13237/Return to Afterlife

Return to Afterlife
Date of Scene:	01 November 2022
Location:	New Afterlife Settlement - Amazon Rainforest
Synopsis:	Daisy and Kora travel to New Afterlife where Kora is reunited with her mother Jiaying. The fairy tale ends though when Gordon reveals what transpired in the past that has lead to animosity toward Kora.
Cast of Characters:	Kora Johnson, Daisy Johnson

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Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora keeps rubbing her arms as they travel toward Afterlife. It's definitely not getting colder outside. They're heading the wrong direction for Nepal. People aren't meant to know where Afterlife is but Kora knew. She walked out of that place when Gordon let her go.

"I thought we were going to Afterlife?," she remarks. Her anxiety is high but her powers are not showing yet. The fear of being locked up again is high but she doesn't think Daisy would let that happen to her. Besides, apparently mom is in charge of the place - not that stupid council that locked her away.

She swallows and pulls her legs up against her chest defensively. "This.. I never thought I'd be going back. I never thought I'd see mom again." Her lips tense a moment and she looks over at Daisy. If mom isn't there. If mom is actually still dead... things will go very very badly for everybody. Especially for herself. She knows that.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
It wasn't hard to notice Kora's anxiety about going back to Afterlife. Daisy was feeling the same, even if for different reasons. There was a lot of the story she didn't know yet after all. And why hadn't her mother told her about a sister? Had they all thought were dead? At least Daisy was getting to drive the quinjet today, cutting low and below radars, low enough that the large amazonic forest could be seen below them.

"New Afterlife." Is her reply to Kora, flipping on a couple of switches and reading their coordinates on a screen. "We are close." they circle around a clearing where ..., doesn't seem to be anything there at all but trees? "Hydra attacked the last settlement." she frowns at that. And by the somber look she gets on her eyes it seems she might have been there at the time.

"It's going to be fine." She tells her sister with a softer tone as the quinjet comes to landing on the clearing, engines shutting down, "She will be here." she nudges Kora with a hip. "Now come on or do I need to drag you out?" a little tease to take Kora's mind out of the anxiety. And out of her shell!

Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora shakes her head. New Afterlife. HYDRA attacking the old one. "That shouldn't have been possible," she states matter of factly. How could HYDRA have found Afterlife? it was invisible to everything. Even though the council of elders locked her up there were still many people she thought were her friends.

May be none of them were allowed to come see her, but deep down inside she fears they didn't want to see her after the death she caused. After all the pain and suffering - perhaps they were happy to see the last of Kora Johnson.

She looks out at the amazon with its thick trees. It's not quite the same kind of disguise as Afterlife had but it's effective. Daisy's playfulness brings her back to the moment and she looks to her sister.

"This could go horribly wrong," she says gravely and undoes the seatbelt and heads out the back of the quinjet in to the intense heat and humidity that is New Afterlife. She shades her eyes as the sun beats down hard on the clearing. The tree canopies that keep the amazon cool aren't far though and she sees signs of civilisation.

A wooden sign hanging from a tree branch and two unlit torches with a stone laid path not far. The sign says, "As above, So below." Someones joke about the fabled Attilan and Afterlife's place on Earth.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"There are a lot of things that shouldn't be possible." Daisy points out, leading the way out of the jet and down to the ground. Even in November the sun is scorching high above, making Daisy stretch. "I think I preferred the cold Nepal, but this place isn't so bad...., if you can get over all the mosquitos."

And yes, Daisy knows well how wrong this could go. Not that she will let it get to such a state if she can help it. "Let's go." and she leads them towards the canopy of trees. Here and there a few 'houses' begin to be noticed. Some on the trees, other blending above with ropes connecting the houses. It's quite different from Nepal.

Up above on the stone path a sillouette of someone waiting for them is standing. Perhaps having heard the quinjet landing. It meant it would be Daisy coming with news. And Jiaying always made sure to be there to receive her daughter. So the sillouette eventually takes familiar contours, of an un-aged mother who's looking down at them with some curiosity.

Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora's eyes roam around and and above as she sees the wild arrangement of tree houses and rope bridges. It's like a fairy tale village. Afterlife was always mystical but this has a distinct Tolkien vibe to it. She shakes her head a little as she notices people she doesn't recognise - but others she does.

They recognise her too. They shocked expressions could mean they never thought they'd see her again, or perhaps they never wanted to see her again. She's not sure.

Her eyes settle on the familiar shape and she feels her heart beating faster. "Muqin," (Mother) she says dropping back in to Mandorin instantly and she rushes ahead of Daisy. She has to see this person for herself, up close. The look of panic and excitement washes over her face.

Her hopes were raised when she met Daisy her baby sister; and then more so when she was told Jiaying was alive. But now seeing her here she cannot believe her eyes. She looks back at Daisy, "How do we get up there??!" Because this small gap of verticality is standing between her and her mother and that just won't do.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Daisy offers a few nods here and there at some of the people that are walking around, always treating them by name and offering a greeting of some sorts either in mandarin or english. Seems she has taken her time in getting to know the people here. When Kora shoots ahead of her she makes no motion to either stop her or rush faster, keeping at her pace and smiling faintly at her sister.

"Hold on tight." Eventually getting closer to Kora Daisy reaches to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. As for other hand? It points downwards just before a growing hum begins to be heard, vibrations making the grass and tree leaves shake. And then they are flying up above, between the trees and up to the platform where Jiaying is waiting for them. Daisy landds them in front of her.

"Mother.." She echoes also in Mandarin, dipping her head at her mother.

Jiaying replies. "I fear my eyes are deceiving me. What is the meaning of this?" she looks between the two sisters then speaks out a quiet word that makes it all too real for her, "Kora?" tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora had no idea her sister could FLY!! She holds on tight and then just stares at her. A finger is raised. One revelation at a time. She turns back to her mother and stares at her with wide eyes. "Mother," she replies to her name. A step forward, then another, then she wraps her mother in her arms and hugs her.

"You.. you were dead. Dad too. Daisy gone," she blubbers as she begins to cry ugly tears as she holds her mother. "I was all alone.. you were dead," she repeats as her brain does a complete and utter fail.

Gordon senses a presence that he hasn't felt in years. He steps out of his house and looks over at Kora hugging Jiaying and his mouth drops open too. He appears suddenly next to Daisy and says with a slightly shaky voice, "Is that Kora?"

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"I thought I had lost you both. And at the same time I had lost myself." Jia says, trembling arms wrapping around Kora to keep her against her. It's true that she still had anger within her. For Hydra. For non-Inhumans. It's the kind of anger that the two sisters certainly inherited but now at least things seem a bit brighter for her. She slows her breathing, brushing fingers over Kora's hair. "You are back now, and we can be a family again."

Daisy watches with tears forming at the corner of her eyes but says nothing, arms wrapping over her front. Gordon's sudden appearance has her looking up at him. "Yes, it is." a beat. "My sister." does Daisy know what Gordon did? Or in this case what the Council did? She doesn't say it but there's an accusing look on her face before she looks back at the other two.

"She won't be kept aside anymore. I am going to train her." Said with all that stubborness typical of a Johnson.

Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora sniffles and wipes at her eyes as she lets out a small almost manic laugh. "If I had known.. I could have gone looking for you. For dad. For Daisy." Things didn't go that way though and she was a mess herself by that stage.

Gordon frowns a moment at Daisy's plans. "Your mother was the first to try and train her Daisy. I don't think things will go how you imagine they will." He pauses a moment and adds, "And no. No one will lock her up ever again." Gordon sounds quite determined on that last point.

Kora draws back a little and looks her mother in the eyes, "You haven't aged a day momma." Jiaying chuckles as some of the tension breaks away, "You either my xiao gong ju." (My little princess).

Kora's voice drops a little lower as she says, "I still can't control it - but Daisy can contain it. I am safe. With her. For now." Jiaying understands the implications and rubs her hand upon Kora's back. More people are starting to gather at the reunion. If ever there was a question of dynasties, Jiaying holds all the cards once more. Some people are not happy with this.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Her training was interrupted." Daisy tells Gordon, giving him a sidelong glance, "She never got a real chance. But now she has me, and I am not giving up on her." this said in that ..., well, everyone knows the kind of tone it is by now. The kind that when she gets an idea on her head there's nothing that will take Daisy off that path. It's the least she owes her sister too.

She finally takes a few steps closer to where her mother and sister are, resting one hand on Jia's shoulder and leaning over to give her a side-hug, some of her warmth felt washing over Kora. "She will be staying with me." she says to her mother quietly.

"I will help her figure out a path. We will." This said as if she encompasses her own mother in it too.

Kora Johnson has posed:
Jiaying shakes her head, "Kora's place is here with me." One of the Inhumans watching folds his arms disapprovingly. He remembers Kora and the distress everybody felt at the funeral. Kora glances side long at him and clears her throat, "I can make my own decisions. I'm staying with Daisy.."

Her voice drops low again and she says, "There are people here who have not forgiven me. Nor should they."

Jiaying looks up and around at the mood gathering amongst the Inhumans. "Forgiven you for what?"

Gordon folds his arms and moves in closer and says, "Jia there's some things you need to know." He nods to Jiaying's house, "In private."

Kora twists her lips. She had a feeling it'd end up turning out like this. There are untrusting eyes, sympathetic eyes, and hostile eyes. Not even Jiaying can turn the hearts of the people. Afterlife has always been a knifes edge politically.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Two sisters against one mother. Yep, that's a battle Jia won't win. Daisy notices the looks being to her sister, head turning sharply to that Inhuman giving Kora the sour eye, "We take care of our own, Kormal." her eyes now directly on him, "That's been our vow, no matter what. And she is one of us."

And also her sister. So .., lots of bias on that affirmation. But it's not as if Daisy will let Kora get looked down on by the rest of those at Afterlife.

"This is a new chapter for Afterlife, it's also a time for new beginnings and we need to change our ways from what they were in the past." A lot of change had already happened with the opening of the settlement to outside help, or in this case SHIELD, but Daisy could see there was still a lot more to be done.

When Gordon says they need to speak in private with Jia there's a nod from Daisy. "Talk. I will bring Kora to meet the new settlement. And then we can talk again.."

Kora Johnson has posed:
Gordon and Jiaying disappear and Kora is left standing there with Daisy. "I knew this was a bad idea," she mutters to herself. But seeing her mother has lifted a weight off of her chest. "I don't think they are going to care too much about this new chapter," she warns Daisy and then sighs.

Kormal waves his hand dismissively and turns away. The crowd is starting to break up - new people sticking around to see what the fuss is and old people going back to what they were doing before. The moment has passed.

Gordon lets out a sigh and begins to catch Jiaying up. "Kora's problems with her gift only got worse after you disappeared. Wilder mood swings, perhaps, but the power had a life of its own. During training one day, she lost control and accidentally killed her friend Brianna. Several others were hurt too."

He frowns a moment, "Kora was beside herself and the council that took over with you gone decided to isolate her for special training. Except the more they researched Kora's gift the more mysterious the Diviner readings. They didn't know what to do so they just left her isolated."

His frown deepens even more, "Kora escaped and I was ordered to bring her back. The second time she escaped, though, I caught her with a gun. She... she tried to take her own life. The gun failed and I let her go. I was trying to keep an eye on her but I lost track of her and couldn't find her - I thought perhaps she had died too."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Jia listens to it all with a mix of both happiness for having her other daughter back but also with aprehension the more Gordon speaks of it all. And then it grows to something akin to anger. She leans forward and her words come out in a dangerous tone. "You should had told me this, Gordon." a warning. "I am sure you had good reasons, wanting to spare me that suffering. But I already suffered for a long time under Hydra's yoke, there's nothing you would tell me that would make it worse." she says.

"So do not lie to me again." A beat, "Or hide things again." Yes, Jia may look the nice, gentle mother to her daughters often enough but she hasn't risen to her position of power by being nice. Afterlife needs her ruthlessness.

"You saw how they were looking at her out there. We will have to thread carefully now..."

----

Outside Daisy looks at Kora and shakes her head, "It's the only way we can survive. We all have our role to play in this new chapter, the same way you will have yours."

Kora Johnson has posed:
Kora rolls her eyes a touch, "Great. Super vague. You've been spending too much time with mom." Because it's not lost on her how much Daisy sometimes talks like Jiaying. Kora grew up with that stuff being told to her all the time, there wasn't anything special about it in the end like with Daisy.

"And first I must master my fear, before my fear masters me," she jests a little as braver Inhumans gather in close to meet Daisy's sister. The whispers are spreading fast that Kora exists, or is back, or is alive. Afterlife loves good gossip.