Potomac Calls to Chesapeake || Rituals

[xp_topaz]

Before X-Force even arrives, Amanda, Topaz, Megan and Clea - and the Baltimore Coven - do a ritual in Druid Hill Park to try to find out what, how and why.

( Because right now I have my bets on us getting cursed by Spiro Agnew's ghost and gods and goddesses I don't want that to be what happened and why my basement has seaweed in it. )

The ritual goes sideways, and Clea and Megan end up taking a swim and finding some bodies.

( Why can't magic ever be easy? I'm glad we're together, at least. Is anyone else here... wherever we are? )

Potomac calls to Chesapeake || Investigations

[xp_darcy]

X-Force sets about investigating the strange murders and weird happenings in Baltimore.

Marie-Ange chases in a little favor from a medical examiner contact and they check out some bodies. Investigate, that is, rather than borrow. Topaz isn't that kind of librarian.

( Nope, nope, nope, please don't invoke his name, that's how I get roped into TED talks about nineteenth century botulism outbreaks. )

Meanwhile, Doug and Gabriel bum around Lexington Market, snack, and encounter sea life. Note that is sea life, and not seafood.

( Convenient that this plan allows you to gorge on cookies. )

Jubilee and Artie go day drinking at Fells Point and chat up the locals about the weird floods.

( He's gonna need a drink. Like, a whole bottle, from the top shelf. Maybe a nice dinner. )

Amanda and Darcy go down to one of Baltimore's most infamous bars, chat up the bartender, rule out some theories about the strange events and come up with the next step of the plan.

( Never trust a pub whose name you can't say when you're drunk. )

Potomac calls to Chesapeake: X-Men vs Crabs, Round One!

[xp_wildchild]

X-Men vs Crabs, Round One! The city is seeing a wave of scaly attackers, and the X-Men arrive to start fighting them back.

Wildchild and Echo wrangle crabs with nets, and then get an upgrade to the fire hose.

( If you turn this into some kind of lesson I'm going to throw you in the ocean where you belong. )

Spectrum and Psylocke steam and stab some crabs and talk a little crab-brain-science.

( I just hope you had your Wheaties today, because we're going to be pretty damn busy. )

Cyclops and Dazzler make with the zap zap laser beams versus crabs… with tactics.

( Can you do something to buy me a few seconds to try something new? Otherwise they're just gonna keep wearing us down. )

Wolverine, Blink and Dust cooperate to herd crabs right into a killbox.

( I mean...I am willing to die eating my weight in sushi. )

Bevatron and Nightcrawler are nearly overrun while defending Mr Trash Wheel before help arrives.

( You know, the metaphors of a happy faced creature who lives down on the docks and funnels literally any trash though its mouth is a little on the nose, even for Baltimore. )

Potomac calls to Chesapeake: Team Water

[xp_loa]

Amanda, Topaz, Megan and Clea get caught in the citywide fight against the crabs, and make a snap decision to involve others.

( I hate to suggest dragging more people into this... )

Namor, Meggan and Alani take on the task of trying diplomacy with a nature spirit. They make some headway in rough waters, but only manage to negotiate the spirit into not actively making things worse. She will call off any more crabs, but perhaps not stop the ones already calling down destruction.

( Bargaining involves having something each party desires. We bring only the threat of retribution. Would you trade this creature another city? It has not offered peace on any terms. )

Potomac Calls to Chesapeake - Wrapup

[xp_cypher]

During the ritual, Doug has an...unfortunate reaction. And then things get really awkward when Clea provides first aid.

( My dad had the same symptoms when he got stung by a bee two years ago. )

Jubilee and Gabe re-home the nature spirit into a better place. The "Maryland: Mountains to the Sea" exhibit at the National Aquarium.

( But no, there's a Maryland exhibit we're supposed to dump it in. The kind of place kids will be dragged on field trips until climate change takes over and this entire building's underwater. )

Potomac Calls To Chesapeake - Teamups

[xp_bevatron]

The Avengers have arrived on site, and join in to help some of the X-Men. There are all kinds of teamups all around the city.

Molly and Maya team up with Kate Bishop. They discuss the philosophy behind superheroing, and benefit plans.

( I mean, at the end of the day don't we all just kinda....punch various kinds of bad guys, gals, and non-binary pals until the problem goes away? )

Nica and Lorna team up with a fossil. Oh, and Captain America is there too.

( Kid, that joke was old when I was young. )

Kurt and Betsy maybe impress Yelena just the littlest bit. She's difficult like that.

( As amateurish as they could sound, they did have training. And were able to work together. )

Logan, Clarice, and Arthur engage in the sort of hijinks that only seem to happen when Longshot is around.

( Hey guys, apparently you can rent electric pirate ships here. That sounds fun! )

Jean-Phillipe and Sooraya are near a museum when there is a literal "from your mouth to god's ears" type of moment. Well, a god. Of thunder.

( Why do I not be more careful with the things I wish for? )

Bobby and Kyle wind up at Under Armour HQ. There is hockey, and Hulk wants to make friends with Mr. Trash Wheel.

( I'm seeing some potential here. )

Scott and Angelo wind up at the Museum of Industry. With a billionaire industrialist.

( I don't know what physics defying powers you can pull out of your asses. )

Kitty and Alex fight giant crabs playing bait and switch - Kitty leads a crab into the line of fire, phases, and Alex blasts right through her to hit and fry the crab. Or more accurately blows it to bits. Either way, seafood might be ruined for awhile.

( Maybe we need, uh, a net. Or a giant pot. )

Alison and Terry break into Oriole Park, hack the sound system and destroy an absolutely astounding number of crabs. Why are the crabs in the stadium? Because they're really not very smart.

( I absolutely meant to do that. Good job me. )

Potomac Calls To Chesapeake || X-Force Plans a Murder

[xp_tarot]

After Team Waterbreathing reports back, X-Force makes an ugly decision to give the nature spirit a sacrificial death.

Content Warning: Discussion of murder. Actual kidnapping.

( Seems Old Crabby is determined to destroy the whole city and won't listen to reason. )

Darcy, Wanda and Natasha kidnap a local politician. He's absolutely the worst kind of human, and is certainly responsible for several horrible political decisions that caused this entire crab-tastrophy

( Read more... )

Meanwhile, Artie and North steal a boat for Later.

( I suppose this is where I tell you I can't swim? )

And Marie-Ange, Doug and Emma setup a cover-up before the target is even dead.

( Okay, bottle of American Rye purchased, let me just splice that into our guy's credit card history...and a four-star Yelp review for good measure. )

Potomac Calls to Chesapeake || A More Gruesome Ritual

[xp_topaz]

X-Force takes on the very serious task of a sacrifice to appease the nature spirit. They pour energy into a ritual, and kill a man and maybe the smallest change could make a difference.


Content Warning: Murder.

( It's okay. He's gone. He can't hurt you again. )

Potomac calls to Chesapeake || Ritual Cleanup

[xp_darcy]

Darcy chose the target, and Kevin has her see the task through to the end. Time for cleanup and hot dogs.

Content Warning: The aftermath of murder. Dismembering a body.

( Otherwise, people become things. And the term for people who consider people things is 'monster'. )