Summary:Jean and Scott visit Illyana about her brother and get into an argument about her niece and sis—.. other complications. Log Info:Storyteller: None |
Related LogsTheme SongNone |
    |
Illyana put in a call the Institute saying she had another brother who was thought to be dead who is also a mutant that she'd like the Institute to talk to. And yes, it was messy and complicated and no, she wasn't going to go through the whole damned thing over the phone. Illyana doesn't like phones. She's a terrible millenial that way.
The address she gave them was in Brooklyn, and from the outside it looks more like the place should be a Haloween haunted house than somewhere someone actually lives. Inside is a bit better. It's at least clean, though pretty dated.
Illyana will meet people at the door to let them in. She's back in her 'normal' black-on-black attire, the agressive look suiting her mood following Piotr telling her that Keiko wasn't going to be allowed up to the school that Elena would be attending.
The possible confrontation is also why she made the call before Piotr did. And picked a time he wasn't home.
Having gotten the message at the school, Scott was talking with Jean on other things when the news of another Rasputin came to him. There's a glance towards the redhead, and a smirk, slight as it may be. "It seems we are not the only ones with surprise family ties." he points out to her, before offering to take them down into the city.
As they arrive at the front of the house, Scott brings the bike to a halt and turns off the engine, frowning as he looks it over. "Appro. But somehow not." he rumbles as he frowns. "All we need is a great dane."
"I think our transportation is usually a little more stylish, too," Jean smiles ruefully as she climbs off the bike, taking off her helmet and leaving it with the bike before heading for the door.
"Besides, I feel like all of our lives don't exactly lend themselves to normal families." She offers a small smile to Illyana at the door, though she can sense the frustration. "Hey, Illyana," she greets. "Is this a…congratulations sort of time?"
As the appointed time arrives, Mikhail comes down from upstairs, having showered and shaved for the meeting. It never hurts to put your best foot forward. Then if that doesn't work, resort to violence. Of course, plans don't always go the way you… planned. "Oh. It's you." he says as soon as he sees Scott and Jean. "I mention attack in Mutant Town? They were there." he explains to Illyana.
"Jean. Scott." Illyana doesn't thank them for comming down, but the nod is like saying the words, right?
As Mikhail recognizes them, there's a huff of amusement from the blonde. "Well. Then that makes introductions easier." Illyana says in her usual sarcastic sort of manner. She gestures to her brother. "This is Mikhail. My oldest brother, presumed dead." That's right. Oldest. Really. "And last thing he knew, it was 2011." Looking back over to Mikhail, she smirks. "I'm not surprised." She bites her tongue from adding more to that.
"Right." Scott has an arch of a brow behind the ruby glasses, but at least this makes things easier, right? "I guess it's too much to say it's a boy." comes the offer as he folds his hands in front of him, but gives a nod. He's keenly aware of what it's like to have a missing sibling to suddenly show up out of the blue.
As well as several children, but that's not here or there.
"I'm assuming there's a story behind it?" he asks curiously, before waiting to be invited inside. Since you know, outside is probably not the place to discuss this.
"He was very eager to go after the…well, whatever those things were. I should have guessed then," Jean says with a rueful smile, stepping forward to offer over a hand to Mikhail. "Nice to meet you properly, Mikhail. I'm Jean," she introduces herself. "And this is Scott."
"Always story." Mikhail agrees. Which he might be willing to tell one day once he trusts them. Assuming that day comes. He takes Jean's hand then offers one to Scott. "Cyborg. Human with machine added. If not stopped, they will just do again. They need to be stopped."
Illyana Rasputina eyes Scott as he lingers in the doorway. "Well? Are you a vampire now? Come in." Always nice to be treated to Illyana's warm and friendly personality, right?
Closing the door behind them she gestures everyone back towards the kitchen. She'll even get them drinks. Her time at Xavier's did manage to socialize her some. Even if she then had a remedial course in Hell and aged 7 years since she graduated last year. "Which story do you need? How we found him? Isis ran across him. How we got him out? Lucky for him, I can open portals to other dimensions. Why he lost time? Time moves slower there." Tick. Tick. Tick. They want the poetic breakdown? They can ask one of her brothers.
Speaking of, she'll let them talk cyborg shop. Illyana has had a bit much on her hands to want to jump into this right off.
"It was not the time to go after them." Scott says dryly, waiting for Jean to go first into the house, because that's polite, before following after her. "There were injured at the police station to assist, a fire to put out, and we were in no condition. Once we've had a chance to get ourselves together, we can work on locating them again - especially since you saw where they went." comes the response.
"Well, there's Elena, and now Mikhail. Was he also where your other brother was?" he asks Illyana curiously as he moves to take a seat and folds his hands into his lap. "So. Seven years, at least. That's a lot of time lost. How're you adjusting?" he asks curiously. Though his mind is subtly reaching to Jean's through their link. « Any first impressions? » comes the subtle question.
Jean's smile quirks at Illyana's bullet point explanation. "Sounds par for the course these days," she nods, taking a drink politely. After all, if Illyana is making the effort, it's only polite to appreciate it!
"Well, welcome back, Mikhail. And thank you for your help the other day as well. That was already getting ugly, so any help was welcome." As Illyana moves to the doom and gloom portion of the evening, she turns her attention more fully to Mikhail. "So…how can we help you, Mikhail?"
For Scott, there's a sort of mental shrug. « We're five minutes in with a Rasputin. I don't think even the Professor could get a read in this little time. »
"Someone closed portal and wasn't me. Was dangerous to use." So Mikhail might very well have gone anyway if not for that and probably with the others from the way they were talking. He sits down once the others do and takes a drink. "I not lose time. Six days pass, eight years here. Different dimension from Piotr." In LImbo, it was just the reverse: faster there than here. "America is… different." And probably stranger than the year. "Help me? Illyana and Piotr say they know these people. Introduce you." He shrugs. "I am Russian, not American. No papers. Probably be best not to let them know I still live."
"Yes, going back is probably a poor idea." Scott agrees with Mikhail on that. "We can speak with SWORD on finding you a way to integrate with a new identity if you need one." he frowns a little at that. "We can get him a crash course on what happened in the last few years so he's not lost on things." Like why there's a swath of New York that's been destroyed and still festers.
"How much control do you have over your powers?" he asks, trying to get a gauge on how much information he will need there, before glancing to Jean, and there may be a small smirk. « Wasn't looking for even the Reader's Digest version, Jean. He sounds like he's on the up and up. But that whole.. Limbo thing. »
"Those are definitely things we can help with," Jean agrees. "We can find you a safe place to stay, get you something for an ID. Get you up to date on the world at large. So it's portals for you, then?" she asks, picking up on the other comment.
« As up and up as anyone else, without doing a full scan. Which I can get to, but not without his permission. I'm beginning to think between Guthries, Rasputins, and Summerses we're about to be overrun. »
"Been reading on internet. Much changes in eight years. And little changes in eight years." Mikhail says, giving a shrug. "Didn't know about America before so what changed means nothing. Not going back to Russia so what changed means nothing. What changed in world means nothing." At Scott's question, he studies the man a moment but reminds himself Piotr and Illyana trust them. "Control good. Train hard for four years. Not portals." he adds to Jean. "Not just portals. Energy. Light, heat, energy woven in space fabric, energy binding atoms."
"That is why you were able to disarm the cyborg." Scott realizes, a thoughtful purse of his lips, an amused smirk at something. « The Summerses are as much your fault as mine, apparently, Ms. Grey. » comes the dry response, as his attention returns to the more serious situation at the moment. "There's room for him at the school, of course, once he passes the clearance tests." he points out.
It doesn't matter how much Illyana vouches, he's going to make Mikhail get clearance before letting him in the school. "Do you plan to continue to live here and commit to the school like your brother.. and your niece I assume?"
"There's always room at the school," Jean arches a brow at Scott. "But there's a question of if you want to, of course, Mikhail," she adds to the Russian with a small smile. "I'm not sure if it's too early to ask, but what is it you'd like to do? I'm guessing from the sound of things you didn't have a whole lot of choices to begin with."
"School?" MIkhail asks. He's been told nothing about it. "I have no plans. Finish healing. And then?" He shrugs again. "I grew up on farm. When I am 17, government comes to me says 'We know you have powers. We train you to be cosmonaut.' When I'm 18, I leave farm. Train for years for mission. Go through rift, ship destroyed. And now here."
School. Scott had assumed that Illyana would have already mentioned it. Reaching up, he rubs the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses into place anew. There's a small frown of thought. "Myself and Jean work at a school that handles gifted children." Mikhail can probably guess what he means by special. "But there is also a college there for those that need an advanced education. As you're a cosmonaut, there is clearly already some gifts in education that you know. But it is also a place to get used to things."
"There is also Mutant Town, where we were the other night, if you want to get used to things there, that can be aranged as well. This is not an ideal situation that you are in, and we would like to be able to help where we can."
"Then it sounds to me like you've got a lot to decide on," Jean says in counter to Scott's pitch for the school. "And a lot to figure out. There are safe places you can be while you do that, depending on what works for you. Though I'm pretty sure the job prospects for former cosmonauts are slim," she adds with a wry smile. "Not a growth market right now."
"I'd like the school to give him clearance, and then he could meet some of the folks around there. Maybe he can make some friends." Illyana interjects. Of course, she and Mikhail also have to learn how to be friends, but she kind of sucks at that, so it might take a while.
"Speaking of clearance." She fixes the pair of them with her pale blue eyes that have creeped out so many Xavier students over the years. "Keiko. Elena's mother. Piotr says there's an issue with her being able to go to the school?" It's rare that Illyana's so serious. She tends to brush things off with sarcasm and humor. That she's not right now is telling.
Mikhail looks to Illyana to see her reaction to all this then shrugs. "Could see school. See why Piotr and Illyana think of it. First learn more, weigh options, then decide." Jean's comment gets a snort that's both amused and depressed. "No, no jobs for ex cosmonaut." Catching Illyana's tone, he looks to her then waits for the answer. What issue?
When Illyana turns the conversation to Keiko, Scott's lips pull into a serious line. And he straightens in his seat. This is suddenly far more serious than discussing Mikhail's entrance. "There is precious little known about her, Illyana. All we know at the moment is that she's the mother of Piotr's child. And that she can summon creatures. I'm aware that she's been touched by something.. similar to you. And until /that's/ cleared up, the idea that she could give that away is a risk that will not be taken." he says flatly.
"She is an escapee from a group that kidnapped children to turn into their soldiers. Until we know there's no chance that she would alert her former masters that there's a whole group of children they can take, some of which have little or no tie to their parents - it's not going to happen. We don't even have proof that she's Elena's mother - just your and Piotr's word that she is. They're not married. She has no documentation." Does he really need to go on?
Jean's brows rise at Illyana's question and she looks to Scott. "I don't know, Illyana. I told Piotr…" And then Scott is explaining, and she crosses her arms over her chest, giving him a Look. Uh oh. Someone's in the doghouse.
"So your solution to this is that we refuse to allow a mother to see her child?" she asks. "Scott, we have plenty of students whose parents don't know about the nature of the school or who have to be watched. That doesn't mean they don't come for parents day or aren't allowed to pick up their children if they call ahead. And we certainly don't make those decisions without at least scanning them."
Now this is the kind of information to base a decision on and Mikhail sits back to listen to how it plays out.
Illyana Rasputina's eyes go from pale blue to all-white and glowing. A sure sign of her temper and she steps towards Scott as he lays things out. "Does that mean you'd like *me* to stay out of the school too, Scott? Until we y'know, clear this whole hell business up? And I'm going to pretend you didn't just say Piotr's word isn't good enough. For anyone."
When Illyana was at the school, she downplayed Limbo. A lot. She wasn't its ruler then but she is now and being top dog with a bunch of demons come with more aggression than most. "And as to that group she escaped from? You know she's the reason they got taken out in this city, right? You know she's the one that swallowed her pride and went on a suicide mission to pull Plokta's support from them so hopefully they don't just pick up in another city, right?" She pauses for effect as she steps right up to him now. Even if he is taller than her, and even if his biggest weapon can be his glare. "Or maybe you didn't. Because of the lack of paperwork."
"I am not denying Keiko the right to see her child. Just not on campus. Keiko can see her daughter and Elena's father off-campus. After school. It is the same thing I told Piotr. They can commute, they can live near the campus. But until we know for sure that Keiko is not going to be a threat to bring a full on barrage of Nightfall in the dead of the night, it's not going to happen." Scott responds. And then when Illyana speaks up, Scott rises to his feet.
There's that faint glow of restrained power behind those rub lenses. He's not backing down in this case. "I have no doubt of you or Piotr, Illyana. But until we know that Keiko can't even slip out from your word, I cannot risk the lives of hundreds of students - lives that were entrusted to us, just because your demon heckles are feeling the burn that I won't bend to your whim on this one. Yes, she did all that, but the fact of the matter is that she's been gone for several years, and you can't guarantee she won't backslide, can you?"
"Scott Summers. You realize you're making the exact kind of arguments people make about keeping mutants out of public schools? About a woman I'm assuming you haven't even met?" While Jean's voice is even and cool, Scott can no doubt feel the dangerous heat beneath them. Luckily for him, she's not going to have that fight here.
Instead, she leans around him to look to Illyana. "I'll meet with her, Illyana," she says simply. "Just like we would with any other parent." All right, that might come with some glared daggers in Scott's direction.
Mikhail Rasputin sits up a little as he picks up the energy buildup coming from Scott and he studies the other speculatively.
Illyana Rasputina's all-white eyes narrow as Scott pulls that card on her. It really sucks to argue with someone who might be a wee bit obsessive about reading the student's jackets. There are a number of things Illyana avoids doing. Say please, or thank you, or making promises. Like guarantees. Finally the blonde gives Scott a wicked smile. "Write me up a contract, and I can guarantee she'll follow it to the very letter." Her tone is practically a taunt.
Jean's words get through to the blonde, though she still doesn't look away from Scott's glowing visor. And who needs AC when the temperature around Illyana drops noticeably. "Fine. And if she shares with you what happened? I damn well expect it to make the *paperwork*."
"Noone is telling anyone that they can't see their child. But we have the security of several hundred other students to consider, Jean. And if it was any other parent without the documentation that she does not have, with as little information as we have. With the powers and the past we do know about her, we would make the same decision. We're vetting a Rasputin. We did the same for a Summers. For a Grey. But if she was a Smith, or a Jones, or even a Orwell, would you be so eager to et her carte blanche access to the campus to visit their child? I am following the same protocol we would follow for any child that has had a danger in the past. Be it a prior kidnapping, an abusive parent, or an uncontrolled power. This is not about the seperation, it's about protecting.." Scott scowls, and he feels that headache building in the back of his head from the uncontrolled build of his powers.
The Danger Room is probably in for an utter beating tonight when Scott finally decides to cut loose and bleed it all off before it overwhelms him.
"You're the one versed in demonic contracts, Illyana. You write it." He's not going to give Illyana that loophole to find a wiggle to work through.
"If it were any other parent, we'd also vet them, Scott. Not make a decision based on rumor, hearsay, and second and third hand accounts. The least we owe her is a conversation before we decide." Jean pushes a hand through her hair, letting out a huff of breath as she shakes her head. "We'll be fair about it, Illyana," she says to the other woman. "I can't promise any more than that, but I can promise that I'll handle it myself."
Illyana Rasputina's anger and Scott's anger going head-to-head isn't a great thing. Neither of them are likely to budge and, it being her house, Illyana really *can't*. Not only does it go against her nature, there's always demons lurking about. Watching.
"Fine. I'll let Keiko know. You can leave now." And if it looks like either of the two is about to say a word, she'll help them out with a stepping disk. Because she sure as hell doesn't want to pick a fight with Scott. Even if she wins, she looses. While the pair aren't exactly friends, Illyana would still show up if Scott said he needed her. And she'd count on him to come if she called.
Isn't that how it works, though? Scott can probably count 'friends' on one hand and have fingers left over, but there's noone he would come to the aid off. He huffs a breath at Jean's proclamation. "Until that happens, Keiko will have no access to the school." He's drawn a line and he is going to hold there, hell or high water. Even angry redheads will not drag him off that spot.
"We'll send Mikhail the registration pack-" he's about to say when he suddenly is on a stepping disk. When it opens, himself above the pond outside of the Institute. "Oh - sonuva -" SPLOOSH.
Never anger a teleporter. Especially a blonde one.
Jean is in the process of rolling her eyes at Scott when the stepping disk appears, setting her neatly out at the bike. « I'm sure he probably deserved wherever you sent him, but if you wouldn't mind dropping him back here, he does have the keys to the bike, » she sends to Illyana, wry amusement in her tone.