me and all my other mes

[laserguy]

Who: Scott Summers and you
Where: Around Aldrip
What: Scott glitching into different versions of himself, such as 97, James Marsden, time displaced teen Scott from the comics, etc...
Warnings: Maybe some possible spoilers for X-Men 97??


I’m Totally Buggin (X-Men 97);
[Walking around Aldrip? You may notice a slightly familiar, but also pretty different version of one Scott Summers. Mostly, just the fact that he's an adult that's wearing a bright and colorful X-Men uniform. Look, who would wear black leather?? There's definitely a certain serious countenance to him as he looks around, because this place is new and unfamiliar and where is his team? Hell, he'll even be glad to see Magneto around, since the older mutant has shown that he's capable of letting humans go despite their crimes against them. Second chances and all. It's what the late Professor wanted.

...He still wonders if he didn't do a good enough job if the Professor left everything to Magneto.

But no thoughts for that right now. He has to find the other X-Men or help out any mutants if they are in this city. So, once again, he tries to communicate with the other members of his team, pressing the communicator on his uniform to contact them.]

It's Cyclops, report.

[Once that message is sent, however, Scott will continue his exploration, perhaps even resorting to stopping someone else to ask for information. This doesn't look like an elaborate kidnapping ploy, so he's willing to hear out any of the people walking around.] Can you tell me where we're at?

[Maybe you'll catch Scott walking around one of the more crime infested areas, just casually blasting a robber from across the street with the lowest power setting so that they collapse to the ground, mostly uninjured. It sure is nice to have a visor where he can control the output of his blasts.]

I was basically a cameo (X3: Last Stand);
[Enjoying the beach? Well, maybe not anymore, because there is a scream that echoes throughout the area before two familiar red blasts shoot through the sea for a few seconds, the water breaking apart before instantly converging once more as Scott falls to his knees a respectable distance away (look, he wasn't going to blast right next to someone, he has just enough sense for that). And it's definitely some version of Scott as he stares out at the ocean with an expression that seems haunted and exhausted, despite the shades covering his eyes. Maybe it's the fact that he clearly hasn't shaven in a hot minute.

Normally, Scott wouldn't even think to act this way out in public. But Jean is gone. He can't even hear her in his mind now. She's been dead for a year and he still can't come to grips with it. It's just. He should've done more for her. He should've been there. He should've done something. He... he doesn't know what to do and all that training and self-control is not helping him right now.

He can only just look at the water in front of him, so unlike the lake that claimed her, teeth clenching as her name falls from him.]

Jean...

I stole Wolverine's bike (All New X-Men comics);
[Well, isn't this great.

This Scott half expects Hank to pop out of nowhere and tell him that he's been brought to somewhere else to stop his future self, even if it doesn't make any sense. Nothing has made sense though in the past few days. Look, learning that he kills Charles Xavier in the future, that his future self is a mutant revolutionary hanging out with Magneto, and that everyone pretty much hates him has been a lot. He... he didn't do that. He doesn't want to do any of that.

But Hank hasn't come out to tell him his new idea. And people aren't looking at him with utter contempt or distrust. It's kind of nice. Sure, he only experienced that for just a few days now, but it has been enough. It's not like he can really forget how even Jean looked at him when everyone learned what his future self is like. Probably didn't help that he literally attacked him and the others and promptly disappeared with his new best friend Magneto.

God, this sucks still. Because he doesn't know where he's at and no one is familiar. He'd still rather have the other young X-Men here, because even if it's Bobby or Warren looking at him with distrust, at least they're still his friends.

Scott stares up at the sky for a moment, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He can handle this. He can--]

This might as well happen!

[He shouts into the sky before promptly collapsing back on the grass and staring upward still. Maybe that feral man with the claws will come out of nowhere to kill him. He wonders if it would be that bad.]

wildcard;
[Want a different Scott? Just let me know and I'll try to swing it! Feel free to plot with me at currykirby]

Comments

i'll start with the comics boy but no promises i won't come back for the others

[orphne]

[Impressive shout! And that sounds like a new arrival to her, which is a little strange because hadn't they just had a bunch of new Chosen show up? Then again, things around the city have been glitching worse than usual, so maybe this is another symptom of that. Either way, it's weird enough to merit her interest, so she changes course (she'd been planning to head home) and instead ventures onto the grass and peers down at the guy on the ground.

Those glasses... she can't quite hide a jolt of confused recognition, but she wipes it from her face quickly enough and instead gives him her best smile.]

You okay down there?

kotone official scott whisperer

[laserguy]

[As Scott looks up at Kotone, it's still pretty easy for him to catch that confused recognition from her eyes before it promptly disappears. It's just an expression that he's seen a lot lately, from people on the street, from store clerks. 'You look like Cyclops, that mutant revolutionary,' and yeah. He knows. He's going to be that guy.

Except, well, strangely enough, as he continues to stare up at her, there's this... warm feeling in his chest. Very similar in the way he gets when Jean smiles brightly at him.

You're really tired, Summers.

He closes his eyes for a moment, before exhaling loudly and with some amount of sarcasm--]

Oh yeah, I normally spend my day staring up at the sky while having an existential crisis. I do it after my afternoon tea.

show me a scott who's not sad and maybe that'll be the one koto doesn't go for--

[orphne]

Oh yeah?

[Her voice is light and cheerful, even as something tugs at her heart. He sounds like the Scott she'd danced with that night at the inn when they'd first met, all bitter and angry. Nothing like the Scott who's (hopefully) waiting for her at home. Is her Scott waiting for her? There's a sudden panic that maybe her Scott is gone, but- don't panic. Don't think like that. The boy in front of her, maybe-Scott, needs help right now. She'll text her Scott after.

> Help him up
> Tease him
> Join him]

I've never tried that from the grass before! [And without further ado, she plops down beside him and lays flat on her back, gazing up at the sky above.] I usually have my crises on the roof.

picture not shown

[laserguy]

[Oh my god she's next to him now--

He sort of just expected her to leave him be because that's how most people react to grumpy ass teenagers, right? He qualifies as one, he's pretty sure. Why a cute and energetic person like her want to be around him is beyond Scott, but guess he'll just let it happen. Some company right now would be nice anyway, especially company that doesn't look at him with distrust and anger.

...Not to mention that weird feeling in his chest that makes him want to be near her.]

I'll try that tomorrow. [He snorts, that sarcasm still there but a little less biting. Really, what he should be doing is figuring out what is going on-- guess he could ask her, but for once, he really just feels like lying on the ground like this and not think about how everything just sucks.

Although, that recognition in her eyes is going to bother him and--]

...I know that you know me. You don't have to pretend. [Oh, right, push away the one girl that has been nice to you--]

[orphne]

[Unfortunately for him, Kotone's never been one to leave anybody be. Turning her head against the grass, she gives him a brief smile, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She's out of practice lying to make people feel better, huh...? It's a good thing Dazai's back; maybe he can help her out.

In any case, she's here with someone who sounds a little like how Scott used to be, and wearing-]

It was your glasses, actually! [she admits, tapping her temple as if she had glasses of her own.] One of my best friends has glasses just like yours.

'97!

[mightymorphin]

[Morph had kept their communicator on them, but despite all their attempts to call the team after their arrival, it had remained dead silent. Until now. They're so startled that they nearly fumble the thing out of their hands before they can transmit a message back.]

Cyke, is that you?! I mean - this is Morph, reporting in!

[laserguy]

[There's some relief in Scott's chest when his communicator flashes and the familiar voice of his teammate, of someone that he can fully trust, breaks through the speaker. They have their quirks, but Scott knows that Morph is fully reliable when he needs them to be.

And suddenly being brought to a new unfamiliar city? They both need to be at their best.]

Yeah, it's me. [He confirms with his usual steadfast voice, one that leaves no room for argument or questioning.] Morph, you're the first to report in. I just arrived in this city and still trying to get my bearings straight. Have you seen or encountered anyone else so far?

[mightymorphin]

It's just me and Rogue. We've been here a few weeks. We went looking for the others, with no luck. You're the only other one to call in.

[As relieved as they are to hear from Scott, Morph isn't thrilled to have to break it to him. They could only hope that the rest of the team was safely at home instead of being who-knows-where.]

Rogue's around but she won't be easy to contact. She doesn't have her communicator, and she's been hanging out on rooftops since her costume got torn up.

[laserguy]

[Him, Rogue, and Morph. Three X-Men. Definitely fewer than he would've liked, but at least not entirely alone. Scott can work with this-- he has to, especially if they've been here for weeks. For him, it's easy to fall into that leadership role and he's sure they expect him to anyway.]

Keeping it subtle, understood.

[Not that Scott can talk since he's walking around in a bright yellow and blue costume. It's fine.]

Assuming that the two of you showed up together and I just showed up now. Maybe in another few weeks, we'll get someone else. [Or they find a way back before then. That's preferable. ] I take it that we're not recognized around these parts. Haven't gotten too much of a look since walking down these streets.

No identifiable enemy yet?

[mightymorphin]

Define 'subtle'.

[Because Morph sure hasn't been, and no one's tried throwing rocks at them yet. They're pretty sure Rogue's also been using her powers in public, but she had good reason to be wary about civilians brushing up against her.]

There's no immediate threats here. This place is more weird than dangerous. I've met people with powers, but they aren't mutants and they don't know what mutants are. There's - there were a couple of mutant teenagers here already, and they seem to be doing fine.

[Sure, Morph could fill him in on the whole alternate-reality wonky timeline stuff... but it would be way more fun for Scott to find that out on his own.]

basically a cameo

[entreats]

[ Honestly, if it wasn't for the beams, Ange may not even have realised that this is Scott.

He looks just different enough, after all. Older? Kind of.. more ragged, maybe? There's a part of Ange that feels like labeling this Scott some random divorced dad, but she's pretty sure that there's only one person in this city who's capable of blasting beams like that from their eyes.

It does make the differences about this guy compared to her housemate more stark though, and Ange's eyebrows knit themselves together into a frown as she tries to figure all of this out in her mind. ]

.. Scott..?

[ She even sounds so puzzled. It's just weird thinking of this unshaven guy as him. What kind of weird stuff is this place doing this time around? ]

[laserguy]

[At first, Scott doesn't respond, thoughts still swirling in his mind as he stares out at the water. What is he hoping for? For Jean to emerge from its depths to greet him? Tell him that she's okay?

...

It's not even the right place. Honestly, he doesn't even know where he's at and it really didn't matter to him. Scott's not sure if it matters to him now. He's just lost. The Professor clearly lost all hope in him. Taking a deep breath, however, he manages to pull himself together, just enough so that he can look at Ange and respond.]

...Hi.

[There's an awkward pause, one the older man lets hanging as he looks at the unfamiliar girl. Well, she is unfamiliar, but a part of him thinks that she's somehow a friend still as well? ...He really is losing his mind, isn't he? He just thought he heard Jean and now he thinks a high school girl is his friend.

Although, she did say his name with some familiarity and--]

I'm sorry, do I know you? [He asks, almost bluntly, slowly standing up to his full height but still looking as ragged and tired as ever. He looks closed off, distrustful in a way, but not threatening either. He doesn't make it his business to attack people unprovoked, even now.]

[entreats]

...

[ Never has a person's expression gone all the way from thoroughly confused to disgruntled in as short of a time as what is happening with Ange's face right now. Sure, technically she's still a little confused as to what's going on here, but his reaction and lack of recognition are actually telling her a few things.

Just enough to make the first few puzzle pieces fall into place. ]

Seriously? [ She first says - even though it's aimed more at this place than at this weird other Scott.

Good luck figuring that one out though as she starts to approach him, taking steps in his direction. ]

Hold on.

[ Ange says in the middle of that process. She fishes her tablet out of her pocket, scrolling through it to find Scott's username, and then presses the button to call him. It's one way to figure out whether this is the Scott she knows - somehow - or if it's just that a different Scott showed up.

So soon after their conversation about alternate selves too. It's almost like they jinxed it, but that thought only makes Ange more disgruntled. Can the people in charge here stop listening in on their conversations? They're private for a reason! ]

[laserguy]

[The furrow between his eyebrows only increases as she steps closer to him. He saw how her expression changed from one of confusion to one of mild aggravation and Scott just sort of expected her to turn away or leave him alone after the whole mistaken identity bit. ...Although, it's not just that, is it? Not when she said his name with confused familiarity.

There's still that frown on him, but he doesn't turn away or ignore her. Maybe focusing on this strange mystery will help pull his mind away from his loss, at least for a few seconds. That clamoring feeling is still gripping his chest, unable to let go for long, because how can he just forget her? Scott takes in a deep breath, eyes closing behind his shades for a moment, just trying to focus on this girl in front of him.

She's taking out a phone(?) and-- there's now something ringing from his own jacket. His own puzzled expression appears as he reaches for the device, pulling it out and seeing the person that's calling him-- Ange. Obviously, that's her. He doesn't answer, just watching her with a slightly parted mouth, as if trying to think of something to say.]

So, Ange. [...] You somehow know me.

[entreats]

[ So it is Scott!

Ange isn't sure whether that's more annoying than the alternative. It is annoying in the sense that it means she's got to deal with him like this until he returns back to normal - if he even returns back to normal at all, who the hell even knows with this place at this point! - but at least it also means that they don't have to deal with an awkward extra Scott walking around this place forever.

The girl still looks a little miffed all the same though. Not even just at his words, because she starts looking miffed before he even speaks up. The girl presses the 'end call' button, since she's proven her point, and then sticks the tablet back into her pocket with a sigh. ]

There's not really any 'somehow' about it. It's as simple as 'this place changed you.' I guess it messed with your memories too. Usually you have a lot more of that weird teen energy, not this.. weird divorced dad energy, or whatever you've got going on. [ A little harsher than the usual, maybe. Even if it's still informative.

But she can't help it! She's annoyed! Can this place stop messing with her friends for like at least two days in a row? Thanks? ]

the dead gf one. u know

[incorrigibles]

[ it's not that the beach really holds much appeal for charles, given that he can hardly swim or enjoy the sun or anything of the sort, despite how very normal and corporeal he looks — maybe a little out of place there in his normal outfit, black jacket and all. he's... well, truthfully, he's moping and he's man enough to admit that that's exactly what he's doing here; he stops to pick up a few rocks, throws them to the water, watches them skip across the surface with a sigh —

and then there's a scream and charles stops in his tracks, prepares to run wherever it's coming from in case someone needs help — except it's not in that way, is it? he sees the man, falling to his knees in what looks painfully like despair, and charles clocks the anguish in the scream that still echoes inside his mind, not least because he feels the same kind of anguish inside his head, all hours of the day, worse the longer he stays here.

so he walks closer, his feet leaving no imprints in the sand. ]

Hey, [ he says, pausing a respectable distance away, and there's an aching sympathy in his tone. ] Uh, maybe you don't exactly want company right now, especially some bloke you don't even know, but... just, wanted to say sorry for your loss.

[ because that's what this is, isn't it — mourning. he can recognise it all too well. ]

plot twist that's all of them--

[laserguy]

[There's someone here and... what did you expect, Summers?

Shouting and uselessly blasting the ocean was bound to grab someone's attention. Really, he should be thankful that more people haven't started coming towards him or maybe grabbing the police or somebody for being a potential threat to society. But despite these thoughts, Scott can't find it in himself to care. He's already been a fucking waste, to the point that everyone has given hope on him.

And now Jean... who he thought he could hear for just a few seconds, is gone too.

For a moment, it looks like Scott isn't even going to answer Charles, his eyes still fixated on the water.]

...How did you know?

[His voice comes off as raspy at first, maybe from the screaming he just did. Although, sometimes, it feels like he's been constantly screaming since she died a year ago, crushed under the weight of that water flooding from the dam. Honestly, a part of him is surprised he's talking to this unknown teen at all. Maybe it's just that sympathy in his voice, something to latch onto as that aching despair sinks into him.

Someone who might understand. Those ruby shades finally turn from the ocean to look up at Charles.]

hahajgkdhf

[incorrigibles]

Hard not to, mate, [ charles answers with a half-grimace, and then immediately realises that it's an absolute shit answer. ]

Let's just say I've dealt with a lot of death.

[ in the past thirty-five years, how many times have they looked into a case, just to see the client's family mourning, or their client themselves mourning for the life they've lost, or someone else, long passed — through it all, charles is far more familiar with the sadness of loss than he is with most other things.

but, in the end, that's not entirely the whole truth, is it? no; it's something far, far more personal than that. and so he stuffs his hands in his pockets and adds, ] And honestly? Because I feel that way, too. Like a part of me's just — gone.

[laserguy]

[He was expecting that sort of answer from the young man, as it's become clear that he's dealt with loss as well. Some remnants of his own sympathy start to emerge from within, his throat visibly swallowing as he really looks at Charles. He looks young, but that means nothing, teens can go through so much. He should know. Losing friends, family... it's more common than it should be.

...What Scott didn't fully expect was to hear him admit a feeling that he's been carrying this past year. That a part of him is just gone and a shaky breath leaves him, Scott numbly nodding. Yeah, it's just like that. This loss that weighs so heavily, more than anything else from before. It's difficult to describe, but what he said pretty much nails it on the head.]

...Like a part of you can't ever be complete again. No matter how much time passes.

[He continues quietly.]

[incorrigibles]

[ bloody hell, does charles feel terrible — he's met so many murder victims, so many people mourning their loved ones who have passed, he's seen so, so many unfair things in his time after his death... and yet, it never gets any easier. his phantom heart aches in sympathy, not least because he imagines what he would feel like if edwin were truly gone —

except he doesn't really have to do that, when all he needs to remember is the helpless rage he felt when edwin had been whisked back to hell, from right next to him, and charles had been unable to protect him like he'd sworn to do so many times.

he takes a step closer, reaches out to touch scott's shoulder carefully, hesitantly. his touch feels — not quite real, a weight there but not, and so, so cold. ]

Yeah, [ he says, lips pressed together in a half-grimace, ] I know exactly what you mean. It's not — [ he pauses, then, because this isn't about him, but then he feels bad not explaining, because it feels like lying, and he's noticed that it's easier to put their clients at ease with some personal anecdotes, makes them share their own easier, so why not try? ]

It's not exactly the same, for me. He's just not here, so I at least know I'll see him again when I go back home... just, doesn't make it any easier, does it? [ he breathes a laugh. ] Fact is, we been together for so long I don't really know who I am, without him next to me.

[ does he realise he sounds exactly like he's talking about a romantic relationship? no. absolutely not. ]

X-Men 97, the bad comedy routine, as foretold

[firekiss]

[So, now, here she is. Guinaifen's busy doing something normal, like walking to grab a pizza, or trying to check up on whatever-her-CR-ends-up-being, or trying to find that one garden in which she was lost in the white light and try to see if she can have it happen again, because that's probably a bad thing, but also an intriguing thing.

Point being, some minor, to be determined task that's easily interrupted.

And then this old guy walks up to her and asks for directions, and she hesitates. The answer's easy enough-]

I'm still trying to figure that out.

[Except it's not said with confidence, no, there's a hesitation, it's like the offhanded formality as her brain focuses on something else - namely, those glasses. They're very distinct glasses. Not a lot of people wear glasses like those, probably. They're not quite glasses, kind of like a visor, but still-

Well, anyway.]

Hey, I know how this'll sound if I got the wrong guy, but by any chance do you blast lasers out of your eyes, or...?

[laserguy]

[...Well, no sense in lying.

Scott wonders if he should be alarmed that this random stranger is the first person to actually recognize him to some degree (or maybe others have recognized him, just didn't say anything). She doesn't seem threatening, not to mention that she's young, but he's unable to let his guard down all that much, not when he's in a new city and away from his teammates. Even if Magneto has taken charge of the X-Men, he still puts himself responsible for all of them. They're his family, his friends, even if it's sometimes hard to say it out loud. He cares so much for them, but at the same time, he has to make sure they're always ready for mutant threats. It doesn't give him much room to relax.

But get a grip, Summers, you have a mystery to focus on right now, so he looks down at Guinaifen with a mostly neutral expression, his visor gazing at her eyes.]

Yeah, I've been known to do that every so often. [...] So, you might have the right guy.

[He wonders if he should admit that he doesn't know her at all.] I hear that I sometimes look older on TV.

[firekiss]

[Having expected a 'no, sorry, you've got the wrong guy' (or something along those lines) Guinaifen blinks, surprised, and gives the guy an once-over and then a twice-over, mouth narrowing in...

Some kind of feeling.

He seems old.

And the other guy, who seemed nice, well. Didn't. But he seemed nice! What the heck. This is why you double check identities over the internet before blindly 100% trusting them.]

I- uh.

[There's really only one conclusion, isn't there? Well, there's actually many conclusions, but she's rolling with the one that currently makes the most sense.]

Has anyone told you that there's a guy- [well] person running around who - I think- actually, I don't know, but he told me things that sound like you but he definitely isn't you.

[For one thing, the other guy had a sense of humor and didn't seem old. Identity theft? Going with that theory until proven otherwise.]

Sorry. This probably isn't the sort of thing you'd wanna hear from a total stranger.

[laserguy]

[One eyebrow arches above his visor.]

No, this is news to me.

[Hmm, this does sound potentially problematic though. If there's someone running around pretending to be him, it's possible they might be trying to pin a crime on him. Make mutants appear dangerous around here. Scott would rather avoid that.]

It's fine, I appreciate that you've told me. It's better that I learn about these sort of things now rather than later. [Now he has time to prepare for them!! Make a plan, find this imposter and confront him. It's something to really focus on too, other than wandering around this city and figuring out where he's at. Not that Scott's excited by the idea of a mistaken identity case, but he always does a little better when there's a mission in front of him.]

It sounds like you didn't get a visual of him. How did you meet? [The interrogation has already begun.] ...He didn't try to hurt you, right?

[Concerned frown.]

[firekiss]

Online- [...he seems like a sir.] -sir. [Nailed it. (No, she didn't.)]

He made a post, I made fun of him, one thing led to another, and we started talking. He seemed...

[What's a good way of putting it.]

Nice. Harmless. And pretty young? If it wasn't for the- [She gestures towards the glasses.] -those I never would've thought you two would be connected.