17 - Video

[burnmythoughts]

[Some might not recognise the woman on the network. Her face is obscured by a flaring gold mask. She's wearing a green skirt, complete with a gold belt and matching gloves. Her composure, too, is different; she holds herself with a quiet confidence.

Her voice, though, is as warm as it's always been.]

Hey, Barge.

[Jean pulls the mask from her face, revealing an older, wearier gaze.]

How long was I gone? What did I miss?

[Private to X-People]

[Her smile falters, a little, as she leans forward.]

Please tell me you're all okay.

[Filter to Bruce Wayne]

[A cheerful wave.] Hey! How are you? I've learned a ton, we should spar in the CES. [And catch up, but that's what 'spar' means.]

[Private to Morgana]

[Jean suddenly looks younger; bashful and uncertain.]

I got you those books. And - um, I didn't know your size, exactly, but...

Comments

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean's lips purse.] Excuse you, I am completely - [Wait.

Jean stares.

When she realises her mouth has dropped opened she snaps it shut because that is seriously not attractive.]

Aaron?

[hellofleshyones]

Yes. And you are Jean. Codename Marvel Girl. Now that we have established that we have functional optic nerves. You are completely what?

[Yeah, give him a bit, he'll figure out why she's surprised in a minute.]

[burnmythoughts]

...Stunning. [What, she totally is.] But that's really not the point, here. I - the last time I saw you - [A slight, guilty grimace.]

[hellofleshyones]

You look as if you have been in a battle, and not in the good way. It's not exceptionally attractive.

[See? Not "you're not attractive" period. Just..."you aren't right now". It's an improvement.]

If my memory processors are accurate, I was being pulled apart by lava creatures. I was told you recovered my predecessor's robot brain.

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean's just going to ignore that and focus on the important bit, tyvm.]

Oh. I - yeah, I mean, it was the least I could do.

[hellofleshyones]

[Prooobably for the best, it's only likely to devolve from there.]

Even though you did not appear to like him much.

[burnmythoughts]

[Her gaze drops.]

That...wasn't his fault.

[hellofleshyones]

Of course it wasn't. He was only acting as programmed. Your insecurity was not his doing.

[burnmythoughts]

[Well, ouch. Her head snaps up, but - how can she yell at him, really?]

It wasn't insecurity so much as...defensiveness. But - either way, it was stupid.

[hellofleshyones]

A common fleshy failing, yes. You were concerned he was going to be a replacement for another teammate. You wished to preserve that spot.