all around you is tinder for the gods.

[the_lil_rascal]

Xellos looks around, his head cocked in curiosity. Phasing in somewhere other than intended was not unanticipated, unstable as things had become in the wake of the Giga Slave. A moment’s wasted effort is spent trying to return to astral form, but no sense belaboring the matter. He takes in the strange room, noting without concern what seems to

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[lastchancefor]

For so long in Chicago, Jo hadn't wanted to stay in the Conrad. But now with everything, she doesn't trust herself to leave. She didn't really want to leave her room, but she needed to eat at some point, she knew. She doesn't want to die. She can't take that hell again. Anything but that.

She's not sure how she got lost. One turn led to another and this was definitely not the kitchen. She's heard of the rift room, but she'd never actually been in it.

For a long moment, she just stands there, slack-jawed, watching Xellos for a long moment. Jamal. Was this God giving her another chance? A chance to make up for what she'd done? She had already been given so many chances.

"You're not," she said brokenly after a moment, fishing for the right words. "It's going to be. Okay."

[the_lil_rascal]

Xellos had sensed her presence, but waits to turn until after she spoke. His new body must surely have the most angelic expressions, and he flashes one at the women who has greeted him. She will be a fine test for the innocent face he finds himself wearing.

He extends the chubby finger of this tiny hand in his usual pose. And then he speaks, his voice high-pitched and light and with a cheery tone: "will it? I wonder."

[lastchancefor]

Jo shakes her head, contradicting her own words. It won't be. Okay. Well, if she had anything to say about it, it would be. But it was hard for her to believe. After she'd screwed everything up with Jamal, it's hard for her to think that she could actually do anything for anyone else.

But she had to try.

Children are probably one of the few things that actually break Jo out of her shell. Before Jamal had died, she was taking care of four, even though she couldn't really take care of herself. She just needed to give them a chance at having some semblance of childhood.

So she gives Xellos a weak smile, trying to remind herself that everything is going to be fine. It has to be. This has to be another chance. Soon enough, she's going to run out of them. Why did children have to fall through the rift anyway? This city is not safe for children. It's not safe for adults.

"Can't really know," Jo says finally, shrugging. "Hungry?"

[the_lil_rascal]

He catches the contradiction, and tilts his head as he considers this woman. She seems... unstable, perhaps? Her feelings contradict themselves. But that's not a problem; she'll be no challenge, but for a bit of quick sustenance there's nothing better than a tormented soul.

Xellos smiles sweetly, his cherub's cheeks flushing pink in innocent expression. He adds a nod for good measure and feels his ringlet curls bouncing. "Most definitely."

He liked this new body. Such possibilities.

[smithnjones]

Martha Jones checks the Rift room as often as she can. There's a lot going on in the hotel after the plagues. The medical room needs to be restocked. The building needs to be cleaned up. She hasn't been home much since the plagues started, and it looks like that's not even going to change.

She opens the door of the room and steps inside. It was not a tiny girl who looks exactly like that American child-actress that she expected to see. One would think after being here for two years, Martha would no longer be surprised by the things and people the Rift pulls through.

"Hello," Martha says, thinking of the children that only died a little over ten days ago to save the city. "You must have only just come through. I'm Martha. Martha Jones. Why don't you step over here?" Away from the Rift which still swirls dangerously much too close to the child for Martha's liking.

[the_lil_rascal]

Xellos can feel this new woman before she even enters, but when she finally notices him in his new body, the sense of concern nearly makes him sick. There was nothing worse, on an empty stomach, than do-gooders.

He makes no movement to step away from the swirling magic, but does tilt his head and smile, his golden locks bouncing.

"Oh my. Is it very dangerous in here?"

The light-as-air tone to his new voice gives it just the right tone: innocence with a twinge of mischievousness.

[smithnjones]

((OOC: SORRY FOR THE DELAY. I had my final exam and completely forgot about where I owed tags at. Also, since Martha thinks that Xellos is a tiny girl that's why the narration refers to him as a her. XD))

"It's the shiny circle that's very dangerous. It will hurt you very badly if you go through it," Martha says, walking closer to her when she doesn't listen with the aim to grab her and pull her back if necessary.

She does not want to be sprayed by the guts and blood of a tiny child. It's not what would make her day, and it's not fair to the girl for the first thing to happen to her on her way into the Rift is to fall right into death.

[the_lil_rascal]

((OOC: Not a problem! My November has been insane too ^^))

Hurt him badly, would it? Unlikely, but an interesting prospect. Worth a second look, perhaps. But at the moment, there were more pressing concerns.

Xellos allows this woman to grab his arm, putting a shocked and hurt look on his child's face.

"Ouch!" He gives a confused pout now, try to gauge what will get a reaction.