11479/Hiding in the Shadows

Hiding in the Shadows
Date of Scene:	13 May 2020
Location:	Rec Room - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	A possessed Megan attempts to attack Shannon. Jean and Psylocke intervene and send the shadow packing.
Cast of Characters:	Pixie, Phoenix, Nightingale, Psylocke

---

Pixie has posed:
The last couple of weeks have been pretty hectic for Megan. It seemed that trouble followed her wherever she went, even when she was really *trying* to be a good girl. She'd even gone so far to lock herself in her room for as much as possible, and now that the students were in summer break mode, that meant it was even easier to hide from the world.

Of course even a trouble magnet needs food and a little stretching and so she had stepped out into the halls during a quiet moment in the early evening and slipped into the recroom.

Megan was known for being extremely hyper and energetic at everything she did, although lately she'd been pretty downtrodden and withdrawn..Until tonight.

Finding the Rec room is empty of people for the time being, she'd fired up her playstation and put some familiar karaoke game on. She's currently singing her heart out to 'Pocket Full of Sunshine', a surprisingly fitting song, all things considered.

Phoenix has posed:
Most of the school was fairly quiet, with the bulk of students enjoying the last bits of sun outside under the watch of some of the teachers before coming in. Jean was not one of them. She had been working with the security teams on making sure everything was top notch and the school was free of further incidents. It was not a simple task. Still, even she was forced to go take a rest once in awhile, and a puzzle sounded like a good opportunity to zone out.

As she nears the rec room, she hears the music playing and approaches more slowly, perhaps having figured it would be empty a little while longer. Upon seeing who it is, the woman's tired face cracks a small smile and she leans herself in the polished wooden doorframe to watch and not disrupt Megan while she sings.

Pixie has posed:
The music continues to blast, and Megan is really letting loose, grey bat wings unfurled around her as she twirls and dances and sings her heart out, really getting into things:

~I gotta pocket, gotta pocket full of sunshine
I gotta love and it's all mine
O, uh O Ooooooooohhh
Take Me awaaaaaaaay!
To better daaaaaays!!

She croons as her wings flap a little, subconsciously unleashing some pretty pink sparklies around the recroom, althoguh they are mostly restricted to the floor in front of the sofa, wings cupped around her body as she experiments with controlling the flow of her nightmarish fairy dust.

She hasn't spotted Head Mistress Grey yet. This is bound to get awkward, isn't it?

Phoenix has posed:
~There's a place that I go,
That nobody knows.
Where the rivers flow,
And I call it home.~

Jean isn't the best singer, but she's got the tune down and the rhythm and her voice is low and smooth. She's not winning any competitions. She doesn't go too long and just widens her grin towards the winged girl. "Hey, sorry, couldn't help myself. That was always a favorite. I can... I can go, if you want the room to yourself."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn meeeps, and jumps a few feet up in the air. Literally. Good thing the ceiling in the recroom is fairly high. "Oh! Umm, Miss Grey! I didn't realize there was anyone else in here.."

She blushes a bit, glancing back at the tv screen and laughs nervously. Jean's a pretty good singer, or at least Megs seems to approve. Apparently the song, approves too, as it gives her a score of 82.

"Oh no, you don't have to go, I was just being sillly, y'know, I don't get out much anymore, really, since..Y'know.." she pouts a little and seems tired. Probably hasn't slept in a while with all the craziness going on..

Phoenix has posed:
"Having fun is never silly." Jean says warmly as she steps into the room and finds herself a seat at one of the activity tables. "And I hear you. I've had my fair share of... house arrest episodes in my life. Always for good reasons, but the why doesn't make it easier. The self-imposed ones are worst."

She brushes off the brief lean into melancholy and says in a more hopeful tone, "Soon we'll have this sorted, though, and then you can get back to normal. How have you been holding up otherwise? Is there anything you need until we're ready to get you cleared up?"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn blinks slowly, arching a curious brow at Jean. "Wha, really? How come? I thought you were like the most saintly person in this crazy school." she smirks, shaking her head, chuckling a bit even. "That must have been a really long time ago.."

As for herself, Megan just shrugs, "Stuff is really scary when you cant even trust yourself not to harm others. So many strange feelings and I'm already pretty darn impulsive." she shivers, hugging her arms as she sits down on the sofa, switching off the game console.

"Thanks, Miss Grey." she smiles faintly and nods. "I guess I'm really lucky to be around so many talented people, if anyone can figure it out, the Xmen can, right? I just hope there are no more incidents. I dunno, I seem to be a 'trouble magnet', although I think things are starting to settle down a little..Maybe."

As for anything she might need..Megan bites her lip, thinking that one over. "Um. I guess not, I'll be okay..Just need to wait to see you and Psylocke both so I can get these terrible influences out of my head. Although it's scary, I cant help but wonder if some of those dark thoughts are my own? I DO have some literal black magic in my soul since what Illy did, afterall.."

Memory of Illyana does make her tone seem slightly bitter at that.

Phoenix has posed:
"Some days it feels like yesterday, others it's a lifetime ago." Jean says with a soft shrug, though the further statement does bring a sad dullness to her eyes. "But that feeling of being a danger, of controlling yourself.. well, I probably know that better than anyone here. But that's a story for another time."

She leans her elbows onto the table and folds her fingers together. "It's all a step at a time when it comes to things things, but as soon as Psylocke is ready then we'll get you sorted. I could probably do it alone, but I want to have someone else to make sure things go smoothly and to help protect you in the process."

To talk of dark thoughts, Jean gives Megan another knowing, sympathetic look. "No one in the world is all good or all bad. Emotions can bring out some ugly thoughts, especially ones like anger and fear. It's not the thought that evil. It's the actions you take with that thought that define you."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn blinks slowly, peering curiously at Jean. "Oh right, cuz you're Phoenix and all that, right?" well she doesn't know the details really, just that she changed her name from Marvel Girl to Phoenix and apparently got some cool firebird like powers or something. And saved the world and azll that.

"Right, I've only met Psylocke briefly once or twice, but..Having two psychics in my head shouldn't hurt..Right?" she seems a little nervous of the idea. So many private thoughts she doesn't exactly want pried open. Especially recently.

"Heh, sounds like something Josiah would say." Megan nods, smiling faintly.

Phoenix has posed:
"Yeah, that's the real short version. It's a lot more complicated than that, but now's not the time for that whole tale. That's a multi-series arc, not a quick chat." Jean chuckles under her breath before tipping her head in a conceding gesture, "But one day I'll tell you. You have enough on your plate right now."

And on that note, she addresses the question with, "As for both of us in your head, no. We're both old hands at this. If we were a couple of wet-eared students just learning, it'd probably be uncomfortable with us tripping and banging around. She and I can be undetected when we need to be. I can't promise this will be painless, whatever is in there has shown it's not leaving without a fight, but we wouln't let any harm come to you."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn nods slowly, biting her lip. "Of course." she smiles, "Well I just love a good story, but I can wait.."

As for not guaranteeing it to be painless, that does make her sit up straight. But Megan's not a 'kid' anymore, and she's been in a few hard scrapes herself. "I..I understand.." she licks her lips, "I'm not afraid, whatever needs to be done so I'm no longer a threat to anyone else..Or myself. That would be the most responsible thing to do, right?"

Megan sighs, "Just need to hang in there a little longer. It's kinda lonely, hiding out in my room as much as possible but, y'know, it's kinda scary, fighting the compulsion to hurt other people. Knowing that my powers can make people relive their most fearsome nightmares, and actually enjoying their suffering."

She smiles faintly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "But..But you're right, as long as one doesn't act on those dark thoughts..Maybe that's all that matters..Right?"

Phoenix has posed:
"The fear is always the scary part, the what ifs and maybes." Jean remarks with a reassuring smile. "But that's right. We may be mutants, but we're still human too. We're not perfect. We don't always think the best thoughts or sometimes like anger and fear lead us to bad decisions, but it's recognizing that and choosing a better path that makes us a good person."

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn nods slowly. "Right..I guess tha'ts the key." she sighs, "Just hope I'm strong enough if and when the time comes. I mean, I havent' hurt anyone so far, and I've managed to hold back before attacking anyone, although I came close to attacking Morgana, although everyone probably thinks she's evil now too.."

Megan sighs, shaking her head. "But, I just can't believe that could be the case. I trust her too much. And maybe it's just that she's kin to me, a fellow fairy, but, she's tried hard to protect me from Gremlin attacks, too, you know? I mean, she should be given a chance too, right?"

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey lifts her arms from the table so she can lean back in the chair, though she just crosses her arms in front of her chest then. "I admit, fairies are something I am barely educated on. I know they exist, of course, but not much more than folk legend and there's no guarantee any of that is accurate. So I'm withholding judgement in light of my on ignorance. I'm afraid I can't offer you much insight on if you should trust her or not. I suppose, once we know you are yourself, how she acts towards you then may be more telling."

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon sashays into the rec room, humming a lively, upbeat tune. She's in her pale blue sundress, her flip-flops with daisies on the toes, and has a daisy behind her right ear. Her hair is long and loose save for the little blue braid on the left side of her face, with its little silver beads glittering on the end. A few lines might be heard as she makes her way towards the bar for the heavenly, sweet fizzy treat known as root beer.

"A single thread in a tapestry
Though its color brightly shine
Can never see its purpose
In the pattern of the grand design..."

     She stops in her tracks the moment she spies the headmistress and Megan, dipping her head by way of greeting. "Hi! Ummm... I could skedaddle if you'd rather?" Had she just walked in on a one-on-one talk?

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn smiles and nods, "Yeah, it's a little weird. I'm starting to realize more and more that I'm more than just a mutant. Being around Morgana is a little strange, it's as if we're on the same wavelength. Like..There's kindred spirit between us, maybe that's because we're both party fairy? I still wonder if she knows who my real mum is..?"

But those are not questions that Jean can answer and she just nods softly, quietly, pondering. She's still sitting on the sofa, not really paying much attention to whatever is on the tv at the moment, engaged in a philosophical conversation of sorts with Jean.

When Shannon enters the recroom, she smiles faintly at her, tilting her head questioningly at the flower, the cute outfit, the cheerful demeanor. "Hi Shannon, you look nice today, no it's okay, we were just talking.."

Psylocke has posed:
Having finished up her last training session, Betsy was walking through the hall outside with a bottle of water. It wasn't actually cold, just room temp. It wasn't like she was working out hard with most of the martial arts students. This was a beginners class at that.

She paused as she got to the door, glancing inside as she spots Jean and Megan together. Seems Shannon is there as well.

"Good afternoon," she says in her posh British accent as she slps inside. She's dressed in a pair of gi pants and a tank top, having taken off the gi top before coming inside. It was flung over her arm. Her feet were covered with slip on shoes since training had beenbarefoot.

Phoenix has posed:
"Sounds like an adventure of its own, finding your mom. One worth it, maybe, if only to know." Jean remarks with a soft shrug of her shoulders before Shannon arrives to provide momentary distraction. "Hello Shannon, and no, you're not interrupting anything. How are you doing?"

And while she asks that of the winged student, Psylocke is arriving through the door. Betsy is given a genial tip of her head by way of greeting.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods to Megan and miss Grey, biting her lower lip. "Well, for the most part. But I'd hoped to touch base with you fairly soon, miss Grey."

     Megan gets a smile, and a bit of a wing-wave. "Hey you. Awww... thanks. This is actually the dress I wore my first day here. Feels good to wear it with the change of seasons. Comfy for a picnic." She motions to the bar, smiling at Megan, miss Grey, and miss Braddock each in turn. "Long as I'm over here, can I get anybody something to drink?"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn quirks a curious brow towards Shannon, "Picnic? Ooh, fun.." although she seems a bit sad too. She's been cooped up in her room a lot lately. But it's for everyone's good really.

Betsy's entrance is noticed next and she smiles and bows her head to her respectfully, "Hello, Ms. Braddock." she greets her with a friendly but slightly shy smile. She doesn't know her all that well really, although she is curious of the outfit she is wearing. Megan had always hoped to attend some of Betsy's martial arts sessions, especially as she wields daggers similar to her own. But that is a discussion for another time.

To Jean, she just nods slowly, "Yes, it is quite the mystery, and I'm sure Miss Morgana knows more than she's letting on.." Megan sighs and shrugs, "But again, that is an adventure for another day..

And then, eyes slide back to Shannon for a moment as she offers something. For a moment, Megan's eyes glaze over, staring at her in a strangely confused state, slowly rising from her seat and crossing the floor towards her.

"Something...About you.." eyes narrow, clenching her fists, flexing her claws and her pleasant smile suddenly turns into a cold frown. "Where. Is she...?" it's more of a demand than a question.

Psylocke has posed:
"She...who?" Betsy asks, watching as Megan seems to be approaching Shannon in a way that doesn't seem at all like it was a moment ago when the winged girl entered the room.

Automatically, Betsy takes a step between the two women, in a casual manner but not about to let something happen. Something just seems off.

Phoenix has posed:
"Of course. Apologies if I've been a bit harder to track down than normal." Jean says with a rough sigh as she runs a hand back through her hair. "Just been working nonstop trying to sort out all of our security measures and make sure things are working as they should. With a place this big, there's a whole lot of ground, nooks, and crannies to cover. However, here I am."

And a good thing too, as Megan's demeanor shifts and advances towards Shannon. Frowning, the woman stands up and follows to stand alongside Betsy, stating aloud but more to her fellow psychic. "And since we're both here, I think it's time we sort all of this nonsense out, hm? Before anything escalates further. Megan, could you please take a seat?"

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon tenses and ducks behind the bar, adding another layer of protection between herself and her teammate. "I don't know, Pixie, I told her to get out of my head and that's the last I heard of it." Her wings extend as if she herself is about to take flight, not at all keen on incurring the changed Pixie's wrath.

     Explanations were likely very necessary at this point. "Long story short, miss Grey, this is what I was trying to reach you about. A fairy's been hiding out in my head for a few weeks now. I told Mr. Summers and he laid down the law, told me to give said fairy an eviction notice. I was hoping to talk to you or maybe even to miss Braddock to make sure that had actually happened, since I don't know whether to trust my own senses on this one." She grimaces, looking between Pixie, miss Grey, and miss Braddock. "Please, help Megan?"

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn seems to ignore Psylocke and Jean, focusing solely on Shannon. She doesn't attempt to push Betsy out of the way cuz honestly, the Ninja Lady could easily wipe the floor with her. However, Megan continues to stare blankly, swaying slowly as if in a trance, almost as if she's staring right through her.

"The fairy. I know she is with you..But something has changed. Hand her over, or else...!" Maroon eyes seem to turn coal black, expression still blank, voice a tone lower, colder. It doesn't even sound like Megan anymore.

When asked to sit, Megan ignores Jean and steps back a few paces. "Si..Sihal..Novarum...." she holds out her hands, readying a spell, starting to summon the glimmering pink portal to teleport the two interlopers away if necessarily, but her words stumble, eyes widen.

"N-no! I..." she grits her teeth, shaking her head, seeming to be struggling some inner battle. A shiver goes through her spine, like an electric current. With a cry of pain, she suddenly collapses to her knees, clutching her head. "P-Please...Make it stop..." she murmurs softly, tears falling from her eyes..

Psylocke has posed:
That does it.

One moment Betsy is just standing there, the next there is a glowing purple 'blade' around her right hand. All smiles are gone. From friendly teacher to the killer assassin who's body she now resides in.

Thankfully Megan gets it under control. One more syllable and Betsy had been about to try applying that psiblade to Megan's head.

"Jean, we need to do this now. Shannon, stay where you are. Obviously you still have your companion and that will be ending tonight as well."

Phoenix has posed:
"That it does." Jean says aside to Betsy with her mouth forming into a tight, thin line. Oh but how she hates using her powers like this.

She walks over to Megan and kneels before her without hesitation or signs of fear for the change that Megan had just undergone. She reaches out to cup the girl's cheeks in her palms, thumbs brushing away tears and coming to rest at temples. "Listen to me. Listen to my voice. We are here to help you. You are safe here, in this place and with us."

There's a pause before she begins to sing, though it's less a song than a quiet chant to help the fae-mutant focus. "...and there's no more lies. In the darkness, there's light, and nobody cries. There's only butterflies." And as she says that, Jean closes her own eyes to focus down onto the wellspring of her own powers and begins to spread her consciousness into the mind of Megan.

Nightingale has posed:
     Shannon nods quickly, a tear falling down her face. "Yes, miss." She does indeed freeze in place, not at all inclined to disobey. As much as she wished she could help, this time this was not the case. She keeps quiet otherwise, not about to interfere unless asked to do so.

     How is it that trying to help a being in need could go so very, very wrong?

Pixie has posed:
Megan Gwynn pose squeezes her eyes shut, trying hard to fight the darkness within, but..It's soo damn hard. As Jean leans next to her, she snarls at first, attempting to swipe at her with unfurled claws, claws that make her look more like a crazed, rabid animal for a moment or two, her hair mussed up, streaked with more black than pink these days...

And then she sings that song, that sweet, magical song. A poem that her own adoptive mom used to sing to her when she was younger. A song that held so many happy memories for her.

Megan blinks slowly, glancing up at her, mesmerized by her sweet, singing voice, her gentle touch on her skin. She relaxes a bit. "Mo...ther...?" it's a gut reaction, isn't Jean Grey everyone's mother at the institute in a way? Right now it's what Megan needs and she nods, closing her eyes, focusing on the words, on the voice..And the music. "Take me away...A secret place..A sweet escape.."

Megan relaxes, falls limp in her arms as if drifting into sleep, seemingly a lot more peaceful than she was a moment ago. At least for a little while anyway..

Psylocke has posed:
As Jean calms Megan, the psionic blade disappears from Betsy's hand. Now she moves closer herself, taking a knee and glancing to Jean. She opens her own mind and, upon doing so, a purple butterfly glow appears around her eyes.

She reaches with her mind to Jean, to synch with her first, then allows herself to touch Megan's mind as well. Her defenses are up, prepared, not trusthing.

She has dealt with dark elf taint before. She's sure goblins and fairies are going to be just as unpleasant.

Phoenix has posed:
On the outside, Jean remains kneeling there, cradling Megan with the girl's head in her lap and her hands resting on either side of her face. Red hair hands in a curtain around them, and the Headmistress' eyes are closed to blot out any distraction. Here the work begins.

Jean leads the way through the mind of Megan, following the pathways she took previously. Doorways with dark shadows behind them are noted, but like before they are not her true aim. She seeks the source. She keeps a close tether to Betsy as they go deeper into Megan's mind, thinking to the other woman as they go, << There were echos of the power all around. Shadows, laughter, what you'd expect from something malicious. The thing itself was pretty obvious. I doubt it's going to hide long. >>

Pixie has posed:
There are many doors in Megan's mind, and it is indeed full of many things; Joy, laughter, innocence..And other, darker things; Anger, hatred, sadness, grief..But what they are specifically looking for, is something that Jean has met briefly once before.

It is a fleeting shadow, more than a real presence, a suggestion placed in her mind, evasive, silent, swift. Always one step ahead of them. It managed to just about evade Jean the first time, even evict her from Megan's mind. Although Jean may well have left willingly, fearing to damage Megan's mind.

Between the two of them, that shadowy presence has fewer places to hide, but that doesn't mean it wont try. Most doors are easier to navigate between the two of them, and as they chase down the shadow, there is but one door remaining, as it were, at the end of a long hallway.

Dark mist seems to form beneath that door, and it is locked and sealed shut. It may take a bit more force to pry open that particular door. There is coldness in this part of her mind, cold and alien, as if it does not truly belong there, not entirely anyway.

Psylocke has posed:
<< I will be cautious. Perhaps the two of us will be able to get the darkness to leave. Voluntarily one would hope. >> She isn't going to hold out too much hope for that. It's never that easy.

Betsy is going to follow Jean's lead though, there as a support more than a lead.

Phoenix has posed:
<< Does anything ever go willingly? >> Jean mentally sighs, though the question is hypothetical. History has enough evidence for an answer.

As the presence keeps dancing and dodging just beyond reach, Jean is forced to focus harder to keep track through the maze of the mind. Systematically they scour the nooks and crannies, herding the force further and further into a corner. Finally, there is only one door left.

Jean regards the locked door, but she doesn't reach out to try and force this one open when it doesn't go. She stretches down her arms at her sides with fingers spread, and as she faces the darkness and the alien cold she answers with alien light and heat. At first her pink-hued power rises from her hands, but in its wake fire rises, sweeping up her arms and through her hair to cast out a nimbus of molten glow to weaken the dark.

<< You are not welcome here. This is not your home. Get. OUT. >>

Pixie has posed:
An inhumanely cold and deadly snarl and growl erupts from just behind the door, although it seems to hesitate as the warmth and heat rises up against the cold. The darkness seems to shy at the sheer force and power of The Phoenix, and the shadowy voice from beyond the door snarls as the dark mist from beneath the cracks all but fizzles away at the warmth and light.

<<She issss mine...You shall not have herr..We WILL find the pixies, and the Faerie Queen, and you will not stop us from usurping her power!>> There is a cackle, a cruel laughter erupting from behind the door, but the order to leave, and the sheer power of the Phoenix Force does cause the creature behind the door to hesitate.

And the locks seem to weaken at the sheer force of will. It seems to be using all its willpower to hold onto Megan's mind, but Jean and Psylocke can no doubt feel its strength wavering.

Psylocke has posed:
As Jean goes light, Betsy goes dark. She draws on that darkness within herself, her body turning to living shadow with the Crimson Dawn tattoo appearing in red over one eye. <<There is no place for you here. Neither in darkeness or light. Leave. Your destruction is promised if you do not heed her warning.>> Jean's warning. Not her own. After all, Jean is the scary one here.

Phoenix has posed:
What is a tiny goblin next to a phoenix? A scuttling rat in the shadows next to an immortal force of creation. One can see the arrogance sparking in her eyes, the searing spite of a god glowering out from behind a mortal woman's eyes. He's telling her no. That's just adorable.

<< You will find no power and you *have no power* here. >> Jean's voice booms as she steps towards the door, resonating with power and promise. << She is ours. You will not hurt her any longer. You have one chance to tell us why you are harming her and leave intact, or you will no longer exist even in memory. What will it be? >>

Pixie has posed:
A scuttling rat indeed..And the shadow, for it is merely the shadow of a man, is truly no match for the power of the Phoenix. Nor does he intend to damage his psyche unnecessarily. The voice seems to shrink at the might of her voice, and the door trembles and shakes.

Suddenly it just...Melts away altogether, and the shadows lurking beyond are showered in blinding light. In a flash, glimpses of the shadowy figure's true intentions are realized. There are flashes of the goblin army storming a castle of sorts..Shadows of fairy fighting goblin, approaching the fairy queen..But her face is hazy. It looks like it could be Morgana, or someone closely resembling her..

And there it is, in the goblin prince's hands, a beautiful, terrifying weapon of incredible power, terrifying power. It's blade is shining and crystalline, grlimmering with blinding power and magic, trapped within are hundreds of points of tiny light, magical light, energy..Pixies, serving as its prisoners..And at the tip of the sword, a familiar, glowing pink blade..Megan's soul dagger..

And then, with a terrifying scream, the entire scene goes white, and the shadowy figure shrivels away, vanishing from sight, and from Megan's mind..