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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ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Kitty has never moved out of the mansion, though she did switch rooms from the one she used to share with Jean to a private suite with an office. She's actually spread herself about the mansion considerably in those years, between those quarters and her in-the-wall hideout that very few know about, the place she prefers to work when the work's top secret. It's from there she descends through the ceiling about five minutes after the agreed upon meeting time, still sitting cross-legged from working on her couch, still holding her laptop. She does, at least, set that aside immediately. Lockheed of course is also in attendance. She's wearing sweatervest over a yellow t-shirt and very baggy pants that she can almost guarantee will make Emma and Manuel's eyes bleed. That is of course the point.

Despite her tardiness and lightly disheveled appearance, Kitty is almost just as bright as she's ever been upon seeing her friends, with warm welcomes for each of them. She's just a little more quiet and ready for the meeting to get underway than she'd normally be, perching on the back of a sofa nervously rather than sitting all the way. Also she already ate what feels like sixteen reject eggs today, but takes a few more to be polite.

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"You look atrocious, sweetheart," Emma helpfully tells Kitty, purposefully out loud because she figures she'll take it as a compliment.

Re: ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Kitty rolls her eyes immensely. "This is the style, now." she explains very slowly, as though Emma is her grandmother. "Not heels in January."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"For kindergarteners?" Emma crosses her legs, leaning forward with a smile. "I don't see why not, I managed to get in the house just fine."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"It's fanciful and warm." Kitty snaps, rising to Emma's bait far too easily, an old habit. "And when you fall in your slip risk shoes, and stain your dress, I'm not giving you a hoodie." Like this is perhaps something that would have been asked of her.

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"You can't be that offended darling, you did this on purpose," Emma laughs, after a moment uncrossing her legs and standing so she can walk over to the other young woman. She gently goes to adjust some of her hair, fixing a single piece that's out of place - it's intended as affectionate, but she has no idea if it will come off that way.

"I've never slipped in heels and I've never donned a hoodie. I don't intend to do either tonight."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

She seemed to always forget that Emma knows she does things on purpose, and makes up for that by thinking aloud the most annoying song she can think of. The Song that Never Ends, like she's literally in kindergarten. "Welcome home present." She swats the hand away from her hair. "And what do you mean you've never worn a hoodie? That's insane."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

In response to Kitty's annoying song, Emma echos some opera into her companion's mind to drown it out. She tsks as her hand is swatted away.

"I've missed you too. And I've never needed to wear one. It's not like I'm saying I've never worn pants."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"A hoodie is practically a blanket with arms. You're depriving yourself of so much. Wait, have you also never worn pants?" Kitty hates the opera, but allows it to remain, in lieu of any actual thoughts, which she hates more.

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"I guess you know what to get me next Christmas, then." Emma doesn't actually have anything against hoodies. Maybe. They're acceptable as leisure wear, she supposes.

"Of course I've worn pants. And would you prefer Puccini to Verdi?"

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

"Your birthday comes before next Christmas." She reminds Emma, eyes lighting up and brain clearly broadcasting the sheer universe of hoodies every thrift store and terrible 3am amazon shopping spree had exposed her to. Just as preparation. "Okay. I like La Bohème well enough. I think you're lying about the pants."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"Birthdays are for good gifts." The mental bombardment from Kitty is horrible but endearing, and Emma decides to contribute to it - a white velour hooded tracksuit, with "Hottie" bedazzled on the ass.

"One of my costumes has pants." Quando m'en vo gently begins to play in Kitty's mind. "It's where 90% of the fabric is."

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

This sudden mental image makes Kitty laugh out loud, undignified, and a response to ostensibly nothing. "I'll get you a great gift." She promises out loud, but tucks that very tracksuit in a little file folder in her mind.

"Oh, so like, a philosophy argument. When they're the only clothes, are pants still pants?"

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Quickly following Kitty's laugh is Emma's, and she once again tries to fuss with the other young woman's hair, though this time just to be annoying.

"Not the only clothes, there's a bikini-esque top. I'm not an exhibitionist. And I believe the more important philosophical question is, if pants are the only clothes, is it still an outfit?"

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

This time, rather more mollified than before, Kitty allows it, but shakes a strand on the opposite side loose for rebellion purposes. "Depends on the pants." She decides, sagely, "And the person wearing them. Anything can be an outfit, if you believe."

Which might be what's wrong with her personal style philosophy in general.

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"Oh, my dear sweet Kitty Cat, you really are just a fashion disaster," Emma says fondly, allowing her her act of rebellion without disruption.

"Are you glad that I'm home, even though I'm going to make you dress better?"

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

“Been away a long time if you think you could make me do anything.” In a very feline move, befitting her name, Kitty leans her head for an instant against Emma’s hand and then steps away entirely. This should probably indicate she’s glad. “Are you happy to be back?”

ARRIVALS: Kitty & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"I'm playing the long game. You won't even know I'm making you do anything." The press into her hand is nice, and Emma's response is a gentle wash of affection in Kitty's mind.

"I am. Someone needs to look after you all."

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[totalities marvel girl]

Stop eating the eggs, Jean (nowhere nearby) texts Kitty after her fifth reject.

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Kitty looks to her phone, then around, then pops the last egg quarter into her mouth.
Starving. They're pretty good. She defends into a text, and then, to test a theory out, does not immediately consume a sixth devilled egg, but holds it over her shoulder instead.

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[totalities marvel girl]

The total nonresponse from Jean is somehow disapproving in tone.

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Good enough. She can feel that. Kitty, after an extremely pronounced eye roll, hands the sixth egg to her dragon instead. It's swept away in a flurry of purple wings, so she's not sure Lockheed actually enjoys eggs either, in the end.

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[totalities marvel girl]

At least everyone's getting their protein today, she texts back after a second.

ARRIVALS: Kitty Pryde

[passingthru KITTY PRYDE]

Except your poor muscles! 💪 🪦😭

Emoji onslaught finished for now, Kitty looks around again in vain and pouts notably for a second. Usually she is the one with the ultimate hide and seek advantage. It’s not that she’s a little jumpy about disappearing friends still at all.

Where’d u go???