Summary:Illyana stops by to strike a bargain with Robbie. He's bad at deals. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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So, it was just a calm night.
Well, its calm now. But Robbie had done some Ghost Rider business, becoming the Spirit of Vengeance in order to tell some demons that were infesting a warehouse down the street to go home. The old fashioned way.
With this in mind, Robbie came back home and had some blood on his clothes, so they're in the wash (including his leather jacket). After making sure Gabe was sleeping peacefully and that he was fully ready for school tomorrow (making sure his bag was packed), Robbie decides to take a shower to get the stench off of him.
So thats exactly what he does. He had just turned off the water….
Illyana Rasputina is perched on the sink vanity, one foot on the counter with knee cocked up and the other leg dangling down, foot kicking idly. She's got a magazine that was lying around the living room, and Robbie's towel is laying across her lap.
Dressed in mostly black leather as per usual, pants and boots, she's got a plain T-shirt on that's a tad oversized. She doesn't even look up as the water shuts off, looking bored as she flip, flip, flips through. The ring on her finger winks in the light.
Robbie wouldn't be surprised if that oversized t-shirt was stolen from him while she was at it, but he exits the shower. He shaved and he smells nice. What's more noticeable than that, you might ask? Well…
He's completely nude.
Oh come on, he JUST got out of the shower! he's athletically fit and he's….above average.
He sees Illyana but he doesn't even look uncomfortable. She has his towel after all. "….Hi there." He admittedly smirks.
Illyana Rasputina finally looks up, one finger still tagging the page she's on. Her pale blue eyes meet his and then make the slow slide down and then back up. As he smirks at her she gives him a too-sweet smile. "You didn't need to take a *cold* shower. I wasn't here yet."
She still has his towel, draped across her lap like an afterthought. She doesn't offer it out to him, either. She does finally close the magazine, setting it aside. "So. You were busy tonight." She notes. News travels fast, since y'know, he just got home.
Well, she certainly made checking him out noticeable, but Robbie chuckles. "Heh, good one." he replies about the cold shower comment, though he doesn't reach for the towel, assuming she'll trade it for whatever she is going to certainly ask.
"Yeah. Warehouse down the street was demon-infested. Tormented people passing by. News travels fast I see, chica." He crosses his arms over his chest and stands up straight. "Didn't cross a line, did I?"
It amuses Illyana that Robbie doesn't cringe at being caught in a… vulnerable position and it shows in the way it makes her eyes laugh, even if they're cold and a bit empty.
Finally, finally she offers his towel out to him. "And if I said you did?" She arches a brow. "Not like you could *not* do it, correct?" At least, that's how she interpreted his words to her earlier.
"I was having the area watched and would have dealt with them." The blonde turns, so both her legs dangle down from where she sits now. "So not a big deal."
Maybe He was just comfortable with Illyana. After all, they had much in common…even if Robbie wasn't Russian. When his towel his finally offered, he accepts it and starts to dry himself off. She already saw him in his natural state, so why not dry off now?
When he's done doing that, he wraps the towel around his waste and looks significantly more presentable at the moment.
"Well, I would've probably said sorry first before I did it. But your right, just part of the deal." He shrugs. "Do I owe you for stealing your kill?"
Illyana Rasputina gives a soft snort of amusement. "I wasn't *that* invested in minor demons." She tells him, her tone almost chastising. Like how dare he think she'd be that invested in something so minor!
Now that Robbie is 'decent', she slides down from his vanity, dusting her hands off and leaving the magazine behind. "So. Tell me you have something to drink, hmm?" Guess she hasn't gone poking around his place without invitation *that* much.
Robbie gives her a smirk. "Good. Otherwise I'd be questioning your decisions." He recalls that look in her eye when she had that look of annoyance in her eyes when she revealed to him that her demons just agree with everything she says, because they worship her as queen and ruler of Limbo.
But, back to the present…
"Of course I have something to drink." He walks past her, inviting her to follow. Whether or not she wants to latch onto his arm or just follow behind him is up to her. "Got beer, water, soda pop, some orange juice…" he starts listing off the options, a little feeler into the waters of what Illyana prefers as a drink.
If vodka is on the list, she'll go with that. Otherwise, OJ is fine. The blonde follows him out, looking around Robbie's space with some interest before they sit down.
It looks like she's just curious. Seeing what he decorates with, how clean the place is… But she's looking a bit deeper. Seeing what sorts of magical defenses he's got laid, if any. "I figured we might be able to help each other. I can point you at some areas that need your brand of vengeance…"
Pouring Illyana some vodka (he bought some from the store in case she ever dropped by), Robbie gives her the glass and goes to take a seat. What Illyana would immediately notice is that the place was immaculately clean, probably to give Gabe full space to move around in the wheelchair. He decorates with small things. a cheap-looking painting or two, some pictures of himself, gabe, and their parents while they were still alive. Though its clear that the decorations also have a lot of Gabe's touch. some flowers here and there that are definitely not Robbie's type, some video-games and movies stacked in front of the television. The usual.
As for magic?
A simple demonic magic ward that any cultist would have knowledge enough to do. Keeps out lesser demons, but won't stop a demonic presence like Illyana or someone like Blackheart, no doubt Eli's doing. But Robbie looks Illyana in the eyes. "I try and keep the place clean. Sorry if anything is out of place." then she informs him about areas that could use him.
"…I'm listening." She has his interest!
"You're looking for things to get rid of, I happen to know of a quite a few things that could use taking out." Illyana makes it sound easy. Simple.
The blonde swirls her drink around, watching him with a critical sort of eye as she makes that statement. Like she's waiting to see what he'll say. Like there's a catch she's waiting for him to pick up on.
Robbie looks at Illyana for a minute, but just because he dropped out of high school so he could pay for Gabe's own schooling doesn't mean that he isn't smart. He's been around the block a few times (not like that!) but he knows some measure of a woman's wit.
Illyana's was the one he was getting used to, but he smirks a little bit.
"Want to go out on a date with me?" He was already going to ask her at some point in time, but since she practically laid it out for him…assuming he's thinking on the same wavelength as her.
Illyana Rasputina pauses, her glass at her lips at Robbie's question and blinks. "That is… not what I was expecting as an opening gambit, but, sure. Just like, one date? What qualifies as a date?" It… doesn't sound like she's on quite the same wavelength as he is at the moment.
Robbie has learned over the years that most of his interpretations were hit and miss, but he chuckles just a little bit. "Sorry, thought thats where you were leading." But for some unholy reason, she says yes! Robbie shrugs though as she questions him on what counts as a date.
"Hanging out in a way that results in some kind of romantic progress? I have no idea. Where's the dictionary…" Clearly, he's being humorous since he's actually looking for the dictionary, but he doesn't stand up. "I don't know. a movie?" he shrugs. "What were you thinking of? Now I feel kinda dumb."
Illyana Rasputina gives Robbie a look that's a mix between sympathetic and pained. "Robbie, I've spent most of my life in a hell realm. With demons. Pretty much… just demons. I rule a hell realm. It starts to get a bit metaphysical on the 'I'm a demon' bit, but I'm definitely not entirely human anymore. There's no dating, and definitely no romance so… no. Not where I was leading."
Her gaze narrows on him a bit and she shakes her head, setting her glass down and leaning back in her chair. "Aaaand you don't realize we're bargaining." She gives a low chuckle and gestures over towards the Ward that she can certainly see. "I should have realized your rider was more two-bit cultist than anything serious. He can't even give you decent advice." There's a glint to her eyes as she works to prick Eli. Or at least, see if she can prick the angry spirit Robbie carries around.
Robbie may or may not have expected such an answer. His luck in that field has never quite been very good, but perhaps it was worth a try anyway? The future is still uncertain. "If it makes you feel better, I'm not entirely human either. Thank Eli for that, but there's no harm in your denial."
He looks at her with a small smile, telling her that he's not heartbroken or anything like that. "But don't worry, I'm okay."
He teases her. "What exactly am I bargaining? I'm experienced in the simple things, and I don't speak Illyana yet." he teases her. But judging by the light flame that appears in Robbie's eyes, Eli is…unhappy.
Most of my friends are human or mutant, or occasionally some odd mix of something else." Illyana assures him. Like, oh, Alex. Her lips purse thoughtfully. This isn't a type of conversation she's had with someone she doesn't know that well. Speaking of Alex, he's one of the few that kind of understood this particular sticking point with Illyana. "What I mean is, something specific like 'a date' is something I can give someone. Set the parameters. Time, place, duration, activity, whatever. But when you start getting into *feelings*?" She shakes her head. "I… don't really process emotions the way most people do. So 'dating' like most people think of it isn't something on my radar."
Sure, they've gotten a bit sidetracked here from her original topic, but she gets the feeling if she just deflects it, it might come up again, and Robbie might not respond quite so casually.
Someday, someone's going to tell Illyana that showing up in a guy's shower, while she might find it amusing to watch their reaction, could well mean something much different to them.
"Heh, well, how do you see dating as then? You sound as if you have no feelings at all. I can see that you feel amusement, sympathy, pain of heart." He reads people well enough. The eyes are quite literally the windows…but, he shakes his head lightly.
"Either way, thats the impression you give me if you show up, proceed to look me over like there's attraction. Gives me a false sense of idea that I was rather warming up to. Not that I don't mind the visit."
And Robbie HIGHLY DOUBTS he'll be in a situation where this is reversed. But, he shrugs. "But to date is to feel. Even if its just a one-off. Anyway, we sidetrack."
"From my observations, I tend to see dating as either A) spending time in the company of someone you enjoy doing *things* you enjoy or B) Test-driving someone for a more permanent relationship. I've found that pretty much any time you bring it up, people think about the 'B' category, but then play it off like it might be the 'A'. I haven't quite figured out why that is." Illyana gives a shrug. It… sounds like she might have spent a good deal of time observing people.
"I'm the ruler of a hell realm and the only way out is in a box, so B is sorta off the table for me. But as I said, even when everyone says they're in the 'A' category they're fishing for the 'B'." Illyana did finish High School, but more than that, she's a sorceress. And that comes with a hell of a lot of study and critical thinking. Which likely explains her very clinical dissection of what one might consider the essence of human experience.
"I do have feelings, but not quite the same as you. That's a general sort of 'you'." Even the qualification of her words bespeaks someone that meticulously breaks things apart. As for her earlier perusal? "I enjoy making people uncomfortable. It's less objectionable to making them bleed, which is actually my stronger impulse." She lays that right out there, not even glancing away in any sort of guilt. "'Attraction' might be the right word, depending on how you define it," Yes, definitions are totally important to her! "But 'appreciation' definitely fits the bill." She quirks a brow at him then. "You didn't seem to mind."
Robbie tilts his head at her, listening to what she has to say for the first part. "Usually because one person is attracted romantically or at least intimately to the other person, so they ask them out on a date to learn and understand them better, and see if their feelings are both justified and if the other person feels the same way." He shakes his head lightly with a shrug. But as she tells him that being the ruler of a hell dimension means that love is closed off for her, Robbie smirks. "Was it not you the one who told me that just because of what you are doesn't mean that you are undeserving of love? Besides, when we went to dinner that one time, didn't you say you have someone? Or had. I don't remember if it was past or present tense." But considering that she was agreeing to a 'date' of just going somewhere to hangout together, it could be one or the other.
As for the uncomfortability…
Robbie shrugs. "I've seen some dark shit. A beautiful Russian woman seeing me naked doesn't bother me, though I am curious how you feel about your own uncomfortability, as in if this situation was reversed. Not that I want it to happen-" low-level flirt. "But just curious if you enjoy awkward as a universal thing, or just the uncomfortability of others."
Illyana Rasputina gives a slight shake of her head. "I don't tend to be attracted to people, then." As he's defined it. "And having people that love you is very different." They each have their brothers as proof of that.
When Robbie comments on her having someone, Illyana chuckles. "So you'd want to date me even if I'm involved with someone else?" That gets a smirk and her pale, cold eyes glint again with amusement. She doesn't elaborate on her… what would it even be called, when she seems to dismiss romance?
Robbie earns himself another huff of amusement as Illyana picks up her glass and takes another drink of vodka. "You'd make an awful demon." She informs him. "Others. Putting someone off their game is a minor dominance play. Like I said, more socially acceptable than making them bleed." She takes another short drink and there's a humorless chuckle. "Or breaking their arm."
Robbie looks at Illyana with a small smirk. "Always a chance then. True, I guess." Only person that Robbie's had love him thats still alive is Gabe. But thats not romantic or friendly love, but familial. When Illyana tells him he'd date her even if she was involved, Robbie smirks. "Now you use the word involved." Yes, he's picking apart her words and having a fun time doing so.
Raised on the streets, you take every word for how it was said. "But I also don't hear you saying no." Now it was his turn to try and make her awkward or shifty.
Either way, he sips his drink. "Thats why I'm a human." some snarky comeback that isn't quite a good one, but its there. "Could always join me on my hunts."
If he does manage to make her uncomfortable, she doesn't let it show. That was a very early lesson. One S'ym taught her well.
When Robbie says he's he's a human, she sets down her glass to spread her hands in a 'just so' manner. "And I'm not."
All he gets is a smirk when he observes she didn't say no. "And I didn't hear you answer the question." She gives him a slight tilt of her head and picks up her glass again. "'Involved' is a good word, I think. It dissuades most people since they're looking for a clear field, without me having to try to explain the social differences they don't realize we have."
At the invitation to hunt, she shakes her head. "Maybe if I want to blow off steam, but right now I have a Dream Lord to convince to stop bothering my pets, an invasion to stop, and a ritual to stop." And that last one, Illyana's just learning about.
Robbie looks at Illyana when she tells him that he didn't answer the question. "Depends entirely whats involved with the word 'involved'. Would we become 'involved' if I say yes?" He asks her curiously. "I tend to be selfish with my involvements, just like you're selfish with your 'pets'." Robbie says with a smirk.
"Sounds exciting. So what exactly do you need me for? Seems to be in the field of magic, which, in case you didn't realize, I'm completely inexperienced in."
Illyana Rasputina chuckles at Robbie and gestures over to him with her glass. "And that's another reason why I don't date. No one gets to be selfish about me. My pets are mine, but I don't belong to anyone but me."
That seemingly put to bed, Illyana finally gets back around to her opening topic. "I'm good at locating demons that have slipped loose from various hell realms and need dealing with. I don't have the time nor the inclination really, but you do. I can help you find them and get to them."
"Heh, more like a friends with benefits thing at most, seems like." Robbie shakes his head lightly. Besides, getting permenently entangled with a Hell Lord perhaps isn't the best idea. Illyana seems a selfish woman.
Either way, Robbie shrugs. "Long as I can enact vengeance, I don't mind how many or what kind of demon you send at me. I'll take care of it. In this way, I can help protect the people who otherwise have no clue from the horrors that stalk them. Alright, I'll help you."
Illyana Rasputina *did* just say as much, about being selfish. She lets Robbie's summary lie. They don't really know each other well enough to see behind the curtain, and what being a 'friend' to someone like Illyana might actually mean.
The smile the blonde sorceress gives Robbie is amused, and she shakes her head. "You really are terrible at this." She tells him with a chuckle, finishing off her glass and setting it back down on the table with a *clunk* and rising to her feet. "When you deal with a demon, Robbie, you're supposed to make sure you *get* something out of it." She shakes her head at him. "But. I'm feeling generous." She reaches up and undoes the clasp on one of her necklaces. The chain is silver as is the charm, which has an inverted pentagram. Grabbing the charm, she speaks a few words that seem to warp and echo in the room, prickling the skin. When Illyana offers the necklace over to Robbie, the pentagram is now a little silver version of the Hellcharger. "For your brother."
Robbie shrugs. "I don't deal with demons, I usually just kill them. I know enough that they're crafty, but you haven't tried to trick me yet, and ironically, you seem the most human." Robbie smirks just a little bit to her. But then she takes off her necklace (or one of them), converts it into a small silver version of a hellcharger, no bigger than a hotwheel, and he looks at Illyana as he accepts it.
"and what does this do?" He literally has no idea about magic. Maybe a protection spell?
"You just did." Illyana points out to him with one of her usual smirks.
The charm is smaller than most Hotwheels, something easily worn beneath a shirt that won't be too clunky. It has a lot more detail than most charms that size that are just poured into a mold for a general shape, but you'd have to look at it pretty closely. "It'll ward off demonic critters. A bit like your house ward." Though in this case it's more of an aversion than a defensive sort of protective wall. If a mystical baddie doesn't get near Gabe, it's less likely to target him.
"I'll be in touch. Oh, and Robbie?" Illyana lets her gaze slip down again, where he's just wearing the towel. "Put on some pants, hmm?" Flashing him a predatory grin, she teleports out of his house. Same way she managed to get in.