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

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

What did you want?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

People were starting to talk about as some kind of military outfit. I - wanted us to be individuals. [A slight smirk.] In bright colours, because the public seems to like that.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

What do you mean? What happened?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean can't help but laugh, soft and wry.] A lot. We've had to do more - you know, in the spotlight. Everyone knows who the X-Men are, now, and most of them don't like us.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

I wish I could say that was surprising. [But really, how could it be?]

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[Her smile is grim.] Me too.

We've changed some minds, though. We just have to keep working at it.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

Good luck. [She doesn't really sound like she believes it will work, but. At least she tries? Sort of?]

Why have you come back?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[There are a few reasons, but she goes for the biggest.]

There are people I care about here.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

Do you have a new deal?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

Yeah. [Her expression turns solemn.] Scott - he lost his family, when he was little.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

[Something like a smile shifts her lips.] Did you tell him, then?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean ducks her head a little, a bashful smile chasing away the wistfulness.]

I did, yeah. He...he feels the same way.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

[It's a sweeter look on her, and the almost-smile settles into something more noticeably positive.]

That's good.

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[Morgana looks so pretty when she's smiles. Jean's determined to make it happen more often.]

Thanks. It's...really nice. [Accepting and expressing those feelings, and knowing they're returned - it's like a part of her was empty, yearning, and now she's whole.] I mean, Scott has no idea what he's doing, but he tries really hard. [She wouldn't have him any other way, not really.]

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

Does anyone have any idea what they're doing?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

Good point. I'm just kind of winging it.

[Her eyes go wide.]

Oh! I can fly now.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

Fly? [You win the day, Jean.] How?

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

Well, you know how I could hover before? And jump? [She floats a bit now, with more ease than she ever did before.] I learned more here, and then I practised my butt off learning to - well, move my own body, instead of everything else.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

That's incredible. [Because she can't imagine a way to do it herself, and that says something.]

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

It's amazing. [It's been a dream for so long, and while she can only stay in the air so long, go so high - it still makes her feel so powerful, so free.]

Have you ever tried?

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

[She shakes her head.]

I wouldn't know where to begin.

[Private]

[burnmythoughts]

[Jean bites her lip, brow furrowing.]

You can move things, right? With your magic.

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

Yes. But I've never moved myself. [And she sure as hell has only ever been thrown by someone else.]