xmutanthigh | [OPEN POST] NEW BRO'HOOD

[OOC: cont'd from here (http://community.livejournal.com/xmutanthigh/242930.html)!]

[John picks up a tail an hour or two after parting ways with Logan. Arthur Centino had been dispatched by Magneto to trail the ex-pat as soon as Caliban came skulking in with the news and so he sits, clambering occasionally through the trees keeping an eye on Pyro, a sadistic grin spreading across his bearded face and a golden glint in his eye every time he hears Pyro curse, skidding on a screefall or slipping a few feet back down the trail he's trudging across.

Finally, as dusk begins to creep across the frozen landscape, Longshot flips a switch on a wrist communicator.]

It's him. [There's a crackle, a garbled voice asking: What's his status?] Stupid. [Another snide crackle: Art.] He's alone, okay. Send Porter and Madrox to pick up the trash. I'll keep cover from up here, not that they'll need it. How this fucking chump got to be Magneto's right hand man-- [He's interrupted by another crackle: Longshot, shut the fuck up and-- He switches the communicator off mid-crackle, eyes scanning the surrounding area.

Vanisher and Multiple Man appear below, not far off the trail ahead of John. Soon enough, there are more dupes of Madrox than trees, surrounding and closing in on the new arrival.]

[Well this is just fucking lovely. A nice start to a nice night.

John shouldn't be complaining; in all honesty he's equal parts nervous and relieved to be halted by the sudden and overwhelming army of Jamie Maddrox. For an hour or two there he was sure he'd end up as a bear's breakfast or just a frozen corpse. Are there bears in these woods? Fuck if he knew or cared to ask Logan before setting off on this grand adventure. Probably better if he didn't.

Then again for the past few hours he had felt a telling itch at the back of his neck - and it could have meant a bear, or - not so fucking delightfully - just one of Mystique's lapdogs trailing him and waiting to clear him for pick-up.

Now that the moment's here John puts on his usual raised, unimpressed and unsurprised brow, every inch of him numb and burning from the cold. Yet he still manages to look like the disinterested fucker he always is, his lips pulling up in a humorless, faint smirk. What a talent for bullshit.]

Look who it is. Finally.

[Jamie Madrox, one of him at least, steps forward, crossing his arms and scrutinizing John. He, too, looks pretty bored but at least he's properly dressed for the weather. He smirks and laughs a little at John's shivering.]

You're a lot stupider than you look, coming back here.

[Another dupe is leaning against a tree, picking at his fingernails disinterestedly. He doesn't glance up, but does offer his two cents.] And so well prepared for the weather, too.

[Yet another yawns, as if he'd really rather be taking a nap than bantering amongst copies of himself with this turncoat.] We should've had Art check if he's wearing that neutralizer Ford said they'd fixed him with. Without his tacky fire tricks--

[A fourth dupe interjects from somewhere behind John.] I always thought it was kind of a cool mutation...

[The dupe who was interrupted scowls.] Well, nobody asked you.

[The wrist communicators that each of the multiples are wearing crackle, a chorus of the same irritated male voice admonishes them: Will you all stop yapping and just hit him already?

The dupes shrug, a few advancing on John. One taps him on the shoulder from behind, another stepping directly in front of Pyro to catch his jaw with a right cross. From seemingly out of nowhere, a dupe kicks one of Pyro's legs, trying to trip him, but there's something half-hearted about it. If Pyro turns to glare at his attacker, he'll find the hint of an apologetic smile. It's probably one of the dupes that actually liked him, once up on a time. Not that anyone can ever really tell the difference.]

[Pyro does turn to face one of his many attackers, or rather he has no choice over it, considering he stumbles back and lends on his ass. As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, his jaw is aching something fierce, and that will just not do, especially after the dumb bastard called him what again? Stupid?

John's lips turn up into a sneering grimace; he can't help but remember a time when this fucking waste of space (quite literally) answered to him. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

He rolls out of the way and onto his feet to avoid a kick to the gut, fire erupting in a harshly, hungry sound from his hidden gauntlets into his hands. He looks one of the many clones in the eyes, hyper aware of being surrounded.]

Back the fuck off or I'll make all of you a sheesh kabob, dickhead. Extra crispy. I'm here to talk to Magneto.

[Vanisher's been waiting in the wings, avoiding most of the action as usual. He's a bit of a weasley fucker, doesn't like to get his hands dirty too much. He also doesn't like having to sit around in the cold waiting for all those Madroxes to get their shots in. When he hears John speak, his mouth screws from a grimace into a smirk. He turns to Jamie, the original (he thinks).]

Pull your boys back. [He doesn't pause, porting himself and the original Jamie directly behind John, giving Madrox enough of an advantage to get John in a lock, keeping him immobilized long enough for Porter to catch a glimpse of gold flashing somewhere above them; John's fancy new gauntlets clicking, but not igniting. The port is over almost before it begins, the warmth of a cabin replacing the icy chill of the darkening woods.] May as well give the man what he wants.

[John hardly has time to react before Madrox shoves him to the wooden floor; he sprawls at their feet. The first thing he smells, feels, knows is the crackling of fire behind a grate to the side of him. Then it's the sudden, welcoming and painful warmth after so many hours of ice.]

Fuck. [He groans. He's aching now, in more ways then one, and it takes him a moment too long to push himself to his knees, lift his head.

And then he's not sure he should have lifted his head at all. John's eyes immediately harden. His teeth clench together. There he is: old, wrinkled, and so poised, with eyes shining with his twisted, condescending, so certain wisdom. Something inside John shakes violently. He wonders how Mystique can perfect that look so well, how even now, looking at her, all he sees is the man that had once meant a better future to him. A better future for himself.]

Erik.

[He rasps Magneto's name out. Maybe it's better Mystique is so good at this; it's easy to look up at her with a wide, fearful, reverent gaze as if he is Magneto. As if he is returning to the fold. (He is here to fool the bitch anyway.) For a fleeting, terrifying moment, John remembers why he had joined. Thinks where he could be if he was accepted back with all this tech, this intel... Someone's right-hand man once again, not a weak, useless terrorist under house arrest.

He leans back, tries to stand. Madrox rests a steadying and warningly firm grip on his shoulder, one John sneers at and violently pushes away as he stumbles to his feet.]

Edited 2011-02-20 02:11 (UTC)

[Mystique rises, taking even, measured steps forward until she stands before John, looking down at him with Magneto's eyes, his kind, yet admonishing smile. Wrinkled fingers, grip John's chin firmly yet gently, tipping his face up, up, up to meet her eyes.]

My dear boy, has it been so long that we can no longer use our real names with each other? [Her grip tightens like a vice though her face maintains the same, gentle smile. Inwardly, she can feel a feral grin, a flash of teeth, but that is Raven's, not Erik's way so it stays below the surface. Her eyes flick to Jamie for just a split second before returning to lock eyes with John.] Take his gauntlets. [Her free palm spreads wide and, from inside John's pocket, his zippo flies into the waiting hand. Behind her, Polaris stands unmoving, giving away no trace of their farce.]

Tell me, John. [She spits the name, the venom there both hers and Magneto's: his loathing for humanity and her loathing for this puny, weak boy mingling into a rich, deep hatred.] Why are you here?

[John stays still under Mystique's scrutiny - under Magneto's gentle, disapproving stare. He grits his teeth at the force in which the man grips his chin, feels his lip curl up in distaste and angry, awful shame.

The real Magneto - he might say the same thing, chastise John the exact same way. And he couldn't hate Mystique more for that.

He doesn't fight it when Madrox takes his gauntlets; he didn't have time to get attached to the scraps anyway. They were a pitying parting gift anyway. But the Zippo - his Zippo - that makes his eyes flash something fierce; he can't help but look beyond Magneto, where Polaris stand quietly.

Next to Kevin. The fucking kid, in Magneto's cabin. John's eyes widen as they lock with Kevin's. He sneers and it's not even a show of it - for all anyone knows the betrayal he feels filling him and writing itself across his face is that Kevin left without him. He turns back to Mystique, glances at his lighter in the bitch's hand.]

I want back in. Why the hell else would I be here?

Right? [John raises his voice here, pointedly, and turns a burning look over to Kevin.] Why don't you tell them why I'd want back in, Wither? Why don't you tell them how you up and left your only goddamned friend in that shithole without a heads up?

[That triggers some movement. With a glare on his face, Kevin slowly slinks out of the shadows, the ones that hid him earlier when John initially entered the cabin. There's a hardened look to him now, a scowl that suggests danger rather than sadness. Not like before.]

Guess you missed me.

[No, not like before at all. That dead, angry look in his eyes. Even the way he holds himself - the way he slips from the shadows. John would recognize it anywhere, but it's still a stab to the gut.

For a moment, looking at this new Kevin, John's sure he's looking at himself. Somehow, in the face of this fucking lying bitch, all his worthless comrades, and Kevin... Kevin, turning into one of them, John feels weak. He feels angrier. He pulls his chin away from Mystique, jerking it to the side and taking a small step back to better level his own heartless and merciless stare at Kevin.]

Like a fucking knife in the back.

[Then he smirks, just a little. The expression is barely friendly, but it's a meaningful one. He's over it. They're friends. John pulls off his pack, throws in to the ground at Magneto's feet.]

Power nullifying tech, schematics of the renovated mansion, files. I'll tell you whatever you wanna know. Whatever this guy - [John points at Kevin.] - didn't tell you.

Edited 2011-02-20 04:32 (UTC)

[Kevin cocks his head to the side, a little amused. His arms are still crossed in front of his chest, giving him a defiant look.]

I don't know, Pyro. What I did tell them, though, was that you'd gone soft.

[John does the only thing he can do: not think about burning this ungrateful little shit's face off and quietly laugh. His eyes light with a dark sort of humor, and John licks his dry, chapped lips, turning his gaze back to Kevin.]

Yeah and I bet you think you're real tough now, playing with the big guys. Don't talk to me about going soft when you're a month or two into being some badass, kid.

Edited 2011-02-20 04:59 (UTC)

[Kevin gives a soft laugh and shakes his head, a gesture to say, "You have no idea." Kevin's been practicing lately - a lot. His powers have become honed, more controlled, and ultimately, more dangerous. He still can't touch anything without it withering and eventually dying, of course, but he's learned some degree of control. Including his ability to dampen fire. There isn't much John could do to hurt Kevin right now -- at least, when it comes to his powers over fire. He still could put on a heavy glove and punch Kevin in the face. That'd hurt him plenty.]

Listen, you gonna stick around, or just make little jabs at me now? Because if it's the second, I'd rather cut the formalities and get moving us out again.

[There's a small twinge of sadness - Kevin tries to mentally force that thought away - when he means The New Brotherhood when he said us.]

[While the younger boys are bickering, Madrox picks up the pack and starts rifling through it, handing Magneto the tech for inspection. A neutralizier, weaponized. Mystique smiles on the inside, her exterior remaining passive, unpahsed.]

So, you've come with a toy to try and buy you way back into our good graces, have you? [Slowly, she turns the weapon on John, the hum of it initializing silencing everyone in the room. There is a solemnity with which the Brotherhood treats the potential loss of power, a reverence for their gift that binds them together fiercely.] Shall we see how well it works? Strip you bare before we make an example of you? [She tightens her face into a stern glare, releasing the weapon as it floats to hover in the air, just inches from John's heart.] You know better than most what we do to traitors, John.

[Whatever lingering humorless amusement was on John's face now filters away for a stoic expression of horror; he stumbles back a few steps as the gun floats closer, his eyes wide as he looks from it and deep into Magento's clear, appraising eyes. But they're not Magneto's. They're Mystique's, and John knows Mystique would pull that trigger quicker than Erik ever would.

But with his terror is the hardness, the anger John carries around like a shield. He doesn't dare look to Kevin, to anyone else in the room, not now.

He swallows hard; his lips curl into a dark smile.]

It's Pyro. And that's the last you wanna do. Do you think I'm stupid, coming here with just this crap? You off me now, you don't get Wolverine.

[Kevin lurches forward a step, and reaches out a gloved hand before catching himself and stopping, frozen in that position. In that moment his expression slips (OOC: see icon, haha) and he locks eyes with John.]

Don't hurt him. He's telling the truth.

[John may very well have been telling the truth. Or he could've been lying. Kevin doesn't know. It has nothing to do with how well they know each other -- John's a talented liar. But Kevin is reassured, at least, that he's an adept liar himself, and maybe that'll be enough to save his old friend.]

Clever boy. [Mystique allows the corner of Magneto's mouth to quirk up just the tiniest bit. It's an admirable play, even if she's not convinced of John's sincerity. His honesty, however, is hardly suspect. Polaris had murmured about the whispers of adamantium in the air not long after Caliban had directed all of their attention to John's arrival. While Longshot, Madrox and Vanisher had been dispatched to fetch the prodigal returned, Mastermind and Caliban had been leading the man they call Logan on a merry chase. She spares only a sidelong glance to Kevin, hiding this knowledge, and nods to Polaris to go lend her talents to the capture of the Wolverine.

Conveniently, elegantly, as Lorna exits the cabin, the neutralizer glides lazily, confidently over to rest on a nearby table where Madrox and Porter eyes it warily. Mystique crosses Magneto's arms across her chest and regards John appraisingly.] You haven't forgotten everything, I see. That, at least, is a good sign.

[John barely looks at Kevin, even at his outburst, knowing not to take his eyes of Magneto, not out of fear, but as a sign of respect. He smiles, just a little, at Mystique's backhanded compliment, and then grows serious.]

I'm not kidding. He followed me here. Told me if I ever left he'd kill me. [And at the very least, Mystique and Magneto knows John wouldn't do something to endanger his life, not for good reason.]

We shall see. [Mystique spares a chuckle for herself, John never did have much of a sense of humour. Perhaps it's the gesture, or the offering itself, but she softens. Slightly. She turns her back to John to go to the window and peer out, thoughtfully. It's a sign of tempered trust, at least one of Erik's. Her eyes drift to Mortis leaning against a tree, bundled in a parka over her uniform, watching as one of Madrox's dupes builds a campfire.] I can say one thing for certain: he will not be killing you today.

[A simple nod from Magneto is enough to dismiss them. The spurious master of magnetism leaves the two boys with, "I'll give you some time to get re-acquainted. I have myself a wolverine to deal with." Turning on his heel, he exits the cabin and follows Lorna. There's a moment that seems frozen between Kevin and John, with just the echo of the slamming cabin door echoing in the silence. Then, as if a spell were broken, Kevin bursts back into movement, and marches over to John, waving a gloved hand at him.]

Dude... you crazy, coming back here? They could kill you!

Saying I've gone soft really helped my chances too, you stupid fuck. [John punctuates this by reaching over and giving Kevin a shove across the chest, the look in his hazel eyes wild and burning as he passes Kevin by and collapses tiredly in one of the chairs by the fire.

His sneer is gone, but the hard look in his eyes remain; he glares up at Kevin wordlessly for another moment, knowing there are people watching them, perhaps listening. The truth is he's exhausted and this isn't even halfway finished.

He's got his neck on the fucking line with some Magneto knock-off, he's had to offer up Logan, the unlucky bastard (although John's one to argue not as unlucky as he is at the moment), and now he has to deal with this idiot in front of him.]

Edited 2011-02-20 07:22 (UTC)

[Kevin flinches - pretty badly, too - at the touch. John was probably the only one who was never all that careful about the touching. Then he looks up, and meets John's gaze.

That look. Kevin can recognize it. It's betrayal. It doesn't matter why John is here now - whether he came to drag Kevin back home, or whether he really does want to drop the X-Men and join up with the Brotherhood again. Either way, Kevin can tell that John feels at least the smallest bit of betrayal from him.

He yanks off a glove, and finger-writes Sorry into the wooden armrest of the chair that John's sitting in by letting his withering touch work into the wood. Gives John a moment to see it. Then wipes it away by decaying the entire area around it with his palm.]

[Yeah, what a shitload of good "sorry" ever did anyone. John scoffs at it, even as he softens a little, and turns to look at the roaring fire, resting his hand over his mouth. Absent the cool metal of his Zippo on his lips, John feels agitated and lost, even with the flames warming the room. Then again, Mystique would know what taking his Zippo would do to him, besides disarming him. And again, Mystique would know what it meant when Magneto shows a little bit of curiosity and faith and trust: let's see how well you've done, but tread carefully.

That makes him relax, just infinitesimally, and Kevin's outburst and his apology don't hurt either. Kid still has a heart. Maybe this wasn't a waste of time.

John drops his arm in resignation, turns his unwavering, angry eyes back to Kevin. He reaches out with his foot and kicks the other chair.]

Whatever. Just sit, you're making me nervous standing around like that.

[Kevin fidgets instead of sitting right away. Then he finally props himself onto the armrest of the other chair as if he might have to get up again right away. Now at a distance from John, he takes off his gloves to get some reprieve from them and shakes them.]

Look. I know you can take care of yourself, but I'm going to do what I can to save your ass, here. You're not safe right now.

No shit. [John says this with quite a bit of grating anger and a lot of sarcasm. As if he were saying, "No shit, it's raining."] Didn't know you cared.

[There's a pause; John looks to the door, to the guard no doubt beyond it, and then turns his eyes back to Kevin. He knows enough and he's not stupid enough to risk there being ears on them. John lets out a tempered sigh, lifts his hand and beckons some flame into his still-numb palm. The close heat soothes him; just having the fire near soothes him.

This would be easier if he could just burn the whole place down.]

So. You like it here?

Edited 2011-02-20 21:39 (UTC)

[OPEN POST] NEW BRO'HOOD

LONGSHOT - Kayt (w/ bag on head)

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MADROX - Kayt (still w/ bag on head) /hopes this isn't too confusing...

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PORTER - Kayt

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MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt (I hope I don't break my brain on this...)

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from iris

SOBS

Re: SOBS

Re: SOBS

Re: SOBS

MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

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from iris

MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

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MYSTIQUE/MAGNETO - Kayt

iris

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still iris

FOREVER IRIS

HEE, AND FOREVER CRYSTAL TOO

<3333 sorry this took so long. with everything else i forgot! D:

tis ok! I'm glad there's so much to tag!

<333

Re: <333

LONGSHOT - Kayt