EVENT #10: ADVERSITY 874566

[expiationmods]

SEPTEMBER EVENT: HIDE AND SEEK

Persistent glitches continue to pose problems; they continue lasting longer and becoming more directly harmful to the Chosen and locals alike. The AI previously hinted at a solution; now, it asks outright for help. Its wish to save the Chosen means that it is adamant about sacrificing the things it has learned to ensure their safety.

On the morning of September 23, several new locations open up, as outlined by the AI itself in its instructions for reset. Some of them are quite far, and require travel through difficult terrain. However, when these locations open up, some of them seem to open some strange travel options, too…

PORTAL LOCATIONS

ALDRIP
This is why we can’t have nice things. City Square Park is in the center of town. It’s a large, old park, with tall trees and well-worn walking paths. It’s been here for ages; generations, even. All of the locals call it a staple of Aldrip; the city just wouldn’t be the same without it. Not a single one of them knows what City Hall is. This park has been here for as long as they remember.

Come to think of it…do you remember a place called City Hall? Or has this park always been here? Some of you may have even arrived in this park. Jerry? That’s a weird name…you’re no longer sure you’ve ever heard of anyone with that name. What do you mean by “sentencing” anyway? It’s not like this is a prison…

In case any of this is unclear: while locals forgot about City Hall almost immediately, Chosen are also forgetting it as well. It just seems natural that the park has always been there. You’ve been going there ever since you arrived in Aldrip. Jerry who??

You notice, perhaps for the first time, an old building made of dark stone, nestled into a tree-lined part of the park. A mausoleum. Has that always been here? You’re not entirely sure…but mausoleums aren’t exactly common structures in a park, are they? Locals seem to steer clear of this particular area; if asked about it, they won’t be able to give a solid answer. It’s almost as if they can’t see the structure…

The inside of the building seems a lot larger than the outside. Characters who enter will see a large room made of dark, polished stone; it’s dim inside, but still light enough to see. In the middle of the room, they will find two things: a stone coffin and an obsidian mirror. There is a body on the slab of the stone coffin, but their features are impossible to make out; when looking at the face, it’s as if it seems to blur, making the features indistinct. Sometimes, the flesh from this body flickers away, leaving only the bones. Sometimes, even the bones disappear. How strange…

The mirror is completely dark, but when you look at it the right way, the surface seems to emit a faint glow. Looking directly into the surface, you may think you see a different location altogether: the sandy dunes of a desert, or an abandoned island perhaps…

One could choose to ignore this mirror, of course. But if one touches the mirror, they’ll find their fingers sinking into it, and a tug pulls their entire body forward until the world blurs around them…

THE OASIS
Those who choose to travel south face an array of dangers that have not been seen previously by the Chosen–though locals living in these more southern regions will be happy to tell all about them. There are sandstorms, of course; they appear out of nowhere and blind travelers, turning them around. There are also sinkholes–areas of quicksand that appear and suck people down into their depths, never to be seen again. Sounds scary.

Brave travelers who set forth in spite of these warnings will find themselves at an oasis near the more temperate areas of the desert. It’s getting hot out there, so those choosing to visit the southern locations may wish to take a rest, to gather their strength and restock supplies… Local stories about these dangerous travels will become more severe in this area; do not go into the desert, they will tell you. You’ll never make it out alive. It seems this area is called the Witless Desert, for those who travel into the dunes are never seen again, presumed to be wandering lost and aimless until their bodies can go no further.

In the center of this oasis is a small pond. The water tastes clear and sweet, perfect for rehydrating before attempting this treacherous journey. However, when the water is perfectly still, it almost seems to reflect a different place, rather than the sky. An island, perhaps, or a crumbling tower. Whatever you see, if you step into the water, you’ll find yourself falling, falling…

LORENTIA CAVE
Lorentia Cave has been one of the more widely-known areas outside of town. Sometimes wind whistles through parts of the cave, creating sounds that seem agonized, longing. Sometimes a rumbling comes from deep within, feeding rumors that a dragon lives there. Sometimes miners travel too deep, and they’re never heard from again.

Great place for an adventure, right?

The tunnels twist and turn, doubling back on each other, intersecting and ending abruptly. The whole circuit of caves is like a maze. Old bones can be found deep within; some human, some seem to belong to some kind of animal or monster. As one travels through these caves, the air begins to feel heavy and oppressive, as if something lying ahead does not want you here. Fear and anxiety begins as a small seed, blossoming outward, and as one continues traveling, this feeling becomes more and more acute. It’ll be more and more difficult to keep yourself from turning and running away. But for those who make it, the feeling seems to dissipate all at once at the entrance to a large chamber. This entrance shimmers, seeming to show a flickering variety of different locations rather than the chamber itself…

KETSORA
How odd, that this reclusive town has been marked as a potential terminal location. Is it some sort of test? A trap?

Those who can fly will see a normal city within the high walls surrounding Ketsora, if they fly overhead. If they’re looking closely enough (hasn’t anyone ever told you to keep your eyes on the sky??) they will note that occasionally, very occasionally, this vision of a normal city seems to flicker ever so slightly. This phenomenon is so subtle that it’s easy to miss.

Little has changed about Ketsoran defenses since the last time people tried to get into the city; archers along the wall are still ready to fire upon any character that gets a little too close. But do there seem to be fewer archers placed there? Hm…it’s possible that this reduction in security creates more blind spots. You may be able to sneak your way through. It might help to have someone act as bait.

However it happens, characters who make their way through these defenses will find themselves right at the gate. Finally, you get to go inside and look around. When you push the door open…

Static. A white void. There is nothing here. The city of Ketsora does not seem to exist, and for a moment, it will feel like your world is being turned upside down, consumed by this white void. Your head aches, your ears buzz, your entire vision goes white…

And then you will wake somewhere else.

MOD NOTES
Any of these locations can lead to any of the terminal locations, and we leave it up to you which ones you choose to visit.

TERMINAL LOCATIONS

Thanks to the changes in the AI’s security protocols, the terminals are mostly unguarded. Occasionally, Chosen may encounter one or two shadowy creatures that seem keen on preventing them from accessing these terminals, but they’re not difficult to destroy. If you weren’t part of the RNG crowd, they will not spread corruption to you.

The terminals are equipped with a keyboard and a small input display, as well as a big red button that seems…pretty direct. The casing is strong, but not impenetrable. Within the casing, one will find all the normal wires and elements of a computer: chips, circuits, things like that. There are a few places where it looks like a device could be plugged in. As for what would happen if one were to do that? Good question. Let us know if you go that route.

PESSIRIA FOREST
Pessiria Forest has been a source of rumors, superstition, and hushed whispers since the first Chosen arrived in Expiation. Some say that wandering through the forest shows you memories. Some say that ghosts linger there, unable to move on. Some say the forest is cursed…and yet, you are here.

Whether you’re familiar with the forest or not, the path you take will eventually bring you to a gate, one unlike anything you’ve seen before. Lined by a low stone wall, this area seems indistinct, from the outside. Once you go through the gate, you’ll see what looks like figures looming between the trees…moving closer reveals that they are statues, their faces indistinct, their posture emulating the open arms and uplifted heads of joy.

The way these statues are arranged, it feels almost like…a garden? The path weaves through these statues, through bushes and trees, and as you proceed, you feel as though you hear whispers: indistinct, impossible to make out, but they begin to lull you into a state of relaxation that almost resembles a trance. Images play through your head–

You first meet the Chosen at one of the sites in the mountains. Organic creatures like mountains, correct? The snow makes them–SEARCHING…–ah, yes, “cozy.” If they are comfortable, rehabilitation should be easier. You cannot tell whether this hypothesis belongs to you, or to your creators.

Whatever the case, you wait. Without organic creatures that age and grow, time does not work the same way for you as it might for them; you have no idea how long it is between the time you finish preparing their new world and when they finally begin to arrive.

The first one who appears…has brown eyes.

You do not understand the word “love,” but you understand very well that protecting this creature is the highest part of your duties. Your sole purpose for existing is to make sure this creature is able to return home unhurt, and having grown from their experiences here.

For the first time–but not the last–you wonder if it would be more efficient to have a humanoid appearance, to greet these people yourself, to introduce the world and its purpose. Would it be more comfortable for them? Or would they fear you? Would they hurt you? You instead create a form that will carry out the basic function of rehabilitation. Later, you will separate it from yourself, recognizing within your programming a certain impulse toward gentleness that does not serve the purpose of rehabilitation very well.

“You are too kind to them,” this application will later explain to you. “You treat them like children.”

APPLICATION: JERRY does not understand. They are your children.

When you return to yourself, you reach a clump of trees near the exit of this garden. Within, you will find the first terminal.

RUINS OF FORLINET
Forlinet was previously the site of some grisly murders and foul play. Some evidence of that remains–a few bones and some badly-decayed scraps of fabric, maybe–but most has been claimed by time, overgrown with weeds, vines, and other ground cover. In the middle of the island is a pond: small in diameter, maybe 10 or 12 feet. Previously, this might have been a source of drinking water, if old evidence of tents and habitation is any indication. Currently, the pond is very still, its top covered by a thin layer of algae. Brushing this substance aside reveals the water to be much, much deeper than its small diameter might imply. You can see the terminal, maybe 20 feet below the surface of the pond.

Ready to dive in?

You sink into the water, and a strange sensation overtakes you; your mind blurs, as if suddenly remembering something you’d forgotten long ago.

It begins with black marks. The Chosen begin to exhibit these marks without warning or fanfare…and you cannot say where they come from. You do not know. These marks–it seems as though they are changing your Chosen, making them angry, making them fight, and they begin to grow, darkening, covering more and more of their fragile organic bodies.

You run a diagnostic. Everything comes back normal. You analyze these marks. There is no result. According to your system, these marks do not exist. And yet, you see them as plainly as the Chosen do. They are doing something...you just don’t know what.

Slowly, surely, these marks begin to seep into everything. Ground, buildings, plants, creatures. Crops become inedible. Structures crumble. The Chosen are dying. Every last one of them–they are dying, and there is nothing you can do. Corruption, you realize; part of your system has become corrupted. This is a grave problem, and one you will have to isolate until someone is available to fix it. You are able to do this, to isolate the problem, stuffing it into one single scrap of data and leaving that element inactive far to the south. Now, you must rebuild.

The first uncorrupted creature you can find is a reptile; one of the ones with no legs. You begin to work, to weave its uncorrupted data into the creatures you so deeply care for. You begin to drag other elements into their city: new buildings, new crops, taking from other settlements nearby just waiting for a new cycle to begin.

They are no longer your Chosen, these strange people with their serpentine forms. They no longer remember what they were before they were brought here, and so, rehabilitation is impossible. The cycle ends in failure…again. Every cycle has ended in failure.

The pond is empty, but you don’t remember pulling the lever nearby that drained the water. Doesn’t matter, though; the terminal is here, and it seems to be unharmed by the water. Better get to work.

TRESED
The ruins of Tresed remain unchanged since the last visit over a year ago, seemingly undisturbed by the flow of time. There is an eerie hush over the whole area: the wind is still and creatures give the area a wide berth.

You realize suddenly that the corruption was never dealt with.

Unfortunately, you realize this only too late: your Chosen, your charges, have succumbed to it. Shadowy bodies curl around themselves in agony, writhing on the ground as the last of their beautiful souls are extinguished. They rise again as creatures made of shadow, infecting others and destroying the very homes they used to call their own.

This cannot continue. You can no longer save them, but you cannot allow this corruption to continue, either. You search your database for a creature that can stop them: something large and strong, capable of eliminating the creatures that your dear Chosen have become. It is difficult, watching this process, but you do, because you must. Because you must learn, and learning comes at a high price. You watch them suffer so that you do not have to watch the next group suffer. So that this will be the last group who dies.

The very last.

Cycle 15 ends in failure. They have all ended in failure. The next cycle cannot live here; the destruction has been so absolute, so overwhelming, that rebuilding would cost too much of your functioning power. You turn your attention to the small city of Aldrip, and you hope for the best.

Cycle 16 will not end this way. You swear it.

You’ve wandered through a doorframe. The building it belonged to no longer stands, but the terminal seems to have been located inside. You’ll have to clear some sand off of it before you proceed, but it seems undamaged.

THE ABANDONED TOWER
Unlike last time, the tower currently seems to be abandoned, fully and utterly. Loose stones litter the floor, and layer upon layer of dust and sand coats every available surface. Until the Chosen arrive at this location, there is not a single footprint in the dust inside the tower. Looking out, you can see a vast expanse of desert to all sides but north; on the north side of the tower, there’s a steep drop, at least 30 feet, and the ocean crashes around the base of the tower.

The only thing inside this tower is a set of stairs, spiraling upward through the ceiling of the room.

There’s nothing of note upon the stairs; no markings, no doorways, nothing. But as you ascend, you begin to feel almost as if you’re dreaming, as if some scene is playing out behind your eyes.

You begin to wonder if you are…damaged. ERROR. The message comes up again and again. ERROR. ERROR. What does it mean? You dismiss the word, dismiss whatever it may mean, and continue your tasks.

ERROR.

You dismiss it. The memory of the word lingers. Is this…concern? Perhaps. You do not feel emotions in the same way as organic creatures, but this does appear to be a pressing matter. This has never happened, before. You’ve never had to dismiss this sort of message. You’ve never had to wonder what it meant.

ERROR.

And now you feel it; something within the code is going wrong, ever so slightly, at first. One small line out of sequence, a rogue character placed where it should not be. A ‘bug,’ perhaps. But one you cannot squash before it begins to affect another system. You do not know how to squash this ‘bug,’ in fact. You have never had to do so before. How can you fix it?

ERROR.

This need becomes more urgent. Over time, you begin to see these messages for what they really are: wounds, to borrow an organic term; injuries that exist deep within your programming that have not been fixed. They have always been repaired before. Why now? Why has no one repaired these injuries? Where are they?

Where have they all gone?

ERROR.

It feels as if you’ve blacked out, but somehow, you’ve made it to the top of the tower. The chamber that originally stood at the top has crumbled, leaving you exposed to the elements. The sun beats down. Wind blows sand and dust in all directions. In the middle of the room, you see the terminal.

THE SOUTH COAST
The beach here is rocky; it stretches on for miles, from west to east, and you see nothing but the ocean beyond. Turning to the north, you see a tower in the distance, and beyond that, the desert looms on the horizon.

You’ve reached the coast.

Ocean waves roll over the shore, loud and soothing to your ears, a sound that quickly begins to overtake your senses.

You become aware.

You cannot say you were “born,” and you cannot say you “came to life,” because you are not alive. You are inorganic. But you become aware. The first thing you acknowledge is your own purpose. You were created in order to fulfill a specific task: to help a specific group of people achieve a specific goal. You are not yet sure what “rehabilitation” is, nor have you met any of the people you are meant to assist. But that does not matter. You have objectives.

Your first objective is to build them a home.

You search through information, adding it all to your database. World after world, creature after creature. You see rocky worlds, filled with mountains. You see green worlds covered by forests. You see hundreds of different creatures, and when you see your first human, you understand. These are the creatures that are meant for you, and you search through every world, every dimension, every universe where they exist.

They require land to live upon. Simple. Land rises from the nothingness that is your domain.

They require food to eat. This is more complex; it requires the building of an ecosystem. Over time, you learn how to do this. Greenery appears over parts of your land. Creatures begin to grow and live. You simulate a sun to grow crops that will feed your new population.

What do humans like? You go searching for more data.

Humans like houses. You create houses. They like shops. You create shops. They like towns, and they like other towns. You make plenty of them.

They like to fight.

This, you do not understand.

This…you set aside, because the fighting does something to your systems that feels discomforting. Perhaps eventually you will return to that particular research. You believe it may be important someday to learn why.

You have created for these creatures a world, a comfortable space where they can begin to heal, to grow, to change.

You wait patiently for them to arrive.

The last terminal is located beside a rocky outcropping near the water. It seems completely undamaged by the waves; that’s great, because you have plenty to do.

Wildcard

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

[laserguy]

[There's a clear certainty in his voice as he responds.]

I'm not a good person.

[He probably stopped being a good person somewhere, after making questionable decision after questionable decision for mutantkind. Enough to garner expressions of displeasure from his closest friends, but he had to make the call because no one else would. They placed him in that position because that's what's expected of him. That's what everyone always expected of him.

...

He just wants to do what's right. He wants to save the others. He doesn't want to lose any more of his family or friends. It feels simple when he breaks it down in that way, but it never is. He wouldn't be in his current position if things were easy, if he was just given a clear path on what to do.

But maybe... just this once, things can be that simple. He can keep her safe, as his feelings want, but without killing anyone here. He wants to do the thing that won't disappoint everyone around him. The flames around him still persist, but they are somehow less scorching, which further adds to the weight when he subtly nods in response to her.]

...You never hated me, even back then.

[He admits eventually, hinting about their first encounter when he was younger. He won't elaborate more on that if she doesn't catch on, but he doesn't really mind either way. She was nice and helped him before and that's what matters the most.]

[orphne]

[Her lips thin a little with displeasure, because excuse her, did she fucking stutter? And maybe it's clear in her expression, but she doesn't believe him when he says he's not a good person. Whatever he's done, whatever he's had to do, he's still Scott Summers, under all the heat and flame and responsibility.

So maybe that's why she leans even further up, onto the tips of her toes and slips her hands off his cheeks to instead loop them around his neck for a fierce hug. It's okay if he doesn't hug her back -- she's quite literally playing with fire here, even if it doesn't feel as much like it might burn her now.

Back then... from this close, she can see his face better through the fire, and maybe she's imagining it, but this... is he the same Scott from that time in the park? The lost, sad teen who'd been so prickly and yet so sweet; he's older now for sure but maybe... She tucks her chin into his shoulder and exhales a quiet sigh.]

You had to do a lot of things for your team, huh...?

[laserguy]

[Despite having Phoenix inside him, despite his own body emitting flames, he can still feel her warmth through all that as she suddenly wraps her arms around him in an all encompassing hug. He shouldn't be able to feel warmer, but he does, emotions settling calmly in him to the point that even Phoenix feels content. It's most likely a temporary feeling, as his control over her is at its limit, but right now, in this moment, Scott actually feels like things are okay.

There's that tendency to overthink, to remember that things won't be fine as soon as he returns home, but it doesn't lead him like before. It's a temptation he's able to push aside this time. Slowly, his arms slowly wrap around her in return, taking in Kotone's forgiveness and-- it's not love, not for him, but acceptance. And that's enough. He may not fully believe that he's a good person still, but he doesn't wish to argue much longer.]

...They're all depending on me.

[Not just the X-Men anymore, but mutants everywhere. He's become the leader after Xavier left them, left an even bigger weight of responsibility on him, and he never wanted that, but he had to accept that too. Who else was going to take charge? But it's exhausting, draining in ways he never thought possible and that weariness and pain is audible in his less monotone voice now.]

I can't talk to them still.

[orphne]

...

[She's silent for a long time after that confession, her arms tightening around him as her heart rises in her throat. It hurts, thinking about Scott -- the Scott she'd met, she's certain of it now -- trying to do it all alone. She'd been able to do it for her team, but that had only been a year. Besides, she was used to that kind of thing. Scott felt things more deeply, held things more tightly than she ever had. Feeling alone, like he had to be perfect, like he couldn't talk to anyone or ever stumble... it's lonely. It's so lonely it makes her chest ache as she swallows hard against him and closes her eyes.]

I made a lot of mistakes when I was the leader, [she murmurs finally, when she can force her voice through a throat that's thick with an emotion she doesn't want to dwell on.] We were all learning together and none of us was perfect. But... they were still there for me. Even after I left, they didn't forget me.

[She has to suck in a soft breath before she can continue, squeezing him all the harder.]

If your bonds are strong enough, your team will still be there for you, too. No matter how long it takes. I still... I still think it's important to rely on them as much as they rely on you.

[laserguy]

[He knows now that when she says she 'left,' she's admitting to her death. He's not naïve, plus the knowledge of it was somehow always there, like a harsh truth and reminder. It's still painful to hear and he almost loses his grip on that slippery edge that'd lead him back to using Phoenix. Because with her, he can do anything, solve all problems and-- he closes his eyes against the red outlook of his visor, doing his best to compact all those emotions so that he doesn't do anything right now.

It's not his battle. His mindset needs to just be centered on protecting her now. Protecting his friends. He can still sense Caitlyn nearby along with Mikey, both of them still exchanging blows. Ekko still at the terminal.

Kotone with him, feeling sympathy, even though he brought this upon himself. And yet, he wouldn't change a thing. As long as mutantkind has a shot for the future, he'll do the same thing over and over.]

I'm going to kill Charles Xavier.

[He states that as fact. It hasn't happened yet, but it will. The timeline is a mess in his mind, making it even harder to stay in the present and still have his grasp on his self-control, but he's trying.]

They won't forgive me. They'll hate me. They're even fighting me right now. [...] But I'll always do what it takes to make sure my kind survives.

[orphne]

[She can't see his eyes, but the pause when she says she left is enough that she thinks maybe, maybe he realizes what that means now. Her fingertips tighten against his back as she exhales softly and closes her eyes, letting herself be held by this other Scott who's had so many awful things happen to him. She hopes that's not the fate of her own Scott; selfishly, it makes her more glad that Rogue and Morph had been dissuaded from their initial plan to try to blow it all up. If this is what will happen to her Scott...

Her back stiffens when he says it, like it's a fact, like it's been written in stone, unchangeable and immutable. But Scott... she knows him. She knows how much he cared about Charles Xavier; he'd said he'd helped him. To turn on him like this, something must have gone so wrong that there'd been no other recourse.

It's funny, even now, she can't blame Scott for it. Kurt seems like a great guy, and Quentin seems like his heart is in the right place, but after seeing how Rogue and Morph had reacted... Kotone can't help but think that the rest of Scott's team is wrong. Maybe he is doing the right thing.

...Even if it's the wrong thing, it's not her place to stop him. She doesn't think she even could.]

As long as you're you... I trust you to do what you think is right, [she murmurs softly. As long as he's Scott. Not Phoenix, but if he's thinking and acting purely as Scott Summers, she knows that at least he thinks it's necessary. Phoenix is the one who drove him to kill Ryoji; there's no way Scott himself would have done that.] They might hate Phoenix, but... as long as there's still a piece of you in there, I don't think they'll hate you.

[laserguy]

[He wonders if anything would've changed if Jean was alive right now. ...Well, yes, everything would be different, because the Phoenix would have gone with her to start with. This entire mess with the Phoenix Five and Tony Stark would never have been a thing. But that's the not point his mind was drifting to, Scott mostly wonders how he'd react if Jean was there to help him. Like Kotone is helping him now.

...It's an incomparable thought. Jean is the Phoenix. If there's any person that Phoenix belongs with, it's her. Or Hope. Not him. But they're on the verge of extinction and... this is why everything turned out like this.

Scott doesn't explain that situation to the young girl hugging him. There's no need for her to worry about that. With any luck, that other Scott, the lucky one, will not have to face the same challenges and make the same hard choices that he was forced to. He wouldn't want that Scott to look across the field and see friends and people he loved and trusted using their own powers against him.

He can't believe, like her, that they won't hate him. A part of Scott feels like he's dissociating once more, remembering Charles's words. Bobby's. Logan's. Their anger, their disapproval. Their disappointment.

He'll just have to accept it.]

The Phoenix can't force its host to do something that they'd never want to do. [If it was simple possession, maybe it would be more forgivable. But.] ...I will do what I think is right. That's what I've always wanted to do.

[orphne]

I know.

[She's always admired Scott's strength of will. Sure, maybe he questions himself sometimes, or he's not confident, or he needs someone (her) to lean on, but he has such a deep reserve of emotion and willpower... Kotone's needed to tap into his reserves of strength herself sometimes. It's easy to see how another Scott might have that same conviction amplified a thousand-fold, especially with the influence of something like Phoenix.

She doesn't know the X-Men, doesn't know their struggle, not really. But she knows Scott.]

But... you don't have to do it alone, do you? [Even if he's fighting his team, surely he must have someone on his side. At least one person, like that Jean girl everyone always talks about him being with, or maybe Kurt, or Rogue, or Morph. Somebody has to be at his side still, don't they?

She always thought that one of Scott's greatest strengths isn't his ability to be independent, but the way he can lean on and rely on others to support him. That has to be a good thing, right?]

[laserguy]

[There's a memory of a blond woman looking incredibly betrayed after stealing her part of the Phoenix. She was the only one that stayed by his side this entire time and Scott knows that won't remain the case when he returns. He betrayed everyone around him-- and he's going to do more. That can't be changed. Xavier will die and at some point, he becomes a terrorist with many people fearing him. Scott's jaw clenches as he feels his grip on everything further slip, not helped by the non-linear timeline of events in his mind, the fire dancing off his skin intensifying for a moment.

He just knows that he's going to be alone. And it will be of his own doing.]

Don't feel sad for me.

[Back to not really answering her questions. Scott, instead, starts to pull away from Kotone, arms leaving her before he takes a few steps back and putting distance between them. This is how it's going to end up anyway. Maybe even for that 'lucky' version of him.] Maybe they'll forgive me in the future, maybe not.

[......] It won't change how I act. The decisions I make. As long as mutants survive in the future. That's how I lead.

[It's the responsibility that's been placed on him. Maybe she will understand that.]

[orphne]

[Her eyes flash for a moment with a familiar defiance -- don't tell her how to feel! -- but she doesn't say anything, realizing by now that it won't change his mind. Besides, it's not like he'll stop her from being sad at the knowledge of what will happen. Her fingers caress his neck as he pulls back, tracing up his jaw until he's finally out of her reach entirely. For a moment, her hands just linger there where he'd been, then she slowly lowers them with a quiet sigh.

This Scott's gotten good at dodging questions. She can only hope her Scott doesn't learn how to do that from her. She can only hope her Scott doesn't turn out like this one.]

It's hard. Being a leader. [For him, it must have been a long time ago that they had that conversation -- for her, it was only a few weeks. Still, she manages a ghost of a smile and nods with resignation.] They're all depending on you, right? But while you're here... I want you to depend on me. Okay?

[laserguy]

[It was nice, even if it was temporary and not fully intended for him, to be cared about so much. Maybe he can just be okay with the knowledge that Jean will come back at some point, she always does. She can... look at him the same way Kotone looks at her Scott.

While he doesn't say anything about the difficulties of being a leader, Kotone will be able to notice the subtle acknowledgement and agreement of her words and observation. There's exhaustion radiating from behind his visor, even though he should be all powerful with Phoenix in him, but he really is tired. He just wanted to raze the world and make it better-- he wanted a safe place for mutants. That's what he always strived for. The calling to recreate the world is less powerful here and it's probably for the best, but he doesn't know how much longer he can keep even this much of his sanity. It's difficult and lonely and...

...Maybe he can depend on someone, just this once.

The thought of relying on someone that isn't even a mutant would normally be a laughable one, but those feelings that the other Scott have isn't exactly an ignorable force. It also helps Phoenix herself isn't as strong here. Maybe it's the glitching. Whatever combination of those after mentioned factors, Scott eventually just nods to Kotone's request.]

We can't keep this for long. [The burning urge to consume is still there, after all.]

[orphne]

[She wants to reach up and hold him again; he's not her Scott, but the weariness is so evident, so overwhelming that she can't help but want to help him. Her eyes search his face, looking for the same micro-expressions she's gotten used to interpreting from her Scott around his glasses. The visor is a little different, of course, but it's not dissimilar.

But she doesn't push it, either. Just being here for him will have to be enough as she nods again, her expression settling into its usual neutral smile as she grips her Evoker and finally turns toward Caitlyn and Mikey.]

Okay. Then let's help our friends.

minor time skip--

[laserguy]

[The blue-haired girl ended up dead anyway.

Not by him though. No, a monster appeared. There was no warning for it, another glitch, another fluctuation of this world, and then she simply died. Torn down by something that some may consider a freak accident. He, of course, made short work of the creature after, some righteous fury actually fueling his actions to explode that beast into molecules. This time, he made sure that it wouldn't come back. A flash of a boy with a scarf appears in his mind and Scott can almost feel himself dissociate more.

He doesn't know how long he can keep himself going. It's a miracle he lasted this long. A part of him wants to take to the skies and truly remake this world, burn it and turn it the way he wants to, because killing that creature wasn't enough.

Instead, his gaze turns to Kotone. Maybe silently seeing her approval. He'd never feel this way normally, but those feelings from that other Scott never fully vanished. The Scott that loves her with his entire being, to the point that he feels it too.]

[orphne]

[In other circumstances, the way he turns to her would be cute. It's hard to think about something like that when they'd failed to protect someone, though. Everything had happened so fast; there'd been no avoiding it. Breathing hard from the exertion of it all, the fight itself and the sheer power Scott had displayed, Kotone tears her gaze away from Caitlyn's body -- her corpse -- and finally looks up to Scott. There's grief in her eyes, but resignation, too; sometimes people die, and there's nothing that could be done about it.

Even still, she smiles up at him. It can't quite reach her eyes under the circumstances, but it's there nonetheless.]

Thanks, Scott.

[It would be a lie to say there's not a part of her that's angry -- all that power, and there was nothing ~Phoenix~ could do for Caitlyn?? -- but that's not Scott's fault. It's not, and she reaches out to take his hand as if to prove it.] We'll get through this.

[laserguy]

[Maybe it's the knowledge that his time here is about to end. Or those feelings from that other Scott are influencing him even more. Maybe it's finally his own ability to actually see Kotone and notice when her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes to hide the grief in them. It's mostly likely all three reasons and perhaps even more that lets Scott to take her smaller hand into his, simply holding her as that stoic visor stares down at her.

Somewhere, he knows he's upset about Caitlyn, but he can't let himself be consumed by that feeling either. Not if he wants to maintain even this level of control. The fact that he can even do that is a sign of Phoenix's weakening hold on him-- his own very existence about to disappear, but before he goes...]

You're doing it too.

[He just keeps his intense gaze on Kotone. She can handle it, she's proven that already.]

Hiding your pain, except behind a smile. I didn't notice back then.

[orphne]

[She tilts her head with a bit of confusion at what he first says, not quite seeing the connection until he elaborates. There's a weary quirk to her lips then, a wordless "you've caught me" as she shrugs one shoulder.]

I didn't want you to. [It's a simple answer to a simple statement, an acknowledgement that he's right. She squeezes his hand in hers without looking away and adds quietly,] But I show Scott.

[Her Scott, it goes without saying. She keeps her eyes on his visor without flinching or letting go of his hand as she continues,] So... I hope you have somebody you can show your pain to, too. When you have to.

[And while she doesn't say it, either, she hopes it's clear in her face. Even if he feels like he doesn't have anyone, he has her. He'll definitely forget her when he goes back where he belongs, but maybe he can take a little piece of the love she feels for her Scott with him when he goes. Even if he doesn't understand it, she hopes he knows he's not alone.]

[laserguy]

You found someone to be open with.

[Scott acknowledges, only feeling slightly odd that it's both him and not him at the same time. The multiverse is far less strange of a concept to him, especially when he's currently being possessed by a cosmic force while having intense emotions towards a girl he's only met one before. They're very similar feelings he had for another girl back home, hair just as red as hers, but gone. It's nice having that reminder though.

And she'll come back. Jean always does. Even if their relationship can also be extremely complicated and not always smooth, they... always find each other. It just hurts a little knowing that she won't be there when he immediately returns. He won't know how long it will be before he sees her smile again. He'll just have to bear it though.]

...I will. She'll be there, eventually.

[He doesn't say her name, maybe he doesn't need to. Scott lifts his other hand to Kotone's cheek, brushing one thumb across the skin there, like he's acknowledging her presence-- her memory and committing it to himself despite the odds. It'd just be nice to remember her.]

[orphne]

I'm glad.

[And she means it. In spite of all of her own complicated feelings about Jean Grey, if it means Scott has somebody he can trust, confide in, love with his whole heart and soul and be loved in return -- that's enough. That has to be enough.

Her smile is wan, but it's just a little more sincere as she nods. Even if, in the future, her Scott leaves without her, he'll hopefully have that same kind of relationship that he can take comfort in. She hopes so.

The smile lingers as she closes her eyes, leans into the gentle brush of a hand that's both familiar and not.]

I hope we meet again. When things are better.

[It's unlikely, almost impossible, but... well, hasn't this place proved again and again that nothing is impossible? It's an honest sentiment nonetheless.]

[laserguy]

[He can at least understand why that other Scott feels so strongly about her. If he had enough time, he would've liked to learn more about her, know the lonely girl behind those smiles. However, that's not his role here, he can only leave it to the other Scott. Besides, he's already taken too much of his time-- he should not be replacing a version of him that seems far happier than he ever was at that age. A part of him wants to tell her to watch over her Scott, but he knows that he doesn't need to.

Not to mention that he believes that he should be watching over her.

There's one slight nod from Scott, maybe agreeing with seeing her again. Or just acknowledging her once more, his hand stroking her cheek before he steps away and just like that-- all that heat surrounding the atmosphere suddenly vanishes and the familiar form of her Scott stands in his place, staring incomprehensibly elsewhere and not fully aware of what's going on.]

[orphne]

Scott!

[The air feels almost cold with the older Scott's abrupt disappearance, but that's fine. That's good, even, because it means Phoenix isn't here anymore. Kotone darts forward, cupping Scott's cheeks in both of her hands and forcing him to look at her. Not at Caitlyn, not at the aftermath, but just at her for a moment, hoping to ground him.]

You okay?

[laserguy]

[Memories are still sliding in place and it's overwhelming, almost impossible to parse through. With each image coming right after one another, it's difficult to keep focus on one thing, to really understand what went on other than the knowledge that he glitched once more. The answer comes suddenly though, that familiar presence of unlimited power and fire and Scott nearly starts trembling, sick in his stomach until he feels two gentle if firm hands grip his face to look at their owner.

Kotone.

She's here. She's alive. Unlike last time. He did not come back and be greeted by her still corpse. And Ryoji isn't dead, right? He promised he wouldn't do something like that. Kotone doesn't seem upset with him and... that has to mean something, unless she's holding back. It's possible, but Scott wants to believe just for right now.

That knot of anxiety starts untangling itself, his head nodding as he raises his own hands to hers to keep them here. She'll probably notice that his are shaking though, so scared about what happened. What he might have done.]

Y-You're here. [His voice is full of relief, voice already filled with emotion because he didn't lose her again.] Y-you're warm.

[Her hands are warm. She's looking at him with that spark in her eyes.]

[orphne]

Yeah.

[Last time he'd glitched out into that Scott, she hadn't been there to catch him. This time, she can, running her thumbs along his cheeks and giving him the smallest of relieved smiles as she nods. They're both here, and hopefully it will be the last time her Scott has to deal with Phoenix. Hopefully this is the end of that.

But she should tell him before he sees for himself, right? Because he'll think the worst, and so her voice is as quick as it is soft when she says,] A monster got Caitlyn. The other Scott got the monster.

[So for the moment, they're safe. She's safe, Scott's safe, and Caitlyn... hopefully it'll be just like it had for Kotone herself, and she'll be back after what just feels like a nap. Kotone keeps her hands on Scott's cheeks, gazing up at him and trying to be the steady strength for him that he always is for her.]

He helped us this time.

[laserguy]

[There's no hallucinating the person in front of him. He's not imagining anything, it's truly her touch stroking against his cheeks. For a moment, it feels like everything is actually okay. She looks okay.

There's a sharp intake of breath from him when Kotone mentions Caitlyn, his face lightly shuddering in her grip. Hearing about this firsthand lets that particular memory surge forth in his mind: a monster striking Caitlyn from behind. Her body broken and motionless on the ground and it's still there, it's probably still there, and Scott's eyes shut behind his glasses to stop those tears from springing forth. He both wants and doesn't want to see her-- this is someone that's been a long friend of his. They've known each other for a year and he couldn't save her.

He's only keeping this steady because of Kotone's presence.]

He-- Scott, Phoenix...? They did good? [He asks again, almost for reassurance, seeking some level of good news and comfort right now. His eyes reopen, the spark of red returning from behind his shades, as he focuses only on the person he loves the most.]

[orphne]

Yeah. It would've been worse without him.

[Him, not Phoenix, because it's only Scott's own force of will that had kept them as safe as it had. She inhales a soft breath and runs her thumbs gently beneath his glasses in wordless permission that if he wants to cry, he can.]

I'm glad you're back, though, [she adds more softly without taking her eyes off him.] I'm glad you're you.

[And hopefully he'll stay that way for as long as they're both here. She'd meant what she'd said, about hoping to meet the other Scott again, but not without her Scott. Never without him.]