Log File 2017.05.02

It was some time in the morning when Ruby managed to show back up on the estate grounds. Not entirely clear as to how or all of the details after challenging War to a fight, but somehow she'd made it back. Layla, regardless of if she really knew through her talent or otherwise, was the first to meet Ruby. The arrival and activity soon brought Steena and Gavin to them. It was just her. No Kevin. No Max. No Molly. Just Ruby. Even without the details, it was clear that they were now one man down since their initial assault on the Tomorrow Center. Still a bit confused, Ruby worked to focus on Layla and ask for Val. Steena commented on the obvious that a few moments of observation could determine regarding the fate of the missing member, Kevin. No longer interested and seeing the task at hand just got harder, she turned to go back inside the estate. Something about hearing the name 'Max' made her brow furrow with confusion...something important she couldn't recall and the lapse in memory wasn't common for her. Gavin stuck close to Steena, not particularly feeling welcome to the private conversation Layla wanted to have with one of her own. Ruby kept pushing for some of those memories, the fight...and she feared she'd done something bad to Max, that she'd hurt him. Layla did her best to console the other woman, they wouldn't know for certain anything until they figured out what really happened. Once inside in a quiet place Ruby caught Layla up on recent events as she could recall them-- stumbling on the details surrounding the fight between herself and Max. That lost memory, she couldn't grasp...and the next she knew she on the lawn of the estate.

Inside and only a little way up the stairs, Steena turns on Gavin stating that she releases him from whatever obligation he feels he has at being there. These weren't his people and Max wasn't his son-- he didn't owe her anything and didn't have a reason to remain there. Gavin simply states that he's there because he wants to be and while he could think up several lame excuses, he'd already made the decision to see this through to the end. Whatever that may be in this case. She thought him a fool for refusing to take the out given to him, turning to shut herself away in her room. He just grinned and watched her go, she wasn't going to tell him what to do...and if he'd wanted to leave, he'd have done so by now. He waited a moment and left the foot of the stairs and wandered into the kitchen, noting another person but keeping to himself while getting something to eat and drink. That didn't go quite as he'd planned when Veronica decided to look up and notice him and engage in conversation. He watched her for a long moment before answering her question with a blunt response. That didn't seem to deter Veronica as she poked at his thoughts for a brief moment, making it obvious she'd read him a bit. He kept from growling, but Gavin made a stern statement for the other woman to keep out of his head. Veronica hadn't earned the same trust Steena had in poking around there. He'd let the other woman chatter on about making choices to be proud of as she left-- waiting for a long moment and after his senses could let her know she was clear of his path before leaving to head to his own room and shutting the door.

Elsewhere, within the floating pyramid, War had returned to Apocalypse...but empty handed. Which was unexpected considering he'd expected Ruby to be brought back or if she was as strong as she'd boasted, for him not to return because she'd killed him. Max couldn't recall the details in full-- he'd gone after Ruby when she ran and then it became hazy. Regardless of the fact he'd returned empty handed, Max had returned to face his fate. This fact made Apocalypse curious, enough to reach into Max's memory to learn that whatever it was that had spoken through Ruby during that encounter knew of him while he did not recognize her. The memory was interesting and while War had expected punishiment for failing in the task of dealing with Ruby, there was none. It was bothersome that there was something larger than Apocalypse himself and was strong enough to turn aside War-- soon though, the final horseman will be at their side. Quinn would rise as the final one, and then they would be whole and their collective strength would be unmatched.

#RubyLarkin #LaylaHarper #SteenaWinters #GavinFrey #VeronicaDobson #Apocalypse #MaxwellWinters