12221/Listen To the Rain

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Listen To the Rain
Date of Scene: 22 September 2020
Location: Adirondack Mountains Safehouse, New York
Synopsis: Ororo makes the trip to check up on Jean and see how she's doing in her self-imposed exile. It's soggy.
Cast of Characters: Phoenix, Storm




Phoenix has posed:
There are numerous boltholes belonging to the X-Men, some right in urban centers and others well off the grid. This is of the latter variety, an old log cabin deep within the mountains that's heated by a wood stove in the center of the one room and a loft building. It's got such luxuries as well water and a generator, a bare bones kitchen, a stack of cots, and an old futon. Glamping, it is not. Well away from civilization and theoretically safe to experiment with ungodly powerful soul-hitchhikers? Eh.

It's raining cold buckets with the early fall sky dark and gloomy, and the only real evidence anyone is around is the waft of smoke coming from the chimney. No jet, no vehicle; no Professor. Out getting supplies. He and Jean have been in occasional phone contact to confirm their location and status, but it's been minimal. Jean is sitting out in front of the cabin in the rain. Cross legged and with her back straight, the woman appears to be meditating while being soaked clear down to the bone.

Storm has posed:
    Storm had heard about the concert debacle earlier today, and with Charles' request for her to check up on Jean, she comes out to the cabin in the pouring rain.

    Well, not quite.

    As she walks up toward the front, there is a bubble of sorts, of warm, comfortably dry air around her. The bubble expands to Jean once she sits down next to her friend. A hand is reached out to pat her gently on the back, although she doesn't yet say a word.

Phoenix has posed:
The redhead must be deep in her focus not to even notice the approach of a very familiar mind. Up close, she's looking thin and drawn as if she hadn't slept for weeks as opposed to just a few days. It's the shift in the air around her and the hand on her back that alerts her, and Jean's eyes open in a stutter and start as she initially stiffens only to relax immediately as she sees who it is.

"...Ro." She whispers, as if it were a dream she was about to wake up from. But this is real, and with a quiet noise of surprise and joy she throws her arms around the shoulder of her old friend. "What are you doing out here? Is it just you? How are you doing? ...ohgod, Emma didn't burn the place down, did she?!"

Storm has posed:
    Storm laughs softly and hugs her friend back. "No, but Charles said you could use a friend right now." When she draws back, she frowns, noticing how exhausted Jean looks. "You look like you haven't slept in weeks. I guess it would be pointless to ask if you're okay..." she sighs. "Tell me what's on your mind."

Phoenix has posed:
"You think I'd be okay with phone calls as a telepath, but they're not the same." Jean remarks with a wane smile. She sits back up and glances skyward and the bubble of air casting aside the rain. The thin smile fades away into melancholy. "That's the problem. The thing that's literally on my mind, that came back with me. The Professor and I have been trying to keep it at bay but I don't know if we can."

"I'm afraid. I haven't felt this hopeless and overpowered since I was a kid. Everything we've tried to subdue it just makes it angrier. It wants out. I used to be able to keep it quiet, but I can't now and it's just so loud. I just don't know what will happen if it breaks loose... or if I open the door to try and finally reason with it face to face. So to speak."

Storm has posed:
    "It's just been since the concert?" Storm asks, still frowning, her hand still on her friend's shoulder.

    She exhales slightly. "But whatever happens, I believe in you. I believe you're strong enough to overcome this. And I'll be here for you every step of the way."

Phoenix has posed:
"No, no. I wish." Jean says with a long, slow exhale. "Since I came 'back'. For the most part it was tired and quiet, but its gotten stronger over time. I guess I can't blame it for wanting to be free. None of us like to be captive, but this... being doesn't seem to think the same way we do. It's alien. Instinctive. The few times it's been near the surface, things don't go well."

She hikes up one knee while letting her other leg stretch out. The knee serves as an elbow rest as she cups her chin in her hand. "Day at a time, just taking it a day at a time. Thanks, though, for the vote of confidence. Just do me a solid, okay?"

She turns her head to look towards Ororo, her expressions heavy. "You and the team. I can't ask this of Scott, he'd never even let me say it, but if there's one person who understands a hard decision as much as he does then it's you. If this looks like a lost cause... I need you all to protect each other, and those kids, and... everyone else. I would rather be back in the ground where I belong than risk hurting any of you. Okay?"

Storm has posed:
    When Jean mentions going back into the ground, Storm's face sobers more, but she takes a breath and holds back the tears. This was hard for her too. But she finally nods. "I understand." she says. "I will do everything I can to protect the team and the students..."

    A pause and a deep sigh. "Even if it means you can't be around them any more."

Phoenix has posed:
"Thanks, Ro." There's a low sniffle from Jean as she scrubs her palm across her eyes. Just her wet hair dripping, totally. Straightening herself up, she glances skyward again and says, "Hey, let's go inside. I know the rain probably doesn't bug you, but I think I've cooled off enough. Pneumonia probably wouln't help me any."

She pulls herself up onto her feet with a grimace as stiff and cold muscles protest. "I miss anything exciting? The reception up here is garbage and I don't wanna waste the generator charging my phone after fighting for signal all day."

Storm has posed:
    "Anything you need, Jean." Storm says, although the dry bubble had wavered just a little bit with the emotional toll of the conversation. However, it stabilizes once more. "Sure, let's go inside. I can even dry you off if you want." she says with a small smile as she follows the redhead into the simple cabin.

    "Not really," she answers. "At least nothing more exciting than the fiasco at the concert. I heard we finally passed that alien off to the Avengers, and Shannon seems to be all right with it."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey steps up the short stoop to step into the cabin. It's sparse, with little signs of use outside some sleeping bags and the lingering smell of hot tea under that of woodsmoke from the stove. She makes her way over to the central fire to fit another log through the door, one of a few in a nearby holder to keep them out of the rain.

"We did! I'm glad it went smoothly, though I will admit that Scott and I were ready to book it when it looked like Stark was trying to gut the thing. I did not want to be around if it started shooting. Hopefully they've figured out what to do to help it and get it back home or, well, wherever it'd need to go. I don't want to see it destroyed - life is life - but we don't need a war of giant robots rolling through New York City. Again."

Storm has posed:
    "Heh, you can say that again." Storm says in agreement, making her way inside and sitting down by the fire. She relaxes, letting the 'bubble' drop to allow the hearth to do the work instead. Sometimes it's nice to do things the natural way. "I'm glad we could take our hands out of that affair--it reminds me too much of Sentinels."

Phoenix has posed:
"Exactly that." Jean says as she walks over to a cot she must be using, as her bag is under it. She starts rummaging around to pull out a fresh set of clothes. "As much as I'd try, I couldn't not picture them. Besides, we're not equipped to tackle something like that. Not that we don't have willing takers to try, but Victor in our basement is quite enough for me to worry about."

She utters a quiet exhale of a laugh as she says, "Amazingly, he's doing better than I thought. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but until them I'm thankful for the calm and that he and Logan haven't murdered one another. At least where any of us can see."

Storm has posed:
    "Well, if Victor has decided to turn a new leaf, then I'm not complaining." Storm says with a nod. "I get that some of the others have a harder time accepting it, but it's better to have a friend than an enemy."

    "Well...an ally, at least." she adds with a slight sigh. "and yes, we certainly have plenty other of things to deal with right now. I just hope Stark doesn't unintentionally turn it into a war machine that gets unleashed on New York or anything."

Phoenix has posed:
"I don't know if it's a new leaf or just boredom yet, but, I suppose we'll find out once he's out with the team on formal missions." Jean remarks as she steps over towards the bathroom with its tired old fixtures. As she swaps out clothes, she says through the cracked open door, "We've always had a strange sort of grey relationship with Magneto and his lot, so, it's not like this should surprise anyone. Most wouldn't admit it, but a lot of our ideas are the same at the core. It's what we're willing to do to get there that separates us."

She steps out in short order in yoga pants and a loose t-shirt, and she brings her wet clothes over and lays them out to dry by the fire. She takes a seat near Ororo after. "Telling Stark not to weaponize something is like telling the students not to be heroes. You hope sense wins out, but you prepare for the more likely outcome."

Storm has posed:
    Storm nods. "Well I suppose all we can do is hope he won't get anyone killed." she says with another sigh. "But at least this way, we can say we did give him a chance."

    She stands. "It was good seeing you, Jean. But you really should get some rest. Or at least try to. If there's anything you need, just let me know." she says sincerely.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean Grey looks briefly rebellious, though it cycles through to sadness and then resignation. "Yeah... yeah, you're right. Soon as he's back we'll be to work and it'll be hours of headaches again. It's like deja vu, only worse."

She pushes herself up out of the chair and reaches out to give Ororo a tight hug though she does reluctantly let her go after a minute. "Thanks for checking in on me. I miss you all. Give the team my love, okay? Make sure Scott eats a sandwich once in awhile or sees the sun. I promise I'll call in again soon."