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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jan 15, 2018 6:53:24 GMT -8
Victor just stared at the man for a few moments. He tilted his head as Magneto just smiled at him. Kind of reminded him of some crazy serial killer. Maybe he was, who knew... “Nice smile, little creepy, but I like it,” he said with an even tone. He was playing it cool as he fired a few more torpedos in below the water line. He’d sink him yet. “You’ve had plenty of time to work on it. Believe it or not I’m not trying to intimidate you. I’m going to let you in on a little secret.”
Victor started a slow pace as he circled Erik like a lion in the tall grass. “I know you’re mad. I can feel it, no dandy face you can make is going to hide that. I’m not gonna get anything out of you because you don’t know anything, do you? You don’t have to answer that.” He continued on his path but every time he crossed in front he looked down at him with that same pitying look. “All you have is blind faith and that’s just stupid, what kind of life is that?”
The large man stopped in front of Erik now, boring holes into him with his eyes. “They aren’t coming for you. You’re out of sight, and out of their mind. You can throw me in here and I can bide my time. But you? How many years have you got to spare?” He started circling his prey again. “Why don’t you make a deal to save yourself? You can do whatever you want once you get out of here.” As he passed out of Magnetos eye sight Creed immediately looked at Maeve and he threw her a quick wink. Coming back around he stopped and stooped down to look the other mutant in the eye. He was taking a gamble yes but he knew the camera was outside the cell and Magnetos influence. There wouldn’t be any audio to make it back to Stryker. He couldn’t risk even the tiniest metal conductors in here. “I’ll tell you who I fight for... me. As soon as Styker has nothing left to offer me I’m gone. If he’s lucky.”
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 15, 2018 11:41:06 GMT -8
Erik hadn't flinched when the table went flying. Hell, he looked more annoyed that his meager furnishings were being destroyed. Until Victor belittled the Brotherhood and dared to question their loyalty. She saw the slightest twitch in Erik's jaw as he clenched his teeth. Victor had found a weakness in his prey and had pounced.
"...Believe it or not I’m not trying to intimidate you. I’m going to let you in on a little secret.”
When the predator started circling his prey in contradiction to claiming to not intimidate, Maeve slowly got up and stood beside her chair, at the ready to interject, should things escalate. She was a whip short of feeling like a damn lion tamer in a circus.
Despite the act unfolding in front of her, Maeve couldn't help but be enthralled by it. Two stubborn as hell, fearless men facing off in a sort of battle of wits. It was far more fascinating than anything she'd seen at a circus, or at the cinema, for that matter.
Maeve had gotten absorbed in the scene, observing one as he spoke and the other for their reaction, watching the wheels in their heads turn and trying to glean what thoughts those wheels were churning out. She was pulled from it when Victor acknowledged her long enough to throw her a wink just as her eyes had shifted back to him.
Her features hardened again. Oh, this was entertaining for him, was it? Throwing tables, acting like a wild animal, putting her life, or rather, cover at risk. Words for the earful she'd give him were already forming in her head.
Those thoughts were put on hold, however, when Victor took a different tactic. One that answered a question she'd asked him earlier.
“I’ll tell you who I fight for... me. As soon as Styker has nothing left to offer me I’m gone. If he’s lucky.”
This offered more insight into the mutant who worked against his own kind than she'd ever been able to get out of him. His words weren't exactly a revelation, but rather, the way he'd said it revealed more about the inner workings of his mind. Unless this was all part of the act. Something told her it wasn't completely an act.
Stubborn as Erik was, Maeve thought there was a chance this might be the only tactic that could work. There was one problem though. Her. The "human" in the room. Maeve stood very still, trying her best to not draw attention to herself.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 15, 2018 13:21:48 GMT -8
Erik felt the sudden indecision in his opponent's mind. This probably had become more difficult than he would have thought. And now he tried to cover it with cool jokes. Just talk, not more. They both couldn't do more. Not with all these cameras, all these barriers around. They had been thrown here like two lions in a cage, but both without their teeth and claws.
Erik's eyes followed the other lion's steps, but apart from that, his body remained motionless. As it did his expression. Rigid. Wary.
... I’m not gonna get anything out of you because you don’t know anything, do you? You don’t have to answer that.” He gave him another of his promised smiles. If this was kind of any tactic, it was not a good one. No tactic would make him talk anyway, not about what they are willing to hear. They could send ten more toothless lions in here, he would remain silent.
“All you have is blind faith and that’s just stupid, what kind of life is that?”
Even though he maintained the rigid look, there was something thoughtful reflecting in his eyes all of a sudden. One fact Erik, unfortunately, had to admit. This man was actually right with something he had said just now. All Erik had was faith... But then there was this part he was badly wrong about. It was no blind, but stable faith. He didn't need to know where they were to know they would come for him... eventually. Besides, he'd rather die here in this cell with not more than faith, than live outside with the knowledge to have betrayed his species and above all himself.
Once the bully-boy stopped his steps, Erik's eyes stopped moving too. “They aren’t coming for you. You’re out of sight, and out of their mind. You can throw me in here and I can bide my time. But you? How many years have you got to spare?” The man started moving again, so did Erik's eyes. “Why don’t you make a deal to save yourself? You can do whatever you want once you get out of here.” And yet again Erik remained silent, instead he was giving him a look that was enough for an answer to that.
“I’ll tell you who I fight for... me. As soon as Stryker has nothing left to offer me I’m gone. If he’s lucky.” Now Erik finally came up with motion at all. He let out a joyless chuckle. "You think that would make any difference for me? To know your little story? A mutant switching side like a ping-pong ball isn't worth much more than they are. You think you're fighting for yourself? I'll tell you what. You're fighting for nothing. And a fight for nothing isn't worth a fight at all. In the end, there won't be any victory. No, wait. There will be a victory, but it won't be yours." By now, Erik had blocked out there was someone else in the cell with them. One of them. Not that he would have told anything, but after all he had said something...
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jan 15, 2018 16:24:13 GMT -8
"You think that would make any difference for me? To know your little story? A mutant switching side like a ping-pong ball isn't worth much more than they are. You think you're fighting for yourself? I'll tell you what. You're fighting for nothing. And a fight for nothing isn't worth a fight at all. In the end, there won't be any victory. No, wait. There will be a victory, but it won't be yours." This had to be the most he had said the whole meeting. Victor's eyes widened somewhat in a mocking bewilderment. He rolled his eyes and become very impatient as the man finished rambling.
"You could do to learn a thing or two from me. I've seen so many of my enemies die that I gotta make new ones. And all the while I'm still standing. You want to kill yours but you can't." Creed didn't start pacing again but he uncrossed his arms putting them on his hips. His large frame seemed even larger. "The best odds I'd give you, if it isn't blind faith then its the blind leading the blind. You trusted the wrong people. If they are trying to rescue you, they suck at it."
He turned away from Magneto and took a few steps towards the door, he shot a look over his shoulder one last time. "If those fools do worship you like some cult leader then they will all die trying to find you. Hope you like their blood on your hands. If you won't deal to save yourself, make a deal to spare them. Stryker doesn't have the authority yet to hunt us all down. Unless your goons pave the way for him."
Victor was standing before the door now, and it wasn't opening. "I'll still be standing when the dust settles after you both kill each other. Fighting for myself doesn't sound so bad to me." He made a few more attemps to wave his arms and even tried finding a seem or edge to force. He threw a look over at Maeve, "I'm done you can try and crack that nut, how do I get this door open?"
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 15, 2018 18:26:26 GMT -8
Both men had made strong, valid points. Their discussion reminded her of the ones she and Erik had had in the past, though this went much farther and got far more heated than she and Erik ever let it. They usually tended to try and avoid pushing each other into anger territory. The gloves were off for this one and it lent more insight to both men. She was thankful things hadn't gotten physical. Aside from a flying table.
"I'm done you can try and crack that nut, how do I get this door open?"
Maeve sighed and rolled her eyes at Victor and his flailing arms. He'd gotten so into alpha mode that he'd forgotten it was her that was in charge. Her with the authorization to say when the door would open or close.
When Maeve reached his side, she gave the hand signal to the camera to open the door. As soon as Victor stepped out, she gave the 'close door' signal and the thick, air-tight, sound proof door slammed shut leaving her alone in the cell with Erik.
Maeve turned her back to Victor and the camera, facing Erik. "That's more like it," she said on a relieved sigh. Despite his glare, she smiled at him. A warm, familiar smile with a hint of amusement at his anticipated reaction. Now that they were alone, she dropped the harsh edge to her voice, sounding softer, more open. More familiar and more her. "I'd pictured our first actual face-to-face to be far more pleasant than this turned out to be." She looked thoughtful a moment as if picturing it, then looked back at Erik. "More smiles, a lot less... glaring." Maeve gestured at said glare and chuckled. "I'll see you on Saturday, Magnet Man." She'd purposefully emphasized those two words as a hint to her invisibility during those meetings, just in case the mention of Saturday or most especially, the use of her nickname for him wasn't as subtle as a brick through a window.
Maeve immediately gave the hand signal to open the door just as the last word had left her lips. She took a couple steps back and signaled it to close, standing a few moments more just outside the plastic cell, taking in the moment and allowing Erik to do the same.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jan 16, 2018 3:24:23 GMT -8
Erik gave a shit about the man's next words. With a stony glance, he listened without completely paying attention though, even let his eyes wander elsewhere now and then. He caught sight of his other visitor for a moment, got reminded that she was still there. This time their eyes didn't meet. There was this strange feeling about her, he couldn't explain. Something was... bothering him.
"... Hope you like their blood on your hands. If you won't deal to save yourself, make a deal to spare them. Stryker doesn't have the authority yet to hunt us all down." Erik took a sudden notice of the man's wording, as his eyes turned back to this conversation. Us. He was fighting for a side. He just seemed to not accept it for any reason. Interesting. But still, not his problem, was it? Unless your goons pave the way for him.""I'll still be standing when the dust settles after you both kill each other. Fighting for myself doesn't sound so bad to me." So he was just a coward. Taking advantage of someone else's victory. Erik could have given him all these thoughts, actually normally did, but right now, everything he wanted was to watch him leave. Erik slightly shook his head, once the lion had turned around, facing the closed door. "I'm done you can try and crack that nut, how do I get this door open?"
Erik turned his attention completely away from his visitors, hoping that would make both of them leave finally. It was bothering him to have been so talky today. He heard the door slamming shut. Silence. Erik didn't have to raise his head again though to know he still wasn't alone.
The silence between the woman and him remained for some more moments, maybe even minutes. He actually couldn't say, as there was this strange feeling coming up again. This something that was bothering him with her. Something...
"That's more like it,"
... familiar.
"I'd pictured our first actual face-to-face to be far more pleasant than this turned out to be."
Suddenly Erik's eyes flipped in her direction, just as his head raised in a faster move it ever did during that whole conversation with the other mutant. This, her voice, was getting his full attention just now. Once she turned around, their eyes met again. This time different. There still was this hard look on Erik's face, but with widened eyes.
"More smiles, a lot less... glaring." He knew who she was. He knew it already before she gave it away with her next words, accompanied by a quiet chuckle. "I'll see you on Saturday, Magnet Man."
Erik just sat there and watched her open the door with only a signal of her hand. Watched her leaving the cell. And, at last, watched the door slamming shut behind until he was alone again... naturally.
It took him actually minutes, or at least it felt like that, to move again. He wasn't able to say anything, even if she would have given him time to do so in the first place. His head was somehow blank and at the same time overcrowded with thoughts. He didn't know if a face-to-face with Sim... with Maeve... was going to happen at all, but he always was looking forward to it. Never did he imagined it to be like this. And yet, this was her. He was angry about the way she seemed to have tricked him and at the same time worried about knowing her so close to Stryker's side. Not on his side obviously... probably? No, most certainly.
Still sitting on his cot, Erik turned his body to the side, averting his gaze from the camera's eye, before he reached for the hidden mark on the wall right behind his hard pillow to add another scratch. He knew exactly which day of the week it was. It was Thursday coming to an end.
Two more days till Saturday...
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jan 17, 2018 8:30:23 GMT -8
Victor walked out the door and as soon as he turned around to speak, the door slammed in his face. He was alone and that’s the way she wanted it. “Damn it lady that’s just not fair!” He walked back to the door and waited. Maeve continued to speak inside and what made matters worse, she got what she had been waiting for. Erik’s eyes widened and he looked taken aback by whatever had passed between them. When she finally came back to the door to leave all she could see was his face pressed against the window. A scowl firmly set in his features.
The door swung open and Creed stepped aside to let her out. As soon as the door closed again he pounced. “What did you do?” His frown didn’t leave his face as he waited for her explanation with his arms crossed again. As a father would, waiting for his wayward daughter to explain why she was late for dinner.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 17, 2018 16:40:20 GMT -8
Maeve had a few seconds to take in the moment before Victor pulled her back to reality and brought her annoyance at him back with it. Seeing she’d caused him annoyance in return helped to alleviate a bit of her anger.
She crossed her arms, returning his frown with a dismissive once over. “What you couldn’t,” she said flippantly, alleviating more anger in taking advantage of a rare moment where she’d managed to get under his skin. Deciding she was done with the conversation, she started walking down the corridor. “Guess that means we don’t have a deal,” she added with a smug smile over her shoulder.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jan 18, 2018 7:55:00 GMT -8
Victor uncrossed his arms and started to give pursuit. “What I couldn’t? I did most of the talking. I softened him up for you. Whatever you got, the deal was you take all the credit, I don’t care about that!” He took her by the shoulder and used his momentum to swing around in front of her. “You can’t back out on me now!” There wasn’t a ton of anger in his voice, nor was he pleading. It was just a frustrated outburst followed by a matching grunt.
Victor calmed himself somewhat as he presented his case. “We know he has no idea where the brotherhood is. A common tactic to avoid detection. They are rootless. And much less organized than Stryker feared. Which isn’t to say be careless but they are striking his bases at random. They have no intelligence or a plan to find ‘Magneto’.” He started walking forward slowly towards the far door that lead to the checkpoint. “You can do what you want with that information, consider it a bribe. I’ll be at the metro pub at 8. Your call.” He put his emphasis on that first sentence. If she didn’t tell Styker than he'd have a better understanding of Maeve. If she ratted him out then he’d turn the tables. He’d simply ‘told Erik a story’ to trip him up. Either way he would learn something.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 18, 2018 20:53:10 GMT -8
Maeve’s mind was distracted with the newest complication arising in her already complicated life. She silently half-listened, keeping her responses internal. Mostly.
“What I couldn’t? I did most of the talking.
That’s for damn sure. “And all of the furniture throwing,” she grumbled under her breathe.
I softened him up for you.
Softened up? Erik? Ha! You’d have better luck softening up a brick wall. She was the who'd gotten him talking in the first place. The whole thing might have been only a glaring contest if not for her.
Whatever you got, the deal was you take all the credit, I don’t care about that!”
I don’t give a shit about the credit either. But that wasn't true. As much as it disgusted her, she needed Stryker and the company to view her as an asset. Open more doors, invite her in to all their secrets and allow her access to and information on all their bases. She suddenly felt she needed that more than ever.
What was newly troubling her was that she feared Erik’s value to Stryker might be running out. Clearly he wasn’t going to talk and clearly, the Brotherhood wouldn’t be dumb enough to get themselves captured by attempting to infiltrate this fortress. She wouldn’t be surprised if Erik had instructed attempts not be made for that very same reason, should he ever end up in his current situation.
“You can’t back out on me now!”
A hand on her shoulder slowed her steps but it was the jungle cat speed and agility with which he suddenly stood in her path that sent a thrill of surprise through her system, gaining back her full attention. Impressive. And a little scary. She gave a slight raise of her eyebrows at the sudden outburst than watched him expectantly.
“We know he has no idea where the brotherhood is. A common tactic to avoid detection. They are rootless. And much less organized than Stryker feared. Which isn’t to say be careless but they are striking his bases at random. They have no intelligence or a plan to find ‘Magneto’.” “You can do what you want with that information, consider it a bribe. I’ll be at the metro pub at 8. Your call.”
He’d voiced the thoughts that had been running through her mind. Something finally showed on her face as she studied him. Wary consideration. She’d felt she was nowhere closer to finding her sister and now she had an added pull to get Erik the hell out of here. The first had already been an agonizingly long feat with no results thus far. The second wouldn’t be possible on her own.
But Victor didn’t exactly incite trust.
She would need to think on it, perhaps gain a bit more reassurance in the short time between now and 8, but with cameras on them, this was not a place they could linger without raising suspicion.
Maeve continued after him back in deep thought.
~*~*~*~
Maeve had remained relatively quiet during the process of retrieving their items and coding the band back onto Victor's wrist. She continued as such in deep consideration of her options until they'd stepped into the executive elevator, one of the few places without cameras or microphones. The trip from the basement to the upper executive floor would give them only a few minutes' privacy.
As soon as the doors closed, Maeve turned to him, defensively crossing her arms and addressed the main source of distrust she couldn't shake. "I need a little help understanding why you suddenly give a shit. You know, since I'm 'not like you.'" She issued the challenge through narrowed eyes as she threw his earlier words back at him.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Jan 24, 2018 7:37:53 GMT -8
“I need a little help understanding why you suddenly give a shit. You know, since I'm 'not like you.'" Their whole walk back had been silent. Victor figured he’d let that be since they both needed to think, but he wasn’t prepared for that comment. He turned to face her in the cramped elevator. He looked down at her but said nothing for a few moments.
“Give a shit about what? I can’t give you anything there unless you be more specific...” he genuinely didn’t know what to say to be honest but rather than listen to her berate him for his non commital response, he pressed forward. “I don’t care about Magneto, but it don’t care about Stryker either. I’ll give you this, the guy is really starting to bore me. I’m interested in you though. That is saying something.” He couldn’t circle her with his bulk working against him on their ride up but he did look her over before turning his attention back to the doors.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 24, 2018 21:02:39 GMT -8
The elevator suddenly felt small and stifling. It was a toss up on whether his frame or his ego took up more room in the small space. Maeve wasn't sure if she should be flattered or weary. He gave her that predatory once over again that made a person feel as if he would gobble them up, though you were never quite sure if in a good way or bad way. Either way, knowing you were the prey in the scenario still left an edge of weariness.
Maeve studied his back as he'd turned to face the elevator door. He had no fear or concern with what others thought, even within the walls of Trask Industries, most likely because he saw himself as 'higher on the food chain.' 'Must be nice,' she thought. He had a blunt honesty. He didn't hold back, even at the expense of pissing her off on several occasions or in this case, making it perfectly clear that he did what he wanted, even if it came down to changing things up simply out of boredom or because he'd found a more interesting little play thing. And if he eventually grew bored with her?
Maeve relaxed and leaned back against the elevator wall, hands resting either side of her on the metal hand bar that ran along the wall. 'That is saying something' rang again in her mind. 'Definitely the ego,' she concluded with a heavenward look and a shake of her head.
"Well then. I shall endeavor to keep you amused," she said with cheery sarcasm.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 10, 2018 21:29:34 GMT -8
"Well then. I shall endeavor to keep you amused," she said with a cheery expression. It dripped of sarcasm though. Most people took things at face value. Out of ignorance or naivety. She was good. That's why he knew she would live up to that last statement. For a good long while he was sure. "I certainly hope so, tonight at the metro." He smiled, his insinuation not in the least bit subtle.
"So I suppose I should keep my mouth shut when we go in to see the boss?" His words were laced with sarcasm now. They could have given him the locations off all of Magneto's allies or told him the mutant had escaped. Either way Victor expected the same reaction out of Stryker. That same placating bullshit diplomatic talk that he thought could hide how he was using you up and then looking for the nearest trash can.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 10, 2018 22:31:56 GMT -8
Victor seemed as if he was fishing at every turn to get something out of her all day long but she was not deviating from her usual work persona and wouldn't give him even the tiniest hint that he might be on to something.
"Could you?" Maeve feigned surprise. "I mean, are you actually capable of keeping your mouth shut?" Amused with herself, she gave a low chuckle over her good-natured ribbing at his expense just as the elevator doors opened. It was nice, this rare feeling of being in a good mood. She'd had a decent day, save for Victor purposefully setting off the mutant detector alarm upon his arrival.
"Just be your charming self," Maeve said, patting his bicep as she stepped passed him out of the elevator. "Give an honest account. There's nothing to hide." 'At least not yet.'
The more truthful you were with a person, the easier it was to deceive them. If Stryker had been watching the monitors, it was evident they'd made more progress in their first visit with Erik than Stryker had in all his attempts, per his own briefing.
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Post by Medieval Kevin on Feb 11, 2018 10:13:58 GMT -8
"Could you?" Maeve said outwardly surprised. "I could," he fired in retort. "I mean, are you actually capable of keeping your mouth shut?" She gave a low chuckle. "If I had too," he delivered in the same mild mannered tone. "Just be your charming self," Maeve said, patting his bicep as she stepped passed him. "Give an honest account. There's nothing to hide." Victor grinned, really poor choice of words.
He stepped off the elevator and followed her towards the office door. "Allow me," Victor said with a shocking display of 'manners'. "Might as well get started, the boss is expecting us." Creed just opened the door and walked in, the smile disappeared instantly. The smell in the room was different, only faintly reminiscent of Stryker. He was gone, replaced by a taller man with graying hair. Sterner and more uptight, his body language suggested as much. "Well, you lost weight." He shot a sideways glance at Maeve as if to say 'Compliments. See I can be charming.' Then he blew it as he mumbled from the side of his mouth to her. "And you got older. Vacations work wonders..."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 31, 2018 19:46:53 GMT -8
"Allow me," "Might as well get started, the boss is expecting us."
There wasn't time to protest that barging into the boss's office wasn't how things were done, expected or not. But he'd already opened the door so lectures of protocol would have to wait.
Maeve stepped into the office and came to a dead stop, a look of surprise flashing across her face. Not only was someone other than Stryker occupying his chair, but Stryker was nowhere to be seen. She'd never met this man but there was a sense of familiarity that came with an odd sense of dread.
"Well, you lost weight." "And you got older. Vacations work wonders..."
Maeve barely registered what Victor was saying for it had dawned on her who the man was and her stomach dropped as an even greater sense of dread overtook her. Roderick Sommerhaulder. Leader and representative of The Purifiers, risen to an evangelistic level with his ability to imbue such a level of passionate hate for mutants that The Purifiers had become a sort of scary religion with the most fanatic of followers. He had the ability to villainize mutants no matter how small of an involvement a mutant might have had in a situation. He could rile a crowd into passionately agreeing with his beliefs and blindly backing up his claims. His eloquent, mutant-damning speeches had the power to incite the same passionate hate for mutants and the number of followers continued to grow at an alarming rate.
Maeve had to be careful with how she proceeded. In normal circumstances, finding a stranger in the boss' office meant questioning the intruder and alerting security. However, the air of authority with which he occupied the chair had her quietly strategizing. Something was very, very wrong. Maeve hid her fear-laced dread behind her usual stern, stony expression along with a stiff posture that she'd hoped Victor would pick up on. She had no idea if Victor knew who this man was but she figured nearly any mutant would at least have heard the name.
"Mr. Sommerhaulder," she began, maintaining her spot near the door and keeping her tone professional. "I don't believe we've met and I don't recall any more appointments on Mr. Stryker's schedule?" Maeve had purposefully set it as a question, doing her job as assistant and employee but attempting it in a tactful, non-accusatory manner.
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Post by Just Joe on Apr 11, 2018 1:49:15 GMT -8
The accounts were the first thing that had struck Roderick as he began looking through Stryker's paperwork. To say they were a shambles was putting it mildly. He'd always respected the man and his friendship from their military days together but Roderick was not the type to let respect blind him to another's flaws. One of Stryker's was that he always had to be involved in everything. He had a pathological need to feel like he was in control, which made it hard for him to delegate responsibilities and trust those beneath him to get on with their jobs uninterrupted. Not even the man's accountant had been spared from his obsessive meddling. In his attempts to divert money to the Weapon X programme, Stryker had made an absolute mess of the accounts. Roderick was correcting the final document when Maeve and Victor walked in.
"Ah, Miss Charbonneau, Mister Creed. Do come in. I won't be a moment" he said calmly, not bothering to look up from his paperwork. He continued writing for a few moments, allowing silence to fill the room as he deliberately took his time responding to Maeve's comment. It was important to set certain standards right from the start. These so-called homo-superiors may believe themselves to be better than humanity but as far as he was concerned they could wait just like anyone else. Respond to someone's questions too hurriedly and you set a dangerous precedent by making them think their opinions mattered.
Roderick signed the document and looked up at the two mutants over the top of his glasses, his steely gaze focusing on Maeve. "I'm afraid Mister Stryker has been called away and his schedule is no longer a matter of concern for you." His eyes shifted to Victor, then back to Maeve. He lifted his mug and slowly sipped at his coffee, watching them silently before setting the mug down and extending his hand toward two chairs that had been set out in front of his desk. "Please, do sit down."
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 15:10:46 GMT -8
***LATER THAT EVENING*** The surprise meeting with her new boss (the fact she had a new boss having been more of a surprise) did not go well. He'd known far too much about her for her comfort. Nothing about her childhood or the fact that she, herself, was a mutant, but other things about her adulthood past that she'd buried. They weren't exactly facts one couldn't find in public records, but people didn't tend to dig that deep. Thankfully though, he'd dismissed Victor from the room before airing out Maeve's dirty laundry. She knew Victor had a more developed hearing than the average person but she was unsure how much more developed. Had he heard? Maeve didn't even want to think about that time in her life so she'd pushed passed it while she'd paced at home, deciding what to do. Her entire plan was thrown off course with this change. It already had veered slightly off path when she'd allowed herself to form a personal connection with Erik. Thoughts of how to go about getting him out of there were intruding on her continuing plans of finding her sister. That had been a problem she was easily pushing aside, reminding herself how important it was to keep her cover at Trask and that causing a big issue such as a breakout from maximum security would only bring scrutiny to each and every person and tightened security. How would she continue to get information about the different bases and secret locations owned and operated by Trask? It was hard enough as it was. But the introduction of Roderick into the picture threw everything off. This wasn't good. Roderick was a brute force and just from reviewing Erik's files, Roderick had made it clear that he felt getting anything out of Erik was a lost cause, that keeping him around was only taking up valuable resources. Maeve had convinced him that she'd made some headway today, her first attempt at getting Erik to talk and that her tactic might work over the ones Stryker had tried. She'd managed to buy some time, but not much. It was late that same night when she invisibly popped into Erik's cell. It wasn't Saturday, their usual weekly day she visited, but time was not on their side. She couldn't waste two days. They had to start planning now. Maeve silently watched him, wondering how he'd react not only for her popping in off schedule but for the fact that he'd seen her for the first time earlier today. It wasn't a vanity thing, though a part of her was curious what he'd thought compared to what he'd probably imagined and expected. It was mostly the worry that her reveal also revealed the fact she was working for Trask. That was a huge thing to have kept from him. How had he processed that over the last several hours?
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 17:06:41 GMT -8
Erik had spent the last hours in quite an agony. After all this time he was used to be alone with nothing but his own thoughts, but after today's events these thoughts had become the worst of all. He hadn't been able to get any sleep, actually, the only thing to distract oneself from what was going on behind closed eyes while being awake, not even for a minute.
Eventually, Erik sat up, no longer bothering the ache of his muscles, caused by the hard cot below. With one deep sigh did his hand run through his wild-growing hair, before he leaned his whole head onto the knuckles of his hands as it would weigh the world. Who had thought it could ever become such a torture to await one particular day of the week?
Suddenly he was sensing a change that immediately caused his head to carry itself well again. It was not only the familiar scent of lavender (maybe that was even produced by his own imagination since their meetings had become something like a routine) but also the simple feeling of someone was watching; and that not meant the normal feeling of getting observed by the eye of that camera above the cell door.
"I'd offer you your seat but unfortunately that berserk has shattered it.", Erik finally spoke up with only the little hint of a smile on his lips.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 19:28:40 GMT -8
She moved slowly to the head of his cot and allowed herself a few more minutes to quietly observe him. He seemed so weighed down with burdens. Erik had no idea of the additional dire troubles that had arisen today. She hated that she'd have to add to his already heavy and helpless burden. Her heart went out to him as he rested his head on his knuckles. Maeve started to reach out, overtaken with the need to run a soothing hand over his hair but she quickly pulled her hand back when he suddenly sat up straight again.
"I'd offer you your seat but unfortunately that berserk has shattered it.", Erik finally spoke up with only the little hint of a smile on his lips.
Maeve was relieved to see he still had a smile and humor to offer. She'd half expected anger. She smiled. It couldn't be seen in her state but it could be heard in her voice. "I'll have a new table and chairs delivered tomorrow."
Her voice has traveled from the head of his cot to the foot where she'd sat back against the wall with her feet tucked under her so that he'd be able to face away from the camera. It was cramped quarters on the tiny cot but seeing as the cot was against the furthest wall, there was nowhere else she could go that would allow him to be facing away from the camera.
"I apologize for showing up two days early. Hopefully you can move some of your other appointments around and fit me in now?" she joked.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 20:14:42 GMT -8
"I'll have a new table and chairs delivered tomorrow."
The rather insinuated smile grew into one of more delight immediately once he heard her soft voice resounding inside his dull cell. And even though he couldn't see, he heard her joining smile within. But despite all joy about her sudden presence there seemed to be something that was causing him to minimize the signs of it on his face. It even happened that with her next words the smiling disappeared from his face completely. Not because of her words, but with simply the proceeding of time.
"I apologize for showing up two days early. Hopefully, you can move some of your other appointments around and fit me in now?"
He couldn't just act like the latest events wouldn't have happened. Sure, she still was the same person and Erik had no doubts she wasn't working for Trask Industries, not really, but that circumstance also had added a lot more of unspoken things between them.
"You're being aware of the danger you've gotten yourself into, aren't you?", he eventually asked with a rather hard expression, not reacting to her joking at all.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 20:29:06 GMT -8
Maeve watched the smile fade away from his face and knew they were about to step into serious territory. Whatever playful banter they'd gotten into the habit of in the past, she'd most likely ruined it with having revealed herself to him.
"You're being aware of the danger you've gotten yourself into, aren't you?"
Maeve was expecting anger, maybe accusations of working for the enemy or keeping things from him. She was blindsided by his insinuation that she couldn't handle herself. At least that's how she'd taken it as she was ignoring there being anything further between them than two people who needed someone to talk to.
"By accidentally stumbling into your cell that first day? Yes," she answered with a dry, smart-ass sarcasm.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 21:16:50 GMT -8
Erik's features hardened just a little more, this time caused by something like a non-admitted fear to have overstepped the line of her personal area, something that seemed to be present for both sides on each of their meetings since all of this had started, when once again silence was covering them up. There might not be a good reason to act overly worried about anything she was doing, as she might have gotten herself in much more danger than with her debut into the Trask staff, nonetheless with... "By accidentally stumbling into your cell that first day? Yes,"Exactly that. "Touché.", Erik replied with half an eye-roll and half a sarcastic smile. Then once again silence was following. Now, was that it? No, Erik wasn't willing to give up what had evolved between them during the last weeks, whatever that actually was, just because of the circumstance that he had finally gotten a face to the voice. And so he decided to start anew, this time taking a completely different or rather well-known path.
"Your turn." And with this taking upon an old route Erik's lips formed into a slight smile again; slight, yes, but present.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 21:49:24 GMT -8
And just like that, he'd turned her simmering temper into wistful spirits. As much as she wanted to pretend everything was alright and continue how they'd always had things, time was not on their side. Maeve reverted to a place of gloomy somber. God, but this man put her through an emotional rollercoaster that made her head spin sometimes. It was irritating, exhausting, and strangely thrilling.
"Alright," she began, her voice light but serious. "How would you feel about getting out of here?" she asked, taking her turn at asking a question that doubled as a broaching of the serious matter she'd come here to discuss.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 9, 2018 22:41:30 GMT -8
And yet another pause of silence was following. Erik's features remained calm, while on the inside he felt far away from being calm. Why was that he wondered? What were these little meetings doing with him? What was she doing with him? Or had done already?
"Alright,", she finally spoke up again, her voice somehow have changed. She might be good at hiding her emotions but he was good at reading them; emotions that could be heard only, at that.
It came then that the following question had him completely thrown off his balance for once. "How would you feel about getting out of here?"
This time the pause of silence got caused by himself. For some moments he didn't show any reaction at all, before suddenly regaining his voice.
"I wouldn't feel unpleasant about that.", Erik replied truthfully. While his voice might sound sarcastic, his features didn't show anything like that. To get out of here was his highest wish since they hold him captive here; had been his only wish. But despite this inner wish, there was something holding him back from jumping for joy. He had no idea himself what that was.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 9, 2018 23:29:38 GMT -8
All joking and sarcasm aside, Maeve's voice took on a serious tone with underlying urgency. Her voice indicated she'd leaned toward him in added stress to the situation. "Erik, we have to get you out of here, and quickly. I couldn't afford to waste two days waiting to tell you." She leaned back again, letting out a frustrated sigh and rubbed her temples as she continued. "I've been racking my brain all day and I don't know how I'm going to pull this off."
Not only did it seem an impossible task on her own, but to pull it off without blowing the cover she'd worked for so long on would be impossible. She couldn't move things in her invisible state. For the first time, she was really regretting not having mastered the full extent of her abilities. Not that she had any idea if even at full extent, she'd be able to pull this off.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 10, 2018 0:21:23 GMT -8
"Erik, we have to get you out of here, and quickly. I couldn't afford to waste two days waiting to tell you."
He was getting the urgency of the situation as soon as he heard her calling him Erik. Also, the sudden proximity between them, accompanied with the changed tone in her voice, sent an invisible chill down his spine. Something was going on in these walls, but as much as he wanted to get out of here, he disliked the thought of leaving her behind, even though she might cover herself with a wrong identity. These humans were detestable and he didn't even want to think about what they could do to her in case they found out. His teeth thoughtfully started to grind, hidden behind his cheeks.
"I've been racking my brain all day and I don't know how I'm going to pull this off."
Erik noticed her voice coming from a more distant spot now, which seemed his muscles to relax a little. Not that the fact of knowing her close to him would give him a chill, actually quite the contrary, but the stress within her movements had.
"What has changed?", he eventually asked with a rigid tone. If she risked to visit him in the middle of the week, it had to be something of particular emergency.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 10, 2018 0:53:10 GMT -8
On another sigh, Maeve dropped her hands and let her head rest against the wall.
"You know that sociopathic nut job, Roderick Sommerhaulder? The guy always spouting hateful speeches like an evangelist preaching the genocide of mutantkind on television and in articles? Leader of the Purifiers?" What mutant didn't know of him? She probably could have stopped at his name. Just thinking of those cold, piercing eyes that held absolutely no remorse for the things he'd done and the things he still intended to do sent a chill down her spine that she could feel all the way here, in her projected being. "He's my new boss," she finished with mock cheer.
Maeve let that news sink in, pausing to consider if she should worry him with how close he'd come to today being his last.
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Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 10, 2018 1:52:59 GMT -8
While Stryker was nothing but a calculable idiot, kind of in a way like you were handing a sharp object to a kid that might not mean any danger by itself but with the weapon in its hand, that Roderick guy was the worst the human brute could have disgorged. Of course, Erik was ignoring the fact that the description given by Maeve could be carried over his own profile one-by-one, with the only difference of the sides they were preaching for.
Erik didn't even dare to ask why she was telling him this though. Although he had a guess...
"He's my new boss,"
He accursed himself for his damn guesses. Also, her mocked cheer didn't let the message sound any better; a message he internalized in each of its hidden attachments immediately. There even was no need to ask her out about how much time there was left for him. None.
With any worries about Maeve's well-being aside for a moment, of course was he giving her credit to take care of herself well, Erik knew he had to come up with something himself. And he already had the whiff of an idea. If there was the slightest chance to get one last favor from an old friend, he wouldn't want to miss out on it.
And so the pausing of their conversation didn't take much longer than it took him to lean forward into the direction he thought to sense her, making his voice sounding urgently for his part now. "Okay, Maeve, listen. There is a school called Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters in 1407 Graymalkin Lane, New York. You will ask for Charles Xavier and only for him personally. He won't send you away, I promise. Tell him there is an old friend needing his help one last time."
Erik didn't avert his gaze from the spot he thought her face to be, while he was waiting for her to confirm what, in fact, had sounded more like a command than a pleading. But then again, they went out of time; a fact both of them should be aware of.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jun 10, 2018 4:00:55 GMT -8
Maeve didn't like the idea of having to reveal herself to even more people but desperate times... He'd called it a school for gifted youngsters. That meant probably everyone there was a mutant. It must have been a hell of a sanctuary that even Trask hadn't bothered keeping records on it. At least she hadn't seen any files. Not even one on this Charles Xavier. The name was familiar though. He must have been mentioned in an article, perhaps even in relation to the events that had led Erik here. Was he the other powerful mutant who had stopped Erik from succeeding? That was an interesting friendship if so.
Maeve pushed that out of her mind to concentrate on the information. "1407 Graymalkin Lane, New York. Got it. I'll pop over straight away after work tomorrow," she said hurriedly, wanting to get back to her actual self quickly to write down all the information so she wouldn't forget.
She distractedly repeated the information in rapid succession in her mind, the address in particular, as she made to stand but something anchored her, causing her to settle back down and stare baffled at what had her left hand; Erik. She registered that he'd started to say something again while she'd been in the process of getting up and had automatically reached out while doing so. Somehow, his hand had been able to grasp her wrist in her transparent state. This was new. She thought she'd momentarily felt his hand last time she'd visited, when she'd automatically reached out to him but it had been so brief before her hand went through that she thought it had been her imagination. Apparently not? Maeve was caught up reveling in this newest development. She carefully turned her arm while pulling it forward but a second after the palm of her hand met his, it went through.
Feeling her hand still tingling back where her actual body was, Maeve glanced back at Erik both to see if he'd noticed it too and to hear what it is he'd wanted to add.
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