1964-08-16 - A New Hope
Summary: Hope arrives
Related: If there are no related logs, put 'None', — please don't leave blank!
Theme Song: None
lorna warren julie xavier jean-paul hope 


Lorna sat on a chair on the back patio. A figure wrapped up in a towel, her hair damp and hanging around her features, plastered to her cheeks. She'd gone swimming. And without someone else's cajolement. Still it hadn't meant that she'd joined any of the other students. Hadn't laughed or smiled. Hadn't engaged them in conversation. In fact she had pointedly avoided them as much as possible.

Now she sat in a chair, in the shade of the afternoon, curled up with a fluffy white towel and staring out mutedly at the backyard where a few students that had energy for it were heading to the lake.

*

Julie is just coming out to said patio, from the kitchens, with a bottle of Pepsi in hand, and sort of phewing a bit as the air's a bit cooler there, at least than just next to the stove. She's also dogding a couple of the straggler kids as they run for the lake, too. She strolls on up to the patio wall to lean, there, quiet, for the moment.

*

Lorna glanced up toward Julie as the woman exited the kitchens to the back patio. She shifted on her chair, but didn't smile or offer a hello. Instead she only managed to look vaguely uncomfortable for a while. Even as the kids ran for the lake, calling out jokes and teasing the others that lagged behind for being slow pokes. A sigh dragged from Lorna's lips, and she reached up to start the process of squeezing out cold lake water from her hair. It was beginning to cool off too much to remain still and in the shade.

".. You don't have to make anything for me Julie.. I'm not hungry." She murmured softly.

*

A gentle breeze wafts over the patio, something passing by causing a shadow to block out the sun for a brief moment. Something falls gentley into Lorna's lap from above. A single flower, a yellow rose, lays across her legs with a note attached. It is just the letter 'I'. Over the next minute, the shadow passes overhead 6 more times, and another half dozen roses land around Lorna, each with another note baring a letter. 'M'. 'S'.'O'. 'R'. 'R'. 'Y'.

After the last flower falls, Warren descends to hover a few feet away and above Lorna, the last 5 roses in a vase loosely clutched in his hand. "I was an ass. I had no right, and I truly am sorry."

*

Julie smiles a little. "Well, I'm making the food, anyway, only question is if you get your share before everyone else does." Sighs a bit quietly. "Still, you ain't been eating, that's no good after a shock, you'll only end up in a worse funk and all. So maybe we oughtta just nag you. She does offer another Pepsi from an apron pocket. "Lake must be pretty nice, today." she's starting to say, when she starts noticing shadows and roses falling from the sky. Warren gets a bit of a salute. And a quizzical tilt of the head, since she doesn't know much of what's been going on for Lorna since the rescue.

*

Lorna shifted in her seat, biting her lower lip sa Julie mentioned her not eating and offered her a pepsi. She shook her head, "No thank you.. I.. it's I'm just not hungry Julie. Really.. I just. The thought of eating most things kind of turns my stomach. Maybe.. uh.. I'll make some soup later or something from the pantry." She wasn't very likely to follow through with that either. Her depression was gaining ground and it seemed to be a losing battle with the green haired mutant.

"The.. lake.. was fine.. I gues." She shrugged.

As the first flower falls into Lorna's lap she blinks, looking startled as she reached for it andturned it around to see the note. Then, as each plops down into her lap in order she slowly finds herself gathering them up in her arms. She gaped at the last one, turning her gaze upwards as Warren lowered himself down with more roses in a vase. A hand pressed her lips, and she flushed, looking down at her lap.

".. It's.. it's okay.. I.. Uh.." She exhaled a breath, holding the flowers close, and a blush colored her cheeks. "I mean.. uhm.. ah.. I forgive you. It's okay. I'm.. fine. You.. you weren't so bad." She mumbled, darting a glance back to him offering a shaky smile.

*

"No, I was an asshole." Warren states matter of factly. He lowers himself down to touch the ground, his wings folding in on themselves as he takes the last few steps over towards Lorna, offering over the vase. "I said things that were just rude, and I was taking my own frustrations out on you, and you didn't deserve it. Any of it. I know the flowers don't make up for what happened to you, but at least I can try to make things right between us. I think we need to deal with this together to get through it, not separately." He offers Lorna a smile, then turns his attention over to Julie "Hey Diz. If you got a spare can in there somewhere, I'll take it. Or something harder if you got it."

*

Julie ahs, handing the extra bottle of Pepsi Lorna turned down over, popping the top. "Got some beer stashed, anyway. Some table wine for dinner if that's cool with the school rules."

*

Warren's words brought an warmer, gentler, smile to Lorna's features as she took the vase with care. Slowly, she untied the notes from each flower on her lap and transferred them to the vase one by one. Save the last, that one she carefully broke off part of the stem and tucked it behind her ear. A burst of yellow against the deep verdant green of her hair.

Finally, she exhaled a shaky breath, looking back to Warren. The blush still dusting her cheeks made her look more like her old self, chasing away the shadows that hid in her expression recently. "Thank you, Warren. This is really sweet of you." She turned her gaze to the flowers, running her finger tips against the tops. "I.. think it's a good idea to work through this together too." She mumbled, biting her lower lip. Her gaze shifting back toward Julie.

"I know where Uncle Charlie keeps things.." She offered softly.

*

Warren nods, offering a gentle smile back to the emerald haired young woman in return. "I got a visit from Thea, she put some things into perspective. I mean, I already knew I was an ass towards you and felt horrid already, but she brought other things to light…like I am still who I am, just look different." He shrugs looking from Lorna to Julie and back, "Tell you what, i'll go make a call and get some drinks delivered. The least I can do is pay for the drinks for the picnic."

*

Julie winks to Warren, "Well, all right, if you insist." Glances up to the skies, though, and says, "So, how's the weather looking from up there, if we're talking picnic. Kinda cooling off nice, so we could maybe make it al fresco if I can get some help setting table out here and all."

*

Lorna had clearly been out swimming in the lake, her hair still damp, but with the addition of a yellow rose tucked behind an ear. She held a vase filled with more of the roses on her lap, and she was smiling at Warren. The first smile that didn't include tears for days. She had yet to eat properly, and had raised more than a few concerns with other students over the past few days.

Still as Warren spoke, Lorna could help but continue to smile. "She's a smart lady. You're still you, new cosmetics or not, Warren." She glanced over him, biting her lower lip. "I think your new wings are beautiful though." She whispered softly, blushing as she looked down at her lap as he went to leave. She waved, fidgeting in her seat as he departed. "Bye."

Her gaze swung back toward Julie as the young woman talked about eating outside. She shrugged, her smile fading somewhat. "I guess.. bet the other students would like it."

*

The Professor has been… a little scarce the past few days. Most of his meetings were cancelled, and he has been spending time in, well, some degree of seclusion. Though right now, he's not secluded, mostly because his stomach was grumbling insistently at him and he smelled the faint whiff of truly inspired lasagna.

So, down he comes wearing a Xavier Institute sweatshirt and… jeans. He's wearing jeans. And white socks.

Maybe he's a Skrull?

*

Well, it's a strange day all around. Dizzy's out on the patio, since she's holding a glass bottle of Pepsi and wearing an apron. Likely responsible for the smell of baking lasagne coming from the kitchens. Well, OK, it's an apron that says "Certified Studebaker Service" on it, so it's probably still Diz. She glances over and says, "Well, hey, there, Professor," she says, and smirks to Lorna, "Well, you oughtta give it a try, anyway, set a good example for all the sad-sacks around here this week," she winks.

*

Lorna blinked repeatedly as Charles came out of the mansion out back and wearing.. jean?! Well no wonder the telepath hadn't been around to check on her. Clearly he was going through his own crisis. She gaped, then her brows furrowed, shifting her grip on the vase of roses to set it down on the ground beside her chair. "Uncle Charlie?" She tilted her head to the side. Her mind a flutter.

Her gaze swung back toward Diz and she frowned faintly, "I.. uhm.. like I said Julie.. I'm .. I'm not really hungry.. and I don't.. I don't think around a lot of people is a good idea either.." She mumbled, her shoulders hunching forward slightly. Her avoidance behavior and depression slamming back into her with a sudden weight at the thought of being outside around the other students for any length of time.

*

Charles smiles over at Lorna, "Yes, I know… just felt a bit… casual today." His hair looks a little rumpled, and he has a slight grin that just can't seem to go away, "Everything alright out here?" The grin fades a bit as he looks over at Lorna, "How about we just have a private dinner then. The three of us? I mean, the other students will be fine." And he makes a mental note to bring some up for Moira later…

*

Julie smiles a bit. "Ah, well, made enough for about everyone we could expect, but sure," she says. "Never said where anyone's gotta eat it, after all." She glances back to the sky, and says, "Warren's supposed to back in a bit: he decided to make a run for some extra beverages." She glances to Lorna, cause, well, it seems she'd often rather talk to people alone than have Diz hanging around.

*

Lorna blinked again at Charles, but didn't say anything further in regards to the jeans. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him wear them. Her humor faded rapidly as he asked if everything was alright. Her thoughts rapidly swirling with her own conflicting feelings and thoughts. But they were all her own this time. And it wasn't good. Self loathing, guilt, hurt over Kaleb, and misery mixed with the ever present fatigue that dragged at her limbs.

At the mention of the private dinner, she shook her head, biting her lower lip. Her fingers reached up, picking the rose she'd tucked behind and ear and removing it. Instead she started to twirl it between her fingers. Her gaze held low.

"I.. I'm not hungry. I.. I think I might go to bed again. I'm just tired." She mumbled. Lorna hadn't been eating properly. The only things she'd managed were what Xi'an and Sophie had managed to get her to eat. And even then.. it wasn't much. Rice, soup and some hot chocolate made up what little she'd nibbled on in the last few days. And she well knew that her mismanagement of her powers was stemming from her lack of proper food. But she didn't care.

*

Charles crosses his arms and looks at Lorna, "Lorna… you need to eat something. Otherwise if you keep pushing yourself like this you're going to end up in the medbay anyway." He sighs a bit, "Punishing yourself over things you can't control doesn't help. Believe me, I'm an expert in the subject." Though, recent encounters have helped that tendency quite a bit, for Charles at least.

*

Julie nods. She frowns a bit, and just sort of squats by where Lorna's sitting, says, well, basically mildly. "Lissen, I know sometimes there's days when you just don't wanna feel better, but, yaknow. whatever you're upset about probably don't really need you starving yourself over it. It could be a thing a while, regardless. And, hey, it ain't all bad. We got two other kids out of there, too, it turns out. I dunno what else happened, but there's that."

*

Lorna hunched forward, her shoulders rising as she tried to avoid meeting Charles' or Julie's gazes. She swallowed the hard lump in her throat, her focus turning to the rose in her hand. "..I deserve it." She whispered, "I .. it's my fault. Everything.. I-I.. and.." She trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes as she swallowed a hard lump in her throat.

As Julie mentioned the two young mutants she flinched, and fell silent.

*

Charles looks at Lorna, "No you didn't deserve it." He shakes his head, "Now, Lorna, you forgot the first lesson that I teach all the students here. Why do we fall down?" He looks a bit stern, but not uncaring as he looks at Lorna, waiting for her to answer his question.

*

Julie ahs, crouching by Lorna to be kind of more at eye-level, …she glances to Xavier on that revelation. She ahs. "Well, I guess I didn't see you when that was going on, …I mean, not when you was conscious, anyway. But it sounds like you had your head messed with enough by that thing as it is, already. I dunno much, but it sounds like you may as well not take over where that thing left off."

*

Hope thought she could lose Jean-Paul. She had a general idea of where the school was, she'd managed to leech off enough of his powers to get a head start. So the moment he looked away, she borrowed a bit of super-fast flight and took off for the school. The last time she was here, at least a hundred years in the future, it was little more than a pile of rubble with just a few supplies left. Now? Now it looks…nice.

It's probably going to look slightly less nice when Hope finishes botching her super-flight landing, skidding across the back lawn and leaving a divot in the grass.

*

Lorna shook her head at Charles' question, curling up over her knees as she drew them close. She hugged them with both of her arms and she bit her lower lip, the yellow rose tucked carefully off to the side. She hadn't burst into tears fully, though her eyes were glassy. "I don't know.." She whispered. Further comment was broken off as Julie spoke and she shrugged once.

Of course, that's when Hope crash landed into grass, leaving a divot in the grass. She jumped, gaping as she stared and scooted back in her chair as far as she could possibly go. "W-what was that?!"

*

Tsk, Hope. Learning curve, remember? She might have Jean-Paul's potential but not his experience at using his powers. She might have had a second or two head start but it's certainly not enough to lose him and he's only a second or two behind hjer, touching down lightly next to her and shaking his head with an amused chuckle. "Any landing you can walk away from, non? You can walk away from it, oui?"

*

Charles says, "So you can pick yourself up." He looks about to say something else, but that's when Hope faceplants into the back yard, the Professor wincing as the grass goes flying. Then he looks over at Jean-Paul, giving a quick wave to the pair of fliers when they arrive.

*

Julie smirks. "What'd I tell you," she says in a New York Italian accent, "You make a lotta lasagne, everyone comes out of the woodwork." She is, after all, wearing an apron, albeit a shop apron with the legend 'Certified Studebaker Service' on it. Sighs a little and gives one of her sad smirks, …Lorna not being one who goes for 'being cheered up' most of the time. Does look the flying newcomers over, though.

*

Hope curses up a blue streak from the grass, brushing herself off. She looks ridiculous - an oversized pair of jeans, a souvenir t-shirt from Coney-Island that reaches her knees. Plus the flying wasn't all that great for her hair. "Probably," she mutters to Jean-Paul, lying in the grass for another moment before she pushes herself up and brushes herself off. Sure, she's definitely going to feel that in the morning. But she's not letting anyone know just how much it hurts, either. "Sorry! Hi!" she calls over, waving.

*

Lorna glanced at Charles as he answered the little saying, a smart remark crossing her mind along the lines of. 'No someone pushes you or you trip. That's why you fell.' But she didn't verbalize it at least. Then her attention shift to Julie and back toward the crash-landing and Jean-Paul. She blinked, repeatedly, her brows furrowing.

"Uhm.."

*

Jean-Paul continues to look amused but makes no effort to assist Hope to her feet. Instead, he looks around at the estate grounds, finally ending on the people in the distance. "And are those your future friends? You are still sticking with that tale, non? I am still not certain you are not a villain in… oversized sheep's clothing."

*

Charles gives Lorna a /look/, clearly picking up her thoughts as he then waves towards Jean-Paul and Hope, "Well, hello there. We normally don't have visitors just drop in quite like that." He glances between the two, walking over towards them. Unlike his normal attire, he's wearing a very casual sweatshirt with 'Xavier Institute of Higher Learning' on it, along with the school's logo, and blue jeans. Not really looking like a Professor as he says, "Is there something I can do for you?"

*

Hope shoots a dirty look at Jean-Paul, but waits until she's closer. "I'm sorry, I tried to lose him," she points a thumb toward Jean-Paul. "I…My name is Hope. Hope Summers. And I don't belong right now, but I sort of got stranded, and Nathan always said…Nathan said that if I was ever in trouble, then this would be a safe place to go. Although I'm not sure how you're going to help me right now. I'm pretty sure I need Tony Stark or Reed Richards."

*

Lorna squirmed under the look Charles sent her way, but otherwise didn't say anything more in regards to the saying. She fidgeted, biting her lower lip as she glanced toward the new arrivals. She blinked, sitting up as she glanced over Hope, her eyebrows shooting upwards. Slowly, Lorna got up from her seat, tip toeing barefoot over the patio to the edge.

"Hope? Oh my gosh.." Her mouth fell open and she gaped, glancing back toward Charles briefly and back. It sounded like her friend Hope. Looked like her friend Hope.. but that mention about being stranded and.. well, Lorna didn't exactly go running over to the other young woman straight away.

Time travel was so over her head.

*

"She is from the future." Jean-Paul adds helpfully. "Or perhaps she is merely looking to lull your suspicions in order to kill you all. Then again, she might merely be insane. Of course, any combination of the above is also possible so I would be wary, monsieur."

*

Charles blinks a bit, as he looks at Hope, "Well, she hasn't stated that I can't exist because I'm dead, so that's a good start I suppose… Hope?" He tilts his head curiously towards her, then looks at Jean-Paul, "I didn't catch your name, actually?" Though he can sense they're both mutants, given the proximity, but he's not gauche enough to just poke around their heads.

*

Julie ahs, as big names are mentioned, straightening. Follows the Prof's lead, at least about the newcomer being a mutant she just smiles. Gestures broadly, "Whattya mean, you don't belong now? Lasagne's just cooling down a bit longer, so you're just in time."

*

Hope rolls her eyes at Jean-Paul. "I'm not here to kill you. God, I literally just left a time when everyone who isn't a mutant thinks I exist for the sole purpose of ruining their world, now I get here and the mutants think I'm going to ruin the world. And I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to be dead, Professor," she adds to Charles. "Actually, I'm pretty sure if you were it would be really bad for the future. So, yay, you're here, and you're alive, and this place isn't a ruin, which is great, but…I need to get back to my time." There's a glance to Lorna and Julie - perhaps especially at the thought of food - but she's determined.

*

Lorna took another step toward Hope, biting her lower lip as a glance was spared toward the strange man. "She is from the future. I've met her.. I mean another her from another future, I think." She mumbled, her cheeks turning hot as she looked over Hope, her brows furrowing.

"I'm Lorna Dane. Uhm.. I was friends with a different version of you? I think? I mean.. she said in fifty years the world was basically trashed and stuff.." She winced, "Uhm.. I think this might be a good place for you to start at least. The other Hope and my nephew Tommy headed back that way somehow."

*

"Jean-Paul Beaubier." he says, giving Xavier a nod. "Former Olympic gold medalist, mutant, homosexual, and socialist lecturer and revolutionary. Not necessarily in that order. A pleasure, monsieur and mademoiselles." At Lorna's revelation, he turns to consider Hope appraisingly. "So perhaps one out of three is correct?"

*

The Professor furrows his brow a bit, "Well, that's good to know… but yes, we've encountered a… I suppose it's a different you, that seemed to be from a far grimmer place." He smiles, "Though, Hope, you are more than welcome to stay until we figure out how to get you back."

With that, he extends a hand to Jean-Paul, "A pleasure to meet you, Jean-Paul. Thanks for helping her get here." Charles doesn't look fazed at all by Jean-Paul's introduction, saying, "Professor Charles Xavier, I'm the headmaster here." He doesn't mention his other talents, though he does note, "If you ever find yourself in need of assistance, don't be afraid to come by and ask." With that, he offers Jean-Paul a business card for the school.

*

Julie ahs. Checks a kind of chunky-looking, but very analog, racer's watch on her wrist. Cause lap timers are useful cooking, too, and smiles. "Dizzy Bottero. I kinda met the other Hope, too, once or twice." …And she ahs to Jean-Paul, poking the air with a finger in recognition, even if there's an impulse to look over her own shoulder at something among what he says. "Hey, I read a couple of your articles," she says, enthusiastically enough. Pauses then and says, "Arright, wait a minute," she says to Lorna. "Jersey Tommy? He's your nephew from the future?" She hrms. "No wonder he was always in a hurry, I guess."

*

Hope tilts her head, looking at Julie and Lorna. "That's…weird. I'm used to people knowing me from when I was a baby, but it's weird to think that you met me at…some other point. Now I get why Nathan's always so weird around people," she muses, though she nods as she turns back to Charles. "Thank you. It's important. We were in the middle of helping a new mutant. Since they've started coming up again, their powers are unstable, so I have to- Well. I'm starting to think maybe it was a side effect of that. But hey, the good thing about time travel is it doesn't matter when you figure it out because you can always go back to right when you need to be, right?"

*

Jean-Paul takes the card and gives it a quick look before slipping it into a pocket as he considers Xavier. "My thanks for the offer though I'd be more likely to call upon the Avengers or Fantastic Four should I require any. Indeed monsieur, if you are what I suspect you are, assuming that our friend here is what she claims she is, then I offer my assistance to you." Turning to Julie, he gives her a smile. "Then you subscribe to some subversive publications." Mostly college ones. "I applaud your good taste."

*

Charles raises an eyebrow at Hope as she mentions that mutants were appearing 'again', but decides not to pursue that line of questioning, as he hmms at Jean-Paul, "Actually, I think I read a few of them myself. Very well written, I must say. Concise and informative." He then grins at Hope, "I'll take your word for it, as far as time travel is concerned, but we can probably get you back eventually, we just would need to figure out how."

*

Julie nods, to Jean-Paul, "Ah, maybe I do." Adds, a little hastily, "Ain't no Commie, though, unless maybe you ask that Nixon guy or something. Still, to each… Lasagne bolognese." Smiles, then sighs, a bit, as Lorna withdraws from the conversation. "It's been kind of a busy week or two, and there's more to do, soon." Eyes that timer again.

*

Hope shoots another look at Jean-Paul, grimacing. "Seriously. Why would I make that up? I've been hunted my entire life. I've fought every minute of every day just to go back to my own time and fight again. Why would anyone make that up? It's not exactly a paradise life."

*

"Socialism is not communism." Jean-Paul points out. "Not that there's anything wrong with the latter in theory. However, like democracy, once you involve people it often, shall we say, quickly turns to merde." To Hope, he hold up a hand, palm up in a 'who can say' gesture. "To give the impression of a certain nobility? Insanity has still not been ruled out either."

*

The Professor glances between Jean-Paul and Hope, then addresses the latter, "Well, if you want, there's one easy way to settle this. Though, then the problem would become discovering something that could change the future." He gets a bit of a wry expression, "So I wouldn't exactly like to do that, but it is an option."

*

Julie nods, to Jean Paul, like she's aware of that, perhaps, …from actually reading things, but pauses to look Hope over again. "Same face, anyway…" She snaps her fingers. "Summers, you say? Maybe you remember some old story about your relatives that ain't too risky or something."

*

"Relatives is…relative," Hope smiles faintly to Julie. "We're not actually blood related. Nathan's who they sent me away with. He raised me. So. I sort of picked up the name."

*

Jean-Paul takes a small step to the side, symbolically placing himself outside of whatever is going to happen between Hope and Xavier. "I am curious as to why you would want to make certain that future happens when it seems to be quite unpleasant from the little you've said. Instead, you should tell us all there is to know in order that we may take steps to see to it that it doesn't happen."

*

Charles looks wryly at Jean-Paul, "Because the future isn't set, though… well, I wouldn't wish to abuse knowledge of it, if it maybe caused something worse." He looks at Hope, and just asks her, "So… what do you think? It's your mind I'd be joining with to verify your story."

*

Julie hrms, nods. "I guess the more we tried to change things, the less what she remembers would even matter, so hey. She's already here, anyway."

*

Hope pushes a hand through her hair, grimacing faintly. "It's…fine. I might not be good at it. I don't usually get along very well with telepaths. Or sharing. But…if it helps, yeah, I can try."

*

Joining minds? Jean-Paul studies Xavier in a new light, perhaps liking what he sees a bit less with this new information as he loses the air of amusement. Telepath. "From the sound of it, her future would be no loss and worse would be difficult."

*

Julie just shoots a cautioning look to Jean-Paul on *that* statement. A later Hope didn't seem exactly like she came from a nice neighborhood. "Couple years ago, seems we were this far from getting blown to smithereens, so I dunno bout that. Anyway, she's trying to help *her* time, and no sense she does it on an empty stomach, I figure. Here, howsabout you give me a hand with some plates and stuff while they do this." Smirks a bit.

*

The Professor nods, "It's alright, Hope, this will be brief." He places a hand to his temple, and then he's suddenly in her mind, a quick look to make sure that she is telling the truth. In exchange, well, he feels a little obligated to share his own experiences with Hope, if she wished to see. Korea. Founding the School…

*

Despite her offer to share, Hope's mind still offers some resistance at first. She's guarded, and once he's past that, he can see why. A childhood rushes through various apocalyptic wastelands, most often completely alone except for the company of an older man with what appears to be a metal arm. Nathan. He looms large in her memories, the only constant in a life of chaos. When she returns to more familiar times, there are other faces. Older than he knows, but familiar all the same. And the battle is fierce, vicious, against men and women determined to see her dead. The school doesn't bear his name - it bears another, though it's more or less the same place. And for a moment, a glimpse of a familiar fiery form.

*

Jean-Paul glances over at Julie and then there's a blur and rush of wind as Jean-Paul is gone. Seconds later, there are plates, utensils, glasses and napkins on the closest table and he's standing where he was, watching Xavier and Hope. "I leave the food to you, mademoiselle." he comments idly.

*

Julie's eyebrows leap up and she whoas as things are set out, just like that. "Arright, then, I'll be back in a jiff. Though that was like a 64th of a jiff, so it could be like at least a jiff and a half." She winks, though she's soon to return with a good-sized pan held in some potholders, and a bottle of table-wine in the pockets of her shop apron.

*

The Professor blinks, then looks at Hope, "I sincerely hope that your future can still be changed. But we'll… we'll see, won't we." He then looks over at Jean-Paul, "She's… being truthful. And honestly, I could use a drink." Because some of those images were disturbing. Fire and Life Incarnate…

*

There isn't any real sound that announces Warren's arrival. The metal winged 'Angel' descends from the heavens quietly, the shadow of his body and 16' wingspan falling over the patio until his feet touch the ground. "Did someone say drink?" Warren strides forward as his wings collapse into his back with a scraping metal on metal sound. His arm is outstretched, a basket of various bottles of wine and other spirits dangling from his grasp. "I didn't know what people would want, so I brought a little bit of everything, so pick your poison."

*

"Sorry," Hope says quietly when Charles mentions needing a drink. "I know it's not…great. But we were winning. We were starting to make a difference again. We won the war. And much as I'd like to not need that future, I don't know what led to it. I'm not sure it can be avoided. Nathan would know better than I do, but he- He didn't make it through the battle."

*

As Warren lands, she half-turns to catch sight of him, a small smile flickering at his wings. "See? I could've just run into him," she points a thumb toward Warren with a look at Jean-Paul.

*

"Bon. In that case, I will leave her in your hands. I am due to speak in Seattle in an hour and do not wish to rush." Jean-Paul glances up at the shadow then nods once to Warren. "Messieur. Mesdemoiselles. I shall return at some point." Promise or threat, he flies up into the sky slowly enough not to rock anyone or anything but a moment later, a sonic boom can be heard in the distance.

*

Jean-Paul goes home.

*

Julie watches Jean-Paul zoom off, just as she's setting the pan down and making to start doling out portions. The sonic boom, especially without the attendant bright lines of spinniness usually accompanying such things, earns her generation's praise with a quiet, "Crazy." A pause, then. "Arright, what was his hurry all of a sudden? I guess more for us." She does intend to feed this crowd, and by sounds from inside, there's summer students inside in feeding frenzy. "Hey, Warren. I dunno if you met Hope? That was Jean-Paul, the famous guy from Canada."

*

Charles shakes his head a bit, "Warren, how are you?" He smiles over that way, then he frowns, head tilting just a touch, "Ah, forgive me, but I might need to get going… er, I'm desperately needed for a meeting of.. ah, things, yes, consultations, excuse me." And with that, he hustles off rather quickly, though he does snatch a bottle of scotch from Warren on the way out.

*

"I don't believe I have met them, no." Warren says casting a glance up towards the sky in the direction of the sonic boom. "I am pretty sure I remember the name though." He turns to look at Holly, giving her a nod and a small smile. "Evening. I'm Warren, as Diz mentioned." He turns to Xavier, about to answer the man and then just closes his mouth, shaking his head. "A meeting of things. Consultations…is /that/ what we are calling it now? And he takes the scotch."

*

Hope catches her lower lip between her teeth for a moment as Xavier leaves, sheepish. "Sorry," she says to Julie, since she's the only one who was here from the beginning to know what she's apologizing for. "I didn't…I mean, I guess I'm just used to it. But it's a lot to take in." She looks back to Warren then, smile tight. "Nice to meet you, Warren. I'm Hope. And that smells really good," she adds with a look to the food.

*

Julie winks. Doles out portions of the stuff, all fluffy ricotta and a mix of meats and thick pasta rolled out from a sack of dough from the old neighborhood. "I had my auntie cook us up a pot of the sauce, kind of in case we needed it after a bit of a rescue mission. Or I guess for the rest of mi familia in case I got croaked or something, so anyway, let's have at it. I guess you came from a long way, that's always good luck at dinner, believe it or not." She winks. Well, it's red wine with lasagne, but it's likely Warren brought a better one than she sets out.

*

Setting the basket down on the table, Warren gives hope another nod and a smile, "A pleasure. So, where are you from? Diz says you came a long way?"

He looks to Julie and then glances around as he starts to remove bottles from the basket in front of him, "I thought this was supposed to be a party. I guess people had other plans? But I do have to agree, that smells amazing. I haven't had a good lasagne in…well, months at the very least."

*

"The future," Hope answers Warren ruefully. "It's a long story, there's a lot of fighting and dying, not sure just how I got here. But glad I made it here," she adds with a flash of a smile for Julie as she takes a plate loaded with food. "Thanks," she nods, before promptly starting to dig in. And boy does she dig in. It's like she's not exactly used to having copious amounts of food available.

*

Julie ahs, "Well, maybe kind of a casual party. I guess the Prof's got some, ah, stuff to do." She does sigh a bit, but she does come from a long line of Italian Moms, and feeding people is almost instinctive, despite the fact she doesn't seem to carry extra weight, herself. Probably too busy wrenching. She produces a corkscrew, though, to open whatever wine. It turns in her hand of its own accord, seemingly, and she winks.

*

Warren turns his head and arches his brow at Hope. "The future? I mean, it isn't the craziest thing I have ever heard. All sorts of interesting things going on now a days. So, how far? Doesn't sound like it is a good future, so…welcome to the past? Hope it turns out better for you?" He shrugs a shoulder and reaches into the basket to pull out a small brown bottle, flicking the top off with his thumb before taking a pull. "Well, i'm starving so their loss is my gain. I'll take an extra helping."

*

"All over, really," Hope says, as if it's the sort of normal thing people say. Like where are you from? Oh, we moved around. Only with time. "We didn't really stick around for long most places. We had to keep moving. This is really good," she says around a mouthful of food, pointing at the plate with her fork.

*

Julie smiles a bit, "Arright, a double for the senior Birdman present," she jests, and applies said corkscrew to a bottle of red wine, with a slight 'vrrr' sound coming from somewhere as it screws itself in, so she can lever it out, long practice showing there. She lets that sit while she doles out an extra portion for Warren. An abbreviated period of letting the wine breathe, while she smiles. "Thanks. They might tell you different, but I don't spend *all* my time in or under a car." She does pause a minute, thinking about that bit of a prognostication, but it's not terribly much surprise, really, despite the fact she tends to shrug off angst if possible. "Well, whoever's looking out for mutants, speedfreaks, and other fools, thanks for today. Hopes for tomorrow, bene." she says, as a form of saying grace, before pouring out wine for each of them.

*

"Huh." says Warren, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. "Well, that is certainly unique. I won't bog you down with anymore questions, since I am sure that is all you ever get. Like 'what is my future' and all that."

He reaches over to take the plate from Julie and digs in, taking a bite and making a little noise of appreciation. "Not all, Diz. Just about ninty-five percent." He grins, "Speaking of, how is that project of yours coming along?"

*

"Probably not safe to share too much about the future," Hope smiles faintly to Warren. "Wouldn't want to change it too much, or…break something, you know? It's weird, I'm not used to having to worry about that. That was the whole reason we went forward in the first place, so we wouldn't have to worry about that."

*

Julie nods, there, looking over to Hope a bit contemplatively before cutting into her own piece with a fork. Says to Hope, "Probably unless it's something practical like "Don't buy stock right now" it'd just goof people up," she says, tapping her forehead and saying something in Italian that'd correspond to 'getting psyched out' in another time. She hrms to Warren. "Which one?" She ahs. "Oh, our little X-Wagons. I got em on order… they ought to be in line to be built now, plus I got a few goodies coming, allow 4 to six weeks for shipping and handling, and the usual drill there." Cause it's 1964: the good news is there's a lot in stock in places you can drive to: bad news is… mail order is mail order.

*

"I suppose, unless it is something that should be changed? I don't know the rules about how any of that works." Warren says in between bites of food. "But, I said I wouldn't ask, so this is me not asking." He grins, lifting his glass of wine to his lips and taking a sip. "After all, I'd hate to be the cause of some major change."

He takes a few more bites, devouring the food like he hasn't eaten himself in quite some time. He gives Diz a nod, "Yeah I guess that makes sense. I should have had WI handle the transport. I probably could have had it done quicker."

*

"Watch me talk myself out of existence," Hope smirks faintly, then lowers her head as she digs into the food again. The girl can certainly put it away.

*

Julie nods. "Well, I dunno if it'd save time to take delivery somewheres else, but who knows when they squeeze in real special orders like that, so let them do their thing. The real time-saver is I don't gotta spend all winter building those with what they already come with, which is yer fundamentals and the latest thing of em. " She winks. She looks to Hope, then, raising her own forkfull. "Well, hey, since you're here, you probably didn't. Or maybe you did and, err, here you are anyway."

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