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[asthecroweflies]

[It's very early in the morning, but Jagger sounds wide awake.]

Did anybody else feel that?

[It's a brief question, his tone urgent. He's also not offering any details, because he's wondering how many know what he's talking about.]

Comments

[asthecroweflies]

[His first instinct was to run at the appearance of the glowing disk beneath his feet but he willed himself to stay put, to observe. He wasn't an active participant either way, so it wasn't as though he actually had to do anything.

He'd expected brimstone, but when the scent reached his nose as the light engulfed him, he realized he'd had no actual idea what 'brimstone' smelled like and that it didn't smell anything like how he'd expected.

When the scene shifted back to, well, reality was the only way he could think of to describe it, they were atop the clocktower and he blinked, looking around.]

...wow. [Profound, but it was all he could think to say at first.] ...you know, I can see how you end up used as a courier.

[soulsword]

[ For potentially the first time in quite a while she actually laughed. Not a bitter chuckle or a sarcastic jab at someone, but a real laugh born of amusement. ] There are combat uses as well.

[ Those had taken her longer to master, but thy had been a bit more fun. ]

It does save time.

[asthecroweflies]

[He'd never fought a day in his life, he supposed that came from being from a generally peaceful world, at least to his knowledge, and he frowned at the thought.]

Combat, huh? That happens a lot?

[soulsword]

[ She took five small black tea candles out of a pocket hidden in her dress and placed them on the ground in a small pentacle. With a wave of her a hand she lit them all five on fire. ]

I rule a demonic dimension. Fighting is all we know. [ She looked over at him and then offered a bit more. ] I do not think we ever stopped fighting as New Mutants. There was always something. Anti-Mator, Enchantress, Empath, Mojo, Magus, Hodge and the Friends of Humanity, the Purifiers [ she shook her head. ] always something.

[asthecroweflies]

Jesus... [The more he learned about her, the more her life sounded like it was from a comic book.]

...what about recently? Have things been anywhere close to peaceful?

[soulsword]

[ She knelt down by the little pentacle she'd made and then looked over at him. ] No. > We were recently attacked by the Purifiers and members of Project Purgatory. [ She hesitated for a second. ] General Ulysses was the one attempting to summon the Elder Gods.

[asthecroweflies]

The Purifiers? [He frowned at that response.] Sounds like a good cult name.

[soulsword]

Would you believe they also go by Stryker Crusade? [ She shook her head. ] They sound like what they are then. A terrorist cult. They believe they are in a holy war against mutantkind. [ Her tone shifts to one that has just the slightest hints of anger. ] They destroyed a bus full of our children. From what I understand those children no longer even had their powers. They had no way to defend themselves from that.

[asthecroweflies]

Of course they do. What self-respecting domestic terrorist group wouldn't call themselves a "crusade"?

[He shook his head.]

People will hate anything, won't they, as long as it's the least bit different.

[soulsword]

Humans are always afraid of things they don't understand. [ There was an edge of bitterness to her voice. ] To them we are just freaks.

[asthecroweflies]

Yeah. [He breathes a sigh.] Even those who accept what you can do are still on edge around you.

[soulsword]

[ She inclined her head. ] Experienced are you?

[asthecroweflies]

When I touch people, I...can see stuff about them, their past, feel things they felt, where they've been. When I touch their things the picture's clearer. Even if they say they're fine with it, you can tell they feel, I don't know, violated.

[soulsword]

[ She tilts her head curiously. ] You are psychic? People are never fond of those. They tend to poke around where they do not belong too often.

[asthecroweflies]

I damn well try not to, thank you very much.

[soulsword]

[ She shakes her head and gives a small smirk. ] It is no worry to me. Psychics cannot read me unless I allow it and I do not often allow it.

[asthecroweflies]

[There's a pause, his eyebrows raised, before he responds.]

...really?

[soulsword]

Yes. After I returned from Limbo even our most powerful telepath, Charles Xavier, could read nothing from me. [ Emma Frost had only been able to see what she had allowed. ] I allowed Frost to look but she was not pleased by what she saw. [ There was a strange smile to accompany the statement. There was no denying she found it amusing how frustrating they found it. ] Empath had little effect on me either. Much to his frustration.

[asthecroweflies]

Well, call me a weird psychic, but I....the idea of touching someone and not reading something off of them is pretty tempting.

[soulsword]

That does make you quite strange. [ She tilts her head and then shrugs. ] Unsurprising though. You have always seemed strange. [ And another smile. ] I would have offered to show you something.

[asthecroweflies]

Well, gosh, I do like surprises.

[His tone was sardonic even if he did sound a little intrigued.]

[soulsword]

[ She tilts her head and grins. ] Then you are curious?

[asthecroweflies]

I'll be the first to admit my curiosity has gotten me into a lot of trouble.

[soulsword]

I would have never guessed such a thing. [ A chuckle escapes her lips and she looks somewhat surprised by that. ]

[asthecroweflies]

You ever touch something because someone else told you it was hot and you just had to know for yourself?