STEPFORD FIVE.

[stepfrdfive]

technocable​:

“So are we all just totally fine with the fact that my mother spontaneously combusted? Everyone seems way too calm with everything that’s just happened.”

Esme sits crosslegged on his bed, concern knitting her features into the picture of concern. Her sisters are elsewhere in the Island and their Hive Mind has been reduced to a low hum. She’s sound of mind once more, and infinitely grateful for that. “My mum doesn’t seem too concerned. She’s not happy with the situation, but she’s being a bit blasé? Sophie thinks I’m being paranoid. Ms. Frost is just busy. Things on the Council have been tense ever since Sinister murdered her and a few others before getting fed to the Island.”

[stepfrdfive]

wolviiejr​:

“Something tells me y’all wouldn’t care if I did.”

“Wow.” “Smart man.”

[stepfrdfive]

spectormcrc​:

“So you’re gaslightin’ me now?”

"That’s a strong term.”

[stepfrdfive]

technocable​:

@stepfrdfive​

“Hey, guys.”

Nate tried to not sound horribly awkward, but the words still came out sounding strained. There was a lopsided smile stretched across his face as he waved to the five of them, and he chuckled nervously as his hand fell back to his side.

He was here for Esme, of course. There were five telepaths in the room that would be able to sense that pretty quickly, but that wouldn’t be hard for anyone to guess. From the moment he arrived back in this timeline, people knew she would be one of the first people he searched for. It was intimidating walking himself into the White Palace, and he knew what he was in for by purposefully placing himself dead center among all the sisters— but it was worth it.

After clearing his throat, Nate took a few steps into the room. “I heard what happened. And I don’t want to be a bother..” His gaze finally landed on Esme, expression soft. With how she was feeling, he wasn’t sure if this visit would be a welcome one. If she sent him away, he would accept it. He just really hoped she wouldn’t. “But I had to come see how you were doing.”

They’re broken. As loathe as they are to admit it, the diamond exterior of the Stepford Cuckoo’s has been chipped. It’s Esme’s fault, Phoebe has asserted during the bad moments. The others are quick to shoot down that kind of talk. We’re are the Five-in-One, they remind her. We are never alone. Being never alone means that they suffer together. In all fairness, there’s no other way that they would want it. No matter how excruciating life may be, to watch a sister suffer alone would be worse.

Time tore them into their own people before they merged back into one. Gone are the days of dyed hair and different outfits. Esme and Sophie had missed all that anyway. All they know is the pale hair straightened into a flat curtain, the matching robes of black and white. Yes, they are the Five-in-One. That’s how they’re meant to be. Romance has thrown a wrench into that. First it was Esme falling for Cable, then Phoebe and Quire. Cable returned to the past and Phoebe concealed her paramour. Esme wept, Phoebe thrived. Now, Esme weeps no more.

“Hello, Cable.” Four voices ring as one. Sophie, Phoebe, Irma and Celeste form a protective huddle around Esme. She stands in the center of her sisters, eyes trained on the floor.

You’re a bother, thinks Sophie. Most definitely a bother, Irma agrees. But Esme loooooooves him, Phoebe teases. Celeste just laughs.

“You’re not a bother,” Esme disregards the voices of her sisters in her mind. “And that’s sweet of you. Do you want to take a walk?” A walk away from her sisters. They huff.

[stepfrdfive]

angelthird​:

“let’s be honest, what we’re you expecting to happen?” a shrug, as he takes a seat on a nearby stool, “i don’t know how thrilled they’d be if we had more of a disagreement in here.”

“Disagreements happen all the time.” “They’re part of life.” “Ms. Frost taught us that, and —” “— that’s an important lesson to learn.”

[stepfrdfive]

wizardstrange​:

Stephen couldn’t help his sigh, his head nodding slightly as she described some of their symptoms. Of course he knew what was happening, he’d be blind if he didn’t. The spell was half-baked. The people who were trapped in there might be wearing their own faces now, but their minds were split in two. It was a complete disaster, but he tried to focus on the net positive of having them back at all. “I understand that it’s probably very disorienting for you all. Believe me, I do,” Some mornings he woke up to Clea cooking a full family style breakfast for children that never existed in the first place. “But we’re doing everything we can to find a solution. That’s the best I can offer you. If you want to take some more urgent steps, maybe try contacting Ripley Ryan. Or maybe you can take the easy way out and get one of your friends to snap your necks so Krakoa can resurrect you. I don’t know.” Maybe that sounded harsh, but Stephen’s patience was wearing thin. 

“Haven’t you heard? They’re not doing that anymore. We missed the snapped neck special while it was still going.” The Council had suddenly developed a conscious before they could help Esme. Emma was enraged and everyone knew it. Going behind the Council’s back and illegally murdering the Cuckoo’s would just stick them in the queue. They’d normally get priority due to their position at the Hellfire Trading Company, but nothing was certain with Krakoa in such tumult. “Ripley Ryan is a moot option and everyone knows it. Wizards and witches got us into this, they need to get us out.”

[stepfrdfive]

angelthird​:

as much as he really wanted to see where things would go from here, common sense kicked in and warned warren to stand down, to quit pushing for the sake of pushing. wings quickly folded inward, the sudden gust of air generated by the motion ruffling five sets of blonde locks. “just forget it.”

“Oh, you’re no fun.” “No fun at all.” “And, for the record, we never forget.”

[stepfrdfive]

kitchensdevil​:

“Are you asking me to help you because it looks good, or because you actually need my help?”

“Can’t it be both?”

[kaceyrps]

MEG DONNELLY in INSTAGRAM STORIES

[stepfrdfive]

destroyrofworlds​:

Daisy eyed the girl in front of her as they sat in the infirmary along with some leftover stragglers from the town. Most of the others had already been checked, and Daisy was waiting on Roz’s evaluation to be finished now that she was awake and mostly patched up. The plural word usage was a little confusing, but she decided not to comment on that and just focused on the rest. “I can’t imagine they would be. Especially since their homicide plan didn’t exactly get to pan out.”

Esme’s eye twitches. There was a homicide plan — apparently — but she didn’t qualify for it. She was left in the town alongside the young X-Men. They made sense at least. No one really wants them around. Esme, however, would have considered herself valuable. She’s Emma’s favorite, after all. Or, at the very least, the one Emma has said she’s most proud of. “It’s complicated.” She sniffs. Until she’s fully filled in, Esme can’t say much more. “Don’t act as if you know the full story.”

[stepfrdfive]

kitchensdevil​:

“And is there a reason the five of you decided to come visit my office today?”

“We sit on the board of the Hellfire Trading Company —“ “— and we need to keep a human lawyer on as counsel.” “It looks good for optics.”

Ms. Frost has taught them all about optics.

[stepfrdfive]

babyphoeniix​:

Actually, Rachel hated when people made things about her. It was why this conversation was already driving her up the wall as she rolled her eyes again and raised her eyebrows at the five of them. Five, not four now. “I heard things have been different since you’ve been back, Esme.” This time she was directing her comment to Esme and Esme alone in the center of them all. 

Esme wears black along with Phoebe, Sophie, and Celeste. It’s Irma in the white. Esme’s sisters don’t put any pressure on her to be in the spotlight. If anything, they’ve almost formed a wall in on either side in the front of her. Esme is a the weakest link, yes, but if there’s a single weak link in their telepathic chain than the whole thing is corrupted. Esme looks from one side to the other and four pale heads all arch a brow. “What else have you heard?” She asks. Does she know all the Cuckoos now struggle?

[stepfrdfive]

wizardstrange​:

Stephen stared down at the mutant in front of him, keeping his stance firm as she stepped towards him and went on a tangent about her sisters. It was certainly useful information, but the tension in the air was there after what the mutants had done in the town. Or tried to do, at least. “Unwell how?”

“Don’t act like you don’t know what’s going on. Esme is — she’s not herself. Sometimes she’s fine. Other times, it’s like she’s in high school. We never went to high school.” They had been sent straight to Xavier’s Institute. Now, Esme runs lines for a play that’s never going to happen. Phoebe touches her temple as a random string of dialogue from the production floats through her head. It’s an errant thought from Esme. “You have to understand, Doctor,” her voice is tight. “We sit on the board of the Hellfire Trading Company. We can’t be reduced to naïve teenagers. That town took something from Esme. From all of us. We want it back.”

[stepfrdfive]

c-yxlops​:

“It was one time.” He looks sullen, serious. “So you can laugh, one time, but then it’s time to drop it.” 

They ignore him entirely. It’s three sisters who stand before the supposed leader of the X-Men. Sophie’s stayed behind with Esme. Although all Five sisters share the hive mind, the two of  them know acutely what it’s like to die and lose time. Phoebe, Irma and Celeste are the survivors. They’re the ones standing there with disdain on their lips. 

“Do you really think now is the time to laugh?” “Mum’s pissed —” “—and worse, we’re pissed.” “Was Esme not good enough to be saved with Jean and Hope? Do you know what you’ve done to us?”

[stepfrdfive]

magnetiik​:

“Ah. That’s right.” Max looked between them. “I’m honored to be on your radar. At least, that seems to where this conversation is leaning. Correct me if I’m wrong.”

“You are.” They confirmed. “Our list is small and selective -- for obvious reasons. We have to be deliberate in our choices. We’re sure you understand.”

[stepfrdfive]

wizardstrange​:

An orange portal leading to the Sanctum dissipated behind Stephen as he turned around and faced the person in front of him. “This better be important. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but reality is still falling apart.” The bags that had plagued his eyes for the past few months were gone now, which was an improvement, but things were far from fine.

It’s a day of division. The sisters make their way in separate directions. Esme, under Emma’s strict orders, remains in the White Palace to rest. Celeste, Sophie and Irma are in a Hellfire Trading Company meeting. And Phoebe? Phoebe’s gone to confront the wizard. “It’s more important than anything in the world.” She’s clad in black today. Phoebe’s known as the dominant one, the aggressive personality. She does not suffer fools. “Our sister is returned, but there’s something wrong. We share a hive mind. If Esme’s unwell. we are all unwell.”

[stepfrdfive]

ex-odus​:

“I am not here to listen to your whining. The Avengers must deal with the consequences of their own actions in Pleasant Hill. I want no part of it.”

“You sit on the Council.” “Of course you’ll play a part on it.” “Don’t be annoying.”