The Mad Hatter

You look like you’ll break your nose if you do that again, mate (he replies as he looks at his friend, waiting for him to lift his head up from the table. Despite his voice having sounded in its usual serious, composed way, there was a mildly amused undertone to it). Sounds good to me (he replies with a nod, because if losing to him had this effect on Adam, maybe it was best they continued playing poker against the other men in their unit instead of against each other. At Adam’s words, Jon does as he’s told and doesn’t answer, merely lifts his hands up briefly and smiles at his friend, keeping the answer to himself). Problems? What do you mean, mate? (the smile vanishes from his lips and he looks at his friends with a serious expression, feeling slightly concerned about what Adam was trying to say).

"That'd taste better than this defeat!" He said in dramatic way with a fake laugh, half joking and half serious. His playful look died down slowly. No one in the unit, even his superiors, was unaware of his criminal record nor did they know about his addiction. He had made sure his last fortune was spent on cleaning up his past. It didn't feel like a good idea to address to Jon, or any other person. He wanted to start anew, here. He had never felt a sense of belonging, from his own family, from the school, from his "friends" he shared the not-so-legal kind of experience. There was no security in his life, only one-dimensional pleasure and chaos he stirred up. And he always felt empty. But in here, he finally had found the order and harmony. And he had no intention to give this up. "I enlisted to get away from where I was. Apparently, I'm still caught up with the things I'm trying to escape..." He shades his gloomy look with the usual smile, starting to gather to cards from the table. "Anyway, don't read into it too much, Wolfe. I'm not gonna fuck it up again. I'm just really bad at self-control, is what you need to know."

(Jon doesn’t say anything about Adam’s comment. It wasn’t his place to say anything about his friend’s family. He didn’t even know much, Adam had just mentioned once that his father had been an addict, so he guessed that was the reason behind those words). I’m barely a model soldier (he says with a shake of his head. He knew he was good at this, at the military life, but not in an exceptional way and certainly not as a model of sorts. He just was a decent soldier who showed dedication, end of story). May the best man win (he echoes his friend’s words before they focus on the game and remain silent for most of it).

Adam made a weird noise that resembles a whine and a groan, something close to a sigh. He was probably only few steps away from banging his against the table repeatedly. And even in that moment, the dominant thought was 'why can't I win?' "Do I look like I'm alright?" He asked vegetably as he dragged his voice out. He let out a defeated sigh and lifted his head up. "Well, this time I'm serious. Never let me play this fucking game again. At least with you." He rubbed his face with the palms groaning frustratedly. The ace of spade stuck on his forehead fell feebly. "Been there done that, that's the problem! I can always beat Neville and that's so bloody boring. Ugh, why can't I win? Nope, no, don't answer that. That'd probably wanna make me wanna challenge you again." Adam hung his head back. After a pause, he blurted out. "I have a problem. -s. Plural. Problems. And I tend to indulge things that are not best for me. That's why I joined the force in the first place. Well, partially. Sorry if I sounded that I think of service lightly. I don't. I really like it here.

The healthy thing would be not to play then, Adam (he replies with a light smile, not meaning to tease his friend, but well… he’d beaten Adam in all their games so far). Cleaning the gun. Nothing too important (he replies with a shrug. Most of the men in their unit would write to their families when they got some off time, but since Jon had no one to write to, he’d had to find other ways to occupy himself with). No. Your money is mine, Warren (he corrects his friend with a quick laugh. Technically, Adam’s money was no longer his and it now belonged to him. He watches his mate as he shuffles the deck and then hands him his cards. His expression doesn’t change at all as he sees the hand he’d been dealt, this was poker after all and he didn’t want to give away anything. His lucky lady, the Queen of hearts, was among his cards. He had the King of hearts and an ace of hearts as well. Adam had practically given him a winning round). Wait and you’ll see, mate (is all he says before he opens a card).

"Doing the healthy thing is not how Warrens operate." He says with a thin smile. It's true. His father died of overdose, after all, and Adam himself has gotten into meth. It seems like a pattern. And there was a study on the heredity of addiction he read from somewhere... can't remember what it was all about though. "Well, aren't you a model soldier of us all." He jokes with a little laugh, although it has a hint of respect in it. "Well, may the best man win." He retorts with a small smirk. He is going to win-- he feels lucky tonight.

you’d been betrothed to lunacy; oh, but siren of the bourn, how the madman adored you, and how he loved you still.

"Well then, there’s only other one thing I can give you, the advice to stop whining and give me my data." She shrugged, glancing over at him before standing up. "Okay yes it was very deep and you are good with metaphors. Are you trying to make a pun here though? Because it is not that entertaining." She mutter’s placing a hand to his forehead to check for any signs of a fever. "Okay aside from all the metaphor’s, what symptoms are you having?" She asks removing her hand, the faux-warmth in her demeanour fading as their conversation continued. "I would like to see you try Adam. Now before you actually do try, is there anything in particular you want that may help ease your symptoms?"

You're the worst doctor ever. [He grumbles as he gives up on talking for a while. His own voice is very annoying right now. The good thing about being sick like this, though, is how his brain is quiet, all the thoughts converged into one that says 'my head is killing me'. He snaps out of a blankness when her hand meets his forehead-- which makes him flinch. He jerks his head away immediately.] Don't-- don't do that, nope. No. I'm not having a bloody fever, so don't. [He makes the biting motion, clicking the teeth and hisses.] I gave you a fair warning, so don't try. Symptom, symptom. Nausea, vertigo, arthritis, leukemia, hemophilia. Oh, and I'm getting a chill.

Glancing over at Adam she gives a small shrug. “I have morphine, but first I need to get data from you okay?” She said with a small smile, more for show than anything, though she did find his antics entertaining. Noting down his words she tapped her fingers across the keyboard quickly. “Can you describe that in more depth please?” Stopping she raises her head a little, thinking. “Can you even take morphine, would that be counter productive to your abstinence from drugs?” She wonders aloud, deciding if he did complain too much she might inject him either way.

Ugh, you're so insensitive! Aren't you supposed to be my shrink? I'm a drug addiiiict. I can't have morphine unless I'm dying and the only thing that can relieve the pain is morphine. [He sinks down deep into the seat, drooping his limbs weakly.] Define depth. Was my brilliant metaphor of being deep in whale's stomach not deep enough? It was deep, Rosy. Admit it. Admit that I'm good with metaphors. [He closes his eyes in hopes of that might sooth his headache and other many symptoms that he is going through.] Nope. No morphine. And don't you try to inject me some. I might bite you.

Hmmm...

I'm dyiiiiiiiiiiiing. Roseeee, fix meeeeee. [Adam whines spread on the chair like a jelly. He feels like a jelly. He could eat some jelly. Then he might throw up because he's head is spinning. He forgot how nasty the withdrawal was.] I feel like I'm in the stomach of a bloody whale. It's an eternal agony of seasickness.

(Hearing Adam’s voice, he turns around and smiles for a moment. He could already imagine why his friend was looking for him). I was just- (he cuts off, as Warren goes on talking. He simply glances at his gun, which he had just finished cleaning after using it in the shooting range. It didn’t really matter, so he makes no attempt to go one and instead listens to Adam). You sure about that, mate? (he asks with a seemingly serious voice, but there was an amused undertone to that question. Adam had already lost a significant amount of money as well as the rest of their unit by not being able to beat him at poker). If you say so (he says with a light shrug, not really convinced his friend’s statement was true. Jon was very confident in his skill and luck when it came to that particular game. He had won every single game so far).

"Sorry, didn't mean to cut you off. But I really, really, reheally need to win. My brain does not process defeat very well. I think it's causing it a tumor." Adam muttered quickly, waving his hands off a bit. What can he say? He's kind of excitable."So what were you up to?" asks him out of courtesy, even though he noticed the gun already. Being a good soldier that he is, Jon was probably cleaning it or something. "I've never been this sure, mate. Your money is mine, Wolfe." Grinning confidently, he shuffled the deck in skilled manner. Poker money used to pay him rents-- well, it helped from the side with his drug money. Either way, he was too prideful and tenacious to give up, even though the other men in the unit had. After done with the shuffling, he dealt the hands starting from Jon. His hands were Ace of heart, 3 of Clover and 7 of Clover. He opened the 7. "Alrighty. What'd you got?"

(Jon doesn’t say anything about such technicalities of language that Adam corrects, because soon enough he’d get to the point) I wish I could say I can help with that, Adam, but I can’t (he tells him with a light shrug. It was odd how even now he still felt he owed something to this man, maybe for having taken his sanity away. He didn’t trust Adam, he didn’t think of him as a friend anymore, but he knew that if there was something he could do to help him be free of the Genesis, of this whole mess, there was a chance he’d say it to him). Seems you’re on the right track (he says with a grim tone, because it seemed Adam had successfully made use of the virus to end a life). I don’t think we can, Adam. I don’t trust you, remember. But you just go around making deals, don’t you? One less deal won’t hurt you.

[He cocks his head to the side, giving his formal-friend a transparent smile.] You can't, and I don't trust you to help me. Beside, I want none of your pity. If you ever contribute to my escape, it'd be because we've made a deal not because you help me. [His look which is fashioned by small smile, does not match his flat voice. He doesn't help or get help from others.] Eh, I guess it wouldn't do me harm, scoring S-gene's life for dear ol' boss. [He eyes the body briefly, pressing his lips together. He doesn't understand why Jon is sad about already dead, probably someone he doesn't know. It's just how things work around here-- to kill or to be killed. Simple as that. He soon shakes off that thought. He looks clearly disappointed when Jon declines his deal.] You think I'd just blabber out about bloody time travel to Knight and others? Give them more reason to lock me up in a ward. Well, ain't that brilliant. Fine, if you don't want, I can't force you to make a deal.

No, Adam, I don’t care much about an abandoned building. I just don’t trust you (he replies with a level tone. It really just came down to that. And Adam shouldn’t trust him either, if by some fucked up reason he did. They’d been friends once, but nothing really remained of that. As Adam speaks he stays silent, there wasn’t anything else would say about the Time Jump and why they’d chosen to make that happen. Nothing he could say to Adam, anyway). Thought you said you weren’t going to stick around with him (he states after Adam mentions being able to help Knight speed up the process of the G virus) So that’s what Knight gave you? To do this? (he looks down at the corpse Adam had left lying there. The way he’d left it, it wasn’t human… Jon thought that surely he must have taken something to be able to break a body like that. It had to be the G virus…). A transaction, eh? And what transaction would that be?

Fair enough. You probably shouldn't. I wouldn't trust me either. [He shrugs, because that makes sense. Adam doesn't trust anyone or anything. It's rather easy to buy him, if you know the right price and risk the possibility of him putting knife on your back.] I said 'I don't see any point of staying', not 'I'm leaving him because he was abusive to me' and such. I would leave if I find a better place to be, and the ticket to get out without a bullet hole on my thick skull. Mr. Knight is rather... touchy with people leaving him. I think he wasn't held enough as a child. [He ponders on that mental image-- baby Freddie Knight, ha!-- chuckling to himself. His expression turns relatively serious when Jon asks the question.] Test drive. After all, Knight wants to clear S-genes off the earth. And I didn't mean to kill that poor lad. I was just gonna take him to my lab. [He says in brazen, guiltless tone.] Information, of course. Knowledge is money, money is power, power is energy, energy is preserved and never destroyed, it's the circle of life! Anyway, I wanna know what's going on with St. Mary's and time travel bits, you can use some tip of Genesis' plan, eh? I think we could make a deal.

(Faye ignores him as he talks, focusing on the shallow breaths, keeping herself awake. She doubted his ramblings would help her much anyway, not the way this little scene seemed to be playing out. That is until she goes from dangling in the air to collapsing to the ground. Kneeling on the pavement, Faye takes a few deep gasps for breath, coughing weakly and reminding herself never to underestimate oxygen again. Once she feels herself recovering, she looks up slowly to register Gray, hear his voice - though she panics when she sees the blood on him.) G- Gray… are you okay? (She can barely resist when he shoves her towards the alley, but she defiantly shakes her head.) No… No! I’m not leaving you here alone with hi- (It didn’t seem like she was going to have much choice in the matter, really. There was little chance to react when she noticed Adam rushing towards her - her image flickers off for a second when her invisibility instinctively kicks in, yet she’s just to reappear the moment she falls unconscious. Her vision fades to dark.)

Gray kept his eyes on the Genesis member while he continued to push Faye back, despite her fight to stay.  “Faye, I swear, if you don’t leave now, I’ll put you in the healer’s wing agai—!” Eyes widened when he saw the man blur out of his sight with winds gushing pass him. Shit!, his heightened senses picked up another presence behind him and Grayson turned to see the Genesis member with an unconscious Faye in his arms. The veins expanding under his eyes became more intense, including the growl that was now rumbling in his throat. His battle for control still raged within. It was only a matter of time until Gray yielded for the monster to take over. Because of that, he knew that he was a greater danger to Faye instead of a ‘knight in shining armor’; however, he wasn’t going to leave her with this obvious lunatic either. “I’m not going to gobble you up, but I will cut your throat with my teeth if you don’t hand her over.” Grayson threatened. He took a stance to attack just in case the Genesis member tried anything else with Faye in his possession, but after the man spoke, Gray eased up and the girl he was trying to protect was forgotten. He stood still, almost like a statue, as monstrous features continued to take over. 

[Adam spectates in amusement the S-genes. He's heard of putting one of the specimen as a spy, but to watch how the man's body changes when the ability manifests in real, it's really interesting. And from their brief conversation, Adam learns few things about them. 1) the guy's name is Gray, the girl's name is Faye, 2) they are obviously friendly toward each other, 3) the guy can't control his ability quiet well and hurt her before, 4) yet she is not scared of him-- which mean, they can be used as each other's leverage. Adam twists the end of his lips, making a weird look when the other threatens him. Holding the girl named Faye as his meat shield, although he's not sure if that would fully work, he shakes his head disapprovingly.] Now, threatening to kill me goes nowhere, Gray. I've been there, done that. It's rather tedious. Is that really your name, though? Gray? I remember differently... Doesn't matter, can't be bothered. [He smiles softly when the Beast Boy calms down-- Maker, I miss Teen Titan-- but doesn't let his guard down. One wrong move and he's snapping this girl's neck.] Now that you're acting like a good boy that you are, let's talk business. I need info on S-genes who leapt through the time, what are they up to and what are their plans. And you, boy, are gonna help me with that. So would you kindly ask Faye about what happened in New Orleans, and about her friends' plans when you get her to trust you? And, God, I'm such a demanding boss but anyway, would you kindly deliver that information to me? That'd be lovely. [He then puts the passed out girl's body on his shoulder, turning away from Gray.] Alrighty, it was real nice meeting you, Gray Now I'm just gonna put her somewhere safer than... well, around you. And please don't follow us. You can eat up that girl over there if you're hungry. You certainly don't look like a vegetarian.

(Oh god. He’s crazy. How do you reason with a crazy person? How do you make them see sens- her trail of thought is immediately cut off by the hand that’s slammed against her throat, the sudden difficulty in breathing. There’s a yelp of surprise mingled with pain, that’s quick to be cut off by the struggle for oxygen. But her eyes do widen when he says he believes her. That was unexpected. Why the hell would he believe that? Unless.. no, none of the Genesis had gotten the serum, right?) W- Why do you… (She stops talking, deciding it best to preserve her breath, though at his next questions she makes her best attempt at a smirk, though extremely strained given the circumstances.) … S-Sod your boss… (Faye manages to get out between shallow breaths, trying to make her voice sound brave even if there are tears leaking from her eyes. She closes her eyes as she’s lifted from the ground, not even registering the pain in her wrist as her mind focuses on the hands at her neck, the darkness beginning to dim her vision. Do not pass out, do not pass out.) T-that’s all I have… to say. (She coughs at the end of her sentence, a desperate attempt for more oxygen)

Grayson staggered through the alleyway as he attempted to run from his attacker.  He tumbled over bags and trash cans, sometimes even air, in his haste escape, but fear pulled him back up. He continued to run —- not because he was afraid to die in the hands of some steroid-pumped blonde, but because there was already blood tickling down his chin. His ability swirled inside after a taste of blood, even when it was his own blood. His senses heightened at the sounds of voices; two, up ahead and although Gray rather avoid contact until he had full regain, one of the voices sounded very familiar – and in distress. “This idiot really does have a death wish.” Gray spat out some blood as he approached. He tottered up behind the male and sunk his mildly grown claws into his neck. Latching on, Gray pulled him back, forcing the man to step away from Faye. Letting the man go, he gave a final shove before he stood between the Genesis member and definitely-not-a-friend person. Speaking of her, Gray turned to face her, eyes scanning her quickly for injuries. Seeing none, he grabbed her by the arm and pushed her towards the end of the alley. “Go. Get out of here.” 

[He sends her a lighthearted, polite smile what people would give when they offer a cup of tea or something.] I think the right question here is not why. Many things in this world happens without a clear reason. It's better for you to think about when, where and how. [He muses why does she refuse to answer a simple question and save her life.] Sodding my boss. Sound fun enough. But why don't you talk to h-- [Adam jerks away his neck immediately when he senses someone approaching from behind. Retreating few feet away, he covers the puncture wounds that mend themselves rapidly. He stifle a loud, his-happy-haha-this-is-just-priceless laughter, because he recognizes the guy. He doesn't remember the name, but the bloodied man is one of Genesis' project. And it appears to be, the thing has found itself a friend.] Look who's here! Your knight in shining armor! [He sings with amused giggle. His mind, not the complete-mess, nonsensical part but the calculative and meticulous part-- or whatever that is left of it-- works fast. Maybe he can use this guy. Less effort, more outcome. All he needs to do is remembering the magic words...] Aah, aren't you a real gentleman, eh? Very chivalry of you. Well, you heard the man, mademoiselle. Me and your friend will finish the business.  We'll talk soon. Bon nuit. [Using the speed granted by virus, Adam moves the girl's behind again, throwing a karate chop at her neck that quietly knocks her out. He catches her falling behind.] Now, where were we? Gonna gobble me up, are you? Mm, being eaten is not very desirable, and frankly, once was enough. I'm not doing that again. So, would you kindly calm the fuck down?