Into the depths of April's mind ((Clark, Ed, Cipher Nine))

[slayers_desire]

J'onn was unable to tell April much about why her voices were not working, but he sensed a darkness in her mind. And rightly was concerned because it was starting to grow... slowly, but steadily.

After a long conversation about how to remedy the situation, it was decided that some of April's closest friends should go into her mind, and seek out the true situation.

Already Clark was at her side, but she had placed phone calls to both Ed and Cipher Nine detailing enough to let them know that she needed them. And a little about why. The whole story would be stated once they all arrived.

But she was nervous. Sick to her stomach. And just wanted her mind back... so she was restless.

((posting order April/ Clark/ Ed and Cipher Nine))

Comments

[nonvillainouscipher]

Ed follows Clark's example and watches the duplicates. Cipher Nine, meanwhile, nods and turns to regard Adam. "It might be possible to create a new home for you. It would take time, but I could build a mechanical body for you—provided we can be assured, by whatever means necessary, including programming restrictions, if need be, that you won't be a threat to innocent lives." He narrows his eyes a little, scrutinizing Adam very carefully, still keeping an eye on his body language and facial expression, still listening to his tone of voice. Still watching for emotional cues. "What do you intend to do with your life once you have it back again? And keep in mind, if you lie to me, I'll know it." He doesn't mention how he'll know, though he imagines it won't be hard for Adam to make an educated guess, since he apparently knows everything about him that April does.

[slayers_desire]

There are several duplicates who are very worried about the current proposition. And there are even some... who are edging towards the exit.

"I am the end of all life, of all magic. I'm the war between man and demon, the war that no one can win. And you wish to ensure to restrict me? Much like Margaret Wash had?" Adam scoffs, slighted.

"I never harmed innocents in my studies. No one is innocent. You claim to place an unachieveable expectation on me?"

"You claim to place something on me, that you yourself do not claim?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

With that said, and the duplicates looking nervous, Clark feels confident in ruling that option out entirely. "Then I guess you're out of luck. We're not going to give you a host, and staying in April is not an option."

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods his agreement. "No deal," he agrees with Clark. He doesn't dignify the jab at his... he supposes guilt issues with a response. Despite having had to kill many, many times, Cipher Nine has never killed someone who was not trying to kill him first and who had not forced his hand by refusing to negotiate. He doesn't hurt innocents on either side of his galaxy's war, and he never will.

[slayers_desire]

"Another stalemate." Adam notes softly.

"I will not leave without persuasion, and you do not seem to have the guts to give me what I desire. Thus, perhaps a game, to give one of us an edge."

Adam turned to the clones. "There are 20 of them. We play for possession of your duplicates, with the final tally to determine the winner. I win, you provide me with a body, with no expectations. If I lose, I leave the Key's mind with no ill left behind."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

That seems very risky. Clark doesn't like it at all... but he also isn't sure how else to break the stalemate. Playing by Adam's rules seems like a trap by itself. "What do you think?" he asks Ed and Cipher Nine.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed exhales sharply and rubs at his jaw for a moment, definitely bothered by the prospect. "I've gotten too used to resolving this kind of thing through the Accords, with the Old World traditions that nearly all supernaturals back home respect and adhere to as backup," he sighs. "I'd be more comfortable with it if someone other than him and the three of us determined the rules of the game, and served as a referee. An Emissary, a neutral party, someone who has no bias in either direction. I mean, I trust us not to cheat, but I don't trust him not to. But we're not in my reality, so the rules set in the Unseelie Accords are useless. And I'm not sure sworn oaths have the same kind of power here that they do in my reality either."

"We don't seem to have any other option, though," Cipher Nine notes quietly. He glances aside at Adam for just a moment before turning his attention back to his friends. "From what I've seen of him thus far, he reminds me very much of Darth Jadus. And... of a lot of Sith, actually: arrogant, egotistical, destructive, and perfectly happy to betray his word if he thinks it'll profit him. We can't trust him. But... unless someone has any other ideas about how to resolve this... it's our only way out."

[slayers_desire]

"There are Oaths... Demon Oaths..." One of the Eds remarks.

"You are connected to a Key. You can call upon an impartial party to act as judge and juror." One of the Clarks adds.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark nods a little, slightly reassured by that. But there's one question remaining. "What kind of game?"

[fmalchemist160]

Ed's probably a little more reassured by the fact that they're going to play this by something that at least resembles the Accords than Clark. Usually, though, the Emissary gets to decide how the conflict is resolved—the kind of game to be played, in this case—not either of the parties who are involved in the conflict. The idea of Adam determining it instead makes him a little more nervous, in addition to being relieved about having a familiar safety net, as it were.

But, as previously stated... this is not his reality. The Unseelie Accords are moot here. So he decides to wait before adding his two cents to the conversation at large until Adam has answered Clark's question.

Cipher Nine has a passing familiarity with the Accords, but he's not allowing himself to let his guard down regardless, preferring instead to remain prepared for the possibility of being double-crossed. That constant paranoia is pretty much reflex for him at this point.

((Bedtime))

[slayers_desire]

"I believe it was proposed that neither I, nor any of your three, should choose the actual game. But if you wish to change your request..." Adam smiled. Waiting.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"We'll let an impartial party choose," Clark says. It still feels like a trap, and he's sure Adam isn't going to play by the rules. But they don't have any options.

[fmalchemist160]

"Definitely staying with the Emissary choosing the rules," Ed agrees with a nod.

[slayers_desire]

"Then we allow an Emissary to enter. Someone who would not choose sides, nor has any reason to do so." Adam leaned back.

There is a soft hum among the duplicates around them. A portal opens in the mindscape. It is filled with a blind light.

A woman, dressed in white, steps through. It takes a second, before the light fades, and everyone can recognize her. Drusilla.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Drusilla," Clark says, a little surprised that she would be the Emissary. He knows that the spirit of April's mother was finally put to rest some time ago, but this could either truly be her, or an echo of her in April's mind.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed's head reels back a bit in surprise when Drusilla shows up. "Okay," he remarks. "Definitely not who I was expecting." And the fact that Drusilla is the Emissary does make him just a bit nervous, given the... tenuous grasp she had on sanity during her unlife. But he'll take what he can get.

Cipher Nine just quirks an eyebrow in reaction. He knows Drusilla is dead, but this is a mindscape—April's mindscape. Dru already showed up once, as one of the Fates. So he's not all that surprised that she's turned up again.

[destinyborn]

Drusilla looks around, as if getting a bearing on where she is. She doesn't seem to recognize anyone either.

"An emissary was called, and so I was summoned." She seems to have a much better grasp on her sanity too. "I understand that I am to decide the rules in a game of my choosing?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Yes," Clark tells her. "If we lose, we have to give Adam here a body to inhabit. If he loses, he has to leave April's mind for good." She doesn't seem to recognize them, but maybe she'll recognize the name of her own daughter. He doesn't have high hopes for that though.

[fmalchemist160]

Ed frowns a little. This isn't the Drusilla he remembers. So he's got a sneaking suspicion it isn't really her, just something that's choosing to look like her. "Apparently using our doppelgängers as a way to keep score," he adds. "Or, so he suggested." He jerks his head in Adam's direction.

[destinyborn]

"April." Drusilla pauses for a moment on the name. She never gave her child a name. Nor had time for introductions, before April killed her.

And it was only a spirit that haunted April. The same spirit who found peace, and is here now.

"Yes. 20 of each of you. You can play for 10 at a time, one at a time. Truth or consequence. You ask him a question, he must tell the truth, or he loses 10. He asks you a question, you must tell the truth, or you lose 10."

"Done three times, a possible of 60 points. Over 30 wins."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

An interesting choice of game... and one that won't take long to play. Clark isn't sure if that's a good thing or a bad one. "That sounds... fair." As fair as they're going to get anyway.

[nonvillainouscipher]

"I assume you'll be asking the questions, and you'll able to tell if anyone's lying?" Cipher Nine asks Drusilla. This is probably as close to ideal as they're going to get. Though he imagines some uncomfortable truths will come to light about all of them in the process. He certainly has no intention of lying. Neither does Ed.

[slayers_desire]

"Of course. Not only will I know if you are lying, I will know if you aren't being completely truthful. Even a slight bend of the truth will disqualify your points to the other side."

Adam seemed satisfied too. "Indeed. I agree to the game."

Drusilla pointed to Cipher Nine. "You go first, since you arrived first. Ask him your question, and he will do the same in return."

((please provide difficult questions that would be hard for your pup to remain truthful to))

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark is worried, but not about any secrets. He's just concerned about what will happen if they lose. Already he puts his mind to work trying to think of what he will ask Adam when it's his turn.

((Hmm... difficult to answer, difficult to think of. I've still got a turn or two to think about it so I'll get back to you.))

[nonvillainouscipher]

Cipher Nine nods his acknowledgement to Drusilla and spends several minutes pondering his question. He doesn't want it to be something that might be easy for Adam to answer truthfully, but since the cyborg doesn't seem to have a conscience, he doubts he can use anything like shame or guilt to make him not want to tell the whole truth.

But... he is, after all, a cyborg. His human parts had to come from somewhere. And being turned into what he is now might have been difficult and/or traumatic enough that remembering his life before could be painful. So Cipher Nine takes a gamble, meets eyes with Adam and asks, "Who were you, before the Initiative got hold of you?"

((Cipher Nine has killed lots of people over the course of his career, and prior to that, when he was under Cipher Two's wing. He's ruined the lives of lots of others. Shame would keep him from wanting to tell the entire truth about that. So something like 'How many lives have you destroyed?' would require him to admit to both things, since it could be interpreted either way.

I'll get back to you on Ed. Having difficulty with his, and like Clark-mun, I've got a few rounds before it's his turn =P.))