Lost and Found

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

The rebel lair's outer door opens, revealing a black sillouette of a figure.

Mystique pulls two guns, instantly levelling them at the sillouette's chest. "Is he with you?" It's too tall and lean to be James, but she's still pushed the remaining grenade out of her chest and into her lap. Just in case.

Comments

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"What about you?" The guns are now leveled at his head. "Can smearing on soot protect a vampire from sunlight?"

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

"I am no vampire."

The entire room dims as his skin brightens to a nearly painful glow.

"I am Roberto DaCosta. They killed my father. They took my wife. And now, I am ready to lay down my life to kill them all."

[silver-sable.livejournal.com]

"Roberto?"

Silver comes into the room quickly, a genuine look of worry and relief mingled into the deepest expression any of them has seen from her yet. "Roberto... what happened?"

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

"It worked, Silver. Not well enough for Dani, but at the end, I was able to spare Sooraya. When she didn't...take right...they were playing with her. Just to see what would happen. The waters and the fire and...."

The room returns to normal ambience as his skin settles into the rich carmel of a Brazilian. "I thought I'd go blind. I've never absorbed that much light in my entire life. It was enough to burn the first wave before they came close. The goggles, they weren't strong enough. Dani and Sooraya and Stephen, they really were blinded. I tried. Oh, God, Silver. I tried!"

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Bobby DaCosta! .. Man, it is nice to see a version of you.."

[silver-sable.livejournal.com]

In a move that sort of surprises her a little, Silver walks up and wraps her arms around Roberto. She holds him for a few moments before pulling back to look at him.

"They have Stephen?"

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

He holds onto Silver for strength, for comfort, and because he's not entirely sure he can stand.

"More refugees?" He looks past her to the doughy man. "I pray you made love to your wife one last time before boarding that ship, because you will never see her again. You will never feel your mother's kiss on your cheek or your daughter's tiny hand within your own...wait. Did you say another version of me."

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"My wife died 35 years ago."

[webslingah.livejournal.com]

"Long story, Bobby - they're from another Earth, apparently."

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

"There are worlds worse than this!" He's not sure if he's relieved or appalled. This brings illegal refugees to a whole new level.

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Actually, my world's pretty snazzy, all things considered. We were kinda shanghaied into hopping between worlds to fix broken ones."

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"The only runt of our litter is Wrestlemania's home, and his world doesn't want him back." She jerks a thumb in her Spider-Man's direction.

"We're here to help. Don't go worrying about crazy philanthropists. We've been roped into it against our will. We fix your problem, we get to go home." Eventually. "We don't, we're just as screwed as you."

She lowers the guns, but doesn't put them away.

"So who the hell is Stephen?"

[silver-sable.livejournal.com]

Silver looks at the doughy white ... man... and then shakes her head a bit before turning back towrad Roberto. She repeats her questions, "They have Stephen, Roberto?"

The loss of the others is something she'll deal with on her own time. Right now, she can't afford it, as much as she feels it tugging at her.

[webslingah.livejournal.com]

"Stephen is Dr. Stephen Strange, Blue.." He grits his teeth.

"And he was a vital link in our efforts here.."

[house-of-mystiq.livejournal.com]

"Oh, not THAT son of a bitch! A goat C'mon. You struck me as people with standards. Lice, sure, but standards."

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

Bobby shoots the blue woman a venomous glare.

"The Queen. She and the barons are keeping that fine, upstanding man alive until they get what they want out of him. Or until she gets bored. I hope for his sake he bores her to tears, but knowing Stephen..." He shakes his head. "The last I saw - well, heard really - he was still alive."

He's still holding on to Silver, as though she can make everything right through sheer force of will. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. We're going to have to move before nightfall. I...I didn't know where else to go."