6324/Jean Finds Logan

Jean Finds Logan
Date of Scene:	31 January 2019
Location:	Xavier's School, Westchester, New York
Synopsis:	Logan returns to the mansion, to a variety of welcomes.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Wolverine, Psylocke, Cyclops, Rage

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Phoenix has posed:
Jean was working in her office when she suddenly felt a presence she hadn't felt in quite some time, Logan was back. That made her drop everything and storm out of her office, following her telepathy, she makes her way to the backyard, green eyes scanning for a certain tough guy she'd very much like to have words with. On the bright side, she doesn't invade his mind telepathically, just cheats into finding him.

Wolverine has posed:
    Just like the Canadian to show back up as if nothing had happened. The first blip had been out near the garage. He'd emerged from there, scowling to himself as he'd taken off the gloves he'd been wearing and stuffing them in the heavy pockets of his pea coat. Outside it's cold, old dirty snow clinging to the sides of the sidewalk and giving the Winter that dingy look that only comes several months in.
    Up along the walk, Logan moved, lifting his chin slightly as he takes in the place, the subtle scents, the distant noises of the student population. But what grabbed his attention as he advanced along the side of the manor wasn't some of the stonework that'd been redone. It wasn't even the new vehicle in the garage. What grabbed his attention was the firewood bin.
    And it being empty.
    A snort came from him, shaking his head as he muttered, "More things change..." And leaves it at that. He does, however, stroll past that bin, yanking open the tool compartment and taking the axe out of there. It's slung over his shoulder as he starts to walk out across that back lawn as if nothing had happened, not a thing had changed.
    And of course that's the moment Jean sees him.

Phoenix has posed:
In her rush to go after Logan, Jean did remember to put on a coat, it's a red one, goes well with her hair. But the leggings she's wearing, are probably less suitable for being outside at the moment, not that she seems to pay too much attention to it. Focused as she is on Logan, "welcome home," she calls out, her friendly greeting not enough to hide the angry tone of her voice.

Wolverine has posed:
    Footsteps falter and Logan turns. He slings that axe over his shoulder and cocks an eyebrow curiously, but then his lip curves a little higher as he gives a nod. "Jeanie." He can't avoid the first wash of pleasure, welcoming at the sight of her. But his eyes narrow subtly as he picks up on that particular fire in the redhead's eyes.
    His eyebrows lift and he gives a nod, swinging the axe back down and resting it on the steel-toe of his work boot, both hands resting on the bottom of the grip, one atop the other. Head tilting to the side, "Looks like you got a mad on."

Phoenix has posed:
"Hi," Jean replies when Logan acknowledges her, "are you feeling better, Logan? Did time off help level you out a bit?" She asks somewhat contemptously, so clearly something is on her mind.

"Yes, I do have a bit of that, what happened to telling me no problems, when I asked you to help with the little one. She felt betrayed, and went on to the Themysciran Embassy, and then later on I had a visit from Wonder Woman, asking me about abuse of students in our school..." Jean sounds exasperated and livid, but from what she describes, one could easily imagine why. "Since then, Laura is back with us, but she needs to know she's one of us, she needs to feel welcomed and wanted, and not just because she can kill people hundred different ways in according to varying time restrictions..."

Psylocke has posed:
    The backdoor opens to allow another figure to exit. Betsy is dressed for the weather. Jeans, a heavy cream colored sweater, a heavy coat over the top. Waterproof boots protect her feet from the snow.
    She had picked up on the location of the person she'd been hoping to see. This had been a while coming and it was time to just bite the bullet and just talk.
    She approached the pair, her steps slowed as she heard the tail end of what was being said. Her lavender eyebrows were lifted slightly and she paused, glancing toward the mansion as she considered the need for a strategic retreat.

Wolverine has posed:
    Across the way, some thirty feet on towards the back yard itself, stand Jean and Logan apparently having something of a furtive conversation. Jean's back is likely towards the door, but Logan's standing there weathering the admonishment with that rather set look to his face, the same way he just endures the Winter. With a bit of a scowl.
    That isn't to say he isn't listening. He gives a nod and has the composure to look down a bit, then back up into Jean's eyes as she finishes detailing what had passed. One hand lifts lightly from the axe handle as if to bid her to hold off for a moment near the end. Then he answers, "Look, Jeanie."
    He looks past the redhead on towards the Psychic Ninja and her new arrival. He manages a small half-smirk as if recognizing the awkwardness that may be there in this moment. But then it's back to Ms. Grey. "I get what yer sayin'. And ta be fair I agree with ya. I was dealin'..." He stops a moment, then lifts his chin as if to add a bit more authority. "I did have my own selfish thing goin' on. And she was the main reason I was comin' back."

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott stepped into the kitchen to get himself a warm cup of coffee to help himself get through the day and through the cold. He wears what looks like a sweater that Bill Cosby wore 30 some odd years ago and he wears it fairly well. Beneath is a pair of warm flannel pajamma bottoms worn under a pair of loose jeans, gotta stay warm. He grabs his coffee in hand and peeks outside the window spotting the trio and frowns to himself.

    Scott grabs a beanie and slips it on, obviously someone elses, but it's near the door and the big bold red white and blue Rangers cap will keep him warm. He steps over to the group, rubber boots crunching the snow beneath their tread. Scott starts to say something as a greeting, but he holds his tongue and allows Jean to speak while giving Betsy a lift of his coffee cup as a Hello and a soft nod to Logan. Chin down, not up. Logan hasn't earned that yet.

Phoenix has posed:
Jean crosses her arms at the 'look Jeannie' part, at least having the decency to let Logan have his words, and make his statements, rather than go on like a hurricane and never giving him a chance. In that regard, she's actually become better than when she was a little know it all founding member of the X-Men.

Haing her focus entirely on Logan and the anger within her, she doesn't quite notice Betsy arriving on scene. "Really...?" Jean doesn't sound entirely convinced, but she does approve of the idea Logan is back for Laura, "well, I'd like to have a second meeting between us, and I'll explain to her it was a misunderstanding, and then you make sure she doesn't feel like you want nothing to do with her, ok? Can you manage that much?"

Psylocke has posed:
    As Logan glances her direction, Betsy is already starting to turn around to take that retreat gracefully. Only to find Scott has walked up. She gives a nod to him when he raises the cup of coffee.
    She points to the pair conversing, makes a negative shake of her head, then points to the door to invite the Leader of the X-Men to join her in running away from this before the get caught up in it.

Wolverine has posed:
    As Scott comes up Logan sort of lets a long slow exhalation of breath slip from between his lips, barely contained in its exasperation. Perhaps in the situation. Perhaps in the individuals that have arrived. Whatever the case may be it is enough that he sort of chews on the inside of his cheek and then returns the nod towards Scott.
    "Summers."
    That having been said he turns back fully to Jean and says to her. "I figure I can manage that much. Mebbe more." He takes the axe back up and settles it over one shoulder, blade down as he murmurs, "Fer now though. We can walk and talk if ya feel like you need ta get more of that mad out in the open. M'gonna go take down that old beech tree that was dyin'."
    A glance towards Elizabeth and Scott, "Yer welcome ta come. Figure you guys can tote and carry with the best of 'em." If they want.

Cyclops has posed:
    With a steam of breath from his nose, Scott looks to the duo talking and then back to Betsy and gives her a nod in the affirmative before taking a sip of his coffee and wincing. "Oooh, hot." He grumbles and tries to cool off his tongue with a few quick and heavy breaths.

    Scott looks back to Jean and Logan after his outburst and then to Betsy with a frown. Maybe his accidental outburst doesn't count as entering the conversation, but Logan also spoke to him too. "Yeah, we'll need the fire wood." Scott says, if he's being dragged down, so is Betsy.

Phoenix has posed:
"Is that all you think of me?" Jean grumbles, as Logan offers her to tag along just to vent on him further, if she needed it. "You were gone a long time, idiot," she first hits Logan with her elbow, and then goes to give him an embrace. "Welcome back, bonehead, I meant it. Good to have you back. Just, try to be less stupid, particularly with young torture survivors like Laura who needs your support."

She breaks the embrace, assuming Logan allowed it in the first place, when she realizes Scott and Betsy are there as well, turning to face them, "so...hi." She says, kindly enough not asking how much of her conversation with Logan they heard. "Guess we may as well help Logan with the wood? A nighttime reading by the fire place will be a nice reward."

Psylocke has posed:
    As Scott betrays her tiny trust, Betsy gives him her best death glare. Then she huffs out a breath and gives a nod, glancing to the duo that started this party out in the freezing weather.
    "Jean, when you are available later, I do need to speak to you. I didn't want to interrupt..." She lets that trail off, not quite sure how to say it delicately. So better to not say it. "I'll be glad to help with the firewood."

Wolverine has posed:
    The hug is held and Logan smirks wryly, but his eyes are warm as he thumps Jean on the back gently, holding her close. Then he steps back, axe still across his shoulder. "S'good to be back, Jean."
    But he nods a little more solemnly at the mention of Laura, his eyes clouding with some distant thoughts about the matter. Yet it's after that that he'll turn towards the others and say, "Bets, Summers. Floor's open, I think I've paid my pound of flesh fer the moment." He turns and starts down the way towards the trail and the gate that leads out towards the expanse of forest behind the manor house.
    It's as he's walking that he asks over his shoulder, "Actually I'd appreciate bein' brought up to speed on what's gone down. Been outta touch fer a bit."

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott whispers to Betsy, "I'm not going to suffer this alone." Before he takes another sip of his coffee and again complains of the heat. The man trudges through the snow with someone else's beanie and with a 90's sweater on. He's high class right now. "Logan."

    "I don't think you get to decide when Jean is done tearing you a new one." Scott says, taking a side in the matter based on the idea that Jean is the one who hasn't run away, she's basically been a constant here and Logan, well he hasn't. Scott probably should fill Logan in, but that can wait for Jean to decide if the moment's past. But they did hug...

    "We've had a few reports of mimics, copies. First Rogue and now there is a report from Lorna that Bobby has a clone."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean nods at Logan, leaving anything else she might have said unspoken, as she turns to look at Betsy, "of course, I'm sorry I've been so busy, I really hope the Professor will come back soon, this administrative work isn't fun at all, I'll have you know." Then she adds a telepathically to Betsy <<anything urgent?>>

"I appreciate that, Scott, but I've said what I had to say," Jean notes, while sending a smile at Scott, before frowning at the mention of another clone surfacing. "This is not good."

As they walk on the path to the wood, Jean mentions to Logan, "some sort of creature, which I assume is demonic, created and controlled a husk, a copy of Rogue, that copy is now formant in the medical lab after Pixie struck it with her soul dagger. So, it has to be magic, or demonic."

She pauses, and then quips as if in an after though, "Shadow King tried to take over the Astral Plane, took control of Emma Frost, we've been over that stuff, Psylocke was a great help." But before he could have a hope of remarking about that, she finally notes, "a few floors and the roof have holes in them, that's from Rogue's doppleganger, being repaired as we speak."

Wolverine has posed:
    Over his shoulder to Scott, Logan asks off-handedly, "That true?" Not doubting them but perhaps looking for elaboration on the matter. He reaches the wrought iron gate and pushes it open with a metal creak. He holds it open for the others to precede him and once they're through he closes it behind them.
    Stepping back onto the path, he nods off into the distance toward where that old beech tree stands dead, its upper boughs leaning against the other trees near it. A good five minute walk, to be fair. "Jean, you or Bets can sense them as clones or are they too hard to tell the difference?"
    Ducking under a tree branch he holds it out of the way of the others as they pass. "We gonna stand around with a petris dish and a hot wire ta see who's who?"

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott chimes it, "Maybe not as we speak." As he's mainly the one doing the repairs. "But I'm working on it." Scott says with a sigh. The leader follows the group closely, occasionally taking a sip from his coffee, and stealing glances from behind his ruby glasses at the three he walks with. "It's all true, as far as I know, Jean and Betsy would be the ones to ask about the demoic part. That I have no clue, but the Rogue copy had almost all of original Rogue's powers, at least the Carol stuff, we're not sure about the touching and absorbing part." Scott relays the information. "We also rescued some kids from an enraged town in Canada, but that was pretty typical stuff."

Phoenix has posed:
"It's worse Logan, they're not clones, they're empty shells. It's the one pulling the strings that bring them to life, their minds are empty," Jean explains it as best she can, which is almost one hundred percent accurate, minus perhaps the demon puppeteer being present. But then she already mentioned a demon likely in control.

Psylocke has posed:
    As they walk, Betsy doesn't have a lot to add. She's not been around for the most recent escapades. She does give a brief nod and smile to Jean for her mention on the Shadow King situation but it is old news, not something she feels the need to get into as she is getting information at the same time as Logan about the most recent goings on.
    She does send silently to Jean, <<Not urgent. Just need a change of pace for a bit.>> The fact that something demonic is involved with these shell clones has her frowning and giving voice to a question of her own. "So they have no minds yet they somehow have all the powers of the originals? That's strange. Did Hank test the one we still have to see if it is a true clone that was modified by this demonic presence?"

Wolverine has posed:
    Logan's succinct answer to Scott's words is a simple grunt of acknowledgement and little more. He turns his attention towards Jean and Psylocke, looking between the two of them as they continue their walk, now out of the sunlight but with a greater chill to the air in the darkened shadow. He nods at Jean's explanation and scowls a little deeper.
    Starting up the rise towards where the old tree rests, Logan says, "Alright when we head back let me take a gander at one of the clones. I'll see if it smells any different than the real thing." If it does then... yeah. That'll not be good.
    That having been said he sets the axe down near the base of the tree, spits into his hands and rubs them together before taking it back up, and then says. "Stand over here." He motions with a nod. And then he brings the axe back... then forwards with a /CHOK!/
    In between swings he'll pause and ask, "Anyone talked to Illyana about the demon junk?"

Cyclops has posed:
    "We haven't heard from her in some time. Not since Strange was in the basement." Red-eye says, a look back to the two ladies with a shrug of his shoulders as he takes another sip of his coffee. "And we only have the one, The reported Bobby clone is just that. Reported. Not confirmed."

    With that Scott looks to Jean and then Betsy with a look of revoltion on his face. "Yeah, you keep that axe buddy." Scott says with his eyebrows visible over his glasses. Gross.

Rage has posed:
Making her way out from the backyard is Andrea, who is taking a trip out into the woods as she hears the distinct chopping in the distance. She is wearing a baggy NYU sweater, a pair of fitted jeans and some boots to go along with a puffy black parka. The New Mutant has a pensive look on her face, thoughtful.

Phoenix has posed:
"That's great," Jean notes at Logan's offer, turning to Scott and Betsy as she presses a finger to her nose, "because the nose knows," she giggles, as if at some inside joke, before turning back to Logan, "I've been trying to get Illyana, but she must be in Limbo or something, couldn't reach her...luckily Pixie was on the grounds to help dispose of the Rogue doppleganger, she could have gotten away otherwise."

Psylocke has posed:
    Nothing like a parade. The quartet of X-Men had trailed into the woods, following along with Logan who was going to do the work. Especially after he licked his hands before proceeding. A faint giggle came from Betsy as Scott asserted who now owned that axe.
    She takes up her spot to the side, watching Logan work. Feeling a hint of a mind approaching, she glanced in the direction Andrea was coming from before the girl came into view.

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott stands slackjawed for a brief moment with his eyes on Jean, but he shakes his head and says to Logan, "You better have used just the one, Spits-in-hands." Scott says, never one to shy getting dirty, but seriously, why spit in your hands. It does nothing. "Pixie or Rogue? They both should still be around, but I'm not sure. I don't have a nose like yours, or a brain like either of you two." Scott says, he just has his own ways to keep track of other people, that being, other people. What's a good leader that can't delegate? "Now, great chopper, got any ideas on how to drag this back up to the school?"

Rage has posed:
Hearing the cracking of the tree, Andrea makes sure she is out of the timber line. Coming into view, she slides her hands out of her pockets with a furrow of her brows. "Hey, guys." She says to the staff as she clears her throat, lifting a hand upwards. She waits for a pause in conversation as she shuffles her way mostly towards Scott's side. ".. Uh.. I need to talk to you guys about something important.."

Phoenix has posed:
"I'm pretty sure you've always done the bigger share of wood cutting around here, Logan, no doubt about it," Jean notes before musing somewhat teasingly, "didn't you get all that chopping experience from your time on the frontier?" Yeah, yeah, Logan is ancient, everybody knows that.

"I'd love to get Illyana's input, if we can find her, you know...a Queen of Demons isn't always available just because we want her to be," Jean says that half seriously, actually. Then Logan makes his note, and Jean turns just in time to see Andrea arrive, "hello, Andrea, out for a freezing stroll? Or did you feel like helping us carry the wood back? Because you're just in time." Even though she knew it was going to happen, Jean still jumps a bit as the tree falls, "it certainly made a sound. So now we know that much."

Looking at Andrea when she mentions something important, Jean signals to her to speak up.

Psylocke has posed:
    "Hello, Andrea," Betsy offers in greeting to the student although she hasn't budged from her spot off to the side. Eventually the tree will be in small enough chunks for them to carry.
    She keeps her attention mostly on Andrea, though she has a half an eye on what Logan is doing.

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott could help, but he's begun to view this work as penance for Logan's sabatical, but he doesn't say that out loud, and thankfully his thought process gets interrupted. "Hey Andrea." As everyone else asked what was so important, Scott decides to remain quiet and allow the girl to speak and get to it, couldn't be good and yet it couldn't be that bad as she came to him in the open like this.

Wolverine has posed:
    Features twisting as Logan finishes slashing off the last of the branches, he turns and straightens to give a nod towards Jean and Scott as he tosses some of the branches off to the side and murmurs, "Reckon this is in yer all's wheelhouse." He takes up the first ten foot length of the tree and slips it under arm, starting to drag it along.
    Towards Andrea he gives a nod, "Figure we can get a track on what's needed, and when it's time ta bust heads then gimme a ring." With that said he starts to drag along the partial length of the tree, starting down the hillock.

Cyclops has posed:
    Scott takes a moment to listen to the story and with a quickness he rarely shows at the school, he motions for Andrea to follow him inside, "I'll catch up with you all later." And with that, the Leader takes his student inside and will get to the bottom of these issues as best he can and as quickly and quietly as he can.