xmutanthigh | [OPEN POST] NEW BRO'HOOD

[Kevin is actually taken aback. He studies John carefully, lifting his chin up, giving himself an aloof, detached look. John's words sound... sincere. And without hints of the usual sarcasm or irony that accompany his speech. So Kevin decides to play it the same way. He lets his own guard down in the next moment and speaks openly.]

You better live the night. You better keep smart and keep yourself alive. I don't want anything happening to you, man. And I... [He gives a small nod.] I am, too, okay?

[Mortis took him by slight surprise; he'll give her that much. John's smirk drops off his face, he tries to lurch back at first, but she's strong and angry. If he didn't know any better, he'd think that change in his heartbeat was panic or fear, but he does know better.

His eyes flash - with alarm and hatred. She's barely finished with her spitting threat and not entirely wrong insult (John did mean something to Magneto once, but his mentor is truly gone, there is nothing, no one here for him) when John moves back just enough - the fire to the side of them roars suddenly, bursts high into the air with life. Its relentless, burning heat leans towards Mortis, the force and anger of it giving John enough time and space to move onto his feet and away from the bitch's touch.

The fire knocked her over, or perhaps she dived; either way John lifts a hand to his mouth, laughs at the pathetic sight.]

Funny. You'd think if I meant nothing, I'd be dead by now.

[Riled by the action, Kevin stomps forward, his heavy boots crunching into the snow in front of John. He doesn't speak, but his eyes are blazing at Mortis. It's a defiant look. Anybody could tell what it means: watch it. Kevin isn't afraid of Mortis's powers, and he shows that now, stepping between her and John.]

[Yeah now, that's definitely enough of that crap. John's glad to hear it, of course, but he's not going to let it touch his heart or some shit. He straightens and shifts uncomfortably in his chair and then leans forward, his eyes hardened and disinterested and judgmental once again.]

Yeah and fuzzy caterpillars turn into beautiful fucking butterflies. Just be smart and stay out of the way. I know what I'm doing.

Edited 2011-02-20 23:18 (UTC)

[Kevin lets John have his little hissy fit. After all, he knows it's necessary after letting slip something a little heartfelt or whatever.]

Yeah, yeah, I got it. Just let me warn you, okay? I know you think you know what you're doing, but... things have changed since you left.

[Kevin just lets that hang there.]

[And it does, heavy and significant between them. John peers up at Kevin, asks the question.] Like what?

All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.

[Lois is seething now, her dark orbs catching the light of the flame and sparking with promises of slow and painful death for John. Her teasing, cultural references another unconscious parody of her sister, bizarre and warped and yet uncanny. Mortis gets to her feet, dusting off the snow sticking to her daintily, such a contradition: her demeanor so poised, so feminine in all of her actions, and yet behind all of her elegance there is such a harrowing, raw darkness. It's the kind of pitch that devours and consumes her and everyone around her.

She drops into a defensive stance, facing off against Kevin and Pyro. She doesn't fear either of them, confident that her skill as a dealer of death far outweighs the ravenous hunger of Kevin's powers. Still, she is outnumbered, and she looks around for her comrades, for Porter or Art. Any kind of backup.]

[She is waiting for them alone when Polaris bring the Wolverine to her. Lorna has wired his jaw shut on a whim, his impotent threats a nuisance and a bore. Mystique nods to her co-conspirator and motions for her to situate Logan by a tree, his arms twisting backward, his claws extending to wrap behind the trunk of a tree, binding him to it with his own limbs. The sickening, satisfying snaps and pops as his joints dislocate and his tendons tear bring a happy smile to Mystique's heart, but on her face she watches emotionless, her joy at causing suffering to this man tucked quietly away.

She beckons for everyone, save Wither, Pyro, and Polaris to leave them and crosses her arms over Magneto's chest, his blue eyes fixing on Logan's and never moving.]

It seems true what they say about old dogs and new tricks, Wolverine. They just never learn. [A bemused smile and soft chuckle escape her. She glances to Kevin and ushers him forward, arm folding around his shoulders in a fatherly gesture.] Perhaps we've found someone to teach you a fresh lesson, hopefully your last.

[She's not alone - they're not alone. Mutants are watching now; things are quiet. In all actuality they had been paying attention before - it's not everyday a traitor comes back and is given a seat by the fire.

John's amusement wanes and slowly fades, but his smug, cruel simper lingers. He had lifted an arm to grab Kevin's shoulder when the other mutant moved to get between him and Mortis, and now he drops it and walks forward, sure to stick by the fire.

He's not stupid, contrary to popular belief. He doubts if anyone comes to help, they'll be helping him.]

You wanna know how your sister is, Mortis? Huh? [His smile turns twisted and ugly.] Try this on for size: stop giving a fuck. She's the enemy.

Edited 2011-02-21 00:58 (UTC)

[Someone comes, but not to help. Havok's silhouette emerges from the darkness letting the two boys know about the summons to join Magneto for Wolverine's interrogation, the tension between the three of them relaxing but not disappearing.

Mortis catches John's elbow, much gentler than their last contact, leaning in close to murmur in his hear, words only for him.]

Just making sure she's still alive. [Her lips curl into a genuine, delighted smile and if John can't see it, he'd surely hear it.] I'd hate to find out someone else had the pleasure of turning out the Dazzler's lights.

[She releases him again, turning to watch Pyro and Wither fade into the darkness behind Havok, her fingers lifting to flutter a farewell if either of them turn to glance back at her.]

[There's nothing surprising about seeing Logan, stretched and broken and captive in the middle of the small clearing they are approaching. John merely gives Kevin a indecipherable and probably troublingly blank glance; anyone witnessing it might say something like this is just business as usual for him. Technically, for a long time, it was.

Still, despite the fact Logan's in danger now (mostly of pain, let's be honest; John could actually die), he can't help but let a bit of amusement into his expression as he all but strolls on over. It's all in his quirked brows, the slight turn of his lips. John gave him up. Someone Logan thought of as a spineless, stupid, scrawny terrorist who posed no threat at all.

He leans against a nearby tree, watches quietly.]

[Now Kevin speaks freely, because what he's going to say next is nothing but facts. But small nuances of emotions flicker across his face that he hopes John can pick up on -- which the listener outside won't. Like little gestures that indicates Kevin's not quite comfortable here.]

The Brotherhood, it's a little more trigger-happy now. More so than before. Our own are killed -- sometimes for small reason.

Clive, I don't know if you knew him. He's dead. Made the mistake of looking at Magneto a little funny when he didn't like one of his orders.

(OOC: Hahha just randomly picked a name of a dead BroHood guy from Wikipedia. Yeah, that's all.)

Personally, I think they would've kept him around if we agreed his powers were more useful. He could fly, but it never came in handy too much.

[It's a subtle clue. Kevin is sure that his powers are deemed valuable here. To him, it's likely the only reason he's been spared this long.]

[Mystique glances to Pyro, noting his small amusement. She isn't surprised, one thing that clearly hasn't changed about the boy is that he always did love a spot of violence.

She presses Kevin's shoulder, nudgeing him toward the snarling Wolverine.]

Wither, perhaps it's time to put this old dog down. He's outlived his usefulness, hm? [Another gentle shove, Magneto's eyes reassuring but stern. There is no option here, no room for argument. Kevin has pushed his luck when it's come to usefulness, his disobedience and reluctance to kill making him seem more and more like dead weight. She speaks, and Magneto's kind but solemn voice fills the silence.] It's time to prove your loyalty, my boy.

[Kevin strides purposefully to Wolverine, hoping to give nothing away to the other Brotherhood members in his body language, and stops right in front of him. Then as he looks at Logan's grizzled face, Kevin sees an image of his dad, and then he knows. He can't do this. Logan has always been good to him. A good man. Not exactly a father figure, but he's been good to him.

Kevin wishes desperately right now that he were a telepath. He'd give Logan some words of reassurance, some kind of hint that he couldn't hurt him. So instead, he relies on the only things he has at his disposal -- the distance the other Brotherhood members have kept from them, the fact that nobody here but Wolverine has heightened senses, and the memory of when Kevin used his powers on Laura.

He leans in, with his bare hands reaching out towards the exposed skin on Logan's neck. Kevin's hands shield his mouth from lip-readers and lowers his voice enough so that only Logan can hear him.]

Just play dead for awhile.

[Kevin makes sure that he and Logan lock eyes for a split second before making firm contact. Then Kevin's pupils shrink and he sucks in a breath as his powers take over.]

[Logan's eyes fly wide, he can feel the fight between his powers and Kevin's. He knows...is fairly sure that Kevin's no match for his healing factor. He remembers the incident with Laura, Kimura. He tries to force his healing factor to slow a little, just enough. His breath hitches, labours, and his vision spots, goes black, his consciousness wavers.

The last thing he thinks before he's consumed by the black is At least we weren't too late...]

[Kevin whips around to face Magneto and the others.]

His healing power is keeping the body alive. But it's done.

[Only Kevin knows his own power so well. The deed is not done, of course, but Kevin's confident tone and clipped, detached way he calls Logan a body, he hopes, is enough to satiate the Brotherhood. He slips his gloves back on.]

[Mystique places a hand on Kevin's shoulder once again, nudging him aside so she can come forward, Magneto's old fingers, gripping Logan's chin and tilting it up, the whites of the unconscious man slow between lax eyelids. The flesh where Kevin had touched Wolverine is slowly knitting itself back together, nerves spiraling back into existence, muscle blossoming cell by cell across the glistening sheen of adamantium that coat's Logan's bones. It looks as though that adamantium sheath around his skeleton, his spinal cord, his brain is what keeps him protected from Kevin's wasting power over organic material. She nods, glancing back at the others, at Polaris.]

That lovely adamantium that covers his bones will protect him from young Wither's touch. [A terrible thought skirts across her mind, but she must speak with Polaris in private, away from these fresh ears and eyes. She turns her attention back to Kevin.] I may have use for your skills again in this matter, but for now, that was sufficient.

[John barely flinches throughout the entire scene, but his gaze is steady, intent, even a bit hungry, and maybe a little bit for show. He resists the urge to straighten, do anything but relax and act casual as Kevin is requested to do the deed. He knew it was possible, expected even - he just hopes the dumb kid knows to go through with it after their little campfire talk.

Besides, not even Wither can kill the Wolverine. John's not worried for the old man, even slides his gleaming, bemused hazel eyes to his feral ones for a moment as Kevin steps forward.

It's pretty fucking disgusting, what happens next. And it smells. John's nose scrunches up; his lips sneer. But he can't help but smirk a little after it's done, yet still tries not to feel concerned, let alone look it when Logan doesn't heal right away.

Only then does he step forward, his lips in a heartless, curious smile. He punches Kevin's shoulder, circles around the other man, peers closer at Logan.]

Dog's not so tough now, is he?

Tough enough, Pyro. He's still alive.

[Green hair blocks John's vision as Polaris glides to crouch before Logan, her eyes flashing. She give a momentary glance to Magneto, Mystique and she smiles, knowing she needs no approval, turning back to the groggy Wolverine. There's still a glint of exposed adamantium and she calls a tiny glob of it forwards into he waiting hand. This brings the beast in Logan fully alive, while the human part of his brain still sleeps. He lets out a savage roar, his desecrated body struggling to reach the Mistress of Magnetism. Her words are for all to hear, but she leans in close, two fingers stilling Logan's feral struggles, her eyes meeting his bloodshot ones.]

Until I rip the adamantium from his bones...

[John might be a fantastic liar, but not even he can hide the shock and horror at Polaris' play, at Logan's bellow. He stumbles back, startled by the volume and absolute agony and rage in Wolverine's roar; not to mention he's the closest to the decayed corpse.

John bumps into Kevin, swings his head around to catch the younger mutant's eye, hopefully any concern on his expression masked by his shock. And for that, he would be glad. Because it gives John the opportunity to get himself under control, to ignore the dread and hopelessness he feels.

I did this. I'm responsible for this.]

Edited 2011-02-21 05:35 (UTC)

[Kevin's starting to look panicked as well, his eyes growing frantic. He steps back, boots sinking deep into the snow, and wonders if it's time to break all pretenses of siding with the Brotherhood completely. Desperate, he looks to John for guidance, but realizes he has to get out of this situation himself. After all, he did say earlier in the cabin that he'd try to keep John safe. So he makes a call.]

Polaris. I followed orders to take him out. That's done. But he's still alive. Let's stop. He could be the most valuable prisoner we'd ever get.

Edited 2011-02-21 05:45 (UTC)

[Logan's screams stop as Polaris halts and Mystique eyes her cautiously as the younger woman turns to glance over her shoulder. The glob of adamantium, perhaps the size of a large marble, floats in the air, spinning faster and faster as Lorna's eyes flick from Kevin to John to Mystique in the guise of her father. There is the barest of nods from the elderly gentleman Mystique is wearing, and Lorna straightens, the adamantium orb, floating over to hover above Magneto's outstretched hand.]

A good enough point you make, Wither. We'll bide our time, wait until he's coherent. He's worth more to us alive. [Magneto's eyes meet Lorna's and there is an unspoken promise between them.] For now.

[Kevin's still a bit freaked -- he lets nothing show on his face, drops his gloved hand to his side and breathes evenly. He's bought Logan some time, and figured out something important: John doesn't want Logan dead, either. Something's going on, and it's bigger than he suspected. What if the X-Men were here to take out the Brotherhood? Maybe they've decided to kill the Brotherhood - himself included if necessary - and write him off as a casualty. Maybe John was sent as a mole? Whatever it is that's lying underneath, Kevin can't figure that much out.]

Edited 2011-02-21 12:01 (UTC)

[OOC: continued from: here (http://community.livejournal.com/xmutanthigh/243305.html?thread=2603369#t2603369)
timeline note: takes place approx. 24h after John gets picked up by the bro'hood]

[Ali and Jono have been clambering through the snow-covered trees for hours. It's dark and they are both wet and freezing. Every so often they stop as Ali check the direction the should be going in, her eyes and mouth glowing a brilliant white as she calls to her the sound for several miles around. She's getting more proficient with it as she practices, the only problem being that when she absorbs so much raw sonic energy, the light inside of her grows brighter and brighter.

In the dark, she begins to worry that she'll give their location away to a keen Brotherhood scout and she grabs Jono's wrist as he's about to hop into another tree.]

Maybe we should stop, wait for daylight. [She bites her lip, trying to hide the tremor in the hand that grips his arm. Regardless of whether it's shaking from cold or from the terror that is building in her as she remembers all too vividly the last time she approached a camp similar to this.] Night is a better cover for us to get what little sleep we can, Jon. We're gonna need it.

[Jono nods, his breath fogging in the cold air, and reaches into his bag and gives Ali a bottle of water.]

I can keep us a bit warm.

[OPEN POST] NEW BRO'HOOD

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still iris

FOREVER IRIS

MORTIS - Kayt

MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt - Excuse the heavy gloss, for KEVIN! JOHN!

Re: MORTIS - Kayt

MORTIS - Kayt

MANY TIMES GLOSSING IS NEEDED

HEE, AND FOREVER CRYSTAL TOO

MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

iris

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MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

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POLARIS - Kayt (not Poliris)

Re: POLARIS - Kayt (not Poliris)

iris

MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

iris

TEAM BAND!

Re: TEAM BAND!