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[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

When Amanda realizes she hasn't seen Wanda over the last few days, she goes to hunt her down. It turns out that Wanda's been catching up on some much needed sleep and they talk a little about how everyone is doing.



Groaning, Wanda contemplated moving the coffee pot into her bedroom. At least then she'd be able to attempt to wake up while laying down the entire time. It might have defeated the purpose but it sounded better than staring pitifully at the bloody thing from her couch. It wasn't often she drank coffee, she preferred tea but drastic times and all. The lack of a migraine made her feel a bit better but, oh God, did she need a shower.

There came a soft tapping at her front door, followed by Amanda's hesitant voice: "Wanda? You alive in there?"

Outside the door, Amanda waited anxiously for an answer. She'd been a little pre-occupied over the weekend, but the combination of Ororo's news of people being hurt and the fact Wanda hadn't been seen for several days made her more than a little worried. "Wanda?" she called again.

"It's open," she called, attempting to look at least half-way awake. "Hello, Amanda." Wanda gave the younger girl a tired look as Amanda came in, closing the door behind her. "Would you mind grabbing a mug and some coffee on your way past the kitchen? Actually, you may just want to skip out on the mug part and bring the entire pot."

Amanda frowned. "Bloody hell, Wanda, have you been laid up all weekend?" she asked, moving into the kitchen and doing as she was asked. "When was the last time you ate?" she called, raising her voice to be heard.

"What day is it?" She shook her head. "No, I woke up every often to eat something and go to the bathroom. I processed a lot of energy this last weekend and I needed to replenish it." And it had been a stark reminder, looking at Jennie, that energy took fuel.

"You should have called or something." Amanda was cursing herself for a selfish brat as she brought the coffee in, sweetened with plenty of sugar, for energy. "Stay there, I'll bring you some food," she instructed, comically sternly considering the differences in their ages.

Hiding a grin behind the coffee, she murmured a thanks. "By the time I left the mansion, I was not exactly thinking straight." Wanda grimaced. "I'm getting too old to be getting only three or four hours of sleep a night and the worry was doing me no good, either. And it has been a long time since I've used my powers to such an extent." Another sip and she sighed. "How much do you know?" she asked, suddenly, brain starting to function once more.

Finding a can of soup in the cupboard and a bagel that hadn't gone furry yet, Amanda busied herself making up a simple lunch. "I emailed people. Ororo called me," she said briefly. "'Least about Manny. Something about Marius using Manuel's powers and a loop."

Nodding, Wanda ran a hand over her face. "Good, I had hoped you had been told. I was not quite expecting to be this unconscious for this long but I'm actually glad Ororo was the one to call. She certainly has more information on what is going on with him."

"Well, I had to ask first, but I suppose everyone had shite going on who knew about it. Marie-Ange and... um..." Amanda let the other name trail off, unwilling to get Marie-Ange into trouble, given Remy's 'radio silence' instruction. "Any way, she told me when I got back from Albany - Remy sent me off to keep me out of trouble."

That got an amused look. "He shipped you off to Albany?" She snorted softly. "I certainly hope your trip was quieter than mine. How are you holding up with everything?"

"I'm all right." The microwave pinged and she pulled the soup out, hissing a little at the heat of the bowl on her hands. "How about you? Sounds like things got rough out there."

"The sleep helped a great deal," Wanda answered, leaning back against the couch. "I pushed myself far harder than what my body wanted." She grimaced. "And remade a potential enemy, I'll need to remember that."

Bringing the soup over and placing it on the coffee table, Amanda raised an eyebrow. I don't wanna know, do I?" she asked rhetorically.

A snicker was the only response to that as she reached for the soup. "You're a godsend," Wanda sighed happily. "And the man in question actually gave us some intelligance on a slave ring in Europe. Remy took the information and I think is running it through our sources to see if it connects with the ring we just broke up. Granted, this wasn't willingly given but what can do you?"

"Threaten and cause property damage?" Amanda suggested with a short laugh, going back into the kitchen where the toaster had obligingly popped up the bagel. The cream cheese was whiffy, so Amanda made do with margarine only. "Still 's good you got some extra information - be good to get a result."

"Two birds, one stone. I prefer things simple like that. And even if it is not connected to 'our' ring, then it is still something in the end, yes? The last few weeks have felt much, much longer."

Amanda brought the bagel over and set it down, perching herself on the arm of the couch to watch Wanda eat. "You look it, too," she said, frowning a little. "'S more than this old enemy of yours, isn't it?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "Ms. Munroe told me Jennie had a powers thing? With the luck?"

Wanda nodded and ate some soup before answering. "Jennie had a powers back lash," she explained. "With her powers, she can directly affect good and bad luck. She's directly using the energy that I am shielded from, the chaos energy for me is bound in the strings. I have a degree of protection. But if Jennie uses bad or good luck too much, things get...thrown off balance. In the casino, right before the accident, I was battling her power. I could not stop it but I could redirect it. I no longer have the reserve from Chthon so it was...tiring, to say the least."

"Is that why the truck?" Amanda asked quietly. "The one that..." She couldn't finish the sentence, biting her lip.

"It could have been," Wanda replied, seeing no reason to lie to her. "Or it could have just been there at the wrong time. The problem with Jennie and my power is that sometimes the things we affect spiral beyond our control. And sometimes it is difficult to see what really should have been happening versus what we made to happen."

Amanda nodded, hands twisting the bottom of her t-shirt in an old mannerism. "How's Jennie doing?" she asked.

Another sip of coffee to hid the grimace. "As well as can be expected, I think," she said after a while. "She looks like she needs another 30 lbs back on her frame and a good amount of sleep. Other than that, time will tell. She's been through a stressful few months. But she's resilient, which will help...I think she'll just need to learn to let others help her as well."

"'S a tough lesson to learn, 'specially when you've spent any amount of time looking after yourself," Amanda said with a wry grimace. "But hopefully she'll realize that she can't do it herself. Same as Marius."

"Being at the school is the best thing for both of them." Wanda was already planning on visiting more frequently. Not only to check up on Jennie but also to continue their lessons with the powers a little more often. But that could wait a while. "They have a good network of support there and also here."

Amanda nodded. "As long as they realize that... How's Marius doing?"

"I'm not as sure about Marius, though I don't think he's doing as well as Jennie is." Which really wasn't a good sign. Wanda rubbed at her eyes. "I am hoping that with the care at Xavier's, he will be doing better, though."

"I asked Ms. Munroe, if she thought it would help... maybe I could talk to him?" Amanda shrugged a little. "Since I know about coming back from doing the really dumb thing."

Reaching over, Wanda squeezed Amanda's knee. "I think that would actually be a really good idea. It is one thing to hear encouragement from someone who has never gone through that type of situation. Something totally different from a person with experience."

"We'll see. He might not appreciate someone butting their nose in, like Shiro." Amanda gave another shrug, and changed the topic. "So, I've been keeping up on that stuff we were working on, before you went away. 'S all on your desk, ready for you to read and sign off on it."

"Have I mentioned that you are a life saver? Who'd have thought that I would have been looking forward to paperwork of all things." Turning her head, she eyed Amanda. "Actually, I think the paperwork can wait, I need to shake the sleep out of my bones later today. Would you be up for some hand to hand?"

Amanda raised her eyebrows. "You sure you're up for it?" she asked, grinning just a little. "Since you're getting on and all, wouldn't want to wear you out."

Wanda looked at her innocently. "Oh, I believe I'm up for it," she said, taking another sip of coffee. "The question should be 'Are you?', though."

At that, the witch grinned. "Oh, I think I can manage a few rounds." And it would do her good to burn off some tension and stress. "I'll come wake you after your nap, then?"

At that, Wanda just toasted Amanda with her mug of coffee and grinned.