What to do about Magik?
Author's note: Spoilers ahead. So the X-Men have been destroyed by the X-Man (Nathaniel 'Nate' Grey; an alternate version of the regular Marvel Universe hero Cable, hailing from the "Age of Apocalypse" (Earth-295) reality). Apparently the X-Men are getting another reset because… it's been a year or so (resets appear to be an ongoing thing with the X-Men at this point). Thankfully Illyana was not part of the storyline where Nathaniel gets a big power boost and decides to 'save the world' by forcing everybody to think and act as he sees fit (because… that's always worked out well in… not!). No need to go into details other then that the world has been reshaped and the X-Men are gone (apparently in an alternate universes where some weird storylines can be conveniently written without having to deal with the consequences, unless Marvel wants to keep using the storylines after the reset is done).
This time-out, as it were, allows for the ongoing return of Scott Summer's story line to proceed, without actually having to deal with most of the now departed people as everybody considers them to be dead. Apparently, Wolverine will be reunited with Scott, and Illyana will be on the team (yea!). This also leads into some Asgardian war of the realms storyline, including Dani and Illyana (double yea!) My guess is that, at the end of the story lines, the departed X-Men will return (thanks to Scott, and likely Illyana) and the redone X-Men can be relaunched yet again mostly looking like… how they looked back at their most successful sales incarnation.
But… why was Illyana not part of the X-Man annihilation story line (apart from the issue of her just being able to stop it as we all know she could if she really decided to). Two word answer: Mary Sue (Google it or Wikipedia it, or heck even youtube it). What is Mary Sue you ask, assuming you don't know.
A Mary Sue is an idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character, predominately female. Often, this character is recognized as an author insert or wish fulfillment when present in Fan Fiction. A Mary Sue is able to perform better at tasks than should be possible given their amount of training or experience, and usually are able through some means to upstage the main protagonist(s) of an established fictional setting, such as by saving the hero(s). A male can also be referred to as a Marty Stu, Larry Stu, Gary Stu, or Jerry Stu, but the name Mary Sue is more commonly used. In recent years, various Social Justice Warriors (SJW) and/or Feminist extremism has also created many a Mary Sue like characters in Television/Movies where either a woman is used for a male character (see the latest Dr. Who, take that evil white men) usually combined with horrible writing, or use of female heroes with no flaws (see the latest Star Wars films, again with some really bad writing) or even Wesley in the Star Trek the next generation. Mary Sue characters are usually created by Editorial direction (i.e. the character Hope) or even the over idealization of a character (i.e. Jean Grey).
I've written about how Illyana has avoided the Mary Sue syndrome in my story Cosmic Girl Talk. And for those who might say I don't like strong female characters… well most of my comic collection is built around… Girl Genius, Illyana, Rogue, Battle Angle Alita (so looking forward to the film), Empowered, and such so… wrong if you're thinking that.
Now Illyana and Dani and Karma are all supposedly locked up and on ice after the end of Dead Souls so this story might just be a writing exercise, or a dream sequence, or it might… just have actually happened. Time will tell I suppose.
Part 36a: Grief
The bar with no doors…
Illyana was drinking alone, apart from the bartender (who is a severed head in a jar by the name of Chondu the Mystic, other wise known as Harvey Schlemerman, and man, for a floating head, he sure can make a mean cocktail). Alone in that she was the only customer at the bar, and in fact in the bar. She's dressed in the New Mutant blue and yellow spandex costume she had recently reverted to wearing.
Tuesday night was a slow night, but not this slow; but when an upset Hell Lord is drinking away her angst (the X-Men had been disintegrated by X-Man) it made sense to not be in her vicinity.
Nothing fancy, just straight up Russian Vodka, and not the good stuff. Distilled but once. The kind where the bottle costs more the contents, heck the poorly glued on label might be worth more then the contents. Raw in that moonshine with hints of diesel kind of way, and smooth in that drinking a buzz saw is smooth (so no… not smooth).
A drink to get drunk with.
A drink you punish yourself with, and to kill those annoying brain cell that contain memories about things that you don't want to remember or think about.
A drink that produces a hangover akin to a jackhammer powered by a nuclear reactor.
A drink of guilt.
A drink of pain.
Two bottles later (and yes it is almost impossible for a Hell Lord to actually get completely shit faced on mortal distilled spirits, but nothing says they can't try…). Chondu regretfully had to interrupt Illyana's attempt at alcohol poisoning as he gestured at one of the booths with his chin. "The lady would like a word."
Illyana glanced at the indicated booth and noticed a burning bird of fire known as Phoenix; a glaring Phoenix. A blink of Illyana's eyes and… the bird of fire was gone and now the seated form of the adult Jean Grey, dressed in the very sexy green and gold Phoenix costume that had flickering flames about her. An annoyed looking Jean Grey.
"Great… " muttered Illyana. She gestured to Chondu for a second glass and a fresh bottle.
"You know I use that stuff to sanitize the floors." Commented Chondu. "Stuffs cheaper then ammonia."
Just a grunt from Illyana as she grabbed the fresh bottle, the two glasses, and walked over to the booth. As Illyana made her way over, her appearance likewise changed as she flickered into her prior costume, the black bit of leather, with the boob window and the boots.
Illyana sat down, slid the second glass across the table to Phoenix/Jean, opened the bottle, filled both glasses and just stared at Phoenix while raising her glass to her lips and waited. Phoenix/Jean looked slightly confused for a moment then raised her glass as well, took a sip…
And gagged at what she had just ingested as she hurriedly put down the glass. After a shake or two of her head Phoenix/Jean stated. "I can't believe you drink this."
A slight condescending look from Illyana, then she tipped back her glass and drained it. Then a look of challenge at Phoenix/Jean.
Phoenix/Jean looked at Illyana, looked at the glass, grimaced as she raised the glass to her lips and… did likewise.
After a prolonged fit of gasping and choking Phoenix/Jean gasped. "That is the worse… the worse drink I have ever had."
Illyana just refilled both glasses as she commented. "Never thought of Phoenix as a lightweight." Then she downed the second glass and just stared at Phoenix/Jean.
With trepidation Phoenix/Jean raised her glass and did likewise. Afterwards grimacing and doing a full body shiver while clenching her fists in agony, then pounding on the table a few times due to the shear agony of the experience.
Followed by an outraged. "How?! Can?! You?! Drink?! This?!"
Illyana was blasé in her response. "Because I am unhappy. Because I want to feel my grief."
She again refilled both glasses, but only took a sip of hers this time.
Phoenix/Jean remembered why she was here and gave Illyana a glare. "You could have, should have helped."
Illyana just gave a glare back. "No… I couldn't. It's call mortality, it's a Mortal thing. Something you mostly get to ignore."
Part 36b: Drinking partner
Phoenix/Jean rejected Illyana's statement. "You should have changed things. Prevented Nathan from doing what he did."
A growl from Illyana. "Hell Lord. You know what means. Rules… Hells, get drunk and open my stupid mouth and… bam... Kitty's and Peter's wedding goes down in flames; should have known better. Rules… govern such as I from actively changing thing when major events are underfoot."
"Rules that you mostly ignored when you were Phoenix."
"Rules I was able to ignored because I was Phoenix." Then a complaint. "And you are not in a form I prefer to converse with."
Phoenix/Jean did not understand. "This form was always my favorite.
"I know… not a member of the Jean Grey fan club. Pick another. And no… Not Rachel."
A glare, then a shift. Now Phoenix/Namor was sitting across from Illyana, dressed as he had been whilst Phoenix.
Illyana shrugged. "Better, but an odd choice."
Phoenix/Namor examined his hands. "Agreed. He would never have been a host by my choice. Nor you or your brother."
"But Emma and Scott?"
"Emma has been a host before, and Scott…"
"You loved Scott."
"Yes… though I do prefer a female form most of the time."
Phoenix/Namor gestured at the full glass before him. "Might you indulge in something other then this swill?"
Illyana just smiled and drained her glass again, causing Phoenix/Namor to grimace. "Stop doing that, I always preferred Merlot."
Illyana gestured with the glass at Phoenix/Namor. "You're still Jean, just wearing Namor's form. Cheating…"
NowPhoenix/Namor looked at the glass. "I really didn't like him at all. And I don't want to drink this."
"Never thought of Phoenix as a wimp."
A sigh from Phoenix/Namor, then he took the glass, slowly drained it while making the expressions of horror (which was so out of character for Namor, rather girly one might say). Then…
"No! No! No! Oh God that's the worst! The very worst! Can't you drink something else!?"
Illyana was less then sympathetic as she yet again refilled the glasses. "Namor would be horrified to see you act such in his shape. I so should have recorded it."
A shift and now Phoenix/Emma confronts Illyana dressed in a white and gold version of the Phoenix costume that Jean liked to wear. "Perhaps something more feminine."
"Better… Although the sight of Namor screaming like a little girl was pleasant to see."
Phoenix/Emma asked a question. "Do you miss it?"
Illyana did not quite get the question. "Miss what?"
"Being me… us… Phoenix."
Illyana took a sip as she thought, then answered. "Yes… No… it's… complicated. I don't miss the power because… well… Hell Lord… No… I miss… the belonging. Being Phoenix was… wonderfully terrible."
Illyana refilled Phoenix/Emma's glass and topped off hers as well. An act that annoyed Phoenix/Emma as she had had enough of this vileness. She gestured and a glow briefly surrounded the glasses and the bottle.
"I refuse to drink any more of this… solvent. It shall now be water. Those are my terms. You have suffered enough self punishment. I have suffered far more than enough since entering this place. Claim otherwise, and you shall drink nothing but cold clean water, no matter what the vessel is filled with, until I am satisfied you will no longer wallow in self pity."
A neutral stare from Illyana, then she raised her glass as a salute, Phoenix/Emma raised hers as well, clicked glasses, then they both drained them. Then gagging and shrieks from Phoenix/Emma as she waved her hands about while grimacing and declaring in outrage.
"Pure alcohol would be less vile! And why do I detect the aftertaste of fish!"
Illyana commented as she refilled both glasses. "Wake… I am not punishing myself, I am holding a wake for the dead. And…"
Illyana picked up the bottle and read the Russian label. "Fermented from agricultural processing byproducts, plus a dash of Vietnamese fish sauce in celebration of Russian/Vietnamese friendship."
Illyana glanced at Chondu, who was cleaning glasses at the bar. "That one was a commemorative bottle, nobody bought them so I got a good deal, like I said, I use the stuff to sanitize the floor." He put another unopened bottle on the bar. "I'm going on a break, holler if you run out."
A wise move on Chondu's part as that defiantly made sure that he could not overhear things that are unhealthy to overhear.
Illyana returned her attention to the still gagging Phoenix/Emma. "Good to know I guess. This is a wake Phoenix so no wimping out. And stop trying to Mary Sue the situation."
Part 36c: Mary Sue
Phoenix/Emma finally controlled her choking. "I do not Mary Sue things."
Illyana disagreed. "Of course you do. Phoenix embodies the idea of the Mary Sue."
Phoenix/Emma glared. "I am not a Mary Sue."
Illyana took a sip. "Please… what did you just try to just do? Attempting to change reality because you didn't like what was happening?"
"That's not Mary Sue, that's trying to change things."
"Almost everything Phoenix does is changing reality to fit the mood and desires of Phoenix. How is that not pulling a Mary Sue?"
A glare from Phoenix/Emma at Illyana. "And what would you call your reality threatening episode in pursuit of your soul?"
Illyana took another sip. "Me being a total bat shit crazy evil uncaring bitch. And yes… rather Mary Sue I suppose, but I did have to work at it rather then just waving my hands and having the universe give it to me. Bad behavior on my part, but I really had to work at it."
"And I don't?"
A sigh from Illyana. "No… One moment you're sunbathing on a beach, next it's going toe to toe with Galacticus or something. That's Mary Sue grade behavior. That reduces everything and everybody around you just a toy. The contributions of others mean nothing because they are nothing. Everything just becomes what you want, and how you want it. Everybody is just a prop on the stage of your performance."
Phoenix/Emma looked a bit flushed from all the rapid drinking as she returned to her original complaint with a snarled comment. "You could have saved them!"
A bit of a snarl back from Illyana. "No… I couldn't! To do such would be to make everybody a toy. As I explained… I don't do that any more. Not for me… not for you… not for anybody."
Phoenix/Emma pounded down her drink and slammed the empty glass on the table with only a few telltale grimaces of just how bad the drink was. Then a shift, and now it was Phoenix/Illyana who grabbed the bottle and refilled her glass before pushing away the bottle. "But you wanted to… We were one once. You may have kept secrets from the others… but not me."
Illyana drained her own glass, then replied sounding sad rather the angry. "I… know. It would have been so easily to just shove my sword in Nathan, or just drop his stupid ass in Limbo. I… remember. The temptation was… is so strong to just… fix things. Like that idiot Nathan or Cable love to indulge in; and mostly just causing more problems then they actual solve. If you're so upset then… why not fix it yourself?"
Phoenix/Illyana's face fell in distress and answered with just one word. "Jean…"
"Yeah… the two of you did say goodbye. And you were a real bitch by the way… bringing back Scott just to emotionally blackmail her, and then letting him die again because she wouldn't pick the way you want. That was a total bitch move. Somebody should write it up on the GoodGirls Reddit sub page, because that was truly the bitchiest thing I've ever seen."
Massive flash of guilt on Phoenix/Emma's face as to the failed attempt by Phoenix to bring Jean back from the dead and make her yet again a Phoenix host. Then anger. "I planned so hard… and you just had to screw it up."
Illyana was having none of that. "It was Emma who figured out where you were hiding on the Butte in New Mexico, not me. And we both know just how many rules you were breaking."
Phoenix/Illyana took a long swallow from her glass. "But you… you pointed out that something was trying to drive everybody away… Then you broke my concealment of the Phoenix sphere where I was…"
Illyana finished. "Brainwashing Jean. I really don't like it when somebody tries to screw with me, not even you Phoenix. So yes, I broke the concealment, allowing others to interact with Jean; that's all I did."
"But I loved… love her so much…"
"Then let her live her life as she decides."
"Even if she dies… Died… again."
Illyana finished offer her glass. "Yes… news flash, they all die in the end. It's called mortality. And those such as us do not get to change that. Just what the hell is it with Jean and you?"
Phoenix/Illyana likewise drained the rest of her glass then held it out for a refill. "I never would have chosen you as a host."
"I know…" Answered Illyana as she refilled both glasses which polished off the bottle.
"Still… you were… enjoyable."
"Yeah… You too… "
Phoenix/Illyana was found a new complaint. "Asshole Stark. I was just coming to fix the whole no more mutants curse… that was it. I mean… just how many times have I been to Earth? If I was planning on destroying it, don't you think I'd have done it by now?"
Illyana agreed. "Complete and utter asshole."
They clicked glasses to their mutual disparagement of Tony Stark and each took a swallow. Illyana then prompted…
"So… why Jean?"
Phoenix/Illyana looked sad. "I… She… She made me feel so… alive. So vibrant. Everything… mattered. Big things. Little things. Life… life was so worth living. The ups… the downs… Just… shards… I loved being her. Loved it so much. Wanted it so much I was willing to…"
Illyana finished. "Do what you knew to be wrong."
Another drink from Phoenix/Illyana. "Yeah… How come this crap doesn't taste so bad any more?"
Illyana thought deeply upon the topic as she took another sip. "No more taste buds I think. And… I suspect some brain cells don't work anymore."
Phoenix/Illyana twirled her glass about on the table. "Stupid brain cells. Now what…?"
Illyana stood "Now… " went over to the bar and retrieved the bottle that was left for them. "We get completely shitfaced and cry over those we love who are departed because that's all that we can do."
Phoenix/Illyana gave a sniff. "Do you think… somebody will do something?"
Illyana thought a moment. "I hope so… can't initiate it myself but… I can participate per the rules…"
Phoenix/Illyana summed it up well. "Hate the rules."
"Yeah… sometimes I… yeah."
"What's that?" Phoenix/Illyana pointed at the Karaoke stage.
"Karaoke." Was Illyana's reply.
A few minutes later, the two of them were on the stage, having turned on the Karaoke machine and started to sing the song they selected.
The sound of drums and base.
Bump… Bump… Bump… Bump
Then an electric guitar joins in.
Twang… Twang… Twang… Twang…
Then….
Da da da da da dant
It was The Chain by Fleetwood Mac. They sang with passion, with grief, with loss… Sometimes singularly, sometimes as a duet.
Phoenix and Illyana: Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise
Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies
Phoenix: And if, you don't love me now
You will never love me again
Phoenix and Illyana: I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)
Phoenix and Illyana: I And if you don't love me now
You will never love me again
Illyana: I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)
Phoenix and Illyana Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night
Phoenix: Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies
Phoenix and Illyana: Break the silence
Illyana: damn the dark
Phoenix: damn the light
Illyana: And if you don't love me now
You will never love me again
Phoenix: I can still hear you saying
Phoenix and Illyana: You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)
Illyana: And if you don't love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You…
Phoenix: And if you don't love me now
You will never love me again
I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)
Illyana: And if you don't love me now
Phoenix: You will never love me again
Phoenix and Illyana: I can still hear you saying
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)
Phoenix and Illyana: Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow)
Chain keep us together (running in the shadow
Authors note: Here is hoping the relaunched X-Men goes well…