driftfleet | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know them. Though I suppose I can't say I know all of them personally. I used to talk to Vision a fair deal.

My names is Charles Xavier. I run a school for gifted children. Children with powers.

Vision?

[Wanda's eyes start to water for some reason. This makes her pause. She reaches up with a finger and confirms that those are, in fact, tears she feels welling up in her eyes. However, her expression looks completely perplexed by this. Why would hearing Vision's name make her tear up? He- he had saved her from the falling Sokovia, but... she has otherwise only barely interacted with him. So then why... She decides to ignore this for now. Though, it's clear the oddness of it all bothers her.]

I don't- how do you know Vision? You say you "used" to talk to him, but Vision is... [How to say this? Well, suppose there's no point in beating around the bush...] Vision is a day old.

[Yeah, that felt weird to say out loud...]

[ He watches as she absorbs that. Not typical amnesia, that much is clear. He could probably unlock it but that would involve trust on her part. Charles would never overstep, no matter how beneficial it could be. ]

He was. I'm afraid we're a little ahead of you. This place plays with time. The Vision I knew was at least a year old.

[Wanda's mouth opens and closes as she struggles to come up with a response to that.]

This place... this place plays with time? I don't--

[She shakes her head, tries again.]

A Vision you knew that was a year old. So, he was from a year into my future? How is that possible?

Ordinarily, I'd say it's not. Though I have encountered time travel in my own universe, via different rules.

But this place works under different rules. Different logistics.

[Glossing over that little tidbit about how he's used to time travel and different universes -- which is not entirely easy for Wanda to do, she instead focuses on the immediate situation.]

What then does that make this place?

It's like a pocket dimension, something between our worlds. That's why time and space operates differently here.

[ Charles pauses, watching her. ] I'm aware it sounds nonsensical. I won't ask you to believe me because that seems presumptuous as well. But I hope I have offered something of value at least.

[Wanda touches a hand to her forehead in both exhaustion and irritation. She just woke up... this is already too much for her.]

So, you are telling me I've woken up in this "pocket dimension," that people from my future have been here, and that you and others here are from other worlds entirely. Is that correct?

[She gives him a frustrated look.]

Nonsensical does not even begin to cover it. Something of value...

[Judging by the way she practically spits out those last three words, yeah... she's not finding much value in what Charles has told her.]

I can easily say more but that might be too much.

[ Especially since they've shared memories. ]

There's no point in forcing a truth. You'll have to see for yourself.

Of course you can.

[A sarcastic chuckle echoes from Wanda's throat.]

All right then, "Charles." What now? What happens now?

I assume you'll catch up with your friends. And your brother.

[And that stops her dead in her sarcastic= tracks. Her eyes go wide in shock and pain.]

My brother? Pietro is-- he's here?

[But that couldn't be. She shakes her head. She knows that can't be right. He'd only just died back home. She knew. She HAD FELT it. He, Charles, had to be lying to her.]

You're lying. Pietro is--

[Anger now creeping over her tone and expression. How dare this man bring up Pietro to her in a time like this.]

I felt him die! FELT! Every part of it. Don't you dare use him to try and play games with me.

[Charles' earlier remarks about this place operating out of time and space, its flow of and affect on time, all of it seemingly having vanished from Wanda's mind. Her emotions, her anger, having clouded over these details at the moment.]

[ He just waits it out. Nothing about his expression seems to be judging or even unnerved. ]

Yes, your telepathy. I know. But I wouldn't lie about that. I'm sure he'll make himself known soon enough.

[Okay, she likes non-response to her anger even less than she likes his use of Pietro's name, but, instead of her temper flaring up again, she hesitates again. This time at his mention of her powers. Or at least, one aspect of them which he apparently is not only familiar with but also seemingly completely unfazed by.]

How do you know about--

[She stops. Grits her teeth. It was feeling like she was going around in circles. Each time getting surprised and then asking how it was possible for him to know, when the answer was seemingly always going to be the same. Perhaps lending further credence to the small part of her that knew none of what he'd been saying was false.]

If Pietro is not here... if I find out I've been toyed with... I will not be feeling very forgiving.

[It's a thinly veiled, and admittedly poorly timed, threat, but Wanda is having difficulty at the moment processing how else to respond. She had anger. Lots of it right now, and she needed to be rid of it in some way. She may have the longer fuse of the twins, but that didn't necessarily mean she always handled her anger well.]

[ Threats are disappointing, but not unexpected. He simply nods and in a gentler tone. ]

If you want to talk again, you can contact me any time.

[Wanda opens her mouth, about to say something likely snarky and condescending. But instead, she stops herself. There's a sort of look of shame in her eyes. Judging from her expression otherwise, however, it is unclear if Wanda has even noticed her own reaction.]

[In a more level tone, but one that still carries a twinge of her earlier irritation, she finally responds.]

Thanks.

[ He smiles faintly. ]

You're welcome.

[ And with that, he closes the connection. ]

An Incomplete Homecoming

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