what he wanted to get back.
He quickly spun around, a fire blazing in his eyes. "We are here to help, and we want to, lets fight this together. We worked well out there and ultimately you can use us and we need to do something to help us get home. So, what do you say, let us fight along side you. Even 'the one' needs some help sometimes." A slight smile curved his handsome features as he looked at Rouge, his passion and sincerity glowing and reflecting in his deep hazel eyes.....
JENNIFER
He wanted to work with her? Side by side? ...Where has he been?! Hasn't he noticed that everyone around her is basically living dead!
She rubbed her fingers gently over her temples as she thought....she did need help, even if she didn't want it, but ego guy and denial girl weren't really the type of people she was ready to put in danger..
But he seemed so sincere....and determined.
The slayer placed both her hands lightly on the thigh of her injured leg, her mind slowly wondering off in thought. When she saw the determination in his eyes, and the powers hidden away in this young mutants, she could hardly believe that the X-Men where defeated by the Army of Darkness.
But now was different....they weren't fighting an army, they where fighting a much smaller threat, and this threat was on holiday's in their home world. They deserved to be allowed to help.
Rogue:"I've seen your powers. And I've seen your fear towards your powers. I know you're able to do great things, powerful things.."
Her eyes focused on Catherine as well as Sean as she continued, making sure the girl was fully aware what she said was also meant for her.
Rogue:"I saw you knock down a demon, take out a vampire, I know you have the ability to enter a fight and I wouldn't need to distract myself by making sure you're handling yourselves."
Her attention seemed more focused on Cat now as she continued.
Rogue:"But I've also seen the way you look at him, it's the same look I see in the mirror every time I walk into that bathroom, it's the same look I used to give to other demons when I was younger. 'Freaks'. 'Stay away from me'. 'Don't touch me'. 'I'm different then you'."
The Slayer continued in a softer tone with the girl.
Rogue:"The thing that hurts most, is that deep down, you know you are different, you didn't chose to be different, you most likely don't want to be different, but you are. If Logan had seen you back at the ruins, if he'd seen you handle that demon, I'm telling you, he wouldn't let you leave. Because he'd see in you exactly what I see, the makings of a great Slayer. You're not normal Cat, you're extraordinary, you're a Warrior, but you're also human, and nothing will ever change that."
Glancing over at Sean, she pointed at the couch.
Rogue:"Hey you, sit, super boy or not, you're still hurt. I'd..."
She turned her head back towards one of the bookshelves for a moment but then looked back at him.
Rogue:"I'd find a healing spell, but I can't read demonic gibberish, as soon as Logan returns, he can fix that for you, good as new."
Sliding as slowly as she could from the arm of the sofa and gently sitting herself onto the couch, she eyed Cat for a moment, then glanced over at Sean. All right....maybe she should tell them if they would be working together...
Rogue's lips began to open, taking a moment before she actually spoke.
Rogue:"..I.."
She began, yet seemed to hesitate, she couldn't bring herself to say it, she couldn't force the words past her lips, she looked over towards the door in search of something else to say.
Rogue:"I wonder when the others are coming back.."
That's not what she wanted to say....the Slayer shifted about on the soft seat uncomfortably. She had the power to have saved Sean from his injuries, and she was too ashamed to even admit it. She can't allow that to ever happen again.
Rogue:"..Uh...actually, there's....on the topic of being different...I think you deserve to know, you know, before you start fighting along side me and all...that I....erm..."
She flashed them both a nervous smile.
Rogue:"It's nothing big, it's just..."
Once again she paused, the images of her going to the aid of Willow in her demon form flickered threw her mind. Her fuzzy blue body leaping from one spot to another, easily avoiding the blasts of energy being thrown at her by the attacking demon. Disappearing from one place to another, attacking and toying with the evil creature as he struggled to keep eye contact with her. And as soon as Rogue had knocked it out, she turned to Willow...only to have her friend screaming in fear at the unfamiliar form and blasting the Slayer clear across the room with a spell.
Rogue:"....I can get really bossy..."
Her smile grew faint as she stood up, limping away from them towards the bookshelf and examining the shelves for the healing book.
Rogue:"Let's see if I can find this book, have it ready for Logan..."
Making herself appear busy, the Slayer pulled out a book every now and then, flipping it open and scanning a few pages before placing it back.
Rogue:"If you’re hungry, check the fridge, we have left over pizza last I checked, or…if you’re tired the bed rooms are down the hall."
CAHTERINE
She looked away, for the most, her eyes trained upon her cat boots, looking as if she wasn't listening even though she was. Her eyes thoughtful, as she rubbed one hand absent mindly over her right foot. She felt a sudden flush in her cheeks as Rouge mentioned the demon.
As Rouge began to give Cat her whole attention the girl lifted her head, her dark eyes meeting the equally dark ones of the slayer. Her hand stopped rubbing her foot as she listened to what the elder girl had to say, she couldn't bring herself to look at Sean, wondering what he thought of Rouges accurate assessment of her feelings towards other mutants.
She looked back away as Rouge called her human, her eyes suddenly saddened. Listening as the girl finished speaking, wondering if there was something she wasn't telling them, the girl looked engrossed in her books.
'But I'm not human am I?' She said almost in a whisper, her voice growing slightly more angry as she spoke. 'I'm a monster ... just like him, just like the rest of them.' She couldn't really deny the truth any longer but she could still be disgusted with what she was. Well she wouldn't use her powers, they couldn't make her. She wouldn't turn into someone like Sean, the mutants would continue to corrupt him and then he would end up killing people too. 'I should have died a long time ago.' She ended viciously, wishing it were so, she had had no right to survive without a scratch when everyone else on those carriages died.
She didn't want to be a slayer and she didn't want to be a mutant and she didn't want to be told that her gift was a good thing, the only thing her powers could be used for, any power could be used for was for killing and hurting like she and Sean had done such a short time ago.
JENNIFER
'But I'm not human am I?'
The Slayer hesitated, her fingers touching another book ready to pull it off the shelf, but she released the book, lowering her head slightly as Cat continued.
'I'm a monster ... just like him, just like the rest of them.'
Monster? ...She had no idea what a true monster was...she wasn't a monster, she didn't have claws or fangs or fur, she was human...mutants where just humans, humans with special gifts.
'I should have died a long time ago.'
Rogue turned around suddenly, snapping out at that remark.
Rogue:"Stop that!"
The sudden twist shocked her injured leg, causing her to grab her thigh protectively as the sharp pain shot threw her body. She closed her eyes, one of her hands reaching up and covering her face as she thought over what Cat had said, stubbornly refusing to accept any of her statements. Slowly she stood up, the pain quickly fading away, her healing ability slowly getting to work on her wound.
Rogue:"You're not a monster! I know monsters, I see monsters every day of my life, yes, you're a mutant, but you're still human! Because like it or not, that's what a mutant is, a human who has grown into something greater, something different! But unlike me, you're still totally human!"
As soon as she finished speaking she wished she hadn't yelled at the girl, obviously they where both as sensitive about their abnormal abilities as the other was.
Rogue:"Powers don't corrupt people, people corrupt themselves. We can hide from our powers, we can try and lead a normal life...but then what? We still know we're different to those around us, and it'll eat away at the back of our minds until a point where we can't ignore it any more, because you can never totally ignore the fact we're different. There's always something there to remind you, if you ignore it, someone usually gets hurt, and those people are normally those around you."
She reached onto the shelf and pulled out a book, flipping open a page and showing the mutants pictures of various demonic creatures.
Rogue:"These are monsters. Creatures born from the fires of hell, raised in the darkness and filled with the desire to slaughter. Unless you have the blood of these demons in your veins, you are not a monster....you're just a normal girl who's got the power of speed on your side. I know you don't have their blood, because I can smell it a mile away and you don't stink like they do. You're human. I smell it. I feel it. I know it."
She dropped the book to the floor as a statement that she was done talking about it, limping off towards her room slowly.
Rogue:"Neither of you are monsters.."
She muttered as she turned the corner and disappeared into her room, switching on the light and heading over to her bed. As she sat down, she glanced over at her dark blue coloured covers, not folded perfectly like her mother had always insisted, the only sign other then the scent she left, that Cat had actually been in her room.
Her eyes scanned the walls of her room, mostly empty save for a few crosses placed on each wall, all made of simple wood and very plain. Unlike the rest of the apartment, her room was almost empty, a bed, a bedside table and enough empty room for her to be able to throw a few practice kicks and punches without damaging the walls.
Her hand reached out for the side table, slowly opening the draw and pulling out an old photo, Rogue never liked the talk of death, always brought back to many horrible memories..
Giving a faint smile as she stared down at the young girl who held a small baby in her arms, sometimes Rogue found it hard to remember that that was her...
She let out a sigh and tossed the photo carelessly onto the side table, she had a collection of photos in that draw, her and Angel, her and Willow, her and parents....her and Mark...her entire life could be found in there.
Focusing on her leg for perhaps the first time since she was hurt, Rogue slowly leaned down to examine it, she didn't have any cuts, but it hurt, so she might have gotten a fractured bone in the fall. She let out a groan of annoyance, at least it should be gone by tomorrow, her healing ability would take care of it.
CATHERINE
Recoiling from the angry outburst Cat stared at Rouge from wide eyes, not sure what to make of this, new angry girl infront of her. She didn't feel any different even after the girls heartspoken outburst, she should have died that day, but fate had laughed at her. Stealing everything from her and leaving her cold, alone and bitter. If it hadn't been her fault she could have lived better with it, but it had been her idea to go to the stupid park and upon that certain ride. She was a murder, perhaps it was this guilt which made her have the dreams she did. Was it her ignoring her powers that had killed her parents. She looked away quickly, not wanting to go down that participle train of thought. Sitting in silence as she listened to Rouge walk off, hearing the sound of her lightly heavy footfalls as she favored her uninjured leg
'Sorry Sean.' She didn't look at him, she couldn't, her face was burning, knowing how hurtful the things she had just said. She glanced up in the direction Rouge had gone, getting slowly to her feet she trailed off down the corridor in the direction the older girl had taken.
She knocked upon the door, not waiting for the girl to answer she turned the handle. She peeked around the door, her eyes finding the figure of her friend upon the bed. She realized with a start that it was true, she did think of her as a friend.
'Sorry Rogue.' She said, slipping inside the room and closing the door quietly. 'I had no right to call Sean a monster, I just don't think before I speak. It's just I've been brought up to think that mutants are dangerous, and now people expect me to fit in with them.'
She stepped forwards wanting Rouge to look at her, speak to her ... anything, she always ended up putting her foot in her mouth, she never planned to anger people, well not usually. It sometimes gave her a kick to be able to wind people up to point blank distraction. But that fate was only for those who crossed her.
Cat sat down near Rouge on the bed, close to her but not near enough to be in the girls personal space. She thought she should offer some explanation of what she had said before.
'Before ... about the ... fact that I should be dead thing.' She stumbled, the words she wanted to use seemed to evade her. She had only ever told her closest friends what had happened and now she was trying to tell this to someone who was almost a complete stranger.
'I ... my parents were killed in an accident.' She drew a deeper breath forcing herself to continue. 'At a theme park, a rollercoaster.' She looked away, not wanting to go into detail, hoping that the girl would get the gist of what she was saying. 'Everyone was killed ... except me.' She said, trying to hold back the images which haunted her sleeping dreams. 'I feel like I've cheated death, like life is just toying me. I lost everything in one fell swoop and then I get dragged away from what little family and friends I did have. I had to move three thousand miles.' Her face was slightly twisted with the mental pain she was causing herself, she raised one hand, pulling her mane of golden brown hair from the band. letting it fall obscuring her face, she played with the band for a moment before slipping it onto her wrist.
'And then when I finally settle down I'm told a mutant and I have to leave again, that I have to be something I'm afraid of.' She paused once again, trying to reassemble the pieces of her face. 'And then I came here.' She stumbled to a finish, wondering if Rouge had understood a word of what she had said.
She didn't look at the girl, but seemed engrossed in one of the many zips on her combats, one nail chipping off what was left of the green paint on the zip. She could do with a new pair of combats, infact it was about time for a wardrobe overhall, most of her clothes had assorted holes and scuff marks, but what with everything that had happened in the past few hours the aging process of her present clothing had been increased. But once she had the job Riley had promised to get her she wouldn't have to worry, she could spend some of her wages. Her spirts lifted slightly at the thought.
SEAN
Sean slowly sat down and as soon as he did Cat burst out again, her hurtful words, her strong gestures. Quickly Sean got away from the young woman, her vicious predjudice cutting through him like a knife.
Without a word he moved back to the window, watching the rubbish, leaves and other objects dance in an ironically peaceful and silent way. It seemed wrong that stepping one foot out there could result in your last breath before all your lifeforce is drained from your being, the shell of your body dropping to the floor.
"I'm sorry Sean."
He heard the quiet words permiate the air after the sterile silence left in the room by Rouge. He didn't reply, he merely stood silent, continuing to stare out of the smered old glass that protected the room from the chilling breeze of the constant night. He hear Cat get up and the clunk of her boots as she walked from the room in the direction Rouge had left the dank living room.
Sean turned around and sat back down on the sofa. He didn't mind being alone, it was peaceful, he even enjoyed it sometime. He carefully massaged his eyes, something he hadn't done so openly for a very long time, and rested his head back on the headrest of the comfy seat, thought flowing through his mind, he even began to sense the thoughts of the others closer to him.....
JENNIFER
The gentle tapping at her door caused Rogue to slowly sit up and stop examining her leg, the slim form of Cat quietly slipping into her room and whispering an apology before Rogue could say anything.
"It's just I've been brought up to think that mutants are dangerous, and now people expect me to fit in with them."
Rogue remembered those times...where mutants where feared and hated, but it was so long ago, mutants soon became the human army that fought off the darkness, most dying in the process...it was rare for such hatred to be seen these days.
But Rogue knew what she was saying, she understood completely, she herself to trained to hate demons, trained to kill them...and the fact she though she had demonic blood in her veins was slowly driving the Slayer insane with self hate.
'I ... my parents were killed in an accident.'
Pulling her mind from her own thoughts of self loathing, the slayer's attention moved over towards the girl, her eyes studying the painful emotions flowing across her face. Soon, she pulled her eyes away from Rogue, almost in shame..
"Everyone was killed ... except me."
Flashes of Rogue standing at the secret hospital, staring at the beaten bodies of her parents, dead long enough to cause their skin to turn pale blue. The slayer blinked to try and get the images from her mind, yet they where replaced with some of a tall blonde haired woman, a house blazing in flames behind her. In her arms she held a small child, wrapped tenderly in a white blanket, Rogue remembered reaching out and taking the baby from the woman.
That's when she first met Darla, the sire of Angelus, she had come to kill the Slayer and her family, and Rogue knew that her baby sister was dead....she would have died that day had Angel not come and saved her.
Rogue finally managed to focus on what Cat was saying once more, shoving her thoughts into the back of her mind.
"I feel like I've cheated death, like life is just toying with me. I lost everything in one fell swoop and then I get dragged away from what little family and friends I did have. I had to move three thousand miles....And then when I finally settle down I'm told I'm a mutant and I have to leave again, that I have to be something I'm afraid of."
Rogue:"And that's where it starts to get confusing, because, you know they are dangerous, you have seen what they can do. Yet at the same time, you begin to see they are just like anyone else, all with different personalities, some just want to help you, others will want to hurt you. And that confuses you even more. How do you know which ones to trust?"
Her eyes glanced up at one of the wooden crosses in her room, but slowly return to the floor for a moment and think over what she says next.
Rogue:"Life does toy with us...it can give us everything we want, and then carelessly tares it away from us and leaves us with nothing. It can give us happiness with what little we have, and then decide to take that happiness from us, almost as if it just wants to see us cry. But if there's one thing that I learned from that, it's that....you have to cherish what ever life has thrown your way...before it's stolen from you."
She looked up at Cat, offering her a faint smile.
Rogue:"We've all cheated death at one point in our lives, my parents, my sister, my friends, they all suffered because of who...of what I am. But if I stopped trying, if I stopped fighting because I knew they all died simply because they where part of my life....then...I'd be letting them down. I already let them down once by not saving their lives...I won't let them down again by giving up on the gifts and powers they have given me. I don't like being different Cat, I hate what I am, but I love them too much to walk away from this."
She paused, turning the subject entirely on Cat for a moment.
Rogue:"You're parents gave you a gift, you don't like it, you don't want it, but it's there. You're ashamed of it, you hate it, you're probably scared of how your life will change because of it, but whatever happens, it's your power, your gift. You choose how to use it. This is your birthright Cat, it may not be as famous as 'The Chosen One'....but it's yours, and you can do things, wonderful things, you can save lives...You can prove to your family that when they died, they left behind a Legacy that they will be proud of....they left you."
Rogue slowly stood up, carefully reaching out for her side table and searching inside the draw for something, once she pulled out what she was looking for, she returned to where she was sitting and looked at it for a moment.
Rogue:"You asked me a question earlier...after I told you about...Angel."
The photo she held in her hands was slowly handed over to Cat so she could see.
Rogue:"That's him, before I mean..."
The photo had four people in it, one was of Rogue, a few years younger, standing to the left of a man who Cat would easily recognise as the creature in the school halls. He had her arm over her shoulder, her head rested against his shoulder and her hand was placed over his chest. At their feet crouched two others, one she recognised as Mark to was crouching in front of Rogue. One arm was placed over the shoulders of another girl, Willow, the red head vampire Cat had seen Rogue fighting earlier, only she seemed completely human here, they all did..
Mark and Willow had their arms spread out, both grinning wildly at something that Angel was saying to Logan moments before the shot was taken. It was sunny, it seemed like another world, behind them where bushes covered in small white clusters of flowers.
Rogue:"Mark and Willow hadn't been killed there, and Angel started to be able to resist the sunlight, but it was still hurting him, he was nagging Logan to hurry up before he burst into a pile of ashes, that's what those two are grinning at, Logan and Angel didn't get on well."
For a moment, she remained silent, allowing Cat to look over the picture as she slowly built up the courage to tell her the truth of what happened to Angel.
Rogue:"I was his moment of true happiness....he lost his soul to me."
Looking over the faces of all those in the photo, she whispers more softly, the shame in her voice screaming out clearly.
Rogue:"And they all died because of it. I set a monster loose, and it devoured the world, then it devoured them."
CATHERINE
She looked up staring at Rouge as she spoke, her eyes not leaving the other girls face. Relaising that here was someone who was going through the same thing she was, a sudden mix of emotion flooding through her, but above them all utter relife that she hadfinally found some one who understood what she was going through. She had been searching for so very long now just for some one who had idea of how she felt, the workings of her mind.
Cat listened as the slayer talked, how did she tell friends from foes? she wondered, there seemed only the option of trusting them all, or trusting none of them. She struggled to make up her mind upon which one to choose, she didn't want to trust them, but she found that she did trust Sean, or rather she ahd the foundations of trust. But what would happen when they went home?
....you have to cherish what ever life has thrown your way...before it's stolen from you. She thought over Rouge's words, what did she have that hadn't already been stolen. She didn't know if she'd ever see her freinds again, she'd lost her family, even what she had managed to bring to Xaviers had been left behind. She had nothing left but the clothes upon her back and the boots upon her feet.
She glanced down at the unlaced cat boots, bending down and tucking the loose laces inside the boots. She often wandered about the house with them unlaced untill she got fed up of tripping over the laces which trailed behind her.
I don't like being different Cat, I hate what I am, but I love them too much to walk away from this She looked back at the slayer, would her parents have wanted her to fight? did they want her to be their legacy. The Hall family had been slowly shrinking over the years, dwindling untill there was only really her and David who consituted the new generation. She hadn't seen him in years, they had chatted akwardly on the phone a couple of times. But she hadn't really known what to say, they had never been that close anyway with a distance of three hundred miles between them, but once that was increased to three thousand they had just drifted apart.
She looked down at the photo she had just been given, he was handsom, there was no denying that. If he hadn't been a demonic vampire she might have shown more than a flickering interest. They all looked so happy, they could have been her freinds, anyone, you wouldn't have been able to pick them out from a group of any teenagers. But now two were vampires, one was dead and the other had commited her life to slaying.
Cat glanced up sharply at the girl's words, then back down at the photo.
'You mean you and him?' She said not think she needed to say more to get the slayer to understand her drift? 'How should that make him loose his soul?' She looked at the man's face. Pure happiness was that what they called it? Her thoughts bitter, she couldn't even remember sleeping with Jon, let alone anything she might have felt at the time. She hated herself for that as well, she should have told Bekki, she felt awful every time she saw her, but she just couldn't bring herself to. She had always told herself she would only lye with a man she loved, with someone she would be prepared to spend her life with. And Jon might not have a problem with it but she sure as hell did.
JENNIFER
'You mean you and him?'
Rogue's mind grew uncomfortable with the thought of someone else knowing the truth, the entire watchers council still blames poor Logan for not having stopped the two from dating.
'How should that make him lose his soul?'
The slayer could feel her cheecks slowly flushing with colour, it was a very embarressing topic for her.
Rogue:"Uh...actually, his soul was a curse, or, it was ment to be. When Angelus fed of the gypsy girl, her family cursed him with a soul so he'd feel remorse and pain over what he had done. And Angel did feel guilty, almost to a point of insanity, but then he decided to do something, to help people. He began trying to hunt down his sire, Darla, she was after me, so eventually our paths crossed and we kinda...started looking out for each other."
Again she tore her eyes away from the photo and looked off towards the floor of her room.
Rogue:"The Gypsies figured, if he wasn't suffering, then the curse was useless...we didn't know though, otherwise, we would have never...but...no one told us."
She took in a deep breath as she looked back at the photo.
Rogue:"They're two different people, Angel and Angelus. Everything Angelus does, Angel sees and feels, but he can't do anything to stop what's happening. And same goes for Angelus, he's always trapped inside Angel, pushed aside by the soul, both hate each other, both wish they where able to destroy the other."
She shook her head slightly with a faint smile.
Rogue:"Talk about personality issues, eh?"
Once again her face seemed to darken with emotions.
Rogue:"...When this all started, when we thought we could just chant a few words and then Angel would come back to us, Willow told me that I should be happy...to have someone who could say in all honestly, being with me made them happy. But now, now I wish he didn't love me, I wish Angel wasn't charming or sweet, I wish he wasn't so loyal or protective...I just wish he would have been like any other guy in the world and just be a creep who doesn't really care how we feel. That way he would have never loved me, and I would never have been able to hurt him like this."
Looking up at Cat, the Slayer wondered for the first time, if in her world of sunlight, they had Angel there, or if Angelus was still trapped in the hell dimension she had thrown him into...if she managed to do that over there...heck, she wasn't even sure she existed in this other world, such a paradise couldn't have someone like her there.
Rogue:"We need to get him out of your world...even if I have to go and drag him back here myself."
CATHERINE
A wry and quite bitter smile spread across her face as Rouge mentioned men being creeps, she could and would have used a few rather more blistering remarks to describe them than Rouge had. She stopped chipping at the green paint and looked up at the girl, the smile still on her face.
'Huh if they're nice theres always a catch, they act like your friend and then take advantage of ...' There was acid in her voice as she spoke, she broke off, she hadn't told anyone, she didn't want to. She had the irrational fear that somehow Bekki would find out and she never ... never wanted to be the cause of any pain to her friend.
Cat brightened slightly looking at the slayer, feeling this might be a good time to try and persuade her to stay in their world.
'You'd like our world.' She said hinting hopefully. 'No demons.' Not knowing how ignorant she was of the truth, she would ahve been horrified to learn that there were and even more so if she knew what Riley really was. In so many words he was a slayer, he hunted demons too. She didn't really think that Rouge would take up her offer, she seemed commited to her life here.
JENNIFER
A small smile spread across the slayers lips.
Rogue:"I'm sure I'd love it there...but.."
She thought over it for a moment, fiddling with the zipper on her leather jacket that she had earlier given to Cat to keep her warm.
Rogue:"I had a hand in destroying this world...so I can't leave until I set things right. Besides, if I went to your world...I'm sure I'd attract demony things....it's a curse.."
She gave a slight shrug and a yawn, which she covered with the back of her hand.
Rogue:"The others should be heading back shortly....I should head out and patrol...but I guess that isn't really an option tonight. How about you try and get some sleep, you can stay here, I'll get Sean into Mark's room, when we wake up, hopefully we'll know how to get you home."
The slayer stood up as she offered Cat her room for the second time.
CATHERINE
She smiled, a genuine one, with a hint of sorrow, not being able to keep a little sorrow and disapointment from her tone as she replied to the slayers words.
'I guess your right Rogue.' She glanced up at the slayer, not one to give up that easily. 'Just think about it ok' It wasn't a question it was a command, she was telling the girl and she wouldn't be satisfied untill she had asked Rouge again to accompany her.
The slayer didn't say anything as she left, alone in the room Cat let a sigh fall from her lips, heard only by the listening silence in the room and the crosses upon the walls.
She lay back on the bed and looked at the roof above her, closing her eyes and kicking off her cat boots. They landed with two heavy thudds upon the floor. She hoped she wasn't going to dream about her parents again, she had been punnished enough for the day already.
Her stomach growled with hunger but she stead fastly ignored it's plaintive calling. She needed sleep first, then she would answer her stomach's demands with food.
JENNIFER
Gently closing the door after her, pausing and just standing with her hand still holding the doorknob as she thought over the girls offer.
To actually wake up...and have the warn rays of the morning sun beating down upon your skin as you stirred from sleep, the welcoming heat that warmed the day...it was always cold here....Rogue had almost forgotten what it felt like to feel the sun. Part of her wondered what it would be like to go for a swim in the ocean again, to walk along the beach with the hot sand under her bare feet...
Slowly she lowered her head, it was almost a sinful desire, one she wished more then anything she'd surrender to....but she couldn't and no matter how much she'd long to leave this hell dimension...she won't...not yet.
A faint smile spread across her lips as she let her fingers slip off the handle of her door and she quietly limped towards the main room where they had left Sean.
He was on the couch, motionless as if lost on sleep, he looked completely different without his glasses....he seemed...more free. She wondered how he was coping, by coming here he had lost a part of himself...but he didn't seem all that devistated.
She took in a deep breath and momentarily placed her fingers on her temples, losing herself in thought before building up the courage and heading towards the boy.
Rogue:"....Sean? We have a spare room now....you can use that."
She didn't mean to put it like that...like she was saying, now that my old friend Mark's been killed for the 2nd time, you're free to use his room. She only realized how it might have sounded once it had left her lips.
She kinda hoped he'd over look that, she was extremely tired and didn't feel like fighting over sleeping areas, and she was going to stubbornly insist he take the room so he'd sleep on a bed.
Rogue:"I think Logan cleaned it last week...though, endless night and horrible sleeping habits kinda blur the years together.."
She said hinting it could have been a few days ago or an entire year as far as she was concerned.
Rogue:"But, it has a bed, clean sheets, no one uses it and...lots of books scattered across the floor, so becareful."
She warned, not wanting him to trip over and hurt himself even more then he already was.
SEAN
Sean sat quietly as Rouge entered the room again. The light rummaging of Cat could be heard in the tiny flat and for the first time, the only time he had had a chance to think about it, he missed home.
Before his thoughts could continue he heard Rouge speak, her fragmented sentance permiating his flowing mind and thoughts;
"OK, thank you." He said quietly, his mind still lingering on Cat's words and how he longed to return to his home, a familiar place, and for the first time he wished he had his optical gift back.
At first, when he had removed his galsses, he felt liberated, he was free of the glasses he was forced to wear. But now he felt disabled, like he had lost a limb, a part of himself.
He continued to sit for a minute before rasing and, grabbing a glass near him, got some cool water and gulped it down slowly. The chilled liquid slipping down his throat, awakening his senses and riving his thoughts. He knew Cat had apoligised, but it was half hearted and her words continued to cut into him. He slowly placed his glass down and turned in silence toward the door that led to 'his' room.....
JENNIFER
As Sean finished off his drink silently, Rogue watched as he walked off, disappearing threw the door that was once Marks room and leaving her alone.
Her eyes slowly dropped towards the ground before her, one day she'll discover a great response to say when people walk off like that. She folded her arms, glaring towards his closed door.
Rogue:"Angel wonnabe."
She scoffed quietly as she limped into the kitchen herself, but found she lost interest in getting food, her mind was torn suddenly over what she had said earlier to Cat. She believed every word of what she had told the girl...and yet...
The slayer peered down towards her hands, then quietly turned and as silently as she could manage, she crept towards the bathroom. Turning the handle gently, glancing over at the other bedroom doors as she softly opened the bathroom door and stepped inside.
Flicking on the light switch, Rogue ever so slowly moved in front of the mirror, her body tense as if preparing herself for a battle. In a sense it was a battle, a personal battle, a battle she was always losing...
Rogue:"You know I really hate you."
She whispered to the person who stared back at her from the depths of the mirror. Leaning forward, her hands pressed firmly against the bathroom sink as she took a closer look at her face.
Rogue:"I think I'm scared of her.."
Lowering her head, her eyes closing as she let out a soft sigh, that's what it seemed like....fear...around the girl, probably because she's seen how Cat looked at Sean. They where mutants, they where human....what was she? A demon. Rogue had hell running threw her veins, she was unholy....a monster....and she couldn't cope to see Cat look at her the way she looked at Sean earlier.
Images began flowing threw her mind as she stood there, she could hear the words that echoed in her memories, they seemed so real..
Spike:"...Slayer!?"
Rogue had just tackled the vampire to the ground and pinned him there, her blue furred hands pressing him tightly to the floor. Her yellow glowing orbs glared down at the vampire, she had been shocked he recognised her, and wasn't sure how to respond.
Rogue:"What!?"
She had growled at him threw her fanged teeth.
Spike:"...You're blue! ...And furry! ...And-"
Rogue:"You're drunk!"
Spike:"Not that bloody drunk!"
He had scoffed back at her in dismay, he was the only person other then her parents who had ever seen that form, and it was before her unfortunate encounter with Willow. She was so panicky over what to say, she simply punched him out cold, teleporting off and leaving him to think when he woke up that he had just had a bizarre dream.
Rogue wasn't aware Spike knew it wasn't a dream, because he never mentioned it to her after. But Rogue was slightly comforted by her false knowledge of thinking he didn't know about her.
She felt a rush go threw her body, a rush of energy, of power, of strength, just flowing instantly threw out the core of her soul. Her leg burned, but she ignored it, lifting her head slightly and taking in a deep breath, her eyes slowly opening..
The yellow orbs that peered back at her made her almost force herself to continue to glue her eyes on the mirror and not look away. The breath inside her lungs was slowly released as she examined the demon that stood before her, her hair now dark blue framing the sides of her also blue face. She looked down towards her hands, her fingers tipped with black claws, her palm covered in soft thin blue fur.
Her yellow gaze returned to the mirror, looking over her face, studying the image that haunted her dreams carefully, her lips slowly parted, her mouth opening enough for her to see the teeth hidden away inside. As soon as she saw her fangs she closed her mouth abruptly and looked away in disgust.
She felt herself melt away, everything inside faded almost to nothing, her eyes glaring back towards the mirror.
'You'd like our world.......No demons.'
Rogue rubbed her temples gently with her now human fingers as she thought over Cat's words.
Rogue:"There's always demons....you just can't always see them."
Her eyes looked at the mirror once more before turning her back to it, reaching out for the door and quietly opening it. She walked towards the sofa, not noticing until she reached it that her limp was almost completely gone, she rarely ever turned into her demon form so she wasn't aware she could heal faster while in it.
Collapsing on the couch, her body stretching out as she gave a silent yawn. Her mind found its way back to when she was in her room with Cat, both staring down at her photo of Angel and her friends. For the first time in years, Rogue thought it possible that she could start to cry, but she didn't allow herself. The Slayer was too important and too powerful to give into tears.
Rogue:"When I lost you...I lost everything.."
Her whisper lingered in the silence of the room before she closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off into a restless slumber filled with painful memories.
Before long, Logan and the others quietly slipped into the apartment, Logan escorted Dawn and Clay towards the rooms silently. Clay was offered a place in Logan's room, Dawn was offered the final room that was once Angel's. Logan ended up camping out on the floor near where Rogue was sleeping, managing to drap a blanket over her before he settled down for sleep.
(Next person to post, feel free to post yourself waking up the next morning)
CATHERINE
Cat stirred, opening her eyes, instincitvely screwing them up against the bright light ... but there was none. She blinked in confusion, there wasn't the sound of traffic outside her window or the calling of a city bird herlading a new day which she could ignore and curse for waking her up.
She streatched and looked up at the blackness infront of her eyes, wondering where she was, but all too soon the memories hit her, she groaned and rolled onto her side. She glanced around here, how long had she been asleep? But did it really matter in a world of darkness, there was no morning to wake up for.
Lingering for a few mintues, she eventually dragged herself from the bed and out of the door, wishing she had a change of clothes, the ones she was wearing were slightly worse for wear after everything that had happened to her the day before.
Cat could never have been called a morning person, she was the type to lye in bed till noon if she could get away with it which was more often than not. She combed out her hair with her finger as she walked towards the main room, opening the door she peered inside.
Rouge lay upon the sofa, her body for once relaxed in sleep, a small smile even graced her features and upon the floor near her was Logan, she stepped quietly into the room.
JENNIFER
There was movement, the gentle shuffle of feet, as someone entered, causing the Slayer to slowly wake, for an instant, Rogue didn't recognise the rhythm of the steps. Her eyes opened, Logan's restful body lazily stretched out on the floor before her.
There was a pause before she sat up, pulling the blanket off her, a faint smile crossing her lips as she realized Logan must have dropped it over her. She looked over towards Cat, a surprised expression momentarily on her face before she quickly let out another smile.
Rogue:"Hey, sleep well?"
Reaching out for the leather jacket she had clumsily tossed off her as she slept, the Slayer picked it up and dusted it off.
Rogue:"Strange isn't it?"
She asked as she stood up, looking towards the dark window.
Rogue:"It's odd, all this time and we still haven't really gotten used to it."
She looked back at Cat, a smiled even more evident on her lips.
Rogue:"Sometimes, the best mornings are when you’re half a sleep, you think that as soon as you open your eyes, the light will blind you, and you'll try and shut it out."
She moved into the kitchen, her limp completely gone as she searched the fridge.
Rogue:"I haven't fed you guys since you arrived, you must be starved, I have milk, Logan likes his coffee...we have those pizzas, home made, just a day old...aaaaand..."
The slayer pulled out her head out of the fridge with a sigh.
Rogue:"If you want something more, I could go and grab something from some where, Slayer at your service, what can I get ya?"
CATHERINE
She watched as the slayer awoke, stopping combing her hair and tossing it behind her shoulders. Looking as the girl retrived her coat from the floor, using one hand to dust it down and listening Rogue spoke.
'It still feels like the middle of the night.' she said streatching, it could be for all she knew.
She sat down at the table as Rouge rummaged through the fridge as she chatted, her manner alot easier than it had been the day before.
'Pizzas fine.' She said eagerly, wishing Anne's description of breakfast was the same as Rogues. She watched as the slayer tossed the pizza into the microwave.
'Any idea how were gonna get home?' Catherine said accepting the hot pizza from Rouge and biting down hungrily into it, realising she was absolutly starving. She looked up expectantly at the slayer waiting for her answer.
LOGAN
Logan:"I have an idea.."
Came a voice from behind the girls as Logan struggled to sit up, placing a hand infront of his mouth as he gave a yawn.
Logan:"Dawn and Clay where awefully helpful last night, I think we searched threw half the files before I realized what time it was."
Rogue:"..Owch...poor guys, won't be seeing them for a while."
Logan:"Unfortunatly I'll need time to look threw what we brought.."
The Slayer remarked teasingly as her watcher stroked his fingers threw his messy hair.
Rogue:"How's it going down in Watcher Central?"
Logan made no effort to hide the groan that followed after she asked that question, grabbing his pillow and sleepily getting to his feet.
Logan:"As charming as ever."
He replied in a very sarcastic manner as he moved towards the girls.
Logan:"But, it's to be expected.."
Rogue frowned slightly, fully aware that Logan was shunned by the council simply because of what Rogue had done so long ago with Angel.
Logan:"They're just jealous because I get to train the Slayer and they only get Potentials."
He jokingly held his head up high as he walked down the hall into the bathroom, the comment obviously caught Rogue by suprise as she watched him walk off.
Rogue:"...That doesn't mean you get to use all the hot water!"
She let out a small sigh and turned about, grabbing a glass and pouring herself some water, as she placed it against her lips, she looked at Cat.
Rogue:"Hey, he's dad was an all powerful Warlock, really into magic, Logan should be able to get a portal open."
That's when Rogue realized for the first that he wasn't aware of Mark's death...well he's recent one. She took an uncomfortable sip of her water before placing the glass down.
Rogue:"Which reminds me....gotta tell him about Mark."
Lifting up her glass, she poured the remainders of it down the sink and left it turned upside down.
Rogue:"I should head out on morning Patrol in about an hour, I guess you guys will just wait around the apartment for the day?"
CATHERINE
She finnished her pizza looking at the closed door, feeling sorry for Rouge and even worse for Logan, she knew how painful it is to be told that something has happened to a friend or family member. She could remember the cold feeling which speeds through you, spreading outwards through your veins, reaching the extremeties and returning to your core as a hot flush of disbelife.
Cat rubbed her hands on the front of her combats, they were already so dirty that a little more couldn't hurt, she hoped they could go back home today. She missed the sunlight upon her skin, the warmth the sun provided even if she was hidden behind clouds.
It struck her for the first time how thirsty she was, slipping from the seat and getting herself a glass from the cupboard she had seen Rouge take one from. She held the smooth glass in her hand while water from the tap ran into the beaker, thoughtfully she turned the tap off, staring at the liquid in her hand. She sat down quietly as the door swang open.
SEAN
Sean stirred among the soft, warm sheets that covered his body, wrapping him up and hiding him from the world outside. The sheets brushed against his bare torso and limbs as he moved amoungst them, slowly waking up, not to the warm glow of a dawn sun beating down upon him, making him happy to wake up and make use of the day. But to the darkness that forever dwelled in this world, and as he realised this he was also dragged to the realisation that he was stuck here and at the moment with little way of getting home.
Sean moved one arm out of the safety of the warming sheets and it was instantly hit by the cool air of the room, the hair standing on end in a vein attempt to slow or halt the loss of the warm in his arm. He slowly rubbed his eyes and thoughts of his lost world and who he was trapped here with, he hadnt seen Dawn and Clay much but had seen how timid they had been when they first met everyone, but maybe that had gone now. And Cat, he was at a loss with her, he had tried since he had first met her, but her outburst had done it, he would work with her, but he didn't know what would happen between them.
Sean heard the sounds of voices in a room nearby and realised that it must be time to get up. He carefully pushed the covers back and swung his legs out over the bed. He was instantly hit by a wall of cold air, the same air that permiated the whole of this dark world. He shuddered as it hit his skin, his whole body shivering slightly at its cooling feel. He quickly grabbed his shirt and jeans which had been put in one of the only gobs on the floor between the many books and other items. He pulled his Jeans on first, slowly buttoning them up and tieing his belt, he grabbed his shirt, pulled it over his head, flattened his hair and made way for the door.
He carefully dodged the mess on the floor and walked out into the corridor outside, he pulled open the door that led to the front room and was met by Rouge, Cat and Logan. He quietly shut the creaking door as the smell of old pizza hit him and the dark old room took on another dimension. He walked over to the kitchen and quickly grabbed another glass of water to rid his mouth of the dirty feeling and bitter taste it had been left with overnight.
"Morning." Sean said quietly before taking another long gulb of his cool water.....
CATHERINE
Looking up she saw Sean enter and looked away, back down at the glass in her hand's, knowing he hadn't accepted her apology, well she wasn't about to go on saying sorry. He was lucky to have even been given one apology from her, she wasn't the sort to hand them out like free candy bars.
She drank a mouthful of water and studied the, glass that was cradled in her hands. The pattern on the side reminded her of one on half a set of glasses Anne owned. Only half a set remained because at during the past few years Anne had taken to drinking rather large amounts of whisky, Cat did wonder if she was partly the reason for this but she didn't really care. Anne wasn't the best person at holding her drink especially any variety of whisky and when Cat usually slunk into the apartment in the early hours of the morning the ensuing rows with Anne usually ended in Cat having something thrown at her, this usually happened to be the glass Anne was holding. Luckily her agility usually saved her from being hit by them and she would lock herself into her room with a a temper like thunder.
She looked up at Sean as he spoke wondering what to reply, he had to be talking to her, she was the only one in the room. She glanced back down at the glass in her hands. Everyone always yelled at her, nothing she did was ever good enough and if you feel like that for long enough you stop trying to be good. She wasn't sure how to react to Sean, she was surprised he had said anything, she opened her mouth and forced some words out.
'Morning Sean.' She said trying to act like the other night hadn't happened, like he might have forgotten. At least he was talking to her, she had received enough dark silences from Nina in her time to know that a person talking to you after an argument was a good sign. She drained her glass, but made no sign of moving to put it along side Sean's and Rogue's on the draining board. Indeed she was still trying to wake up, she rubbed her eyes and yawned in an effort to stimulate her lethargic body, it failed miserably.
She got to her feet and dragged her complaining muscles over to the sink, depositing her glass there and turning her attention towards the cupboards. Opening several of them before she located what she was looking for, reaching into one and pulling out a brightly colored box of cereal. The slogan said something about, eating the contents would make your heart healthy but early in the morning was not the best time to throw health promotion in her face. She ignored the smaller print which informed her exactly how she could stay healthy, which was most likely by the producers estimation to eat vast quantities of their brand of cereal.
Cat next turned her foraging towards the fridge and then in pursuit of a bowl and spoon, slumping back down at the table to proceeded to try to measure out the correct proportions of cereal to milk and miscalculated. She added enough milk to make the food stuff in the bowl soggy, but it would have taken far to much effort to rectify the mistake. So instead she laid her head in one arm and slumped over the table, transferring the spoon to her mouth. She wasn't a fussy eater, as long as it was edible she would eat it, living with Anne and Roger had taught her that if she didn't eat what she was given she went hungry.
DAWN
Was it her, or did the room just get colder...?
Rogue:"Mornin' sleepy head."
It wasn't even a heartbeat later that another door swung open and more footsteps where heard moving down the hall towards the kitchen.
Dawn:"It's freezing, it's dark, and it's creepy, what time is it?"
The Slayer's eyes seemed transfixed on the girl's attitude and face for a moment, before she managed to glance over at the clock on the wall.
Rogue:"Almost 9am.."
Dawn's eyes found their way towards Catherine and Sean, oblivious to the tension between them.
Dawn:"Hey all, see anything interesting yester-"
She paused, blinking, then allowing a bright grin to lighten her face.
Dawn:"Wow! You got gorgeous eyes Sean!"
The Slayer-in-training gave a moment of admiration for his eyes that had been hidden away behind red shades ever since they met before looking back towards Rogue.
Dawn:"What's the plan for today? Clay and I where up aaaaall night going threw endless piles of papers, did Logan say if we found anything useful?"
Rogue:"He said he needed time, I'm sure he'll figure out how to get you guys home soon."
Dawn didn't really respond, she was busy patting the wrinkles out of her top, she hated wearing the same top two days in a row. At least she had a Singlet underneath, that way she didn't have to sleep in it, because there was no chance she was going to sleep only in her bra in a stranger’s bed!
If there's one thing she hated more then wrinkly clothes, it was the simple fact she had to spend the last half an hour combing her hair with her fingers.
At least Dawn was comforted about one thing...her sister in their home dimension had much better living arrangements..
Dawn:"Oh, and...there was a stake under my pillow..."
She stated simply as if she just wanted someone to be aware she slept on a potentially dangerous weapon for most of the night.
Dawn:"I hope you don't mind, but after it attacked my hand I kinda tossed it to the floor.."
The young potential witch gave a slight rub of the back of her hand where a scratch could be seen, the Slayer gave an embarrassed glance down at it.
Rogue:"Oh...whoops...sorry."
Dawn:"Oh, nuh, it's cool..."
After a moment of uncomfortable silence between the two girls, Rogue decided she should go change into a fresh set of clothes.
Rogue:"Be right back, gonna go change."
She offered the otherworldly guests a smile before disappearing into her room down the hall. Dawn let out a deep breath before glancing at the other two mutants.
Dawn:"....If I ever complain about waking up to a warm day with the sun in my eyes...feel free to shoot me."
Folding her arms as Goosebumps run across her skin, she glanced back over at Sean's eyes with a more friendly smile, he seemed...less distant, more human perhaps. After all, he was always cute, no doubt about that, but he seemed distant when you normally talk to him, that's how Dawn felt anyway. She was a type of person that loved to see the eyes, they where always filled with so much emotion, Sean was always a mystery with her.
Dawn:"How do things look with out the glasses?"
She asked curiously, moving towards Catherine, she might not know the girl, but she was the only other student here that was female and Dawn felt drawn to her for support in that sense.
CATHERINE
Cat tried very hard not to throw up into her cereal, she couldn't stand the word gorgeous, especially not when used in conjunction with men. In her estimation men were not gorgeous ... they could be fit, cute or good looking but never under any circumstances gorgeous.
Time she thought as Rouge spoke, well she had bucket fulls of that, it's not like she was in any hurry to rush off anywhere, it wasn't even as though anyone would be missing her. The thought made her feel even more dejected, at least everyone else had friends back the institute who would be wondering where they were. Riley was probably congratulating those demons for ridding him of her, she hadn't been particularly nice to him since she had arrived. She sank more into gloominess as she stirred the soppy mass of cereal around with her spoon, squishing it and watching the milk being squashed from it.
She watched Dawn arranging her clothes, wondering why girls did that, she didn't really care what state she was in, most of her clothes had never encountered an iron since they had been made. She usually looked like she had slept in her clothes or at least stamped up and down on them before she had put them on. A part of her did care but the actual thought of taking her clothes to the dry cleaner to pay to get rid of creases she would just get back into them in about five minutes didn't seem worth the bother. She hated even taking them down to the bottom of the block of flats to wash them, so much infact that she would wear every single bit of clothing before she took them down.
Her surface thoughts towards Dawn might not be particuarly nice but she had the excuse of having been subject to the torment of girls like her in the past and she couldn't help thinking that it was only a matter of time before Dawn started on comments about the way Cat acted and dressed. However deep down inside she was glad of the girls presence in the room, it eased the tension between her and Sean.
Re: Councils Privet Apartments-The Gypsy Curse has Cursed us
SEAN
(OOC: Sorry for the wait )
INC:
Sean grabbed some water as Cat clattered about in the kitchen getting some second breakfast. He didn't say anything to her, he just left it. He knew that Cat's half-hearted apology was more because of guilt rather than real feeling, or thats how it felt.
He watched as Cat took her cereal over to the table and started to spoon it into her mouth as the door opened for a third time. He heard someone enter but didn't see who it was straight away as he sipped his drink. But then he heard the person say something, her feminine voice catching his ears.
Sean turned to Dawn's words and his face went a slight tint of red and all he did was smile in reply before turning back to his water as Dawn spoke to Rouge.
No one had ever complemented him like that before, and for Dawn to be the one to do it felt strange. They had never been particularly close, despite Sean's want to get to know her better, there had always been some kind of barrier that divided the two. But that barrier seemed to collapse at Dawn's words.
He finished his water and washed the glass out before turning back to the two chatting girls, to his side Cat stayed silent as she aint her cereal but Sean ignored it, Cat was bing stubborn as usual and he wouldn't rise to it.
"How do things look with out the glasses?" He heard the words come from Dawn's mouth as she moved toward Cat and leaned by the table. Sean smiled again, wider this time.
She's actually talking to me as if we were good friends, as if there is no distance between us Sean thought as he grinned a bit more with the happy thought flowing through his mind;
"Strange. At first it was great, I felt free, I mean I dont have to worry about wear im looking and how secure the guards were on.
But, now, im feeling a bit lost. It might seem a bit strange to others but I have lived with that gift for over ten years now, I feel slightly handicapped by it."
Sean's word were tinted with a slight sadness, his initial happyness gone, but he couldn't be sure that it was all because of his 'loss of sight' or because of Cat's words, or being stuck in the place. For the first time he realised that his eyes were revealed, anyone who was looking at him might be bale to 'see' his feelings, he knew that that happened often, but he had always been protected from it.
"Hey, we'll be back soon, ill be back to normal then." He said with a forced smile.
He moved away and sat back down on the sofa, he wasn't hungry and so didn't miss the lack of breakfast. He fell into the soft sofa and looked back at Dawn who had followed him with her eyes, and behind her Cat shot a glance at him, and for some unknown reason to him, he felt sorry for her, for her situation.....
CATHERINE
She missed the glances between Sean and Dawn but then Cat had no clue about flirting or signs that people might be partial to one another. But with Cat she wouldn't notice anything like that unless you beat her around the head with it. Nina had tried in vain to teach Cat the subtleties of flirting and most of the dates Cat had gone on ended with her storming off leaving an extremely confused man behind her.
Cat listened feeling something akin to sadness for Sean, he didn't like wearing his glasses but without them he felt out of place and comfortable. Just as if you broke though Cat's cleverly constructed defensive walls she threw about her you would find an insecure girl who was desperately calling out for help. She would never admit this to herself however she just felt that she understood what Sean was saying.
She looked over at him, realizing that he wasn't likely to forgive her in an instant, or the near future ... but then she told herself she didn't care, want or need his good approval. She looked away angrily, finishing her breakfast and taking the bowl over to the sink
DAWN
In all honesty, Dawn understood what he was saying, she felt like that with her spell casting. She'd want to cast a spell and then get all chocked up trying to rhyme everything. So it was like she knew she had a power that could help, but she couldn't always get it to work.
Dawn:"I was just telling Riley yesterday morning that I wished something interesting would happen.."
She spoke out loud thoughtfully.
Dawn:"I should have known something was going to happen as soon as he said 'careful what you wish for'."
Moving over to the couch, she took a seat beside Sean, keeping her body facing in the direction of both Sean and Cat. After a moment, she realized there was a certain...lack of eye contact going on around the room..
But she didn't really focus on it much, figuring every one was off in their own thoughts. Glancing at Sean for a moment, offering him an encouraging smile as he seemed to have a slight hint of sadness in his voice has he had spoken.
Dawn:"And don't worry, we won't tell anyone you're human and have emotions, it'll be our little secret."
Her eyes glanced back towards the bookshelf, standing up, she went over to grab one of the books, before quickly returning to the seat beside Sean.
Dawn:"I have this one! My mum gave it to me..."
She flick it open as she spoke, glanced over some of the pages, then shut it and left it on her lap.
Dawn:"Well..I'm done reading, what are you guys planning on doing for the rest of the day?"
Staring down at the book for a moment, she asked before anyone could reply to her earlier question.
Dawn:"Do you think everyone's ok back home..with those vampires lose in our world and all...I mean, Riley and Zac really looked like they where hurt, I hope no one else was hurt."
CATHERINE
'I was planning on working on my tan.' Cat said, with a genuine hint of a smile curving her lips. 'But since that plan has fallen through, I opt for just chilling out here.' her words could be roughly translated into Since I don't fancy going outside to be attacked by numerous vampires and demons I'm going to spend my day sitting around being board like I have for the last year and a half . Well it had never failed her before now, it didn't seem to matter wether it was her own dimension or this, the same rules applied.
Dawn's words made her suddenly thoughtful realising that two members of "X-force", which she had figured out to be some sort of team even though she had no idea what it was for were injured or possibly worse and one (or two if she had known she was a member) were lost in another dimension. What must Professor Xavier have been thinking making that Riley boy leader? the man had started screaming at the first sight of the vampires, hardly what she would have classed as leader material. He didn't seem to be the leader type, she remembered the order he had given to Zac in the corridor. "Don't even think of showing off Zac, I know you want to, this is an order from your Team Leader, no showing off to the ladies!" He didn't seem capable of reprimanding anyone or ordering them to do anything, she remembered Storm who had talked to her, now she seemed more the leader type. It was almost like Sean, Riley and Zac were playing at teams while everyone else had "proper teams" with "proper leaders" Maybe it was the reject group she thought with a wry smile, though it was possible she wouldn't have found it as funny if she knew she was a member of the afore said "Reject team" Ha ... he had even called her a lady, she was sobered for a moment as she tried to remember the last time anyone had called her that, she couldn't remember, but then had they ever? She realized Dawn had made a statement that she needed to reply to and shook herself free from her thoughts.
'I'm sure they're old enough and big enough to look after themselves ... anyhow they're mutants and we have powers don't we.' She didn't realize the significance of her words, she had used "we" instead of they when collectively speaking of mutants, she was finally beginning to accept what she was even though she wasn't aware of it.
DAWN
With a slight sigh as she thought over Cat's comments, Dawn couldn't help but feel bad for them, although Riley was kinda cute, he was such a klutz when it came to pretty girls..
The amount of times girls have asked her to try and set them up with him, and he'd stare blankly at her as if she asked him something in another language..
But Dawn frowned slightly at something Cat had said about them being mutants and having powers.
Dawn:"I'm not a mutant."
She stated simply, she wasn't fond of people dividing others on the basis they where 'human' or 'mutants'. They where just people with gifts, born with or sought out and gained special talents that make them special.
Dawn:"I don't have any mutant powers, I can just cast a few spells and stuff.."
Well she wasn't going to mention she was training to become a potential Slayer, because that'd just have them give her weird looks.
Dawn:"Just because we're 'different' doesn't mean we no longer suffer from basic human emotions and pains."
She fiddled slightly with the book, it made sense this was the book her mother had given her, and her mother got it when Jennifer was born. They used to read a poem every night when she was younger, or her mother would talk about how it was alright to be 'different'.
Taking her mind off her past thoughts, she returned to what she was worrying about before, Riley and Zac, more about Riley, she was friends with both guys, but Riley didn't seem to be feeling well lately...and she wasn't the only one to notice.
Dawn:"They may old enough and big enough, but they're still part of my 'family', and besides, I don't think Riley's been feeling well."
She looked towards Sean to see if he had an opinion on the matter as she continued talking.
Dawn:"Anna, Madison and I where in maths and he looked like he was in a lotta pain, poor guy...I've been told to take him down to the Med twice, but he never goes, just heads to his room and lays down."
She gave a shrug as she looked back towards Cat.
Dawn:"It isn't nice to shrug off worrying over people simply because they are able to take care of themselves. Sometimes it doesn't matter if you can look after yourself or not, I mean, I'm sure we can look after ourselves well enough...and look where we are.."
With a faint sympathetic smile she also added.
Dawn:"Beside, as far as I can tell, Riley's power's are 'charming smile', 'eat endless amounts of junk food without gaining weight' and then the more tragic powers of 'nosebleeds' and 'headaches'. I don't think they are handy when coming up against ancient vampires..."
Leaning back comfortably into the sofa, she picked up a lock of her hair, the tips of her fingers gently stroking the silky strands.
Dawn:"Did you guys figure out what happened to cause the never ending night?"
Her words spoken curiously, yet also hinting a slight boredom was already coming over the girl.
SEAN
Sean listened dully to the convosation that the two girls had, he didn't really have much of an opinion on the matter except for the fact that he wanted to get home and start training with his new team members;
"Riley is good." Sean stated, "I don't know him as well as you Dawn, but it seems that if he wants something he will just go out there and get it, he got to pick his team members by Xavier's permission, even pulled me from a different team. I'm sure he'll be doing all he can, just as the others are to try and help us out."
For a second Sean fell silent again, going off into a world of his own, ignoring most of the convosation between the girls. He glanced over at Dawn, her long brown hair, although not properly combed, still had an elegant charm to it and her smile was anough to lighten Sean's mood. He listened as Dawn questioned about the solar situation this dimension had gotten itself into;
"Something to do with the Slayer here. Basic story is Slayer meets Vamp with soul, Slayer helps Vamp loose soul, Vamp covers the sun. I don't mean that harshly, Cat probably knows more than me (He galnced in her direction as he spoke), she was alone with Rouge for a while. From what I can tell though, we got dragged here, because Rouge and some friends wanted to give that Vamp, Angelus i think he was called, his soul back. So he fled to our world, and we are here."
Sean looked at Dawn and then to Cat, his eyes began to sting slightly, he wasn't used to them being exposed like this. He quietly rubbed them as they talked again. He was itching to just get out of this flat and find a way home, but he knew he couldn't do anything like that on his own, so he sat quietly and bide his time until they were to leave.....
CATHERINE
Great she thought to herself as Dawn began to talk, I have witches as well as mutants to worry about. She was getting used to being around mutants and now she was going to have to get used to the idea of being locked in a room with a witch. She eyed the girl with more mistrust than before.
She listened as the girl continued, wrestling an inner conflict, yes mutants might feel pain but she had seen what they could do, how they hurt people, killed them, they were dangerous, there was a definite line between them ... but then humans were caperable of this as well, she had experienced this first hand but she was trained to belive that man was the good side and the mutants the evil. Now she wasn't so sure if there even were any sides anymore, there was just confusion and pain.
Dawn's words,that she shouldn't shrug off worrying kindled an anger in her chest, though its formation was due to the fact that she knew the girl was right. She did care what happened to the boys but she'd only known them about half an hour, she wasn't even friends with them, yeah they had been nice to her (especially Riley) but she wasn't about to start acting like she was their best friend. She glanced away from Dawn.
Cat stood and crossed to the bookshelf, pulling a large heavy, leather bound book out from the others. It had a musty smell and the pages were yellowing and curling at the edges. She turned and took the book back to the other side of the room, sitting down on the opposite sofa to Dawn, kicking the cat boots from her feet, listening to them land on the floor with two heavy thuds. She crossed her legs and laying the book on her legs she opened the manuscript.
'What is he doing at Xaviers if he doesn't have any mutant powers?' She said voicing a question, now wondering even more than ever how he had managed to get his own team.
She looked down at the book infront of her, trying to read it but the words seemed to jumble up infront of her eyes mocking her. She blinked hard concentrating on the first sentence, for some reason she often found that she would start at the right hand side of the page instead of the left. She tired to fight back the instinct to draw her finger along the paper to help her read the sentences the right way, but the others would see what she was doing and would wonder. It wasn't as bad as when she was writing, she would find that she mixed up the letters "b" and "d" or her words would come out all jumbled up. It wasn't that she was thick, she could remember things pretty well, it was just writing it down that she had problems with. But since writing was involved in all exams and essays and notes in the class room she had just given up. She had sick and tired of getting back essays with cutting comments about her spelling and red pen scrawled all over it.
She gave up wrestling with the illusive words, she had no idea what most of them meant since they talked about things like demons, instead she looked at the diagrams, hoping that neither of them noticed, not knowing why she had even picked up the stupid book in the first place.
Cat nodded as Sean spoke, agreeing with him but not volunteering any extra information, she wasn't sure Rouge would like her to go yelling her mouth off to everyone, knowing it had taken alot of courage to tell her what she had done.
CHRIS
Chris walked slowly down a corridor, his steel soled boots clicking against the floor. stopping outside Rougue's apartment he looked at the door and then looked down at the piece of paper in his hand, he screwed the paper up in one hand and shoved into the pocket of his coat. it had not taken long for him to find this place, most of his time was taken trying to explain to some bloke downstairs that he did not care if the slayer had company, he was on important business. eventually when the guy would not let him through he had been forced to knock him out, not without giving him prior warning though.
he moved his hand towards the door, feeling the field in place there, 'clever' he thought 'at least she has been clever enough to protect herself' he drew his sword, and, holding the blade in his gloved hand he knocked on the door with the hilt, then carefully replacing the sword at his side, this process was normal for him now, it saved him breaking doors through not realizing his own strength as he knocked. as he stood outside the door waiting for someone to open it he adjusted his glasses, the battery was starting to run low and the surroundings were beginning to return to normal through them as the image intensifier powered down.
JENNIFER
Movement from the distance caught the Slayers acute hearing, causing her to leave her room with her new black pants and still bare feet. Her jacket was zipped up all the way covering her naked form underneath, a small hand held axe in the grasp of her right hand.
Her eyes scanned over her guests as they talked, then shifted towards the door, moments later, a knock was heard, and Rogue moved cautiously towards it.
Her left hand rose towards the students, signalling for them to stay where they where and remain silent, then moved and grasped the handle. Looking at two small hooks on the wall beside the door, she carefully placed the small hand axe there, then opened the door to see the strange unfamiliar man.
Well....not exactly the normal demon type that have been known to swing by, but he had the smell of vampires on him, demon hunter maybe, possibly might have demon friends..
She knew she was safe as long as the barrier was in place, so her dark eyes made no effort to hide their suspicious study of the man.
Rogue:"Hmm...walkin' to the slayers door with a big shiny sword, demon hunter? Slayer hunter? ...Door Salesman?"
CHRIS
the door opened, he raised one eyebrow as he studied the girl standing in front of him. "i am Chris, i was sent here by my Order to assist the slayer" his voice came out slow and purposefull, he did not say that this was because they did not believe her to be capable of removing the ever growing threat of Angellus alone, this was not chris's own view, all the demons he had seen around this town told of a great warrior who they had only just managed to escape from.
he could see that this girl was suspicious of him, he slowly undid his belt with his dagger, pistol and grenades on, placed it on the floor at his feet and kicked it towards the door, he then lay his sword with the blade pointing towards himself at his feet so the hilt was at the door. "there" he said holding his arms out to his sides "i am now unarmed" he took off his glasses to show the sincerity in his eyes, wondering if he was looking at the slayer herself or not.
CATHERINE
Catherine looked up sharply as she heard the sound of footsteps, the tap of steel against the hall floor, the book lay forgotten in her lap.
She watched as Rogue hurried from her room, Cat could tell from her expression that this was not a guest she had been expecting. She craned her head to try and see who was outside as Rogue opened the door, and caught sight of the man, or rather the first thing she saw was a long sword which did not fill her with confidence. A second later she thankfully remembered that the man could not step inside unless he was invited and she knew Rogue wasn't just about to invite a heavily armed man into her home without a bit of "light" interrogation.
She looked at the other two her face serious, wondering at the same time what he meant by "his order," this whole world was so confusing to her, she couldn't wait until they had the information they needed and they could open a portal to return home.
JENNIFER
As the stranger unarmed himself, Rogue's eyes remained locked on his face, and then once he was done, she allowed herself a glance over towards the otherworldly students. Placing the fingers of her left hand softly against her left temple, the slayer let out a soft sigh of annoyance.
Rogue:"..Can't you people just stay leave me alone..?"
She mumbled under her breath, for years 'orders' and 'councils' and 'sacred groups' of something-or-others keep popping up on her doorstep. All accusing her of being unable to deal with her role as Slayer, complaining of her inability to have dealt with the vampires after all this time.
The last guy that had appeared on her doorstep claiming to be sent to 'assist' her was from a military group known as the Initiative. And as sweet and charming as Riley Finn was, he was never really part of the 'gang' since he was always so secretive with things about his superiors.
God knows where that agent was now, last she heard about him was the Initiative recalling most of their agents for advanced re-training. Which Rogue later discovered was simply drugging them up even more and altering their behaviour to make them more violent. In a sense they where insane soldier puppets, Riley had barely recognised her last time they had met...and even when he did vaguely recall her, it didn't stop him from attacking the Slayer.
Looking back at the guy as he removed his glasses to reveal his eyes, she couldn't help but look away again, recollecting her thoughts, she returned her gaze to Chris.
Rogue:"No offence...but the last guy that was sent to me is currently under orders to eliminate me, the one before that tried to eat me, and the one before that....well...long story short, me and 'assistants' aren't really 'mixable'."
Folding her arms rather stubbornly across her chest as she continued to stare at him.
Rogue:" 'Sides, kinda got guests over at the moment, not in the mood to invite a guy who smells of vampires into my place. How would I know they aren't the 'order' that sent you?"
She asked with a half hearted smile, in truth, Rogue would have loved to get all the help on offer, but too many times they all ended up turning against her. She had big plans in the near future, she was going to try and free the humans from the slave pens. The slave pens where so greatly guarded by both demons and magic that it's something no one has been able to do so far.
...All she needed was to somehow break threw the magic barriers around the area, thrash her way past the demonic guards, crash down the magical shield around each of the actual buildings...and work her way from there..
Alright, so she needed to focus more and concentrate on a better plan....maybe she did need more help..
She wasn't going to let him in while she had these four kids in her protection, even her desperation for real help wouldn't make her do something that dangerous for them.
Rogue:"Alright, here's the Slayers Quize, get it right, and maybe I'll let you tag along with me on my patrol, I'm about to head out, get it wrong, I never want to see you again."
She offered him a pleasent smile that hinted she wasn't really fussed with which option she'd be left with, she'd either end up accepting his help, or closing the door in his face....
Rogue:"Drusilla has grabbed hold me, she's sank her teeth into me, Angelus is wounded and trying to escape, Spike and Willow are unharmed and also trying to escape...what would you do if this happened? You have three choices, so...which one would you choose?"
CHRIS
he thought for a moment on her 'quiz' before replying "i would start with saving you by killing Dru, then if there was time i would move on to the net big target of my order, Angellus"
he stopped to judge her reaction to this, all the while thinking about the panic button on his watch, which when pressed would result in all the agents in the area converging at the position of the signal, and he knew there were two round town somewhere, even though they were not as good or strong as the slayer unlike him.
He then explained his choice, "the loss of the slayer would not be acceptable in these current times, and getting rid of druscilla would be a good thing, Spike is of no threat, Willow is not particularly active in the evil sense, so the only choice would be out of Dru and Angellus, now if Angellus was injured with my sword, the wound would not heal for a good long while and if Dru is biting you then priority would be on stopping her" he finished his little explanation, deciding that convincing her would be a lot simpler if he showed his pendant, or the large cross tattooed across his back, he chose to show the former, reaching inside his collar taking hold of the silver cross on the gold chain that hung around his neck and pulling it out for the slayer to see "there, now you can see that I am not a vampire, if you need more proof I could remove my shirt to reveal a few more holy symbols, but I did not feel it appropriate, however if that is what it takes to convince you then I will oblige"
CATHERINE
She sifted uncomfortably on the chair, the idea of Rouge letting this man who seemed to have copious amounts of weapons into the flat didn't exactly thrill her to bits. She didn't think agility could do much when confronted with bullets and large swords.
Cat looked at Rogue her eyes dark, shifting her gaze over the slayers shoulder to glower at the newcomer, she was not the nicest person in the morning and if she could have had her way she would have slammed the door in the face of that man ... slayer ... thing.
SEAN
Sean glanced at the stranger and then back to the others, he wasn't comfortable with this new comer, not only did he have an excess of weapons, although he may need them in this place the thought drifted into his mind, but the man seemed very intent on gaining entry to the flat.
Sean slowly raised from his position on the sofa, and already he missed his optic lasers, he still could handle this guy with his telekinesis if he needed to, but still he felt lessened without his secondary power.
He moved between Cat and Dawn, from there he could see the stranger standing in the doorway talking to Rouge, he shot a sideways glance at Cat before watching on.....
Re: Councils Privet Apartments-The Gypsy Curse has Cursed us
JENNIFER
With a slight frown, Rogue placed her hand on the door.
Rogue:"Slayers can be replaced, the innocent Angelus kills in an attempt to restore his strength can not, if you'd risk their lives because I'm unable to defend myself, then you have no right by my side."
The movement of Sean behind her was easily heard, an obvious sign that her guests where uncomfortable with his stranger at her door.
Rogue:"I understand what you think, save the Slayer and all is well, but really, I'm not that important when it comes down to destroying Angelus. If my death keeps Drusilla away from Angelus long enough for you to destroy him, then that is what must happen."
With a faint smile, she began to close the door.
Rogue:"When you can accept that, maybe we'll talk, for now I have innocents that I must protect, and I can not-I will not, allow you to enter until they have safely gotten home."
Closing the door, the Slayer stared at it for a moment.
Rogue:"They're like vaulters swarming around me and telling me I can't work on my own...bah."
With a wave of her hand, she disappeared back down the hall and into her room, not reappearing until she had slipped on a shirt and grabbed her favourite stake.
Rogue:"Are you sure you guys will be alright, remember, no one can enter unless Logan or myself invite them in, so basically you're safe.."
CATHERINE
She tried with limited success to understand what Rogue and the man were talking about, looking from one to another her face drawn into a frown.
But she was more than glad when Rogue shut the door firmly in his face. She wondered why people were informing her she was a bad slayer, what Cat had seen so far had definitely impressed her. Rogue seemed able to take care of herself and she didn't need large guns or swords to do so.
The slayer returned and spoke to them, Cat nodding slightly in reply. But it seemed so ironic, that the safest place to be should be in the very home of a vampire. She ran a hand though her hair and glanced at the door, wondering if the man had gone or if he was still lurking in the corridor.
She intertwined her hands in her lap, wishing they had found a way to leave this dimension. She was feeling homesick and it did nothing to imporve her mood which was blackening by the minute.
Cat placed her elbows upon her knees and rested her head in her hands, looking down at a picture of a demon, her dark eyes reading the caption underneath.
CHRIS
Chris smile as the door shut, she did have a point, slayers were expendable due to replacements arriving soon after their death, with this in mind the obvoius answer to him now would be to lob in a grenade and run, sure she would have died but in her scenario she would have anyway and with a grenade he would have killed all of them, spike, willow, dru, angellus, the lot. He bent down and picked up his weapons, replacing the belt and re-sheathing his sword. he walked down the corridor, his boots once again clicking on the floor as he went, his superiors would not be pleased with what had just happened, but he didnt care, she seemed able to fend for herself and his last partner had died in the heat of a battle, for that reason it was best if he worked alone he would then only have to look out for himself.
He passed the man who had tried to stop him entering "sorry" he said, his voice showing no signs of emotion as he walked through the door, now his next move would be to find the other agents in the area, he figured the best way of doing that would be to go to the nearest vamp haunt and start a fight, it would be sure to attract their attention, he had picked up on sketchy reports of vampires frequenting the graveyard, seemed like a good place.
SEAN
Sean settled slightly as the door closed, the stranger being held outside away from them inside. Sean glanced at Cat and the to Dawn to judge their reactions to the events but both seemed quite quiet and uninterested as to why so many people pestered the slayer and why she always turned their help donw.
Sean moved forward slightly to catch Rouge's eye before speaking;
"Do you mind me asking why you don't except all these others help, surely they could do something towards your cause. I understand the need for caution but surely the more allies you have the more chance of defeating Angelus and his friends and getting your home back in order." Sean hoped he hadn't stepped out of line with the questions, but he needed to know.....
JENNIFER & LOGAN
Taking a moment to think over his question, which no one other then Logan has ever asked her before, she seemed to give a slight shrug of her shoulders.
Rogue:"Because they all die."
She replied rather softly, slipping the stake into the inside pocket of her slim leather jacket.
Rogue:"It's not just that, they are sent by people who don't think I can't do my job, he just let Angelus escape to save my life. If I'm not able to handle Drusilla, then that's my loss, others shouldn't suffer because of it. A Slayer's gift is death, if my death saves lives, then that's how it's to be. They don't understand that, and that's dangerous, they may not be working with me, but they're still out there fighting demons, it's all the same."
Logan:"Rogue!"
The Slayer turned around as her watcher appeared at his room door, half dress in jeans, a gray shirt in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, which was pressed against his ear.
Logan:"I'm sorry if you're busy, but....can I have a word Jennifer?"
Not only did he appear anxious and eager for her to hurry to him, her watcher also had a slightly worried look on his face, Rogue gave Sean and apologetic glance before she moved towards her mentor.
Rogue:"I was just about to head out for early night patrol...what's up?"
Logan:"He wants to talk with you."
It was all Logan said as he handed the phone to the Slayer, and she took it slowly, placing it by her ear curiously.
Rogue:"Slayer Speaking, how may I-oh....Mr Blake, uh...how are you sir?"
Rogue threw Logan a cold glare before she turned and disappeared into her room, returning moments later with a few small wooden crosses. Balancing the phone between her shoulder and her cheek and she talked with him, leaving her hands free to hold the crosses. As she talked, she placed one cross by the door, then one by the window, and one was placed on the kitchen bench.
Logan:"What does he want?"
The 26 year old whispered nervously, but Rogue gave him a wave of her had as she continued to listen.
Rogue:"Right..uh...wait no...becau-no...Spike? Yeah but he's...no...Willow's here, no not here with me, here in Lost Angels. But that's what...they're not here, because they wanted to go on a holiday, how would I know!? What? Why?When..?"
With a frustrated growl she hanged up the phone, much to the shock of her watcher.
Logan:"Did you just hang on my father!?"
Rogue:"Of course not....I'm pretty sure he stopped talking.."
Logan:"Rogue! "
The slayer tossed his phone back, Logan easily grabbed it with one hand as Rogue informed him on what his father wanted.
Rogue:"He's upset we didn't tell them about Angelus, Spike and Drusilla's disappearance, since when did he report to him?"
Logan:"You put the crosses up...why did you put the crosses up.."
Rogue:"Oh...uh...well...he.."
Logan's fingers gripped his shirt tightly in his hands.
Logan:"He's coming here!?"
The Slayer backward away towards the door as she spoke.
Rogue:"The dude wants to crash at out crib while he's in town, don't worry Logan, he's a total loon if he thinks he's sleeping here."
Logan:"Where are you going?"
She opened the door still facing Logan, offering him an encouraging smile.
Rogue:"Patrolling, remember?"
Logan:"Now!?"
Rogue:"That's the idea of morning patrols...to do them in the morning. I'll be back later, see you later guys, and remember, I don't have any friends, so if anyone shows up, free feel to kill them for me."
Flashing the students a smile as she heads into the hall, Logan rushed to the door and anxiously called out to her.
Logan:"If he's not staying, why did you put up the crosses!?"
Rogue:"Relax Logan!"
She called back as her footsteps where heard descending the stairs.
Logan:"That's not entirely possible at this point in time!"
Like a child he stepped back into the apartment and slammed the door, walking back to his room as slamming that door closed as well.
He began pacing nervously in his room, it was one thing working for his father, but living with him...that was just terrifying. But surely he wouldn't do anything with Rogue about, and Rogue wouldn't let his father hurt him...and would his father dare drink in the Slayer's home?
His heart was beating so rapidly he thought it was going to explore, everything inside was twisting and burning, why did his father want to come here? The Watcher sat up, slipped on his gray shirt, and then hurried back outside.
Ignoring the students, he opened the fridge, his eyes quickly scanning over the contents inside, his hands reaching in and grabbing out various items, all of which where bottles. Picking up four bottles he had pulled from the fridge, all of which where wines and barely touched. He placed them on the bench and then reached up for one of the cupboards, pulling out a bottle of gin which was also basically untouched. Placing them all together on the bench, he looked about for a moment and then knelled down. Opening another door, he pulled out a roll of bin bags, tearing off one of them and opening it quickly. Placing the bottles carefully into the bag, he then disappeared into Rogue's room, knelling on the floor and pulling one of her case of weapons from under her bed.
Once he had safely hidden those away in the Slayers room, he went back to his room, looked about to make sure everything was clean, and then headed back to the main room. He glanced about nervously once more and then moved over to the door, he was going to grab the axe that had been left there, only decided to leave it...
Turning about quickly, as if only just remember his guests, he flashed them a very strained nervous smile.
Logan:"Al-Alright, are you hungry or thirsty? What about clothes? We-We have other Potential Slayers in the building, I'm sure we can borrow some of their clothes. O-or Sean was it? There's some younger male Potential W-Watchers you can see about c-clothes if you want."
CATHERINE
Cat listened to Rogue in horror as she talked, she seemed so calm and collected while she told them that it was a gift ... a gift? it seemed more like a curse to her, why? how? could anyone talk to dying with such a lack of emotion. She looked at Rogue, why would anyone want to kill her? Rogue was brave, strong and one of the nicest people Cat had ever met, she just couldn't get her head around the whole slaying thing properly. She watched as Rogue left the room to talk with Logan who had called her from the other room. She half heartedly wondered where the other boy had got to ... Clay wasn't it?
She got to her feet, casting the book away from her in disgust as she stood it landed shut on the other end of the sofa, not looking at the other two as she spoke, her voice had an empty hollow quality to it.
'Death isn't a gift ... it's ... it's horrid.'
She turned and went to stand looking out of the window, her shoulder leaning against the wall. Ignoring the old pain that stabbed through her heart, she didn't like talking about death, it brought back memories she'd rather forget.
She could see herself standing by a large open grave, a pair of light wooden coffins lying in the gaping hole in the earth, she could still smell the freshly cut beech wood, the shiny golden handles and the plaques engraved upon the smooth polished lids stating the names of her parents.
Stuart Hall.
Lisa Hall.
She had stood the words of the parson washing over her, going in one ear and out of the other, all she could think was that the ground was swallowing up her parents. She gazed around her through dry tearless eyes, there were lots of grown men and women standing around, all dressed in black, the women with handkerchiefs clutched in their hands. Her parents had been popular in the local community and many had come to say their goodbyes. It hadn't seemed right to Cat, how people kept telling her that if there was anything they could do they would ... but then none of them offered to take her. As if they didn't care that she was being taken away from everything she knew in the morning, being driven over three hundred miles to the bustling busy city of London and to a hostel there, where she would stand clutching her holdall to her, frightened and terrified of the eyes of the other children as they scrutinized her. Cat tended to be very touchy around her physical belongings, she didn't like other people touching them, she knew people went though your things in the hostels. She hoped her things were alright at Xaviers, she really hoped no one had been through them, the thought of anyone seeing the only picture of her parents she had terrified her, imagining someone loosing it or taking Fred. She shoved a balled fist into her pocket, her whole world was in that bag, she stared angrily out of the window, her thoughts back upon her parent's funeral.
The sun was warm over head and the grass under her feet was springy, somewhere not far off a bird was caroling, she seemed detached from it all. She stared down at the coffins, no it wasn't real ... it couldn't be happening, she felt like it was just a horrible dream. But she hated sleeping ... dreaming ... she would wake screaming in the night, drenched in a cold sweat until the doctor prescribed her sleeping pills but they still didn't stop the dreams.
Some one had handed her a white lily as the Minster stopped talking, a tall man was pressing it into her hands, closing her fingers around it, one bony hand clasped her shoulder, he was saying how sorry he was in a shaky voice. She stared down at the white carnation, lilys were such horrible flowers she decided at that moment, she already associated them with death, they had been at her uncle's funeral, such a short few months ago. She realized that people were leaving, turning and walking away. How dare you leave she thought angrily, turning around as if to call them back. She caught sight of a figure stumbling away, headed in a separate direction from everyone else. She recognized him as Dave, her cousin. He seemed almost not to see where he was going, she looked down at the wooden coffins and then up at the black inscriptions upon the grey headstone.
Here lye the bodies of Stuart Hall and Lisa Hall.
There was a space where the dates of their deaths had been recorded then a pretty verse which Cat had insisted was placed upon it. Her mother had repeated it to he once and it was something that had stuck out in her memory.
Ideals are like stars, you will never succeed in touching them with your hands, but like the sea faring man on the desert of waters you choose them as your guides and following them reach your destiny
She let the flower fall from her grip, it spiraled towards the ground, she turned before she saw it hit the ground and followed after David, trying to catch him up even though her legs were much shorter than his. She laid a hand nervously upon his shoulder, the last time she had seen him was his fathers funeral.
'David.' She said her voice trembling slightly, he turned and she could see unshed tears swimming in his eyes. He stared at her before he stretched out and drew her into a hug that almost crushed her, she could feel his hot tears dropping onto her neck as her own slipped down her cheeks, she buried her head in his neck.
Cat shook her head trying to dispel the memories and the shudder which ran down her spine as she realized the date. It was her birthday tomorrow and four years to the day since the accident. She frowned at a piece of litter that the wind was tossing across the dark street below.
Cat religiously did not celebrate her birthday, she saw no reason to, the last time she had her parents had been killed. How could she bring herself to be happy on the anniversary of their deaths. She usually found somewhere quiet to go by herself, it was one of the only times she would allow herself to cry, not that she could have stopped the tears even if she had wanted to. She would often go and sit on the roof of the block of flats she lived in, Roger and Anne's apartment had been on the fifth floor and on top of the seventh and final floor was a wide roof. It had three huge ugly chimneys that stuck out like chimneys on a ship and was ringed by a waist high wall. Many of the slabs of stone which made up the floor were broken and weeds poked through and clung onto life where ever soil had been able to accumulate. At one time she supposed it was meant to be a roof garden but now the hanging baskets were full of dusty soil and some had even fallen off, lying upon the cracked slates. Noone in the block had any feeling of community spirit, each family was more interested in their own struggle to keep on top of the monthly rates. The garden she had heard was supposed to have brought them closer together but like most community schemes it had failed miserably
She would sit down with her back against she wall and think, she knew during the day she was alright up here, but with the setting of the sun the local gangs of teenagers would make their way up onto the roof. Here they knew they were safe from cops and their parents and there was noone to reprimand them about their drug habits or smoking or what they got up to with members of the opposite sex. Cat stayed out of their way and they in turn took little notice of her, she didn't agree with the things they did but life was easier if you turned a blind eye occasionally
If she stood up and rested her elbows on the rough concrete of the wall she could see across the main road which lay close to the block of flats. It was like a totally different world over there, it was true they were flats but nothing like the one she lived in. They were guarded twenty four seven, had lifts that worked, balconys full of pot plants and even a brightly coloured macaw in a gilt cage on one floor. And since the tower block was a story smaller she could see onto their roof. They had a large swimming pool which various women would always be draped around watching their children splash around happily. She often found herself wondering what her life would have been like upon the other side of that motorway, those people had expensive, flashy cars, (rather like Jons) they would often pass her on the street, running to catch the subway and though she knew who they were she was just another face on the busy streets of Washington. She supposed things would have been alot different if she had been there and not upon the outside looking in, but she tired not to dwell upon it, it wouldn't help her.
She heard Rouge come into the room and then leave and a moment later Logan entered the room, by the clinking sound behind her she could tell he was doing something with bottles. When he returned a few minutes later and spoke she didn't turn around nor acknowledge his presence in the room. She was watching the figure of Rouge as she walked down the street, trying to stop her bottom lip from trembling miserably.
DAWN
Catherine wasn't the only one with the look of horror, Dawn had heard her sister give speeches before, but she's never talked like that! Never around Dawn anyway, and hearing her talk like that was heart breaking, even if this wasn't her sister, it was the closest you'd ever get.
'Death isn't a gift ... it's ... it's horrid.'
As Rogue walked off, Dawn pulled her eyes away, staring down at the floor in front of the sofa, words of past arguments flowing threw her mind. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice Cat moving around, and the spell caster was desperately trying not to lose herself in tears.
Jennifer was the only family Dawn had left, and this reality's Jennifer talked so openingly of death, just like her Jennifer used to. But Dawn had gotten so upset once that she had stopped speaking like that, Dawn forgot what it was like to hear that horrible speech.
Jennifer:"Death is my gift Dawn, I was born to die for you.."
Dawn:"Why can't you live for me!?"
Jennifer:"Because I'm the Slayer, if I live, then that means I'm not doing my job!"
Dawn:"But if you live doesn't that mean you're doing a wonderful job? Please, stop talking like I'm never going to see you again!"
Jennifer:"Dawn! I'm off to fight Angelus! ANGELUS! Dawnie! There's a very possible chance you never will see me again!"
Dawn:"Then don't go, please Jennifer don't go!"
It'd only been a few months since their mother had died, and Dawn was only a child when all that happened, it was almost 7 years ago. So it was devastating for her to find out she might be losing her sister as well. Logan was her sisters Watcher as well, he always promised Dawn that if Jennifer ever....left....that he'd take care of her.
Dawn knew why Logan was so upset over his father's arrival, Mr.Blake was a horrible, absolutely horrible person, he always hit Logan. Not just as a child, even a year ago when he came down to see Jennifer, Logan told him not to drink around Dawn and his father slapped him clear across the face.
It was strange seeing the guy who was almost like a father for her being slapped so hard he's nose began to bleed, Dawn was so mad she almost zapped the older man with a spell.
She was so torn up inside, upset over Rogue's speech, full of pity for Logan, she just wanted to go home, she wanted to get away from this place!
She listened as Rogue's footsteps where heard echoing down the stairs, she held the book on her lap even tighter, pulling it towards her chest protectively. Did her sister still think like that? Back at home, did she talk like that when Dawn wasn't around?
Lowering the book slightly, Dawn opened the front cover, her eyes longingly looking down at what was written.
I know they're just words girls, but the meanings behind them,
they're filled with love, my love, our love, never forget what we have girls.
Because we have each other.
--Mum
Girls....she was speaking to two people, what happened? Obviously Dawn was born...or another sister, but what happened to her? Why wasn't she here?
Angrily, Dawn looked over to Cat who was off by the window, then over at Sean, before finally glaring towards Logan as she stood, moving over to the window as well, yet kept a bit of a distance between herself and Catherine.
Dawn:"...She always says that."
Watching as Rogue's shadowy form disappears in the streets below as she whispered softly, her voice was trembling as if she was still fighting back tears.
Dawn:" 'I have a gift Dawnie, my gift is death, I was born to die for you', because obviously living is to selfish for a Slayer."
Hesitantly the Watcher looked at her, but Dawn turned about and walked off, heading back into the room she had been offered.
Dawn:"What is so great about dying?"
Logan:"It's a Slayers job to give her life in the struggle of freeing the people, I don't like the idea either but..."
Opening the door, she glared back at Logan.
Dawn:"I want to go! I don't want food, I don't want clothes. I just want to go back to the school and away from this supernatural heartache that I've been around my entire life, I've had enough of it!"
As she spoke, she had closed the door, half of what she was saying muffled behind the wooden door. Locking it so no one else could enter she sat herself angrily onto the bed, grabbing the pillow and cuddling it. Her silent tears remained hidden from sight as she rested her head down on the soft pillow, closing her eyes as she sat there.
Jennifer:"..I have to go Dawn, I have to fight."
Dawn:"But you don't have to die..."
Jennifer:"I do if it means I'm saving lives."
Logan was too stressed of his fathers possible visit to really understand what exactly was going on, he moved over to the book shelf, grabbing one of the books and opening it. He placed it on the kitchen bench as he began reading over the demonic symbols that formed words.
Logan:"It's not like I want her to die, I don't...I'd do anything to save her from such a fate.."
He was talking more to himself as he flicked through the pages regarding portal summoning.
Logan:"I just need some time to figure it out...I really don't want her to die..."
CATHERINE
Cat rose out of her own self pity to look across at the girl who stood across from her, wondering what she was talking about.
"...She always says that." she thought over the words, filled with bitterness. What was Dawn saying, that she knew another Slayer, or was she talking about Rogue, was she even talking about someone from this dimension, those words indicated to her that Dawn was talking about someone she knew well ... But what were the significancies of that, did it mean that Dawn knew a slayer at their home? but wouldn't that mean that their were vampires and demons there as well. That didn't add up though, how could that be, she had never heard of demons inhabiting their world.
She agreed totally with Dawn as she pronounced that she wanted to go home, she hated it here, she missed the warmth of the sun. Remembering how pale Rogue was, she glanced down at her own smooth, golden, sun tanned skin, she didn't want to loose her tan either. It had taken her allot of sun bathing to get to the perfect shade of bronze which accented and highlighted the intertwined gold and brown of her hair ... and she wasn't best pleased with the idea of turning paler.
Catherine wanted to say something to Dawn but she didn't know what. But the girl was walking off, shutting the door loudly behind her. She heard Logan talk after Dawn had left, a suddenly she couldn't stand it anymore, she span on her heel facing him.
With several swift paces she had crossed the room and seated herself on a stool opposite Logan, reaching out on hand she smashed the book closed glaring at him angrily.
'Right I want to know what's going on.' Growling slightly as she spoke. 'Whats this whole slaying lark? and why does Rogue have to die? and why are the vampires in control? and why does she have to be a slayer?' If you looked closely you could almost see spark flaring in the depths of her golden speckled eyes. She didn't care if she was repeating the words and why she felt like the repetition was putting across her point.
LOGAN
He stood up straight, almost taking a step away from the girl as she slammed the book closed loudly.
'What’s this whole slaying lark? and why does Rogue have to die? and why are the vampires in control? and why does she have to be a slayer?'
The watcher remained silent for a moment, simply staring at the girl, he didn't like tempers, people with tempers scared him,. never know what they could do, though he wasn't going to admit a child had it in her power to frighten him.
He frowned, removed his glasses from his hazel-blue eyes and placed them on the counter by the book, he did this almost without thinking. Whenever voices where raised in his experience, his glasses where usually the first get broken.
Logan:"The Slayer is a chosen girl, in every Generation there is one, she, and she alone, fights the fight against the undead and other demons alike. She is gifted with powers beyond our current understanding, a Slayer is unnaturally strong and fast as well as other certain abilities."
He got slightly more uncomfortable with the next questions but he tried to answer it as best as he could without appearing too emotional, which was extremely difficult for the young man.
Logan:"She doesn't have to die, and I bloody well won't allow her to waltz out there and kill herself. But if she knows she has to fight some demon that's causing havoc and knows there's every chance she won't survive, she won't let that stop her. She will die for us, whether we want her to or not, and there's no form of persuasion available to talk her out of it."
He didn't leave much chance for them to talk, he just wanted to answer all her questions and get it over with, the fact he couldn't see them clearly was the only thing that made him able to talk. Perhaps that was one good thing to happen out of constant drunken beatings, eye damage resulted in him unable to see things that where close up. Meaning he could ignore the people and the way they looked at him as he talked about uncomfortable matters.
Logan:"Vampires rule Lost Angels because I failed her as a watcher, should have staked Angel, soul or no soul it was my job. But Jennifer loved him, and I loved her too damn much to put her threw any more misery. I should have known there was a catch with Angel's soul, as her watcher I should have studied everything about it. But I over looked the small..."
He would have said 'moment of happiness' but his words would have been laced with loathed jealously, and he didn't feel the need to bring 'that' up again. He picked up his glasses, slipped them on slowly, and almost glared back at Catherine stubbornly, she had seriously hit something that had been weighing down on him for years..
Logan:"...detail which turned him back into the monster he was. Why does she have to be the Slayer? Because it's her destiny, it's what she was born to do! I don't want her die, I love her! But if she wants to go out and sacrifice her life for whatever is left of this dismal human race, then I'll be there for her, by her side, till the bloody end!"
With that, he slammed open the book she had earlier closed and continued reading the inscriptions.
Logan:"Now if you don't mind, I have ancient Qua'leth to read up on."
He pulled the book away from her and devoted his attention to the pages before him, but every symbol on the page seemed to blur together as his mind tried desperately to remember the meanings of each demonic letter..
With a frown he looked up.
Logan:"We're all here to do something, each of us have our own destinies, some more pleasent then others. Even you have a destiny, Spike, Angelus, Drusilla, they all have their own destinies, it's the Slayer's job to stop Angelus from fufilling his."
Looking back down at the book, he simply allowed his eyes to travel over the ancient letters, he wasn't in the state of mind to focus on this task any more..
CATHERINE
She looked at him as he grew more angry, watching him slam the book back open again, feeling the frustration in herself grow and build. She threw him a dark look and got to her feet speaking angrily.
'Well if you love her so much why aren't you out there protecting her?' She had balled her hands into fists by her sides. She could almost see the apartment she used to live in, she could remember Anna standing yelling at her, motioning towards the door, pointing with one finger. 'Out!! Get out Cat and don't come back till you've learnt some manners' Cat hadn't returned for three days, she had gone to Nina and her brother Brad's house and their mothers had agreed to put her up. Anna was almost sick with worry by the time she returned, hugging her with a bone crushing quality for a minute then rounding angrily on her.
There was the sound of cat boot clumping across the room and then the heavy smash of Rogues front door as Cat stormed out. She couldn't stay couped up, she didn't want to be near people, she just wanted to find somewhere quiet to be by herself for a while, to think and sort out her head.
She stood on her lace and sprawled to the ground, further injuring her pride, she scrambled undignifidly to her feet, angrily shoving her lace into the inside of her boot. Kicking the wall angrily and then cursing with pain which shot up her leg from her toes.
She wanted to find Rogue and drag her back to the flat, they were all insane, crazy ... one person couldn't go up against every demon here, no wonder the slayers were always dying. Where they just stupid or something. They might have been able to do something if everyone stood together but sending one woman out to fight hordes of demons by herself was ludicrous
SEAN
Sean moved back to the sofa and sat quietly, he could hear the heated words being said between Logan and Cat and tried to shut them out, he wasn't in much of a mood to hear arguing when they were all stuck where they were whatever happens.
He sat quietly, unpertrubed by Rogues curt response to his questions, he had to ask them, and although her answer tended to be a bit morbid, he understood her reasons.
He didnt really know what to say anymore, and unable to find the energy to get some new cloths, just sat where he was, glancing at Dawn momentarily to see if she was going to do anything, but she also seemed equally unenthusiastic.
For a moment the dull silence was comofrtable until they both realised its presense and Sean shifted in his seat, in an attempt to break the icy quiet he spoke; "Hey, Wheres that Clay guy? He's missin all this.".....
LOGAN
Logan:"Wait!"
But his yell went ignored as the girl stormed off down the stairs, but he couldn't go after her, Rogue made him promise to stay here. It wasn't like he was letting her just walk off, she said she was going after Rogue. she'd be safe with his Slayer.
He frowned, listening to her heavy footsteps echoing down the stairs, with a breath of frustration he entered the room again, leaving the door wide open.
But the Watcher simply leaned his body against the wall by the door, Sean's words simply lingering on the air and left unanswered. Minutes passed, the silence almost unbareable, but the silence was broken by Logan's phone ringing, but the watcher made no move to pick it up.
Logan:"Alright...I should start looking for a way to get you home..."
With that, he moved back to the book on the counter, though he stared anxiously at the door often, hoping Cat would return with Rogue any minute now...
CATHERINE
She felt like her lungs were going to explode, she wasn't used to putting so much strain upon her body and it complained, she still had the foul taste of iron blood in her mouth, reminding her always of what happened.
It didn't take her long to reach the apartment, slowing for a second to yank the door open, then she was dashing up the stairs two at a time.
'Logan ... Sean ... Dawn ... Logan.' The words rasped from her parched throat, as she hurled herself down the corridor to Rogue's apartment, throwing the door open so hard that it trembled violently.
'Y ... you've got to come quick.' She gasped, feeling a stitch send a seeing bolt of pain up through her side. The occupants of the room stared at her in horror as well they might since she was drenched in blood. 'It's Rogue she's ... she's been attacked, he's taken her to the Renaissance Hospital' She clamped a hand to her side, wincing in pain. 'You have to come quick.' She stepped forwards as if she would drag Logan from the building if he didn't move at once, fearful that every second they lingered Rogue might die.
ROGUE & LOGAN
(ooc-Sorry Lady, I'm going to have to NPC Clay
to have him come with us)
Lifting his head up instantly as he heard the shuffling of heavy feet anxiously storming up the stairs, he took a step around the counter towards the door. Perhaps Catherine had seen a demon and it had spooked her, maybe she was terrified and running back...god please let her be ok!
'Logan ... Sean ... Dawn ... Logan.'
Logan:"D-Dear god!"
He stuttered out loud with a gasp as the door burst open and the door stood before them covered in blood.
'Y ... you've got to come quick.'
Dawn and Clay had both left their rooms and slowly made their way towards the commotion, Dawn's eyes widening in horror as she stared at Cat.
Dawn:"Cat!!"
She yelled running towards her.
'It's Rogue she's ... she's been attacked, he's taken her to the Renaissance Hospital'
Dawn stopped by her side as she stepped towards Logan who had gone extremely pale at her words.
Logan:"..W-Wha-"
'You have to come quick.'
Instantly Logan grabbed his jacket, Clay and Dawn hurry over to Catherine and standing on either side of her, Dawn's hand reaching out and gently touching Cat's arm.
Dawn:"A-Are you alright?"
The Witch wonnabee asked fearfully as the left the apartment, but she paused, looking over Cat once more and running back inside. She'd been around blood enough to know it wasn't safe to wonder about covered in it...especially if you're in a demon world.
Logan didn’t' noticed her disappearance, rushing down the stairs on the verge of panic, yet a distant...look of disbelief in his eyes. Dawn meanwhile had grabbed some clothes from Rogue's room, shoving them into a bag she found on the floor, the whole time mumbling something to herself.
Dawn:"Body and soul, take me whole, from here to there....uh.....um....I'm not a pear? Grrr...Body and Soul, take me whole, from here to there...with gentle care...?"
She was used to her rhymes not working, because she was absolutely terrible at poems and rhymes, but now she was desperate so she was just blurting out anything that came to mind. Since none of it was working, she rushed towards the door after the others, at least she had 'potential slayer' speed..which meant, she could run without getting as tired as most people...but it wasn't anything overly special..
Dawn:"Stupid! Crappy! Evil! Worthless! I hate poetry!"
She yelled out in frustration as she leapt down the stairs three at a time, almost tripping over a few times yet not caring or worrying about it. She saw Logan and the others glancing back at her as she appeared from the building, but they continued on. Forcing the young spell caster to hurry as fast as she could, slowly catching up and finally staying by Cat who seemed so tired.
Logan:"We don't have a car, we have to make it there on foot, it's not too far! Let's pray they don't refuse her, there's no other hospital around any more!"
CATHERINE
'I'm ok.' She said still rather shaken from the whole episode, she rubbed her hands on her trousers, feeling the gun scrape against her leg as she did so. She watched as Dawn touched her arm ... she shouldn't do that Cat thought, she'd get blood over herself and Dawn liked her clothes neat and tidy.
She followed the others in a kind of trance, willing her body to move, it obeyed her but she felt disembodied. Feeling the cold air of the darkened street hit her again she followed the others, wishing she hadn't had to bring them such news. She saw Dawn catch her up, perhaps the girl wasn't as bad as she had thought, Cat half wondered but she she heard Logan say they would have to make it on foot.
'Wait ... hold on a sec.' She said, she might be able to do some good for once, might be able to help more than hinder, she hadn't even been able to help Rogue, she had just sat there and held her as she bled.
She stepped up to the nearest car, close enough that she couldn't miss, rasing the gun which was still clenched in her hand, she clicked off the safety cap. As the bullet hit the window the safety glass shattered, the small metal object burying itself in the door on the other side, immediately the alarm on the car screamed in protest.
Laying the gun down carefully beside her on the ground she reached into the car and unlocked the door, she yanked it open, hearing the tinkle of glass as it hit the pavement. She knelt down by the car door ...
She could almost hear Jon's voice in her ear ... 'Hurry up Cat.' He was looking rather nervously around him, no matter how many times the five did his he always acted like the police were about to come racing around the corner to arrest them. It had happened in the past and luckily they had all got off with community service
Back in the present she reached under the wheel of the car, her fingers searching for the wires, trying not to cover herself in glass chips and well as blood. The next second the waling alarm stopped and the engine revved into life. She tried to brush the best of the glass from the seat.
'You should drive.' She looked back at Logan, he was the only one who knew the way, she prayed that Chris had made it there alright, was Rogue even alive? She picked up the firearm from the floor and placing the aftey cap she shoved it into her back pocket.
DAWN
Logan didn't hesitate - or complain of the theft - as he got into the car, Dawn left the door open, allowing Cat to climb in first. Sean and Dawn sat in the back with Cat between them, Clay and Logan in the front. As Logan started the car, Dawn looked over the blood that Cat was covered in...all that came from Jennifer? ...How could all that come from Jennifer!?
Poor Cat...not only does she dislike mutants...fear demons...get torn out of her dimension, pulled into a dark world, thrown into the world of supernatural things...she has to go threw this.
Dawn:"...I'm sorry Cat, being around a Slayer...it's terrible...but this happens, it's why I left home, I couldn't handle the demons...the death...it was just too much..."
Her eyes looked over the blood that covered Cat's face, it was so hauntingly familiar, Dawn remembered when one of her schol friends where attacked....she tried to save her...but the demon attacked and over powered them both so easily...
She blinked away the memories of the cuts that covered her body, completely drenched in blood when her sister had found her...she barely noticed....just wanted her friend to get help...but it was too late.
Dawn:"Hold on Cat.."
The young girl whispered softly as she seemed to begin to undress, unbashfully pulling off her top and then her singlet, placing the singlet on her lap as she then placed her top back on.
Placing her fingers on Cat's chin gently, Dawn turned her face to softly as she used the soft white meterial to soak up the blood that stained her face. Although it wasn't really clean...it was slightly better, most of it was off, after that Dawn did her best to clean the blood off Cat's hands and arms.
Dawn:"...Um..."
Growing slightly uncomfortable as she tried to speak, Dawn slowly dropped the singlet that - since it's a bloody mess - had become rather useless to wear.
Reaching down, she picked up a small black bag and places it on her lap.
Dawn:"I got some...spare clothes for you, froms Jens rooms....uh...it's only a top...and one of her jackets, I just thought...instead of you wondering around with..those.."
Taking in a deep breath as she left the bag on her lap, she tried to offer some sort of assuring smile,
Dawn:"Maybe we can find a rest room or something at the hospital and you can get changed."
CATHERINE
She sat trying to huddle up as much as she could, not wanting to get any blood on them, like it would taint them somehow. She remembered what Rogue had said when Sean had been bleeding, that he'd be a magnet for demons ... and that had only been a little blood, she was covered in it. God what if demons came, they'd all die and it would be her fault. She shoved her hands between her knees so the others couldn't see them shaking.
Cat avoided Dawn's eyes, she was wishing she were a hundred miles from this place, Dawn was speaking, but the words were hardly registering in her brain ... was she saying there were demons in their world?
Why was Dawn undressing she wondered, her head was pounding, like someone was beating her behind her eyes, had she only been awake less than two hours? it seemed much longer somehow.
She couldn't help flinching slightly as Dawn lifted her finger to Cat's chin ... what was she doing, girls like Dawn didn't like Cat, they didn't get along. She eyed the girl wairily, remembering a girl who looked rather like Dawn that had been at her school who had taken a personal vendetta against her for no other reason than because she was different. She could remember opening her locker to find that all her books were missing ... one of many things they did, her teachers hadn't been pleased with her pathetic excuse, she never did find out what happened to them. But Anne and Roger refused to give her money for new ones, as far as they were concerned Cat had lost them as part of another attention seeking ploy ... or so Cat's psychologist had told them. So on top of her dyslexia she had to borrow books during the lessons, however she wasn't allowed to take them home so her homework was never up to much, just a jumbled mix of snatches of half remembered things the teaches had taught.
Cat was supposed to see her psychologist, a young women with orange hair and a perfect set of teeth once a fortnight. She was supposed to be working though her problems, the nightmares, her attitude problem her lack of motivation since her parents deaths. She attended only because she knew if she didn't that the social worker would be around the next day wanting to know why she wasn't there and Anne and Roger would start screaming at her again as soon as her social worker was gone. So she went and she sat and answered the woman's questions with one word answers, she knew this infuriated the woman.
'Hi Catherine.' April Dawkins would start off, she always seemed to have loads of energy at the beginning of Cats appointments and a large smile for the girl, but by the end she seemed to need a strong coffee and there were lines under her eyes.
'................' The silence was stony, April looked down at Cat's file, almost wincing when she saw how little progress they were making, this girl and others like her were a drain on the state funds, she thought rather irritably ... But no she mustn't think like that, the girl was just troubled ... she was ill and it was her job to cure her. She just didn't know how to get through to the girl, she shuffled her papers and ran a hand through her short hair, adjusting the impossibly tiny glasses on the end of her nose.
'Have you been having any more nightmares recently?' She said in a sweet voice, the girl who was lying on the couch next to her, her head in her hands made no response. April took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. 'Now come on Cather ...' She began.
'No.' Came the curt reply which interrupted her, April glanced down at the page infront of her, she gave a little sigh.
'Miss Hall, I thought we discussed lying last month, Anne says you woke on Wednesday screaming.' She looked over at Cat expectantly. Cat scowled, why did this woman who didn't even know her want to discuss her parents death, Cat didn't even want to think about it, she wanted to pretend that it had never happened.
'No, you talked about lying.' She muttered darkly, adjusting her position slightly.
Cat felt Dawn bringing her head around so she could wipe away the blood that covered Cat's face, Cat had no choice but to look into Dawn's eyes or kick up a fuss. She could feel the remaining blood drying quickly on her face, under her finger nails, in her hair. It was sticky, she shuddered slightly fighting back the impulse to be sick.
She tried to listen as Dawn spoke, she had brought Cat clothes ... but they didn't belong to her ... she didn't want to wear a dead girls clothes ... NO! she had to stop thinking that, Rogue was going to be fine.
'Thanks .... maybe.' She said replying to the girls comment, she felt really awkward all of a sudden, perhaps she had been wrong to judge these people the way she had.
END.
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