17750/A New Path

A New Path
Date of Scene:	24 April 2024
Location:	Genoshan Embassy
Synopsis:	Sheltering at the Genoshan Embassy, Madelyne gets a visit from Mystique and an offer that will change her life.
Cast of Characters:	Madelyne Pryor, Raven Darkholme

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Madelyne Pryor has posed:
It's been a few days since Lorna, the Queen of Genosha herself, brought Madelyne Pryor to the Genoshan Embassy after an ... incident. On the bright side, no one has sent cops looking for her, then again, they might have sent them after Jean Grey since, well. Doppelganger Problems.

Since she got here, she's been settling in a bit. Obviously not for permanant residency, but there's been a flurry of paperwork. Applying for Genoshan citizenship, detailing her powers and mundane skills. The usual kind of thing when you're emigrating to a new country.

For now, that's done and over with. The wheels of bureaucracy will turn as they do. Since then, Maddy hasn't really left the grounds, just in case. She's barely left her room. Today she decided to get a little air and ... vicarious social hours. She's sitting in the not-gym half of the first floor, playing solitaire. Her waves of rirey red hair are pulled up in a high ponytail, and she's wearing a plain maroon hoodie, leggings and well worn sneakers as she just self-soothes with the low thwipping of cards.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Most everything relating to the Embassy passes Mystique's desk at some point. She keeps her hand in a lot of pots to keep herself informed of what is happening around the world, especially in Genosha.

Hearing from Lorna herself about Madelyne taking sanctuary at the embassy, the blue mutant decided it was time to take a tip to Bushwick and see how she was doing. She'd met her once, a very long time ago, in passing, but this seemed far more serious.

Entering the embassy, already aware of where Maddie was, she adjusted the black leather top she was wearing before walking into the non-gym side of the room.

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
Maddy flips down another card, it's not the ace of spades. It's just a four of clubs. Which she places on the five of diamonds. Solitaire is ever so exciting. It -is- distracting, though. Which is what she needs.

It doesn't stop her from feeling Mystique enter, though. She can't shut her telepathy off that much. She's reading nothing but presences at the moment. (But she's been practicing.) She looks up as Raven comes in, not at all shocked to see her. She's not familiar with the workings of Genosha yet, but she's not surprised that Mystique is involved at some level. She doesn't say anything, looking up to acknowledge the other woman's presence and then back at her cards, just in case she's passing through. She doesn't feel like she is, but she's not reading minds.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Reading Mystique's mind is a bit like trying to read text attached to a speedster going full bore down a street. She can allow her mind to be read if she chooses, but rarely does she choose to let a telepath in. She has too many secrets, and knows too many secrets of others.

Crossing the room to the table, her yellow eyes glance over the cards before lifting to look at Madelyne's as she offers a polite, "Evening Ms. Pryor, may I join you?" She gestures to the chair across the table, not wanting to invade the mutants personal space.

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
Could Maddy be strong enough to punch through those defenses? Not today, that's for sure. Given who she is a clone of, it is absolutely a possibility. Regardless, despite being well aware of her presence, Madelyne still looks surprised when Mystique pops up at her table and asks to join her.

"Uh. Sure. If you want. I'm just playing solitaire to keep my mind occupied. Keeps the temper down, you know?"

She sets the cards in her hand down to be polite and sits back a bit. "What do I owe the pleasure of your company to?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Sliding the chair out, Mystique settles herself into it. Crossing right leather clad leg over left, she folds her hands in her lap and offers a charming smile to the woman across from her.

Years upon years of acting a part, of being someone else and maintaining that illusion have made her a skilled master of facial masks. She can appear happy, sad, angry, all the while feeling none of those things. In this case, she is appearing to be comfortable and calm.

"I play solitaire from time to time, though I prefer Pyramid or Tri-peaks," she offers first, eyes glancing for a moment to someone passing through the room before they return to Madelyne.

"Queen Lorna informed me you were here, and seeking citizenship to Genosha," comes her explanation with a slight nod. "Every mutant in the world is welcome in Genosha, and has the protection and rights of the nation behind them... but is that all you are looking for? A place to live?"

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
Maddy is ... not good at hiding her emotions. Not anymore. Well, that's not accurate. She's done hiding her emotions. Controlling them, sure, but pretending for the sake of others? No. She's done with that. People can either care about all of her, or not at all.

"I play this kind because it takes up less space on a plane," she says with a shrug. "Not that it matters anymore."

The next bit is the important stuff. "I've already filled out the paperwork," she says. "The human world is ... cruel to me. I am done with it." Her head tilts slightly, ponytail swaying. "I mean, what else is there for me? I suppose I'll get a job, probably ferrying cargo to Genosha, but what else can I do?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The bait was laid out like cheese for a mouse, but this was something Mystique was very good at and had been doing for over fifty years now.

"Yes, the human world is cruel, demeaning, violent, hateful..." she fades off there for a moment, letting the words linger in the air.

"It will always be that way Madelyne, unless mutants like ourselves are willing to risk it all to ensure change." Reaching up with her right hand, she smooths back the firey red hair from her face, offering a perfect view of her entire face and the level of seriousness to her words. "You could become one of thousands of mutants who work day after day in Genosha, earning a living, safe, away from those humans who would prefer to see if all dead... or you could do something about it, with the Brotherhood."

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
The thing about Madelyne Pryor that truly separates her from her genetic template is that she had no Charles Xavier to guide her. Thrust into the world with all of it's cruelty aimed at her with no wise father figure to temper her fury. All she had was societal expectations for women keeping her feelings bottled up until they couldn't be anymore. Jean Grey is a unifier. A diplomat.

Madelyne Pryor is a destroyer. An avenger.

"I...I don't have very good control of my powers, but I'm learning. And ... And I want to help. No one should be forced to hide who they are because some people are backwards bigots. What can I do?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Uncrossing her legs, Mystique adjusts herself slightly as she leans a bit forward. "The only control you truly need is to ensure you do not harm other mutants," she states bluntly. "Beyond that, control or not, it matters little."

A soft smile plays across her lips before she sits back again. "The Brotherhood will no longer be hiding, or pretending we are something we aren't. When the time is right, we will act and the world will begin to understand the mistake of attempting to control us."

Folding her hands back into her lap she continues, "As for what you can do? That's simple, what do you want to do? Learn to control your powers better? We will find you a teacher. Actively perform violence against mutant hating humans? We will put them in your line of fire. Help plan tactical attacks on strategic locations? We'll lay the maps out in front of you... but what matters most, the one thing no one has ever given you... the choice. You decide what you want to do."

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
"I'm no strategist," Madelyne says. "I'm a pilot. And, apparently, a psychic. I want to learn to use my gifts for my own good," she says, hands resting on the table, one fingertip tapping on the cards. "And so that no one else, none of our people, have to suffer like I did."

Her suffering was, honestly, pretty light in comparison to others, and it didn't even have to do with her being a mutant. Til the mob, anyway.

"I could learn how to fight. To do what the Queen did at the Spaceport. ...Those Aliens weren't mutants, but we could be next."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"We are next," Mystique replied bluntly, a hint of coldness to her tone. "We were first, then the aliens came seeking a safe place away from the cruelty they were facing. So naturally all hated and attention went to them, but we will be back in the hatred spotlight in no time at all because humans hate what they don't understand."

Her eyes follow the movements of a woman passing through the room before returning to Madelyne. "How does this sound... come to the Asteroid, get to know the other members who live there. I will seek you out a teacher for the psychic abilities, to help you learn to use them the way you want to use them. If you decide that you would rather not be part of the Brotherhood, so be it, the help will not stop because of this."

A new smile comes to lips, "We are sisters, you and I. We have to take care of each other because no one else will. If you wish to learn to fight, then you will have teachers to learn how. If you wish to learn to use fire arms, I will teach you myself. The choices are all yours, there is no manipulation or coercion here."

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
"Humans hate and fear us because of our gifts," Madelyne starts. "But Superman and his ilk can walk around and be lauded for them. Wonder Woman, who is apparently a horrible person, isn't persecuted. God forbid I can move things with my mind, or the Queen does magnetism, or any of the rest of us can do things that aren't even useful! It's bullshit. I hate it. I want to help."

Her fury starts to do a little more than simmer, and, well, the powers come out. Licks of green and violet psychic fire wisp on her shoulders. "I want to be stronger so that the next time something like this happens, I can--" Make the perpetrators kill each other. "Make everyone leave." There is deep, terrible violence in this woman. Atrocity, even. Will she be more of a help than a liability?

"I'm in. Sign me up. I don't want to waste my gifts when they could be used to help our people." 'And destroy those who would harm us,' she thinks, but doesn't say.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique watches with a calm expression on her face as Madelyne's powers seep out. The flickering of greens and violets at her shoulders, the indication of control at the edge, and still she sits there watching. No fear.

"I'm pleased you've agreed to join us Madelyne, thank you," she offers once the woman seems to regain herself and offer her agreement to join.

"Would you like to come to the Asteroid now, finish your arrangements here first and come tomorrow, or something else?" She then asks, keeping locked inside her the sheer joy in finally having the possibility of helping a mentalist with their ability.

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
At the moment, Madelyne's powers are raw. Unrefined and hard to control. Her potential is absurd. Her template is the most powerful psychic on the planet. Madelyne has the potential to meet that level. Possibly even to exceed it, given her ruthless streak. What will she be willing to do in service to her people?

"I should honestly finish the last bits of paperwork before I go, I think, if that's not a problem," she says, the licks of her power dying off as her emotions come back under control. "If tomorrow works, then absolutely. If you send someone to fetch me, I'll be ready." She pauses. "I am ready for this. I won't let you, the Queen, or the rest of our people down."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Mystique shakes her head as she says, "No problem at all."

Reaching into the pocket of her long duster, she removes a small box and slides it across the table to Madelyne.

"That is a Brotherhood cellphone. Untracable by any means on earth," she smirks a little at that, a sparkle in her yellow eyes. She was quite pleased to have achieved that level of security, even if it required the twins to do it.

"The phone is programmed with numbers, including mine. When you are ready, however long you need, call me and I will ensure a teleport to the Asteroid for you. In the mean time, is there anything you need? Clothing, pocket money, craving a certain kind of food?" When she said she took care of her people, she meant it.

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
Maddy looks at the box as it's slid across the table. She stares at it for a long moment as Mystique gives her the rundown. Oh right, teleporting. They have people for that. She slowly reaches for it before looking up to meet Raven's gaze. Identical to Jean in every way, except her eyes. They are harder. Colder. Somehow more gemlike.

"Thank you. I'll give you my best." She shakes her head at the rest of it. "I'm fine. I lost my apartment, not my savings. I think I just need to...think, I guess. Prepare myself for my next step, you know? Learning to use my powers effectively and how to really fight isn't going to be easy." She smirks just a little. "Though from what I hear, there are some very good teachers in your organization."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Sitting back, Mystique crosses her legs again. "We have a considerable number of helpful mutants willing to share their knowledge and experience," she states, sounding all official and professional and then she grins, a real grin. Not one of her fake or practiced ones.

"If there is something you want to learn, we have someone who will teach you... and if there isn't someone in the group, we'll find you a mutant outside the organization to teach you."

Canting her head slightly, she takes a moment to study Madelyne. So say that the woman looking like Jean isn't unnerving would be a lie, but as an expert at concealing her true thinking and feelings it never showed. The difference in the eyes however, that is as obvious as day and night. Jean had grown up pampered and protected, one of the precious few mutants selected as 'special enough' to attend Xavier's school.

"I hope that you understand that you may take as much time as you wish. There is no pressure for you to be ready for action by any specific time, nor are you required to take any action you do not want to. You are free to pick and choose what you will or won't do. It is best that you go at your own pace."

Madelyne Pryor has posed:
"I understand," she says. "Things aren't going to stop because I need time to acclimate. I'll...do my best to get caught up as quickly as I can." She laughs a bit. "I mean, I guess the job search is over. So all I need to do is train, eat, and sleep, right?" She laughs a little, but she doesn't sound like she's joking. "I'll call you tomorrow. I'll head up to the Asteroid, and my new life can start."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Standing up, Mystique slides the chair back in where she found. "I will await your call, Madelyn, and have a room ready for you."

She looks as if she is about to leave but pauses, "Eat, drink, train, party a little, then back into it, but at your own pace. I believe in you, I know you will do your best. Have a good evening."

A soft smile is offered, and then the blue mutant turns and makes her way out of the room.