maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

[Mandrake-in-Teddy's-guise (thanks Billy) is lounging nearby, but not too closely-- leaning against a wall and reading something on his communicator as they wait; the very picture of bored disinterest. It's not a pose he would usually take, but he wants Lizzie-- whoever she is-- to overlook him.]

It may, it may not. [He doesn't look up as he speaks. His voice hasn't been altered, so it isn't Teddy's voice that comes out, but Mandrake's rather post British one instead.]

She's quite careful. I would not exactly be surprised if she chose not to show.

Edited 2014-12-14 00:46 (UTC)

[ Loki's tucked away far from their sight, and hidden to everyone. he thought it best that his reveal surprise them, if there was part of the reaction that was genuine, it was all the easier to fake the rest. he awaits quietly for Kitty to accompany them, trying not to roll his eyes at Mandrake's Teddy-guise. (really, Billy?)

he was as suspicious of this Lizzie as Kate was—there were too many drops, too many lies not properly accounted for, and all too pushy to be of any comfort, especially in the vicinity of Billy. Loki knew how easy it was to tie Billy up just write to get what you want, and having an all-powerful being at your manipulative whim was dangerous. (and he won't admit that he's a tad against it because only he is allowed to do that.)

the illusion fits snug, and to anyone looking at him, he fits the description to a tee.

all they have to do is wait for Kitty. ]

[ She hasn't done this since her Resistance days, and so doing it now feels almost a little bit...silly. She half feels like a grown-up playing with dolls, honestly - dressing in black, carrying weapons, playing at being a spy, was so much a hallmark of her adolescence that doing it now as an adult (or an almost adult) feels like grasping for some lost youth.

She's in black from head to toe. Black shoes, black jacket (and she's not quite prepared for the chill, and shivers soon as she hits the cold northern winter), black cap on her head. On her hip is a satchel with a knife and a half-drunk bottle of soda. She'd like to have more, better weapons than that, but buying a gun was a far more involved process than she was able to navigate, and the makeshift incendiary weapons that she'd looked up on the internet took some knowledge of chemistry that she'd lacked. So just the knife in her back, another on her leg, and her wits and resilience. That's all she brings with her from Heropa.

Oh, this is a bad idea. Oh, this is going to go really, really badly, isn't it. Oh, she's making a terrible mistake.

She recognizes Billy, and someone who must have been Kate a moment after. The third boy, blond and a little loutish, is unfamiliar to her. She nods to them, and turns up her collar against the chill, and says nothing. It feels...bad. Something feels bad about this. Only a few seconds in, and everything just seems wrong, and it's all she can do to keep from turning tail and running back in. Maybe it's the third person, the one she doesn't know, or maybe it's the fact that she hasn't done this for so long, but...Kitty doesn't feel good about this. She glances at the three of them, and then looks back towards the Porter, wondering what would happen if she just turned around.

But, instead: ]

Who's he.

[Billy doesn't say anything to Kate, but he does turn when Mandrake speaks, because damn, he knew he forgot something, voice disguise. Right before Lizzie arrives, he looks up at him, blinks as if to remember that this is not Teddy, and mutters.]

You should probably keep a little qui-

[He is about to finish when he catches Lizzie heading over.]

Teddy. He's a member of this team.

[Of course Billy answers. It's just an automatic response.

He also takes stock of her. She is maybe younger than he anticipated, smaller in a way, as if the force of her personality is what does a bulk of the heavy lifting. He frowns a bit. Okay.

A lot.]

[Her eyes wander to "Teddy's" face as quickly as she can, somewhat relieved that this worked. At least illusions are possible, which helps. Still, she's looking for another reason, wondering if any kind of recognition will pass over his features.]

I said all hands on deck. [There's a twinge of irritation in her voice, but whether it's feigned or not is something she won't reveal.] This is the team. [Even if it's weird that Billy went for this as Mandrake's disguise.]

I have a car waiting outside. We can take it to within a mile of our destination, and walk the rest of the way.

[Kate's right to look to Mandrake. When he looks up and sees "Lizzie," colour drains from his face almost instantly-- as if he's seen a ghost. Eyes wide, the communicator he was holding out as part of his disinterested guise drops straight out of his hands and clatters on the ground loudly. Mandrake doesn't even seem to notice it.

He opens his mouth, but no sound comes out. He tries again, but his voice is small and choked.]

... Can't be ...

[ Her attention is drawn by that clatter. For two quickened heartbeats, her eyes are narrowed as she stares the blonde boy in the face. On the third, her eyes widen.

And yet she doesn't feel afraid. Maybe it's a stupid thing, a sign of real stupidity, to not be afraid when your enemy has found you. After all, here she is, surrounded by a man whose duty it is to see her dead and his closest allies, far away from any source of protection or support. And there's a flood of adrenaline that goes through her, that lights up her nerves from toes up - but in the flush of danger comes cool-headedness. It's almost refreshing. It's like stepping out of a stuffy room for fresh air. That not-fear is energizing more than anything.

Step one: get out of here. Mandrake knows her now. He knows she's here, that Lizzie is Kitty Jones, that Kitty Jones is still active in the fight. That can't be undone. A confrontation will come now. But she can make sure that the confrontation isn't here, in these unfavorable conditions. So:

She'd been going for her soda from her bag, about to take a drink, when the disguised Mandrake had spoken. It's in her hand, now, and with two quick jerks of her wrist she splashes it at the faces of both Kate and Billy. It's just plain, ordinary soda, but she acts like it's a weapon, hurls it at them like it's corrosive acid, and even though it won't do a damned thing it might at least give them pause while they try to figure out what she just threw at them. (It's orange-flavored, and rather tasty.)

And then she turns, and dashes headlong back towards the Porter. ]

Edited 2014-12-14 04:11 (UTC)

[What the hell.

What. The. Actual. Hell.

Billy yelps when he's hit with soda and a wave of his magical hand - meaning a blur of blue light, quick, cleans it up, and he turns to Mandrake.]

What the hell was that?

[God, he is not made for running, why couldn't Tommy be here. He pulls the disguise off Mandrake, though, because clearly it doesn't matter anymore, and he runs to try and catch Kitty, but he knows that someone else is going to have a better shot.

(it's funny how even after three years of powers, the thought you can fly, you moron still sometimes escapes him]

[The good thing (Kate would think later, anyway) is that the liquid coming her way makes her react quickly. Her arm raises up and she knocks it over to Billy quickly, and her mind doesn't process that. Instead, the cape is off in an instant, and she's running after "Lizzie." She doesn't need to have flying powers. After her time in Los Angeles, one simple fact is clear: Kate is used to crazy shit happening, and she can react to it.

If anything, her instincts are more honed after being beat down left and right.

While she's moving, she pulls off the wig, revealing a wig cap underneath, but it makes the weight of her head less strange while she's hoofing it and trying to reach out to the running girl.]

Not so fast.

[ the sudden clamor is enough to alert him, with half a second and a mutter of a spell, he's dropped the illusion of their poor, unfortunate Hornet, and this Lizzie finds herself face to face with an Asgardian god in full armor. ]

You heard her.

[ he says smoothly, as if every moment was at his disposal. ]

Not so fast.

[ the words drip from his lips and he makes a dart to keep in front of her until Kate can catch up. ]

[ She can feel Kate bearing down on her. When this...other man (a demon? maybe? only a demon could appear so suddenly) appears in front of her (Loki, she realizes, Loki, also from the network - she should have been expecting him, she should have), she's got too much momentum and nearly crashes into him.

She twists to the side, trying to change direction mid-run. But her traction isn't good enough: her feet go out from under her; she falls with bruising force onto her knees, letting out a strangled curse of pain when she hits. But she doesn't allow that to keep her down: she's immediately scrambling back onto her feet, pulling the knife from the sheath strapped to her calf, below the flared hems of her pants. She's already short of breath, and she's lost her momentum - but she turns towards them, deep in a fighting stance, brandishing that knife at them like she knows how to use it. ]

You want me to slow down, make me.

[ Which is...maybe a ridiculous thing to say, now that she's decided to stand and fight rather than flee, but - well, it sounded cool. Emboldened by that coolness, she addresses all of them: ]

Believe me. I can hurt all of you far, far more than you can hurt me. Back off now, and you'll wake up tomorrow completely intact. Keep after me, and you'll learn all about the ability that the Porter gave me.

[ It's a bluff, but she sells it with enormous conviction. ]

[Too slow to react in the heat of the moment, Mandrake just stood there in shock while Loki, Kate and Billy sprung into action. Now that she's still, however, he takes her in. She's older than he remembers. Hair shorter. But he still remembers her mannerisms, the way she thinks and acts. As if he couldn't.]

She's lying. [It comes through gritted teeth, and he feels like he's struggling to catch his breath even though he hasn't moved a muscle. Gone is the polite, reserved, distant Mandrake. He stares her down with an intensity of emotions that are hard to make out. Anger. Betrayal. Hurt.]

It's what she does, she's-- she's a liar, and a terrorist. Her name isn't Lizzie Temple. It's Kitty Jones. And she's supposed to be dead.

Oh, please.

[ the tone of his voice doesn't change, but he does look infuriatingly calm.

she was a mortal. there was a weight of density behind him. ]

Just shut up.

[ his expression screams "go ahead and stab me." ]

If you have any more tricks up your sleeve, I'd be inclined to see them.

[ he doesn't have any trouble keeping up with her, nor any fear. ]

Or we can make Loki stand back and you and I can go one on one. Is that why you wanted to know about the Hornets? Did you want to work with them?

[The words come out as Kate smoothly slips into a fighting stance. She doesn't bother to draw her sword, but it's obvious she's ready for two things: a strike, or for Kitty to move again. Her name is Kitty, which Kate wonders if it's a derivative of Katherine.

Wouldn't that be funny?]

Did you hope to get information to bring back to them? I'm just wondering what's motivated you to screw with me and my best friend. But I'll wait for the fight to hear you talk.

[ She looks at Kate, but her gaze swings back a moment later to Mandrake. There's something decidedly aristocratic about the way she surveys him. There's a fierce sort of dignity in her contempt. These threats, these questions, these offers for a fight - they're good, and they're going to be addressed in a moment. But first: ]

A liar, Mr Mandrake? That's rich coming from you. Who was it who promised safe passage to me and to my friend and then broke his word the moment it was convenient? Who fills the streets every day with those pamphlets promising glory if we go to war for you magicians? [ And then, with a withering sneer: ] At least when I lie, it's for a good reason. You just lie for your career.

[ And then she looks over at Kate, and at Loki. Her stance relaxes just a little bit. Honestly...Kitty can fight, but that doesn't make her good at it; she has no doubt that she'll be soundly trounced if she goes toe-to-toe with Kate. ]

But I assure you, I'm not lying now. The Porter gave me the ability to remove others' powers - permanently. At considerable personal cost, but if you force my hand, I'll do it. Don't think I won't.

So back off. We can all walk away from this, or I can make sure that you three - [ Here she indicates Loki, Billy, and Mandrake; it's clear that Kate can function just fine without powers. ] End up very different men.

Edited 2014-12-14 05:11 (UTC)

[Billy finally catches up - not just physically, but he hears the threat, and he scowls, really scowls. First off, that sounds like crap; the porter gives powers, giving the power to take them away seems contrary to what it wants. But more so, Billy is sick of getting lied to.]

How is this solving anything? Making-

Kate liked you! So did I! And Loki didn't- well, he didn't hate you probably [sorry, Loki] and you threw away the goodwill get what you wanted-

[But don't think he didn't hear that stuff she said about Mandrake, because Billy's hand is clamped on his arm.]

Your crapsack world aside, he's hasn't lied to me.

[He'll still corner him later, though.]

Edited 2014-12-14 13:27 (UTC)

[Mandrake is nowhere near as calm as Billy, Kate and Loki. In fact, Mandrake looks dangerously close to displaying actual human emotion. Surprise, he's not a robot. More than just one emotion, even-- several of them. His eyes narrow dangerously.]

For my career? You-- I'm trying to save the Empire! All you do is-- is bring unrest and revolt!

[He laughs, then, but it's an ugly thing, full of all the pent up frustration and hopelessness he's felt here.]

You want my power? The joke's on you, Ms Jones. There's nothing for you to take. I'm useless here. As for these people? Well, I can't speak for the fellow with the horns, but somewhat ironically, Kate and Billy are actually the first halfway decent people I've met in the last six years of my life. That you are safer with them around than without is in fact the most hilarious part of this whole situation.

[Yeah. He's cracked it.]

[ there's a shrug on his behalf here. (to both, perhaps.) "fellow in the horns" and "halfway decent" in the same sentence.

then again, unrest and revolt was kind of his thing, better that Mandrake didn't speak for him.

Loki's eyes go back to Kitty and he sort of revels in the little bit of chaos that they made for the moment before speaking. ]

Kitty, was it? How about you reel back from bluff city. You're not the Porter's special snowflake. I'd not dig yourself the deeper hole if you haven't got a ladder.

[As they all talk, Kate is carefully measuring the situation. What's apparent is this: Kitty's rebellion is against Mandrake alone, not this world, and Kate had it wrong. Her suspicions had already been there, what with the lying and the unusual forcefulness when it came to extracting a "promise" from her, but they were off the mark. It's hard to tell who will and won't apply their own world's experiences here. Kate does it herself, but does it within reason.

It's also clear that Kitty hasn't had the moment where she's been banged up and bruised to the degree where she has to learn to reel herself back in. Both her and Mandrake are fighting for some cause, some reason that doesn't matter here, but Kitty's lies and pushiness have driven her off the edge. It's also clear that she just isn't very good at those lies, at least not in a place where they no longer make much sense.

Kate takes a step forward, and anyone who's seen her play leader will recognize the body language. She's taking over now. No more running, and no more taunts.

She puts up a hand, making it clear that this is how things are going. No one speak or taunt unless it's to add something useful, it seems to say, and there's an iciness to her gaze that helps that.]

It's clear that Billy and I got dragged into the middle of something that we're not even ... prepared for. [She gives Mandrake and Kitty both pointed looks there.] Whatever you have going on at home doesn't matter here. Billy, for one thing, is a good guy. He's so good that the only bad he does is when he's manipulated or tricked. Which—[she doesn't look at Loki, instead looking squarely at Kitty]—is what we feared you were preparing to do. You lied a fair amount, and it led to all of this. That we had to lie and trick you to counter you and force out the truth is ridiculous.

[There's a pause, long enough to let her words linger, but short enough so that no one can feel like it's their turn.

It is not their turn.]

We want to talk. There is an actual car waiting outside, and I'll tell it to bring us to Loki's place. If you don't feel comfortable in the company of this many magic users, it can just be you and me. But I want the truth. If you're angry that we let Mandrake here know the truth about you, then I can at least suggest that he's clever enough not to attack you in any way. He's far too restrained for that. [In a way, that leaves the opening that he might do something, which Kate hopes says two things: she's not ignoring Kitty's concerns, and she's also accepting that Mandrake may not be as he seems.

That may not be the case at all, but it's one way to defuse this utterly explosive situation.]

[ Kate's words are rational. Even through Kitty's anger, she recognizes that. But she holds onto her anger a moment longer, looking at Kate. ]

Do you want to know why I lied?

[ And then, fiercely, to Billy: ]

You think he's told you the truth?

[ She wishes she could say that she gives some properly mocking smile, but she's too angry to do that. Her face is drawn sharp and fierce - yet there's still a self-possessed sort of precision to the way she speaks and moves. She might be livid, and her anger might burn hot as anything, but she's as self-controlled in her anger as she was in her fear. Only her face really reveals the depths of her anger. And she is angry. ]

Has he told you about the slaves he keeps? The way he tortures them to death if they don't obey him to the letter? I'm sure he's told you about how he forces those slaves to kill people - my people - just for raising our voices in dissent. How they're forced to watch us, and hurt us, and kill us if we step out of line. How the people are too afraid to do anything against him and the other magicians, and so they just go and die in their wars of conquest.

[ This is exhilarating, she has to admit. Whether her words have any effect or not, just saying this is marvelous. It's everything she's been aching to say for years, and she's throwing it right in Mandrake's face. More satisfying now than when he was that poncy little boy - now, she's not hurling abuse at some idiotic fop, but at a member of the Council. It's almost as good as ripping into Devereaux himself. ]

But I - I have never been afraid. You want to know why I've lied? Because I've had to lie for three years now, and hide my name and my face. Ever since I was declared a terrorist and a criminal, just for standing up for my beliefs.

[ And for stealing, and for killing. That last sentence comes out of her mouth a little bit less self-certain, just because...Well, honestly, she's not proud of what she did back then, and defending it now feels facetious. She can't really pretend that when Mandrake condemns her, he's being completely unfair.

Still. Kitty turns her gaze back to Kate. When she speaks, her voice is more measured, almost respectful; her anger is modulated. Whereas before, it had been a furious speech (an uncharitable person might call it a "rant"), this is actually addressing what she said. In spite of everything, and in spite of this fight, she has a certain amount of regard for Kate's even-handedness - and, in a way, for the simple fact that the girl put together this plan of entrapment so neatly. Kitty might be the victim of the plot, but it was so elegantly done that that deserves some regard. ]

You're all associated with him. And you lied to me to get me here, and ambushed me, to force out a truth you weren't entitled to. After that, there can't be any trust between us. [ Her echo of Bartimaeus is unconscious; her lips thin just a moment as she thinks it over, but then she shakes her head. ] I'm not angry. Not really. He was going to find out eventually. But I'm not going to talk. You can either let me go now, or you can attack. But I'm not going with you willingly, and that is all the truth you'll get from me. The truth about this man you call a friend.

[ And now she manages a smile - caustic, bitter, directed right at Mandrake. She doesn't know if they'll believe her. Probably they won't. She has lied, and lied often, to protect herself - and for what? For nothing more than the protection of this secret, this secret that has already been uncovered. But maybe all of this will be enough to make them doubt. Enough that they'll hesitate to follow his advice when it comes to her. And so this is drawled with sour satisfaction: ]

Sorry I'm not dead like I'm supposed to be, Mr Mandrake. My life seems like it must be terrible inconvenience for you right now.

[Here's the thing.

It's not that Billy doesn't care.

It's that Billy cares too much.

He looks down, then, and he can feel that gaping maw of what the hell did I get myself into staring back at him, like an abyss in his depression, and he really, desperately wants Teddy. He knows it's unhealthy.]

Wow, so, uh, airing this shit aside, none of that actually addresses anything Kate said. Good job with the shit flinging, though. Classy.

[And he turns, but his hand is still on Mandrake's arm.]

Hey, I'm not letting you go.

[He says that very softly, because he may not have known that, and he may not approve of that, but Billy is working really hard on second chances. Mandrake's been something of a bro. And he's trying.

He looks at Loki. That's directed at him, too, really. Maybe this is throwing a lot of things into sharp focus. How Loki manipulated him, but at the end of it, he owned up to it.

This girl, she can't just address it.]

Guys, Kate's right. This isn't about us.

[Mandrake bristles visibly-- not at the restraining hand on his arm, but at Kitty's words. His nostrils flare. He's angry beyond belief.]

You speak of convenience-- isn't it incredibly convenient you forget to mention that demons aren't people! They're dangerous, and evil-- really, I shouldn't be surprised that you'd defend them.

Isn't it convenient you forget to mention that "standing up for your beliefs" includes being the ringleader of a group of people who are responsible for lobbying bombs into parliament, tracking down magicians in alleyways and assaulting them, releasing a demon armed with a weapon of mass destruction into Greater London? Tell me, what is that if not terrorism? Don't just stand there and pretend like you're some saint.

But you know what? I'm happy you're alive. We have too much unfinished business.

[Kate delivers Mandrake a withering stare. Nothing he said makes her terribly fond of his existence; in fact, it's just the opposite. Her lips twist downward. While she is lacking a great deal of information, he is rather quick to declare that he's worthy of subjugating anyone. She doesn't like Norman Osborn, but she doesn't want to chain him up and force him to do her bidding. That's inhumane. And her best guess is that these demons are very far removed from service animals. Given Kitty's description, it makes it clear.]

Kitty's treatment of me and Billy has to do with us, and that's why we want to talk. You do owe us a conversation, and we're only giving you the treatment you gave us ... and just about everyone other imPort. You weren't thinking, but you dragged every imPort into your circumstances against Mandrake here. Your anger may be justified against him, but not us. You forced our hands.

[And she's continuing to force them. Kate isn't pleased that her request for just a conversation has been rejected because of what seems to be nothing more than Kitty's pride. Because while Mandrake's colors are very, very apparent, Kate doesn't think the treatment toward her, Billy, and others has been in any way fair. That she attacked Billy because of the blinders permanently affixed to her face is worrying for Kate.]

We're not here to fight, and we wanted to make this happen with the least amount of melodrama involved. So, Loki, take Mandrake away. Billy and I will handle Kitty here. Hopefully without him standing there, things will calm down.

[The fact that she has to be so imperious worries her, but she is frustrated. Underneath all of this is a cold anger. This situation is not one of her favorites.]

And Mr. Mandrake, do not suggest that anyone deserves to be subjugated again. Or it won't be just Kitty that you'll be facing.

Edited 2014-12-15 02:16 (UTC)

Unfinished business like torturing me for... [ She starts to spit that, but Loki is already leading Mandrake away. Kitty looks for a moment nonplussed; her hand with her knife drops to her side, and she blinks, disoriented. She was getting really into the argument, and so feebly she tries to continue: ] But I'm never going to...Hey, hold on -

[ And she flounders a moment, blinking at Mandrake's retreating back. It's - she - had - things to say! Things that would make Mandrake feel bad. He was going to be miserable. That's...

She blinks back at Kate. Right. Okay. They still have her cornered; the situation isn't resolved. But it does seem a lot less hateful and dire now. Her intensity is taken back several notches when she points after him. ]

I'm not done speaking with him.

[ But she knows that's not going to get her anywhere. So she tries to turn her attention to what Billy and Kate had said. ]

Look, I don't know what you're talking about with my treatment of you.

[Billy looks supremely annoyed at all of this. He just looks at Kitty, and then back to where Mandrake is being led away.]

You can't just manipulate people like that! That's what we mean!

[He isn't really yelling, though, it's just very emphatic speaking.]

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hahahahahahha tl;dr i am sorry y'all

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