inhuman princess

Containing it doesn’t seem to be working, so until another way could be discovered they would have to take it up a notch. This might not even work, but it was worth a shot. All of his concentration was going toward holding up this forcefield, which was pretty massive to cover the whole thing. He watches for a moment as Crystal is throwing her best shot at it — which doesn’t seem to do much of anything. His hold doesn’t last, and he pulls back on it to rest for a moment before trying it again. “I think we both need a second.” He plops down to take a seat on the ground, just looking up at the mass. Would they be able to solve this? “It was worth a shot.”

it took lorna a good moment to not only catch up with what the other woman was telling her, but to fully digest it as well. “no, no – you’re fine. trust me, tact isn’t exactly my strong point either.” she admitted, “you just caught me a little off guard is all.” despite the slightly jarring information overload, it didn’t take much for lorna to believe her. the world was already becoming mashed version of realities, and these things were bound to happen. although, this was the first time lorna had been affected by it herself. her head nodded in acknowledgement, but immediately felt as though she’d shoved her foot in her mouth. no one wanted to hear about how some version of a loved one was dead here. “i’m sorry, i shouldn’t have – like i said, not great with tact either.” her hands shoved into her pockets, brow raising at the name of her niece, or the niece of some version of her. “luna… it’s a pretty name. would it be confusing for her to meet me?”

lorna let out a quiet laugh – even though she hadn’t known her biological father well – if there was one thing she could count on in any reality, it was that their family was complicated. ( which was just a nice way of saying messed up. ) with a hum, she nodded. “i can only imagine. so in this reality of yours, are we close? i don’t really know what i’m like where you’re from – i’d hate to not meet the expectations.”

Between her natural personality and her royal upbringing, Crystal was just self aware enough to know when she was being a disaster, yet never aware enough to stop it. Her crossed arms tightened in the defensive stance, then put them on her hips instead because she didn’t want to look combative. “I... understand my sudden appearance and news are both startling.” She said carefully, “And I apologize for any alarm I may have caused.” If it sounded like a rehearsed script Medusa had made her learn for when she burst into conversations with bad news, that’s because it definitely was. Crystal shook her head, eyes going a little wide. “No, no, it’s fine, like I said, I already knew. It’s only... strange to hear. I don’t really have a right to worry about him anyhow.” It was simply the matter of Luna’s feelings, of course. “She’s already met Wanda. She understands there’s a difference, I think.”

Or so she hoped. They had family troubles enough without adding alternative versions of her dead aunts into the mix. Though to be perfectly fair, Erik had never been anything but supremely gentle and kind to Luna, even before her powers developed. “He was nice. Except he was also- well, him.” Her smile was somewhat chagrined, then before she could stop herself, to try to downplay it and spare this Lorna’s feelings, Crystal nodded. “Yes, very. We didn’t meet until towards the end of Pietro and I’s marriage, but we grew close quickly. She was my maid of honor later, which totally pissed off my sister, which we both thought was hilarious.”

This sounds like a better plan than any other — at least they could TRY something. He couldn’t stand around blasting it with his best vision all day considering that would exhaust anyone. “I like the way you’re starting to think! We can give it a shot.” He aims a hand out toward the creature, putting everything into forming a dot or bubble around the growing mass. He doesn’t know how long the force field will hold, but they need to act now. “You’re up!” Conner shouts as his gaze looks over to Crystal now, not sure what they’ll do AFTER this attempt at getting more information. He struggles a bit, but the forcefield is still up.

    brock had to stop and think for a second about what she was asking, he’d written a few trendy articles before. ”well, it’s not like  weird  things don’t happen very often around here… in fact, if i have to guess, alien invasions would be all of the top 3 weirdest, then gods, yeah, people love those, and then six or seven might be this.”  he brushed it off as a normal daily event, jokingly. as they got to the cafe, he chose a good table from where they’d have a good view of the city. his smile grew a bit with her commentary.  “well, let’s get you the sweetest coffee you’ve ever experienced, then.”  eddie replied, signing for the nearest waiter to come by.  “excuse me, can you get us two of the house’s specialty coffee and a whole  lot  of sugar? thanks.”  he said to the man, who quickly took notes and went towards the counter to give the staff their order.  “so, tell me what’s in your mind…?”

“Oh-” Crystal laughed, appreciating just how similar to Attilan’s ridiculous series of events his words sounded. “Alien invasions and gods? You certainly had your hands full. Glad to hear someone thinks this is only six or seven.” She teased with a half-smile, settling in the booth across him before glancing out briefly at the city. That it was two decades forward in the future from what she remembered seemed the least of her worries. The generally layout was the same, only a step to the left with technology the humans hadn’t had before. Glancing back at Eddie, a fuller smile grew, and she clasped her hands together. “Yes! I am always grateful for coffee. I tried to convince my sister we needed to add space to grow our own in the royal gardens but, unfortunately, my advising was not taken.” As she remembered, she wrinkled her nose, then felt guilty for being upset at Medusa when she had no clue where she was or if she was okay. “Well, I’m worried about my daughter most of all, she’s so young to be forced through all this.”

Luckily Conner was capable of many things, but he was smiling at the way Crystal cheered him on. He always LOVES the attention, but watches as the woman freezes part of the mass they had broken off doing their small amount of damage. “I can blow hurricane force winds, and tactile telekinesis if that would be helpful? It’s like creating a forcefield of energy — I could try using it to push the creature back.” He doesn’t know how much it’ll take out of him for something of that size, but is willing to risk it.

there weren’t many people that knew her, she laid low and avoided attention while deciding what she wanted to do next. an unfamiliar voice calling out her name easily caught her by surprise but as the other woman caught up to her and launched into an explanation, her expression juggled between confusion and suspicion. “sorry – you said it was crystal, right? wanda’s a lot better with this merging realities car wreck thing than i am. i’m just trying to keep up.” it wasn’t every day that someone came up to tell you how you’re related, but being that she only really found wanda recently, she supposed it shouldn’t be much of a shock anymore. “you have a daughter? maximoff… did you marry pietro or wanda? i only really know wanda yet, pietro in this really, uh –” she skipped ahead, it didn’t feel right to speak of, she hadn’t known him. “i might need a minute to wrap my head around it all, but i guess i believe you. honestly, i think anyone would sooner lie to be out of this family than in it.”

“That was... inexcusably lacking in tact, I- yes, Crystal.” She huffed out a breath, crossing her arms over her chest, but at the level of acceptance she received, a small part of her worry melted. Her and Lorna had been close, and as much as she missed the rest of her blood family, the royal family, she missed Lorna. She knew it wasn’t the same here, but as with Wanda, it was worth trying. “She’s always steps ahead of the rest of us with realities.” It had been a shock to hear she already knew of Crystal, but considering her wide array of powers, the surprise settled fast. With the reminder, her expression fell to sadness, and she had to sternly remind herself that her Pietro was alive and well. “Pietro. I... yes, she told me.” Brushing some of her hair out of her face, she shook her head. “Her name is Luna.”

Lorna’s last words surprised a laugh out of Crys, a wide smile crossing her face at the reminder of her friend’s sense of humor. “Oh yeah. Spending time with her grandfather sure was something.”

      wanda tilted her head curiously at the little girl before smiling at her and nodding - she had a sense of people, seemed to understand them, and wanda sought to encourage that. quickly though, her gaze snapped back to attention towards crystal. “not enough for a full picture, mostly that of a family - nothing without its problems but certainly nothing that cannot be overlooked.” she replied, giving an honest and earnest glance to the other. “your daughter, she is beautiful.”

      she could not erase the sins of the past with this woman and the dead version of herself - or rather she would not. but she could offer to start anew as herself, open and honest to learning and understanding the woman who chose her brother at one time to be her husband. but at the admittance that pietro was dead in her world things began to suddenly change between the three of them. ”i am sorry little one, i did not mean to make you feel that.” she apologized verbally to luna and the expression in her gaze said the very same to crystal.

      the extended hand was a kind offer and wanda carefully thought it through before accepting and placing her own in the other woman’s. “it has been years but it still lays fresh upon my soul - i carry my brother with me wherever i go.” she admitted, giving crystal a smile before gently squeezing her hand. ”I would love to get to know you and yours, not just by my foresight either, i mean by inviting you over for tea. does that sound good?” she asked carefully, wondering if she was being too forward, too strange.

Nothing without its problems. So she did know, or at least had some inkling. Crystal deflated a slight bit, even though this Wanda had yet to show her any disdain, and the rest of her words seemed to indicate she was willing to be lenient. “Oh. Well. That’s... kind of you. I can fill you in further. If that’s what you want.” The offer came reluctantly. Her bristling discomfort softened, and she nodded, glancing down at her daughter, her little heart-shaped face and Pietro’s clear blue eyes. “She is. She’s my whole world.” Crystal brushed her hand over Luna’s pale blonde hair, finally allowing the girl to poke around her legs to stand beside her now that the adrenaline at potential danger had faded. “Thank you.” The little girl chirped quietly, ever polite.

“She can see your emotions. I don’t know if your visions of versions told you that.” Or how she got them. They’d decided not to risk exposing her to terrigenesis. And then Pietro had anyways. But that was in the past, something Luna had forgiven him for, and thus something Crystal had tried to put behind her too. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t without her own mistakes. They had an uneasy peace, above the strife and turmoil and buried love. Crystal had thought her friendship with Wanda forfeit though all these problems, and she mourned her universe’s, but if this one was aware of their history and willing to forge something new, Crystal would try. She’d liked having a family that truly loved her, while she’d had it. And Luna deserved her effort.

For a moment, she cursed her impulsiveness, but Wanda took her hand, and Crys offered a gentle squeeze. Right now, she didn’t envy the twins closeness in the way she had when they’d first met, only felt a choking fear and sorrow at the thought of losing him. And a loss of words. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine... that must have been difficult.” She blinked a few times, surprised. “Tea? Ah, yes, I’d like that. I would, really. I’d like more of a chance to speak with you, too. It’s just me, Lu, and Lockjaw, as far as I’ve found. We’re currently missing the rest of the royal entourage, so it should be peaceful.”

There was a lot to consider with the realities bleeding together, Scott knows it. There was a variety of teachers at the school, and he could even arrange meetings with everyone if that would make Crystal more comfortable. It’s all he wants out of this, but he’s not doubting for a moment that Luna would fit in. Everyone has a home here with the school — himself included. “No need to thank me. I’m just doing what anyone should do. This is meant to be a safe place after all. I could — you can sit in on some classes or meet the other professors if that would help too?” He was trying to do this right, and throws that option out there now.  

Scott knows how intense figuring out your powers can be. There was always a little bitterness in not being able to control his enough to walk around without his visor or some sort of protection over his eyes whether it’s contacts or glasses. He did the best with what he was given — and can control it best as he was able to now. “It was startling — I didn’t understand what was happening at first. I might have destroyed the ground along with the trees, it really startled Charles back then when I showed him what I could do.” He laughs, a happy expression on his face at the memory. “It’s all about practice, even if you’re not going to use it for battle. How long did it take you to figure out the whole flying thing?”

“No, no, you’re a good man. In helping me, in maintaining this place, thank you.” Typically Crys didn’t get very effusive with her gratitude; while her upbringing certainly hadn’t all been in the palace, she expected a certain standard of quality from others, but when it came to Luna, anyone else’s sincere help meant more than the world. She needed all the help she could get, really. “I’d like to meet whoever would be helping with her powers. Everyone else is fine.” In the past she may have even met other versions of the rest of the teachers. And while they weren’t always on good terms, she knew it was a capable team. No one here had any reason to want to harm Luna.

She nodded sympathetically. “Not knowing what’s about to come on would definitely make things scary.” The stories she’d heard of Blackagar’s terrigenesis illustrated clear enough that the gaining of powers could sometimes be shocking and destructive even when expected. Crys laughed at the last bit of his story, though. “You’d think someone that seeks out mutants would be accustomed to seeing unusual sights. What’s scorched earth when you can poke inside people’s heads?” Her nose scrunched up as she thought. “Hmm. I went through terrigenesis young, as part of tradition in the royal family. But I don’t think I fully managed what anyone would call flight until I was fourteen or so. My sister was endlessly amused at my failing until that point.”

There was a satisfied grin looking at the woman encouraging him to get up close with the creature. Conner was technically partially made up generically of an alien race himself, but that doesn’t mean he’s about to go easy on whatever THIS mass is. “YEAH! You have the right idea!” His eyes glowing red as blasts come out of his eyes to hit in the same spot that the ball of fire had landed. “Does it look like we’re doing any damage?” Conner shouts as he cracks his knuckles to prepare getting CLOSER.

“Lorna!” Before any thought not to crossed her mind, Crystal had already shouted after the briefly glimpsed head of green hair, moving in her direction with equally as little regard. All the thoughts and worries came rushing in after to hinder the brief flare of excitement, but she’d already planted herself beside the familiar woman. “Okay, I am very well aware this is going to sound ridiculous, but with universes crashing and all that’s to be expected. But. Um, well- I’m Crystal Amaquelin. But it was Crystal Maximoff for a while, and we were sisters and... I can show you a picture of my daughter so you don’t think I’m crazy? There’s a family resemblance, really, it’s almost uncanny.”

    “i can’t even imagine what you’re going through, i must admit… but how things work is everything is gonna be fine in the end.”  he spoke, trying to have her calm down a little. edward would never know how it was to lose everything he had, and even if he did lose everything, odds were it wouldn’t hurt him half as badly as it hurt her. she spoke about kingdoms and her people, even a family to care about? those were things he couldn’t relate to, he didn’t know much about his father and his mother had long passed.  “i can say there’s plenty to write about around here, yeah.”  a smirk showed up on his features for a short while. ever since the new people had arrived, he’d been really busy with his superiors asking for pictures, headlines’ ideas and eye-catching articles. he couldn’t help but chuckle at her next words, however.  “the best.”  he spoke for their coffee sure was amazing.  “edward, but you can call me eddie.”  the words left his mouth with a gentle smile as he gesture for them to walk towards the cafe at last, with his legs following the movement.

“In the end. We have to get there first.” Crystal grumbled, but then shook her head, trying to be a bit more optimistic. “No, no, you’re right, it’ll be okay. Things have always ended up okay before. It’s just never been this...” Quite this bad. She’d been split up from her family before, and lost Attilan before, but being displaced to a new universe entirely and unsure of their wellbeing felt like a momentous hurdle in comparison. With a small sigh, she flipped her hair, but couldn’t help be curious about his career and what he’d seen. “What’s the most interesting thing you’ve written about? Or is all of this it?” Ever since leaving Attilan and discovering the wider world she’d been fascinated, even if it sometimes irked or perplexed her. She smiled. “I’ll hold you to it.” The cafe and the area still didn’t look familiar, but at least she had some point of contact. And she was grateful to be sitting, with coffee on the way. The humans did quite a number of things very well, and food and drinks were high on the list for Crystal. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Eddie. I like my coffee awfully sweet.”

If there was anything Scott respects it was when a parent has certain wishes for their child. They could provide the resources for Luna to learn about what she is capable of without putting her in any danger. It wasn’t often that they got students that had parents come to personally enroll them — but that just makes him want to have this work out. Even if it DOESN’T the offer for their daughter will always be on the table. “I know you have to discuss it with her father, and it’s a lot to think about. It’s safe, yes.  The staff here would protect the students with our lives so you would both be able to know that she will be in SAFE HANDS with us.” Scott has never sounded so professional in his life, but it suits him. “Also — combat isn’t allowed in the classrooms.”

He makes a few notes, key things to be reminded of if Luna ends up becoming a student here with them. The ability is a remarkable one, but nods to show that he was still listening. “Well that’s good that she knows not to whenever she would like to. Which is a good first step to take. She sounds like a GOOD KID. We would love to have her.” Scott flashes a smile, and decides to lighten the atmosphere a little. “When I was a kid and my powers first kicked in trust that I ended up destroying a few trees accidentally. It’s funny looking back on it now though.”

“This has all been...” Crys waved her hand about her head loftily, making a displeased face. “I want the adjustment to be as easy as possible for Luna. He’ll agree with that, at the very least.” Things had been stressful, to understate it. Her nerves were eased tremendously by the promise, though; Luna’s safety always seemed to be at the forefront of her worries. “And I’m sure they have a myriad of ways to do so.” Crystal half-joked. The widespread of abilities had always been one common point between her people and Pietro’s, for all their other problems. She laughed, shaking her head. “Thank you for the reassurance. It certainly was in mine.”

Raising Luna solely on Attilan with the royal tutors had never been an option, though, even before her and Pietro fell apart. There was more to the world than their isolated kingdom, and Crystal’s entire life had been a study in escaping those bounds. She wouldn’t do the same to her daughter. “She is. She’s remarkable. She understands that just because she can doesn’t necessarily mean she should, even before she developed the powers she’s always been perceptive.” More than could be said for Crystal. She grinned, and chuckled softly. “Only a few? I’m surprised- they’ve always seemed intense. That must have been starting. And now you can- oh, I don’t know, play billiards with them. I’ve managed not to light my hair on fire ever, but when I was first trying to use them to fly I ended up on the ground more often than not.”

    after listening to her words, eddie kind of felt bad for her, but even so, she still had been quite rude to him, even though he had nothing to do with all of what happened to her.  “oof, sounds like you’re having a rough time…”  he spoke, realizing he misjudged her mood at first. she wasn’t just mean after all, there was a story behind that.  “well, crowding and crime is what i live for…”  he spoke, shrugging, but felt the need to elaborate further.  “-as a journalist, i mean.”  he’d already written and read a lot about the realities collision, however, it was the first time he was meeting someone with that much to talk.  “okay, i see you’re having a bad day… maybe i can buy you coffee and you can talk about it as much as you want? i’m a good listener… and we probably won’t see each other again, so you don’t have to worry about that.”  he offered, pointing at a near cafe.

"I am having a miserable time.” Crystal said defiantly, though there was a pout curving her lips. Rough felt like an understatement. She’d lost her kingdom before, been separated from the rest of the royal family, but never both and displaced to a new universe. At least she knew Luna was safe. And Pietro. Her eyebrows pulled together and she tipped her head as she wondered why someone would love either the crowding or the crime, but he explained and- “I suppose that would give you plenty of material. Do you know a lot about the heroes here, then, if you write about crime?” Admittedly, these Avengers were a curiosity. At the offer, she paused, caught off guard, and finally uncrossed her arms into a more relaxed position. The man was being unexpectedly nice after their collision, and maybe if she spoke with him he could help her get her bearings. And maybe she could hear more about this version of the city. She smiled, hesitantly. “Really? Okay, okay, sure... but I hope that cafe has good coffee. I’m Crystal.”