poly_chromatic | ♠ first encounter ♠

[ Panic sits heavy in Raven's throat, drips into her heart like the water currently falling from her uniform. She'd had to pull herself from the water immediately, the shock of cold and lack of breath breaking only when the survival instinct had kicked it. But it's not seawater, she knows that much, knows as she sits on the steps of an unfamiliar building and watches the flooded streets with an unfamiliar horror that she is no longer on the beach. Had the teleporter brought her here? And what of her brother, of her friends?

Raven doesn't like feeling lost.

But she found the device easily, sitting awkward against the leather of her uniform. It had taken moments for her to figure out the buttons and now she stares at it. The device barely catches a flicker of blue before it settles on to the image of a blonde girl, a worried crease settling between her eyebrows. She's wearing some sort of uniform, yellow and black leather that hugs her tight and looks like it's made for protection more than anything. But it's maybe a little strange to see a girl who looks so young in something like that. ]

Is this a camera? [ Turning the device in her hands. ] I don't --.

[ She doesn't know what it is or how to use it and all she can think of is the last thing she said to Charles before they came to the beach, before they had to fight. It makes her want to cry but she knows she can't. With an exhale of breath and a disappointed sound, she talks almost to herself. ] Always falling to peices, c'mon.

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[ She's going to stop having to be surprised when a voice comes out of it, but when is the question. This time though, she just holds it closer, hunched in on herself as though that can help. ]

It's super small. [ That's the most troubling thing. Technology is so big, like Cerebro and Hank's computers, his lab. ] Someone else said it was mine? But I don't even know what it really is.

Less is more, and all. [She nods.] Every person who is brought here is entrusted with one of them. See, I'm using mine now. It's just something we can use to communicate with one another - instead of doing what everyone else does in a city and ignoring around ninety-eight percent of the population.

[ She almost smiles, the tiniest uptick of her mouth before it halts. She knows New York and London so well that she understands the sentiment. ]

I can't stay here. [ There's a waver to her voice, a swallowed down thread of fear. ] I have to get back to my brother.

[Did she say BROTHER - wah, the feelings that sweep over her every time there's siblings being separated involved. If she thinks of the jar full of confetti on her night table, she doesn't show it.]

I'm sorry - I'm afraid nothing of what's to come is good news. But unfortunately, for a while, we're stuck here.

He's going to end up - [ Killed. Raven swallows and fights back the tears because what else can she do? This isn't like anything she's ever had to deal with before.

( Because Charles found her and has kept her ever since and despite all of her anger and pain, to be seperated like this makes her feel as lost and frightened as the child in his kitchen. ) ] In trouble.

[ But Erik will look out for him, won't he? He has to, she has to entrust that he will because the thought that he might not make it out doesn't bear thinking about. ]

[Oh, this is just - is this what she looks like? She wonders if this is how she is seen by others as well; and wonders what words she could possibly use to calm her down.]

You know...as the older sister to a fairly energetic boy, I can tell you that - most of the time, we think they'll get in trouble, but they know how to fix it themselves.

He's older than me. [ But he trusts people too much, he cares too much and that's the thing that's going to take him under. Raven has been the cynical support system for as long as she can remember, tucked blankets around him when he's fallen asleep over his books, dragged him home when he's more than drunk and maudlin.

It's a level of responsibility she can't shake off. He gave her a home, he took care of her. She's been trying to repay that ever since. ] Is their a way to get a message out of ... out of this place?

Still...[she shrugs; she sticks by it. Jamie might have worried her endlessly, but it didn't mean he hadn't learnt to take care of himself.]

Unfortunately no. But he could be here, if you're...ah, lucky.

[ Charles was with her on the beach, he was there just before she disappeared, she could hear him talking as she'd gone out to save Hank and she can't imagine him disappearing. ]

I ... [ A breath. What other choice does she have? ] His name is Charles. Charles Xavier.

[Suddenly, she sits up straight.] I know him.

He's here. And he's all right, that I know - I mean, I think he'd be all right if he can figure how to send people cookies by mail?

[ That just drags out a startled laugh - more disbelief than anything because that sounds like him all right. ]

I just saw him --. [ How on earth could he have already greeted people? How could he ... ] Are you sure it's him? Kind of, um, english and clumsy and a dork?

Yes, I do think so. Loves lists, talks like he's a professor?

[ That just lights her up entirely, a proper true grin crossing her features as it mingles with relief. ] He is a Professor. He's here, he's actually here.

[ Suddenly it's like a cloud breaks because she had been so cruel, upset with him and the situation they'd found themselves in but the thought that she might have lost him had cemented the old thoughts. ] I need to find him.

Wait, cookies?

He actually is here, yes. Chances are he's also seen this post as well, which means he'll be scrambling to say hello back. I think.

[She's glad she's grinning, it's a pretty sight. And look, carrying good news for once!!] Ah yes, cookies. That is a long story.

Oh thank god.

[ Her relief is palpable now, her eyes closing as she breathes for a moment, lets go of the fear. ] Okay, so maybe until he shows up you could tell me the story?

I wonder if we could get acquainted first. I'm Mae.

Oh. Oh. [ There's a flutter of ... not embarrassment but something close. Nervousness maybe? ] Sorry, I'm kind of - it's been a long day.

Raven.

Raven. I can only imagine. Otherwise I'd have to be you - or psychic.

[ She thinks of Shaw and the clawing panic over Charles comes back. ]

So, ths place is kind of ... is it supposed to be under water?

Not usually, no.

A lot of rain?

You'd think so, but no. It's what we call curses.

♠ first encounter ♠

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video; mae and raven just bond over how hard it is to have brothers

video; sarah pls, jamie is like 9000 times better than charles

video; well, well, she still loves his dumb face.

video; that she can understand

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