1545/Union Square Hijinks for Telepaths

Union Square Hijinks for Telepaths
Date of Scene:	06 May 2020
Location:	Union Square
Synopsis:	Two telepaths meet and chat. Minds opened.
Cast of Characters:	Rachel Summers, J'onn J'onzz

---

Rachel Summers has posed:
    She couldn't take it anymore. She just couldn't. Rachel was used to being the outcast type, the loner... but on the grounds of Xavier's school she felt more like... a specimen under a microscope. The time she came from was ... war torn and brutalized. She was one of the enemy since she was six years old and she finally broke free of the mental programming fifteen years later. She is psychological trauma on two feet...
    The -really- dangerous part is that she is a powerful telepath, made even more powerful by the Phoenix Entity that bonded itself to her soul and to her body on a cellular level. So this trauma has a way of leaking out when she isn't exercising strict control... and haunting the thoughts of others in her area.
    This means that her fellow students, who have looked at her as some weird freaky girl from the future... and the adult daughter of one of their young teachers... something like the same age as her mother (and isn't that just a mind-trip?).. and she had to get out and away from there.
    So she made her way to New York. Not like she couldn't fly out whenever she wanted. But she's wandering the streets today, using a minor mental glamour to conceal the facial markings that make so many people stare all the time. Of course, this constant yet low level use of telepathic power make folks just... not see the markings, isn't exactly going to go unnoticed by other telepaths.
    Here we have Rachel, peeking in through the window of a curio shop, her eyes wide in wonderment.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
Even after many centuries living on Earth, J'onn never stops wanting to live the human life, even for a bit, during his freetime. And so it is that, when he's not acting as the martian manhunter, or doing any of his other more human jobs, he's just strolling through the streets, disguised as a pretty average person. Today, said person is a guy in his mid twenties, standing just a couple of inches above six feet, with an athletic build, wearing a simple pair of jeans and a black shirt. Almost the definition of ordinary!
Except that the psychic shield that he has always wrapped around his mind is definitely not ordinary, nor the fact that he's constantly feeling every telepathic related activity at least in the city range. Reason enough for his aimless steps to take the direction of Union square, where he senses something going on.
More out of curiousity than anything, but J'onn is there, just a dozen metres away from Rachel, sending a very subtle mental probe to locate the origin of the mental powers being used.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    One of the reasons Rachel was made a hound, made over into a hunter of her own kind, was not for the power she possessed, or at least not how potent her powers might be. It was due to how sensitive her mental senses were. The moment the probe is pushed out into the ether, into the astral level or however you want to define it, her defenses clang into place. It's almost like mentally hearing vault doors shut.
    Her eyes narrow, and the Phoenix Force whispers in her mind, begging to be released so that it can go hunt down whatever is making her feel caged.... and caged is how she feels. Suddenly feeling like she is the prey, not the hunter. It's not a pleasant feeling.
    But the redhead turns her head minutely, eyes seeking out in the direction she felt that.. energy pulse originate.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz briefly lets his mind probe sweep over Rachel's defenses, subtly reinforcing his own mental shield, and it's behind that that his probe withdraws, nonthreateningly. And so it is that a powerful enough telepath could trace said probe back to the shield, appearing, perhaps, as a smooth, solid and featureless barrier around J'onn's mind. And that happens while he, still in his young man's guise, looks at a pair of trousers displayed in a nearby shop!

Rachel Summers has posed:
    Okay, confidence is not something Rachel lacks. At least not when things get dicey. She has zero confidence in social or friend-like situations. But when she feels threatened? That goes away.
    As such, she turns and starts walking towards the telepath who she sees for what he is. "Who are you?" she asks boldly, letting her glamor fall away, the scarring on her face (lines going out almost like whiskers carved into the flesh along forehead, temples, and cheeks) standing out pointedly. Subtle? Like a ton of bricks.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz turns his head, enough to be able to look at Rachel when she asks the question. Even while his blue eyes briefly scan her true appearance, his expression doesn't shift out of calmness and serenity "just a person, happening to pass by while you were broadcasting.." he replies, and while his shield is still in place, his mind effortlessly expands outwards, gently touching the minds of everyone around him and Rachel to distract the passersbies' thoughts from Rachel shift in appearance.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    "Handy trick that." offers Rachel as she folds her arms over her upper abdomen. But she tilts her head a bit and asks, "Skip the crap. Who are you? Just a person passing by doesn't have skills like yours. Now you've got me curious enough that I am tempted to force the issue and see which of us is more powerful. Tempted, but not sure yet." she admits.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz smiles, in a hopefully friendly way, and it's his turn to place a glamour on Rachel's face now "we don't want people to run away in a panic because they saw your face changing..." he offers as an explanation, and another noticeable thing is that noone, close enough to listen, seems interested in doing so!
"that, would be a fun exercise" he states with a light chuckle, in regards to seeing who's more powerful "but simply asking is a far more effective way... You can call me J'onn." he introduces himself with a polite bow of his head.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    Lifting a hand, Rachel unravels that glamour even as it is being erected. "if I want my face hidden, I'll hide it. Now cut that out." she remarks, energy flaring in her eyes. Energy that flares on the old Psi-meter and visually looks like a lick of flame. But it goes away just as quickly as it flares.
    But, the man gave his name, and she backs down a bit, "See? Was that so difficult?" she asks. But.. she has eased off a bit, and clamped down on the Phoenix within... mentally, it might feel like she were a water balloon straining to retain far too much water, but somehow managing to do it. Like there is an exploding sun inside of her trying to get out through a barrier made of gossamer thin membrane.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz pauses briefly at the image of the flame, but redirects his glamour with a sigh, no longer on Rachel's face, but all around, so that people not only don't seem interested in listening to their conversation, but also not looking at them.
"it's not a matter of hiding, more a matter of your face shifting every few seconds. That's unsettling for the average human, and you probably don't want the attention... I don't, at least" he explains.
"as for it being difficult, it wasn't. And so now you have my name. May I ask yours?" he inquires, tilting his head slightly and still looking at the woman.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    It's not that her face was shifting a lot. It's just that she dropped her own disguise to reveal the scarred look. A look she -is- self-conscious about. Her hand comes up to her face, tracing over a scar as she hesitates. But then she narrows her eyes. "A friend told me I should be proud of my scars. They are a part of me. But I guarantee you... I only shifted the one time." The girl is a bundle of defensive anger. Psychological problems with raw power.
    But the request for her name deflates that bubbling anger again and she pauses before saying, "I'm Rachel. Nice t'meecha Jonn." she remarks. Her eyes flicker about and she says, "I could easily just make them all go somewhere else but... as easy as that'd be, it'd be wrong."

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz smiles, shrugs and drops the issue of shifting. "that friend was probably right." he replies, still smiling. Then he briefly glances around, and nods approvingly "it would indeed be quite wrong! Plus it's not like they're really paying us much attention, anyways. Except we're standing in front of a shop someone may want to get in, could I suggest moving the conversation somewhere else?" he asks politely
"also, a pleasure to meet you, Rachel." he adds.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    Smirking a bit, Rachel Summers glances at the window, "Cute pants." she remarks before she gestures upwards. "With your permission, I could... elevate our conversation." Of course, she's not aware that you are more than -just- a telepath. In her experience it is a rare being that has such powerful telepathy -and- other powers. Telekinetic Telepaths are super rare, which is what makes -her- stand out among her people.
    But she says her piece there and merely insures nobody is paying attention to the two of you. Which thanks to your efforts they are not. Makes it easier when she lifts off the ground and gestures... not forcing so much as similar to a hand on the back to urge someone forward without giving an actual -push-... telekinetically offering to lift 'Jonn' upwards.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz nods in agreement, but aims another smile at Rachel, when he alters gravity around himself to take flight on his own, easily and gently floating upwards and waiting for Rachel to lead the way. "a telekinetic too. Now, that's a nice rare combo..." he says conversationally

Rachel Summers has posed:
    "Especially among mutants. Yes." agrees Rachel as she lowers her hand and just keeps rising. "Rooftop or just floating? But... this would be a far easier conversation if we both... or okay, if -I- got less defensively angry and opened up.... I invite you to connect, but please... if you probe memories, you will not like what you find, so I ask you not to." she offers, lowering her shields.

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
"both work for me so it's up to you really" J'onn replies about floating or reaching a rooftop
Then he, too, lowers his shield, accepting the connection. "I won't go where you don't want me to, as long as you do the same." he says with a smile, opening his mind to the girl, in a way.
Where that means that in the castle that his mind is, there's tousands of rooms, probably built in tousands of years, and some doors are definitely locked, but informations on his identity are easily accessible, both the one he's using now, and that of the martian manhunter.

Rachel Summers has posed:
    Within Rachel's mind, a Martian may find themselves a bit intimidated also. If only by the presence... in the distance, of the Phoenix Force. The force within is a fraction of the sum total of its power. But even a slice of infinity is terrifying. The Phoenix Force being an abstract entity that acts as a manifestation of all of the psionic power in the universe. It's difficult to explain. But someone of Jonn's experience might at least know -of- the force in an overview sense. And thus, you might recognize the presence of that shard of its power bonded to her on a genetic level.
    But it's become a part of her self-identification too. The sad part is that... it manifests as psionic flame, even in mental images. Sorry! She doesn't know any better!
    However, her thoughts are warm and welcoming. /So, you found me in the city, and I found you when you found me. What does that mean for the future? And how are -you- flying? It is not telekinetic./

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz scans, notices, and flinches away from the Phoenix, flames are still something he definitely doesn't like!
But the question has him stopping his scan to offer her a smile, again "it's, partly telekinesis... It's control over magnetic fields, gravitons, and my own body. All combined." he explains before arching an eyebrow slightly "as for the future, what do you mean?"

Rachel Summers has posed:
    "Forgive me. The future is a constant concern of mine. You might say it is an obsession. You see... in three years, seven months and eighteen days, I will be born." offers Rachel. She shrugs and lets you do the math. "And by the time I am six, Sentinels will have attacked my home, killed my parents, and taken me prisoner to use to hunt other mutants for fifteen years. I am trying to... well trying to change that series of events and I have come to a decision. Mutants need to stop making such a big deal out of -being- mutants. They need to stop huddling together for safety and hoping that the big bad nasty doesn't find them. They -need- to start living their lives like anyone else, being -with- everyone else and showing that they -are- just like everyone else. Sorry.. you didn't ask for my political agenda."

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz does the math indeed, drawing his conclusions, but just nods when he hears what's in Rachel's mind as explained by her. "hard to do so when humans have not yet understood that different doesn't mean necessarily evil... But I see your point." he states "though, if I understand time travel theories and all that, the fact you're here already changed the future so, well, right now, it's an unknown question mark... And as for our meeting, you can be sure that I'll be here trying to help this planet for the foreseeable future, so when and if that happens, you'll be able at least to count on me..."

Rachel Summers has posed:
    "This pl... you're not from Earth?!" exclaims Rachel out loud now. She can't help it. But then she smirks, "Well, that makes sense. But you're not quite grasping what I mean. Mutants who are trying to help change the opinions of the public, are still doing it the wrong way. The X-Men, they recruit mutants to their team of all mutants, and stand apart from humanity. Sure, they show that mutants -can- be a force for good, but they are still segregating themselves. It's like..." She lifts her hands like scales being balanced, "Civil rights. Skin color bullshit. But if those who are different and are persecuted for it do nothing -but- group together with others like themselves and claim that they are not the enemy... they are not showing the others any other way. They are still helping to perpetuate the problem."
    Of course, Rachel has no idea of Green vs White Martian stuff. "So, what I need to do is to take the focus off of -what- I am, and place it upon -who- I can be. So I need to be a part of something that isn't oriented on and by mutants. Does that make sense?"

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz quietly and carefully listens to the explanation and nods in understanding "it does make sense, yes, Rachel..." he offers, nodding again to confirm that no, he's not from this planet.
"and have you spoken about this to the xmen leaders? I admit that's not really my, sphere, so to speak..."

Rachel Summers has posed:
    Shaking her head, Rachel sighs, "I don't want to tell them that everything they are trying to do is wrong. That would not go over well. I think that I just need to go out on my own and help in any way I can. I don't want to be a part of the problem. I want to be a part of the solution." She pauses and adds, "I'm not sure why I am venting all of this to you though except... you're -not- one with my experiences, or the experiences of mutants... and yet someone who I can share something in common with."

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz chuckles lightly "we have more in common than you'd think, Rachel... So I understand your point, and if that can be of any consolation, I think your point definitely makes sense... It would be nice if mutants, integrated. Even if many humans make it difficult, I understand that some mutants make it just as difficult. But then again, humans, mutants, or any other inhabitants of this planet, seem to be so fond of conflicts and the like that I some days wonder how could this planet survive for so long..." he mumbles the last part, almost as if expressing out loud a personal thought

Rachel Summers has posed:
    "That's something I've wondered too." mutters Rachel. "But Jonn, thank you for listening to me vent. Sometimes it's not about someone else helping. It's about just being able to vocalize my problems and thus making them seem less urgent and pressing. But yes... humanity seems bred for conflict. I'd just as soon they find something other than a genetic lotto to fight over is all."

J'onn J'onzz has posed:
J'onn J'onzz chuckles, for a moment showing a seemingly amused expression "it's fun how humans seem to be bred for conflict, yet in the universe, they're not even among the more powerful races... Oh well" he shrugs "they're still worth protecting, and for the many bad sides a human can have, there's lots of good ones!" he states, then smiles again "and you are welcome, I know it's good to express your thouhhts out loud, it gives you more, time, and possibilities to analize them."