Jean Grey. 23. Teacher. It's so very important to all care for one another during our time on Earth. Things can all change so fast. [RP blog for Heroes of Humanity]
Jean Grey was a pale shadow of Wanda. A ghost. A wannabe. While Wanda was lightning and thundercloud, Jean was only a breath of wind. Wanda was an earthquake. Jean was a crack in the road. Jean Grey was knock-off Wanda, and if there’s one thing living in America had taught him, it was you never buy generic.
She hadn’t seemed to get the message though, despite being from this strange country. He’d followed her for hours. Or maybe it felt like hours. It was probably forty minutes or so, but God it felt like forever. The Grove was immense for a mall. Pietro was more used to main streets and corner shops. Everything in Los Angeles was both compact and spread out, the density of Tokyo but stretched into two story buildings, parched by the sun, baking. Grey moved from store to store slowly. Tortuously slowly. Marvel Girl shopped at Hot Topic. Well, she didn’t buy anything that he caught but she looked. The place had been a little overwhelming for him. A wall of sound and color. Too many places to look. The Farmer’s Market was a little better. More smells than lights. Easy to grab things as he moved, darting from hiding spot to hiding spot.
She was prettier than he remembered. Or perhaps his memory was clouded by hate and panic. Deep red hair, that pleasant orange that bottles couldn’t achieve. A thin frame, gawky to less charitable eyes, like Wanda stretched out, her curves pulled away to accommodate her height. Jean was like Kate that way. Long but compact. Lanky, like him. Wanda was his little Sânziana, his gentle fairy, small but powerful, a force of nature only seen when she wanted to be, round like the world. Jean Grey had no such luxury. She was exposed as she worked and there in lay her weakness. She could read his mind, maybe control it if he slowed down long enough. Pretty as she was it made her dangerous. Not the good kind of dangerous, like Jessica. More like his dark nightmares of Syd, his mind not his own. His fears about Wanda, that she would shatter and he would too.
It was sick what she did, what Xavier did. Invade the mind, carry light into the caverns he didn’t want to face. That he’d decided didn’t exist. For everyone’s safety. The darkness was so dark and cold he was sure it would engulf him. He filled it with the searing white of his hatred. Comfort in heat, like when he was a child and his nightmares pulled him close to his sister in the night. He would cauterize the wound his second decade on this earth had left with anger and in that rage he would find serenity. That rage existed in all his family, as far as he could tell. Wanda had proved it to him that Valentine’s Day. In one bright flash his fear of the redhead that haunted his dreams when he was fifteen (in more ways than one) was transformed into anger. And that anger burned like a fire at the heart of the sun.
But sometimes when he looked at her, like now, for this instant that he could make last a lifetime if he chose, he saw them. Green eyes, clouded by sadness, a pain that hid just below the surface. Perhaps he was projecting. It wouldn’t be the first time. Freddie, Cassie, now his sister’s other twin. Perhaps Jean mourned the darkness within her. The darkness within him. Or perhaps she merely wished the X-Men had killed him long ago.
Despite the crowds, Jean had always liked malls. There was undoubtedly a certain amount of genuine love for them, but Jean would have been lying to herself if she didn’t admit that, at least in part, her love stemmed from the fact that going to malls seemed like such a normal sort of thing for a girl to do. And she had promised to take Professor Xavier shopping at some point, and though she hadn’t made a direct promise to Scott, she knew that she’d probably (maybe) drag him to the mall sometime soon as well.
But for now she could at least grab them a few things. The basics, so that they could at least begin to appear to fit into Los Angeles. Because they were here for at least the foreseeable future, regardless of what the Maximoffs wanted. Jean involuntarily tensed at the thought before smiling again and running a hand through her hair. The Los Angeles heat made her long hair stick to the back of her neck, but she wasn’t going to cut it -- at least not now. Maybe sometime in the far future, but for now -- and for a while -- it had served has a comfort of sorts. Like the blankets that children wrap themselves in at daycare centers, or stuffed animals they bring along to doctor’s appointments. She needed her hair, despite the fact that its shade did only serve as an attention grabber.
Which wasn’t exactly ideal, but the thought of chopping off her hair wasn’t appealing in the least, and so it stayed.
She’d wandered around a good deal of The Grove, even daring to stop into a store called ‘Hot Topic’. Which, given that she’d wandered in as an attempt to get away from the noise of the rest of the mall, wasn’t the smartest idea she’d had in a while. Because that store was something else. Music blaring all over, and the few thoughts that she’d said ‘what the hell, why not?’ and listened to were -- something else. People with hair that stood out even more than her’s. Because while deep orangey-red was something else, some of the folks in the store had been sporting blues and even multi-colored looks. So she’d ducked right back out of the store not too long after that, ducked into J. Crew, back out, and to the farmer’s market.
They had fresh fruits and samples from nearby bakeries -- things that, Jean was happy to find tasted wonderful. Los Angeles certainly did have its merits.
And it gave her things to concentrate on, so that she didn’t slip and read the minds of the hundreds of people surrounding her. Because she’d decided to go out on her own again without having Scott or anybody around to distract her. Because on some level, she needed to prove that she could do this. She was just as good at this as anybody else.
(Which of course, was not nearly as true as she attempted to make it out to be, but she needed to remind herself that this was part of why she’d come to Los Angeles.) The main part had to do with the fact that Professor Xavier had asked, but then came her need to prove that this was something she could do. She wasn’t the terrified eleven year old who spent too much time curled up around herself on her bed until the nice boy with red glasses came and talked to her, didn’t care when she told him that thinking that they should have ice cream for dinner was outlandish. Didn’t care when she cried and screamed when the thoughts of the other students got to be too much. Didn’t care when she buried her face in his chest when she became too exhausted. She was a teacher now, she was in control (mostly) of her powers.
And of course she still needed her anchors, but she needed to find a way to navigate the world on her own if she ever wanted to have continued successes.
She transferred a bag from one hand to the other and twirled some of her hair around her finger, stopping by a stand with fruit cups when she saw a small sliver of silver out of the corner of her eye and tensed. The woman at the stall raised an eyebrow and Jean flashed her a small smile. “Sorry. I’ll have the berry one,” she gestured to a plastic cup filled with a range of almost every berry imaginable and payed the woman before continuing to walk. She could turn around, see if he was there, but he could disappear in almost no time. And she could try to find his thoughts, but she’d refrain from that for now -- it’d be too much, and if he’d already run off then that would be a waste as well.
She pressed her fingers against her temple and gathered her own thoughts for a moment, stuffing the berry container into one of her bags.
Should she see if he’d approach her? She wouldn’t be entirely opposed to that, though his temper was even worse than Wanda’s -- but she’d promised Professor Xavier that she would try. Try to be open to the Maximoffs, try to forget what had happened five years ago, try to forgive them for not joining the X-Men and then up and joining the Avengers. Try try try. Only to some avail.
Jean continued to walk around the Farmer’s Market, willing her body to relax, to calm down. If Pietro wanted to talk, she would try not to fling anything at him. Because trying was all she’d promised after all.
I think you could win the hunger games if you really wanted to. I believe in you.
A scrapbook will be required up. on meeting, where I will then grade it. If you make an A+ you pass. If you get anything less you fail. As a teacher I’m sure you can appreciate my grading scale. (please note that this paragraph was not at all serious)
Perfect. I could probably host a diner party as an excuse to meet them all. I am very interested in putting faces to the names I’ve heard for years.
I guess Steve needs the companion. If he wasn’t Steve I would have stolen Lucky from him, but no one steals from Steve.
So does that mean you do not want to be part of my kidnapping plan? Cause it’s a two person job and you are the only one I trust to help me get it done right.
I think staying home sounds much more fun then the fancy dresses and handsome dates. We missed out, but now that we’re in the same state again we’ve got a second chance at staying home and eating marshmallows.
Not to brag but I’m on first name biases with Captain America. Futz, i’ve even talked about him in this letter already.
You know, we could go stand outside Avenger mansion and wait for someone to come out. OR we could break in. Not really though, I’d rather not deal with that. But we can throw rocks at the windows.
Perfect! I’ll give you a call soon. I’m looking forward to it!
The belief is much appreciated, thank you. But let’s just hope we don’t have to deal with any Hunger Games - style events, ever.
I do believe that grading scale might be just a smidgen harsh, Kate. So I’m glad to see it’s all in jest and sarcasm. I don’t like grading because I always feel bad if I have to give the kids a not so great grade. But I do usually offer extra credit, so I guess that makes up for it, yeah?
I think they could probably handle a dinner party. I’ll have to check in, but I’m sure it’d be fine. Swell, even. Or something to that end. My Professor is always pleased to meet new people, especially good ones such as yourself.
Well, I hope you can visit Lucky soon.
Nope, going to have to give kidnapping a pass. It wouldn’t look to good on my record, after all. I don’t think they let kidnappers teach. Even at a place where the administration’s known me since I was eleven.
Staying home is always preferable. We should do that soon, yes? We can even wear fancy dresses if you’d like. An excuse for shopping is always something I’m in favor of. The malls around here seem great.
Again, I think I’ll pass on throwing rocks. Sorry to be not so fun. But meeting the Avengers is something I’m interested in doing sometime, actually.
Seasons are a definite plus. Though I don’t want another winter like the one we just had for a long, long time.
I guess you could say that? Like I said, still new to the whole teaching deal, so I’m still getting my footing. We’re a special school, for special kids -- so not all the classes are “typical”.
I’ve only been to the city a few times, I’m from the upstate part.
Oh, no. Not college. Right, the Professor thing can be confusing. We’re a private school, and we don’t all go by the whole professor title. Sorry, I know that’s confusing. We have students of most all ages, actually. Namely starting at around age 10 - 11.
I’m still new to the whole teaching gig, but yes. I don’t have one speciality, really. Help the students with their general studies, make sure they’re all trained up and ready to take on the world.
Nice to meet you too, Clint. Oh, nope. Far from being a native. I’m in town with some folks from a school I teach at in New York. It’s my first time in Los Angeles, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to come when my Professor asked.
How about you? When you’re not in Greece, Canada, or Kenya, are you from Los Angeles?
Ooh a fruit smoothie sounds pretty amazing actually. The ice water and the trying not to move around I have nearly perfected though. Staying late at my air-conditioned office is also something that I’ve found to be massively helpful.
And I’ve found that the farmer’s markets here have a wonderful selection, if you’re up for fresh fruit. Otherwise supermarkets do a good job on their frozen sections.
these kind of wounds they last and they last || wanda & jean (chatzy)
Summary: Wanda and Jean run into one another in Griffith Park -- a confrontation occurs, though less than what one might expect. No world-breaking, this time. Just some cracks in the ground and exploding rocks.
Setting: Griffith Park, Los Angeles.
Triggers: Anxiety, Threats, Gaslighting.
Mentions of Child Soldiers, Manipulation, Abuse.
Wanda sighed, adjusting her headband and running her fingers through her hair. She'd just made it to the park, wanting to get out of the tower for awhile, when she thought she spotted someone she thought she recognized. Wanda moved closer, being as quiet as she could, but she should have realized you can't sneak up on a telepath. The red hair gave the other woman away and Wanda immediately froze. "Are you following me perhaps? Maybe spying?" she asked, trying not to sound too tense. Jean couldn't be trusted. Immediately she began to recite lines from The Wizard of Oz in her mind, only they were in Romani. It would take a lot of concentration to both think this way and speak to Jean, but she had been preparing for this for awhile now. Since their early meetings. "You should tell your Professor to just let us be."
Jean had enjoyed the visit to the Observatory with Scott and Peter and Cassie. And there seemed to be a park attached to it -- a park that Jean had made an immediate note to check out. It would be quieter than other parks of L.A., she'd surmised. Still not totally quiet and without people, but then again everything in this city seemed to be full of people. Loud in more ways than one. Today was a nice day -- sunny, but not too oppressively warm. Just right for wearing her new paisley-colored shirt. She'd been sitting on a rock, gazing out at the L.A. skyline, when she heard a small shuffle behind her and turned her head around. Wanda. Of course. "No, I'm not following you or spying. I actually just wanted some time on my own, surprising as that may sound." She crossed her arms. "The Professor has done nothing yet, so I'm not too sure that I can tell him that. He means no harm, after all."
"No, he never means any harm, does he?" Wanda asked, keeping her distance. After everything she'd learned about Charles Xavier and Jean Grey, she knew staying away was best. But she and her brother shared many things in common, such as a temper. "Be careful, Jean. You wouldn't want to stay into the sun too long. We all know how easily you burn." Did they? She flinched for a moment. Had this been something she saw on her own? Thanos? No, she wouldn't let herself get caught up in those thoughts. Righting her thoughts she looked back to Jean, a hardness in her eyes. "The Professor is here, that is enough to warrant suspicion. I do not believe he came to visit an old friend."
It was all she could do not to give into seeing what Wanda was thinking. No. She had to be the better person. Jean had to listen to what Charles had told her, what Scott had asked of her. Don't engage. Don't give in to what they -- the Maximoffs -- want. "Never. He does what he sees as best." She swallowed. Raised an eyebrow. "The sun's fine. I've got good sunblock, nothing's going to happen." She felt her body tense, unwillingly. "He is here to liaise with those whose team you and Pietro seem to be so eagerly on." She shrugged. "And as for me? I've always wanted to see Malibu."
Wanda rolled her eyes. "Yes, always what he thinks is best. I knew a man like that once. He is in a special prison now." She forced herself to relax some. She couldn't be this way. Natasha had warned her. She had to keep a cool head. "They are not so different, you know. Xavier and Magneto, Magneto and Xavier. You cannot be close to someone, so intimate, and not have a mixing." Wanda smiled, though it wasn't quite as genuine. "Yes, the Avengers. We are part of their team and I will not let you or the X-Men ruin that. We have earned our place." Wanda clenched her hand into a fist, flinching when the ground around them split slightly. That hadn't been her intention. "Malibu is beautiful, yes." She had to concede that. "But I do not think there is much to keep you here for very long, Jean Grey."
Jean rolled her tongue over in her mouth. "The Professor and Magneto are not the same person." She narrowed her eyes. "They may have been close, but that does not make them the same." She shook her head. "We are not here to ruin that. Just to observe. Make sure all is as it should be. If you are as you claim, it shouldn't be a problem." She jumped when the ground split slightly and suddenly, flicking her gaze from the crack to Wanda. "I think there is plenty. I miss New York, of course, but I have Scott and most of the rest of my found family here, so that is all that matters." She glanced to the side, noticing a few small rocks floating by her side, and looked carefully back to Wanda. "I'm not here to hurt you or your brother."
"No, not the same, but alike. They want different things, yes, but they have similar... methods? No, that is not right," Wanda sighed, doing her best to keep her composure. Just being around Jean made her skin prickle. "Your Professor is not as innocent as you would believe him to be. You know this." Hearing Jean's explanation caused her to tense again. "And who has made it your business?" she asked harshly. "We are not X-Men. We are not Brotherhood. We are Avengers. Just because you fought us as children does not mean you get to keep an eye on us or police is. We are not your responsibility, nor are we Charles Xavier’s children." Wanda was already on edge, and then she spotted the rocks. Her eyes narrowed on them before she looked back to Jean. "Of course not. You are only here to be a judge. That is all you have ever done." Without thinking or hesitating, she tossed her hands outwards, fingers curling slightly, and knocked the floating rocks away from them.
“He's good." Jean bit her lip. "He's only ever wanted the best for me. For everybody." She tensed. Pushed any doubt from her mind. "We've made it our own. As I said, we are here to observe, not interfere. We've done nothing yet, so I do not see a problem." She ran a hand through her hair. "He has no children, only students." Jean jumped when the rocks were knocked away. Don't do anything. Don't sink to her level. She closed her eyes for a moment. Pictured her room. A quiet space. Let her eyes flick open once again. "What happened years ago, that wasn't judgement. That was fighting to save the world. Now, now this is not judgement either. Would you believe me if I said I was genuinely curious to see who you'd grown up into?"
"Good. Such things do not truly exist. Not for people like us." She sneered and took a deep breath. "To what end? And no one asked any of you to make us your business. We do not need you here and we do not want you here. Why are you pushing yourselves into our lives?" Wanda hated this. She was feeling trapped again. Natasha's words kept ringing in her mind. She had to keep control. "It was. You think you are so much better than I am. Why? Because you are so good?" Wanda took a step away. She had to keep things calm and cool. "No. I would not. Nothing you can say or do will be genuine. Not with me. I cannot trust you." Wanda tapped the side of her head, still reciting movie quotes in foreign languages. She would know if Jean tried anything, but she couldn't let up. Not even for a second. "I have grown up into an Avenger, in spite of everything life has tossed at me and I do not need the validation of Charles Xavier or his pet."
"They can." She glared back at Wanda. "Good can exist everywhere, if you try hard enough." Jean sucked on her lower lip. "We've not pushed anything at all. We just need to make sure things are okay, and that Magneto is nowhere to be found." She felt shaky, and wished that she'd asked Scott to come out with her. So she could focus on him and avoid thinking about anything else. Let him hold her in place. But she had to be brave. She could do this. "I am good." Jean found herself nearly hissing. "V-very good. I've only done things to help people." At Wanda's final comment Jean's eyes narrowed and a few rocks shot towards her, kicking up dust as they went. "I am not his pet or his property. He is my teacher and I am his student. I don't belong to him." The rocks rose up next to Jean and she willed for them to fall back to the ground with little avail. "Stop saying I do."
Wanda narrowed her eyes. "Good and bad are things we make up to feel better. They are not true." She shook her head. "You are pushing. Your presence in this city is pushing. Things were fine before you showed up and Magneto is in his prison still." Wanda wanted to laugh, she wanted to say that Jean was not good. But her words echoed her own sentiments. Wanda was good, she wanted to be, had to be. "Helping people does not make you good. I have helped people and you do not think I am good, do you? No, or you would not be here." Wanda tossed her hands up, ready to defend herself as the rocks began to move. "You belong to him the way I belonged to Magneto. The difference is now that I am free of him." She flexed again, jerking her arms stiffly and causing the rocks to all explode into dust. "Have you even questioned why he is here? Your precious Professor? What is his interest in Magneto or me and my brother?"
Jean shrugged. "They can be true." She turned her head to the side. "We are not pushing, merely exploring the new city. We have yet to show up at the Tower, we have our own lives too, you know. Even if we come here in part for you, we can live our own lives as well." She stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jean shorts. "Maybe I don't think you are. Helping people in the way I do is good." It had to be. "I do not belong to him, I am my own person." As the rocks exploded she took a step towards Wanda. "No, I have not. He needed me, and so I came. He says it is to talk to you and The Avengers. I saw no flaw in the reasoning." She blinked. "And I needed to prove that I could." She dug her toes into the ground, making herself more solid, connected. Just as she'd been taught. Only letting little puffs of dust pop up around her boots.
Wanda tensed again. "You can keep fooling yourself, Jean. Maybe one of us has not grown up as much as she believes." Closing her eyes, Wanda took another deep breath. "Then explore elsewhere in California. There are other beaches in this state. You have not shown up but you and Charles have other ways. And even Scott has his uses. No one will know what you are all planning together." She frowned. "And what is it that you think I am doing? I have been a member of this team, I have my people now. I help." Wanda pointed accusingly at Jean. "You followed him across the country. I think that says enough. What does he need you for? What can you do that he cannot? Are you here for... companionship?" Wanda raised her eyebrows. "I do not want to talk to Xavier, you can tell him I said so myself. He should stop making decisions for other people. He does not control the universe." Shaking her head, Wanda turned some. "Why should I care what you have to prove when you do not care about me? If you want to be genuine, then you and your people will leave. Pietro and I do not need any of you here."
Jean took in a shaky breath. "I've grown up just fine, please and thank you." She muttered. "I always wanted to see Malibu. Ororo and I made a pact years ago that we'd try to visit one day. Plus, we need the warmth after the winter back east." She removed her hands from her pockets and scratched her nose. "We are not planning anything. You make it sound like we're petulant teenagers, Wanda." She bit her lip again. "What do you do now that helps? Tell me, please. I'm curious." She backed away as Wanda pointed at her. "He needs me for many things." She tensed. "I hope by companionship you mean friendship and nothing else, because that is highly inappropriate and wholly untrue if you mean anything but." The dust swirled more around her ankles. "He is not making any decisions for you. And you should care because we do care about you. We wanted you to be with us, and it hurt when you turned away. We will not leave yet. We are not here for life, but we are not leaving any time soon."
Wanda kept her composure as best as she could. The X-Men weren't budging. She could tell. "You have acted as such before. I protect people. I fight against creatures like Thanos! I nearly died for this city!" Wanda waved her hand, stilling the dust at Jean's feet. "I do not have to prove my innocence to you, or to Charles." She lifted her chin slightly. "Of course he does. He has Henry... Hank... for friendship. He has his own invasive mental abilities. What does he need you for? You are a redundancy here. As is Scott." She smiled, though it quickly disappeared. She didn't like this train of thought much. Dropping it she looked away again. "I did not ask you to care about me. And I chose, we chose, because your Professor wanted to place me in a box. He wanted to control me! I will not be controlled by anyone." The ground cracked again, but she kept her powers in check. "You must know what I mean. He is scared of power that is not his own."
Jean nodded. "And that is all good. I'm glad you fought against the terrible evils for this city." She dug her toe into the ground, watched the dust settle around her feet. "I didn't know that before. See, this is why we need to be here." She tensed her arms. "He needs me for many things. Always has. He's promised me that. Dr. McCoy might be his best friend, but that is not to say that I am not needed. Scott and I are special in our own ways." She blinked her eyes, refusing to show any weakness. Not now. She side-stepped the crack in the ground, willing it to close again. "Aren't we all scared of power that isn't our own? Isn't that inherent in who we are? To carry a bit of fear?" Though I'm most afraid of my own power, she neglected to add.
"Do not pretend with me," Wanda warned dangerously. "No. You do not need to be here. Why do you have to be here? We are not friends! We fight, your teacher, and you yourself, have tried to enter my mind and invade my thoughts. I have shown people their fears, but you... what you do is worse." Wanda kept her eyes elsewhere. "Of course," was all she said. "No. I am not scared of power." She was scared of other things. Losing control, being controlled. "But everyone is afraid of something. I do know fear. It connects us all."
"I'm not." Jean whispered. "We do. We need to be here." She pulled the crack in the ground together again. "I don't do that anymore. I won't -- I -- I don't read people's thoughts without permission anymore. At least not on purpose." She resisted the urge, which was becoming more and more desperate by the moment, to collapse into herself, fall to the ground. "Fear is the one true universal thing, isn't it?"
Wanda turned away from her slightly. "You keep saying that. You keep repeating it but there is no reason behind it. Your needs are not more important than mine and I need you gone." Wanda knew her control was limited. She was bitter and angry. "You can say that all you would like, Jean." But as far as Wanda could tell, her mind was safe. "Yes, it is. It is the one thing I can count on."
Jean resisted following Wanda's gaze. "We are not leaving. I'm sorry." Some dust began swirling again but Jean made it fall back to the ground. "If you so much as try to do your fear exhibitions to myself or Scott or anybody like that, you're going to have to deal with some serious consequences." Jean turned away from Wanda. "But if you are changed as you say, I don't see why that should be of any problem." She sighed. "Scott says you were civil and even nice to him. Why does he get that benefit straight off the bat? I'm glad for it, but it doesn't seem fair that he gets it and you assume I'm here to do harm."
Wanda frowned deeply, keeping her hands at her side. This wasn't going to be easy. "I do not need to resort to such methods to get rid of you. You and Charles will eventually do that for me." She smiled and looked over at Jean again. "I will not be the problem. Yes, well, Scott is different. I actually like him. He cannot get into people's minds without their knowing it. He cannot change thoughts or take control of another. Not like you. Not like Charles. The two of you cannot be trusted. You think I am the villain but in my story, it is you who are the villain. Marvel Girl and Professor X." Wanda scoffed, her expression harsh. "You're not good, Jean Grey, not to me."
Jean tensed at Wanda's comment and felt the tensing of her body increase at the smile. "Good on you." She said. "Everybody likes him. Well, most everyone." Her eyes narrowed at Wanda's next comments, "It's not my fault that I can do what I do. It's who I am. It's taken me years to accept that, and I'm not letting you take that away from me." Especially when I'm still not sure of them. She said to herself, stomach in knots. "I'm not a villain. And I never said you were, not anymore. Professor Xavier and I are not here to harm anybody." She took a step back from Wanda, willing her mind not to uproot any of the trees. Not to break of the sides of the ledges. "I am good. I am a hero, Wanda Maximoff. I'm sorry you're not able to see that."
"That jawline does not hurt either," Wanda all but taunted, taking a single step forward, almost circling Jean. "No, it is not your fault, just as it is not my fault. But yet, I still get plenty of blame from heroes just the same. That is what Charles wants. He wanted to block my powers, put walls up in my mind." Wanda flexed her hands but did nothing else. "I will not be caged," she repeated. "You never had to. Your actions and those of your team spoke loud enough for you. And you might not mean to do harm, but you are. How can I make you see that?" I am good. I am a hero. Wanda could hear herself saying something similar to Pietro. She loathed to admit that she and Jean had anything in common. But clearly they did. "I am not sorry. I have been treated like this since I was young. You know nothing, Jean Grey."
"His jawline isn't the subject of the conversation." Jean sucked in her lower lip, willing herself to stay upright, not to let Wanda get to her. "Why would he want to put up walls in your mind?" She shook her head. "And I'm sorry, I'm sorry you've gotten blame. Sorry Er- Magneto got to you before Professor Xavier. Sorry you went through the trauma you did." She backed further away from Wanda. "You can't. I won't take it." She glared. "I've done nothing since arriving, except attempt to enjoy myself." She swallowed. "I know plenty."
Wanda just smiled, letting the subject drop, until Jean worked back around to the walls. "Because he is afraid. He wanted to control me! I have been saying this to you. This is why we would not join you. You cannot be trusted." Wanda scoffed. "Charles comes with his own trauma. I have seen it." She moved away as well, trying to keep this entire confrontation calm. "You should find somewhere else to enjoy yourself then. You wish to avoid a fight? Then leave."
Jean relaxed slightly. "We can be trusted. I know, we're going in circles here. Again and again." She wrapped her arms around her body. "We all do. But that doesn't lessen who we are as people. It unites us, in some sort of way." She glanced beyond Wanda, at the city, with it's cars and noise and lights. "I was here first. Not Los Angeles, but in the park. Can't you leave, just this once?" She blinked. "All I've ever wanted to do is help, and I'm sorry you won't let me try to help you." She shuffled her feet against the dirt. "We're not as different as either of us might wish to believe, you know."
Wanda felt her face become impassive as she took another step back. "Just this once," she answered, her voice cold. "But if you want to help then do as I am asking and leave this city." Wanda stiffened. She would never admit that. Not to Jean, not to anyone. "No, we are not. Because I would leave. I am leaving this park. But you... you think you are right, more right than I am. You are trying to make a choice for me. We are not the same." Wanda took another step away, and then another. "Maybe you should be more like Scott. And less like Charles," she said before continuing on her way.
Jean matched Wanda's expression. "We can't leave yet, but thank you for being compliant this time." She offered the beginnings of a smile. Jean backed up another couple of steps. "Maybe I should." But maybe I can't be. She added to herself, watching as Wanda left, before finally giving in and sinking to the ground, pressing her hands against her ears and squeezing her eyes shut. She'd have to be more careful about going out and about, it seemed. Unfairly so, almost. But at least Griffith Park was still intact.
It gladness me to hear that you’ve perfected envelope opening. It’s a skill I struggle with daily, in fact the last envelope you sent me now has the jagged lines of haste. Maybe you’ll teach me your skills one day. Also, I’m definitely expecting a photo album of envelopes through the years.
That was a joke.
Probably.
You’re in L.A?? That’s great! Does that mean I finally get to meet the infamous Scott? I’ve been curious about him since forever. Also your professors. Now that we’re in the same state do I get to meet everyone? I feel like I practically know them already.
Oh, I still have visitation rights over Lucky, but that’s about it. He left town, and you know who he left Lucky with? Steve. Steve is not me. I would have taken the greatest care of Lucky! Lucky and Mop get along great! But now, Lucky is with Steve. Steve is an old man, who doesn’t love him as much as I do. It’s tragic.
So who’s watching the school while everyone is in L.A.? Anyhow that job sounds great for you. Perfect even. I’m sure they love you, and you’re taking great care of them.
Oh Henry is the cutest! He’s tiny. It’s weird seeing babies. Like sure I see pictures of them, but when you see one in person it’s like ‘woah you are a tiny human. how was i ever that tiny?’ But he’s great. Maybe I’ll kidnap him and bring him to L.A. when he’s old enough. Parent’s like having breaks from their children, right?
[picture of henry, susan’s kid]
Yeah at least we had that going for us! You lucked out when you left for your fancy super secret school, or I bet your mom would have convinced you to do the whole debutante ball route. If your mom would have made you do that, I’m sure I would have been tricked into it. If mom was alive she’d ask me just so your mom wouldn’t have shown her up. Then again, we’re smart cookies, we probably could have talked our way out of it.
Well now i’m just super curious about what important business you have in L.A. You can’t see me, since this is a letter, but I am dramatically side eyeing you and burning with questions. Seems like everyone interesting is showing up in L.A. These days. Did you know the Avengers were also taking up residence here? I saw Thor the other day. His arms are a god send, and his hair makes me jealous. Seriously, if he ever wanted to stay on Earth he could easily get a job as a model.
What, Jean? You don’t want to fall in love with someone who breaks into your bedroom to watch you sleep? Isn’t that romantic? This is all sarcasm by the way. I’d buffy the vampire slay someone who did that to me so fast. But yeah, Hunger Games has been great for business. If I had a paint ball range I would be hosting a hunger games event so fast, but alas, I don’t want to trust a bunch of kids with soft tip arrows to not switch them out to be “funny.”
Well of course now that you’re in L.A. we have to do something! I’m currently unable to leave my current location, but after June I’m all yours. We’re good to go drinking! I’m looking forward to it. Look at us, old enough to drink and finally back in the same city. L.A. better watch out.
I appreciate the reference, even though I’m hardly up to who Katniss is. But thank you, regardless.
I don’t have all the envelopes with me, but if a scrapbook is required, I can certainly make one. I’ve got a box of them back in New York.
Sure, you can meet Scott. I’m sure you two would get along! He really is one of the best people in my entire life. And yeah -- you can meet my teachers. I’ll just have to explain you to them. And how you don’t know exactly what my powers are but you’re good and wouldn’t turn us in
I’m sorry Lucky got left with Steve. But sometimes old people need companion animals. That’s why senior centers host visits from pets or whatever sometimes. I think? Either way, I hope you get to see Lucky again soon.
Other people that the Professor trusts. I was, with Scott for a little while but now we’re here, so we passed it along. Plus, it’s almost summer and while the kids don’t all go home, they’ll have less to do as far as instruction goes. I feel a bit guilty about leaving them, but some of my students have my number so they can contact me if they need to.
Babies are weird. But cute. I’m sure Susan would let you “borrow” Henry, so you don’t have to kidnap him -- which, even when well-intentioned is technically illegal and you should probably avoid that. Henry is quite adorable, aww!
Sometimes I wish I could’ve done that ‘normal’ route
Yeah, probably. But I bet you and I could have gotten the most handsome of dates and worn lovely dresses. Or talked the moms out of it and spent that time in your house or upstate in mine painting our nails and eating marshmallows and watching movies.
I’m sorry I can’t tell you, but it does have to do with my school. And those who go there. I’d heard about the Avengers being here -- my Professor’s planning to talk with them sometime soon. Or that’s his hope. I want to see Thor’s arms. Or maybe meet Captain America.
I think I caught the sarcasm. No, I prefer my prospective significant others not in my room watching me when I’m unaware. It’s an invasion of privacy. Which is ironic given what my powers are and do and I could hear anyone’s thoughts- -That’s probably a good call. Don’t want anyone getting hurt.
After June sounds great. Old enough to drink, in the same city. Pretty near destiny, I think.
With /even/ more love, Jean
PS: Here’s my number. Feel free to bing me if you’d ever like. [###-###-####]
I know it’s been about a year since my last letter to you, sorry about that. Life got a bit hectic, you know? First off, I don’t live in New York anymore. So my return address has changed. I hope you didn’t rip up the envelope beyond repair in your eagerness to read my awesome letter, but just in case you did here’s the new address.
[address]
Yup, that’s right. I’m a L.A. woman now. Beach, sun, dogs. Oh, I got a dog. Clint took Lucky away from me. I guess he forgets Lucky loves me more (or chooses to believe it’s not true). Lucky actually lived with me for the longest time before I had to go visit New York. Anyway, when I came back Clint got me a new dog. His name is Mop, he’s darling. Here’s a picture so you can put a cute face to the name.
I’ve met so many awesome people in L.A, made a few friends. You know life’s been pretty good here. Oh, Susan had her baby, I don’t remember if I told you. He was a sick infant, but he’s better now. Of course I spoil him. I can’t walk by a toy shop without picking something up for him. Susan thinks it’s weird because they get Henry everything he could ever want, but since I’m not in New York anymore I need to make sure my favorite nephew loves me as much as I love him. So I’m buying the love.
I moved apartments recently which mean I found some awesome things. Remember this old gem?
I swear I remember whispering to you about how stupid the photo shoot was and that I wish we didn’t have to do it. But now I just see how ADORABLE WE WERE. Good times. Who knew mom would be right when she told me to suck it up because i’ll enjoy the photo when i’m older.
Well, that’s about all that’s going on in my life. Other then work. I’m working for Bishop Publishing right now, but that’s not a big surprise. We set up a location in L.A. and I just get to over sea it. The power is mine, I’m not complaining. (Seriously though, I just don’t show up for work that often. I’m a bad employee.)
Oh, I own an archery range! That’s cool. Some times I offer lessons, but really it runs itself. It’s great how many people want to learn archery now that the hunger games movies are coming out. It’s really funny, sometimes i’ll be walking around the range and i’ll just hear a cheer and someone will yell “CALL ME KATNISS CAUSE I ROCK AT THIS” good times.
Well, that’s about it for me. I hope your school is going well, and life is treating you well. Don’t be a stranger, I miss you. Well, I’ll talk to you later!
Sorry for the delay in responding. And I would never rip up your envelope. I’ve perfected the whole opening it swiftly while still keeping the envelope itself intact. I would’ve gotten to it sooner, but I was actually doing a bit of moving myself.
We apparently have a fondness for similar states. I’m also in L.A., as of not too long ago. My Professor moved out here, and Scott and I came with him. I’d never seen California before, and he was coming out here for business, so I figured why not?
Oh, Mop’s adorable! I’m sorry Clint’s taken Lucky away from you, but Mop looks like he’ll be a more than suitable companion for you. And hey, if Clint’s here, you can still at least see Lucky? Yeah? He hasn’t revoked visiting privileges because of your temporary adoption of Lucky?
New friends are always good. I’ve not had the chance of doing that in a while, but work keeps me busy. I think I mentioned this, but I got employed at the school I used to go to. So I can help kids out. It feels good. Also helping Professor Xavier with whatever else he needs. It can be a lot, but it’s nice. Makes me feel good -- which I guess /is/ the ideal way of living life, if you can.
Susan had the kid?! Oh, I bet he’s adorable. And you’re a good aunt. I’m sure he’ll love you no matter what, but sending him fun presents certainly won’t hurt!!
Oh -- I do remember that picture. Those socks were really itchy. Hey, our moms wanted cute photos of their daughters to prove that they were good moms with ties to New York’s upper class. But at least we didn’t have to go it alone, huh? I did love those shiny silvery-gold shoes, though.
And we were rather adorable. I think sometimes we don’t realize in the moment just how important something is -- especially when we weren’t all too old at all.
You’re not a bad employee. I think a lot of bosses/over-seer people don’t always show up. Plus, I’m sure you’ve got other things keeping you occupied. I miss some of the kids back at the school in New York, but Professor Xavier and I and the others are here for important reasons, as is our nature. So I try not to miss them too much. They’re well cared for anyways.
Ooh, archery? That’s impressive. I can imagine that The Hunger Games would lend itself to more people wanting to learn archery. Like how Harry Potter made so many kids want to be wizards. And those Twilight books (which I never read) made a lot of people want to be/date vampires. That isn’t something I can see the appeal of. Bleck.
I miss you too. If you want -- we can hang out? Get drinks, even. And not Shirley Temples in fancy glasses.
Very true. I’m pretty sure that quiet mountain adventures are about as far away as you can get from a city like LA. Which means if you were looking for good city suggestions, then the mountains were just about as far off base as I could have been.
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