milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Hank is in the Bar early today, his head bent over a laptop and his eyes searching the numbers and words that are there for an answer, any answer, to what is going on.

He feels frustrated, singularly angered by the events going on, that he seems to be unable to stop. He won't give up, no matter what. After all, he is an X-Man. Stubbornness comes with the territory. Once not long ago, he wasn't sure of that, or of his place in that team.

But his views have changed, after a long series of events that literally altered his view point. Now he is filled with a certainty. There will be an answer, and he will help. He has to. He cannot bear to think of failing when another is counting on him. So he sits here, trying to find something he missed, striving to find something new, going over new and old information again and again.

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Raven like Hank, was up early. She had been unable to sleep after being plagued by dreams and visions that brought back memories- memories of stuff that happened before.

Uncomfortable memories.

Rubbing her eyes, the child waves sleepily at Hank as she goes to get her breakfast from Bar.

"Good morning." Some part of her knew who Hank was, but the child didn't seem to understand what it meant.

He smiles at her in a friendly manner. he has always liked kids and Raven is a... then he blinks.

"Raven?"

She was...young. His mind scrambled in confusion and then everything from the past few days lined up.

The curses. Raven had been cursed. he sighs and then smiles at her.

"Good morning."

No need to scare her if he can avoid it.

"Don't worry, I know." She sighed a bit and climbed up onto the chair setting down her plate of eggs and toast. "Im not supposed to be like this, but I am. And nobody knows why."

She looked at Hank. "I know I know you, but I have no idea why or how we met. I know I'm supposed to NOT be eight years old, but I am. Kind of strange really."

She gave a faint smile. "How are you?"

((ooc: annnd of course i gotta go. Slow-time?))

(ooc: of course. Slowtime is fine. My hours are crazy, but tag in whenever you can and I will do the same. Hope everything goes well for you!)

He smiles at her, feeling a surge of pride in her, even if it wasnt his place to feel it.

"I'm fine, and you are one of the smartest young ladies I have ever met, and one of the bravest too, at any age."

He chuckles.

"This has been a most unsettling few days, I think. But it is still good to see you. What have you been up to?"

"It's been very unsettling." She shook her head and gave a bit of a faint smile. "And I'm not very smart. I'm just remembering things, things that happened to me when I'm older."

She considered something. "You know this is the second time I've been changed into a child."

"I didnt know that, no. How did it happen before? Can you remember that?"

He watches ehr, smiling slightly.

"yeah I remember, I really don't like talking about it though."

he smiles reassuringly.

"That's fine. You dont have to."

he smiles, glancing around.

"I think you are very smart. Not to do with memory, that is as you say just rememering things, but from how you talk and how you act."

A sleepy Horta wanders by. He's been up late. Also going over available data and trying to find an answer.

He's decided to pack it in and get some sleep, but first...past time to check in.

Hello, Hank. Sorry I'm late. Or early depending on your point of view.

Hank smiles, turns his screen and activates the infra red portion.

Morning, Iohor. You look a little tired-ish. Or is my Horta-fu deserting me? And no need to be sorry. It is early and late... and there is still no answer on how to make things right, yet.

I'll spare you a transcription of the vile language running through my head at the moment. Mother would be so ashamed if she could hear me.

Your Horta-fu serves you well. I'm practically caved in. I've stayed up far too late going over what data we have and neurological texts that Bar has given me. No luck either.

I'm going to catch a nap right now. But have you checked in with the rest of the research group yet?

Naraht's form sudders in a Horta yawn.

I am going to be talking to them today, but I have a feeling the answers are starting to unravel. Hang in there my friend, and everything will be okay. Somehow.

Hank places a hand on Naraht's shellskin.

We will get you back to ship-shape hatchmate.

(ooc: Faith posted about the possibility of the Other and the answer is spreading like wildfire... soon Hank will know. Also., in case you didnt see it, Tim has moved the end of the Otherplot up to this friday night...)

Naraht sighs and leans into Hank's touch a little.

Good. With that, I'm going to get some rest before I start crashing through tables. As for my condition, there's been no progression at this point. Which I suppose is obvious given the fact that we're understanding each other.

Hank nods and gently strokes his hatchmate's cilia, typing with his other hand.

Sleep well, my friend. Perhaps you will get an idea while sleep brings you peace. I should be around later this afternoon, after classes back at the X-Mansion.

(ooc: good luck!break a leg!)

Naraht's body sudders again with another yawn.

Good luck to you, too, hatchmate. And don't be too hard on the younglings. I'll be nearby.

A quick squeeze of Hank's hand and off he goes to sleep...perchance not to dream.

Via Millitime, Catherine's just found out about Naraht. She watches Hank tap away at his keyboard, her eyes dark with despair as she leans against the Bar.

Hank glances up, drawn by something he couldnt name, then smiles broadly. With that smile, he waves to her and gestures to his side, where thetre was m ore than enouh room for her. His smile turns hopeful

She smiles back, her eyes lightening a little, as she sits down by him and curls closer. "How's it going?"

He slips a arm around her and just holds her tight for a moment, drinking in her scent and feel, then he sighs and smiles at her.

"It's... proceeding excessively in a rather unfortunately direction. At the moment, science seems to be untowardly useless in the situation facing us. And that means I am as well."

His voice is just slightly bitter as he looks down at the computer, He isnt giving up, but he is acknowledging that things are beyind his power now, and he feels frustarted by it.

Catherine rests her head against his shoulder, speaking softly so no-one else can hear. "Barry and Sara have a theory that it's the Other who's doing all this--the one they killed outside of Milliways, earlier in the year..."

he nods.

"I have heard. A force is being gathered to fight him, and I have been drafted to the research team."

He leans against her too, kissing her hair, very glad she is here.

"What kind of research?" She indicates the computer screen, her eyes wandering over the symbols and charts there. "Medical?"

"Meical, mystical, scientific. Every kind we could think of really, trying to find ways to stop this bastard and to break the curses."

His vocie is fierce.

"I didn't know you branched out into magic..." She runs her hand gently up and down his arm, with a smile.

"I dont, but I can sopeed read and I have an eidetic memory. Come sin handy for research, even if I cant do much else right now."

His voice is a little bitter at the feel of being so powerless. He smiles at ehr then, though, his love for her lighting up his bleak face.

"I am very glad you are here, babe. You make this darkness seem so much brighter. I love you."

She squeezes his shoulder, lifts his hand to kiss it. "Lindsey's missed you, at home..." Her voice is soft, teasing.

he grins at ehr.

"I cant wait to see her. I have missed ehr too, but I missed you more than anything. Your smile, your voice, the soft touch of your hands..."

And she's missed him, too, but just for a moment there's a flash of that strangeness again, that disoriented feeling when she talks to this new form. She quickly represses it before it can show on her face. "I've missed you too, more than anything. Life's painfully empty when you're not around, it's flat and boring..."

he sees something, but it passes and he keeps from showing that too.

"You are my angel. And without you things were...long and dark and not ever as good as they are with you around."

"I wish I could have come with you." Her hand curls around his, fingers intertwining, her voice quiet. "I was so lonely, all those nights..."

he looks down.

"I wish so too. I missed you more than you will ever know. I dreamed of you, thought of you, you know, obnsessed about you. It was a long time to go without seeing you or hearing your voice. "

he hugs her gently, his hands ghently holds hers.

She smiles and leans her forehead against his, staying like that for a long moment, just letting the moment sink in.

"Will you be busy with this tonight?" she says finally, nodding to the screen.

"I will be busy a lot, but I have been ordered to take some time off by my compattriotsd, so I can take that tiem tonight."

he cocks his head at her.

"What do you have in mind, dear lady?"

Catherine shifts against him, ever so slightly, just a small suggestion. "A long bath, a warm bed, some... well, down time isn't the best word for it..."

he shivers, feeling her movement.

He grins at her softly.

"That sounds like heaven, my dear. OPure heaven to me."

He is worried about how she will react to this body, but, he is willing to try if she is.

"Meet you upstairs?" Her grin is impish now, daring, inviting.

He grins at her and nods.

"I would be delighted my dear. Your place or mine?"

His eyes sparkle back in acceptance.

"Your place has a bigger bed." She winks at him, slips away and gets up from the table. "My place has a bigger bath, though..."

He chuckles.

"Then your place, I think...I like it when I get to see you wet."

His eyes sparkle as he watches her.

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