un: HELLION | video

[vexant]

Is anyone going to explain who the hell dropped in Xavier's Institute but forgot to bring along - what, literally any mutant?

( most people might start with a hello. julian just starts with a finger pointing back at the manor off behind him. )

Or, fine, anyone but Jean. ( because he's only half counting her as is. )

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[shoplifter]

Scott and Ororo.

[Those were the primary X-Men she'd been around, other than Jean.

After a moment of hesitation, she adds:]

And Logan.

... I was gone, too. For a little while.

[vexant]

So, a good chunk of the original X-Men team.

( good to know, although it's useless now. nothing he can do with them being absent. )

Welcome back. Sorry you're stuck here with this massive mess.

[shoplifter]

[She nods, because that sounds about right.]

... It's okay. I'm just happy to meet the X-Men. For a little while.

They're all dead in my world.

[TOTALLY NORMAL THINGS TO SAY CASUALLY.]

[vexant]

Yeah, that happens.

( because it is a totally normal, casual thing to happen. when do the x-men actually successfully live? rarely. )

I'm an X-Man, too. Led the Hellions, back when we had teams before M-Day decimated our numbers. Heard of them?

[shoplifter]

... No. I — don't know very much about X-Men... or mutants.

[She pokes at the remnants of her pancakes, more thoughtfully than anything.]

They did not let us know much. I just read some comics.

[vexant]

Then you're in luck, because I've met almost all of them, and I've been around for a long while.

( she pokes at her pancakes, and he... gives something close to a soft smile. )

Logan was one of my teachers back in high school, and Laura -one who was a lot closer to my age- was on my squad for a bit.

[shoplifter]

I've heard of the other Laura; Ororo knew her, too.

She was made in a lab, too, yes?

[She... hadn't really learned too much about her.]

[vexant]

Yeah.

( it's not like any of this is anything laura hides, so. )

But she's always been a lot more than what the lab wanted her to be. She's stronger than anyone else I've ever known.

[shoplifter]

[Someone stronger than anyone else he's ever known? The thought makes her a little worried. After all, she is very sure she's not stronger than most mutants — she's not sure if she's figured out how to be more than the lab.

Does she have that, too? What it takes to not be a weaponized monster like Transigen had wanted? She hopes she can keep up with her other self, so she doesn't disappoint Jean or Ororo or the other mutants.]

... She sounds like a good X-Man.

I would like to... try to do the same, someday.

[Even if -- if mutants are on the verge of extinction. If they can just hold out hope, keep trying to do good...]

[vexant]

She's not just a good X-Man, she's among the best.

( laura kinney has always had a stubborn streak a mile wide, and despite their - rocky start, it didn't take long at all for julian to see who she was under the layers of thorns she hid behind. it has been years; she broke his heart, left him behind, but hell - it wasn't the first time one of his own had done that either, and despite his arrogant, egotistical attitude, julian does get it.

krakoa was a fresh start for all of them. a chance to leave all the bullshit that had torn them apart for years behind. )

She's got a little sister who's just as tough as she is, too. You'll get there one day. I've never met a Wolverine who didn't strong-arm their way passed any barriers in their way.

[shoplifter]

[Oh...! Her face brightens immediately.]

A little sister?

I would like a sister. [She's feeling a little jealous. Just a little. But her imagination is running rampant at the thought of someone like that.] I would buy them clothes and toys, and make them feel better. About all of the bad things from before. I would understand.

[vexant]

Gabby Kinney.

( julian doesn't keep up with her all that much, but he knows - enough. )

She does pretty good for herself. I think she's a little older than you are now.

[shoplifter]

[Kinney? Doesn't ring any bells.]

... Then I'm the smallest one.

[She sounds a little disappointed. Not that being a little sister would be bad, but... it would have been nice, to be the smart older sister, who takes care of someone smaller than her.]

[vexant]

You'll grow.

( listen. it's not his fault she's tiny. gabby's - what, thirteen? ish? something around there.

laura looks closer to ten. )

[shoplifter]

[That totally does not make her feel better.

But... it does make her terribly interested in this other universe.]

What is your world like?

[vexant]

I don't really know how to answer that.

( he knows what she's getting at. the multiverse is vast, and while julian isn't an expert in exploring it, he's been around. some of them are easy to describe, whereas others - it's hard to define something that just feels like it's average and normal. )

The Avengers are jackasses, the main X-Men squad're okay sometimes, but they spend way too much time starting bitchfights with each other. There's the Inhumans, the Mutates, sometimes Spider-Man comes around sticking his face into our business for no fucking reason. World almost ends at least half a dozen times a year.

[shoplifter]

...

Your world sounds very busy. Very unrestful.

[vexant]

Yeah, I don't think anyone's gotten a real good night's sleep in years.

[shoplifter]

That will change here.

Bad things do happen, but there are times they don't. Times things are calm.

[vexant]

It's been changing back home, too. We've got our own safe place for mutants, now. A entire island built just for us.

[shoplifter]

Like — an Eden?

[Such a simple four-letter word, but one she's burned into her thoughts.

It had been synonymous with freedom, after all.]

[vexant]

It's called Krakoa, but yeah. Krakoa's a sentient, living island. One where we can all live in peace.

[shoplifter]

... It sounds wonderful.

I hope I can visit it, someday.

[vexant]

I'll take you, soon as we get out of this mess.