driftfleet | An Incomplete Homecoming

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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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[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.]

I don't know. But if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it's the work of our 'hosts'.

[She looks up again at Erik.]

The "Atroma," was it?

[If there was something that could focus Wanda's attention, it was giving her a target for her anger.]

You are saying that they are doing this to me? They are making me move and act beyond my own control?

They're making you confused and altering your memories. That's what's behind your reactions.

[It's a wild guess, but one he's comfortable with making. Given the circumstances there's little else it could be, and he doesn't believe anymore that her amnesia is complete.]

[Whether or not she believed this whole memory-loss business was for certain, Wanda had not yet come to a decision. However, it was certainly clear to her that she had been behaving oddly since she arrived. Her body reacting in ways beyond her control. That had been abundantly apparent. If nothing else, Erik had at least just supplied with her an ample target for her frustration and anger.]

I will not be made to be there play thing.

Where are they hiding? I will make them pay for toying with me.

[Her eyes gleam a scarlet red. Her voice steeped in venom.]

[He's disconcerted for a moment, because he's only seen the glimmer of red in her eyes once. Best to lay the information on the table before she charges off in search of an enemy she won't find.]

No one knows where they are, Wanda. If I knew, I would have already gone there myself to deal with them. The best thing you can do is be aware of yourself, and when things feel wrong. Stay vigilant.

[Yeah, that's not the answer Wanda wanted to hear. She believes Erik's words, but that doesn't mean they don't make her angry. To have all this anger and a target, but then be told that the target is beyond her reach, that is a perfect storm of frustration for Wanda.]

[The red gleam in her eyes fires up, looking even brighter for a moment, before it fades back into a more passive glow. The luminescence not fully fading from her eyes. As the color flares in her eyes, there's even a sharp crackle of scarlet energy around her hands for a moment. Pent up power that sounds as though it is demanding to be unleashed. Still, as angry and frustrated as she is, Wanda still seems in control, though her tone of voice is pure venom.]

How can their location still be a mystery to you?! To everyone in this Fleet?! What have you all been doing all this time while held prisoner? Simply rolling over and allowing yourselves to be coddled by your "generous hosts?"

[That tone damages his patience, and his response is more chilly.]

I'll thank you not to make baseless assumptions when you know nothing of the situation. [He raises his chin slightly, and steps back towards the door.] As it stands, we don't know. Perhaps others have a better idea than me, who have been here longer. You can talk to them if you want.

[Erik's sudden shift in tone catches her a bit by surprise for a moment. The scarlet glow of energy fades from her hands and her eyes, but it's clear that Wanda's frustration hasn't fully been quelled. In fact, she now returns Erik's icy look with one of her own. She does not appreciate being reprimanded like a petulant child (even if that is basically how she'd been acting.)]

I do not expect anyone else here to have anything better to offer.

[That is her last sort of gib at Erik, as she tries to get in the last word. What a brat...]

Then it won't take long.

[He opens the door, pausing for a moment.]

Good luck. You have my number.

[With that, he steps out and walks away.]

[As Wanda watches Erik turn his back and head out the door, she again feels her body start to move to stop him. This time, however, she controls herself. The only sign of the impulse is in her arm slightly raising again as if to catch his sleeve. Wanda folds that arm across her chest and under her other. This repeat, similar outburst only serving to further worsen her mood.]

[As Erik leaves, he might hear her curse in her mother tongue under her breath. But it's unclear if she's cursing at him, her circumstances, herself, or perhaps a little of all. Needless to say, the whole exchange has left a sour taste in her mouth and much to think about. Not to mention an amount of pent-up frustration that she'll have to find some way to vent.]

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An Incomplete Homecoming

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