Mystique
Villains 
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107 
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 2:20:51 GMT -5
Mystique couldn't help a laugh. Of course this human thought someone else was pulling the strings, and of course he'd think it was Fisk. Given his earlier reaction to her blue skin as opposed to the reaction to her sex, it may have just been that he didn't think a woman would dirty her hands by doing her own dirty work. Of course, he could also just be so convinced of Fisk's involvement that he would not consider other options.
"Please. Fisk is a fool that uses mutants as his own personal weapons. I'd tear out my own eyes before I worked for him." She leaned casually back and crossed one leg over the other, as though the conversation was about the weather. "I represent mutants and mutant rights. Have your boys check the rubble for a scrap of cloth with the words 'fraternitati fieri' embroidered on it. Why would Fisk attack your turf and leave the words for 'brotherhood' in the wreckage?"
She steepled her fingers and raised her eyebrows, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. "So, I say again. I sent myself." She grinned, waiting for him to pull the trigger. It was unlikely he could really kill her, and she almost wanted to show that off.
Just in case, she shapeshifted her anatomy so her vitals were kept away from her head, with her outward appearance staying the same. Not even she wanted to test her own immortality.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Nov 28, 2016 7:30:00 GMT -5
The surprise felt from the other woman’s appearance quickly wore away, particularly when Cade used Barbara’s title. Not that she minded it, in fact it was a rare and welcomed change from the usual ‘Miss’, ‘Madam’, or ‘Lady’, though she just wondered if he used it in order to cause a bit more tension and fear in his captive, in case the multitude of guns pointed at her head weren’t enough. He always did have a flare for the dramatics. Exhaling slowly, Barbara closed her eyes so that when they opened once more they had regained their normal shape. She really needed to be more aware of how her emotions affected them, any sort of surprise could trigger a change in them.
Rather than comment or insert any sort of banter, Barbara kept quiet since the two of them were going at it so very well on their own. Instead, she closed the door and simply leaned against it. If anything, where she was provided a good vantage point and meant that she was less likely to have any viscera hit her should anyone suddenly become trigger-happy, and by the way Cade was behaving, it would likely end up being him being the first to pull the trigger. Her guess was proven shortly thereafter with his little failed attempt at Russian Roulette. Again, there was that flare for the dramatics. Barbara guessed that the only reason he didn’t try and shoot a smiley face in the nearby wall was due to the fact that a) he’d hit one of his men and, b) more importantly, this room was his pride and joy and he likely abhorred any sort of lasting damage caused to the decor.
The interrogation was very familiar and, unfortunately for Cade, unlike when he gave Barbara the same sort of investigation, this time he wasn’t holding his cards close to his chest. In her own opinion, he was giving more away than this Mystique woman was. It didn’t help that you couldn't read those solid yellow eyes of hers. Wanting to see if she could shake things up a bit, Barbara decided to intervene. “Why would Fisk, let alone any of the powerful men in this city, use Latin as a calling card? It’s a dead language and while some would easily know it in Europe, Americans are… not to be insulting, but you are all just a bit less worldly. If anything, from what I’ve learned, they either want people to clearly know who made the hit, leaving an obvious calling card, or they want no association whatsoever. Everyone has their own signature and tells, Mr. Cade,” she commented before continuing and changing the conversation rather abruptly; one because of subject matter and two because of the language spoken. “I can’t tell if you’re trying intentionally to hide or show off that accent,” she told Mystique in German. “But I’m curious to learn where you’re from. Southern Germany? Munchen? Regensburg? Stuttgart? Or are you closer to Salzburg, Austria? I doubt you’d be anything further east than that due to the Soviets, but I could be wrong. God knows everyone has been fleeing that part of Europe.” She then laughed, as if getting off subject, but continued in German. “My apologies, I have an academic mind and I’m fascinated by language, so if you could indulge me and help a fellow woman out?” Sometimes throwing a curve ball and going off topic garnered more answers than not.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 10:56:13 GMT -5
The other woman had given no indication that she wanted to enter the conversation, until she did so rather abruptly. Mystique, one to pride herself on not being surprised, was a little shocked that she was not able to read it in the woman's body language. Whatever her ties to Cade, she must have earned them, and she shouldn't be underestimated.
When she started speaking German, it was almost a welcome change. "Bavaria," she answered. "You will forgive me. I'm still new to this country and haven't quite succeeded in hiding my accent." She spoke in her native German with ease, and it was certainly welcome. "From the sounds of it, you appear to be new to this country as well. Which English province are you from? You are too well dressed to be from London, and too colorfully dressed to have stayed on that island. Are you from Africa? Or did you just visit?"
Her eyes drifted back to Cade, idly curious how he was reacting to the conversation. Could he understand it? Was he frustrated that she was not more afraid that he would shoot her? There were many questions she had that may or may not be answered. Frankly, she wasn't sure if she cared. This day just kept getting more and more interesting.
"You are right, by the way," she continued in German. "I chose Latin so my threat would not be misinterpreted as something one of these American oafs would throw together. Heaven forbid no one takes word of a new force seriously." The smile on her face could have been unsettling. For the moment, she had given up trying to predict others' reactions. Of course, she was sure the woman was trying to help gain information. She would do the same thing if she was in any other position. However, she wasn't going to make it that easy. She wasn't being coy with her information anyway. This was a genuine misunderstanding, and she aimed to apologize for making it look so personal. The fact that they were really treating this like she was some lowly spy was almost amusing.
Of course, she could just be forthcoming and tell them all of this, but where would the fun in that be? She was innocent of any attack on turf, being the victim of bad intel, but that didn't mean she was just going to tell them everything in one go. Make them feel like they're accomplishing something. Perhaps then they might be more willing to hear her motives. Perhaps, however unlikely, they might even become conditional allies.
Her eyes fell back on Artie. Well, more specifically his gun. He still hadn't shot her. "It's not nice to keep a lady waiting. I know you want to pull the trigger. Please do so before this nice woman begins to sweat in anticipation."
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Post by Artie Cade on Nov 28, 2016 14:48:53 GMT -5
"Barbara...." Artie said as his gaze slowly shifted toward her, "...Fisk has tried to throw me off his trail twice by leaving indicators of other involvement behind. I mean of the two of us, he and I, I'm the one who's only ever too eager to let him know it was me."
He had dropped the pistol to his side as he listened to the two converse in...German? But now aimed it back at Mystique's head. He knew little of the language, and had only utilized it a couple of times when dealing with foreign clientele. They were speaking too fast for him to really pick up most of it. But then Mystique moved back to English.
"All right then, Little Broad Blue," he purred, "So sorry to keep you waiting."
The pistol clicked.
Surprised, Artie examined the gun.
"....you're a lucky little lady...it's jammed." he said with a smirk, "Still a new model I've been concocting, you see. But here..."
He sat down on the table in front of Mystique, his wiry limbs dangling over it idly.
"...you're no run of the mill saboteur like I usually get around here," he continued, "I'd hate to see talent wasted on random hits. My cops cleaned up the scene by now, your little calling card was discarded. See I'm not one to show weakness. It was simply...an electrical problem. They happen. Tragic, I know. So now that you've accomplished nothing other than pissing me off...I assume you're for sale. If not to Fisk, then to me."
It was a long shot at a display of power, but Artie kept it casual.
"Or I could just keep you in here for a few days, I think Room Nine will be open soon. HEY UH UNIT FOUR IS ROOM NINE OPEN?"
The door against the far wall rattled and a shriek of pain was heard behind it.
"OKAY THANK YOU!" he called and turned back to Mystique, "Sorry, you'd have to wait. But it does give you time to consider that paying work beats demonstrative time wasting by a long shot."
Artie lit a cigarette and blew small smoke rings up toward the ceiling as he looked intently at the blue woman.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 15:40:12 GMT -5
Oh this was rich. This human thought she could be bought? Well, no such luck there. And, after all, he did just make this whole day completely meaningless. Mystique did not appreciate getting cracked in the skull for nothing, and if his boys had already removed the evidence that meant all of her planning and preparations meant nothing. A whole day wasted. No, that didn't appeal to her.
But at least he perhaps seemed interested in a partnership. Maybe they could benefit from this incident after all.
"Mr. Cade, I hate to disappoint you, but I am not for sale. I cannot be bought by any human, and I refuse to take orders from the homo sapien. It has taken me years to break free of my slave name, and I will not compromise my dignity for a check." She stood from her seat and smoothed the skirt of her dress out over her hips. "This was not some 'random hit' as you put it. This was to be the beginning of a new era for mutant kind. A time for those in hiding to rise up and take pride that they have reached the next stage of evolution. To be unafraid of those that would subdue us. To break free of our oppression. I am not sure how aware you are of our condition, but with the end of the war, tensions are high in our community. I have already fled the rule of one that saw us as a sub species, and I refuse to allow my kind to suffer the same fate as I."
Her tone was strict. Firm. She was taking charge of a situation that would have otherwise seen her killed, and she did so fearlessly. More than that, she did it in such a matter of fact way, as though her leadership could not be questioned.
"I say again, I am not for sale. But, perhaps, we could come to an agreement. A partnership, if you will. Your..." she glanced around at the room, trying to think of the best word for it, "dungeon here is far enough underground, I can tell you would prefer to stay out of the spotlight. You prefer the shadows. I can respect that. However, I have much to lose if my whole day was wasted. My suggestion to you is to take ownership of the explosion. Appoint someone in your name to speak to the press. Someone that will give your name better standing with the general public, despite what the authorities know to be true about you. The public will see a philanthropist. Not an arms dealer or gangster. The police, therefore, will not be as likely to track your moves. The ones you don't hold in your pocket, anyway. Public interest holds such an interesting sway over their decisions. That Officer Tipton seemed like a man whose mind needed to be changed, and just such a patriotic image could be just the thing."
She barely noticed that she had started to pace. She did so occasionally when planning and scheming. "Your rivalry with Fisk could benefit from a better reputation. I could be such a public face for you." A smile tugged at her face. "All I would require is the occasional weapon here and there to further my cause, with my word that your turf will not suffer from my hands again. A simple trading of arms for services under the agreement that neither one of us controls the other. You go your way, and I go mine. Should you have need of my services, I will come without a moment's hesitation. Otherwise, we don't know each other."
Shifting her weight from one leg to the other, she crossed her arms just under her ample chest. She wasn't above using her figure to sway a man one way or another. It just so happened she could see benefits to this partnership, that she was willing to use some of her persuasive features.
"I can be of use to you, Mr. Cade. You can be of use to me. A man of your elegance surely knows the benefits of having a woman's touch in some of these matters. I see the way you carry yourself. You are a smart man, and you know how to keep your subordinates under your thumb. I will not expect an answer today, nor do I expect you to let me waltz out of here just because we've had a good chat. But I have faith that you will make the smart decision. I can scratch your back, sir. As long as you can scratch mine."
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Post by Artie Cade on Nov 28, 2016 16:19:11 GMT -5
When Mystique stood, his men leveled their guns higher to keep her in their sights.
Truth be told, Artie only half listened to what Mystique was saying. He was far too distracted by her...very stunning figure. Blue was never his color but he didn't see it as any kind of hinderance or blemish, she looked...incredible.
The wiles of women always did set him on edge. Ever since Locke.
He looked up at the blue woman and pondered for a moment, then turned to acknowledge Barbara by the door.
"What do you think, Barbara?" he asked before looking back up at Mystique, "I think this woman could be...useful, if a bit fanciful. And I have...a uh, target in mind to test her mettle. I think you know the one I mean, dear doctor."
He kicked his legs idly as they dangled off the table and he set the pistol on its surface.
"Curious to see if Mystique here could off one of her own kind to get what she wants out of this."
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Nov 28, 2016 20:22:28 GMT -5
“Then Fisk sounds as if he is someone who is afraid to show his power. Unlike you,” Barbara commented, her eyes unashamedly meeting Artie’s. “He’s either weak, timid, or playing a game that no one else is aware of.” Truthfully, Barbara knew very little about Wilson Fisk, and though she was not afraid to voice an opinion, the tone of voice that Artie held indicated that she needed to watch where she stepped. Especially due to the fact that he was armed. “I was simply pointing out what I was aware of.”
Bavaria. Well, at least Barbara still had an ear for accents. As for the location, as far as she knew, Bavaria had always been an odd sort when it came to Germany. They enjoyed their own separate identity, tending to call themselves German as a secondary choice. Admittedly, it was an important distinction, since it was one of Hitler’s favorite places to reside in. The last bit of news Barbara had read about the state was their efforts to maintain a sense of independence from the ‘Fatherland’. “I’m a world traveler,” she answered Mystique. “As for where I’m from in England, let’s keep it simple and say I'm from the middle of it.” Technically, she was being truthful, since Nottingham was near the center of the country, but she certainly wasn’t about to tell this woman any more than that. “One can only stay on that rainy island for long without wishing for a change of scenery. But yes, I’ve safaried once or twice.”
Mystique was…. if she was being sincere, it was in a difficult to read manner. “A word of advice, if I may? Threats and shows of force are all well and good, but the moment children are involved, any hope of conversation you and your brotherhood expect to gain will be dashed. So you had best hope that none were hit in your explosion. Also? Perhaps you should consider picking a name that doesn’t evoke a sense of a militant movement?” Having said her fill, Barbara returned to quietly watching. Artie was in charge here, not her. But as she listened to Mystique preach on about rising up and taking pride, she couldn’t help but see parallels between her and members of the Irish Republican Army, both of which wanted recognized independence. They also both loved to use violence and explosives to voice their views.
As the woman stood and spoke, crafting a little agreement that seemed to lean in her own favor, Barbara started to like her less and less. Were she an animal, it was quite possible that her hackles would be rising and she’d be growling, but instead she simply settled for watching the blue woman rather intently. Bringing Artie Cade into the spotlight might put a damper on her own plans. Moving black market items was best done quietly and here was this woman wanting to put Cade, and by extension, Barbara, in the public eye. When Mystique finally stopped, Barbara cocked her head slightly, noticing something odd. Perhaps it was a trick due to how she was standing and emphasizing them, but the woman’s chest looked bigger. Not obscenely so, but just enough, and by the way Cade was staring, he noticed it as well. Barbara had had enough of this. “What I think is that you should stop letting your johnson think for you. Yes, I’ll admit, seeing an entirely blue woman is unusual, and due to your size, I'm sure that blood rushes to other places far more easily, but I’d rather it not distract you entirely.” The verbal jab about his height felt like the right thing to do. Maybe it would knock some sense into him. “If you insist on keeping her, make her prove her worth. So far all she’s done is destroy a carnival ride and turned herself blue. Not really impressive. But… yes, if you really think she can handle it, send her after the girl.” At the moment, Barbara didn’t really give a damn who came out alive in the end.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 21:22:54 GMT -5
Mystique was truly starting to like this Barbara person, but there were a couple of things exchanged that she could not disagree more with. She wanted to make an ally, if not a friend, in this woman, but there were a couple of things that needed to be said first.
"Don't you dare presume to give me advice," she hissed in German. "You were not born into your powers, I can tell that much about you. And yes, I know you're gifted. You do not get to tell me how to lead my rebellion. 'Try to pick a name that does not evoke sense of militant movement'? You British and your sensibilities. Did you witness first hand the way Der Fuhrer quelled an entire nation with talk of hate and pride? No. Have you witnessed first hand the horrors my kind are subjected to? No. Have you ever been victimized personally by hatred? No. You do not get to tell me how I should and should not act. You have not smiled sweetly and dined with the symbol of your destruction, nor have you ever looked him in the eye. I have every right to be militant. We have died quietly for far too long at the hands of those humans," she sneered the last word, "and we will not go quietly into the night any longer."
Mystique took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She really needed to try not to let things get to her so easily, but the matter was a tender subject. As such, she quickly changed the subject so Barbara wouldn't have time to argue with her. The day was already starting to go sour. Especially if a potential ally wanted her to kill a fellow mutant.
"I see why you like this woman," she said to Cade, her voice almost sickly sweet when contrasted to her brief fury. She glanced back at Barbara and shifted into a perfect replica. "I apologize that I haven't seemed to impress you yet, but you hardly know me that well. We have just met, after all." She even spoke with a perfect replication of the woman's voice, tone, syntax, and accent. She looked back at Cade once more and pouted her lip out. "I don't think she likes me very much, do you?"
Rolling her eyes, she shifted into a replica of Artie Cade, adopting his stance and mannerisms. "The funny thing about mutants is, you just can't be sure all of them can be killed. I know of a handful that don't even flinch at a bullet in the head. It's just soooo frustrating figuring out what to do with them. I just can't guarantee a kill, I'm afraid."
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Post by Artie Cade on Nov 28, 2016 21:41:31 GMT -5
Artie took all of this in with a blank face, one that his men knew well as they shifted slightly.
The boss's temper was roiling. Bubbling just under the surface. And that meant it would blow up.
Barbara was tearing down his authority in front of this woman. This captive. This potential tool. And he never could stomach that sort of thing, nevermind his Napoleon complex.
"Cripes..." he said, still staring straight ahead at nothing but speaking to his rightmost goon, "...drop your gun, would you?"
The man hesitated and looked around.
"Sir?"
"C'mon Cripes, no need to overdo it, hm?"
The man slowly did as he was told and let his pistol fall to the floor. He began to visibly sweat. Artie jumped off the table and quick as a flash he retrieved his cane and leapt up at the tall man's head, bashing it like a rabid animal bent on the kill. As Cripes' body fell, Artie dove on it and continued his attack, shrieking obscenities until the head was nothing but pulp.
His eyes blazed and he seethed, looking up at Barbara. The real one.
"Doctorrrrr...." he hissed, his voice adopting the venom it did on occasion, "See what you made me dooooo, doctor?"
With a gloved hand he picked up pieces of the ex-goon's broken skull and brain matter and idly tossed it toward her. He was careful that none of them struck her, that would be unseemly and hardly as demonstrative.
"Fruits of your labors, Barbara? Take a piece? Want two? Three maybe?"
He slammed the end of his cane on the floor to hoist himself back up.
CLANG.
Artie stood and moved back toward the table, pointing his cane up at the shapeshifter.
"And you," he said, his tone still poisonous, "Well I just don't know what to DO with you if you're going to be so reluctant. What I need are killers here, not politicians. I half think now that it'd just be more useful to peel you apart and let the Ticktockmen haul you to the upright incinerator in Room Four. There are seats so I can watch. What do you think of that?"
He slammed his cane onto the ground again to hoist himself back onto the table, now looking down at the shapeshifter who was in his shape.
CLANG.
"Hard to say," he purred, "She may not like you, but Barbara is at least connected enough that her strikes can be visited on somebody else. Poor Cripes. He was a good soldier. I tell you what I'll do...what would you think is a fair sort of test? Shall you run through one of my rooms? Enjoy some time with my Ticktockmen?"
He turned to look at Barbara, slowly and with a wicked look in his eye.
"Could be...fun." he chuckled.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Nov 28, 2016 22:42:39 GMT -5
Mystique had to have seen her eyes when Barbara entered the room. The shock of seeing a blue woman… they would have reacted as any sort of involuntary reflex. Maybe it was time to get a pair of sunglasses to wear when encountering strangers. But her eyes were all that she had seen, she didn’t know any more. Hell, Barbara didn’t know any more, not really, only that she would be given more when the time was right. Her thoughts were quickly pushed aside as Mystique continued her speech. It was true, she would have answered no to all of her questions, but Barbara experienced her own form of persecution and violation, all to a lesser, though more personal degree. Knowing better than to speak out against what was being said, Barbara simply looked away, giving that as an indication of Mystique being right.
What caused her to look back was hearing her own voice spoken by someone else. For the second time in such a short while, Barbara was made speechless by what she saw. Herself, standing not ten feet from her. Had she not already been leaning against the door, she would have shrank back, but instead, her body simply stiffened as she took in the sight before the doppelgänger changed into Artie Cade. Glancing over at the original to see how he was taking all of this, Barbara suddenly realized her mistake and how far she had overstepped her boundaries.
Artie was deathly still with a blank look upon his face. Underneath was a rolling tension, not unlike a predator that was ready to attack. Barbara had made a critical error and braced herself for the repercussions. However, they never came, at least not to her. Instead, Cade leapt at a nearby guard and began bludgeoning him without mercy or hesitation. This was not a lesson in disobedience; this was a lesson in power and aggression. Barbara knew better than to look away, not during this display, and not when he was finished. He wanted her to see it all and had she denied him the cowed look in her eyes, it was quite possible that Cade would have forced her to view the results in a much more closer detail. It wasn’t until he tossed the scraps of skull towards her feet that Barbara broke his gaze and bowed her head.
He had killed because of her, and a small, quiet voice in the back of her head tried to convince her that he had killed for her, but Barbara would have none of it, denying that there had been any enjoyment in watching his actions. Only when she felt his eyes upon her once more did Barbara look up and answer him. “She is your guest, Mr. Cade, and this is your house. I think it is best if you decide the test. I’m sure you can think of something appropriate.” That seemed a rather even keeled and middle of the road response, one that hopefully showed him that she had learned her lesson and was past the point of making decisions for him, knowing full well that he was the boss. Maybe then, if he was pleased with her reply, she would be able to loosen the death-grip she currently had on the doorknob.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 22:59:18 GMT -5
Mystique regained her chosen human face and kicked a stray piece of brain away from her shoe. She had watched the display with a more or less blank expression. She had seen far worse and far more violent, and she knew better than to step into issues that didn't concern her. If anything, it did warn her to treat Cade with more respect. Not that she hadn't already intended to do so if they became partners, but now she was given more incentive. The damage wouldn't be nearly as permanent, but it would still be unpleasant.
There was an odd quiet that settled in as it appeared that Barbara and Artie had to take a moment to recollect. Mystique congenially stepped forward and offered an avenue forward.
"If you please, I never said I wouldn't be willing to kill. I would simply rather wait and make sure it is possible." A small smile played on her lips, trying to bring the mood back to a lighter place. "If you need a more immediate show of my usefulness, I would be happy to go through one of your rooms. And, when the intel comes in, I will find this girl you mention. If she can be killed, she will be. If not ... Well, you seem like the kind of person that likes to experiment."
It did make her stomach turn, talking like this about one of her own kind. She would never kill another mutant if it was up to her, but she needed an ally. She was realistic enough to sacrifice this much for her cause.
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Post by Artie Cade on Nov 28, 2016 23:22:05 GMT -5
Artie grinned wide and wrung his hands together. He hopped off the table again and limped on his cane, kicking bits of brain matter along the floor with a sickening skid sound.
"WELL, BOYS!" he said as he limped around the room, knocking on the various numbered steel doors, "Sounds like tonight is gonna be a hell of a ride!"
He continued tapping on the doors until one rang with a hollow sound.
"Ahhhhh..." he purred as his grin widened, "Room Seven. UNITS EIGHT AND TEN REPORT!"
One of the doors near the rows of guns at the far end opened and two curious automatons emerged. They had Long spindly arms that seemed boneless, and upon their tall heads there was but one single eye. They had crude painting on their copper bodies, in the forms of a pair of leering eyes and a smile on their cylindrical torsos.
"Good lads," he said as he knocked on their metal bodies as the stood at attention, "Mystique, these are two of my Ticktockmen. They'll escort you to Room Seven and make sure everything is to order while dear Barbara and I adjourn to the gallery to see it all. There is a rather long series of steps down behind the door so if you'd be kind enough to not attempt escape...it would save us all a lot of climbing to retrieve your pretty little corpse."
The Ticktockmen turned their heads in unison toward Mystique and they moved toward her, gesturing to the door.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Nov 28, 2016 23:34:52 GMT -5
Mystique smirked, examining the Ticktockmen closely. This was technology she'd never seen before. This could indeed prove to be an interesting night.
"Escape? Why would I do a thing like that? This is far more entertaining than my previous plans." And she meant it. However she might have planned to escape before, this was far more interesting. If she could stand to benefit from it, it would be worth the effort.
Besides. It couldn't be that bad, could it?
She followed the Ticktockmen, taking this time to mentally prepare for what she might be in for.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Nov 29, 2016 7:04:27 GMT -5
Barbara exhaled slowly, wanting to concentrate just a bit more on her breathing as Cade went around prepping for whatever test he had planned. Sometimes being still and quiet worked out best, even if it was not quite following her nature. Besides, though it was likely that nobody else in the room could smell it clearly at the moment, Cripes’ body was starting to indicate that, yes indeed, the man was in fact dead, just in case the lack of a head wasn’t any indication. Her stomached rolled at the smell, though she was;t sure if she was going to be sick or not. Barbara was only glad that Cade hadn’t decided to eviscerate the man instead. Had he, she would have needed to leave the room.
The automatons were familiar, but the paint job was definitely new and something Barbara wanted to comment on. Instead she thought better. “You’ve been a busy man, Mr. Cade,” she stated simply. No need for there to be a second person in Room Seven. She thought that this would be a proper partnership between the two of them, equal footing for the both of them, but Barbara’s estimation had been slightly off. Cade still thought of him as the boss, even with partners. Good manners, as well as wanting to regain whatever standing and grace she had in his eyes meant that she would have to do the one thing she wasn’t entirely used to doing; apologizing for being wrong.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cade," she told him softly, waiting for Mystique to have exited the room before speaking. Saying this in front of his mean was one thing, but Barbara hadn’t fully judged Mystique yet. Despite their little spat, she did seem to overall like the oddly colored woman, if anything just for a bit of female companionship and a bit of like-minded intelligence. It was a rare thing to have in America. She also kept being respectfully, foregoing the use of his first name, at least for now. “If this gentleman had family, I will pay for the funeral and send them compensation for his death.” A bit much perhaps, but generosity was sometimes a good thing. “May I ask what you have planned for the woman, or is that a surprise waiting to be seen?” After saying this, Barbara’s body relaxed a little. She didn’t return completely to normal, but she was starting to feel just a tad bit better. Seeing how he responded would definitely set the tone for the rest of this little bit of business.
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Post by Artie Cade on Nov 29, 2016 18:31:16 GMT -5
Artie smirked as Mystique exited with his Ticktockmen. When the door had shut and sealed, he went straight to the lift opposite the freight elevator and waited for it to arrive. He turned to Barbara and took her hand, patting it gently as he looked up at her.
"Barbara, please," he said reassuringly and earnestly, "It's Artie, you know that. She's gone now. And might be entirely if she doesn't survive the room."
Releasing her hand, he stepped into the elevator and waited for Barbara to join him.
"And yes, if you'd take care of his arrangements and see that his family is taken care of that would be best."
Artie peered back out at his subordinates.
"...WELL GO ON, DISPERSE!" he shouted, "GET BACK TO THE SUIT!"
The men scrambled away and exited the door in the corner, bolting it shut as they went.
The elevator ride up to the observation and control room was not a long one, and once inside the round room, Artie began to turn dials and press buttons to set the room, muttering to himself as he did.
"And I thiiiink..." he said half to himself, "...that Ms. Mystique could certainly benefit from quite an onslaught....I don't think we need the sensory overload procedures, she won't be in a war zone...."
He set his parameters. A flood of his sharper Ticktockmen with their knives on their fingers. An uneven floor set to swivel like a top. Heat. Cold water to create steam.
That might be a suitable test of the senses for any normal person...and his hatred and desire for the body of that Laura girl did come to the frontmost of his thoughts. If Mystique could hold her own in these conditions, well...a tenacious young lady shouldn't be too difficult.
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