Monet nodded in agreement with Jubilation. Not everyone was cut out to be a hero. And certainly Cordelia wasn't. She didn't find the 'errant accuasations' particularly errant. And at least she and Jubilation had made it totally clear to Cordelia that her behavior when it came to mind wibbling was unacceptable to them.

"I can do that for you" she offered to Cordelia helpfully "I know you don't get on with your sister. It might be better to have a third party talk on your behalf. Not just this topic if you don't want, but just in general"

Her own thumb met Jubilations. A 'thank you'. A little squeeze before Monet sat back in the Taxi. It was quite nice in some ways this car journey. Sure they had the tension with Cordelia but hopefully that had been resolved. And Jono and Jubilation seemed quite friendly. She was obviously particularly happy to have met Jubilation: someone she could rely on when the going got crazy

"So I don't think we've really introduced ourselves properly" she said to the others "We have an hour. Why don't we use it. I'm Monet Yvette Clarisse Maria Therese St. Croix" she gave a little laugh "My parents" there was just a little shadow of sadness "just couldn't decide so in the end they decided to use all the names they liked. My sisters call me M, and I like that as a short hand. M or Monet both work. I was born and brought up in Europe, so I'm still suffering a little from culture shock over here. What about the rest of you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

"Jubilation Lee or Jubilee. I'm a Cali girl born and bred. I've served with The X-Men and am like surrogate daughter to Wolverine. Though I heard after I started finding my own way he took another to fill the void I left in his heart." she said theatrically and then snickered.

"Ah don't put yourself down like that." Monet said at hearing Jubilation's story about Wolverine "Or him. A person who loves you like a father can help more than one person. Him helping someone else, doesn't diminish his caring for you." she reached out and squeezed Jubilation's hand gently "I have two sisters. My father would do anything for any of us. I would do anything for them. I know that his love for them doesn't lesson his love for me." her voice went quiet "Now if only my brother was like that. Instead of... Sheesh ..." she shook her head obviously reliving bad memories

"Sorry. That was supposed to me being caring and supportive and I messed up again."

She squeezed her hand back. "Nahh that's an A Plus comforting. Unnecessary because I know deep beneath his cigar smoking, bar brawling, sweaty, hairy, grumpy exterior Wolvie is a big old softie. He looks after younger mutants doesn't want them to ever go through what he did." she said shivering a bit remembering Canada.

"I think I don't want to hear what he went through" Monet said a little quietly "There's enough badness at the moment for me to want to avoid adding more. I'm glad he's taking his responsibilities seriously though" there was an unspoken 'unlike some people'.

She wasn't particularly down on Banshee: the jury was out on him as far as she was concerned. She'd wait to hear his story about what happened at the airport before judging. Emma though. She's seen Emma at work, and it had not been pretty.

"What about you Jono? I think all we know about you is that you have telepathy and come from Europe"

Perhaps unconsciously she hadn't removed her hand from Jubilation's. Jubilation was obviously stressing a bit. And not unsurprisingly so was Monet. Right now she needed the distraction and the comfort

A couple minutes ago...

Jono reached his hand into his own chest, demonstrating that the "fire" that was contained within it did no damage to his own flesh when it came into contact nor did getting penetrated there seem to do any damage to him.

<Truth is, gel, I don't right know what I am. 'Swhy I'm seeking help.>>

After explaining, he wrapped his jacket around himself and zipped it up to hide his shame. Jono continued to follow Monet, not really certain what he where he was supposed to go while Banshee kept working things out with the authorities. The last thing he wanted was to have to answer any more questions from the normies about missing a big chunk of his body-- and it seemed like Monet was there to escort him to the school, so he did not need to question things any.

Now

The Uber driver picked up the three girls leaving Banshee and Jono behind, but it was going to be an hours journey to get back to the school.

Jono had been silent for several minutes of the drive. He was a bit lost in this entire conversation and, as he had become 'used' to communicating telepathically, it hadn't exactly become second nature.

<<I'm from Britain. Used t' be quite the looker if you'd believe it.>>

His psychic messages could be read as a bit jovial, though the sense that he is just trying to lighten the mood or disarm the tension couldn't be avoided. When one sends their thoughts, it is hard to mask their intentions.

<<But then one daymy gel 'n I get all hot and heavy in a coatroom and-- BOOM-- there goes my lower face and most a' my chest.>>

He brought a hand to the upper part of his zipped up jacket where they had seen the fire coming from earlier. His body language can be read as that of embarrassment and shame, but at least acceptance of what happened.

<<Cannot eat or drink since-- but somehow, someway-- I'm still 'live. Don't rightly know how I've not starved yet.>>
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:44, Sun 05 Feb 2023.

Cordelia doesn't catch any of Crox & Lees conversation
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Wed 15 Feb 2023.

"You ever wonder why we all have radically different mutations? like is it ancestral? is it like manifested in puberty based on our interests and personality? its weird right?" she mused.

"I'm glad you are OK with it, Jono" Monet said. She didn't give false pity and was going to treat Jono like everyone else now "I hope they can help you here. It's certainly a good place to try." she gave a little laugh at the 'don't know why I don't starve'. It was nice to have the mood lifted. And to see Jubilation react to it too. Changing the topic.


"That's something I've thought about a lot" Monet replied to Jubilation "A good question"

"See our powers aren't really mutations. Not in the normal meaning of the word" Monet observed. "I'm talking about the powers themselves.... See in genetics when it comes to the expressions of a genetic trait there are two important things. They have fancy words. The fancy words are  Genotype and the Phenotype. They ideas are simple though. The 'Genotype' is 'does the ability to use special powers ability exist in you'. The Phenotype is 'how does it manifest'. Our shared mutation is the Genotype"

"Often it seems to me the powers we get are based on need and expectation as much as interest. Often it seems the Phenotype is determined by the moment of manifestation. Rather like the pop science view of Quantum stuff: observing an event locks its values into reality. Until that moment of need, or in the case of 'quantum' observing, then it's just potential. Any expectations skew the probability cloud significantly."

"I don't think that's a universal truth or anything. I wouldn't be surprised if something as complex as this has multiple factors. "

Jono turns his head looking between the three girls for a moment as though trying to determine something before his gaze locks onto Cordelia.

<<If can stop that guy from attacking anyone else, we should do it.>> he announced psychically to everyone quite suddenly even though it didn't seem like anyone hinted they could.

As for Monet and Jubilation's debate he looked away, turning his gaze out the window and projected with thoughts oozing with sarcasm.

<<Way I heard it, we're all just the great-great-great grandkids of some ancient Egypt bloke who got aliens t' mess with his DNA 'n give him powers.>>

As much as he tried to sound as though he put no stock into such a story, there is a weird sense that someone he feels bitter towards told him this story specifically.

"Well that's one theory Jono" Monet said with a laugh "And it might be true. As you soon as you bring in space aliens or fairies or ghosts, it's hard to work out what might be possible. And I think we now know space aliens are real... maybe the other two are as well"

But then the amusement faded as she thought about what Jono had said

"That guy... as you put it... is... is" she squeezed Jubilation's hand looking for support "my brother. I think. Marius. Marius St Croix. I didn't recognise him of course with that mask or anything. But his voice... I'm not certain, but there were other signs..."

"I don't know what has happened to him. And mostly I don't care. There are no justifications for doing what he has done. What I don't know is how to find him, how to stop him and how to hand him over to the Justice system. I'm not going to kill him for what's he done, but it is death sentence territory: and that's why we have courts"

"It's not really 'my problem'. Just because he's my brother who has gone ape shit cannibal crazy doesn't make it more my problem than a random stranger. We have the police for a reason: to stop people like us going vigilante."

"I need to find my sisters. Check if they are all right. I know he attacked you, but the coincidence of doing that when I am around... is too spooky for me."

"And we need to talk to the Headmaster and Headmistress. Make sure our defences are good. You saw him teleport..."

"We'll stop him... sorry for almost killing him by trying to blow up his oxygen tank though. He was freaky as fuu ....dge" she squeezed back.

Cordelia shrugged.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:54, Wed 15 Feb 2023.

Monet's eyes were hard "Shariah law is very clear on this. It's not 'negotiable'. There are three levels of the law, and the topmost is the word of Allah himself. Marius has broken at least two of these top level laws, and that is unforgivable. The Word of Allah exists for a reason: to guide our actions. To tell us what to do when the times are hard like now. I will be praying a lot tonight. I will consult an Imman, although that is I suspect redundant. I already know what he will say"

"But we should talk with the Headmasters. You saw him. Marius has enslaved others. He can teleport. He kills and eats people. He is a serious threat."

"And yes he is a freaky as fudge"

"And I need to warn my sisters..."

 Cordelia thinks to herself.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

ooc Removed
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

 Ooc Removed
This message was last edited by the player at 09:45, Sun 19 Feb 2023.

Jubilee blinked confused suddenly as they were back at the airport. She got back out of the Uber and looked confused. "Uhh what the hell why are we here?" she asked. "Yeah your school called and told me to drive you back to the airport. Sorry but unless you're paying yourself..." he offered as Jubilee sighed. she grabbed their bags taking it back to the school car and waiting for Banshee.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Thu 16 Feb 2023.

"Well..." Monet said looking at Jubilation offering to pay "We could. But if they want us back... well ... they are the school"

"I'm guessing they didn't say 'why'. Ah well. Maybe I can get a new jacket. Assuming anywhere is open after the crisis"

Jubilee stuck her head back in the Uber. "Probably wants Banshee to check on Jono. Jono was attacked and we're not doctors. " she guessed shrugging. "That or Emma's too cheap to pay" she added jokingly.

"I think Jono's physiology is so different than hours that most Doctor's wouldn't help" Monet said thinking over what Jubilation had said "We'll see. Now important matters! I need a new jacket. Any bets on how long that lasts?"

Jono, slipped from the uber more than a little confused by the whole looping back and the talk of the school in general but he shrugged it off. He fidgeted with his collar and face mask to make sure they were properly concealing his lower face before sticking both hands into his pockets and nodding his thanks to Jubilee for moving the bags and hovering slightly awkwardly to the side.

<<Yeah, no worries on my account. Can't say I 'member much about this whole hand in the chest thing 'fore you pulled me free, but I seem to have all my bits and pieces still. As many as I had when I got on the plane at least. Only thing I am sufferin' is some jet lag.>> His psionic message ringing with a slightly hollow 'tone', that perhaps he was more shaken up by the ordeal than he was trying to let on.

<<Yer welcome to borrow one of my coats if you want, luv.>> He projects, glancing to Monet before gesturing towards his bag with a tilt of his head. <<Though they may not be yer normal style. Had to make some fashion choices based on practicality, yer know.>>

"I think we can get you something pretty durable I had a yellow long coat that's been through a lot over the past few years and it's held up well. we should find out what it's made from" she quipped.

"The bad guy" Monet didn't want to use words like 'my brother' "had minions. One of them had diamond sharp skin and claws. I was lucky and the claws couldn't get me, but they cut through the clothes I was wearing as though they weren't there." This was mostly for Jono's benefits as the others had seen it first hand

"If we face them again, I would all be rather careful of her."

Monet gestured at the jacket top she was wearing "I mean I like this, but it's yours Jubilation. It looks good on you, and anyway if I wear it too long it's going to get broken again. It might be worth asking the school what they can suggest. Maybe they have something like the yellow duster."

"I don't mind if you want to keep it. You do make it look good." she said with a smile as she sat back. Even with the pleasant conversation the ride back to school felt like it had been taking weeks. Or maybe she just wanted to get the debriefing over with.