A Reunion

[367]

What's Up?

It's been a month since Professor Charles Xavier fell into an enigmatic coma, leaving his institute and his protégés to continue on without him.

It's been three days since the mark that had appeared on Xavier also appeared on his first eight students, the original X-Men. While none of them have followed their mentor's lead into oblivion, word of this strange shared circumstance reached them all quickly and they've agreed to gather and discuss the situation.

For better or worse, it seems that they're in this together.

It's dark, cold, and snowing outside when they gather in one of the mansion's parlors, a large room with double doors (which they close behind them) and a lit fireplace. The flames inside crackle and dismiss the worst of the night's chill as they arrive one by one, taking positions on two couches and three chairs scattered around a low table. The antique furniture and built-in bookshelves make the space reminiscent of Charles Xavier's office and the man's presence seems to hang over the gathering.

...But at least the bar cart is well-stocked.

Volunteer Slots

Scott Summers had the foresight to prepare a snack for the group before they met up. Or maybe they just needed a distraction. Regardless, they arrive armed with enough deviled eggs for everyone!

During the discussion, Kitty Pryde says something about themselves or their life that is just...not true. They don't know why they said it or where the thought even came from. How strange.

Near the end of the discussion, Kurt Wagner's mark begins to glow, bright enough to be visible through or around anything that might be obscuring it. One by one, the others' marks follow suit, ending with Emma Frost. The glow of their mark persist for several long moments after the others go dull and seems to pulse within their skin...before they suddenly collapse back with a gasp and fall unconscious.

When Emma wakes, only minutes later, their friends are around them and they recall nothing but a blinding light.

ARRIVALS ⮾ DURING THE TALK ⮾ AFTER THE TALK ⮾ OOC

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AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

In a puff of smoke —BAMF— Kurt is next to Emma, holding her hand as Scott looks for a pulse. The same cold jolt of fear runs up his spine; Emma could be gone just like Charles is. Even when he sees her start to stir, his heartbeat doesn't slow. "Lass es langsam angehen," he murmurs.

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

"Emma...!"

The moment between Emma collapsing and Scott catching her feels entirely too long to Manuel. The minutes of his friend unconscious on the floor are longer still, seeming to go on forever as they all gather around and just...wait. A rush of cold panic, the unspoken possibility of Emma ending up in the same state as Charles Xavier, cuts through him. Or maybe all of them? In this moment, it's difficult for him to tell.

Except.

He feels her come around before she opens her eyes, her emotions rushing out in an unfamiliar torrent that she would never allow under normal circumstances. There's confusion. Embarrassment. Sharp, hot anger. And fear. It feels like he's seeing something he shouldn't and, despite knowing that he can't, he wills himself to shut it out.

"I think she's..."

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[hotfrosty bobby drake ❄️ has a perfect attendance rate.]

"Awake." Bobby finishes Manuel's sentence with the lowest-hanging fruit the other guy almost certainly wasn't going to say, but he hasn't yapped for at least three minutes and his mouth was too freaked out to keep shut. "Rise and shine, Professor Frost, Evie's drinks aren't that strong."

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Within moments of becoming fully aware, Emma has shut off her mind again, leaving Manny without any hint of her emotions.

Her eyes momentarily dart to Jean, expression impassive, before she looks to Bobby with annoyance. She knows he means well, but she's embarrassed and annoyed at being fussed over. There's a moment when she nearly pulls her hands roughly away from both Scott and Kurt, but instead she just pulls in a breath and centers herself.

As she pulls herself up she begins to scrape the others' minds for an outside view of what happened to her. "There's no damage. It's fine. I'm fine." She is, honestly, not fine.

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"I did warn you about slippery shoes." Kitty says, faintly, to break the tension. She's all the way back with Jean, her customary orbit. "...What happened?"

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

Scott insists on being helpful, whether that's offering Emma his hand to pull her up or his brain to read. But after her adamant declaration of It's fine. I'm fine., he does step back, although he's watching warily in case something else happens. They don't need him to contribute jokes. His eyes are on Emma, but also the others. Counting every person in the room, mentally logging the location of their once-glowing marks, checking for anyone who seems distracted or out of it.

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Kurt raises to his feet, not letting go of Emma's hand. Het lets himself be a means for her to steady herself if she needs. If she would ever accept. His expression is one of placid concern, but he fails to stop his tail from lashing and twitching.

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Despite the fact that Emma had wanted Scott to give her space there's still a slight sting when he does. Whatever. She takes Kurt's assistance with some reluctance afterwards, still feeling a bit unsteady even as she puts all her effort into appearing fine.

Before she says anything, she makes a point to roll her eyes at Kitty. In her mind, all the views of her collapse play, none containing any more information than her own experience.

"I'm not sure. There was just a very bright light."

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

It's a relief when Emma's emotions become obscured again; it means she's back in control of herself. Her mind and her powers. Certainly not fine like she insists, but...closer to fine. Manuel exhales a small breath and stands back as Kurt helps her to her feet.

"A bright light..." he echoes under his breath, his brow furrowing in thought. With the shock and the fear waning, in him and throughout the room, he can finally think clearly again. But he still doesn't know what to make of it and shakes his head.

"We should get you to medical," he says, somewhat reluctantly because he knows she won't want to hear it, and then holds his hands up in expectation of protest, "Don't shoot the messenger."

AFTER THE TALK: Emma Faints (open to all)

[stroboscopic dazzle 'em]

Before Emma can protest, Evie pipes up from where she's been pacing. "Obviously you're going to medical!"