Illusive Autonomy
Still, snow was falling from a sky that saw everything.
Small flocks of white coldness, shrouding the world in pale comfort of questionable safety. Winter, yes, winter it was and those having lived long enough in New York City to know guessed it would become not only colder but freezing with piles of snow, letting the whole metropoly look as if an avalanche had tried to burry some of the world's highest skyscrapers. A ridiculous attempt.
A weak sun sent diminished rays of light towards the frozen earth, not warming, not even illuminating the world as it used to do just a few weeks ago. Early afternoon it was but for those few not working but wandering the streets, not distracted by things of more importance and free to pay attention to their surroundings, for those it seemed as if night had already begun to stretch out its thin and nocturnal fingers towards those hours that had traditionally belonged to day since the first beam of light had touched this celestial body's surface.
Considering the day of the week, there were actually surprisingly many people on the streets and even more astonishing was the fact that many had already begun with gathering their Christmas presents. Still, there was a large number of citizens rushing into the shops one day before Christmas Eve, but it seemed those having realized the potential of a relaxed day before the season were slowly but surely forming the majority. Some wore content expressions, others seemed rather devastated, both of which may have been due to the results of their shopping tour or because of other reasons of more or less significance.
Aran'kla Tzho-Quentin did not care. In fact, he had neither noticed the chilling wind nor the decorations many shops were already beginning to apply to attract more customers. After having left the Renaissance Hotel, the supposedly possessed mutant with the green skin had aimlessly been wandering around, ignoring those stopping to stare at him or small children either starting to cry or being strangely interested upon seeing the young man's uncommon features. In both cases, their parents tended to quickly drag them away, trying to distract them with something colorful or blinking which hardly ever failed to work. The world of children is such a simple one. There is good and bad, sometimes not even that difference but never anything in between. Believing is easy, close your eyes and put your shoes together, Elly, home is just a wish away!
Home... there was no such a place for him. True, there was Xavier's where Dryad had lived for the past three years. Aurora had become a close friend, some others he considered to be his friends as well and generally, he was coming along with this group of weirdos and outcasts of society like he was one himself. But was this place his home? Isn't this rather something where your family lives, where you maybe even grew up? Where there are people who have known you from when you were nothing but a toddler, screaming and whining for attention, a place you connect millions of memories with... isn't this home, and not the refuge you escaped to in order to not to go insane after you actually lost what it was supposed to be a substitute for?
Twice, twice he had lost home. He had grown careful of calling any other place after his clan's like this, fearing something was waiting for it just to tear this precious gift granting him moments of bliss apart. Xavier's was not a home. Maybe he was just trying to find excuses to protect those people, those people who had become his fami-... no, they mustn't be more than acquaintances or maybe friends, not more! A home was where people understood you, sensed your fears, sensed your pain and acted accordingly. Who had ever understood him at the Institute? He had opened up to a few, like Connor, hoping they would understand him and his attitude better. A bitter laugh, short and so full of hurt feelings and disappointment sounded, a sound that old men who had been abused my Fate should be able to produce only. The young Wolverine had not understood him at all, so focused on his own little world of oh so important things, Aran doubted he had actually listened to,let alone understood his words.
Angrily, the photosynthesis mutant kicked a stone out of his way, unknowing that the demon possessing him, the one he reckoned to be fully under his control, was actually enhancing those negative emotions to get him where its perverted mind wanted him to be.
Why had he been so stupid as to really believe he would be understood? Those naive youngsters would never get him. Some of them had human friends, some even longed to be human! As if that was something to long for. Why would someone want to climb down on the ladder of evolution, for what reasons should anyone possibly want to become as hypocritical and violent, as ignorant and self-righteous, as nasty and reckless as those homo sapiens who considered themselves the most important beings on earth?!
Not all those thoughts, in fact the smallest part actually came from the Wraith. Since his clan had been slaughtered three years ago, Dryad had never stopped thinking them. The government had decided to get rid of that plague they considered mutants in Washington to be. Therefore, they had sent a task force to carry out this wish of theirs and, since this nation was based on democracy, that of the whole human population. It was just as simple as that and only the influence of some at Xavier's and his decision not to disappoint them had kept him from revenging his people's death in the most bloody manner he could think of.
The Hotel he had left for just that purpose. Now that he was officially obsessed, he could do whatever he wanted to and the demon would get the blame. It was like a dream come true but as it is rather often in those cases, Aran hadn't been entirely sure of how and where to begin when he had stepped through the residence's gate but now, now that the evil spirit inside of him drove away every kind of rational thinking, it seemed so easy. As the sun wasn't of much use the moment anyway and his reservoire was highly filled anyway, the mutant changed his skin color to a normal shade to avoid any more unwanted attention. Oh yes, he would make himself noticed, but not now. Now it was time for more subtle ways than simple killing... satisfactory torture it was his soul was crying out for.
Slowly, casually, he approached a woman of around 25 who was standing in front of a shop window looking inside.
Alicia Morgan had worked overtime for weeks to get her boss in the mood to grant her those weeks off. It was actually the first time ever she had started her christmas holidays that early the year, normally it had been on the 23rd and lasted only a week; but this time it were 21 days of carefree bliss.
There was a small smile on the pretty woman's face as she admired a painting of her favorite artist, Alistaire Black. He wasn't well-known, in fact she didn't know anyone who had ever heard of him except for herself and her friends in front of whom she had been ranting about the beauty of his work so often. This seemed to be her lucky day. The piece she had been amazed by for so long had been put on sale and the price was low enough for her to consider buying it.... no, the decision was long made.
Warm hands covered her eyes and she jerked instinctively. "Guess who"
The warm voice sounded faintly familiar so instead of panicking like a good girl of NYC was supposed to react, Alicia stood still, thinking. Many of her friends were likely to play such kind of joke on her and even did rather frequently...
"Mike? ... um... Andy! .. no, wait... err....I know, the Tooth Fairy!"
It was a running gag she would use everytime someone would try that silly game on her and normally, it would lead to the person laughing and letting her finally see who it was. This time, however, the hands weren't removed and the voice sounded again, yet this time, the warm tone had faded and left something... something that let chills run down her spine.
"Close... call me the Boogeyman"
Before she could say something in reply to this stupid answer that, still, made her heart stop for a moment as she was reminded of her childhood fears, a million suns seemed to explode just one inch away from her, the light so strong, it wasn't only distant redness through her closed eyelids, it was golden. This curiousity of hers which she had often regarded as a gift made her open them just a little, enough to have a glimpse of what it was causing that light. Aran'kla had waited just for that. His face next to hers, like a lover would place his chin on the other's shoulder, he had watched her face. There was only as much as half of a finger's thickness between his hand in front of her eyes and her face, enough to let him see when her eyelashes would hesitantly flatter open. As she did, a malicious smirk crept onto his features and turning his head away casually, he suddenly intensified the brightness, then forcefully pressing his hand back onto her eyes. The shock for her was too much to react, to even move in any way. To the light, he added warmth, then heat and as he left her 30 seconds later, still her face turned to the shop window, there was reddened, swollen, blistled skin to be seen around her eyes that struggled to open. As Alicia had managed to force her body to follow her commands, Dryad was long gone... but still he could hear her desperate scream, the agony of a destroyed existence. Blind eyes stared at where color and light had once been and being questioned later she would always reply that it had been the Boogeyman stealing away her sight.
Still, snow was falling from a sky that saw everything... and did nothing to interfer.
(TBC - Spike, Garnet, Matt)
"Eternal silence cries out for justice. Forgiveness is not for sale nor is the will to forget.
I'll make those suffer who stole away my innocence and if it means to pact with the devil... so be it! "
Hours had passed. Hours which the mutant known as Dryad had spent entertaining himself with various smaller acts of pointless vengeance. Blinding drivers to cause heavy accidents, a few repetitions of what he had done to poor Alicia Morgan and several other things which - slowly - began to bore him. It was one thing to ruin people's lives, something that - especially with a malicious demon inside - provided tremendous fun, but it didn't at all make up to the past. Aran felt like a drug addict on search of the right thing to silence the cry inside forever. What he had done since late afternoon, it was like pot for a junkie on heroin. The way he walked - aimlessly, absent-mindedly - he could even be mistakened for one.
As the greening mutant passed one of the largest and most famous clubs of the area, the Baracas, mild confusion appeared on his features. It was the time of the night when at weekends, people would start to consider heading home but on working days, hardly anyone went out to dance. Or so he had thought. Dozens of dressed-up people seemed to have gathered at the place to party and while some were actually on the verge of leaving, others didn't seem too busy to get to sleep. What Aran'kla couldn't know was that the Baracas had an anniversary party going on which included cheaper entry for everyone with decent clothes. Those with extraordinary ones would even have free drinks for the whole night which had motivated many to arrive dressed in the most bizarre but also creative and beautiful costumes one could imagine. It was thus far from not understandable that even at tuesday night, people had come there. New York, city of lost souls and lonesome riders, which other place was more likely to be inhabited by people dancing the night away instead of getting some rest before the next working day began?
Dryad, however, couldn't care less due to which reasons so many humans were concentrated in such a small area that was just perfect for what he had in mind. The Baracas was situated in an industrial district of the city with barely any inhabited house closeby but still not far away from Renaissance Hotel. In fact, the building the club itself was in had once been a factory producing shoes and being a part of a larger complex, its front formed a dead end with other parts of the main building cornering two of the three other sides. What was an advantage for those preferring their music loud and bass-oriented would become more than just of disadvantage for those present this night. He didn't know why he changed his skin color so he was easily recognized as a mutant...he just did it.
This job was perfect! Well, maybe not actually perfect but nice; a nice change to what Matthias usually did and had done in the past. Selling burgers, papers or hotdogs had never been something he considered satisfying, needless to say his salary had been a joke. Working at a bar was - apparently - not really different to working at McDonald's, in reality though, it was. The whole job image made him feel better and if someone would have asked him on the streets what his profession would be, saying barkeeper was finally something he could reply without feeling embarrassed. In addition to that, he was paid twice as as ever before; after all, the Baracas was famous... which was one of the reasons why he was still wondering why they had employed him. Before he had started working there, he had never mixed a drink... he hadn't even drunk many in his lifetime.
"Evans, couldcha get some...,"
The rest of the request directed at him was swallowed by a volley of techno beats that let the crowd - even more than outside - scream in delight... and let Matt groan in agony. That - this was for certain - was the unavoidable negative part of his new job. He seriously detested most of what they played. As colorful people considered the club's various DJs' program to be, for people who couldn't see much of a difference between Rave, Techno and House, it all sounded the same. Especially since Matt usually listened to songs that had nice lyrics, good singers and skillful musicians. Genres differed strongly, something even he himself considered strange everytime he switched from guitar pop to orchestral metal without caring for the fact that normally, people liking one genre disliked the other.
However, the gesture that one of the higher ranking employees at the bar had let his words follow told him enough know what to do. A new barrel of beer was needed... sweet. Matt bit his tongue before he could ask the man how he of all people was supposed to fetch it quickly. Nobody had ever called him strong. In fact, he couldn't even remember ever having heard someone calling him anything masculine at all, his sometimes surprisingly dark singing voice aside. His whole appearance was rather femine, of slender build, he could eat as much as he liked (and he liked much) without putting on more weight. Since he was anything but sporty and hardly ever worked-out, "muscular" was certainly no attribute of his as well which he hated. Occassionally, there would be phases when he trained but since effects would not be seen soon, he usually quitted after a few weeks or even days concentrating his energy on things he considered more important for the moment.
When people only saw his back when spotting him first, they would often mistake him for a girl for his hair that he had dyed a bluish black over shoulder-length and that he loved wearing tight shirts didn't help to change this impression. Usually, Matt could be seen wearing black clothes and wearing two silver rings as well a pendant - a pentagram or a triskle, sometimes also a dragon or something similar - which identified him to those being familiar with it as wiccan.. and for rest - wrongly - as a satanist.
In fact, he was more of a hobby wiccan, doing smaller rituals for healing every now and then or so he had used to back then when he had friends. Back then when he hadn't known he was a mutant. Now that things had changed, he began to approach the Art again as he had taken up so many other things like his old personality like a homeless person collecting what was left when everyone was gone.
When a blinding light flashed and screams sounded from outside - both entering the club through the guarded entrance, the 19-year-old was reminded of what he had lost... his power. Once he had been called Divine, once he had even been a member of the Hellfire Club, one of the most powerful ones that is to say, even though this period in his life hadn't lasted for long. They had taken it from him, his precious... his power. Not much was left... not much from this gift that had enabled him to manipulate the elemental force of light. Without his wings, he felt so small.
"Se-Security! Geez, somebody do something!!"
A man - obviously in panic - stood in front of the club's guards who blocked the way. From their position, they could not see what was going on outside and seemed to suspect a cheap trick to enter for free but something told Matthias that there was more to it. The screams sounded too real to be a fake and as he hurried past the security, they seemed to begin feeling it as well.
Outside, Aran thought to have found what he had been looking for. And it was so simple. With a delighted laughter that would have been enough to get him a nice room in the local mental asylum, he aimed and released a beam of solar energy that hit a young man of around 20 and let him scream in agony for a moment before he dropped dead. He thus joined maybe seven others who lay scattered on the ground and those who were still alive had already realized chances were low they would live long enough to find out how many different types of electronic music that sounded alike the music industry would come to create.
The ex-X-Man was close to topping the last few massacres having been committed in New York, something that was rather astounding for a city with a crimerate of such astronomical dimensions, and the only one who seemed to be able to do something after Aran had effortlessly killed the security personal that had stormed out of the club to get rid of the disturbance... was Matt.
For a moment, he had been stunned like the others but since he was shrouded in shadows the roof covering the entrance granted, he soon realized that at least for now, he was safe. The fact that he was invisible thanks to what little was left of his powers helped a great deal to increase this temporary feeling.
"What can I do, what can I do??"
The thought bounced in the black-haired mutant's head and again, again like so many times before he cursed fate for stealing what would now have enabled him to soar into the sky like a god of light to redeem those unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was just one thing he could do to at least stop this insane homo sapiens superior for some moments, hopefully minutes so those people could escape. He could still influence other being's perception, could take away the ability to see colors, change the contrast of the image people saw. It was anything but a strong power but in those past months it had been enough to confuse attackers in those dangerous streets long enough to Matt could flee.
His green eyes fixed at Aran, Matt left hiding and gathered his power. He had trained the best he could on his own, trying to somehow manage to use shadow-walk, the power that made him invisible in shaded areas, and contrasting at the same time but as of then, he hadn't managed in doing so. A flickering white hue arose around the light manipulating mutant as he cursed the other with misty sight. For a moment, he had considered letting him see black and white only, something that needed less effort, but then he had realized that at night, a time when colors didn't even exist, this wouldn't have made any sense. So he had to resort to blurring his perception...
"Someone... please... someone... help me!"
He knew that it wasn't him who was in actual danger, it was no whisper to ask for help to save him... it was one to beg for a more powerful being to come and actually save those endangered instead of just buying them time. Before it had happened, everything in his life had been about power and a part of him still couldn't discard this attitude. It was getting better though, slowly, yes, but it did.
Dryad had just spotted another potential victim who was around the age he suspected those of the task force to have been. He had only killed those matching what he had - for which reason whatsoever - decided was the type of person that could have killed his people: male, a little over 20 and somehow looking as if they were likely to do such a thing. It was nothing he could explain, maybe it was just the wraith or it was Aran's core... he did not know and still, he didn't care.
With a sardonic expression, the green-skinned one raised a hand to end another existence as suddenly something changed. It was as if he was stuck in the thickest fog imaginable but wherever he turned, it didn't go away. It was as if this cloud hovered in front of his eyes and was attached to them and luckily for all those around, he didn't randomly shot around when he began to panic. Just one beam he released in course of the shock, one that was fired into the night sky and would lead Spike and Aurora to him.
"Eternal silence cries out for justice. Forgiveness is not for sale nor is the will to forget.
I'll make those suffer who stole away my innocence and if it means to pact with the devil... so be it! "
"Once I was called Divine - now I'm just Contrast. From extraordinary to weak and powerless. Do me a favor... to give this ridiculous existence some sense, could you at least laugh at me?"
Re: Illusive Autonomy
Everything was so different in this world, the streets, the layout, the smells and sounds, Max had said that a tall man was talking with the female agent about a place called the 'Renassaince Hotel'. Spike thought that would be easy to find, but once they began to walk, he truly realized how different their worlds really were now, trying to find his home was nearly impossible if he wasn't lucky enough to be able to pick up a building or two that where from his world as well.
It sounded as if screams where coming from everywhere, and at first Spike had been rather panicky about it, but Garnet had offhandedly informed him about the mass of clubs and music and screaming party goers he was probably just hearing, and since there was a lot of loud music it made sense and he had calmed down. It got to a point were Spike was looking very pale and faint, so when he suggested they take a detour to somewhere he knew for a moment he was pretty sure Garnet hadn't minded.. though it was obvious she was impatient and wanted to help the missing X-men.
The vampire lead her into one of the most secret of demonic bars, 'The BlackRose' normally if humans entered this place it was most likely they did not leave, though some mutants where able to enter, only those who where horribly deformed were ignored by the demons. After all, most demons consider humans to be ugly (and the humans often consider those demons to be ugly), so mutants that are deformed or appear 'demonic' are tolerated for the fact some demons find them appealing instead of thinking they are disgusting.
Everyone had been highly confused on Spike's appearence when he first came here after this worlds Spike was killed, and before when he had come here just before going to the Center to meet with Angelus, the old barkeeper thought Spike was acting odd since this one didn't know 'Ted'. Poor Ted was later murdered by Angelus however in order to gain information, everyone had been put off thinking Angel had lost his soul, Spike did try and explain once to them about being from another dimension, but none of them believed him as far as he was aware, they mostly assumed he was insane again.
Spike had excused himself from Garnet and left her at the bar, she would have noticed most of the demons now where very intimidated by his presence, or very agressive towards him. They all knew he was a Demon Slayer, mainly because he had come here a few months ago, he had threatened one of the demons who was being very rude towards him, and the other creature had not liked how Spike sounded so calm. Needless to say by the end of the bar fight the Blackrose lost a fair few patrons. Human blood had helped Spike grow stronger then this worlds Spike, so he was easily able to surprise the demons, and the fact he knew most of their weaknesses also helped him have his victory.
It wasn't more then just a few short minutes before Spike reappeared from the hall he had disappeared down, his eyes seemed more alive now, and there was colour in his still pale face, but the fact he wasn't looking as if he was dying of hunger any more would hint that he had grabbed something to nibble on. The only reason he went into one of the other rooms was so Garnet wouldn't see him drinking, even if he was just drinking from a mug.
Spike run his thumb across his bottom lip for a moment even though there wasn't any residue of blood, he was always uncomfortable feeding around humans, extremely more so when they where people he knew. Spike ignored some of the other demonic patrons who glared at him, but they would not be foolish enough to try and get in his way again, especially while he had a companion, most of them knew he was living at the school, it was a smart thing to know where powerful demons live and lurk about. So they would not be so dumb as to try and walk up to Garnet unless it was a demon unfamiliar withthe place or people from this area. Only newly made vampires were stupid enough to attempt to annoy Spike who they consider to be a traitor to demonic kind, both this worlds Spike and the one that was now with Garnet had been demon hunters, and both had slain many demonic entities and worked with the slayer.
Flashing Garnet a small smile while he moved passed her and hurried towards the door, feeling the usual delightful feeling one gets when consuming the life force that keeps him surviving for all eternity. Even if he didn't like the idea of drinking blood, especially with his soul back, it didn't change how wonderful it made him feel. He was pretty sure the only reason Garnet might have not complained about him stopping for a 'refreshments' was because she knew he was in no condition to fight what ever had been strong enough to possess the X-men warriors and take command of them.
Once they left the demonic establishment, with Spike's abilities back to how peek condition, he was able to feel the demonic presence of so many different beings through out the entire city, though it was slowly coming back to him still, amazing how weak he had gotten, he almost forgot how it felt to be fed and in peek condition.
"Well.. least I know where to go now." He mumbled sarcastically since there was an overpowering feel of dark energies coming from the direction of the hotel not too far off in the distance. There was a bright beam of light however when he finished speaking, it shot up into the sky like a flare calling for help, Spike shot Garnet a side glance while he added in a tone somewhere between worried and irritated, "Suppose it's too much to hope'at was just fireworks?" There was a moment were he seemed to hesitated while staring the direction the light had come from, in truth he had been wondering if he could turn into that bird again and fly over the buildings instead of running around them or through them. But he couldn't, he'd been insane when he had been doing it before, it was more of an instinctive reaction, he groaned a little.
"You fly, I'll run around the buildin'." Either way it was most likely with Spike's renewed speed he'd make it to the otherside at the same time as Garnet, if not a moment sooner. With that said, Spike darted off across the street, his body a blur of motion after a moment and easily dodging the moving traffic as if they were at a stand still in the middle of the road waiting for the change of light.
Re: Illusive Autonomy
To say Garnet had felt uneasy in the Black Rose would have been a major understatement. When Spike was at her side, those demonic creatures - or at least most of them - mostly took refuge in their mugs and pints, lowering their heads as if the vampire's gaze alone would kill them in an instant. This confused the fiery mutant who knew of her immortal friend's strength but still was under the impression that among demons, this was a common thing. After all, Angelus, Drusilla, Spike... and Belthazor had been the only demons she had ever met -as far as she was aware - and those were or had been of overwhelming might. She couldn't know that there were many weaker demonic creatures but naturally, those barely took the risk of being too openly active in fishy business to not attract the attention of demon slayers or governmental bodies as the Initiative.
However, once William had left her at the bartable, everybody's were on the ebony-haired girl that was of extraordinary beauty for human standards.. and thus incredibly disgusting for most of those present at this strange place. Aurora was used to having attention but this was something totally different. Quite embarrassed without actually knowing why, the GSF member let her formerly curious gaze drop as she concentrated on examining a highly interesting... thing on the table's surface. It was green and looked solid, yet as she carefully picked at it with a finger just to do something and avoid those creatures' staring she could still feel hovering about her form, it seemed to crack and became slimey. A disgusted expression ran over Garnet's features as she realized the substance was most probably demon spit or something similarly nauseate. As Spike returned, the young woman was glad to have finally managed to wipe off the thing that had glued itself to her finger and had just agreed on leaving when she had spilled the rest of the water that she had ordered earlier over it.
It was obvious that whatever he had done in the backroom was what he had been missing. Considering his starving expression earlier the day, it was rather simple to conclude this thing was blood. Circe didn't comment on it. Why should she? He was a vampire, there was no point in ignoring this fact and over those months, she had come to the decision that as long as he didn't kill humans, it was not only tolerable but as unspoken accepted as a human's odd taste. There actually was a similarity to pregnant women and their drive for vanilla ice and mustard.
When they left, Garnet was relieved to get some distance between those demons, their disgusted eyes and herself. This was not her world and would never be. Passing the door, she couldn't help to wonder whether it was still Spike's. Her thoughtful look that had lingered on him for a moment was soon distracted as golden light erupted in the distance She knew it was the area the Baracas was in for she and Madison had been there occassionally before she had changed. Again as so often before, Aurora made a mental note to try and approach this friend of hers again. During the last months, ever since Madison and her brother had shown up with metal claws to be precise, they had grown apart, something the fiery mutant was considerably sad about. She kept on telling herself that the Wolverette just had personal trouble and family problems but then again, why wasn't she talking to her as she had used to? Probably, both of them carried a part of the fault for this estrangement.
This light... it seemed familiar. The thought popped up all of a sudden, stunning her, trapping her thoughts so that she didn't notice Spike was saying something. As he darted off, she took notice of it but didn't follow right away. Slowly, the golden ray faded, as if the sun was setting and finally disappeared between the industrial district's dirty greyish building. The sun...?
"Aran!"
The whisper was loud enough for some of the few people strolling around this time of the night to turn their heads with a frown but since insanity was a far too common thing to be considered a phenomenon worth observing, they just walked by. Some feet away, they had already forgotten about the young woman except for those who saw her being devoured by flames a second later and speeding off into the nightsky. She still could remember the exact position of where the light had ascended from but chose to land in a narrow alley closeby to not attract more attention than possible in case it was really just fireworks or laser the club used to add something original to the place.
(OOC: if you wanna, you can go ahead... otherwise I'll continue with Aran, Matt and Garnet later ^^ *has to think a little about the continue*)
"Everybody deserves a second chance. Past mistakes must not be forgotten... yet forgiveness is an option that should be taken into consideration.
If there is someone who knows how much a person can change it is I."
(OOC: I hope you can follow, I myself forgot what I wanted to say and lost track so... well... I'm not that fond of some parts but maybe I'm just overcritical at such late an hour... or actually bad, who knows You're free to go ahead in the Hotel thread or wherever.. maybe it's time to let Cole pop up so so the whooole bunch can get outside. and with Spike and Circe arriving, not to forget about this striking argument of Storm (... hoho, damn, I'm funny -_-" , he could actually be motivated to get Kayel someplace safer.
oh and I'll be a good boy and only have two siggies ^^ Aurora is in Aran's anyway ^-^V *pretends he planned it all*
and as a last thing *wonders why he gets so OOC-obsessed at night*, I PLEASE PLEASE want you to be over-critical, Matt-naggish with this thread and what's to come!! I want to have something really good for Aran's final scenes... *gets all sentimental about his character and waddles off sniffling*)
Sometimes, people behave in a way that can only be called stupid. Was it mere idiocy or a primal fragments that made those in a danger so imminent, so present and perceivable it seemed one could even touch it, that made them stop in the middle of panicking and left them staring at Aran instead of running away?
Matt didn't know and thinking too much about it was something he couldn't risk to do. Didn't they feel that this treacherous silence, this illusiory peace was but a break that fragile-looking mutant was buying them? Fortunately, what seemed forever was actually just a few seconds which would not be deciding about life and death of those humans... or so the black-haired boy hoped as he kept his eyes fixed on the insane green man, only registering what was going on from what glimpses he saw out of the corner of his eye.
Slowly, Matt could feel his grip loosen and thus began to worry about what was to come after his powers had become ineffective. In extremis, he would have to run for his life which was not a pleasant thing to imagine. Like most people, he had dreams in which someone was chasing him occassionally. They were of the kind in which you just knew if whoever was following your tracks would kill you and this certainty would grow with every single unnaturally loud and somehow wrong, threatening breath you would hear so close and yet far away enough to let you linger in this state where you know you stand no chance but still have the tiny piece of hope left that's needed to make you go on. Totally incoherent, Matthias suddenly came to wonder why in movies, people always had witty lines to say in situations every sensible creature would just act instead of thinking about clever comments. The question almost distracted him enough to let his control slip and as he realized how close it had been, late panic arose.
Aran, on the other side, could feel his panic fading slowly. His eyes wide open, he carefully examined them to find out whether there was anything covering it. The result confused him and instinctively, he did what was needed to revoke the effect of Matt's power. Willingly, he concentrated to see properly, tried to focus, searched for sources of light and after some time, he actually found them. His sight was still very misty, but as he tried on, he could distinguish between light and dark. Dryad knew now it was only a matter of time until he would be able to see the world as it was again.
"You gonna be in big trouble, chérie,"
he said more to himself but Matt caught it up anyway. He couldn't really say that he was looking forward to it, yet he remained where he was. It was certainly no bravery in the traditional sense, more the silly kind of stubborness that led nowhere else but to trouble. Considering this, the greening mutant's words had been more true than he himself thought.
Aurora had run the rest of the way but since she was also desperately trying to be inconspicious, she looked almost comical. As she turned around a corner, obviously scared people were coming her way and seeing their faces, the girl soon realized no one was paying attention to her anyway. Whatever had happened or was happening at the Baracas had terrified these party-goers, something Aurora never had thought to be possible - country music as the sole known means aside.
She had no idea where Spike was. In his energetic state, he could be basically everywhere so instead of waiting she simply decided to hurry on. He would find her, she was certain about that. If only Aran was alright! The ray they had seen seemed to have been some sort of signal - obviously he was in danger and needed help. Although she despised that it was under such circumstances, she was glad to have found him. Even to her it seemed weird how sure she was that it really had been her friend and not a flashy new device of the club or anything else. Then again, she had trained weeks, all in all probably even months with him and knew what this light he was able to radiate looked like. She had never seen anything similar except for the sun itself and as she turned the last corner, she saw her guess verified.
"Aran!"
Something was wrong.
The relieved smile that had spread on her lips vanished as sudden as it had come as she saw the green mutant touching the area of his eyes as if he was blind. Quickly, she approached him with a questioning expression. He looked up, thoughtful, maybe scared, it was difficult to interpret his facial expression with his eyes staring nowhere in particular, right through her. Her suspicions of him being possessed vanished for a moment only to leave concern.
"Garny...?"
There was something about the way he pronounced her petname that made her frown. His voice seemed neutral and different at the same time. Aurora thought to have noticed a small part of bad conscience and again fear in it but blamed it on his sudden absence without dropping her a note. What other reasons should there be? As of then, the GSF member had not noticed the bodies - around one dozen, all male and approximately 20 years of age - that formed an uneven circle around him. It was astounding she hadn't for there was even the smell of burned flesh in the air that would have made her sick in every other situation. Yet not then. Too focused on him she was, too worried over his condition to really understand what was going on.
"What are you doing here?"
It was the Wraith talking. Aran knew it in the moment his body prepared to speak without him intending on doing so. What was going on here? Why could he sense this maliciousness inside and yet not as a part of himself? He was still to self-assured to realize the truth that timidly knocked on his door. For now, he ignored it and turned the radio on, telling himself that the demon was actually doing what his subconscious had decided was best. He had to get Garnet away from here, assure her of his innocence and do whatever he wanted to... but wait, had he not wanted to pretend to be under the Witch King's command to have an excuse for what he was doing? It then occurred to him that this part of his plan included the X-Men actually knowing some of their mates were possessed... did Aurora know of that fact? If not, his first impulse to pretend he was good old Aran was probably the best of choices.. he could make up a story about what those corpses were doing here - about what had happened in general. The longer he thought about it, the more favorable this option seemed. He could even include the Wraith in his story, go back to the Institute and lead a happy mutant-normal life with the certainty that he had taken revenge.
He was so busy thinking that he didn't notice the demonic spirit was acting all by itself. Like a cat waiting for the mouse to leave its hiding, it had lurked in the shadows of Aran's mind, feeding of his anger, his agony and frustration - it had perverted his thoughts, made him believe this kind of vengeance was what he wanted although it wasn't directed at those having not at all been entangled in this incident years ago. Now what it had planned began to enter the last stage. It had caged the mutant's mind before in a prison of vain feelings, self-righteous believes and the absolute certainty that it was him, Aran'kla Tzho-Quentin, who was in control, who was ruling and using the demon. In fact, it was just the other way around and the cage the Wraith had suddenly let appear around Dryad was even more malicious. It kept him in an infinite chain of thoughts, never-ending questions that led to one another and actually consisted of plans Aran himself had made and those the Wraith had added, had tricked the mutant into believing they were his own. Thus, there was a conflict between two different sets of ideas - the general idea of revenge, the urge for it and the wish not to lose his friends by fulfilling it on the one, and the reckless, violent need for pointless slaughter on the other side. An inner contradiction - subtle indeed.
As Aran eventually realized he had been betrayed, it was too late and as he weakly tried to fight against the demon's grip, it pushed him back into this malicious circle that let is mind notice only little from what was going on "outside".
When the Wraith had picked their targets, Aurora had been considered as well but for various reasons, others had been preferred. Others that were easier to access, easier to overtook with feelings of pain, anger, hate or even love dominating their lives or dark areas of the mind they would normally not allow to come to the surface. Her power, however, and the threat it meant was well-known and so the demonic spirit decided to take her where they were more and could get rid of her. The connection to the Witch King, however, was sleeping. The subordinate position the Wraith had allowed Aran to temporarily put him into had cut it but being closer to him, it would surely return - so it hoped.
"Fu...,"
A muffled curse sounded from the Baracas' entrance and while Aurora finally allowed her eyes to leave Aran's features which she had inspected with her eyes for those few seconds that had passed since his reply, a smirk appeared on Aran's features.
"I see....,"
he cackled in a victorious manner and turned to finally have a look at what had disturbed him. The flickering white light around Matt got brighter - yet still remained unstable - for a moment during which he desperately tried to fight against the lunatic creature's adaption to his power but then gave up. He knew his opponent had subconscious knowledge of what had happened to his sight and this would remain as an imprint for several hours. It had always been that way with his contrasting ability.
With a sardonic grin Matt had seen on the green one earlier, the demone once known as Aran'kla slowly as if enjoying his superior position raised a hand to get rid of the disturbance while Aurora was simply speechless. What had happened... what was happening?! She did not know. Neither did the young man whose eyes were large of panic before he did the most logical thing. He disappeared into the shadows.
A frown crossed Aran's face and while his eyes scanned for the annoying stranger, Garnet finally found words to express her puzzlement. "Aran... huh?!"
She was well aware that this certainly was not the most sophisticated question she had ever uttered but in this absurde scenario, there seemed to be only enough space for such essentiell messages. Matt apparently thought differently as he suddenly popped up just a few feet next to Aurora, stepping out of the shadow the moon, the club's lights and the building's roof were creating. Aran had turned his back on them, not caring for what Garnet was doing at the moment. The demon - without noticing it - had adopted the omnipresent desire for vengeance that inhabited its host and projected it now on Matt who once he again couldn't believe what he was doing.
"Can you stop him, can you fight him?"
His voice he kept so low, Aurora had troubles understanding them but thus Dryad didn't get them at all. A confused frown came as a reply and without thinking, she repeated her incredibly intelligent question as an alternate version.
"Huh... who?!"
Immediately, Aran whirled around and sent a destructive beam of light into Matt's direction. A groaled "Geee..." and a rolling of his eyes was the last thing Circe noticed before he quickly stepped back out of harm's way and into the sheltering arms of the shade.
Slowly, Aurora began to realize what was going on and her suspicions returned stronger than ever as she slowly stepped backwards. Her foot met something soft and as her eyes reluctantly followed the command to tell her what she had just stepped on, she wished they hadn't.
"Catch me, if you can!"
An insane grin appeared on the green man's face before he suddenly darted off. He would take care of this brat later... first the fiery mutant needed to be... removed. And her little vampiric friend as well.
It wasn't for long that Circe stood stunned. Finally, her brain was working normally again and after the initial shock, the picture was as clear as ice. Questions remained but those would be found answers to... later. Avoiding to step on those bodies she hurried after what she had thought was her friend. In retrospective, she couldn't believe she hadn't noticed the dead people; they seemed to be everywhere.
"Whoever you are, go to Xavier's Institute for the Gifted... get help... please! Tell them Circe sends you!"
Aurora just hoped the stranger would do as she has asked of him, that he would find the mansion and talk to the right people... she hoped that they would make it in time for she assumed correctly that wherever she was going, Aran would not be the only one they had to fight. This thought, so strange and unfamiliar, scared her more than anything else she could think of. But then again, she couldn't think of much else than whether this person that had just run away, the one who apparently had killed those innocents... whether he could really be what she had considered her closest friend.
So she hoped for everything to come to a happy ending.
And she prayed.
"Eternal silence cries out for justice. Forgiveness is not for sale nor is the will to forget.
I'll make those suffer who stole away my innocence and if it means to pact with the devil... so be it! "
"Once I was called Divine - now I'm just Contrast. From extraordinary to weak and powerless. Do me a favor... to give this ridiculous existence some sense, could you at least laugh at me?"
Re: Illusive Autonomy
ooc: So far the posts are wonderful...(the slaughtering parts are done nicely as well!).. And it is very difficult to ntroduce two close friends who are sudden't on the opposite side, you did a good job, Aurora's confusion made perfect sense, did a better job than I woulda done!
And I'm not really sure how to reply to this, so I'll leave it open at the end, now I'm off to do a post with Cole! *Goes to open up other page, realize it's been open for like a week* I'll try and post it by tonight (probably after midnight for me) or in the moring tomorrow..
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Contrary to Garnet, Spike noticed the bodies right away, the potent smell was almost unbareable for the vampire, like toxic fumes that poisoned his mind with images of untold brutal acts that plagued his past and remained silenced in the back of his mind. There was a moment of shock for Spike where he just stood there, he could almost feel his mind slipping away, his thoughts breaking apart and trying to collect a massive handful of more pleasent memories in order to throw them in front of him so he didn't have to see these horrendous sight.
Spike has never felt the slip into insanity so clearly before, as if for a split moment it was no longer an instinctive effect of a traumatic insident, but instead a habit induced state that seemed almost willed into existance by the vampires desire to flee from the pain around him. It was this moment of realization that scared the vampire, how dangerous was it if he actually did have such control over his mind? Such an easy escape, to willingly allow his mich to fall apart, but in truth it wasn't that Spike had gained any control over the state of his mind, maybe he could help resist her easily give into the insanity, but he could not blink and wish it upon himself so easily. He was so torn between the things Rogue has said and done before and after she was possessed, even if he was not allowing himself to think of them, it had him in a very unstable state, the slightest trigger threatening to turn his mind to rubble, and yet at the same time he was trying so hard to be so stronge, it was so exhausting.
Slowly Spike looked by from the men, their lifeless bodies something he would have once taken such great pleasure in having seen, and that thought of his pleasure alone was sickening to him now. Garnet had arrived now, she was speaking with Aran, she was standing in the center of the collection of bodies, void of any signs of life.
"Catch me, if you can!"
It was almost funny.. in a sick sort of way, the vampire could move at speeds that were but a blur of motion to that of the normal human eyes. Spike's mind and already tuned into his old 'Predator and Prey' state, a cruel little grin tugging at the corner of his lips, his intense blue eyes, with faint hazel specks that sometimes can be more prominent when light hits his eyes from a certain direction. But right now his eyes were the bright striking blue, hazel almost unregistering in his diamond orbs. Althogh hearing Garnet speak, his mind was too focused on Aran to pay any attention to her words, she wasn't talking to him so it didn't matter.
Using his inhuman speed, Spike rather effortlessly caught up with Garnet, he'd have run ahead, but then he was preparing to kill this murderous mutant, and right now he wasn't sure if that's what Garnet wanted him to do.
"Once I was called Divine - now I'm just Contrast. From extraordinary to weak and powerless. Do me a favor... to give this ridiculous existence some sense, could you at least laugh at me?"
You're free to go ahead in the Hotel thread or wherever.. maybe it's time to let Cole pop up so so the whooole bunch can get outside. and with Spike and Circe arriving, not to forget about this striking argument of Storm (... hoho, damn, I'm funny -_-"
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