Painful Consequences

[whiteraven]

Four snapped ribs, a punctured lung, a broken arm, and a minor concussion. That was all she had gotten. Even now as Raven sat on the cot in her little cell, specifically designed to prohibit supers from using their powers, she wasn't quite sure what had spurred the idea.

She had just been so furious - dangerously so - at the prosecution of the Untouchbles; she had gone with two of the X-men into the middle of central city for no better reason than to blame somebody else. Nothing had been accomplished, and a lot had been damaged.

It was all over the news, and Raven's shame was bright in her mind. She was more than willing to pay the price for her crimes, but she was afraid of the time she would have to face her teamates again. And so she meditated.

Breath in

Breath out

There was nothing more to do but wait for - whatever may come.

[Lupine]

Lupine walked into the corridor, coming to a stop outside Raven's cell. The police officer on duty had of course let in someone who was such a powerful businessman, respectable gentleman and, not least, who had just bribed him with five $50 dollar notes for his troubles.

Lupine stared at the figure of Raven in the cell, squashed up in her cot. Even to Lupine's unprofessional eye, she did not look well. He had caused enough injuries to see that Raven most likely had some broken bones and trouble breathing. Lupine let out a sign, and raised his hand to his ear, activating the communication to Grey Corps.

"Please send three doctors down to my position. Madame Raven is here, with broken bones and trouble breathing. I do not know what else. Please be prepared. You may have to bribe the policeman on duty to get in; feel free to be lavish: I will pay you back. No need to use your own funds."

Lupine turned off the communication at his employee's O.K. He pulled up a chair and set down the ebony and ivory cane that he had used ever since Raven had saved his life by healing his wound from a bullet long enough for it to be operated. His leg had not been affected but Lupine had decided to affect some weakness as a useful deception. He had practiced for some time and now his limp looked quite authentic if not examined by the trained eye.

Lupine looked at Raven in her cell and spoke again. "Madame Raven, as you would have heard I have called for medical help. I hope you are comfortable as can be hoped- if you want anything I shall simply bribe the guard to give it to you. The doctors should be ten minutes at most. Meanwhile, would you like to talk?" Lupine looked at Raven's figure, and could not help but feel some worry, to his irritation. He was most likely going to have to get used to it.

"I understand that you got into a fight over the Untouchable War Crime Laws. It could be quite dangerous for the future of the Titans, so I would like to offer help in the form of money. It would be a simple matter to bribe some officials so the Titan application request will go smoothly. In return I would expect some information; it doesn't have to be about the Titans, merely about the kind of heroes or those of more unsavory characters that I can employ to improve Gotham. That is all I ask."

Lupine paused, as if considering something. Then he nodded to himself. " Madame Raven, I must admit I am pleased to see you again. I apologize for not saying this earlier, but I do now wish you to know that my visit here was not entirely business."

Lupine shook his head sadly. " I should be annoyed at you for this weakness in me, but I cannot. However, do not dare think that this does not mean I will be anything less than the villain I am should I be crossed."

[whiteraven]

Breath in -

Breath out -

A familliar voice brough Raven slowly back to the world around her. The cold walls, the thin cot she sat on. Somebody standing on the other side of the doors. She didn't move for a while as she listened. He seemed to be asking for medical help. For... her? It would seem so, as much as the pieces didn't fit together. What was he going to get out of this, she wondered absently. Turning leisurly as he started speeking to her, she looked him up and down. It was strange being on this side of the bars when she had so often been the one putting others within the cell.

He had a beautiful ivory cane and an almost authentic limp to match. Raven would guess it were real save that shehad been informed via the communicator when the surgury had been compleated without complication. Then in answer to his words,

"Comfort is not an issue. Though I am thankful for your worry and fo the medical help, I am deserving of this." At her words she gestured around her to the tiny claustraphobic cell. "And you ought to know well, I don't agree with bribery. Though I can't say truthfully I'm sad you came, it would be a lie. I am glad to see you well again and that you came to see me in my moment of disgrace - though I must wonder why? Already I am indebted to you several times over. You're offer to help the Titans would be gladly accepted, and I would be more than glad to help you with Gothem. Actually-"

At this she broke off and looked hard at Lupine for a long moment. "I would impose on you, and seek sanctuary in Gothem. I do not - I feel I cannot face the Titans. I would give you assistance in your struggle."

For the first time in that conversation, emotion showed. Shame flashed bright in her eyes. She had acted rashly and brough ruin upon her friends. Now too ashamed to face them, she was running fromt he inevitable. She knew it, but felt unable to stop. However, the emotion faded and was replaced by a softness from which her feelings were impossable to pick out. Lupine spoke now, not of business, but of himself. I do now wish you to know that my visit here was not entirely business. She nodded.

"I had guessed as much." And then, at his final words, a tiny sardonic smile appered; accompanied by a strange glint in her eyes. "My good sir, if you were to become somebody other than the villian you are, I should discard you as an imposter. Do not think that I shall hold back any less than you, come the time we face each other."

[Beast Boy]

Beasts Boy hesitated at the doors of the...'prison'. It's basically what it was. He looked up at the sign behind him. A glowing green 'Exit' written out perfectly. Taunting him to turn away. His green eyes watched it, refelcting the lime green glow it had in his own emerald colored eyes.
"Hey, you going in?"
The guard near him asked impatiently. Snapping back to reality he looked at him. Slightly swallowing he nodded. He could tell no one wanted him there. Because he was differant. He was a super human. With the whole Untouchables War thing, he felt extremely uncomfortable, unwanted, uncertain, and definatley like the eyes of the guards and others were daggers.
Keeping his eyes on his moving feet, Gar made his way along the celled, concrete halls. Super Humans, apperantly, were kept in the back, where special chambers negated there powers. Looking up as he heard a heavy lock open, the door to the Super Human cells was opened. Gar was almost immidiately stopped when he stepped inside. A guard held up some thick looking cuffs, lined with a small glowing electronic like wire.
"You've got to me kidding me.."
He stated quitely in disbeleif. The guard simply took his shoulder.
"Security Messure."
He said bluntly as he locked the power negating cuffs tightly, and rather uncomfortably, on Gar's wrists. BB held up his hands in front of his face and grimaced.
He had tracked down Raven to this? The possibly most aweful place for super humans in the world? As Gar looked at the emotionless, hard stares of the guards, he mumbled under his breath as the cuffs were locked behind his back.
"Security messure, my ass."
As he was finally able to see Raven, he looked down. It might be hard to see her now, in this place, after what happened. He figured showing up in uniform would even be worse, so he dressed somewhat casually. A pale blue button upt shirt with long sleaves, and some kahki shorts that hung down to his knees, with sneakers.
Glancing up as he heard her droning voice, he practically leapt to the cell, completely ignoring Lupine and the fact that it made the guards tense and reach reflexively to there tazers at there side.
"Raven! Are you ok? What happened? Why do you look so bad? Did they hurt you?"
He asked the questions in his usual fast tone, but his voice was firm, hardening protectively specifically on the last question.

{{That was a lot longer than I expected ^_~"}}

[Lupine]

Lupine smiled, nodding his head to Raven's request. "As you can probably work out, Madame Raven, I will have no problem with offering safety in Gotham if you will work for me there. In all honesty, it will most likely mean that you will be less likely to quit. I will get my lawyers to draw up a contract if you wish."

Lupine regarded the look in Raven's eyes as she replied to his last comment. He smiled gravely. "Madame Raven, the day that we finally fight may not be inevitable as you believe. But until it happens, will you be happy to have me enjoy your company?"

Lupine sat back on his chair. He spoke again, his voice becoming more relaxed. "As for the matter of the Titans, I will make sure their application process comes through, and consider it cheap at half the price. And do not worry about the Titans finding you; in fact, the most dangerous time is now."

As almost if to coincide with Lupine's statement, someone stepped into the room. Lupine turned, and took in the green skin. He groaned under his breath. Expressions of disbelief, annoyance and arrogance passed through Lupine's face, which settled on disdain.

He'd faced difficult tasks before: escaping from Stark Towers with Wonder Woman on his trail, negotiating with crime lords who would rather kill than talk and ensuring that no-one found out what actually went on in his company's Research and Development quarter, but this was going to be difficult.

He would have to talk to Beast Boy while remaining dignified.

Lupine brought his face under control with a deep breath. He spoke slowly and carefully; he did not think much of either Beast Boy's intelligence or attention span.

Also, it looked like he had been far too worried about Raven to notice Lupine.

"Madame Raven is indeed hurt, but do not worry; I have called in two of my personal physicians into her service until she is back to full efficiency."

Lupine stood up, leaning slightly on his cane. He did not think it would come to a fight now, but if more Titans came, then there could be problems.

[whiteraven]

((Just to make it clear - I love you two!!))

Raven nodded gratefully at Lupine's words, thankful that she now had a hiding place. "I once again find myself in your debt. Thank you. I do not feel that I could face the Titans..." She trailed off when an all too familliar voice broke through her comprehension.

Looking up so sharply she cracked her neck, Raven gasped to see Beast Boy, her friend, more than her friend, standing in the hallway. Even as her irrational heart fluttered at the thought he came for me, she caught her breath in a gasp and turned away, too ashamed to face him.

It was all over the news by now. "Not long after the government declairs all Untouchables enemies of the public having committed crimes of war, their actions are prooved by a threesome of rogues. Juggernaut, Cyclops, and Raven picked a fight in Central City, dystroying most of the square and leaving the city without power for what could proove to be months." Even with Lupine's much needed intervention, there would be troublesome reprocussions for years to come. In the back of her mind she regestered Lupine speeking to Beast Boy condescendingly, answering the question posed to her, readying for a fight.

Slowly turning back to face Garfield, her face was a sad mix of determination, pain, and absolute hopelessness. However, whatever she had been about to say disspersed when she saw the handcuffs he had been made to wear. this is my fault. She had worn them too, they were a cruel creation, and BB wouldn't be able to change shape while wearing them.

"Let him go!" She cried furiously, flying at the bars. "He's done nothing wrong!" One of the guards pressed a button and an electrical surge went through the Bars, passing into the pale skinned prisoner. She fell back an looked away, the bright flush of shame showing like nightlights on her cheeks.

((Sorry if it's kinda weird, I'm a little out of it right now.))

[Beast Boy]

{{Aww, we love you too Rae! ^_^}}

Beast Boy raised an eye brow at Lupine, now taking notice of his presence. Though he hadn't done anything wrong, Gar's brow furrowed in his direction.
"Was I talking to you?"
He asked harshly. He really wasn't in the mood for some rich looking dude with a fancy cain to be answering his questions directed to his...very good friend. He wanted Raven's reply. He wanted her to tell him if she was hurt or ok. Not for some dude to tell him she was and he hired doctors for her.
Looking back at Raven, he felt a pang of sadness just seeing her. So ashamed, so sad, so hurt. His heart ached to see her like this. He wanted to just tear off the cuffs, break down the bars, if only to hug her for a second. When finally she faced him, his green eyes met her gaze. It was agony.
"Raven.'
He uttered sadly, leaning his forehead agains the bars that held her. Suddenly she cried out angrily,
"Let him go! He's done nothing wrong!"
At this Gar sat up and tried to tell her he was fine, but apperantly the guards weren't convinced that this was not an attack. As an electrical surge shot through the bars and Raven fell back, Gar became suddenly still. Anger washed over the green man. He knew attacking any of them would be a big mistake, and also he knew he would end up regretting it. But they had just hurt Raven. Just like that. The guard approached and grabbed Gar's shoulder, the other took Lupine by the arm.
"It's time to go."
They said forcefully. With rebel yell, Gar stood immidiately to his feet and shoved his shoulder into the guard, tackling him to the ground. The man reacted when Gar tried to regain his footing, and pulled hard on his shirt, tearing of his sleeve and ripping it half off. BB kept shouting "How dare you!" and, "You hurt her!", even as the other guard attacked him. As Garfield kicked the guard who had electricuted the cell Raven was in, a heavy blow from a night stick was delivered to the side of his head. Beast Boy stumbled, but the shot didn't knock him down, even as blood trickled from the small wound. His anger and adrenaline kept him up. Just as he turned, an electricuting shock emitted from the cuffs.
"Aaauhh!"
As the shocks didn't cease, Gar's knees buckled under him and he fell to the ground.

{{I'm sorry this will totaley ruin that moment, but Gar+handcuffs+half ripped of shirt-evil guards=<3!!...............ok sorry sorry, go back to dramatizing...TT_TT }}}

[Lupine]

"Was I talking to you?"
Lupine frown as Beast Boy spoke. It seemed his premonition was correct: Beast Boy would not be behaving like a gentleman. However, even Lupine knew better than to speak as Beast Boy's and Raven's gaze locked. Lupine wasn't quite used to this kind of situation, so he sat uncomfortably on his chair.

Lupine watched on as Raven threw herself against the bars, and saw a man to his left reaching for a button. He sat bolt upright as a electrical shock surged through the bars, his mouth open in a snarl. A guard came to Lupine's right and told him to leave in no polite terms: Lupine pushed him away so hard he slammed against the wall, and marched up to the man who had pressed the button for Raven's cage, false limp forgotten. He picked him up by his neck and spoke, injecting all his authority into his speech.

"Now, I have very high standards about those who would be my friends. As a result I have very few people I consider true friends. Therefore, I am rather protective of those I do have. Please understand." Lupine grabbed the man by the chin, and pierced his cheek with three of his claws. The man let out a brief yell of pain. "Madame Raven is one of my friends. You. Do. Not. Hurt. My. Friends."

Lupine pulled his claw out through the man's cheekbones, obliterating the left side of his face. Lupine turned, leaving the man sobbing behind him, and calmly took a handkerchief from his pocket and leaned the gore and blood from his claw.

"I do hope you all understand. Madame Raven, if anything else like that happens, be sure to tell me. Also, remember, if you wish to attack me, I am legal. My name is Solomon Grey. I own the largest company in Gotham. If you attack me, it will go badly for you."

Lupine looked at the kneeling form of Beast Boy: The guards were now unsure if they should continue attacking him or not. Lupine stared down at the figure, and shrugged.

"Madame Raven, Beast Boy is under your responsibility. I will protect him at your request, but not at anything else. Do you now wish to leave this prison?" Lupine gestured at the guards. "This rabble do not look like they would be above bribes or threats."

[whiteraven]

Raven watched wide eyed as one thing led to another outside her cell too quickly for her too move. She could feel pure fury coming from Beast Boy. It seemed as if it all happened in a blink of an eye. As Garfield contenued to fight, Raven came back to herself. Realising what was going on around her, she scrambled up from where she had fallen and yelled,

"Stop! Please, don't fight! Beast Boy..." She trailed off when his handcuffs did the inevitable, however. BB sank to the ground, high voltage shocks running through his ever system. Looking helplessly over to Lupine, she was gratified to see that he had fared somewhat better. She was not surprised - not even mildly disgusted when he obliterated the guard's face, she had seen worse. Inside a dark corner of her mind she chuckled - so many protectors had she. It was good to be surrounded by those who cared about her. Even if - she thought in hindsight - they didn't care so much for each other.

She stood stalk still as he gave her his offer. Swallowing hard, her quick mind calculated all the what-if's and maybe's. Finally, looking at Lupine she shook her head slowly.

"No - I am sorry, but I acted in a way I swore I never would again. I am now paying the consequences. There's no trial scedualed, I will simply be let out when they judge I am safe again. I would be gratified if you were to help the titans out with your funding - and I will be in Gothem on the day of my reliese."

She then knelt to where Beast Boy was still recovering. She knew how hard the shocks were felt.

"Beast Boy, she said softly "I promise you, I'm fine. I'll be out sooner or later, and I'll contact you. And, BB, I - I hope you get better soon." she finished lamely, unable to say what she had meant too. Looking at the gurads hard, she said in a soft sweet voice,

"What happened here was of no consequence, there's no need to tell anybody of it, ever again. It is as if it never happened." Then to her too male comrades she said offhandedly, "Hypnotism, it's a learned ability."

[Beast Boy]

BB listened carefully to Raven's words. She was indeed brave and strong. Gar would have never been able to stand it like she did. Mustering up some strength, he pushed himself into a sitting position. Side glancing at one of the guards, apperantly still afraid of Lupine, Gar's hand cuffs were removed by shaky hands. His wrists were sore and raw. More than likely he'd have to wrap them in something. Facing Raven he slightly smiled, weak as it showed.
"Are you sure you can handle this alone, Rae?"
The question, even he knew, was somewhat stupid. Gar knew better than anyone that Raven was capable of taking care of herself. But still, after what had happened, to her and in the prison, he wouldn't leave if he heard even the slightest bit of uncertainy in her voice.
Taking advantage of his cuffs finally being off, he reached through the bars with his bare arm, and attempted a one armed, half, thorugh steel hug kind of thing. He felt a tingle as he reached through, figured it was the field of negation that restrained Raven's power. But at least the cuffs were off. He would really have to thank Lupine for that later.

[Lupine]

Lupine nodded slowly. "If you wish to stay here, it is your choice, Madame Raven. I would offer help in the form of lawyers and money, but you will refuse them. I will not pretend to agree with this decision, but I will allow you your freedom to make it. Please, if you ever change your mind, call me. We shall meet in Gotham once you are free of this place; I will have the Titans made official by then.."

Lupine looked at the guards as Raven spoke to them in a voice that did not altogether suit her: normally Lupine's scientific mind would have been uneasy, but all he could now think was how useful it could be. "Hypnotism would indeed be useful. I do hope you would not be able to use it against me?". Lupine was pleased that his business sense was still good enough to try and find out what Raven would be able to do against Lupine if she had the chance. A part of him felt uneasy, but he quelled it. He had done far, far worse deeds.

Lupine bent down to pick up his cane again and walked towards Beast Boy and grabbed him by one arm, and hauled him up to his feet roughly. He looked him straight in the eyes, speaking with an undercurrent of quiet menace.

"I do not approve of you nor your relationship with Madame Raven, but she does. Do not disappoint her." Lupine motioned to the guard whose face he had literally torn to pieces. "You have seen what happens to people who hurt my friends."

((OOC: You are both great RPers; I've enjoyed this thread with you! Right now I'm out of ideas, unless BB recognizes Lupine as a/finds out that Lupine is a (legal) crime lord in Gotham.))

[Beast Boy]

Gar deftly jerked his arm from Lupine's grip.
"I may not approve of you as much either. But I think you haveta worry about disapointing her more than I do."
Beast Boy said angrily, staring hard back at Lupine. He was so not getting an thanks later. Gar's animal senses may have been a bit kooky from the shock, but he simply didn't like this guy.


{{Meh, writers block. I'm running out O' ideas as well for now <=D }}

[whiteraven]

((Ahhh, huf...huf... must - catch up - with many posts!))

Raven nodded jerkily to Lupine at his words. "You are quite right, Lupine. I thank you for your help, this will all blow over soon enough, I dare say." Then turning softly to BB, she bit her lip. It was not in her nature to lie as she knew she would have to at his question, however, she knew her comrade well enough to know that he would only worry and no doubt do something rash without her assurance that she would be allright. He pushed an arm through the bars and the field that kept her in and powerless. She touched his hand softly, but was saved from answering by Lupine's sudden intervention.

Raven leaned cooly against the wall of her cell - watching the show of manlieness with an expression somewhere between bemused and mocking. Eyebows raised she waited for the moment of zen. However - before she could get her words in a loud buzzer went off. She winced at the loud noise right in her ear, before saying urgently.

"I'll leave you to settle your differences later, you should leave now. Else we should all find ourselves in a less than pleasurable situation. I promise you, I'll contact you both as soon as I'm out." She nodded softly to her friends, the two people who she trusted most. "Try not to kill each other." She said as an afterthought.

((The thread was winding down anyways, Lupine - I'll start our thread. BB - I'll join anything you want to start! ;D))

[Beast Boy]

{{Heh, sorry I can't think of anything to put. It'd just be like a one liner kinda thing. So I'll start up a thread as soon as I can and PM the link to ya! If you want to form an idea, just message me, love ya Rae! XD }}