6448/Speak English!

Speak English!
Date of Scene:	11 February 2019
Location:	Xavier's School, Westchester, New York
Synopsis:	Betsy finally has her talk with Jean and admits it. She hates teaching English to Americans! There is also a discovery made about Jean's very unique situation.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Psylocke

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Phoenix has posed:
The nice things about telepath, is that unlike most, they have more or less an ever present quick access txt messaging system on demand. When Betsy informed Jean that she wanted to talk, the reply was instantenous as Jean sent back, <<stop by my room, I have some time now, Betsy. If you bring tea with you, we'll have something to drink,>> a soft tip, but it's rather clear, Jean would like some tea.

Psylocke has posed:
The request earns a small laugh from Betsy but she rises from her desk and the pile of papers that need grading. Off to the kitchen where she puts together a nice service.

About ten minutes later, she is knocking on Jean's door then opening it once given permission. She is balancing a silver tray with a teapot, cups on saucers, sugar bowl and a cup of cream. "I hope Earl Grey is alright? It sounded good to me." She carries the tray further into the room, looking for a good place to set it down.

Phoenix has posed:
"Oh do come in, no need to knock," Jean says from within the room, going as far as to telekinetically open the door for Betsy, assuming her hands would be full with a tray. When Betsy comes in and indeed there is a tray of tea, Jean looks quite pleased, giving a small cheer, "yes!" The door closing behind Betsy, she invites her to join her by the fireplace. Looks like making Headmistress got her some parks in the choice of room upgrade. "Earl Grey is delightful, and not just because we share a surname," Jean laughs, "so what is it you wanted to discuss?"

Psylocke has posed:
"Thank you." Betsy sets the tray on a table and then goes about serving the tea. The leaves are in the cups in infusers. She pours the hot water over them to start them steaping. Then she sits and looks to Jean, taking a quick breath before she speaks.

"I would like to resign from teaching staff for a time." There. Quick like a bandaid.

Phoenix has posed:
"You do make the best tea, Betsy," Jean says with a smile, a slight uncertainty about her, as she asks curiously, "say...when you make tea...how do you feel about it? In your heart?" Jean looks a bit conflicted, and then offers, "if you keep it a secret, I think I am more than just Jean..." her words are very hushed, as if she's worried she might be overheard. "And...I think you are best qualified to have a perspective about being more than just oneself. Does tea remind you more of England or of Japan?" It seems like such a silly, trivial question, yet with Betsy it might be a loaded one. Jean just felt the need to talk to anyone about such a state. She hadn't really had much time lately to talk to anyone about her needs, her fears, her concerns, it was all mostly focused on worrying and caring for others.

But then comes Betsy's sharp and to the point reply, and Jean blinks, looking a bit stunned. "Are you sure about that, Betsy...? Does it have to do with any troubles with students? Or something more important in your life?"

Psylocke has posed:
"American's don't speak English. They certainly don't write it. It's been extremely difficult for me to teach the subject in the American way," Betsy admits with a hint of a smile. "M-e-t-r-e is how it should be spelled to my mind. So when I have to spell it m-e-t-e-r or see it that way on a paper, I have to keep myself from correcting the student. I've done it for two years but honestly, I just need a break. If there was some other subject but all the positions are filled and honestly, no one wants to be the one teaching English."

She gives enough time then rises to finish the tea. She puts some cream and sugar in hers then raises each in question to Jean, following her wishes before offering the cup and saucer to the redhead. Betsy sits back down, pulling over her own cup. "As for the two sides of me? It depends on the type of tea and what cups I have available. I know that seems strange but it is true. If it is something like this," she says, lifting the cup and saucer she his holding as the smell of Earl Grey wafts into the air. "Then it is British. If I had a Japanese service and tea from there, the other side would speak to me more." She tilts her head a bit, looking at Jean with concern. "You think you are more than one being now?"

Phoenix has posed:
Jean laughs at Betsy's way of putting it, "oh, I believe we don't. But we do try our best, don't we?" Jean offers with a playful batting of lashes at Betsy, as if she was a student trying to endear on her for a better grade. Who says Jean never gets playful? That's Scott's territory, Jean definitely has her fun moments. "I can certainly relate to that, Betsy, if anything, I feel like a terrible person for keeping you in that job for so long. It's like torture," Jean laughs, after all, they both know Betsy been through real torture. And for all it's negatives, teaching English wasn't the worst of it. But at least Jean understood where Betsy was coming from.

Reaching for a sip of the tea, Jean closes her eyes as she savors the flavor, "my...it's perfection, Betsy, and of course, you're welcome to leave your post, and you can have it or any other subject any time you feel like you'd like to return to teaching. But I don't blame you...you have a very good reason."

When her answer is answered, Jean has her complete attention on Betsy, drinking every word, and looking extremely grateful that Betsy didn't take offense. "So the type of tea, or serving pots has a lot to do with it? I guess that makes sense." She does fall silent when Betsy shows she didn't entirely miss out on the reason Jean was asking.

Jean delays expertly by sipping more tea, before eventually whispering, "you know how recently my powers have been manifesting fire and flames when I use them...and then, that fire bird, the raptor, that seem to materialize around me when I use the high end of my powers...?" She pauses again, and then whispers, "after getting to work with Doctor Strange, having a run in with aliens, and...well...experiencing more..." she sighs, "I think it's more than just pretty fiery effects."

Psylocke has posed:
Betsy gives her full attention as Jean admits in a whisper her concerns. She can tell it is bothering her friend by her mannerismis and pattern of speech. She sets down her cup on the side table and reaches out to rest a hand atop Jean's, an offer of support in this difficult moment.

"We had all noticed the changes in your powers, of course," she admits. There is no reason to deny it. It wasn't like she was engulfed in a fiery bird form before she had disappeared for months. "You suspect ..." She pauses, not sure exactly how to phrase this. "That there may be another entity joined with you. Would you like me to look? To see if I can find something?"

Phoenix has posed:
Jean looks up at Betsy and smiles at the touch on her hand, appreciating the show of support, something she couldn't ask outright, but is very glad to have it given freely. Jean nods as Betsy states the obvious, quipping, "for the longest time I thought I was just getting better, learning to control my powers more, achieving more...you know? Like when the Professor unlocked the blocks he placed on me, and suddenly the world of telepathy opened to me after I thought I was only a telekinetic."

Jean looks hesitant at Betsy's offer, "I think I would...my only concern is, I think whatever it is, has been quite amicable towards me. I'm not sure if it would change its mind if I have people openly look into it. What do you think is right?" The fact she consults with Betsy on something that normally would be reserved to the Professor alone, shows how much she respects and trusts her friend.

Psylocke has posed:
"Honestly? I think you deserve to know. I saw what you managed to do while were on that mission to Mexico. It didn't seem like you," Betsy tells her honestly. "If there is something there, it may be friendly. It obviously has been working with you and helping you. Or it may be something in your own psyche and it would be good to know that, to see if it is something that needs repair."

She thinks a moment, glancing down at their hands then looking back to Jean's face. "If we approach this as not an invasion, perhaps it won't be offended? If it is amicable, it should understand our concern for your well being."

Phoenix has posed:
"I think you're right..." Jean seems to find resolve in Betsy putting it in as simple a term as possible. She does deserve to know, it doesn't matter what's the end result. Better than to be delusional. Especially with how Betsy reminds her of the action in Mexico against the Shadow King and his host. "True, that was...incredible. I was trying to push as far as I could, but it felt like...I was given a hand?" She's unsure what's the true way to put it, but Betsy had a point.

Jean sips some more tea, before putting her cup aside, "fine, I'm ready," she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, "have a look..."

Psylocke has posed:
"If there is any sort of problem, I will withdraw immediately," Betsy promises. She takes a last sip. If this goes badly, she will go with a taste of good tea.

She opens her mind, the lavender butterfly image beginning to glow in front of her face, centered on her eyes. She allows her mind to reach over for Jean's, entering gently so as not to seem like an attacker. Her exploration is slow, polite, respectful. No poking into dark areas trying to find secrets but she is looking to see if there is anything in there that doesn't feel like the woman she knows. <<Is there anyone here with Jean? I mean no harm. I seek only information.>>

Phoenix has posed:
Jean herself is welcoming Betsy, so her normal defenses are down, and there's no blocks of any kind as Betsy reaches into Jean's mind. At first there's no reply. Nothing happens. But as request for information is made, and the question wasn't asked in an aggresive tone, suddenly the entire surrounding changes into a star map of the cosmos. It's colorful, cosmic, and beautiful...but also incredible massive. <<Who asks...and why?>> comes a voice that answer, weirdly, seeming to have no source. It's like it echoes all around Jean's mind.

Psylocke has posed:
As the mindscape shifts, Betsy is given the feeling that she is insignificant to that realm. Which may be a reflection of the way the entity that speaks to her feels. She is nothing to it perhaps? Or maybe it isn't so simplistic as that.

<<I am Betsy Braddock, also known as Psylocke to my teammates. Jean is my friend. She is confused by what is happening to her and asked me for help. I only wish to understand so that she can feel reassured. Who are you so I may know how to address you properly?>>

Phoenix has posed:
Whatever the reason behind that specific background for their conversation, the voice within Jean doesn't explain itself, and it seems Jean actively taking herself out of the equation helped to force it to appear before Betsy. Perhaps it was simply intrigued to get to know a close friend of Jean, after all, there's no telling just how long it's been there, even though Jean and Betsy have a good guesstimate.

<<You've known since Jean elected to change her codename...I am Phoenix.>> The entity addresses Betsy, providing the name, which in turn gives a very close approximation of when she became one with Jean, seeing how Jean did go by Marvel Girl before she was gone for all those months, and then returned.

<<I am merely providing the help that was asked for...without me, Jean would be dead, suffering the pains your atmosphere would tax a human passing through. Death.>>

Psylocke has posed:
It wasn't a surprise. The fiery raptor with the change of codename. They thought they had lost her but she had survived and this entity was the reason why.

<<I thank you for saving her. She means a lot to me. To all of us. She's our friend. By joining with her, you saved her life? Is that why you remain? To keep her from dying?>> It is a little presumptious to ask perhaps but Betsy has no idea what sort of entity she is dealing with. Yet, it will be able to sense she is being honest and open.

Phoenix has posed:
<<I deemed her worthy,>> is all that the Phoenix offers for the thanks, suggesting perhaps that it wasn't an act done for kindness. There's silence that follows, as if the entity is entertaining the thought of giving any answers at all. It's no wonder, that much as Betsy expected, it doesn't like the idea of having to answer to anyone, nor offering explanations.

<<I give you word that my purpose is not to twist her as the Shadow King twisted people. I am here to offer protection.>> She doesn't say to whom or why, but from the silence that follows, it doesn't seem like she's in the mood to continue the discussion.

Psylocke has posed:
While Betsy may want more answers, she knows not to press. <<Again, thank you. It is good to know more. I will explain to Jean though, perhaps, you should speak with her sometime so she is better prepared for this dual existence.>>

And with that, Betsy withdraws from Jean's mind, leaving the Phoenix within to its existence. As the purple butterfly fades, she gives her friend a tight smile. "You are no longer alone. The entity is called Phoenix, in case you hadn't guessed. It claims it saved your life at your request. It has remained because it has deemed you worthy. I have no idea what that means but the mindscape it shared..." She sends an image of the cosmic map she had been drawfed by. "It also says it is there to protect you, not harm. That it doesn't intend to twist you as the Shadow Kind would have."

Phoenix has posed:
A very odd parting words are offered right as Betsy parts, making it questionable if she managed to hear it all or not, but the entity echoes, <<I am Jean, and she is Phoenix. I am Phoenix, she is Jean.>> A tease? A puzzle? Some deeper meaning? Or perhaps something meant to discourage attempting a separation? Whatever the case, those seem to be the fleeting words before Betsy steps out of Jean's mind.

Jean opens her eyes when Betsy steps out, for a brief moment, her eyes are without pupils, glowing white, just as they did in Mexico, before the brilliant white fades to reveal her normal green eyes.

Jean embraces Betsy when she informs her of the absolute truth. For once, she won't have to doubt herself. "Thank you for convincing me to do this, Betsy, it does feel better to know rather than to doubt." Although Jean does smirk at herself and shakes her head, "and here I thought I had a spark of inspiration to come up with a much better name than Marvel Girl." She tsks at herself, "I should have known better, I don't usually have great ideas like that."

Jean takes the rest of Betsy's information in silence, contemplating every word carefully, will looking a bit awed at the cosmic image projected by Betsy. "I have to admit, on the one hand it's beautiful, on the other? It puts the whole trick of higher chair behind the desk, shorter chair infront of it to shame...she meant to make herself grandiose, didn't she?" Seems Jean and Betsy share a similar read on that decision. "Did I reach out for help...?" Jean bites her lower lips, suddenly reliving those precious moments of piloting the breaking shuttle through the atmosphere, using here telekinesis to keep it together while trying to still manage to navigate as safe a landing as possible, as her own body was blasted with flames and radiation. "You know what...? I think I let out a wide telepathic broadcast begging for help...because I was afraid to die...I didn't want to leave you guys behind." Jean looks stunned at the memory she suppressed for so long, "you think I might have reached that 'Phoenix' somehow? I wonder what would make me 'worthy' though...and what's the cost of the 'help' I was offered?"

She then embraces Betsy all the tighter, leaning close to her ear as she whispers, "Betsy, would you do me a favor? Could you please not share this with anyone...I mean, if you can? I'm worried they may think I'm not fit...I think so far I'm still in control. It's only recently I began to suspect I wasn't alone. I want to try and deal with it, if I can, without others leering my way or thinking I'm crazy. Do you know my past? I don't think I can handle that...not again."