9450/A Belated Happy Birthday to Carol

A Belated Happy Birthday to Carol
Date of Scene:	06 October 2019
Location:	Roof Tower - Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jean was too busy to attend Carol's birthday party, but the two had a chance to meet later in the day for a birthday exchange of gift for cake.
Cast of Characters:	Phoenix, Captain Marvel (Danvers)

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Phoenix has posed:
The burden of being a school's Headmaster, sadly also involves sometimes having to sacrifice what one would like to do, in favor of duty. Such was the case, when Jean had to miss out on a special woman's birthday. Carol Danvers wasn't quite an X-Men, though she lived at the Mansion for a while and got the treat of piloting their Blackbird. It was great learning to handle the craft from a true Master like Carol, and getting to know the woman likely shaped much that is Jean.

To that end, Jean wouldn't just skip on the birthday wishing altogether. So she reaches out telepathically to Carol when she freed up later that night, to ask if it would be okay for Carol to stop by the Mansion's roof for a brief meeting.

Jean herself was waiting outside, looking at the beautiful sky.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
Most people may not be used to getting a telepathic communique as easily as one might get a text message, but Carol has been in the superhero game for a while now. The party at Club Mjolnir had run late into the evening, and after the dancing and revelry was done, she's done a little shuttling to make sure some of her more inebriated comrades had gotten home safe and sound.

It is around that time that she receives that mental missive from Jean. A shimmering wave of light passes over her, t-shirt and jeans becoming the more recognizable blue, red, and gold uniform of Captain Marvel. Now with two rather noticeable additions - shining, metallic bracers of a Themysciran design on each wrist. Of a similar make and mode to those worn by Diana Prince - Wonder Woman herself.

Above the mansion, a distant sound like a sonic boom hints at Carol's arrival. A moment later she descends towards the rooftop tower, faintly illuminated in that way that often comes with the use of her powers. The school's stunning headmistress isn't difficult to spot, and she lands before her.

"Hi," she says with a smile, "Sorry you couldn't make it. But ... "

She reaches behind her back, producing a small Tupperware container with the lid sealed tight. Inside, visible through the clear plastic, is a slice of cake.

"I brought you something."

Phoenix has posed:
"That was fast," Jean quips as Carol shows up nearly as soon as she issued her telepathic request. A playful grin forms on Jean's lips as she murmurs, "I bet that was faster than the Blackbird, which by the way, I'm sure misses your capable hands..."

"How was your birthday? I'm so sorry I couldn't attend," Jean starts with the apology, before holding out a small bag towards Carol, "I prepared this as a gift to you, happy birthday, Carol Danvers," she speaks the name with a touch of reverence. In the bag, should Carol take a look, is a small model of the Blackbird that could be put on display.

Noting the bracers' addition to the outfit, Jean asks curiously, "are these what I think they are?" Before her green eyes light up jovially at the nice gesture, "you saved me some cake? Unreal, Carol! Thank you!"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"Don't worry about it," the blonde shakes her head, "I know how busy it gets out here. Not to mention all the activity in the basement. Here - "

Carol trades the slice of cake for the bag, opening it up and peering inside. Her features light up almost like a child's on Christmas morning - her undying affection for the X-Men's hyper-advanced jet no secret. When she removes it from the bag, she does so with great care and veneration, holding it up to admire the detail.

"This is wicked, Jean," she says, a thread of that Bostonian accent slipping into her speech, "This is going straight on my desk on Mackenzie King. I want to be looking at this all the damn time."

The question about the bracers snaps her out of her reverie and she gently replaces the model in the bag, holding out her arms to give Jean a better look at the Themysciran metal.

"They are! Diana's idea of a sweet birthday gift - she tells me they're the real deal, too. Not a copy. Forged on Themyscira. I can't not wear them. They're fantastic."

Phoenix has posed:
Jean laughs at the insinuation, and nods, "true...these days more than usual, no doubt." She takes a moment's pause, reaching to take the cake and place it aside, before pressing a hand on Carol's shoulder. "I saw that video of you facing that Sentinel. I can't thank you enough for standing with us...I don't get that impression from all Avengers, so it's always a concern."

Jean beams with delight at Carol's approval of her gift, "I know I'm the one giving it to you, but think of it as from all of us, even those who didn't bother to get to know you beyond 'our pilot' at the time. I knew you'd appreciate it," Jean takes a moment to take in Carol's visage, before sharing, "you're still the most impressive woman I ever met in my life, just don't tell Ororo said that," she whispers with a playfully pressing of a finger at her lips.

"Oh my god!" Jean squees as Carol relates to the bracers' authenticity, "does that make you an honorary Amazon on top of it all? Is there anything you can't do, Carol?" Jean laughs as adding Honorary Amazon to Carol's list of titles attained would just make it too damn ridiculous.

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"Well, Diana didn't say I was an honorary Amazon but, now that you mention it? I think I'm going to infer it. So, I guess I ought to look into buying a beach house on Paradise Island."

The talk of the Sentinels causes Carol's smile to faulter, expression growing more somber and serious as Jean speaks. When she's finished, the erstwhile Colonel shakes her head and holds up a hand.

"I'll never not be on your side, Jean," her tone earnest, "You don't choose the start you get in life, but you do decide what you're going to make of it. You - all of your people - deserve that chance. Nobody has the right to try and rob you of that. Not even in the name of safety."

The compliment only causes Carol to cast her eyes downward for a moment, though she doesn't deflect it nor deny it. Instead she simply nods her head: "Thank you, Jean. Coming from you that means a great deal."

She sighs, "As for the rest of the Avengers? I don't know. I know Steve and Tony want these machines gone. Wanda, too, for obvious reasons. My tracking Sebastion down wasn't exactly discussed beforehand, and might have made him more desperate but it's not going to stop me. Whatever programming controls him means he can't fight me, but I can fight him. I'll destroy him if I have to."

Phoenix has posed:
"Hey...if they let you have that beach house, can you put my name on perspective visitor list? I'd -LOVE- to see that place one day," Jean muses, perhaps a slight bit of fangirling sipping through the exterior inadvertantly, as she pictures Paradise Island and the Amazons of legend.

"That's why I love and respect you, Carol, you will do the right thing, even when everyone else might think it wrong."

"You know," Jean shares another tidbit with Carol, "I never would have stepped up to accept the Headmistress position when the Professor asked me, if it wasn't for you. I just wouldn't have believed I had it in me without you." Jean smiles warmly at Carol, as she adds playfully, "you're guilty of that, you inspire people."

"I came to face to face with him, before we knew what he was..." Jean relates, frowning, "he is so well designed that I came to feel sorry for him at the time, but I really do believe he is a serious threat. He is intelligent, and likely more advanced than either of us expect. Brute force opponents are always easier to contend with."

"I don't want to keep you away from all your duties, or some final birthday moments, but thank you for coming. It was important to me to get to share in your birthday, even if I couldn't make it to the club..."

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"I know you're busy," Carol says again, taking a few steps closer to plant a gloved hand on either of the Headmistress' shoulders, "But anytime you want to talk, I'm never far away. That's the wonder of being three times faster than the speed of sound - there's never really anywhere that's too far to go."

A pause, and she gives Jean's shoulders a light squeeze: "But, hell - I'd walk here if you needed me to. This place is like a second home to me, and you're like family. I mightn't live here anymore, but a piece of my heart never left."

She releases her grasp, letting her hands fall to her side as she turns slightly to look out over the grounds of the Xavier Estate - especially pretty under the moon and starlight. With a busy life such as hers, she doesn't often get the chance to stop and smell the roses. So, she takes that moment now. It's her birthday, after all.

"And believe me, if I get a place on Paradise Island? You better believe I'm throwing the housewarming party to end all housewarming parties - and I'm not taking 'busy running a school' for an answer! I'll come out here and fly you there myself if I have to, Grey."

She lapses into silence for a moment, enjoying the view.

"Before I go, though - what do you know about Supergirl? Have you ever met?"

Phoenix has posed:
Jean listens quietly and smiles at Carol's words, focusing as much as she can to avoid laughing or outright embracing Carol. "I would like that very much," she relates in regards to a hypothetical visit to a hypothetical home that Carol may never even have, in a land Jean doesn't truly expect to ever see.

"I've heard of a Supergirl...something like a girl taking after Superman? Potentially related to him? Either way, I haven't had the chance to meet either of the Kryptonians..." Jean then smirks and adds, "aliens with god-like powers are hailed as heroes, but it's mutants that are the scary menace," she quips as if to make a point, before adding, "oh, adn Spider-Man." Can't forget the Bugle!

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"Well, maybe not hailed as heroes for too much longer," Carol muses, "After what Superman's been doing, I'm starting to wonder if he's finally losing his marbles. I mean, what kind of mental illnesses can a man like that be affected by? How do you treat somebody who's indestructible?"

She sighs, shaking her head.

"Supergirl is his cousin, I think. I work with her in Alpha Flight. She was Gamma Flight but we recently promoted her," she trails off for a moment, staring off at the stars, "She's one of the nicest people you'd ever meet. Maybe I can introduce you sometime?"

Once more, her face takes on a more serious mien and she tilts her head forward just slightly: "I'm going to stop those sentinels. I promise. Even if the military march out a whole new batch of updated and improved models, I'm going after them. They need to know this isn't going to make them less afraid. I'll show them that."

Another pause, and she once more pats Jean on the shoulder: "We'll show them that. You're an inspiration yourself, you know. Even if you don't admit it."

Phoenix has posed:
"Precisely my point," Jean quips, as Carol states exactly the problem with that sensibility the public seems to have.

"Sure, I would love to meet her if she's as nice as you say," Jean offers cheerfully, "maybe some of the students would like to meet her as well..."

Laughter is how Jean meets the notion that she might be an inspiration herself, shaking her head and waving her hands dismissively, "oh, I don't see that...though at least there aren't many old enough to remember my being called the teacher's pet way back. So that's a plus!"

Captain Marvel (Danvers) has posed:
"You're here and you're doing the work - important work," Carol points out, folding her arms across her chest just beneath the Star of Hala emblazoned there, "You're a mutant. You're a woman. Professor Xavier trusted you to be the Headmistress - that's not just because you can push papers and give stern looks. That's because he knows you give all these kids someone to look up to. An ideal to embody. You make them think that, mutant or not, they can be somebody, too. You shouldn't ever forget that."

The comment about Supergirl prompts the aviatrix to smile again, "I'll bring her around. She'd love to meet you and all the students, I think. Everything just makes her so ... joyful. Like she's getting absolutely everything out of life that she can, you know?"

An enigmatic little smile crosses Carol's features for a moment, and then she shakes it just as quickly: "I probably ought to take off, though. I'll get in touch with you. We can set up a visit."