Summary:Piotr and Keiko check on the Pillars. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
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With Illyana missing and the Splinter Lords poses an extradimesional threat to Earth, Keiko has been kept busy. Between watching the pillars - something that she's asked Piotr to help out with - preparing to launch an offensive to elminate the threat, her 'schoolwork' for WAND and being a Mum, there's not a lot of a time for anything.
Today, she's taken Piotr with her as they check on one of the Pillars in the tunnels under New York. The tunnel is dank and smelly and they've been walking for a while - which has taken mitigated the chill on the air as winter starts to settle on the city.
"It's just down this way a few more yards." The peruvian is saying. She's stripped her jacket off, leaving herself in a tank top.
Her right arm is nearly bare of tattooes. The Dragon, the Raven and Arananet having been temporarily transferred to new hosts. The other tattooes writhe a little on her skin.
I have spoken with Darkstar about trying t reach Limbo. She says she is willing to try." This has become the idea of a date these days. Hunting cultists, checking pillars. He glances at her, and his concern is there. He knows she has been removing the tattoos. And he knows of her connection to them. "How are the new hosts handling the others.. and they know they will be returning them?" he asks, a hand reaching for a moment to touch her bare arm before he withdraws it.
A Russian born and bred in the depths of the frigid north, he's comfortable. Blue jeans, work boots, muscle shirt. His frame is not shifted to metal yet, holding to flesh until such time it is needed. "You could have brought Koa with you to check this." In fact, she's done that more often than not. And he's picked up on it.
"I could have, yes." Keiko answers the last part first. "But I wanted to spend time with you." It's a simple statement and the Peruvian doesn't pull away when he touches her skin. It's something for a woman who is finding increasingly difficult to connect with people.
There's a flash of pain that crosses her face as Piotr asks about the spirits she's rehomed. "My spirits are doing better than they do with me, I think." The clench to her jaw as she pushes that down. "The ones who have taken them seem to … " There's a raise to her shoulder as she struggles for the words.
"I mentioned, yes, that the WAND mystics have got a hit on Illyana? She is alive, which is something. They are trying to trace her - when they get that, we will know more."
"I think it is only because they only have one to deal with, Keiko. You had to deal with many at once. They miss you." As does he, but he doesn't say anything on that outloud. Piotr offers her a sympathetic smile. "They know where she is, or that she knows she is alive?" he asks quietly.
"These cultists. They are trying to keep Illyana trapped then?" he asks, his glance over to Keiko one that sours for a moment. "Or is it the pillars that are the threat to her?"
——
"It's more than that, Piotr. Miss Potts *speaks* with Arananet and she responds, she's connected with her in a way that I wasn't allowed to. The same with Mirlo when she went to Hank. Maybe they miss me, Piotr but I see how happy they seem …"
It isn't easy for Keiko to see how it might have been for her if things were different.
"They know she is alive, that is all. Trying to find her is the next challenge." the peruvian answers. That on its own is a relief. "No, the cultists are based here on earth and have made threats against you and … others. We're not sure what happened, except that Illyana cast a spell that we think was designed to collapse Limbo - she's trapped there. Probably not with the pillars but we … " she swallows, admitting this is so very difficult "… don't know."
Just up ahead is the turn they have to take. It's a small branching tunnel that leads to a 'room' and Keiko gestures.
"Collapsed. Or sealed. Like snowglobe." Piotr responds, and frowns. "Threats against me are not an issue. Against you. Eleyna. Those I love. I take that seriously." he leaves it at that, as he frowns. "You see how happy Eleyna is when she goes out for day with Hank. Then she comes home. Happier to see you. They will be the same." At least Piotr is trying to be supportive of Keiko on the tattoos. He knows she wants them back.
As they approach the tunnel, Piotr finally starts to adjust to the situation. Stepping in front of Keiko, his form shifts, taking on the armored and heavy metallic shape of his frame as his eyes glaze over in steel. The right arm morphs and shifts into it's thicker magical armor. "I will knock?" he asks Keiko.
He may have just smiled a little.
Keiko gives Piotr one her patented flat looks. "We will see. Maybe I will not be around for them to come back to. There are instructions if that is case…" They've not spoken on it, the contingencies. "Perhaps you are right. We shall see."
Stoic. Her emotions always under tight control. That's Keiko. Like she's afraid to let loose with them.
"You can knock or you can just go in …" There's no smile, there never is. Keiko hasn't smiled since they were taken to Limbo. "We don't know about Limbo. And won't know till we get back there or find Illyana. It's the best I can tell you Piotr. I'm not a mage or a mystic, I'm a soldier who can barely read."
"We need you to track down the cultists down, Piotr. On top of trying to find Illyana with Darkstar. I can't have them at our throats while we're dealing with the other and I trust you to protect my back. I've got some information from WAND on them…."
No one answers the door to Piotrs knock and when he opens the door, the pillar is to the side of the room. Leading it out from it is the gold tracework that they've seen in other locations. The progress is slower is here, but tendrils now extend along the ground a couple of feet in each direction.
That's because Keiko didn't ask how Piotr was going to knock. After all? He's fully metal. His idea of knocking is to just knock the door completely off of it's hinges and blowing it aside with one massive punch. "And you don't even have to repair it after." he comments dryly to her as he makes his way in. Her dour attitude earns her a flat look. "Your daughter needs you."
He leaves it at that. "We'll deal with the cultists. And the horse faced demon. After this." he responds. As he steps into the room, and notices the new growth, his expression narrows. "It expands." he rumbles. He's not happy with this at all. "Do you want me to try to rip them up?"
"I know she does and I'm doing everything that I can to make sure I come back." It's flat but Keiko lets out a sigh. "We should talk contingencies though…" The peruvian winces as the door is removed. "I suppose I don't this time. Perhaps though, we might like to leave our presence a little less … obvious … next time?"
"Will you now. N'astirh. That is his name, the horse faced one." Keiko doesn't mention that she thinks that Piotr will have to deal with Belasco - because N'astirh won't let the metal man get near.
"They do. The last time we were in Limbo, the trace work had covered a lot of the ground…" She shakes her head. "Don't touch it. It tried to infect me in Limbo. It might not here but I don't want to take the chance. Not when we're so close to—-"
There's a chanting sound as a cloaked figure steps from the shadows of the room and moves towards Piotr. Piotr can feel something pressing at him - something trying to subvert his will and take his control.
"What is your contingency, then?" Piotr asks. "You are so sure that you are not coming back. What if it is me?" he asks her finally. "After all, you have Koa and the others to protect you. I do not have such defenses." However, the discussion is going to have to be put on hold as the chanting starts. And Piotr's expression darkens as he feels the pull on his soul.
This was so much easier when he had his complete soul. And not part of him currently in a sword held by something else. A frown creases his features as his hands tighten at his sides.
Knowing that he can't fight it all day, but he can for several moments, he starts to run straight at the cloaked figure, preparing to bowl over the cultist before he can finish his chant. "On your guard, Keiko!"
"I did not say that, Piotr." Keiko grinds her teeth "This is why I have not spoken with you about this. You don't make this easy … *IF* I don't come back, do you not want to know I want? Or shall I just leave it to Koa to tell you what my wishes are?"
Her eyes flash yellow as her temper rises, which is probably bad news for the person who just interrupted them.
The cultist is chanting something that sounds Cthulic, something Piotr might recognise from an earlier journey.
"You will come to my master …" the man intones to the metal man as Bella leaps from Keiko to join Piotr in an full assault.
As Piotr reaches him though, he turns etheral and laughs. "Try harder, Heir to Limbo…."
Oh. He will. It's not the plain metal that Piotr brings around. He swings around the other arm. Covered in the eldrich armor, magic breaking to try to grab into the darkness. "We were having a serious conversation. You can shut up while we finish it." comes the growl from Piotr. He's not in the mood to play or banter tonight. And he's honestly hoping for one thing.
That his swing, his threat of using magic would keep the cultist off guard, and open him to Bella's attack. "Koa seems to know more about what you want these days anyway, Keiko."
At least he's not calling her Agent Kurita?
Piotrs armour has an effect on the Metal Man as much as it does on the dark mist the cultist has become. Piotr can feel the taint of Limbo as it runs through his body, it's enough to give him something to grab on the cultist ….
As Bella leaps and closes strong jaws around the mans throat.
There's still a pull at Piotr though, something burrowing into him. "You will make such a lovely tribute to our Master …" the cultist gurgles. Bella doesn't finish the job but looks sideways at Piotr - waiting for the instruction to finish the job.
"We will talk, Piotr, about why that may be…" Keiko says quietly.
"This is what I think of your tribute." Piotr's voice is flat, angry. And as the pull of the taint is there on his arm, the large man growls his displeasure.
"Bella. Kill." he manages.
Piotr's eyes go dark for a moment from the taint. Then he comments.
"Maybe you're not getting enough at home."
Bella's jaws close over the throat. Piotr can smell the coppery scent of blood as she does. The robes go limp though and Bella falls forward, snapping at the rags as they fall to the ground. She stands there, growling and confused.
Keiko growls and stalks over to the robes, giving Piotr another flat look. "And what are you implying?" she asks directly as she uses her staff to move the robes around, petting Bella behind the ear to try and calm her.
"You did well, Bella… Settle a bit before I send you back …"
"I'm not implying anything." Piotr responds. Reaching down to give Bella's side a gentle pat, the large Russian gives a small, "Good dog." in affection of the creature as he looks over the robes, and picks them up. "You can get WAND to track where he came from with these, maybe. And then we will have a spot to go to."
It's a thought at least.
"What do you want done with Eleyna then?"
"Are you not?" Keiko doesn't look at Piotr as she lets out a long slow breath. Bella nuzzles Piotrs hand and lets out a small canine chuff. She's not moving far from the big Russians side.
"I can yes. And I'd like for you to follow up on that. Will you do it?" She shakes her head at his question and looks up with a frown. "Not Elena … she is your daughter, you will care for her. Koa and Illyana too. Caden and Hank and Catseye too. What…. my spirits, Piotr. If I don't come back, I want them released, let them find their way to stay or leave as they please."
"You're rarely at home anymore. And I know you do not think it important." Piotr responds. "And we disagree on that. And that's all it is." He gives Bella another rub. "They will be released then. And they will find their way." He closes his eyes as he starts to return to his plain flesh form.
"But I have no want to let you go that easily, Keiko Kurita."
"I could say the same for you." Keiko points out. "It is rare that I don't get home at night to feed and bathe, Elena." It's something that Koa had insisted on when she joined WAND. That her home life, particularly her daughter, be a priority.
"I have no want to leave so easily, either."
Gathering the robes and stuffing them in her backpack, Keiko doesn't dismiss Bella immediately. Instead she lets the wolf roam and play a little, bumping her with her hip. "We have seen what we needed to here. The pillar has not been touched … and we know they are tracking you."
"Then we're both at fault and should work on it. If you want." Giving Bella one more pat, his hand brushes Keiko's back before he's starting for the door. "We will leave the door down. There is no reason to put it back. And you can report the corruption is still spreading." He sighs.
"I feel as though if I had that sword, I could somehow stop this, Keiko."
"Leave the door down …" Keiko turns to lead them out, letting Bella follow and frolic as she likes. She doesn't move away when he touches her, she never has since their return. "Why do you think the sword will fix this?"
It's a good question but there's something else as well. "You know Koa is my friend, Piotr. We are bonded, yes, but there is nothing between us but mutual respect and that …" beat "Maybe I'm not what you need when you come home."
"What makes you think I'm not what you need, Keiko? Actually. That's not the question." Piotr is still walking, but his tone is clear. "You are what I want when I come home. But I am not sure you feel the same. It was seven years in Limbo. You have your freedom back. And I should respect that. And I do. I was upset when you joined SHIELD. Not because of Koa. But because of their actions in the past. I did not want their politics to change you."
He never brought that up when she mentioned she was going to be an agent. "But I knew I could not stop you from doing what you want. I would have been no better than those that controlled you before. And I should say the same now. I do not control you, Keiko. If you are not… interested in us anymore, then I cannot stop you."
Keiko sighs and shakes her head. "I am here and I come home to you and Elena. If I did not want it, it would not happen. I told you Piotr, I am more free now than I have ever been." Even now, particularly now - she has the choice to do what she's about do.
"You didn't speak to me about your concerns. That was your decision. I can't change you, Piotr or make you do things you don't want to do. You stopped coming home for a while, spent more time at the Institute. It seemed to me that you gave up on us."
And she had always been there for Elena.
"Stop thinking so much and start talking. You might not like what I say, but at least you'll know instead of guessing. I'm part of SHIELD, WAND, now and I like it. I can take everything I learned growing up and put it to good use. I can make … ammends."
"I did not give up on you. Or us. Or Elena. There were things that needed to be tended to. I did not stop loving you. Which is why I did not stop you." Piotr responds finally, looking to Keiko and pauses in his step finally.
"I listen. I don't talk. You know that." He shakes his head. "I do not have much in this world. Illyana. Elena. You." he closes his eyes and lets out a breath.
"I know you have a lot to make up for. Or feel you do. I would like to continue to be a part of that. If you want me to."
"I have told you several times that is what I want." Keiko says quietly, stopping to face Piotr when he pauses. "That has not changed. I love Elena, Piotr. I love you. I just don't like when you assume things and do … this …"
"Are we good then?"
"We are good." Piotr considers for a moment and before Keiko can protest, he picks up the little Peruvian and plans to carry her home. "I have ice cream at home. Will share with you." '