xmutanthigh | [open thread] He's baaa-ck

Did the children manage to steal all of your beer again, dear? [Look, it's just second nature for Emma to comment when Logan's not drinking his usual. Or maybe she just likes being snarky. Regardless, she's currently retrieving a bottle of wine for herself at the moment because she prefers this to grading papers or reading business reports. Obviously.]

[Logan grunts, forning at the unfavoured Bud Lite label.] They replaced it, but with this American pisswater. Who buys Lite beer, anyway? [He eyes her unstolen bottle.] And why do they always take my beer, but leave your wine?

[Emma arches an eyebrow at him as she pours herself a glass.] Perhaps because I keep a better eye on my things? Or... [There's another smirk here.] Perhaps it's because they don't find you quite as intimidating anymore.

[There is a dangerous glint in Logan's eye as he meets her smirk, lip curling to show just a flash of a canine in a feral challenge.] You think that's it, eh?

It's just a theory, Logan. [Her tone may sound placating but it's probably not. She takes a nearby seat, sipping at her wine.] Granted, it's equally possible that these brats don't appreciate fine wine.

'Course. [He looks back down at his paper, taking anohter swig.] That's gotta be it.

[She leaves off from the light hearted verbal jabs in favour of drinking more wine. There's a casual glance towards his paper before she speaks again.] So. Anything new reached your ears? [Because they haven't talked about this overarching problem in awhile.]

Heist in Montreal. [Logan nods at the paper, offering it to her.] Looks like Mortis, Porter, maybe one more. I put the word out to the old team to keep an eye for me, especially if they can find out what was taken.

[She takes the proffered paper, skimming the mentioned article before passing it back.] Lovely. [There's a pause as she drinks a bit.] I can but assume you're looking into dealing with the... situation besides "putting out the word."

[Logan nods to himself, looking at his hands, considering deeply before he speaks.] I'm going to prep Allerdyce and go with him up to Vermont; I'm pretty sure there's something to find in the mountains. If there is, I'll find it. Pyro works infiltration, and I'll be on hand for extraction.

A two man team? Interesting. [There's a raised eyebrow as he oh so briefly outlines the plan.] Have you come up with an appropriate story yet to explain your absences from the school?

Hunting trip? [Logan shrugs, unconcerned. His disappearances from the school usually go unannounced and unexplained.] Allerdyce'll need a better cover, but the truth is just as believable as any story: he goes back. Turned coat again, or was just a mole. The plan is to go quick enough that nobody has a chance to ask questions.

Let me rephrase then, darling: are you intending to inform the rest of the team of your actual intentions?

I wasn't planning on it. [This is offered coolly, without room for much discussion. Logan goes where he wanna goes.] The situation is too delicate; if they get even a hint that we're coming, they could move. Potentially with Pyro, if they don't kill him first. Then that's two men lost and we'd be back at square one with tracking and neither of those two can afford to wait however many weeks while we track them down. [He clears his throat, glancing up at her, softening his tone just slightly. He isn't trying to shut her out or condescend, but this kind of mission is his specialty and it's difficult to confide even this much to her.] The less people involved in this, the safe it is for everyone. Especially John.

[Emma just nods, knowing when to back off. She's already starting to make a few plans in the back of her mind that are sure to leave him less than amused but that's quite beside the point here. He doesn't need to know about those. Her expression remains the same with it's somewhat bitchy yet bored look as she drinks a bit more wine. ] Do try to bring everyone back alive. The school graveyard is crowded enough as it is.

I intend to. [Logan's lip curls just a little, almost imperceptibly. He dislikes the challenge and the lack of faith she had in him.] The only ones getting buried'll be Mystique and her crew.

Mmm. [There's a small almost invisible smile on her face, amused by his taking her words as a challenge.] I'd say that I thought you'd moved past such things but for Mystique, I do believe she most definitely counts as a special circumstance.

You do what you gotta do. [Logan can feel his knuckles itch just thinking about it. His loathing for mystique is old news, but this...not just taking Kevin, but duping John, masquerading as the Master of Magnetism. This is too much, too dangerous.] She's crossed a line, Em. Anyone who's crossed it with her's gonna share her grave.

[Emma raises an eyebrow.] I'm not arguing with you, dear. She's already proved that a prison won't be able to hold her.

[Logan can't tell what, but there is something going on here. It's not like Emma to just accept being shut out of a plan, especially one involving one of her current students and two of her former ones. He speaks warily, eyes narrowing just a bit.]

You know, I expected a bit more of a fight from you on this one.

Would my arguing change your mind? [She doesn't even wait for him to reply, already knowing the answer, before continuing on.] You've already made it quite clear that this is your operation and I don't fight useless battles. I'm also not terribly inclined to waste my breath on one at the moment.

Point taken. [Logan's teeth flash in a momentary snarl, his bottle hitting the counter with a harsh sound. His tone is low, but controlled.] I've got Alpha Flight on standby if I need backup. [He slides the stool out from under him with a clatter, getting up to go.]

[Emma just nods and takes another drink of her wine. She waits until he's about to leave before she makes a calm, seemingly almost careless remark.] If Allerdyce can find and destroy Forge's psi-tech, that would be an excellent side benefit to this mission.

I'll be sure to remind him about it before we leave.

[Look, let's just say that out of all the places John could choose to be right now (mentally, physically, spiritually, what have you) seeking out Logan is low on the list. Wayyyyyy down there near "back with the Brotherhood." Which -- by golly, his good fortune -- is why John's here now to talk to the old man.

He strolls in wordlessly, looking for all of the world as if he's just wandering around the mansion: indifferent, bored, his usual. He merely raises an eyebrow and slides his gaze over Logan as if it say "oh, you're in this room. Life goes on." He turns to the fridge to pull out a beer, opens it carelessly on a counter top, and plops down across from Logan as he takes a swig, his brown eyes finding the Wolverine's face.

Let's just say for prosperity's sake they've been planning on sending John into the Brotherhood for awhile now; maybe they've hit some setbacks. Maybe the Brotherhood moved base camp someplace else and planning had to change. [OOC: MAYBE? I KINDA LIKE THAT. EXPLAINS THE PASSING OF TIME WITH NO ACTION.]

Regardless it's a suicide mission, so John is understandably ecstatic about it. He's kind of been wondering why he hasn't up and left this shit hole to avoid the whole dying thing lately. But when he thinks about it and feels that adrenaline-inducing fear, he's reminded of Kevin and everything the Brotherhood is taking from him, everything they took from John. And maybe, just maybe, Kitty's stupidly hopeful face plagues him a bit too. Maybe more than he would like.

He simply looks at Logan, waiting for the man to acknowledge his presence. They do have things to discuss and shit. He can't help but -- someone kill him now -- feel a grudging affinity the asshole lately, planning all this in secret. And John knows -- even if he doesn't necessarily like it -- that Logan understands more about him than he lets on. And maybe that's kind of a comfort after these weeks of recognizing it and getting used to it.]

[Logan hears John's entrance, had smelled him coming from down the hall as he walked, heard the click of his zippo from even farther away. He doesn't look up, though, barely even moves, save to bring his bottle to his lips and back down to the counter, turn a page of his newspaper.

The stillness in the kitchen draws out longer, becomes expansive, and Logan continues to read and drink for what seems like a great deal of time. When his bottle is empty he gets up, heading to the fridge for another. He doesn't even spare a glance for John, but when returns and sits back down he folds up his paper, open to a very specific article, and slides it across the counter.

To clarify: this very specific article? It's what Logan's been waiting for. A sign. An omen. The green light. He and John have had their setbacks, and without the red flag of Kevin's abandoned car to narrow down the area, it's been difficult to pin down the New Brotherhood's new camp. They have ideas, but nothing solid enough to move on. Until now.

Now, two men were dead in Montreal, night security at a research lab the private sector. The mystery was, though, that there were no traces of any intruders; the guards were found dead on the scene appearing to have both suffered massive coronaries almost simultaneously. Most of the missing items were prototypes from the research & development department, though further details were withheld from the press.

Logan frowns, watching John as he reads, waiting for his reaction. A whisper of conscience asks if it's the right thing, to send John back to the front lines, wonders if he's just stopped looking for alternatives. He's already failed this boy once, feels partially responsible for making him what--who he is now. He silences the whisper before it can ask if he's ready to be wholly responsible for failing him again.]

[John's patient. Well, no. He's really not. But he's also stubborn and has nothing to say. One would think after a month of Logan's brooding fucking silences, John would be ready to burn the dickhole's face off just to start a conversation or a fight, to not deal with this pervading, infecting quiet. John never found peace in silence; quite the opposite. Just being alone lately is enough to want to take a gun and blow his brains out, just to stop his mind from whispering to him: about the Brotherhood, about his life, about his choices. Unfortunately enough, John has nobody to stick around and drown that shit out, and he sure as hell isn't going to seek anyone out.

Maybe it's been a worsening problem. Maybe he's just getting used to Logan taking his fucking precious time, as if prolonging the inevitable share-time does what? Makes the blow easier to take? Increases suspense? Fucking load of shit.

John swipes the offered paper from him with that suddenly visible streak of nasty impatience, his eyes flashing with a glare as he sets aside his emptied beer and bows his head to read.

Montreal. Research lab. Dead sapiens. Missing prototypes. And it stinks of not only the Brotherhood.

Mortis. Lois.

John pushes the paper away and leans back, his face a mask.]

Last time we were in Montreal, we camped in a rundown warehouse. Didn't stay long. Mystique's careful. I doubt she'd revisit old haunts.

Edited 2011-02-03 16:53 (UTC)

[Logan nods, just barely, still deep in thought. His mouth is a grim line, turned down at the corners. He runs through all the intel they've sifted through over the past weeks in his head, focusing on overlaying phenomena, trying to build a pattern. They had thrown around ideas of a potential hideout somewhere in the Green Mountains, this time of year use of the Long Trail for hiking was discouraged and there were a number of shelters set up for the summer months that could be made use of.]

Montreal's just a skip and jump away from Vermont. Less for Porter. Making a raid across the border's clever, keeps our eyes there instead of where they really are.

This is good. [Logan inspects the article again, finishing his beer and setting it aside. He nods to himself, speaks slowly now, thinking aloud.] They're still just using Mortis for the kill crew. Means that Kevin...

[He lets the thought trail off into silence, hanging heavy and thick around them again.

Kevin hasn't started killing.

Yet.]

Won't be long, though. [John says this mater-of-fact, slouching in his seat, reaching into his pocket for his lighter. It gleams in the low-lighting, the comforting snapping of it opening and closing filling the room with its jarring sound. His eyes are steady, lashes lowered in that perpetually bored way of his.

Old man's right, of course. Kevin might not be lost to them yet, not in the way that counts. But he's got to find a way to pledge his loyalty sooner or later. Do something to be accepted into the fold. John feels numb most of the time over this situation, over Kevin. Over this. Killing has never been hard for John. Maybe that makes him a monster. It's only been until recently -- but that's not the point. The point is Kevin craves taking life in a way John can't relate to. Anger has always driven him, always drowned out and trampled whatever compassion he's felt. But Kevin, he's hungry for it. Hungry to be accepted, hungry to learn to control himself. And sooner or later, the Brotherhood will convince him using his powers for their dirty work is the only way to get what he wants.

Maybe John should be worried of that. Instead, he's resigned.]

No. [Logan frowns. John is right. They both know people don't pocket a killer unless they intend to use them.] Not long at all.

[The feeling of time pressing down on them, an unset deadline fast approaching is unshakable. The click and snap of John's lighter slides along Logan's mind like a soothing, meditative focus. At first, it had grated on him so that he was tempted to cut the thing in half, but now it was almost a comfort.

A plan was trying to take shape in Logan's mind, a way to get John in with the New Brotherhood safely, how to monitor him, how to know if he needs help. Logan doesn't think about it, but it's funny how much his attitude has shifted towards the younger man in only a few weeks. No longer is the kid easily expendable, now Logan finds himself feeling oddly protective of him, as he is of Laura, of Rogue.

But these things don't matter right now because like it or not, John isn't just their last resort, he's their only shot at getting Kevin back before too much damage is done. Logan's eyes grow hard, shifting from X-man, from teacher to the Weapon. The Weapon is what they'll need now.]

We need to move. Soon. Now, even, if we can. Make the drive up--we could make it to White River Junction is six hours, maybe less. I'll toch base with a few contacts, see if there's a way to narrow down which part of the range they're in. All we really need is a story to get you in.

[At this, the clicking of John's lighter pauses, almost like a held breath. Then it continues on as if nothing very monumental was said. John's expression is calculated, deceptively resigned. But the prospect of running headfirst into this scares him. Makes his pulse speed up.

He snaps his lighter shut and swipes the warmed metal edge along his bottom lip.]

It's been more than a month. If Kevin's told them I'm here... it's too risky. I can't tell them a bullshit lie anymore. I gotta say I've been here or I'm as good as fucking dead. [He picks up the paper at this and then drops it pointedly because guess who would probably do him in?]

Edited 2011-02-03 22:49 (UTC)

[Logan looks at him, eyes cold steel. He's clocking John now and his stare is piercing, expectant. What he offers isn't a challenge, there isn't a point. If John's going to sell the Brotherhood anything, he's going to have to believe it so if it's all the better if it's something he devised himself.]

What do you suggest instead?

[At this, John stares at Logan, a flash of something genuine and worried in his eyes. He expected the question, but it doesn't make it any less difficult to answer. Because he left for a reason. A good reason. A reason that was more important than his hatred of this place and its holier than thou fucking principles. His jaw tightens.]

I go back, tail between my legs. Say I was tired of their fucking rules and not getting anything accomplished for an entire year. I tell them I came here for shelter and asylum, lied about changing how I felt, and so you placed me under house arrest and gave me a second chance like the idiots you are.

Just maybe then they won't think of a creative way to making an example of me.

It'll have to do. [Logan nods, turning this over in his mind. He doesn't bother assuring John that Mystique wouldn't make a creative example out of him, they both know it's a very real possibility.] Take a souvenir with you, something they'd want. A piece of Forge's tech or...

[He shrugs. What else could they offer? Beast's research? A hostage? They already had who they'd come for.]

We could get him to custom build you anything, make it look like R&D. Maybe build in a panic button. [Just in case...]

[John lets out a pessimistic snorting laugh at the prospect of a panic button. A panic button on what will probably be a suicide mission. Still, he's not opposed to the general idea.]

What, you think bringing them a trinket's gonna sway them? I abandoned the cause. I shacked up with sapien lovers. I bring them anything, it's gotta be a shitload of intel and something useful.

Edited 2011-02-04 16:24 (UTC)

Whatever you need. I'll tell the maker. [Logan cracks just the tiniest grin, easing the intensity of their conversation for just a moment.] We'll bill it to the school. As for intel, tell them what you need to to stay alive.

[Logan's eyes darken to a steel grey. If John ever didn't know the Wolverine's endgame, there's not denying it now.] Once they're dead, it won't matter what they know.

[John's lips tick just barely into a grim smirk at Logan's trademark "bill it to the school" notion, but the expression slides away for a much more intense and turbulent one at Logan's last words. John's jaw sets, his lips slacken. All that's telling on his face is the steady and deep abyss of his gaze.

John's not stupid, of course. Maybe slow sometimes, but it still doesn't take much intelligence to figure what Logan would do to neutralize the threat of a new Brotherhood. A wave of something washes over him. Something, he doesn't know what. He's fucking fine with the idea, and maybe that's where the feeling comes from. He's thinking, Good riddance despite the people he knows that will die, the friends. Ali's sister.

John's life would be easier if they were are dead.

He stands then, pocketing his Zippo.]

Sounds like a plan.

Edited 2011-02-16 01:50 (UTC)

Get yourself ready, kid. [Logan takes a swallow of his drink.] We'll be gone within the week.

[Jono strolls in, looking confused and bleary-eyed because he's only just woken up even though it's well into the day. Still keeping odd hours, hoping to max out his time, training and studying but still looking for Kevin. John and Logan are wordlessly sitting together at the counter, having finished their discussion.]

What's the story?

Heist. North of the border. [Logan flicks his eyes between the paper, Jono and then John. His face isn't giving away anything, but he passes the article over to Jono without hesitation.] What d'you make of it?

[Jono's eyes pass over the article, but there's a tired, glazed look in them. Exhaustion is really catching up to him.]

I don't really know, Logan. I'm at the point where I just wish someone would tell me what to do so I can do it, and get our kid back.

[It seems that not only is he tired, period, Jono is tired of kidding himself and pretending this doesn't bother him as much as it does. He heaves a sigh, and leans his head back down onto the counter, more out of tiredness than depression.]

I'm not fit to be any sort of leader at the moment.

Who said you were any sort of leader to begin with, kid? [Logan claps a heavy hand down onto Jono's shoulder, giving a manly squeeze. Logan's jokes aren't always understood, his sense of humor is a little skewed.] When there's something to do, you'll get your orders.

[Jono shrugs, no longer maintaining eye contact, and just listlessly staring off into nowhere.]

I'd do whatever it takes, you know.

I know, kid. [He does know, and that's part of why Jono's not involved in his little plan with John. They can't afford any unchecked variables.] Waiting game's the worst, but we'll find him. We won't stop until we do.

[open thread] He's baaa-ck

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Let's pretend he's having this convo AFTER the two below here, Y/Y?

Fine by me. :)

Re: Fine by me. :)

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OOC: I can run with that. Watch!

/RUNS WITH IT TOO. WE'RE SO SMART.

S-M-R-T

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