8568/So I Needed To Talk To You

So I Needed To Talk To You
Date of Scene:	29 July 2019
Location:	Betsy Braddock's Apartment - NYC
Synopsis:	Kitty visits Betsy's apartment. A blessing is given, and a plan for the spreading of wings is supported.
Cast of Characters:	Shadowcat, Psylocke

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Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty had texted, saying there was something she needed to talk to Betsy about, and could she come over. When the time came that they'd arranged to meet, Kitty was there, waiting for it to be time to go knock on Betsy's door. She does, her mind whirling with so many thoughts, and how to say it.

Hearing someone thinking about you might be like hearing someone calling your name. It is quite possible Betsy will pick up Kitty's thoughts before the door is even open. If so? Kitty is thinking about Peter Parker. Kitty's mental image of Peter is even more handsome than he really is. It's like the mental version of a camera shot that softens the image and brightens it to make everything about it better.

But while those thoughts are there, the bulk of Kitty's thoughts are worry. Worry about hurting her friendship with Betsy. And when the door is opened, there's Kitty, wringing her hands together, though giving Betsy a hopeful smile. "Hey, Betsy. I hope... I hope this is an ok time," she says.

Psylocke has posed:
When Betsy opens the door, it is done in an almost wary way. She does not look wary, but it's very clear on her face that she has heard the thoughts through the door and she's wondering just exactly what it's all about. She can put two and two together, but at the same time years spent as a telepath have taught her well enough that immediately letting people know that you can hear their thoughts is rude. Even when you can't help but hear them, it's always nice to pretend that they're the one person you can't. So she puts on her curious, pleasantly-surprised little smile and opens the door all the way.

"Oh! Hullo, Katherine. It's ... oh, I suppose it's as good a time as any. Illyana's out but she tends to just ... reappear, so if our duo become a trio all of sudden, you'll know why. How can I help?"

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty will move inside as the door is opened for her. "I've spent the whole trip over trying to decide what to say, and... you probably already know, don't you," she says, letting out a breath. She's been around telepaths for a full third of her life, though it took actually getting her for it to hit home that Betsy would probably know from Kitty's agitated mind before she could even say something.

Still, seeing Kitty's unease speaks to how much the matter means to her and worries her. "So, um. Peter? We'd just been talking. We'd both been through breakups recently. And, um. Well, chemistry, and the biology of slugs, and... oh god I'm rambling," Kitty says, running her fingers through her hair.

"I wasn't intending it, but I've kind of... started developing some feelings for him. And I know you two split, and you've got Illyana now. Which, that's awesome by the way. I'm so happy to see you both happy. But, I know that doesn't mean... I mean he was your fiance and. And I don't want to hurt our friendship..." Kitty says, trailing off.

Psylocke has posed:
"Kitty," Betsy says quietly, using the diminutive nickname which is such a rarity for the refined Englishwoman, "I heard you before you even got in the elevator. The thoughts you're having are rather the equivalent to standing in the street and yelling into a megaphone - there's quite a lot of emotion tied up in them."

The way Kitty explains it only prompts the violet woman's polite smile to slowly crack open into a broad, delighted grin. She reaches out to take her hand, giving it an affectionate little squeeze and leaning in as though sharing some great conspiracy that no other soul will be privy to.

"I think you're perfect for each other. You're both, for want of a better word, hopelessly dorky - which I hope you understand I mean with all the love in the world. You're both smart - you're looking at a Thames University scholar in the field of physics and that man ran rings around me when it came to science. Most importantly you're good people. You do the right thing because it's the right thing, not for any other reason. I want you to know you never need my permission to be happy, but if it's that important then you have it."

Shadowcat has posed:
The release of nervous energy creates a tremble in Kitty's hands before it has all passed. "Oh thank God," Kitty says, and will move to give Betsy a tight hug unless she's stopped. "I... you are just the best person, Betsy," Kitty says, hugging the English woman tightly.

She finally lets go enough to see the other woman's face. Kitty smiles a bit, looking down. "We are both hopelessly dorky, yes," she says with a little grin. "It's one of his most endearing qualities," she adds.

Kitty smiles a bit. "I... I just don't want anything to hurt our friendship, And, oh God you're just the best," Kitty says, and throws her arms around Betsy to give her another tight hug.

She finally lets go again. "Thank you. I... um, you're really the best, you know that?"

Psylocke has posed:
"I'm hardly that," Betsy says, her tone quiet and her features momentarily drawn before she is once again all smiles and sunshine, "I really meant that you don't need my blessing. I had my shot and I rather let it slip by. We were never quite the fit I liked to pretend we were. But I can already see a lot of promise there between you two."

She returns the hug lightly, patting Kitty on the shoulder and leading the way into the apartment proper, "I will give you some advice, though. He is perpetually late. Every plan you make is almost destined to start late or finish early with little to no excuse. But for all of that, you mustn't ever be mad at him because of it ... believe me, he's a good person and he wouldn't mistreat you."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty's thoughts are becoming much calmer, and her normal warmth that results in people frequently being pleasantly disposed towards her, is there in her thoughts as well. "I'll try not to let it be upsetting if so," Kitty says, nodding. She follows Betsy further in, not looking around for Magik, and also glad that she wasn't there. Just in case Betsy reacted negatively, she didn't want it to cause problems for their relationship.

"We're still getting to know each other, definitely. Just... yes. It surprised how me how well we seemed to mesh. He's night and day different than... well, he's a nice change anyway," Kitty says, not letting herself go down that road.

Psylocke has posed:
"He's different, yes. In a whole array of ways that I'm not going to spoil for you as that's part of the fun of starting a relationship - learning all the little foibles and idiosyncratic brickabrack."

"I'm glad you came by, actually," Betsy explains as she heads into the living room and takes a seat. The place is immaculate and purple in the woman's signature style, save for a corner that seems almost full of strange things ranging from little carvings of skulls to goth and metal iconography, "I need a little guidance from the guidance counsellor."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde follows Betsy over and sits close by. The sculls and goth items get small grins from Kitty. She obviously recognizes the influence. "I'm looking forward to learning them," Kitty says with a soft smile before she focuses in on Betsy's need of someone to talk to.

"Of course," Kitty says warmly. "What is it that you want to talk about?" she asks softly, falling silent to let Betsy explain.

Psylocke has posed:
"I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a teacher," Betsy explains, cutting right to the chase with an apologetic little half-smile, "I used to teach English, as you know. That didn't work. Now it's Physical Education and it still ... well, it doesn't seem to be working all that well. Nobody's fault but my own, I'm sure. I don't know that I'm quite cut out to be a teacher."

She trails off for the moment, looking around the apartment thoughtfully, "Would it be terrible of me to leave the School? Modeling is what I'm used to and what I think I do well. Or did well, I suppose. I'm starting to think I might be ready to go back to it fully."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives a quick shake of her head. "No, I don't think it would be terrible at all. I mean, it's a school, not a... I don't even know a good analogy. It's not somewhere anyone has to devote their life to. Roberto runs his company. So does Warren. Hank has worked elsewhere before. I mean, I'm barely even part time as a guidance counselor, as I'm fully employed at Stark."

Kitty smiles to Betsy and will reach over to gives the other woman's hand a squeezes if allowed. "I do hope you'll still be willing to help out the X-men when needed though? I mean, I know you may not be around for everything, but you are very valuable to the team. Both your skills, and your leadership."

Psylocke has posed:
"The X-Men are a different thing," Betsy says with a curt nod of her head, "I'm not much of an educator, but fighting? That's something I can do. I don't plan to be unreachable. I'd still be in New York, and it's never been very difficult to get to the Mansion when I need to thanks to those ... shadow abilities, or whatever you'd call them."

She sighs what sounds like a sigh of relief: "I'm glad to hear you say that. I didn't imagine anyone would think I was abandoning the place, but I just don't know that it's me. At first I thought it was just bad memories and they'd pass, but I realise now it was wrong to ever try and lump that on Peter. I wanted to go, and I was just looking for an excuse not to."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty gives small little nods, listening actively and affirming Betsy's decisions. "You'll always be welcome there, and your insights valuable to the kids. But you need to live the life you want. That's part of what Xavier's School is about. Helping people to become who they are, and not who the rest of the world wants to make us be," Kitty says warmly.

"So, have you talked to Illyana about this? Or, are you to a point together for something like that?" she asks. "I really can't tell you how wonderful it was, seeing her dressing up and sitting out on a blanket by the lake a few days back, waiting for you. I have so many memories tumbling through my head of her. And that is already a favorite."

Psylocke has posed:
"I think she's brightened up a little because of me," Betsy admits, "And I don't find myself quite so lost in my own melancholy because of her. We both have our grisly stories, but I feel like I finally have someone I can talk about those with who'll understand. She's shown me things that she won't show anybody else ... " she clears her throat, " ... parts of Hell, I mean. It was an eye-opening experience."

"I haven't talked to her about leaving the school. I don't think it would matter all that much to her if I did, truth be told. She tends to just ... be wherever I am. If I weren't at the Mansion, she'd just find me here or wherever I happened to be working."

Shadowcat has posed:
Kitty Pryde smiles to that and nods in agreement. "I think that would be her way," Kitty agrees. She leans back, drawing a deep breath. "Yes, it really is. I don't know if you ever heard of those days, but... there was a time Illyana was... ah, gone is as good of a word as any. And somehow, her connection to Limbo, even her Soulsword, passed to me. So, I have some idea what it could have been like," Kitty says, nodding.

"Take care of her? She's very dear to me," Kitty says, smiling. "As are you."