16295/H is for Hunt Part 1

H is for Hunt Part 1
Date of Scene:	24 May 2024
Location:	Mutant Town, NY.
Synopsis:	A batch of mutants and F.o.H. members come together. More than words are exchanged leaving both groups changed in the aftermath.
Cast of Characters:	Wolverine, Rogue, Phantasm (Drago), Shadowcat, Marvel Girl
Tinyplot:	H is for Hunt

---

Wolverine has posed:
Fast and sudden, that's how the group comes into The Sailor Pub and Bar. The nautical theme starts at the sign of the fisherman at the door. From there is just spreads out like a fishing net. Thursdays are slow outside of lent. A calm before the storm thanks to the ever-popular Friday Night Fish Fry.

The low attendance makes a few things stick out. This includes when a group of six come into the place, especially when they all bare some kind of Friends of Humanity regalia. First there's a gentleman that looks paramilitary. Black fatigues tucked into freshly polished combat boots, A simple black shirt hugs his frame and neatly rests tucked into those pants. Hiding most of the shirt is a matte black tactical jacket. The outfit is a contrast to appearance because he's blonde with hair kept short, a full beard, and outside of the skin and hair there's only one other color on him. On the left arm is a black band that bares the letters "F.o.H." in white.

Next is a man in a jean jacket vest. Maroon sleeves peek out of the vest thanks to a faded maroon shirt on this person's frame. He's barrel chested and that beer belly could easily be a stone keg. It's hard to tell. He's got hairy arms, a big bushy beard and a bandana over his head. On the back of the jean jacket vest is an "F.o.H." patch complete in patriotic colors and with the emblem. A smaller yet similar one shows itself on the forehead. It's safe to presume he's some kind of biker or a construction worker.

Near the big beefy men is someone that kind of looks like him. They have similar eyes, but this young man is barely an adult. A small bit stubble stretches across the face.The facial hair is trying to become something better Like it's waiting for a second puberty to cause a growth spurt into something thicker and fuller. He wears light blue jeans, a black F.o.H. shirt. The big guy will bark, "Boy!" and this young man answers. A clear indication that hatred is generational and is learned.

Next is a woman with dirty blonde locks tied back tightly. She wears a dark red power suit with a black shirt. She's flanked by two men that wear nothing, but what looks to be some kind of black swat armor. Both have F.o.H. armbands on each arm. The woman merely smiles, "We need to speak to the proprietor of this place. It's about protection," and she emphasizes those words.

Thirty minutes later the group walk out of the nautical themed place and the woman breathes in, "Smell that disgusting air gentleman? It smells a little better than it did yesterday, but we're far from done. This place still reeks of mutant filth," she says triumphantly.

Most look the same when the came in with the exception of the man with the blonde hair and beard. In his hands are two modified handguns.

"Shall we move to the next business? Lots of ground to cover," she say s and tries to get her group to push forward. However, sometimes fate interfered.

Maybe someone in the place made a call. Perhaps the owner has something to reach out to the X-Men. Or maybe it's the sound of gunfire, however muffled, that catches the attention of mutants.

Rogue has posed:
Having dealt with the F.o.H in a few ways, Rogue has been taking it upon herself to keep an extra eye on Mutant Town specifically. She's not about to let a group of idiots traumatize the place where mutants have felt the safest for the longest of times. So she's close by when the call comes in, flying over head when she spies the group. She may have also heard the gunshots and being as how this group is around the same place she encountered their ilk the first time - she's not in the mood to play nice this time around.

She's not wearing her X-Men outfit. That would draw the wrong attention, and would put in jeapordize the reputation of the X-Men in general. No, she's opted for her X-Force outfit. It's black and grey with the 'X' being red against a black background. Her gloves and boots are also black. Hair pulled up into a tight ponytail with that prominent white streak showing. She hasn't quite heard what these people have said, but she recognizes their outfits and so she knows precisely what she's going to do.

Landing right in the middle of the group, with enough force to shake the ground around them and hopefully startle at least a few of them. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear the last time your ilk came around these parts. Ain't no one here that wants you all around...you can go spread your mutant hatred with the rest of the folk outside this town. But this town is ours and I sure as hell am gonna keep it that way or die trying..."

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Nick is not an X-man. Nor does he frequent The Sailor Pub and Bar. BUT, he does know a few persons who would be interested in the going ons in Mutant Town and with a quick message his way, he's on his way over.

He doesn't really have a uniform. Well. Not one that couldn't be considered either loaned out for a single usage or stage attire. BUT currently he is wearing the form of a Raven. Because they're easy forms to do when you're traveling as the c- raven flies.

Hopefully anything he does doesn't make them have a vendetta against all things Corvid, right?

Flying in, the bird lands upon the awning of the bar entrance, taking a moment to assess the group below that Rogue is currently calling out. A particular eye is given to those with firearms, opting to give them the priority of attention.

A glance is given to Rogue and when he thinks she might see him, a wing gestures towards the gunman to his right.

Shadowcat has posed:
"No, Ash, I promise. It's fine," Kitty sighs. "We'll catch up another time."

Phone pressed against her ear, the twenty-something brunette stares up at an apartment building with a melancholy smile.

"No! Really. I haven't even left yet. You're good. I'll call you later."

She has shoulder-length brown hair that's been tied back into a loose ponytail, and she's wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and a black crop top with a picture of two crows sitting on a branch above the words 'Attempted Murder'.

Which is definitely not _any_ of the various costumes she's worn in the past.

Then again, she wasn't expecting to have to throw down.

When Rogue lands, though? She can _feel_ it in the ground. If the group itself wasn't enough to get her attention, that was, and that phone gets shoved into a pocket.

A moment later, she's running towards them and jogging to a stop so close most people would _probably_ feel uncomfortable. She's out of immediate grabbing distance, though. At least... she's pretty sure she is.

Of course, being out of phase makes that a lot less likely, anyway.

"Hey guys, I'd pay attention if I were you," Kitty says, her voice steady but calm, with a touch of her usual friendly demeanor. She glances at Rogue, giving her a supportive nod. "She doesn't usually do second warnings."

Marvel Girl has posed:
Mutant Town.

Rachel doesn't need much of an excuse to be here. These are her people. And the future she comes from had funneled its mutants into neighborhoods much like this, before they became ghettos. The fact that hasn't occurred here yet is a source of both relief and apprehension in the young mutant woman. Being among this many mutants is uncomfortable for other reasons of course, but that's personal...

She's not wearing an X-Men uniform either. Rachel's instead wearing a pair of black leggings, a white long-sleeved crop-top and a burgundy leather jacket. And with her hands in her pockets, she's just a redhead out for a stroll (maybe a club with that look). Nothing suspicious at all.

Unlike the Friends of Humanity. Their whole wardrobe screams suspicious. Not that Rachel notices them a block away. Not until Rogue does the superhero landing in their midst and faces off with them. Concerned, Rachel hurries up the street, grateful she's tossed the high heels for sensible ankle boots. She thinks furiously as she approaches, trying to watch their reactions to see if she needs to take firmer action. With Rogue here, though, Rachel still feels a reflexive deference to a woman she -knows- isn't -that- much older than her but who still feels decades older at the same time.

So she settles for looking at the thoughts of these Friends of Humanity. Nothing too intrusive but a good surface read should at least provide warning if and when they intend to start shooting.

Wolverine has posed:
Rogue gives her speech and the response may be unexpected. The youngest one of the group chuckles and says firmly, "Oh, look, it thinks it's people," that's when the group try to walk away from Rogue. The woman will simply say, "Miss." It's being addressed, but Is it respectful? Debatable.

Nick can see everything happening from their literal bird's eye view. How the young man sneers at Rogue. How the tension may be building from this exchange. It's an unhindered view from a very good seat.

Kitty shows up on cue that's to the reverberation of that superhero landing. She's there seeing the exchange And after Kitty's word the young man speaks, "Look. It's just as dumb as the first one. Sad, this one's kind of cute. Why do the good ones have to be Muties?"

And like a siren's song Rogue's landing calls to Rachel Grey. Much like Kitty before her dressed in street clothes, and that's when the blonde man doesn't quite call out to her. It just kind of sticks out. Not too much digging needs to be done.

Earlier, an hour ago roughly: The blonde speaks, "So, we're the distraction?"

A modulated voice speaks. Someone draped in black cloak working a desk of some kind. Their back is to them, "No. Don't belittle yourselves. Both hands are important. The left just gets more attention. Your group is left. Mine is right." A silver clade hand grabs something from the desk.

And that would be Rachel's cue. She may seek out other minds before one -does- scream out to her. Literally.

  The person can't speak, but they're trying to yell. The only scream comes from the mind, "LEACH NO WAaaa," wooziness follows and then silence. Not the permanent silence, but the lull of slumber. Toward Saint Margaret's. That's where the scream comes from.

Rogue has posed:
"HEY!" Rogue watches as the group just give her a dismissal and then continue to walk on. "I'm fuckin' talkin' to you. Turn around and pay attention or get your asses kicked. Your choice." She's done playing around. She's done being the nice mutant. What's happened to her lately has flipped a couple switches that likely never should have been switched in her brain. Yet here we are. Physical violence is usually a last resort, and only when attacked first.

Not this time. Not after what all they've done.

"Or maybe you can stop and answer me one question..." She actually follows them down the street, expecting them to turn back any time. "Which of yous were the one that tied the man to the St. Andrews Cross in the forest a week or so ago? The one that then got destroyed a little after the guy was cut down from it? Barbed wire all scattered about along with the pieces of the cross itself? Any one wanna answer that? Cause I got a special bone to pick with that piece of shit. TURN AROUND AND FACE ME YOU FUCKING COWARDS!"

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
It could take awhile to debate the general intricacies and implications of Nick's abilities but as far as reading surface thoughts, that's not something he has. But what he does have is a set of observational skills honed by years of childhood trauma.

Rogue's question causes for the bird to glance to the group once more. None of them looked at all similar to the sketches he made from Rogue's shared memories. But if any were to confirm doing such a deed, he certainly wanted to be able to get a sketch made of that A-hole. Although- Rogue is kind of working to get a rise out of them and being a few of them are armed in the middle of a populated area- that's... just asking for problems. His attention switches back to watching for signs of attack. Considering the amount of persons who have shown up to speak their say. There's no point in revealing himself to be more than a bird at the moment.

Shadowcat has posed:
...Maybe it should have been Rogue that Kitty was checking on when she got back in town instead of Logan. Of the two, Rogue seems considerably... less-hinged.

That wasn't a conversation for now, though.

Kitty rolled her eyes at the words -- nothing she hadn't heard before. But in truth, she hadn't expected the group to simply walk away -- not from a shouting Rogue. The accent alone made her sound like she was ready to beat all of their asses single-handedly, not to mention the actual _content_ of the threats.

And given that content? There's really nothing more to add.

"I tried to warn you..." It's a whisper at the backs. An aside. Barely a thought, but it's spoken nonetheless, and Kitty does not let Rogue go alone.

Step for step, Kitty is with her, allowing their positions to gradually and naturally merge as they stalk after the group, until they're an arm's length apart, facing them down as a team of two.

Marvel Girl has posed:
Reading thoughts in the middle of a city is a lot like trying to carry on a conversation in the middle of a city; it's loud and there's a lot going on. Still, she's a telepath with a fair amount of practice by now. And she's just starting to slip into their minds when that -scream- takes all priority.

Spotting her best friend, Kitty, Rachel reflexiely drops Shadowcat and Rogue into a psilink, announcing herself in the unfortunately intrusive fashion the situation calls for. < It's me > she mentally projects into their minds. < Someone's in trouble. Mental cry for help. Saint Margaret's. I'm going there now. >

Rachel decides to leave the 'Friends' to the hands of Rogue, who can decide to quickly flatten them or race after to the rescue. Instead, she looks towards Kitty and silently thinks < Want a lift? >

Giving Shadowcat a ride or not, Rachel takes a few running steps and then launches herself into the air. The telltale Phoenix Effect ignites around her as she goes roaring through the air in the direction of Saint Margaret's, trailing psionic fire in her wake.

Wolverine has posed:
The burly man just turns their head toward Rogue, "God don't have much room for animals in his Kingdom. Wasn't us sweetheart." It's the only verbal response she gets about crosses and crowns. "We just want to move to a cleaner part of the city, excuse us," the woman speaks again. Addressing Rogue and creating a few more questions with word choices.

As Kitty joins the stalking, the blonde will state, "We are doing our duty to retreat. Further action will be taken as hostile and a form of assault," he says with the utmost clarity. Words strict, crisp and to the point.

Rachel takes off toward the church. She's the only one that can see everything in motion. A large sack getting tossed like a bunch of potatoes into a white unmarked van. A figure clad in a black. The hood almost looks clerical. It's the way the hoodie comes up. More like strict religious robes than a jacket. Silver trails up the arms, clearly some kind of armor. There's a couple of weapons strapped over their back. Hard to make out what exactly, but at least two.

By the time any other flyers join they would see the van door shut and it starts up. Getting ready to leave the area. The robed man lingers for a moment.

Now it's a question of three targets. At least one group, a van with many variables, and a single figure. Decisions.

If the psychic network projects the images, they can see what Rachel allows them to see.

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Well if there's one perk to being the person left out of the loop is no one can really be angry when you go against the plan. Because in the end once everything is dissected, it's the fault of the person who decided NOT to include the extremely attentive but quiet raven within the group chat.

As one of the observers who came in takes a look at the weapon wielding persons and decides their attention is suited for elsewhere, it does raise a brief question. But as he's unaware to the answer, the priority still stays here.

As the group of asses wander further from the bar, the bird hops off its perch, flying over to another awning. The head tilt looking a bit birdlike in manner as the Phantasm in disguise banks on the general reputation of the corvid curiousity.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue scowls. But there's no time to really carry on with the group once she hears that call in her mind from Rachel. So the group is allowed to leave - but Rogue will be keeping in mind to go talk to certain people here in the area about them and what business they had. A minor detail.

Especially when there's bigger fish to catch.

"C'mon Kitty...we have bigger issues to deal with. They'll get what's comin' to them in time." Says the southern belle as she shifts to lift Kitty up and simply carries her into the air to fly towards the church that Rachel said she was signaling she was heading towards. Though it's seeming like they're too little, too late and so she flies low to the ground enough to drop Kitty off seemlessly where Rachel has landed herself. <You two go after the guy in the cloak...> adding in the general direction of said person and then she flies off again. <I'll get the van stopped...>

Which is where she heads, because Rogue has these wonderful permanent abilities that she 'stole' at some point in her life. She can fly, she's fast, and she can pick up heavy objects like they're feathers. So she'll chase after the van, with the distinct plan of picking it up even as it rolls along to whereever it's destined to go. Might not be the /best/ idea she's ever had, but in her head it works to bring at least two things back together so they can all work on an end result.

Shadowcat has posed:
"Your call," Kitty acknowledges with a glance over at Rogue. Working in a team (even if you're not wearing the same uniform, today)? You figure out who's leading and you stick with that leader. Today, that's Rogue.

< Got one! > Kitty thinks her response to Rachel's offer into the psilink as she's lifted into the air by Rogue, doing her best to take that brief moment to get a better idea the situation. Luckily, Rachel's psilink worked even better than having Lockheed up scouting the area.

Kitty takes a couple of steps to catch her balance once Rogue has dropped her off, but she doesn't stop. She just keeps walking towards the black-clad figure... walking, and then picking that walk up to a jog... to a run.

Eventually, it's a full out sprint, directly towards him.

And she hasn't said a word.

Not out loud, anyway.

< I'll get his guns. >

Marvel Girl has posed:
Rachel's rarely been a 'regular' X-Man but she falls into the familiar rhythms of group coordination like she never left it. < We're on it > she answers back to Rogue, once she 'hears' the order. With Rogue dropping Shadowcat right into position, Rachel ascends a bit higher. Rogue has the van. Shadowcat's going for the cloaked man's weapons. Right now, perhaps the best thing she can do is continue to provide 'overwatch', keeping an eye on the three different groups (even if the Friends of Humanity are now a distant pack of half a dozen hateful minds she's 'keeping tabs on' for the moment).

Of course, she's still surrounded by a Phoenix Effect that's the size of a building in length, width and height. No doubt she'll be drawing negative attention. So Rachel firms up telekinetic barriers around herself before keeping an eye on the cloaked figure's next move. If Kitty can't take the man down herself, well, a little telekinetic talon should do the job nicely.

Wolverine has posed:
Rogue flies off toward the Van. And the vehicle is already moving. The vehicle tries to floor it and as the two are moving through mutant town, the van's rear door opens up. Someone there peeks out. Again more F.o.H. goodness on the vest. They clearly pull at an object in their hands, waits and tosses. Another object, another toss. A small series of "Booms!" go off. They're loud pops, but that lack that bravado of a sound. Smoke bombs will do that, but something about her flying works in her favor. Maybe she's flying high enough, or fast enough, but she makes her way through the smoke with no problems. Clearly meant to slow her, does nothing.

"BAG ME!" the one yells, which Rogue can ear a little bit. The others in the van hand him a bag. They have at least two others from what she can see. And oh yes, they toss it. Now, Rogue has a choice: Vengeance against those that may have wronged her, and those like her. Or compassion for the wronged? She can't do both. To a group with hatred in their heart, mutants are less than humans. Morality of this choice is nonexistent.

Nick is left alone with the group that keep walking. They don't care for birds nor are they paying attention. Seems the birds eye view learns the advantage of being a fly on the wall.

Kitty approaches the figure in the robe. Maybe there's a flash of reading Romeo and Juliet, maybe it's instincts, maybe it's just dumb luck, but as she approaches. Something nudges her to phase. In literal seconds there's a "VVVTTT!" noise, something passes through her and it shatters on the wall of a nearby building. The sound of glass as it shatters.

Kitty approaches the figure in the robe. Maybe there's a flash of reading Romeo and Juliet, maybe it's instincts, maybe it's just dumb luck, but as she approaches. Something nudges her to phase. In literal seconds there's a "VVVTTT!" noise, something passes through her and it shatters on the wall of a nearby building. The sound of glass as it shatters. Under his arm is some kind of handgun. Maybe a tranq gun? It's under him. He apparently heard the drop, but something caused him to miss thanks to the phase.

The figure waits for Kitty to go corporeal before trying to bring down a heavy boot to her. She can see black pants, the glimmer of silver chainmail. A black hood with a silver faceplate that's somewhat triangular. She may have a problem.

Rachel has a view of all three. She can see Rogue's dilemma, the threat waiting Kitty completely exposed to her, and a bird keeping -very- good tabs on the group from earlier. It's clear the bird is following them. Maybe they weren't the only mutants here?

Phantasm (Drago) has posed:
Left alone with the armed anti-mutant group wandering around Mutant Town, the raven takes a general stock of the situation. One of which is that eventually they might take notice of a raven that flies from building to building to catch up with them. Also it may be harder to respond if they cause problems if he's perched too far away.

With that in mind, he makes a decision. Where once was bird. There is nothing as the Phantasm opts to set the visibility level down to zero.

Unseen, scentless, and soundless, the phantasm creeps along behind the group. With each movement forward, his own viewpoint lifts up higher than that of a perched raven now. Setting more to human level.

All the better to eavesdrop. Hopefully these guys are the incriminating type of talkative types.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue keeps up with the van, just cannot seem to get enough speed to catch the van and pick it up. Instead she's following it close enough to keep up. Then they toss a bag out of the back and Rogue watches it land on the ground and roll. <I can't stop following the van. They dropped a bag on the ground near the police station. It's likely got a body inside. Someone come help them!> And she includes a sort of mental image as best she can to where she is and where the bag was dropped.

Whatever becomes of her choice, she's making it now. Staying with the van, even if that means flying INTO the opened back door while these asswads try to deter her from her personal goal. Others can help the single...she is out to save the rest and get a little vengeance in the process.

Shadowcat has posed:
Whether it's instincts or just dumb luck exactly when she phases, Kitty's full-tilt-towards-the-bad-guy plan had always been to phase straight though him and end up holding the weapons she took.

That tranq gun made things a little more complicated, but not _that_ much more dangerous. At least, not for her.

"What the hell, man?!" she screams as the dart phases straight through her, but she keeps running. There's no stopping to wait for that boot. But with THREE visible weapons now to deal with? It's just easier to handle the whole package at once.

Kitty phases through him, but as soon as she's behind him, she grabs the back of him and phases him with her, dragging him into the ground so that just his head is above the surface. _Then_ she lets go of him, leaving him there while she slides back up to the surface and dusts her hands off.

"How's _that_ for impressive? Ass."

< I've got black-cloak-guy. >

Marvel Girl has posed:
Rachel's caught between competing tensions. On the one hand, Kitty's in danger against an armed man. It's her best friend at stake. But Shadowcat should be able to handle one assailant, with her experience, training and power. And on the other hand, Rogue's not likely to be hurt by the van situation but others might. They're throwing smoke grenades, which don't -look- too deadly but this is also Mutant Town. That bag they break out might be loaded with explosives. People like this aren't going to care if they hurt innocent bystanders. Because in their worldview, there are no innocent bystanders, only humans and mutants.

The memory of the Mutant Ghettos her people had been forced into rises in her memoy. Nightcrawler, his sweet wife Amanda, and the 14 year old Illyana Rasputin all killed at a bus stop. Xavier, killed in his mansion. No, no more.

Rachel swoops down from the sky, the Phoenix around her screaming silently into the air as she comes. With one outstretched hand, she reaches forth and lifts the bag into the air. Gently, in case there's someone alive in there...or in case there's a bomb. Still holding it aloft, she takes a higher-altitude flight paralleling Rogue's course so she can try snatching up anything else they happen to throw out the back.

There's no time to visually inspect the bag. But she can at least try a quick psi-scan for thoughts. If there's someone in there, even sleeping, hopefully she'll sense that.

Wolverine has posed:
The bag should hit the ground, but it lifts into the air. Rachel being a guardian angel, almost literally, to the person inside the bag. They're safe. They're sound. Nothing a hospital, or Xavier's mansion, couldn't take care of. She may also have someone that looks up to her like a big sister or cool aunt. Life Debts can do strange things to people.

Rogue gets inside the van, but after a moment the doors just shut. The van keeps going, one Rogue richer.

What Rachel can see, and Kitty can hear, is someone manages to hit Rogue with two tranq darts. The world both slows and burns for her. Like a sunburn inside the body, going through the limbs or veins. At least until her part of the psychic line hangs up.

Nick stays with the group the whole time, even as they get into a nearby car. A simple black chevy escalade. A lot of those are around. However, he keeps up with them for a long while. And they are the incriminating type. Nick may want to find people much later.

The kick from the heavy boot goes through Kitty. Grab, phase. And when she stops. The person is stuck in the ground. They flail about looking like someone somehow comically stuck. They try pulling free, but it's like the concrete hardened around him. He can feel his feet dangle. Someone may need to chisel him out.