Lishka's Room -- 14th Floor -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

        White, mist, lace, and frost. That is the basic description of this 
room. Everywhere one looks there is tendrils of mist rising up out of nothing, 
and frost hanging to the walls though it's oddly warm in here. The room is a 
large rectangle. On one end of the room is a bed the size... well it rivals a 
king size bed, that's for sure. And it's covered with pure white fur. Lace 
hangs from the ceiling, obscureing the only thing that is out of place in this 
room. A doorway. With something dark brown stained on it. An X, sitting on 
it's side, with one slash longer then the other.


Awwwwwww, rest. That's just what Dr Thomas ordered for Lishka. Of course she 
didn't actually sleep. Cause she can't sleep. Sleep isn't in her chemistry. 
But for Everett's sake she closes her eyes and relaxes, pretending to sleep. 
This bond thing is starting to become very interesting for Lishka. She's 
beginning to enjoy the feeling of not being alone, of no matter what having a 
little knot of Everett in the back of her head. After a good five hours of 
rest -- leaving 5 hours left on the doorway -- Lishka's senses are triggered. 
They've awakened Leo, which means they're getting their hands on the key. 
Which means they will be on the roof shortly. The ice witch gives a long sigh 
and moves to sit up, feeling better, but no where near full strength. She 
glances over at Everett, a small amount of alarm in her emotions, but not 
showing at all on her face, "Your friends will be here shortly, Everett. I 
suppose I should take you outside now, so we can wait for them..."

Uh oh, caught in the act! Everett is seated against the wall over by the 
recently-revealed bookshelf of magic, lounging comfortably as he flips 
thoughtfully through one of the books he found. After a few weeks up here he 
was bored out of his mind, so finally having something to occupy his attention 
is utter bliss. He probably wouldn't even have noticed Lishka's sudden jolt if 
not for a light buzz in his mind of alarm... Urgency... Emotions he can't 
truly explain, but compell him to look up at Lishka on the bed, only to find 
her awake. The book is quickly slammed shut with a guilty expression and slid 
back onto the shelf quietly as Ev listens. "They will?" He says 
enthusiastically with no small amount of glee, a broad smile forming across 
his face. He's to his feet in a flash, heading over to the bed. "That's great! 
I..." He pauses, a look of concern coming over him. "Are you sure you're okay 
to go out?"

Ouch. Well. Glad to see you're -so- happy to get out of her company, Everett. 
She feels hurt by both the visual happiness, and the emotional. But after a 
moment she glosses it over. She's starting to learn how to block at least a 
major part of her emotions away from him. Lishka shakes her head and moves to 
to the edge of the bed, "I'll be alright. Plus you want to get out of here 
don't you?" Alright, so the glossing didn't completely work. She was started 
to feel so happy there for a while too while she was resting. Well that's gone 
now, and it's not going to come back again likely. She still has a scar on her 
left cheekbone from where the sunlight hit her and then flew back out of her 
again. But as for his going through her private things, you really think she 
didn't know, Ev? She knew where he was, and she knew what was over there. But 
she doesn't mind really. She moves to stand up, then stops and looks at him, 
frowning briefly, her emotions twisting a little. She shakes her head and 
leads him outside, where they wait for Everett's friends.


Roof -- Tower of Illusion -- Niflheim

	The stairs from below come out onto the top of the Tower. No building 
covers the stairs, so it looks like you're just walking out of the floor. The 
roof of the Tower is flat, not tilted, and there's no railing on the edges. 
All around is the sight of what you would have seen if you'd gone out the 
front. A landscape of elemental terror. Like something out of the Ice Age -- 
as painted by a mad impressionist. A blizzard with huge ungainly shapes 
lumbering through it. Blue and green flashes like lightning giving glimpses of 
deformed creatures crawling over icy ground. Twisted pinnacles of rock 
corkscrewing up toward a blank white sky. The sounds of snarling animals, 
creatures unlike that of any that could be heard on earth fill the air when 
howling winds don't overshadow them.

	On the roof, the winds still carry, and they still brush against anyone 
there, icy, and cold. There is one struction on the roof. A small building, 
about the size of a shed with a door on it. Lishka's room. Not for you all. 
Then beside it is a doorway, standing open. And inside the doorway is a view 
of the Entertainment Room back home.


	Everyone gets up to the roof after the whole thing with Leo the Jubie-
Eating Lion, and are looking forward to home, and low and behold, there's a 
doorway to the Entertainment room back home in the middle of a roof top 
surrounding an ice wasteland. Lishka is standing outside the sole building on 
the top of the roof, likely leading to where she was keeping Ev. She looks 
smug, but tired, and a little... distant. Something has definately happened to 
her since the sunlight thing. Or maybe that's what changed her. It certainly 
changed her face. There's a scar on her cheek where the sunlight blew out of 
her body when it hit her.

Everett stands anxiously beside Lishka, just outside the sole building 
adorning the rooftop as well. Every motion shows his anticipation of his 
friends arrival, face strained with hope and hands wringing nervously before 
him. For the most part, he doesn't look much different from the day they were 
abducted, though a few small bruises are scattered across his face and body as 
a result of the hailstorm he was met with after first 'rejecting' Lishka. No 
words are exchanged between he and the woman, though oddly, no hostilities or 
signs of anger either.

And Jube? Well.. to say she looks just as she did when Ev last saw her would 
be an outright lie. She looks.. horrid. The light that shone in her eyes - the 
one she'd only /just/ gotten back - has been snuffed. Her holds herself in a 
'hands off' manner, and keeps somewhat seperat from the rest of the group. 
Tired, reddened eyes start to scan the roof-top before she see's Lishka and 
Ev.. She has a very nice shiner on her right eye, as well as several cuts and 
bruises about her arms and legs which are a little less noticable but still 
there. She looks, quite frankly, like the walking dead. And she's not wearing 
her yellow trench coat - just her dress. As her eyes fall upon Lishka and Ev, 
she doesn't have quite the reaction one would expect. No overwhelming joy, no 
running towards her boyfriend to embrace him and cry in joy at seeing him.. 
she just takes a few steps ahead of everyone else and balls up her fists, 
leveling her stone cold and emotionless gaze on Lishka. "Let him go, Lishka. 
We beat your stupid game. We're going /home/. C'mon Ev." She motions with one 
hand for Ev to come over to the group.

And Paige looks about the same as Jubes does. And she's limping slowly and 
holding her arms close around her. And she's the one in the yellow trench coat 
- and apparently, nothing else. And she's got the same attitude that Jubilee 
carries - especially distancing herself from Jono. Hell, they ought to be two 
sides of the same coin - as was revealed on this trip, they have more in 
common then anyone ever thought. She does, however, walk to stand just behind 
Jubilee and says, "Nahce scar, Lishka. Makes ya a little moah human. Aftah 
all, none of us are perfect, eithah." It's a subtle jibe. After all, Lishka 
wants human love and emotions - and now she's got a 'human' face to match. The 
irony isn't lost on Paige, at least. "Let's go." She says softly, turning her 
eyes back to the gate, and then to Lishka - but those flat blue orbs never 
once meet Everett's gaze. After all, how can see look at him after she 
'killed' him? She's not quite come to terms with that, obviously.

Terry is also sporting a nice shiner only her's is the left eye. Her hand is 
bound as if it had been cut at some point. She has been waiting for this final 
step this final test. Her eyes latch onto Ev and Lishka, "Time t' go. Let's 
get this done.." Terry tosses her hair back lightly drawing herself up to her 
full height.

Lishka doesn't say anything at first, or even do anything really, but Everett 
would be able to feel a nagging trace of anger and partial... guilt? at the 
sight of Jubilee and the others. Yeah, she might have wanted to fight them for 
the bald boy beside her, but she doesn't have to feel good about it. And this 
sudden change of perspective has -nothing- to do with the fact she kissed 
Jubilee. Really. Honest. Nothing to do with that. She just stares at Jubilee, 
keeping a hand on her 'hostage's arm lightly to show she isn't giving him up 
that easily. She glances around the roof slowly, scanning over everyone one by 
one. Each of those who entered the Tower are present. Most, have been effected 
in some way by it. Good. The doorway home is opened and unblocked, and only 
about ten feet from where Everett and 'Frosty' are standing. Her eyes linger 
on Paige a little longer then the others for some reason, and sense of dreed 
feeling her emotions which of course only the young man beside her can feel. 
She doesn't show a single reaction on her face. She's as outwardly reactive as 
a Vulcan -- as Jonothon so eliquently compared the Niflmannaz to. Finally she 
just inclines her head after remaining like an ice sculpture for almost a 
minute, "You all have made it, and you have two more hours until the 'week' is 
up, and the door is opened just like I said it would be. Now... all you have 
to do is get through it." With that, something seems to happen. The two 
tattoos she's worn on her skin since the beginning seem to come alive, like 
really good computer animation. The snake on her wrist becomes 3 dimensional 
and real, and slithers off her wrist and quickly over to the doorway where it 
grows in size until it's head is roughly the size of four human fists. Then 
the wolf head on her collar bone (which has been covered most the time) rips 
out of her dress and moves over in front of the door as well. This leaves a 
nice little *cough* hole in her dress. Anyway, all that is done by the time 
she finishes the word 'it'. A giant snake with long curled fangs and a black 
wolf with silver streaks. Lishka's jaw is set. She's determined to keep 
Everett. She -has- to. She -needs- him damnit! She needs him like humans need 
air, like plants need sunlight, like cats need to -claw- something. But 
besides the determination on her face, the only one who can sense how she 
feels is the same person she feels the emotions for. Sucks to be Everett right 
about now, don't it?

"Guys! JUBES!" Everett's reaction holds enough enthusiasm to make up for that 
lacking in the group of his friends and he moves to streak forwards towards 
them... Though the greeting he gets from them, Jubilee in particular, is like 
a glass of ice cold water in his face. He wouldn't have gotten far regardless, 
what with Lishka's restraining tug... Bet upon seeing the collection of dull, 
butter faces... Hearing Jubilee's flat tone... Well, it sting. Stings of 
guilt, over the fact that whatever did this to them... Well, he's responsible. 
Before he can move to step away again Lishka makes her little speech, along 
with those Asgardian special effects... And through their link, Lishka will 
recieve a bitter wave of feelings of betrayal. "No!" The boy shouts, perhaps 
showing Lishka the most avid resistance he has throughout this entire ordeal. 
His arm is yanked back violently, trying to strain out of her grip. "You 
promised! They made it! Let them GO!"

Fists tightening in ever growing rage - built and fed out of a need to ignore 
every other feeling which seers through her heart - Jubilee takes a reflexive 
step back as the figures lash out, her hands glowing as her power kicks into 
action and her anger makes it less controllable. As she see's it's not an 
attick, but a barrier, Jube turns a firey gaze back to the frozen bitch. "GOD 
DAMNIT LISHKA!! We made it through your fucking tower!! That was the /deal/!! 
We make it through and then we can go /home/!! I swear to fucking God I'll 
kill you with my bare hands you ice bitch!" As Jube speaks she starts a steady 
advancement on Lishka, eyes ever flickering back to those wards of the doorway 
whom she's sure will inevitably attack.

"Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck Ah can't HUSK! Ah can't faight lahke this goddamn it! 
Ah'm hurtin' an' Ah'm tired an Ah can't pull off another husk!" Paige shrieks 
as she scrambles back from the forming monsters. "Goddamn deal breakin' bitch! 
Sorry, folks, but Paige ain't gunna be any help. She's weak and tired and 
stuck in a very delicate body. Period. She's not going to be any help to you.

"Why d'es it always ha' t' be snakes.." Terry glances to Paige with a moment 
of concern, "Well hell n' point in dealin' w' Lishka. She's na' goin' t' 
change her mind I'm sure..Bitch..." The redhead doesn't wait a moment longer 
and flies towards the snake, grappling at it, her scream shifting a touch as 
she speaks, "Y' might wan' t' cover yuir ears.."

"No, Jubilee, I believe I said that when you got to the top the door would be 
open to your home. I never said I wouldn't block it. In fact, I hinted to you 
that I would do just this in your own room." Outwardly Lishka is every bit how 
she should be in a situation such as this. Smug, cocky, self important. 
Inwardly, she's a wreck. She wants to curl up into a ball and just stay there 
forever. The feel of betrayal from Everett has left her inner defenses 
shattered, and broken. She opens her mouth again after a pause of looking at 
Everett, having allowed him to get free of her arm. "I'm sorry, Everett. I 
went into this knowing I would have to do everything in my power to get you. 
At first I was sure your friends would lose -- most people do. Then, when I 
saw you had a chance winning I figured I could make you turn to me... Your 
friends game me some perfect opputunity for progress. But of course I knew in 
the end you would never give in." She turns her eyes to Jubilee and says in 
her direction, "He's very strong you know. Much too good for you." She glances 
towards Paige briefly, "Much too good for either of you." She adds with a 
small, almost ironic smirk, "And a thousand times too good for me." She wanted 
to say it before someone else did. "I want him for -goodness- sake. I know 
it's a cliche where you come from. But I want him as a light to my darkness. A 
sunrise to my twilight. You'll understand soon enough. You'll all have years 
and years and years to see how well he and I fit together." She sighs and 
glances over at Everett again, adding, "They've gotten this far, and I'm 
afraid I have to tell you the truth. The 'game' you've been playing has been 
just that -- a game. Rune or no rune. You reached the top, so Thurisaz is now 
finished. Yes, you won the 'game'. But think of this like the game a cat plays 
with a mouse..." Yeah, she makes long speeches doesn't she? But upon seeing 
Terry about to scream she says loudly, "I would -do- that if I were you."

Everett's interior turmoil mirrors Lishka's own... Not because of the link, 
but no doubt fueled by it. Those wide eyes are turned on Lishka, filled with 
utter shock and betrayal. Why did she have to go and ruin it... Ruin 
everything she'd managed to accomplish in his eyes? Dammit, though his 
teammates would no doubt give him the lashing of a lifetime if he told them, 
he /cared/ for her! Nowhere near in the manner she wanted, but still... He was 
there to see her weakness, to hear her story, and to share her pain. He knows, 
beneath her cold exterior, there's just a lonely woman yearning for 
compassion... Ev strains to ignore his primary reflex to go aid his friends in 
the battle that no doubt rages behind him, choosing instead to take this 
conflict to the source, and resolve it through the most non-violent means 
possible. Compassion is his weapon, and the boy will always choose it over 
anger. "Don't do this, Lishka..." His tone is low, directed at the woman, 
voice wavering with emotion. "You know that no matter what the result, you 
lose... Please... Let us go home. It doesn't have to be like this. After 
everything you've shown me, I know you don't want this... And I know you 
realize you can't force my love. I can't feel that way towards you... But 
there can still be friendship, and that's something I not only /can/ give, but 
I want to." By now, there are traces of tears brimming in his eyes. It may not 
be macho, but the effect has the potential to be so much more powerful then 
the strongest punch or the most powerful blast, especially when sincere. 
"please, just... Let it end now."

And that stops Jubilee right in her tracks. No, not Lishka. Ev. Ev's soft but 
empassioned plea for mercy. It's so goddamn obvious that he cares about this 
woman. That he's taken pitty. An offer of friendship? The mind boggles. This 
is the woman who, for the past week, as been trying her very best to /DESTORY/ 
the people Ev /loves/, and he wants to SAVE HER?!?! Doesn't he know what the 
hell she PUT THEM THROUGH?!?! His words sting like a thousand needles into 
Jubilee's heart, but her expression is hardened only more by it until she 
wears a complete stone mask, reflecting nothing of her true emotions. When 
she's close enough, she lashes out - not to attack Lishka, but to grab Ev by 
the collar and yank him firmly away from the woman, turning to pull him behind 
her so she can fix her dead gaze on him and whisper "Synch with Husk. 
Sunlight. Now." It's a command, and one Jube will not be happy with Ev for 
ignoring. Fuck civility. Fuck compassion. This bitch has taken away everything 
Jube had worked so hard to regain, and now she's even turning Jube's 
/boyfriend/ to her side. She wants Lishka dead. Now. Guess Paige and Jube are 
more alike then either of them want to admit.

Well, Paige is kinda avoiding the snakes right now, looking over at Jubilee 
and Ev. Yeah, she heard that impassioned plea - and sees Jubilee react as she 
would. Later, she might laugh as she realize that under the skin, they're 
almost the same woman. But right now, she's too busy dealing with whole 'There 
are monsters' here. "Fuck fuck fuck! Ev, pull ya head outta ya ass! We gave 
our hearts, soul, and blood foah ya! Who do you *love* an' who do you *give* a 
fuck abaht? Ah realize Ah may mean shit ta ya, but Ah thought f' sure yoah 
vaunted *Second love* would be worth more then that! Or did y' turn ovah t' 
Lishka in a weeks tahme?" She screams at him from a distance. Yeeeeeah, she's 
a visisous bitch to him too - but maybe it'll spur him like it spurred 
Jubilee. Sheah. Right.

"An' Why na Lishka? I dinna believe y' plannin' t' honor any sort o' 
agreement. Y' afraid I might bring down this tower down accidently? Y' kna' 
wha'? I dinna care. Better tha' we all die than become toys in yuir little 
carnivl." Terry pauses, "I love my friends. I love them enough, t' kill them 
t' spare them from yuir little night mare." She says this with a grim kind of 
determination. She means it still as she reaches towards the serpent.

Golden eyes just watch the entire thing... Eyes like a wolf in the shadows. 
Eyes like a eagle perched on a tree stump. Eyes like the very thing that 
Jubilee is telling Everett to use against her. Lishka keeps those same eyes on 
Everett. She knows what the young girl said, but she shows no real outward 
reaction to it. Her emotions are a torent of pain and guilt. "I love you, 
Everett. You've shown me a light in a tunnel full of darkness and hatred. Do 
you blame me for going after it? Yes, I know my methods are wrong, but I -
have- to do this. I have to. It's the only way. Friendship you say? How could 
you possibly be my friend. Your friends hate me. The woman you -are- in love 
with only wants to kill me. And besides, what do you think the Elders will do 
to me for failing -again?-" At that exact moment she glances as she catches 
the end of Terry's words and sees that she's heading towards the serpent, "NO! 
Don't! Stay -AWAY- from them!!" Dread, fear, horror, and outright -shock- 
radiate from her. Don't they understand those things are -dangerous-??? But 
aparently that seems to be what Terry wants. To die fighting instead of spend 
an eternity in a box. Lishka wants to die like that. She wants to do it -well-
. But she doubts she has the courage for it. Behind the shock and the distress 
there's a sense of awe and slight respect, then suddenly she does the only 
thing she can do, she summons a gust of wind -- illusion wind -- to blow Terry 
back before she gets too close.

Everett is pulled back sharply as Jubilee's hand wraps around his collar, an 
action that sure surprises our resident syncher. However, Jubilee's command 
does go unheeded... Not just because Ev doesn't want to hurt Lishka, but 
because chances of him pulling off a sunlight husk are small. Still, the 
former is the main contributing factor. Once he's been pushed behind her, one 
of Ev's hands is brought up to give Jubilee's shoulder a gentle squeeze... A 
small plea for her to trust him, though given her state, it too will no doubt 
go unheeded as well. Regardless, there are no time for explanations just yet. 
Ev looks down to Jubilee to offer another brief, pleading look, before turning 
his eyes back to Lishka. "Come with us." His words aren't shouted, but still 
no doubt heard over the sounds filling the rooftop. "You don't have to face 
the Elders, or play their games, or be alone..."

........ "WHAT?!?" Jubilee cries out as her jaw hits the floor and eyes widen, 
that stone mask cracking into a million pieces and shattering on the floor. 
Pain and hurt and /betrayal/ fills her blue eyes as they water, her fists 
loosening as her muscles start to give out. She wavers in her stance for just 
a moment, taking a reflexive step back, her gaze locked on Ev. On the man who 
just invited the woman who put them all through hell to come /home/ with them, 
as if she was some kind of.. lost puppy!! "Are you /insane/?!? Do you know 
what she /did to us/?!?! To me and Paige and Jono and Gwen and Sam and all the 
people who you claim you'd die for and care for and love!! She'd trap us all 
here in that fucking carnival without a second thought so she could have you 
all to herself, and you want her to come /home/ with us?!?!" Tears stream down 
Jubilee's cheeks, every word filled with pain and anger.

Terry was just about to take the serpent in her hands. Oddly enough she's at a 
step where Lishka's wind is succesful in knocking her down. She yelps and 
lands a touch hard. "Awww y'damn.." She staggers upwards, "Ev.. please tell me 
tha' I di' na' just hear tha'!" She takes to the air again with a low yell. 
Her intent is obvious to return to her attack on that serpent. "Don' y' get 
it? She is na' a' nice girl. Y' ha' na' been through wha' we ha' and fer y'!"

You know, Paige would laugh and mock Jubilee.. were this any other time. See 
how fast Ev turns!? See how quickly you've been left behind!? Buuuuut, she 
dosen't really find it funny. "Ah cannot believe ya that stupid, shanghaied, 
or thinkin' that much with your goddamn nuts, Everett. Hell, Leavin' me foah 
Jubilee Ah can undahstand, but *LISHKA!?* Y' fuck, we bleed and hurt an' damn 
near died foah ya, an' she's the CAUSE of it all! Fuck, when Ah gutted yoah 
illusion, Ah wish ta hell it'd really been ya!" She snaps, and then looks at 
Jubilee. "It ain't worth it no moah. We ain't worthy of *Him?* Bullshit. He 
ain't worthy of *us*." She looks at Ev, and you know, she'd probably be able 
to walk through that portal, leaving him behind, not to hard. But then, well, 
Paige is psycho that way.. and most of her neurosis is wrapped up in Everett, 
so it only goes to show.

(~~...let th'Eld'rs `ave `er, Ev. She's a tosser.~~) Jono states, his voice 
cold, but angered, as he moves in a circle around the back of the group. 
(~~..she d'serves wotev'r `ell they `ave `ere.~~) he continues, his fists 
clenching as his eyes narrow, (~~..now, I will tell y'once, _bitch_. Move.~~) 
he finishes, his attention focused on Lishka, and the door beyond her. He 
focuses on that right now, and freedom, his cotenance steely as that 
turtleneck starts to ripple with the energies amassing behind it..

Gwen Namura considers, looking around. "I know I'm going to be outvoted, but I 
rather agree with Ev. Or, of course, we could wipe her name off the tree of 
life. Whichever she prefers." She shifts her stance, then starts to walk 
slowly towards the bitch, golden spikes embedding her feet into the roof at 
each step.

Will stands there for a moment, then shrugs. He walks alongside Gwen, 
electricity beginning to dance along his forearms. "Well...I don't care. 
But...isn't she bad?"

Lishka stands there, in shock. Did Everett just say what she -thinks- he just 
said? He's -inviting- her to come back with them? -HER?- Well, she doesn't 
know what to say or do at all, so she just stands there for a few moments. She 
doesn't say anything until Paige's lines come through and she yells, "Leave 
him alone, all of you! Just because he's more humane and understanding then 
the rest of you doesn't mean you can hurt him!" Yeah, she's only pissed 
because she knows how much those lines likely hurt him, even if she doesn't 
feel it all. At Jonothon's treats she just shakes her head, "I wouldn't hit 
them if I were you. You might knock them into your world where they will gain 
their own will and I won't be able to stop them anymore. And young Namura, 
thank you for the 'attempt' at understanding, but my name isn't carved into 
the Tree of Life anyway. It's carved into the -stave- of Life, which you 
wouldn't be able to find if you tried." Alright. Now that that's done Lishka 
glances towards the doorway... Go with them...? Could she possibily? Could it 
be that simple? Could she leave this all behind? No. Because Paige would kill 
her as soon as she had time to rest. Jubilee would throw her out a window and 
into sunlight. Jonothon would assualt her with psionic blasts. Not to mention 
what the -Elders- would do when they found out she was gone. "I can't go with 
you, Everett..." That's all she says to that, then turns her eyes on Gwen.

"You don't understand..." Ev tries to protest in response to Jubilee's cry, 
though any attempts at an explanation he makes are no doubt drowned out in the 
uproarous response from the other teammates. And even in the cacophony, all he 
manages to single out are Paige's words... Paige's searing words... Each one 
slicing through his soul with more pain than any of Lishka's illusions or 
spells coud ever have produced. All he wants to do is crawl under some rock 
and die, at the thought that he could be responsible for all of this... But he 
won't. He won't give up. It's time for meek lil' Ev to make a stand. He turns 
sharply to face the rest of the advancing team, a look of determination 
adorning his face, tears beginning to find their ways down his cheeks. "NO! 
This isn't how it should be! None of you /get/ it... This isn't Lishka's 
fault! Everything she's been through... She's just /lonely/ and you want to 
punish her because she used the only methods she was ever taught to try and 
solve her problem! She's no more evil than any of you! I can't believe you 
don't trust me... After everything we've been through... Jubilee, Paige, 
Sam... Shouldn't my word be enough?" Yup, the tears are coming now, as for the 
first time in his life, Everett lashes out with his feelings and emotions, all 
the pain he's been absorbing of late, focused and directed at the people he 
loves. For shame, Everett. Still, for those who truly listen to his 
empassioned words, there's an unmistakable sincerity held within....

Odd thing, isn't it? In Sam's room, Jubilee was taking pitty on Lishka. She 
even entertained the thought of asking her to come home with them as well.. 
but what she was just through.. Jubilee's emotional state is hanging from a 
very very thin thread and the sizzors are starting to close around it. She's 
had secrets she never wanted anyone else to know lay bare for all to see, 
she'd had her fragile psyche ripped to shreads by Lishka /and/ her teammates, 
and through it all the one thing that's driven her forward is the need to see 
Ev again, to feel his arms and his love and be able to just go /home/ and have 
this all over and done with, never having to even think of this place again. 
Just shove it into a dark corner of her mind with all the other bad things. 
And now he wants to bring those bad things home.. It's like asking to bring 
Sinister into the boys hall. It's a constant reminder of all she's so close to 
loosing.. Or feels like she's so close to loosing. She listens to Lishka and 
Ev and Paige and everyone, eyes locked on the crying Q-Ball, and her entire 
body starts to tremble as her sobs gain strength. "No.. No, she's right.. 
She's right!" Jube lowers her head and lifts up her hands to place them behind 
it, as if trying to hide. "We don't deserve him. He's doing what we knew he'd 
do.. What /I/ knew he'd do.. what I love him for! And we're punishing him for 
it." She shakes her head and takes another step back, her words becoming 
softer as her crying becomes louder. "She just wanted someone to care, and 
he's right, she should leave here.. I just.. I... I.." I tried so damn hard to 
keep you when Paige was going to take you away.. and I tried to get through 
this to come back to you.. and now I'm loosing you all over again. It's not a 
rational thought - Ev hasn't shown any love or affinity for Lishka. But Jube 
isn't very rational right now..

Terry doesn't stop her determined flight to the serpent, "If you want t' bring 
her Ev.. fine.. b' there will be reprecussions." HUGE ones. She lands nimbly 
at Jubilee's words, "Ha' y' forgotten? Jubilee.. think on wha' yuir sayin'. 
Guid god, I'm sorry b' this is maddening.. Fergive an' ferget is all well an' 
guid, b' sometimes.." She murmurs, "Sometimes its just too hard..."

This time, Paige steps up behind her 'teammate' and puts her hands on her 
shoulders, looking hard at Everett. "Bullshit. He ran from me what Ah needed 
him most, straight t' yoah arms. An' nah that ya need him, he's in Lishka's. 
True t' form t' the end, Ev'rett? Fuck the ice-queen. If Ah were strong 
enough, she'd be more then jus' scarred. But Ev'rett, we bled foah ya, and we 
ached foah ya an' bah god, Ah'll take y' hold in a little papah sack as a 
seveahed head if that's what it takes to get ya through the GODDAMN GATE!" 
Lishka ain't coming. Paige will kill herself husking into sunlight if she has 
too. But she's not coming. You can see it in those wild blue eyes.

Turning his attention from the beasties and onto Lishka, Jono's eyes narrow to 
slits at Ev's words, (~~...she's put yer gel thr'gh `ell, she's put yer 
friends thr'gh `ell, she's put Paige 'nd me through `ell.~~) With each word, 
Jono takes a step closer towards the Ice Bitch, his fists tightening. 
(~~..she's ev'l. `Er name sh'ld be _burned_ from thot Stave of Life, al'ng 
wit' th'rest o'these bast'rds names.~~) he says, his mental voice cold. 
(~~...she d'sn't d'serve t'c'me back wit' us.~~) So says Starsmore. He hated 
his changes, but now he's opening himself up to them, letting the powers flow 
through him, building towards blasting levels... Paige might not be powerful 
enough to kill Lishka, but Jono's powerful enough to send her away, through a 
wall or two...

Gwen Namura walks closer to the icebitch. "Tree, staff. Sorry. The wolf 
distracted me. Doesn't matter. My point was, if you think the Elders are going 
to get you... trap you away... again... you have two choices. Come with us... 
or give up. You fought us too hard to be someone who gives up. Your loss you 
just didn't know what you were doing when you picked us. Now, I'm not happy 
with you. Matter of fact, I want to beat you to a pulp. But I'm willing to 
give you one... chance." She holds out her right hand, as the sun illuminates 
her from behind. "Come with me if you want to live."

Will steps up next to Gwen. It's taken a long time...longer than their stay in 
the tower...but he's finally made up his mind how to deal with this. Who knows 
when he figured it out...but he's had a number of opportunities. "Gwen's 
right. We'll help you...no one should ever be trapped someplace they don't 
want to be." He nods sincerely, "Listen to us..." He frowns a bit. "Becuase if 
you say no...and if you want to fight...we can do that too. And I don't think 
you'd like that." His hands pulse with a crackle of energy again, as he seems 
to hover near Gwen. Protectively? Who knows.

Lishka doesn't say anything at first to the threats and the chances to join 
them. But at Jonothon's threat of attack she does say something softly, "Don't 
hurt me... please. You'll only be hurting Everett." That... is the exact 
moment when she makes her choice, looking right at Gwen silently for a 
momement. Then she waves her hand slightly and the two creatures grow flat and 
return to her body, becoming tattoos again. There is no emotion in her voice, 
and she seems... tired. Her entire body looks tired. And the feelings 
radiating from her a defeat. Pure and simple. "Go. That's your way home. It's 
over now. I won't bother you again."

With each of Paige's words, another thread of Ev's soul burns painfully, 
something no amount of support from Jubilee, Will and Gwen can heal. Because, 
dammit, very word is true. There will be serious guilt to deal with after this 
night... Everett's eyes begin to close in an attempt to try and block out the 
pain, but don't even get fully shut before Lishka makes her decision. The boy 
turns quickly to face here, eyes wide once again. With surprise, and 
gratitude. Of course, he's not going to give up on her /that/ easily... "You 
can still come... We can help you against the Elders, you don't /have/ to be 
alone..."

Jubilee's arms move down so she can wrap them around herself tightly, hands 
clamped on her shoulder and head still bowed, hair falling down to cover her 
tear-streaked face. He's gone.. he didn't even ask what happened.. how she got 
the black-eye. All he's doing is trying to save Lishka.. she did it. All 
through all this she's been telling herself he loves her. He wouldn't let 
Lishka get to him. Paige was /wrong/. But she's lost him now and she's all 
alone and nothing is ever going to fix this hurt. Jube hasn't felt like this 
since.. since that night in Muir. She turns towards Paige and presses her head 
against the girl's shoulder, whispering "I wanna go home.. I just wanna go 
home.."

Paige merely looks down at Jubilee, who is suddenly needing her support. Yeah, 
well, Paige has been where she is now. "Come on, Jubilee. Lets get you the 
hell out of here. He'll follow." And then begins to guide the mallrat to the 
door. She looks back at Ev. It's a clear order in her eyes. Follow. The same 
is given the rest of the team. "Jono, Terry, escort Everett to the door. I'm 
not having him fuck this up for the rest of us." She says very softly.... just 
in case. After all, if Lishka's got her claws in him, who knows what may 
happen?

Terry rakes her hands through her hair, "Dammit.. Ev can bloody well walk if 
he has t'... AND PAIGE y' aren't th' leader.. "

Don't hurt her? It'll hurt Ev? Shah, roight, like Jono'll believe that. He 
clenches his fists. (~~...shut...up...q-ball...~~) Jono practically spits at 
Everett. (~~...Terry, take Ev. I'll make sure this toss'r d'sn't try `nyth'ng. 
Gwen, g't goin'. `elp Sam and Ra'ne.~~) he says, ignoring Paige's orders. Jono 
wants to lead, for once. He unclenches one fist to drag his turtleneck away, 
revealing his disfigured chest, roaring with psionic energies flowing through 
him. (~~..y'urt th'wr'ng p'ple, Lishka...~~) he spits, his eyes narrowing once 
again, his face glowing eerily with the power he holds.

Gwen Namura looks intently at Lishka, then nods. Quietly, she says, "Then 
visit, some time, if you want to learn." She turns her back and walks towards 
the undefended portal. "C'mon, guys. Before it closes."

Will blinks. Well, that didn't make sesnse. But... He follows Gwen with a 
sigh. Nope, he'll never get it.

Sam clenches his fists, the moment of truth finally having arrived. The awful 
part? he has to decide what happens. Does Lishka come along, or does she stay? 
"Guys....we have ta go...." And that they do, the opening they have /dreamed/ 
about is right in front of them, and to ignore it would be damn stupid. "Hold 
it! Lishka, ah hate ya with mah whole god-damn heart, but ahm not a mean 
bastahd lahke ya. Come if ya lahke, but ah assure ya, we have the powah ta 
control /ya/ ovah on earth if we need ta. If this isn't genuine, yoah dirt. 
Nah is the tahme, ya come /now/ or nevah!" He takes in a deep breath, looking 
towards his teammates. "Go. That's an ordah. B'foah ah count ta five, ah want 
ya's all through there. Move /it/!" Yes, Sam sounds very snarky, but he's 
stressed to the max. Is this the right thing to do, after all Lishka has done? 
Oi, just go.

And what does Lishka do about all this? Nothing. She stands there and watches, 
her eyes dark, like amber in shadow, her pupils wide with emotion. The 
feelings raging inside her are all regret, pain, distress, heartache, and 
defeat. She just stares at Everett for a few moments, while she still can. 
Then she smiles. Yes. Lishka -smiles-. Not sarcastically, not ironically. Just 
a nice, smile, as if she is trying to comefor him. Behind all those sad and 
deep emotions is a sense of love, and need. And some of it can be heard in her 
voice as she speaks, "Go. I'm not alone anymore. My gift to you was really a 
gift to me." She tries to be vague about the bond, because she isn't sure if 
he would want his friends to know he has an empathic bond with Lishka. They 
might take it the wrong way. Ya know, it wasn't like she -told- him the gift 
would give him a bond with her. "Go through the door. I'll be alright. The 
woman you love needs you, Everett. Go to her." Yes, that was nice of her to 
tell him to go to Jubilee, wasn't it? Well, deep inside Lishka is already 
regretting letting them go like this. She shouldn't do this. It's against her 
-nature- as she knows it, damnit. She's supposed to be evil, and cruel, but 
she isn't, and she knows it now more then ever before. After she has that 
said, she adds a few final lines to this, one of the last one of her famous 
speeches for likely a long time, "Thank you, Everett. And to the rest of you, 
I'm sorry. I hope one day this experience can be looked back upon without 
regret and pain, but with personal statisfaction. You defeated a Niflmannaz 
who even planned to cheat. I promise very few on your world could ever be able 
to say the same. And Jubilee, I've been lying. You do deserve him. And he 
deserves you. Take care of him. I wish you two the best." It's a small bit of 
kindness she can give. The emotions in her head are reflective of her nature, 
the one that she usually hides under icy or fiery masks. Her emotions are 
formed from Sowilo, and hense, the sun. The very thing she's vunerable to. She 
points towards the doorway which leads to your world, "Go. All of you." 
Totally sappy. Ev musta worn off on her.

"But..." Ev moves to object, but deep down, he realizes this is the end. Final 
decisions have been made, and they can't be reversed. If he pushes, he'll no 
doubt cause more pain, which he seems to be quite good at dealing out of late. 
If anyone makes an attempt to 'escort' him, they're shrugged away passively, 
to show he's coming under his own power. But, before he turns, he offers 
Lishka a heartfelt smile. "Goodbye..." He says, not dwelling on her cryptic 
comment. "If you ever change your mind..." He lets his voice trail off, the 
rest easily assumed, even without the link he isn't aware of. And, with that, 
he turns to head towards the portal. It looks like things are over.

Terry just jogs towards the door. It is out, it is out, it is out. All she 
cares is that it is out anymore. She prays that everyone else takes the out 
too.

As Lishka makes her speech, Jono doesn't move from his spot, the energies 
raging within him. He watches her make her final attempt at warmth, but it 
does not warm th now-cold gaze of the brit. (~~...p'rs'nal sat'sfaction...~~) 
Jono mutters, just before letting lose with everything. He lets all his 
energies flow through him, attacking Lishka with the biggest blast yet... the 
blast that made him the disfigured psi he is today. But this time its 
contained, barely, blasting forwards towards the Ice Queen just as it blasts 
the Londoner backwards. As he flies through the air past his friends, and 
lands with a hard thud on the cold ground, one can almost see a look of 'wow, 
I did it' wonder on his face, as new cracks form around his gaping chamber of 
energy. Chamber.. maybe thats what you all can call him, if he ever goes out 
on a team mission with you.

Yeah, that darn psionic. Lishka really doesn't like him at all. And you all 
wanna wonder why? Well, this is why. She does an act of kindness and he slams 
her for it. This time though, she doesn't let it hit her. She always did 
before, for a few reasons. Mainly because she didn't want to show that 
weakness. This time, the main reason she does dodge is the fact that she knows 
if she gets hit, Everett will be hurt by it, and she doesn't want that to 
happen. The psionic energies roar, slamming into the building behind Lishka, 
but they don't so much as chip the paint. That building was created by the 
Elders. Not even -Lishka- can destroy it, because she doesn't completely own 
it. Now where did the ice witch go? She teleported away a moment before it hit 
her. Unfortunately she's still weak, so her teleport isn't the best planned, 
and to top that, she can't teleport back to yell at Jonothon. She's using all 
that remains of her power to hold the damn doorway open. She can only manage 
it for a few minutes longer, so she hopes they get through before she's forced 
to collapse it.

Everett was just stepping through the portal as Jono made his move, the 
interdimensional energies already exercising their hold over him before he 
could run back out to do a damn thing to stop the psi. "JONO, NOOO--*" Ev's 
fierce cry soulds across the windswept rooftop, cut short as he's pulled from 
this dimension back to the Entertainment Room of the X-Tate, before he can 
even see if Lishka got away or not.

Well, seeing Jono fall spurs the girl to her last action. Paige flickers her 
gaze around the room, and then bolts forward. "Stupid fucking bastard. I hate 
you I hate you I *Hate* you." She snarls, gripping his jacket by the lapels 
and using it to heft him up and over her shoulder in a firearm's hold. She 
gives one last look around, and then heads doggedly toward the doorway.


Entertainment Room - Xtate

        You find yourself within a room designed for dance and social 
gatherings. The hardwood floor is expansive and able to accomadate more than 
50 persons comfortablly. Stark white walls are decorated in modern works of 
art and one will even find a raised area for a band or public speaking. 
Speakers and electronic equipment are well concealed behind panels and glass 
throughout the room. Large doors to the east open up to the living area and to 
the north one will note an entrance to a kitchen. An exit to the lawn is found 
from this room as well.


        The trip to the Tower included freezing winds, and dropping from the 
sky, as soon as you're across the threshhold it feels like... you're falling 
again, but this time it doesn't -feel- like you're falling really. More like 
floating downward slowly. All around you is nothing but bright sunlight and 
warm air. A bright, luminace gold. The color of Lishka's eyes. Once the 
treashold was crossed the doorway didn't seem to lead anywhere. What could be 
hours later, but is really only a few minutes, you all will wake up, exactly 
where you were when you entered the card game. Only all the chairs have been 
moved around so instead of lounged in chairs, you're laying on the floor. It's 
almost like the trip caused you to faint, and you're just coming too. Or 
perhaps you've been here asleep the whole time. The first is closer to the 
truth, but the type of doorway Lishka used is -supposed- to do this. It's not 
a clear step through your there transportation.

Everett is the first to regain consciousness, no doubt because he was the 
least weakened by the stay in the Tower. His reaction is dazed, as if waking 
from a deep sleep. One hand comes up to rub his bald head, wincing sharply as 
he finds a new bruise or two. "What the..." His words are whispered and eyes 
narrowed as he peers around the room, only to find his fallen teammates lining 
the floor, and after a moment... His memory. Narrowed eyes widen quickly with 
disbelief. "We're home." Quiet again, more of a question than a statement. The 
second, however, is the opposite. "We're HOME!" Probably a loud enough shout 
to wake the others, caught in the momentary glee, the specific events of the 
roftop still needing to catch up to him.

The second to be roused is Jubilee, though it must be an incredible act of 
will, or training at the hands of Wolverine, considering she's one of the two 
who took the biggest beating over this past week. She groans softly as she 
catches the end of Ev's shout for joy, lifting a hand to touch the side of her 
head as he pounds in pain.. Her head slowly lifts to look around with squinted 
eyes, just sort of trying to.. re-affirm what Ev just shouted.. Yes. Home.. it 
deffinatly looks like home, doesn't it.. Just to be sure, she reaches over and 
gives her arm a damn hard pinching, adding another bruise to her assortment. 
Her own yelp of pain gives her all the proof she needs that she's awake.. and 
home.. and it's over.. and once again, Jubilee breaks into soft tears, pulling 
her legs up close to her chest as she sits in her spot on the floor.

Oddly, it's Jubilee's cries that rouse Paige, not anything else. She stirrs 
and reaches out and pats the girl near her's knee. "It's s'alright, darlin'." 
Paige mumbles as she awakes, slowly sitting up and moaning softly. Ugh. Yeah, 
she kinda wants to sitdown and cry, too. But, instead, she just drags herself 
to sit up, and blink for a moment. Ev. Jubilee. Terry. That's it. Well, that's 
fine with her. She reaches out and puts an arm around Jubilee's shoulder, and 
pulls the girl agianst her. "S'alright darlin'. Y' have y' cry an' then we 
getcha cleaned up and taken care of." She says soothingly, not even sparing 
the others, wake or slumbering, a second glance.

Ok. Someone is bothered very suddenly. Joliene was upstairs reading, and 
having a fine time of it too, when suddenly large amounts of water just 
appeared out of -nowhere- down below her. No yes, moisture in the air is known 
to happen, but water doesn't just -appear- from thin air. The water she is 
refering to is ofcourse the water that resides inside the bodies of those who 
just took the trip back here. And of course the loud 'We're HOME' draws her 
steps to be more quickly down to the Entertainment Room. She doesn't even stop 
to wake up Josh or any of the others as she runs down the stairs and towards 
the same room the team vanished from. The doors bang open and there stands a 
Joliene with blue-streaked hair in a fuzzy navy blue bathrobe. She blinks, and 
then grins, seeing everyone who's missing beging there. The fact that most of 
them are -unconsious- bothers her, and the fact that Jubilee is crying bothers 
her, but she still tries to keep a good mood forward, "Hi guys. Welcome back." 
Yeah. What do you say to people who've been gone for a week? 'Hi guys?' ... So 
Jo's not versed in proper greetings torwards people who've just been through 
Hell. So sue her. She walks inside and goes amediately to one of the 
unconsious group -- Sam, and just checks to make sure he's breathing before 
looking on, "Good to have you all back. Need me to go get you some food or 
bandages or anything?" She talks to Ev, because he's the consious one who -
isn't- crying or being cried on. And she isn't even gonna -ask- where they've 
been. She'll ask later.

Jo's question goes unanswered by Ev who, after getting over the shock and glee 
of being home, focused all his attention on Jubilee. He's at her side quickly, 
looking deeply concerned, though quite unsure of how to react over her turning 
to Paige over him. y'know, if he had seen the events in Gwen's room, he might 
be getting jealous. "Jubes...?" He asks in a quiet, wary tone.

When Jube hears Ev's soft voice, she quickly lifts a hand to touch Paige's 
shoulder and tilts her head up, mouth near Paige's ear to whisper a soft plea. 
"Please don't tell him.. please.. It's bad enough everyone else knows, I 
couldn't take it if he did.. please Paige.." She should know right away what 
Jube is talking about. If and When Ev finds out about Jube's suicide attempt, 
Jube wants it to be on her own terms. It's why she nearly shut down completly 
when she thought Ev was standing there watching it all happening.. Until she 
realized it was Lishka after Paige blasted her. That said, she gently parts 
from Paige and turns her tear-streaked face to Ev, quiet, not yet saying a 
word for fear of what she will say when her mouth opens, and partly out of 
curtosy for Paige. Last thing the girl wants to see is some emotional mushy 
reunion between Jube and her Ex.

Paige's jaw tenses. "You tell him." She replies firmly. "Y' can't live a lie. 
Ah tried, an' look where Ah am." She then lets Jubilee and says, "Gowon. Kiss 
'im, love 'im, whatevah. Fuck if Ah care anymoah." She rises tiredly, 
disentangling herself from the girl's side. No, Jubilee is very right. She 
dosen't want to see a mushy reunion between Everett and Jubilee. So she'll 
just walk out of sight, doff the yellow trench, and shred through her skin - 
revealing a clothed form beneath. She grits her teeth as the last 'default' 
form still has the massive brusing over her hip from where she broke her leg - 
showing just how exhausted she really is - but regardless, she lips outside. 
Where to? Well, Paige is emotionally traumatized. So she's going to go get 
comfortably numb. Lets see, wonder what the bars are like this time of day? 
night? Whenever. Paige dosen't care. She's going to get liquored up, and 
there's no Jono hear to stop her. And even if he tried, it wouldn't do much.

Terry stands after a long moment, "I'm goin' t' th' shower." Her voice is 
tight and clenched. Its almost as if something is just lost at the moment. Her 
eye is blackened. Her hand is bandaged. Its been a rough trip, and the others 
seem to be dealing with things in their own way. She is screaming for a 
whiskey however. So much for that vow of quitting as soon as she got back.

Um... Okkkaaaaaaayyyy. Joliene stands up beside Sam's still unconsious form 
and looks from the Jubes and Ev team, to Terry and Paige looking eager to be 
elsewhere. She'd likely go after Paige, if she were dressed, but unlike the 
southern girl she can't husk clothing, so she'll just let her go. "I'm gonna 
assume I better be glad I missed this trip, huh?" Oh. Wait. Better tell Paige 
her little brother is in the city, "Oh, Paige! Your little brother Josh is 
here!" She yells after her, hoping she hears it before she runs off. -Jo- 
certainly wouldn't want to come home later and be surprised by her sister 
being there when she didn't know about it.