Multiverse Morlocks

Rain always sort of seemed to fall differently in this section of the city.. ever since the collision, pipes and fixtures stuck in uncertain angles from buildings. And- despite that gravity dicated rain should fall down in one defined line- the fat droplets were almost coming down in slow, sloggy angles. It fell down, shot across sideways in weird parts of an ally. The dimensional anomalies were strong in this district.

Which made it a good place for mutant meetups.

The collection of homeless folk in the alley had set up a miniature living area with plastic containers and anything else water resistant hanging from the dilapidated sectioning of buildings like awnings. Some had started up a small fire in a barrel, trying to keep it from going out too quickly while trying to makesure it didn't smoke up their area too badly should it get too large.

In this collection around the fire, a tiny form waited patiently for the day, wondering if anyone who'd gotten her messages and notices the last few days had gotten the message printed within.

It had merely been an address scrawled across a museum pamphlet but anyone who chose to get a better look would find that pencil markings had been taken to underline certain words within. Possibly just someone being bored and scribbling but for those who knew how to look.. like maybe the green woman from the food court?

Wednesdays- late- 5 pm - 9 p m

Cadmus had spent much of the day doing a whole lot of nothing. Not like there really was much for him to do in the Undercity - the guy had been there a couple of weeks by now and even though he had nowhere else to go, he still hadn't fully committed himself to the Morlock way of life.

He'd mull about, exploring a little more and making small-talk with the few Morlocks he'd been introduced to, but ultimately the guy was beginning to get a little restless. Sure, his occasional jaunts with the surface with Elsa had provided a good deal of entertainment but every solo outing he'd undergo seemed to only strengthen the feeling that, honestly, he couldn't really see any where else he fit into this new city.

He'd let out a sigh, moving over to a pair of Morlocks he'd seen Elsa speaking with a few times and getting filled in on where, exactly, she'd disappeared to... and of course, he'd follow.

A little while later, in the same alleyway Elsa waited in, a manhole would shift in place, lifting up and being pushed to the side as Cadmus emerged into the rather dismal weather. Foot would push the manhole back in place as he took a quick look around, soon spotting Elsa as he made his way over.

"Well, can't say this is quite as exciting as the fair, but... ehh, interesting place to hangout...?" He wasn't quite so sure what she was doing up here, but finding out sure sounded like more fun than roaming aimlessly in the Undercity.

The speedster arrived ahead of the two women she was with, unable to wait for them to catch up and instead running ahead.

A burst of silvery light heralded her arrival, so quick that to the human eye it wouldn’t be noticeable. However, if you were in the alley and directly in front of her, the woman herself seemed to leak that same energy off of her, smoky tendrils of it drifting around her form.

Her sunglasses were still on but her eyes behind them glowed so brightly you could see the dual light from behind the shades.

She removed them, her solid white eye still glowing faintly as the other one died down. The jagged M shaped scar on her right eye probably the first thing you’d notice, maybe second to her height and build, given the woman was well over six feet tall.

She’d recognize Elsa immediately, a strange look of admiration and respect setting her stony features as she surveyed them.

“Elsa, Leader of the Morlocks?” She questioned uselessly, knowing who the woman was but needing to know who she was in this timeline.

She adjusted her stance, still decked out in her all black Adidas casual fitness wear. Her eyes flicked to Cadmus but the recognition immediately faded. Her eyes glanced back to Elsa awaiting her response.

Ryan hung back from Eden for the sake of Keiko, not wanting to leave her behind. She could keep up with them if she wanted to, Ryan knew that, but if she wanted to hang back a few steps then Ryan would hang back with her. She was quiet, arm of vines still carrying her bag of purchases and her hand shoved in the front pocket of her vintage style jeans. She hadn't particularly planned on this.. The girl at the mall had seemed nice but she'd also had absolutely no idea what she was in store for meeting up with who knows who.

Upon approaching the meeting spot Ryan would drift her way up next to Eden, though she kept a few feet of space between them. Her hand was pulled out of her pocket to hang at her side, short sleeves of her shirt and her high pony leaving her bare skin exposed to show off that green skin. There was no hiding for this one.. Even if she wanted to. A nod was given to Elsa as she settled into the scene, her gaze shifting over all the others gathered until she settled on the bright red one. "..Cadmus?"

As soon as Cadmus appeared from the manhole nearby and came to join her, the Polymorph gave a surprised blink and a smile followed not a moment too soon, "Hey there handsome, what's happenin?" Grinning, she'd shift weight from one hip to the other before shrugging, "I'm Waiting for refugees. Every Wednesday I take down mutants- And a rare human or two- as personal escort to the city."

The convo died off the moment this ragtag group of women approached, eyes going from face to face slowly. She recognized Ryan but who were these other two?

Woah wait they knew her name?

Keiko and Ryan weren't immediately worried about, focus on the giant woman in front of her that chose to address her openly. No getting around that one it seemed.

"Uhhhh yeah, that's me. Howsit hangin', gang? Say uhhh how.. how do you know about the Morlocks?? How do-" Elsa stopped and thought, staring at the sky before groaning, "Of course... EDEs.. let me guess was I old, crusty and batshit? Or was I a weenie?"

He'd move off to one side, arms folding across his chest as he leant against a wall, protected from the rain by a large plastic sheet that stretched across that portion of the alleyway. He'd nod his head as she responded, lips curled into a smirk, "Yes, yes. Handsome. I know." He spoke with a somewhat joking tone, though the smug aura that now radiated from his body after the comment indicated that he was certainly still just as full of himself as usual.

He'd nod in response to her second comment, "Ah... I see. Cool... These guys also get the metal pipe to the leg before you bring them in, too?" Again a joke, still obviously quite hung up on their first meeting. He'd go quiet after that comment, simply waiting off to the side as she did her thing.

And then... People actually showed up! Well, wasn't this something. Eyes narrowed as he tried to make out their faces as they entered the alleyway, a short laugh escaping him when they'd all line up in full view.

"Oh, hey." He'd start, pushing away from the wall to move beside Elsa as she finished speaking, muttering shooting off another zinger, "I kinda get the old, crusty and batshit vibe from you now..."

Finally, he'd get a little more serious looking over to the other three as he inspected them, taking a moment before nodding his head, speaking up again.

"I know these guys. Or at least my 'these guys'. The 'these guys' from uhh... where I came from." Dimensional crossover wasn't really his specialty. Head tilted as attention shifted mostly onto Eden,

"'Cept this one... kinda..." Face pulled back, bearing teeth as eyes widened, expression shifting into quite an anxious one, "Wasn't around... too much." He wasn't so sure he should reveal the the 'other' Eden's fate so openly. Whilst he certainly remembered Keiko and Ryan from his brief stint in the X-Scouts all those years ago, he'd only ever really known Eden through word of mouth and stories told by some of the Academy staff.

The woman stood a little taller, temporarily ignoring her companions behind her. Mission first, always.

She studied Elsa with a shrewd gaze, eyes narrowed as she quietly took in the... girl.

“Excuse me?” She asked, face as stoic as always. The slang sort of just flew over her head as she took an extra moment to translate it.

“Are you not the Leader of the Morlocks?” She asked with a bit too much authority.

Her white and silver eyes flicked to Cadmus, cocking her head towards him.

“Hmm, I died there as well? Was it a noble death?” Eden asked not quite casually because her rigid, militaristic posture could never, but perhaps a tad nonchalantly.

“It seems those sorts of death are aplenty,” and then she turned her head towards Elsa, taking her in from head to toe several times. “It seems leadership is a quality that was thrust upon you do to dire circumstances. And such circumstances have not found you here.”

She almost smiled, the disappointed waning away into relief. Then any look of amusement dropped from her features.

“I need access to your underworld. If you are not who I seek, there might be another.”

Keiko continued to listen in, looking over Cadmus with a small sense of sadness. He and his brother had a lot of promise when they were young. Glancing back to Ryan she kept her back to the wall, not wanting to be exposed. "Who gave you this information Ryan?" She asked quietly.

"Worked with someone who was a lot like you back where Im from." Keiko explained to Elsa. "Glad to see this version of you is doing well. You too Cadmus." Clearing her throat, Keiko produced a silver case from her pocket, removing a black paper wrapped roll of something and lit it with a lighter, the harsh smell of cloves and sweet vanilla filling the air around her as she inhaled. "Eden I can garuntee that next to noone in any of our timelines didn't have a "good" or "noble" death." She mumbled.

"When you're done conducting your buisness, I've got an offer of my own, Elsa."

Ryan listened in herself, as quiet as Keiko until a question was posed to her. Her hand lifted delicately to gesture towards Elsa, shoulders rising and falling in a small shrug. "Her.. Elsa gave it to me." Her hand dropped back down to her side as she listened to Eden, ever the straightforward leader at heart.. But she wasn't behind Eden, as she likely would have remained in many other universes, she was beside her. Her posture was held strong and straight, her head up.

While Eden spoke she began to wander somewhat, bright eyes drifting around the area to take in the others that may have wandered in, looking to find out what Elsa could do for them. She was intrigued and it showed, but she also looked Frustrated.. Tired.. Her gaze drifted back to Elsa and Cadmus as Eden and Keiko finished their bits, her voice cutting through the air. "I don't belong here. I just want to go home.. I finally made a life, and I want to get back to it... Until then, I just need to know how to survive here."

In all honesty Elsa hadn't been expecting anyone to show up to the pick ups- usually it was just one- NOT three!

Cadmus earned a smirk and an elbow to the side, "Hey don't let it all go to your head.. and of course not! Why would I swing a bar at their ankles when your's are still in tact and prime target practice?" Lips coiled up just momentarily but it began to slowly relax into one similar to general confusion. Who was this Eden lady and why was she talking like an RPG character?

"Uhhh yeah? I mean I'm the leader-mayor thing of the Morlocks yeah but I mean.. we're still growing. We're not this huge regime thing... annnnd I dunno what that means, all I know is I take care of people who come to us because sometimes it takes a village."

Glancing off to Keiko at the mention that she'd worked with her in her own timeline, Els gave a tiny nod of her head, "Ah, cool cool.. uh.. was I like.. y'know.." Hand gave a vague gesture, expression a suggestion that she was wary of the answer, "A psycho? In your timeline? Or was I like the super weenie hut Jr. version of myself that's a goody-two shoes? Because Either way yikes and I hope not."

It was Ryan's words that had her focusing back on the green and red woman.. Eyebrows twisted up and expression relaxed.. Man.. Change the red hair to pale pink and she'd look just like her mother. Strained smile was given, nodding her head, "I get you, yeah. You feel like you've been displaced after everything you worked hard to accomplish in your own timeline.. I can't guarantee I personally know a way to get you there but I did offer you the phamplet, so I'm willing to help." Swiping her hands one good time on her pant legs, she'd wander to the sewer grate and heaved it off to the side easily enough, "Allllrighty gang! Cadmus, follow these gals up will ya? It wouldn't do well if anyone got left behind or lagged and lost."

Grabbing hold of the ladder, she descended into the darkness quickly and came to a stand on the creaky metal platform before eventually leading the way to the lower level of the sewer channel. It reeked, for certain considering the amount of rain, but those that followed would notice the makeshift 'bridges' and walkways to help get over the gaps in the sewer ways easily. "We've got a bit of a walk before we get to The Trenches, I hope you brought your walking shoes."

Cadmus smirked at Elsas elbow, though he'd stay quiet as Elsa introduced herself.

He'd look over to Eden, shoulders lifting as he shrugged off her response, "Well, I don't know. Wasn't there, just remember hearing about it." Attention would quickly drift over to Ryan and Keiko next, taking a little while to inspect them before nodding.

"Hey, hey. I'm not a version." he'd respond, arms lifting to cross over his chest, "I'm just Cadmus. This is my world. Cadmus Prime. Blahblahblah." He still did not really 'get' this whole dimensional anomaly stuff... but as it all seemed to be centering around his dimension, he wouldn't budge on being the One, True Cadmus.

Then again, considering the year... he would look awfully young to be the Cadmus of this universe. Peculiar.

He'd wait until all the formalities were done with, waiting until the others had all descended into the sewers before following them down, pulling sewer grate back in place as he did so. Sewer gunk squelched beneath his feet as he dropped from the ladder onto the sewer floor, Cadmus moving quickly to catch up with the others.

"So, since nobody said anything I am just going to ask the question. I know your other Cadmuses obviously weren't cool enough to ascend to the level of living in an apartment in the sewers but tell me: Just how cool were they?" It was hard to tell whether or not the guy was using jokes as a coping mechanism or simply just didn't know when to shut up... though, with the couple of weeks he's just had, he could probably be cut a little slack. Not that any of the newcomers would know that, or anything.

Listened intently and then nodded to Ryan, “I also need to return to my home. There is a war I am losing and my people need me,” she would say very gravely. “But until then, I need to find a way to understand this world better and in exchange for any help granted to me, I am willing to offer my own services I return.”

Whatever that meant.

She furrowed her brows and tensed her lips, frowning at Elsa. “She was no... ah goody two shoes. She was a hero. It was her unfortunate demise that turned us from a small group into an army. She was a good woman who died a horrific and tragic death,” Eden spoke up, her chest puffing out in indignation.

Eyes glanced to Cadmus, taking him in. “I think you may have died very early on. So that is... probably very uncool, you might say.”

She would move to follow, glancing down at her shoes which would probably do just fine.

"In my timeline you were a bit more...quiet. Reserved." Keiko replied evenly, and exhaled smoke out of her nose. "And your dad died by having a building fall on him saving a shit ton of kids. But thats neither here nor there." At the mention of Eden returning, she seemed a bit forlorn, but took a deep drag from her ciggarette again.

"And I see Cadmus hasn't changed at all." Her mouth twisted up into a grin. "Though you're finally taller than me. Good to see you lived that long here." She gestured for Ryan to follow, beckoning her closer. "Best to stay together yeah? I'd rather not have us get seperated."

Keikos boots shifted over the already wet pavement and she tapped them against the wall. "Wouldn't be the first time I've met with the Morlocks. Though I'd imagine you were a better leader than the one back in my home."

Ryan followed the others over to the sewer grate, her nose wrinkling momentarily at the smell until she adjusted to it. Still, as the others descended down the ladder, she seemed hesitant to say the least. Fingers fidgeted at her side as she stared down into the dark hole, the vines holding her shopping bag slipping it over her arm and good shoulder for safe keeping.. She'd need that makeshift arm for climbing safely down the ladder after all.

Aware she was holding Cadmus up she lifted her face to the cloudy sky for a moment before she carefully climbed down the ladder, practically cringing as what little light was provided by the dismal day began to dissipate with each foot they descended deeper underground. By the time she reached the bottom she looked considerably uncomfortable, merely nodding at Keiko in understanding. She stayed fairly close as expected, but she followed in relative silence.

The walkways and bridges were studied with a fair amount of curiosity, the bundle of thin vines drawing back into her shoulder and disappearing once again as they were no longer needed to carry her bag. It was dark, darker than she liked at least. Still it wasn't the dark itself that bothered her, as that was remedied by any artificial lights. There was no sunlight down here, and it made her skin crawl.

She was silent until Cadmus spoke up once again, the man almost bringing a bit of a smile to her face. Almost... "You were pretty cool," she stated plainly. No details were really offered unless she was asked, her focus spent on not looking as uncomfortable as she was, and avoiding the particularly larger puddles of sewer gunk.

Wait.

She died?

Brows rose momentarily as her feet padded the damp cement and broken stone of the walkway, glancing back to peer at Eden at the notion of a war. "I died huh.. man.. fuckin' bummer." She wasn't sure she wanted to ask how she had died but as the group talked she perhaps found herself content that she had such a mellow personality..

After a few minutes, the group came across what appeared to be some sort of trash bin just lined up casually against the wall. Popping the lid and reaching within, the blonde produced two sticks of plastic per person and began to pass them out to the collected individuals, "Well.. I can't guarantee you guys will get answers down here but we can at least offer you a place to stay like I've done for Cadbury over there." Hands gave those sticks a snap and a bright yellow glow illuminated the immediate area, Elsa holding one up while keeping the other low. As she continued to the walk, the group would come to a slope and Elsa would lead the way down it slowly, "Mind your step. It's not steep but if you get going to fast its a gross tumble.. and actually, y'know, maybe I do remember some of your names.. but to be honest? I couldn't tell you if you guys were Brotherhood or X-men.. hopefully the first one since the X-men were such wretched villains where I'm from."

Twenty more minutes of walking narrowed, winding pathways would have little reaction from Elsa. She knew the Trenches like the back of her palm by now and hopefully Cadmus would recognize the area. Upon exit through the main 'gateway', the mouth of the path would open onto the main open streets of their underground city. Lights- illuminated gas lanterns held in the air seemingly by the collapse's interference- and bright neon signs lit up the world of the Undercity. Mutants worked here and there, some milled about. The smell of food that wasn't expired or molding filled the air and it became fairly evident that the world down under had been 'borrowing' from the topside universe, "So.. it ain't much but.." Honestly it was far more advanced than anyone would likely have expected and 'underground sewer city' to even look like.

Cadbury was not hugely impressed by the relatively unimpressive run-downs of his alternate selves. He'd shrug, sticking to the back of the group as they continued to move through the sewers. He'd pipe up again once Elsa spoke,

"You know in this universe they're called the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, right?" This time he wasn't joking... more cautiously trying to get a point across that maybe Elsa shouldn't flaunt her ties so openly whilst she was in this world. Or, she should. Wasn't really up to him... As helpful as he was attempting to be, he'd seen enough from her to know she could handle herself.

As they approached the Undercity, he couldn't help but be a little impressed. Sure, he'd seen it before but... it still surprised him to see such effort put into the place. Especially considering a lot of these folk had only been around here for the last six months. Morlocks really worked fast.

Eden nodded to Elsa, head bobbing along casually as she added, tone still conversational, “Yes, the government somehow was able to get control over Phoenix and she forced your abilities to go so unstable that you exploded everywhere. It was very tragic and graphic,” she added gravely, pale brows furrowed seriously over her eyes.

“Perhaps I can ensure that does not happen again while I am here. Tell me does anyone know what the public opinion is on SHIELD and the X-Men here?” This question coincided with Elsa’s comment and she said, “They were on our side and then with the swaying of Phoenix, they were able to turn the remaining X-Men against us. I held no allegiances except to the resistance.”

Her eyes glanced to Cadmus and then back to Elsa. “Ah, they were rather morally ambiguous in mine, towards the end. Magneto was a great help until SHIELD captured Diego. After that, no Omegas were left standing.”

As she walked along, she tilted her head over her shoulder to look back and downwards towards Keiko. The look on her face was peculiar yet unreadable as she just stared at the woman for moment, before breaking the moment and looking to Ryan.

“Ryan, you will live down here?” She asked when Elsa mentioned amenities. “I will stay with you, then,” she declared, not seeming to give Ryan a choice. “We will look after one another until we can get home.”

Reaching out for the glowsticks, Keiko kept quiet for some time. "I never got to work with the X-Men or anything big like that. I ran into some trouble as at teenager. It made fitting in a bit difficult." She kept the comments about the Contents of Champions, killing skrull and being an unintentional child wanna be soldier quiet for the time being. "You were a prodigy in my timeline. Though we never interacted much."

Keeping Ryan close to her side, she fell into a quick step beside Eden, focusing on walking. Her eyesight was never good in the dark, even with the glowsticks. "SHIELD took in some of the registered mutants that made it through. They're alright though they stay out of my way and I stay out of theirs. Havent dealt with X-Men or any of the big names and I'd like to keep it that way." Snuffing out her ciggarette she shoved the now dead butt into her pocket. No sense in leaving it where some kid might eat it or some stray rat finds it.

"Of course they had it put EVIL infront of their name." Rolling her eyes, her boot slipped for a moment and she seized Edens arm, before righting herself. "There's bigger evil in the universe than a bunch of mutants that think they know everything. THough its kind of funny they think they're top dog." At the question of where they were staying, Keiko cleared her throat. "I dont do well underground. However, I do have places for you and your followers to go. My buisness runs a pharmacutial company...the entire apartment complex is nearly vacant short of my staff. Back where I'm from the Morlocks had a big struggle to get help...and given that we're all thrown in to a mixer, I know you can defend yourselves more than enough but I'd like to offer help."

Ryan’s lips pursed as she was given the glow sticks, cracking them and following along in pure silence still. Every foot deeper into the dark that they went, the more uncomfortable she began to look. By the time they reached the city, even the awe and impression reaching her face wasn’t enough to wipe away the slightest feeling upon looking at her that she looked like she may be sick. Still, the city was impressive indeed, drawing on her curiosity to explore as she hung back, a few feet away from the rest of the group.

That curiosity and discomfort kept her busy, drawn mentally away from the conversation the others were having as she inspected everything within sight until her name was spoken.

“Hm?” Ryan turned around, lowering the glow sticks to her side as the lanterns hanging from nothing illuminated them group considerably better than glow sticks could. Her discomfort grew visibly as she glanced between Eden and Keiko, unsure how her smaller friend would react to the concept, before her gaze once again swept to the ceiling of the sewer cavern, desperately searching for any streams of sunlight.

“I can’t,” she offered apologetically, her fingers fidgeting with the glow sticks in her hand. “Don’t get me wrong, I would. I’d love to room with you and all, but.. I can’t.” Her hand gestured with the glow sticks towards the cavern ceiling, the green glow of the sticks illuminating her green face beautifully, though it highlighted her unfortunate expression as well.

“There’s no sun down here,” she mumbled just loud enough for them to hear. The lack of plant life alone was bad enough, but the lack of sun? That was something that she literally needed. “I need sunlight.”