002: Nightmares...

[notmutantbutmiracle]

Who: Wanda Maximoff and others
Broadcast: Yes - Fleetwide (with additional filtered, private messages)
Action: SS Starstruck and Dust Planet
When: Over the past two weeks

[Week One After Nebula Incident]

[After the whole attack and nebula misadventure, Wanda began noticing a few strange occurrences. There were the obvious, random technology and lighting malfunctions on the Starstruck, but those did not take too long to fix and restore to relative normalcy. It was more personal oddities that were beginning to concern her. The first of which was the near constant headache that started to arise not too long after the ship passed through the nebula. At first, it had been nothing more than a dull, but still noticeable ache; however, it seemed to be slowly growing with intensity, and, while it would originally come and go, it also seemed to be becoming more constant. The periods in-between decreasing with each new wave of pain.]

[And then, there were the nightmares... She'd only had three so far, but they were the most troubling. They each started the same, but they were increasing in duration and in detail. She decided to keep the specifics to herself for now, but she had to know how others in the fleet were fairing and perhaps if anyone was experiencing something similar.]

[When the video feed clicks on, Wanda clearly looks somewhat disheveled. The nights of restless sleep brought on by the nightmares had clearly taken their toll on her. She looked tired, frustrated, and also a little bit scared. She does her best to appear calm, however, and speak in a level tone as she addresses the fleet.]

This is Wanda Maximoff on the SS Starstruck.

Has anyone in the fleet been having any headaches after our trip through the nebula? Or perhaps some kind of nightmares? If so, how long have they been lasting for you? If anyone has any advice on how to... numb these effects, please let me know.

[Week Two]

[She had hoped it would all pass: the headaches and the nightmares, though now she wasn't so sure these were mere nightmares she was having. Unfortunately, they only seemed to be getting worse and worse with each passing day. What had started as periodic waves of dull annoyance, had now become full migraines that left her almost reeling for a minutes at a time. Nothing she had done in attempt to quell the pain had lasted for very long, if it even worked at all. In addition, the "nightmares" were becoming much more frequent. It seemed like almost every time she closed her eyes now, she fell into them. What was worse was that they were affecting her surroundings as she slept.]

[Wanda's friends and shipmates will likely have noticed that they have not heard or seen much of her over the week. It seemed like she was trying to distance herself more and more from those around her. Anyone who does see her will be able to tell that she is not looking well. The effects of her lack of restful sleep are apparent in her face and her posture. She looks tired, and even more apparent... she looks scared. Thus, anyone who attempts to engage her will find her to be rather evasive, trying to wrap up their talk as quickly as possible for heading off somewhere. In fact, her shipmates may have noticed her entering rooms on occasion, only to flee when she notices someone else in the room with her. Any visitors to her sleeping quarters will see damage to the walls, ceiling and various fixtures. Items Wanda has collected from previous planetary visits are strewn about on the floor, and some are heavily damaged. It's also likely that Wanda's shipmates will have heard some screaming and banging coming from her room or the cargo hold.]

[The past three days...]

[If Wanda's communication with her friends and her presence on the ship had been dwindling the previous week, it was now completely gone. Anyone who cares to look for her on the Starstruck will not find her. Digging a little deeper, one would be able to find that one of the Starstruck's shuttle logs details a trip in which the shuttle departed for the nearby planet, only to quickly return to the ship on auto-pilot.]

[Wanda's friends and shipmates will find a short, text message from her on their communicators. It reads:]

Do not come looking for me.

[Those who do venture planet-side looking for her in town will not find her there. However, the townspeople have begun talk of strange, supernatural occurrences up in nearby desert mesas. It seems that those journey by have heard what sounds like screams or wails coming from them. Anyone who has tried to investigate has been attacked by red, etheric swirls of light, knocking travelers off their feet or transportation. No serious injury has been done to anyone yet, but it's clear that it's scaring the townspeople.]

Comments

Week Two

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Private Messages via Network to Wanda or in-person action aboard the Starstruck.]

[lord_wizard]

[It took him longer than it probably should have to notice. It was a little like the Starstruck was suddenly haunted, and Wanda was their personal poltergeist. At first it's easy to miss amid his own troubles - the faint ache at the base of his skull and the sleeplessness that has less to do with trouble sleep but an abundant amount of energy. He isn't on board the ship much, or distracted by his own thoughts when he is.

It's hard, however, to not notice the screaming.

Felix isn't a generally confrontation personal when it came to the wounds of others, but after another nightly disturbance, he manages to corner her somewhere on the ship.

Something was wrong, and he was determined to find out what.]

You've been scarce lately.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda doesn't look Felix directly in the eye. She looks irritated, sounds like it to, but, at the same time, she tries to be somewhat cordial.]

Keeping tabs on me now are you?

[lord_wizard]

[That kind of tone of voice rolls right off his back, considering all his years at court. It wouldn't be the first time he's offended someone not realized it until later, although their contact has been minimal since the attack.]

I wouldn't call having a modicum of awareness for the comings and goings of the people I live with 'keeping tabs'. Just an observation.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda averts her eyes from Felix, looking to the bulkhead wall on their right instead. She crosses her arms in a poor attempt at seeming composed.]

Is there something that you want then?

[lord_wizard]

[He hesitates a moment, unsure of how to proceed now that he's gotten her to stand still for five minutes.]

To talk. I've noticed far more than your scarcity and I find it concerning. What is happening?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She gives a sort of "huff"--seriously, how old is she? Must be that sleep deprivation bringing out her immature, bitchiness perhaps. She then continues to try and deflect.]

Why do you care?

[lord_wizard]

[It's a decent question that he has to echo to himself the second she says it. There's certainly an element of selfishnesses to it, but there's something deeper here than the forced loyalty of their status as crewmates.]

Outside of the fact that I'm not sure what it will do to the ship if this continues, but because...no one should suffer alone.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[As Felix says these words, Wanda turns her head to look at him, catching his eyes briefly. When she does, there's a clear, genuine look of pain and grief mixed with a shred of hope. However, she quickly looks away, her posture remaining still rather guarded. Her tone though has lost some of its earlier bite.]

What makes you think I am suffering?

[lord_wizard]

[In the past he might have missed the signs, and even now it's often easy to get locked inside his own problems. Sympathy for other people still comes with difficulty, given that it often meant opening doors he often locked shut.]

Even if I couldn't see it on your face...I've heard it.

[He can't quite say the wording 'screaming']

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda visibly winces at that. She knows immediately to what he is referring to. She turns to face him, looking like she's going to provide another angry deflection, but, instead her mouth closes, her gaze shifts downward. A genuine look of pain paints itself across her features. When she speaks, her voice is soft, pained.]

I don't know what's happening to me. These headaches won't stop, and now there are these nightmares. It seems like every night, every time I close my eyes... it hurts...

[lord_wizard]

[He hates that bringing it to the surface only seems to cause her more pain, but it helps to make some sense of the darkness behind her eyes]

It might be a consequence of the attack. I've had trouble sleeping, myself, and I may have heard others mention feeling...unwell.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda gives a small nod of her head in response.]

Yes, I have heard others complaining of such things... but, these nightmares of mine... there is something different about them. It's hard to put it into words exactly, but it is like I'm producing them.

I mean- my powers, they seem to be the source, but I don't... [She shakes her head, clearly the lack of sleep not helping her work through all this in her head.] I don't understand how that could be.

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ Yosuke's own glitches seemed to play on his energy - he would have periods of hyper energy, unable to sit still and itching to get up and do anything at all; and he would have periods of not only lower energy, but... just plain passing out. On the spot. Man, talk about embarrassing...! But he couldn't make heads or tails of it, no matter how annoying it was, so while he could, he ignored it. Besides, he's more worried about everyone else...

He's seen Wanda, and she looks more than a little bit worse for wear, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better for her. It bothers him. But she really seems to not want to talk about it, so he leaves her alone - though he makes sure to throw in something about how he's totally here for her if she needs anything. He'd thought that, hopefully, things would turn around for her. Eventually.

He was not expecting screaming and banging.

It's late (he thinks, hard to tell in space sometimes), and he's too wired to sleep, and the noise prompts him to dart out of his room to find hers. He doesn't care that he's in pajama pants and a Tshirt, he cares only that there's weird noises going on, and they're coming from Wanda's room. His friend's room. He doesn't hesitate - too worried for that. He knocks. ]

H-Hey, Wanda! What's going on? ... Is everything okay?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[There's no intelligent response. Not at first. Instead, comes the sound of something being slowly wrenched apart, followed quickly by the sound of fabric tearing. There's also a soft, low moan. The sound of someone in pain.]

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ That's... not good. ]

Wanda... [ One last moment of hesitation, and then: ] I'm coming in!

[ And he opens the door - just a bit, at first, enough to poke his head in and look inside. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[As Yosuke pokes his head in the door, Wanda can be seen writhing on her bed. Her bed sheets clenched in both fists. She's not lashing out widely, but her whole body periodically seems to cringe as if a sharp electric shock has run through it.]

[The strangest thing is that her eyes appear to be open, glowing with a soft, luminescent crimson energy. This same energy also wraps her hands whenever her body cringes, and, when it appears, Yosuke will the wall fixtures strain as if being pulled off their foundations by invisible hands. A garment of Wanda's rips itself apart. A random trinket of hers flies across the small bed quarters and breaks on an opposite wall. All the while Wanda stares blankly, her eyes still glowing, up at the ceiling.]

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ He ducks back behind the door when the trinket goes flying, because he's not entirely convinced it won't smack him in the face otherwise... but once that's done, he's quickly darting inside and closing the door behind him. ]

What the hell...

[ He rushes over to her. The glowing is eerie, of course it is. So is the tearing of the walls. And the way she's just staring blankly ahead, even though she seems for all intents and purposes like she's in a lot of pain. But he isn't afraid of her. Of this. Honestly, right now, he's afraid for her. And no matter how ghastly all of this might look? Not only has he seen worse, but he's determined to get to the bottom of it.

He reaches out, places one hand on top of hers, even as she's writhing there. He tries for a gentle shake. ]

Can you hear me? Wanda!

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[As Yosuke touches Wanda's hand, Wanda's body spasms and the hand he touches grabs hold of his wrist. Her grip is tight, unexpectedly so for someone of her build.]

[Yosuke will then feel his vision go dark, but only for a moment. A white flash and suddenly he's standing in a city. It looks fairly abandoned, the signs of a fierce battle are all around. Cars are flipped over, some are actually on fire. What looks like bullet holes and charring of energy or fire blasts are peppered across the exterior of various buildings. Some look to be almost about to crumble from missing chunks of wall, floor and ceiling. Then suddenly, the environment changes. It's like Yosuke is being whisked down the various streets and alleys of the city, but he's not actually moving his body.]

[He arrives on a busier street, faceless people rush past him as they pile into what appear to be hovering aircraft to his left. They move past him, through him, never acknowledging his presence. He then hears an unintelligible cry, the sound of someone in distressed. A figure runs past him. It's a man, his features much more discernible. He has short, brown hair styled in a military cut. An archery glove on his hand and an arrow quiver on his back. The man rushes over to a child, a boy, and scoops him up in his arms. As he begins to carry the boy back to the lifeboat, a plane swoops in. It's mini-gun ramps up and then opens fire. The man turns his back, attempting to shield the boy in his arms from the approaching cascade of bullets.]

[Suddenly, a silver streak flashes in front of Yosuke's vision, pushing the man and the child out of the bullets' path. The streak stops, it's a young man, clearly younger than the first with silver streaks of hair. This savior is unable to get out of the way. He has sacrificed himself to save the other two. His mouth moves, he says something to the man he saved. The words are numbed though, as if being said through a wall. And then... the silver-haired young man, collapses.]

[Yosuke is whisked again through the city's terrain, arriving this time in the interior of what was once a chapel. Now, it's in ruins. A very familiar girl stands before him. It's Wanda. She turns, looks at him. It is not a look of recognition. It's one of shock, then pain, then agony. She collapses on her knees. A noiseless scream coming from her mouth. A wave of that scarlet red energy erupts from her body. As it passes through Yosuke, his Vision grows dark again.]

[This time, when it returns to normal, he's back in Wanda's sleeping quarters. Her eyes and hands are no longer glowing, her body relaxes. She blinks her eyes, then sits up suddenly in bed as if startled awake from a dream. Her gaze immediately finds Yosuke. She realizes she's still holding his wrist with one hand, and she lets him go. She tries to find the words to say, her mouth opening and partially closing. Nothing comes to mind though. So instead, she closes her mouth, turns her eyes to the nearby wall, and begins to softly cry.]

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ He jumps when Wanda grabs his wrist, but he doesn't even have the time to consider flinching away before the world around him completely disappears.

A city--? No, more like a shell. It's empty, and broken. He swears he can feel the heat from the fires all around him, and he winces at the sight of a building that probably won't last another minute--

The world rushes around him, and suddenly, people are running through him. It's incredibly weird, and he can't really keep up with what's going on, but he hears that cry, sees the man rush past him - the only one he can actually notice anything about, strange as it seems to him. But all he can do is watch as that silver blur jets past, saves them, falls...

A church now. Or something. But more importantly, Wanda. He starts to run to her, but the energy reaches him first and everything fades again...

He's only just realized that he's back in Wanda's room when she bolts awake, lets him go. ]

W-... Wanda.

[ His voice is soft, a little broken, and he swallows around a suddenly dry throat as he moves to sit next to her with a hand on her shoulder. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She flinches and pulls back from his touch. She pulls her legs close to her chest, leaning herself against the nearby wall. She still isn't looking at Yosuke.]

You were not meant to see that.

[cpt_ressentiment]

... I'm sorry. I had no idea, I just-- I-It sounded like you were in pain, so I came in here, and...

[ He trails off, looking off the other direction, feeling a bit guilty about apparently seeing something he shouldn't have. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda doesn't respond. Not at first, instead she just lets the tears fall. She thought that she had run out of tears to shed over Pietro's passing, but these nightmares... if they truly were "nightmares" and not something else... made it feel like she was experiencing the whole painful moment over and over again. It didn't just feel like a painful memory replaying in her head. No, it was just like being back in Sokovia and feeling him die.]

[After a period of silence, she finally speaks. Her voice a pained whisper.]

He was my brother. My twin brother.

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ He winces at that revelation. Her twin... Geez, he can't even imagine.

He looks over to her again, not sure what to do. Everyone grieves differently, even he knows that. His own experience with the death of Saki-senpai doesn't apply here. He wouldn't ever dream that it did. Still, she's not outright asking him to leave, and he doesn't particularly want to leave, with her still so upset. ]

What was his name?

[ In case she wants to talk about him, at all. ]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[There's a long pause, Wanda lets the question hang in the air. She keeps her gaze on the wall she is currently leaning on. She doesn't seem to be fixated on any one particular detail of the wall; instead, her eyes just seem to be looking off in the distance, at some sight Yosuke cannot see. She does, however, eventually respond to his question. It's one word. Her tone is flat and level; the tears have slowed in their frequency, but a few still fall. She makes no effort to wipe them away. She looks as if all the energy has been drained out of her.]

Pietro.