5498/A Visit From Afar

A Visit From Afar
Date of Scene:	05 October 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	X-23, Phoenix

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X-23 has posed:
Laura is Not Happy at the mansion. The training teams have fallen apart, and the teachers have been mostly absentee. The only one she really cares about has gone missing, and Laura couldn't find her. And her "father" has been a complete disappointment. She's taken to going to New York city, and doing some vigilante work. Right now, she's in her room at the mansion, but her few possessions are in a bag; she's ready to bug out. She's staring at the ceiling, and doing something she's certainly never told anyone she does...the claws on her right hand are extended, and she draws them over the flesh of her left arm, watching the blood well up and flow, and then the cut seals behind the claw as it trails. She waits a moment, and does it again. The cycle repeats.

Phoenix has posed:
While Laura is usually sharp to detect the presence of others due to her keen senses, there's no scent coming from a visitory that materializes seemingly out of thin air in her room. It looks like Jean Grey, but more so if she had been a ghost, rather than a real person. If Laura encountered Astral Projections before, she'll be able to recognize it. If not it might be a bit unsettling, though, truth be told, it's likely very little if anything at all ever unsettles Laura. At least not outwardly. "Laura! Stop!" Jean's voice sounds every bit as if she was in the room, only, it is heard directly in Laura's head rather than through her ears. Something most would likely never notice, but Laura with her sharp senses, she likely could take note. "Why are you hurting yourself...?" True, the girl has a healing factor that seems up there with Logan's if not better, but the act is very clear. Laura, for all she might claim, isn't doing alright.

X-23 has posed:
She hasn't. She looks over, and sees Jean, but the strike here is that there /is/ no scent. No scent...not real. The teenager looks over and sees the image of Jean, and frowns, furrowing her brow once. "Not real." she says, simply. On the other hand, she's not one to hallucinate. But the "proof" is in front of her eyes. "Not who I expected to see." The claws slice the flesh of her arm again, as if she's using the pain to focus herself.

Phoenix has posed:
"Not in the physical sense, at least," Jean agrees with Laura, before noting, "but real enough. In the mind," Jean points at her temple, offering a comforting smile to Laura, "I wanted to apologize to you, Laura, but I didn't expect to catch you cutting yourself...how long have you been doing that?" She asks with grave concern in her voice. "Laura, sweetie, could you please...not cut yourself?" Jean asks as the girl persists, oddly enough, judging by her expression, it's as if Jean's apparation is the one feeling the pain of each cut.

X-23 has posed:
    Laura looks at Jean...or this image of Jean. She snaps her claws back in, and looks back. "A long time." she says. Everyone knows she had a bad childhood. No one really knows how bad. "No need." She's gone back to her exceptionally curt wording like when she first got to the mansion...the collapse of the New Mutant group hasn't gone well for her. "Everyone leaves." And with another look at the ghost-like image, she adds "Or dies."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean looks visibly shaken at learning that tidbit, but sadly, now is not the time to delve into it. Not when she's unsure of just how to deal with what's been accosting her. "Laura, would you agree to talk about it with me some other time? When we're face to face? I want to understand it. I want to help you stop doing it, for the right reason." Jean frowns, but also nods, as she explains, "we are now under attack...by something that is hard to define...something that's not there, but there..." Jean tries to explain, but isn't entirely sure how to do it, not when she can't show Laura. Now would be the wrong time, instead she asks, "were you aware that my room burned down during the night a few weeks ago...?"

X-23 has posed:
Laura answers "In people's heads." She's already figured that out, due to interacting with various people. "Yes. Tried to find you. Tracked you till the ocean. Lost your scent." It's clear in her mind; she lost one mom...found another here. And then, as far as she seems concerned, lost this one too. As far as agreeing to talk about it...well, she doesn't raise the issue at all.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean doesn't force the issue for now, but does look directly into Laura's eyes, moving a bit closer, but not too close. Not wanting to freak Laura out, after all, this ghost of a person seems to be something she's less familiar with. "Can you keep a secret?" She asks, making sure Laura is aware that what she's about to tell her isn't meant for everyone.

X-23 has posed:
"Yes." It's just that simple. She doesn't gossip. Hell, she barely talks in general. Her muscles tense a little, as she looks over, watching Jean. Sounds like Jean, but still might not be. "What do you want to say?"

Phoenix has posed:
"That fire...it was because an enemy has manipulated me, used me, made me try to burn the school with everyone inside it..." Jean reveals to Laura, before explaining, "that's why I had to go as fast as I could, so I won't be a danger to anyone...I promise I'll be back as soon as we take care of that threat. Others are working together to try and solve this problem."

X-23 has posed:
Laura listens, but her expression is impassive. "Shouldn't have left." She tells Jean. Apparently she doesn't approve of that particular tactical decision. "Better building burns than people fall apart."

Phoenix has posed:
"Why not...?" Jean asks Laura, not dismissing her words without listening to her take first. "I have destructive powers...not sure how much you know, or guess about my power, but if I am not in control, I am a big threat to the school and the students." Jean's head tilts a bit, and she looks quite grave at Laura's input, "what about Scott Summers? Professor Xavier? Are they not there to keep everyone together?"

X-23 has posed:
"Not right. Too much head. Not enough heart. Not better to be alone." Laura shakes her head. "Not ever."

Phoenix has posed:
"I see..." Jean doesn't argue, "I apologize I didn't have the chance to tell you about it first, I was scared. I'm sure you understand what it's like to be scared, don't you?" Jean expects that much, she has no clue just how much Laura does understand the prospect of being a threat to people she loves. "I did something terrible, and I didn't have control over it. I got scared, I decided to take myself away for everyone's safety. I didn't mean to hurt you, or anyone else...that's why you see me now, I came to tell you that I will not abandon you while I live. If you need me, it's enough for you to think to me, about me, focus on that...there's a chance I can show up like this. As I am now. I hope to be back soon, Laura."

X-23 has posed:
Laura nods. "Not the right choice." Yes, the 15 year old murder machine is giving moral judgements. "Worse for you. Worse for people here. Come home." There's a moment of hope in her heart, but it's squashed pretty fast. For Laura, optimism is a gateway drug, and she won't permit the weakness.

Phoenix has posed:
"I will consider doing so, Laura," Jean offers that much, offering one last smile, before noting, "stay away from Emma Frost, if you see her, she is under the control of that evil thing that's made me start that fire...she's dangerous right now."

X-23 has posed:
Oh, that was not the right thing to tell her. She narrows her eyes. "Work to do." She stands, and starts for her door. She pauses a moment at it. "Be safe." Little murder machine has people to kill.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean sadly still doesn't have a full understanding of Laura, so when she claims she has work to do, Jean doesn't translate it to Emma Frost better be hidden somewhere on the moon. "Keep doing well at school, Laura," she approves of doing work, "I'll do my best to be safe, and I hope we can meet in person soon!" With that the astral ghost of Jean fades.