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.

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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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Comments

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

"I know. We deal with this all the time. Not this exactly, but..." Scott watches Kurt instead of working on eggs again. He can't help worrying about their leader. He knows it's unnecessary, but he can never stop himself from finding things to worry about. "It's hard. Not having him around."

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

"I have so many questions for him. I don't know if I'm ready to do this alone." Kurt rolls his neck, hearing the bones pop. He needs to stretch more, he thinks. He's been too preoccupied, too stressed. His muscles are unusually stiff. "But I have you. If I didn't have you with me, I think I would have lost my mind."

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

The old guilt hits again, that Scott was in Genosha for so long instead of here, supporting Kurt. He'd returned only a day before the start of the new school year. Xavier had words for him about it, but not Kurt.

"Anything you need. Just ask." He looks down at the bowl in front of him, full of hardboiled eggs, peeled but not yet sliced. "I don't have to do another dozen."

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

Kurt also looks at the bowl of eggs. "You don't have to do another dozen eggs," he echoes and claps a hand on Scott's shoulder. "Let's put them in the fridge. We can make egg salad sandwiches for everyone tomorrow."

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[seeingred scott summers ⊗ cyclops]

"I was going to mash those up for egg salad," Scott admits, indicating the nearby plate of rejects (edible but insufficiently identical deviled eggs). Normally, he's conscientious about food waste, but his anxiety may have gotten the better of him today.

He presses a finger to the bridge of his glasses, one of the quiet signs that Scott is reining in a headache and/or nervous breakdown. The solid weight of Kurt's three-fingered hand on his shoulder grounds him. "No. You're right," Scott says a moment later. "That's a tomorrow problem. Let's get this in the fridge."

ARRIVALS: Scott & Kurt

[blauerdamon kurt wagner ⚔️ nightcrawler]

The finished eggs. The undone eggs. The discarded eggs. Scott has really been at this all day. Kurt feels a sinking guilt that he should have checked in on Scott sooner, redirected him somehow. Charles might have known how to help better than Kurt can, but that's no excuse. Charles isn't around right now. This is Kurt's responsibility.

"Let me handle the rest of the kitchen," Kurt insists, letting go of Scott so he can take custody of the bowl of eggs. His tail pulls the platter of "imperfect" eggs closer to him, as if to say this too. "Deliver your divine creations, Scott, and I will clean up."