[Nexus] Inside 48

[happyturtle]

Sitar's Strings

"I do have some... other enterprises, including a Humanist Laboratory." Starling says. "Of course the location is kept secret, to avoid protesters and vigilantes. All of our work is legal, but people can get quite emotional about these matters."

[Zefir]

"I dunno, I'm just here 'cause you paid me. Maybe they've been eating babies or something?"

Dalton shrugs. Lizard people, monkey people, giant floating brain people, it really makes no difference to him. Innocent or guilty, they all look and smell the same when reduced to cinders and ash. It's the fire that matters, the great big beautiful flames he means to set into motion. Arson is his specialty, his business, his weapon of choice and dearly beloved bride all in one.

"Now, we'll want to start by sealing this **** up. The kobbies have already done most of the job for us, so we just got the window to deal with. Then, we either throw the match in just before the last brick is slapped into place, or we teleport it in after. Both work just as fine as the other, honestly."

He reaches into his jacket, pulling out what appears to be a shiny Coca-Cola bottle, filled with a volatile mixture of things that are definitely not Coca-Cola. Occupying himself whilst others either do as he says or question his logic, he begins dropping little bits of styrofoam into the bottle, along with some baking soda, motor oil, turpentine, dish detergent, and other miscellaneous fluids. Most of those things, for convenience's sake, seem to be held in itty-bitty perfume bottles. Perfect for the arsonist on the go, who never knows when he might need to ruin everyone's day.

Kribulkin Street- Red Zone

"Let's just get things done. We can talk later."

It's quiet annoying for him to have Latalla around. She appears to be very strange and that's never good in the nexus.

[Earl of Purple]

Kribulkin Street- Red Zone

"This neighbourhood is human, except for these lizards. That's all that matters." Although Ekkehard is more interested in how much it will tarnish the various souls in this party. "Let's get to work blocking that last little bit so they can't get out." Ekkehard will take some bricks out of his pockets one-by-one. Evidently he has some interdimensional space in his pockets. "Let's be quick; we don't want to be caught."

[Gnrlshrimp]

[Sitar's Strings]

"Yes, quite understandable. Even if everything you do is completely above the law, there's always some people who object and protest. It's a shame that you have to wrap things up in such secrecy, even when you're doing nothing wrong." Roberts sighs and takes a sip of his drink as it arrives. "But perhaps I could be of some use in this laboratory of yours?"

[happyturtle]

Sitar's Strings

"Perhaps. What are your qualifications?" Starling asks.

[McBish]

[Angie's Clinic]

Angie thinks about it for a second then frowns.

"I should probably get some work done if I am going on vacation soon. You go have fun."

--------------------

[Hank's Hookah's]

Calvin sits up sorely. "Sorry, I know I said I would call but I couldn't. I sort of was in seclusion. My uncle wanted to make sure I was free of any influence, so he put me through this ritual he knew. I just got done a few hours ago actually. My uncle 'reminded' me off our 'date' here."

Calvin injects a heavy dose of air quotes into that last sentence. Apparently his uncle is under the impression that this is more then a friendly book club.

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"I thought you weren't going to tell your Uncle what had happened," Charity says. She can sort of understand why he thinks something more might be going on, after Calvin spent most of a night with her. But at the moment, she's more concerned about what John is putting Calvin through than about what he thinks about her.

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookah's]

"Yeah, I thought more about it and figured that would have been a mistake. He needs to know about it so he can keep himself safe. Plus I was hoping he might be able to shine some light on whoever was behind this. Keeping it from him might have been easier, but it would have been the wrong thing to do."

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"Have you felt any other compulsions or oddities since then?" Charity asks.

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookah's]

"No, if I wasn't sure that it was all gone when I left the base I am now. I am under my own control now, and hopefully it will stay that way."

The rituals he underwent may have been extreme but he knew they would work and help him. Not to mention his uncle wouldn't rest till he was sure that Calvin didn't have anyone else controlling him.

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"I'm glad. That must have been terrifying," Charity says.

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookah's]

Calvin nods. "Yeah it was. Having those thoughts pop up, they seemed so real, they made sense. Even though I knew they shouldn't. Knowing how close I was to loosing control scared me. I know I can hurt someone, but I have always been able to choose not to."

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"Did you tell your Uncle about how you got rid of it?" Charity asks.

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookah's]

"No, at least not specifically. Just that you had a place to hold up and some friends who could help me out. I figured he could do without the specifics."

Though he also knew if he told him the truth he would have looked a lot less kindly on Chairty's friendship. Calvin didn't want to be forbidden from seeing her, not that it would stop him, but it would be more annoying for sure.

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"He seems like the type who will try to find out more anyway," Charity says.

[Mindfreak]

Krystal senses she touched a soft spot there.

Oh...okay. Sorry.

She looks around a little before speaking again.

Well, guess I should introduce myself a little more. Let's see...I'm a mutant. Hence the hair and eyes. I'm not from the Nexus originally. I'm from Earth, though now that I've found out that there's a bunch of different realities, I don't really know which Earth. She gives a sort of nervous chuckle, and figures that she's talking too much and that she should give the Lady a chance to respond.

Inside!
"Oh? What makes you a mutant, exactly? You look perfectly normal to me."
She's curious! And is looking curiously at Krystal!

---

Alleyway - Predators
The murder retrieves his blade!
"Well, this should be fun."
He gets into position to fight!

[McBish]

Hank's Hookahs

"He seems like the type who will try to find out more anyway," Charity says.

Calvin nods, "Yeah you are right he is. I don't know if I could stop him from finding out where I went, but maybe I can convince him not to care. He has plenty on his plate now anyways."

Beyond the fact that someone is trying to kill him it seems.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Inside!
"Oh? What makes you a mutant, exactly? You look perfectly normal to me."
She's curious! And is looking curiously at Krystal!

[Inside]

Krystal brings a hand up to the back of her head as she considers the Lady's response. Clearly, this woman hadn't lived on Earth for any length of time.

Well...where I'm from, I'm kind of a genetic off-shoot from normal humans. My DNA is different. Normal humans don't have pure white eyes, or hair like fine crystals. And they don't have any kind of special powers. Mutants do. Every mutant's DNA is different from a normal human's. Hence them being called mutants.

[Jacklu]

[Dinner and a Pony]

Three times the pony!

It is every pony-loving child's dream no doubt.

Sigil is about to reply when the dinner's on call goes out. Time to take a seat! "Salad and steamed vegitables will be perfect, thank you."

Hmm...

Take a seat...

Sigil peers at the chair uncertainly. He's not exactly... shaped... properly to use it. But that can be fixed easily enough! The pony's horn lights up with pearlecent white light and enshrouds the chair before morphing it into something of an odd little bed-like piece of furniture that the pony can lay on.

"Ha! That spell never ceases to be useful. And don't worry about your chair. The spell will wear off in an hour or two," Sigil assures his host as he takes his seat.

"A great number of things. A bit of magic tutoring here and there. Though mostly I design and build various enchanted trinkets and tools. The adventurer population here is fairly high and you wouldn't believe some of the odd devices they want to buy."

The kids listen, captivated.

That's very interesting. How is business?

Did you ever make a magic sword?

Kribulkin Street- Red Zone

"This neighbourhood is human, except for these lizards. That's all that matters." Although Ekkehard is more interested in how much it will tarnish the various souls in this party. "Let's get to work blocking that last little bit so they can't get out." Ekkehard will take some bricks out of his pockets one-by-one. Evidently he has some interdimensional space in his pockets. "Let's be quick; we don't want to be caught."

Yeah! Filthy non-humans! Who do we think we are, living around here with humans? I mean, us non-humans are totally not safe. So, when do we light them all on fire?

[Rebonack]

[Dinner and a Pony]

"Business is quite well. Just the other day I got an order for a gross of magical egg crackers. I haven't the faintest idea why such a device would be needed, but I suppose some people just can't live without a gadget to do every little thing," Sigil laughs.

And picks up a fork with his hoof (how does he DO that?) and spears a carrot.

"And I don't typically make weapons. I certainly favor tools of the more non-violent sort if at all possible. Which isn't to say I couldn't make a magic sword if I put my mind to it. It would just be harder for me to really pour my love into something that I know is going to be used to hurt things."

Well! That's a nice sentiment to have.

[The Bushranger]

[Angie's Clinic]

Angie thinks about it for a second then frowns.

"I should probably get some work done if I am going on vacation soon. You go have fun."

BR waves a hand in a dismissive fashion. "Hey, I was just going to be drinking Black Shadows and counting how many times Cosmo grumbles. I can stick around and keep you company if you want."

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs



Calvin nods, "Yeah you are right he is. I don't know if I could stop him from finding out where I went, but maybe I can convince him not to care. He has plenty on his plate now anyways."

Beyond the fact that someone is trying to kill him it seems.

"Do you want me to talk to him about it?" Charity asks.

[Mindfreak]

[Inside]

Krystal brings a hand up to the back of her head as she considers the Lady's response. Clearly, this woman hadn't lived on Earth for any length of time.

Well...where I'm from, I'm kind of a genetic off-shoot from normal humans. My DNA is different. Normal humans don't have pure white eyes, or hair like fine crystals. And they don't have any kind of special powers. Mutants do. Every mutant's DNA is different from a normal human's. Hence them being called mutants.

Inside!
"Well yeah, I know what a mutant is. But I want to know what makes you a mutant." >>
She wanted to know what her power was!

[KerfuffleMach2]

Inside

It finally clicks what the Lady is asking.

Oh, you mean besides the hair and eyes? Well, I have some regeneration, and my bones are made out of some kind of diamond-like stuff. And I can extend them. Like this.

She'll bring her right hand up in front of her. The Lady has a chance to see a good amount of scars on her knuckles before she forms a fist, causing a pointed crystal to slide out of each lower knuckle. They come to a stop at about three inches in length. They are mostly clear.

[Gnrlshrimp]

Sitar's Strings

"Perhaps. What are your qualifications?" Starling asks.

"My qualifications?" Roberts frowns, "Well, I am one of the countless people who arrived here in unusual ways. A remarkably common occurrence around, isn't it? Point is, unfortunately my means of arrival didn't allow me the luxury of bringing such things as my qualifications with me. And since I no doubt came from a very different place to you, I fear the names of the places I studied and taught at won't mean much, though I'm happy to fill you in anyway if you wish."

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookahs]

"No. I think it would be better if you and him didn't meet up. The harmless act he puts on is just that, an act. He is dangerous. I don't want you to get mixed up with him."

-----------------

[Angie's Clinic]

"Yeah, I would love the company."

Of course the work she has to do is reading resumes for perspective employees. None of which I have written up or put thought into them. So working shall be hand waved away.

[happyturtle]

Sitar's Strings

"My qualifications?" Roberts frowns, "Well, I am one of the countless people who arrived here in unusual ways. A remarkably common occurrence around, isn't it? Point is, unfortunately my means of arrival didn't allow me the luxury of bringing such things as my qualifications with me. And since I no doubt came from a very different place to you, I fear the names of the places I studied and taught at won't mean much, though I'm happy to fill you in anyway if you wish."

"My apologies, Professor. I fear I misspoke. Actual paperwork and such means very little. I should have rather said what are your skills."


Hanks Hookahs

[Hank's Hookahs]

"No. I think it would be better if you and him didn't meet up. The harmless act he puts on is just that, an act. He is dangerous. I don't want you to get mixed up with him."

"I never thought he was harmless. But I have this, if I'm ever in trouble." Charity lifts her hand to show her teleport bracelet. She chews on her lip and hesitates before going on. "Calvin, I want to ask you something important."

[McBish]

[Hank's Hookahs]

Oh boy there is a phrase he hadn't heard in awhile, and it makes him nervous. Usually that question meant there was trouble coming. So he tightens up a bit before responding trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"Sure go ahead."

[happyturtle]

Hank's Hookahs

"When you were under the compulsion, you said you thought you should leave your Uncle, and that you'd have to kill him to do it. I know the thought of killing him wasn't from you. But what about the rest? Do you want to try to get away?" Charity asks.

[McBish]

Hank's Hookahs

"I don't know.

He sits back looking down at his hands, picking his fingernails as he tries to figure out how to respond. Sure he has thought about leaving his uncle. Running away from his life, but he never knew where he would run to. He never could figure out a safe place to run to.

Then again there was a huge part of him that wants to stay. His uncle loves him, took him in and gave him a place in the world. While he may not like hurting anyone he has to admit fighting excites him like nothing else. Learning to sneak unseen, moving through the shadows and getting into places you shouldn't be. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy that part.

If he did leave how would his uncle react. Not very well most likely. He liked things his way and Calvin leaving wouldn't fit into his plans. Calvin may not know exactly what is going on in his uncles head but he knows that John values Calvin, and wouldn't let him go without a fight.

"I don't think so."

He doesn't trust his tongue to explain half the thoughts in his head especially on a topic like this. While it may be clear that he is obviously conflicted getting him to talk about it would be a challenge.