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

[lord_wizard]

[Where else would nightmares come from, Felix's mind provides, but that's unhelpful to both of them. Perhaps]

I suspect the augments, considering how much they are able to manipulate us otherwise. [But there's maybe more to this puzzle than he's seeing] Have you...don't take this the wrong way...ever lost control of your power before?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[When Felix mentions the augment, Wanda's hand reflexively reaches up and softly touches the small bump located behind her left ear. Honestly, she had started to forget about that piece of technology stuck in her brain. It had just sort of faded into the background of her mind, but now it was glaringly back in the forefront of her thoughts. However, when Felix asks his follow-up question, Wanda shakes her head, refocusing on his words.]

No, I- they... [Flashes of memory, images of her battle in Sokovia, a surge of energy ripping the Ultron bodies out of existence; then images of Strucker's compoung, lying on an operating table, being his guinea pig.]

Not like this. It has never been quite like this.

[lord_wizard]

[He tries not to spend time worrying about what Atroma might be doing to them, but it's always there in the background. Paradisa had done quite a lot to instill that kind of casual paranoia.

His mouth twists into a grimace of thought.]

Why would you fault your abilities, then?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda looks down at the ground, her head lowers. Guilt painted all over her expression and posture.]

These nightmares that I'm experiencing... they feel very similar... to what I have done to others, trapping them... in visions of fears and bad memories...

[Her voice catches in her throat. It is a hard thing to fess up, opening up people's minds, pulling out their worst fears and memories only to torture them with what she finds. She had done it so easily, practically without thinking before... but now... it was no longer a part of her abilities she felt much pride over.]

[lord_wizard]

[The admission catches him by surprise, and there is a sudden knee-jerk feeling of revulsion that makes his stomach twist into a knot. Compulsions were terrible things, but he would have been a hypocrite if he did not also admit he'd used them once or twice in his life.

He swallows, uneasy]

You can do that?

[Clearly telekinesis was the tip of the iceberg]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda winces slightly, as if sensing Felix's disgust.]

Yes.

[She then looks back up, fixing him with the same angry eyes she originally greeted him with.]

Still think I do not deserve to "suffer alone?"

[lord_wizard]

[He bristles a little at the returned hostility, his own eyes flashing with annoyance.]

That depends. Why did you do it to people before?

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Her expression twists slightly, there is still clearly anger there, but now there's also disgust, anguish. But It does not appear to be directed at Felix though...]

Does it really matter? The point is I did it. And I can still do it if I wanted.

[She doesn't necessarily mean for that last line to sound like a threat, but it could certainly be taken that way...]

[lord_wizard]

[He chooses not to, because he knows where it comes from.]

People have often told me that it does matter.

[The choice of phrase is deliberate. He still isn't sure about the distinction. He's more than willing to condemn himself for the things he's done in desperation and anger, but casting that on someone else seems far harder to commit to]

Regret isn't usually an emotion of the wicked.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda's expression softens again briefly. Felix's words clearly touching some part of her, a sort of somber hope in her eyes. She quickly looks away, however, back to the floor. Her guilt resurfacing, causing her to avert her eyes.]

They were my enemy... at the time. Or so I thought they were. It turns out the real enemy was the one I was keeping them from fighting. Because of me... he was able to almost end the world.

[lord_wizard]

[Felix draws in a breath]

We make mistakes. Often the mistakes of people with power carry the gravest consequences. We can choose to hang by that noose of our making or we can do what we can to balance the scales, but never both at the same time. I've tried.

[He holds his hands out to her, palms upward]

I might be able to help with the nightmares, if you wished it.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Felix's words definitely resonate with Wanda. Even if she doesn't show it externally, those words are definitely burning themselves into her memory. "We can choose to hang by that noose of our making or we can do what we can to balance the scales, but never both at the same time." She had certainly tried to bend the scales back home, fighting alongside the Avengers against Ultron. Though whether or not they were again balanced, she could not say.]

[As Felix offers his hand, Wanda looks at it and then back up at him. She does not take his hand, not yet.]

How?

[lord_wizard]

[Well, he doesn't mean for her to take it. Just as a gesture of peace.]

It's a type a warding spell, meant to manipulate modes of dreaming. I've done it before. I can't promise it will work, given the outside influence of Atroma, but...it could very well stop the nightmares entirely.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda looks back down at Felix's hands, considering the offer. There didn't seem to be anything to lose by trying.]

All right. What do I need to do?

[lord_wizard]

[He gestured behind him]

Return to your quarters...and trust me, as difficult as that may be.

[Felix smiled wryly, attempting to lighten the mood, if only by a little]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[His smile actually elicits a faint smile from Wanda herself. Felix had demonstrated his powers to her, and he had mentioned being able to "keep things out." Perhaps this would actually be the answer to her problems. She turns around to return to her bunkroom, pausing a few steps away to turn back to Felix.]

Thank you Felix.

[She turns, not waiting for his response as she makes her way back to her bunkroom.]

[lord_wizard]

[Don't thank me yet is what he wants to say, but he also doesn't want to crush too much of the hope he's built up in her. Instead, he gives her a thin smile as he follows her down the hall.]

Thank me when you wake up.

[Stopping at the entrance to her quarters, he leans against the wall]

After you, dear. Tight quarters and all...

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[She looks at him, her gratitude clear in her eyes. She nods at him, then enters her bunk room. She sits on her bed, unsure of what exactly Felix wants or needs her to do.]

[lord_wizard]

[He follows after her, maneuvering himself somewhat awkwardly into the space next to her bed]

Lie back. I assume you're tired enough to sleep now, but this is best done before bed, so even if this works once, it will likely have to be repeated. It should also induce a bit of drowsiness.

[His knits his fingers together as he waits for her to do as he says, still half expecting her to change her mind.]

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda eyes Felix, not sure how she feels about him potentially watching her sleep, but obviously, he was offering to try and help these night terrors that she has been dealing with. So, she lies back as instructed, closes her eyes and attempts to fall asleep.]

[lord_wizard]

[This is why he'd asked for her trust, of course. He knows it's a lot to ask, but he can also see the need, both for her health and that of the ship.

It's deceptively simple. He reaches down and traces a pattern on her forehead with a featherlight touch, and suddenly a warm blanket of sleep seems to cover her. On top of the deprivation, it shouldn't be hard to give into it.

Once it takes hold, Felix silently leaves and hopes his promises hadn't been false.]