Tag I'm It (A Snowflake on Ice Vignette)
Author's note: Hmm, I thought I was done with this story line, then deathgundam006 posted a review asking that I continue. Took me over a month before I realized he/she had posted a review (so few of you comment, hint hint, hope this lays a guilt trip on you). This stymied me for a few days, then I came up with more to say. So... it pays to comment if you like the story! Who knows what might result.
Part 2a: Navel gazing in confinement
It was post Schism. The tribe of mutants had split up. One group remaining with Scott at Utopia, the other decamped with Wolverine back to the old mutant stomping grounds, now renamed the JGS (Jean Grey School). Guess nobody really liked Xavier any more, gee I can't imagine why
Illyana had toyed with the idea of choosing to leave, not that they really would have let her go. Likely just a childish impulse to stir things up, heck would likely have resulted in a significant portion of the JGS decamping back to Utopia just to get away from her. But the JGS did not really have sufficient conferment facilities, I mean we're not talking a simple case of detention here. In Illyana's darker moods she had to admit to herself that Utopia didn't really possess the facilities either, but no need to share that with anybody.
But... no. She believed Scott and Emma had the better course. She was too old to be a student and there wasn't a chance in hell they'd let her be an instructor. Let's see... Torture 101, Basics of betraying, How to bring out your inner demon in 12 easy steps, Fundamentals of hurting everybody and everything, and Ethical choices in today's world. Ohhh, I know, field trip coordinator, ha ah. Nope, not a chance. She had a better chance of becoming a Phoenix host then becoming an instructor for mutant students.
And it would have been cruel to Kitty and that as not something she wished to do or be. With Peter becoming the Juggernaut Kitty wanted nothing to do with her and Illyana truly understood why. She had... misjudged the situation, had not know all the details; shards she wished she'd know that the two of them had been back together.
At least being in this blasted cell did give her some time to slightly correct a few of her own educational deficiencies. History and literature were nice. Math was right out as she'd always needed Kitty to tutor her anyway. General science was ok for a few hours a week, but, for some funny reason, computer programming coursers were forbidden. Like she was really going to be able to program her way out of here for crying out loud.
Illyana was mediating and day dreaming about a favorite topic, showers. Oh did she ever want a shower, when Danger announced over the speaker system that she had an unscheduled visitor. At the same time the food compartment opened showing a bowel of strawberry ice-cream and some hot Russian tea.
Illyana had a slightly puzzled expression for a few seconds, then a big smile bloomed on her face as the door opened. It was Laura, with her usual neutral expression, holding her own tray of ice cream and tea.
Part 2b: Post visitation assessment
The Scene: Dr Nemesis, Danger, Dr. Kavita Rao, and Madison Jefferies (The X-Club science team) are all virtually meeting, think of a swarm of computer monitors in a black void, each monitor showing the face of a participant, while additional monitors scroll information. Emma and Scott are participants as well.
"Well that was big waste of time and effort to monitor" Gripped Dr Nemesis. "Apart from a few words all they did was sit on the floor and stare at each other while drinking tea and eating ice cream".
"Partially disagree" Injected Dr. Kavita Rao, "They also had various facial expressions, almost as if there was some kind of conversation going on".
"Which we picked up no verbal or telepathic evidence of. I believe you or the Cuckoos were monitoring Miss Frost". Stated Danger.
Emma replied. "Ye, the girls and I lightly monitored. Nothing was exchanged mind to kind, and the telepathy dampers were on the whole time in Illyana's cell".
Dr. Kavita Rao made an important point. "This behavior has been seen before with X-23 and Wolverine. It has been noted before that the two of them are able to apparently have rather significant non verbal conversations via just scent and body language".
Madison Jefferies actually piped up for once. "The pheromone sensors did show that Miss Rasputin continues to emit various compounds that are not human baseline. The closest analogy we have is actually wolf, similar to some of the scents that are in our data files come from Rahne Sinclair, A.K.A Wolfsbane".
Dr Nemesis started to gave a summary assessment, "As the X-Club has noted before, Miss Rasputin shows an interesting, and to date, not understood, ability to frankly smell nonhuman at times. We believe this is tied to her demonic physical nature. Her cell is not completely air tight so X-23 was likely able to sniff her out as it were. We believe that...".
Scott injected. "Laura, please call her Laura from now on. This isn't a mission".
Dr Nemesis glared briefly at Scott for interrupting, and then continued. "We believe that Miss Rasputin's prior stated ability to read aura's allowed her to respond to sub verbal emotional states and body language from... Laura. This in turn allowed Laura to comprehend Miss Rasputin's reactionary emotional state and body language due to residue air leakage from her cell".
Dr. Kavita Rao finished the conclusion. "But we have no idea what they said to each other".
Scott rubbed his eyes. "Did anybody bother to just try asking either of them"?
Glances were exchanged. "Um... no" answered Dr. Kavita Rao. "We were trying to assess the conversation via scientific means only. You were the one who acquiesced to Laura's request to both meet with Miss Rasputin and to provide the refreshments as it were. Did she tell you why"?
Scott replied. "No other then that she has unfinished business with Illyana. She wanted to visit Illyana where we had caged her".
"Involuntary confinement, it's not a cage as such". Replied Danger.
Scott continued. "Her choice of words. Considering Laura's history I think cage would be how she'd view it".
Part 2c: Request is made
Laura was visiting Megan (A.K.A Pixie) in Utopia. It was Megan's idea. Megan had used her teleportation spell to travel to JGS to pick up Laura and her other friends that had left Utopia. They were having a little get together in Utopia, not quite a class reunion but a little party. Scott and Wolverine looked the other way and pretended that such activities did not exist.
After a few hours Laura had wandered off for some alone time. Crowds always got her edgy after a while, and talk talk talk. Everybody always talking. Reminded her of how much she enjoyed quite times with Logan and... now that she thought about it, Illyana.
She had spent more the a little time musing over the time she had tagged Illyana as it were. That and other things. Illyana hadn't even sounded annoyed at getting stabbed to death, like she had been expecting to be stabbed but that the strike had dug deeper then she had planned for. Yet she had ported away and instantly returned healed. Laura had to conclude that Illyana had not only been expecting the strike but had prepared for it.
She made an impromptu request of Scott and Emma, who after some thought agreed to the request. After all, they owed Laura for some services rendered and this really was a minor request. Laura agreed to the mandatory monitoring that accompanied any Illyana visit, not that Illyana was not being continually monitored, it was just the disclosure of the monitoring was needed so folks did not have any illusions of privacy.
Part 2d: Visitation
Laura walked into the cell block after receiving the final instructions from Danger. She was carry the tray of food provided for her, strawberry ice cream and Russian black tea.
Laura saw that Illyana was sitting on her cot, she was in a cross-legged position that she was currently unfurling from; Laura supposed that Illyana had been meditating.
Illyana's appearance was different. Her bangs were gone and her hair was somewhat unkempt and had an oily smell. So was her person. Laura could tell that Illyana had not bathed in quite some time and that moist towelettes were her source of hygiene. The most striking feature was the grey full body suit and the integrated bomb jacket.
She knew Illyana had been caged, but this brought back unpleasant remembrances of her own past.
Illyana had a big grin of welcome and the smell of greetings. Laura walked in and sat down on the floor close to the glass wall (she had permission to approach closer then most visitors were allowed). Illyana got off of her cot, retrieved her ice cream and tea from the food compartment (both in disposable plastic containers) and sat down on the floor of her cell, facing Laura.
Laura:
Body language: Eyebrows and mouth frowned in concern.
Aura: Showed concern. Help needed?
Illyana:
Body language: Smile that reaches the eyes.
Scent: Calm. Safe, home but... not home. Endure.
They each took a sip of tea and than eat some ice cream.
Laura:
Body language: Shoulders lowered, mild submissive.
Aura: Gratitude. Thanks. Kindness shown.
Illyana:
Body language: Eyebrows slightly raised, slight negation of submissive act in posture.
Scent: Pack, you/we/all are pack. Expected. Needed.
The tea was now gone and half of the ice cream consumed.
Laura:
Body language: Acceptance, stance of an equal
Aura: Owe you.
Illyana:
Body language: Relaxed. Acceptance of equal.
Scent: Acceptance. Gratitude for pack acknowledgement of self.
Laura:
Body language: Slight tensing, tilted head an a questioning look
Aura: Want?
Illyana:
Body language: Sigh. Eyes slightly downcast. Hands open and fingers upwards
Scent: Sky longing.
Illyana:
Body language: Nose crinkled, slight sniff.
Scent: I smell. Bath so want.
Laura:
Body language: Sad half smile. Minor hand waving across face.
Aura: Minor amusement and sad agreement.
Laura:
Body language: Surprised expression, looking down at her hand as if it held something, then just one finger raised.
Aura: Startled, got me.
Illyana:
Body language: Slight laugh and a sly look
Scent: Surprise. Hid well.
The ice cream was now all gone. Laura laid down and stared at the ceiling. Illyana looked at her for a few moments then an expression of understanding crossed her face and she lay down as well and also looked up. It was if they were sky watching.
Laura:
Body language: Content. Quiet and still.
Aura: Good times.
Illyana:
Body language: Peaceful.
Scent: Better times then now.
After a while Laura got up, and so did Illyana. They stared at each other for a brief while and then Laura did a half smile and waved her hand in departure. Illyana did likewise.
Laura:
Body language: Casual. Comfortable.
Aura: Friendly and sad at parting.
Illyana:
Body language: Resigned, shoulders slightly lowered.
Scent: Sad but resigned.
Laura turned to go but spoke a sentence as she left. "You did startle me once, just once".
Illyana chuckled at the departing Laura. "Thanks. Never knew that".
And that was that.
