Vincent Xavier, Philip Klein
Vincent stood awaiting Ryan’s answer however before Ryan replied his mind spoke leagues before his mouth did. Vincent had not intended to read Ryan’s mind but it was as if Ryan’s extreme emotions yelled to be heard without Ryan’s approval or knowledge.
Instead of feeling relieved, Ryan stiffened. Vincent hadn't sounded caring to Ryan, he had sounded condescending and uninterested. Ryan felt such anger with Vincent. His turbulent thoughts raced back to the situation in the kitchen. Where was this concern when Terra and Canaan walked through the door?! Ryan thought furiously. His mind was screaming at him and at Vincent. Ryan felt so betrayed. Vincent didn't want to be on Ryan's side when everyone else was around, but now, now that it was convenient, after someone else had probably pestered him, now Vincent was reaching out to him? Ryan felt disgusted, not only with Vincent, but with himself. Vincent was his brother. Vincent loved him. He had since he'd met Ryan nearly eleven years ago when Ryan had first moved into the Mansion when Ryan was six years old. The two had grown up together. Why would Ryan ever feel like he couldn't trust Vincent? What was some piddly little argument between brothers such as they? Why couldn't Ryan forgive him? It's not like it really mattered to Vincent anyway. The last time Ryan had brought these worries to him, Vincent had shrugged them off. The last time they spoke privately, though the larger concern was Ryan's ability to transform, they'd gotten completely sidetracked by the idea of Ryan possessing a human form. Though Ryan was grateful for that, it hadn't been what he'd wanted to discuss in the first place. Even more frustrating, they had been interrupted by Ace's Shadows before Ryan had a chance to talk to Vincent about his more pressing concerns, namely, the Leviathan.
Vincent was suddenly hit with a rush of emotions coming from Ryan. He felt a sudden pang in his heart. ‘Whoa… what’s all of this rage and anger?’ Vincent thought to himself. However, before Vincent could address the sudden rush of emotion that shot through him like a bullet through the heart, Ryan would soon give his reply.
Ryan sighed, looking up into his brother's eyes, his golden pupils glinting in the low light. Did Vincent even want to know? If so, why should Ryan tell him? "I'm fine Vince." Ryan lied effortlessly, a toothy grin on his face. "I was just a bit... surprised. I mean, come on, the last time I saw Terra we tried to kill each other. You trying to tell me Logan and Sabertooth, who hate each other, don't have minor scuffles from time to time?" Ryan's logic was sound, his facial expression was completely calm, even relaxed. So, where was this coming from? This calm, collected, effortless lying? Ryan never lied, let alone to Vincent, and yet, he couldn't stop. "I'm fine now. Terra lives here now. Just like me, this is his home. Who am I to refute that? Besides, just because we've fought in the past doesn't mean we have to be enemies forever. That's not conducive to anything productive at all. I just didn't know he'd come here on invitation. You should tell me stuff like that!" Ryan joked. Smiling, he even managed to laugh lightheartedly. Playfully, he punched Vincent on the shoulder. "I appreciate your concern Vince, really, my brother, I do. That being said, I'm fine. See?" Ryan finished his question with a smile, he even did a little twirl so as to facilitate a quick once over on Vincent's part. That smile of his, was his famous smile, toothy and white. It was a smile that refuted all argumentation. It was a smile that closed the subject, if only for a little while.
Vincent’s gentle smile increasingly became sorrowful. Vincent couldn’t believe that Ryan felt so hurt and upset with him. Ryan was now lying something that was quite foreign to him. Ryan no longer trusted Vincent, which hurt Vincent more than he could express. Ryan was battling with something big and Vincent was being barred from helping him. It seems that Vincent completely misconstrued Vincent’s concerns when they had previously talked during the shadow crisis. Vince tried very hard to keep from looking as destroyed emotionally as he felt.
Ryan turned on his heel and walked back to the kitchen, waving to Vincent as he left. "Thanks Vince," Ryan said jovially as he left. "I'm just fine. I promise."
Vincent watched Ryan depart and he simply stared in silence, trying to wrap his head around all that was going on with Ryan. Philip left the Kitchen in search of Vincent and he eventually found him standing alone in the hallway. Philip had passed Ryan along the way and simply gave Ryan a jovial smile and a casual wave as he passed him. Philip had tried not to make too much of what had happened with Ryan in the kitchen. He wasn’t a fan of being overbearingly worried. He knew things had to run their course, but he also desired for Ryan to know that he was there for him in whatever capacity he needed.
Vincent seemed highly saddened. Philip approached him and placed his hand on Vincent’s arm. “Hey Vince, what’s the matter? You look like you’ve lost a child or something.” Philip said jokingly. Humor was his way of lightening a dark mood.
Vincent looked up with weepy eyes. “Ryan… he’s so hurt and angry right now. I don’t know how to help him. It hurts so much to see him that way. I was concerned when he was so enraged in the kitchen, it wasn’t like him to be so vicious, so I asked if he was alright. However I got a huge hunk of his mind right before he responded… and it was so angry, all the thoughts he had of me. He doesn’t trust me, or much of anyone else right now. He’s struggling with something he calls the Leviathan yet he wouldn’t tell me about it.” Vincent said with a depressed voice.
Philip pulled Vincent close and replied ”He still loves and needs his big brother. Maybe there was a lot more happening in the kitchen than we realized.” Vincent shed a few tears quietly and just as quickly attempted to pull himself together. He stepped back from Philip.
“Thanks Philip. I needed to hear that. You’re my hero you know.” Vincent replied as he wiped away the tears that had previously fallen. A smile began to return to Vincent’s face.
“Ryan simply needs time to remember the love that never left him. He will in the right timing. He might push us away now but it doesn’t mean we leave him. We simply give a little space and an open doorway to the home he has in our hearts. So this Leviathan… is it like the Phoenix?” Philip asked.
Vince pondered for a moment. “No I don’t think it’s quite the same. Jean’s power took on an alternate persona thus creating the Phoenix. This is different. I think this is more physiological in nature, but Ryan’s mind seems to be personifying some physical phenomenon. I won’t know for sure until I can speak with Ryan regarding what’s going on.”
Philip replied with a smile. ”Ryan is strong and a good kid. He’ll pull through this. We’re all here to help him. No worries Vince. Come on let’s go check on my father in law. He’s been missing all morning.” Philip gave a silly grin. It was true, the professor had been missing all that morning which was unusual.
“Yet another very good point.” Vincent replied. “He’s probably locked himself away with Cerebro again.” Vincent replied. He was feeling a little better but Ryan still worried him.
Frenzy and Stinger
You certainly can love! I's great to see a fellow mutants knocking about this place! Say, don't suppose either of you could point me in the direction of Charles Xavier's institution for Higher Learning? I was hoping I could have a chat with the fella.", Robert replied cheerfully .
Frenzy and Stinger looked at one another in surprise. Frenzy turned to the man and replied, “You’re in luck sir. We happen to reside there at the moment.” She turned her head to look at Stinger briefly, “In fact, we’re going home right now.” This was the perfect chance for her to put a stop to Stinger’s shopping spree. Turning her head back to the man she smiled pleasantly. “If you don’t mind coming with us, we can show you the way. I’m Joanna Cargill, by the way. This is Wendy Sherman. I go by the codename Frenzy.”
Wendy cut in adding, “I go by the name Stinger, due to my electrifying skill set. So what might your name be mister tourist?” She asked. Wendy was very curious about this guy’s powers. After obtaining the man’s name Wendy asked, “So what is it that you do, power wise that is?”
Joanna hailed a cab and the three were off to the X-mansion. They arrived and entered the front door. Joanna said to Robert. “If you don’t mind with Stinger while I find the professor, it shouldn’t take long.” Joanna then turned to Stinger, “Please behave Wendy.” She said knowing how Stinger had the tendency to cause trouble.
“What am I gonna do?! I mean really Jo…!” Wendy replied as she folded her arms and rolled her eyes. After Joanna headed down the hallway, Wendy turned to Robert and spoke with an upbeat tone. “So, let’s go meet the X-men shall we? They’re a really tacky bunch but interesting nonetheless.” She liked to poke fun at the X-men.
They entered the kitchen where most people were gathered. David looked up and immediately poked fun at Wendy. “Well if it isn’t Static Cling. I see you’ve picked up a sugar daddy.”
Wendy immediately frowned in sheer annoyance of David. “Shouldn’t you be off getting plowed by Sabertooth or chasing after girls leagues younger than yourself?” She rebutted with a rather satisfied smile on her face.
David gave a sarcastic smile and looked over apologetically to Memory. Sabertooth, however, interjected. “Now now Wendy. Let’s not be a jealous and bitter old biddy. Besides I’ve heard more than my share of bickering today.”
Stinger was about to respond when Scott stepped forward toward Robert. “He there. Sorry about those two. I’m Scott Summers of the X-men. What brings you here.” Scott introduced himself in a friendly manner.
Niles Cranston
Keith chuckled into a fit of laughter as he stood up and hooted for his good luck. He turned around grinning the way a kid grins before playing a new video game. "Sounds fun. I don't mind joining you on this escapade if you like. No in fact I'd be kind of bummed out if you didn't. When it comes to destroying things like buildings and such, I'm sort of a demolition guru. Though I can't say people won’t get hurt. Hehehe. So what's the plan boss? Are we just going to walk into the place and let loose? Or are we going to fall from the sky like wrecking balls?"
Niles looked over at Keith and smiled lightheartedly. He was inspired by Keith’s energy. “Boss huh? Okay then, I guess there’s no stopping you from helping me. I do like the element of surprise. I’m sure they have guns or something to stop us with. But I’ve got my defenses. Sounds like you’ve got your offense covered. So you know, I can create explosive diamonds and control them at will. It seems that between you and me we’ve got a lot of firepower so we should be good. Let’s fall from the sky like wrecking balls. I like the sound of that.”
Niles created a platform of crystal and the two stood on top of it. He levitated the platform high into the sky above the building. Looking down at the roof of the building Niles spoke. “I can blast an opening for us an lower us down, or do you have another plan?”
Oliver Cassidy and Erika
Erika face twisted into anger, but then smoothed just as quick. A gun firing was all the push she needed. Erika drew in breath and let her power lace her voice with poison, the words corrupting the minds of those around her into doing her bidding.
"Please," she called looking to the side, her voice distorting into something sinister, but soothing, "won't anyone help us? Won't you save us?" Four terrified people around her suddenly stiffened and lifted their head to the ceiling as if given an electric shock, then ran forwards in front of the two of them shouting to the guards to not hurt those "innocent people".
Just as a gun was fired, an overweight and balding man in a suit ran in front of Erika, then dropped. Blood seeped from the bullet hole in his chest. She looked down at his body, hands shaking. This was the first time her power had ever been used to kill someone. She pulled her eyes away reluctantly to the office workers making a wall between the two mutants and the guards aiming their way.
Oliver was impressed with Erika’s power. However he did not foresee the particular mechanics of it limiting its effects. When the hypnotized man took the bullet and died it did indeed shock Oliver. He felt somewhat sorry for the guy but he’d rather it be that man than himself.
"Have any kind of plan?" She asked Oliver over the calling of the people she had manipulated. "This was your fault after all," she finished with obvious venom.
“Don’t you worry Ms. Seems we’re lucky to have run into each other. I can allow you to control this whole room. Give me a second.” Oliver said with a wink. Oliver looked up to the ceiling and concentrated. Thick vines broke through the ceiling and formed a sort of patrician between them and the security men. The vines quickly sprouted flowers of a strange sort. They opened and the air filled with spores. These spores were littered with pheromones. “Try your power now. Anyone weak willed and nearby should be all yours to control. Hell, we’d probably be able to simply walk out of here.” Oliver said with a confident smile. “I’m Oliver Cassidy. Thanks for helping me. I really didn’t mean for any of this to happen but I don’t handle being tricked very well.”
The building suffered massively from the plants exponential growth. More of the spore emanating flowers grew outside the building and more citizens were inhaling the pheromone spores. They began to head into the HMR building as Erika called to them.
Kyle Jean-Claude
Kyle looked around and noticed that Jonathan had suddenly left the kitchen. He was curious as to what had come up. He stepped toward the door to find Jonathan however Hideki grabbed Kyle’s arm and spun him around to face him. “I can’t believe you Kyle! Both Colossus and Jonathan?! You’re a total slut you know.” Hideki fussed.
Kyle rolled his eyes at the fussy Japanese boy. “I am no slut. I am simply flirting with Jonathan. Besides Piotr and I are in an open relationship. I haven’t cheated on anyone nor am I going to. You’re just annoyed because you’ve bot not shot with Logan. Too bad you’re not a cute Japanese girl instead of a cute Japanese boy.” Kyle taunted his friend.
“Hey! I’ll show you cute!!” Hideki huffed and created a bright flash of light that stunned Kyle’s vision.
Kyle flinched and rubbed his eyes wildly. ”AAHH! I HATE when you do that!! Ah…”
Hideki huffed, “Serves you right.” He noticed Ryan had returned. Hideki was very concerned about his friend. He walked away from Kyle who was still struggling to see, and approached Ryan. “Hey Ryan, are you okay? I was a bit worried about you earlier. If you ever want to talk about anything I’m here for you. I’m not all knowing like Professor X but I think a friend with a good listening ear can help just as much. If the two new guys to the mansion are trouble, I’ll take your word for it and be watchful. Honestly I didn’t know Cain had invited them here either.”
Piotr Rasputin
Piotr watched all that happened in the kitchen. He liked how eventful the X-mansion was. There was so much life there. However he did miss Russia, his original home. He looked over to Cara who was also from Russia, giving a smile he decided to chat with her a bit. He walked over to her and smiled “Morning Conrad Black.” He said with a chuckle. He knew she would appreciate the joke. Being around her made him feel slightly closer to home. “You’re very noble for speaking your heart without reservation. I admire that about you Cara.” He said in a more thought filled and pondering tone.