★ AUG. (CATCH ALL); & when time at last consumes me, Broken & unholy。

[ it warms her heart to see her companion stacking their plate with food, because while they were gone, she had worried they were severely injured, starving, or worse... disappeared somehow without her. although her smile is real and genuine, it curls into a sour twist over hearing their little kitty-cat escapade. ]

... You brushed your teeth, right?

[ not that she is doubting their knowledge or experience with being a feline, but tuna has a strong stench. and it sticks to anyone or anything if they're in the same perimeter of it. if morph's been eating fish for the past week, then who knows what condition their breath might be... ]

[Hearing that makes Morph break out into a genuine laugh.]

Don't worry, I stopped by the apartment and freshened up first.

[They had needed a shower in particular, after hanging out with a cat that smelled like raw garbage. Morph still couldn't understand how the poor creature could put up with it, but at least they'd managed to make friends after backing down from any territorial fights. For not having actual cat instincts, Morph had muddled through it fine.

After making quick work of putting together a plate, they step over to take a seat under the tent, motioning her over.]

So... you wanna hear it, huh?

[ good! because she wouldn't be able to have a serious conversation with them if their breath is ranchy. she opens a cooler nearby filled with beverages (which consist of canned juices, bottled water, and beer. — sadly, no coke, pepsi, dr.pepper, or sprite), and snags two juices to set on the table for her and them. rogue hauls her own plate that she prepped a little earlier and takes a seat across for them, nodding. ]

I'm all ears, Sugah. You have the table.

[ the mutant begins to spear some of the mac and cheese first, and begins to eat. ]

[Morph picks up their fork, and though they start to tear apart a hunk of chicken breast, they're not actually eating yet despite any claims of being hungry.]

... I know you noticed that I was acting weird. It's because I was infected. It was almost like when Mr. Sinister was controlling me, but worse. I wasn't fighting with myself this time. I was convinced that I had to be the one to kill you, and every other mutant here.

[They put down their fork entirely, scrubbing a hand over their face.]

The only reason I didn't do more damage was because I kept getting my ass kicked by people using some sort of magic. Like Scott's girlfriend. I attacked them both, and I - I turned into a monster. Literally. They managed to counter me, somehow, and it left me unconscious for about two days straight.

[ as morph elaborates, rogue too, puts down the fork and almost lost her entire appetite completely. they went through something worse than what they've been through with mr.sinister? is that even possible? she can't even begin to fathom the kind of hell that might have been like for them, especially when that horrible human mutate have ruined so many lives. so to hear that it was worse... it drives her heart cave in, and break into a thousand pieces.

rogue can feel her own eyes misting, but she blinks away any tears that might creep pass her eyelids. she doesn't need to touch her companion to feel the hurt in them, because after all, out of all the x-men, rogue is the most empathetic one. out of sheer impulse, the mutant raises from her seat and walks around the table to approach closer, then kneeling down beside them before placing both of her gloved hands to each of their cheeks. ]

Edited 2024-08-06 03:59 (UTC)

I want ya to listen to me, okay?

[ she starts, gingerly guiding their head to face her, so their gaze can lock tight to one another. and while her pitch is in slight quivers, the expression she wears is strong and focused. ]

I ain't gonna pretend like I know a damn thing of what you've been through. And I know if I really wanted to know, a simple touch will tell me everything. I ain't gonna do it, 'cuz I don't need to. I can see it in your eyes.

[ a brief pause as she brushes their cheeks with her thumbs. ]

But there's somethin' I wanna tell you and want you to know. Don't go on thinkin' that whatever you became, is you or a part of you. You are not a monster. You are the most beautiful person, and you're so damn strong. Hell, even stronger than me. That... thing doesn't define you. That ain't who you are. And you remember that, ya hear me?

Edited 2024-08-06 04:21 (UTC)

Rogue...?

[Morph is a little dumbstruck, really. They thought they had been holding it together pretty well so far, despite the depressive episode that convinced them that living as a cat for a while would be a good idea. In retrospect, it wasn't a very normal thing to do, even if Morph's powers made it easy to give into the envy of existing as a simple creature. Of course, being a cat hadn't shut their very human brain off.

But being told all of this is seriously threatening to make them lose it. Morph sucks in a deep breath, their voice a little shaky,]

T-Thanks. But c'mon, if you keep that up you're gonna make me cry.

[Blame it on their upbringing, but Morph really doesn't want to break down in front of her, even if she's one of the family. The family that they had been itching to tear to shreds just a couple of weeks ago.]

I, uhm, I still scared the hell out of Scott and Kotone, I'm pretty sure. I don't know how to begin to apologize for that.

There's no shame in cryin'. You know what happens when we bottle up emotions and pretend it ain't there.

[ conceal emotions cause a lot of stress to the physical body, and for mutants, that can escalate twice as much, and they can become more destructive to themselves and others if they blanket their abilities on top of that. she gives morph one more tender stroke with her thumbs before letting her hands rest on her lap. her shoulders slump further, and her gaze shimmer its own ache. ]

... We were all mixed up in that Hell together. I don't know who Kotone is, but if they're kind-hearted like Scott, I'm sure they'll find it in their hearts to forgive you and be understandin'. You just gotta shove that fear down yonder, and tell 'em you're sorry, and how that ain't who you really are inside.

But I get where you're coming from. ... Scott don't think too nicely of me right now. He has a right not to, and I don't carry any ill to that.

[Morph slowly nods, though they were still more inclined to be stubborn on that front. Crying is what 2 AM insomnia was for. And yeah, that sounded terrible even in their own head, but they had their own ways of coping. Being stuck here without a dedicated drinking buddy hadn't helped.]

Yeah, I... I know all of the Chosen were in the middle it. That might make it easier.

[Might. They barely knew those kids, and even though Scott was a younger version of the adult they were semi-friendly with, a decade of difference was a lot. Morph couldn't blame them if they decided that having them hang around was too much to deal with. The whole concept of 'mutants sticking together' could only go so far.

They know exactly what Rogue is talking about, too. Morph had an earlier conversation with Scott about Rogue's face-heel turn, and though they hoped they had gotten across some of the nuances, Scott clearly hadn't cared for her decisions. Morph didn't care for all of Rogue's decisions either, but...]

He hasn't lived through the same things we have. Scott even told me that people with visible mutations can walk around in public where he's from. Whatever his world is like, it must not be as messed up as ours is.

Or it hasn't pitched a hissy fit yet.

[ but a world where mutations can just walk around feely despite their appearance sounds more like fairy tale than true reality. it seems the professor's dream worked in someone's timeline. it's unfortunate their world didn't get so lucky, but at least it was possible or peace somewhere?

she gathers herself off the grass, shooing away any dirt off the knees before wrapping back around to the other side of the table to sit again. ]

Maybe give it a day or two to let what happened sink in, then maybe reach out to those two.

Edited 2024-08-09 00:49 (UTC)

Yeah... that could happen.

[It wasn't a pleasant thought, but being a mutant was never easy. Or were the two of them just too jaded now to consider it? Why couldn't there be a timeline where things were going great for mutants? One of the few nice things about Aldrip was that Morph could walk around without having to wear a different face, and no one really seemed to mind. Didn't they deserve to have something so simple?

Turning back to their plate, Morph shoves a fork-full of baked beans into their mouth and chews for a moment.]

I'll try that. I said a lot of things I shouldn't have... and I'm sure they're going to have questions. So yeah, putting it off a little longer sounds great.

How'd you do during that whole mess, anyway?

[ there's a curiosity there that bubbles in the surface on what they could have said to the duo, but she doesn't pry. she'll respect the fact it's a conversation between the three of them, unless morph feels comfortable enough to air it out. so instead, she shoves another spoon full of macaroni, then does the same and chews. ]

Scott and I had our own lil' tussle when it came to Kurt. He was infected and thought... a way for us to live peaceful was to end our sufferin'. From a wild mind, I see how one would come to that idea.

Kurt had it too? The poor kid...

[Being out of control of your own mind was something Morph wouldn't wish on their worst enemy. It was even worse to hear that the gnosia had struck another mutant, and someone like Kurt, who didn't have a bad bone in his body?]

It twisted my way of thinking, too. Being gnosia felt like being, well, double a mutant. I was taking the threat of being hunted really seriously. Like it was kill or be killed.

[Maybe in a sense, it was - if the gnosia itself was intelligent, had any self-preservation instincts, it would've seen its hosts being cured as death. Morph couldn't begin to guess if that was the case. They had no sympathy for it, whether it was some mindless force or not.]

Is Kurt gonna be okay? He's way too young to have to go through something like that.

I... I don't know. I haven't spoken to the furball since then. I was hopin' he'd answer my lil' get together, but... quiet as a church mouse.

[ which worries her, no doubt. she'll have to reach out to him personally once everyone has gotten their own filling of this little buffet. this incident always leaves rogue a little beside herself, too.

she wants to go home more than anything, but... if all happenings in this place are similar to what they've experienced, would it would be a good idea to leave everyone high and dry? maybe it would be a better idea to stay and try to make this world safe... if this world is real. ]

Let me know if you need my help, but I'm sure he'll want to hear from you more than me. He's... he's probably feeling pretty guilty about it.

[Morph could sympathize; they had felt guilty about attacking the team for a long time while they were recuperating on Muir Island, during their first go-around with mind control. As an adult, they had arguably been in a far better position to process all of that then a teenager would be.

Yeah, they had plenty of reason to be worried. The gnosia thing had landed like a bomb on the entire city, and since neither of them knew the teenage mutants that well yet... Morph just had to hope that whatever bonds they had from being from similar worlds, or being mutants or alternate versions of their friends, would be tough enough to withstand this.]

You know, the cookout you have going here was a great idea. I think all of us need something normal like this to get back to... you know, regular daily life. I know I sure did.

[ a fatigued smile dance weakly across the woman's face as she begins to shovel her meal around with her fork, than scoffing it down like before. ]

Seems like a lifetime ago when we were all in the kitchen and tellin' Scott to cool his jets, and [ ... ] — Madelyn was due to pop any day now.

A lotta times, I've been wishin' we could grab Bishop's lil' doohickey and... go back to that. Or just, do it all over different. But I know that ain't gonna do us any good.

[Oh boy, does the homesickness hit with that one. Back when everything was peaceful, before the disasters got worse and worse... yeah, Morph missed that, too. So much it hurt sometimes.]

That doesn't mean we can't get there again. We'll find a way back, Rogue. We can even find a way to fix what's wrong at home. I know, a lot's messed up right now and we can't turn back the clock, but we can work through it.

[Yeah, they're going there again. Morph had promised Scott that they would keep trying, and besides, they know it's got to be part of what's on Rogue's mind. As things were right now, even if they did go home right this second, their family was split apart.]

Yeah... Yeah, I know. [ she says, almost in a whisper and forcing a wider smile this time. ] — As I've said before, things may be bad, but the cards are always in the X-Men's favor.

[ saying that is still extremely painful to say, but it's his words that help her push forward and her head up high for the last month or so. if only he was still alive to sprout out more irritating cajun wisdom on her. ]

Exactly. [They say it with a smile of their own, one that's almost relieved. Morph couldn't think of a better way to honor Remy's memory than to just remember who he was. They're all too aware that memories fade, no matter how much you wanted to hold onto them.]

And hey, it's not all bad. We kept a meteor from hitting Earth, and that's got to count for something. Well - you guys did. Call me moral support.

[Morph's powers just weren't any help in that particular scenario, and besides, someone had to keep an eye on Logan. There wasn't anywhere else they would've wanted to be in that moment. They at least got a chance to say something, just in case the team perished in the attempt. Morph is still pretty sure no one died, even if how they and Rogue had ended up here was completely mysterious.]

Hey, moral support is just as important in my book. Keep our heads straight when things get outta control.

[ ... except she went rogue (ha) after returning from genosha, and she refused to listen to anyone's reasoning and comfort words. but she also felt it wasn't the time to sit around and waddle in sadness when the incident was still so fresh, and she could find bring justice in some sort of way. ]

— Ya know, Morph Honey, since we both gotta face Scott, maybe we can work on each other's apology speeches. Grade on each other if we pass or fail before the big exam.

[ this is her attempt to take their incidents, and twist it into some sort of a light-hearted fun thing. ]

Edited 2024-08-16 22:27 (UTC)

I'm glad you think so! Makes me feel a little better about getting benched.

[They don't sound at all bothered by it, though. No, it's Rogue's next suggestion that ends with Morph making a bit of a face, pausing to chew through another bite of food as they thought it over.

Some of what they had said to the teenage Scott was really heavy stuff. As much as they needed to apologize for it, they also didn't want to drag this conversation back down. It's a good thing Morph only selectively takes things seriously.]

Then I'll start.

'Hey kiddo, sorry I turned into some monster from a horror movie. I don't hate the adult you THAT much, I just think he's boring. And Logan and I make fun of him behind his back. But you're way cooler now than you're going to be when you're in your 30s, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Just ignore all that other stuff I said, that weird alien force had a real chip on its shoulder.'

[ when morph seems to agree about her possibly corny idea, and volunteered to go first, rogue scoots her plate aside from now so she wouldn't grow fully distracted by its delicious looks and aroma. and when they start, the mutant straightens her back in her chair... ]

['Hey kiddo, sorry I turned into some monster from a horror movie. I don't hate the adult you THAT much, I just think he's boring. —'

wait, is she hearing this right?

'And Logan and I make fun of him behind his back. But you're way cooler now than you're going to be when you're in your 30s —'

this... this can't be the serious and messed up thing they had said to him and this kotone. or maybe they're just putting the talk lightly? ]

Edited 2024-08-18 17:17 (UTC)

['so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. Just ignore all that other stuff I said, that weird alien force had a real chip on its shoulder.'

rogue's expression slowly scrunches, and her nose wrinkles as if she just got a whiff of something that went extremely sour, but not having the slightest idea where the source of that horrible stench is coming from. but regardless of her look, she patiently waits for her companion to finish their rehearsal. ]

[ ..................................... ]

... Now, lemme see if I'm gettin' this right, Sugah. This horrible, terrible thing you said to Scott while you were infected was that you hated him 'cause he wasn't cool?

★ AUG. (CATCH ALL); & when time at last consumes me, Broken & unholy。

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cw: suicidal ideation

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