Owner	Pose
M'gann M'orzz	M'gann has asked J'onn over to the apartment, warning that she needs to discuss something both serious and important with him. Because today is more of a somber affair, she doesn't set out a spread, but she does make coffee (for J'onn) and tea (for herself). She's just barely finished making the tea, the coffee is sitting in the pot on its little burner, when J'onn arrives. Sending him the telepathic message that the door is unlocked and he can let himself in. She's in a fairly prim outfit today, a long-sleeved white shirt with a scooped neckline, a pair of worn but comfortable jeans, house slippers. Her hair has been pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she cups a large mug between her hands. "Uncle J'onn.. please, help yourself to coffee if you like. Or there's water in the fridge, if you'd rather. And.. thank you for coming over so quickly. I should have done this sooner, when you returned from your last trip to Mars, but I've been... afraid. Of your reaction." She looks at him, "But it needs to be said."
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz nods and is concerned. He listens, and intuitively senses its bad news. He assumes it might have something to do wth the last revelation about who she is dating but knows it could likely be anything. He wants to give reassurances, but if she has been keping something from him, such as criminal activity, he also doesnt want to lie to her, but telepathcially does resonate his care and confidence in her. He sips coffee and nods.
M'gann M'orzz	"I have.. been lying to you, Uncle J'onn. I was not raised on an ancient Mars installation full of Martian embryos, overseen by the Caretaker. I have... *had*.. parents. There are others where I came from.. but they are not friendly, for the most part." M'gann draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, staring down into her mug briefly. "I am a White Martian, J'onn. Not Green. My parents were both White Martians, and I grew up on a colony on Zythel, in the Vega system." She lifts her eyes to his, sending him the mental image of her true form, letting him see the truth of her childhood in his mind's eye. That she was different from other White Martians, but that her parents didn't have her killed for her weakness (for being kind). That they instead enrolled her in the most brutal training the White Martian Academy had to offer in the hopes that the traditions and training would change her. She shows him what it was like, going through the Military Academy, the isolation and distaste for their expectations. How she discovered the transmissions J'onn had been sending after some experiments with subspace communication devices, and how Green Martians were more like her in temperament. How she excelled at the courses in the Academy but failed the advanced combat training three times for refusing to kill, leading her to drop out of the Academy. How news of the devastation of the Green Martians reached Zythel and an expedition was planned to Mars. How she made a plan on how to get away, talking her parents into letting her join the expedition as an assistant, with the intent to flee to Earth at the first opportunity. How they find the turth of the devastation on Mars but also the technology left behind from the incasion of Earth, and that they took a Bioship to go investigate, but were shot down. How most of the crew died, but for M'gann and her parents and a few others that were taken to the DEO for study. How her parents were tortured and experimented and eventually killed on in front of her, leading to M'gann's mental breakdown. The anguish over having killed to escape, even if in a fugue state at the time. How she'd been trying to hide as a human under the guise of Megan Morse when she saw him on tv and determined to find him, to do something to atone for her actions. At the end, M'gann is weeping freely, but still looking to J'onn as she submits herself to his judgment. She's lied. She's even killed. But she's also been terrified, tortured, and persecuted. All while trying to find the Green Martians that were supposed to be more like herself.
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz considers this, for a few moments. Years and years of meditation and blending in among humans has made his default reactionto be kind. He listens, and howshe can feel both fury and sadness for her warring beneath the surface. Its a chaos and primal fugue of emotion and images, visceral memories of torture and loss at the hands of the White Martians for his family and everything he ever cared about and loved. The undoing of his final sacrifice and victory, but redemption for a choin of his race. Its more than he can bear and so she sees the walls go up. 5rTotal, as if he didnt exista she verballs says, "That took courage. And for that, I thank you." He is silent. Pondering.
M'gann M'orzz	"I don't.. I don't expect forgiveness.. or absolution. You deserved to know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but after finding out about... your past.. I was afraid to say anything," M'gann blinks then shakes her head. "But that is no excuse. So, I will submit myself for whatever judgment you deem fit." Standing there, she can *feel* the walls go up around him, shutting her out as she lets out a soft breath and nods. "I understand. If there is anything I can do to.. well, I will be here. And I will do whatever necessary to make amends." M'gann lifts her mug to sip at her tea and waits patiently. Letting him think.
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz takes a deep breath, "We have shared a bond...a powerful one. Its more than just a lie M'gann....I am, now, again, the last of my kind. A regualr lie would be forgivable...I know you and know your mind...this..." He shakes his head slowly.
M'gann M'orzz	"If you know me, then you know that I didn't undertake such a deception lightly. You would also know that the form I was born to, is not *me*. I do not have their taste for violence, for brutality. If you are going to so suddenly change your mind about me, then you never truly knew me at all," M'gann turns away from him and carries her mug into the kitchen. Pouring what's left of it down the drain, she rinses the mug out and sets it aside, moving back into the other room to look at J'onn, "You have been a mentor to me, and a friend. If this is what ends that, I will be sad for it, but I am not going to be sorry for protecting myself. My introduction to this planet that you love so much was the torture and murder of my parents by the government you support. That would have been my fate as well, had I not escaped. And I have been hiding ever since. Terrified of being found and taken back. If you cannot accept that, then I am sorry."
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz shakes his head,"I have not changed my mind about you but that is what makes it worse. I know you are not typical for a white martian. I am glad for that, but we have been very close for a long time...Since you ARENT the last of your kind, I feel..." he pauses, "Telepathy is not quite enough to feel being the last of my kind. But..." anxious for a chacne to change things up, "And I am glad you did not the bad behavior of the humans taint you against them.
M'gann M'orzz	"I may not be the last of my kind, J'onn, but I am the ONLY one of my kind. It is only through the 'weakness' of my parents that I was allowed to live at all. I do understand you, J'onn. The loneliness, the isolation, the fear... I know the feelings all too well," M'gann looks to J'onn, features softening as she lets out a breath. "I would be a terrible hypocrite if I condemned an entire race for the actions of a few. I am asking others to overlook a race of murderous barbarism to see me differently."
J'onn J'onzz	"Was it because of how they raised you? Is there a chance that there are more..." he pauses and then considers, "Wait, so there ARE other White Martians out there?" He considers, "I am not sure that you do know the feeling M'gann, but I do know what it is like to be misunderstood and wont compare tragedy." He sighs and takes a deep breath, "I wont lie...getting over this will take time, but I trust you and care for you. We still share more of a common heritage than anyone else on this world."
M'gann M'orzz	"There are a great deal more White Martians. They live in the Vega system and are embroiled in a war with the Tamaraneans. Having learned about Earth, I can guarantee you that the ship that brought me here will not be the last one my people send. They have learned that Mars is empty, barren, and also that Earth is populated with a so-called 'weaker' race. Eventually they will send another ship to explore the possibility of re-colonizing Mars, and enslaving the Earth.." M'gann watches him for a long moment. Turning away, she gives a nod, "I won't force proximity on you, J'onn. Take what time you need... I will be here."
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz puts a hand on her shoulder. "I dont need time away M'gann. The opposite. It will take time for the hurt to go away." His voice is warm, though there is an underlying pain. The lack of lowered shields speaks of a larger gulf of course, but they share enough of a bond that she can tell the wound is exceptionally deep, and the maelstrom of emotions is complicated even if occlued. "If they are a threat to the Earth, you would do well to warn the League. I know you and have been literally in your mind. Others will not understand if White Martians DO come and they find out about it then. It will help if I vouch for you, and I will, but concealment is....not wise. But the timing on this is yours to command. I will back up any choice you make."
M'gann M'orzz	Glancing back to J'onn, M'gann gives a small nod, "I understand. I'm not going anywhere, J'onn. I have a life here, friends, people I care about deeply.." She doesn't smile, but there's a softness to her expression, a gentleness, that suggests she appreciates his support. "I will reach out to Princess Diana and seek her advice if this is deserving of a League meeting, or if a filed report will be sufficient. I don't wish to unnecessarily alarm anyone. I'm uncertain *when* another ship would be sent, only that they will not give up so easily on the possibility of reclaiming Mars after their having been exiled," M'gann looks to J'onn and gives a nod. "No concealment, but no undue panic, either."
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz nods, "I would definitely tell the gentleman you are dating. And anyone else you are close to. Anyone you consider family like me. Balance sounds wise. In the mean time, I will include details about the White Martians in the League files in case they show up and either of us are elsewise occupied. I can say that Diana has a good head on her shoulders, so among senion leadership, she is the best one to start." If not stopped, he will hug her.
M'gann M'orzz	"I will. I hate that I've been living a lie, and I will be rectifying that shortly." M'gann looks to J'onn with a faint smile, "Thank you. For your help, and for your understanding." Turning back towards him, M'gann will return his hug, holding tight to him for a few moments before pulling back to look up at him, "I hope that there are others like me, other White Martians that seek to live in peace. If I can help to find them, I will."
J'onn J'onzz	J'onn J'onzz says, "If humans get better, and they have despite their willful ignorance on the star port; the white martians will as well. I imagine, honestly, you will even be an inspiration to many of them. I will be glad to help you if opportunity arrives."