Log:New Addition to the Family

Grimm Family Matters 2020/07/16 	 Slinger Porter Grimm

8

A rustle and a few knocked over candles alerts the others that Slinger is awake. Of course he has no idea where he has awoken or who all these mage-y people are finishing up tending to his wounds. Something crashes and around the corner comes Slinger, bouncing off the wall and moving rapidly as if he were running from something though the way he comes to a halt on the ceiling just past Grimm tells everyone who matters that he was looking for someone.

He spins on his heel and double takes at the blonde Gabrielle Grimm before him.

He promptly falls off the ceiling and whacks his head against the ground after loosing concentration for a moment.

Grimm is suddenly elated to see that Slinger's up and running. A fair improvement over being still and bleeding from earlier. "Slinger!" she says excitedly, and then...THUMP! He crashes on his head. Gabrielle runs over to him and crouches down. "Are you okay? What's wrong? You're safe, the mages are here to help."

Slinger bounces up quickly just as Grimm gets in reach and is still deft enough to take one of her hands as he does- using it to pull her in for a hug! Apparently that's a thing now!

"I didn't know what happened to you!" He exclaims before reaching up to rub th espot on hsi head where he impacted. "I thought those mages were part of the ..." He tries to find another word other than 'Creepshow' since she just told him they're responsible for his organs being on the inside once more.

"Doesn't matter! I'm just glad to see you!" He says happily. "And that HAIR! Hahahahahahahahaha Where has been?"

He's going a mile a minute so clearly he's fine.

Hugged twice in a twenty minute span. That's...new. Gabrielle hugs back after a moment's hesitation because she doesn't have his reflexes. That's also a new thing now. Hugs when neither of them is currently dying.

"After you were struck down, there was this crazy light glow. It was the same magic Radical sensed when he looked into my past and saw my sister disappear in it. Man, have you missed some stuff. He told me that might be my only chance, so...I went to it. And it transported me elsewhere. I'm just so glad Radical was able to get you both to safety!"

Slinger bounces up quickly just as Grimm gets in reach and is still deft enough to take one of her hands as he does- using it to pull her in for a hug! Apparently that's a thing now!

"I didn't know what happened to you!" He exclaims before reaching up to rub th espot on hsi head where he impacted. "I thought those mages were part of the ..." He tries to find another word other than 'Creepshow' since she just told him they're responsible for his organs being on the inside once more.

"Doesn't matter! I'm just glad to see you!" He says happily. "Well that - and be to breathing of course!"

He's going a mile a minute so clearly he's fine.

Slinger nods, feeling like he's missing something important- but he moves on.

He listens to Grimm update him. "Wow. So... where the hell are we? A more importantly, 'How long have I been out?'" He asks, uncertain considering the information he's being told.

He frowns before saying, "I guess I'll have to thank Radical for getting me out of there. And maybe punch him for having you bounce like that... then buy him a drink for that very same advice? I'm conflicted. I'll figure it out."

"Well, it looks like we're in Steinberg Tower, our home dimension," Gabrielle says after looking around. "I...don't know how long it's been. Or how long I was gone. I thought you guys would still be in Germany, so maybe it's been longer than I realized," she says uncertainly.

She rubs the back of her head and thinks on that, though her brow creases at the mention of punching Radical. "Please don't hurt him. He's helped me in so many ways. You have no idea. He saved my life and helped me get a lead on my sister's cold case. He made me go because he knew it might be my only chance to find out what happened to her. He's...he's like family. So no punching. Okay?" she requests nicely.

Slinger says, "Well, it looks like we're in Steinberg Tower, our home dimension," Gabrielle says after looking around. "I...don't know how long it's been. Or how long I was gone. I thought you guys would still be in Germany, so maybe it's been longer than I realized," she says uncertainly.

She rubs the back of her head and thinks on that, though her brow creases at the mention of punching Radical. "Please don't hurt him. He's helped me in so many ways. You have no idea. He saved my life and helped me get a lead on my sister's cold case. He made me go because he knew it might be my only chance to find out what happened to her. He's...he's like family. So no punching. Okay?" she requests nicely.

Slinger sighs.

"Fine. So just the drink then?" He says in reply at the mention of Radical being like family. Nothing to argue there. He's been gone too long to protest so all he can to is play keep up. Radical might be her family, but she's his.

"So catch me up on the rest. You sister's business was to cold for me before- but now things are heating up. What do I need to know?" He asks, turning towards the exit."

"Well, it looks like we're in Steinberg Tower, our home dimension," Gabrielle says after looking around. "I...don't know how long it's been. Or how long I was gone. I thought you guys would still be in Germany, so maybe it's been longer than I realized," she says uncertainly.

She rubs the back of her head and thinks on that, though her brow creases at the mention of punching Radical. "Please don't hurt him. He's helped me in so many ways. You have no idea. He saved my life and helped me get a lead on my sister's cold case. He made me go because he knew it might be my only chance to find out what happened to her. He's...he's like family. So no punching. Okay?" she requests nicely.

Slinger sighs.

"Fine. So just the drink then?" He says in reply at the mention of Radical being like family. Nothing to argue there. He's been gone too long to protest so all he can to is play keep up. Radical might be her family, but she's his.

"So catch me up on the rest. You sister's business was to cold for me before- but now things are heating up. What do I need to know?" He asks, turning towards the exit.

Slinger says, "Well, it looks like we're in Steinberg Tower, our home dimension," Gabrielle says after looking around. "I...don't know how long it's been. Or how long I was gone. I thought you guys would still be in Germany, so maybe it's been longer than I realized," she says uncertainly.

She rubs the back of her head and thinks on that, though her brow creases at the mention of punching Radical. "Please don't hurt him. He's helped me in so many ways. You have no idea. He saved my life and helped me get a lead on my sister's cold case. He made me go because he knew it might be my only chance to find out what happened to her. He's...he's like family. So no punching. Okay?" she requests nicely.

Slinger sighs.

"Fine. So just the drink then?" He asks in reply at the mention of Radical being like family. Nothing to argue there. He's been gone too long to protest so all he can to is play keep up. Radical might be her family, but she's his.

"So catch me up on the rest. You sister's business was too cold for me before- but now things are heating up. What do I need to know?" He asks, turning towards the exit."

"Well, it looks like we're in Steinberg Tower, our home dimension," Gabrielle says after looking around. "I...don't know how long it's been. Or how long I was gone. I thought you guys would still be in Germany, so maybe it's been longer than I realized," she says uncertainly.

She rubs the back of her head and thinks on that, though her brow creases at the mention of punching Radical. "Please don't hurt him. He's helped me in so many ways. You have no idea. He saved my life and helped me get a lead on my sister's cold case. He made me go because he knew it might be my only chance to find out what happened to her. He's...he's like family. So no punching. Okay?" she requests nicely.

Slinger sighs.

"Fine. So just the drink then?" He asks in reply at the mention of Radical being like family. Nothing to argue there. He's been gone too long to protest so all he can to is play keep up. Radical might be her family, but she's his.

"So catch me up on the rest. You sister's business was too cold for me before- but now things are heating up. What do I need to know?" He asks, turning towards the exit.

Grimm is caught off guard by the mopey sigh and hurt feelings. Daemon never cared about that stuff. He just knew. He's really...different. First he was really hurt by her taunting song when he would've laughed it off otherwise. Then he's been a bit more clingy in more ways multiple new ways. And friendly?

Still, she's got to fix this. She's learning she needs to be better with her friends. She lightly bumps her fist against his shoulder in a light play punch. "You're family, too, dumby," she smiles as she chides. She puts her hands on her hips after, mulling over how to explain it all.

"That's because there was no trail to really follow. Radical knows a spell that lets him see the past. But he needed an object of hers to do it right. So I went home to look for something of Gwen's and he was able to see into the past. It's no wonder the cops couldn't do anything. He saw what happened to her. It was the Cartesian. He cast a sleep spell on her and teleported away with her."

Slinger tips his head and smirks, trying to play his feelings down. "Always nice to hear."

He takes a big breath after that but takes all the rest in stride. "Well- there we go. I work miracles but I don't work miracles." Slinger says in reply. "So we find this Cartesian, web him up, engage in a little light torture & we're off to find your sister?" Slinger asks. "Or he.... sends us back to get her before she's kidnapped? I feel like I missed a lot more than I thought."

Grimm shakes her head. "The Cartesian dropped her off with an organization called the Railroad. A sort of mercenary smuggling group. They..." she starts talking about this like it's a case, trying to detach. But at this point, she finds herself struggling. "They...smuggled her around the country for a few years. That shadow thing that took you down caught up to her and her handlers in Germany. It killed all but one of the men. And that light we saw also appeared during the attack. Gwen went into the light and disappeared."

Grimm blinks at that thought. "Radical can't time travel, but there are a few who can." She thinks a moment and realizes what that means for her. But what it could mean for her sister. "Maybe that's possible. But she was taken to keep her safe from this shadow thing that was after her. And the man who controls it: Victor Price."

Dropping? Disappearances? Time travel? Missing a lot?

By your powers, combined...

FLASHTWHUMP

...

"Ahhh!"

THUD

At least (of course) Porter lands in one of the treatment beds. Probably unoccupied... though it may be just as likely to be occupied by a mostly-unclothed extra-dimensional princess of ethereal beauty... and a family of porcupines (because animals need care, too!)

That surprise is doubled when a wild Porter literally falls out of... wherever it is Porter's fall from? Which from what every iteration of Daemon can tell, is across time & space.

He takes a step back for any spare comets, meteors or other various explosions

"Victor...is Jonathon's father. Like father, like son, huh?" Gabrielle comments bitterly. Her eyes widen at the FLASHTHWUMP and the yell. "Porter..." she concludes. She follows the sound and the impression of Porter on her senses. "You okay, Porter?"

There is a momentary impression of Porter in the mattress, too... though it fades after Porter hops to his feet out. He looks around, blinking. "Huh, this isn't a-oh! Gabrielle! Hi!" Confusion turns to smile. "How're you doing?" He waves to Slinger, too. "And, hey... Stinger...? ... Slinker?...It's not Stinker... er... guy with the spare body in the tank!" There. That rolls off the tongue better. And reminds him. "Hey, you don't happen to have more of those Build-A-Bod gizmos lying around, do you?"

"Slinger. Like... Webslinger..." Slinger says. He sighs. "I'm clearly a child." He notes regretting the procedural nature of the Slinger personality's creation.

Slinger shrugs at Porter. "Well the system still works. Its more getting the pure material to create a fully synthetic facsimile. Pricey but I know a guy."

Grimm squints slowly at Porter's inquiry. "Whhhyyyyy...do you need one?" she asks, dreading the answer.

"Oh! Right. Sorry. Slinger." Porter apologizes and nods, then looks back to Grimm. "Er... no reason right now... but, you know, it kinda seems like something handy to have around. You know?"

"Its cool. A Cat had your... well everything." Slinger offers with an understanding shrug.

"Its definitely something handy to keep around. Say. You sound liek you're in the market. You saw it the only time it was used so you know its in MINT condition. I can give it to you for a heck of a price." The Spyder says, shifting gears to try to clear out Grimm's basement and pay off the cryogenic storage of hi s 'other suit'.

"Sure. How's... uh... ten sound?" Porter rubs the back of his head and gives a little shrug. "Anything more than that and I think it takes a week to get the cashier's check certified."

Grimm is still registering this as a worrying idea. "Do you even know how to use a bioprinting set up, Porter? You can't even stop your phone from blowing up every week!"

"Deal..." Slinger says waaaaay too quickly. "And I'll even come and provide on site tech support... when available. Can't beat that price. The whole system together cost me a literal fortune."

"Well..." Porter looks to Grimm. Ok, so he didn't think that far ahead. Then he perks up and thumbs at Slinger. "There! See! All worked out." He looks back to Slinger. "Well, I mean, ten million is kind of a small fortune, isn't it?" But that's Ok, because now he has a backup plan. Or maybe it will help Kyssie make new friends!

"Absolutely. But trust me- that Spiral Printing Lattice alone was 5 million. The backup storage and what not- you could run a couple of dataservers on. Lots to do if you never end up needing it for... you know. 'Backups'." Slinger says, propping the deal up with added value.

"Definitely worked out!" He says in agreement offering his hand to seal the deal. "And now Grimm's basement is all cleared out. COuldn't have worked out better."

Grimm still eyes the booth suspiciously. "Good. I guess now it's free for me to renovate it," she says sarcastically.

Porter shakes the hand and seals the deal. "Hey, you even get your basement cleaned out! Everybody wins!" He's doubly... triply thrilled now. "So, what're you two up to?" Because surely Grimm wants to catch up someone else on what she just caught Slinger up on like... 30 seconds ago. And, no, he didn't mean to call her Shirley... though that's still better than Gabby.

Slinger smirks. "Ididn't want to say anything but it is a little you know... 'spartan' down there." He jests before turning to answer Porter.

"Just going to grab a drink. Resurrections always make me thirsty." Slinger replies. "How about you?"

Grimm snorts at Slinger mocking her for her lack of decor down there. "I could use a drink," she confirms to Slinger. She looks back to Porter. "We just got back from trying to destroy this creature that was after my sister about...seven or eight years ago. Only to find out it's controlled by Jonathon Price's father, Victor Price."

Porter winces at Slinger. "Ow. You died? Yeah, that sucks. Itches, too." Then he blinks at Grimm, eyes widening after. "What?! That's awesome!" Well, it sounds awesome, so he goes to give her a big hug. Then, a moment or three later, he has to ask, "You have a sister?"

"Wait, you actually -died-!?" Gabrielle asks in shock and horror. Just as Porter comes in for a hug. And the awkward comment. She's stuck frozen for a moment as she realizes she never told him. Of course, she's only relatively recently become closer to him. "I...I had. -Have-. Yeah. Gwenneth. Ten years ago, she went missing on the way home from school on the day I didn't walk home with her," she says more quietly now. There's still guilt tainting her voice, even though she knows now it wasn't her fault, and there was nothing she could do. "She's why I went into criminal justice. Why I studied the occult. Why I always volunteer on missing kids cases. I thought she was dead, but I kept trying to work her cold case. And thanks to Radical, I finally know she's alive, and where she is."

"Maybe a bit of hyperbole." Slinger admits. "That's a trick I try to keep to a bare minimum. Don't want my fans to think I'm a one note entertainer. But it was still closer than I generally care to get."

He falls silent planning on letting the familial drama be explained by the most direct family member present until he thinks it over a moment.

Luckily Grimm manages an explaination and with gusto. He notes she sounds much more hopeful after all this.

"Oh..." Porter isn't sure what else to say to all of that. Well, just one thing. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle." And he offers more hug, this time with extra squeeze. "And I'm really glad you found her." There. That was the last thing. Really! He was going to feel bad that Slinger died, too. But... he didn't really? So, yeah. No hugs for him.

Grimm hug back tight. She sniffs once, but she's smiling softly. "Thanks. I spent so much of my life blaming myself for her disappearance. Struggling between thinking she was out there somewhere or that she was dead and her killer unpunished. But now I know the truth." And in some ways, it really has set her free.

She gently releases Porter and looks over to Slinger. "Oh, I see. Exaggerating to add to your legend, huh?"

Porter smiles back at Grimm, then chuckles at Slinger. "It's Ok to want to not die. I mean, most people do. It's not any fun. But sounds like you guys have good reasons to drink!"

"Spiders are known far an wide as weavers of tales- and I'm pretty sure slaying a dragon gets me all the cred I need." Slinger says defensively before looking to Porter.

"I'll say. You're welcome to join us- we've got plenty to commiserate adn to celebrate." He says cheerfully.

Grimm feels a twinge of guilt, knowing she accidentally killed Porter when his powers and hers mixed to create a tragedy. "Ugh, the dragon slaying story, again?" Gabrielle chuckles as she tries to forget. She looks to them both. "Want to get out of here and somewhere less clinical?"

"Uh... sure?" Porter looks around. "Not even sure where 'here' is... but somewhere else sounds better, yeah." He nods. Twice. "Where to?"

Log:Dialydd the Elder