GOBLIN/QUEEN.

“thanks for letting me hide. the last thing i want right now is to see scott or jean.”

“only until my actions support them.”

“this is my fresh start. i have to be serious if i want to keep it.”

“it’s the truth. i have to believe that redemption is possible.”

“you’ve never lost your way and done things you’re not proud of?” the telepath’s brows furrowed. “what’s the saying? let he who is without blame throw the first stone? i know what i’ve done is more extreme, but i’m back and i want to be better. really.” 

“no, i can’t. as much as it hurts me, i just can’t. all i can do is live a better life this time. it’s all i want to do.”

“i spent a long time floating around without meeting any kind of maker. i don’t want to try again until i get a chance to talk to you, nathan.” the mutants mother came to a stop in front of him. “i want to start that talk with apologizing. i have years worth to do, but i want to try.”

“to thank you, actually. you and the council.” madelyne offered a smile as her stomach clenched. “you changed your mind on clone resurrections. i wouldn’t be here without that, and i’m appreciative that i get to have a new start. people like us can change, right?”

“it’s called a fresh start. apparently krakoa is offering them now. i know it’s been...rough in the past, but i’m just happy to be here and goblin queen free.”

“I’m sure it is.” The situation wasn’t going to be interesting for Madelyne until it really snapped. “Poor Inhumans. I’m sure you’ll get the worst of it.”

“Probably. You die for a bit and come back to this.” She twirled a finger in the air. “Chaos, but not the fun kind.”

“Oh, I’ve turned over a new leaf. If I hadn’t, I would find a new home in the Island with Sabertooth. People can change, can’t they?” She had once, but she likely never would again.

“My creator is -- pun intended -- very Sinister. I die, I’m reborn. It happened before Krakoa as well. They made an exception, but it wasn’t for me. Wolverine’s daughter, the clone.” Madelyne’s sigh was for show. “Don’t drink their kool-aid. The motto is make more mutants / harm no man / protect this land. It doesn’t say equality anywhere in there.”

“Of course. Wolverine’s never die, do they?” She smiled. “Really, I envy you. They’re kind to clones now, but when Sinister first began releasing us into the world... Scott left me. Our son too. Who wants a copy when you can have an original? In my experience, no one.”

“They can be the same. They often are.” Madelyne shot back drolly. She hadn’t been created with the same darkness that filled her lungs with rage. She was  the clone of Jean fucking Grey, golden girl and mutant extraordinaire. Jean had eaten a star system, but that hadn’t been her, had it? Jean remained pure and Madelyne had been twisted by life as a reject who never quite lived up. “You see, Cassie,” the redhead smiled. “I’ve been gone for a while and I don’t have any friends. No one who can keep me up to date on the world outside of Krakoa. I love someone, but he’s distracted. It’ll give me time to reassimilate to this wonderful world outside of the shadows. Sounds dramatic, I know. I don’t need an Avenger. Just smaller, more subtle.”