5973/Astral Flux: Jeremy...you got some 'splaining to do!

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Astral Flux: Jeremy...you got some 'splaining to do!
Date of Scene: 12 December 2018
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Phoenix, Shadow King, Storm, Rogue
Tinyplot: Astral Flux


Phoenix has posed:
Phoenix has been hard at work restoring bits and pieces of the Astral Plane, and checking in on Doctor Strange, whom she created a safe haven for within the realm. For the time being.

During the whole affair, Phoenix would have updated the X-Men about the mage called Jeremy. He was an ally of the X-Men and Dr. Strange against the Shadow King. But he wasn't exactly straight forward.

Recently Jean learned that he was much older than he presented himself to be, just as he found out that she was the Headmistress of Xavier School.

What brought about the meeting, however, is the state of affairs of Doctor Strange and checking what Jeremy might know of it.

Before Jeremy gets there, he is given coordinates so he could get in that magical manner of his. But Phoenix is not alone in her office, she's called on some X-Men presence, in the form of Storm and Rogue.

"So, we're about to meet a mage who presented himself as young, but turns out to be older, and very much more experienced. His capabilities in forming mental wards are the best I've seen on the mystical range thus far...and we're hoping he can shed some light on what happened to Doctor Strange, I trust you've all seen my report from a while back?" (OOC: +bbread xm2/15)

Shadow King has posed:
    Jeremy is indeed young looking. He appears to mesh in with the students extremely well. He did, in fact, arrive with his invitation, a loose brown bag slung over his shoulder, and approach. He was expected, and isn't hiding, but various students don't react to him: he's just another student, by all appearances, with his black hoodie and jeans, tan boots, and loose shoulder length almost-blonde hair.

    He follows the directions to where he's supposed to go, and then waits, with a friendly, thoughtful manner, on a bench in the hallway. He also takes his phone out to play a game on it, sound off.

    For anyone that checks magic, yes, he's covered in a mix of mild defensive magic, right now.

Storm has posed:
"Indeed, I am aware," Ororo replies simply. She looks unfazed by the new information about Jeremy, but anyone who knows her realizes by her dress that she isn't taking any chances. She is out of her X-Men uniform, but not by much. A thin, sleeveless charcoal cable-knit turtleneck sweater is adorned with a sparkling, red-stoned brooch at the throat, and her pants are black leather bike armour. Her black leather jacket is folded neatly over her arm, similarly armored.

"I am at your disposal, Jean. For whatever you may need."

Rogue has posed:
Rogue had come to the school for double reasons. One she was looking to potentially transfer from NYU to Xavier's. She was deep into her education degree and was at the phase where she was supposed to become a Teacher's Assistant and inside her mind she'd rather do that with a teacher at this school than with any at NYU. Two. Jean had asked her. Rogue looks up to Jean, and whenever anything is asked of her by the other... she means to do it or be there.

So here she is, in the office in a corner with her black hoodie on and the hood laying back behind her shoulders, her hair is smooth and framing her face in dark brown and bright white. Her hands are gloved in green and she's got a pair of black slacks and black leather shoes on, she looks a bit 'emo' in all black like this and the white streaked bangs probably adds to that to some degree!

Rogue looks to storm and then nods. "Anything' I can do t'help, as ever. I seen the report, lotta it goes over my head though." She quietly adds after Storm. When the 'Mage' arrives, she just adjusts her green eyed gaze to stare onto him. But she's completely oblivious to magics and the such, she barely even knows what the astral plane is. She knows Strange well though, she owes him quite a lot too.

Phoenix has posed:
"Jeremy," Jean greets when he makes it to her office, pointing at her colleagues, "this is Ororo, and this is Rogue," she motions at the seats she prepared infront of her desk, so they could all sit together in a circle. No point for mild power games in desks, and chair heights and all that jazz. "I trust you know why I wanted to meet?" She tries to see how much Jeremy is aware of since the Shadow King's apparent demise.

Shadow King has posed:
There is very clear interest in both Rogue and Ororo. They are, as well, exotic looking, so there's interest. It isn't a fear at all: the boy isn't shy, from just meeting. "Oh, sure. Hello," Jeremy pauses, looking at them for a long beat, but then flashes a smile to Jean and moves to the chair offered to him. He takes a minute to remove his bag and tuck it partially under the chair.

    "You probably want to talk about what happened to the Astral Plane or the Shadow King?" Jeremy guesses, his eyes sliding over them to judge reaction. He also puts his phone away into the top of his bag; he is giving them full attention, it seems.

Storm has posed:
"There's much we know from our standpoint, Jeremy," Ororo says matter-of-factly with a slight nod, shaking back her long, loose silvery waves over her shoulders. "But as with all things, one is foolish if she does not seek other points of view, or other opinions. Do you see any outstanding dangers or risks that could easily be overlooked in this situation?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue watches Jeremy as he comes in and when he looks her way and then greets she and Ororo, Rogue just tips her chin at him and gives him a simple. "Whats up, fella?" Not exactly a formal greeting, by any means... but she's never been knwon for her formal behavior... much to the chagrin of an aunt who's home and parenting she ran away from many years ago. After Jeremy moves toward a chair, she glances to Jean and Storm and then aims to do the same thing, though she just lowers down onto the edge of it and places her gloved hands atop her thighs, she just looks between the others now.

Phoenix has posed:
"I trust you're up to date on what happened to Doctor Strange, Jeremy?" Jean asks, before adding, "I create a safe haven for him in the Astral Plane until we can get to the bottom of it, but I was hoping you might shed some light on the matter. Can you?"

Shadow King has posed:
    "Hi," Jeremy says to Rogue, matching her casual tone. Ororo gets a lot of attention from the boy with her regal speech style, he seems pleased or surprised by it; he smiles at her. "None of us want to be foolish," Jeremy says, agreeable with her. "Right now the plane is relatively safe overall. Yes, pieces of the King are floating here and there, but they are shreds."
    Jeremy looks to Jean, then. "Oh. You want to talk about Dr. Strange," Jeremy responds. "Which part of that? His physical state? What happened to him? All of the above?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo nods to Jeremy's response, and looks to Jean as he asks her questions. Her glance is short-lived, though, as her blue-eyed gaze is again drawn to the 'boy' with interest. And perhaps something more. Sizing him up, perhaps, or trying to find a way around whatever defenses or images he seems to garner with the help of his powers. She is not a mage, as such, but she knows well enough to realize that the power of the mind is greater than most imagine. She may not be able to get around...anything. But she can certainly look for cues and clues, wherever they may shine through.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue has a troubled mind, it makes it hard for her to focus on any given sobject. Since meeting Xavier and coming to this school she's gotten a lot better, but her attention and focus still drifts. It makes school very hard for her too. Even now, listening to these people talk her mind jumps from visual imagery of random thing to another. 'Plane' makes her think of a plethora of different types of planes and how to fly them (thanks Carol) and 'King' makes her think of Burger King even though she detests that place (Thanks mall security guard from Santa Fe) and then she glances at Storm and starts thinking about a winter weather storm and a snowy Christmas (Thanks Storm!).

Ultimately though, her phone buzes and she jumps a bit, then shifts in her chair to pull the device out of her pocket and she grins at everyone, whispering a "Sorry." as she deactivates the device so it won't pester nobody no more.

Phoenix has posed:
"All of the above is the favored option," Jean offers with a pleasant smile, "see, when I found him he wasn't himself. He didn't know who he was, and thought he was condemned to hell...I did what I could to protect him, but I'm more interested in restoring him." She's shares glances with Ororo, and is about to ask another question, when Rogue's phone buzzes and she can't help but chuckle, "some lessons, we never learn..." she muses.

Shadow King has posed:
    Jeremy gives Rogue a dubious look. Ororo may catch a touch of insult that shows just under the surface of pale eyes for an instant with the phone interruption, but it's barely there, and possibly not surprising for anyone to be annoyed by interruption when he'd just put his own phone away.

    Jeremy nods a little at Jean's questions, then observes Ororo staring at him, and smiles back. He doesn't seem to be offering much penetrating stare in return. He's comfortable here, despite the strange situation and three older people interviewing him. The three have probably done enough interviews of students to find him a little overconfident, considering the situation.

    "I would have said that having his physical body stuck in the plane was number one on the weirdness chart, personally. I haven't seen that before, I think. Honestly, it's extremely dangerous. Foolish maybe," he suggests, with a gesture to Ororo and her earlier comment. "How he did THAT, or why? I think he was trying to trap the Shadow King in some way. I think it... didn't work out well for him. Either of them, really. But I wasn't there, and I didn't know he lost his memory."

Storm has posed:
"Perhaps Strange has some level of harmony between his body and mind that is rare. He is certainly talented in ways which I've never seen in my lifetime. His meditations may create connections where there are none, in others. Meshing his body and mind, and creating a tougher separation in a situation like the one in which he found himself," Ororo observes. "Or perhaps /I'm/ simply creating connections where there were none before." She smiles easily, and genuinely.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue just quietly clears her throat after she listens to the others. "Speakin' as someone who's had t'jump inta a different... realm... that was--for whatever reasons--suddenly behind a doorway inside of Strange's house... and then having had to jump INTO it t'go and get him back? All while gettin' attacked by a hundred foot monster made outta fire'n'hell?" She softly shakes her head side to side. "I don't know how he gets himself outta any'a this kinda stuff, ever, with his life or his sanity. Trust me, I stayed at his house for a solid... three months? Its like livin' in a continuous nineteen sixties acid trip. One second its awesome the best dreams ya can have, then the next?" She raises her gloved hands and explodey's them outward. "Fire, demons, dimensions, and pure madness."

Phoenix has posed:
"He seemed to have reverted to an earlier state of mind, that, or his memories were truly erased...I'll need to get him in our medical labs here to truly try and retrieve his memories. But..." Jean motions at Jeremy as he makes the point, "the issue of the body, how do we even get a body out of a realm that anything but physical?" She looks tentatively at Ororo, wondering if perhaps there's something she can draw on that might at least give them direction. Then there's always the chance Jeremy is being playful and not revealing what he may already know.

Jean grins at Rogue as she offers, "perhaps next time we stay in the 'freakhouse' school rather than go live with the Sorcerer Supreme?" She winks playfully at her sagely advice to Rogue.

Shadow King has posed:
    "Mages! Crazy, I /know/," Jeremy says enigmatically to Rogue as she describes the craziness of it all. He moves his hands near his head to do a silly 'mild blown' gesture, and the grin that follows is natural enough. It's possible he's making fun of himself. "Does just about anything, and then it does more things outside of 'anything.'" Jeremy drops his hands, lifting one leg to cross the other, ankle over knee, hands loose against that heel.

    "Maybe Harmony. I don't know him that well. Looked more to me like a big risk that did not pay off. I'd have to inspect him to get more on that. What I've looked at is what happened to the Shadow King. It looks along the line of if you had, say, a big balloon full of a tar-like liquid, and you tried to pour it into a new place. Instead, you squeezed the center and yes, some did go forward, but the rest splattered in thick globs all over your walls and carpet." Jeremy illustrates with a spray of hands. Little flecks of black sparks show in the air and tumble and disappear into nothing.

Storm has posed:
Ororo shrugs, her smile somewhat enigmatic. "I'm guessing this is the kind of mess that renting an astral-plane doctor simply cannot fix. Even if you buy the overpriced detergent." She crinkles her nose, the good-natured visage fading as quickly as it beset her. "But between what you and Ms. Grey can do, I have full faith that it /can/ be restored. If there is anything that I can do to assist, I am happy to do so. Take shifts observing Strange. Cook meals so that others don't have to take time out to do so." Sure, she can cook. She's a full-service weather-person.

Rogue has posed:
Rogue just offerse a smirk to Jean then and she quietly exhales. "If things had been different..." She mutters before her eyes go back to this Jeremy fella and she smiles lightly at his mind blown motion. "You know the weirdness then." She affirms with a nod of her head. Then she just leans back in her chair and folds her arms together over her stomach. She glances down at the area in front of her knees and listens to them speak. "Wong's still around, ya'll. He was here just last week." She looks over at Storm. "Helped with that robot madman. I know he could help with Strange, they're like BFFs or somethin'."

Phoenix has posed:
"That would seem to hold with what I've seen," Jean remarks, "when I found Strange, I found a fragment of the Shadow King...I destroyed it, thinking it would help Strange...but I'm not sure if that was the right thing to do," Jean turns to look at Jeremy, curious about his input on the matter.

"I'll make sure to talk to Wong," Jean says to Rogue's suggestion, "care to introduce us? I don't really know the guy, and I don't want to freak him out...or get turned into something..." her green eyes shift to Jeremy, listening to the conversation, while asking one personal question telepathically <<why hide your age? We wouldn't have discriminated...or is there reason to hide who you are from me? I mean you no harm.>>

Shadow King has posed:
    "No, you disposed of a piece of the Shadow King inside strange?" Jeremy asks, suddenly horrified. He's playing, and smiles: "You did the right thing. That could have grown and possessed him. Maybe. But maybe that was Dr. Strange's plan. Why else would he take his physical body there, when the Shadow King was clearly god of that place?" Jeremy asks, relaxing back.

    "So, can he be extracted? Of course." Jeremy doesn't even blink about it. If it's difficult, Jeremy is a great poker player. "His mind's probably still an enormous mess, but like I said. I didn't know he'd lost it. Just that he was there. Being brought out of the plane could help with that. Hard to tell. I haven't dragged somebody out of the Plane before. But it might help with his sanity issue, to be taken around to all his familiar places, and not be in a kaleidoscope of purple astral galaxies," Jeremy recommends. Jean's mental question gets a little mental wink. <<Isn't it more fun this way?>>

    "He might start to believe he's a chicken if you leave him there, is all."

Storm has posed:
"I may be completely off in this regard, but hear me out..." Ororo begins slowly, and thoughtfully. "He is in a place that is not hospitable or even...necessarily able to cope with...the physical realm. Is it possible that the mind is untethered in such a place? The body has great influence over the mind. Chemicals and neurons. It is possible that his body is what has utterly lost its grip, and is grappling with the separation, while the mind is still present in the same place. There is usually a separation of the mind and body, when one enters the astral plane. Do we know what ramifications having the body present may have?"

Rogue has posed:
Rogue just smiles softly at Jean. "Sure thing, sugah." She replies to her. "We'll just get some ice cream from the store down the street from the Sanctum and then head over there any time ya wish. Ice cream brought to Wong pretty much makes him your best friend, unconditionally." Rogue then just places her left elbow down on the arm of the chair she's seated in and her eyes go over to the young man and then to Storm. She can't really help or comment on any of that stuff, but its interesting in an... Ancient Aliens sort've way, and now she's picturing that guy with the big bushy hair and the wild eyes. She's staring at Jeremy though, the most anyway, because there's something about him that is 'normal' but also pretty strange too. Probably just the mage part, wizards are weirdos after all.

Shadow King has posed:
    Jeremy looks at Ororo, and does hear her out, by all observations. "That could be it. There are not lots of cases on what happens to you if you are physically being twisted in the Astral plane. I sure wouldn't do it. The plane is composed of thought: just think about one of your dreams, and the stress of your body in a situatuon it believed was real, but was made of whatever you can think of." He shrugs. He's a little unempathetic about it, as if this were more of something outside of what he can have empathy with. Or he isn't close to Dr. Strange.

    "I will also accept ice cream," the boy says to Rogue, straight-faced.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean listens carefully to Storm's idea, "I would daresay the fact he think of it as hell, is likely helping him cope with the oddity. But we do need to get his physical body out of there as soon as possible," Jean does look just a bit unsettled, as she looks at Ororo and assures her, "I housed him in a place of my creation, with wards to protect him from beings of the Astral Plane. But we need him back, he is the Sorcerer Supreme, I don't know what horrors might be after our world without him." Jean does look curious at the suggestion of a separation, as she looks from Ororo to Jeremy, "is it possible his body still exists outside of the Astral Plane as well?"

Jean thumbs up at Rogue, "we'll do that, definitely."

"Ultimately, what should be our next step?" She looks to Ororo, ever valuing her opinion over most others.

Shadow King has posed:
    "I /do/ know where he was right before he went in there and had his battle," Jeremy says. "So I would say no, he's entirely in the plane, physically and mentally, somehow. Which is good and bad. For him. For you? Maybe easier, all the pieces of him being in one place saves you time." Jeremy follows Jean's look to Ororo, curious about the direction of that question, as it wasn't at him.

Storm has posed:
Storm nods quietly, taking in the information, and turning it over in her mind. She looks back up, briefly, to Jean, and then back to Jeremy. "What sort of preparation is involved, then, in extracting him from the astral plane? I assume it is not as simple as just pulling him out, or it would have been done a while ago."

Phoenix has posed:
"I would talk to the Professor, I imagine we should have the capability of achieving it together." Jean relates more to Ororo than to Jeremy, because she's not about to mention Cerebro to him.

But then as she looks at Ororo, she finally seems to have made a decision, <<'Ro, I apologize if this will turn really unfriendly, or he just goes away now...>>, and Jean turns to look directly at Jeremy. With Ororo there, and she outright questions, "Jeremy, Doctor Strange was concerned you were not entirely honest with us. With what has happened to him...did you have anything to do with it? You were in Mexico, albeit not directly in the sight of the battle. You are much older than you show yourself to be, and having reflected on what you said before...no, I don't like the mystery. You do know you had the Shadow King's dark influence in you, right? I can excise it much as I have with Strange..."

Shadow King has posed:
    Jeremy reclines a little more in his chair. As Rogue leaves he watches her, and the door close, and then smoothly looks across Ororo to Jean, with a thoughtful look. Patient, maybe. "I don't usually volunteer to do risky or elaborate things just because. This could kill him if not done well. You'll almost certainly need my help, though," Jeremy explains.

    "I removed the dark influence and bound it into an amulet. I did bring it, I thought you might want to look at it, if we were going to talk more about him."

    Jeremy watches them both. "This was easier. What are you afraid I am?" Jeremy counters, but it does look like real curiosity. "One of his agents?"

Storm has posed:
Ororo readily recognizes that the question is not for her, but she feels compelled to give some answer, for her part. "It is not my place to question at this juncture. If Jean has questions, then I am certain they are well-founded for her part. She knows you better than I. Please understand that we must all protect ourselves. And you, too."

Phoenix has posed:
"Great...I'm glad you've done so, and I would love to take a look at it," Jean says as Jeremy answers her, "do you intend to destroy that essence, or do you mean to use it?" Just a question, nothing more, but the option of the alternative does pertain to judgement of character. A study in response as it were, less brutal than direct telepathic gathering of answer. "I am afraid you will be the one that makes me destroy this school..." Jean speaks remarkable candidly with Jeremy, after all, he was privy to the fact she self exiled to Antarctica when she burned her own room uncontrollably thanks to the Shadow King some months back.

The presence of Ororo reassures her, and it also helps make it clear it's not so much an all out attack on Jeremy, as it is a demand for transperancy to appease concerns. "I have shared with you what I don't share with others, why can't you do the same in turn?" Jean asks, no doubt referring to the revelation about her connection with the X-Men.

Shadow King has posed:
    "Yes, you're beset on all sides, aren't you; makes you cautious. And you have kids to protect," Jeremy agreeably nods at Storm. There isn't threat in his tone, he's just observant. "Poking mama bears on top of their cubs would be quite dumb of me." He's at least suggesting he isn't here to do a battle.

    "As for the amulet, I intended only to use it to trade for imformation. You can have it, if you want it, in trade. It has some interesting 'pressures' in it, things he was suggesting be done." He reaches in his pack, draws out a single odd symbol of a slightly golden metal alloy on a short chain, and drapes it on the chair Rogue vacated, as if it was another person present.

    "He can't hear us, it's just a scrap," the young mage says, convincingly. "If you thought I would cause you to destroy the school, you wouldn't have invited me here, I think," Jeremy continues, going back to the first topic. "or it was to show trust, to get reciprocation from me. Which is pretty smart. I can tell we've hit a wall, though, and you won't talk to me much longer, even if I am helping, because of our trust problem."

Storm has posed:
Ororo narrows her eyes slightly as Jeremy hangs the amulet on the chair, then her gaze shifts to Jeremy himself, again. Her expression betrays no mistrust, nor does it indicate irritation. She is simply taking the pieces and fitting them together as they're laid out. Her suspicions are not misgivings, but they're there, all the same, on several fronts. "It takes a wise man to note the moment that an impasse has been reached," she states matter-of-factly. "Perhaps we should pause and reflect before proceeding."

Phoenix has posed:
"What is the information you seek...?" Jean asks Jeremy straight up, clearly having sated of games, just reflecting and having Storm by her side helped her find that determination. She needs to press forward, not keep playing with shadows. If she's honest with herself, she always felt Jeremy was a bit of a shadow, even before Strange her more aware of it.

"You're an astute fellow, 'Jeremy', assuming that's your name...misrepresenting age would suggest other inaccuracies," Jean offers in a bland tone, clearly taking specific effort to detach herself from emotional response. She is scared of something, and if someone was sharp and keen, they may realize it's not necessarily Jeremy, who is an unknown. "Our trust begins to falter, because it is one sided. I've revealed much, some which I shouldn't have, and you will remain obscure. It doesn't really encourage faith. I think now is a good point to take a break and reflect." Having said as much almost in unison with Ororo, Jean can't help but telepathically whisper to her <<jinx! It's like we both were taught by the Professor.>>

Shadow King has posed:
    "I want to know what you are doing here, what you will do on the Astral Plane. I want to look at Dr. Strange's weird condition, I think it's unusual. I /do/ want to know how his fight went down, and what spells he used." Jeremy pauses.

    "I thought, I STILL think, perhaps very accurately, that you have large predjudices. It is something of a very human thing. Mistrust. Even /hatred/, of that which is larger or even just different," sighs Jeremy. "I suppose we shall test it, then."

    The mage sits back, drops his foot, and suddenly there is a beautiful shower of colors. It is as if the ceiling opened to some other plane of wild energy, and it dashes down and across Jeremy. A moment later there is a raven made of feathers so black they are blue, slightly larger than a natural one. The magic swells around in a display of moving lights with fluttery little natural wings.

Storm has posed:
Storm watches the show, as the shimmering lights drift around the raven, and she tilts her head. Her eyes shine with a certain light of appreciation for the spectacle. But there is a hint of a smirk behind her gaze. Of her suspicion, she says nothing. "You /do/ have a rare talent, Jeremy."

Without so much as a glance to Jean, Ororo suggests simply a thought. <He is a talented illusionist. As are you. As was Paul Dannon.>

Phoenix has posed:
"Yes...it is a very human condition to mistrust," Jean concurs with Jeremy, before wondering aloud, "does that make you alien? divine? fae?" She tries whatever comes to mind from things she encountered before, only scratching off android, because she doesn't quite believe them capable of magic.

Jean remains perfectly calm as she witnesses the spectacular show, before looking evenly at the Raven. "Like Ororo, I am very much impressed. If we're being candid..." Jean's voice shifts all of a sudden, the show of faith, seems to bring some more in turn, "my prime concern is the balance of all things in the universe." Ororo might find it an odd thing for Jean to say, though Jean seems okay, other than her tone of voice becoming slightly more regal. "What is yours, 'Jeremy'?"

Shadow King has posed:
    Jeremy doesn't revert at first, the raven stays there, the dark eyes inspect them with a very sharp quality. He examines Jean very closely, as she does her other, more Important voice, weighing their response to him, maybe. He's really hard to read as a bird, there's no emotional cues from humanity to follow.

    "The universe! That is a very large thing to keep balance in," considers a disembodied magical voice from the raven's vicinity. "What a very big job. Some of us play roles that are not so simple," decides the creature, as if that definition amused him. "I like to see where the story goes, though. Someone like the Shadow King's narrative doesn't interest me, though."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean's voice shifts as quickly as it did before, and it seems her focus is not quite there, as she follows yet doesn't quite follow along. "The Shadow King walks a path of destruction...I wish he would have listened to me when we meet, I still believe I can help him..." Jean relates some of her optimistic, if not outright foolish drives, she's always been a bleeding heart out to fix the world for everyone. It's just not a very sustainable aspiration. "If you're one to observe...than we should be safe enough. Thank you for coming, we shall talk again...." Jean inclines her head at the Raven, before turning to Ororo, "I wanted to discuss some boring stuff to do with the school, if you can wait a minute longer..." <<are you certain he is more illusionist than anything else? I'd like to discuss the 'tell' you spotted at a later time. Also, we need to go shopping, I have to clear my mind from world shaking things.>>