Log:Xander's Gambit

2019/12/01 Sasha Xander

1

Sasha calls together the Little Wolves a day or so after the Fortean storm he summoned has passed. In as calm a manner as he can, Sasha tells them that Hunter is dead. And that this time it seems permanent. He also tells them that once he's found Hunter's body, there'll be a small memorial.

As a group, the Little Wolves are shocked and saddneed by this. Specifically, Mad gets very upset at Sasha for not telling them sooner and storms off with John following behind her. One can hear the door to her new room upstairs slam all the way down in the second floor lounge where Sasha gather the Little Wolves. John, Maggie and the twins seem to take it the best of the Little Wolves but are still upset. JOrdan seems very sad as well, but not nearly as shccked as the other kids. Leonid and Eddie don;t take it well at all; both of them burst into tears and get angry at Sasha and angry at Hunter as well. Jordan acts a balm on them but takes them down to the gym to work off some steam. As for Xander? Well, it seems calm about it; to most people's poont of view and goes off with the other three boys while Sasha sits and watches out the window of the second floor lounge.

Without sound or warning, the little Thundercloud is standing behind Sasha, having snuck up on him as Hunter had so many times before. His face is a mask of indifference.

"Yes, Xander?" murmurs Sasha once he's aware of the little thundercloud's presence. Sasha slowly turns to look at him then blinks slowly and shakes his head.

"The terms of our arrangement was that I had to be trapped in this form and the female one because there couldn't be two of us wandering about," Xander starts dispassionately, his eyes fixed on Sasha. "That isn't a concern now, from what you just told us."

The apparent youth looks at you for a long moment then says, "That's quite accurate, Xander. Do you wish me to restore you to original form? Or add it as an option to your current guises?" He holds up a hand. "Before you make a snap decision, consider that it's easier for you to protect Jordan in your current body, so having access to it, well, that would be one advantage. Not to mention not being mistaken for the Hunter of this world immeidiately and becoming a target for the Assassins here."

Xander considers Sasha's words carefully. He's still bound to watch over Jordan. "I'm not afraid of the other assassins. Let them come. But...this childish disguise has its uses." After another moment of consideration, he decides, "An option, then."

"Xander, you still need to be cautious of them, the Assassins. Do not underestimate them." He sighs. "My fear is that Hunter fell to an otherdimensional version of himself. One more skilled or simply more ruthless than himself." He runs a hand over his face. "But, give me a day or so to work out how to integrate the new form, the old form into your present guises. Acceptable?"

Xander says, "I won't tempt them while near the Little Wolves, if that's your concern." He restrains a snort at the news of how Hunter fell. "He lost his edge. He shouldn't have gone. The delay is acceptable."

Sasha smiles sadly. "My concern is that your death or injry would hurt the Little Wolves, Xander. They like you as much as Hunter in some cases...although Mad's likely to kick your ass someday soon if you keep helping Jordan and Eddies steal her pies."

"She shouldn't leave them out if she doesn't want them stolen," Xander grunts in defense, evne if that's no defense at all. It's also a grumpy cover to Sasha's other point. Those calculating eyes are filled with a new concept. That of the Little Wolves bieng sad. "They shouldn't be. They should be happy. Death is a release from earthly torment." Xander still suffers from some of the brainwashing of the Order. "It's a gift."

"Death is a gift to those in intractable pain, for those without hope, for those who seek it of their own free will, Xander." He adds after a beat. "Death brings grief and sadness to those left behind in the wake of its passing. Like those whose loved ones die at the hands of the Assassins on this world, Xander. And on yours."

This strikes Xander as odd. He breaks eye contact, brow furrowing at the contradiction. "Assassins leave no one behind..." he quotes/repeats. "Do the Assassins kill everyone who knew one of their victims, Xander? I can guarantee that if they do not, then, yes, sadness and grief are left behind in the wake of an assassination."

"No, I...I mean no one misses an assassin when they die. They..." Xander starts to lose this fight in his mind, because the evidence was surrounding him when Sasha broke the news to the Little Wolves.

"Xander, there is a hole in my heart because Hunter is dead...I can barely look at you without screaming in pain becuase you are him but for want of a nail." He smiles sadly. "I will miss you when you pass and you don;t even like me, Xander. Imagine how those who do like you, love you even, would feel if you were killed or just died in an accident. The Assassins are wrong, not-my-Hunter-but-the Little-Wolves-Xander, you would be missed. And mourned."

"Why would I or he want a nail?" Xander asks as if that was absurd. Do they look like carpenters? He also can't comprehend fully this idea of people loving him. "I can't imagine something like that."

"And that, Xander, is why I've bound you as I have. So, like Hunter, you can learn to imagine beyond what the Assassins denied you from knowing." He then adds, "And it is from an old saying. Have Jordan tell it to you. But what is means, is that, save for your age, you are just as Hunter was before he turned from the Assassins. Down to not knowing why anyone could love you." He smiles slightly. "But, you are loved...or at least grreatly liked by some of the Little Wolves, little thundercloud. Do not doubt it."

Xander faintly squirms at the notion. Something must be chipping away. "Anyway...we have an accord on the new form." Changing subjects. He got what he wanted. He reaches into his back pocket and holds out a tiny thumbdrive to Sasha.

Sasha looks at the thumbdrive. "And what is that, Xander?" he murmurs in a quiet tone.

"Hunter told me to give it to you in the event of his passing," Xander explains. "And you weren;t going to give it to me unless I agreed with your request?" He holds his hand out for the thumbdrive. "Or use it to bargain?"

"I intended no such thing," Xander maintains.

Xander places the drive in Sasha's hand. "I thought you'd be more level headed if I made my request first."

Sasha nods as he folds his hand over the drive. "Yes, hmm, you are probably corrent, Xander." He glances down at this closed fist. "If you'll excuse me..." And he heads off without another word or backward glance.