How Do I Work?

Let Me Count the Ways. [Magneto of the JGS RP; 616!Mags based heavily on Mike Carey's portrayal]

[reapette]

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He looks away from her for the first time, but not until a moment or so after she released him.  He felt the secondary presence leave his mind and his physically relaxed a bit further.  Her tone had changed from something threatening to concerned, but until she took her hand away from him, he still felt as though she’d opted for a shock collar as far as he was concerned.  Once it was removed, his aggressions were as well.]

I know.  I…will refrain from speaking on it in her presence, for now.  At least until I…we, I suppose, find a way to ask her about it without causing her to panic.

[He begins to leave, moving to walk past her.  He pauses shortly after he does, stopping at the threshold between his room and the hall.  His voice was quiet, and genuine.]

And you’ll be alright?  Gambit is…stable, for the time being?

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[Nods] He seems very aware right now. If Ah had to pick a night for Death, this would be far from the top. [Steps into the hall past him, turning to head the other way from where he wishes to be.] 

It’s not that Ah don’t trust you [It just tumbles out of her mouth.] But ya’ll are tryin’ very hard to be a good parent. An’ good parents overreact. Something you are also good at. [She shrugs, a bit helplessly. She’s not apologizing, but.] Sinister would want us, runnin’ around, scarin’ each other. Just tryin’ to be careful, with all the babies around.

[ominousattraction-blog]

Good. [He nods in return] ...Good. 

[One less thing to be concerned about, at the very least.  He looked in the opposite direction she did, finding Lorna's door with his eyes and listening to her speak.  He almost laughed at her confession.] Saw that, did you?  ...One never really can tell, in these situations.

[Erik looks back at her at the mention that he was attempting to be a good parent.  The two words were never associated with him, even accompanied by a form of 'try'.  Somehow, it proved to be a somewhat helpful statement.  And she was right.  He was very talented at overreacting.  Sometimes it saved lives, most times it ended them.]

I will prioritize keeping myself in check.  Especially where your children are concerned.  [She'd granted him, although reluctantly, an open runway with which he could protect his child.  It was only fair that he do the same for her, and her students.]  Caution is never a foolish option...I'll do what I can to tread lightly. 

[He almost wants to say 'thank you', but is unsure whether or not he should have had to get permission to see Lorna in the first place.  He hesitates for a moment.  He understood the danger of his own emotions, and perhaps she was right to be concerned, if not defensive, about the state he meant to leave in.  Scott would have tried to sit him out.  His tone was a thankful one, he decided, even if the word weren't.  He'd always had a habit of leaving the important ones out, anyway.]

Goodnight, Rogue.

[ominousattraction-blog]

…I want to see her, Rogue.

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[She hesitates.] Go see her. Watch her sleep. But don’t tell her ‘bout what we learned. Stress is a trigger for the Horsemen, an’ there’s no way she’ll take this well. Lorna just ain’t built for this stuff. [A beat, and she lets her hand drop, backing up to the door.] 

None of us are.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He looks away from her for the first time, but not until a moment or so after she released him.  He felt the secondary presence leave his mind and his physically relaxed a bit further.  Her tone had changed from something threatening to concerned, but until she took her hand away from him, he still felt as though she'd opted for a shock collar as far as he was concerned.  Once it was removed, his aggressions were as well.]

I know.  I...will refrain from speaking on it in her presence, for now.  At least until I...we, I suppose, find a way to ask her about it without causing her to panic.

[He begins to leave, moving to walk past her.  He pauses shortly after he does, stopping at the threshold between his room and the hall.  His voice was quiet, and genuine.]

And you'll be alright?  Gambit is...stable, for the time being?

[ominousattraction-blog]

…I would like to see my daughter now, if you don’t mind.

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[The despair hits her hard enough to flinch, and she realizes her sudden anger was probably slightly mirrored of him. She doesn’t remove her hand just yet, but it’s not a hard touch anymore. Her voice is even more gentle.] 

That is not how we solve our problems, Magnus. An’ it would never come to that, otherwise. We’re gonna help Lorna, an’ if need be, save her. We’re not cuttin’ down anymore of our own, alright? She’s gonna be okay.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He watches her eyes shift into something softer, and he eases mildly in accordance.  His expression was still stoic, and his mind remained as steeled as he could have it, but he allowed a slow breath to calm his nerves enough to at least attempt to believe her.]

...I want to see her, Rogue.

[ominousattraction-blog]

My plans are to speak to my daughter, Rogue.  

[His impatience is illuminated in the shocking amount of blue in his eyes as he locks almost threateningly onto hers.  There is a hint of worry trapped beneath his aggression.]

Is my going to see Lorna such a shock to you, after what you’ve just said?

[His entire form is tensed, and his lips curl in a light snarl without his permission as he speaks.]

Stand aside.

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[Rogue lets her own look darken. There he is. The reason she left. The reason she knew it would never work, not really.] 

Shut up. She hasn’t told you anythin’ yet, she ain’t gonna start when you wake her the hell up in the middle of the night demandin’ answers. Sinister has her targeted, but she might not know it yet. She might not have anythin’ to tell you. That she wants to tell you. 

Let us help your daughter, Magnus. Let us try. We’re her friends. Your the man she has to call ‘father’.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[Magnus won't let himself settle.  He opts for a truth he realized he'd yet to share.  She was pulling his thoughts anyway, she was going to find out.] 

She told me she felt him calling to her.  The night I found out she was here.  

[He grits his teeth again, that worry in his eyes coming higher to the surface.  His anger still stifled it, but his tone tapered to give way to an honest appeal than an enraged one.]

She's weak, Rogue.  She's scared, and she's weak.  Her friends are trusted, certainly, but the man she has to call 'Father' she knows to be bulletproof.  Is it not better if I am the one standing between her and our own personal Satan?  And, aside from that--

[The worry slips free, a split-second of anguish hitting his expression before it ices over and steels up.  His tone is quiet and controlled.]

If something should go wrong, I am the most prepared to act.

[He watches her eyes for a moment, feeling his mind actively shutting down the fear she was bound to see otherwise.  He'd told her on Utopia that they'd had no reason to hide from one another, but she'd made it evident, just now, that she didn't trust him.  It was disappointing, but he'd recover.  Trust worked both ways, too.  His breathing eased, just slightly, and he spoke again, quietly this time.]

...I would like to see my daughter now, if you don't mind.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He thinks on this for a moment, a silent growl in his throat escaping as a slow breath.  Part of him wants to ask where Gambit got his information — he wanted to track down the source, interrogate them until he had the answers he needed.  But he had a priority at the forefront of his mind, and it overcame the other.  In a brisk motion, he began toward his door.]

I need to speak to my daughter.

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[Rogue is in front of him very quickly, her glove off. Her finger tips are on his jaw.]

First you tell what your plans are. [She’s already pulling] Or you’ll be done ‘fore you can go anywhere. At this range, Ah’m faster than you. You know that.

[ominousattraction-blog]

My plans are to speak to my daughter, Rogue.  

[His impatience is illuminated in the shocking amount of blue in his eyes as he locks almost threateningly onto hers.  There is a hint of worry trapped beneath his aggression.]

Is my going to see Lorna such a shock to you, after what you've just said?

[His entire form is tensed, and his lips curl in a light snarl without his permission as he speaks.]

Stand aside.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He takes the first two ‘things’ as simple information.  They’d suspected these things to begin with.  The third, he was mildly aware of through speaking with Lorna, but confirmation of the hypothesis caused his skin to immediately bristle and his jaw to flex for the teeth gritting within it.]

Who disclosed this information?  Did they specify any hint of when?

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

I had to hear it from Gambit, but no. Ain’t no time frame, but Lorna’s feelin’ this more than Gambit, so. Ah can’t imagine our ETA is great.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He thinks on this for a moment, a silent growl in his throat escaping as a slow breath.  Part of him wants to ask where Gambit got his information -- he wanted to track down the source, interrogate them until he had the answers he needed.  But he had a priority at the forefront of his mind, and it overcame the other.  In a brisk motion, he began toward his door.]

I need to speak to my daughter.

[ominousattraction-blog]

Then speak it, Rogue.  

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

[blinks at his tone, but shakes it off]

We just learned three big things. First; the next Horseman is young. So it’s either one of the kids, or Jubilee. Second; we’ve already lost Warren. And third… [she squares her shoulders. This will suck.] Sinister is setting his sights on Lorna.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He takes the first two 'things' as simple information.  They'd suspected these things to begin with.  The third, he was mildly aware of through speaking with Lorna, but confirmation of the hypothesis caused his skin to immediately bristle and his jaw to flex for the teeth gritting within it.]

Who disclosed this information?  Did they specify any hint of when?

[ominousattraction-blog]

aroguebyanyothername replied to your post: Magnus. You awake? Ah have got to talk to you. Now.

We just learned something. Big.

Then speak it, Rogue.  

[ominousattraction-blog]

Magnus. You awake? Ah have got to talk to you. Now.

Usually.  What is it?

[ominousattraction-blog]

itsnotchlorine replied to your post:*runs in without knocking* WHY did I just hear Rogue talking on the phone - about me - to SCOTT?

So you /don’t/ know what’s going on?

Not entirely.

Lorna, why did you arrive in the middle of the night, and why was it so urgent you speak to Gambit?

[itsnotchlorine-blog]

It wasn’t the middle of the night, it was just late.

And it was… important. *sighs* I don’t want you to worry, but… I’ve been having dreams.

[ominousattraction-blog]

Should I be worried?

Explain, Lorna.  I’m listening.

[itsnotchlorine-blog]

*rubs her forehead*

I thought it was gone. Pestilence. Apocalypse. I got rid of it. But now I’m having dreams and I’m so confused and -

He’s calling me.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[He hates to hear to her confirm Rogue's hypothesis]

...Lorna, you must fight.  Do not give in, regardless of how difficult he makes it for you.

[ominousattraction-blog]

itsnotchlorine replied to your post:*runs in without knocking* WHY did I just hear Rogue talking on the phone - about me - to SCOTT?

So you /don’t/ know what’s going on?

Not entirely.

Lorna, why did you arrive in the middle of the night, and why was it so urgent you speak to Gambit?

[itsnotchlorine-blog]

It wasn’t the middle of the night, it was just late.

And it was… important. *sighs* I don’t want you to worry, but… I’ve been having dreams.

[ominousattraction-blog]

Should I be worried?

Explain, Lorna.  I'm listening.

[biohazardsakura]

Savage Land Rogue.

[ominousattraction-blog]

[[Holy sheiss!  That cosplay is FANTASTIC!

And Sauron, stop being a creep.]]

[ominousattraction-blog]

itsnotchlorine replied to your post: *runs in without knocking* WHY did I just hear Rogue talking on the phone - about me - to SCOTT?

So you /don’t/ know what’s going on?

Not entirely.

Lorna, why did you arrive in the middle of the night, and why was it so urgent you speak to Gambit?

[ominousattraction-blog]

*runs in without knocking* WHY did I just hear Rogue talking on the phone - about me - to SCOTT?

Lorna--

Why is Rogue talking to Scott?

[matterofpryde-deactivated201405]

ominousattraction replied to your post: Katherine, we need to speak. It may be rather urgent.

Rogue and I have stumbled on a bit of a discovery. We have a firm belief that the school your student body and staff are in danger. It’s a theory we don’t care for, but there are too many signs to ignore at this point.

Erik… What’s going on?

[ominousattraction-blog]

We believe there is a strong possibility that Apocalypse is reforming his ranks.  And that they may well be gathering here, and now.  We were curious as to why he was waiting, as there are four former horsemen currently residing within your walls, and we've come to realize that one is a duplicate.  Apocalypse is missing the horseman known as 'War'.  We need to find out who it is.

I also suggested we contact Scott and Emma, so that they might scan the local parties and define who is most likely to be the target Apocalypse is after.  Rogue agreed, so long as you were the one to call him.  Apparently she has faith that he won't snap at you.

[ominousattraction-blog]

What Madness, Which Method

[ominousattraction-blog]

“…You don’t suppose…”

[aroguebyanyothername-blog]

No way to keep them from the fight? Is that why you locked Lorna in a tower? She keeps it all to herself, instead deciding to silently glare up at him from where she sits. She’s reminded why they would never work. So little in common, but they share the same light bulb at his words.

“Ah don’t…” Could Scott? Apocalypse and Sinister are brilliant, despite all the crazy. Could they assume the X-men would catch on to the rounding of Horsemen, in hopes the School would deliberately bring Scott here? “Ah mean, can he?” She clenches and unclenches the bedding. “His psychic defenses are solid,” she reasons aloud. Between Jean and the Professor, his mental shields are good and fortified, though Emma might be unknowing of a change, since she agrees with everything he thinks and does. Although…

“You have to accept Apocalypse first, don’t you?” Sinister makes it stick, but Apocalypse’s power must be asked for and received. “Scott wouldn’t…” One scenario comes to mind, but it’s squashed. Not even for Mutantkind. “He wouldn’t.”

[ominousattraction-blog]

He ignored her glaring, it was an inevitable thing when he began talking about his stance on battle and who and what is involved.  It was the same with Charles, Ororo, Katherine, he was well used to the response.

"Consider what's been going on lately.  With the stress of Hope, her incredibly possible fate, the Avengers threatening every moment to take the reigns on an operation he's been praying for.  It's highly possible that he could have a moment of weakness."  Erik said, thinking hard on the matter.  He would love to say, 'No, of course not.  Scott would never do such a thing.'  But the fact remained that no one really knew what another was capable of when pushed to the brink of madness.

"We may have to consider him a possibility.  Piotr as well, to be safe."