expiationlogs | me and all my other mes

Entry tags:

me and all my other mes

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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

[ 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! ]

[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.

[ 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? ]

[Changed him. Messed with his memories. If only this place changed his memories from the past year. He wished the whole incident with Jean was just a fabrication, something that never happened. If he can go back into time and change everything that led to that event, he would in a heartbeat. Honestly, he wouldn't care how he'd reach that goal, as long as she's alive once more. Jean... Jean deserved so much. That small frown on Scott only deepens as those darkening thoughts pull him down for a moment.

...Divorced dad energy though. That's a new one.]

So you met me when I was a teenager. [Alright, guess he'll accept that.] Even though I don't remember anything about this place.

[Well, she did mention this place messing with his memories.

Scott shifts slightly, that extremely serious tone not diminishing even a little as he really looks at Ange. At his surroundings. No, this place isn't familiar, but....] There is something almost familiar about standing here. Seeing that you already know me, I don't feel as weird admitting that you don't feel like a complete stranger.

[...It's like they're really good friends? Something in him is regarding her as such, someone that he can trust even if she's not a mutant.] It's like I can trust you and everything you're telling me.

[ ...

There's definitely something touching about that. As much as Ange squirms about public displays of fondness and all, there's a part of her that definitely feels glad to know that Scott apparently thinks so strongly about her that the feeling remains even within his shifted self. That he remembers their friendship, even now.

It makes her blush just a tiny bit. Ange does realize it, feeling the heat in her cheeks, but she's hoping that he can't see it from the distance between them. S-Stupid Scott, and stupid friendship--

It means there's only one way to deal with this, clearly. ]

What, are you trying to flirt with me?

[ SCOTT, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, OKAY.. She has to make you stop saying stuff like this before her heart starts racing so hard from friendship feelings that she'll start looking even more like a fool, alright!!

Besides, maybe she can startle him into turning back to normal! Who knows how the hell this entire thing is supposed to work! ]

[Scott politely keeps to himself as he watches Ange have some sort of internal crisis or realization. It's something he's seen in teenagers before and it reminds him of one of his students, the realization almost getting the mutant to smile. He... he really has let them down, the kids back at the mansion. Even if the Professor has lost hope in him, maybe he can still try for them at least.

But it looks like Ange has finished her internal crisis and wow.

Congratulations Ange, you're the one person to crack that serious mask Scott's been sporting for months.]

I sure hope not.

[Oh no, he sounds almost amused, eyes crinkling just lightly behind his glasses. Look at that, Ange even making the most serious of Scotts laugh a little. But after a moment, he turns serious once more-- though there's something apologetic to him as well.] I apologize for not remembering you at all.

[ Is he-- Is he smiling? Just slightly? Or at least, he seems amused, and Ange isn't really sure how to deal with the fact that apparently Scott can smile around her even when he's sporting some serious divorced dad energy. The traumatized sort.

And then, as if to top it all off, he just has to add that last part. Like he can really help what's going on here, rather than it being something forced on them by the dumb beings in charge of this place.

Ange frowns, something about her body language growing more defensive. Scott may not be able to tell it, given his vision problems, but her cheeks are growing more red. ]

S-Sheesh, why are you apologizing to me? It's not like I care! [ At least - even if he might not be able to see the blush itself - it's probably pretty easy to recognize the tone of a flustered teenager when you're used to it.

Because it's all over Ange's voice right now. ]

I mean, it's just one of my closest friends in this place losing his entire memory of me! Whatever..!

[ She doesn't care, you care!!! ]

Edited 2024-08-01 19:34 (UTC)

[Ah, teenagers.

Scott wonders if he was like this at all, if he gave the Professor and the other teachers attitude when he started attending his school. He thought himself as quiet, especially after being taken in by Xavier, not wanting to disappoint him after he got rescued from that strange island. So, maybe he wasn't, but it doesn't mean he holds it against Ange or anyone else when they get flustered and... defensive? He's glad, in a way. They they can be normal.

Although, instead of focusing on that, he hones in on something else Ange has said-- and that sympathetic smile only seems to grow.]

One of your closest friends? [...] I'm surprised I managed to land on that list.

[Surprised, yes, in a way, but he still fully believes her. There's also a strange sort of happiness that's grown inside him hearing that he's one of her closest friends. Hm, he really needs to start examining what's going on here. It's a good distraction anyway from the problems back home.]

You forced your way on there, idiot.

[ Seems like she's still stuck in that pouting and flustered mode, huh.. Because Ange sure does have a whole lot of sappy feelings about her friendship with Scott, but no way she's going to tell a second Scott all about that - even if he will hopefully turn back into the regular Scott again soon enough and maybe not even remember all of this.

.. though her mind lingers on that. Not the part about not remembering this, but about-- ]

Forget all of this. [ She shakes her head. ] Instead of talking about this stuff, shouldn't we find a way to turn you back to normal?

[ Ange isn't sure if she can do anything about it. Often they can't do anything about the weird whims this place has, after all. But it's Scott, so-- she at least has to try. ]

Trust me, you don't want to make your girlfriend upset.

I'm known to be incredibly stubborn.

[Just usually not in the 'friendship' way, even as a teenager. Honestly, it really is strange hearing this description be lofted at him, especially since it all seems true. Memories still aren't coming to him though, so he just has to continue working off her word and that trusting feeling lodged in his chest. It's still better than nothing, since he is fully realizing now that he's in a place foreign to him.

Return back to normal though...

Scott almost huffs, wanting to say this is how he normally is, but clearly there's something strange happening. Arguing against her about that seems pointless, besides, if there's some teenage version of him hanging around, maybe it would be best if he 'turned' back to that. Away from this grief filled life and-- hold up.

Almost instantly, any ease he had diminishes, replaced by a frown. It's full on divorced dad energy now.]

My... girlfriend?

[Could it be that she fully came back? Would she be a teenager?? What does this even mean?]

Is... Jean here?

[ Oh.

Maybe the divorced dad energy was very literal. Or maybe not entirely literal, but more literal than Ange imagined when she picked up on the vibe. Maybe there really is someone he's missing, though it's clearly not Kotone. If this was some alternate future Scott who had been in this place and knew Kotone, then clearly he would have recognized Ange too. ]

No. [ She says - not totally harsh, since she's getting the feeling that there's something here when it comes to this topic, but still shutting down that idea before Scott can give himself any false hope.

It'd just hurt him more in the long run. ]

Different girlfriend. [ And then, as if in an attempt to make this a little lighter before it can get depressing, Ange spreads her arms, shrugs, and adds: ] Sorry, I can't help it that you're this popular.

[ Scott Summers: apparent womanizer??

She's learning something new about you every day, pal. Ange wonders if Scott is somehow conventionally attractive to people who actually care about that sort of thing or something. Not like Ange would know. ]

[Different... girlfriend????

It's just so hard for him to imagine, being with someone else that isn't Jean Grey. She's been near the center of his life since he was young, ever since they met, so the thought of him being with anyone else is bizarre to say the least. It's absurd enough that Scott outwardly balks before composing himself in his usual way, only looking briefly disappointed that Jean truly isn't here.

He wonders if he should try to meet this girlfriend that he has here. Maybe it's for the best if they don't though, especially if it's some other teenage version of him that's with her. There's no reason to complicate things. They... they deserve to be happy without him getting involved.]

Yeah, I just have girls lined up.

[He doesn't even bother to hide his dryness there, but as expected with this version of Scott, it doesn't last long. It's back to business.] ...But I'll do my best to change myself back to normal. For you, and others.

[He's not about to take the place of someone else, especially not a kid, someone that hopefully has years ahead of him. It's not like there's much for him to really live for anymore.]

Edited 2024-08-08 17:36 (UTC)

[ Is his answer good? Yes. Ange didn't really want to argue with some different version of Scott as to why she'd like the Scott she knows back.

But it's also.. not good at the same time, right. There's some implications here Ange isn't really sure she likes. She just hopes the frown on her face seems more annoyed than worried - though it definitely is all worried and not annoyed in the slightest - when she instinctively starts to frown at the thought of said implications. ]

.. Really? You're just.. okay with it?

[ She's not arguing against it, mind you!

But just-- are you okay, Scott? Is this just another case of Scott being too nice for his own good or is it something worse? ]

You don't mind handing your existence back to some other you at all? [ Is it because of the divorced dad energy? ]

[...Ah. She's worried about him. He didn't intend to be so obvious about his less than stellar state, but if even Logan called him out on it, then guess he's pretty hopeless isn't he? A strained smile crosses Scott as he shakes his head at her question, trying to pacify some of her concern.]

I'm the intruder in this entire situation. [...] It's not fair of me if I take the place of someone that's built a life here with others.

[Hopefully that sounds noble and believable, like he hasn't spent the past year forcing himself to even get out of bed each day.] I'm certain that once... your Scott returns, I'll return to where I need to be.

[Even if Ange spends a lot of time worrying about his younger self, he can't let her worry about him in the same way. He's the adult here!! That's his job.]

You better.

[ There's a slight wrinkle in bridge of her nose, like she's halfway towards a pout.

Sure, she doesn't know this Scott. But if any of the stuff he's saying here right now proves anything to her, it's that it definitely is still Scott. He's still stupidly nice in that typical Scott way. Who else could say any of this stuff with a straight face, like putting yourself in the backseat like this is normal?

N-Not like she's worried or anything!

(She totally is. Sorry, Scott, it's already too late. It apparently does not matter what age you are, Ange will worry about you anyway!) ]

I mean, I bet there's some people who are going to be really upset if you don't show back up in your own world where you're meant to be, so you better not let them down. Or you're going to be a real asshole. [ Yes, those are the people who are worried, okay!! Not Ange!!

She puts her hands on her hips. ]

.. Besides, you probably won't figure out how to switch back with the Scott I know anyway, so I might as well help you.

I don't want to be a jerk.

[He agrees with a small chuckle. No, he doesn't want to actually correct her, that he's already let them down. Besides, it's all on him that Professor Xavier and the others have nearly given up. Whatever future he has back home, that's his own burden to bear. Not hers.]

...You're a good friend, Ange. The Scott that you know... he's lucky to have you. [If he's going to be around here for a bit longer, maybe he can do some good things. Even if some of those things are just simple stuff, like making sure that this younger version of himself has something to hope for. He has a girlfriend and everything... whoever she is Scott wants to make sure that she's okay too.]

Just in case if he hasn't told you that before.

[Isn't it difficult for teenage boys to admit these things? He was a teen once.] I promise that I'll try to be less of a burden on you.

[He's almost having fun again.]

[ Frankly, older Scott, you're having too much fun!!

It's not entirely the reason Ange takes a slightly different turn with this conversation, but it is part of it. She would like to avoid him getting too amused at her expense, and while she is still planning on helping him find a way to bring the Scott she knows back, there is something she can't help but wonder about. The girl is aware it's very personal, but.. ]

What happened to you?

[ Sorry for the question out of the blue.. But it's important!

After all-- ]

You sometimes look so.. [ You know. Divorced dad energy and all that. ] .. sad.

[ Maybe not right now, but he sure looked devastated when she approached him earlier. ]

If you talk about it, then maybe I can help make sure to prevent that from happening to the Scott I know. Wouldn't you too want him to have a good life?

[As if on cue, his smile fades. The grief from earlier doesn't fully come back, but without Scott trying to make some levity out of the situation, that ever present sadness is far more apparent like it's really never left him. For a moment, it doesn't look like the mutant is going to answer her, just keeping silent and still as he controls his breathing. His thoughts, really.

The stillness probably felt longer than it actually was before Scott turns his head to stare out at the ocean once more. It's not the same waters that took Jean. He knows that, but it still makes this harder.]

This girlfriend you mentioned. The one that my younger self is dating.

[..........] Tell him to protect her with everything that he is.

[Scott doesn't fully tell Ange to watch over this girl too. Maybe because he feels like he doesn't have to or that's just not her burden to bare. Although, knowing her personality just from their brief interaction so far, Scott knows that she'd probably try her best too.]

[ That makes it easy to imagine what happened. Maybe not the specifics - especially since she doesn't take him looking out at the water as a clue or anything here, anyone could do that just because they happened to be thinking - but it's at least clear that his girlfriend must have died. It sure explains something about that sadness he seems to carry with him.

She pauses for a moment, hesitating on whether or not to tell him, but.. ]

Well, their situation might be kind of complicated too.

[ They're stuck in this place, after all. And - hopefully, from Ange's point of view - won't be stuck here forever. Who knows what might happen once everyone gets sent back to their own worlds. ]

I think any you out there might have a thing for making everything complicated for yourself. [ At least Ange's tone doesn't sound like she's scolding him at all when she says that.

If anything, there's a weird kind of fondness in it. So maybe, if it's just this Scott, and if he'll just disappear and turn back into the regular Scott without remembering any of this-- ]

That's why I have to look out for him, you know?

I have a habit of doing that.

[A part of him almost smiles at that. Whatever the situation is, he's sure it is complicated. Scott Summers can't fall in love without it being complicated in some way. He wonders who this Kotone person is, what she's like, but he can almost picture a smiling red head anyway, one with a fate that's difficult to reconcile with. But maybe he's just projecting too much, after all, he wants this other version of him to be happy with her.

...A girlfriend that will stay with him. Not only that, but friends that obviously care about him, if Ange is anything to go by. Oh yeah, he can definitely hear that fondness in her voice, even if she also sounds exasperated in a way.]

Sounds like you really keep him out of trouble. [...] Hopefully he doesn't give you too much of a hard time, but I know I'm pretty stubborn when I want to be.

[Especially when it comes to being attached to his girlfriend.]

He gives me a terrible time. All the time.

[ .. well, okay. Scott actually gives her some nice times too, but there's no way she's going to gush that much in this moment. She's already said too much. She's at the gush limit!

So it's time to complain instead. ]

He won't stop dragging me to parties, for one. It's driving me crazy. [ Maybe this Scott is a little less party-crazy, considering he seems so much sadder.. Which isn't exactly a great thing, but maybe it can be relatively more of a positive thing in this sense. ] Hey, can't you leave a note for him or something that says he should cut that out? Maybe he'd be willing to listen to another version of himself, because he sure isn't listening to me about that. Ever.

[Scott's poker face is far better at least and this time he goes out of his way to hide his amusement from her. Ah, to be young once again, pretending to be upset about something when you're really not. Or being overly emotional about something, although he was always more quiet as a teen. That's just how things worked out for him, between getting his powers early and mutants staying hidden from the world, before training to be a X-Man as soon as Professor Xavier took him in.

This Scott that she knows... the one that drags his friends to parties, it's honestly a little difficult to reconcile with. He wonders what sort of life he must've led to be so easygoing like that. It's hard to say if he envies it, but he's also glad to know that he's been able to live a relatively normal life. It's... it's what they want for mutants.]

When I leave a note for him, I promise that I'll tell him to stop dragging you to parties. [He lifts an eyebrow at her, as if showing Ange he's got his back on this. Although, she should experience a couple-- but it sounds like she had.] Is he good at listening to adults?

[ Well, that's.. something, at least. Ange has absolutely no idea how the Scott she knows is going to feel about that one, but maybe it'll startle him, at least.

She doesn't focus on it for now, instead contemplating the question for a slight moment until she answers: ]

I don't know. We don't really hang out around adults together. [ In fact, she's only now realizing she's only ever really seen Scott around fellow teens.. How does that guy act around people older than them? ] He has a huge club for teenagers, you know. I bet that's what he's spending all of his time on.

[There's that familiar frown, at least on this Scott.]

Are there any adults looking out for you? For the other teens here?

[How many teen mutants are around? It's that concern that gets him a little more restless, nearly forgetting about the baggage that had been dragging him down. Sure, he'll still write this note for Ange, but the thought of teenagers and children being in a foreign world with barely any adults around is more than concerning. He has a feeling that his time here is limited, but he'll just have to efficiently use it.

It also stops him from being surprised that a version of him runs a huge club for teenagers.]

[ Ange raises her eyebrow as she looks at him.

It's a look that seems a whole lot like she thinks he just asked her an utterly insane question. It looks like she's questioning his sanity in this very moment. ]

How many adults have you met in your life that looked out for their own teens, let alone other people's?

me and all my other mes

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cw: talk of death threats and bullying

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