xp_logs | Dec. 18th, 2020

Dec. 18th, 2020

A series of mysterious deaths in New York is the subject of X-Force’s latest briefing.

( It looked like a possible serial killer, but when they realised the cause of death couldn't be identified, we got it as a 'weird shite' thing. )

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Gabe and Natasha investigate a body dump spot and Gabe gets the DPS heebie jeebies.

( That gut feeling where something's off and pulling on that one thread leads you to the 'oh shit' moment. )

Kevin and Clea go seek out information among the magical underground.

( Of course your contact would be out on goddamn Long Island. I hate Long Island. )

Amanda and Wanda meet over books and discuss that they both feel something ‘off’ but can’t pinpoint it.

( Please not old, powerful and good at hiding. That gets way too messy and end-of-world-y. )

Marie-Ange takes Topaz under her wing, showing her the basics of information gathering.

( Look on the bright side. Maybe it's another life-draining witch. )

Artie and Amanda use their respective street-level resources - personal contacts and talking to the city itself - to find more information.

( You know, next time, all I want are some nice mutant separatists on a neo-nazi murdering spree. )

The two walking wounded set about searching the Web.

( I mean, computer languages tend to go one of three ways. Animals, famous dead scientists, or throw a bunch of random letters at the wall. )

Emma and Jean bond unexpectedly while looking for psychic residue, but their plans for a girls’ night are violently interrupted.

( And then the cracks in the world broke open and it felt like the universe fell in. )

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Siege Perilous Day 1 - The Hellfire Club strikes! The Black Court has launched an assault on Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum and X-Force scrambles to defend their ally. On the street, X-Force’s leader Remy LeBeau coordinates the situation with the team’s ‘Oracle’, Jubilee.

TW: strong language

( Lee, I want updates. Dey should have reached Strange by now. )

Jean Grey meets with an old ‘acquaintance’, the woman responsible for torturing her, the Black Court’s Knight.

( How clever will you be with crushed bones? )

Doctor Strange is in trouble, facing the Hellfire Club’s ally from the London location, Topaz.

( I apologise in advance for the trouble, young lady, but you have a name. That will be all you get from me. )

Elsewhere, X-Force’s Natasha Romanoff is facing off against the Black Court’s Bishop, Nick Scratch. With a little help.

( If they needed him alive, well, she had antidote vials on her and if they didn't, did it matter? )

North and Felicia deal with the cannon fodder and banter as only they can.

( But I assure you there is no shame in using an electric knife. Or in getting stabbing lessons from you. )

Adam Destine comes to his teacher’s aid as the Black Court’s Clea makes her appearance.

( They sent Magic Barbie after you, Strange. Guess you really pissed off the club this time. )

Reinforcements for the Hellfire Club are on the way in the shape of Gabriel Cohuelo and his Maggia thugs. Remy and Kevin are on the case.

( And Gabriel hated that he didn't see this coming, and he knew it would just lend credence to the whispers in some circles of the Hellfire Club that he had been in over his head, and they had been wrong to trust him. )

Topaz, in the meantime, runs across the X-Men’s Artie Maddicks, on loan to X-Force while an injury heals.

( I don't think I can do that. The people I answer to might not be too pleased. )

The HFC closes in on their prey, but Strange still has a few surprises - and allies - up his sleeve. Then it all falls apart.

TW: blood

( You coming along nicely, or do we have to get messy? )

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Siege Perilous Day 1 - Wanda and Adam try their best to keep Strange alive. It isn’t enough.
TW: blood and character death

( I know it hurts but what do you need to tell me? )

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Siege Perilous Day 2 - Following the mission, the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle convenes to report to their Black Queen.

( Nicholas, pet. Say something about this disaster that will make your Queen happy. )

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Siege Perilous Day 3 - Pillow talk between Amanda and Marie-Ange becomes a possible lead to finding Illyana Rasputin.

( You are so ticklish for someone so absurdly powerful. )

Siege Perilous Day 3 - X-Force’s research team - Jubilee and Charlie Plunder - combine their respective skills to try and come up with something.

( Strange didn’t seem like the type of dude who’d pull a prank with his dying breath. )

Siege Perilous Day 4 - The next day, Clea and Amanda pay a visit to Astriel, a member of the magical underground.

TW: torture; death

( Let's go in hard and put the fear of whatever fuzzy Wiccan deity they worship into them. )

Siege Perilous Day 4 - Kevin and Natasha seek out potential leads among the Russian mafia.

( Russian crime families branding themselves like fucking supervillains. Jesus, the old traditions really have gone to shit. )

Siege Perilous Day 5 - Artie and Jean carry on the day-to-day business of X-Force and discuss their respective choices to be part of their teams.

( Everyone's got their own reasons. Mine are just a little petty, but I own up to it. )

Siege Perilous Day 5 - Jubilee takes a break in her research to contact an old friend for a personal favour.

( I found out who took out Kyle. )

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Siege Perilous Day 6 - Two thieves break into an art gallery…

( It's easier to decide that sort of thing when it will never affect you, I suppose. )

Siege Perilous Day 6 - Jubilee comes to Remy with what she and Charlie have managed to find, and next steps are planned.

( Rasputin... any connection wit' dat slab of stupid from Xavier's back in de day? )

Siege Perilous Day 6 - Wanda and Adam continue the research, looking for a link between the Soulsword and the Darkhold.

( It's like being named World's Sexist Man and getting to own Manchester United at the same time. )

Siege Perilous Day 6 - In the midst of everything, Jubilee and Felicia take some time to be normal. Or as normal as they get.

( You avoiding the question on your day or just really excited about getting into the food? )

Siege Perilous Day 7 - Jean goes to work extracting information from a HFC flunky captured during the attack on Strange.
TW: Torture

( Oh...dear. You wouldn't want me to do my worst. )

Siege Perilous Day 8 - With the information that the HFC is seeking the Soulsword, Jean approaches one of Amanda’s former victims - the formerly-winged mutant called Pixie.

TW: Mention of torture

( You know what they did to me to get the Soul Dagger, made from a piece of my very own soul. )

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Siege Perilous Day 9 - Felicia and Remy talk while preparing to go fetch Illyana from her safe house.

( I think I’m ready to let you go now. Be free old man. )

Siege Perilous Day 9 - It’s a simple job. Go to the location provided by the Cypher, talk to Illyana, take her with them to a safe house. Simple.

( Let's get her, get her in de car, and get somewhere safe. )

Siege Perilous Day 9 -There’s a loose end that needs addressing back at XF headquarters. It falls to Doug to deal with it.

TW: character death

( If you had an appointment, consider it rescheduled. Everyone is out of the shop right now. )

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Siege Perilous Day 9 -The Black Knight is leading the ambush and she has an agenda in mind - kill everyone, starting with Remy LeBeau.

( I'll make him pay for that. No-one hurts you, not on my watch. )

Nick Scratch has a grudge. Natasha finds out just how much of a grudge.

TW: character death

( I was a late bloomer when it came to that aspect of my life. Blame my upbringing. )

Wanda takes on Scratch to avenge Natasha.

TW: character death

( You know, you have the power to do one last thing and I promise you, if you do it of your own free will… )

Jean is trying to get to Remy, but is intercepted by Clea.

( I don't have time for this. Nice meeting you, Sabrina. )

Gabriel finds Felicia alone and defenceless.

( Not bad as far as potential last words go. )

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Siege Perilous Day 10 - The remnants of X-Force return home, to find even more bad news.

TW: character death

( We're hitting the Club itself. Selene wouldn't have it anywhere else and the security is tightest there. )

Elsewhere, North retrieves the missing member of the team.

( Es wird alles gut. )

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Siege Perilous Day 10 - Amanda takes her prize back to the Hellfire Club and her Queen. But Remy isn’t beaten yet.

TW: blood and character death

( Can't say dat it was my best plan, but dere's a long way to defeat left. )

Siege Perilous Day 11 - The HFC doesn’t like loose ends. Clea is assigned the task of removing the Cypher.

TW: Character death

( If I wanted the easy way I would have just slept with you instead of mouthing off. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - At the Hellfire Club, Selene and her coven begin the ritual to extract the Soulsword from Illyana.

( You can make this easy, my dear. You can make it... painless. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - X-Force’s desperate attempt to halt the ritual starts with a sniper.

( Follow the bloodshed. Move out in 35, 34, 33… )

The ritual continues.

TW: blood and death

( Have you never heard of modern hygiene? Trust me, it's a goddamn miracle. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - It’s all hands on deck, which includes Jubilee.

TW: Character death

( You’d think with so many more people, you’d be better at holding your own. )

Karma comes to Amanda in the shape of her oldest friend and dearest enemy.

TW: Character death

( I don't want this either, but the first lesson I learned was that personal isn't the same as important. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - 'North' is taken captive and brought before Selene. But he has a surprise for her.

TW: blood and character death

( Selene. I guess I should be honoured. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - Jean, Artie and Sarah break into the lower levels via the sewers.

( Miss Sarah! I didn't mean to get lost! )

While covering the Morlocks’ escape, Artie comes across Topaz and it’s time for Round 2.

TW: character death

( Wrong place, wrong time. You know how it is. )

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Flashback Log: Kevin takes the opportunity to plant some seeds of doubt in Gabe’s mind about his future with the HFC.

( Guy your age, in that suit, tells me you think you've made it. )

Flashback Log: During a quiet moment, Remy makes the White Queen an offer.

( That woman… had things to live for. People… worth fighting for. )

Flashback Log: Shortly after Remy’s death, Marie-Ange gets a call and Amanda discovers the cost of her actions.

( He knew. He always knew how it would end. )

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Siege Perilous Day 13 - Back to current time, Emma makes her move against Selene.

( Everyone paid a different price. )

During the battle, Felicia, North and Gabriel decide discretion is the better option than staying around and being killed by crazy magic users and vengeful telepaths.

( No, I already told you, no shooting him, I need him. )

There’s still two magic users left to go and Adam has his hands full dealing with Topaz and Clea.

( Flank. Let him feel what dread really is. )

The final battle - Jean vs Selene. And beyond.

TW: death

( The world had ended for Jean Grey this night. It seemed only right for her to do the same to the one who did it. )

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Following the battle and the defeat of Roma, there a moment of realisation.

( I doubt it is very comforting after what you’ve seen, but you never chose to be part of what the Phoenix did when it used you. )

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Gabe and Natasha.

( I mean, like... the simplest explanation is usually right or whatever. )

Kevin and Clea

( Were you in fetish gear taking orders from the Hellfire Club? )

Jubilee and Doug.

( We should check on the others, figure out what the fuck just went on. )

Artie and Amanda.

( He'd just remembered a lifetime. )

Marie-Ange and Topaz.

( Is there any version of me that isn't fucked up and evil? )

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(reposted as posted to wrong journal)

Siege Perilous Day 7 - Jean and Kevin look to hire the Cypher to help with the search for the Darkhold and Illyana Rasputin. It’s touch and go for a while.

( When it comes down to it, all you are is your reputation. We don't want to damage that. )

The HFC representatives - Topaz and Clea - meet with the Cypher to make a deal. He rejects their first offer.

TW: sexual references

( I'm sure your services don't come cheap, but our employers are more than happy to pay whatever price you name. )

After Clea leaves, Topaz lays a new deal on the table.

( Of course, it would mean breaking certain ties. )

Siege Perilous Day 8 - Remy and Artie discuss another seemingly unrelated problem with Marrow of the Morlocks.

( Morlocks are missing. Too many, without saying where they are going or if they are coming back. Something is wrong. )