driftfleet | An Incomplete Homecoming

Entry tags:

An Incomplete Homecoming

Who: Wanda Maximoff
Broadcast: Yes; Network-wide
Action: Starstruck
When: Now

[The scene that appears as the communicator's video feed clicks on is that of a dimly lit bunkroom aboard one of the fleet ships. The crew of the Starstruck, and any of Wanda's friends who have visited her room, will recognize the space rather quickly as the young Maximoff girl's own. What may be surprising, however, is that, what had been an empty room for over a month, now contained someone sleeping on the cot. Wherever Wanda had gone, it had been clear that the Atroma had not exactly sent her home and out of the fleet. All of her belongings had remained in her room, and her name never left the Starstruck's or Fleet's registry. Still, she'd been absent for some time, seemingly having vanished into thin air. But now, the communicator's feed was showing her asleep in her room as if nothing had changed at all.]

[However, it soon becomes clear that something has indeed changed about Wanda. As she begins to stir, the young woman sits slowly up in bed, stretching her arms overhead as she starts to awaken fully. Her eyes spread wide in a look of first confusion that begins to seem more panicked. She looks about her own bunk room as if she's never seen it before. The note of fear in her eyes makes her seem not like someone who has spent over a year in the fleet. Instead, she seems more like --]

This... this is not where I-- What- what is this place? Did the Avengers... did they move me here in my sleep? But how could they have...

[Her voice is quiet, believing she is only speaking to herself. She seems unaware of the communicator recording all of this. Though, it is now rather clear that Wanda does not recognize where she is at all.]

[She swings her legs out over the edge of the cot, slowly getting up, and measuring the size of the room. As she studies the small interior, her eyes stop on the occasional picture or keepsake hanging on the walls. Various trinkets she's collected from the planets visited during her time in the fleet. There's a look to her eyes as if each item kindles a flicker of recognition that is then almost immediately snuffed out. Each time leaving her looking more and more bewildered and frustrated.]

[She shakes her head. Whatever was happening clearly was proving to be a lot to process. She then spies the communicator out of the corner of her eye. She takes a step over and picks the device up. Holding it out in front of her now, she stares at the screen for a moment. She looks as if this is her very first time ever handling the device. But then, in an instant, she seems to suddenly recognize what exactly it is that she's holding. She then addresses the screen with a calm, yet slightly edged tone.]

Whoever is watching this, I do not appreciate being toyed with. I did not think the Avengers were ones for such games. If this is some kind of test, I expect an explanation. Now.

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[There's a weird moment, lasting for maybe only half a second, where Wanda stares blankly at Erik's face on the communicator screen. It's as if her brain is trying to recognize who it is she's speaking to -- like it knows they've interacted before, yet the connections are just not forming correctly. Wanda shakes her head again, this time closing her yes and furrowing her brow.]

[What was it with this place and this weird feeling about it?]

[When she looks back up at the screen again, she looks more frustrated before, and her tone has a bit more edge to it. However, she is still tries to sound somewhat calm and measured.]

Nothing. The name means nothing to me. You claim to know these "Atroma" are responsible, and yet you have yet to even identify yourself. Why should I trust what you have to say?

[There's no recognition there. His brow creases with concern, before he settles back into a more neutral expression. Wanda forgetting him is... worrying, but her concerns are of a higher priority right now.]

My name is Erik Lehnsherr. I asked you because I needed to know what you knew about this place. It can affect your memory.

And you shouldn't trust me if you don't see a reason to.

What I knew about this place? You speak as though I should know where I am.

[Wanda raises an eyebrow.]

"I shouldn't trust you if I don't see a reason to..." How am I to trust anyone right now? I've been brought someplace I know not where, and no one has yet explained to me what exactly is happening.

Because it's possible you should. Your name is Wanda, and I've known you here for a while. Right now, you don't appear to remember that.

You probably can't. Everyone will be telling you outlandish things, despite the truth of them.

[Hearing her name fall so effortlessly from the stranger's mouth stuns her briefly. There's clearly a look of confusion on her face, but there's also something behind it. The first, dim light of recognition -- a sign that she knows he's not lying to her. Yet, the fact that she KNOWS he's not lying to her despite the contradictions to her memory... well, it's clearly bothering her.]

You've... known me? But I don't remember?

Wh- how- [She shakes her head, grits her teeth and lets out a groan.]

No, no. I know what I remember. The last thing that happened to me before I woke up here was Ultron. Sokovia, my city falling. The Avengers taking me in. This-- This I don't-- I don't know this place. I've never been here, and I've never met you.

[The words flow out of her as she attempts to sound resolute in her certainty. Yet, her eyes appear to almost be pleading... asking Erik to confirm something. Give her some solid ground to stand on.]

[It's strange and disconcerting, watching the interplay of recognition and unfamiliarity unfold across Wanda's face. He hasn't seen this kind of thing before. There had been moments, in that time years ago when Charles had forgotten Erik, where the other man had shown recognition of knowing something was missing. But that wasn't the same. That had an obvious cause and fix.

He purses his lips briefly, before continuing.]

Then do you want to, in person? To see for yourself.

[Erik's not about to outright say he knows about her telepathy. That would only add fuel to the paranoia, and this line isn't private. It's not the kind of thing he's going throw out there.]

Under your terms.

[And again, Erik's words give her pause. She takes a moment to consider his offer. Really, she has no reason to decline. The only resistance she feels is from her overall displeasure and confusion over what exactly is going on. Still, if by meeting with this man she can someone get some answers -- find some solid ground on which to stand again, then what does she really have to lose?]

[So, after her moment of contemplation, she nods her head in agreement.]

All right. But you'll have to be the one to come to me, as I currently do not know where I am and doubt I'd be able to find my way to you.

[He nods, a trace of relief on his face.]

Of course. I can be over in twenty minutes.

[Wanda sits back down on the bunk in the room. She crosses her arms, and then very dryly adds:]

Not like I have somewhere I need to be. Not anymore at least.

[He merely nods, and switches off the feed.

When Erik arrives on the ship, it's closer to half an hour than the stated twenty minutes later. He thought that more time rather than less might be appropriate, given the circumstances. Maybe someone on her ship would have had time to explain things to Wanda in a more... familiar manner. Whatever his feelings for the young woman, they aren't what he would consider close.

Once he docks on the Starstruck, he makes his way to Wanda's room, and knocks on the door.]

It's Erik Lehnsherr.

I know.

[Her voice a little muffled coming through the closed door, but it slides up a moment later. Wanda does not exactly look displeased about this little meeting, but she doesn't look particularly enthused about it either. Still, she leaves the door open for Erik to enter, and she turns around to step back over and take a seat on her cot. Her arms crossing again as she watches him.]

So you are another person here who is going to tell me we are friends? That we have known each other for years?

[Her tone is dry. She sounds like she still doesn't buy into this whole memory loss -- that she's actually been here for a whole year and has somehow lost those memories. In truth, there was enough evidence for her to consider the truth of these claims, but what that also carried with it was something Wanda did not fully like -- someone had played with her mind again, used her as test guinea pig. She hated that feeling.]

[His eyes skate over Wanda briefly, because of course she doesn't look any different... except in body language. Erik steps inside and stays near the door. A huff escapes him at her question, knowing that she must have gotten that a lot already. At least he can answer truthfully.]

No. We know each other, but I'd call it friendly acquaintances more than friends. [The multidimensional connection he'll leave alone. That was hard enough to deal with even with all memories intact.] And I've only known you since I got here roughly ten months ago.

[He gets a soft snort and chuckle out of Wanda.]

"Friendly acquaintances?"

[It sounded rather tomato/tamato to Wanda. But she shrugs, whatever he wanted to call it she supposed.]

Ten months ago? And I was apparently around before that even...

All right then, why did you come? What is the point in us meeting like this face-to-face instead of sticking to over the communicator?

[He tilts his head to the side, watching her reaction as he says his next piece.]

Because if you want to, you can check whether I'm lying or not. I know you can.

[It's a mark of how seriously he takes this that he's willing to invite telepathy so blatantly. His misgivings over the power may have faded through time and familiarity, but that was with one man. With others, there's always the risk of what they might do.]

[That... was not what she was expecting. Aside from the fact that he apparently knows of her abilities, the fact that's he willingly subjecting himself to them... that catches her off guard. Her brow narrows as she appears to be appraising him anew.]

I think that is the first time anyone has ever volunteered to have me read their mind.

My oldest friend is a telepath, and I've met others besides him. I'm not suggesting it because I like the idea. [Telepathy and Erik will never be on the best of terms.] But I've been in a position like yours, where people seem to know more about me than they should. Knowing the truth is important.

[She studies his face, appraising him of his words and his offer. When she speaks again, her words might surprise Erik.]

And if I don't want to read you?

[He raises an eyebrow, speculative.]

Then that's your decision. But I will say I have abilities of my own, as a mutant. I'll tell you about them if you wish to hear it.

[As he knows about her own it's only fair to offer a balance of facts.]

[She just keeps studying his face, feeling completely thrown by how up-front he's being with her. She's already met enough super-powered individuals to not really be caught off guard by his confession of possessing abilities of his own. She's just... there's apparently a lot he's willing to divulge to her.]

Why are you telling me all this? All to build trust? Why is it so important to you whether I trust you or not?

[Tilting his head, he has to consider whether that's what he's doing. He knows he's motivated by what he and Wanda had shared in the past. Whether those memories will return to her or not... he's not certain.]

I can't make you trust me. I'm telling you because it's what I want to do, and it's what I think is the right thing to do. That's all.

[She measures him further. Still not quite looking completely convinced.]

Do you go this extra mile for everyone who suddenly finds themselves waking up here?

No. I usually don't talk to them. [Blunt honesty. He uncrosses his arms and opens the bedroom door behind himself.]

But, if you're not interested then I'll go. Especially since you're still adjusting.

[Before she's even cognizant of what she's doing, Wanda's taken the two steps to close the distance between the two of them, reached out with one hand, and tugged on Erik's sleeve, pulling him back from the door.]

[She then blinks at him, looking completely dumbfounded by what just happened. She's still holding his sleeve. Her gaze shifts down to her hand clutching his sleeve, looking at it like a completely foreign appendage to her. She then realizes how long she's just been standing there, looking blankly at him and then her hand. She then finally lets go of his sleeve, taking a step back, and crossing her arms, holding them closely to her stomach as if to restrain them. She's now looking much more concerned in her confusion.]

I- I am sorry... I don't know why I...

[Erik seems only a bit less startled, coming to a halt when Wanda grips his sleeve. His own confusion melts away when he sees how baffled she looks. No, this isn't normal amnesia. Maybe it's only partial. Or maybe, he admits to himself, she's picking up on something telepathically that he doesn't know he's projecting. But his mental barriers tend to be strong (for someone without telepathic talent) and he doubts it's something like that.

After a beat, he steps away from the door.]

You didn't want me to walk out.

[Wanda still looks confused, distracted by her own sudden action. That much seemed obvious -- she didn't want him to walk out, but she cannot say for certain why that is. Erik has been kind enough and certainly forthcoming in his willingness to let her read his mind if she so wished. An offer that still kind of throws her. But, none of that felt like enough justification for the degree of response she gave.]

This... this is...

What is happening with me?

[She sounds more as though she's asking herself. Still looking down at the hand that had clutched Erik's sleeve. She keeps opening it and closing it slowly, as if testing it for further abnormal behavior.]

An Incomplete Homecoming

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