ArchivedLogs:Gathering Dusk

Gathering Dusk
Dramatis Personae Peter, Ryan, Shane, Horus
In Absentia	2013-06-09 '
Location <NYC> 304 {Ryan} - Village Lofts - East Village
(Shane --> Peter): Peter are you awake. (Peter --> Shane): yes (Shane --> Peter): You home or at school? (Peter --> Shane): school (Peter --> Shane): staying overnight working on awesome costume stuff (Peter --> Shane): if i went to the city man id probably do something stupid (Shane --> Peter): Something stupid? (Peter --> Shane): why whats up (Shane --> Peter): Have you looked at news lately? (Peter --> Shane): yeah like go in the sewers or something looking for ivan (Shane --> Peter): I think my dad is going to find him. (Shane --> Peter): He rode away today on a giant dragonfly. (Peter --> Shane): what (Shane --> Peter): I don't know, his boyfriend came home all panicked because he'd been abducted. (Shane --> Peter): But he wasn't really abducted, he hitched a ride on a dung beetle. (Shane --> Peter): And flew onto a giant dragonfly. And flew off. (Shane --> Peter): Probably to go find Ivan I mean why else would you hitchhike on a dragonfly. (Peter --> Shane): your dad (Peter --> Shane): is awesome (Peter --> Shane): what the hell why am i not in on this (Shane --> Peter): Yeah he is basically the most badass. I guess there was a giant bug ATTACK but he was just like. (Shane --> Peter): NOPE denied. Flying with you. ZOOM. (Shane --> Peter): Anyway he's gone now. Probably finding Ivan I'd be surprised if Ivan wasn't back by morning. (Peter --> Shane): thats awesome but now im a little worried i mean (Peter --> Shane): your dad is p badass and all but i mean (Peter --> Shane): giant bugs (Shane --> Peter): GIANT bugs, yeah. He loves dragonflies, though. I'm sure it'll be okay. They're basically his favourite things. (Peter --> Shane): yeah but i mean (Peter --> Shane): giant robots are my favorite things (Peter --> Shane): dont mean one of em wont squish me (Peter --> Shane): but yeah your dad could probably just (Peter --> Shane): turn himself into a giant bug and be like bzz bzz motherf-ers (Shane --> Peter): I don't know if that would fool them, bugs have pheromones and shit. His illusions are just sight-things. (Peter --> Shane): oh right and they dont even see in the same spectrum (Peter --> Shane): man i dunno tho these bugs are the size of cadillacs i think the standard rules of science have officially gone out the window (Peter --> Shane): im gonna text rasa and tell hir ze was really chomping over ivan (Shane --> Peter): Rasa's missing. (Shane --> Peter): Pa will probably get hir too. Ivan might have been starting a hive or some shit. (Peter --> Shane): what (Peter --> Shane): holycarp what the hell has anyone else disappeared (Shane --> Peter): Rasa and Kris and Shelby were going out Friday night. Never came back. I kind of hope it was bugs at this point because if there are MORE kidnappers I'm going to stab someone. (Peter --> Shane): dude this is what okay so thats why this place is on lockdown just (Peter --> Shane): wtf (Peter --> Shane): dude dude dude (Peter --> Shane): you and me and sebastian are like the only ones who havent disappeared (Shane --> Peter): Well, I mean, it's not like we didn't have our turn. (Peter --> Shane): yeah i guess its their turn im just thinking like (Shane --> Peter): Which is actually why I was texting you to begin with. (Peter --> Shane): what you thought i might have disappeared (Peter --> Shane): cuz dont worry dude im staying put right here at the school (Peter --> Shane): um (Peter --> Shane): unless somebody needs me to save them i guess (Shane --> Peter): No. It's not that I thought you might have disappeared, it's more about the last time that we disappeared. (Peter --> Shane): what about it you arent afraid im gonna run off and do something dumb are you (Peter --> Shane): cuz dont worry about that im kinda gonna take a vacation from dumb for the summer (Shane --> Peter): Do you remember the big burly cop. Blond. Kind of like a wall of muscle. Ridiculous New York accent. (Peter --> Shane): man are you kidding all cops look the same to me (Peter --> Shane): wait is that racist (Shane --> Peter): I don't think cop is a race. (Peter --> Shane): ok..... copist? (Shane --> Peter): Maybe. I don't care I fucking hate the assholes. (Peter --> Shane): well shane if there is such a thing as earning the right to hate copdudes (Peter --> Shane): then i think you have won that contest gold medal here you are (Peter --> Shane): why are you asking me about one of them though (Shane --> Peter): Right well this particular douchebag cop was the one who brought us in. Nearly beat Bastian to death doing it too. (Shane --> Peter): Cuz he's all over the news tonight, he's dead. (Peter --> Shane): what (Peter --> Shane): shane you didnt like (Peter --> Shane): please tell me you didnt (Shane --> Peter): Mutant killed him. I think it was Nox. Anole's -- kind of mom? I don't know. It says a shadow monster killed him. (Peter --> Shane): oh man (Shane --> Peter): No I didn't! But the city's going crazy. (Peter --> Shane): oh crap dude (Peter --> Shane): looking this up now on laptop (Shane --> Peter): There's cops everywhere um. They beat one of Hive's roommates and Bastian was out and he's not coming home. Or answering his phone. I'm sure he's fine just. (Shane --> Peter): It's fucking nuts and I think you should. Be really, really, really careful if you come into the city at all. (Peter --> Shane): oh dammit dude (Peter --> Shane): get to xaviers (Shane --> Peter): I can't my dad isn't home!! I have to watch my little brother. (Peter --> Shane): okay but dude your dads not there and the city is going nuts and youre blue (Peter --> Shane): ill take to aloke and maybe get you teleported when your dad gets back dude dont even go on mass transit (Shane --> Peter): I don't want to not be home if Bastian comes home maybe he just lost his phone I don't know. (Peter --> Shane): goddammit we have to find him just (Peter --> Shane): im coming to you (Shane --> Peter): No you can't come in the city right now! It's terrible here don't. (Shane --> Peter): It's really dangerous. (Peter --> Shane): i just (Peter --> Shane): you shouldnt be there alone (Peter --> Shane): and i want to see you (Peter --> Shane): dammit (Shane --> Peter): I'm going next door to Ryan's place once Spence is asleep I just. Wanted to make sure you weren't in the city it's. (Shane --> Peter): Not good here (Shane --> Peter): Peter I think people are going to die (Shane --> Peter): Um more people. /Us/ people not that douchebag cop. (Shane --> Peter): ...though I'm not even glad about him. Is that weird? I feel like I should be glad. (Peter --> Shane): its not weird (Peter --> Shane): i dont know i dont even care about any of them anymore (Peter --> Shane): but now somebody killed one and now everyones all angry and goddammit stay safe ok (Peter --> Shane): i swear to god if you get hurt or disappear im coming to the city so (Peter --> Shane): dont (Shane --> Peter): I don't plan to. (Peter --> Shane): ok (Peter --> Shane): im sorry just freaking out a little (Shane --> Peter): Me, too. (Peter --> Shane): everything will be fine im gonna talk to staff and see if they cant track down bastians phone and bring him back (Shane --> Peter): He's probably just busy getting harassed by cops. (Peter --> Shane): if so they can just (Peter --> Shane): teleport him away (Peter --> Shane): shane ill see you both back here soon (Peter --> Shane): love you (Shane --> Peter): Yeah. Soon. (Shane --> Peter): I love you. Similar in layout to many apartments in this building, the front door opens into a narrow entryway with a small coat closet. The living room beyond is wide and receives plenty of light from its high windows; floored in dark hardwood, it is separated from the adjoining kitchen by a half-wall counter, stools perched on the living room side and the sink and counterspace on the kitchen side. On the other side from the kitchen stands doors branching off to a pair of bedrooms and one bathroom; to the left of the entryway, a short hall wraps around past the kitchen to the second pair of bedrooms, a second bathroom at the far end of the hall. The apartment here stands often in a state of disarray, musical equipment or books or scattered notes spread among the pair of couches or coffeetable. The kitchen, at least, is usually kept neatly organized in contrast to the living room's clutter. At odd intervals from the walls, sturdy wooden poles branch out, somewhat akin to very large bird perches. THUMP THUMP THUMP, there is a thumping of fist on Ryan's apartment door. Mostly a courtesy, because Shane is unlocking the door himself a moment later and COMING IN. He's dressed -- much like he often is, dapper-neat in vest and bowtie, dress shirt and slacks. He is quiet -- his gills are flaring rapidly, flutterflutterflutter and with them working it means his lungs are /not/. Hard to speak with no air passing through him. So: quiet. But there's a restless agitation to him all the same. He beelines straight for Ryan's television -- turning it on if it is off, COMMANDEERING it if it's in use. He's flipping. To /news/. BORING. Horus flutters his wings it rapid-quick flaps when Shane barges into the apartment, steers himself for the large flat screen mounted on the wall and CHANGES. With a squawk, he protests (he was watching SOAP OPERAS). Ryan appears from the back, exiting from the bathroom with hair still mild-damp. He wears a black tank-top with some neon script screen painted over it in some obscure graffiti style, light grey jeans, and flip-flops. "Yo. Shane, what's --" He extends himself, empathic /feelers/ carrying on the sound of his voice to ascertain mood, better informing the /emotion/ behind fluttering gills. "Wrong?" Shane just shakes his head, settling on local news. His gills still flutter; after a pause he manages to quiet them long enough to draw in a ragged gasp of breath. The news report in question has a picture of an NYPD officer, burly, blonde, smiling in his uniform. MUTANT KILLS NYPD SERGEANT scrolls under the picture. Along with other tickertape of commentary. Shadow-mutant suspected in NYPD officer death-Suspect is at large and extremely dangerous-Mayor vows criminal will be brought to justice. "My dad's still gone," Shane manages, fluttery-hitchy between flares of his gills. His mood is -- agitated. Highly agitated. Scared-worried-upset. Possibly on the verge of panicking. Possibly already panicking in a quiet sort of way. Horus provides yet another /squawk/, this time in agitated alarm as he hops from wooden pole to wooden pole, perching closer to the television, then flapping down towards Shane. To preen, the ruffled feathers of his neck laid over the top of his head in a soothing gesture. Ryan clears his throat, fetching a glass from the dish rack next to the sink and filling it with water from a pitcher on the counter. He offers this first to Shane. "/Drink/." Shoving the glass towards him, his eyes flick to the television, causing his brows to knit together as the headlines flash across the screen. "Jax is--still?" His voice intones worry, and /yet/, from the sounds of the speakers broadcasting the television, to the words coming from his mouth, a calm washes across the room. Dulling. Shane presses his spiky head up against Horus, closing his eyes as his forehead sinks in against feathers. He reaches one hand to take the water, taking a large gulp first but then pouring a little of the rest into one cupped palm to splash it against his gills. "The school says he's fine. Went with the -- /giant bugs/ -- on purpose. To talk. But --" The fluttering of his gills slows under that empathic touch, his words coming smoother. He takes another sip of water, still rested up against Horus, looking to the TV. "Horus," he says this pretty seriously, "-- don't go outside right now." His eyes shift back to the television. The reporter is on the fringes of Central Park, which is oddly emptied of any people except a swarm of police. Talking about the attack. Ryan frowns, arms crossed as he stares at the procession on the screen, alternating between a livefeed of Central Park to the news anchor back at the station headquarters. After a brief re-cap, he mutes the television with his powers, walking around to insert himself between the visuals behind him and Shane and Horus in front of him. Horus chirps at Shane, large beak pecking Shane not once, but twice, as if to say, 'that goes for you too, kiddo.' Ryan continues to wear his grimace, eclipsing his face in a distinct concern belied by the static level of tranquility he maintains when he speaks. "I am /so/ not convinced that school is the safest place for -- mutants these days. How long has he been gone now? And do we know /where/ he was before he disappeared with the bugs?" "Just since the afternoon." Shane's cheek rubs up against Horus's beak. "He was out with Micah I -- I think he's /fine/ I just. Wish he was home right now." Shane lifts his cheek, gesturing past Ryan to the television. "Guys, the city's going fucking nuts." He takes another sip of water. "-- Ian's missing," he says to the others. "Dusk came home a bloody mess. Bastian's not home yet. There's cops everywhere and I think they might want us all dead." "Where was he though?" Ryan repeats, straining to keep the ire from his voice (the news volume likely still going through /his/ ears). He briefly casts a look across his shoulder, before leaning in over Shane to /pry/ the remote from wherever it rests and manually shut it off. Horus looms behind the sharkboy still, fretting over him by pulling at the corners of his bowtie with the tip of his beak, fanning his wings out behind him - generally being protective and /assertive/ within the apatment. "Shit. Well /you/ definitely need to stay inside. Do you know where Hive is?" Even as he continues to ask questions, he fishes through his pocket for his cellphone, thumbs flipping through his number directory. "I don't know! I'm sorry. Um. Downtown. Midtown." Shane scrubs his fingers through his spiky hair. He leans back into the fan of Horus's wings, shoulder tucking up against the other teenager's chest. "That cop," he says, nodding towards the blank television. "The one who died." He swallows. The agitation from him is growing palpable again, even with the mitigating empathic influence. "Upstairs. Flicker and Dusk are home, too." Ryan pinches the bridge of his nose, the applied pressure helping him focus, level his tone. "No, it's not your fault. Did you already call and text Bastian and tell him to get his as home?" He continues to stare at the glowing glass of his phone, texting one-handed while Horus nuzzles against Shane's sandpapery roughness. "What about that cop?" His head lifts when a tension spikes against his softening empathic blanket that envelops the room. Gentle, insistent, he sends a creeping /push/ of soothing comfort towards them, lapping over them as a warm, ocean wave. "Maybe we should all camp out together. Chill with Hive and them while I," his gaze turns to the windowsill, "go for a drive." Shane closes his eyes, turning his head to press back against Horus. His arm hooks upward, underneath Horus's wing and around his back. "Where are you going to go?" His words come a little muffled against Horus's feathers. His gills calm again. Softer still: "He's the one who took us. Caught us. Tased me. Beat Sebastian almost to death. Took us -- to -- the fight -- I think he might have been running it." Horus leans forward, casting his wings down over Shane, erecting a wall of soft feathers around him, wrapped in a loose embrace. Ryan delays a response, striding forward to lean past the tips of Horus's wings to lay a hand on Shane's shoulder. Grip firm, expression stern, he shakes his head, "He's dead now. Just how we showed those Prometheus fuckers during the last raid. Justice gets /served/ Shane. Now, I think you and Horus should head upstairs to stay with Hive and Flicker and them. Maybe drag Clarice with you. /I/ am going for a drive. In search of bugs." "It's not justice," Shane says this very quietly, lifting his hand to rest over Ryan's. "I don't know what it is. Revenge." His hand squeezes tighter. "It doesn't change anything that happened to us and it's going to make things a whole fuck ton worse." He lets go of Ryan's hand, though only to snake his arm forward and drag the bigger man into a tight hug. "... you could try calling him," he suggests. But then bops Horus lightly on the head. "Come on," he says, and the cheer in his voice is light although empathic senses could easily detect the deep roil of turbulent emotions beneath, "s'go see if Hive's got any beer." "It's...something." Anarchy, maybe: a cause Ryan finds himself endorsing. "But it's not something you should worry about. Let's take it one step at a time. Focus on getting everyone together. It's a lot harder to persecute a ton of mutants when they are all together," he says, and, whether he believes it or not -- optimism surges forth, bolstering the spirits of those it touches. Ryan 'oofs,' falling over Shane to re-position his arms around him, squeezing back with Horus completing the last, outer layer to the hug-fest that ensues. "Even if Jax is fine when I call, there's no guarantee. I'm finding him and driving him straight back /here/. With his family." Disentangling himself, he stands, offering a hand to pull Shane upright. "Y'maybe wanna take Augustus with you? He does a pretty good job of lightening the mood in my stead. Relax, Shane. I'll do my best to help keep us all safe." And hey! Augustus is a mutant too. Even potcacti need safeguarding. "Ryan don't --" Shane relaxes, into the hug, the smile that touches his lips he can't help with the surge of optimism. "Please don't -- "A moment later he BURROWS his face against Ryan's side, shaking his head. "I don't want to feel good right now." His eyes scrunch up, and he amends: "... I don't know what I want to feel right now. But I want to feel it." He takes the offered hand when Ryan pulls away. His grin is decidedly crooked. "I don't know if Hive wants to think about Jim right now. Maybe I'll just take some of Augustus's leaves." He stretches up onto his toes to peck Ryan! lightly on the cheek. And then bop his forehead against Horus's chest, and slip away to SEIZE some contraband. Or just a leaf from potcactus. Per his request, a fog lifts; whatever empathic film he stretched over them, Ryan pulls back, relenting, as undiluted or channeled emotion runs its natural course. "Alright. But, seriously. Don't go outside. I'll kick your ass if somebody else doesn't. And I'll text you once I squash a few of those six-legged monsters. Holy shit what the hell do they put in the water down in Jersey." His last words are just that: a joke. Grabbing his keys from a bowl on the counter, patting down his pants to ensure he has his wallet, he gestures towards Shane and Horus - they can walk out together.