Log:What's Eating Gabrielle Grimm?

The Madness of David Flyte 2020/01/28 	 Hawk Moonshadow Radical Jordan Xander

8

This building is whats left of an abandoned church. The walls are falling in, with the eastern and southern walls punctured in multiple places by large holes as if a wrecking ball had been used on them. No glass remains in any of the windows. The steeple of the church looks as if it was torn off and cast down and now blocks the front doors of the church. The roof is shattered in several places and the top of the steeple is now exposed to the elements. The second floor of the church has collapsed down and the nave of the building is filled with a tangle of dangerous rubble. It stands forlorn and abandoned in the midst of a wide set of parking lots cratered and cracked with grass jutting up through where it can in clumps.

Radical wanted to speak to Jordan, so he attempts to set up a meeting with him in the church. Being in Sasha's domain...feels awkward. He invites Amelia along, "I think Grimm's emotional states are...fluid. Not entirely under her control. But I need to know more. Hence speaking to Jordan. There was somethign he said to me outside the haunted house that indicates he knows more."

Amelia nods to Radical, "Knowing more is Jordan's trademark. Which is weird seeing how little Sasha lets him step outside the wards of his dwelling."

Radical nods, "I had...another conversation with Grimm last night, which gave me some additional clues. Negative emotions seem to cause her powers to flare, but I think they also feed her negative emotions further. Conspiracy theories. Assuming the worst in people. That kind of thing. I had assumed originally that her getting enough sleep was what kept the other dimension at bay. I'm seeing cracks in her area, leaking through that Qilophic magic. Or however that's pronounced. I usually garble that."

Radical says, "But Jordan said something about...I was close, but had it backward?"

Amelia nods, "If you talk to Jordan, expect to have Xander there too."

Having tagged along with Amelia, Moonshadow speaks up, "I wouldn't mind talking to Xander."

Radical nods. "That's fine. I suspect Xander wont' have an issue with me, given how things went down in the haunted house.

Amelia sighs, "I suspect Sasha might have a issue with me seeing it was my idea for a trip to the fair that nearly got Jordan kidnapped."

Moonshadow says, "And I was supposed to stay with them in the Haunted House..,."

Radical shakes his head, "Given that it wasn't you who tried to kidnap him, and there was no way to know he was going to be a target? I think that if he holds it against you, he's being foolish.

Radical sighs, and then smiles, but it's barely visible under his mask. "As I was recently reminded, you can't blame yourself for other people's decisions. If he should be angry with anyone, it's Lyssa."

Amelia smiles wryly, "I'd say protective, not foolish. I'd understand if he did, honestly. It's my self imposed duty to help protect those kids."

Moonshadow says, "Protecting kids is what good people do."

Radical says, "And you think he doesn't already know how you feel about the kids? Blaming you would be pointless, Amelia."

Radical says, "If you want to back out, that's fine. But I need to speak to Jordan either way."

Amelia shakes her head. "No. I don't want to back out. If there's an issue best I face it head on. If not I'd like the chance to talk to Jordan and Xander."

Radical nods. "Can you set up the meeting, then?"

Amelia nods, and sends a message to Mad, Jordan, and Sasha, requesting a meeting. Suggesting the Ruined church as a venue. Close to Sasha's and not inside the wards so Laurel and Radical won't need to provide bloodstones.

Mad replies back <>

A few minutes later, a text message from Jordan is sent just to Amelia. << I guess we can meet at 9pm? Don't tell Sasha or Mad.>>

Amelia shows the message to Radical and Laurel. "I really don't like going behind Mad's back. Sasha, well, not so much. He's kept enough secrets himself."

Amelia adds, "Mad is the oldest of the strays. She basically runs the household. Great person. Just don't get on the wrong side of her."

Amelia turns to Laurel, "Her boyfriend is a werewolf."

Radical nods. "Normally, I'd agree. But time is of the essence."

Amelia nods, albeit a little reluctantly. "Okay. But lets be on the lookout. We don't want a repeat."

Radical nods. "Of course. Well, we'll be in the church right outside, right? So, should be pretty safe. And I'm geared up this time."

Amelia nods. She also sumkmons up a pair of watchers and commands them to keep a roving patrol around the ruins to warn of any approacjhing folks.

Moonshadow doesn't bother with a cloaking illusion, so she appears in-costume.

Amelia changes into her new costume.

Hawk reminds herself to pull the hood back so Jordan can see it's her, as he has never seen her in Hawk form. "Lyssa was right about one thing."

Radical chuckles. "She was right that her followers were pretty hopeless. So...that's at least one thing."

Moonshadow says, "I just wish we could have gotten the base location from them. I have a promise to keep."

Hawk says, "I cling to the Choosen One title. And I'm really not a Choosen One any more. Time to give that up."

Radical nods. "Well, change...is inevitable." He chuckles quietly at the irony of it being the former Cartesian saying that.

Night time falls and the hour approaches. The abandoned church ruins are silent.

Hawk says quietly, "You know if we get spotted we're not only going to be shouted at for meeting Jordan secretly but also to keeping him up after his bedtime."

Radical looks at Hawk curiously...noting that she seems to be a stickler for following rules all of the sudden.

There isn't anyone here yet. Maybe some rats in the ruins, but that's it.

Hawk sits on a fallen chunk of wall. "Guess we wait."

Radical nods. "I suppose so." He keeps his senses focused while they continue to wait...not expending much energy aside from that.

Hawk is thinking oO(My bet, Xander is here checking things out before he lets Jordan turn up.)

Hawk could've won some scratch. Suddenly, Xander steps out from behind Hawk. "You weren't exactly subtle in your arrival," he says in deadpan. He's just his 10 to 12 year old self tonight. "Did you check if you were followed?" he asks, eyes cutting to the other two.

Moonshadow says, "Probably not as well as you could."

The watchers alert Hawk right away that there's someone behind her. Helpful things.

Hawk turns and grins, "It must be an innate trait. Hunter used to do exactly the same, appear behind me."

Radical shrugs, "Teleportation makes it difficult to follow, from my experience."

Xander studies the others briefly before looking back to Hawk. "It's trained, like any skill," he answers. "I'll go retrieve Jordan." He runs off into the ruins, around a corner closer to the school adjacent.

A minute passes, and Jordan comes out, Xander at his side. "Hullo," Jordan waves.

Moonshadow smiles, "Hi Jordan."

Radical waves as well. "Thanks for agreeing to meet with us, Jordan."

Hawk opens up a freezer bag and pulls out a banana split and a couple of plastic spoons. She hands them to Jordan. Then to Xander asks, "Are you okay? Did Sasha go you any trouble over the fair incident?"

"Yes. Hence Jordan is officially grounded," Xander explains. "He's not supposed to leave Harrisburg, and I failed him."

"But it was fun, wasn't it?" Jordan asks with a grin. His eyes go wide at the banana split and he accepts it, sitting down on a rotted wooden pew to dig in.

Jordan takes a few bites, then offers Xander some as he looks to Moonshadow. "Don't feel bad about the guy you scared at the Haunted house. He's better off now."

Radical nods slowly, figuring that his secret ID - such as it is - is already known by both Xander and Jordan. Jordan's a talker. He says to Jordan, "You said something to me right before we went into the haunted house. Something I need to follow up on. It could be important to Grimm's survival. You mentioned that I had things backwards in regards to waht she's dealing with. What did you mean exactly?"

"You really should let me try it first," Xander states, though he accepts the bite of ice cream.

"C'mooon, it's Amelia. She wouldn't do nothin' like that," Jordan ribs Xander.

Moonshadow says, "I try to only scare the bad guys, but sometimes I make a mistake."

Jordan looks up at Radical and nods solemnly wtih another spoonful of ice cream already in his mouth. "It is," he answers to Grimm's survival. "I thought it was pretty straight forward as prophecies go. You're helping, but it's just a symptom."

Hawk tells Xander quietly, "Xander, there are other dimensional me's in play. So be careful even if it seems to be me, okay. On the subject of failure, you didn't. You saved Jordan. You delayed the DEMON agents long enough for Laurel and Connor to get there. You handled yourself well."

Jordan smiles at Moonshadow. "Well, he's going to reconsider his life choices and go to law school. He'll end up helping a lot of people through the ACLU. Not too bad a result."

Radical nods, "What's the root cause, then? I'm trying to understand the cause and effect, but somethign seems weird about it. Her emotional state can improve thigns or make things worse, but it's also amplified I think by the literal rift inside her."

Xander pays attention sharply at the warning. "Is there any tells to know it's not you?"

"Yeah. Flyte put it there when he tried to bring something bad into the world. Something that should've been sleeping. It's still trying to get through. Did you talk to him?"

Moonshadow says, "One has demon parts, so she's pretty obvious - unless you're blindfolded."

Hawk says, "I would say they're jerks. But according to some people so am I. Generally they will be ignorant about some private matters. Like, for example, knowing the layout of the school, etc.."

Jordan takes another bite of ice cream, then offers Xander another bite. Xander is distracted, but takes a bite.

Xander nods after swallowing. "Any weaknesses?"

Moonshadow uses the Harvest Moon to summon a banana of her own.

Radical rubs his chin, "No, I haven't talked to Flyte directly. If I remember right, he's on the run someplace? He wasn't caught? I'll have to check. I wouldn't imagine he's going to want me to close that rift, though. Is there a way I can go about that more directly?"

Jordan shrugs and devours the cherry on top of the banana split. For a brief flickering moment, Xander looks disappointed. "I'm not a mage. I'm just a kid," Jordan replies.

Hawk says, "We all have weaknesses, Xander. But I don't know about them. Probably each has a different set of weaknesses."

Jordan doesn't exhibit magical powers, nor is he a spirit. He shows GREAT potential to use magic but is not, at present, an active magic user.

"Them?" Xander asks. "Who else?"

Radical nods again slowly. "Jordan, can you tell me anything else at all about her condition? She...lashed out recently. And her mood was definitely fueled by the connection to this other realm. She jumped to a lot of conclusions. I was able to...walk things back a bit, thankfully. But..." He shakes his head, "It's temporary. Things are going to get worse. So, anything further you can tell me would be...greatly appreciated."

Hawk says, "Numberless, Xander. Same as you. Same as everyone. I know of five personally, and of at least one most from indirect evidence. Magpie. One of a group of villains. She's with Tyrant, Jester, and Predator. An alternate you. Amelia Halfdemon. No mistaking her unless she's under an illsion. Half her face is demonic. Others that I've met and never bothered to remember their names."

"Where's Flyte?" Jordan asks. "I'm drawing a Blank." He offers a bite with extra banana to Xander, making it difficult for Xander to focus on his objective to get more intel. Jordan listens to Radical. "It's getting closer. Affecting her more while it tries to break free."

Moonshadow says, "I met one who had a french accent, who asked what kind of person this Amelia is."

Hawk says, "I wasn't there but I heard that Hunter kicked Predator's butt bigtime. Moonshadow was there. She could tell you more if you wanted to know."

Radical pulls out his PDA to do a quick search of what happened with Flyte. He puts it together quickly. "He's at the asylum."

Xander scowls slightly at the mention of his Alter self. Jordan sniffs twice and digs his spoon at his split, but doesn't scoop up a bite right away.

Moonshadow says, "Actually, that was another alternate Hunter. And you were there Amelia, just unconscious."

Radical nods, "Well, seems like I have a course of action. Keep working on the gear to slow whatever this thing is trying to come through. And speak to Flyte to learn everything I can. He won't want to stop the process, but I might be able to get a clue about how to stop it anyway. And then hopefully...she won't have the physical pain, and her emotional state will even out."

Jordan looks up from his banana split and finally takes another bite. "You have to stop it one way or another. It can't be allowed in this or any reality."

Radical chuckles. "That makes me want to go into its realm and blast it myself. But...I know better than to try that as a first option. That's a last resort."

Moonshadow peels her banana and takes a bite, as Radical says pretty much what she was about to say.

Radical nods. "Thank you again, Jordan. I appreciate the help."

Hawk glances at Radical, "Is this something I ought to know about. Because it's ringing no bells."

Jordan nods and enjoys his sunday, sharing it with a now scheming Xander.

Jordan looks to Radical. "It's eye is on you now. It's going to try and stop you."

Radical nods, "I'll sum it up: There was an attempt by a cultist-artist named...David Flyte, I believe? I know I have his last name correct. He attempted to use Grimm as a conduit for bringing an...Old God to this dimension by using some magic from a tome. The rift that is inside Grimm currently was placed there by Flyte, and this Old God is attempting to make its way through. Apparently the influence of this other dimension makes her angrier. More paranoid. If she thinks nice thoughts...happy thoughts...the rifts remains small. But hte angrier and more bitter she gets, the worse it becomes, like a feedback loop.

Hawk rubs the side of her face, frowning. "So.. Maybe close the rift?"

Radical continues, "I was able to delay this Old God by letting her sleep while wearing my harness. It generates a field which deters dimensional shifting or incursion. That allowed her to get enough sleep to forestall the Old God, but it's apparently just a delaying tactic. I was working on something more permanent. Something she could use to make that barrier more solid. Another generator. But from waht Jordan says, that's treating the symptom. And I agree. It would just mean she'd be a time bomb waiting to go off, more or less.

Moonshadow says, "The problem is, Amelia, the person we would normally go to for that is Grimm."

Radical nods. "So the rift needs to be closed. And that means learning more about how it was opened. TAlkign to Flyte.

Radical holds up his index finger, "And...finding that tome if we can."

Hawk nods, "Ah. Yes. Well, I don't think I can help. Not under the circumstances."

Radical tilts his head, "Why is that?"

Hawk looks at Radical. "Isn't it obvious? Anger makes the problem worse, right? The mere sight of me seems to fuel Grimm's anger."

Radical nods. "Well, perhaps not directly with Grimm. But you can certainly help in other ways, like helping with Flyte, if you wanted."

Radical says, "Or were you referring to trying to force the rifts closed?"

Hawk nods, "Sure. Was there any doubt. Like when have you known me refuse to help if it's needed."

Jordan offers up the last half of the banana split to Xander. Xander hesitates initially, then takes it and starts digging in.

Moonshadow takes another bite of her banana.

"Thanks for the banana split," Jordan says to Hawk with a big smile. Xander just nods and keeps shoveling. It's a wonder he hasn't gotten brainfreeze.

Radical chuckles. "I'm...just making sure. That's all." He turns back to Jordan and Xander, "Thank you again. If you ever need anything, just ask."

"Oh, I will," Jodran offers Radical a big smile.

Hawk says, "Actually I have a couple of questions. Jordan, is there a reason Sasha isn't teaching you the mage arts? Or is he? And Xander, would you be willing to give me training in your style of martial arts?"

Moonshadow says, "I would appreciate that also."

Jordan shrugs. "I'm not a mage or nothin'."

Xander slows his eating. "Teaching the ways to outsiders is forbidden."

Hawk nods slowly, "Rules of the Order, Xander? What would happen if you returned to the Order?"

Moonshadow says, "Jordan, you are definitely something."

Xander hesitates. "I would have to plead my case to not be executed for my failures."

Hawk says, "And what would be your chances of not being killed?"

"Slim. If they accepted my plea, I would then have to prove my worth in a trial by combat," Xander answers. "Teaching you would remove even that chance."

Radical can see where this is going. "If Xander wants to uphold his order's traditions, you should not press him on it."

Hawk nods, "Now the 64,000 dollar question. Do you want to go back to the Order? It would mean going back to your old trade. Likely mean never being ablew to see Jordan or any of the little wolves again."

Xander takes a breath to answer almost immediately, as a fanatic might. But then that breath holds and he looks conflicted.

Jordan whispers to Hawk, "You're gonna break him." It's a stage whisper all can hear.

Hawk smiles, "That's enough for now. It's something to think about, Xander."

Radical looks directly at Hawk, "Is this just because you want to learn some martial arts?"

Moonshadow stage whispers, "Maybe she just wants to learn to sneak up on herself>:

Hawk shakes her head. "No. I can train in martial arts on a thousand thousand dimensions. It's about giving Xander options other than being controlled by Sasha or returning to his previous life. Sasha's failed to do it. And I doubt Xander would accept it from Sasha anyway. Care to comment on that, Xander?"

Xander is having a bit internal struggle trying to figure out the answers to the questions posed to him. "I...I..."

There's a distant, muffled female roar beyond the church. "JOOOOORDAAAAN!"

Both Jordan and Xander look up in horror and in unison whisper, "Mad!"

Xander steps forward and wraps an arm around Jordan, tugging him close as he drops a smoke bomb. The smoke clears and both are gone.

Moonshadow says, "I think that's our cue also."

Hawk flinches. Then sighs, "Excuse me. I'm going to run interference and try to divert Mad from shouting at them. See you back at the Tower later."

Moonshadow says to Radical, "Want a lift back?"

Radical nods to Hawk, "You can tell her to blame me, if you need to. I'll deal with the consequences later."

Radical says to Moonshadow, "I'm going to head to the asylum next. As I said, time is of the essence. I need to find out what I can as quickly as I can. Of course, they might not allow me to visit with him, so...there's that issue. It might have to wait until tomorrow.

Hawk delays just long to mention, "Xander's a trained assassin. He's scared of Mad. As any sane person would and should be. Wish me luck." Then she's gone.

Moonshadow says, "Then I'll see you later. Bye" Her cloak furls around her, wrapping tighter and tighter, until she's gone.

Next: Log:Visitor for David Flyte