taxonomites | 01 | holo | taxon!sanctuary

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01 | holo | taxon!sanctuary

[it isn't London. That much is abundantly clear. Adam Worth stops short and instinctively half-turns to look over his shoulder for a nonexistent something - or perhaps someones - but wastes little time slipping down the stairs, stealing alert glances along the way. Even if the extra-dimensional rift leading through time and space back to his subterranean lab had been there when he looked it wouldn't have been an option, the least of which because the immense power necessary to generate and sustain said portal is a fickle beast, the harness fashioned temporary at best. Yet temporary was all he required. Let it rampage, turn what's left of Praxis to dust. There's no turning back. As if he - they - want to.

Upon reaching the floor he follows the line of the platform away from what may be a door. There he watchfully frees a hand by depositing one of two rugged-looking cases in the meager cover. No, definitely not London, or at least not of the time period he was aiming for. But why? Thumbnail touches teeth. A miscalculation? No. The equations were faultless, beyond sound, which left only one alternative. Digits clench. Interference. Though by what, or - he draws a Praxian energy pistol - whom.

The only place to look for answers appears to be a nearby pedestal. Weapon ready, he approaches, placing the second case - carrying a far more precious cargo than the first - gently at its base, freeing that hand to sweep the cornice for security measures before he touches what tops it. The tablet's bi-dimensional interface is beyond accessible, almost boring, and he knows the name of his location soon enough.

The Sanctuary. They should have known]

Heaven hath no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor Hell a fury, like a WOMAN scorned. [he recites grandly for anyone - or really just one particular someone - to hear, before slipping back into merely projecting his British-accented speech] Of all people I should've allowed for the possibility that a dysfunctional couple could be greater than the sum of its parts. [shrug] Live and learn.

[he's in motion now, casual but alert, taking in his surroundings] Love what you've done with the place. [hazel eyes pick up the bracelet but readily drop it, disinterested] A kinder, gentler, panopticon... very nice. I called you a bore, yes? I take it back. Never a dull moment where Helen Magnus is concerned. You certainly know how to show a miscreant a good time. If you don't believe me ask Johnny, I'm sure he'll agree.

[with the silence movement slows, morphing into something akin to pacing, stalking] Now, Helen. [he announces impatiently] Don't play hard to get, because we both know you aren't. We know you're here. A Sanctuary without a Magnus... it's like a cart without the horse, a parent without a child...

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"So, not sure if I caught that the first couple times...is there any chance you know someone named Helen Magnus?"

Hi Adam, you've managed to catch Glitch in a bit of a mood. He's a bit wary of your tone, good sir, as evidenced by the furrowed brow and headtilt.

"Then how fortunate for you the third time's lucky," he responds with lackadaisical bite.

Hi Glitch. Unfortunately Hyde is always in a mood. He's also operating under the notion that you're just another stray Helen has adopted and put to work.

Speaking of Helen. "It's more than mere chance. Now do run along and fetch her. It's not polite to keep guests waiting."

Good help is so hard to find.

This is going to end beautifully. So, so beautifully. Glitch picks up on the dismissive tone and snorts, resting his chin on his hand as he regards the tablet.

"Iiii think I'm gonna want to see some credentials first," he remarks. "Also you're not a guest, sir, you're a prisoner like the rest of us. How familiar are you with...the whole idea of getting kidnapped by aliens?"

"I think Doctor Magnus will make an exception for an old colleague, don't you?"

A true masterpiece of beautification. As for Hyde, he works in manipulation as other artists do clay or oils. It's his medium. So we register your expression and gestures, Glitch, oh yes we do, but ours remain as dismissive as our tone. You ARE just the help, after all.

"Yes," he answers ~~wrongly~~ dryly. "I'm well acquainted with her modus operandi."

Edited 2012-02-16 15:41 (UTC)

All Gwen knows is there's someone on her tablet--a new arrival, by the sound of him--whose got his ropes tangled about Helen. And the way he's shrugging off the new location and smooth-talking, she has a feeling he's in for an awakening. And that's always a good show.

New arrivals are always interesting, and that's why Gwen tunes in. She usually keeps an ear out, despite how repetitive they may be, because hey, maybe someone she knows will show up one day. It's that faint hope, like a little glimmer in the back of her mind, that keeps her listening. Talking with them gives her the upper hand on who's in town.

"Think you got your wires crossed, buddy," she says, smoothly, brushing back a strand of curly hair with a newly-gloveless hand.

Gwen's unfamiliar face gets the barest of assessing glances. Another one of Helen's spellbound followers, no doubt, sent to soften him up for the main event. Tire him with prattle. Loosen his tongue.

"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes," he recites, maybe out of annoyance, maybe to annoy. With Hyde it's often very hard to tell, or just as likely one in the same. Then his voice is back to that urbane - dangerous - smoothness. Of course he knows

"So it would seem, but by no means star-crossed. Never did like tragedies. Rewrite the ending, I say."

So we have a smarty-pants. And a show off, she observes with some amusement. But she's still chipper.

"Not a big fan of them, myself," she answers, if only because her mood is up. Her smile is wry and slight, as if privy to some private joke. "But I'll leave that to the experts."

She shrugs then, looking at him and taking him in. "Anyway, I'm no good with the whole welcome flag thing. I'll leave that to the experts, too. I think there's a handbook somewhere."

"What the bloody hell are you doing here Worth?"

That slipped out before he could think of anything else. Having Ashley here, having her home in a way, here, was one thing, as between himself and Helen it would do them good. But Adam?

What next they'd bring in John? But he probably shouldn't think that, as it would more then likely happen.

"You're supposed to be dead." And he could take that one way or the other, really. Depending when Adam came from, this could get, rather interesting really. And confusing, and more of a pain then anything else. Oh bloody hell Worth why are you here?

Have a brief look of surprise. Yours is a face we were prepared for, but back amongst best laid plans so rudely tabled. Where having ~~wrongly~~ been established, when is suddenly in flux. No time like the present to nail said variable down.

"It's good to see you too, James," he replies, composed, and with urbane coolness. "It's been a long time, hasn't it..." Intonation ambiguous, it's left up to James to decide if he's actually being questioned.

Edited 2012-02-09 06:17 (UTC)

Where Helen may be heading for him, James was leaning back in his chair, looking at the man. No there was no time like the present was there to determine time. Not with so many of them here, after all.

"More so for yourself, I imagine, though perhaps not," two could play at this game Adam. James had a rough idea of when he had last seen Adam, and depending on when this Adam was from, well. A few years between knowing of him coming back and his death, but also his younger self seeing him, a long time it may have been but also not. Really depended on your point of view.

[ Something pings--Dwight's been trying his hardest to ignore everyone but the immediate people around him. It comes with a small town mentality, it comes from being from Maine, he thinks. And the troubles. Still, the word 'Helen' has him look over and once 'Magnus' is out of this guy's mouth he picks up his tablet. He's actually in Sanctuary--Helen's sanctuary--and quietly watches the other for a few moments. The way he talks, he's seen it in big city folks, he's seen it in the non troubled. A feeling of superiority, a vague.. something. Dwight doesn't like it. ]

Wrong Sanctuary.

[there's an air of candidness to this reply which gives it a bit of weight in Hyde's eyes. He does appreciate honesty, after all. Therefore] I see, [flirts dangerously close to seriousness before matters lighten derisively] not the flagship. And here I thought Helen and I had something special. Women. They'll break your heart, you know. Who's captain of this particular menagerie, then, hm? You, perhaps?

Edited 2012-02-11 20:01 (UTC)

[ And Dwight's still not really impressed. It's the sing-song voice that kind of makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It gives him a bad feeling and he's learned to trust said bad feelings in the course of his life. ]

Nope.

[ He lifts up his wrist, revealing the same band as the other guy. ]

Just like you. You... know Helen?

[ a million things flit through ashley's mind as she watches this transmission. new arrival. kinda crazy. knows both of her parents apparently. unless there's another helen and john running around somewhere. so debates for a time before turning on her feed. ]

Helen who?

[ question time: does the girl look at all familiar, adam? ]

Gotta say, too, you should really pick something else to recite. Though it's true about the woman scorned part.

[ Oh she is monitoring everything to do with Adam and seeing Ashley's message? Not. Good ]

Do not provoke him. I'll explain later.

[ okay, she's just going to stare at the tablet for a few minutes before responding. ]

I'm not provoking him [ yes, she is. ] I'm just trying to find out who he is. [ damnit, more secrets. this can't be any worse than the whole father thing, can it? ]

[ Yes you are, Ashley - you can't lie to her ]

His name is Adam.

[ She's doing what she has to to stop you from talking to him ]

[ gah. damnit. ashley's giving the tablet a very, very displeased look. it's probably fortunate no one can see it. ]

Okay, I'll leave him alone.

Thank you.

[ she expects an explanation later. ]

[answer: there IS something about you - maybe the hair, the eyes, perhaps a certain air of self-assurance - so enjoy an assessing narrowing of our eyes which takes its time morphing into a lighter - toying, arrogant~~, intrigued~~ - expression]

Honesty, I like that. [and he does; no shrinking violet, this one] To what do I owe the pleasure, and [because it's always prudent to put names to oddly familiar faces] to whom?

[ and because her mother got to her first, ashley is going to be careful and take a backseat on this now. ]

I'm just the honest kind of girl. [ pause. if he has her mother so worried, she's not giving him her real name ] Abby.

[ Helen practically flinched at the sound of the voice, her blood running cold as more words followed ending in her name. There was no mistaking it, certainly not, but to actually hear it? In her wildest dreams - which was even a little too pleasant for this - Helen had never again expected to hear that voice. She'd thought that once before, then twice and now...

Now he was in Taxon?

Oh bloody hell. Things had just been starting to go well; James was here and she'd gotten Ashley back, and even that was going better than she'd first expected. But Adam? Oh dear god, this was bad, worse than she could accurately but into words.

She scooped the tablet up, checking his location (and was relieved that he was still in Taxon's Sanctuary) before switching it to voice - she didn't need him to see her coming on top of everything else. He could expect but for once? She had this advantage ]

It's never a game with you, Adam.

[ Oh yes, she was here. And so were a lot of people that she cared about. Whatever games he had played before, whatever he may be trying to plan for now? She would try harder than ever to stop that from happening - she had done once and would not hesitate this time. There were other lives at stake, more than just their little 'grudge' ]

Helen, [ah, THERE you are] so good of you to join us.

[yes, us. Adam is ~~always~~ here, but also - apparently, surprisingly - James, as well as others. The latter are probably "innocents" to you, but really, is anyone TRULY innocent? His daughter's blood - HIS blood - is on everything you touch, everything that touches what you've touched, until everything is tainted, everyone guilty. But we will keep them in play, remind you that even though this is our dance, there are others on the floor. Let them distract you, divide your attention, your emotions. They mean nothing to us]

Oh, but it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt, now isn't it? Someone close. [slight pause to let your mind jump to painful conclusions] You gambled with my daughter's life. Enjoyed playing GOD then. You can't fold now. I won't let you.

[the stalking slows, acquiring an edge of languid readiness]

Besides, you're making the calls, holding all the cards, have changed the rules. Bravo. [there's a tinge of venom in that accolade, a promise of violence. You've thwarted our plans, goal so close, now yanked heartrendingly out of reach once again. You'll pay for that, Helen, yes you will] How did you do it? Do [arms spread to indicate his ~~predicament~~ surroundings] this? Adam's eager to know.

"You're in the wrong Sanctuary," DG informed him. He obviously knew a Helen Magnus, but, given the way that Taxon worked, it was impossible to be certain if she was the same Helen that they all knew. And cared about. If he was an friend, he'd be welcomed. But if he wasn't - and he didn't exactly sound friendly - he'd be in for something of a surprise.

"This one is run by aliens."

He wasn't the first person from Helen's world to arrive in Taxon, but he didn't sound as friendly as the others and Martha frowned slightly before picking up her tablet.

"You're in a city called Taxon, not the Sanctuary," she explained, possibly against her better judgment, "The room you're in is just the entrance hall."

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01 | holo | taxon!sanctuary

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[holo] GOD HOW MANY EDITS SO SORRY

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well THIS SHOULD GO WELL. D8

[holo] OH DEFINITELY

[video] Y-U-P

[visual] THIS WILL END WELL

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[holo] EPICALLY SO

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