10990/Did You Miss Me

Did You Miss Me
Date of Scene:	05 February 2020
Location:	Breakstone Lake - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Henry McCoy reconnects with a lost love, Tatum, finding out where she disappeared to on their wedding day three years ago.
Cast of Characters:	Beast, Deadzone

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Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy heard that someone's back. A name he'd basically tried to forget. A whirlwind that entered his life, turned it upside down, then abruptly left him alone again, noticing the absence. No success in trying to find her, left with the inevitable conclusion she didn't want to be found, he gave up, and turned inward. Eventually doing his best to move on, at difficulty.

But now she's back. The Professor doesn't know if she's who she says she is, but Hank must find out. So he strides to the lake, and gives the door a firm knock.

Deadzone has posed:
When the door opens, she stands there. A couple years older and looking a little battered and bruised, but her. Booty shorts and a loose t that proclaims her to be of the athletic department of Myskatonic University. Around her neck is a chain that bears two rings. One, the engagement ring of the Hank from her homeworld. And the second ring the one he gave her. Identical, they are the ring Hank's grandfather gave his grandmother.

"I was worried you didn't want to see me. I wouldn't blame you though if you don't."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy squints when he sees her. Taking everything in about her. The bruises. The shirt. And then the rings. He inhales deeply, staring at the rings. "I have responsibilities, and it would not surprise me if people were keeping this from me, in case the Professor concluded you aren't who you say you are. But I had to come. May I come in?"

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum reaches out to touch him, but pulls her hand back. She remembers how being human again affected him, how much it upset him the first time. "I'm guessing Hambone let the cat out of the bag? He tried to post my picture on Instagram before Storm threatened to have his wifi access revoked." She looks over her shoulder and shrugs. "Remy is giving a lesson on alternate means of opening doors. Maybe a walk by the lake?"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy watches her hand, and holds his breath a moment. Then looking down at his hands, he shakes his head. "Yes, let's walk." Once outside, he breathes deeply. " You know what I'm going to ask though. What happened?"

Deadzone has posed:
Padding in bare feet, Tatum doesn't seem to mind the cold. Or if she does, she doesn't let on. She looks out onto the water. "Remember when I came here? From my homeworld? I was coming home from work at the Phil and that disembodied blue head said I would do and then the portal opened up and when I landed I was here? And I called you on a phone line only X-Men have. And you thought it was a prank and... and then there was the time signature.... that I wasn't in sync with this world. But after being here for so long, my time signature started to match with this one, so sending me back became impossible?" She shouldn't have to give him the whole background, but what if this isn't her Hank? What if none of this sounds familiar to him. It's best to find out now. "Well, the head came back. I was in my dress. I was so scared and so happy. And then that little blue bastard sent me to another world. Another Hank. Another damned apocolypse that apparently having me around would help solve." She stops and turns to face him, holding her arms about herself. "In the three years I've been gone, that brat came back another three times. I can't tell if I'm coming or going anymore. And in each world, you kept me sane. I... I didn't dare let myself get close to any of the others though. Not if that unethical little shit was going to only give me a year in each world."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy takes a deep breath. Folding his hands together, resting his chin in his fingers as he listens to her. Not looking at her, just looking at the water, until she stops. "If what you think is true, about who that is. It could be something completely different from what you think. He may be trying to bring his mother home, and will stop at nothing to do it. Be charitable, as I have reminde dmyself to be of you, the entire time I walked over here."

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum rolls her eyes in that way she always did when she knew Hank was right. "The last Hank came up with the theory it was... you better give your grandchildren a mighty talk on ethics in science, Mister. Even if the theory isn't true. They're probably going to need it if they are half as smart as you." She sighs softly. "I don't know if I'm the same Tatum as yours. The head could be playing with a dozen different me's in some weird game of cosmic chess." The goth looks up at him, her features softening as she gazes at the soft blue fur that she'll never get to touch. "I hope that you and Chuck can find out if this is world 2. I want this to be home, so badly."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy chuckles, then sighs. "You know, you're right. It's possible there's more than one of you, that he's got. He doesn't know which. He may not even realize you're different, and he's just frantically doing his best to bring you back. It may be the only way to give you peace... or even several of you peace, is to contact him, and put an end to it."

Deadzone has posed:
Her arms still folded over her chest, she tries her best not to grumble. "Well, no offense, but I have half a mind to make him never exist. Apocalype! Senti... sorry. I know. I know. I can't give any hints of the other worlds, in case I mess up the world I'm in. I remember what you told me." She swallows and bites her lip, swaying on her heels. "So... what have you been doing the last three years?"

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy sighs. "Apocalypse. Sentinels. I'm dead. Half of us are dead. Evil is prevailing. I've hard that one before." Then closes his eyes. "I spent the first six months first trying to find you, then trying to find peace. Then I threw my self back into my work. Teaching, community outreach, science. I've been to space. I've lept through the air. I've helped kids. And now I'm going to help find out why you're Quantum Leaping to put right worlds that once went rong."

Deadzone has posed:
Tatum also sighs in a manner rather similar to his, as if they had been together for years. "Yeah, but you always told me to keep those things secret. To never share what I knew. I always did my best. I don't want to be responsible for the world going pear shaped." She sits herself down in the grass just beyond the waters edge. "Every Hank tried to get me back. It was always the same. My time signature would change to match up with the world I was in. You have numbers for them. World 616. World 238. World 1182. I don't know. They make no sense to me. I just call them worlds 1, 2, 3... if this one isn't 2, then its 6 and I don't know if I'll be here in a years time." SHe rests her chin on her knees and sighs heavily. "I hope you won't think less of me that until we find out... I don't think we should... pick up where we left off. Not that I don't want to, but... I can't keep leaving a trail of broken hearted Beasts behind me. Two is enough."

Beast has posed:
Henry McCoy shakes his head, and breathes heavily. "I want to know the truth. If the truth is as you say, I won't think any less of you. But.... I'll be honest. Charles is being smart about this, in a way I can't be objective. We will know more. I'd... I'd better go before you're tempted to say something you shoudln't. I'll see you soon."

Deadzone has posed:
Looking up at him, she stands as he says he should go. "Hank? If I'm not your Tatum? Then I know she misses you. Terribly. I know that she has never let herself get as close to anyone as she did with you. Not even other versions of you. I ... " She reaches out again, quite clearly intending to come in for a kiss, but once again backs away. "You should go. I don't think either of us can be objective right now."