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text; un: shades

[Scott's been feeling all kinds of ways since returning to Aldrip. A little off his feet? Not upset exactly, not when he remembers everyone important to him, but it's still a lot. Kind of weird that he's actually older here than back home, and that's not mentioning suddenly getting almost two years of memories shoved inside his head that he completely forgot about until now. But he's trying. A part of him wants to just lie on the bed with Kotone and just take more time to himself, but he figures that he should say something to his friends.

Maybe focusing on them will help. Better than thinking about Alex or how Apocalypse sort of ruined everything back home.

He breathes in, fiddling with his tablet. Something in him wants to change his username from 'shades' to 'cyclops,' but maybe not right now.]

hey, i'm back now. sorry if i worried anyone. a lot happened, like, back home. yeah i went home and came back. i'm okay though.

[None of that sounded super awkward, right.]

if you wanna meet up, i'll be at the diner. you're paying though.

[ooc: Scott's back from his canon update and just Dealing with Stuff. Totally open to threading Scott meeting others in person! Also, he'll be back in regular clothes for the time being, but he will be wearing his visor for now.]

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We'll mismatch fashionably.

[He nods along confidently. He's already thinking of Rogue's more colorful uniforms and trying to imagine how all ones he's seen so far would look lined up. ...He's sure they can pull it off!

He listens as Scott goes on - okay so a month of being a team. Makes sense. Scott doesn't really look older, after all, and it must have just been some basic missions so far-

But then Scott mentions Apocalypse. His own smile fades completely, and some of the color drains from his face.]

Apocalypse?? [He repeats the name in an urgent hush.]

The super powerful ancient mutant from Egypt? I haven't just heard of him... He's out there. Back in my world. [He realizes he's never really talked about Apocalypse here before, even though his lingering threat has always been in the back of his mind. But now he feels particularly bad for Scott, because if he's asking about him-]

Don't tell me he's out there in your world, too... [So far, Apocalypse has seemed truly unbeatable.]

[And just like that, the easy atmosphere dissipates. Even if Kurt didn't say anything, his reaction is telling enough. Scott grimaces, even as he tries his best to try and put forth his best unaffected look. There's so much he can say about that mutant and none of it is good and a part of him wants to yell or blast his powers into the air, but he's trying to hold back.

He didn't even know how much he's still been carrying all those feelings until now. Until he got back here.]

Yeah. Him. [There's no escaping the bitter, almost angry note in his voice though. It really only just took one guy to fuck everything up back home. And he's the reason for...]

Wait, he's still alive back in your world? [And then, his next words spill out before he can really stop him.] What happened to Alex?

Edited 2025-03-03 19:20 (UTC)

[Suddenly, everything feels tense. Like he's back at the mansion again while everyone discusses the uncertainties of fighting a mutant so powerful. The positive reunion energy has dissipated for the moment as Apocalypse's shadow looms over them.

But at the same time, Kurt is thrown off by the mention of Alex, which confuses him.]

What, your brother? Nothing happened to him! Last I heard, he's still catching waves in Hawaii and keeping in touch with you. Well, my you.

[Now onto the first question.]

But, uh, yeah. I'm sorry to say that Apocalpyse definitely alive and kicking back in my world! He's been holed up in some dome he made over the Mayan pyramids for a while now. We don't know what it's up to, except that it has to be no good!

[Alex is alive.

There's a moment where he's unable to hear anything Kurt's saying, mind wrapped around the thought that his brother is at least alive in one world. Kurt's world. Is this how his friend felt this entire time when he told him that Raven is alive in his? It hurts, so much, even though there's that ping of some sort of relief too. Like... at least Alex is happy somewhere, even if it's a place that Scott can't reach.

He swallows past the lump in his throat, for once glad that his visor is covering half of his expression. Maybe Kurt won't see the way his eyes mist over.]

He needs to be stopped soon, Kurt. [His voice starts quiet and only builds later, like he's trying to regain some of his strength. Maybe he should've ordered a bunch of french fries before they started talking. After this, they need like the super loaded ones with bacon and cheese. Scott clears his throat, trying to rid the image of the burnt mansion and Alex's body from his thoughts. Don't think about that--]

B-Before he hurts anyone.

[He can't get much of a sense of Scott's reaction. He's not sure what Alex has to do for anything - or at the very least, he feels too afraid to consider the morbid possibilities. But he also doesn't feel as much of a need to dwell on it, as Scott's words cause Kurt to feel the weight of what's waiting for him back home. As much as he wants to see his friends again, Apocalypse's threat still looms. A mutant who seems truly invincible and unbeatable.]

I- I know that. It's the definition of easier said than done.

[He bows his head sadly.]

...And... it's a little too late on the hurting people front. I never got around to telling you, but he's the one who turned Mystique into stone to begin with. She helped to free him, and I guess that's how he repaid her. Not only that, but... Magneto tried to take him on, and he- he got wiped out completely. It's unbelievable.

[Of course he's the one that's responsible for Kurt's pain. Even if Mystique is a bad person in Kurt's timeline, it's still hard to be okay with the thought of her dying-- turning into a stone statue. He's trained with Raven now and looks up to her as a mentor and instructor, a senior X-Man, so hearing any version of her suffer like that sucks.

Then there's the added revelation of Erik dying too.

Scott's feelings towards Magneto is sort of complex, but he doesn't want him dead. Not after he helped stop Apocalypse in the end and helped repair the mansion. It's not like he was the one that fully set human-mutant relations back. Yeah he worked for Apocalypse, but then he'd have to get mad at Ororo too in that case.

He still has all this anger and the mutant's already dead in his world. Sometimes, Scott doesn't know where to direct it. So, directly, almost in a clipped tone:]

So he's a bastard in every universe. [.....] If you're wondering how we defeated him, it took the combined effort of me and several other mutants. Mostly Jean though.

[She really is powerful, isn't she? But also kind, funny, and cute. Those feelings and thoughts haven't faded since returning to Aldrip, it's just he doesn't want to romantically be with her anymore. He'll always have her side though. No matter what.

He wonders what sort of power she unleashed that day. She hasn't been able to fully replicate it since then.]

[That sinking feeling of dread has returned when he thinks of Apocalypse and the threat he poses. And the other bad memories he's responsible for. It's one reason why he's tried not to think about the ancient mutant too much during his time in Aldrip.

But Scott's latest words have a different effect. Kurt sits up in his seat as something is stirred within him... A twinge of hope.]

S-so you really did it? You beat him? [Scott's earlier words might have implied that, but Kurt could not process the concept until it was directly stated. It doesn't mean that things will turn out the same in his world or that it will be easy at all, but it does mean that beating him is possible. And that's my all Kurt needs to know to feel some hope again.]

That - it's really awesome to hear. So Jean's gonna be a big help. I'll try to remember that! I guess it would be too much to hope he has some kind of big secret weakness on top of it all?

[Part of him really hoped this would turn out likena B-movie where it turns out the aliens are weak against vinegar or something.]

[His mouth firms into a tight line, but Scott nods in affirmation. Honestly, it was really lucky that none of his friends died during the actual battle against Apocalypse. Maybe the mutant himself was overconfident in his own abilities, didn't plan things out well, because he certainly didn't form any domes over the Mayan pyramids or anything like that. Whatever the case, Scott's just glad he's gone.

Has he ever harbored this much resentment towards anyone before? Probably not, but he doesn't care right now.]

Of course, because we're X-Men. [Something loosens just slightly in Scott's expression, adopting a tone that's more familiar with the young mutant. It's supportive, encouraging.] And you and the others will be successful as well. Just remember to work together. Trust each other.

[...] No weakness, Kurt, but he's not invincible and there's only one of him.

[At least this helps to ease the tension. Kurt's still no closer to beating Apocalypse back home, but just knowing that he's beatable and talking about his downfall in the other world is helpful. Hope continues to grow in his heart. And he smiles at Scott. Now that's some classic Scott leader advice.]

...Yeah, you're right. We got this. ...Or we will got this, whenever it's my time to go home. [He still won't mind if it doesn't have to happen anytime soon!]

And yeah, understood. I kinda figured that was the case, but y'know, I gotta ask just in case! It definitely sounds like it was a big trip back home... Talking about the must work up an appetite, yeah?

[He says that as he waves a waiter over to get some food going. Maybe that'll help to ease the atmosphere up even more.]

Hey we'll come up with strategies until then. Get you extra prepared so that he won't stand a chance.

[Even if Kurt won't remember any of it when he returns, maybe it will help ease some of his friend's worry about Apocalypse? Maybe it will help Scott too, just thinking of new ways to kick that mutant's butt even though he's gone in his world. It won't bring back Alex, but new ways of coping with loss. Hopefully.]

But that's one of the best ideas you've ever had. [Kurt's pivot to ordering food truly has helped, Scott actually smiling a little more and easing in his seat. He's definitely going to order fries and a milkshake, probably a double burger. A classic combination that feels familiar.]

So, been wondering, who is on your X-Men team back home?

That would be cool!

[He's also not sure if he'll remember, but there's always a chance they'll find a way. And even if not, there could always be other situations in which training like that could come in handy. God forbid any Apocalypse end up coming to this world!

He grins at Scott's approval of his idea and places his own order which is pretty much for the same things. Scott did always have good tastes! And Kurt continues to relax more as he thinks of the team.]

Well, let's see. There's me, you, Jean and Rogue. And Kitty - Shadowcat! ...Plus Evan, Spyke, he used to be with us but he left. Then there's the teachers who also join us on missions - Storm, Wolverine and Beast. And there's also a bunch of younger students who mostly train at the mansion and don't go on missions except for rare exceptions. Like Bobby, the Iceman has come along sometimes.

[They'll be extra prepared and everything! They probably should get the other X-Men involved in this too. Which. He wonders how the fight with Apocalypse went down in their worlds. It probably happened as well, right?

But Scott actually pauses in thinking about the ultra powerful mutant as they ease into a lighter topic, one that brings forth that more easygoing nature Scott still has. It's been chipped a little since losing Alex and becoming a X-Man, but it's not like he fully changed in just a couple of months back home. He's just... proud? Happy? To call the others his teammates. Yes, even Peter.

Which, huh, Kurt didn't mention the speedster. And wait--]

I haven't heard of Kitty or Spyke before, still haven't bumped into Rogue in my timeline. [Scott hums, maybe a little disappointed. Surely he'll bump into her at some point though? No Morph or Quentin though, huh? Same for him.] And Ororo is around my age; she's not an instructor at all. Beast still is. But you haven't met Peter yet?

[He hasn't thought it himself yet, but he will start wondering if other X-Men around have had to deal with Apocalypse too.

In any case, he definitely feels more at ease as they discuss their respective teammates. He does feel surprised and confused by some of the differences!]

Whoa. I can't even imagine Storm being our age! [She's always seemed particularly mature and motherly, after all.] Um, Peter who? [He's at a loss for this one and tries thinking of Peters he's met from similar worlds.] Parker? I mean, Spider-Man does exist where I come from, but none of us have met him.

Nah, not Parker. I don't even know if Spider-Man exists in my timeline.

[There's a waver of his smile, just for a second, thinking about the Peter that has gone home. They were good friends and he never got to show off his uniform to him. Maybe a Spider-Man will eventually appear in his world, but there's been no Avengers so far, so Scott isn't really holding his breath. It just feels like the X-Men in the world, fighting off other mutants. Probably humans.

Hank did send out 5 Sentinels to fight off as their first training session in the Danger Room.

But he lightly exhales, trying to get his bearings again. He nods at Kurt, ready explain a bit more.]

I'm talking about Peter Maximoff. Quicksilver.

[Kurt misses him too - and Gwen. And pretty soon, he wishes harder they had just been talking about Spider-Man.

It's a good thing Kurt doesn't have a drink right now, because he'd be spitting it out once he hears that full name and puts together who he must be referring to.]

Wait, you're talking Pietro? Oh, I've had the misfortune of meeting him alright. He's one of the worst members of the Brotherhood! Definitely the most obnoxious.

[Scott blanches as Kurt rambles about Peter-- Pietro, totally not expecting this reaction out of his friend. Like sure, Peter is kind of annoying and obnoxious at times. But he really isn't that bad, he comes through when it counts. He really must be a different person in Kurt's timeline, just like Raven.]

Okay, obnoxious, yeah. [Scott slowly agrees, something amused entering his voice despite himself. What? Peter isn't here to defend himself, so too bad.] Impatient. Has a hard time standing still.

[He can probably go on, but he'll stop. For now. Despite the fact that Peter gets on his nerves sometimes, he's still his teammate.]

But he isn't so bad man. He's on my team with you, Jean, and Ororo.

Wait. He's really an X-Man? With all of us?? [He sounds incredulous, because this is really a wild concept to take in. Out of all the Brotherhood, he's seemed probably the least likely to be one of them.]

Where I'm from, he's been nothing but bad news. I guess we've worked together occasionally, like when we were all trying to stop Apocalypse together, but for the most part? He's pretty much been the leader of the Brotherhood. They're not as bad as other bad mutants, but they're still bullies who are always up to no good.

[Kurt shakes his head.]

So, yeah, sorry but it's just hard for me to imagine.

Yep.

[There's an emphasis on the last part of his word, nearly popping the 'p' as he affirms Peter's placement as a X-Man. Scott can no longer hide his full amusement. Man, this Pietro really must've left a negative impression if even Kurt is unsure about him. It's kind of funny in a way. Maybe he should add that Peter is like 10 years older than him and the other teenage X-Men.

He might break Kurt's mind more though. If Kurt doesn't like Pietro, Scott can only imagine how much his other self doesn't get along with him.]

The Brotherhood doesn't exist in my timeline yet. Maybe it won't.

[And he'll get upset if Peter decides to ditch them and join this other group of mutants instead.] Honestly, I have a hard time seeing Peter lead a team. He takes things really easy.

[And the timeline differences continue to compound... It's really hard to imagine a likable Quicksilver! He knows if Scott could experience him, he'd feel the same way. Because he knows his own Scott doesn't like him at all!]

Well, Pietro's not exactly a good leader. Not like you or anything. He's just bossy and spoiled, and I dunno if the others listen to him all the time.

[He shrugs.]

Anyway, yeah. I definitely hope you don't have to deal with the Brotherhood where you're from. And let me know if Blob, Toad and Avalanche turn out to be boy scouts in your world on top of all that!

[Hearing Kurt refer to him as a good leader...

He's not the leader of the X-Men yet back home, more like the pupil in training, but there's definitely that expectation of him to step up someday and he wants to. Honestly, he's wanted to do it more since his memories of this world returned to him. It's stressful as hell, but it... it really feels like others depend on him and Scott doesn't want to let any of them down.]

Hmm, haven't run into them either, but I'll let you know. [Obviously more mutants from this Brotherhood, but man, even with his world expanding just a bit, it sounds like he's still far behind! So many mutants still unrecognizable to him.

But speaking of certain mutants being good in his timeline...

Scott hesitates for a second, knowing Kurt's complicated relationship with Raven. She's a statue and broken in his timeline, but he always seemed interested, excited hearing about Raven in his world. So, maybe he wants to hear this? Yeah, he thinks so. He offers a small smile, one supporting, before pushing forward.]

Oh, and Raven's actually the main X-Men instructor back home. [Yep, she's a X-Man.]

[Mystique has been fresh on his mind lately, for better and worse, especially after those dreams the other month. Not only did he relive the experience related to her being turned to stone once again, but he also got a glimpse of Scott's version of her - or a dream representation of her. It all has him thinking about the complicated nature of his mother.

The shift to her isn't unwelcome, but the news does take him by surprise.]

Whoa, for real?? [It really is like the opposite of back home. ...Well technically she did briefly lead the X-Men, but that was only because she was posing as Xavier and tricking them into doing her bidding.] I can't even imagine that.

[It's bittersweet, like most of what he learns about that Mystique. It doesn't change what his Mystique has done and what has happened to her, but it's a soft comfort knowing that there's another world where she actually is a hero. That despite everything, his Mystique might have some of that goodness somewhere deep within.]

But that's great! Really. I'm - I'm happy for her, and for you guys. [Maybe she'll actually be a mother to his other self. But that's something he won't probe about - he doesn't need to know that much.]

[It's almost difficult now to imagine Raven being a bad person. Sure, she was always known as the mutant hero back home, but he really didn't get to know her until recently. She's... well, kind of mean, has a lot on her shoulders, but she's definitely not bad. He definitely respects her. Definitely far from the person that she is in Kurt's timeline.

Although, does his Kurt even know that Mystique is his mom...?

Shoveling that thought away, his smile grows into a smirk, Scott almost exaggerating how much of a pain it actually is to have Raven as his instructor.]

Don't be too happy for me, Raven is a drill sergeant. She's so serious about our training in the Danger Room. Dude, have I told you about our first ever training room session? She and Hank sent like five Sentinels at us!

[He's not going to forget the bruises he got after that one.....]

It was crazy.

[That does sound a little more like her. He's mostly known her for being strict - as his principal and during her brief time impersonating Professor X. She also seemed like a bit of a taskmaster for the Brotherhood as well.

Now it's a different matter that catches his attention as Scott mentions the Sentinels. His eyes widened.]

Whoa!! Five whole Sentinels?? That sounds like way more than a lot to me! We only ever faced one giant one back home - and it was enough to have almost every mutant I knew combined on the run!

Yeah man, seriously. Like they weren't huge, but it definitely surprised me.

[Not that Scott thought he was going to die during the training session, but it sure was a lot to see those 5 robots come stomping through the folding wall, all aimed to take him and his new team down. Well, they didn't succeed, with him and the others pulling through. It felt pretty good, except for the fact that Raven pointed out all things that they could've been done better on. It stung at the time, but he can see her points now.

They're a work in progress, as she mentioned.]

I'll have to tell you all about it. [Scott pushes those more upsetting feelings away for now.]

[At least it sounds like those Sentinels were more compact and probably less powerful than the one Kurt dealed with. Maybe it wasn't so bad. But definitely at least a little bad from the way Scott puts it!]

Sure, man. I'm all ears! And they're extra pointy to boot!

text; un: shades

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wanna start wrapping this up? :>

Sure!

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