Birds of a Feather

The Clocktower

Zach: "So, she's not really concerned at all."

Ashley: "Well, then, let's all go out for some drinks, problem solved."

Oracle: "Not at all? Do you think she was putting on a front so we wouldn't worry?"

Ashley: "Pfft - she doesn't care if we worry. If anything, she'd like us to worry more so she could feel important."

Danny cocked a bemused eyebrow. None of this was settling information. Rae wasn't ever wrong about these things. Sometimes about the way they happened, but they always happened. Then again, if Dominique, the woman entrusted to ensure that Set was never released wasn't worried or hadn't sensed anything bad, who were they to argue. He shot a look at Rae.

"I mean...if Dominique isn't worried, it either means nothing is wrong...or that she's somehow being blocked from knowing...or knowing this group, she's been dead for quite some time and whoever Zach spoke to is just one of The Black Queen's clones.."

Rae: "It could be a matter of pride...or timing. The White Queen has a long way to travel through The Further to get to Set. If she isn't close, it might not set off any mystical alarms as of yet...which means we have some time to stop this before it begins..."

Ashley: "If we're going to get nothing in the way of assist from Isis on the Nicolas front, then we need to shore up Cameron's chances of defeating Diana before she gets a chance to possess him."

This all seemed so surreal and yet the norm at this point in Danny's life, and it was something that made him a bit sad, but hopeful. The White Queen had caused so much destruction in so many people's lives in the city. It's skyscrapers were stained in blood spilled by her hand. If they could just actually get rid of her, once and for all, it might give the city the chance to heal for the first time in quite some time.

"Agreed. I don't think we should waste the precious time we have. I can 'port whoever goes to meet with The Six and keep an eye on both sides, ready to extract either if necessary at a moment's notice. I'm also going to do an intel sweep of the city...just to make sure there isn't some underground contingency cult Diana's built for generations preparing to bring in a new world order as we speak."
 
JFK to The Clocktower

Vivica wasn't a woman who slept, especially not on planes. She would sooner die than find a picture of her drooling face and double chin on some kind of gossip page. So she used this time to settle back into the world of New York City. Her laptop was open as she began to mentally scan any and all intel reports left by the Birds and Oracle to make sure she was up to speed on what was happening. She didn't want to burst into The Clocktower with pizza and beer if the world was about to end.

[Speaker Voice:] "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now beginning our descent into Queens. Temperature is a cool 46 degrees..Once again we'd like to thank you for flying with us, we know you have a choice when it comes to travel--"

She exhaled deeply, feeling bad that she had been gone from New York for so long, but she was cautiously optimistic. Her team wasn't going to admonish her for needing some time to herself after everything. Once she was out of the fray of things and waiting for a cab, she pulled out her phone as a voicemail message came through from Zizi.

>> "Hi Vivica - You're probably off doing something glamorous right now, but there's some important news you need to hear, so if you could please call me when you get this? Okay. Thank You. Goodbye."

Fifteen minutes in the city and she was already getting ominous voicemails. A new record. It felt really good to hear Oracle's voice, not that she hadn't in the last few months, it had just been too few and far between for her liking. It had been so hard to watch her grieve Gabe while also dealing with the idea of Cameron being in a coma. She had felt so strong immediately after the battle at Hellfire, she had nearly destroyed the Black Wing herself, saved her team when they needed to be saved. And then she found out about Cameron, and she couldn't get a read on it. Delilah seemed like she knew this was part of his plan, but the others didn't. And it made Vivica really angry. Of course this was part of his plan. Some dramatic grand gesture that firmly put himself as the hero he was always trying to be. The only one with the power to defeat The White Queen. She was his holy grail. The only problem was the last time he died, he had become Diana's play thing, and it was only through an act of sheer power on Alison's behalf and the folly of Barbas that brought him back. She hated his need to play with fire.

Vivica's UBER Black pulled up and she quickly go into the SUV, her mind racing as to what exactly the news was. Mentally, she activated the chip in her brain and connected into The Clocktower's computer systems, specifically the security feeds, a feat afforded to her by Oracle so she could share her knowledge in real time with the team.

Seer said:
<< Vivica sees the security feed in her minds eye as a large group was gathered. >>

<< She zooms in on the team. It was so good to see them. >>

Zach: "So, she's not really concerned at all."

Ashley: "Well, then, let's all go out for some drinks, problem solved."

Zizi: "Not at all? Do you think she was putting on a front so we wouldn't worry?"

Ashley: "Pfft - she doesn't care if we worry. If anything, she'd like us to worry more so she could feel important."

Danny: "I mean...if Dominique isn't worried, it either means nothing is wrong...or that she's somehow being blocked from knowing...or knowing this group, she's been dead for quite some time and whoever Zach spoke to is just one of The Black Queen's clones.."

Rae: "It could be a matter of pride...or timing. The White Queen has a long way to travel through The Further to get to Set. If she isn't close, it might not set off any mystical alarms as of yet...which means we have some time to stop this before it begins..."
Click to expand...

Vivica's blood ran cold.

"Oh fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK!"

[Uber Driver:] "Everything okay, miss?"

"Uh...yeah. Just chipped..a nail is all."

Her mind was racing. Malice was somehow trying to bring SET out?! To do what exactly, destroy the whole mothafuckin' world because she had died?! It tracked but Vivica assumed that even somebody like Diana had limits. Her eyes remained glued to what she was seeing in front of her.

[Clocktower Security Feeds]

Ashley: "If we're going to get nothing in the way of assist from Isis on the Nicolas front, then we need to shore up Cameron's chances of defeating Diana before she gets a chance to possess him."

Danny: "Agreed. I don't think we should waste the precious time we have. I can 'port whoever goes to meet with The Six and keep an eye on both sides, ready to extract either if necessary at a moment's notice. I'm also going to do an intel sweep of the city...just to make sure there isn't some underground contingency cult Diana's built for generations preparing to bring in a new world order as we speak."

The hits just kept on coming. Was Cameron alive? Was he preparing to do battle with Diana again? And what was going on with Nicolas? She leaned in towards the front seat of her uber.

"So, not that you aren't doing a lovely job, but I will tip you $500 if you can get me to my location in the next fifteen minutes. I'm kind of having an emergency."

[Uber Driver]: "Lady for 500 bucks, I don't give a shit was the reason is. Now sit back and buckle your seatbelt."

She smirked while her mind was racing, endlessly cross referencing anything in her memory banks that would connect Malice with Set, or any other connection she might have missed before. Several months ago she had been given access to Mina Harker's library to look for ways to kill the treacherous bitch herself, Ava Cassadine. But Vivica's research hadn't been so narrow. She consumed any and everything she could that one day have revelance to her team and The Six at some point. But nothing she had on Set seemed to click to her.

<< SCREECH! >>

Her driver had made good on her word, so she tipped him double. She took a moment to breath and exhale before heading up the elevator, the short seconds it took to get the top feeling like years. The doors opened as Vivica found herself suddenly right back into the world she had left a few months ago with no good reasons other than ones that were her own.

"And here I thought I was about to surprise all of YOU!"

She smirked, before her face settled into a more serious tone.

"Just kidding. It's good to see ya'll. I'll go with whoever's going to meet with The Six."
 
And So It Goes....

<< It was an old addage that time healed all wounds, but our heroes were finding out, that often time had a way of catching up with those who had yet to pay their dues. Haleigh and Ava had been successful in their takeover of Hellfire America, but it wasn't long before Haleigh found herself on an island alone, a common theme for the woman. Only this time she no longer had her sister or her stud Cameron to comiserate with. Ava had been withdrawn for quite some time and Cameron was in a coma. Still, Haleigh made every effort to make the takeover of Hellfire worth it in the end, securing an alliance with Liam as well as Adriana Nefara, but without that old and deep feeling of family, it was clear that Haleigh was second guessing her decisions. >>

<< Speaking of withdrawn, Morgan Victoria AKA Spellbinder was feeling more lost than she ever had been. The bullet wound she had suffered at the hands of Talisman had completely negated her magick. And for whatever reason, for a woman who had been a beacon of invulnerability and righteousness for The Six, she fell apart. Losing herself in alcohol, Morgan had all but written off all of her responsibilities. She was trying to both live with the fact that she was no longer Sorceress Supreme of Earth, as well as the fact that she had lost her dominion over Limbo, and the fact that a woman she had often found herself at odds against, Haleigh Davidoff aka Black Widow, was in fact her biological sister. She threw herself into Hellion's arms, a dubious man with ill intentions, but even then found herself unhappy. She was resolved to walk away from it all, but she just couldn't find the strength to make the decision that she wanted to. >>

<< Sometimes, decisions were made for you, as Elizabeth York had learned months ago. With the wounds of her dead lover still looming over her, she pushed forward, continuing her life as a professor, hoping to move on from her time in Europe. Though a chance encounter with Henry AKA Paladin, had shown her that maybe her love life wasn't over...but just beginning. >>

<< Ashley and Zach had been busy merging their lives and planning their wedding, much to the chagrin of any haters they may have had. The two had found calm in the storm within each other, and neither was looking in the rear view mirror. Still, that didn't stop Haleigh from throwing a wrench in their plans in the form of the young orphan, Jake O'Reilly. >>

<< For whatever reason, he was being displaced from Rose's orphanage and about to land in the care of humans, whom both Rose and Dominique had deigned responsible enough to care for the boy. This news did not set well with any party and both Haleigh and Zach were found rationalizing certain aspects of themselves that they didn't much want to talk about. Since neither wanted to assume responsibility for the boy, it seemed as if he was destined for a life with humans....for now. >>

<< Meanwhile, on The Astral Plane, Diana and Cameron had been engaged in a bloody battle for supremacy. Drawing on whatever ambient energies were around they, they were unknowingly causing the deaths of countless psychics, telepaths and psionics around them in the name of war. Cameron AKA Prophet realized the depths of Diana's depravity when she mentioned not only possessing Nicolas King AKA Rampage, but of her desire to knowingly awaken the War God Set in order to destroy a timeline in which she had been killed. Feeling as if he had no other option, Cameron allowed his death on the Astral Plane so that he could awaken on The Other Side, giving him a level of protection from The White Queen, and allowing him to track her movements until he deigned necessary to intervene. >>

<< Cameron and Diana's movements had caused quite a stir in the pyschic community, and nobody was more concerned than Rae Reynolds AKA Jezebel, who was convinced that unless The Birds of Prey or The Six intervened, Diana would unleash armageddon, and that Cameron would be lost in his pursuit of her destruction. She met with The Birds of Prey who were receptive, but still left her with the ominous feeling that she had been too late. >>

<< Speaking of too late, Vivica Lennox had been off in Miami, losing herself in frivolous dreams and notions, ignoring the pain that her family, The Birds of Prey, had been going through for quite some time. While her social star climbed, she couldn't help but feel like she was doing the wrong thing. She missed her team, and she missed her friends, and while she didnt have all the answers, her return to New York was imminent, and she was ready to get back to work. >>

<< The Birds of Prey had made a decision. A team would stay and help Rae, and some would go and talk to The Six. Ashley, Rae and Oracle had decided to stay at The Clocktower to assist Rae, while Danny transported Zach and Vivica to The Parthenon, following along with them while watching from both sides. Zach and Vivica had prided themselves on the ways they had moved on from The Six, but like clockwork, when push came to shove, they were always the ones who would be thrown back into it's orbit. The two waited in the conference room for Delilah, as Haleigh had decided to fill in Morgan, who had arrived back at The Parthenon a few hours ago, in a very uncharacteristic move for her. >>

<< As our groups converge and figure out the next step in this endless battle, so we WATCH. >>
 
The Parthenon - Morgan's Penthouse

"You are awake, Morgan. I promise. But just like the bad man? This is another prison. You'll be here so long you forget who you are. I didn't want to hurt Ororo, but she wouldn't listen. I need you to listen to me, Morgan. I can get you out of here. I can get you home. To your mother. You just have to follow me. I promise."

<< She'd dreamt about him for months, and her research provided little to no answers, not without her magick anyway. It was Brenthon. The man they had encountered only once before in Darkchilde's timeline. He was her Evil Incarnate and deadly assassin. There, he had no depth, in her dreams, he seemed so real and earnest. She couldn't understand why he kept calling to her, but he did. >>

"I want to go home, Brenthon....Please....just help me go home."

<< Morgan was a little girl, being asked to trust somebody who seemingly killed the only person who had shown her kindness in Limbo. Who had rescued her from the hands of Belasco, a man she only recently began to think of, and again, only when she slept. She woke up screaming, like usual as she wiped beads of sweat from her smooth alabastair skin. She decided now was a good a time as any to take a nice hot shower, her second of the evening. It was a self soothing act, letting the water wash away her sins and center her. Though right now she felt like she had no center. Her magick was gone, Cameron was in a coma, her sister and best friend taunted her with the possibility of hope, and she a newfound sister she had often wished dead over the years. Oh, and she had been cheating on her boyfriend with reckless abandon for months. She was a monster. She was everything she hated, but something about the water, it made her feel a bit more clean than usual. >>

<< Stepping out of the shower, she brushed her hair and put on a white silken robe as Tinkerbell began to vocalize at her feet. She hadn't seen Tink in weeks, and it was clear she was being punished for it. Taking the cat in her arms, she sat on her couch, allowing the silence to fill her surroundings. Everything was so fucked and most of it was her fault. And she didn't have the power to fix it anymore. It was freeing and crushing and nobody understood it. She wanted to dissappear. She wanted to be left alone...and then she heard a knock at her door. Haleigh. Dropping the cat next to her feet, Morgan poured herself a glass of chardonnay and walked slowly to the door, opening with a smirk. >>

"Sorry, I'm not really interested in solar power..feels a bit like witchcraft to me, and I'm not up to spells these days..."

[flatly]

"Hello, Haleigh. I'd ask what I can do for you, but I just don't have it in me anymore. What horrible news have you come to deliver?"
 
The Parthenon - Executive Conference Room (Outside)

Delilah had agreed to be the point of contact for Oracle's team, when they inevitably asked for a meeting with the Six. It was the lesser of having to talk with Nicolas and be subjected to his holier than thou attitude. She had been surprised to get Zach's text so soon, and really for it to come from him. She still thought of him as theirs. It was strange for him to be part of this totally other world, outside of Haleigh. But good for him, he'd gotten out. Maybe the rest of them should have taken notice. Still, he seemed better than a rag tag group of mutants playing Six. What was worse, somehow Sharon and Alycia had been convinced to sign up too.

Though with the state of the Six, she guessed she couldn't exactly blame them. And it had only gotten worse. Blaze turning into a complete bitch, Morgan and Nicolas losing power and neither of them exactly the shining definition of "teammate" anyway. Alison in self-exile on Aerie (thank god). Cameron on another plane of existence entirely. Ava drowning in her grief. Haleigh more robotic than usual. They weren't even really a team at this point.

Zach had said he and Vivica Lennox were on their way to the Parthenon, and could they touch base? She had told him she would meet them in the conference room on the private floors at the top of the building. She needed to shower first - she had been down in the lower levels with Cameron for hours before she had met with Haleigh - and headed back to her suite for a quick change, alerting the front desk to have someone show them up when they arrived. Delilah wondered if Vivica knew about Cameron. The Birds seemed to know about everything else. Delilah knew Cameron had wanted to make amends with Vivica. She didn't know if he'd made any inroads in that respect, but she resolved to be kind to the woman on his behalf. Plus, Vivica had impressed Delilah during the Rose fiasco, with her bravery and the way she had looked after Blaze (however misguided THAT might have been).

Showered and refreshed by that and clean clothes, Delilah opened the conference room door and stepped inside.

"Zach, Vivica, how are you?"

She tried to gauge whether Vivica seemed upset.

Taking a bottle of water from a bar cart, and gesturing to the two of them questioningly to see if they wanted anything, she sat down at the table across from the two of them and twisted off the cap.

"So, what's this all about?"

She took a long drink, her eyes flicking between them inquisitively.
 
Clocktower to The Parthenon

Vivica was surprisingly calm once Oracle had explained to her the situation before heading over to The Parthenon. The last time she had been there, she had punched Cameron in the face, before Alison made a grandstanding apology to her. Neither of the scenarios she wished to dwell on. Part of her power made her very good at compartmentalizing things, but she found, at least in this moment that she didn't really need to. Cameron had always been reckless, and often only got away with it because he relied on those around him to save him. There was always somebody who loved him enough to try and save him before he was ever truly gone. Vivica had been that person for a lot of his life, but when it came time for him to repay her, she watched him walk into the sun with The Six. She was truly done revisiting that part of her life, and she was now walking into The Parthenon Conference Room with two people who have SAVED her - one in her ear (Oracle) and one by her side (Zach). She was a hero in her own right, and despite the part of Cameron being dead that tugged at her heartstrings, that wanted to apologize for hitting him, for getting so angry, she had been fooled once before. She wouldn't be another time.

Delilah: "Zach, Vivica, how are you?"

Vivica grabbed herself a bottle of water and took a long drink. She'd always liked Delilah. She was glad that Cameron had found somebody outside of Haleigh or his sister to have an actual friendship with. One that was born out of actual acts of service and platonic intimacy. He may have been a shitty friend to Vivica, but she was glad he had been a good friend to Delilah. And Delilah always called The Six out on their shit, no matter the consequences, and Vivica respected that.

"Oh you know, another day, another disaster. It's good to see you, Delilah."

The three of them sat across the table from each other and settled in as her mind began to wonder a bit. She had no idea what the current roster of this team was. Had everything fallen back into place for them? Were Haleigh and Ava welcomed back into the fold with open arms? And where was Morgan? Not that Delilah couldn't hold her own, but with Cameron being "dead" it seemed like the perfect opportunity for Morgan to reclaim her leadership of the team and slam her fists on the table as she so liked to do.

Delilah: "So, what's this all about?"

She looked at Delilah and looked at Zach.

"I know it's not like me, but I don't have all the details. I've returned from leave roughly thirty minutes ago. You want to take the lead on this, Orion?"
 
The Clocktower

Danny had whisked Rae away to her apartment in Brooklyn to gather some tools. Normally, she wouldn't need any of this to connect to the other side - she could do it as easily as breathing, but there were several things happening that were making her nervous. Rae wasn't just planning on making contact with Cameron on The Other Side - she was also going to ensure that no more damage would be done to the psi sensitives of the world, and she was going to use Cameron's connection to Diana to install several roadblocks on her way to Set, ones that she would not be able to get around despit her power there. In short, both of them needed a healthy good ole' fashion dose of the Holy Spirit and Rae Reynolds was going to give it to 'em.

After taking a few moments to gather supplies she was returned to The Clocktower roof, where Valkyrie and Oracle were waiting for her, with the set up she requested, two chairs across from each other and not much else. Rae slung her bag down over her shoulder and exhaled dramatically before looking back at the two of them.

"Alright, I know a lot of this is gonna seem pretty lame, but I promise it helps to kind of cleanse the area and make room."

From her bag she pulled a large jar of blessed salt and gestured Ashley to take a seat in one of the chairs before tracing a large circle around the chairs, making sure to remain inside it's perimeter.

"This will keep all the ambient energy inside of the circle so it doesn't go anywhere else. Oracle, you need to remain on the outs in case we need to break the circle and connection. All you gotta do is break the circle and wheel your ass back a good few feet so you don't get hit with anything. It's just a fail safe - Valkyrie should be able to absorb any kind of soul or entity that tries to make it's way through once I've opened the connection."

She took a seat in her chair as she pulled out a bottle of essential oil infused with holy rose from the gardens at The Vatican, or so she was told - she had bought it on Esty but it usually did the trick. She dabbed a bit under her nostrils, in the palms of her hand and on her forehead.

"The oil helps me see and feel clearly - again I know it sounds lame, but it helps."

Finally, she produced a rather worn strand of prayer beads, ones she had used for over thirty years and wrapped them around her hands, centering her energy.

"Any questions before we begin?"
 
The Parthenon — Morgan’s Suite

Haleigh had left the lower levels in an elevator, headed for the residential floors that no longer felt like home, that might never feel that way again if Cameron didn’t come back from the dead. She tried not to let her mind go there, it would do her no good. She felt she could barely breathe and directed her focus on filling her lungs with air. A text message from her sister popped up in her heads-up visual display.

Ava>> I heard about Cameron. You okay?

Haleigh’s vision blurred as she leaned back into the corner of the elevator, mentally triggering the emergency stop on the lift. There was nobody here to see, nobody she needed to be strong for. She let go of her death grip on composure. It was good to just release it, and not have to consider the ramifications for once. She was not a lachrymose person; a few streaming tears, a sob or two, and a heavy exhalation was all it took to recover. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and stuff it back in her pocket before replying to her sister.

I’ll survive.

Ava>> No doubt. What’s the plan?

Delilah doesn’t think he’ll stay dead. I’ll fill you in later.

She finished, turning the elevator back on. By the time she stepped out onto the hallway between penthouse suites, she looked and felt like her usual steely self. She knocked on Morgan’s door purely out of courtesy. She heard some comment about solar power and mirrored the smirk her friend sister gave her. They were polar opposites. Morgan was tall, ethereal and eternally glamorous, even when she wasn’t wearing some fashionable ensemble. Haleigh was small, spartan and gritty. Sure, she could dress up if the mission required it. Otherwise, jeans and a leather jacket were as close as Haleigh got to ‘fashion’. Morgan ought to just be happy there was no mud on her boots. As surreal as it was, they shared DNA.

Morgan: "Hello, Haleigh. I'd ask what I can do for you, but I just don't have it in me anymore. What horrible news have you come to deliver?"

“Oh, nothing much really. Cameron died again, although Delilah swears it’s just a feint, but either way my mother is threatening to possess Nicolas and allow Set to run amok. And I’m hoping that’s just a bluff but, you know, Diana’s dangerous when she’s desperate. Anyway, enough about my personal shit-show, how fucked up are YOU these days?”
 
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The Parthenon — Conference Room

Danny and Rae may not have been officially part of the Birds of Prey, but they seemed to vibe nicely with the group dynamic. Zach wondered if he should talk to Zizi about maybe recruiting them to work together again in the future, if everything went well. They could always benefit from the addition of capable colleagues. It was very quickly settled who would take care of what.

Unsurprisingly, it was Zach and Viv going to the Parthenon. He didn’t mind, really, though he wasn’t exactly looking forward to seeing Haleigh again. Once today would’ve been enough, but if the team needed him to go, he wasn’t going to let them down. He was a good candidate to bridge the divide between teams, and Viv being there with him made it twice improved.

He originally texted Haleigh but she directed him to reach out to Delilah. That was unexpected but knowing her, she was already putting some strategy in play. Maybe that meant she wouldn’t be around for the whole meeting. That would be nice, Zach thought. Sure enough, they were led up to the conference room for a short wait, and Delilah was the only one who came to meet with them.

So clearly, the Six were intending to handle this in house. Zach would’ve felt reassured by seeing them together as a team again, even if they were bickering, but then he remembered how undesirable it was for Nic to even return to the city right now. Perhaps Delilah was assigned to be their liaison while everyone else rallied at Nic’s location. Zach was glad to see Delilah. They had a good relationship and Delilah was very approachable and honest.

She greeted them and offered refreshments. Zach was starting to feel the length of the day and went about setting up the espresso machine to his liking. Viv replied wittily that it was another day, another disaster, and Zach chuckled in spite of the situation as the smell of coffee filled the air. Just the scent of it boosted his morale a bit. He joined the women at the table with his cup.

“Delilah, I hope you’re doing well.”

He said in greeting, as he sat down next to Viv. Delilah asked what this was all about, and Viv suggested he take the lead. He nodded gently, stirring his concoction a bit.

“Cameron, Malice, Nicolas, Set.”

He said, his gaze lifting from his drink to Delilah. He was certain she was aware of at least some of the problem. Her reaction would tell them just how much the Six knew (or were willing to share).

“This lady we’ve worked with before, she’s something of a clairvoyant, she stopped by today to clue us in on what she foresees happening. Naturally, given that Set is an existential issue, we’re motivated to help in anyway we can.”

He stated calmly, before stopping to blow a bit on his coffee and then take a careful sip. He could tell, just based on Delilah’s emotional state, that she knew Cameron wasn’t fully gone. She wasn’t even floored that they knew about it, which surprised Zach a bit, but maybe Delilah understood that the Six didn’t have the monopoly on superfriends.

“Have you heard from Isis? When I talked to her about it a little while ago she seemed very nonchalant.”
 
The Parthenon

Delilah felt comfortable with Zach and Vivica - she had known them both a long time and there was no pressure here. She said hello warmly, asking how they were, and genuinely caring about the answer.

Vivica: "Oh you know, another day, another disaster. It's good to see you, Delilah."

Zach: “Delilah, I hope you’re doing well.”

"Good to see you both too."

Much friendlier than the last person I met with. But then, Haleigh had seemed even more robotic than usual.

After getting a much needed water herself and offering them drinks, she cut to the chase, asking why they had wanted to meet with the Six. Vivica punted to Zach, so Delilah turned her smile to him expectantly.

Zach: “Cameron, Malice, Nicolas, Set.”

"Ah."

Delilah nodded, slowly. So Vivica already knew about Cameron, and was holding up beautifully. Delilah wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. She was 0 for 2 today predicting upset females on behalf of Cameron King.

"First, let me put your minds at ease."

She took a sip of water and leaned forward, folding her hands in front of her on the table.

"Everything with Cameron is going according to plan. He anticipated this, and we've taken steps to preserve his body for the time when he can return to it."

She looked at Vivica with compassion.

"I don't know what you've heard, but he's alright. He isn't dead."

Her eyes flicked back to Zach as he spoke.

Zach: “This lady we’ve worked with before, she’s something of a clairvoyant, she stopped by today to clue us in on what she foresees happening. Naturally, given that Set is an existential issue, we’re motivated to help in anyway we can.”

"And what, exactly, does she foresee happening?"

Zach: “Have you heard from Isis? When I talked to her about it a little while ago she seemed very nonchalant.”

Delilah cleared her throat.

"Yes, Haleigh and I heard Isis' point of view on the matter. Set is locked up good and tight. The worst case is that Malice would attempt to possess Nicolas - but unless his telepathic powers return he seems an unlikely target for her. Haleigh is going to meet with him, make sure he knows what's happening and can take steps to block her, should she try anything. We're still looking into other possible hosts. However-"

She leaned back in her chair.

"I have every confidence that Cameron will wipe the astral plane with her bony fake blonde ass."
 
The Clocktower

"I just don't know why you agreed to let US do all the set up. I mean, she's the one who wants this stuff, let her haul it up to the damn roof herself..."

Oracle sighed, following Ashley out of the stairwell and onto the roof, expertly extracting her chair from the lift.

Oracle: "Because we are all helping each other. She's helping us, so we're helping her..."

Ashley slammed down the two chairs they had swiped from the dining room table a little more forcefully than necessary, especially considering that carrying them was hardly a challenge.

"Oh, you're back."

Rae had appeared on the roof, carrying just a bag. Unlike some people.

Rae: "Alright, I know a lot of this is gonna seem pretty lame, but I promise it helps to kind of cleanse the area and make room."

"Lame."

It felt like amateur hour here, with the woman using salt like some conjure woman in a swamp. But at least Ashley got to sit down, and didn't have to do anything.

Rae: "This will keep all the ambient energy inside of the circle so it doesn't go anywhere else. Oracle, you need to remain on the outs in case we need to break the circle and connection. All you gotta do is break the circle and wheel your ass back a good few feet so you don't get hit with anything."

Oracle: "Got it!"

Rae: "It's just a fail safe - Valkyrie should be able to absorb any kind of soul or entity that tries to make it's way through once I've opened the connection."

"Yeah, not going to be a problem. It's what I do."

Rae pulled out a bottle that Ashley was sure she was going to take a swig of, but instead just started putting on her body like she was at a spa.

Rae: "The oil helps me see and feel clearly - again I know it sounds lame, but it helps."

"Yeah, super lame."

Rae: "Any questions before we begin?"

"Yeah, just one. What exactly are you going to do while I'm here taking care of any souls that"

She made air quotes.

"'makes it's way through'?"

Oracle cleared her throat.

Oracle: "What Ashley means is, anything we should look for, signs of trouble to watch out for, or anything we can do to help you while you do this?"
 
The Parthenon - Morgan's Penthouse

<< Morgan hadn't been face to face with Haleigh really since everything transpired at Hellfire, and with good reason. With everything Morgan was going through at the moment, seeing Haleigh was poetically painful. She didn't know how to feel - the two of them had run the gambit of friend and foe over the years that it almost made sense they were related. But it didn't make it easier to swallow. Ever since she found out, she found herself scanning Haleigh's face for some kind of familiarity that she had missed over the years. Their presentations were very different, their personalities were very different, but when it was spoken out loud, Morgan knew it to be true - they were sisters. Haleigh Davidoff was her sister. She took a somewhat longer sip of her wine as Haleigh filled her in. >>

Haleigh: "Oh, nothing much really. Cameron died again, although Delilah swears it's just a feint, but either way my mother is threatening to possess Nicolas and allow Set to run amok. And I'm hoping that's just a bluff but, you know, Diana's dangerous when she's desperate. Anyway, enough about my personal shit-show, how fucked up are YOU these days?"

<< She felt her pulse quicken as she struggled to maintain her composure. Morgan could let herself fall apart in front of Derek. She barely knew him, so she felt safe. But in front of Haleigh? In front of The Six? That was something her pride wouldn't allow. >>

"And therein lies your problem, Morgan..."

<< Growing up with a therapist for a mother was it's own goodie bag of trauma, but it helped in the self reflection department. The problem is Morgan was very good at ignoring said reflection and had enough power to crush anyone who pointed it out. Now wasn't the case, and if there was one thing that was becoming abundantly clear to her, it was that her invulnerability was fucking up her entire life. >>

<< Morgan exhaled deeply before speaking in a frank and almost sardonic tone, matching Haleigh's steely resolve. >>

"Oh nothing of note really. Except for the fact that ever since losing my magick I've been falling into a legendary fucking spiral..."

<< Her signature Spellbinder anger began to flare a bit. >>

"It started when I told Delilah I could take her to see her daughter, you know the one I STOLE from her for her own good? Well, turns out that Ororo, despite me letting her SQUAT in MY domain for decades, is actually QUITE pissed, and told me in no uncertain terms that until my magick is back and functioning that me even BEING in Limbo puts Alexia and Limbo itself in danger. Then I started feeling BAD about that, so I started DRINKING, and then I remembered that in the weeks leading UP to Hellfire, I had kind of been FUCKING this guy I met in LA who's half demon, half angel behind Nicolas' back. And then I started feeling even MORE bad, so I started drinking even MORE....and continued to fuck the new guy...."

<< she took another sip, becoming a bit more animated a she spoke. There was a sadness behind her eyes that was not often there. >>

"Oh and before THAT I all but severed ties with not just Alison, but Blaze AND my mother because, I mean, I don't know, i've ICED out anybody in my life who's ever given me constructive feedback, I thought maybe icing out the people who blow SMOKE up my ass all fucking day might just balance it out. Spoiler alert - it didn't...."

<< She finished her glass before gesturing Haleigh further into her penthouse, setting the glass down on the bar before pulling out a half empty bottle, filling her cup once more. >>

"And NOW....it seems like I'm going to have to go comfort a boyfriend I've been cheating on for months and am not sure I even really love anymore, and come face to face with a woman who's daughter I moved OFF world to a place where my presence actually makes it more DANGEROUS for....oh and Diana and Set and all that other BULLSHIT."

<< She stared at Haleigh with a smirk. >>

"Can I get you anything....sis?"
 
Clara Oswald
Clara Oswald
I love Hot Mess Morgan!
The Parthenon — Morgan’s penthouse

Haleigh had pulled herself together again, enough to deliver the summary of recent developments with her typical detached insouciance. She glanced around the room as she did so, double-checking that there was no one else to account for. Then she turned her eyes on her biological half-sister, and asked her just how fucked up she was these days. It was a frontal assault type question, one that Haleigh fully expected Morgan to parry or even completely side-step. She was not surprised to hear Morgan’s heart rate increase, considering it had always been Morgan’s way to fake invulnerability.

When Morgan flat out admitted to being in a downward spiral, Haleigh was momentarily nonplussed. Caught off guard, she listened to Morgan explain the catalysts for her current state of being. Okay, calling others out for the offenses she perceived them committing — that was very Morgan Victoria. However, it was the blunt honesty in self-assessing her own behavior that really impressed. It was a level of stark introspection that Haleigh hadn’t thought Morgan even capable of.

Haleigh silently followed Morgan further into the penthouse as she gave Morgan’s contentions some regard. She watched as Morgan went to the minibar for a refill, clearly troubled by the idea that she’d have to deal with Nicolas, and Delilah, and all the rest of it. Morgan offered to pour her something, which Haleigh stopped to briefly consider.

“You still have that bottle of Woodford Double Oaked that I brought over for Nic? I’ll take it neat.”

She requested, leaning down onto the counter as she propped herself up with one elbow. When she had her glass she raised it towards Morgan.

“To a legendary fucking spiral.”

She said before taking a mouthful of bourbon. She savored it a bit before swallowing, taking the time to think about where to start. She was not a pep-talker, but she knew what it felt like to struggle with the consequences of her own actions and decisions. She wasn’t going to try to say it would get better, or whatever other platitudes people used to comfort each other. She suspected Morgan knew that she wasn’t talking to a cheerleader.

“You get to decide where the spiral stops, Morgan. If you’re having fun and you think you want to go all the way to rock bottom, then I’m sure Derek Forrester will be a great companion on the helix to living hell.”

She started, assessing Morgan’s initial reaction to that.

“But— It sounds to me like you’ve taken stock of your situation and decided you don’t really like any of it.”

She commented before pausing again to observe the effect on target.

“You’ve changed it up some, attempted to correct your circumstances.”

Albeit somewhat haphazardly, with the new man behind Nic’s back and the abrupt elimination of her normal support network.

“If you think you made some mistake, keep in my mind it’s futile to punish yourself for it. The only effective thing to do is learn and adapt. Make your apologies and adjust your tact. Or, If you believe you’ve made the right call, by all means, stick to your guns. Let the others be upset, if necessary.”

She drew a little more whiskey from her glass.

“Nic? If you don’t love him, leave him. There are a million others who will lick his wounds. Let him find some one else to fulfill his needs. There’s no obligation to feel bad just because you’ve done the same. Fucking the new guy is not that big a deal.”

Haleigh added in an impartial tone.

“Delilah? She gets pissed when we make decisions without her input, even if it’s for her own good. We just have to let her be mad at us. I know I did everything I could think of to keep her alive, and I apologized for hurting her in the process, but now she needs time to heal. Maybe someday she’ll forgive me, but if not, then I’ll have to accept the loss of her friendship. YOU might need to accept it also, if you’re not gonna give her daughter back to her and watch her die.”

She said, then she took a deep breath and sighed it out.

“I know, it’s easier said than done, because Delilah’s hatred… hurts.”
 
The Clocktower

Rae Reynolds twenty years ago, hell even ten years ago would have bust a bottle over Ashley's head and headbutted her into a wall, but she was used to people underestimating her ability because it wasn't shooting laser beams out of her hands or leveling buildings with her mind. That and she felt a bit embarrassed that she had inserted herself into Valkyrie's business in front of the others like that. It was her fatal flaw, but it usually did more good than bad so she wasn't too hard on herself.

"Any questions before we begin?"

Valkyrie: "Yeah, just one. What exactly are you going to do while I'm here taking care of any souls that makes it's way through."

Oracle: "What Ashley means is, anything we should look for, signs of trouble to watch out for, or anything we can do to help you while you do this?"

"I know what she meant, Oracle. I'm a big girl, no need to soften any blows."

She looked at Ashley flatly.

"Cameron King is deep in The Other Side in a place called The Further, which is kind of like a bordertown between the other side and the astral plane. You have to know where you're going or you're dead. What I am going to do is locate Cameron, figure out what he wants, and try and relay it to your team so you can see if you even want to help the guy, and if so, HOW to help the guy...Valkyrie, you are going to remain at this "border"...."

Her gaze shifted to Oracle pensively.

"While I have wards in place, the things that exist in The Further are very powerful. You recall The Unloved who attached itself to Rose? Things like that. These entities want nothing more than to claim a human soul, to get back into the mortal realm, to use us to create enough destruction to pierce the veil between our world and theirs...."

[pausing]

"The age old feelings of ice cold weather, shivers and tingles up the spine, all that means something came through. You may experience hallucinations...if an entity breaks our circle, they will try and tempt you, appear to your desires - or to your pain and fear. Faith and resolve often fight these back, so...whatever it is you lean on, be it God, Gods, or yourself, know that they cannot possess without an invitation be it verbally or emotionally."

She exhaled deeply as she began to center her energy.

"Valkyrie will be on guard as I travel and make contact with Cameron. But enough talk...wish me luck..."

Rae closed her eyes, and spoke a silent prayer.

"Michael, the Archangel, defend us - be our defense against the wickedness of our enemies...."

The energy in the room became incredibly static and cold as both Valkyrie and Rae's astral forms left their bodies. Rae allowed her presence to be fully into the other side, whereas Valkyrie's power allowed her a sort of dual cogniscence as they were surrounded by blackness and the feeling of falling. Oracle would see a stiffness and sleepiness in both the women as the energy in the room seemed to shift to something that wasn't dark and evil, but uncomfortable and otherwordly.

"Prince of The Heavenly Host, protect against those who prowl around us, seeking the ruin of our sou--"

Rae's astral form began to glow a golden hue as she could feel the archangel's presence, a familiar feeling. Raised a southern baptist, it took a lot of unlearning to work through the religious trauma she'd experienced at the hands of her father and church, but she was a Christian at her core - though she had communed and experienced a number of different deities in her life and work - and respected them all - when she called upon strength, she called upon the tools of her chosen creator. She could feel his wings wrap around her, though physically he was not there, and for a moment she let herself get wrapped up in that warm feeling of protection, and that was a mistake.

"There are no angels with wings here, foolish woman."

She did not know who or what belonged to the detached voice, all she knew was that both Ashley and Rae were now freefalling down, as winds warped around them, still surrounded in complete blackness, as voices of spirits and demons and children all joined in as a cacophony of indecipherable words. In the real world, Rae's circle of salt IGNITED on fire brilliantly before turning black, as a blast of invisible force blew through the area like a strong gust of wind. Ashley would warn Oracle to stay on guard. None of this made sense to Rae, until she realized that it was very possible Cameron's knowledge of what Diana wanted to do might have found its way to Set himself, and he was going to ensure that Diana had a clean path to him.

<< CRASH! THUD! >>

The two of them hit solid matter, though there was none, crashing into the ground, composing themselves for a moment. Finally a humming and misty fog like light began to light up behind them in the form of a wall that seemed to stretch itself either side endlessly, with no end. Her heart began to race as she spoke to Ashley. Peculiarly, Oracle could hear their voices, though not from their bodies, it was as if they were echoing in the air. They had reached The Further

"Okay, not my best landing. You can mock my failure at length later. For now, stay here, and keep watch - and put that sword and shield of yours to good use. I'm going after Cameron."

Rae said another silent prayer, before her form, once again outlined in a hazy gold blasted forward, using Cameron's spirit as her guide. She didn't have much time. If Set knew the plan, this might all be for nothing. And with how pure of spirit Elizabeth was, there was no doubt the amount of twisted things out there that might come for her. She prayed she was fast enough and Valkyrie's blade was sharp enough, but mostly she focused on finding Cameron. Her outline became lighter and lighter as Vakyrie watched her fad away entirely, leaving her alone in The Further to watch over Oracle and stop anything that might just want to claim BOTH of their souls.
 
The Parthenon

Zach: "Cameron, Malice, Nicolas, Set."

Delilah: "Ah."

"A nightmare blunt rotation."

Vivica smirked to herself as Zach explained the situation. Delilah seemed eerily calm which gave her a bit of relief, though not much. It was clear The Six knew what was going on and had a plan, but it gave Vivica pause to see just how resolved Delilah seemed to be over the news of Cameron's death. If anybody should be falling apart outside of Haleigh, who she had never even seen sniffle with emotion, it was Delilah.

Delilah: "First, let me put your minds at ease. Everything with Cameron is going according to plan. He anticipated this, and we've taken steps to perserve his body for the time when he can return to it."

She cocked a bemused eyebrow as Delilah eyed her with compassion.

Delilah: "I don't know what you've heard, but he's alright. He isn't dead."

"Yet. He isn't dead yet..."

Zach: "This lady we'eve worked with before, she's something of a clairvoyant, she stopped by today to clue us in on what she foresees happening. Naturally, given that Set is an existential issue, we're motivated to help in anyway we can."

Delilah: "And what, exactly, does she foresee happening?"

"Absolute disaster at the hands of Malice and Set, naturally."

Zach: "Have you heard from Isis? When I talked to her about it a little while ago, she seemed very nonchalant."

Delilah: "Yes, Haleigh and I heard Isis' point of view on the matter. Set is locked up good and tight. The worst case is that Malice would possess Nicolas - but unless his telepathic powers return, he seems an unlikely target for her. Haleigh is going to meet with him, make sure he knows what's happening and can take steps to block her, should she try anything. We're still looking into other possible hosts. However -- I have every confidence that Cameron will wipe the astral plane with her bony fake blond ass."

This was just nod adding up to VIvica. They were all discussing this situation so... procedurally. Isis didn't seem worried, Delilah didn't seem worried. Had this last battle just truly taken all of their fire from them? She really didn't want to ruffle any feathers, but it felt like nobody was being...real.

"That's all well and good...but I don't have that same level of confidence. You can't plan for Malice. You watched her get her head cut off with the Soul Sword, you know, that supposedly end all be all weapon that cuts through magick and enchantment and power? ... and she came back...."

[she paused, trying to keep her tone even and not aggressive]

"From what I know, she took NIcolas' power, and she's only getting stronger the longer she's on the astral plane. There's only two possible hosts for her and that's Nicolas and Cameron, who's body is -- dead but not dead? Just...I'm assuming sitting somewhere in the lower levels of this hotel ripe for the picking? And Nicolas can hold her power because he's had that kind of power before...only with his body she'll get the strength of a demigod and Set. "

She contorted her face into an expression of disbelief and irritation.

"Everyone seems too sure of this plan, and not on alert like they normally would be - and that is usually the exact kind of environment that Malice thrives in. You say that Cameron planned for this - but this has SURELY gotta be a threat level midnight kind of contingency plan. He really PLANNED for the idea that Malice might use Nicolas and SET to come back? I've known him all my life, but I've never known him to be a planner on that meticulous of a level, so forgive but I just feel like there's got to be something we need to be doing that we aren't doing or seeing, and I'd really like to look at that brass tacks of this, because Set effects everyone...and I don't feel comfortable relying on Cameron to fix this. I just don't..."
 
The Clocktower - Roof

She and Zizi were left to do all the WORK setting up, while Rae flitted off somewhere with Danny. Nice job if you can get it. Ashley had the chairs set up and a kumbaya sermon from Zizi by the time she returned. She asked Rae what exactly she was going to be doing while Ashley was fending off angry souls.

Rae: "Cameron King is deep in The Other Side in a place called The Further, which is kind of like a bordertown between the other side and the astral plane. You have to know where you're going or you're dead. What I am going to do is locate Cameron, figure out what he wants, and try and relay it to your team so you can see if you even want to help the guy, and if so, HOW to help the guy...Valkyrie, you are going to remain at this "border"...."

Ashley snapped her fingers and made a gun with her thumb & index finger, pointed at Ray.

"Rear guard, got ya."

Rae: "While I have wards in place, the things that exist in The Further are very powerful. You recall The Unloved who attached itself to Rose? Things like that. These entities want nothing more than to claim a human soul, to get back into the mortal realm, to use us to create enough destruction to pierce the veil between our world and theirs...."

Ashley cracked her neck.

"I'm guess we don't want that to happen."

She remembered the feeling of the Unloved. A coldness like she'd never be warm again. And Zach...

She couldn't think about Zach right now, and what had happened back then. This right here was what Ashley was made for, she just had to go in there, and do it. It was just another day in a long line of days. No big whoop.

She turned to Zizi.

"Have any gum?"

Zizi fished in the pocket on the side of her chair, then tossed a pack to her. Hmm. Blueberry.

Ashley unwrapped two pieces and stuck them into her mouth, chewing vigorously. Meanwhile, Rae was continuing on. And on. Honestly, Ashley just wanted to get on with it. Whatever came at them, came. Talking about it wasn't going to do anything to help. And time was ticking on - time that Diana could be using to kill that Cameron guy for good and return to this plane. And she knew THAT was something they didn't want to happen.

Rae: "The age old feelings of ice cold weather, shivers and tingles up the spine, all that means something came through. You may experience hallucinations...if an entity breaks our circle, they will try and tempt you, appear to your desires - or to your pain and fear. Faith and resolve often fight these back, so...whatever it is you lean on, be it God, Gods, or yourself, know that they cannot possess without an invitation be it verbally or emotionally."

"I feel like I'm on an episode of Ghost Hunters..."

Ashley rubbed a hand over her face then pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Can we get this show on the road?"

She sat heavily into the chair across from Rae.

Rae: "Valkyrie will be on guard as I travel and make contact with Cameron. But enough talk...wish me luck..."

"Fuck luck. Let's get it done."

Ashley gripped the arms of the chair as Rae began to pray. She closed her eyes.

And when she opened them again, they were black. She and Rae were in another place, outside of their bodies. Ashley's black wings fluttered behind her. She could still feel Zizi though, back on the roof.

She looked at Rae, whose astral self was glowing next to her. She opened her mouth to speak when her head snapped around, looking for the source of a disembodied voice.

Voice: "There are no angels with wings here, foolish woman."

"He don't see so good, do he?"

She gave her wings a flutter in indignation. And then they were falling downward.

The natives were certainly not friendly. And most certainly wanted to do the two of them harm. She used her wings to smooth her descent.

"It's starting. Eyes up Ziz."

They finally hit something that felt like solid ground. Behind them was some sort of barrier.

Rae: "Okay, not my best landing. You can mock my failure at length later. For now, stay here, and keep watch - and put that sword and shield of yours to good use. I'm going after Cameron."

"I absolutely will mock you later. But for now, be careful out there."

The left side of her mouth turned upwards.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Ashley raised her arms, and a shining black sword and shield edged with gold appeared in her hands, as she prepared to let nothing get past her.
 
The Clocktower - Roof

Zizi rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans as she listened to Rae describe the place she and Ashley would be going to. Neither of them looked nervous, but Zizi was anxious enough for all of them. How would they possibly find Cameron in a place like that? They had had enough problems when Rose was possessed, but there could be tens, thousands of those things in this place Rae was talking about, The Further. Suddenly this plan didn't seem so hot.

Rae: "These entities want nothing more than to claim a human soul, to get back into the mortal realm, to use us to create enough destruction to pierce the veil between our world and theirs...."

Zizi shivered.

Ashley: "Have any gum?"

The question startled her out of her remembrances of what had happened to poor Rose. She found some and threw the package to Ashley, who didn't return it.

Rae: "The age old feelings of ice cold weather, shivers and tingles up the spine, all that means something came through. You may experience hallucinations...if an entity breaks our circle, they will try and tempt you, appear to your desires - or to your pain and fear. Faith and resolve often fight these back, so...whatever it is you lean on, be it God, Gods, or yourself, know that they cannot possess without an invitation be it verbally or emotionally."

"Well..."

She tried to chuckle, a bit unconvincingly.

"That's reassuring."

Ashley: "I feel like I'm on an episode of Ghost Hunters...Can we get this show on the road?"

It worried her that Ashley didn't seem to be taking this seriously. Rae certainly was, and Zizi, despite not having known her that long, trusted her.

"Both of you, please be careful."

Ashley sat across from Rae, and Zizi wished she had that gum, because her mouth was suddenly dry.

Rae: "Valkyrie will be on guard as I travel and make contact with Cameron. But enough talk...wish me luck..."

Zizi gave a little wave, even though they weren't really gong anywhere.

"Good luck."

Ashley: "Fuck luck. Let's get it done."

Both of them closed their eyes, and Rae started to say a prayer, which was strangely comforting. It got cold, and Zizi wondered if spirits were trying to get through already, but no, it seemed to be related to Rae's power. Both she and Ashley seemed to slump a little in their chairs, and it was clear they weren't with her anymore. Things felt different. They were somewhere else, and Zizi could only hope they had made it to The Further.

She could still hear Rae praying, but the woman in front of her's lips were not moving.

Rae: "Prince of The Heavenly Host, protect against those who prowl around us, seeking the ruin of our sou--"

"Well, that's freaky."

Zizi hated not being able to see what was going on. She was so used to being able to bring something up on a monitor somewhere if she wasn't there herself that she felt suffocated, like her arms were tied behind her back.

The salt circle around Rae and Ashley suddenly caught fire, even though that was darn tootin' nigh physically impossible.

"Oh my goodness."

Zizi moved back a step in her chair as the heat pressed against her skin. But as soon as it had caught flame, the circle went black, as if a candle had been snuffed out.

Ashley: "It's starting. Eyes up Ziz."

Zizi nodded, even though she knew the others couldn't see her. She steeled herself - she needed to be strong and help protect the women before her. If it wasn't working she was absolutely willing to break the circle and bring them right back here pronto.

Rae: "Okay, not my best landing. You can mock my failure at length later."

That brought a smile to Zizi's lips - she liked Rae more and more the longer she knew her.
 
The Parthenon - Morgan's Penthouse

Haleigh: "You still have that bottle of Woodford Double Oaked that I brought over for Nic? I'll take it neat."

<< Morgan smirked as she grabbed the bottle from the top of her bar and prepared the drink with expertise as she had been putting most of her efforts into bartending these days - that and because she needed a few moments of silence to try and process the fact that she had just been more honest with Haleigh Davidoff than she ever had been with anyone. She half expected Haleigh to bash her head into the bar and tell her to get her shit together, because well - that's what Morgan might have done herself if the situation was reversed, but she didn't. And for the first time in a long time, Morgan felt something that wasn't eternally dark and desperate. >>

"Of course I have it. Even in my darkest days I refuse to turn to bourbon."

"But dear old dad certainly LOVED it..."

<< She didn't say it out loud because it wasn't helpful, and because Haleigh had probably spent the last few months getting used to the similarities she shared with Diana. Who was her MOTHER. It still didn't seem real. She slid the glass over to the bar as Haleigh raised it into a toast, her icy blue eyes meeting Morgan's icy violet for a fleeting moment of comiseration. >>

Haleigh: "To a legendary fucking spiral."

"Cheers, BITCH."

<< Morgan downed the rest of her glass before promptly pouring another. Even at her drunkest, she had more wherewithall than most. And then...there was uncomfortable silence. She had just trauma dumped on Haleigh, and there was a pressing apocalypse at hand. A part of her wanted Haleigh to gloss over it, to fill her in on what was going on with the others, but she surprised the former sorceress by offering a bit of advice. >>

Morgan: "You get to decide where the spiral stops, Morgan. If you're having fun and you think you want to go all the way to rock bottom, then I'm sure Derek Forrester will be a great companion on the helix to living hell."

<< It gave Morgan a bit of pervase pleasure, to watch Haleigh surveying her as if she were some kind of wild animal she was assuage. Still, it felt like the most sincere interaction she'd had in months. Haleigh had good reason to act this way. There was just as much of a chance that Morgan had become possessed by some empathy demon as there was that she had just simply stopped giving a shit about being perfect. >>

"I stopped having fun about a decade ago...."

Haleigh: "But -- It sounds to me like you've taken stock of your situation and decided you don't really like any of it."

<< She took another sip. >>

"Understatement of the fucking century, Haleigh."

Haleigh: "You've changed it up some, attempted to correct your circumstances..."

"Correct/Ignore, tomato tomahto."

Haleigh: "If you think you made some mistake, keep in mind it's futile to punish yourself for it. The only effective thing to do is learn and adapt. Make your apologies and adjust your tact. Or, if you believe you've made the right call, by all means, stick to your guns. Let the others be upset, if necessary."

<< Longer sip. Haleigh continued. Showing so much tact and care in her words, that for a moment, Morgan got misty eyed, though VERY lightly so. She was being honest with Haleigh, she wasn't about to fall the fuck apart in front of her. But what she was saying made sense, more sense than Morgan was willing to admit or wanted to acknowledge from Haleigh. In terms of sisters, she was used to being the alpha. >>

Haleigh: “Delilah? She gets pissed when we make decisions without her input, even if it’s for her own good. We just have to let her be mad at us. I know I did everything I could think of to keep her alive, and I apologized for hurting her in the process, but now she needs time to heal. Maybe someday she’ll forgive me, but if not, then I’ll have to accept the loss of her friendship. YOU might need to accept it also, if you’re not gonna give her daughter back to her and watch her die.”

<< Her heart swelled for a moment with pain. It was the hurt that started this whole goddamn mess. The fact that she had let the one person who she thought saw through her mystique and presentation, who saw who she was and still loved her anyway. >>

Haleigh: "I know, it's easier said than done, because Delilah's hatred...hurts."

<< She was quiet for a moment, before exhaling loudly. >>

"It REALLY fucking does, doesn't it? I sat here for months, trying to figure out why...and I realized it's because...she's so good. I mean she has her dark side..she likes to dance in the flames every now and then, but she's a GOOD person. She's not like us..and...to have her look at you and...love you, well...it kind of feels better than any love I ever knew. She's been my moral compass, and to watch that compass just spin so FAR and so HARD into the opposite direction? It...makes me want to believe what everyone's always said about me...."

<< No. Some stuff had to stay contained. She couldn't open this wound again. She downed the rest of her drink and sat it down on the counter, suddenly not wanting anymore as she smoothed her clothes over and tucked a few strands of her honey blond hair behind her ears, almost "shifting" into a more traditional Morgan presentation. >>

"I shouldn't have dumped all that on you. I'm....sorry. But also...thank you. There's nothing I want more right now than to fall off the face of the fucking Earth and never look back....BUT....like ALWAYS...."

[flatly]

"They need us. Without his telepathy, I can fake it with Nicolas until we get this figured out. I can't tell Delilah about her daughter until this is over. She's safe in Limbo. I'm the danger. She's used to me not telling her things, she can just add this to the list when the time comes. And I'm sure she's more worried about Cameron than she's letting on. If YOU want to tell her to keep yourself honest, go right ahead, I won't stop you, but I can't do it right now. I have to focus on the task at hand."

<< She hadn't seen anyone in months. And if she was being honest with herself, something coming in and destroying them all sounded like a pretty good idea right about now. Haleigh was right, she got to decide when the spiral stopped. So maybe she would pretend to care and see what happened. >>

"I'm sure the hee haw squad has placed YOU in charge of the team, so...what do we do next, fearless leader?"
 
<< The Astral Plane. The Other Side. The Fade. The Further. The Beyond. So many names, for so many places. It can be confusing to deduce the many levels and layers of the things that lie beneath and just above the mortal realm. But right now our group of heroes finds themselves in The Further - a realm that exists just beyond the traditional notion of The Other Side - the realm filled with souls who have moved on to the next plane of existence. It is a realm the borders the outer reaches of The Astral Plane, it is a place that very few have been, or have survived to tell the tale. >>

<< The Further is in the deepest part of The Other Side. It is a dark and timeless astral world filled with tortured dead souls and nightmarish spirits. Many have said that while it is not Hell, it may very well lead there. Only the most skilled of mystics know where to find it, and only the most powerful of psychics dare to peek into it's depths. >>

<< Throughout history, there have been many of those, in many cultures, born with a propensity for natural travel to this place. They were called "dreamers" or "travellers". Able to bend this realm to their will, they were either highly coveted, feared, or killed for their power. Rae Ann Reynolds was one of these people, and as soon as she perceived a beacon moving through The Further with reckless abandon, she soon identified Cameron King as one of these people as well. She had only ever encountered two other travellers in her life's work, one of them, a child at Westin Hills that she had saved with the help of Dr. Karen Victoria, an old colleague, and another - her own son, who she seldom liked or wanted to talk about. Rae had not told the others, but she was worried. Cameron was a powerful man, and with the temptation that was omnipresent in The Further, his best laid plans might just end up destroying him in the process. >>

<< Right now, The Birds of Prey had gotten the jump on The Six. With the help of Rae, they had become aware of the bone chilling fact that Diana, Malice, The White Queen of Hellfire was planning on not only possessing Nicolas King AKA Rampage, but was willing to strike a deal with Set to ensure her return. As Vivica and Zach met with the remaining active members of The Six, Valkyrie and Oracle were with Rae, heading to The Further, to get more information on how to proceed, after their attempts to contact Isis AKA Dominique Devereaux proved to be fruitless. >>

<< Now, we focus on Valkyrie, Jezebel and Oracle in The Further. Ashley stands guard, her true Valkyrie form manifesting as she keeps guard between The Further and the veil that separates it from The Astral Plane. The border was a place where many nefarious entities liked to gather, it was in this very place where The Unloved attached itself to Rose. Rae had been smart to ask Valkyrie to hold vigil here, because the thing they were about to face would need the strength and the resolve of a Shield Maiden. >>

<< For a few moments, an eery quiet fell between Valkyrie and Oracle, long enough for the demons and entities that lived in The Further to make their moves. >>

"Lizzie...."

<< Oracle's mind was filled with images. >>

Cypher said:
After Zizi's purse full of condoms dumped, he reassured her that she didn't need to do this. That he was willing to continue to wait until she was ready, and told her as much. She took both of his hands and he gave her a smile.

Zizi: "I know, I know. But I love you, Gabriel, and I don't want to waste any more time. If something ever happens..."

He shook his head as she looked down at her lap.

"Nothing's going to happen. I promise."

But she was adamant. Hell, she set this entire thing in motion, and it certainly wasn't because he had hinted he was getting frustrated or bored with her.

Zizi: "I trust you. I'm ready. I want you to make love to me."

Gabe let out a breath, looking down at their hands. This was a huge step for her, he knew this. His eyes met with hers and he didn't say another word. He leaned in, connecting his lips to hers softly, deepening the kiss as the moments lingered on. His mouth parted, his tongue tasting her as his hands slid a round her waist. He lifted her up, arms circling around her body and holding her against him. Finally, he broke the kiss, looking at her with a hint of concern and hesitation.

"You sure?"

He wanted to make sure because he didn't want her to have any regrets. And when she confirmed that she was, Gabe immediately kissed her again, moving them both through the living room and into the bedroom. His fingers found the zipper on the back of her dress, sliding it all the way down the curve of her spine until it was fully undone. He then laid her onto the bed, breaking away from her lips and trailing his tongue down the contours of her neck, his hands sliding the dress off her body and throwing it onto the ground. He stood now to remove his own shirt, his eyes burning with desire as they fed off Zizi's body.

"God damn..."

Was all he could manage to say while peeling his own shirt off. His hands went to his pants, undoing them and letting them drop to the floor. He was already more than ready, his hands sliding up Zizi's hips, sides, and along her stomach. He leaned over her, his mouth kissing the contours of her chest that was still restricted from her bra.

"I love you."

He whispered, his hands going back into her wavy hair before his lips met with hers again.
Click to expand...

<< She felt him. She saw him. Oracle had missed him so much and he was right in front of her. She was no longer on the rooftop of The Clocktower, but in her bed, with Gabriel Jermone right next to her, naked and clinging to her body for warmth. >>

"I thought I'd never see you again, Liz. I'm glad I was wrong....."

<< Valkyrie had only a moment to see that something was very wrong with Oracle before she was flooded with her own barrage of visions. >>

Zach: "Fuck! Don't stop...don't....stop!"

<< Valkyrie found herself watching Zachary Armani fuck Haleigh Davidoff in her bed with reckless abandon. No matter what she did, no matter what she tried to say, it only seemed to stoke their passion. >>

Haleigh: "Tell me she meant nothing! Tell me I'm yours, baby..."

Zach: "She's NOTHING. I only love YOU, Haleigh..."

[in Ashley's mind]

"The mighty Valkyrie means nothing...just a soft landing for a soft boy who needs a rough mistress to tell him when and how to CUM..."

<< Both of the women found themselves in bed with demons. Oracle was tempted with the love she had lost, and Valkyrie was tormented with the love she had found. Could these women shake their demons? Or would they lose themselves in the very emotions that might get them possessed and lost forever? And so we watch! >>
 
Meanwhile, In Egypt...

She was always pleased when the sun went down in Cairo. Unbearable heat turned to a cool breeze and a brilliant night sky. It didn't take long to see how a place like this had been the helm of such mysticism, though Camille much preferred her evenings in Monaco. Still, she appreciated how well her loose fit luxurious caftans still bellowed in the wind here. Had she a choice, she'd rather be sipping a glass of Screaming Eagle and gambling the GPD of a small nation on roulette, but Kelly had wanted her here, and after what The Black Queen had done for her, she had no choice but to acquiesce. She had been maimed almost beyond recognition in Hellfire UK's rebellion. She had survived only because of her mutation. She should have died, and would have - had Talisman not intervened. Kelly had unlocked Camille's secondary mutation - a healing factor she didn't know she had, and used that to return the former White Queen to her glory - and then some. Camille was a vain creature, and the cost of being fixed by Kelly didn't outweigh the work Kelly required. Which was why she was just outside Cairo, with an extraction team, at a moment's notice, in the dead of night.

Foreman: "We are just about to breach the perimeter, Chameleon."

"I love a good bit of foreplay, Gerald. Do go on..."

Foreman: "With pleasure. Looking at forensics, we'll be able to reach the main floor of the temple within the next two hours. If our geo maps line up, we should have the artifact in our hands by sunrise."

"Talisman is on edge. The sooner we get there the better. I'll give you a quarter of a million more if you can cut that timeline in half..."

Foreman: "That's downright lunacy...but I love it. We'll do what we can."

"As you always do."

Camille kissed Gerald on the forehead as she made her way back to the camp tents she had set up earlier in the day, which were something right out of a movie. White flowing linen, unrealistic furniture situations, burning candles, and opened books to pages she had no idea of. It was one of the more comfortable assignments Kelly had sent her on, despite it being so last minute. Ever since her rebirth she had served as Talisman's eyes and ears across the globe. Using her personal connections as well as her power, she had more than proved Kelly's investment in her. She pressed a com link within her Cartier tennis bracelet as she poured herself a glass of champagne.

"Base Ops to Talisman...I'm surprised you don't want to be here to break ground on such a momentous occassion..."

Talisman: "I wouldn't miss it for the world, Chameleon..."

Her eyes shifted from her glass of champagne to the visage of Kelly Shaw in front of her, in full resort wear regalia, like the archeologist that she was. Camille gave a somber smirk.

"Thank God, the natives have been restless. I've done my best to keep them motivated, but...none of us are exactly sure what we are actually looking for in these ruins...especially on such short notice. Care to illuminate us, Kelly? Or are we playing our cards as close to our chest as ever?"

Talisman: "Oh Camille, my sweet girl. Have a seat. We're going to kill two birds with one stone soon, and we're going to use my son to do it. Let me explain..."
 
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