005; CLOSED. and darling, i saw it all.

[norea]

Who: The present anti-CL team.
What: Meeting to discuss.
Where: Lost Society, in the library.
When: Misdi, around midnight.
Notes: plotsss. I'll have three comment sections: one for Rhade showing up early, one for the collective group (we'll have to sort out orders since there are quite a few characters), and one for separate character interactions (one on one or whatever y'all prefer). AND... we will have to copypaste in our tags from LJ, soooo.
Warnings: idk yet.

The spell that Hasibe has worked over Lost Society means that no one is going to remember they were there; service will be a bit spotty, as a result, and the waiters on hand will seem peculiarly disinterested in whomever shows up, only providing them with drinks and necessities when deliberately prodded, but that's an aspect of the magic. She partially chose this location because it's easy to find a secluded area there, and in this case, she finds a table in the library, shrugging off her white coat to rest it on the back of her chair. She is dressed in a sleek, high-collared dark-green dress that is not too flashy, in order to keep with the discretion of the venue.

The other reason she chose this place is that they don't care if you smoke indoors. So that's what she's doing, rose-flavored Black Devil cigarette in hand, sitting back in her chair as she exhales smoke toward the ceiling. She has a couple books open on the table in front of her, and nothing in the way of food, but she does have a drink. Priorities.

Comments

[magnetic]

Erik can only inhale other people's smoke for so long before he must relent to the temptation to light one of his own—he's not made of stone, you know, despite what his estranged future relatives might say—but thus far he's resisted. Similarly, he's gone without a beverage, and neither has he touched any of the books, although he does make the obligatory meandering pass. Contemplating rows and rows of spines. His eyes move, or his head tilts, his hands always unoccupied.

It's not that he seems out of place—this is a fitting environment, in fact, more so than many others in the city. The haze and the intimacy and the mingling scents of old liquor and older leather suit him very well. He's merely in no big hurry to socialize. But then, he's not about to turn anyone away, either.

[rhinemaid]

As debatably good a thing as it is, Erik can also count himself one of the few exceptions to Ilde's disinterest in that which resembles actual socialization this evening-- though how much her subdued and abruptly unannounced presence counts as 'actual socialization' is arguable, too.

"I'm having a great harp custom made for the villa," she says, instead of a greeting, and this is his helpful warning before he receives a tiny hug of appreciation for having taken an interest in getting that done.

[magnetic]

Erik does count her interest among the few good things of the evening, especially given her little hello, here. He looks mildly surprised—not unpleasantly so—and as he lets her slip loose of the embrace and into friendly arms' reach, he looks down at Ilde with a more open expression than one might expect. He is genuinely pleased to see her.

"It's worked out well, then. Excellent."

[rhinemaid]

Something isn't quite right in her manner - like there are little quirks she'd ordinarily remember to give herself that aren't there, too quiet and too still like a blank canvas left behind - but then she remembers to smile and it's...all right, it's not that bad. She is pleased to see him, even if she's equally tempted to retreat immediately after having accomplished her goal.

"The payments aren't bad," she says, maintaining that small, genuine half-smile. "And I think I'll be able to take over a room at home for music, maybe."

[magnetic]

"Good." He says this with a smile, himself, although it is similarly tight. Neither of them are having an easy time of it lately, it seems like. "If you've any trouble, let me know."

Not that she should, but he is willing to make it easier, is the point, here.

[rhinemaid]

"So you can arrest them?" However fleeting (and it is, shuttering like a signal lamp), there's a grin on the end of that inquiry. "I heard, in Mafaton."

It's too far away from the river for her to consider living full time, but she does spend a fairly substantial amount of her time in the area and she does know a few people who know a few people.

[magnetic]

Likewise, Erik grins—it's one of only a few proper grins he's worn since he came here, so enjoy it, people—although his is not so brief and lingers through his reply before it fades. "Oh, you heard, did you. So much for that secret." That total non-secret. Look at him, he's clearly proud of his new appointment.

[rhinemaid]

And she's sincerely pleased for him-- "Congratulations," she says, meaning it. "If Mafaton were nearer the river, I think I'd live there. I nearly do already. How do you like the undercity?"

[magnetic]

"It's a remarkable place," he says, in lieu of using words like horrifying or claustrophobic. "I've been on a tour, and was given a crash course in cruorvore politics as well—the basic hierarchy surrounding the council, and so on. Fascinating stuff." And he has plenty to learn if he wants to avoid a messy end. "Seems I have my work cut out for me."

[rhinemaid]

"You won't be bored," she offers, in an effort at optimism that falls slightly short if only because of how obviously an effort it is. It isn't insincere, just sort of inept.

[23rd]

Laura's in the habit of staring at people -- their reactions tend to be pretty telling, or at least interesting, but mostly she's just really bad at people skills. She doesn't care if she unnerves people (in fact, that's probably better, she doesn't want people thinking they can fuck with her) but she's not intentionally targeting anyone in particular.

Except Erik.

She knows who he is, and also that he's from a radically alternate timeline from her own. She knows what he can do and, in another universe, what he's capable of, but everything else is a giant question mark, which she doesn't like. It's a given that he'll notice her considering stare eventually, because unlike the more surreptitious people here, she doesn't give one flying fuck about subtlety.

He will undoubtedly notice the absurd amount of metal in her arms and feet -- she never had the full skeleton adamantium graft, which she considers an advantage for more than the obvious reasons.

[magnetic]

Erik does indeed notice, because how could he not, honestly. And by the way he looks at her outright, no doubt examining her fortified bones the instant they're sensed, it seems he's decided to give subtlety a miss as well. Since he has yet to encounter Logan in his enhanced state, Laura is the first to come bearing these secret gifts—he has never felt adamantium before now.

The scrutiny doesn't unsettle him, but it does provoke some suspicion and curiosity, too. He figures this girl, like the others he's met, knows him (or of him, anyway) from some other time and place. Some other iteration. It's beginning to nettle him, honestly, for some reason he can't yet name.

He does not smile, but both cants his head and turns it faintly away, still looking. Just so. Is there something he can help you with, tiny?

[23rd]

Whatever she feels about his alternate (which isn't much; she's not had much history with him, by the time she was with the X-men, he was almost consistently trying to be one of the good guys) is... not irrelevant, no, but the Logan that's here is so wildly different from her own and she's trying not to judge him by the one she knows, so it's only fair to apply that same standard here.

Also, he's Wanda's father, and she likes Wanda.

Making an obvious -- almost painful -- attempt to stop scowling, Laura comes within a few degrees of the world's most awkward, Wednesday Addams-esque smile. She doesn't quite make it and instead looks neutral. Good enough. "Hi."

[magnetic]

Regardless of its supposed failure, her attempt is fascinating to watch, and more than a little charming, besides. It inspires Erik to smile, in fact—not too widely—as though he's adopted the aborted expression, picked up easily where she had to leave it. (It does not come naturally to him, either, but he's had practice.)

"Hello." His tone is mild, smooth as you please. "Curious place to hold a secret meeting, isn't it?"

[23rd]

"No." ... well then. That brusqueness of that might be rude if she weren't so obviously making an effort, and in her mind, it's just an answer to a question. She's all sharp angles, clipped speech, ruthless efficiency, regardless of how many spiked bracelets and crucifixes she drapes herself in.

"You are Wanda's father." That is possibly the least horrible thing for someone to recognise him from, over terrorist or madman or genocidal maniac. She's not just stating random facts, either, though it's not quite a question, it's like she's feeling out an idea.

[magnetic]

The least horrible, sure, and by far the least expected. He reacts with a huff of surprise, the kind that tries to mask itself as a sort of aborted laugh, and an overall softening of his expression—it is subtle, and honest, and quite involuntary, and will be gone again soon enough. In the meantime, he breaks eye contact to feign interest in something...over there. Some nonspecific thing.

...And we're back. "How do you know her?"

[23rd]

Laura doesn't understand his reaction at all -- she's not the best when it comes to reading body language, but she's observant, so she catches things that pique her interest but that she can't explain. Her head tilts slightly to one side, like a dog. "I live with her." And with Remy, then, obviously -- well, she did come in with him.

Never fear, though, Erik, this is not another long-lost alternate dimension grandchild. Thank God.

[magnetic]

Yes. Thank god for that.

"I see." It's not a dismissal; since she seems to prefer speaking plainly, Erik figures he'll do so in turn. He appreciates the efficiency, in fact, as a nice little break from the dialed-up charisma thing he's been employing lately (honestly, it's wearing thin). "And how did that come about?"

[23rd]

"Remy is my friend." Not her dad, which is good in that having his genes would make her approximately nine thousand times more alarming. Their relationship is reminiscent of that, though -- the way she follows his lead and looks to him for guidance, even though it's abundantly clear that she's capable of independence. She is not actually a child.

"He and Wanda are --" She falters, there, because she really, genuinely doesn't know the word for it, nor does she know any appropriate slang terms. Her expression as she searches for a way to explain it that makes sense to her is almost funny.

[norea]

"You must be Erik," Hasibe says, in the process of setting down a drink of her own (her second, though it doesn't appear to have had any impact on her, so either her tolerance is strange or she's not drinking anything too heavy). "You are, aren't you?" As though she'd be just a little embarrassed if he weren't, though that's not really the case. She feigns uncertainty at times because it's an ingredient to charm, and to putting others at ease.

"I'm afraid there are a few of us I haven't yet met in person."

FINALLY

[magnetic]

Wonderful, someone else who knows him. It was a bit thrilling at first, as a novelty, but he has since moved through the flattery part of this phenomenon and on to feeling somewhat put out by it. This is why the smile he wears is automatic and bland as he turns to spy the woman who addresses him, his eyebrows politely raised. ...The expression is short-lived. Her little embellishment seems to have done the trick. (Among other things.) (What, he's allowed to be stuck now and then.)

"I am indeed. And you're Hasibe, correct?" He doesn't need to ask, but it's only polite.

[norea]

"Yes, that's me. And we spoke on the Network, didn't we?" But she doesn't let that question sit for long. Hasibe already knows, through a little bit of deduction, that this is the one she planned to tell about Mem and Zin--sometime, anyway. Not here, certainly. At the moment she is perched, neatly, on the edge of one of the tables, legs crossed, heels balanced on the floor. (Given the choice between a proper chair and a table or a bar top or some such thing semi-inappropriate thing, she'll almost always pick the table.)

It puts her within touching distance of one of the bookshelves, you see, and she indicates one with a slight sideways tip of her head. "I think my choice of venue is probably telling. It's good to meet you--you know, officially."

She smiles, genuine; she knows he's a friend of Ilde's, which speaks well of him, in her opinion.

[magnetic]

"Likewise." Put somewhat at ease by her manner (even somewhat can be considered an accomplishment, Erik being the way he is), he slips into a more honest expression, himself—this means the smile fades from his lips, but its vestiges linger overall among the sundry lines and angles of his face. "I much prefer a personal introduction to those made through the network."

He feels like he should be holding a drink, suddenly, but at this point he has none and so his hands slide into his pockets instead. "If I may, what was it that prompted you to arrange this gathering?"

[norea]

It's a good question, and perhaps she may be forgiven a moment of careful consideration before she answers--it's not about trust, but rather, phrasing. "I don't want to risk the possibility of any of us working against each other," she says, after that moment passes.

Also, she has a vested interest in keeping track of who's who in the group; it's telling she doesn't say anything about Jack and Bruce, but she wants to know what all of the others are up to. At least her intentions are good. "I've been 'passing' as human, and seeing one of the Candlelighters."

She is so casual and poised, as she says this, but there's a trace of gritted control somewhere in the back of her voice, like it's been sort of difficult to restrain her instinctive responses to some of the things they say and do. (She doesn't particularly like weaponizing her sexuality, but she's so good at it, you see.)

"It's offered me a little insight. A man I had undercover with me found some things, too, and they're worrying enough that I want everyone to know what's going on. Have you been following the election at all?"

[magnetic]

"Not much, no... I've been preoccupied with settling in here—" securing a place to stay, finding and losing and finding friends, trying not to lose his shit, etc. "—and have yet to catch up on the political side of things. But it's on my to-do list."

Despite the subdued delivery, that may in fact have come off a bit cheeky. (Speaking of being good at things.)

That aforementioned possibility of hers will happen regardless, he thinks—but then, Erik does not hold the highest opinion of people in general. His enduring pessimism is not a scar, but a saturation, ground in deep by black boot heels in the formative years of his life. Still, it's not a terrible idea to know who you're going to be dealing with, anyway.