Summary:Caden Pryde's been gone for six months and needs a ride up to the school. He calls Illyana who goes and finds a vehicle. And friends. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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It was good to be back. The sun was bright in the Summertime sky, not a single cloud threatened to mar the day with rain or even a gust of wind. So it was there at the bus depot for the airport shuttle down into Westchester that Caden found himself waiting with a good deal of anticipation.
Six months was a long time, and at Xavier's… that could mean any number of things could have happened. It was difficult to know what might have passed, who was grumpy with who and who was getting along with whom. All of the scuttlebutt to be caught up on.
But the best part was just being able to see everyone again. It was… a long six months. Difficult. But over. A hint of a small cloud passed over his features…
Only to instantly lift at the sight of that old pickup truck round the gate and into the bus depot proper. Caden's smile lit up brightly, one hand lifting to wave as he stands on his tip toes for a second. Laughing as they rolled on up.
And then it was all, "What… the… heck?" As he looks at Illyana and Piotr, then looks to Nick and Henrietta? as if for an explanation as he points at them…
Illyana, Piotr, they both looked as if years had passed and not months. But there'd be time enough for that later as he drops his backpack and moves in for the hugs. A quick one armed embrace for Illyana and then a forearm handshake given to Piotr as he affixes the larger man with a wide grin, hitting him on the shoulder.
"Oh man guys, it's so good to be home." To Nick he gets a full on hug, pulled in close. But Henrietta gets, "Hi, I'm Caden. It's good to meet you!"
It's possibly a good thing that Isis had gotten off the truck a block back to… Nick's not sure what. She said she needed to pick up a present. The present might be food, that's how things with her often work. In any case she may turn up. And if she does not Nick'll have Illyana find her later.
The big brown wolfman in response to the questioning look gestures to the truck as if to say 'I'm the dog with the truck.'
"Hello Caden. I'm Nick." Nick miiiiiiight remember Caden a tiny bit from his school days though he would have been near five years ahead of him. It's the scent that does it more than anything else. People change but their scents change far, far more slowly. Mostly they just start smelling older.
How Nick came to be involved in picking Caden up and why there is a Henrietta he will leave to others to explain.
Mostly because he doesn't think he can explain Hetty without giggling.
Piotr holds up a sign to get Caden's attention. It's above Illyana's head with arrows pointing down at her.
v v v v v v v v v v v
Your Russian Mail-Order
Bride Arrived Before You Did,
Welcome Home, Caden!
v v v v v v v v v v
And yes, the changes are on display. He's easily looking at least 30 bnow, with his right arm covered in a sleeve tattoo of a large Russian beardog that covers most of the arm. And the clothes at tighter. It's hard to find clothes for a man of his statue.
Illyana Rasputina doesn't drive. Much like trying to hold down a 'real job', she doesn't have a great temperament for it and with her stepping disks, she doesn't need to drive to get from place to place. So when someone needs picking up, well, she needs someone with a car. Or in this case, truck. Sure, she could have just decided to teleport everyone, but with the current turmoil, well, this seemed better.
Only Piotr would get away with the sign, which Illyana is ignoring SO HARD. Honestly, that her brother feels up to that sort of humor is something she doesn't want to discourage. She will tell Sam about it. Loudly. Not that Sam's likely to pick a fight with Piotr, but the Russian might get embarrassed. It also gives her an excuse to do something Awful to Piotr later. Well. Maybe just a little wicked. She does love the big lug.
When Caden comes over Illyana returns the hug and chuckles. "Teach you to go to Japan, hmm?" She's not even gonna try to explain Hetty. That's all on him. Err. Her.
Henrietta 'Hetty' McCoy stands about 5'9" tall, and is very muscular for a woman, her hands and feet are gigantic, and she's got a complex braid holding very blong blue-black hair to a managable length. Perched on the bridge of her nose are black wire-framed glasses, bright blue eyes behind them alight with avid attention and keen intelligence. Her body is very powerful, built like a wrestler or body builder for sure, though a lot more chesty than most athletes - a lot.
She's dressed today in about the least fetching ensemble imaginable - sweats, and…sweats, yup, SEXSHAY all the way!
When approached, she grins…and the grin is probably pretty familiar, as is the voice, though it is a good octave higher than it was previously, you know, when Hetty was Hank. "Hetty McCoy, Caden Pryde." Yes, amused. And DEFINITELY aware of Nick's amusement. The jerk.
Yep, that's Hank alright, -ish.
Caden's bright hazel eyes meet Nick's gaze and he gives him a nod, "I think we met like a week before I left. It's good to see you, thanks for coming out. I appreciate the ride, man." He resist the temptation to give him a scritch what with the fur and all. But then he eyeballs Piotr's sign.
The youth looks up and shakes his head at Piotr, "Man, Amazon just can't be /trusted/ these days."
Then he steps back from everyone and just looks at them, hands on his hips and soaking in the… just the positive feeling of being around friends. "Man," Then to Illyana, "I know right? What a jerk taking off for six months while…"
He points double fingerguns, "My god people, you got old! There are so many stories, tell me them /all!/"
Yet he scoops up his backpack and slings it over a shoulder. No luggage, always best to travel light!
But then it is the piece de resistance, "Hey what? Hank!?" For a moment it's like Caden just short circuits, his eyes widening as he sort of turns his head a fraction to the side and mildly trembles, but then he shakes his head. "Ok guys, throw it on the story pile. Let's load up. Just… just shout them all to me. I'll compile them like /DATA/ with my SOOPER brain."
And with that he hops into the back of the truck nimbly, rather a good bit more nimble than he's been in the past. He leans over his shoulder and sliiides open the window so that the people in the cab will all be able to talk while they role. He slaps his hands together, "Hit me!"
"I was going to make another joke about a Ukrainian Mail Order Bride but Hetty here might have twisted me into a pretzel." Nick says, jerking a clawed thumb at the erstwhile Hank. Yes. Highly, highly, amused.
"My pleasure. One of the key lessons at the school - when a Rasputin asks you for something, you say yes." In truth Nick isn't much inclined to refuse either Piotr OR Illyana much of anything. He likes both well enough, having worked with Piotr in the past and remembering Illyana from when she was younger. Much younger.
Nick gets back into the truck. Traffic is going to be a bit of a pain this time of day getting back OUT of the airport so it's going to be less rolling and more stop-and-start for a little bit. But that's fine. Just gives them time to talk.
"There's drinks in the cooler in the back, by the way." He mentions as he gets back in. "Also, don't mess with the radio. Driver picks the station, shotgun shuts his cake hole."
That last is said with dancing eyes. It's a joke, folks. It's a joke. Nick's sense of humor can be a bit stilted.
"Yeah there are a lot of stories to go 'round. I've only heard a couple of them but I'm sure folk'll fill you in."
Nick… doesn't spend a whole lot of time at the school when he isn't teaching.
Accepting the hand and the shoulder slap, Piotr hands the sign to Illyana to carry with pryde. Get it? Anyway, let's keep the bombshells coming as he's moving to take up the luggage, able to easily handle it all with one arm. "I will need to check on a couple of things when I get a chance. It's my night to watch my daughter, and I need to see when Keiko gets home." he explains as he moves towards the truck to settle in back, after loading up the luggage, and sits in the back because it's the only place he fits.
Illyana Rasputina gets in the cab, because she doesn't have her hair in a braid and the wind would make a mess of her long hair. Yes. That's why. Not because it's more comfortable in the cab. "Right, you left before I got back. The guy I was hiding out from found me summer of last year and drug me back home, and I was… busy there for a while." As in, seven years. "He might be poking his head out again…" She gives Piotr a glance at that. "But that's a *way* more complicated story. Sam couldn't make it, sorry. He's working." And then she smirks. "At SHIELD." That's another for his bombshells, right?
Unlike Caden, Illyana doesn't abort the impluse to scritch the wolfman as he drives. It's like telling him he's a good boy, right?
"The night is young, Nicholas." Ut oh, that's the Serious Name Thing that Hetty does so well! Nick's in the dog house for sure! Well, okay, yeah…we'll skip the fact that any house of his is technically a 'dog house'. Still, she's smiling, and the tiny little fang is /adorable/!
Hetty will hold the door until the others all get in, then follow after. It is probably a little crowded, a lot of people and stuff, at least Piotr and Caden can share the back. "Oh, Piotr, Catseye wanted to know if it was okay to take Elena hunting this weekend? Well, 'hunting' with a camera."
Okay, wait…Catseye—isn't she a Hellion? Actually, no, isn't she -dead-?!
Hetty seems very comfortable with the company, actually, she's very much enjoying the cameraderie, very much so. "Six months in Japan, anything exciting happen?" It is sort of odd to hear Hank's rolling and cultured speech—an octave higher, same enunciation, each syllable lovingly spoken, yup.
Settling in and putting his backpack between his legs, Caden gives Nick a thumbs up since the rule of the road is clear, driver's radio. Yet as everyone's loading in he's just sort of grinning to himself, trying to keep it down, failing. Sometimes one's mood is so good you can't help but show it.
And then, Piotr offers a few more bombshells lobbed at him as if from the bay f a B-17. Caden gestures at him with open hands as if pleading, and then says, "Gosh All Fish Hooks, Piotr! Have some pity!" But he laughs, "Oh man, I. Some of you people need to take a literature course. You're just kicking me to the last page over and over. Build up, people! The Hero's Journey!"
Over his shoulder, "Illy, save me."
And to her credit, she does. She gives insight and tells a bit of a tale, but it does cause a furrow to touch Caden's brow. "Oh man, Illyana. We gotta do something. Yeah how is Sam doin…"
"What?!"
"SHIELD? Does he know how sekritly and not so sekritly evil they are?" He seems legitimately concerned, but not judgmental. Maybe.
Though he turns around more fully to tell Hetty, "A lot, but I sort of… figure I'll get everyone in one spot and tell the story then for the whole debriefing. But hey. Hank. Is this… permanent?" The real story, "I mean, you look good." He says with a nod.
Nick chuckles as he keeps his eyes on the road not that he has a whole lot of driving to do. Mostly he's keeping an eye on the bus in front of them and making sure they don't run into it. There's a lot of noise around here - busy airport and all - and a lot of smells. Most of them car related. This is why Nick has an air freshener on the AC vent nearest him. Sensitive nose.
"And he's single. Er, She's single." Nick teases both Hetty and Caden when he says she looks good. Not much teasing though. It's a nice thing to say to someone who is clearly going through a couple of things.
He glances back to Illyana and Piotr briefly and gets scritched. It might be amusing the way his ears fold back. So very dog like. Obviously he enjoys that.
"These two have had a time of it from what I hear and not a real pleasant one. I've been a bit busy with my cases to catch up though…"
Since Caden is still reeling from the bombshells he won't drop yet more on him and boy does Nick have some big ones.
Or rather. He won't drop more on him yet.
"Don't tell farm boy that. You know how loyal he is. And we've been in pretty thick with WAND lately, and they've been doing pretty well by us, so…" Illyana gives a small shrug. Small, because she'd wedged in between Nick and Hetty. It's very cozy. Illyana's going to have fur in her mouth at this rate. Somehow. She just knows it. This was probably the real reason Isis bailed before they got here. The blonde looks over at Nick, which puts her all of a few inches from his face. "You need a bigger car." Obviously, this is his fault. Not hers.
"We're gonna need a bonfire night if you wanna hear the story of how Piotr ended up with a kid. Because that is *definitely* storytime." Because it builds off of the whole thing with Sam and Illyana getting stuck in a dream dimension and the whole 'ruling a minor hell realm' that's all going to be new to Caden.
"Thankfully…no, Caden, it is not permanent. Oh, and thank you." Faint blush? Why yes. No doubt much amusement will ensue. Hetty pauses a moment to gather scattered wits. "Well, that is, it /could/ be were I to keep dosing myself regularly with the formulation of the reversion serum - eventually it might build up to be permanent." She shakes her head then to clear it, smiling broadly. "The current reversion should last only another day or two unless I need to run more tests, though so far the data collection on what went wrong has been going well." Another pause. "Oh, long story short - due to an exciting new mutagenic compound I've been working with Nick and SHIELD on opened up some exciting new avenues that allowed me to get past a wall to revert some of the atavistic changes wrought some few years ago with my original serum, when I went furry. There were…unexpected consequences."
And then Nick points out that SHE is available. "Yes, the eternal state of Doctory McCoy, it would seem." She batbatbats her eyes at Nick, "Was that a proposition?" She is SO not serious! Still, it is artfully said. She does nod about the time of things for the Rasputin family, but not her tale to tell.
At least Hetty isn't furry! So that's a cut down on the fur ratio poor Yana has to deal with. "He does." She agrees - Nick definitely needs a bigger car."
A 'hrmf' is sent Nick's way at his first comment but at his second he looks over between Illyana and Piotr, concern furrowing his brow. But then Illyana mentions a bonfire and he smiles, "Oh that'd be great. A bonfire, and hot dogs and s'mores. Perfect." He draws one knee up, still holding onto his backpack with one hand.
"We can take turns going around the fire and revealing all of our plot twists and what we've got going on."
Then his eyes distance in consideration as he says, perhaps seriously, "Maybe we should bring a white board too."
His attention then shifts fully to Hetty as he listens to the curious Hank-like voice detail what came from her experimentation. Nodding along he gets to the part where an endorsement of SHIELD is given along with Illyana's and he still looks a little dubious, "Well, if you guys have been done right by them. Just… I mean, you should see some of the stories that can be dug up on them." Then again much can be said about them if one thinks about it.
"No offense Hank but I'm kind of used to the other version of you." So no it wasn't, but Nick grins at Hank's teasing. The notion of being near a fire with melty sugar though, that makes Nick's ears pin back in a less pleasant way. That stuff gets all in the fur and it NEVER comes out again.
"Yeah. An exciting new mutagenic compound that's currently in the hands of some certified monsters." Who are doing things with it that… well…
Nick possibly doesn't realize he's growling but Illyana will definitely feel it, wedged up against him as she is.
Another glance back to Piotr before Nick changes lanes. "This guy back here, making us all look bad by finding a good woman and settling down." That's… well Nick's never met Piotr's not-wife.
"So what you're saying Nick, is that you'll only date Hank if he's a guy?" Illyana's tone has that mocking edge to it that's so familiar as she teases the pair of them. As the wolfman pins his ears back she can't help but snicker, rubbing at the base of them to try to get them to perk back up. "I'll save you from the melty marshmallows." She promises.
Illyana doesn't have a lot to offer on Hank/Hetty's experiment gone sideways, but that's because most science stuff is as opaque to her as magic is to them. When Nick starts growling though, she pets him a bit more obviously to soothe him. And not because he's soft and petable. Not at all. Totally being nice. Yep. That's in her wheelhouse. Being nice.
The suggestion of Keiko being a 'good woman' gets a snicker of amusement, but when she speaks, it's to Caden's suggestion. "I'm sure I can make do with the magical equivalent. Because yeaaaah." It might be needed.
"We'll probably be better served by a wall of crazy complete with string, tacks and innumerable photos." Hetty comments wryly. "A single white board just won't cut it." She looks to Caden. "Well, my dealings with them have been fine. I trust Doctor Simmons, and she's been working closely with Nick's team as well."
A sigh at the elaboration about the reverbium. "Well, yes, but it is does open a lot of doors previously barred for me, Nick. And yes, I'm used to me being /me/ too." She grins towards Piotr. "And his daughter is /adorable/." She adds with a starry-eyed look.
And then Yana bombshells, and Hetty blinks, and this time the blush is a bit more lingering. "I…don't think he meant that at all, Yana."
"What monsters?" Caden asks of Nick, shooting a look back and forth between him and Hetty. He shakes his head and chews his lower lip, "Maybe we can get together later? I'd like to help if I can?" Since he's been away long enough, apparently there's still a lot of work to do to preserve Xavier's dream.
Though when Piotr's wife comes up he looks over at the tall Russian and smiles a little, "I'd love to meet her, she must be quite a fine woman." He nods his head, as if rather sure of that. Then his smile slips free and he says, "Man it's just… so weird seeing you like this."
Over his shoulder he looks at Illyana and his brow furrows. For a moment nothing is said as he looks for her eyes and finds them. Then he shakes his had a little and adds, "Both of you." Somehow perhaps knowing some of what must have passed. Hetty… gets a single nod as he extends a hand to squeeze her shoulder affectionately.
"A daughter?" Caden's been smiling so that his cheeks probably hurt as he says, "You're very lucky, Piotr." He reaches out with a shoe to nudge the guy then shakes his head again. "Man."
The truck then rolled off through traffic with Nick guiding them back home. So much more there was to tell, so much more to share. It would be another fifteen-twenty minutes with them driving before they roll through the gates to Xavier's. Another rounds of quick goodbyes, brief embraces, smiles. And a shared agreement to rejoin together at the bonfire down in back at the firepit.
Though Caden had every intention of first getting a shower and a change of clothes. It'd be another forty-five minutes before he'd emerge wearing his old worn blue jeans and Reeboks, a grey Property of Xavier Academy Athletics Department t-shirt on his chest. Under one arm, however, he carries a six-pack. Of actually good beer, thankfully.
"I'll tell you when we get back, but it's not good Caden." Nick says quietly. Or maybe Hank/Hetty can expound on that.
Nick gives Illyana a rather amused-flat look. "No. Besides given that look in her eyes I think she's really more over the moon for Piotr. Sorry Caden, better luck next time."
The scritching does calm nick down and they do eventually get through the traffic. And roll off into the great NorthEast.
It's some time after folks have started gathering that Nick shows up. He had wanted to check on some of his students. The last class got into a few scrapes during their wilderness survival final.
"Haven't been here in a while…" He notes as he finds a seat upwind of the smoke. Because smoke in the fur… is baaaaaaaad.
Illyana Rasputina has used the time to get bonfire foods. Including Nick's nemesis: sugar. There's a cooler set out and of course vodka on ice, as well as stuff to eat and grill. Illyana doesn't mind luging things down because… she doesn't do the lugging. Most of it can just be moved via stepping disk and the other stuff? She's got built-in movers these days. One of which she's arguing with. "No. You can't stay for the stories. Unless you're going to be a demonstration. I hear Piotr's bringing Keiko." Which is totally not true, since a certain One Eyed Tyrant won't approve Keiko on the school grounds.
Can demons blanch? That one certainly seems like it's gone more lavender than purple now, and it takes off into the woods. Illyana huffs and shakes her head before going over to sit with Nick. "Hey, I wanted to pick your brain about teaching. I'm supposed to start a class this week." And no time like the present to figure out how to do that!
Of course, Piotr remembered the ingredients to a S'more. Chocolate bars. Marshmallows - the big puffy ones. And graham crackers. Not so bad, right? As he joins Illyana and the others, he takes a seat as he takes out his phone and flips through it for a few moments. Probably texting. Which is comical, considering how large his thumbs are compared to the screen.
"Keiko isn't allowed to come on the grounds, but you'll have to go visit us at the house sometime. Illyana, Keiko, Sam, and I live in the same place. Free of charge, because it's all haunted." he smirks as he takes a seat, and brings up a picture of a tiny Peruvian and the half-Russian, half-Peruvian, all soulless daughter. Keiko could have at least smiled. But Elena, complete with her father's blue eyes and black hair is mugging it for the camera, smiling widley. "This is Elena." he offers as he holds the phone out to Caden.
Hetty sighs about the monsters. "Animalistic mutants like Nick and Isis, being turned into weapons with that same compound, surgery, implanted weaponry, it is…an AIM sponsored horror show, Caden. And that's just one branch of the investigation, I'm working another angle too, a necrotoxin capable of specific familial vectors, again, horror show and nightmare fuel in one."
So..yeah, a little elaborations.
When hetty arrives she's bringing along with her a covered basket, a picnic basket in fact, inside of which is an assortment of cheeses and meats to snack on along with several types of crackers.
"Elena is the /true/ red menace, Caden." Hetty warns. And then sighs about Keiko, as Yana and Piotr speak of it. "Rules are rules, but family…I should think that would allow a smidge more flexitiblity."
Caden shows back up and says, "Heya," He starts to offer beers around and has the opener in hand to pop the top if needs be. A start to making the rounds companionably and then Piotr extends the phone to him. The youth takes the phone and looks at the picture given, his smile growing. "Oh wow, Piotr she… your daughter is perfect. And your wife is beautiful."
He stops talking for a moment, though the smile remains and a touch nostalgic then he looks at the man. "I feel like I've missed so much. But wow." He hands the phone back and takes a seat then. Then he looks over at Piotr and gives a supportive nod.
Though at Hetty's words he smiles easily enough, "Well if she's her father's daughter, I could see how she could be a handful." A crinkle of his nose is given to Piotr and Illyana as if to convey that he's teasing.
"So maybe we should… catch everyone up. But mainly me. Who wants to tell their story first? I can go if you guys want, but. I am completely content to just sit here and absorb." He then takes a sip of beer.
"Illyana has the Reader's Digest version of my story since it ties into her story." Piotr says. Clearly he's not in the sharing mood. Or just you know, is terrible at story-telling. He glances aside to his sister. Because the whole damn thing is complicated, and do you really want the Piotr version of it all?
Nick leans to see the picture. "Cute kid. Wait. Did you say you live in a haunted house?" Because that's kind of… unusual. It suits Illyana but he wouldn't have figured Piotr for it. And… well Piotr's missus. Or whomever.
Maybe the missus is from the spooky end of the block? Is she a ghost, perhaps? Possibilities abound.
"I vote that we hear the Rasputin story first if we're not going to hear the tale of how Caden came to be in Japan and didn't think to mention this to anyone." He might stick his tongue out just a little bit. Before Hank starts to elaborate.
"Yeah. It might tie in to a couple of local corporations too. It's all nasty stuff all the way around."
"It's not *haunted* Illyana says somewhat defensively. It's the site of a dimensional instability that occasionally allows anomalies through." Pause. "Which can include ghosts and other specters, yes. It's in a nice spot in Brooklyn that yes, we live in for free in return for keeping a lid on it for WAND. When I got back I was staying with Doug for a while, but he got reassigned and I didn't like staying in his place by myself." Too much like just living in Limbo.
As Piotr sort of shoves the storytelling off on her, Illyana sighs and rolls her eyes. "Fine." It's a story that, of those at the fire really only Piotr knows.
"After graduation last year, the sorcerer that had kidnapped me, Belasco, managed to find me and drag me back to Limbo. I spent about seven years there, taking my punishment for running away and figuring out how to get away." Because her previous time in Limbo taught her that it doesn't matter if people *would* come looking for you, they *can't* because of the way time tends to run so much faster in Limbo. So if she was going to escape, it was on her.
"The solution to that ended up challenging and defeating him. With that came the responsibility of ruling Limbo. A sort of minor hell realm with a legion of demons like an ocean all looking to me to keep them in line."
"I came back earlier this year, once my house was in order. Piotr had started to come looking for me, so that's why he's back in the USofA." Illyana tips her beer over towards her brother. "And decided to stay. He's been teaching here at the Institute."
"My own story is mostly told, dear friends, let us focus on other's tales, mm?" Hetty grins at Caden. "She /is/ her father's daughter, no question. Eyes bright she listens to the tales of the haunted house, and of Yana's conquest of Limbo. She just shakes her head, and contents herself with making smores, because they're awesome if done right, and keeping folks company. She definitely perks at Nick's request for haunted house info. The story from Yana is possibly the longest she's heard from Magik in a long time!
Once she's got a smore made, she'll hand it off to someone else, and then start on another.
"Is Belasco still a threat, Yana?" Caden says as he leans forward, still holding the beer in both hands and resting his forearms on his knees. "You defeated him but…" He stops and sits up a little, "A hell realm." He's parsing the details, likely trying to categorize them. And whatever result he comes up with leaves him looking worriedly at his old friend.
Though he then steals a look over at Piotr, "Did you age because you went looking for her, Piotr?" Though as he says that he leans over to accept a s'more from Hank, giving a smile in thanks before biting into it… a little early and wincing then blows on it to cool it down.
"No. That's not why." Piotr glances aside at his sister. "It was shortly after I had broken up with someone.." We won't get into that, because that's a whole other ball of confusion, as Piotr folds his hands together. "I was working on mission. Demons showed up and dragged me to Limbo. Illyana had gone missing." he starts, as he considers his thoughts. "They needed blood of Rasputin to hold the throne. To make sure I did not refuse they brought a hostage. A woman I had met before. Her name is Keiko. They used her to make me draw and create a weapon." he explains.
"But that is not what all they wanted. They also wanted us to make a child. Their attempts.. were horrible. Apparently they had seen many many bad movies. But eventualy.. Keiko and I were the other's only company. And a couple of years into our captivity.. we had a child. Elena. We spent the next five years training, protecting.. and learning about each other. I was changed. But was able to keep most of it from happening. Keiko, she was not so fortunate." he admits quietly. "It is why Scott will not let her on campus, near school. Hen.. Hetty.. watches Elena while she is at school if I'm not here. Or if I want time alone with Keiko. We are not married. She does not want to be. And there are those that take advantage of that." he finally ends. "We were there seven years. While Illyana was only gone seven weeks. But here. Only two days."
Nick is mostly quiet, his ears twitching as he listens. A lot of this is new to him but he had never been as closely tied to the Rasputins except through Piotr whom he saw several times during the registration period when he was both figuratively and literally living underground.
The hell realm thing though does explain the little purple bugger he saw running off as he arrived and MIGHT explain some of the things he's seen lurking in the woods during his classes. He always figured that the X-School had some manner of weirdness attached to it but this is a bit weirder than the standard.
The furred mutant - the only one present at the moment - is also notably avoiding the melty sugar and chocolate. Tasty as it might be… he doesn't want to have to shave later.
The commentary on people not being let into school makes Nick snort slightly. He's got opinions on that and it's part of the reason that he's only very loosely connected to the place. But it is what it is and there are reasons.
"Two days. Seven weeks. Seven years. This is proper Doctor Who levels of timeline headache." He rumbles.
Illyana Rasputina gives Caden a slight shrug. "I'd never say something isn't a threat, but without Limbo's power he's much *less* of a threat. And he needs to work through other channels. More manipulation than outright assault." But still a threat. Always. "He's bound to Limbo. It means he can't leave… but it also makes him effectively immortal."
As Piotr starts to tell his story, Illyana nods, filling in the background. "Sam had been having some reoccurring dreams. A woman in trouble. Then he woke up and had brought part of that dream back with him, which said it wasn't *just* a dream. It was a link I could follow, but it was fading fast. Sam made the call to ride to the rescue, so we did." Her mouth presses down into a thin, annoyed line. "It was a trap. The woman *was* trapped there, but in freeing her, we got stuck there. I was cut off from Limbo, which is why they went looking for a replacement." She gestures to Piotr. "Really, he ruled Limbo longer than I have." She says, trying for a joke.
"One of our friends, someone that works with WAND, actually, helped free us all. First getting to Piotr and Keiko, then using them to get to me and Sam."
A lot of this is new even to Hetty. It is uncomfortable for the Russians to speak of, and Piotr's naturally less than the most verbose of folks, which is okay — Hetty makes up for any such lack in spades! At least Elena has an Uncle…well, Aunt at present, who pretty much never stops talking. Ever. Well, maybe on Leap Year. Someday.
"Hopefully he's been vanquished for good this time." Hetty says fervently. "I mislike it when my friends are tortured by demonic entities, it is rather high on my Do Not Like list, actually. Imprisoning them is number two." If there's a bit of a snarl to Hetty's words, perhaps she might be forgiven. The woman is VERY protective, by nature.
"Wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey and then some." Hetty says in a fair imrpession of David Tennant.
Hetty is left a little crestfallen at the immortality thing for Belasco. "Magic is so…illogical." Says the scientist. And then an alert sounds on her…watch? And Hetty fiddles a bit. "Oh bother. Excuse me, all. Lab foo to deal with." She hands the next Smore to Yana. "I will return post-haste!" And then she sets off at a rapid pace, not /quite/ a run, but definitely a ground devouring one as she scurries.
Caden's brow knits, curving upward more in the middle as a look of such concern settles in on his features. He looks over at Henrietta and Nick as if for verification or some sort of insight, then to Illyana, silent questions seeming to be sent her way unuttered. Only for his attention to be given back to Piotr, "I'm so sorry, Piotr. I mean, it's wonderful you have been able to… endure and…" His voice lifts, "Thrive even. But…"
He takes a breath and looks around, "I feel so selfish that I left when my being around might have. I don't know. Maybe I could have helped. Somehow." Then his eyes lower and he murmurs, "And sounds like I was wrong about those SHIELD guys. Or at least some of them."
Then Hetty is rushing off and he lifts a hand to give a small wave, still a touch subdued at all the news.
"Don't beat yourself up, Caden." Nick says quietly. "Same could be said for the rest of us. If only we'd have known. Just, you know, sometimes there's stuff that happens that you can't do anything about. You might have been here and it still would have all played out like that anyway."
The werewolf leans back on his bench slightly and rolls a shoulder. "It's good to remember about SHIELD though. Well, people in general. Mutants - here and elsewhere - remember that humans put them through registration. What they forget all too often is that it was humans that put an end to it. It wasn't anything we did. Not the school, not the X-Men, not the Morlocks. Good, ordinary people saw something wrong and put a stop to it. We've got a lot more friends out there than we give them credit for sometimes. SHIELD does okay by us, most of the time."
And that's why Nick lives and works among them. Helping them solve their problems. Sure he gets a lot of mutant clients too but there's not nearly enough of those to sustain his business. Most of his cases come from regular folk.
"I really hope she doesn't fall over." He murmurs as Hetty makes her retreat.
"Are you all doing okay?" From what little he's been able to tell the Rasputins aren't very emotive. Even Piotr tends toward the stoic. But they're friends - if somewhat distant ones - and he's still concerned. Sounds like they've been through a lot.
"I am fine. Will be fine. Strong family. Even with Belasco continuing to threaten.." Piotr doesn't say anymore. He doesn't want to go further into the metamorphisis that Keiko is going through. Illyana is already aware of it, and there's nothing he can do on it. And he does not feel like feeling helpless. "How was your adeventures in Japan?" he decides to ask in classic misdirection.
Illyana Rasputina nibbles carefully on her s'more, so as not to get the stickness everywhere. The only thing she's got to wipe her hands off is Nick, after all.
The blonde nods over as Nick talks about the goodness of people. "It's a big organization, so I'm sure that there's stuff they're up to that Isn't Cool, but there's good people there." The smile she gives Caden is wan. "It's best not to live in the world of 'what if'. No one here is going to blame you on that."
Nick's question gets a bit of a grimace. "I'm still trying to find the chick that put a *sword* through Sam's chest but y'know. Getting by." She doesn't mention that it's Piotr's missing sword. That's a story for another night, right? She also doesn't get into the stuff with Koa. That's getting afield of folks that Caden knows.
Illyana nods with Piotr's question. "Your turn, Pryde."
Across the way towards Nick, Caden gives the wolf boy a nod several times in agreement, "It's good to have friends. We're all lucky in our own ways." And as he looks over at Piotr and Illyana it's clear that he means it. "Wait, someone stabbed Sam?" Hi frown deepens.
Though that misdirection play pays off as the brown-haired youth takes a deep breath. "Alright, but yeah, tell me about Sam later. But this… is going to take some telling."
He hunkers down with his beer, finally leaning forward and curling over the bottle. For the first few moments his teeth find his lower lip and proceed to worry it. He's thought about this before. What he would say. How he'd say it. Don't want to embellish, but don't want to minimize things either.
Another breath and then he embarks.
"It started with my father. He was working with his firm, and they had some heavy business dealings with a Japanese corporation. I didn't know about this until my mom called. She was worried about him. Said that he was coming home from long business trips and it just… it just seemed to take a lot out of him."
He straightens up a little and takes a swig. "So I went home. I mean, I didn't even really pack. I thought I'd go see Dad and see that he was just stressed. But I tried to talk with him and he just lashed out. It was… really unlike him." Fingers peel off his bottle as he opens his hand toward them as if asking them to take the words from him. "So he was leaving on a trip the next day, I followed him. And he just… seemed to be acting weird. Like that time with those…" He points at Illyana, "Those weird monster guys at the mall?"
He doesn't elaborate, however. He presses on, "He took a phone call and acted like he simultaneously didn't care and yet was terrified."
"So I decided to go with him. Stowed away. I know, it was crazy. And I should've called someone. Took forever. Hid in the cargo hold. Very cold but I cobbled together a shelter and could kind of keep myself warm."
"Got to the airport and my dad was picked up. By Yakuza."
Pause for a nod and dramatic stinger. No stinger, alas. "So I'm all upset. I follow them. And then I get jumped by half a dozen men. And I try to run but before I could phase I was hit with some kind of powder."
Piotr's fine? That gets a look from the formerly slightly older wolfman but he doesn't press the matter. Piotr is Piotr and if he needs to talk about something he will come around to it.
Nick seconds Caden's question but slightly more emphatically. "Hang on, back that up. Sam got stabbed by someone? Someone with a sword?" His ears are one up and one down which gives the general impression of quirked brows - since Nick does not properly speaking have eyebrows. "And this is related to all the crap you guys went through before?"
That may well be a story for another night but 'Oh yeah Sam got stabbed' is not something that Nick just nods sagely to.
Caden's story isn't honestly much better and Nick is increasingly getting the look of 'did someone piss off a gypsy or something because this sounds like a curse'.
"Let me guess. The powder wasn't sugar."
"Yes. Sword through the chest. He's fine now. I think he's finishing up his light duty assignment, it happened a few weeks ago." Illyana answers the curious pair. "It's… related and not. Perhaps a great example of the saying 'actions have consequences'. Sam was a target because he's close to me, and there's some next-level games going on that involve staging an invasion of Earth. I've alerted Scott to it. He's been helping out with some of the ground game. Luckily, Splinter Lords don't see time the same way we do, and we've got some time to catch up with things."
As Caden tells his story, Illyana frowns. She won't chastise him for not calling her, most likely his departure overlapped with her time in Limbo, and so she wasn't available so she just listens, smirking briefly at Nick's quip.
"It was not," Caden nods toward Nick while making a face that would be best accompanied by a 'wah-wah' sound from a game show failure. He then looks at the rest of them and finishes the last of his beer, setting the empty down by his foot.
"So. I sort of wake up. But it's all like a dream. And I still don't entirely know what happened. There were men in robes wearing masks. Ninja with blades across their backs. They discovered I was a mutant somehow and decided that I was to be their weapon since… yeah." He doesn't elaborate on that point, since the idea of an assassin that can literally walk through walls should be self-explanatory.
"Chances are I'd still be there now, though. Being all, ninja-ish? But I got some help. And they told me what I needed to do to help my dad, and free him from their power."
He takes a deep breath, "There was some magic involved, and some sort of struggle between Shinto entities I believe. But I might have hallucinated parts of it. But we got away. And my dad's on a medical flight back home. He should be here tomorrow. And… that's it?"
His eyebrows lift as he passes judgment on the situation in two words. "It sucked."
"Since you were there and they conveniently had you." Nick growls again and again Illyana can probably feel it. "That sounds all too familiar and I'm sure Hankietta would agree if she were here." Mutants being used as weapons. Modified. It's registration times a thousand. Now instead of being required to report in, they're simply commodities. To some, that is. It sounds like SOME people are dealing with it.
"If you think they might come calling for you let us know. I'm in town most of the time but I'll always come back to help." So will Isis. These people rescued her. She'll defend them. ESPECIALLY Piotr.
He pauses and looks at Illyana. Invasions. Splinter Lords. It's perhaps interesting that he DOESN'T offer to help there but what is a fuzzy private detective to do with such things? It sounds like she's got help on that too. Still…
He pats the blonde on the shoulder, more in solidarity than anything else. "If you ever get in too deep you know where to come." He murmurs.
"You too Piotr."
"Hey, I've got you tagged to help with the scary stuff. Teaching my first class." Illyana jokes lightly to Nick, giving him a small, brief smile at the pat before looking back to Caden.
"I guess we need to institute a check-in procedure. I thought you were busy with your folks so didn't hunt you down." It's an Illyana-version of 'sorry'. Because she almost never actually uses the word. Much like 'thank you'. Some demonic social skills never went away. "Send us details on whoever helped you out so if we ever run into them, we can pay back the help if it's needed."
Illyana ponders that, and then teases Caden, "Sooo, do we call you 'Shinobineko' now?" Caden did have that whole phase of a new codename every week or something.
There's a soft buzz, and Illyana pulls out her phone to look at it, a frown pulling at her lips. "I need to duck out a bit. There's someone I need to talk to." Standing up, she steps over to give Caden a brief hug. "I'll pin you down later." Then there's the flare of a stepping disk and she's gone.
"I hate it when she does that." Piotr rumbles, as he stands up as well. "And I should get home. And be responsible." As if anyone would ever accuse Piotr Rasputin of not being responsible. "We'll get it handled. Somehow." he decides, as he moves to depart as well, and find a ride home.
Maybe he should buy Keiko a car.
When Hetty returns she's looking a bit vexed. "Apologies all…oh, be well, Piotr, Yana." He says as they are clearly leaving, and then she finds a beer and pops the top off and into a trash bag, plink! Sitting down, she offers Nick some of the meats and cheeses, and then looks to Caden. "My most sincere apologies, but…shinobineko? I thought I heard that as I was approaching…Ninja Cat?"
Nodding across the way towards Nick, "It's disturbing, but I think… when I left, there wasn't much of the organization. But if I hear anything otherwise I'll let you all know." He says this as he looks at the others. Then Illyana grabs his attention, "That might not be a bad idea, though this was… this was mainly my fault. I shouldn't have been so impulsive." They've all seen what trouble comes when one leaps into danger without thinking.
At Illyanas jape though he snorts, "I'll stick to Shadowcat, thank you very much." But then when the Rasputins start to gather themselves he'll stand up to offer a handshake to Piotr, and a hug to Illyana before they depart, though quick ones.
"It was good seeing you guys." And hearing these stories. He gives them a single sharp nod. But his smile returns when Hetty makes her return.
"I'll explain, Ha-Hetty." And he'll do so as he sits back down and offers her another beer.
"Nekokawaii?" Nick offers somewhat less than helpfully as Illyana and Piotr leave. He gives the big guy a wave knowing that he has RESPONSIBILITIES (tm) now. This is what happens when you grow up. Settle down. Have a traumatic experience in a hell realm….
"So look, given your recent trauma, Caden you might want to watch your step around town. Hank mentioned earlier but we've got a problem here. Some folks are turning mutants - mostly animal ones like me - into living weapons. So far we've seen variations on werewolves with sonic bark attacks and felines with razor tails but I know from talking to Isis that the group responsible isn't very picky. They'll take, modify and psychologically cripple any suitable candidate they can get their hands on and your phasing ability might well make you a target despite your lack of otherwise redeeming bestial features."
At the offer of another beer, Hetty looks at the one she just took, shrugs, and finishes off in one go, then takes the refill offered. "Many thanks, just what the…Catninja…ordered." Yes, her eyes are gleaming with mirth.
Nick's commentary however kilsl that mirth. "Oh yes, your powers would be a terrible weapon in these men's hands, Caden. Definitely wisest to be wary. I have been studying their tech, it is dangerous, and unfortunately I have more questions than answers about a great deal of it."
Caden folds his arms over his chest as he sits down beside Henrietta, nodding across the way towards Nick. "Do we have any debriefs or like, intelligence I should read? I was hoping to catch up with Scott soon, so I could get the lay of the land." And he does.
"I mainly want to be helpful and get back into things. I don't need any more downtime." Since that downtime from before was… entirely unfun. A nod to Hank, "We'll need to be careful."
"Hank - er Henrietta - is a good person to talk to then. And you might meet some of our contacts at SHIELD. I heard a woman's voice from the lab one afternoon so it is entirely possible he - er, she - is getting friendly with SHIELD.
Nick's back to teasing a little bit but he really DID hear a prim british voice coming from the lab. He wasn't even that close. Nick's ears are just that good.
"And I'll be happy to bring you up on what I know if you want to drop by Paragon or sit in on one of my classes at some point. It's just that-"
Crash. Tinkle.
Nick's eyes narrow. "Isis is in the kitchen again isn't she." He says mostly to himself as he gets up. "I'm going to go make sure she doesn't break all the cups. Don't do anything I wouldn't, you two."
"Oh, stop by the lab, I've added you to the security system…we can go over everything in detail, if you're interested. Thanks to Nick's efforsts and Isis, I have some intersting data to share. I'm not sure how much use you'd find the medical studies, but the tech info is quite interesting. And there's the work I've been doing with Doctor Simmons at SHIELD. I can't talk about all of it, but there's interesting information there too." Hetty watches Nick depart, laughing warmly. "Yes, that was the voice he heard…I sort of rigged a holo-conference system to Jemma's lab…" Okay, now THAT might pique the Pryde's curiosity!
At the mention of SHIELD Caden still looks pensive towards Nick and lifts two finger to rub at the bridge of his nose thoughtfully. "I don't know, Nick. I know they've done good turns by you guys. I just… I might need some time. Or first hand experience." Which is fair really. Before he'll go trusting spooks so easily.
But then he nods, "Sure, we'll talk more later." As he makes that offer and heads off. It's enough that it leaves Caden and Henrietta there and alone.
As he listens to her he follows along, "Dr. Simmons?" He asks but doesn't press the issue. Instead he lets hank go on and then grins a little, "Ok I'd like to see that, and honestly… on some level I'd love to get-into a SHIELD R&D facility, if only for like five minutes, like one of those supermarket shopper game shows."
"Well, perhaps Jemma will be able to conference in and you can meet under controlled circumstances, Caden. Trust me, she's a good person, and very VERY smart." Hetty nods. "I won't say that you should trust them ALL, but meeting her might help ease your distrust a bit."
A nod. "Yes, Doctor Jemma Simmons, we actually met in school when I was in college, though much has changed since then. As to access to their facilities…that is beyond my purvue, I'm merely a contractor, with very specific access. Shall I try to arrange a Holo-Meet?"
Caden taps a fingertip against his chin and looks thoughtful, letting those chestnut brown eyes distance as he considers what Henrietta's saying. There's a little tilt of his head to the side as he looks over at her and then uncurls a hand as he gestures, "Maybe in a few days? I'd like to get myself more balanced and on the ground before I start going into meetings I should be at the top of my game for."
That said he smiles a little, "Though, ok, I'd like to see a holo-meet first just to look at it though. And the code." Since yeah, ok he's interested.
"Well, it would be conversing with a hardlight hologram in my lab, not a formal meeting. If you want a more formal meeting, that can most likely be arranged too, or even something less formal." Hetty smiles. "Lets clean this area up, and then I'll show you the code if you like - it is essentially the EMH hologram, only hooked to a live feed over a secure satellite uplink…" It is sure to get even more technical after that.