Water falls and mud ponds

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Delilah nodded as Alison explained what Morgan and Karen were going through. It was understandable that having had such BIG lives in the "real world", their new lives would feel empty. But what to do about it?

"Clearly, they need something to do, something meaningful. I know Hecate spoke of us helping those we choose to, but in the state of mind Morgan is in right now, I don't think she will want to. Do we try to convince her that there is someone out there worth saving? And Karen? Maybe she could help out on Themysciria - they are quite advanced medically I believe. But it wouldn't be like her life before. I just don't know. Maybe the first step is patching things up between them and Haleigh?"
 
:: The bright sunny day that had greeted the six that morning was slightly less bright. The blue skys were painted with white clouds that helped hide the shining sun. Sitting in the sand a few yards from the surf, Ava snuggled the fabric of her white cashmere shirt close to her body. With her bare legs bent at the knee and propped in front of her, she rested one of her elbows on her knee, and in turn, rested her chin on her arm. Looking out into the ocean, the strong oceanic winds blew Ava's long hair behind her back; the wind kissing her face with it's cool touch. She had just returned from dropping James off. He was disoriented and confused...obviously from Nicolas' telepathic brainwash. Ava gave him one last kiss, but this time, her lips were laced with a less potent form of her poison she would normally use, enough to knock him out cold before he realized what was happening. Closing her eyes, she realized she had grown more as a person than she really wanted to....Solitude was a way of life to the goddess for quite a long time. After being banished from Mount Olympus, she traveled around the world alone and never once felt the need to have someone by her side. She enjoyed the freedom of knowing she didn't have to meet up to anyone's expectations. That she could be with a man for one night and never feel an emotional attachment to him when she left. It wasn't until she met up with Darkchilde that all of that had changed. She had a family; a group of people she would have died for. After loosing them, she never would of thought she could find the same love she felt for her old team in the six. It was a definite growth...but one that had definite consequences. She didn't want to leave James...she didn't want him to forget her. This 'growth' had softened her black heart, and it currently sucked. ::

:: Ava was in deep thought for quite some time. It wasn't until she felt something nuzzle her shoulder that she finally opened her eyes, seeing Onyx standing next to her. Smiling, Onyx was in heaven on Aerie. She had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, hunt, find 'friends'. But she always seemed to come back at night....it didn't surprise Ava considering Onyx was a huge bed hog. Ava was about to pet Onyx when suddenly a tiger cub came barreling around from behind, pouncing in the air, and ultimately falling on his face. Chuckling as the cub sneezed away some of the sand sitting on it's nose, she reached over and began to rub it's ear. ::

"You're just a little trouble maker, aren't you Timber?"

:: When Ava had first settled on this part of the island to live on, she was exploring the jungle with Onyx when she came across Timber, mewing under a a bunch of fallen tree trunks [hence the name] hungry and scared. It was only natural for Ava to care for him. Onyx grew extremely attached to the little cub, as did Timber to Onyx. He would follow her everywhere...even hog up some of Ava's bed. It seemed she unexpectedly gain another feline companion. ::

"You're getting so big...[Timber playfully bites Ava's foot] Ow...and I see your teeth are getting big as well. That's alright, the better to hunt with, right? Come here.."

:: Picking him up, Ava smiled, cuddling him in her arms. Onyx plopped down next to them both, yawning like the lazy cat that she was. Playing with Timber, they had definitely come at the right moment to cheer the goddess up. ::
 
The guys listened as Haleigh simply unburdened herself a bit, smiling grimly as she complained of having no man to unwind with. Dismissing the issue, she got up and moved inside. Mike and Nicolas followed Haleigh down to the new Danger Room with the case in hand. It was much more rustic-looking than the previous one, but definitely all that was needed. She explained its workings and they took a moment to acclimate themselves.

Haleigh mentioned the suit and Mike turned to retrieve it while Nicolas gave a heads up as to its current state of augmentation.

Hales, it currently has been augmented to withstand small arms fire and reduce impact while allowing full movement. It is also resistant to heat and chemicals, coming with an activatable micro-rebreather in cases of gas. The goggles have a heads-up display in the non-dominant eye, the left, and are connected to the sensors he had in the suit as well as to what systems it does have. Right now it is simply an amalgam of what was already available out there cobbled together into the suit itself, rather than all the hand-held devices Alycia had. I will discuss the additions I think you can help with later, but it primarily has to do with strength augmentation and a bit of stealth from miniaturizing the amazing things you have here to allow him to have a chameleon effect. Like Predator, you know?

By this time Mike was dressed (NOTE:ignore the eye glow in the pic) and ready to go. He approached Haleigh and bowed in respect, then addressed her.

How shall we proceed?
 
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Aerie- Delilah's place

:: As Delilah wondered what to do about Morgan, Alison seemed a bit lost in thought, in fact, she'd just "seen" something in regards to Morgan and Haleigh::

Oh...I wouldnt be too hasty in trying to faciliate anything between Morgan and Haleigh. Time and circumstance have a way of bringing people face to face when they least expect it.

:: she said with an almost knowing glint in her cobalt blue eyes.::

Have YOU visited Morgan or Karen lately?

:: already knowing that Delilah had not, she waited to see what the woman would say.::

That might be a step in the right direction. Meanwhile, I'm going to drop by Haleigh's.

:: with a little surprise up her "sleeve" for the sparring mutants :D ::

:: Alison also wanted to check on Ava before leaving Aerie, knowing the goddess had made a difficult but wise descision.::
 
It was true, Delilah had not visited Morgan and Karen recently. Delilah looked almost sheepish as she replied.

"Morgan and Karen? Uh - no, no I haven't been to see them. I- I doubt they'd want to see ME."

Truth was, Delilah wasn't ready to be Karen or Morgan's punching bag again. She was trying to get her life back together, and constantly being told how it's all your fault that everyone else had a miserable life now did not help with that. It had frankly been what she had expected when she opened the door and saw Alison standing on her front doorstep.
 
Aerie- from Delilah's to Haleigh's

:: standing up::

no one can be a saint forever, Delilah. Morgan and Karen's tyrade against you wasnt born out of malice. it was born out of hurt.

it's not as if they were out to destroy you. Not like Haleigh was with Morgan prior to the Inferno. Nicolas reminded us all that we've ALL made mistakes...and we've all come under the glare of disapproval.

you know you made a bad choice and you received the fall out from it we've all been where you are now and each of us will go there again as time passes. but did we not begin the process of recovery on our first day of arrival on aerie. Morgan, Karen and even myself expressed how we felt ...

it was HALEIGH who added the needless dischord, attacking Alycia and Karen despite knowing the reaction that would come from Morgan. she even earned the anger and disapproval of Hecate and Athena.

You can't hide here forever. If you don't go to them, they will eventually make their way here.

::looking at Delilah for a moment.::

now, i have to go. Thank you for having me here...your place is lovely. it definately suits you. i'll be in touch.

:: with that, Alison BLINKS out....zoom across the expanse of Aerie to Haleigh's residence, to find Haleigh, Nicolas and Mike in a training area. a pair of floating cobalt blue eyes open hidden behind the large leaves of a tall potted plant. she watches silently.::

hmph. i think its time that i have a little fun but i'll wait until just the right moment.
 
Delilah thought about what Alison said, and she thought about her own admission that she had assumed Alison was there to yell at her. Maybe she would be similarly suprised by Morgan and Karen. Maybe she was wrong about how they still felt towards her. Maybe it was time.

She walked to the Rotunda, enjoying a cool ocean breeze and the warm sun as she went. She had nearly convinced herself she was just out for leisurely walk when she arrived there, and the butterflies returned. She took a deep breath and thought here goes nothing as she knocked on the door.

"Morgan? Karen? It's me, Delilah."
 
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Haleigh nodded as Nicolas explained Mike's suit, in a nutshell. It seemed to be well conceived.... but Haleigh knew that there was a big difference in a prototype and a battle tested suit.

"Well, I did make a few notes, preliminary concepts for the mechanics.... in the past, I've not been able to QUITE achieve 'invisibility'.... just, like you said, a 'chameleon' effect..... whereby the suit takes on the color and appears to have the same texture as a surrounding surface..... but I would LOVE to tinker around and completely master that kind of hard light manipulation."

She commented, as Mike returned in full battle dress... and the combat room sensors picked up a fourth entity in the room, instantly identified as none other than Alison. Haleigh, who was mentally linked with the combat bay computer mainframe, became cognizant of her presence but made no indication of awareness. Alison was probably just dropping in to see what was going on, as clearly she didn't want to be seen. No doubt the seer knew that Haleigh was going to spend the morning alone with two men.... that was an appetizing draw for a voyeur.... ;)

Mike drew near to Haleigh and bowed.... Haleigh smirked and swiftly KNEED him square in the chest, simultaneously getting his full attention and testing the impact absorption of the suit. She didn't use as much force as she COULD have.... it would have been easy to knock him flat on his back.... but she DID knee him smartly enough to encourage him to get his head in the game, and she quickly backtracked a few steps to avoid immediate retaliation.

"NEVER take your eyes off your opponent... it gives them a free shot. I realize that traditionally in combat training, two sparring partners open a match with a bow to show respect... but in actual combat this would never occur and so, it has no place here. Now.... I think medium-contact sparring is best.... we don't TRULY want to injure each other. Keep it friendly, of course..... other than that.... ANYTHING goes. [taking a defensive kickboxing stance] I was one of the very few U.S. Navy personnel attached to a Marine Corps Force Recon unit... and as such, I became the first woman to be awarded the black belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.... affectionately known as 'Semper Fu'. [smiling] Just thought you should know what you've gotten yourself into. Well..... come on with it, hit me."
 
She kneed him quickly, sharpening his focus. The suit held up well, protecting him by becoming rigid at the point of compression and allowing him to move by remaining supple OUTWARD. As she explained the ground rules and her qualifications, he smiled. She was impressively trained but so was he, the key was her battle-sharpness and incredible SPEED. That was why he needed this.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muy Thai myself. Let's have at it.

He stepped forward and to one side, swiftly kicking her shin to get her started then moving for an elbow strike to the shoulder. Normally this strike would be in the face but he would get his ass kicked before he hurt that face of hers.:innoc:

*********************************

As it all began, Nicolas was engrossed in watching. Then, for a second, he turned and looked DIRECTLY at Alison's presence. He could not fully scan her mind and the cobalt eyes were hidden and so he dismissed it, but he was getting better at picking up the Seer in this form. He returned to watching them go at it, smiling the whole time.
 
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a visitor at the rotunda

<< there was no "door" per se for the grand entrance hall of the rotunda was open on all sides....similar to the parthenon>>

<< as Delilah called out, she heard the faint "tinkle" of a collar bell. Tinkerbell came trotting across the marble floor, happy to see one of her "aunts", she greeted Delilah with a soft mew as she rubbed against her leg.>>

<< Morgan herself appeared moments later, walking across the marble floor, wearing a black mini skirt with a black one shoulder, asymetrical top and a low slung, silver metallic belt. silver heeled stillettos which supported her long, smooth, flawless legs. her hair was sleek, pulled back into a perfect downward ponytail and accented by two asian hair "sticks". one of her wrists was adorned with the finest platinum bracelets, to play off the belt and the stilletto heels. she looked refreshed, at least in appearence. ready for a photo shoot as the sun shown through the various openings from the evenly spaced , high reaching marble columns.>>

Delilah?

<< she spoke in her icy tone.>>

<< the sorceress came close, carrying the small white kitten in her arms. she noticed Tinkerbell had already spotted the mutant.>>

....hello.

I didnt expect to see you here anytime soon.

<< the afternoon breeze flowed through this area of the rotunda>>

would you like to join me "out back"? the marble sitting area has an uninterrupted view of the endless ocean. this rotunda is amazing, Circe DEFINATELY wanted to make sure she lived like the Olympians.

<< Morgan definately attempted to play up the Rotunda, and her appearence suggested that all was well, but the sparkle in her icy violet eyes was not there. it was all rehearsed.>>
 
Delilah stood in the marble expanse, gazing around at the overwhelming architectural feat that was the Rotunda. Circe had clearly designed this space to be imposing. Luckily, it wasn't long before she heard a familiar sound.

"Tinker!"

The Siamese brushed against her leg, and Delilah picked Tinkerbell up, cuddling her to her chest. She had missed her "adopted" pets. She stroked the top of the cat's head.

Suddenly it was almost as if an icy wind blew through the building. Morgan appeared, looking like she'd just stepped out of a photo shoot, every bit the high powered supermodel she was. Delilah couldn't help but notice that Morgan seemed distant, as if she were putting on a show, trying to intimidate her with the elegance of her home. Morgan Victoria: Stepford Supermodel.

Delilah modded and began to follow Morgan, then abruptly put Tinkerbell down and put a hand on Morgan's arm.

"Morgan? What's wrong?"
 
Haleigh smiled as Mike quickly rebounded. She takes a step back as he advances, contracting as he expands, and reacts to his low kick. simply lifting the foot would throw her balance so instead, she steps INTO his attack and kicks his ankle away as he makes contact with her shin, parrying the brunt. His elbow comes next.

"Jui-Jitsu, eh?"

She asks, as she catches his elbow with the nearest hand and then grabs him by the wrist with her other hand. She pulls him further into the motion, using his own momentum to spin him around into an arm bar. As she wrenches him around, she pushes in the back of his knee to force him into a kneeling position and while still holding wrist, she lets go of his elbow and wraps her free arm around his neck.

"This ought to be a breeze for you to escape from, yes?"

She asks, squeezing tightly increase resistance, but not using TOO much strength, which could easily cause him to pass out.
 
As Mike made the move he saw the parry but she was SO damned quick. He was pulled around in a classic move, using his own momentum to leave him kneeling as she went for a choke with her free arm...

He moved quickly as she spoke, using a hand swim move to extricate his hand from the wrist grip while pivoting into her to get some room, then turning away again as he used his inner arm to toss her over his hip, going for an arm bar on the arm that originally held his wrist...

I have a feeling its not going to be this easy, Haleigh.
 
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Aerie- the rotunda

<< as they reached the marble "stage" overlooking the endless ocean, Morgan paused for a moment as she felt her best friend's hand on her arm. her pony tail was moving in the wind.>>

<< she didnt look back, instead she conjured a pair of over sized, rounded gucci sunglasses and placed them on her face, to hide her eyes as she sat across the table from Delilah, the small white kitten now nestled in her lap as she crossed her long, smooth, flawless legs at the knee.>>

it's been nearly 3 weeks.

where have you been?

<< she asked directly.>>

the rotunda sits in the center of Aerie, this large, seemingly endless island.

<< she looked at Delilah.>>

you know...I feel like Haleigh HIGHJACKED our disagreement. Yes, i was upset with you but you knew that even BEFORE we'd reached Aerie. My displeasure with you turned into PURE ANGER with Haleigh the moment she decided to attack my mother, and then felt it necessary to berate Alycia, who was clearly in a state of shock.

<< she continued to look at Delilah , her eyes hidden by those gucci sunglasses.>>

Do you still think of us...of ME as being out of control?
 
Sunglasses. Now that's cheating, Morgan...

She glanced down at her folded hands. Delilah spoke slowly, almost in a whisper.

"Of course not, Morgan."

She looked up. "But I do think you have a lot of anger. Something is very wrong, I can tell. You don't seem like yourself at all... Is it Haleigh that's troubling you? You know she only acts that way because she cares. It's like that metal body of hers can't contain all the emotions she feels, and then she just, just explodes. She can't express her feelings properly. She didn't want Alycia to go, and that was the only way she knew how to express that."

She leaned forward suddenly, and put her hand over Morgan's.

"But it's not just that, is it? Won't you tell me what's wrong?"
 
It WAS a breeze for him... and better, he could expertly reverse the hold. He executed a swift hip toss and brought Haleigh around to a more manageable position, with him behind her and her arm behind her back... she let him have the arm bar so she could focus on landing with her feet beneath her... it gave her far better options than if she were kneeling with him. Haleigh arched her back and leaned into him, looking over her shoulder at him, their faces mere inches apart. His sized engulfed her but this was no more a battle of size than it was of strength [as she was much stronger than he]. She smiled mischievously.

"Mm..... you smell good."

She said softly before sending a sharp elbow to his diaphragm, getting him to double over into her. She grabbed the back of his neck and stood into him, bending over quickly and taking him with her, throwing him over her shoulder and flat onto his back, using his loss of balance and leverage to pull her arm easily out of the hold. She smirked and bent over him, resting her hands on her knees.

"[In regards to it not being easy] Indeed.... you have good instincts. The challenge for you is obviously not going to come in close quarter combat.... no... the obstacle for YOU to overcome is fighting on a dreadfully uneven playing field.... against someone who has a mighty upperhand and can, for instance, [manifesting a Walther P22 handgun and aiming it at him] pull a weapon out of thin air. Or maybe.... [a metal shackle locks around his right ankle and then suddenly, Mike finds himself suspended upside down about five feet in the air by a length of metal chain.] String you up at the will of their mind?"

She says, stepping back out of his reach.

"How will you cope with that Ace in the Hole? [turning to Nicolas] This is definately where the bells and whistles of his suit will aid him. Augmented strength, too."
 
Aerie- the rotunda

<< she didnt show any outward expression as Delilah spoke.>>

<< she looked down at Delilah's hand on her's, her ponytail now swept forward over her shoulder as the wind blew.>>

anger?

yes, i would say so. I keep hearing her BIG MOUTH and all i can think about is how i'd like to PULL HER TONGUE OUT!

If i wouldnt let CHRISTOPHER talk to my mother any kind of way, what makes HALEIGH think SHE can do it? My mother has tried TIME AND AGAIN to help her find a better, even SLIGHTLY more healthy way to express her emotions and what has she been repaid with? treachery at every turn.

Well...I'm going to tell her just what i think of her treatment of my mother and if she thinks she's going to get smart with ME then she's got another thing coming.

<< she pulls her hand away from delilah's as the kitten shifts a bit, seeming to crouch down from the wind.>>

Im here on Aerie, and i'm just trying to figure out WHAT i'm going to do next. Amazing how even THAT is headache inducing. To think that I, the "most celebrated super model in the world" now has to HIDE forever...my life gets taken from me just because i channel magick...and the ungratefull rabble out THERE

<< gestures toward the oceans and "beyond">> gets to live on? they wouldnt even have the chance to BE so casually ungratefull if WE had not risked our lives time and again to save the world over...and now we have to HIDE?

<< she waves her hand in frustration>>

it doesnt sit well with me Delilah. not in the slightest.

<< exhaling loudly>>
 
Surprise

:: a rushing, chiming sound is heard as Haleigh is sent HURLING across the room and pinned against the wall. it didnt HURT. Alison was much too precise and could control that, but she wanted to shatter Haleigh's concentration.::

uneven playing field INDEED.

:: Harbinger BLINKS into view, posed and holding her time staff. the shadow of it casts over Mike as she points it at him.::

Haleigh forgot to mention that if you're going to run with us...you might face other obstacles, like MAGICK.

:: she casts a cool gaze upon Nicolas::

or a PRECOG.

Haleigh is a terrific warrior, but science and technology are so...one dimensional. Would you care to try your luck against ME?

:: Alison was being deliberately catty with Haleigh, and attempting to scare Mike...just a little and if Nicolas tried anything, she'd know it before he attempted and would compensate accordingly.::

:: she was ACTUALLY just making an "appearence" to trip them up, to provide a literal object lesson in "expect the unexpected" but she was really planning to move on to Ava's shortly::
 
Delilah tried to be gentle, but at the same time she was sure Morgan could not be pacified. She was about to get her good intentions rammed right back down her own throat. But what else could she do?

"Hecate didn't say we had to hide, Morgan. In fact, she said she gave us this new life so that we didn't HAVE to hide. What would help you? Can I do something - anything? What if you have it out with Haleigh, got everything off your chest?"

Delilah tried not to physically cringe. Morgan was all over the place, and when she went off, it was not going to be good.
 
I figured that was why we are a TEAM. I can fight magic about as well as you can fight without it.

At that Mike sinks below ground as Alison staff is forcibly spun to swing it out of her hands, her own legs sink into the ground and fly apart, the dirt that was displaced is teleported into her eyes, her skirt is pulled ALL the way up, and Mike's chain is coiled around her hands while Nicolas goes into astral form while she deals with all of THAT.

It's not what you KNOW will happen Alison, it's what you can DO about it.
 
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