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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ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Squeezing his hand back, Emma cuddles up a little closer, hoping to rob Manny of a bit more of his warmth. The fire is right there, but body heat remains preferable to her.

« There's none of that. I just saw him so it hasn't been long enough. » Manny might be a little right, though, since her trip back for Christmas had been short and mostly consumed by trying to figure out what had happened to Xavier. She grimaces a little. « More? God, what are we going to do with him? »

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Being pulled closer into Emma's frigid embrace prompts Manuel to grumble something incomprehensible in Spanish, but he still doesn't pull back and seems to resign himself to the task. The fire will warm them both up before long, anyway.

He hopes.

« What's changed, then? Enlighten me. » His eyes flit in the direction of Scott, then the meticulous arrangement of deviled eggs, then back to Emma with a visible hint of amusement. « The fridge might be all eggs by now. Is that a punishable offence? »

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"Shush," is Emma's only response to Manny's grumblings, her head eventually coming to rest on his shoulder as he looks over at Scott as well.

There's a long pause before she responds.

« I don't know, something. His ass, probably. It's not like he ever stops training, except to make a fridge full of eggs, apparently. »

She tilts her head to meet his gaze, making another face, annoyed with herself and the amusement on her companion's face. It's obvious to everyone they're having a mental conversation, but this shouldn't be anything new. They did it the entire time they grew up here, too. « What would the punishment even be? Send him to bed with no Danger Room? »

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Toned as it might be, Manuel has little to add on the topic of Scott Summer's ass, so he remains quiet while Emma settles in against his shoulder and turns his head just enough to meet her eyes. The exaggerated ire he sees there finally makes him smile.

Poor Emma. For all her power and privilege, anyone can be cut down by a crush. Rendered hopelessly irrational by that feeling of butterflies in the stomach.

« Make him go on vacation for a whole week? »

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

« To get him to actually relax you'd have to send him to a deserted island or something. And then he'd simply explode. »

Well, at least Manny acknowledges that it's toned. Because it is. Emma lets out a frustrated sigh, wondering if she should go get an egg out of pity. Maybe in a bit.

Right now, she has to be annoyed about her companion's assessment of her plight, which is correct and thus requires punishment. She creeps her free hand, equally cold as the one he holds, behind his back to try to slip under his shirt and press to his bare skin.

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

If Manuel could read Emma's emotions like everyone else's, he might've seen this betrayal coming. But probably not. He yelps as her icy hand presses into the small of his back, jolting forward and twisting away from her grasp before turning to look at her with an expression of utter shock. And then...embarrassment. He clears his throat, making a visible effort to collect himself before he settles back into the sofa, this time pressed into the far corner.

"En serio?" he complains with a sulking huff, "Ni siquiera puedes confiar en tus amigas..."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

This response is completely expected, but that doesn't make it any less delightful. Emma laughs, letting Manuel squirm away from her, though the moment he's situated back she tries to sidle over to him again.

"Te amo," she says saccharinely, not yet trying to warm her hands with him again at least. "But you were making fun of me."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Crossing his arms and tucking his hands into the (still relatively warm) crooks of his elbows, Manuel gives Emma a scathing, skeptical look.

Is that what love feels like, Emma?

"I was absolutely not," he retorts, but leaves the point there. This discussion is familiar ground for them and he knows that he won't be able to convince her of the difference between a thought directed at her and a thought about her when she just so happened to be listening. But it doesn't matter anyway, because soon he's sighing and freeing his hand to offer to her again.

"...You're lucky I've missed you, cariño."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Emma kisses the air towards Manny, still looking quite pleased with herself. This is absolutely what love feels like.

She does not argue his point - they have been over this, ample times, and he's correct. Not that she's going to tell him that, though. As it's offered, her hand slips back into his, at least less cold than initially.

"I'm very lucky. And I've missed you too. I don't regret leaving but... being back feels better than I realized it would."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Rolling his eyes at her, Manuel gives Emma's hand another squeeze and goes silent for a moment. The break in their conversation is filled up with the voices of their friends and it almost feels like they're all teenagers again. Like, any minute, Charles will enter through the closed door and tell them to settle down for their lessons or get suited up for training.

But, of course, those days are far behind them and everything is different now.

"...Give it time," he says wryly, though there's no actual vitriol in his complaint, "You'll be ready to flee back to New York in a week. A day if they've got you teaching."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

The nostalgia on Manuel's mind makes Emma feel the slightest bit melancholy, but it's not an unpleasant feeling. She does really like that she's home, now, and that everyone else is too, despite the dire reason for it. After a moment she lifts his hand, pressing the back of it to her warm cheek in silent apology for the chill of her hands.

"Oh darling, didn't you hear? I'm teaching ethics."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

Manuel had not heard and this revelation prompts an immediate, faintly dubious grin. With his empathic sense, it's rare that he has to wonder if someone is being serious or not, but here he is. Looking into his friend's face and just...not knowing. It's a strange feeling. But, because it's Emma, it's not a bad feeling.

"Really?"

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

Emma's laugh is bright, which doesn't tell her friend if she's lying or not.

"Yes, really. Plus etiquette and media training. I think I'm going to be wonderful at both."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[empata Manuel de la Rocha (Empath)]

"Laughing at me isn't very polite," Manuel points out, still peering at Emma with thoughtful scrutiny. He finds himself believing her, though, and his smile broadens. "But I suppose teachers can take the do as I say, not as I do approach..."

ARRIVALS: Manuel & Emma

[frost_queen Emma Frost ♕ White Queen]

"Exactly, I'm very good at telling others what to do while doing whatever I want." Emma raises her free hand, now pretty much a normal temperature, to gently go to poke Manuel on the nose. "These children aren't going to know what hit them."