8/17 Instance: Sweetening the Deal

[Svartfreja]

Timelined for immediately after [Instance]Pushing It.


<Shaw> Sebastian didn't know where he was, and didn't care. Some portion of his mind knew this was just the effect of Jessica's pheromones and that he needed to calm down. The rest of his mind didn't care, and in fact he'd cut off his link with her in a blind panic.

<Shaw> He'd gone down halls and up stairs and down again, finally remembering he needed to be careful where he went and reaching for the pin on his shirt lapel. It was then he realized he still had the door handle and threw it down the stairwell.

<Shaw> Then, he slumped against the wall and slid down it, his head in his hands.

<Viper> Viper had been alerted to some commotion by alarmed agents running into her lab, a quick check of her security systems gave her a location and she sighed. Of course. Abandoning her work, she headed in the direction of the finally stopped ping on the holographic map on her screen.

<Viper> She came out onto the stairwell a level above Sebastian and walked down toward him, eyeing him curiously. He did not seem himself. "Mr Shaw? Are you well?"

<Shaw> The voice echoed and he jumped and swore, scrambling to the corner of the landing and looking up, wide-eyed. Then he swore again.

<Viper> Viper's eyebrows went up, "My my, such language." She slowed down her approach, "You are not yourself. What has happened?" Though she thought she might be able to guess.

<Shaw> It took an enormous effort to slow his breathing enough to string together a sentence. "Pheromones. As if... you... didn't know."

<Viper> "Mmhmm, I thought as much." She reached the bottom of the stairs and put a hand in her coat pocket, "Let me help you."

<Shaw> This time the terror had a much more logical source and he found enough coordination to lurch away from her and regain his feet. He pounded down the next set of steps. "No! No... thank you."

<Viper> "Sebastian, you are being ridiculous." Viper's tone was patient and she followed him with deliberately slow steps. "Her pheromones are making you react irrationally. You know I will not harm you. I made her a promise."

<Shaw> "A-and you know I can use my abilities to clear my system..." He backed up from her again.

<Viper> "Then why aren't you? Are they, perhaps, on your clothes? Hold still." She pulled a device from her pocket that looked suspiciously like a gun.

<Shaw> His clothes? Sebastian looked down at himself, then back to Sarkissian, just in time to see the gun. His reaction was immediate. With a roar, he tackled her.

<Viper> Viper was often grateful for the fact she never felt surprised by anything as it gave her time to react and pull the trigger. It didn't matter what the pellet in the gun hit as long as it was nearby and the wall was as good a target as any. The pellet exploded and released a gas all around them as she landed heavily on her back.

<Shaw> He grabbed her wrist, prepared to snap it to take the gun. After a moment, however, he blinked.

<Viper> The moment's hesitation made Viper raise an eyebrow at him and shift slightly beneath him to try and lessen the uncomfortable feeling of lying on the stairs. "Are you finished?"

<Shaw> "I..." Blinking again, he braced his knee against the step to take some of his weight from her. "My apologies," he muttered, then pushed himself up off of her.

<Viper> "It's quite alright. I know how her pheromones can affect people, why do you think I sent her that perfume?" She sat up, putting the gun back in her pocket and running a hand through her hair, "Though, I am at a loss to imagine what could possibly have made her want to dose you with them."

<Shaw> "I don't think it was intentional." Sebastian backed away from her, straightening his own clothing and running both hands through his hair. He took a deep breath, then another, trying to force himself to calm.

<Viper> "I see," she shifted again, feeling bruises heal on her back. Uncomfortable. She got to her feet, "How do you feel now?"

<Shaw> "Passable." He sighed. "I'm not likely to assault you again, at any rate." Closing his eyes, he tried to decide if he was recovered enough to reopen the link with Jessica. He didn't like being separated from her.

<Viper> "In my experience, something sweet is usually good for trauma. Would you like me to get you something? I promise it won't be poisoned."

<Shaw> Surprised, his eyes popped open. "Perhaps."

<Viper> "Come," she gestured him through the door ahead of them, "We're not far from my office."

<Shaw> Unable to think of a response, he nodded and followed her, still straightening his collar.

<Viper> The walk to her office was indeed short and they were soon stopped again so that she could open the door to let them in. There, she gestured for him to take a seat opposite her desk and went herself to a cabinet.

<Shaw> Sebastian took the chair and smoothed his hands over his thighs, closing his eyes again and this time re-establishing his link with Jessica.

<Viper> Viper took out a selection of various sweet things and some scotch and set them on a tray before bringing them to her desk. "Help yourself, won't you." She moved around to her seat, taking off her coat and draping it over the back of the chair.

<Shaw> He could feel that he wouldn't necessarily be welcome back in the room, and he picked up the scotch and took a sip. "I believe I need to take some chocolate back to Jessica."

<Viper> "Then please do," she settled in her chair, picking up her own glass, "But, before you go, perhaps you could try speaking about what is on your mind so we can resolve this in a fashion that will please your wife."

<Shaw> Picking up a chocolate, he took a bite himself to test it. The candy went surprisingly well with the scotch, so he supposed he couldn't complain. "I'm certain you are already entertained enough by this."

<Viper> "Entertainment is not always my objective," Viper countered, "In this instance I think it would be in all of our best interests to smooth things over with her as quickly as possible. Don't you agree?"

<Shaw> "Yes." He picked up another piece of chocolate and waggled it at the woman.

<Viper> Viper raised an eyebrow in curiosity at the action, "So. What can I do to make your stay here less... threatening to you?"

<Shaw> "It's very likely that's impossible, but chocolate may make my behavior more palatable for my wife, at the least." He sighed. "And, I will refrain from commentary as much as I possibly can."

<Viper> "Given the reaction today, I think it would be best if you could refrain from commentary altogether." She took a sip of her drink.

<Shaw> Sebastian gave her a look and finished the bit of chocolate he'd first sampled. He set another piece aside for Jessica and took a slow drink from the tumbler. "I don't see why either you or Jessica would truly be surprised by my feelings."

<Viper> "I am not surprised by your feelings so much as your ingratitude. You are aware you're in a facility I don't allow outsiders into? Yet, here you are, in my office of all places. I have given you a room and I haven't harmed a single hair on Jessica's head and yet you act as though I plan to keep her prisoner here or worse."

<Shaw> "You are the head of a multi-national terrorist organization, you hunted my wife's father for years, you kidnapped her, you destroyed the first place she called home and murdered her friends and teachers. Yet, you wonder why I doubt your altruism?"

<Viper> Viper laughed, leaning back in her seat, "Well, when you put it like that...." she swirled the liquid in her glass, "I'll admit, my methods in the past have been unusual but that is in the past now. I attacked the school to teach the X-Men a lesson. I could have done far worse than I did but I think you know that."

<Viper> She set her glass down and watched him curiously, "Despite these things, Jessica trusts me to keep my word. It is true that I have not lied to her. I give her what she asks for, whatever it may be, and I keep my promises to her. Does this not go some way toward easing your mind?"

<Shaw> "Oh yes, I know you could have done worse." He bared teeth. "From experience."

<Viper> Viper replied with a smirk, "You didn't answer my question."

<Shaw> "You never answered mine." He sat forward, bracing his forearms on his knees to study her. "Don't give me that rot about promising her father - what is your interest in my wife?"

<Viper> "I worked with her father for a number of years, that is all." Viper shook her head, "His research was going to interesting places before he left over a difference of opinion. Believe me or not, I did agree to take care of her if something should happen to him and I have been doing so."

<Shaw> "Are you certain it has nothing to do with her abilities? Uses you could make of her?" His head cocked.

<Viper> "What could I possibly do with her powers that I cannot already do with technology? For that matter, why would I target Jessica's powers specifically when there are any number of mutants that have some of the same traits as she does?"

<Shaw> Sebastian looked into his glass, then took another sip with a low sigh. "You already know I would do anything for her. I can't help but worry about her."

<Viper> "I understand you are worried. But there is nothing for you to worry about. I can only repeat myself so many times, Sebastian; I want to help your wife. Let me."

<Shaw> "As we both know I won't be able to buy you off, or offer a sufficient bartering chip to keep you from her, I don't believe I have a choice."

<Viper> "Why must you make it such a battle, Sebastian? You should be pleased someone as well connected as I am has taken an interest in keeping your wife from harm. Where would you be now if I had not taken her in when I did?"

<Shaw> Unfortunately, she had a point, unless he simply trusted in Monet's promise. "You are right." He sighed and slugged back the rest of the scotch, then looked up at the woman. "Thank you. For helping her. When I was indisposed."

<Viper> "You're welcome," she offered him a smile, "Would you like another drink? It will be just as unpoisoned as the first."

<Shaw> Sebastian stared at his glass and then placed it on the desk. "Please." He smiled slightly.

<Viper> She got to her feet and picked up the glass to go and refill it. "Perhaps it would ease your mind if I allowed you more freedom here... not total unrestricted access, of course... but I could show you some things we're working on. We're not all about terrorism here."

<Shaw> He watched her, more than a little interested now. "Oh? It would be... of interest, to be sure." Chuckling to himself, he sat back. "Jessica is, of course, fascinated by your spider specialist. I am pleased she's found something to suit her intrests." Even if it was a trap.

<Viper> "I thought she would like it. I was worried she would get bored and then she would think too much." She poured him another drink and offered the glass out to him. "Usually I keep research and development separate but I thought I would make an exception in this instance for Jessica's sake."

<Shaw> After setting aside some more bits of chocolate for Jessica, he accepted the glass with a thank you. "Separate from what?" He was still wary. "I would like for her to be able to pursue her interest, once things are settled, perhaps after the baby is born if it takes too long. We could relocate, so she could attend a program that interests her."

<Viper> "From each other," she returned to her seat, crossing her legs, "It helps to keep them all focused on their areas if they don't think too much about where it goes when it leaves the lab." She picked up her own glass again, "Have you spoken to Jessica about relocating? She will want to stay near her brother."

<Shaw> "It would be up to her. I would like for her to be able to do what she enjoys, whether time tells that she's happiest in Boston, or staying home as a mother, or at a university somewhere else." He swirled the liquid in the glass, studying it.

<Viper> "As long as she is happy," Viper nodded, "That is what matters, after all. And, of course, I will still be available to help if she should need it. There is still quite a bit of money left for her and Broo but she asked me to stop depositing it in her account."

<Shaw> "She needn't ever worry about money again," he said, giving Sarkissian a slight smile. "Give it to Broo, then."

<Viper> "Yes, I had thought about that but I'm not sure he'd know what to do with it. He gets very involved with his projects and cares for little else... other than junk food." She frowned. That was something of a sore point. "Perhaps I could donate it to a mutant charity."

<Shaw> The corner of his mouth twitched in amusement and he took a sip of scotch instead of commenting.

<Viper> Viper's mouth twitched into a smirk as she took a sip of her scotch, "What? You think I don't give to charity because I like to blow things up?"

<Shaw> "Not at all," he said, chuckling slightly. "Perhaps donate a portion and retain some in trust for Broo, should he outgrow his impulsiveness."

<Viper> "If he keeps injesting the same amounts of caffeine and sugar, that is unlikely to happen. They do not agree with his metabolism. But I will see to it that he is taken care of financially, I feel responsible for him in a lot of ways - I did, after all, raise him."

<Shaw> Sebastian studied the scotch again, debating if he wished to ask. Finally, he looked up. "How much of the boy is truly her brother?"

<Viper> Viper raised an eyebrow, "I'm not certain what you mean."

<Shaw> "Was he born as he appears, or is he a fusion of genetic material?"

<Viper> "Ah," Viper set her glass down, "We did have to make some changes or he would not have survived. He is, however, really her brother. We kept him in stasis for a long time to be sure he would have the best chance, once we knew the alterations we were forced to make were stable, he grew just like any other child."

<Shaw> He nodded, unwilling to ask the question this really brought to the fore of his mind. "Well, it has helped her. The knowledge that her family hasn't been completely erased."

<Viper> "Her father never knew that we'd saved him. It is a difficult thing to put in a letter."

<Shaw> Smirking slightly, he nodded again.

<Viper> Draining her glass, Viper got to her feet again, reaching to take a piece of chocolate for herself as she went back to the cabinet, "Is there anything else you wish to know while I'm answering questions?"

<Shaw> "No, because I know the answers. I am grateful for your assistance, since it allows me to be with my wife. I am under no illusions that you wouldn't slit my throat if given half a chance and justifiable deniability." He flashed her a toothy grin.

<Viper> She laughed, "Oh no, I wouldn't do that - far too messy," she offered another smirk, she was mostly joking. "I will send some people to replace your door and bring the magnet by for Jessica in a little while. In a day or two I will have time to give you something of a tour if you still wish to see more."

<Shaw> "Thank you," he said, inclining his head and gathering the chocolates he intended to take Jessica.

<Viper> "You're welcome... can you find your way back or would you like me to summon someone to show you to your room?"

<Shaw> He finished his scotch and ran his tongue over his teeth. "Perhaps an escort wouldn't be amiss."