Summary:Alex asks Illyana to come by to talk about those geases she mentioned and Robbie rolls in. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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The training hall on the second floor is perfect for the execution of strong robust martial routines. The padding, the various dummies, the heavy canvas bags that hang from the rafters. Even the mats are of a high quality. But it still doesn't feel like 'home' yet, to the blond youth who has taken to spending some of his time there.
The evening had started with questions roiling in his mind, and a difficulty focusing. Eventually he bit the bullet and left a message on the cell of the sorceress he knew who had revealed much to him in the past. Just a request for a meet, though that still left the intervening time. Time where his focus was difficult to maintain.
Enter the training hall and the now suffering heavy bags that sway and jolt jouncing back and forth on their lengths of change. They're a good ten feet apart, but the young Olympian moves quickly between each, striking, uncoiling into a kick then firing a precise three hit combination with firm knuckles ending in a palm-heel strike.
Then he leaps and spins, executing the same exact combination again at the further bag. He's been at it for a while, a slick sheen of sweat gleaming off his bare chest, only a pair of grey gym shorts worn currently. If someone were to check the footage… this would be the third hour.
VROOM!
The Sound of the Hellcharger could be felt as a rumble through the building. Parking in the garage, Robbie Reyes exited. His hellfire chain wrapped around his torso while he wore his classic leather jacket with some gray pants and combat boots. He had just finished taking off his gloves and judging from the somewhat dour look on his face, he probably just finished some Ghost Rider business.
Might hear in the news that a serial killer on death row escaped, but met a fiery end.
Hearing the sound of contact going on, Robbie goes to investigate and imagine what he finds? The Son of the God of War. He crosses his arms.
"Somehow I doubt you recently started." Robbie says with a bit of a smirk. "Rough week, Alex?"
A wizard is never early. Nor are they late. They arrive precisely when they mean to.
Which is to say Illyana's terrible with time, since time in Limbo is inconsistent at best. So while she got Alex's message, and she figures she's coming over pretty directly, hours have gone by.
There's nothing in the way of warning. No knocking or alarms set off, just a disk of light that winks open in the space of a blink about six feet off the floor and then drops down as though drawn by gravity. It's wake, it leaves the blonde queen of Limbo, arms crossed and one hip cocked as she looks about the room. "OK. Not what I was expecting."
Dressed in her usual black leather with those aggressive boots and silvery jewelry softening the metal edge to the look, Illyana's attention finally falls on Alex. And then sweeps down over him as he's all scantily clad for her viewing pleasure. "But I'll take it." She says with a wry smirk before he gaze shifts past Alex to Robbie and mild surprise touches her features. She gestures around the room with a fingertip. "You gonna join him? Because I'll bring popcorn."
At the sound of Robbie's voice Alexander's smile blossoms though he takes a moment to steady the heavy bag with one hand, cutting its gyrations and jouncing short. A few more moments as he turns away from it and flexes one hand, the other shoulder seeming to have an angry bruise upon it.
"Nah. I mean. Confusing, yeah." He admits that much to be fair. "Learning I'm an idiot sometimes and need to think about other people." His nose crinkles, "Then again who can't that be said about, right?"
Of course that's the moment Illyana arrives, "Oh hey. Thought you were all ghosting me." The blond youth's smile is crooked as he steps across the way, a few quick steps then he stops a pace off as self-consciousness strikes. "I need a shower, but hey consider yourself." He waves one hand, "Greeted."
Robbie looks at Alex as he speaks. "Yeah. Kinda what happens when a girl is involved. You ever catch up with that mystery woman of yours?" Robbie then turns sharply and reaches for his chain when he sees that veil of light open up to have only the Russian beauty known as Illyana walk on through.
It relaxes him a bit, perhaps an odd reaction the Queen of Limbo might expect from a Ghost Rider. "Hey Illyana. No, I don't intend to go a few rounds with Phobos here. He gets beat up enough as is." Just a friendly jab of comraderie.
"But something tells me this isn't a social call."
Illyana Rasputina rolls one shoulder in a shrug as she moves in their direction. "Oh, I meant more in the stripping down sort of joining." While she obviously just gave Alex a bit of a once over, and is suggesting Robbie take off some of his clothes, nothing about her manner seems particularly invested in the idea.
When Alex says he needs a shower her pale eyes glint wickedly as she smirks at him. "Here I was content with this show but sure. We can move this conversation to the shower."
The bit about ghosting him gets a faint frown and she peers about for a window or something. "It's still September, right?" A shake of her head follows Robbie's question. "Alex asked me to drop by. I figure it's hoodoo, but he might just want to share a special moment. I dunno."
Alexander's eyes widen a bit as he tells Illyana, "You're incorrigible," But his smile is wry as he turns back to look towards them both. He speaks towards Robbie though he gestures in Illy's direction with one thumb, "I was needing to speak to a magical sort. And Illyana," He looks back to her and says with a small half-smile, "Is a friend. Sorta. But hey!" Alex looks between the two of them, "Cool you guys know each other."
That said he steps off of the mats and across the training room floor, footsteps light as he moves towards the locker room area but doesn't go in. Instead he grabs a towel and uses it to mop at his brow, then turns on the sink so that cold water cascades into it. Which he then immediately ducks his head under and immediately soaks it. Straightening up he shakes it a few times almost like a golden retriever and grimaces.
"I was hoping you could take a look at some of those spells. While you're here." The ones she told him about.
Now he fluffs his hair with that towel, looking a bit like a crazy person with hair that wild.
Robbie rolls his eyes at the apparent flirting by Illyana to Phobos. "Should I let you two have your own time?" Robbie says almost boredly, especially when talk of showers are given. But as Alex elaborates that he sought Illyana out for mystic help, Robbie raises a brow. "What spells? Did a witch cast one on you?" Robbie apparently had no knowledge about this.
"Well, if you wnated someone to break a spell, Illyana's a good authority." Then he looks over to Illyana as she also suggested Robbie take his clothes off and he smirks at her. "Maybe another time." but seeing as he is probably the worst authority of magic in the room, he lets Illyana and Alex talk shop.
Illyana smirks over at Robbie and then winks as he asks if he should leave them be. "Only if Alex is shy."
But then the blonde's attention turns to the room and she hurms, looking about. The upside of most workout rooms? A good deal of space. She strides over to where she's got some room and then snaps her fingers, her gaze on the floor.
There's a spark, and then a pair of flames spring to life about a half dozen feet from her and then start to race about, leaving a trail of flickering black flames behind her. Before their eyes, a magical circle starts to construct itself with the bounding circle and the pentagram inscribed within along with a lot of additional glyphs and markings.
While Illyana's attention stays on the floor, presumably directing the flames, she still seems able to split her attention and talk. "Oh, so now you're gonna give me a good Yelp review?" She teases Robbie.
Towards Robbie, Alexander shifts his attention and turns around to him, gesturing with the hand that holds that towel as he murmurs with a mildly pained expression. "Oh just. I learned that there were these old bindings that were connected to parts of my soul. From ways back. And apparently my grandpa did something with them and it's…" He looks towards Illyana, "It's a big thing."
That bit confided he slings the towel over his shoulder and pushes fingers through his hair, giving it some semblance of order. "And I think something's changed." He offers as he looks between the two of them.
But then the magic begins, the powers manifesting and brought forth by Illyana's most casual gesture. The circle comes to life, candles flickering and illuminating the suddenly dimmed gymnasium. Alexander stops a good foot from the edge of the circle, feeling the blaze of that power as only a magical being truly can. That is the thing about deities. They can be compelled in some ways just like demons or devils.
Then over his shoulder he says to Robbie. "Please stay if you want, Robbie. You're a good friend and I trust you."
That said he looks back to Illyana. "Just… if you could take a look." Is all he asks.
Robbie smirks lightly at Illyana when she speaks about a Yelp review. "I haven't had a full experience to do a yelp review yet." a bit of flirting from Robbie to Illyana, but he steps back when she pulls out the pentagram. Not that it could harm him by being in its very presence, since it was DEFINITELY not a holy thing to look upon, he looks over to Alex.
Aww, thats nice. When Robbie is considered to be a good friend by Alex, Robbie is thus cmopelled to stay. "Can't turn my back on a friend." He crosses his arms and keeps his eyes on the proceedings, occasionally looking between Yana and Alex. He's ready to Ghost Ride at any moment, but thats just because his experience with magic has been 'BLAGH! Demon out of a portal!' so he's just naturally wary, even if he knows Magik won't do anything that severe.
Illyana Rasputina's hands are partially raised at her sides, palms down as she turns about to direct the circle building. After a few minutes, the circle is apparently done and the guttering flames settle into a steady burn. Illyana lifts her gaze over to Phobos and crooks a finger at him. At his feet, the flames fade down, giving him a path to a smaller circle within the larger.
The sense of magic is strong enough that even a perfectly normal person would sense *something*. The dark, demonic energies crawls over the skin and whispers dark, suggestive things to each of them that they can't quite make out but know the sense of.
"So tell me what's made you think something's changed." Illyana says as she shrugs out of her black leather jacket and tosses it Robbie's way. Her top beneath it is also leather with a high, almost Mandarin collar but no sleeves and cut high enough to show pale skin at her midriff. The Rider is given a smirk as he takes up a post at the edge of the circle. "Worried I might toy with the godling?"
And then Illyana gestures at Alex, and a column of black fire rushes up from his feet, lifting him a good foot of the air and holding him suspended in the air. Alex can feel the flames crawling over his skin, and eerily, tickling beneath just a bit, but there's no pain.
The pathway lies bared, and the Olympian does feel that silent siren song whispering the need for him to step forth. Something akin to the call of the abyss when one peers over the edge of a skyscraper. Though in defiance of it he advances with a stern visage, crossing that threshold with a clean stride.
Once he is in that smaller circle, Alexander can feel his arms drawn out to the sides, then the black fire leaps and lashes, curling around wrists and ankles and propels him upwards, giving an almost vicious curve to his spine though the it isn't pain, it seems at the most… more just discomfort.
A breath is taken then he answers, "Old memories returning." Alexander says, and there's a faint manifestation of demonic faces flickering into being, roaring and splitting into pieces with. "I feel more in control of things."
And then the last as his lips twist, sardonic. "I find I can care." Which between their last conversation shared together, Illyana and Alexander had that same sort of problem.
Robbie looks over at Illyana as he catches her jacket out of reflex, holding it in his hand as he leans against one of the walls. As Illyana perhaps continues to set up for what is no doubt a ritual, Eli was already speaking to Robbie's mind, whispers in the dark perhaps daring him to try and cross into the Pentagram and see what this Queen was really up to. But Robbie had a strong force of will, so he, out of necessity, shuts out Eli's voice as best as he can.
Though when Illyana questions Robbie's thoughts, he smirks. "If I was worried, this ritual would've been interrupted by now."
Fair point.
He looks at he seemed to step forth into the pentagram, and he seems to tilt his head a bit with Alex revealing things cryptically. Old memories? How old was Alex again? He hopes Alex isn't like a 2000 years old deity or something.
As the flames curl and twist around Alex, the black color of some of those flames shifts towards red and change from the flames that roar up towards the ceiling to gossamer ribbons that bind the Olympian and emerge from his flesh in some areas. Most notably, his head and his heart. The edges are tattered. Frayed.
Illyana's eyes narrow and her hands come up, several fingers bending inwards and then her hands rotating. Robbie can make out the wink of the ring that holds that taste of him on her finger. A pushing motion, and Alex's form goes ghostly. Translucent, and where the ribbons emerge from his flesh it can now be seen now they're knotted tight within him. But that tattered edging follows to the knot within and even as they watch, threads pull off and drift away, and one of the curls of ribbon falls away entirely.
Glowing eyes gone white with power shift over to Alex as he speaks, and then she brings her arms up and pulls them out to the side, like a conductor might silence her orchestra and the flames die out, dropping Alex to the floor. The image of the ribbons lingers a bit, and then fade as Alex regains his opaque nature. "The spells are definitely breaking down, and still tied up way too tight in the parts of you that make you, well, *you* for me to to want to mess with them if I don't have to."
Only then does Illyana look over to Robbie, flashing him a predatory grin. "Keep dreaming, skull-boy."
As the flames lose their strength, Alexander grimaces and yanks one wrist to the side, breaking their grasp, then follows up with the other. He falls to the ground and crinkles his nose as if this whole thing was just some damned inconvenience. A step takes him to the edge of that smaller binding circle and he presses against it with a hand, finding some resistance… then perhaps overcoming it as Illyana releases the magical grip on things.
"Well, maybe that's good news?" He says over his shoulder towards them, the towel still in place around his neck and the ends hanging over his chest. He gives Robbie a small smile and a shrug. But then he continues to walk towards the refrigerator nearby and yanks it open, gathering some coronas and slivers of limes that he'll toss around if people want them.
"Thanks, Illyana." Then a nod, "Robbie." For standing guard. He pops the top of his beer and with no further preamble, /fwumpfs/ down onto the overstuffed couch that rests on the edge of the training area, just slouching into place there and looking decidedly grumpy. "Blah."
Robbie watched the ritual take place and he stays exactly where he is. The 'Ribbons' of the spell that was taking place seemed to hold no significance to Robbie, but indeed, he was merely just standing guard in case something went horribly wrong. Magic does have a price, after all.
Then Illyana flashes him that grin. "I seem to be good at dreaming, Demon Girl." Yes, let the banter begin.
But as Alex seems to be alright AND passing around Coronas as necessary, Robbie actually seems to decline the drink. "No thanks, not much in the mood to drink at the moment."and anytime. What are friends for, Alex?" he notices him grump down all grumpy-like, something that makes Robbie seem to sigh a bit like Alex didn't get the answers he wanted.
Illyana Rasputina waves a hand, and even the remnants of the spell wash away from the floor, though those with a sense for the mystical will likely be able to tell there was some divining going on here.
The blonde walks over with an easy pace to accept the beer, sitting down on one of the arms of the couch with Alex. When Robbie declines the drink, her gaze does a slow slide from him to Alex. "Looks like he's still gonna watch over you. Make sure I don't have my dark, wicked way with you or something." With a chuckle she takes the top off of her beer and has a few swallows before speaking. "So. Caring huh? Like, blanket? People matter or something?"
The extra that Robbie turns down just sits on the end table nearby since why the heck not? But Alexander enjoys his, as much as he can without feeling any hint of the alcohol. Then again it's Corona so there's not much bite to it at all. He does moisten the tip of the bottle with the lime, then pushes it inside before he takes a sip.
He looks across the way towards them both and tilts his head to the side, "So hey, sorry for hogging the whole…" He lifts the bottle and motions towards the site of the ritual, "All of that."
Then Illyana settles down on the seat of the sofa next to him and the Olympian looks over towards Robbie and then up sideways to Illy, "Not… so much? I mean sort of? But." He points at her with the lip of his bottle, "Don't give me shit about this. But I met someone and it was different."
That answered though he tries to preclude further inquiries as he says, "But forget my junk, guys. What is going on with you two?"
"Don't like the taste." Robbie quips easily enough back to Illyana, walking over and setting Illyana's jacket neatly on the arm of the couch that she sits beside before he simply sits down on a sturdy piece of furniture. "If I had a doubt…" Robbie's eyes dance with hellfire, but he doesn't transform (thankfully), just making his point clear. "Besides, your too nice." Robbie says to try and get a read on Illyana's reaction. How does she compare her friends to her own wishes?
Seems he's making it a goal to understand and get to know Yana better. But then his eyes fall on Alex. "Your junk is important too Alex. I haven't been doing anything. Taking souls and digging holes." He shrugs. Ghost Rider work.
"I usually bow out when two guys want to talk about their junk. There's usually measuring involved." Illyana says dryly, that teasing smile still curving her lips. She doesn't flinch at the flare of hellfire, though she perhaps grins just a bit broader and the gem on her ring winks in a flash of light.
The blonde seems at ease, considering none of them know each other that well and all of them have enough paranoia in their background not to entirely let their guard down with such dangerous entities.
"All of 'that' was kind of the point, and hardly hogging anything." Illyana points out to the godling. "And I think it's worth keeping an eye on. If those bindings keep coming apart, you might be in for a shock." But when he says he met someone she blinks at him. And then lifts her beer to hide a snicker. That doesn't help the way it telegraphs through the rest of her body though. The curl of back, the shake of her shoulders. It takes her a moment to get ahold of herself, and when she does she mimes zipping her lips and throwing away the key. "That's probably good though, since y'know, you owe me your firstborn and all." She lifts the bottle, tipping it back as she watches Alex, pale eyes dancing with amusement.
When Robbie calls her too nice, she almost chokes on her beer, and *does* end up coughing. "I'm *what*?"
"Doing the work you've been tasked with." Alexander's smile is openly given to Robbie and he nods, then looks over at Illyana. There's no modesty to him even though he's just wearing those long gym shorts and the towel, but he does seem positively enthused to see both of them. He leans to the side and draws up one foot, pulling it into his lap as he tells Illyana with a smirk, "Now guys, I think we haven't sufficiently explored my Junk enough yet." He says with mock indignation, but does take a swipe at Illy for the first born comment.
But then his eyes widen as he seems to remember something. "Oh yeah, by the bye, one of the Asgardians has asked me to help an acquaintance of his. So I may be more often in Staten Island."
He looks between them and smiles a little, "If you need to get a hold of me. There are some mystical beings helping gangs and they asked for a hand in figuring out what they're up to."
Robbie seems to smirk a little bit at Illyana when she apparently starts to choke on her drink. "Heh, knew that'd work." Whether Robbie did or didn't know for certain is up for debate (chances are, he didn't). But his smile is wide and warm for Illyana. "Too nice to willingly do dark acts to a friend." He repeats and specifies, before he looks at Alex. "Yeah. The work I'm tasked with." Because somebody's gotta raise a little hell.
"An Asgardian asked you for help? Did the Asgardian say his name? He doesn't have a big thundering hammer with a name I can't pronounce, does he?" Of course, he's referencing Thor.
It's sad that Robbie can't pronounce 'Thor'. What is public education coming to??
Illyana gives Robbie a mock-glare at the claim, and then gestures over at Alex a bit theatrically when he uses the F-word. "We've met like once! If it was between saving my coffee and Alex, he'd totally be on his own." It's a joke, but the truth isn't too far off. As a god, Illyana's not going to try to make any claims on him, and her demonic wiring doesn't let her have really strong emotional connections to those she doesn't consider 'hers'. It's one of the things that created the tentative bond they do have.
"By the way, I officially move that we move *on* from the topic of Alex's junk." Illyana decrees, before hmming at the news of mystical beings and gangs. "I'd offer to help, but I'm dealing with another Splinter Lord staging an invasion of Earth and someone trying to turn my friend into a demon or something." She's being nice. She didn't call Koa her 'pet'.
Another pull on her beer and Illyana eyes Robbie. "Sounds like that might be weighing on you a bit."
Alex gives a small nod of his head to Robbie, "It was Fenris, and my family does have good relations with them. So I feel obliged to aid." He waves a hand to the side as if dismissing the details of the matter as unimportant, "Signals aren't the best thattaway is all. So if something crazy goes down and I'm not answering, chances are I'm over there." He nods again.
Then Illyana advances the motion and Alexander lightly thumps the table with his now empty beer bottle. "Motion to table my junk is advanced. All in favor?" He raises his bottle and waits for the ayes, of which he is one. "And against?" Likely none.
"The ayes carry it, motion has passed." And thus one of the worst jokes shared in Warrior history so meets its end.
Oh no, Robbie can pronounce Thor. Its the name of the hammer that he has trouble with. Likely because he's never heard the word be spoken aside from 'Thor's Magic Hammer', which just sounds like the punchline of a truly awful joke.
But when Illyana and Alex vote to move on away from Alex's junk (literally and figuratively), Robbie lifts a hand. "Yeah." he's not the type to say 'aye' like this is a bloody convention.
But he looks at Magik when she ovbserves that being Ghost Rider has taken its toll. "Wouldn't exactly call it a dream job." Robbie says with a light smirk.
Illyana Rasputina sits up a bit straighter, making a gesture between her and Alex. "I think we've got some experience with sucky jobs. Also, *awful* recruitment processes. If you wanna talk about it…" The invitation is made without her usual teasing or mocking, which is a rare thing indeed.
"What about it is the hardest?" Illyana slips down from the arm of the couch to the cushions proper so she can lean back and stretch her legs out in front of her, crossing one heavily booted foot over the other. If she's got to shove Alex over a bit to do it, so be it."
Crinkling his nose sideways at Illyana, Alexander sort of shoves her boots off to the side and shifts on his seat to more reassert his personal space, but eventually if she wants he'll let her prop a heavy combat boot (that went entirely out of style several decades ago) on his leg.
The Olympian with the golden hair smiles to them both though it twists a little into a half-smirk, "I've never really had a 'job' per se." He uncurls a hand to the side, "But the obligations we've had. And… all the craziness." He looks towards Illyana as if for confirmation that he isn't speaking beyond his purview. "I think we've all sort of had a crappy situation thrown on us in parts. With time we were able to overcome a lot of things."
Towards Robbie he smiles, "Eventually, Robbie. I think you're going to overcome some of the obligations thrust upon you as well. I know that… there have been other souls and spirits bound to aid for what seemed like unattainable obligations. But look at the crowd you run with, right?"
"Mercy isn't an option."
Robbie's words bite. When vengeance needs to be had, it doesn't matter if the person claims to have been 'changed' or if they try to run from it. Mercy isn't an option. Its either they keep running, or die. Shitty way to go about it. This choice is made perhaps much harder since Eli is literally a serial killer who lusts for death and bloodshed.
But then he shrugs, looking between Illyana and Alex. "Maybe. There's always hope, right?" But then he stands up tall. "I better get going home. Be seeing you guys. Illyana…see you soon." He then turns on his heel and starts making his way back to the Hellcharger.
Illyana's pale eyes rest on Robbie as he speaks, as cold and empty as any of the monsters wearing human flesh as he's seen. As he speaks, his tone harsh, she chooses not to say anything and only watches him as he stands and walks out of the room. Even then, it's long moments before she looks to Alex and speaks. "I'd watch him. He's gonna break before he bends."
She rises to her feet as well, Robbie's exit like a signal that it's time to go. She flashes a smirk at Alex but it seems a bit forced, as is the light words. "He's gonna see me soon, hmm? Ominous."
The now-empty beer bottle is set on the table. "Thanks for the beer and the company. But don't think you don't owe me." She gives him a wink and then drifts another step back so she can summon a stepping disk to make her own way out of the Warriors HQ.
Doors are for suckers.
"I have confidence in him, Illy." Alexander says about Robbie, but then shrugs a bit as if to say that they'll see what they see. "I'll seeya."
As the room clears out, Alexander is left to his own devices, though he grabs the beer that Robbie turned down. He sits there on the couch, towel around his shoulders. And smiles to himself then sort of snickers, "Junk, hah."