EOD MANSION COURTYARD
Little is left of the old mansion motor court, gardens and elaborate statues. Most of them were destroyed and now the courtyard stands a collection of cement slabs where dozens of Company all terrain APCs are parked. These are the only motor vehicles in the quarantine area with the power to traverse the destroyed roads of southern NY state and the gasoline to attempt to do so. The X-men are only allowed to use them with express permission of Company staff, usually during missions. Though much of the mansion was destroyed, many of the automated security systems survived, specially the pop up lasers that dotted the entrance court. Nowadays the stunning beams have been replaced with heavy machine guns that area to turn unwanted visitors into a thin red mist at the smallest misstep. The most haunting part of the courtyard is, however, the old fountain. The beautiful fountain topped with a statue of freedom in olden days used to hide a gun emplacements. Now, few parts or the old statue and fountain remain, a broken face, an arm, part of a leg, all clinging to the still standing structure of the gun emplacement. On the opposite side of the courtyard sits a small, unassuming building that looks much like a block of cement with reinforced windows, all that is left of Xavier's mansion.
X-Men EoD Time
Wednesday, August 13th
Desperate for some air,
Catherine came outside. She wasn't sure what was running through her head, but it wasn't doing wonders for her concentration. Maybe it was lack of sleep. She took a deep breath through , but coughed slightly at the smell. She hated the smell of the APCs. She had her pistol, loaded and strapped to her leg, her hand subconsciously hovering over it, just in case, ready to turn the safety off at the slightest sight of rebel activity. She was jittery, but she wasn't stupid enough to fire for no reason however.
After a few minutes,
Catherine had composed herself somewhat, and decided there was better things to do than wallow in some odd form of self-pity. She heaved, standing up from the seat she had taken on a wall, and walked towards the
EoD Mansion Grounds. Her hand still didn't move from her pistol.
It was almost sad to see the broken landscape; marred by the cement slabs and wreckage
Lire thought to herself and thought back to the first time she'd come here almost wistfully. She wandered aimlessly; picking her way around the APCs as she went to
EoD Mansion Grounds
Returning from the grounds,
Catherine trudged slowly inside the
EoD Foyer. Maybe she'd go back to the mess hall, have a cold drink or something.
Lire appeared a few minutes after Catherine. She slowed down to a walk as she disappeared inside the
Eod Foyer
Walking with purpose, the broad-chested
Vlad walked over the concrete slabs and passed the decrepit fountain that served as a reminder to what all they'd lost in the past 7 years. He offered the broken remains a passing glance, his frown firmly in place, and then continued onward to
EoD Mansion Grounds.
Making a beeline for the ruined fountain, Ivan ran over, his arms holding his ball out in front of him as he headed for his chosen destination.
Elizabeth followed closely behind him, her attention on those around the area, and making sure both to keep them out of any way of any passing vehicles, and to watch out for any possible threats, either from their mutant enemies or their so called allies. She wished Ivan had the chance to see the mansion how it use to be, to actually have grass to play on and other kids to be around. However, looking down at her son, he clearly seemed happy with what he had, not knowing any better, as he attempted to throw the ball up and the air and catch it. The throwing part he could manage, the catching part was a little trickier, and called for Ivan to run off in the direction the ball rolled before retrieving it and bringing it back to the fountain.
Coming from the grounds,
Vlad first noticed the airborne ball that could only belong to his mocha-skinned son. However, instead of smiling, Vlad frowned, seeing how the toddler was so gratefully playing in the ruins, taking the smallest of joys in what there was. Hoping to see his wife with his son instead of some babysitter, he strode over to the flaming red woman and pulled her into his chest with his practiced finesse, letting his large arms wrap around the small of her back. "Hey love, I think the rest of the team is waiting for us in the war room. If you want to stay with Ivan today, I arranged for a couple of backups to stand in," he said, hoping she'd know that he meant it as a helpful gesture and wasn't in any way trying to replace her. "Of course, I'd rather you were there, but I don't want anyone else raising Ivan either," he said with a sigh. "I have to go," he said sadly, leaning down to kiss his beautiful wife on the lips, lingering for a moment with a hand on her chin. He then pulled away and went over to Ivan, standing with his hands on his hips as he rolled the ball back to his son. "I'll see you tonight, EE-von," he said, pronouncing his son's name in proper Russian, ruffling the top of his plucky son's head as he knelt to give him a hug. "I love you," he said, smooching the wee lad's noggin. Then, he stood and walked by Elizabeth, taking her hand for a moment until it slipped from his fingers as he walked up the concrete steps and opened the metal door into
EoD Foyer.
Her eyes trailed on Ivan and his joy,
Elizabeth raised them as she spotted the figure of her husband approach them. As she was pulled into his arms, she raised one of her own to wrap around his waist, resting her head against his chest. His stance and expression easily told her the stress he was under today, and his comment regarding their presence being needed in the war room only brought a nod of her head in acknowledgemen
t. "No, Katie can take him." Savoring the kiss, Elizabeth watched on sadly as Vlad and Ivan had a moment together. She questioned her decision. Was she a bad mother for not staying with her son? Her own mother gave up her career when the first signs of her mutation appeared, knowing there was no way Elizabeth could ever be safely put into a schooling environment. If her mother could give up her life's work, couldn't see? Was she a mother, or a X-Men? Elizabeth questioned what the original X-Men would had done in her position, if Jean and Scott had a child, would they had left their roles as the leaders? Elizabeth so wanted to just hide herself and Ivan in their rooms until Vlad and the team came back, but at least out in the field her mind would be on the mission, not worried if her husband would return alive or not. As Vlad returned to the house, Elizabeth offered her hand to Ivan, "Come on baby, lets go and find Katie. You two can play today." And led the boy back into EoD Foyer.
Leaving the house, no doubt with the rest of her team hot on her footsteps, Elizabeth continued to march across the courtyard towards EoD Mansion Grounds.
Lire was right behind her as they got to the EoD Mansion Grounds.
Endelyn ran through quickly, trying to catch up with Lire and Elizabeth, going straight into EoD Mansion Grounds.
Heading back from the Grounds, Elizabeth took the time to carefully try and move the car keys from her covered palms, without dropping them in the process. She managed to get them held between her uncovered thumb and finger as she strode into EoD Foyer.
Lire emerged from the grounds behind Elizabeth and followed into the EoD Foyer
Endelyn followed right after, also going into EoD Foyer.
Stepping out into the late summer heat, Vlad, who was by now well accustomed to the warmth in this part of the world, swiped his hand across his brow. The Colossus Grade Armor he wore was heavy, which he did not notice in terms of weight but rather in the layer of sweat it always produced. His boots crunched powerfully over the stones, practically stomping the gravel into tinier pieces as he barreled precisely like the tank that he was to EoD Perimeter Gate.
Pacing out into the courtyard, Elizabeth made her way towards the car that had been left there for her team, as she waiting for both the women to catch up with her.
Endelyn wasn't far behind her and walked over to the car. "So, what did you two manage to get?" she questioned, leaning on the trunk of the vehicle.
Lire came walking up in time to hear Endelyn's question. "Nothing good. I'm going to look and see what they have at the Plank." She said with a shrug, she turned her attention to the car and studied it critically.
The car had clearly seen better days, but considering what they were using it for, it would do. Catching the handle with the side of her hand, Elizabeth gave it a tug, surprised the entire door just didn't fall off in her hands. Throwing a raised brow at the two girls, as if to say they had no better option, she slid herself into the drivers seat and wrestled with getting the key into the slot. Luckily enough it turned over the first time, another surprise as she was sure the damn thing would be struggling to come to life. "Move your asses."
On a mission now to get to the gates before Vlad could decide that he wanted to rip him limb from limb, Nathan strode his way across the grounds, heading for the EoD Perimeter Gate.
"God, I hope this thing doesn't blow." Lire muttered wryly as she pulled open a door and slid into the back seat. She rolled down both windows so that she had clear shots in case it was necessary to take someone out.
Ignoring the trio of girls on the El Camino, Catherine followed after Nathan, walking towards the EoD Perimeter Gate.
Endelyn climbed in right behind Lire, looking a little unsure of the vehicle. Still, she didn't want to get in the way of Lire's weaponry, since she had something she could clearly throw, and Endelyn did not.
"Will see." is all Elizabeth offered as she drove the heap to EoD Perimeter Gate.
ACCESSIBLE AREAS
EoD Perimeter Gate
EoD Mansion Grounds
EoD Foyer
X-Men: End of Days * X-Men EoD Characters
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