andlifeincarnate
@cfpolariis
jean had been on genosha a hundred times before. the relationship between erik lehnsherr and the x-men was a strained one, but time had changed them all, and the world around them… didn’t. so mutants had to make do. but being on genosha now, surrounded by so many newcomers, was like seeing it for the first time – she really began to understand why it was the way it was. it was beautiful in a chaotic way, much like herself – lurking dangers hidden behind lush flora and spectacular buildings. if it weren’t for the significantly less appealing statue of magneto himself, (with varying noses, courtesy of her stubborn creativity) she might never have known that this place originated as a home base for the brotherhood. she wondered if erik knew that it was becoming so much more.
jean found lorna nearby the statue in question – green hair catching the sunshine and reflecting color and light onto her cheeks. her head was tilted downward, gazing at her daughter, dawn – and the sight of the two of them, without having to feel afraid just then, softened jean’s look, and her lips curved into a soft smile. and she loved dawn like her own. “lorna,” she greeted warmly, wrapping her arm around the other in a half-hug. “i’m relieved to see you.” she was relieved to see almost anyone, after what nightmare put them all through. her own nightmare lingered like any other dream, a constant sick feeling in her stomach and an itch in the back of her mind that she couldn’t quite shake. “i’m relieved to see you, too,” she cooed, touching dawn’s little hand and smiling down at her. dawn wrapped her fingers around jean’s, and she could’ve cried. for just a moment, the sick feeling dissipated.
jean glanced back up at her friend. she believed that lorna was one of the bravest of them. one of the strongest, habitually shot down and always standing back up, stronger and, though most wouldn’t believe it, kinder. to endure so much and not turn into a monster was a difficult thing, and every time lorna didn’t, jean could only explain it as enduring kindness. care. love. “you look tired,” she said, not unkindly, and put her other hand on lorna’s shoulder. “how are you feeling?”
there was a calmness to genosha’s city that caused unease in lorna. despite the chaos in other portions of the island, the dangers beyond the city lines, they were able to live peacefully for the time being. she could hold her daughter, take her for a walk around the shops without onlookings looking to them with fear and doubt. lorna almost dared to think she saw admiration in some of their gazes. undeserved, in her opinion. they didn’t know her, not who she really was, only name and title as new and unfamiliar to her as the entirety of genosha. even so, it was all too good to be true, and she hesitated to allow herself to feel at peace, happiness – even if for a short while – because there would always be the fall. the more hopeful she’d allow herself to be, the more crushing it would be in the end when that fall inevitably occurred.
it was only when she looked down at dawn that a genuine smile tugged on her lips. only a year old now and she encompassed all the things good and pure that lorna knew, a bit of hope for their world. even at this moment she was happily giggling in her arms. her eyes lifted as she heard jean’s approach, accepting the embrace with one arm. “hey jean,” lorna greeted in return. the sight of the other woman cooing at her daughter, eyes filled with such love – it was warming in a way that she wasn’t accustomed to. the attention soon turned to her, though, and lorna hesitated, swiping strands of emerald green hair behind her ear. “i’m alright, really. i just know a little girl that still thinks three a.m. is party time.” she bounced dawn gently for emphasis, before allowing her expression to shift more seriously. “there’s still something about being here that throws me off. nothing that seems so good can last forever, you know?”
internally, she scolded herself for turning the conversation to negativity so quickly. jean had always been kind to her since they’d met, and lorna had quickly learned of the others strength – not just her powers, but her true strength – that the younger woman couldn’t help but admire. “how have you been doing here, though?” she questioned, feeling too privileged that she had a place for her and dawn in her father’s palace while there were still so many down here on the ground she strived not to forget about. “i take it a lot of kids from the school are here too – do they need anything?”











