Official RP Thread: The Evolutionist's Stone (12)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==Setting (In Order- location shifts)==
Louisiana
Mississippi
Chicago

==Dramatis Personæ==

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans, Louisiana==

The sunset tinged the sky a sentimental orangey color, like in all those sappy romance movies. The leaves were a youthful green, painting a lovely spring picture, even in the evening. And the sounds and smells of New Orleans bade them fond welcome; returning, at long last to Lisa-Lee’s manor, everyone readied to enjoy all the amenities of her reign once again. Ivan seemed to have had his effect on her since they first met. She now treated them all like old friends, though she only met them on the one occasion.

Since that occasion, Ivan and Lisa-Lee had even kept in occasional contact. A call here, a letter there, they were more than eager to see one another in person again. It made his arrival with his friends that much more special for the Overlady. They stepped in front of the southern manse, Chateau Shangri-La, just as grand as they remembered it, and one of the bodyguards at the door waved to them, pleased to see them again. The other didn’t recognize them, having just started a week ago, so his partner gestured for HIM to get the door for them, to get acquainted.

“You’re Ivan Fisk and crew?” The new bodyguard smiled, one hand holding the door open, the other extended for a handshake, pretending that he had recognized them all along.

“Crew?” Nadia frowned, “Since when am I just crew?”

She pushed her way past the clueless newcomer, and the others followed behind her, snickering (even his partner). Stepping into the large living room, Ivan cupped his hands to his mouth, calling out to anybody who could hear him. There was a faint pause. Then came a faint clacking from upstairs, which grew louder as someone approached. From the third floor, Lisa-Lee’s best friend Bellissima Gianotta could see the familiar faces, and her face lit up.

“Ivan!” She rushed downstairs as fast as her heels would carry her, and grabbed Ivan in a hug, “It is so great to see you again! And Tessa, and Nadia, and Pierce and, um, Fritz!”

“It’s Fitz…” Fitz sighed under his breath, “Ah, close enough.”

“Huh?” She looked at him, almost caring, before looking back at Ivan, “Anyways, Lee-Lee’s gonna be so happy to see you! She should be down any minute, she’s just coming out of the shower.”

“Who’s that, Bella?!” A familiar voice came from the upstairs hall. She stepped out to the third-floor banister, in her demure silk bathrobe, and paused, her voice in her throat. She put her hand to her mouth to cover her speechlessness, and descended the stairs slowly. She crossed the living room giggling, her smile growing, and finally hurried into Ivan’s arms for an intimate hug. He kissed her on the cheek, and Lisa-Lee looked him over, feeling his bicep with a mischievous grin.

“Good Lord, Ivan Fisk…” Lisa-Lee giggled, squeezing his muscle playfully, “They should make art of you.”

“Hehe…only if they promise Oi can model naked.” Ivan chuckled, making Lisa-Lee blush. She was honestly considering it.

Bella smiled warmly; it pleased her to see her friend brighten up again, “You know, you guys should wash up and get ready to eat. The cooks are making some awesome shrimp gumbo, with rice and fried chicken; I’ll even have them whip up some buttermilk biscuits and po’ boys for you. Dessert is cherry pie.”

At the invitation, Tessa’s, Fitz’s, Nadia’s and Pierce’s stomach simultaneously grumbled. Cookie hadn’t cooked them anything since they left early, and Southern cooking was not something they got back at their homes, so they couldn’t wait. Dinner would be in thirty minutes, and afterward, they would all be able to do as they pleased, on the Overlady’s ever-generous dime.

Except Ivan…she had plans for him.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

As the others ate to their hearts' content, Lisa-Lee took Ivan by the hand, and led him down the hall to the lavish parlor. She pulled his face to hers, and he put his arms around her, kissing her passionately. The two walked together over to close the door behind them, and began kissing again...

"Ahem," A voice interrupted the two, startling them from their affections, "I had no idea you were going to treat us to a SHOW..."

Ivan turned around, and was greeted by the sight of three very fashionable males; one with an old-style camera, the other with chisel and hammer, the third with an easel, paintbrush and palette. He turned back to Lisa-Lee, who straightened her dress and hair.

"Uh, you mind explainin' why these fellas is here? I might be freaky, Lisa-Lee, but--"

Lisa-Lee put her finger to his lips with a chuckle, "Even if I DID have that in mind, I don't think they'd want ME involved...Relax, they're my art crew." She gestured for the introduction, "This here is Vaughn, Lance and Stephan."

Ivan looked them over, raising an eyebrow with a smirk, "...You serious?"

Lisa-Lee crossed her arms, looking him over, "O'course. When you an' me were jokin' earlier, you gave me an idea...so I called 'em over. I wanna preserve that handsome face in art...and if we break up, I wanna use it fer target practice."

Ivan chuckled at the idea, "Right, it's my FACE you want around all the time. Okay, so what do I gotta do?"

The shortest of them, Vaughn, dressed in purple with nearly shoulder-length hair, stepped forward, "Hi, there, big fella. My power is Tactile Geokinesis, and I'm Lee-Lee's sculptor. And if I'm gonna make a rendering of that...amazing physique of yours... I'm gonna need you to disrobe."

Ivan looked around for some place he could get undressed and put on a towel...a changing room, a closet...hell, even a Japanese changing curtain. Finding none, he looked back to Vaughn, who rolled his eyes and looked at the bruiser expectantly, hands on hips.

"Oh, what, you mean right here???" Ivan recoiled slightly at the thought.

The boys giggled at his reluctance, and Lisa-Lee pleasantly urged him not to be shy. It was nothing any of them hadn't seen before. With that, he took off his shirt, eliciting teasing whoops and howls from each of them. Then his pants...and the boys were struck silent. The other two blushed enviously as Vaughn led Ivan off to be made into art.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang finished their dinner, and now were talking idly as they waited to feel less full.

"Oh, man, that was...excellent. I haven't eaten like that in...in--"

"In, like, a day." Tessa interrupted Pierce with a chuckle, "Cookie made us some of her home cooking the day before we left."

Fitz smiled, as he helped himself to another of the cook's orgasmic buttermilk biscuits. Bella looked around to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves. And they were...except for Nadia.

"Nadia?" Bella's face fell from her normal happy demeanor, "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

Nadia used her fork to shovel around what little of her food she left, "I dunno. I guess everything's fine. I was just thinking...it's been a while since I spoke to my family."

Pierce, Tessa and Fitz caught the last part of Nadia's sentiment, and their hearts sunk as well. Nadia was right...it had been a while since any of them had gotten into contact with their family, or even paid them a visit. Noticing the looks on their faces as they voiced the same feelings as Nadia, Bella stood up, taking a plate as the servants arrived to pass out desserts.

"Alright", she said finally, perking up, "If you miss them so much, why don't you guys drop 'em a line? Come with me."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The four of them looked at Bella, and their eyes brightened. Hearing from family sounded like a pretty good idea about now. They had been away from their folks for a good few years, and were unsure if their families were even still all right. It would be nice to re-establish contact, and have some more semblance of normal lives, even as they pursued the lives of heroes. And so Bella led them into the room Lisa-Lee used for video chats.

Tessa's father, Reid Mand, was overjoyed to hear from his youngest at last. As soon as her face popped up on the screen, he called her mother Reba, and her sister Sasha into the room to say hello. The four would talk about the good old days, which Tessa remembered in familiar encyclopedic detail. They would speak of inside jokes they had established telepathically, and ask one another how things were going. Tessa spoke fondly of Pierce, and Nadia, and Fitz and Ivan, and their adventures together so far, much to their amazement.

Nadia's family was equally happy to see her. Nina was the one to answer for their family, and when she saw Nadia, she called their father Juan, mother Consuela, older brother Pedro, younger brothers Paco and Jose, and their little sister Maria, who held Nina's baby, Tomas. The conversation was in affectionate Spanglish, about old times, and their plans for the future; about music, and food, and TV and love and feelings, and crazy Cousin Lupe, and dreams, and poetry. As Nadia detailed her adventures, her family marveled, and expressed their sincerest support for her endeavors.

Fitz's family would be a bit less affectionate. His father, Reilly, was happy, but barely coherent, and his mouth would put a sailor to shame. Fitz's mother Ruth was nice, but had to spend most of her time arguing with Fitz's father, telling him not to curse so much. His older brother Aiden was nearly as vulgar, laughing raucously and joking without relent with the eldest brother Evan about the time they convinced Fitz to start drinking like them. They teased him for being "Begorra, the only Irishman to live what couldn't hold his liquor", and the embarrassment would only worsen from there.

But when Ivan had finally joined them, his family would be ecstatic to see him. His younger brother Jeffrey was on the video chat first; he called Ivan's older brother Brian, who called the eldest brother Brock, who called their father Wallace and their mother Alice. Brock jokingly called Ivan a turncoat for having assimilated to America so well, and Brian laughed his head off at their good old days, when they would pull pranks on one another, and get into all sorts of other trouble. Their mother asked if her third-born was well, and he gestured to the inside of Lisa-Lee's house to answer.

Only Pierce was hesitant to speak to his loved ones. It had been so long since he had left them to their own devices. He could scarcely find any words for the jumble of feelings that came with the anticipation of seeing his family members again. Anger, for his mother working with the Overlords that oppressed them back in Britain. Sadness, disappointment about the way he acted toward his parents upon finding out. Worry that something had happened to them before he would get the chance to apologize. Uncertainty, confusion, regret, resentment, bittersweet affection.

His parade of emotion came to an abrupt stop as a familiar name requested a chat with him. He accepted the request, and a smile crossed his face. It was his second younger brother, Gregg.

Gregg smiled, barely able to contain his excitement to see his eldest brother. Before Gregg even got out a full greeting, Pierce's twin Roger (younger by a few minutes), and the only girl Elizabeth (older than Gregg, but younger than the twins) were called into the room, and were struck with awe. It had been such a long time. Roger could barely believe his eyes, stammering out a heartfelt "hullo", but Elizabeth just had to tell somebody. She ran out of the room, and came back with their parents, Nigel and Melissa, who would be just as stupefied.

"Pierce!" Melissa gasped, "Pierce...son, are you well?"

Pierce could still barely look at her, "I'm...I'm fine, mum. How's things goin' since your eldest left?"

The five exchanged smiling glances, replying in unison, "They've gotten better."

Pierce smirked, "All right...I give up. What's the big secret you're holdin' from me?"

The five looked at one another again, and their mother decided she should come out with it, "Son, I want you to meet somebody."

Nigel gestured to Gregg, and he rushed out of the room. He would return carrying a handsome blond-haired infant boy, smiling, with his thumb in his mouth. He turned his face from the screen shyly, but was slowly urged to face the man in the screen, to whom he bore a strong resemblance (even more than his own father). Looking the child over, Pierce felt something in him stop, or perhaps start.

"Wh--who is this?" He waved at the little boy, who returned the wave with a childish giggle, "Which one o' you has a new kid? Roger...Elizabeth...Gregg???"

Gregg scoffed. Like THAT was gonna happen.

"No, Pierce, Roger didn't have a child. Or Elizabeth. Or Gregg." Melissa beamed, "Honey...meet your little brother. James."

Pierce felt his heart skip a beat, "A...a new baby brother? When was this, then?"

"When else? Three years and some months ago. Right after you left, I found out I was expecting."

Pierce looked at James, observing his behaviors affectionately as though the boy was his own, and realized that feeling in his chest at last. It was the same one he felt when Melissa was born. And when Gregg was born after her. He was immediately enamored with the child, and suddenly enamored again with his family as a whole. The conversation to reconcile their differences would go far different than expected.

Different for the better.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

Getting into contact with nearly estranged loved ones put everyone in a good mood; they felt relaxed for the rest of the night, and slept particularly well. The next day, things would only get better. The birds were out, the sun was bright, the wind was fair and the atmosphere was particularly Cajun; that is, warm and tasty, delicious to the senses.

And so, Fitz decided it would be a good time to head out into the city. Perhaps the people would have some clue as to how to get rid of the menace of Mississippi's Overlady. They might even have to deal with Alabama's Overlord, the notorious Fred Annullin if things got ugly, so they would have to put in a little extra time. Pierce, Nadia, Fitz and Tessa would have Bella as an escort about town, so that Ivan and Lisa-Lee could have some private time. The five of them chatted pleasantly, considering where they would go first, when the sign simultaneously caught the eyes of the supers.

"Um...What is Club Silver Siren?" Tessa chuckled, a mischievous smile growing.

Bella rolled her eyes with a smile, "Um...let's go check it out. I think you'll like it. It has...some of everything."

And she couldn't have been more right. The place was the hottest spot in town for a reason. In one section, it was a normal dance club. In another section, it was VIP. But upstairs was a whole 'nother story; half was a strip club for the guys, and half was a strip club for the girls...

"So", Bella looked around , "You guys just wanna go to the dance club, right? I mean, Fitz, maybe you wanna go to the, um...gay club?"

"Ah--Ah'm not GAY, ya twit!" Fitz snapped, much to everyone's amusement, "Do...do ah come off as gay? Well? Nadia? Tessa? Pierce? Do ah?"

The others avoided his gaze reluctantly, but Pierce was more than happy to say it; clapping Fitz on the shoulder, he chuckled, "Face it, Fitzy...ya kinda come off as that gay friend that every girl would love to be BFFs with."

As Fitz was left to that traumatic thought, Pierce went laughing his head off, all the way to the bar. Tessa and Nadia went to dance, and Bella wandered around looking for a handsome vampire or a hunky werewolf to hook up with.

Lights flashed in the background, alternating color in rhythm to the songs that played. The dance floor was so large, it seemed impossible to be over capacity. Flexibles and hyperelastics showed off moves only they could do, while photographic-reflexers caught onto more physically-probable moves with ease. A summoner who was known as Mr. Rainman conjured an infinite loop of falling and re-falling hundred dollar bills, while his groupies followed giggling like school girls. As Tessa and Nadia shook their groove things, Tessa stopped, noticing a familiar face (and body) through the crowd.

His skin mahogany, his smooth, muscular body suited to perhaps be one of the male strippers upstairs, and his eyes mischievous, he grinded shirtless on some girl he'd just met a few minutes ago, and had every girl at the bar swooning over him. The blonde telepath cursed to herself.

Marcus Jackson was a good-lookin' dude.

But what was she thinking? Pierce was just over at the bar; he could catch her looking at Marcus' sexy self dancing any second. She whirled around to busy herself dancing with Nadia again. Had Marcus spotted her already? No, he couldn't have, it wasn't that obvi--

Too late. A tap came to her shoulder. Tessa mentally cursed again, and slowly turned around.

"Hey, Mandy", came the familiar velvet sound of his voice; his kissable lips spread into a sexy smile, "Long time, no see."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

Tessa blinked, and for a second, had no words. Her pleasantly surprised expression seemed to say it all. Nadia nudged her with a chuckle, "Say something, stupid..."

"Oh, um...yeah." she said at last with a goofy smile, "Right. Hey, Marcus...Jay."

Marcus chuckled, remembering the first time they met. It was very good to see the blonde telepath in town again, "So, Mandy, when you got back in town? I ain't seen you around in a while. Don't tell me...you here with your man?"

Nadia looked at her, playfully suspicious, and then hurried off to dance with some Latino hottie of her own. And since Ivan was back with Overlady Lisa-Lee Cade, giving and receiving numerous carnal pleasures, and Fitz was somewhere else with a shapely, blond, flexible super, getting one of the best lap dances ever, Tessa would be on her own on this one.

"I...um, yeah", Tessa cleared her throat, still nervous that he called her 'Mandy' like Pierce did, and brushed back a tress of blonde hair, "He's over there. Pierce."

Tessa pointed to Pierce, inconspicuously delivering a gentle mental suggestion that Pierce not turn his head in her direction. Marcus turned to look at the man Tessa called her boyfriend, and looked him over a second. He was fairly tall, likely not taller than Marcus. Handsome, certainly. Nice skin tone, good hair. Obviously funny, from whatever he was talking about with some other guys at the bar.

But, otherwise, no competition, right?

"Oh, cool, I might go say hey to him later..." He grinned deviously, "Maybe have some laughs about how we met. You...you DID tell him 'bout me, right?"

Tessa looked away reluctantly; she hadn't, and by some hot guy spider sense, he knew it, "Um, well, no, I didn't really see the need--"

"Then dance with me", Marcus chuckled, putting out a hand, and looking up at the DJ booth, "Oh, and this is my jam, too..."

The thought crossed her mind to run over and let Pierce know about Marcus. Tell him everything about how they met and, however short and platonic the encounter, she could obviously tell he was interested in her, even though she had no feelings for him. But then, another thought crossed her mind: good God, this man is sexy as hell. And besides, Marcus was harmless enough. He'd let up when she asked, and even if he didn't, she could take care of herself.

As a matter of fact, now she thought of it, who the hell was Pierce to be angry at her anyhow? He certainly made no bones about his own wandering eye. But he had never cheated, and neither had she, and it would stay that way, so that was all that mattered. Dancing with a highly-attractive shirtless male, who happens to be attracted to you, and who you may or may not also be attracted to...bad as it may have sounded, it WAS NOT cheating. Especially since she only ever enjoyed the occasional drink, and Marcus didn't drink at all, from what his mind told her.

And so, having thoroughly justified herself TO herself, she took Marcus' hand, and followed him on the dance floor to dance slightly less naughty than he had with the previous girl. The music pumped, filling the dancers with familiar sexual rhythms, and the air wafted of drinks and vice and hedonism.

Little by little, Tessa's reluctance faded away into pure enjoyment. Potential consequences be damned.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

When Ivan and Lisa-Lee awoke from their tiring night of breaking numerous sexual records, neither felt like getting dressed, and so they did not. And as it turned out, breakfast in the nude was much more satisfying. No need to unzip anything if you over-ate. No need to concern yourself with spilling anything; and if you did, you (or your sexy breakfast mate) could just eat it off. Not to mention, it provided an even tan all over, as the sun shone in from the outside.

And, hell, let's admit it, it would be a lot easier for each to tell when the other was ready to go again.

The two eyed each other lustfully as they ate, and footsied under the table, and joked in a way that would otherwise have been totally inappropriate (or, at least, awkward). Ivan got his chuckles off of Lisa-Lee's sexy Southern accent, and Lisa-Lee thought Ivan's Cockney slang was sexy. It was certainly the most open and natural relationship either of them had ever had.

Awkwardness be damned, when servants came in to serve them, or take their finished plates. It was even fun to tease them, invite them to get naked and join in on some very sexy games, goosing them, grabbing them in inappropriate places and smacking their behinds as they came and left. One of the servants blushed at the two of them, and even revealed that he found them both attractive. Any other couple would have taken the news and made it strange, awkward or plain unwelcome.

Ivan walked over, still stark-naked, and gave him an intimate bear-hug, kissed him on the cheek and patted him on the head, like a younger brother.

Ivan Fisk and Overlady Lisa-Lee Cade simply enjoyed each other's company, and they brought out the best in each other. Which is more than one could have said about Pierce Dary and Tessa Mand after the night previous.

The two stormed down the hall, absolutely furious at one another, and angrier still at anything unlucky enough to get in their way.

"You are SO childish!" Tessa shouted, "Marcus is just a friend!"

"Who happens to be attracted to you sexually! And who, obviously, you find very attractive as well, judgin' by how you were dancing!" Pierce followed behind the blonde telepath, his hair sparking.

"I can make my own decisions, thankyouverymuch!" Tessa called out behind herself, "And it doesn't mean I love you any less! Ugh! Get over yourself! You can be such a big baby!"

"Really?" Pierce snapped, "REALLY? I'm a big baby! Well, if I'm a baby, that must make you the QUEEN of babies! You want to have me, and still go off with some random guy on the side? Enjoy one lollipop at a time, TESSA!!!"

A light bulb blew out as Pierce walked past it.

""Honestly!" Tessa retorted, "Be mature about this! I mean, really! How many girls have I caught you looking at, when you THOUGHT I wasn't looking? And don't even try to deny that you've thought about being with other girls, because I know you have!"

"That's not the same!"

"It's exactly the same! I'm just looking! And hell, it's not like I was gonna sleep with him! Can't you tell that's why I just DANCED with him instead?"

Tessa stopped, and Pierce stopped behind her at the same time. Tessa cringed. She DEFINITELY did not mean it the way it must have sounded...

"And what the hell is THAT supposed to mean?" Pierce menaced her from behind, "What, you couldn't resist sleeping with him unless you at least got to dance with him?"

Tessa turned, her face fallen from anger to pleading dismay, "That...that's not what I meant. You know I'd never cheat on you."

"Right." Pierce glared at her, "I suppose not, since you satisfied your damn fantasy. Now you don't have to experience real sex with him; you can just fantasize about it in that little mindscape of yours."

Tessa was about to speak, when the door to Lisa-Lee's room flew open.

"Oi! You two! Can you knock it the hell off!" Ivan looked to either side, menacing the two of them, and they simply looked at him in wide-eyed, blankminded silence, "Me and Lisa-Lee are having breakfast all calm-like and cheerful, and here you two wankers come along, bickerin' like an old married couple!"

The two were silent, and then Pierce said what they both were thinking, "....Why are you not wearing any clothes?"

"I like bein' naked, dammit!" Ivan snapped "Now. If you two wanna join me an' Lee-Lee, feel free. We got plenty other eats for you two, if you want some. Otherwise, shut the hell up and make nice, or find your own damn room to argue in, rather than bringin' everybody else into your business!"

As the superhuman couple tried their best to not look at Ivan below the waist, Fitz came up behind Pierce.

"Um, guys, ah have some--good GOD, Fisk, why aren't you wearin' any clothes?!?!" Fitz's left eye twitched.

Ivan raised an eyebrow, "Whaddyou want now, TOAD?"

"Well..." Fitz put his hand up to be a blinder to Ivan's bare body, "ah was talkin' with some o' Lisa-Lee's consultants and advisers. They gave me some updates on Overlord Fred Annullin and Overlady Day Alexander. Ah think it can be real useful stuff."

"What's that now?" Lisa-Lee came to the door now, and Fitz sighed, blushing, "Somebody called me?"

"Uhhh, no...Mistress Overlady."

"Aw..." Lisa-Lee blushed, "No need to be s'formal, Fitzy. Call me Lisa-Lee. Or Lee-Lee. Whichever's most comfortable."

"Ah'd be more comfortable if y'had clothes on, Lisa-Lee..." Fitz exhaled a shallow breath.

Lisa-Lee and Ivan exchanged glances, and their faces simultaneously fell; Lisa-Lee responded, putting a hand on Ivan's chest, and kissing his cheek, "All right, all right, fine. I s'pose we had enough fun time for now. C'mon, Ivan, let's get dressed so we can talk business."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

When Ivan and Lisa-Lee finally put clothes on, it was back to business. Shame though it was, a world did exist outside of their sensual, erotic love-bubble...

And it turned out, as Fitz and Lisa-Lee's analysts had gathered, it was quite an unpleasant world in some circles.

Alabama's Overlord, Fred Annullin, was fairly complacent with his place in the world, for the most part. He didn't mind folks going about their business, so long as it wasn't illegal, directed at his interests, or directed at the interests of his allies. So long as they didn't start anything, nothing would be started.

However, he was in league with a bird of a somewhat different color. To Mississippi's Overlady, Day Alexander, the Overlord and Overlady of Georgia were simpering morons incapable of a decent conversation beyond the stereotypical trivialities of Southern life. How's church, what's goin' on at the farm, those dern Democrats at it again...they made Day's eye twitch with simmering-hot annoyance.

And Lisa-Lee Cade was no better. Some simple-minded hussy-of-a-tramp who'd fallen into her power only because her father, a much more worthy ruler than she, had passed on, God rest his soul. A brainless bimbo, a frivolous simpleton, a disgrace to Southerners everywhere.

Even those rednecks out in Texas the Midwest wouldn't escape her sharp tongue and her angry attention. A bunch or racists, bigots and plain-out fools. Hopeless idiots, the whole lot of 'em; couldn't be educated and didn't want to be.

Now, typically, these kinds of things said against such upstanding (or, at least, fairly decent) sovereigns would have outraged Alabama's Overlord. He would have cursed her out, and anybody with the misfortune to have any ties with her, and then walked away with nary another word. He might even have told the ones who she'd insulted, so they could handle her as they saw fit.

But not Day. Oh, no, he liked Day. A lot. Day Alexander was a lovely, shapely redhead, with smooth skin that Annullin had likened to ivory or porcelain made flesh. She was smart, elegant, sexy, confident, and her sense of style and grace was something else. Her voice was sultry and sensuous, even when she called him a gutless, cowardly eunuch for not sending forces to attack the rebel forces he'd heard of in Florida.

And to her fortune, HER territory was situated right in between Fred's Alabama and Lisa-Lee's Louisiana. So, any potential gossip that was to reach Ms. Cade (about Day or otherwise) would first have to sneak past a nose that would put the goddess Hera to shame. It practically FORCED Fred to make friends with her.

And out of that friendship, a boyish crush slowly developed. He consulted with Lisa-Lee less and less on political matters, and more and more with Day. He remembered her birthday better than even many of her own servants. And she got gifts for most every holiday. Servants, cars, exotic animals, parcels of land (in his territory, or the land of others). Anything to please the object of his affections.

In return, he would receive her vaguely interested conversation, and her cold, nonchalant company, but he was convinced, it was worth it. Even if she had been celibate for years, and promised to be so for years to come. There was something buried deep in her that he was sure was a treasure to discover. He'd gladly wait until she was ready.

And perhaps that was the problem, Fitz suggested, finishing up his report. Fred by himself was no problem, as Lisa-Lee had suggested. But drooling at just the mere thought of Overlady Alexander, he was bound to start thinking with his pants, and make himself an unwitting enemy of Cade's territory.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Um...y'all don't really think Freddie would do somethin' so stupid, do ya?" Lisa-Lee reclined into Ivan's lap, putting her arms on his shoulders with a worried frown, "I...he's really sweet, once ya get to know 'im. Honest. Not all that bright, but I doubt he's a traitor."

The others exchanged glances, and Lisa-Lee grew more worried.

Bella looked at her dismayed face, and quickly offered consolation. The likelihood that Fred would rashly attack her just to please Day Alexander couldn't possibly be that high. Men were stupid, but not THAT stupid.

That got a chuckle out of Nadia, Tessa and Lisa-Lee. Fitz and Pierce frowned. Ivan scratched himself, uncaring.

And with that, Fitz and Lisa-Lee's analysts stood, and prepared to return to Lisa-Lee's War Room. They had a lot more research and planning and strategizing to do. Fred was immature, prone to anger, but Day was the real threat. Only she had the hostility to carry out an act of war. And as soon as she had figured out about the rebels she was housing, (directly or indirectly because of Overlord Annullin) there was no telling how long she would take until--

BOOOOM!

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==Jackson, Mississippi==

The day was unusually warm for being Autumn. The sun was bright, nearly muggy and the mosquitoes buzzed about almost angrily. But the servants were intuitive, and knew to bring out that lovely sweet tea they always made when the heat was unbearable.

Overlady Day Alexander sipped slowly, staring off into the lovely green Southern countryside as Fred babbled on about something or other. Something war-based or sex-based, she thought, knowing him. She turned to him. Better at least look like she was paying SOME attention.

"And so I says," Fred continued, "Dammit, Lisa-Lee, how long have you known this here Ivan Fish feller? And she's all, 'his last name is Fisk', and I'm like, 'don't matter, why's he stayin' with you', and she's all, 'he's a good guy, and his friends need a place to crash', and I'm all, why don't you set 'em up with their OWN pl--"

"Fred." Day put a hand up; if he spoke a second longer, she was certain she'd go cross-eyed, "Just...calm down. Why not have some of the tea Aletta and Jupiter brought out? It's simply divine."

Fred did as Day suggested. But still, it perplexed him. Sure, this Ivan guy was handsome, and damn-near physically-perfect, and funny, and witty, and could make love like a rabbit on exstacy, and had her sexual pleasure down to a science...but otherwise, he was a totally-unattractive prospect. Certainly not worth wasting her time on, calling, and writing to, and spending so much time with. The thought of his unworthiness was simply infuriating.

HE should have been the one Lisa-Lee chose rashly to involve herself with!

Day rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly as Fred poured out his heart. This flame-headed fool should've been stronger than he turned out to be. His temper was legendary in the South! And yet, here he was, talking about this...this GIRL like she was Helen of Troy and he was poor ol' Paris.

And here DAY was, using Fred's anguish and Lisa-Lee's sexual promiscuity to spell out the demise of whichever would be fool enough to fall prey. Fred's affections the Golden Apple. Day, their...Eris.

Even now, the Overlady's forces were on their way to teach the trampy trollop a lesson for having the nerve and the gall and the audacity to be...her. No need to let Fred know, though. She'd keep THAT to herself. He'd find out on his own, anyhow. Until then...she'd sip her sweet tea, and console him.

Lisa-Lee was SURE to come around eventually.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

The supers looked to all sides of them as some powerful force shook the room.

"Wha' was THA'?!?" Fitz was knocked, and braced himself on a bookcase.

Lisa-Lee's face went from worry to anger as Ivan helped her to her feet, "Day..."

They headed out into the hallway, and Ivan turned to Lisa-Lee, who assured him she could handle her own. Anyone who saw her as attractive would be harmed by her as though by super-strength. And their hits would be a mere fraction as effective. Fitz agreed, and quickly urged the two to hurry, before the entire second floor gave way.

As expected, they were greeted by the sounds of bedlam in the distance. They even had to stop as they hit the bottom set of stairs, as a male servant sent an attacker flying back with an optic blast. Charisma would have been proud, the supers simultaneously thought. And with that, they gladly leapt in to join the fun.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Even though he didn't like EVERYTHING that had gone down there, Pierce felt good and recharged from his time at the club (the relaxation AND the bajillion-volt electronics). His body now hummed with audible electrical power that he hadn't felt in a few days. He chuckled and looked around mischievously, as electricity danced off of his hair and sparked from his hands. He jumped up, vaulted over the staircase banister and into a crowd of intruders (or as Pierce called them, conductors).

Zap to the left, lightning uppercut, taser-punch to the chest, and when he couldn't muster as much power as he wanted, light fixtures exploded overhead to fuel him...and in a short time, only one of them remained. And he, too, was on the verge of defeat. Pierce approached him with a hint of devious glee as the frantic normal backed up and met, to his misfortune, with a wall. He looked, dismayed, as Pierce revved up for another electrical blast. Then, slowly, as he realized something that Pierce had not...his face brightened.

The electro whipped around to see a super glaring at him hatefully. Ah crap, Pierce internally grumbled, this is gonna hurt. That was...until he saw the new super's ability. The blue-haired black man lit up with electrical power, just as he had, and then...his body became electricity. Trying his best to conceal a triumphant smile, he turned to the side, and braced himself, leaving neither any room to get into his blind spot. He dared his fellow electro to move first.

The black man looked to his comrade, then back to Pierce.

Am I missing something ? His face frowned in confusion at the thought, What is this dude thinking?

But with a second of contemplation, he decided he couldn't chance it. He zapped off toward Pierce, his body an entity of pure and bright, blue electrical power. Too bad for him, he WAS missing something.

It seemed almost to move in slow motion. His electrical body sizzled and popped and cracked, blazing a strong trail of bitter-smelling ozone. He cocked back an electrical fist. He leaned back for the extra punching power that his boxing skills afforded him. And then...Pierce raised his hands, causing his galvanic body to stop mid-flight.

"Huh?" was all he could manage to utter, in dismay at the realization that his detriment was upon him.

With great, wizardly motions, Pierce wrenched the electro in mid-air like an electrical puppet. The electro writhed and cried out in pain, as the normal watched in paralyzed terror. And then, when Pierce had had enough fun...the electro would feel his very essence being sucked into Pierce's energy reserves. More fuel for my fury, Pierce chuckled at his foe's horror.  Then, he took a deep, cleansing breath...and shot out what was left of the late blue-haired electro.

At the normal...and all of the normal's allies who tried to sneak up on Pierce from behind.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Tessa backed up, and took Bella by the hand, pulling her back up the stairs. She would not risk Lisa-Lee's right hand, if she could help it. If something happened to Lisa-Lee, she'd be next in line. And physical contact was never exactly either of their strongsuits. Any attack they made would have to be distance.

And so, the two headed down the hall of the second floor and ducked into one of the rooms nearest the middle of the floor. Tessa turned to close the door behind them, but a metalman tossed back by a strongman's fist would beat her to the punch, knocking the door closed with a loud WHUM.

Bella looked around for something to potentially defend she and Tessa, but there would be nothing to hold off foes for long. It would only be a matter of time before somebody came in strong enough to withstand any weapons they had.

Unless...Bella pulled Tessa away from the door and leaned in close. It was one of those rare occasions when she had an idea useful in combat. Tessa listened intently, and quickly turned to face Lisa-Lee's friend.

That was a good idea.

And so Tessa took a seat on the floor and probed out for approaching minds. Quickly she differentiated friend from foe, servant from soldier, invited from intruder. A particularly weak mind caught her notice, and she grabbed onto it. A simple ping, and her beacon drew him like a moth to the flame. And it was a good thing, too. His power was very nearly about to be unleashed on an unsuspecting servant.

He made his way through the crowd, ducking a dodging oncoming blows and projectiles being tossed about. Up the stairs. To the room where Tessa and Bella waited. He was let in, and greeted them only with silence and a vacant look in his eyes. Tessa ignored the glazed over look, and put her hands on his temples.

Then Bella thought, and stepped up to the two.

"I think I know how to make this more effective."

She put her hand on his wide chest, releasing her own personal chemical love spell...and with Tessa's help, his addiction to her excitotoxic touch would be accelerated tenfold. The man gasped sharply at her touch, and moaned with a soft breath. Bella stepped aside and Tessa put her hands back on his temples, closing her eyes.

A few seconds of concentration, and he emerged from the room Tessa and Bella had procured. He turned back to touch the wooden door, and his skin became infused with the wood material. Then he hurried back downstairs to serve not only as Tessa's eyes and ears, but her mode of combat.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

A shapeshifter flew overhead as a harpy eagle, and Fitz and Nadia found themselves back to back; pushed together by circumstance, as they often were in combat.

The shapeshifter passed by to attack one of Lisa-Lee's normal servants, and they instead found themselves faced with a replicator. The second he saw them, he immediately thought 'Perfect targets'.

But Fitz had been practicing. And Nadia had only built up more pent-up aggression over time. This would not end well for the replicator.

Fitz did what he had learned in previous combat; bob, duck, weave, and where openings were left, kick, punch, headbutt. Not to mention, he had gotten better with his power, and so each blow would undo the replicator's effects, effectively killing off yet another dupe.

And Nadia fared about the same; grab one dupe, let another dupe shatter the first, then repeat. Her touch was frigid, her breath was frosty, and the heat energy she was absorbing meant she was more than able to keep up with the root replicator as he just let out what seemed like unlimited dupes.

Which reminded her...she'd have to find the root quick before they tired out. No need to waste all of her energy on one guy. Instead, she turned, and inhaled. Time to put Fitz' power to use.

The Irish power manipulator cocked back a fist to harm the replicator, but a familiar feeling tingled in his head; that subliminal effect that came when powers were directed right at him. He and the dupe he grappled with stopped in their tracks. The dupe vanished. As did about twenty other dupes. The root replicator stood wide-eyed in the very back of their group.

"And why couldn't ya just do tha' before?" Fitz looked back at Nadia and frowned, "Woulda saved us like five minutes."

Nadia put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side, "Excuse me? You're the one that can sense powers. You mean you couldn't tell which one was the original from the start?"

Fitz blinked and was silent. She had a point.

"Shut up." He rolled up his sleeves, and the two walked over to deal with the temporarily powerless replicator.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Ivan grabbed Lisa-Lee in his arms, and dropped with her to the ground, as a flurry of fireballs were hurled at them on the banister. That was close.

"You alright?" Ivan raised his head a bit and called to Lisa-Lee over the clamor of battle.

"Just fine." Lisa-Lee blew a lock of hair out of her face.

The two stood cautiously, and Ivan protruded his second pair of arms. It was time to get serious. He kept one of his hands behind him, to precaution Lisa-Lee. The coast was clear. And so Ivan grabbed the banister, yanked it out of its foundation in the staircase and tossed it aside, making room for he and the Overlady to leap simultaneously into combat against Alexander's forces.

Lisa-Lee landed on her hands and feet, while her brutish beau would land on the back of a rather large man. Pale, with snake-like eyes, nostrils and fangs, he was easily eight feet tall, and yet Ivan held onto either shoulder for dear life. He tried to choke the serpentine brute. He tried to break his neck. He even tried a sleeper hold. This bad boy was no joke. And to make it all the worse, he looked like he was getting his jollies off of eying Lisa-Lee as Ivan pounded uselessly at the back of his head.

Then again, she did look a sight while taking out those poor dopes susceptible to her power. As a matter of fact...Ivan ceased his attack as that barely-used lightbulb dimly flickered to life in his mind. He had an idea.

"HEY! LISA-LEE!" He called to her, just as she had tossed a persuader into a feralman, "A LITTLE HELP!!!"

Lisa-Lee looked over her shoulder, and gasped in surprise at the sight of Ivan clinging to the neck of the hulking ophidian. Admittedly, it turned her on a bit, to see Ivan all macho and brutish, wrestling some big man-monster to defend her honor, but for the most part, it infuriated her to see the snaky freak reaching over his shoulder and pounding on her man. She ducked an elastic, used him to tie up a normal, tossed them both aside and then headed over to deal with Ivan's snake problem.

She ducked and dodged through the bedlam of the assault on her manor, and at last came toe to toe with the ophidian. He stopped thrashing about, and let Ivan hang off his shoulders, pounding uselessly at the side of his head. His attention was only on the lovely Lisa-Lee, just as she had expected. The ophidian reached behind him, yanked Ivan off of him with a nearly-nonchalant motion, casting him aside into a pack of normals. The scaly suitor stooped to face the Southern beauty.

"Ssssooo..." He purposely hissed, to emphasize his forked tongue, "I hear you like big guyssss..."

Lisa-Lee did her best to look impressed. And it wasn't hard; he WAS rather built; and his ophidian physique meant it was almost ALL muscle. He noticed her infatuation with his big arms and broad chest, and leaned in; even in the chaos of the moment, what could it hurt to get a little kiss?

He put a hand under her chin amorously...then leaned a little lower for a kiss...and stopped dead. He doubled over, his eyes widened. His breath spurted out in a weezing huff.

He panted breathlessly, falling to his knees and, at last, toppling in a heap to the floor, "My nutsss...!"

Lisa-Lee retracted her fist, and shook her hand in pain, "DANG, that hurt!" then she reached down, grabbed him by the foot while he was still incapacitated, and slung him with all of her might, into the path of a blast of freezing cold from one of his allies. And now that that had been taken care of, time to get back to helping Ivan.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

The servants would have their work cut out for them when it came to cleaning up. Strongmen and kinetic psychics were few and far between, and the proper construction crews wouldn't be able to arrive until tomorrow. Not to mention, those pesky reporters who promised to be there within the hour for the juicy scoop.

Lisa-Lee sighed, imagining what the headlines would say.

"Lisa-Lee Left in the Dust"

"Lisa-Lee Laid Low"

"Southern Seductress Stomped and Sissified"

Hell, it was all too humiliating to be described. Lisa-Lee frowned in great distress at the sight of her poor servants trying, seemingly in vain, to salvage the mess that was the front part of her manor. Ivan, Bella and company attempted to console her, but it would do little good. She decided that, for now, it would be best if she just went out into the town to cool off and rest up, and anyone who wanted to come along was welcome.

The supers would arrive at Club Silver Siren within the hour.

The lights and sounds and smells were certainly a welcome sight, as opposed to the stench and blindness of battle. Drinks and laughs beat out blood and tears anyday. Not to mention...

There were some rather sexy folks on the dance floor to watch and mingle with. Ivan and Lisa-Lee alike had to be checked for their wandering eyes, before deciding unanimously, there was simply too much temptation to be denied at least a peek.

Meanwhile, Pierce and Fitz had engaged themselves with some shady folks with fondness for cards. The card game of kings and men. Go Fish. And the two were losing...bad.

Pierce swore, "I thought you were supposed to be good at these kinds o' games, TOAD. Ya know. Calculatin' odds and such?!"

"Ah, Begorra", Fitz groaned, "How the hell is he beatin' us? He already go' mah belt, and both our cell phones!"

The black man's buddies snickered under their breath.

"How ironic," the black man chuckled from under the hood of his hoodie, "You're actually from the Emerald Isle, and I'm the one with the Luck of the Irish..."

Fitz's face fell and he menaced the cocky dude. He really, really wanted to win now.

"Alright then..." Pierce snapped, looking at his cards and trying to keep a poker face, "Your call."

The black man smiled wide; he had every intention of taking them for everything they had. He took his sweet time shuffling his hand, and then decided he would make their demise swift and painless.

"Got any threes?" He mused the question like a man who already knew.

The pair cursed, and dropped their hand simultaneously, causing the black man to rub his hands together, contented with his win. And yet, just as he prepared to put his hands around his winnings and pull it all back to him, there came a new voice, complete with a new foreign accent.

"You know...you should not use your superhuman capabilities for your own personal gain, unless it is absolutely necessary." There walked up behind Pierce and Fitz a blond-haired male, dressed in a sweater vest and glasses. Behind him, a Native American woman in full tribal garb, and a nonchalant-looking black woman with a flair for the retro look.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The black man stood, and his friends' faces fell from jovial and amused to serious and menacing.

"And who are you supposed to be? I thought they only had Power Police out West."

"Oh, I don't think you WANNA know who I am!" The black woman menaced angrily, her eyes aglow red; she cocked back a fist and headed forward, but the Native American woman pulled her back, reciting some tribal wisdom about refraining from violence until the right time.

"Okay, then!" the black man responded, "But still, how you know I got powers, anyways? I could just be that lucky."

The blond man spoke simply and plainly, his voice thickly Russian.

"Vell, it is qvite obvious dat you are not merely a normal human." He began, looking the man over, as though to read the guilt right off of him, "Dat cocky attitude. Dat entourage of friends doting on you like you are the best thing since the sliced bread. Your luck vith nearly every lady that you have approached in this club. Your vinningk of every game dat you have played since you entered this establishment, despite having no externally-discernible pattern of strategy. My guess is, you can either perceive probability or somehow manipulate it."

The black man stepped back.

"Well, damn, Russian dude." He looked at the Russian in annoyance, "I guess they don't mind snitchin' where you come from, huh? Here, take ya damn money back, man, I can win more anyways."

It simply wasn't his style to waste time quibbling over money he knew wasn't his. And he was right, there was much easier money to be won elsewhere. He and his friends turned to depart. And he would have been gone again for good, if not for his hood falling...and revealing the back of a head that appeared very familiar to Pierce. The electrical elemental's eyes widened with rage, and he yelled out.

"HEY, YOU! STOP!" the surrounding electronics fluxed with electrical power, and the black man slowed, looking only barely back over his shoulder, "By any chance, is your name...Marcus?"

The black man turned around fully at the mention of his name, and looked at Pierce suspiciously, "Oh snap...you Mandy's man?"

MANDY? Pierce thought. Only HE called Tessa Mand "MANDY". It looked like he would have to teach this guy that lesson the hard way...and he was more than ready to oblige. His eyes were already aglow and his hair danced with electricity; the electronics in proximity fluxed again. And so, it would appear right on time when Lisa-Lee walked up, and stepped in between the two parties.

"Oh, heya, Fitz and Pierce!" She began, "I see you met my associates!"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Pierce didn't even turn to face Lisa-Lee, "Not now, Lisa-Lee, I'm kinda in the middle of--"

"Associates?" Fitz interrupted, looking at Marcus, "You mean this guy and his crew are workin' with you?"

Lisa-Lee now had Pierce's attention, but she clarified, "No, it's not that guy! It's these guys!"

Pierce looked at the three.

Pointing to the black woman, the Native American woman and the nerdy guy, she introduced them as Alyssa Davis, Changing Wind and Aleksandr Ivanov (who preferred to be called Max), respectively.

But, before the Overlady could introduce their powers, Pierce turned. Marcus was already on his way through the crowd. And so, instead, they would have to SHOW Pierce their powers instead. Without the slightest inclination from Pierce, Max straightened his glasses; Alyssa scowled, her eyes glowed red, and her body emanated an aura of the same color, and Changing Wind glowed a soft pink-purple. Out of her body jumped a pinkish-purple wolf, snarling and fierce. The four looked back momentarily at Lisa-Lee, Fitz and Pierce, and then immediately took off after Marcus.

He bounded over people, dodged around them, slid under them, pushed through them. Changing Wind was right behind him, leaping nimbly over tables and around people, her lupine companion at her side. Alyssa was right behind them, shoving people aside like nobody's business. She tossed tables, flipped chairs and knocked aside anybody with the audacity to not move fast enough out of her way. And since Max could barely keep up with any of them, he decided to disappear into the crowd.

Marcus would have a hard time trying to do the same thing. He looked over his shoulder, dipped under a guy dancing with his girl, twisted his arm around, and pushed him into Changing Wind. Her companion would have to go on without her. Alyssa jumped over her as she sat on the ground a second, and continued her chase. She was gonna pound this arrogant jerk if it was the last thing she did.

And Marcus was gonna escape Alyssa if it was the last thing HE did. So, he continued as best his athletic physique allowed, ducking and dodging until he was only thirty feet away from the door. Pierce looked all around, trying to figure out where Marcus had taken off to, but it was no use. He'd have to wait to get his revenge.

And it would not take long.

Just as Max had planned, Marcus was right where he needed him. He waved a hand to Changing Wind through a section of open space in the crowd, and the tribal beauty signaled to her animal companion. Immediately, the spectral wolf disappeared. And right when Marcus jumped up, vaulted off the head of some poor guy on the dance-floor, in an attempt to land at the back door...he stopped. Mid-air. His body glowing purply-pink like the mysterious spirit being that transfixed him, he looked down, and was horrified to see that his landing had not gone anywhere near like how he expected.

And when he finally did make landfall again, he was sitting right in the middle of Changing Wind, Alyssa and Max. Pierce had made his way to them, and Fitz were quickly approaching.

Pierce menaced, "I think somebody's got some explainin' to do."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==New Orleans==

It really was a crying shame that Overlady Cade's place had been destroyed, Marcus thought as he looked around for something to eat. But on the bright side, it gave him more time to be around Mandy, as she and her friends came to his house to stay the night. They were welcome to stay as long as they liked, he insisted, but Pierce assured that there'd be no need for them to stay longer than overnight. Reinforcements would definitely be there in the morning.

Pierce would make sure of it.

"Hu-hullo?" Adam stifled a yawn groggily, the next morning, "Who'zis?

"It's Pierce." Pierce tapped on his cell phone, agitated more than usual, "Wake the hell up, it's nearly 7 am, what are you, some kinda bear, hibernatin' or somethin'?"

"You...you realize what you just said, right? NEARLY seven?" Adam huffed, realizing he was too sleepy to frown. So instead, he settled for begrudging grumbles as he stretched himself awake.

"So, can you make us a portal to get back to Chicago or what?"

Adam had found the strength to frown again, "You're coming back to base already? Cade's place might be down and out right now, but can't you just stay wherever you are now?"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, I'll just stay in this house with Mandy's not-so-secret admirer, so I can watch him ogle her when he thinks I ain't lookin'." Pierce grumbled, "Seriously, can you get us back or what?"

Adam sighed with his head down. Then he got up, pulled some pants and a shirt on, walked into the Common Room with the videophone, and set it on a high countertop against a vase. He looked at the screen a second, then turned and pressed both hands onto one of the Common Room doors. His hands glowed, his eyes glowed, and the door began to shake. And as the door shook, there came a shaking on Pierce's end.

The supers rushed down from upstairs, just as the outline of a door formed on Marcus' wall. Marcus came down last, and was amazed at what he saw.

"What the hell?!" He exclaimed, "How you gonna just go addin' doors to my place? What's on the other side?"

The supers rushed down past Marcus, and Nadia leaned in over Pierce's shoulder, "Right on time, Adam."

She led the way as the supers headed back upstairs to pack. And by the time they returned, Marcus now looked at the door differently. His weirded-out-ness had been overridden by his curiosity.

"So, um...if I call up some friends to watch my place", he scratched his head sheepishly, "Can I come with y'all? I kinda wanna see what y'all's base is like."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

==Chicago==

"So..." Lisa-Lee looked around, "This is how the other half lives? Goo'ness, this is bigger'n my house! I mean, uh, bigger'n my house used to be. How many floors is this? Four?"

"Five, now, love." Ivan grabbed the Overlady, and kissed her on the cheek, "Adam just installed the bowlin' lanes, a couple days ago."

Anita straightened her glasses, "And speaking of new installations, Overlady--"

"Please, darlin', call me Lisa-Lee."

"Uh, okay, Lisa-Lee..." Anita corrected herself awkwardly, "Your room is ready. Bella, Max, Alyssa and Changing Wind all have their rooms set aside, as well; each of you with video chat screens in case you need to conference. And Marcus can use one of the spare rooms while our team members are out. Is there anything else I can get for any of you?"

Nothing else was necessary, and so they all went about their respective ways. Lara headed off for a shower; Ivan to work out in the weight room; Nadia to go for a swim in the pool; Bella and Lisa-Lee's emissaries to check out their rooms and get settled; Fitz, Anita and Adam to discuss more floor plans, and more plans against Day Alexander in the War Room. That left Marcus, Pierce and Tessa.

Pierce noticed nearly immediately, and found himself more than just a little uncomfortable. Though Tessa had settled snugly under his arm, and Marcus was more focused on watching Fast Five than ogling Tessa, he couldn't help but imagine it. What the heck was that Marcus guy thinking about? Did he constantly envision having passionate sex with Mandy, making a fool of Pierce by walking around, all cocky, right in his face? And was Mandy telling the truth when she said she had no feelings for--?

<<Pierce!>>

Pierce jumped a bit, having been caught by Tessa's casual telepathy. Marcus was startled at the same time, but the two played it off casually.

<<Um...yeah, Mandy?>>

<<Seriously, Pierce...I can take care of myself.>>

<< I know.>> Pierce sighed.

<<Then, why do you keep worrying about me? I keep telling you. You and me are just as good as ever. I love you. I believe you love me. And me and Marcus are just friends. Granted, he's flirtatious, but he knows my boundaries. And I won't forget them.>>

Pierce looked over to Tessa, his affection growing. He kissed her cheek, and she lay her head on his shoulder.

A sly smile grew on Pierce's face, and in his thoughts, he added, <<Alright, alright, fine. I trust ya. And I'm pretty sure you can handle yourself if he tries anything funny. But...if you ever DO forget who your man is...I'll just have to take ya back up to that bedroom and REMIND ya...>>

Tessa pushed him playfully at the thought, and the two leaned in for a kiss...

"Hey, um", Marcus' voice came; Pierce sighed and rolled his eyes before turning to acknowledge him, "You, um...want something? I'm gonna get somethin' to eat from the kitchen."

"Actually, no, thanks, Marcus, this popcorn is plenty--"

"Yeah, I see you got your munchies there, Mandy." Marcus chuckled, crossing his arms, "I was actually talkin' to my man Pierce. You want somethin', dawg?"

Pierce blinked; the two hadn't really even acknowledged one another by name since they had met. He had resented the fact that he could even remember the name of this mahogany-skinned, smooth-talking, wide-smiling lucky charmer; if he could remember it, so could Mandy. He even called Tessa, Mandy! To his face! The nerve! But...Tessa's words came back to his mind. And Marcus was trying, at least, to get along. The least he could do, was return the favor. He'd put the option of zapping the hell out of Marcus, for calling his girl "Mandy", on hold for later.

"Actually, no, I'm good, thanks." After a surprisingly long five seconds in thought, Pierce replied with a believable smile, "Carry on."