arrival [open]

[alter_knowsbest]

Shadow's arrival came in the dead of night. They'd picked one of the cloudiest nights in Russia to bring her in, and really, she was amused at the careful treatment of her. She'd been trained enough to notice the hesitant integration

Comments

[watch_the_nails]

A new arrival. A new female member of the team. A new plaything.

Victor smirked as he watched the jeep pull into the compound, noting that the passenger was a woman, and grinning to himself at the realisation. Virtually silent, he clambered down from where he'd been situated on the top of one of the concrete bunkers - using his sharp claws to gain hold on the cold, sheer walls - and made his way over to her, pleased to have spotted the new team member before anybody else had. Emma would be proud of him.

"Goin' somewhere, sweetheart?" he purred behind her - although he was careful not to get too close, and he wouldn't try physical contact until he'd worked out what her mutation was. His previous experience with Olivia had taught him to be more cautious.

[alter_knowsbest]

She turned, slightly surprised but refusing to show it. Even as she took in his appearance, as she saw through the darkness. Idiots should've at least given her a torch for arrival.

"Was thinking about finding the liquor cabinet and toasting my new home. Why? Got better plans?"

She couldn't show fear, because that wasn't who she was, that wasn't why she was there. Even if the big guy could kill her.

[watch_the_nails]

"Sounds like a good start," he snickered, taking a step closer. She seemed pretty confident and sure of herself, something he'd already taken a mental not of so he could relay it to his partner later. It made a change from some of the delicate, wilting wallflowers he'd dealt with around here lately. "So what's your poison, sugar? You like whiskey, or are you more of a girly kind of drinker?"

He meant it as an insult, of course. To Victor, anything feminine was already counted as weak.

[alter_knowsbest]

She snorted slightly, eyebrows drawing together in disbelief. "Throw me some tequila, I'll get the lime and salt." Her tone took on that 'I'm so not what you think I am' edge, her smirk practically stating her own self-confidence.

Even if somewhere inside, something was cowering from the sheer mass of this man, from the power he oozed and her inability to protect herself without some light.

But the only source was nearer the barracks, and even then, just a light above the door. It cast a shadow below, a block of the door, it wouldn't be ideal, but it would do. Especially if she stood there, her own shadow would help.

[watch_the_nails]

He noticed her casting a glance towards the door of the Mess Hall - the one that led into the barracks, and the rest of the team's living areas - and he took it as a sign of fear, thinking that she was looking that way because she wanted to be rid of him and retreating to safety. It only made him enjoy the situation even more, and he chuckled to himself.

"You want me to walk you inside, darlin'? I'll be your escort an' make sure the Big Bad Wolf don't eat you all up in the snow."

[alter_knowsbest]

The smirk only grew. "Sure; you can walk me over." She could imagine gutting him right now. And something was screaming inside, but Shadow just quelled it.

They had to prove they weren't weak. This was the law of the jungle, it wasn't civilised, it wasn't human. It was kill or be killed and Shadow had to show that they weren't easy pickings.

Cody would understand eventually.

"What's over there?" She nodded to the door where the light cast it's glow, wondering if she could get him over there rather than right here in the total dark.

This darkness wasn't her home.