|
            |
SATURDAY
APRIL 29, 1964
NEW YORK
WORLD'S FAIR
A stage has been erected, here, in such a way that the Unisphere hovers over it in all of its industrial glory. Someone has kicked the fountains on with some extra water pressure because they jut out above the stage in large arcs in front of the metallic globe but behind the wide podium to give an aura of immensity with an eye toward the future.
The sky is a brilliant blue and the weather is warm, but without the humidity that will plague the region in later months. Scattered white and puffy clouds look as though they were placed high up as decoration, but there is no threat of rain.
The thousands of spectators who have brought blankets and folding chairs sit on the pavement alongside the promenade and along a line of flags of nations from all across the world, friends and foe alike. Vendors sell hot dogs, pretzels, twice fried donuts, funnel cakes, beer, and anything else one might want on a cheat day.
In a sea of red white and blue a young boy with his mother and father stands out, carrying a yellow balloon is a stark contrast that Steve Rogers notices as he looks out from the curtain. He smiles faintly. Somewhere inside him he knows that this is a lot of pomp and a lot of circumstance, but seeing so many people out to say thanks to these veterans means a lot to him. Some of his old friends have made the occasion. Gabe Jones, Dugan, and Izzy are here and already up in front, having said their peace and been introduced by some of the emcees. For a moment he thinks of Junior Juniper and all of the other folks who didn't make it out of the war. He twists uncomfortably in his star spangled suit before he reaches for his helmet.
Steve finds himself thankful for those who did make it out alive, and that many of them have been able to settle into regular lives.
Representative Keogh smiles as he climbs the stairs, gives a wave, and approaches the microphone. "Golly, what a great crowd we have out here today. We want to thank each of you who wanted to come out and support our veterans. Before we bid this party adieu, however, we've got one more veteran to meet." There's scattered applause and Keogh stops for a moment. "This next speaker has asked me to reiterate that he gives really poor speeches. I think you and I will agree that his public oratory skills are not why we love him, but it's the sacrifices he and his fellow soldiers made during World War II why we hold him dear. Ladies and gentlemen, Captain America!"
*
Two young blonde women, around eighteen or nineteen years of age, are walking together along one of the paths approaching the promenade. The smaller of the two, Nyx, is holding a freshly purchased funnel cake and looking up at her companion, the two of them chatting animatedly in an almost conspiratorial fashion. She gestures with her free right hand before snagging a large piece of the confection to jam into her mouth. Unusual for Nyx she is actually smiling and moving animatedly.
Nyx is wearing blue jeans and a dark hoodie, the hodo down to reveal her short pixie-style blonde hair. She's small, obviously so beside the tall, beautiful Sophie. There's a frown crossing Nyx's lips as she looks up, brows furrowing as she studies the sky. The girl is quick to draw up the hoodie on her sweat shirt and pull it over her head until her face is shadowed. She shoves the food toward Sophie to be held as she does. It's rather abrupt. Then it's onward to stand along the edge of the gathering.
*
The World's Fair is not precisely his thing, you know? Its not that he's against the world, or fairs, and he's totally against world wars so a reunion about how world wars is totally cool. But, still. Its just a lot of people. Still, there's Josh. He's been feeling a tingling humanity of late so being around all these humans is both uncomfortable and desirable, so there he is. Clad in a yellow hoodie and jeans, with the hood itself down since he's just tan and not gold today, he wanders among people and goes looking for a seat.
*
Crystal usually tries to avoid going into the city any more than she has to. It inevitably ends in a miserable cold or a few days of hacking coughs thanks to the ever-present haze of cigarette smoke, but it's not quite so bad when it's outside, with a little more space. And besides, there's something to be said for offering a little moral support to an ally. So she's come out for the Captain's speech, finding herself a spot on the edge of the crowd where she can pick at a plume of cotton candy in peace as she listens.
In a bright yellow sundress with cheerful blue and white flowers on it, she looks every bit the girl next door. Although, the slight breeze that ruffles around her and her general area does make the day even a little bit more perfect for people in her immediate climate sphere.
*
Nico Minoru has been looking forward to the World's Fair. Since she came to the city, with all of the preparations for the event happening around her, she has regularly crossed over from Manhattan to see the exhibits growing. Today's the big day, and she's finally at the fair! She's excited — possibly more so than she's been in quite awhile. The fair is a celebration of everything good that can happen, and she's already got cotton candy. The day can only get better, right?
*
Jean-Paul isn't exactly here to say thanks to any veterans. They're not his veterans, after all. It's more out of curiosity, the fact he's been visiting Manhattan and the opportunity to sample bad American food that brought him out here. Far from casually dressed, he's in black slacks and a white silk shirt, much like a poet's shirt. What is casual is the way he leans a shoulder against the side of a stall as he contemplates the funnel cake he just bought. After a moment, he takes a bite. "Needs maple syrup." he decides.
*
For someone with Marie's a) appetite and b) metabolism, every day is a cheat day. So the slender girl in the long, black coat has found herself a funnel cake, with three donuts that have been both powdered and glazed sitting on top of it like a crown — although one of them has a very obvious bite taken out of it, likely by the girl herself if the sugar near her lips is any indication. She's standing out on the fringes of the crowd herself, watching with curiousity - the /name/ 'Captain America'? It rings more than a few bells, but it'll be nice to see the man that Tony spoke so highly of in person, rather than just plastered over a newspaper article.
*
Walking alongside Nyx, Sophie smiles happily and occasionally laughs at the things being said between the two young women, sometimes talking with her hands as much as with her words. After the two have found a place to stand, and she's handed Nyx back her funnel cake after the shorter girl covered up, the introduction is made, and the young blonde cheers, applauding enthusiastically. "Vive la Resistance!" she calls out excitedly, almost giddily, her usually-subtle accent much more noticeable as she does.
*
The Soldier was here yesterday. Ostensibly to gawk at the various pavilions, meant to display the progress the world's made since the last World's Fair…..which, ironically, seems like it was only a few years ago, in his warped sense of time. Another occasion to argue with Mr. 'No, Really, I'm Not 4F Disqualified Even Though I Obviously Am' Rogers. But….rather than to enjoy the distractions and wonders available for the fairgoers, he's determined the best possible hide from which to take down that one particular veteran.
And alas for Kai and Loki's best intentions, it's the Soldier who's driving, now, face hidden behind mask and crimson-lense goggles, carefully assembling a set of surprisingly delicate looking parts into a sniper rifle, complete with suppressor. If there's a remnant of Bucky to protest, that little mental voice isn't heard.
*
It's a gorgeous day, and a good cause. That's more than enough to lure Thea out on a day off. Blonde hair is loose in delicate waves, a faint sparkle at her ears and throat, a cornflower blue sun dress and matching heels. She has a bag of popcorn to snack on, while she watches the stage.
*
_ _ _ _ _
In order to get a jump on the tear down procedures, several green vans are slowly pulling up on the edges of rally. These sorts of events take a long time to break down and the workers almost certainly want to go out and enjoy what time they have left.
After Representative Keogh finishes, Steve emerges from behind the curtain to some raucous applause. Sheepishly, he gives an embarrassed wave, and unlike the polished Democratic Congressman, Steve pulls out a handscrawled note.
"Hi everyone," he says and wince-laughs. After an awkward bit of silence the crowd begins to cheer and a small section erupts into a "Cap-Cap-Cap" chant, which makes him chuckle even more. Once he composes himself, he leans down towards the microphone. "It's really great that everyone came out today to honor these heroes. Today is about them and their sacrifice and the sacrifice of those who didn't make it back. A lot of people will tell you that freedom isn't free, and while that saying is probably used more than it should be, there are a lot of people who had to pay the ultimate price. Days like this are for them too.
"I think we all know someone or know someone who had someone lost in —. .
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! POP, POP!
Mid sentence there are several orange flashes of fire as its orange fingers reach out into the crowd. There's something different about these explosions. All of them are terrible, the flames sort of keep going and expand. For a split second he is shocked, and then, reflexively, Steve brings his shield up. His second thought is for innocents as he brings up his shield and tries to create a wall from the fiery blast.
People are screaming, and burning. Thick black smoke billows, eating up the oxygen at increasing speeds. Those familiar with napalm might believe there are some similarities in the reaction of the gelling agent, but it's worse. It's so much worse.
*
Certain figures don't stand out, not among the masses already assembled to see the delights of the fair. Wanda doesn't buy cake or giggle at, well, anything. She is the ghost to the machine, drifting along with a delicate ease that betrays a perpetual kind of detachment. A discussion may be less than helpful for someone not fluent in English, but insinuating herself among the crowd means she can see what all the American fuss is about. They know pomp, fuss, since circumstance better than almost anyone short of the Fourth Dimension, and thus, there she is. Lacking a doughnut, though, clearly a mistake. Shouting and fire, at least, she knows. The daughter of revolution thrives in chaos. Proof? She throws her hand out and shouts, "Down!" Maybe the crowd will listen, or not, but it gives her time to forge a mystic shield around herself.
*
"Cap cap cap!" Nyx joins in the cheering as people are milling about. She laughs at something Sophie has said- presumably- and grins as she turns her blue eyes onto the crowd. They are wider now, studying the people ahead as they seem to mill back and forth. Then there's an explosion of flames and then there's screaming. Nyx is quieter, though she's staring. They were out from the promenade, a fair away from the explosions ahead. "Sophie…?" The girl shouts first. "Can we do anything…?" Around the girl the shade darkens slighly. Like the clouds are just a bit thicker overhead. People are, of course, fleeing in her direction.
*
Crystal looks amused as she watches Steve step up to the podium. Public speaking is something she's at least passingly familiar with, but there's something to be said for how genuine the man is. And yet, before he can really get into his speech, there is the ultimate interruption.
It's the rush of air that hits her first, and so it's air that she reaches to first, pushing back against the force of the explosion. But the flames that follow just a moment afterwards are a much larger concern. The cotton candy falls from her hand as Crystal turns to face the nearest fire, one hand reaching back behind her toward the fountain.
Normally, she'd deal with the fire directly. But right now there are people burning, and people in danger of burning, and the first step to slowing that and giving her time to deal with the fire is water. With a sweep of her hand, she pulls from the fountain, pouring thousands of gallons of water at and around the crowd to try to slow the spread of the fire.
*
Leave it to bad guys, Nico thinks, to attack a -fair-. That's just a bad guy thing. With a sigh, she casts her cotton candy into the nearest wastebin — give a hoot, don't pollute! — and slips a slim blade from a pocket, pokes it into the pad of her thumb.
"*When blood is shed, let the Staff of One emerge!*"
In the chaos, the slim teenager speaking in a deep, ancient voice might easily be ignored. Less so, perhaps, when the staff bursts from her chest and she takes hold of it, rises over the crowd and flies toward the explosion. When she sees that water is already flowing to put out the fires, her thought is to offer a way away from the fires. "*Ex Infernus!*" she pronounces, opening trails through the blaze to help people to safety.
*
When you're really, really fast you need really, really fast reaction time and just moments after first explosion, Jean-Paul is moving. The funnel cakes hangs in the air a millisecond before falling to the ground. Then people start appearing in the fountain; those who were caught in the explosion and are/were on fire just show up in mid scream, accompanied by a wind and a blur.
*
While listening to the man on stage in the star-spangled man, Marie's instincts are clear — get a feel for who the man is, first. Food is shifted to one hand while the other draws from her pocket. The Six of Cups - a card that relates to nostalgia. A very accurate card to be drawn for the good Captain, even if she doesn't know why. Of course, it's not too long that listening to the man turns into listening — and witnessing — the explosion. She can hear the cry of 'Down!', but Marie takes her orders from an entirely different source. Donut is stuffed into mouth (because not all of this food will be wasted!) and plate is dropped (at least the pigeons will be happy!) in favor of drawing a second card, this one held in front of her for guidance.
The Ace of Wands. A card of new beginnings, a sign that while things may be difficult… they will be getting better. Permission, if not instruction, to involve herself. As such, she doesn't run and instead holds her ground. The next card drawn isn't for guidance, but to involve herself. Survey says? …the Ten of Cups. With an exertion of will, the chalices come to life around her, each ornate vessel floating at about waist-height and forming a circle around the young woman. The card is extended forward, and the cups move in unison… what do you do with people on fire? Dumping water on them seems like a good idea and that's her plan exactly, with her creations floating towards the nearest person aflame to do just that. It's not a firehose, but ten cups of water might be enough to do /some/ good!
*
Sophie is startled, but only for the briefest of instants. She hasn't spent the last five years at Xavier's for nothing, and the young prospective X-Man's training kicks in quickly, spurring her into action. "Do whatever you can to protect people," she says urgently, in answer to Nyx's question. Then the slender blonde kicks skyward, taking flight to gain a better perspective on what is happening, while at the same time her form is momentarily obscured by a swirl of mist, her sharp-focused solidity giving way to a more ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. She peers over and past the crowd toward the nearest of the three explosions. If she can use her command of the winds to push the flaming worse-than-napalm horror back and away from those it's endangering, or at the very least to slow it down, she will.
*
Poor Steve. As ever, his concern for the defenseless and the innocent is what puts him in the line of fire. In this case, literally. There's noise, chaos, people fleeing….but Steve's out in the open. With his uniform on, the only places definitely vulnerable are jaw and throat. So that's where Winter aims, sending two shots in hopes of, at best, severing his spine. At worst, well, he can give Cap an impromptu tracheotomy. The flat *cracks* of the suppressed report are just part of the storm and strife. He lingers for a heartbeat, lens pressed to the scope, just long enough to see if he's actually fired for effect.
*
Thea gasps, paling as popcorn spills to the ground. That instant searing pain of people around her has her dropping into a crouch. Her eyes are shut tight as she draws a breath deep into her lungs before the air will be tainted. There will be people who can not survive the flames. But that deep breath is pushed out, as Thea focuses, pushing the waves of pain out of immediate thought. She needs to breathe, to center, so she can help. There will be those who need her style of help, and she needs to be clear headed to sort in the order of priority.
Of course, some people are being taken too fast for her eye to really see, and plunged into the fountain. So she'll move along, moving to help others find the created paths out of the chaos, healing any number of lesser burns without pausing too close, too long to any one person. Her powers will reach out, seeking any biosign that truly pings for her help.
*
Everything is happening so fast. Wanda is able to get the protective bubble in front of her easily, but, as she does, a person on fire happens to press up against it. She can see the look of terror in his eyes as half of his face melts away before the rest catches flame and he falls to the ground.
Crystal's efforts to combat the fire through the nearby fountain are effective, but not complete. The fire is sticky and so parts not completely covered by water stay lit and then expand despite the dampness. The effect on the smoke, however, is more successful as it pushes a lot of the high concentrations of Carbon Monoxide outwards and away from the groups of people. It has a dispersing effect where more fresh air begins to flow more easier into the vacuum the Inhuman creates.
It looks like a scene straight out of the Bible as the flames part, giving trapped people somewhere to go. Nyx' tunnel leads them out and away from the smoke and flames and a pathway to safety.
The smaller flames (after Crystal's fountain trick) are still a major issue, but Marie Ange fights at them with her cups that give refuge to a family of four; the father of whom had just had his coat catch on sticky fire.
From Sophia's vantage point, she'll see much of the smoke dissipating and branching out. It's still a threat though, and as she conjures her air manipulation, she finishes the immediate suffocation issue. The black smoke, at least most of it, shoots out in all directions, mixing with cleaner air and becoming an issue no longer.
Thea pauses to assist people on her way out, but there are so many. It gives the feeling of being overwhelmed by all of the death and burned bodies. Whoever did this did so with a pretty concentrated plan, scoring a lot of death in one fell swoop.
Bucky's fire rings out, causing another round of panic. Clearly this is an ongoing and continual effort, which raises a thousand more concerns. The first bullet pierces the Captain just below the adam's apple and he falls to the ground. As his vision goes in and out he sees the yellow balloon, smeared with black smudge, caught under one of the benches. As he closes his eyes, he wonders what happened to that little boy.
*
Josh listens along as Captain America — well, in truth, he isn't really listening at all. He's just sort of watching people, milling, feeling himself be a part of the swell and flow of humanity as it surges and settles around him. The explosion, of course, brings his focus back to the front. He looks around, suddenly alert and alarmed, and he's moving before its even entirely clear *what* it is that has happened. He pushes through people, helped perhaps by the fact that he moves *towards* the destruction while others move away. Then again, going against the tide is never easy. Still. Seeing the damage and bodies, he is for a moment unsure just who to go help first — but his attention was always at least halfway on the celebrity in the crowd. Seeing him fall, Josh orients himself and moves towards Captain America.
*
Kai is late to the party, and that's why having a job is the absolute worst. Even so, he's all set for a great day, with a big doughy pretzel in one hand and a leash in the other, connected to the collar of a wiry brown shiba-terrier mongrel who bounces around, tail wagging. Until everything explodes. Kai's just about to take a bite of that delicious, hot pretzel when the world is plunged into screams and fire. He pauses, stuffs one big bite of preztel in his mouth, and he ties the leash to a bench well away from the chaos. Then he drops the pretzel and runs toward the fray. People will be hurt, they'll need help. Meanwhile, the dog settles down to chew on what's left of Kai's lunch. Score. Once Kai has dived into the fray, he starts helping people who've been knocked down, getting them up on their feet again so they can do the sensible thing and run.
*
Widening, spreading fire that behaves unnaturally calls into question possible culprits, and anyone cutting inbound on the flaming ring justifies a fairly sharp response. A face crying out in moments before death hastens movement, frosting amber eyes to violet. Wanda pulls her burgundy coat tighter around her and retreats back through crying and frightened people for the stage. The protective barrier around her isn't visible, and she merely sticks out by being a girl with honey skin. But given the mass assault on flames and burning flesh, she turns elsewhere. To the most famous target in the country, the man who punched out Hitler. That alone warrants aid.
The Witch sketches movements with her hands probably assumed to be brushing smoke away. Strands of luck are touched by the spell she whispers, "Curad, escuta kai avere." The wheel of fortune spins under her hand, fate smiling on the star spangled man.
*
Nyx nods in response to Sophie's words. SHe licks her lips and casts around for a second, blue eyes wide as she studies all the people around her. Finally the girl acts. She's small enough to dart between people in the crowd. She's ehading back in and not away. Nyx coughs as she gets a lungful of smoke but presses forward, weaving through the runners. Her goal is just to help some of he people who have fallen. Get them on their feet- or pull them out of he way if necessary. For someone so small the girl is actually quite strong. More coughing. Ignore it. Burning lungs… Just get people to safety. As the smoke dissipates she's able to blink away the stinging sensation in her eyes long enough to focus. And probably pick up a full-grown man.
*
Crystal starts to reach for air, only to find that someone else is already handling it - and a familiar feeling as well. A faint, grim smile touches one corner of her lips, approving, when she feels Sophie's touch on the air, and she turns her attention instead to the lingering flames.
What air and water couldn't quench, now must face the will of the Inhuman elemental. Crystal summons just a touch of wind, just enough to lift herself above the crowd to see what she's working with. But once she's high enough to see, she bends her mind to the task of the flames, hands clenching to fists as she pulls them away from their fuel and up toward the sky in an ever-tightening fist of power meant to extinguish them.
*
Well, that worked out pretty well, Nico decides, giving herself a brief pat on the back. Metaphorically. She maintains the tunnels as long as they're needed, focusing her energy on keeping these paths free and letting others rush in to save people — or question what actually happened.
*
Jean-Paul gets the worst of those burning into the fountain, letting those able to walk (or run) do so on their own in favor of the ones who need help. Hearing a shot ring out, he starts searching for the gunman.
*
Every card is drawn for a reason, and that family is clearly the reason the ten was drawn. Contents emptied, she replaces the Ten back into her pocket — the cups evaporating into mist — and draws another to replace it. The three of wands; with a nod, she calls them into life around her, taking one of the wooden staves in her hands (she might not be much of a fighter, but she can /look/ intimidating! …sort've. Not really.) while the other two float in a circle around her protectively. She hasn't spied the person who did this yet, but if the cards called for weapons to replace water, she suspects that's going to change sooner than later.
*
There are other powered people here. Oh, thank God. These are the essence of Sophie's thoughts, as she continues to work her will on the smoky, tainted air, sweeping it away from the victims, from those still trying to escape, and from those helping them — including a particular little blonde dynamo currently carrying someone twice her size. Then she hears the gunfire, and her training again kicks in, as she abruptly turns, her eyes seeking the source of the sound, or perhaps the target of the weapon, a bad feeling sinking over her before her gaze even reaches the fallen Captain. "Non…," she gasps, heartsick, but then Wanda is there, and defiant hope pushes back her fear and despair. She has a job to do, and doing it well is the best thing she can do for the man, she resolves, and she gives her full effort back to clearing the air.
*
He's not on comms with anyone - no one to report to, with that deadpan satisfaction. The moment he's certain Cap's down, Winter's displacing. The rifle can stay - no use being caught with it, though he drapes it under a scrap of the tarp he was using. It'll be found later….and hopefully attributed to whatever terrorists set off the detonations. Still under the roofline, he takes a moment to roll and hastily strip off the shooter's gear and gloves, revealing the jeans and plain t-shirt beneath. There's a ball cap (Yankees, of course) in the gearbag, and he tucks his hair up under it, transformed in seconds to just another frightened tourist - perfectly ordinary, save for the black jump boots he still has on. Then he's creeping around to the back edge of the roof to try and slip down unseen, to blend with the panicking crowd. No attempt to help the civilians….or go back and make sure he's put paid to Steve Rogers in earnest. He pastes on an expression of barely restrained fear, and heads for the nearest exit at a steady run. All this insanity, it's like a birthday gift. Unaware that more occult scrutiny might've caught him.
*
The gunshot wound pings differently than burning flesh, turning a blonde head towards the stage. A last touch to guide a middle aged man towards safety, spurring his healing to quicken along his forearm, she'll run headlong for the stage. Her hands already twist and push her hair under the edge of her dress. Heels will step quickly as she realizes it's the star spangled man himself that's down. "I'm a nurse, let me through." There are none of her polished social manners, just a tone borrowed from the head nurse.
*
Josh is able to find Captain America and makes his way towards him. It's not a good sight, though. Blood and meat pour from his throat and his eyes are rolled back in his head. There's not a real good place to take a pulse on his suit, but it doesn't look good. A young woman is standing over him, though, hands splayed and whispering over his body. It appears as if the young woman in red is trying to will him alive with her incantations. Likewise, Thea also makes her way towards Cap's body as all three are then huddled around him.
Kai finds no shortage of people to help, they are literally every direction he turns. Doing what he can, and certainly deep within an uphill battle, he does what he can and saves a handful of people all the while, tiptoeing around those already dead from the blast and quick moving flames. Nyx is in a similar boat, trying to do what she can in a sea of death and carnage. She pulls several people out after checking to make sure they're alive. Some of those she tries to rescue are not.
Gradually, the tide begins to turn though. More and more people escape through Nico's tunnels as Jean-Paul gives people an unceremonious dunk into the fountains. Meanwhile the remaining flames are put out by Crystal.
Sophie clears out any remaining smoke, removing any fear of asphyxiation.
Those who are flying will notice a lone green van with someone inside, conspicuously parked. There's a lot of movement in the van, but no attempt to get away whatsoever. For those with eagle eyes, it almost appears that this is one that didn't go off and that the terrorist is trying to rig it to blow as quickly as he can!
Simultaneously there's a gunman on the loose. Most people don't know who the target was, only that this is a full blown attack of some sort. Police sirens can be heard as most people's hearing may be returning to them. In the haze and fog, men in blue and paramedics arrive on the scene. The fire department is not far behind.
*
Reaching Captain America, Josh lays his hand upon his chest without any hesitation. He doesn't check for a pulse, instead relying on his senses as he scans the body and assesses the damage. Right out in the open, despite how much he usually tries to hide this, two things happen. First, a warm golden light spreads out of his hands and seeps into the injured man; two, his skin turns from tanned to gold. Not orange, but pure metallic gold. Pouring power into the hero of the day, Josh forces flesh to knit, and pulls life from the grip of death. It doesn't take long before Josh leans back, exhaustion hitting him. Everything in his body says he wants to drift off to sleep now, but he holds it at bay: there's more to do. He'll pay the price later. "There's too many—" he breathes with a hint of desperation as he looks around to assess the damage and determine where next to go.
*
*
Kai sets aside grief for the dead to focus on the living. Each one he helps up, he tells them, "Help one person get out." Why one? It's a definitive, and it's doable. Some people listen, some don't. It gets the job done. Once he's done all he can on that front, he goes among the people too hurt to flee, who the paramedics haven't gotten to yet. In the confusion, few would notice the baseball-sized crystal he palms, held to the chest of the person he's helping. Even the golden gleam from it is muted by his hands. A few people will tell stories about a warmth and the worst of the wounds closing. Just the worst of them; he saves his energy to help as many as he can.
*
"«You do not get to die today. I refuse. Death can go knock on another door.»" Words that might resemble a prayer hum upon Wanda's lips. She worries less for herself and another person emerging from the gloom of battle is going to find themselves face to face with a young woman holding stars in her eyes and the bloom of slowly building lotus petals and iridescent vines up her wrists. Josh earns a burning look until she determines he isn't doing any harm, a fraught moment that tightens her lips to her teeth. "«Live,»" she repeats. Fortune knits tighter to the fallen man under her shadow, a little like Peter Pan reattaching his own shade stitch by stitch thanks to this unlikely Wendy. "One each time. You cannot make the ocean, but a wave."
*
Nyx settles the man she rescued down onto the ground outside of the scorched areas as the smoke overhead dissipates. She cocks her head as sirens are becoming evident and then turns her gaze upward to scan the sky. She winces for a second bu then blue eyes find Sophie- and that's where Nyx heads, leaving the man she'd rescued behind. She dashes over to the airborne elemental and lifts a gloved hand just in case she isn't obvious enough. "We might want to get out of here," the girl notes then. "I can barely see and it's only getting crazier…"
*
As the fires go out, Crystal lets out a breath of relief. All of her attention has been on the crisis - so far, she hasn't noticed what happened to Captain America yet. What she does notice, though, is the last van and its suspicious activity. Her eyes narrow as she searches the crowd for allies, but few enough are faces she recognizes enough to call to for help without drawing the attention of the would-be bombers.
Her options are limited. There's no telling if these men will run or just try to set off their bomb. But as her sister would say, sometimes royalty has to make ugly decisions. Raising her hands, Crystal calls the earth and asphalt around the van up, seeking to enclose it in a sphere of stone and reinforcing that with hardened air.
If they'd like to blow themselves up, they're welcome to, but they'll take no one else with them.
*
Others have the fires well in hand. Nico now casts a worried look down toward Captain America and those trying to save him. She can't help more than them, she's sure — he's got three people working on him, and she's guessing they know much more of healing than she does.
But from her position on high she can see a lot. Like the van. Maybe she can't see the person inside, but she can certainly note the suspicious positioning. With a frown, she flies in that direction, getting closer to see what's happening — only to find it encased in stone. She pauses, spinning in the air to see who did that, then tips her staff toward Crystal in acknowledgment.
*
Searching through the crowds for someone carrying a gun is over almost before it's begun but it seems Jean-Paul spent too much time helping people to the fountain and the gunman has already ditched his weapon and moved off. Instead, he sees the bloody Captain lying on the ground and comes to a halt, shirt singed and burned in spots from carrying people who were on fire. He's also thoroughly soaked. "The Captain, he requires a hospital?" This directed to Josh, the one closest to Steve.
*
"Over there! Fusili— Rifleman!" Marie calls out after spying the (former) assassin in motion, first pointing to the fellow in the Yankees cap, then releasing her stave and willing all three forward and towards him — forming into a large, flying wooden arrow that chases after the would-be assassin. Not exactly what someone trying to blend in and get out really /wants/ to happen at a time like this, but…
…it was clearly fate. Calling out an enemy's whereabouts isn't exactly the best way to avoid attention…. but when the cards command action, the seer is fearless to respond.
*
Having spotted the suspicious van as well, Sophie had been about to act, with little thought to her own safety. The vehicle was not far away at her flight speed, and such products of Detroit might have many virtues, but being airtight is not generally among them. Crystal's response thankfully supercedes hers, however, and then, a moment later, Nyx is below her — just as Marie singles out the Captain's assailant. With another swirl of enveloping mist, Sophie again becomes solid, and reaches down to grasp her friend's hand. "Shall we go hunting?" she asks, anger darkening her tone as she glances up from Nyx toward the direction in which the gunman was fleeing.
*
Oh, crap. Bucky hears that, though who's there to take heed to Marie-Ange? And then there's a cop, right at hand - not one of the first responders, but one of those already on the grounds to help with the minor crimes and infractions that one might expect on a pleasant day at the Fair. "Help!" he says, still in persona as an innocent tourist, grabbing the policeman by the arm, "There's some kind of crazy mutant after me!" EVen as he's turning the cop, he's slipping the poor officer's pistol from its holster and firing at Marie-Ange, all of it smooth as a dance, as if he and Officer Unfortunate had done this a million times.
*
Thea skids to a halt on her knees as she watches that golden glow from Josh's face. Her eyes flick to his face, an ember of recognition from another time of crisis in the city. Her eyes run back over the Captain, before they shift. "He will live, he'll heal and recover, but a hospital may be the safest place for him, in this chaos."
She's already rising on her heel clad feet, looking at Josh with an arched eyebrow. There's an offer of her hand to help him up, and…well one healer will buffer the other, try to ease his exhaustion and turn the tide of ebbing energies. Then more gunshots make her flinch, brown eyes wide as she seeks the source.
*
Paramedics circle around in an effort to give medical attention to those who need it. Just after everything with the flames was calming down, the rush of people moving every which way is disconcerting for some of the civilians. Nevertheless, the worst of things is now over.
Unless the guy in the truck gets his explosive to fire. Try as he might, however, it's just too slow. Just as he thinks he has it and is moving back to the trigger, Crystal pulls the asphalt around him in a large cocoon. Rather than give himself up, he detonates the bomb, killing himself, amid another loud boom, but the explosion is contained with the large asphalt ball that now hangs in the sky. A dust shower does, however, rain down on the scene from the small bits of dirt and rock shook loose by the impotent blast.
On the ground, Captain America's wound, through the efforts of those who ran to save him, miraculously heals. For a moment there is nothing and then, a moment later he's coughing and trying to get to his feet. As he finally finds a knee, he looks desperately for the boy with the yellow balloon, only to see a small carcass lying near the bench, charred so badly it doesn't look human at all.
People hear Marie Ange's call to Bucky, including some of the police officers who approach from the other side. They pull their guns and aim them at Bucky, having him pretty close to surrounded. As he begins to fire, so do they.
*
"No. He's fine now." Josh says to Jean-Paul, looking up at the man for a long moment, and then rising carefully, eyes flashing past Wanda but not understanding most of what she says, "A wave." though, is acknowledged. Stumbling weakly, he might have fallen over if not for Thea's assistance. "Thank you." he murmurs to her, looking out to those bodies that lay unmoving. He takes a deep breath and focuses, pushing off the waves of exhaustion with will and Thea's support. "I can do more." But his voice is grave: not without a cost he thinks, but it remains unsaid. Pulling away from those people around the Captain, he heads for where the most injured are.
*
Kai keeps doing his good work, though when the paramedics start to play catchup, and they've got things under control, the disheveled elf, covered in remnants of soot and dust and other people's blood, makes his way toward those gathered around Cap. "Is he all right?" he asks a bystander. He slips his crystal apple into his pocket, wavering on his feet.
*
Nyx nods when Sophie speaks to her, taking a deep breath. The diminutive blonde reaches up and takes the offered hand with her right, using the left to fix her hood. Just in case. Blue eyes survey the scene and then follow Sophie's gaze toward the fleeing man in question. "Right. Let's do this," she agrees in what is almost a whisper. She'll let Sophie lead the way.
*
Crystal doesn't even feel bad when the asphalt sphere shakes with the force of the explosion. Maybe she will later, but right now? That man made his choice. And saved someone else - someone better - from having to make that choice. Now comes the hard part. Now comes the aftermath.
Only now does she have a chance to scan the crowd, to see where Captain America and the people who helped him are, brows furrowing in confusion at the blood all over the captain's throat. Wary, she stays airborne just in case there's another threat that needs her particular touch.
*
Jean-Paul looks back to the Captain as he regains consciousness and begins coughing. Nodding to Josh, he takes the young man at his word then turns to look over the chaos of the crowd: water all over the place, smoke, smoldering pieces of van, and first responders beginning to arrive and treat the worst of the injured. "I wonder who to contact to get reimbursed for my shirt?" he muses. Italian silk does not come cheap. He'll send the bill to the mayor, he decides then flies over to the nearest paramedic. "Tell me those who need to immediate attention from a hospital and I'll take them."
*
There was smoke and a final gunshot, but just who shot who?
…well, that would be Bucky shooting Marie, who unwisely drew attention /towards/ herself… and is rewarded by a bullet from the (borrowed) officer's gun tearing through her abdomen. "Ah!" she yelps as she's hit and falls into a heap. Take down the puppeteer and the puppets cease to dance, and the same truth goes for the wands that chased after Bucky… vanishing into a bit of mist just as the cups did before them. Don't mind Marie. She's just going to bleed right over /here./
*
With Nyx brought into the envelope of her flight effect, Sophie accelerates in the direction of the fleeing gunman — and now, of more gunfire. She might not be able to make her full solid speed with a passenger, but the other blonde is relatively light, and small, and she can likely reach at least a burst of 150 mph if she needs to.
And then there's Marie, on the ground, bleeding, and the guy in the Yankees cap with the smoking gun…
Air compressed to semi-solidity makes an /uncanny/ tearing sound as it streaks toward its target at nearly the speed of sound.
*
It really isn't poor Officer Unfortunate's day. One minute this guy up in his face is another civvie in need of help, made crazy with fear….and the next Winter's relieved him of his gun and has a metal arm (albeit one covered with a glove beyond the end of the sleeve to make it look normal, at least at a casual glance) around his throat, to drag him close. The Soldier's using him as a human shield and the bullets meant for the assassin thud into the cop's body. Then he's scruffing the wounded patrolman with that metallic hand and flinging him at his fellow cops, slipping back for the cover of the smaller stalls for food and staging - knocking the supports of some of them down as he flees, deliberately, to offer yet more chaos as a distraction. Then there's the smell of canvas burning - something he just knocked over had a stove in it, and smoke starts to curl from it. Because there isn't enough trouble here, yet.
And then Sophie catches up to him with the ease of a jet overtaking a biplane. That strike has him hurled forward and then faceplanting in the dirt between the stalls….though even at impact he's rolling, bringing up the pistol to fire at her, precise, despite that blow. Then and back up to his feet, fleeing.
*
Thea watches Josh carefully, curiousity and understanding at once in her eyes. "Are you sure? Backlash is never good. But then there's the ping of a gunshot wound, particular in way Thea's senses take them in. "Don't overdo. We can help each other." She's fascinated by Josh and the possibilities of maybe working in tandem with another healer like herself, but that will have to wait. Because heels are clicking as she's running past ruins and wisps of smoke to Marie's fallen form.
In likea deja vu moment, hands find the form of the fallen. The bullet not a concern once no longer in the body, there is no golden light show, no outward signs as Thea works with her eyes wide and blind. Blood components charged and controlled as she brings tissues together, though there is pain for both her and her patient with the speed she needs to work to make sure there is no chance of anything turning septic."
*
Josh and Northstar head out to look for more who need help, assisting the paramedics as they make their way throughout. Captain America is piecing together what happened and coming to the wrong conclusion, but he puts that to the side and begins to help the other two who were intent on helping him.
"I'll be alright," Cap says as he walks by Kai, blood still staining the top part of his suit. He gives Kai a slap on the arm, beckoning him to come with and help. Crystal watching over him would be appreciated, but Cap doesn't even realize she's watching over him as he begins carrying people, live ones first, from the scene.
As more and more pops of gunfire ring out, people all around duck and scurry. The melee between Bucky and the others occurs too far from some of the heroes to do anything about. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the terrorist is able to get away.
As things begin to die down at the scene, the police begin to talk to those healthy enough not to need to go to the hospital. Science teams comb the streets for evidence, but the more and more people who eventually give descriptions of the attacker, the more the man in the Yankees hat comes into focus. In the coming days police sketch artists take notes, compare, and collate. The image of James Buchanan Barnes becomes rather clear.
That image is distributed everywhere as the man responsible for one of the most vile terrorist attacks in United States history.
TO BE CONTINUED.