earth_367 | From the Winding Way

THE VISIT

When Margali Szardos finally comes calling, she arrives with a flourish.

It's nearing midnight when [Character A] glances out their window and sees a circle of magical energy appear on the front lawn of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. It glows brightly, resembling the nearly full moon overhead, before erupting into a field of blooming moonflowers with the sorceress at its center. Dressed in flowing garments with embellishments of gold and carrying a staff radiating magical energy, the green-skinned sorceress with dark curls falling around a pair of ram-like horns approaches the school and announces that she seeks Kurt Wagner. She doesn't have the air of an estranged foster mother seeking to reconnect with her foster son, but rather seems intense and focused. She will greet any others with cold cordiality, but she is here to talk to Kurt about his mark.

When Kurt comes, Margali requests that they speak privately, but relents and allows Scott Summers to join them when they insist that this matter concerns more than just Kurt. Once the three of them are alone, the sorceress explains that she doesn't know the exact origin or meaning of the marks themselves, but that she does know something about the substance that makes up their marks and the entity that has (as she puts it) branded them. She agrees to share this information...but only with conditions.

The first is that one or both of them will allow her to cast a spell on them, forming a bond that will deliver all information they discover on this matter to her. She has a vested interest in this venture and will not be shut out of it. The second is that Kurt cease contacting her daughter. He is no family to her after what happened to Stefan. They may barter with Margali, but she will not share what she knows until they reach some sort of arrangement.

Once Margali is satisfied, she explains what she knows. The substance that makes up their marks is magical in nature, originating in a realm known as the Otherworld. She explains that the Otherworld is an intersection between all realities and a place where potent magic dwells. Their reality has been cut off from the Otherworld for centuries, however, much to the chagrin of Margali herself and other wielders of magic. While she has no firsthand experience of the Otherworld, she has acquired recorded accounts about and (supposedly) from the there; many of these accounts are written in the same silverly substance that makes up their marks. There is a shared magical resonance.

Therefore, she can only assume that whoever has marked them is from the Otherworld or has some means of accessing it. This is clearly of keen interest to the sorceress.

With deals struck and information delivered, Margali assures them that she will continue to put her considerable resources into this investigation and suggests that they do the same. Hopefully, no harm will come to them in the meantime. She then makes her departure, disappearing in a flash of moonlight.

The flowers that accompanied Margali's arrival remain on the front lawn until Friday night (3/14). Then, under the light of the blood worm moon, the plants wither and are subsequently devoured by squirming black worms, the likes of which none of them have ever seen. Ew, ew, ew. Hopefully this won't have a negative impact on the local ecosystem. Manuel de la Rocha, who had been gifted a vase of the flowers by a student, finds a nasty surprise in their office too. Enjoy your worms!

THE MARK

Shortly after Margali's departure, Kurt Wagner discovers that his mark has changed, taking on a new and unique configuration from the others. This is fine...!

The following morning, Illyana Rasputin finds herself with a mark of her own. This mark is identical to the original mark that had appeared on the others. Welcome to the team?

THE VISIT ⮾ AFTER THE VISIT ⮾ OOC

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is Margali asking too much? Feel free to suggest a different proposal...

"No," Scott says flatly. Aside from insisting that Kurt let him act as his lieutenant (and brother), he resolved to stay silent for the whole conversation, but this is too much. It's cruel to ask this of Kurt.

Anger is one of the emotions he always tries to keep in check, but it's there in the set of his jaw, even as he tries to keep his voice even. "Unless you have actual concrete information on how to save Charles Xavier, this deal isn't equitable at all. We can find another sorceress."

Kurt lays his hand on Scott’s shoulder before he speaks. He keeps his face calm, but his smile no longer reaches his eyes. “It’s alright, Scott.”

This stings. The only silver lining is Scott, but it’s hard to focus on in the moment. His mind starts spinning reasons why this might actually be a good thing for Jimaine. It’s not safe keeping a close relationship with an X-Man.

“I will leave Jimaine alone.” The words sit in his stomach like a rock.

THE DEAL

seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops - Date: 2025-03-13 03:01 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler - Date: 2025-03-13 03:31 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

367 367 - Date: 2025-03-13 03:44 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops - Date: 2025-03-13 04:08 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

367 367 - Date: 2025-03-13 04:23 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler - Date: 2025-03-13 04:32 am (UTC) - Expand

THE DEAL

seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops - Date: 2025-03-13 05:06 am (UTC) - Expand

When Illyana comes downstairs in the morning, it's to find a gathering of the Blue team she was not invited to and perhaps shouldn't interrupt. She's on a mission, though, and having everyone in one place is more-or-less convenient for her.

"I need someone to look at my back," she announces.

The moment Emma sees Illyana she considers telling her to just leave, but her strange request makes her reconsider. It's hard to know if this is serious or frivolous, but she beckons her over just the same. "What's wrong?"

Scott looks up from the notes he's keeping (handwritten, to be typed up later and filed).

"Uh... do we need to do this here...?" He suspects this is a girl thing he doesn't understand, and is doing his best not to be rude about it.

An X-Men GPSL (IC)

From the Winding Way

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